Chapter 3: Startling Transformations
God, her head was pounding.
It was a common occurrence for Belle since her release. Stress induced migraines the doctors called them. Because she had been locked up in relative isolation for so many ears, it was easy for her to get over simulated and as a result, it was very easy for her to have a crippling migraine that could last for days.
She had one of those headaches today. In fact, it was a particularly bad one considering that a normal person would've been over stimulated with what had occurred in the past few hours.
The poisoned tea. The curse being broke. Emma asking for her help, Belle doing her best to help and—well, they had a plan but it wasn't something she was sure she was up to doing.
The curse had been broken, somehow Emma had done it. Though, the woman didn't really think she had done anything to break the curse.
"Surely, you did something." Belle had told her, "Maybe when you defeated the dragon?"
Emma shook her head. "No, I didn't even really do anything. Okay, I threw the sword at the dragon but Harumple was the one who spelt it to hit the dragon. All I had to do was throw it. Not very heroic."
Belle frowned. That nickname of Rumple's annoyed her, but she tried it. She tried to hide the fact that the entire situation had hurt her in more ways than she let on.
"But you defeated Maleficent, and it seems like you saved Rumple's life."
Emma shrugged. "I just performed CPR on him. Anyone who takes Health and Safety, knows how to do that."
Belle shook her head. She didn't even know what CPR is or at least at the time, she looked it up after Emma left. She loved the internet, it was like a book in a computer. She could look up everything. And finding out that Rumple had died during their fight with that dragon, hit a little too close to home.
At least he was okay, but not in this realm apparently.
Belle had wanted to scream at Emma when she found this out. To tell her that it was her fault that Rumple was gone. That Belle had no chance at a happily ever after, but she couldn't it wasn't Emma's fault.
That was something she was trying hard to rationalize these days. But still there was that latent feeling of anger towards the woman and Belle hated it. She had to press it down which was why she kept a smile on her face throughout most of Emma's visit and tried to be a sympathetic shoulder to lean on.
To be fair, she could tolerate Emma far better than her father who had visited her earlier when the curse had broken.
Sir Maurice.
She had always resented her father, but something about the way he banged on her apartment after the curse was broke and demanded that she came home annoyed the hell out of her.
She snapped.
Well, as much as she could. She really wasn't that strong of a person. Regina and her father had done a number to her, but she had called the police on him. And Graham came over, that was before he had to deal with the post-curse crisis of Storybrooke. Apparently, everyone and their mother had gotten out their pitchforks to get Regina.
But it had seemed somewhat satisfying having Moe get removed from her home.
"You don't know what you're doing, Belle." He said.
She rolled her eyes, "I don't know what I'm doing? You sold me out to Regina, Papa. And then you come here, and demand I come home."
"Because you're still with that demon. Despite the fact that he cheated on you and is having a demon spawn with woman."
Yeah, the fact that everyone knew that Rumple was having Emma's child only put salt in the wound. But Belle tried to remain strong, during this. Despite the fact that things between her and Rumple weren't exactly going how she wanted, she did like the little apartment she settled into.
Though, little might not exactly be the best descriptive word. She thought as she sat in her quite spacious tub trying to get all the feelings that were this day. Her father wasn't going to stop, she knew that much about him. She had told Graham she was worried about Moe's interference before he left to deal with the hoard of people that surrounded Regina's house.
He sighed heavily, "He'll get the point eventually, Belle. It's…it's weird for us all. It's a good thing Gold decided to have that protective order enacted against him for you. He won't be bothering you again."
"Until he's out of jail," She said. "He's just another person who doesn't have respect for me."
Graham sighed, knowing she was referring to her time in captivity. It seemed like even though Rumple had done his best to get her justice, there had only been so much he could do. Punishing her father had been one of those things. Charging Moe in this world had been difficult, so the best that Rumple could provide her with was a protective order against Moe. He wasn't supposed to come anywhere near her. Hence, why she had been able to get Graham to come over there and arrest him.
"I don't need you to look at me that way," Belle found herself telling him. "Like I'm someone to be pitied."
She couldn't help it, but she was having a rather emotional day.
Graham sighed. "I'm sorry. You don't deserve this, none of us deserve this. But you've been through some much. Regina really did put you through the ringer, it's more than what most people have dealt with."
Belle nodded. "I'm trying to move on with my life."
"I know," Graham said. "It has to be hard with—"
With Emma and everything, he didn't need to tell her that. Her hope for a better future, a better future with Rumple that she had clung on to for so many years was all but gone.
It wasn't just that her future was wrecked, but her health as well. The migraine that she was currently dealing with was a testament to that. The smelling salts and pills she had taken weren't helping. The headache had only seemed to get worse, by the time Belle had gotten out of the tub she found herself throwing up.
It was not going to be a good night.
The sad thing is since her time in the asylum, she had several times where she knew she wasn't going to have a good night. It made a live in nurse necessary. Not that Belle wanted to admit it, until Rumple found her that one night on the floor passed out from the pain.
The headaches for the most part were improving. It was nowhere near as bad as it had been when she first was released from the hospital, at least until today.
Belle shook her head as she finally stopped vomiting and made her way over to the bed, a good night's rest was all she needed. The day had just been too much for her.
She hoped she felt better tomorrow. She had, after all, told Emma she'd help her figure out their miraculous plan, even though she was not sure she was up to task.
Sure, she knew the theoretical about portal travel and about potion making but…but she wasn't magical. And it wasn't like before, they knew that the well lead to whatever the world where Rumple and Jaime had went.
She remembered during her stay at the Dark Castle, that he eventually trusted her enough to have her do research.
"Not a word to anyone, dearie." He said when he brought her into the library.
"I know, I know, you'll turn me into a gastropod if I tell."
"I don't know about a gastropod." He said, "It would be a waste of your—besides, you're not going to tell anyone."
"You know I won't, Rumple." She said, "But really, you want me to look into realm traveling."
He nodded.
"Don't you know all about that? You are the Dark One after all."
"Just because I'm the Dark One doesn't mean I know everything." He said.
She had always been good at researching. During those months, she had learned so much about realm travel. She also understood why Rumple wanted her to research it, while there were methods most of them weren't really viable.
The most reliable realm travel there was through mermaids and unless you knew the portals and had fins. It wasn't exactly viable. However, you could become a mermaid, which was something she told Emma when Emma started bemoaning about how that means of portal training was out.
"Not necessarily," Belle said.
"I'm not a mermaid." Emma said.
"Yes," Belle said, "But you could become one. And we know that the well leads to the world that Regina was most likely traveling to or one of them. It would be a way to get there."
"As a mermaid?" Emma asked.
Belle nodded.
"Are you saying you could give me a fishtail. Make me a God damn Ariel."
"I think there's a potion or something." Belle frowned not understanding the Disney movie reference, "It's possible. I'll need to research it though. I might not be up to the task though, I'm not magical. And some potions require magic. If it is a potion. I really don't know. I've only heard about the transformation in passing."
"I know a witch," Emma said. "Though, it's possible you could make it?"
Belle nodded. "Yes, I might be able to."
Which left her feeling overwhelmed after the conversation, the look of hope on Emma's face. She didn't tell her that such transformation could be risky if what she could vaguely recall was correct.
"Belle," Emma said knocking on the door—she was staying with her this evening. Belle had mentioned something about her father, and how no one was here and Emma had offered to stay. She was grateful, but at the same time—
At the same time the situation felt all kind of wrong.
She liked Emma, she really did, but at the same time she felt uneasy about her. She kept thinking about what could've been. She needed to get over it, she thought. There were plenty other fish and the sea besides Rumple.
But he was supposed to be mine.
She shook her head at the selfish voice in the back of her head, as she opened the door.
Emma shook her head when she saw her, "You need to get to bed."
"I'm fine." Belle lied.
"I heard you vomiting." Emma said, "I pushed you too much today."
"You didn't." She said, "It felt good to get my mind engaged. I should be researching a way to transform you into a mermaid."
"No," Emma said. "You've done enough for tonight. Harumple would kill me if he let me let you into the library this evening. You need to get some rest, Lace—Belle."
She sighed heavily, "Really, Emma. Doing research would help more than laying in my bed. I'd just—"
She'd just think of Rumple.
"It's okay." Emma said, "I know the asylum brought bad memories. That's why you don't want to take your pills, isn't it?"
Belle nodded. "It's that and a lot of things."
"But you look positively green."
"I took some headache pills." Belle said, "I thought maybe I could do some light reading in the library."
"With a headache?"
Belle sighed, Emma might've had a point, her head was throbbing more than usual, but she shook her head. "No, no, reading will help me. And it will help you get to Jaime and Rumple faster."
"Do you even have a book about turning someone into a mermaid?"
"Well, have to see won't we?" Belle asked.
Emma looked at her, "Really?"
"There were some magic books that came over with the curse," Belle said. "At least that's what Rumple always speculated."
There were books. Tons and tons of magical books, they found them through that library. Emma had made her take them back to her room, after she got a stack. She guessed it was a fair enough of a compromise.
However, as comforting as books were, they really didn't help with the pain.
The pain.
Ignore it, she told herself. As she opened an old looking tome that dealt with magical transfiguration.
She flipped towards the index to see if there was anything about mermaids. However, she never even got to reading about what was required to transform someone into a fin creature when the pain got too much.
And she couldn't concentrate anymore.
A second later and she felt herself dropping the book and all she wanted to do was scream. But she didn't, instead she bit down on her tongue hard as she felt herself slowly black out.
When she opened her eyes again, she felt different. It was hard to explain, but she suddenly knew things. She also felt more reconciled with her emotions. More justified with the hate she had been suppressing, like she had every reason in the world to be angry. That she should have no regrets. Which was why when Emma came down to breakfast that day, Belle was ready for her with a bracelet.
"What's this?" Emma asked
"It will transform you into a mermaid."
Emma gave her a weird look. "You found that from reading a book?"
"Yes," She said though that wasn't exactly the truth. How she found out about the bracelet was a bit different. Something she wasn't sure of. It was instinctual than anything else. But she knew what the bracelet would do, what it could do. "It will turn you into a mermaid. You can go into the other realm and rescue your son. Take the bracelet off and it will transform you back into a human. It's as simple as that."
Not that simple, but there was no need to explain the details. It would do what Emma wanted. It would have her travel realms.
It would get her out of Belle's hair. And hopefully out of Rumple's life.
"As in now, as in there's no need for additional magic?"
"As long as there's water at the bottom of that well it should work." Belle said. "When you transform, you should instinctually see the portal. Something about water makes the gateway more accessible."
Emma nodded as though she understood what Belle was saying. She doubted it, Rumple's wife wasn't that bright. She doubted she had even read a book in the past few years.
God, what was wrong with her? She brushed off the guilt as quickly as it came. She had known this was the right thing to do this morning. It was her only chance, besides, Emma had asked for the help.
"Well, then," Emma said. "If that's it. I guess it's time to head out to that well and put on that bracelet. Maybe I should put on a swimsuit though because I refuse to wear a shell bra."
The reference completely went over Belle's head. She always thought mermaids went around topless, at least that's how they were portrayed in the books. But she didn't focus on that that long. Instead, she kept thinking that this was all working to her advantage. Not that she quite knew what that was.
It went like clock work. She took Emma for the clearing Emma did look ridiculous, when she stripped down to the black bikini she was wearing.
She shook her head, "I guess it's better than a shell bra. But still, I feel ridiculous. I shouldn't even be wearing this. I'm almost six months pregnant. I actually bought a maternity swimsuit a few weeks ago. And trust me, when I was bitching about it."
Belle didn't say anything. Quite frankly she didn't want to think about Rumple and Emma's baby.
Emma saw Belle's face, "I'm sorry. I know it still has to sting whenever I bring up the baby. I just, it's hard for me not to think about it."
"Don't be," Belle lied as she handed Emma the bracelet. "Are you ready for this?"
"Ready as I'll ever be." Emma said as she got on top of the well before she slipped on the bracelet.
The transformation was drastic. It seemed like everything about Emma, in a way, changed. She had a tail now instead of legs, and that wasn't the only change to her figure. The glamour that Rumple had put on her body seemed to melt with the transformation. Although, mermaid reproduction was quite different than that of humans, Emma appeared to be a mermaid at her fertile peak. Her breasts grew fuller to the point the bikini top was borderline indecent, her features softened, and her body had became thicker. Curvier. Though as a mermaid she did not have a visible baby bump like she would've as a human. Mermaids didn't get pregnant, they laid eggs, and were at their physical peak when they laid them. As made evident with her scale which were extremely shimmery and glinted as if they were sparkly gems. Signs to a merman that the mermaid was ready to mate.
"Holy crap," The woman said flipping her extremely shiny red tail. "It worked. Maybe a little too well. I'm a mother fucking mermaid. I have a tail. I have mermaid hair. All I'm missing is the God damn shell bra."
Again with the shell bra. Belle was going to have to figure out what the hell Emma was talking about.
But all she could do right now was nod and say " I know. You can save Jaime now."
"I can," Emma said. "I can. Thank you Belle, you don't know how you did it, but you did. I can't thank you enough."
"You can thank me when you get back." Belle lied.
Emma nodded before she jumped into the water.
Emma was gone.
And Belle couldn't help but smile as the mermaid disappeared into the well.
Because little did Emma know, that she would not be able to remove that bracelet and if the bracelet was not removed within three days, Emma would permanently be a mermaid. Forever. And eventually she would forget. Forget about her human life, and would only know her life as a mermaid.
Was it bad Belle sort of had the urge laugh right now?
Emma also didn't know how difficult realm travel was. While Belle knew that the waters indeed lead back to the world where Rumple was, there were many detours that Emma could take. It wasn't as instinct driven as she made it out to be, not that she didn't know that until she woke up this morning. It was one of many things that had popped into head.
Belle knew itt could take Emma at least a three or four days just to get to the Enchanted Forest. That is, if she followed the right path. Which was doubtful. And it wasn't like Rumple was right by the sea. By the time she arrived in the Enchanted Forest, Emma could be a complete different person— err, mermaid. She definitely wouldn't be attracted to the Dark One not with how fickle creatures mermaids were. They were always mooning over pretty boy pirates and sailors. Dark Ones…well, they were too reptilian for the finned creatures.
And Rumple would find a way home that was one thing Belle knew. And when he came back she'd be ready. He would be there and finally open his eyes for what was in front of him.
A part of her wanted to smile things had worked out so perfectly, but she also felt herself shaking. She had been so sure earlier that this was the best decision. After she had woken up, things seemed much clearer. If she wanted another chance with Rumple, she was going to have to be proactive and that meant getting Emma out of the way. And she had helped her, but she felt so guilty too.
She shook her head, there was not time for guilt. No time for regrets.
She was going to get her family back.
"Belle!"
She groaned when she heard the voice.
Really? He couldn't be kept in lockup more than a day. Sure enough, there was her father glaring at her. "We need to talk, girl."
Seriously, girl now?
She glared at him. She didn't know how he got here or how he got out of jail. When she mentioned this he laughed.
"You should know I'm friends with King George—the DA." He snapped as he approached her, "As for finding you, I had men watching your apartment. I'm not that stupid. You're coming with me. We're going to get you straight once and for all."
He then tried to grab her, and Belle flinched away.
"Don't make me hurt you, Belle." He said, "You know, I'm only doing what's right."
"What's right?" She said, "You sold me to Regina. You sold me out and had me locked in a dungeon."
"I thought you were an asylum." He said, "Don't act like it was that bad. You were fed. Clothed."
The anger overtook her. All that feeling of rage, she felt it as she felt something appear from her hand. She didn't even have to look down to know what it was—a fireball.
Somehow she wasn't freaked out, like she had done this before. But it was impossible. She had never held a fireball in her hands before or thrown it at someone before either. But that, is exactly what she did. And as the fireball hit its target—her father. As it devoured him and turned him into ashes, she didn't feel any guilt. Instead, she felt relief. Relief that finally after all these years, she was taking back control of her life.