Rumbelle's May Day Menagerie Fic Exchange

So in the chaos of trying to find another job (or jobs) for the 2018/2019 school year, I completely forgot to keep checking in with the participants…

Umm, tomorrow’s the due date. You can start posting at midnight (your time) tonight if you would like to do so. I am hoping that everybody can make their posting on May 1st in celebration of May Day however if you do require more time, please get in contact with you giftee as well as us moderators so that we don’t panic about lost Zoo Keepers.

Please remember to @ and tag your giftee and if you could @ or tag this blog that would be great. We are hoping to have the full master list posted within the month of May, depending upon if we have delayed postings. A partial master list will be available starting tomorrow evening when I get back from work.

For those of you who participated this year and said that you would be willing (or may be willing) to be a replacement Zoo Keeper, I’ll get in contact by this Friday to see if you are up to doing this favour.

May Day Menagerie gift To : @ryik-the-writer 

set in Merfolk!AU, and fun fact that Rumple’s fish tail inspried by Frilled Shark.

OMG I’M SO LATE AND I’M SO SORRY.

Hi. I, @nropay, am your zookeeper for this year @maydaymenagerie.

When I first got the categories, my first idea was HieroIves, like I told you at first, but I seem to can’t make those idea work. So, I settle for this little Rumbelle story.

FUCK.

MAN IM SLOW.

SHIT.

@maydaymenagerie gift for @worryinglyinnocent (who was so nice and understanding AAAAA)

It IS technically still May where I live (for a few hours anyway) i’m so sorry ;n;

Here y’all go! my garbage Bon appetite! :

So in the chaos of trying to find another job (or jobs) for the 2018/2019 school year, I completely forgot to keep checking in with the participants…

Umm, tomorrow’s the due date. You can start posting at midnight (your time) tonight if you would like to do so. I am hoping that everybody can make their posting on May 1st in celebration of May Day however if you do require more time, please get in contact with you giftee as well as us moderators so that we don’t panic about lost Zoo Keepers.

Please remember to @ and tag your giftee and if you could @ or tag this blog that would be great. We are hoping to have the full master list posted within the month of May, depending upon if we have delayed postings. A partial master list will be available starting tomorrow evening when I get back from work.

For those of you who participated this year and said that you would be willing (or may be willing) to be a replacement Zoo Keeper, I’ll get in contact by this Friday to see if you are up to doing this favour.

For @thecompletebookworm

Summary:  After escaping from Zelena’s dungeon, Rumpelstiltskin finds him in settling in Avonlea desperately trying to hide his secret.

A03 & FF.net

Chs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,

Two Days Earlier

Rumpelstiltskin couldn’t fathom why Gaston even arrived to the castle. Maurice had greeted him with the same indifference as he had for most of the other guests where any hints of favors changed from the King’s graces were not shown other than seating arrangements during meals. While the birthday ball would not appear for several more days, many of the guests arrived earlier than anticipated allowing Belle to have spent more time in playing hostess than she cared to even when Maurice suggested a hunt to occupy the time for all the arrived guests. Much to Belle’s annoyance, she played along joining them while Rumpelstiltskin stayed within the castle going about his day. There were times in the day he gazed from his window watching the party guest amuse themselves in the gardens with Belle and Alice normally in close proximity as they sometimes caught him glancing back requesting he would join them, usually declining.

The sign of suspicion came to him when he noticed Alice conversing with her mysterious new suitor.

When Alice first mentioned she had fallen in love with someone, he had continually insisted upon meeting the girl who captured the heart of his friend. For many weeks Alice tried to set up a time for all three even at times with Belle joining him to spend time together only for a last minute circumstance causing the meeting to have been  either rescheduled or forgotten soon after. He would joke with Alice over the universe trying to keep her from introducing Margot to everyone when he one day spotted Alice with the elusive Margot close the lake with the girl supposedly doing some target practice nearly falling to shock as he instantly recognizing Alice’s companion. Even though Robyn never caused him any harm, her presence meant Zelena would not be too far from them. He tried to say to himself The Archer’s presence was merely a coincidence as he knew she would occasionally stay away from the Western Mountains for days on end living amongst the humans sometimes envying the young girl whenever she would tell him about her activities during the excursions. He left the matter go but kept his rooms locked and would become highly observant over Robyn’s activities even if he meant thinking of an explanation to Alice should she needed to confront him.

At the royal banquet, Rumpelstiltskin would glance at Belle who was constantly interacting with the guests. He could see she became bored with her duties of hostess and mingling where he helped her out introducing himself as a trusted adviser to Belle leading to much gossip throughout the evening regarding Belle’s marital status as the pair would remain close to one another through most of the evening.

“Your highness.” A voice called to Belle forcing Rumpelstiltskin to pause in fright.

No it can’t be…..

For @thecompletebookworm

Summary:  After escaping from Zelena’s dungeon, Rumpelstiltskin finds him in settling in Avonlea desperately trying to hide his secret.

A03 & FF.net

Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 

Alice and Robyn stood alongside one another unable to move. She stared at Robyn who looked in fear when they were given their mobility to find a green cloud came to them bringing the strange redhead woman who Alice had seen around the castle the past several days; she believed Belle introduced her Lady West.

Zelena walked to the girls, Robyn stood still refusing to look at her master as the witch circled them turning her attentions to Alice placing her fingers on her chin to inspect her.”

“I will admit Robyn, you have a good eye. The girl is lovely you are the Princess’ ward I believe? I wonder if your friend is nearby.”

“Leave her alone” Robyn spoke. “Alice has nothing to do with”

“Alice” she pursed her lips staring back at Robyn. “What a lovely name, I can see why you never wanted to report back; she appears to be a fun distraction.”

Robyn wished she had her bow and arrows at this moment wanting not more than to plunge an arrow into Zelena’s heart. Her surprise came when Zelena summoned a black box where the contents made a thumping sound leading Robyn to fall down clutching her hand to her chest with Alice huddling her.

Summary:After escaping from Zelena’s dungeon, Rumpelstiltskin finds him in settling in Avonlea desperately trying to hide his secret.

For @thecompletebookworm

Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4

A03 & FF.Net 

Belle took deep breaths staring into her mirror while seven maids helped her get ready. Her usual dressing took at least one maid or she would do it herself, however the dress her father ordered for her proved to be unusually elaborate providing two layers of lace placed on a crinoline and an extensive form of tight lacing. She wanted Alice to help her, but the girl declined due to a previous meeting she could not have gotten out of where Belle hoped everything was fine. Rumpelstiltskin mentioned Alice had recently been seeing of the maids who went through a lot of trouble in avoiding meeting her and whenever the subject was brought up to Alice.

She hoped Rogers at least had been more updated in his daughter’s life recently than the ones who were more geographically closer.

After the last of the maids placed the sapphire brooch on her hair decorated with trusses of curls made into a bun with little strands of hair curled around her face enhancing her eyes, Belle gave herself another look in the mirror standing straight comprehending herself. The new dress, a bright red gown with short sleeves off the shoulders, cross-stitched in gold thread throughout the bodice in a looser skirt mixed with a train at least two feet long forcing her to wear shoes two inches longer than her usual three inch long footwear. She turned around blushing the delicacy of the fabric on her, giving her the impression of walking nude.

Belle smiled telling herself a birthday meant allowing oneself to be pampered.

“Enter” she stated dismissing her maids.

The door open her father entered with a jewelry box in his hand. Maurice looked as regal as his daughter even wearing his crown as he was known to find ceremonial jewelry unnecessary in most occasions, even a coronation. He smiled looking at his daughter tightly embracing.

For @thecompletebookworm

Summary:After escaping from Zelena’s dungeon, Rumpelstiltskin finds him in settling in Avonlea desperately trying to hide his secret.

A03 & FF.net

Chapters : 1, 2, 3 

Six Months Later

Robyn scoured the second floor corridor a second time in an effort to convince herself she had been alone. The afternoons within King Maurice’s castle usually were filled with the staff conducting their work, cleaning the castle and no one would take a second glance.

The perfect cover.

Throughout the past five months, her job as a maid in the estate allowed her to memorize Rumpelstiltskin’s routine knowing he would not have been in his room this early in the afternoon due to having a meeting with Princess Belle or spending his time in the straw room understanding quickly it had not been a subject for gossip. Using the towels for a cover, Robyn ran towards the room knocking first before entering finding the bedroom decorated with scrolls and books with the window constantly opened to rid of the dust.She placed the towels on the draped table searching for the cloak.

There were times Robyn wondered why she even had a conscious; Zelena was practically her mother and repaid her by letting the Swan Prince go, only to lose her heart and her beloved Locksley in the process. She can still remember him whinnying hysterically as Zelena boiled the animal alive before taking his horn as an ingredient needed to cross over the Blanche Forest. The worst part she was forced to reassure the horse watching her only friend staring at her as he died in pain.  

“You will have only one chance to earn back your heart.” Zelena told her after deciding to unfreeze her handing her a vial of Rumpelstiltskin’s blood and a special potion. “Put this into Rumpelstiltskin’s robes, once he transforms, he will be back to his obedient self.”

It became easy selling a story to the matronly housekeeper Mrs. Potts about a downtrodden young woman named Margot Mills desperate for work after losing her parents quickly gaining the confidence of the staff when they told her different parts of the castle she was permitted to enter. Her only point in staying alive was making sure to never bump into Rumpelstiltskin, placing herself in bed for nearly a week in order to memorize his routine allowing her to avoid him. There were days she had second thoughts in placing the vial, however her nights hearing Zelena speak through using her heart forced her into a time crunch as Zelena’s spell to cross over the barriers of the Blanche Forest would completed fairly soon.

The situation became increasingly complicated after Robyn met Lady Alice.

It was an innocent first meeting with Robyn gathering the laundry in the lady’s room when she became frightened over a noise she heard forcing her to jump into the bathtub. Rather than Alice laughing at her, the young girl helped clean her up apologizing as her room had the occasional strange noise due to the walls being so old. Alice was covered in dirt, her hair mangled, but to Robyn, she was the most beautiful creature she ever laid her eyes on.

After she finished her shift, Alice sometimes invited Margot to join her for a walk in the gardens, the park impressing Alice on her skills with the bow. They bonded over horses with Alice offering sympathy when Robyn confided in her over the death of her beloved Locksley.

There were moments Robyn didn’t have to be Margot whenever she spent time with the blue eye blonde, at times telling herself decency could still exist.

She continued lurking until she glanced at the chest on end of the bedroom. The strange lock got her attention using one of her pins to open it, finding the method impossible as her pin shattered.

Now why would you have an impossible lock for chest unless you have something to hide?

Robyn went through her pocket getting the vial of blood, dabbing it into her finger touching the keyhole allowing the lock to open. Taking off the lock, she opened the chest finding the robes intact and in pristine condition. She took the other bottle, placing the purple potion into the feathers ridding her hands of the matter quickly cleaning up.

As soon as she closed the room walking back into the main corridor finding Alice straight towards her.

“Hey Margot, what are you doing here?”

“I was just placing towels into one of the guest bedroom, when I accidentally forgot the room.” She nervously said. “You know this place can be quite massive.”

Alice smiled back at her. “True, when you’re finished, you can come with me to town? I have to get some items for Belle’s birthday.”

“Sure, just let me get an okay from Mrs. P before I head out;” Margot gave Alice a hug going their separate direction.

Robyn smiled watching Alice walk in the opposite direction; she could still believe decency existed.

“Are you sure about this Princess?” asked Rumpelstiltskin for the third time looking over Belle’s plans regarding the summer palace.

“Yes, I am absolutely sure” she humored him. “The palace is hardly used, the terrains are inhabited by people who believe they have been forgotten by us and there is an increase of opening trade there with some of our Eastern neighbors.” She then points to the library. “This library while not as grand as the one here, comes a close second, this knowledge should not be reserved mainly for the aristocrats. I will make a proposal of it next week transforming into a school at the next council meeting.”

“I am not sure your father will approve.” He stated in a singsong tone twirling his fingers usually to get her in a cheerful mood.

She cocked her head at him then smiled, “then it’s a good thing I have you to help me practice my argument even though you tend just criticize.”

Rumpelstiltskin placed his hand over his heart in a feign offense. “It can’t be my fault you are usually wrong.”

She moved closer to him leaning forward as their faces touched, “I’m right and you know it.”

He moved another inch seeing Belle’s lips part ready to be kissed. “Maybe once in a while” he whispered in her ear grinning at her when she placed her head in an effort to hide the blush on her cheeks.

Through an outsider perspective, Princess Belle and Rumpelstiltskin appeared to be a loving couple even though they would need to remind everyone they were merely friends. After she broke the engagement to Gaston, the pair took afternoon tea together in the drawing room, he escorted her to meetings and even playing chess in his room sometimes with Alice chaperoning playing several rounds. When he finally was allowed to remove his stitches, Rumpelstiltskin had then been permitted to dine with her, Alice and Maurice for their regular meals later on accompanying Belle to town. The pair noticed their common interests from spending time together in the library sharing their opinions on various books to a mutual love of Mrs. Potts richly made desserts where Belle sometimes scolded Rumpelstiltskin whenever she caught him taking a bite from her piece of chocolate cake. Once the kingdom had the sufficient gold, Maurice placed Rumpelstiltskin in the position of royal treasurer after the post became vacant a year prior. It allowed him to go over the books finding his instincts to be correct as Maurice had not cheated the kingdom and the funds were dispersed in the correct matter. Another part of the job meant he overseeing any of Belle’s ideas resulting in many hours of disagreements and laughter.

Their only contentment came from Belle practically giving up the prospect of Rumpelstiltskin ever calling her by her given name.

“Have you heard from Rogers?” Belle asked gathering the plans together as Rumpelstiltskin packed his bag

“He said there is a good chance of the treaty being signed now he and Tiana are practically engaged.”

Belle sighed relief. “Good, they have been dancing around it for nearly five years. Tiana could not have found a better man.”

She finished her packing with Rumpelstiltskin sitting in the sofa going over his notes. He appeared to be pensive allowing him to be unaware of his surroundings where at times he used that to his advantage whenever he caught her glancing resulting in some playful teasing.

She had thought many times about kissing him several times usually refraining when it became nearly impossible to conduct it. It would not have surprised her had he suspected she was using him for companionship after breaking the engagement with Gaston as several wives of the advisors suggested she considered her options in the Marshlands or further south.

Unfortunately for Belle, the only person she considered for marriage was only three feet away from her and may not be interested in her.

A knock on the door stopped Belle’s thoughts upset when her father walked in needing her assistance in greeting several early guests.

Both Belle and Rumpelstiltskin bowed wishing each other a good day each leaving the room when Belle walked with her father to greet a woman who came out of a green carriage dressed in a dark green nearly mistaken for black gown which came off as skin tight were the two most noticeable factors were the obscenely large emerald pendant emphasize her cleavage and bright red hair.

“Your majesties” the woman stated bowing to Maurice and Belle allowing Belle to have an uncomfortable view of her guest’s pendant. “I can’t tell you how thrilled I am in attending this ball, it has been an event I have been looking forward to for some months.”

While it had been drilled into Belle’s memory the faces, names and family members of every noble in  her kingdom, Belle could not remember where she would place as she was someone would have made their prescene known at least once or twice. “We are grateful you have journeyed a long way Madam..”

“West, your highness, Lady Kelly West.” She grinned with Belle graciously greeting her.

Exhausted from the afternoon meeting, Rumpelstiltskin headed into his bedroom, placing his bag into the table and throwing himself into the bed.

Rumpelstiltskin had not been certain on the precise moment he fell in love with Belle. At first he thought it was a minor infatuate due to her kindness until he began spending more time with her overtime considering the possibility of seeing her as the one he would spend the remainder of his life. There were times he dreaded she would start looking for other options since her prospects increased.

He can still hear Zelena’s laughter, using her soothing voice to taunt him. Continuing to wake up from the nightmares although no longer screaming with the scars slowly fading or have disappeared. Rumpelstiltskin needed to tell himself Zelena was gone when he took his private swims, which became less frequent than he originally wanted.

“You can come out now Alice, I’m too tired to play.” Placing his fingers over his head, soothing his temples.

Alice got out of the bed pouting in annoyance, “has anyone ever told you lighten up?”

“You let me know at least once a week.” He said taking a deep breath opening his eyes seeing her wave at him upside down. “What are you doing here today? I thought you had a date with Margot was her name.”

“We’re meeting later. We have only known one another for a short time but I never felt anything so wonderful other than when I am with Margot”

Alice glanced at the window with a dreamy expression.

Sounds exactly how I feel about Belle.

She left the chair leaning towards when Rumpelstiltskin moved further from her. “What’s the matter, not sure how to break your fowl secret to Belle?”

He sighed never forgetting Alice knowing his secret. She kept it confidential, even watching guard whenever he would bathe where it had led him to place his guard down around her. The thought of Belle knowing however, sent him into a panic where he got up, moved around the room.

“Are you scared Belle won’t accept you if she finds out you are a swan or you haven’t told her yet because you think she will somehow use it against you?”

A little of both

“There is nothing for Belle to accept, we are simply friends.”

Alice place her hand over hip unconvinced by is explanation. “That girl pines over you more than you do for her. You know she changed her perfume last week hoping you would notice it.”

Rumpelstiltskin grinned at the memory of Belle walking into the study smelling of peaches after she had arrived to give him her weekly statement. He thought the scent suited her just as well as her usual rose covered scent hoping she would alternate it.

“You know she does care about you. Maybe there is some rule swans and human can’t mix or something, but she does deserve to know the truth.”

Rumpelstiltskin walked to his chest glancing at his robes. She never told him, but he knew she had usually cleaned them and always with care where not even his mother had ever done that for him.  

“I plan to tell her at her birthday ball.”

Alice quickly hugged him, thrilled over the news when they heard a carriage coming into the driveway. They ran towards the window seeing an elaborate coach of seven horses and two liverymen dressed in white stepping foot helping Gaston get out his carriage. He slammed his hand away from the liverymen and walked straight into the castle.

“You would think after being humiliated, he would never show his face.” Pondered Alice.

For @thecompletebookworm

Summary:  After escaping from Zelena’s dungeon, Rumpelstiltskin finds him in settling in Avonlea desperately trying to hide his secret.

Chapters: 1, 2 

A03 & FF.net 

It wasn’t long after Rumpelstiltskin’s wounds healed; Maurice requested he stay for a longer period. He mainly kept company with Alice on most days, becoming instantly fond of the precocious teenager through their mutual love for chess and would occasionally help her when she would conduct pranks at several of the nobles to the amusement of Belle and Rogers. His nightmares of Zelena continued resulting at times he would wake up screaming where he began fixing the sound in the bedroom to avoid anyone coming in to check up on him after he swore he heard someone come in the first night. Several times, Rumpestiltskin noticed a ball of light appearing in his room or outdoors providing him with a familiar comfort he was unable to place. Whenever he saw the ball, he would spend several hours at the lake attempting to make contact or allow his feathers out becoming increasingly vigilant most nights.

Most of the time he noticed Belle glancing at him pretending to focused on her book or conversing with a lady in waiting whenever it became clear he noticed her. Sometimes she waved back or would occasionally find themselves in the library suspecting it had been more planned than coincident where they found themselves in the same areas after several times changing the routines.

“You can stay Princess.” He told her keeping his eyes on his book as she looked around the door and windows of the drawing room.

She glanced at the clock placed on the middle of the fireplace disappointed at the time, “I would love to, but I’m late for a lunch date with Gaston.”

For @thecompletebookworm​ ^_^

Ch. 1

FF.net & A03

The blood continued seeping out of his shoulder leaving Rumpelstiltskin agonizing with every step.

He sensed the arrow moving to another direction to avoid a wound toward his lower torso in which the panic led him to transform into a human falling into the sky after his wing had been hit. The swan faeries were known to have tough skin even outside of their robes, however the degree of torture Rumpelstiltskin suffered form led his body into a severely weakened state were an arrow injury meant unpredictable results.

Thrilled as he saw the lake, Rumpelstiltskin jumped in throwing his cloak into a den of rocks close by. The touch of the water began to restore much of his movement as he tasted the water when it touched his lips. His arm continue throbbing where swimming became a difficult task, but his legs continued functioning fine where he placed his head on the surface gasping for air as he continued bathing.

He wondered how to get back. In his weakened state, it would have been impossible to create a portal and not having any idea how he had been gone, it was likely his family must have believed he been dead. Swan faeries were known to live for many centuries but aged slowly; he remembered being at least three centuries old prior to imprisonment which he had the appearance of a young man although the lines on his face disagreed with him.

The only way he could try contact would be to wait during the next full moon and take his chances.

“Hello? Is someone there?”

Summary:After escaping from Zelena’s dungeon, Rumpelstiltskin finds him in settling in Avonlea desperately trying to hide his secret.

For @thecompletebookworm

I had so much fun writing this, I hope you enjoy it. I will be posting the next chapter tomorrow where I hope you have a great day <3

FF.net & A03

Flying away from the castle window and into the mist, Rumpelstiltskin focused on the direction ahead of him avoiding the trees and cliffs. His heartbeat increased as the swan creature began having shortness of breath due to the speed he was flying and trying not to concentrate whether Zelena was following him. When he flew on a higher altitude, the creature noticed a small cove quickly diving into the small opening until he landed on the ground seeing the dark surroundings around him. He leaned his neck to the rocky wall, closing his eyes chest heaving as he caught his breath from the adrenaline of escaping Lady Zelena.

It would only be a matter of time before she discovered the tampered lock, sending him back to the gilded prison for all of eternity.

He still remembered the night she captured him, Rumpelstiltskin had been bathing at the Guterschnee River after he spend a month advising his charges, mostly royals and despondent nobles. Just as he went to gather his robes, Zelena came to him dressed in black with the moonlight highlighting her green skin. She sneered at him, plucking a single feather from his robe causing him to not only transform into a human but now controlled by her until all the feathers were placed back into the cloak. His pleas and bribes failed to impress the witch enough to let him go, she left him screaming for weeks hoping his mother Fiona, Queen of the Swan fairies would answer but sadly, she never replied. He later learned the cage she placed him slowly drained him of his powers, unable to communicate with anyone or even help himself conduct any magic unless she gave him the use of his robes for a quick regeneration followed by a commencement to her bidding.

Giftee: @little-inkstone

Prompt: Rumbelle + aquatic creature (I chose a Kelpie)

Summary: There’s a horse at the Mills Stables, a bony, pitiful creature with sad eyes Belle cannot help but feel drawn to. Coincidentally she feels the same way about Mr Gold, whose eyes are also melancholic, and the same startling hazel shade.

Rating: M for sex and gore.

AN: Surprise, @little-inkstone! Though you must have figured it out it is I, your… secret Zookeeper! I hope you enjoy this story. The ending fought be like a bitch, but I managed to subdue it. Sorry for the lateness of the delivery!

Tagging @maydaymenagerie for reasons.

For @minticetea as a late May Day gift from me!

Sometimes Nosty just needed to bleed to know he was still there.

Glass, knives, his own fucking nails—as long as he could break through this shell, he could remember the truth of what he was. What he’d lost.

“Yer on a thin fuckin’ line, burd,” he said, feeling his tongue slither against his front teeth which felt way too small.

The bird—and what a tiny little thing she was!—was standing on the edge of the pier, looking into the murky waters with active eyes. Nosty didn’t think she was trying to jump in; no, the bird had to have lost something. Her nose was scruntched up and her brows knitted together, and her hands wrung the hem of her modest pink blouse.

When she heard him, the bird spun around with a look of pure shock sparking in her blue eyes. Blue eyes which made him think of sapphire. Pretty, pretty sapphire.

“Oh!” She gasped, instinctifully moving back as her shock subsided—oh boy.

“Oi! Didn’t ya hear meh, ya glaikit chick?” Nosty spat, wrenching her arm forward to shove her down onto the wooden docks. 

I’m super late to the party, but I thought I’d contribute a little something to the May Day Menagerie stuff. Here is Belle as a centaur like representation of the Golden Hind of Greek mythology. It is said she had antlers so I used the antlers of the female caribou as reference. She was said to be fast enough to outrun an arrow, but she was caught by Heracles.

A very happy @maydaymenagerie to the incredible @findingtallahassee, who is an absolute saint and was far too willing to put up with me.  

This is very loosely based on the Adaro, a little bit of Solomon Islands’ mythology.  Basically I’ve made the Adaro more humanoid, allowed them to be any gender, and veered away from the definition where it is just the evil part of a person’s soul that is trapped on Earth terrorizing others while the rest of them can pass on.  Takes place post 3A, and ignores the Dark One Vault mythology. 

This was a stupid idea, an absolutely crazy stupid idea.  She skirted around the edge of the water, being careful not to touch it just yet.   Though to be fair, Belle had already tried most of the less out there ideas and her heart was aching. 

She hadn’t stayed too long with the other Storybrooke residents once she was back. If she was going to feel all alone, she might as well feel alone where she felt at home.  

Not that it was anyone’s fault. The Charmings had an entire kingdom to run and their daughter’s absence to grieve.  She’d been happy to see Robin again, to play with the little boy who had been saved by a deal made what felt like ages ago.  Still, even as she helped with finding blankets and sorting through other supplies, Belle felt empty.  Sure she was helping people, and maybe she was being selfish, but right now the only person she wanted to help was her True Love.  

She refused to believe he was dead.   Even though that was probably the safest assumption, with his dagger through his chest.  But Rumplestiltskin had disappeared in a blinding flash of light.  His lifeless body hadn’t hit the ground.  She hadn’t cradled it to her chest, her tears soaking into his suit that only in death could look unkempt, as his lifeless eyes stared up at her.  While those images had haunted her nightmares, they were not reality.  Only his dagger had clattered to the ground.  

The others didn’t quite see it that way.  She didn’t need her pitying looks.  Her true love was out there and she was going to do everything in her power to find him.