WHO: Rumpelstiltskin and Belle WHAT: Proving it's really her and reuniting at last. WHEN: Yesterday, after his comm post. WHERE: The cemetery, because that's where all the cool stuff happens! RATING: TBD STATUS: In Progress
Could a villain dare to hope? To dream of a happy ending? Rumpelstiltskin, known for so long as the Dark One, hadn't thought so. It had seemed that any time he had been happy, something else had been taken away. He had found Belle, only for her to lose her memories. He had found Bae, only for him to hate him. He had found a grandson he never knew he had, only for him to be kidnapped. Perhaps it was his penance, for all the wrongs and hurts committed, to always come so close to happiness only to have it snatched away.
That was partially why he had gone to Neverland in the mindset he had. Accepting that in order to save Henry, he would sacrifice himself. He knew of no other way to end the demon that was Peter Pan. And, just for once, the coward was prepared to do the right thing, the noble thing. Even if everyone questioned whether or not he would. The island had preyed on his fears and weaknesses, tested his resolve, and yet he had remained on path, at least until he had appeared in this place, this strange cemetery surrounded by confused people, with something of a pounding headache to boot. Instinct had taken over and he had vanished away in a puff of purple smoke, trying to get the distance and time to establish just where he was and how.
A new land.
One where, supposedly, his love was. Henry was safe. Emma had a new baby and the Huntsman was returned from the dead. Rumpelstiltskin had seen much magic in his life, so much, capable of rewriting the world, but still he was wary. Such a place seemed so impossible, a place where he could actually be happy, of course he thought it was a trick from Pan. How could he not?
Yet there was still hope. That lingering trace of it that refused to leave him. It was that hope that made him return to the cemetery to wait for the person claiming to be Belle, wishing with all his heart that it would turn out to truly be her.