Killian's Inferno

Chapter Eleven

After leaving Granny's Diner, Belle simply started walking with nowhere particular to go in mind. All she knew was that she needed space, and time to try to figure out whether or not what those she had just left behind, many of her friends whom she always trusted before, were speaking the truth. She couldn't believe that after everything, her husband could possibly betray her all over again like the beast inside of him had done so many times in the past. Or was it that she didn't want to believe it?

Rumpelstiltskin had finally been freed of the darkness and even though he was still the coward that he was before becoming the Dark One, the man she loved nearly gave his life to protect her from Merida in her bear form. The truth was, Belle didn't want to believe that he could once again sacrifice their love to regain the evil power that comes from the darkness.

However, she realized then that no matter what the truth really was, she owed it to everyone, especially to herself, to find out for sure. Belle stopped going in the direction she had started walking in and quickly headed toward Gold's pawnshop in hope that there was an answer buried in there somewhere.

"I figured that I could find you in here," Archie said serenely after he walked inside the shop in search of the young woman standing behind the counter as she looked at the psychiatrist in surprise. "Please, forgive us all for being so blunt about our feelings for your husband. I know how much you love him and no matter what he's done, or hasn't done, I know that he loves you too."

"I should apologize to all of you," Belle replied sadly as she slowly continued her search while she and the man of conscience continued speaking. "It was wrong of me to fly off of the handle like that. It's just that, there is good in him. I know there is and then finally he had been freed of the dagger. With the darkness gone from him, how could he possibly choose to go after the power once again, especially after he became a real hero by saving me despite his lack of courage? He had an opportunity to kill Hook aboard his ship after Rumple defeated him in their duel, to become the Dark One then, and yet he didn't. He set Hook free."

Archie nodded and then answered, "You make a fair point. I can understand your reluctance to believe us over him and your own heart. Hopefully when they all return to us, you'll have an opportunity to ask him for the truth himself. Then, you can judge him for yourself."

She stopped what she was doing again as she looked over at the former cricket and responded with frustration, "I'm not so sure I can wait that long. I need answers now. I cannot risk being wrong about him. If in case it's true and I confront him about it, then he uses his magic on me to make me forget or worse… I don't know what I would do. I'd break, just like the teacup he gave me. Only, I wouldn't be so easily repaired even if I wanted to be."

"Then, perhaps there is someone who can help you," Archie replied after he thought a moment for a solution. "If anyone can, it would be Mother Superior."

"Archie, you're a genius," Belle answered quickly as she ran out from behind the counter and over to the older man, then kissed his cheek before walking out the door with Archie right behind her.

Inside the town church…

It didn't take long for Belle and Archie to make their way to where they knew they would find the Blue Fairy and then after explaining what Belle had come to her for, the wise woman spoke up saying, "If you really wish to know the truth, Belle, to know what your heart truly desires, I can help you. I just need you to understand, that no matter what you see and hear, it is the truth. I would never mislead you, no matter what it is I believe and feel toward Rumpelstiltskin."

Belle looked over at Archie, then turned back to the fairy and responded, "I do trust you, Mother Superior. Please, I just need to know the truth, no matter what it really is. I know that I owe it to myself to be happy and I won't be able to do that if there's a possibility I could be living a lie."

Blue nodded and moved to stand before Belle as she placed her hand gently over her heart, then began to sum up a magic spell that would help her to give the young woman what she desired. Within a few moments, a small blue wisp flowed from out of her hands and entered into Belle's chest, then out again as Belle gasped. The magic immediately burst into what appeared to be a vision or memory above their heads while Belle and Archie took a seat to watch as the vision unfolded, seeing as the man she loved entered his pawnshop and stared coldly at the woman who was once again the Savior.

Gold spoke up first as he made his way around the counter to be able to face Emma and said with irritation, "Now you see, this isn't the library or Granny's or some bus station, Miss Swan. This is my shop. Unless the sign says open, you're not invited."

"I think I was invited," she replied without looking at him at first, until she continued. "I hear whispering. It's the dagger. It's calling to me."

"You're upset, imagining things," he immediately answered to try to deflect her obvious interrogation.

"No, I'm not," the Savior stated again. "It's here, isn't it? You have it, don't you?"

Rumpelstiltskin realized then that she had him and looked down at his display as he finally reached in and took out something covered within a cloth, then pulled it away to reveal the dagger as he responded in frustration, "Yes, I do."

Emma looked at the man in shock as she gasped and said with disbelief, "You are the Dark One, again."

"Yes, had hoped to keep that secret," the villain replied smugly. "Wasn't expecting you to hear it. But then, most ex-Dark Ones are dead.

"How is this possible?" she asked in surprise.

Gold began to explain, "When you came to me, asking for the sword, I'd seen an opportunity. A chance I had never imagined would present itself again. As fate would have it, a small vial of magic was close at hand. One sprinkle, and I knew I could get it all back. I turned the sword into a conduit. So that while Hook, thought he was destroying the darkness, he was actually... moving it. Channeling it someplace safe."

The Savior glared at him as she stated, "Into you."

"He had no idea," the man continued. "And now, things are as they should be."

"Hook sacrificed himself and you took that from him!" Emma answered angrily as she suddenly attempted to reach over the counter to grab him by his collar until he immediately used his newfound powers to freeze her for a few seconds without even having to look at her in order to make her think twice about her actions.

He glared at her as he asked villainously, "Do you honestly think that you can hurt me? I now have the combined power of every Dark One who ever lived, including you."

She stared at him with disappointment as she responded, "You found a loophole, betrayed us all again."

"It's what I do," Gold replied as he stood straight. "It's the man I am."

"Well then, Dark One, now that you have your power back, you're going to do something for me," the Savior demanded vehemently as she stood up straighter as well.

He asked simply, "And why would I do anything for you?"

She continued to stare at him as she answered, "Because I still have magic. And I'm willing to bet I can get to Belle and tell her everything before you can kill me."

"Don't test me," he responded with anger of his own while he kept his eyes on hers.

"Don't test me!" Emma repeated his words back to him with more force. "You really want to take that chance? That she will, once again, know the kind of man you really are?"

After turning away while contemplating her threat for a few moments, he finally looked back up at her as he asked, "What do you want, Miss Swan?"

Tears were falling down her face as Belle finally spoke up again after the vision cleared, saying, "It's true. Rumple lied to me, again. Even though the darkness wasn't inside of him to tempt him, he still chose power over love, over me."

"I am so sorry, Belle," Mother Superior responded sadly as she pulled the young woman into her arms to try to comfort her. "I truly wish this wasn't so."

"As do I," Archie replied in agreement as he remained sitting with his head down while she grieved. "Are you alright?"

Finally, after she took a few minutes for herself, Belle recomposed herself once again and answered with strength, "I will take time to grieve properly later. The situation is as Leroy said earlier at Granny's. Hook bravely sacrificed his life to save us all, partly because Rumple tricked him into doing so. He is the hero. Now, I can't help them while they're down there. However, I have no doubt that everyone will return from the Underworld with Killian and if my husband gets the chance once they do, he will do everything he can to make sure that Emma and the others cannot save him."

Blue looked at her as she asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

"I need to do something to make sure that that doesn't happen, for both Hook and Emma," she responded as she looked between the cricket and the fairy. "And I think I know just what I need, if the two of you will help me find it."

"Whatever you need, just ask," Mother Superior said with a newfound sense of admiration for the beast's beauty. "We have all suffered from Rumpelstiltskin's wrath long enough. It's time that we do something to make sure everyone is safe."

"Of course I'm willing, but just so long as whatever we're going to do, doesn't come with a price that we are not willing to pay," the man of conscience added as he looked at Belle in order to read her emotion."

"Don't worry, Jiminy," she spoke again calmly. "It's a price I am happy to pay if it means I can get my life back and one day find my happy ending with Emma's help. The Dark One will never again have a part in it."