"Belle, I want you to know that I am sorry for everything. If I had to do it all again, I would make sure I was the man you deserved from the very start. I would change everything for you." ~ Mr. Gold/Rumpelstiltskin
"Sometimes the best book has the dustiest jacket. And sometimes the best teacup is chipped." ~ Belle French
Chapter OneShe spilled her sorrow in an all black room. She cried until no more tears would flow. "I am so sorry, my darling," said her father as he crushed his daughter close."She saved me..." she said brokenly. Belle shed what remained of her tears on her father's shoulder. She remembered her mother's sacrifice. Colette had died saving Belle's life. Belle would have been crushed by an ogre, but her mother had stepped in front of her. In the process, Belle's mother had died."Why would she do that for me?" Belle asked."Because she was a hero," Maurice, Belle's father said."I will be a hero like Mother," Belle said. "Someday."All she wanted was to save lives. She'd make a tremendous sacrifice, just as her mother, Colette had done when she had saved her. She would be brave and courageous. She only wanted to be half as fearless as her mother had been.Maurice brushed a kiss across the top of his daughter's auburn head. Belle was all he had left now. His sweet Colette was gone."Women like your mother... they are so very scarce.""I will be like her, Father. I swear it," Belle told him boldly."I believe you, my Belle. You can do anything you set your mind to. You would walk through fire itself, if it meant helping someone else.""I am going to find a way to save our kingdom," she stated. "I promise you.""I hope you do... because the ogres aren't giving up. Until they are vanquished from this land, none of us are safe.""I won't let anyone else die. Mother's death won't be in vain," Belle promised. "I am going to save ALL of us."~*~o~*~A couple of days passed and Belle figured out what she must do. In order to save Avonlea, she must call upon the Dark One. Everyone had warned her that she must never speak the Dark One's name. Belle had heard that calling on him three times in a row would bring him to her side. It would alert him that she needed his services. And the Dark One's services always came with a price. If he did as she requested, he would ask her to make deal. Belle was ready. She would strike a deal with the Dark One. He could name his price. Whatever it was... she was ready to pay.In the presence of her father and her betrothed, Gaston, Belle called out the Dark One's name."Rumpelstiltskin... Rumpelstiltskin... Rumpelstiltskin..." she spoke. "I summon thee."Suddenly, the Dark One appeared in a cloud of dark purple smoke. When the haze dissipated, he set his gaze on Belle. "You called upon me, Dearie?" "I did," Belle said bravely. "I am afraid... I need your services.""What kind of services?" he said as he gave her wicked grin.Belle could see the heated gleam in his eye. He seemed to devour her with his passionate gaze. Any other woman might of turned from the Dark One in fear, but not Belle. Instead she challenged him. "I want you to dispose of the ogres," she said. "Rid Avonlea of ALL of them. I want them gone... every single one.""It will be done," the Dark One promised. His rough skin was like glittering gold. "BUT..." he added. "My services always come with a price.""What do you want?" demanded Maurice. He didn't like the way the Dark One was staring at his innocent daughter, not one bit."I want HER," Rumpelstiltskin said as he pointed his finger at Belle.It was true. The Dark One's services always came with a price.