You're right that I've diverged from canon. In my story, Rumple is setting himself up for the Kiss. When he found out that Regina was behind it, he didn't accept it. I hope that his thoughts will become clearer to you in the next chapter. I'd really like to know what you think, actually. Attentive readers like you help me improve the story.
Here's what I intended in previous sections:
from "The Test of Freedom":
It seemed the novice fairy had been right all along. The fair maid was willing to bestow True Love’s Kiss. (a call-back to "The Prophecy.") And Isaac's tip was real, too. His second chance had arrived. (from the conversation w/Isaac in "The Victorian Ballroom.") But if they were going to do this (ie share True Love's Kiss), they had to do it properly. He was not going to botch it up again. He couldn’t push her away or say something mean and stupid. (Call back to "If anyone's going to crush your heart, it's going to be me.") This page of his story had to be a work of art. ("Page" calls back to the page Isaac shows him in the ballroom.)
LATER IN THE CHAPTER. . .
The price of the Kiss was rising by the minute. Telling her about Bae was hard enough, (She just asked about him) but now she was wreaking havoc with his schedule. (ie his plan to go to the Land without Magic). The Light path (his intended redemption) was swiftly outpacing the Dark (the Curse), and the Cursebreaker (Emma) was not even born yet! He had no worries about Snow White finding her Prince Charming. Those two were destined for each other and didn’t need his intervention. But holding Regina back was another matter. That wayward temper of hers was always screaming for his tight rein. . .(foreshadowing that Regina is involved)
CONTINUING THAT PARAGRAPH, YOU SEE HE'S RIGHT. HE DOES EXPECT TO LOSE POWER.
. . . and he didn’t know how True Love’s Kiss would affect his powers. He might lose everything and be forced to lay low with Belle, hiding his redeemed self from the rest of the world. His notoriety could end up the only weapon left to him. Would that be enough to prevent Regina from doing something rash and ruining his carefully laid plans?
NEXT CHAPTER - "Return to the Edge"
“I’ve done it,” thought Rumpelstiltskin, standing at the tower window where he had a good view of Belle walking away from the castle. “She’s free.” (True Love's Kiss cannot be compelled. If he wants the Kiss, he has to set her free.)
He gave himself a moment to watch her, but he soon turned away. There was so much to do! He’d taken the first step by releasing her. The second lay in her hands. And while he couldn’t be sure what she would choose, he had to be prepared. The lifting of his Curse was bound to take at least some of his powers, if not all of them. He must be ready for every contingency. (He prepares for the loss of his powers.)
A LITTLE LATER
Next, he snapped the horses to life. They’d need some alternative mode of travel in case he lost his power of transport. If everything went as planned, they could be in Sherwood Forest before midnight. He hoped Belle would find it as romantic as he did – a return to the spot in the woods where she first embraced him. No corner of the realms was more auspicious. Now they could truly bind themselves to one another, not by employment contract but as equal and loving partners. Friar Tuck would perform the ceremony. (They'd kiss, ride to the forest, and get married.)
CHAPTER CONTINUES W/TRICK ON GASTON, THEN THE TWO TRIAL CHAPTERS, AND THEN BELLE MEETS REGINA
“Besides, if he loves you, he would let you go. And if he doesn’t love you, then the kiss won’t even work.”
“But he did let me go,” said Belle, now certain that Rumple was anticipating precisely this outcome. (The dialogue is from the show, but the additional words are mine.)
Well, that went on for longer than I thought it would. If you've read all that, thank you. And feel free to comment. As I said, reader input improves the story, so I greatly appreciate your interest. Really. You don't know how happy you've made me, and I don't even know who you are. Thank you.
Here the internal monolog really show the way of his thinking and preparation. Just in the show it was rushed, I honestly am mad on how short the story of Belle in the Dark Castle was. And this scene with a teapot in the cell was so on point in the ff, in the series it was a brief moment not explaining why did he brought her tea. While I was reading the chapters it gave me the idea for the missing scene far in the future in the Storybrook. Their dialog and clarification on where Belle was the whole time after leaving the castle, how Rumple didn't check on her not even once after she left, knowing that he has the prophetic visions and can puff himself anywhere being invisible. He just bought Regina's words for nothing, where is a prove that Belle indeed throw herself out of a tower? He didn't check on with Mo, didn't try to kill him, we know Belle wouldn't want this but it's Rumple he is impatient sometimes. It can be explained that he was heartbroken or it was just Isaac poor writing making The Dark One suddenly thus way.
The scene that popped in my head is Belle and Gold in his shop just talking thru what they were doing before the cure. She says her story how she chose to see the world a little, instead going home (thus Wills job would be useless, princess never returned home), she met this legendary beast threatening the village, and first time she tried to be the real hero. She used her translator skills (the Dark Castle time paid off there) and tracked him down in a day. But wasn't prepared as to how to kill the fiery beast. Shortly speaking she discovered that it was cursed man, cursed by someone they both know. This encouraged her to go and fight another "beast" and make him see things her way and that's when she met Regina. The end basically. There were more for the scene but plaid in the head so vividly.
Yes, Will's mission will be fruitless. He and Rumple will see each other again. And Belle’s adventure with the yao guai is on the section called "The Eastern Adventure."
Hi. I don't know if you read to the end of what I've posted, but I just added a new chapter: https://archiveofourown.org/works/63148405/chapters/161722885
Rumple will most definitely search for Belle in this story, but the reason he ends up believing Regina is that she's working magic on him. She already began casting it in the "Kidnapped" chapter.
Comment on True Love's Kiss
Kressel on Chapter 5 Sun 19 Jan 2025 01:00AM UTC
Comment Actions
slavela on Chapter 5 Sun 19 Jan 2025 03:46AM UTC
Comment Actions
slavela on Chapter 5 Sun 19 Jan 2025 03:51AM UTC
Comment Actions
Kressel on Chapter 5 Sun 19 Jan 2025 12:00PM UTC
Comment Actions
Kressel on Chapter 5 Mon 17 Feb 2025 02:43AM UTC
Comment Actions
slavela on Chapter 5 Mon 17 Feb 2025 04:38AM UTC
Comment Actions
Kressel on Chapter 5 Mon 17 Feb 2025 01:04PM UTC
Comment Actions
Kressel on Chapter 5 Sun 19 Jan 2025 11:57AM UTC
Comment Actions