Rumpel was leaning against one of the walls as he, Belle, Regina and Tink were waiting for their "guests" to wake up. They were underground, under a very large castle. No one ever came here, simply because it was haunted by things that were dark, darker than he was. They had all been banished here, so that they could not cause any harm. It would take more magic than Rheul could ever have to release herself from this hell. Rumpel stared at them through the bars that separated him and the three fools. Fools who dared to harm his Belle. They had enough room to stretch and to walk just slightly. He would use his magic to make sure they had food and water, always. Belle didn't want them to starve, she was too kind to let them truly perish.
"It smells of manure down here. Ugh." Regina said, breaking the silence that had fallen over them. They were all too deep in thought.
"This is where all the demons of hell go, dearie. Did you think it would smell of roses?" He sneered, to which Belle placed her hand on his forearm and directed his attention to the groans that were coming from the bodies that were laying on the ground. King George was the first to awaken and he quickly scrambled to his feet. His eyes were wide and he began yanking on the bars, as if that would help him escape.
"I am a king! You cannot keep me in here like some animal!" He yelled, awakening Gaston and Rheul.
"Not anymore, it seems your son, James? No, David. Will be taking care of that business. Along with his wife, Snow." Rumpel made his way over to the jail like cell. Just then Gaston jumped up and began yanking on the metal bars.
"Do not bother. The Dark One is not foolish enough to let those bars be so easily broken. You will not escape. I, however, will. You cannot keep me in here, someone has to be ruling the fairies and making dreams come true. I do not take the Dark One as the one to grant wishes." Rheul stood to face him, a smug smile on her face.
"Do not worry about that. You have, well, been replaced." Regina spoke, she looked pleased with herself and that caused Rheul to growl.
"I will outlive you all, I will get out of her and make sure your kin will pay." She snarled at all three of them.
"Without your magic you will age, you will grow old and then you will pass on. And we all know, dead is dead." Rumpel found himself giggling again, with a flourish of his hands.
"The fairies will die without me and people will begin to stop believing. What happens then?! This will not stand!" She was now screeching. Belle had stepped into the light along with Tink. Tink looked scared, but she was putting on a brave face. It confused Rumpel as to why she would look so frightened. Maybe she had believed Rheul's words.
"We have found someone more suitable to handle granting wishes and leading the fairies. Someone who will see the good in all, someone who believes in second chances. Soon the world will forget about the Blue fairy, they will stop calling for her. The world will start calling for Tinkerbelle, the kindest and purest of hearts of them all." Belle spoke with a strong voice, but the warmth was there. It gave Tink courage, she straightened her back and held her head high. She truly looked like one the fairies could look up to. Rheul laughed, it was a laugh laced with poison.
"She doesn't even have wings! How is she supposed to guide the others?" Rheul stared right at Belle, the look in her eyes saying she wanted nothing more than to hurt Belle. That stirred anger in Rumpel, but as he glanced at Belle he could tell she was not intimidated. He smirked and resumed watching the scene before him.
"With this," Belle held up Rheul's wand and he heard her gasp. She tried to reach for it, as if that would help and of course it did not. She handed it to Tink and at that moment, the wand responded. It realized who its new owner was, magic swirled around the green fairy and soon enough, right before their eyes; wings began to form. It was truly a unique sight. It was foretold that no matter what, if a fairy lost her wings, she could never regain them. It seems the legends were wrong. Rheul looked defeated and Belle turned to hug her newly acquainted friend. Rheul's voice sliced the air with a cold chill.
"Becareful, Belle will try to control you too." She didn't sound mad, or upset, but her voice had become icy.
"Rheul, give it up, you lost. Stop trying to stir trouble when there is none." Regina snapped, obviously tired of Rheul and her little games.
"Don't tell me you can't see it, you knew the moment you saw them together." Her words confused Rumpel, but of course, he knew she would continue.
"Why do you think she asked for him to stay with her? Do you think it is because she liked him? She liked the power she could gain over him." Rheul's attention went to Belle and Belle alone.
"Belle, power? Ha!" Regina laughed, but Belle had remained silent.
"Ask her." Was all Rheul said before Rumpel jumped in.
"Belle, what in the world is she talking about?" Rumpel turned to face her. He did not believe a word she said, but he had to show Rheul that none of them believed her.
"Tell him, child! Tell him how you knew he was part magical beast and you knew that you would be able to control him!" She urged her on, provoking her while everyone continued to stare.
"Enough!" Belle spoke loud and clear. "Yes, I knew Rumpel was a magical creature, but that was after we made our deal. I slowly began to recognize the reactions he had to me. Much like my creatures did. I do not want him for his power, that was never my intention." Belle never turned to look at Rumpel, she kept her gaze on Rheul the whole time.
"Then why call on him?" This time the question came from Regina and not Rheul, but yet Rheul echoed her.
"Yes? Why?" There was a small, evil smile on her face.
"When Rumpel came to me for a deal, I was simply going to allow him to have what he wanted. The Jaculi had been eager to get out and of course, my needs of my animals come above all else. But, when I met him I was intrigued, I had to know him. So I made the deal with him. It was my fascination for who he was, that drew me in, not his powers. It was when my handmaid Lucy asked me if he was part creature, did I realize." She addressed both Regina and Rheul, even looking to Tink, but she wouldn't look at Rumpel.
"Do not lie! There is more than just fascination for him! What is it? Tell us? What is it? Answer me, child! Now!" Rheul continued to pester Belle and she looked uncomfortable, Rumpel was going to shout 'stop' when Belle answered.
"I'm falling in love!" She shouted, her hands quickly coming to her mouth. The faced Rumpel, a shocked expression. Rumpel walked towards her and she backed away. "That is enough questions. We are done here." With that, she walked out of the underground dungeon and to the dragon that was to take her home. Rumpel stood there shocked, as did Regina and Tink.
"Go, we will take care of Tweedledum and her side-kicks." Regina said, and he nodded before he used magic to teleport himself back to Belle's castle where he knew she would be. He rushed to find a servant, which was not hard and immediately asked where Belle was.
"In her study, sir." Said one of the older servants who respected Rumple, because his mistress did. He wasted no time and used magic to transport him in front of her study door. He knocked softly, and received no answer. Her tried to open the door, but it was locked. He didn't care that it was a violation of privacy, he used magic to open the door and soon enough he saw her gazing out the window. She whirled around to face him.
"It is rude to enter when you have not been invited in." She stated in a emotionless voice.
"It is rude not to invite someone in." He simply stated back.
"I am busy, I cannot entertain you right now. Leave, please." She turned her back on him and he shut the door and continued to walk in.
"No, I quite like it right here." He suddenly said in her ear, behind her. She turned to face him, their lips inches apart.
"Leave, this is not professional." Her voice was a soft whisper, but it did not lose its hard tone.
"Professional be damned. I love you, Belle." He took her face in his hands and crushed their lips together. She gave him strength to be brave, to stay what he needed to say. If she had not said it first, he knew he would never have. He was not brave like his Belle, but she did help him have the courage. She gave into the kiss and let herself be embraced by him. He did not care that the beast in him needed to please her and serve her, because the man in him wanted her. He wanted to be with her, and by the way she kissed him, he knew she wanted to be with him too. She was the first to pull back, her cheeks warm and stained a soft pink. There was a tinkle in her eye so bright, he believed the stars would be jealous.
"Rheul was wrong. I do not want your power, or to control you. I was honest when I said I only figured out the bond we had after we had made our deal." She tried to continue, but he cut her off by pressing his lips against hers. When they pulled back for breath did he speak.
"I do have some questions first." He said, but he continued to hold her.
"Of course, I will answer any you have." She nodded and he scooped her up in his arms and sat on the chair beside them, placing her in his lap. If it had been any other time, he was sure she would have tried to get up, but both of them wanted to be in each others embrace.
"Tell me how you knew." It was not a question, but she nodded again and started to think before she answered.
"Well, like all of my creatures you began to show the signs. First, they are comfortable with me and that helps begin the trust we end up sharing. Second, they feel the need to serve me and please me, wanting me to let them prove themselves. Then, they want to protect me, guard me, keep me from feeling any pain. Lastly, a true bond is formed. You showed the signs, only because you are a man you firstly lusted after me." She was stroking his cheek or tracing his features as she talked. He was focused on her words, wanting to understand completely. He knew she spoke the truth because he did indeed feel all those things for her. There was no point in lying that he had not lusted after her when they first met, she was smarter than to believe his lies. "This was of course, after Lucy asked me about it the day after we made our deal. That was when I began putting the pieces together."
"Well, magical creature or not, I do believe I would have wanted to do those things anyway." He said as he leaned into her soft touch. His words caused her to laugh, and it was music to his ears. She leaned down to kiss him again, but their kiss didn't last as Lucy came bursting in the door.
"Mistress, a man with a hat just appeared in the grand dining room!" Lucy looked pale, as if she had just seen a ghost. Belle immediately rose from his lap and walked towards her handmaid.
"What do you mean?" Belle questioned.
"Well, a random hat appeared in the grand room and then out popped a man!" She nearly screeched.
"Sound the guards, alert the castle." Belle sounded worried, but strong. He could tell this freaked her out, but he merely growled.
"No, do not do that. He is not a threat to us, he is an annoyance, but not a threat." Rumpel sounded grim and he growled again. Belle whirled around to face him.
"You know him?" She questioned as she raised a perfect brow.
"Yes, his name is Jefferson and he is a mad hatter." He wanted to laugh at the irony, but he knew she would not get it. What does he want now? Rumpel thought.