DESTINY

Chapter 17 - Frozen is coming

Author's Note: This has been a quick update because I want to complete this fanfic before season 4 actually returns. I have everything figured out and it actually makes me a bit emotional that it's coming to a near end *sigh* But without further ado, yeah, here it is!

P.S. Tell me what you think about it!

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        It was warm where he sat, probably the warmest place in Storybrooke at the moment. But there was Gold, alone like he used to be, feeling cold brought not by the weather. Neal’s dead, Belle already left his side, and all he had was his crocodile skin staring back at him from the mirror. He was gliding his fingertips on the edges of his most valuable possession – his dagger. He let Baelfire fall on the portal, on his own, transported on a land without magic because he was so coward to let go of his power. And now, he lost Belle because he thought he was so powerful that he could fool everyone, even his wife. He shut his eyes closed and clutched the Dark One’s knife through its blade, cutting his own palm and while he bled, he whispered to himself, “She finally saw the monster behind the man.”

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        She stood by the entrance, the strong winds blowing her hair against her cheeks, snow falling on her head and her eyes were welling up from tears. Emma caught her hand and pulled her inside sending a loud bang as the door slammed closed. Everyone’s eyes were on Belle, especially Zelena’s. Looking at her and concluding that Rumplestiltskin wasn’t around, only then did she finally have her nerves settle down.

“What happened?” Emma started asking Belle. She didn’t even bother to open her mouth for an answer. She was just there, her head down, staring on nothing but the floor. “What happened?” Emma repeated, this time, louder. But eliciting no reply from her, Emma held her by her shoulders and shook her, “Belle!” She squealed successfully catching her attention.

Belle just looked up on Emma’s face and began to sob, “Gold…” she cried. She leaned towards Emma and sought for comfort, hugging her close to her body. “Ru-rumplestiltskin…” she said, stuttering. Emma let her weep on her shoulders, rubbing her back as she tried to console her. “He’s becoming a beast, again,” Belle finally blurted out.

Emma didn’t know what to say, the savior was lost for words. She couldn’t agree with her because she knew, Belle is already suffering from what she just found out. But she couldn’t disagree on her statement either – she has no idea what Gold is up to right now. What’s she’s sure about though, he won’t stop until he gets exactly what he wants. But what could that be? Belle? Or revenge?

It had come to no shock on Zelena when Belle made that announcement, as well as to Regina and David. But the rest of the town, all of them were clueless.  As Belle told them entirely what she knows, that is without much details: Gold tried to kill Zelena. Everyone listened on what Belle had to say, watching her sob as they also saw a new marriage on the rocks. Clearly, the course of true love never runs smooth. After few minutes of Belle being an emotional wreck, she found just enough courage to walk over Zelena. “I’m sorry,” she uttered. “I-I’m sorry…” she repeated, not knowing how to apologize in behalf of her husband.

“He just did what he felt he needed to do,” Zelena replied making people on the room throw a look on her. “Rumplestiltskin and I…” her voice trailed, a bright smirk flashed across her face before she added, “Now we’re even.” Her words sent a sudden chill down on Belle’s spine and maybe, on everyone else’s too.

Regina stepped closer to Zelena, pulled her hand and when Zelena looked at her face to face, she said, “Just in case I haven’t told you, we don’t do revenge on our team,” she reminded her sister.