Chapter 7
Okay everyone..
Remember all OUAT characters belong to ABC. So no copyright intended to use them. This is for only entertainment only.
This is my version of events before the curse were activated for Rumpelstiltskin and Belle going back to Storybrooke.
Enjoy.
As true love kiss activated the wave of magic throughout in of breaking the curse to return everyone's memories in Storybrooke.
Rumpelstiltskin who was kneeling on the bathroom before Belle. Feeling the magic he collapsed next to her. As if each of their thoughts were the same reflecting the past year when they saw each other again in the Enchanted Forest before of that moment of being together once again.
He reached out with his hand to her. She grabbed it and held on as their memories returned.
Enchanted Forest
Eight Months Ago...
"Go!" Rumpelstiltskin stated to Belle while holding onto Baelfire and his dagger against Zelena the Wicked Witch of the West from Oz.
Belle watched on as she sees her Rumple in a power struggle of magic to hold onto both the dagger and Baelfire.
" I am not letting him go!" Rumpelstiltskin grimaced.
Zelena smiling a few feet away. "You can't hold onto both of them." she advised. Using her magic in a tug of war with him to get the dagger from him.
Knowing he could not hold on forever. Finally Rumpelstiltskin made his decision. Releasing his dagger into the snow and using his magic to absorb Baelfire into his body.
"Well I didn't think you had it in you, " Zelena smiling knowing she had won. She bent down picking up the dagger laughing evilly.
"You got your son but you lost yourself," Zelena continued while smiling. She walked around a Rumpelstiltskin who was on his knees in the snow trying to maintain to hold onto his son.
Belle a few feet away whispers, " Rumple?" Worrying for him which could be seen from her face.
"No.. No Rumple" Rumpelstiltskin replied. Looking around as thou he not able to see his surroundings.
" No Rumple!" he stated again.
Zelena stopped around Rumpelstiltskin. "The mind is your burden not mine. Time to go!" said Zelena, "before we go kill her".
Belle looked on and tried again to reach out to Rumpelstiltskin.
"Rumple?" she whispers.
Lumeire in the background who was placed on a stump of a tree. Could see that Rumpelstiltskin was in a bad shape and could not assist Belle against the witch. Knowing it was a long shot but he knew it would be better to help instead of seeing another good person being killed again. Using what magic he had. His flames left the candle to make a rope of fire surrounding around the witch to hold her in place.
He yelled towards Belle, " Can't hold onto her longer. Hurry don't make me regret this rational conscious . Get out of here!"
"You are going to regret this candle!" Zelena screeching inside the fire rope surrounding her.
Belle choking sobbingly knew that her Rumple was not responding for he continued fighting himself in the snow. She moved hurriedly in the snow to grab Lumiere from where he sat. Dashing into the woods with Lumiere who was lighting the way to the clearing ahead where the horses were tied to the trees. She knew it was a matter of time before they could catch her.
Seeing the horses ahead.
" Release one of the horses Belle," Lumeire ordered. "We can use this as a distraction. Then blow out my candles before you get on the other horse. "
Belle ran to the first horse. Removing the rope from the tree she turned and smacked the rump of the horse to have it run away .
She stopped and blew out the candle. She turned to the next horse using all of her strength put her left hand onto the saddle after placing her left foot in the stirrups swung her right leg over the saddle while still holding onto Lumiere. Gripping the reins. She pulled the horse towards the road ahead and with pressure with her feet in the stirrups made the horse go forward in a gallop to escape.
Back at the vault of the Dark One. Rumpelstiltskin was fighting the madness in his head. He continued kneeling in the cold wet snow. Trying to overcome the command from the witch of killing Belle. So many dark thoughts in his mind along with his son residing with him.
Taking a deep breath to gain his focus. He heard screeching behind him. He turned around and could see that the witch was still trapped in the fire rope. He grimaced a evil smirk. "I owe you one Lumiere!" he thoughts.
Trying to get on his feet to see where Belle was. He stumbles onto his feet. Looking into the dark woods he could see in the distance a lighted candle fading away. The power of the command to go after her was there. Taking a step to go after her. He fell onto his knees again fighting the power of the dagger.
Flash of light in his vision making him blind. Blinking he tried to gain his focus. Then he heard a voice in his head.
"Papa," Baelfire said loudly, "What did you do?"
"Bae.. Oh Bae," Rumple whispers in his mind. "Trying to save you son!"
Baelfire could feel the magic around him away from the pain and could see through his father's eyes of the witch who was still screaming to get out of the fire rope . He knew at that moment the unconditional love from his father. Sacrificing his mind and body to keep him alive. A part of him knew his father needed help due to he could feel the control of the dagger. Taking an act of faith and hope it would be enough.
"Papa let me merge with you?" Baelfire stated. Determined to give his father the strength he needed. He also knew his father will never forgive himself if any harm came to Belle. He was going to do his damnedest if it meant his death to save his father.
"Bae.." Rumpelstiltskin saying weakly. So tired from the battle from Zelena over the dagger.
"Papa!" Baelfire yelled. "Trust me it will help to stop you from going after Belle." Not sure if it will work. He was going to take a chance and hoping since he was not part of the curse he could break the link of the command from the dagger to assist his father.
Rumpelstiltskin gave in and Baelfire merged with his father. Immediately the command of the dagger went blank in Rumpelstiltskin's mind. Feeling no connection and yet both could feel a relief but knew it won't last until they obtain the dagger from the witch.
Stumbling onto his feet once again. Rumpelstiltskin made his way to get the dagger hanging from the witch's hand. Before he could reach the witch Zelena broke from the fire rope and pointed the dagger at Rumpelstiltskin.
Rumpelstiltskin stopped frozen in his tracks. Seething from his teeth of the power of the dagger controlling him.
Zelena stood there smiling pointing the dagger to the ground.
" Kneel pet!" she ordered.
Having no choice did as she ordered. Kneeling in the cold wet snow again. He remained silent of hoping another chance.
Zelena grimacing of the pain from the fire rope. Slowly started walking around Rumpelstiltskin running her hand in his head. Standing behind him. She grabbed his hair and pulled back hard.
"She may have gotten away my dear pet. However you won't be!" she stated, "Now get up we have work to do." Releasing his hair and stepping back to look at her prize. One down and 3 to go. Almost time to complete my journey back in time to change the past. She thoughts.
He slowly stumbled upon his feet. Now that the power of the dagger was at full force. Baelfire inside of Rumpelstiltskin could feel his strength draining and could feel his father starting to slip back into his madness of them combined in his mind. At least for a little bit he knew the danger for Belle has passed. Not knowing of how long this threat will take. He needed to conserve his strength when needed. He finally let go of his father in his mind to rest.
Rumpelstiltskin feeling his son letting go to rest. Felt his mind go into a complete black void of madness. Started mumbling, "Madness is sweet. Sweet is Madness."
Zelena smiled to see he was a burden with the two minds. Slowly she waved her hand around them with green smoke to transport them back to the Dark Castle owned by Rumpelstiltskin.
Entering the Hall she sees the spin wheel in the corner of where he use to make gold from straw. Using her magic she placed a cage around the spin wheel. Moving forward with the dagger.
"Get in my pet," she ordered. "We have much to do, So spin away in your madness."
Rumpelstiltskin entered the cage and sat on the stool to start spinning away and giggling in his madness.
Enchanted Forest
7 Months Later
Belle stood outside on the dirt path leading to the entrance of the Dark Castle. Watching as Robin Hood, Regina, Snow and Prince Charming leaving from the castle grounds.
She had argued with them but was determined to stay behind for her Rumple. She knew he was there in his madness only due to that Neal was inside him. Once they touched she could feel the connection and knew getting the information on Glenda was the first step and now her second step was to help Rumple to come back from his madness.
She had searched many libraries and read hundred of books on dark and light magic to find a way to help Baelfire live and to get Rumple back over these last few months. Lumeire the candle became an invaluable friend during that time who has been with her all the way to assist so that he could be released as well.
She just needed to get into the library of Rumple's castle for the one book that they needed to complete the frozen spell to have Baelfire frozen in time once separated from Rumple's body. She knew getting in will be easy now but didn't want the witch to catch them before it was done.
Going forward in the dark approaching the doors again. She slowly opened it and went to the left to go up the long staircase to go around the castle to get to her destination. Since this was the path she just took with the others she knew it will be clear.
Once she reached the library. She opened it slowly and silently closed it back. Walking up the stairs to the main room of the library.
She took out a match. Turned to her bag she was carrying. She took out Lumiere. Lighting his candles.
"Lumeire we are here," she whispers.
Lumeire face came focused from the candle. "Good!" he stated, "Now over on the shelf by the book of the dark one of where you found the key. You should find the book we are looking for. "
Belle using his light as a guidance sees the book on the shelf called, Dark Magic Shadows.
Grabbing the book off the shelf. She was bent on opening it to view the contents needed.
"No not here!" Lumeire said, "In his tower of his workshop. That way we can find the ingredients soon as possible." She pockets the book into the same bag Lumeire came out of. Getting up and taking the stairs again back to the door of the library.
"It's best if you go into the dark Belle" Lumiere stated, "till we get there."
"Alright!" she whispers. Blowing out the candle. She slowly opens the door and exits it. Turning back she closes it softly to ensure no sound of her departure.
Taking the long walk in the hall to the staircase of the tower that held all Rumpelstiltskin's experiments.
When reaching the staircase she could feel the damp air of the coldness in the castle. Pulling her cloak a little tighter around her but kept moving and slowly she goes up the long steps to his workshop.
Her thoughts were in such peril of worried of getting caught when so close to end this separation and saving her loved one. With a burst of speed she moves faster to the door and opens it. Entering the room she sees his workshop table and the many bottles on the shelves along with his books in the moonlight. So much dust in the room. Definitely needs a cleaning she chuckles to herself.
Putting the candle on the table. She takes out another match and lights Lumeire again.
"Ahh finally," Lumeire says with a relief. "Let's begin. Get the chalk on the bottom shelf to your right and remove the four stones from the bag Belle. We need to put a protection spell in this room against the witch. Now don't forget the design I showed you to place at the window and the doorway."
"Okay!" she replies.
Walking to the shelf she grabs the chalk and started running the double lines around the entire room and in the center of the room she did a diagram of a star pendent for the center of power. Reaching into the bag for the red stones to have them in placed. She places them in a position of the three stones in a north, east and west position. Holding the last stone she placed it next to Lumeire.
"Now let's see what's in the book we need" she whispers to Lumeire.
Opening the huge volume of " The Dark Magic Shadows" book that was the same size as the Dark One's book. She could see this book was old but for a person with no powers she could feel it had power as if it was enchanted. Concerned she removes her hands from the book.
"Lumeire, I don't have magic but I can feel the magic from it. You sure about this?" she whispers with concern in her voice.
"Belle if you can feel that magic then you must have some magic in your bloodline," Lumeire advised "Maybe it has not been before being around Rumpelstiltskin but it's there. Have you ever had insight or seen anything in the all the time you was growing up?"
Thinking for a few minutes.
She replies, "Only when I was around Rumpelstiltskin, I could see the good in him when no one ever could and others as well. As well as evil when around other people."
"Yes that would be the insight of magic," he replies broadly with a smile in his face from the flames. "Most people are not aware of it in their lives. However those with that power are brilliant in strategy during war time and peace. Which means you have some magic in your bloodline. I have seen it over the few months but was not sure."
Belle looked at Lumeire shocked. "How?" she replies.
Lumeire chuckles, "Descendants of magic are never aware and usually it is hidden from them due to their ancestors didn't want them to know what they are. Yet over time spells are weaken and that magic comes out slowly. I am going to help you now to unlock that magic so we can utilize it with our task here."
"Now place that last stone in the north entrance of the stairs so that we can get started here" Lumeire advised, "We are going to use that book to open and channel it."
Belle reached for the stone and placed it at the entrance of the north side.
"Sit in the center and place the book beside you along with me" Lumeire firmly.
Finally to end this once and for all of this threat. Lumiere thoughts. If I am correct she is not only the descendant of a gatekeeper but the mother of the prophecy of the new gatekeeper..
In The Land Of Time Forgot
He could still remember talking to his master, Merlin the last of the gatekeepers advised him of the prophecy a long time ago.
"Master?" Lumeire asked, "Will there be another gatekeeper while you rest?"
"Yes my apprentice" he advised, "In 1,000 years another powerful gatekeeper will emerge to bring right to the world when the chaos and destruction is being done to the realms. You will need to watch, guide and assist when that time comes."
"How will I know?" he asks looking at the old man with a beard standing in front of him.
Merlin smiled, "Remember a gatekeeper is born with the strongest light magic in the world but only from the bloodline of gatekeepers. "
"Strongest light magic" he gasped, "True Love!"
"Exactly!" he chuckles. Kind eyes looking at the young man. He had chosen this young wizard well to be a mentor for the new gatekeeper. He had looked into the future and saw so much damage done to the realms and also the path of the Dark One as well will finally earn his redemption. The Dark One curse will end and once again a new leader of the Gatekeepers will emerge.
"If I may master," Lumeire asks, "Why do you sleep and allowing me to do this when you can do this?"
"Young one" he replies, " You know about the Dark One?"
"Yes" he whispers with concern. Shuddering in his robes. He had watched his master fighting the Dark One and placed him into the vault. The battle was horrific. Over a mile of destruction with hundreds of people being killed in their land.
"However my magic killed the man himself but not the magic, remember he was once a great gatekeeper " Merlin advised, "Losing his wife had pushed him over the edge to get her back. By me placing the curse on his magic. His essence will give him his redemption once he finds true love again.."
"Will he find it master?" he asks.
"Yes, he will" he advised, " but it will be many lifetimes before he does. You will watch and guide to have the new gatekeeper to emerge. I have foreseen this new gatekeeper not only breaking the curse of the dagger from the Dark One but the person with the curse will inherit all of the original gatekeeper powers."
Slowly Merlin sat down on the stool to look up at this young wizard.
"I will be going to rest and will awake when the curse is broken and when the magic is fully restored to the new leader of the Gatekeeper," Merlin continued to with a concern, "That is the price I will pay for this curse., however you must know that you will be enslaved for some time in the future but keep to the course of the task I have given you."
Lumiere looking on and understanding his master never lied to him of the gift of sight.
Merlin reached over onto a table for a book. A big brown volume book titled, " Dark Magic Shadow". Picking up the book and handing the book to his apprentice.
"I have placed an enchantment on this book to protect the light magic inside" he sighs, "You will guide the true love of the Dark One's to this book. Only a bloodline of a gatekeeper will be able to feel the magic. If she does, you know you have found her."
Looking tired and worn. Merlin continued, "Use the enchantment to unlock her powers. It will be needed when she needs it the most. Only then will the empty pages in this book will speak to her and emerge of what she needs."
"Master but she's not the prophecy gatekeeper is she?" he asks.
"No! Her daughter will be from the Dark One" he smiles, "A bright shining soul I ever seen. More powerful than myself once she fully matures into her powers."
Lumeire smiling and nodding knowing from the look on his master face it can only be true. Breathing with happiness he couldn't wait to see her when she came...
"I will do as you requested master" he stated firmly in his belief.
Dark Castle
Coming out of his memories with his master. Lumeire knew the time is finally coming to an end of this wretched imprisonment. Zelena may have trapped him in this candle but she will never get the secret from him about the gatekeepers. Oh she knows he was trained under Merlin which is why she came after him. He was imprisoned for not giving the information she needed.
Looking at Belle in her sitting position on the floor.
This young woman is a perfect example of a warrior soul of a gatekeeper. Always fighting and never giving up on hope. He don't know how Rumpelstiltskin found her but apparently true love never dies.
"Ok, open the book" He advised.
Belle slowly opens the book and sees a tree on the first page with a title of Dark Magic Shadows yet it looked as if some words were missing under the title.
"Guide your hand over the tree" he commanded, "Allow the power to go through you."
Slowly she puts her right hand over the words down onto the tree. When she touched the tree. Power seeped into the pores of hand. Feeling the power coming into her body. The book started to glow and words started to emerge onto the title under the words Shadows.
"And Light Of the Gatekeepers"
Blinking her eyes at the words emerging on the page and the power engulfing into her body. She heard a snap in her mind. Whispers words being spoken in her head. Shaking her head of trying to understand them. To maintain a focus she looks up at Lumeire. Lumeire in the flames was saying something but she could couldn't understand the words he was saying.
Lumeire finished the enchantment words while staring at Belle.
"Can you hear me?" he asked in her mind.
"How?" she asked.
"What do you know about gatekeepers?" he answered her back with a question.
She answered, "They are a myth. Strongest in all magic that just disappeared over a thousand years ago. No one knows what happen to them. They just disappeared. Some say they are legends and never existed. Other stories say they are guardians and only emerge when needed. Why?"
"In your hands, Belle" he replied, "Is the history of all the gatekeepers along with their most powerful spells that has been shielded for more than a thousand years waiting for a descendant to emerge to open its records."
He sighs on his face from the candle.
"I'm sorry" he apologized, " I didn't tell you everything of why we needed this book so desperately. "
"Tell me!" She asked quietly.
He begins his story."Long time ago, I was a apprentice to Merlin the last gatekeeper. A great man who entrusted me with a task to watch and guide this book to a descendant of a gatekeeper. Only to be opened when it can be used when they most needed it."
He sighs again looking guilty.
"When I first saw you and how you was determined to save the Dark One. I wasn't so sure but over the months I seen little things that you did and realized you was the one. It has been prophesied that the guardian of the book would be the wife of the Dark One in which he will earn his redemption of his curse and be released back to his gatekeeper powers.
"What are you saying?" she questioned, "That the Dark One was a Gatekeeper at one time."
He answered truthfully, "Yes, he was once a gatekeeper."
Looking at Lumeire and seeing the apologetic look knew there was more to this story.
"What happened?" she asked.
"The first Dark One was the leader of the Gatekeepers in which he kept balance in all the realms of dark and light magic. His abilities was unlimited. Once upon a time there was dark forces were wrecking havoc here in this realm. They found out his weakness which was his wife. That was a bad time back then. They exploited by killing her in a bad way. It took him over the edge in the dark ways in trying to bring her back. To stop him my master put the curse on his magic to find redemption. However the man himself no longer exists but his magic could not be released to the world. It was too powerful so the curse was placed."
"So there is a way to break the curse on Rumpelstiltskin then? " she inquired. "True love kiss almost did it here in this world."
Secretly he said, "Yes it would have and Rumpelstiltskin would have died following after losing the magic. In which the carrier of the dagger will get all his powers and the curse will continue onward."
Belle gasped and shocked of this information.
"You have to understand" he tried to explain to her. "The Dark One the essence of the magic needs to have redemption of true love once that's been completed then and only then will the person who has the magic can revert to the gatekeepers powers completely. "
"What you are saying that the curse needs to be broken by a powerful being of true love with magic," correct she said.
"Yes," finally he stated.
"How is that even possible?" she cried. "Even If I had magic it would not be strong enough to break it..."
He face in the flames started smiling.
"You know the secret. Don't you?" she asked.
"Yes but it's not time yet. It's been prophesied that one of the gatekeepers will break the curse," he advised.
Lumiere did not mind telling part of the truth but Belle's daughter needed to be born naturally not as an obligation. However the good news that the ancient book did have a spell if he remembered correctly that Merlin put in to help Belle to avoid breaking the curse from true love's kiss. His master always did have a twist in his magic.
"Until then," he looking embarrassed yet with a glint of hint shining in his eyes, "There is a spell in the book for you to avoid breaking the curse. umm...um.. so that you can kiss him in this realm. "
Belle looked relief upon hearing this information.
She didn't want to lose Rumple over a kiss. Some part of Rumple must have known that long time ago when they kissed in the hall of what would happen. He was so angry at her and the queen but the magic must have known the threat and reacted upon it.
Not sure how but instinct told her the path to getting to back to Storybrooke was the right choice. Hoping she heard him right if a gatekeeper is the one to break the curse it must be Emma. She had to ask, "Is Emma a gatekeeper?"
Lumeire knew whom she spoke of for he saw the gatekeeper many times in the shop in Storybrooke. Knowing she is the first gatekeeper to emerge made him giddy with joy to see her there. He answered, " Yes, the first one in a 1,000 years."
He hoped she would not ask if she is the one to break the curse for Rumpelstiltskin for she is not the one to do the deed. Apparently she accepted the answer for what it was and he sighed to himself of relief.
"Let's get started," he said, "In making that frozen spell for Baelfire and the block of true love's kiss potion. We will need Rumpelstiltskin's help once we release him. For if that curse is enacted back to Storybrooke we need all the assistance to defeat the witch there."
"Where do I began?" she answered readily to get started.
"Put your hand onto the tree inside the book" he advised, "Ask the book of how to do the frozen spell and what is needed and then do the same to the true love block kiss spell. It will give you all that you need and assist you to make it without going opening up the book for the spell."
"You mean it will guide me to do the spell?" she asked with her right eyebrow lifting up.
"Yes, as the Record Keeper" he confirmed chuckling, "It will provide you the information and assist but if it was another gatekeeper they would need to read the book. "
If that was true then Rumpelstiltskin should have been able to read the book and why did he have the book all this time. She questioned it in her mind of these questions and asked Lumiere. His reply was very sure and honest to her.
"He couldn't with the dark curse. It was blocked to him. As for why he has the book was simple. The book has always belonged to the Leader of the Gatekeepers. No matter where the magic went the book followed to protect the secrets of the gatekeepers," he confirmed her answers to her.
Nodding her head of the answers were revealed.
Picking up the book and placing in her lap. She opened the cover and placed her hand onto the tree. The glow of the book once again rose shining on her touch. Closing her eyes to allow the magic to go through her. A voice came out to her in her mind, "What can I do for you Record Keeper?"
She answered, " Provide me the frozen and the block of true love's kiss spell."
Soon as the request was completed the book glowed and more voices emerged of two voices each with the answer to complete each spell. Placing the book aside onto the floor. She slowly got up and looking around at the shelves in the room and started preparing the two potions as the two voices guided her through the steps.
After about a half hour later standing besides the workplace table with the completed potions. The two voices in her head left her mind after advising the completion of the potions were done. She picked up the potion for blocking true love kiss. She turned to Lumiere with the potion in her hand and raised it up and drunk the potion. An eerie glow over her body was placed.
"Now what should I do next?" she asked concerned in reaching to Rumpelstiltskin.
Lumeire grinned from his face in the flames of that question, "Ask the book to have Rumpelstiltskin to come to you. The book is more powerful than the curse and always have been. However once he arrives you must put the other stone down in its rightful place. It will remove the son from Rumpelstiltskin so that you can give him that potion."
Belle eyes shined with hope to save both of them in that moment.
She walked over to center of the diagram and picked up the book and moved to the north side for the stone to have room to cage Rumpelstiltskin in the circle once he arrived. Picking up the stone. She closed her eyes again and finally opened.
Saying out loud, "I command the Dark One Rumpelstiltskin to come to me!"
Everyone..
Stopping here for now..
I will continue onto chapter 8 for the next scene..
Stay tuned..