Spinning wheels and rural towns

Belle sat in her little library, immensely bored, as per usual. With no Rumple around she had had to find other ways to amuse herself, and with no need for eating or sleeping, she'd read quite a lot of the Dark Castle's books in quite a short time, successfully giving herself a headache. She sighed and shut the book she was reading. Not long after Rumple had been imprisoned she had begun seeking out other people's company and, after deciding visiting her father would be too painful (and completely against the dagger's (Rumple's) commands), she had settled on visiting Ruth. The first time Belle had visited the older woman (outside of her son's impromptu wedding, and before Rumple had been captured (he was busy that day)), she had been incredibly surprised. After the (first) wedding Ruth had been moved to a safer cottage in a different part of the woods, where King George's men would not be able to find her. Lancelot had been placed as the live-in guard. Belle had by-passed him, however, and appeared at Ruth's table as the woman cooked. She had been more than a little shocked to find Belle (back in her blue dress and human skin) sat at her table, and alas her crockery suffered for it.

After helping to clean up the mess and recook the food (eggs, it seemed Ruth had chickens now), Belle had been invited to sit, and invited to talk. Ruth soon got it out of her that Belle had been lonely, and had decided to visit what she hoped was a friend. She was thankfully soon assured of this, and so was not stabbed when Lancelot chose that moment to walk in. Over the next few weeks she would visit at random times, happy to help out around the cottage and with the sheep and goats (and chickens) Ruth owned. She talked the 'Leviathan' into giving her sword lessons (which did not end particularly well for the tree she was attacking), but thankfully with a little practice at the Dark Castle afterwards, Belle was able to master archery within three visits after asking. Truthfully, she had nothing better to do.

The determination to learn a much more complicated skill came later, after the real wedding, Rumple's capture, and Ruth's move to the castle. She no longer tended the sheep, at Charming's insistence, but had filled her new room with everything from her cottage, sneakily asking Belle for a little favor. Said favor consisted of arranging the room exactly like the cottage, shrinking the bed from its ridiculous size, and adding in a small wood stove, just because Ruth enjoyed cooking and baking. It also involved transferring Ruth's spinning wheel across, which became Belle's new focus. It had been out of sight in the small cottage, but in the large room had pride of place, since Ruth had little to do with her days, what with no work and her awkwardness about court. So, after several days of just watching Ruth spin, Belle managed to pester a lesson out of her. And then another. And then another. After replicating Rumple's wheel back at the castle (it felt odd to use his), she kept up the practice even after her days with Ruth were spent doing other things, such as teaching the other woman the many (dull) rules of court. She considered doing some spinning now. Even after all the hours she had spent on it, she still needed more practice, and wanted to have mastered at least the basics before telling Rumple she was learning. Alas the wool that she spun (span? spinned?) was always uneven in its thickness and texture. She sighed. Spinning practice it was.

Except, the air felt strange. And tasted strange. And sounded strange. There was an odd rumbling around her, a strange static build-up in the stagnant air of the library. Belle frowned, extending her arms. The air felt thicker, the static charge revealing itself to be a large mass of magic being shoved into some obscure corner, dashing to where it was most welcome. She transported herself to the doorway to the castle and found, as she had suspected there would be (and hoped there wouldn't be), an enormous roiling cloud of darkness, forcing its way forwards. It leaped over trees and seeped into buildings, encompassing the beasts and birds it caught up with. She watched it come closer, the air filling up with the rotten smell of sulfur. She knew Rumple would already have been taken by the curse, the liberated castle (and by extension its underground dungeon) were closer to its center, and Belle watched as the green smoke came to collect her too. It swept over her where she stood, and she closed her eyes against the strong winds and blinding glare. The first thing that changed was the smell.

The rotten eggs were gone, now something smelt flowery, a light smell that seemed to cling to her person. Roses, perhaps. There were also books, so many books, and the smell of snow was replaced by a damp smell, like summer rain. Then the feeling. Gone was the tingling across her skin and the clinging of her leather. Now it felt like her sleeves and gloves were gone, her deerskin breeches replaced by a flowing skirt. The sensation was odd, since she (and her clothes) looked the same. She could even feel her hair loose down her back, although she could see it in its over-the-shoulder braid. She could also feel her legs move; she was walking. And the taste, now. The fresh air was replaced by air that tasted faintly of dust (from the books, perhaps?), although when she felt cold metal in her palm the taste became fresher. The cold left her hand, and she surmised she was now outside again. The air felt, smelt and tasted funny. Almost like lead, or heated oil. Random gusts passed her arms, and the brushes of fabric. Screeches passed her by, and her mind supplied the word 'car'. She continued walking, and became aware of other new sounds. Voices; no longer the yelling heard from the curse in transition, but the mutterings from townsfolk as she walked by. Rumple's manic yelling was replaced by the click of a cane as she passed Mr. Gold with a nod. She still saw the blankets of snow in the courtyard. A dog barked; Pongo, or perhaps Titan or Max. She became aware of something in her hand only as she released it into a cold slot (post box), and felt herself turn around. She could hear the click of heels on the pavement, and her own breathing. A sigh.

And then all she could see changed. For a few moments she watched in awe as a car drove by again on a road, and the barking was confirmed as Titan, a large black dog, rather like a bear. The sky was dark; nine, or perhaps ten, in the evening. There was Ruby, shuffling down the street. The street lights were on, and she gaped at the electricity without moving her head. It was like being trapped in her own body as it moved, and making invisible motions of her own. She glanced back in time to see the moment a gym teacher out for a late jog forgot he used to be a knight before she went inside, and knew it wouldn't be long for her now. Her eyes would be glazed over by morning, and her memories would be lost. Then she found herself inside, back in the town Library, and much to her disappointment she passed by the books. Through a concealed door and up the stairs. Such odd designs on the walls. There's a mirror! What an odd blouse, but it matches well with her skin tone. Normal again. And then to the small bedroom. A brief chance to consider the undergarments of this realm before they're gone, replaced by a night gown. To the small bathroom; odd contraptions here too. Clean your teeth (toothpaste, ingenious). Check the phone for messages. No calls; there never are. Off with the lights, close the curtains by the moonlight. Collapse into bed.

Everything is dark.

Just 28 years to go.

A/N And that's the end! Soon, hopefully, I'll be able to begin writing and uploading the second part of this (although this might take a while due to exams -.-'), and then the story shall continue!

Enormous thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, followed and favorited, and everyone who stuck around!

Hugs for everyone!