A/N: Hey all. Just thought I'd take a minute to let you all know that I plan on taking you all on yet another roller coaster ride. This story will see the return of Fairy Tale Land bit, mysteries to be unraveled and will reveal just exactly what Regina did to Belle. Hope you all enjoy and review just like you have been. I haven't had time to thank anyone but I do read my reviews and it makes me happy to know you all are loving this. Now, without further ado... onto the next act of the story...

Once Upon A Time: The Devil Revealed, Part One

By Rebekkalee Mouri-Hibiki

Emma sat in a back booth at Granny's, poking at her oatmeal but not really eating it. She was too lost in her own mind and she really wasn't that hungry. She had been up since seven that morning, sick to her stomach anyway. The nausea had finally calmed down enough to give her the courage to face food and she headed out to the cafe.

She knew she had to eat, Mary-Margret reminding her of that fact almost every day for a month. It had been that long since Mr. Gold had been taken and Emma found herself in a deep dark hole of the worst depression she had ever felt. It was all she could do to get out of bed in the mornings, much less leave the apartment. She was forced to this morning because Mary-Margret had to go to school early and David had to be at the pet shelter early as well.

She had been battling the nausea for a week now, never knowing when it would strike. That was why she picked the booth closest to the restrooms, in case she needed to make a break for it at a moments notice. Mary-Margret said that maybe it was caused by the fact she hadn't been eating all that much, just enough to get by. Emma had never had a delicate stomach before though.

She had been prone to getting sick when she was overwhelmed by too much but that really hadn't been that often, not until lately anyway. Believing in the curse had taken its toll on her, so many unfamiliar things assaulting at once. She had struggled to believe it all just like Mr. Gold had told her to do but it was hard and getting harder. Her mind returned to the night Jefferson kidnapped her and the things she should have done to stop what had happened while he had her in his control, guilt welling up inside of her once again.

She was just going to have dinner with her family, something Mr. Gold had encouraged her to do. Even after the accident in the study, she still thought she should go. The accident should have changed her mind and she was still unsure why it hadn't. Even now, she was still beating herself up for not staying to protect him and just facing the disappointment of her family.

If she had done that then maybe, just maybe she could have stopped Belle from taking him. She had never trusted the girl though she had tried to, though Mr. Gold had encouraged her to do so or at least until she found the mirror. He was beginning to change his mind just a little but he hadn't completely. It was obvious he still had feelings for the girl even though so many years had passed.

Emma knew it was those feelings that had blinded him though he tried to see past them. He was torn between them, obviously having some deep seated feelings for them both. For a month, she wondered just what he had felt for her and what he had felt for Belle. She also wondered if it were different things or the same. It was a question she knew she would never get an answer to but still it nagged at her mind.

" Hey, " Ruby had walked up without Emma noticing. She was wearing her waitress uniform that consisted of the white button down shirt, red pants and knee high flat black boots. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail that hung over her right shoulder, the last faint glimmers of the red hair dye still visible in the ends.

" Hi, " Emma still poked at her oatmeal.

" Is there something wrong with that? " Ruby asked. " I told the cook to make it the way you wanted it. Did he mess up? "

Emma shook her head, " No. It's perfect. I'm just not hungry. "

Ruby sighed, " Maybe if I brought you some fruit and some toast to go with it? "

Emma looked up at her, the mention of more food making her stomach clench in revolt. " I said I'm not hungry. "

Ruby glanced around before sitting down across from Emma. She grabbed her left hand in both of hers, " What's wrong? You've been in this funk since we rescued you from the cemetery. "

Emma sighed heavily at the words. She could still recall that night like it had only be yesterday. Jefferson had kidnapped her and forced her down into The Mills' family mausoleum in search of Belle's heart. However, Regina had taken it and had hidden away in parts unknown, using it to taunt them when they finally came face to face with The Evil Queen.

The hardest part about the memory was the vision she had of Belle betraying Mr. Gold and using his own dagger against him. There was no telling what had happened after that, a thousand possibilities tormenting Emma whenever she thought about it. Regina could have him trapped in a dungeon or she could have even killed him. Something inside of her told her that wasn't the case, knowing she would have felt something if Regina had taken his life.

" Have you talk to anyone about what happened down there? " Ruby squeezed Emma's hand, bringing her out of the constant stream of 'what-if' thoughts that filled her mind.

Emma shook her head. Who would understand when she barely understood herself? She would have to tell everything and she wasn't ready to, " No. Who can I talk to? "

" Me, " Ruby shrugged her shoulders. " Jiminy... your mother... somebody, Emma. It's eating you alive and I can't stand to see you like this any more. "

" I don't even know where to start, " Emma felt tears coming to her eyes. She wanted to talk but she didn't know how she could. The things that had happened between her and Mr. Gold were just that, between them. It wasn't anyone else's business but their own. Emma hated to keep secrets but she knew she had to keep this one, even if it ate her alive.

All it seemed like she had been doing was crying or thinking and she was getting tired of it. She felt so helpless and so guilty she just wanted to crawl off in a corner and never move again. " I just don't know. "

" You need to talk to someone, Emma. Please? " Ruby pleaded. " You're a wreck. "

" I know, " Emma said. " I know. "

" So... " Ruby said, looking like she would get the idea of what she wanted to say.

Emma shook her head, " I can't... I just... can't. "

" But why? " Ruby's voice took on a pleading edge.

Emma stared at her silently, her tongue numb in her mouth as a million reasons tried to spill across it. She was supposed to be The Savior, the hope for everyone against Regina and her evil. How would people look upon her if they knew she had slept with a man that had been reviled for centuries? A boogie man that parents told their children stories of at night to keep them on the straight and narrow.

She knew he wasn't a monster but who would listen if she tried to say it? The answer to that question was painfully obvious and she knew she was better off keeping quiet. She hung her head, " Ruby... I said I can't. "

Ruby looked around before leaning closer, " It's about Rumplestiltskin, isn't it? No one's seen him for over a month and people are saying that he's plotting something. "

" They don't know anything! " Emma said louder than she had intended. The diner fell silent, everyone looking at her for what seemed like an excruciating eternity before going back to their conversations and food. Emma sighed, " I... it's... I can't talk about it yet. "

Ruby gave her hand a squeeze, " I'll be willing to listen when you are, okay? "

Emma nodded, just hoping she would go away. She couldn't bear to be with anyone for too long and Ruby had overstayed her limit. " Yeah. When I'm ready. "

Ruby stood up, " Okay. You know where to find me. "

Emma nodded once as she walked away, deciding the oatmeal was a lost cause before pushing it away. She slowly scooted out of the booth, picking up her red leather jacket as she moved. She stood up and started to put it on, the sound of the front door bell's jingle catching her attention. It sent a shiver through her, the sound almost similar to the one from the shop.

She shut her eyes, wishing everything around her didn't remind her of him. When she thought she could, she opened her eyes and walked to the counter to pay for her uneaten meal. Ruby was at the other end of the counter, talking to what looked like a delivery driver. The driver was small framed, had on a baseball cap that covered auburn hair that was tied up in a bun and wore a jacket that bore the logo of the flower shop owned by Moe French.

Emma assumed it was the one he had hired after being put on probation. She looked at the clock and saw it was almost time for the shop to open and the driver was most likely picking up breakfast for themselves and Mr. French. Emma was somehow glad that the man did not know his daughter had been alive and was unaware of the things she had done. Emma wished she could be so unaware instead of painfully so like she was.

" Right, the same as always, " The driver's voice reached Emma's ears and her heart skipped a beat. It was a woman's voice and it was very familiar.

Emma couldn't tear her eyes away from the woman as she waited for her order. She must have sensed she was being watched for she glanced over her shoulder, her pale blue eyes catching Emma's blue-green ones. She froze, looking a bit frightened and gave Emma a good look at her face before she looked away. She scooted down the counter a bit, fidgeting nervously as Emma continued to stare.

If Emma didn't know better, she would have sworn it was Belle. Everything was the same. Her eyes, nose and the way she held her mouth, all of it. She then recalled Belle's repeated requested to find her father.

Had that been the deal she made with Regina? Rumplestiltskin in exchange to going back to her father? Emma thought about it and it did seem possible. If that were the case, why bother with the dagger?

Her mind was coming out it's haze as more and more question ran through it. If this were her chance to find out why then she had to take it but her mouth did not work. She couldn't utter a single word to the woman only a few feet from her. All she could do was stare as her heart raced, pounding in her ears as she clenched her jaw.

A few minutes later, Ruby gave the woman her order in a large brown take-out bag. " Just put it on my father's tab. He'll pay at the end of the month, " The woman's voice was trembling.

Emma continued to watch as the woman then walked quickly to the door, stealing one last fear fill glance at her before leaving. " What's up with her? Do you know her? " Ruby asked as Emma continued to stare at the door.

Emma shook her head, still staring at the street. " No... she just looks like someone I thought I knew. "

" Oh, " Ruby nodded. " You started acting kind of weird when you heard her voice. I've never seen you look at anyone like you were looking at her. It was like she did something to really piss you off. "

Emma turned to look at her, " She just sounded really familiar, that's all. "

" Well I feel sorry for the person she sounded like, " Ruby said. " You looked like you were about ready to kill her or at least beat her up really good. "

" Maybe I do want to do that to the person she sounded like, " Emma muttered.

Ruby put her hands up, " Remind me not to get on your bad side. "

" You'll never be there so don't worry, " Emma said. " Hey, I got to run. "

" And do what? " Ruby asked.

" I still have a job, you know, " Emma motioned to the street. " The town isn't going to police itself. "

Ruby rolled her eyes, " There's nothing going on out there. You're just going to sit in that office and stare at the walls. "

Emma looked at her again, " Maybe not today. "

Belle walked down the path through the forest. It was night but a huge full moon lit up the sky, almost as bright as daylight. The air was cool and felt good on her skin, so much so she carried her traveling cloak over her arms so she could enjoy the perfection of the night air. It was a night excellent for traveling and she wasn't going to waste it.

She had been on the moved for quite some time after being thrown out of Rumplestiltskin's castle. Instead of going straight back home, she decide she would seize her dream and see the world. It had been possible with the few spools of golden thread she had snatched from Rumplestiltskin, something she knew he would never miss. She wondered if he missed her though, her thoughts usually returning to him when she had nothing else to think of.

Her eyes were drawn to a particularly bright blue star overhead and she realized it was the wishing star. She stared at it for long time, marveling in its beauty when she heard the sound of a light tinkling. It was a magical sound, something akin to the tinkle of the chandeliers in Rumplestiltskin's castle when she would dust them. Out of the corner of her eyes, she sensed a growing light and she turned to face it.

" Do not be afraid, " The fairy that approached said. " I am Ruel Ghorm. I mean you no harm. "

Belle sensed no ill-will from the fairy and nodded, " I am Belle. Belle French. "

" Why are you traveling alone this night, Belle? " Ruel asked.

Belle smiled and looked at the ground. She had never seen a fairy before and the sight of it made her feel all giddy inside. She forced herself to look up and at the fairy, " I am on my way home. "

Ruel eyed her carefully, " But your home is quite far from here, is it not? "

Belle let out a nervous chuckle, " Perhaps it is. I wanted to see some of the world before I went back though. "

Ruel eyed her more closely now, her expression becoming solemn. " I see you've been touched by magic... dark magic. "

Belle fidgeted, " I was Rumplestiltskin's... housekeeper. "

" You were more than that, " Ruel said quietly. " You love him, don't you? "

" I do but he does not love me back, " Belle replied quietly. " I kissed him and he threw me out. "

Ruel moved closer, " Do not blame yourself, child. He had sworn never to love anyone or anything. "

Belle furrowed her brow, " But if that is true, why did True Love's Kiss almost work on him? "

" Almost? " Ruel looked surprised.

" When I kissed him, he started to change, " Belle explained.

Ruel frowned, " He is under a powerful curse, child. Even more powerful than True Love's Kiss. "

" If that is so, how do I break it? " Belle clutched her hands to her chest.

" There is only one way to break it but I don't think you will like it, " Ruel said. She sighed, " There is a dagger that is the key to his power. Anyone who possesses this dagger will control him. He will be their servant. "

" I don't want to control him, " Belle said. " I just want him to love me. "

" But if you have that dagger the next time you kiss him, the curse can be truly broken. The dagger will absorb his powers and then it must be destroyed, " Ruel explained.

Belle thought it over, hope welling up inside of her. " So you are saying that I can still break the curse? "

" Indeed, " Ruel replied. " You must return to him and try, child. If you say you love him like you do, then you must try. "

Belle took a sharp breath, " But how will I know this dagger? I have seen many weapons in his house. "

" It has his name written on the blade, " Ruel explained.

Belle thought long and hard, realizing she had never seen such a dagger in the house. There were many locked rooms though, rooms she had not been allowed in so she wondered if it was in one of those said rooms. She looked at Ruel, " So I must go back. "

" You must, " Ruel nodded. " You are his only hope of becoming human again. "

Belle looked back down the path then at Ruel, " Thank you. Thank you so much. "

" Do not tarry, my child! " Ruel called as Belle turned to go back to the place she had fled. " You must return to him as soon as you can. "

" I intend to, " Belle called as she practically ran back in the direction she had come from.

Emma pulled up to the corner just down from Moe French's flower shop. The delivery van was parked in front, the driver probably inside collecting orders. She had tried to concentrate at the police station but her mind kept returning to the woman and her similarities to Belle.

The resemblance was almost uncanny and she needed to sate her curiosity. She didn't have to wait long until the woman came out of the shop, carrying an armload of deliveries. Moe French was close behind her with another armload and the were followed by a tall handsome man with dark hair. Emma looked him over, seeing he almost looked like a model until her eyes reached his legs.

He walked with a stiff gait, the answer to why becoming clear when Emma's eyes settled on his ankles. They were shiny like plastic and she immediately knew he had two artificial legs. Though he looked strong, he carried the least. Emma figured it was the last of the orders and had nothing to do with his strength.

They loaded the truck, the man staying outside as the woman and Moe climbed inside. A few moments later, they climbed out and the man went back into the shop. The woman lingered and Moe said something to her. She looked nervous as she talked to him, motioning in the direction of Granny's and probably relating the story of her strange encounter with Emma.

Moe slipped his arms around her and held her tight, probably muttering fatherly assurances to her. They stayed like that for about a minute before he let her go and motioned to the truck. He was most likely saying something about the flowers and the deliveries that needed to be made. She nodded and walked to the driver's side, getting in.

Emma watched as she started the truck and pulled away from the curb, waiting a few ticks before starting the cruiser and driving down the street...