Belle was not as stupid in matters of the heart as Baelfire may have been under the impression of. She knew he was just trying to make her feel better, and she appreciated it. Belle thought Regina was the only one who could help her. She nodded and pulled her cloak over her head shadowing her features. She let forth a whisper silent to human ears but not to magical ears. Her horse appeared at her side. She climbed up on the horse.

“Get on Baelfire. You will just have to hold onto me,” She smiled reassuringly, “We are off to see the Evil Queen.”

Ooc: Regina Mills go ahead and make your intro post after what happened in the series. Baelfire and I will reply after that. We’re going to find you, but I’m not sure where you want to play her at considering we don’t know where she ends up since the season hasn’t started yet.

The curse was truly broken now, and the residents of Storybrooke had appeared back in the Enchanted Forest. It was strange indeed to be back in the Enchanted Forest. On one hand, she was glad to be back, but she would miss some of the conveniences that Storybrooke had provided. Then there was Henry, her darling baby boy. She would never be able to see him again, and even if she did find a way he wouldn't remember her. She had made sure of that. At least Emma Swan had stayed behind to look after Henry. As much as she hated to admit it, Ms. Swan had proved herself to be a good mother. She was sure they would have a happy life together, that would have to be enough for her. There was nothing she could do about it after all.

As she looked around she realized that she was in her castle's stables. That little imp was so determined to have the last laugh, wasn't he? Well fine, it's not like he could get to her anymore. She'd let him have this. "You think you're so funny, don't you Rumple?" She questioned with a bitter laugh as she looked toward the sky. She still could not believe that Rumplestilskin of all people, was dead. News about that little development was sure to spread quickly through the kingdoms. Many would likely be pleased that the Dark One was gone, but not Regina. Part of her was relieved of course, the queen and the imp had always gone back and forth trying to get one over on one-another. Nevertheless, Rumplestilskin had been a permanent fixture in her life ever since they first met. It was strange to think that he would no longer be around for her to mess with. Speaking of Rumplestilskin, she had to wonder how that bookworm of his was holding up. She and Belle had never been close, considering their past that was no surprise, but she knew just how it felt to lose the one you loved. Perhaps she would go see the girl after she had settled in again. For now though, she needed to get used to being back in this land. Perhaps she should take a ride? She was already in the stables after all. With a sigh, she saddled up and mounted a horse, and rode away from the castle grounds.

Baelfire hadn't been to Regina's castle in years since he was a kid and now he was going with Belle to find her for help. Baelfire remembered the rivalry that his father had with Regina, and wasn't sure whether she'd be glad to see him.

Baelfire was sitting on the horse with Belle as they headed to the palace of Regina, the possibly former Evil Queen. Baelfire looked around the Forest and observed how much damage had actually been done with the casting of this curse. Most palaces were destroyed, however, alot of them were still live-able.

Bae looked at Belle and smiled, "So, do you know where Regina is exactly Belle?" Bae was curious as to how they will find her, but, trusted Belle taking the lead.

Belle barely heard Baelfire’s words as she mindlessly fumbled with the ruby pendant she had been given long ago in a shop before the curse. The pendant was given to her by an elderly woman who had tried to warn Belle about Hook and Rumpelstilskin and that her heart would be torn to pieces either way. One evening after the curse while Mr. Gold and Belle were wrapped in eachothers arms after a long night of love making he whispered into her ear about his deepest fears. He feared for her safety because anyone tied to the infamous Mr. Gold would always be a target. It was then that she told him about the ruby pendant and the past after he had discarded her for his power. She could see the hurt on his face after being reminded of the pain he had caused her. Mr. Gold was a changed man at that time, and her heart would never forget. She tightened her gloved hands on the horse’s reigns and looked over her shoulder at Baelfire who was now sitting behind her.

“Your father was a genius Bae. He enchanted my ruby pendant to guide me to my heart’s desire if I ever lost my way,” She paused to frown and glance at the gathering sky, “Unfortunately that did not include him if he was not in this world or there was a chance he had died. That is one of the reasons I need Regina’s help. Funny how the tides have turned and I am seeking his greatest student to find him.” She laughed her breath entangling with the sudden cold air, “I had plenty of time to listen to his stories, and you know me… I love a good story.” Belle managed a weak smile as the horse continued to travel the distance to Regina’s castle, “And he told me where Regina had been banished to and how to enter her castle.”

A bleak darkness encroached around them as they entered the banished nether regions of the Enchanted Forest. At one time Belle would have been slightly weary, but now with her heart changing she welcomed the bitter taste of evil. Regina had changed, but her bitterness remained in the world since the world had reverted to right before the curse. Ancient trees wept and bent in terror from the darkness. The sky was cloudy and sounds of thunder could be heard overhead crackling above the palace. The stone was fire stained and yet so cold. Belle removed Bae’s arms from her waist and slid off the horse to approach the door. She paused before removing her glove and placing it on the dusty oak door. She closed her eyes and surged the power from within her and her intentions into the lock. Her aura had once been white, but had changed into the bleakest purple hue one could imagine. This world welcomed her, because the energy was so similar to Regina’s darkness. The door opened without hesitation and welcomed Baelfire and Belle into the darkness of Regina’s castle.

“Regina, I have come for you.” Belle stopped as the wind blew violently against the castle’s walls outside, “I need your help,” Her tone was demanding and yet frantic. Belle tore at her shirt revealing some of her chest barely concealing her breasts, “Take my heart. Crush it and let me die.” For the first time in a while tears fell down her face. Without the man she loved she felt everything good about her slipping away. The dark magic within her was over taking her white sage wisdom. The ache of a dying, dark, and broken heart could not be ceased without death.

Her words were not words that Baelfire would have most likely been expecting.

ooc- Regina's turn, then Bae's turn.
Regina Mills
Baelfire/Neal Cassidy

"Regina, I have come for you." Regina heard a woman's voice shout call as she strode though the foyer, after being alerted that there were intruders in the castle when she got back from her ride. Well, that didn't take long. And here I thought I would have a bit of a vacation from these people. She thought to herself with a roll of her eyes, looking for these supposed intruders. When she saw the visitors in her castle, she blinked in surprise. Rumple's golden girl and his son, who for some reason fate had decided should be related to her twice over. Hadn't that been a joy to find out. It was strange that they had come to visit her of all people. Judging by the look on her face this had been Belle's idea, but she could not figure out why she would have come to visit the queen. They weren't exactly friends after all, and she was hardly the one to go to for comfort for the imp's death.

Unfortunately, it soon became clear why Belle had come to her of all people. Rip out my heart she says! Kill me! Like it's just that easy. Regina put her hands on her hips and frowned. "I'm afraid I can't do that my dear. Unfortunately, I understand how you're feeling, but if there is an afterlife Rumple would never stop beating me with that stupid cane of his if I sent you there early." told the brunette. Besides that, she knew that she would never be able to face Henry if she went through with it and the mother and child somehow found their way back to each other. What could she tell him? "Hey Henry, remember that bookworm Belle you liked? Well she's dead. I killed her, but she told me to so it's fine right?" Yes, that would go over well.

When she saw tears start to roll down Belle's face she frowned and stepped toward her. With an unusual amount of empathy she wrapped her arms around the woman and rubbed her back as she cried. "Shhhh. I know it's hard. I know." She said softly, regretting the few tears that fell from her eyes. Her crying was not going to help anybody! What were they going to do, have a crying session here in the foyer? The Evil Queen reduced to tears by Gold's harmless bibliophile. Oh yes, that would do wonders for her image. But then, perhaps she wasn't so harmless anymore? There was still the matter of how she had gotten into Regina's castle in the first place, after all. Few people could get past the magic ward she had put on the door to keep intruders out. Rumple had known how to of course, had he taught Belle? Deciding to satisfy her curiosity, she looked at the pair of them and asked, "How did the two of you manage to get in here anyway?"

Baelfire hopped off the horse and followed Belle inside the castle, as Belle went to ask for help. Baelfire watched on as the two of them approached Regina and Belle began talking to her. Bae was even more surprised by the reaction of Regina, placing her arms around Belle.

Bae hadn't seen this castle since he was a young kid, it looked alot different. Bae wasn't sure what was going to happen, but, she was right about his father. He would haunt her if the afterlife existed.

Bae looked at Belle and then back at Regina, "Well, actually Belle got us in here Regina" Bae said, finally speaking up. "Well, actually she forced our way in here" Bae said smiling before looking at Belle.

Lost in the darkness
Hoping for a sign
Instead there's only silence
Can't you hear my screams?

Never stop hoping
Need to know where you are
But one thing's for sure
You're always in my heart

Belle was not one to show weakness and being Rumpelstiltskin’s right hand woman for the last hundred years had required her to be strong. Here she was in the darkest of dark places seeking comfort from one of the darkest of hearts. Belle welcomed the woman’s warm embrace and dug her nails into Regina’s back as her body collapsed against her in near hysteria. The pain in her heart seemed to stab her with every hateful beat. Belle wanted it gone, but Regina had refused to do it. Belle pulled away and looked into Regina’s dark cocoa hued eyes. Belle’s eyes were ice cold minus the glistening tears that threatened to melt her ice. No, Regina would not do it. Belle could tell from the expression on her face that she was hurting too and that some of the evil she had was gone. She remembered that Regina had just lost Henry and that she was most likely in pain as well. The two women had loved Rumpelstiltskin in different ways, very different ways, but they had both cared nonetheless.

She stared mindlessly and slightly numb at the wall while Regina and Baelfire conversed. Of course Regina would be curious as to how an innocent girl like Belle would have found her way through all of the nightmares that would have tried to prevent her. Belle was protected by the darkness for a reason unknown to her. It was guiding her as if they had been friends forever. She turned to Regina her face motionless for the moment as she ripped out her own heart. Belle let out a loud gasp and began to laugh an almost sinister laugh. She could crush her own heart and free herself from the prison that love had damned her to, but something within told her to believe in hope. Her fingers gently caressed her aching heart as she showed it to Regina. Despite her desire to destroy her own heart she was afraid to drop it on the cold marble floor of the foyer. A darkness had consumed half of her otherwise pure heart. It was similar to Snow’s transforming heart, but much darker. Love would forever taint the heart of someone who had lost it. For Belle there was no chance at second love, Rumpelstiltskin had been her first and last true love.

“Things are changing within me Regina. I cannot control my hate, my sadness, or my pain. I have to hold onto the notion that he is still alive, or I have nothing. Hope is the only thing keeping me alive,” Belle’s voice was weak and crackled as she fought back the tears that once again threatened to consume her, “The darkness led me here and the darkness opened the door… He has to be alive Regina. He just has to be. Do you have anything in this palace or any kind of spell that can help us?”

Regina Mills

Almost hope you're in heaven
So no one can hurt your soul
Living in agony
Cause I just do not know
Where you are

Wherever you are
I won't stop searching
Whatever it takes me to know

Belle had gotten them here? This little slip of a woman? She knew that Belle was more formidable than she looked, but to hear that she had gotten through Regina's protections threw the former evil queen for a loop. How did she get in that easily? A surprised look crossed her face as Belle nearly collapsed in her arms.

When she refused to rip Belle's heart out she was startled to see Belle reach into her own chest and pull it out herself. Never had she thought Rumplestilskin's woman would be capable of such a thing. She was sure that Rumple wouldn't have taught her something like that, had her own grief allowed her to perform such a feat? She watched as the other woman showed her her heart. The thing that disturbed her most about this scene was that it was incredibly familiar. She could easily recall the long nights after Daniel's death, after she had begun learning magic from Rumple, when she had pulled her own heart from her chest. Wanting to end it. Wanting to escape this cruel world that her love had left her behind in. She watched as her arm rose and her hand came to rest on Belle's heart, almost mesmerized by the scene.

When she heard Belle say that the darkness had led her here, that Rumplestilskin was alive she let out a high-pitched laugh. "Oh that would be just like him wouldn't it?" She said with her voice full of mirth. "He always did find a way around these things!" She told her with a smirk. She didn't want to give Belle hope of a reunion with her love when there was none, but if anyone could live through what he had done to himself, it would be the great Rumplestilskin. There was a reason he had been, and would possibly still be, one of the most feared sorcerers throughout the land. "I think I may have something, let's see shall we?" She said, turning on her heel and striding toward the left wing, assuming that the others would follow her. She wascurious to find out once and for all if Belle's hope could be true. But first, "Do put that back in, would you? I highly doubt Rumple would be pleased if he saw you like that if you are reunited." She said looking at Belle again and gesturing to the other woman's heart.

Baelfire continued to watch as Belle and Regina talked. Bae walked up to Belle and placed her hand on her shoulder, "Regina's right Belle. My dad wouldn't want you to do this" Bae looked at Regina, and smiled. Bae hadn't seen this side of her ever, she was being comforting and reassuring. It kind of scared him. 

Bae thought about the life he had here all those years ago. He and his father had once been happy, before that stupid dagger came into their lives. Bae shook his head bringing him back into reality, "Honestly, I think my father will always be with you." Bae said, placing his hand over Belle's heart, "With all of us" Bae looked down placing his hand over his own heart. Bae didn't disbelieve this, he knew his father would be impossible to forget, even all those years that they were seperated Rumpel never left his thoughts. 

Belle smiled genuinely at Baelfire and pushed her heart back into her chest. She knew Rumpelstiltskin would have never wanted this life for her, and that he would have stopped her before the action had taken place. The truth was he had not taught her the spell, the truth was the darkness was teaching her. She had tested the spell on the man at the tavern on accident, and it took just once for her to master the spell that she had always hated. She had always been under the impression that she should be in charge of her own heart, not someone who might have stolen it. Then again what was the difference? Here she was back in the Enchanted Forest without the man she loved. He had stolen her heart without a spell, and left her. Belle had always wanted him to find his courage and to right things with Baelfire, but she had not wanted it to end like this. Never in a million years would she have thought he would have sacrificed himself for the good.

“Villains don’t get happy endings,” She muttered under her breath while following Regina into the left wing of her palace. He had sacrificed himself for the greater good, he was no longer a villain. She clenched her cloak closer to her covering up her exposed chest. He was her hero, and he deserved a happy ending. Belle pulled the hood of her cloak down and let out a sigh of relief. She was not going to let the darkness get the best of her. Baelfire and Regina were right, she was better than this. The pain was not going to go away, but she was not going to change. A scream from the shadow sounded like a creature straight from Hell had just died. She was slowly gaining power over her own fate once more. Her famous line of no one controlling her fate was living in front of her. She would find him and they would finally have their happy ending. Belle would not fail him. She could not risk it.

Everyone had been changed from the experience and it had been unbearably traumatic. She glanced at Regina. Rumpelstiltskin had outwitted her and played her for his own benefit when it came to the curse. Belle had saved Regina from being murdered by Mr. Gold many times, especially when he found out she was the reason he had lost Belle, and it was that belief in hope that Regina could change that had given Belle the power to fight against the man she loved. Belle smiled warmly at Regina without realizing it. Belle had been right, and Mr. Gold had been wrong.

She then tilted her head to look behind her at Baelfire. Bae seemed lost in his own thoughts, but strangely optimistic. He was everything good that had come from Rumple. He had been brave enough to reach out and touch her heart while encouraging her to do the right thing. He was her conscious as she was losing herself. He had lost his son and Emma. A frown formed across her face, a moment of pity. Everyone was missing Henry. Belle turned her attention to Regina once more.

“Regina, Rumple said that Villains don’t get happy endings… I disagree with this. You aren’t a Villain anymore.” She stopped to place a hand over Regina’s hand. She smiled one of her award winning Belle smiles, “Both of you became heroes. Rumple gave his life for us and you gave up Henry. We will find them both again. I know you miss him, how could you not? He might not be your blood but true love comes in many forms. The bond between a parent and a child is the truest of true. Rumple made the curse to find Bae,” She grinned and quoted herself, “Love is layered, and waiting to be discovered.”

A gentle hum buzzed from under Belle’s cloak distracting them all from Belle’s words. Quickly she pulled back the cloak and the Ruby pendant seemed to pull her towards a dark and dusty book. She pulled the book off of the shelf without permission and ran her fingers along the book’s cover.

“I now know why I couldn’t find him!” Belle exclaimed her eyes a lite with hope, “The darkness was teaching me magic, but it was blocking my light. My light is Mr. Gold.” She blew the dust off of the book and extended it to Regina, “If there is one thing I know it is books… this is the Wizard of Oz. Does this make any sense to you?”

Regina Mills

Regina smiled softly at Baelfire's words as he tried to comfort Belle. "I'm sufe he will." She agreed before turning her attention to Belle. This girl really was a strange one. First, she had come to Regina of all people for help, and now she was smiling at her for no apparent reason. Other than Henry people didn't smile at her, not sincerely anyway. It was creepy. "Having fun dear?" She asked, letting some sarcasm seep in to her voice.

Regina stiffened as she listened to Belle speak. She wanted more than anything to see Henry again, to hold him, to tell him how much she loved him, but because of the memories she had implanted in Henry and Emma's minds he wouldn't remember her even if she found her way back to him. She would have to trust Emma to raise him right, to hope for more would be setting herself up for disappointment. She didn't dare allow herself to hope, though if she was honest with herself she could feel some hope bubbling up inside her at Belle's words. What if it was possible? But what if it isn't? She chided herself. She didn't think Belle would react well to these thoughts however, so she just plastered a smile on her face and said, "I'm sure we will dear".

She looked on in bewildered amusement as Belle made a beeline for a bookshelf once they reached their destination. Once a bookworm, always a bookworm she supposed. What was slightly more surprising was when Belle handed the book over to her. She ran her hands over it in thought, trying to recall the tale. "This is Oz isn't it? With the wonderful wizard no one can say they've seen, the great Glinda the Good, and the Wicked Witch of the West." She said almost mockingly. It was really quite rich for her of all people to be referring to anyone as wicked. "My mother was always quite evasive when I brought up this land. I always wondered why." She muttered more to herself than anyone else before looking up at Belle and Bae. "I don't suppose you know where we can find a yellow brick road?" She asked the pair sarcastically.

Bae had heard about Oz before, even though he had no idea about anything in it. Bae watched as Belle got a book down from the shelf and gave it to Regina. He knew about as much as Regina did.

He looked down as he remembered what his father told him once about the land. He told him it was the home to a very evil being, and coming from the Dark One he was kind of scared to know who it was. Bae looked back up at Regina, as she asked about the yellow brick road "No idea" Bae said with a shrug.

This beautiful thread is now complete. Belle, Baelfire, and Regina are now going to meet the Wizard and friends here ouadrpg.proboards.com/thread/510/heart-yellow-brick-road-group