Enchanted Adventure

XXVI. The Crocodile

(Once again, apologies for not writing past fairytale world, despite one of my favorite characters appearing.)

REAL WORLD

Mr. Gold and Belle were in Mr. Gold's pawn shop. He took out a small box and opened it, revealing a necklace.

"It's, uh... it's very beautiful," Belle said. "So, what's the occasion?"

He took the necklace out of the box and went to put it around her neck. "The occasion is us. We haven't really gotten out much since Storybrooke awakened. So, I thought we should see it together." He finished clasping the necklace. "Wow..."

"Thank you." The two hugged.

"Don't get your hopes up. The nightlife is extremely limited."

"No. That's not what I meant. Thank you for... For what you're doing. For how you're changing."

The front bell ringed as Leroy entered.

"Okay, Stilinskin, I want my axe," Leroy said.

"I'm sorry, but we're closed," Mr. Gold told him.

"It's mine. Give it to me."

"And yet, still closed."

"Just 'cause you possess something, don't mean it's yours. Nothing in this shop belongs to you." He turned to Belle. "And you? How can you be with such a monster? Or maybe, you're just another possession, too."

"How dare you?" He grabbed Leroy by the neck and pinned him against the wall. "You want your axe? Fine!" He began strangling him.

"Rumpelstiltskin!" Belle called.

"You can have it... Buried in your chest!"

"Stop! Stop! This isn't you anymore!"

Mr. Gold turned into Rumpelstiltskin. "Oh, it's me, dearie. Always has been, always will be."

Belle woke from her nightmare to find herself in one of Mr. Gold's rooms. She got out of bed and went downstairs, discovering that it was night. She went outside and lurked around one of the basement windows. Inside, Belle saw Mr. Gold spinning straw into gold at the wheel. He cut off a segment of the gold and put it into a vital, causing a magical reaction.

Mr. Gold entered the house where Belle was already waiting for him in the kitchen.

"Hey," Mr. Gold greeted.

"Hey. What are you doing?" Belle asked.

"I was, uh... Going to make you breakfast."

"No, in... In the basement. I saw you practicing magic."

"Let's have breakfast."

"No, we need to talk about this."

"It was just a couple of spells. Nothing to be concerned about."

"Okay, then be honest with me. Why did you bring magic here?"

"I've told you - magic is power."

"Why do you need it? Tell me." He said nothing. "You don't need power, Rumpel. You need courage, to let me in." She left.

INT. MINES

David and the dwarves were mining for fairy dust. Henry and Aubree were with them.

"Keep swinging, dwarves," Leroy instructed.

Ruby entered with a basket of food. "They find any fairy dust yet?"

"No, not yet," Henry replied. "But they will. When... When they do, we'll figure out a way to get Mary Margaret and Bree's and my mom back." He took Aubree's hand and squeezed it comfortingly, offering her a reassuring smile which she returned.