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Being alive, episode 1, part 1

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Summary:  This is a AU Rumbelle. I’ve fusioned Once Upon A Time and Stargate Universe, sprinkled with a little dash of Doctor Who. Belle is stuck in a little corner of her planet, with her father, powerthirsty clerics, and a war against monsters rage. One day, a lonely traveler arrive and strikes a deal with her father for her.

Pairing: Rumplestiltskin/Belle  (It should be Rumshplestiltskin, considering I’ve merged Rumple and Nicholas Rush)

Word Count: 14,587 / Complete.

Rating: M

I’ve decided to treat it, not like a story, but more like a Tshow, with separate adventures  following each other. Of course there’s a big scheme :) Hence, why the chapters are more episodes than actual chapters.


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 The planet was like numerous others at the outer edge of what was considered the civilised ring of planet. It had a big country sized city, the headcity and continent sized suburbs and deserted areas. Von Stiltskin liked the latter better, because it was often out of range of detectors and people living there generally didn’t want to be found.

What usually happened in those cases was Nick offering his technical services in exchange of what he needed. He stayed one or two days on the planet and took off. It was as safe as could be, a lone traveller in an isolated town, people so cut from civilizations were always in need of repairs.

 
The man in front of him was looking at him like he had two heads. Okay, maybe he really landed far from civilisation, this time. The village was obviously very poor, quite… uncivilised, actually. He could see a well, old houses made of stones and mud, some trees… The ground under his feet was dry, too dry for agriculture unless they could irrigate… Maybe he could make his deal in that area, propose to make that soil arable with irrigation plans…

He watched the people, they were dressed properly, poorly but properly. He could also provide tissue… His ship was storing goods for him to trade… Nicholas had some potential offers to make, it was all good. He looked at the girl next to the man, making sure to only glance fleetingly at her. He didn’t know the customs of that people and one time he had almost lost his eyes for looking too long at a woman. She was a petite woman in her twenties, smaller than him, with a round face and strikingly blue eyes. She wasn’t dressed like a princess, no jewels but a bracelet, but her hair was wavy brown with reflections of red. He decided not to offer anything petty and vain for her, that people looked more in need of food than pretty items.

"Greetings, I am Doctor Nicholas Von Stiltskin"

The woman opened wide eyes at him and looked surprised. He glanced at her then back to the man. From the age difference and looks, he thought she was his daughter but he wouldn’t attempt saying it out loud ; once he nearly had his tongue ripped out because he mistook someone’s sister for that someone’s fiancée. Despite what people thought, he learnt from his mistakes.
The man answered.
"Greetings, traveller. I am Mauo, the chief of this people."

Von Stiltskin nodded respectfully.
"How can we help you, Doctor Nicholas Von Stiltskin"
"Please, call me Nicholas. The whole name is a mouthful."

Mauo looked relieved.
"That’s quite a mouthful indeed." He looked like he wanted to add something but refrained, and after a silence, he added "How can we help you ?"

Nicholas grinned, and his tongue appeared to lick his top as he looked downward to consider his answer. “Maybe I can help you ?”
"Explain yourself, Nicholas"
"Well, I am a dealer. I offer things and services in exchange of other things and services. I trade"
Mauo thought for a moment, then replied “You are a merchant.”
Nicholas nodded. “Yes I am, of sorts. I am also a thinker… I can help you with plans, and else. I saw you had water underground, I could help you with agriculture and irrigation”

Mauo frowned, this man was not a merchant like they were talked about in stories of their lands. He became instantly distrustful.
"What do you want in exchange of this generosity ?"
He instinctively put her arm protectively around his daughter.

"Water" Nicholas answered. "I would like water. My tanks are almost empty"
Mauo cocked an eyebrow, obviously perplexed. To him, no agriculture plans were worth so little as water.
Belle interrupted. “Why not going to the Headcity then ? As a merchant, you must have money, you can afford water from an official source… Why here ?”

Von Stiltskin was surprised. Really he was. He thought he was in a patriarchist culture who didn’t let women speak, but obviously he was wrong. Women could talk in this hole away of civilisation. It was actually a good surprise. He had seen societies based on equality, amazon-like cultures -which he avoided like plaque- but most of them were based on male dominance. That girl was bright, smart and logical. Of course, she was right, anyone with a drop of sense would go to headcities to replenish a ship. Only people flying under the radar would request one so far from actual civilisation. He thought he’d do good avoiding that girl, she was way too smart for her own good. He looked at her, and the ghost of a smile appeared on his lips, briefly.
"As you probably guessed, Dearie, I’m not… interested in going to Headcities. I’m more of a small town man."

Belle narrowed her eyes. Mauo decided to avoid her daughter and the stranger fighting and cut in, before Belle could answer Nicholas.
"Well, if you want water and give us plans in exchange, it can be arranged."

Nicholas nodded and smiled nervously and briefly. He looked around. “I’ll need to scan the surroundings from up high to determine the best plan for the irrigation. I’ll just fly over and then I’ll take the night to make the plan. We’ll conclude our deal tomorrow and I’ll be on my way.”

Mauo nodded. “Let’s eat together, Nicholas… Noone should stay alone for a meal. My daughter will show you around, surely, you need to see the well…”
"I can see it from up in the Sky, Mauo… It’s fine, really."

He didn’t want to spend more time than necessary with the too smart girl. His guts told him she was troubles, and he was not the kind of men to invite troubles. 
Belle, however, came forward and hooked her arm with his.
"Nicholas… You must have tales to share, about your travels, please, tell me about them."

Mauo smirked, his daughter was definitely her mother’s daughter. Belle was a ball of fire, never backing out from a mystery and obviously, she was considering this man being one. He pitied the guy. He was going to get quizzed about everything in the galaxy. He hid his smile and looked at Belle leading Nicholas away. That man could be useful. He wondered if his village really needed agriculture when the man had a spaceship and himself had a daughter to lead away from here. He definitely needed to talk to Nicholas alone. Well, only if Belle agreed to let him go. Seeing them walk away together - actually, seeing Belle jerking poor Nicholas forward, the man looked like he was going to get a tooth ripped out - Mauo thought he was going to have a hard time to get the traveler alone.

Von Stiltskin thought he was going to tear off his ears, or her tongue. That girl was asking so much questions, he couldn’t even think of the beginning of an answer.
"I’ve heard of the Elkium nebulae, is it true its colour is like the metal we used to extract from here ? Is it true Avonlea is the biggest planet ? What is a magitrion particle ? Are Erythotrions that evil ? Are the stories about the Empress true ? And abo-"
Nicholas laid a silencing finger on her mouth “Shhhhhhhhhhh”

Belle opened wide blue eyes full of fiery outrage. Nicholas bit back a smirk and started to talk slowly, staring into her eyes, looking for signs of appeasement. “The Elkium nebulae is glowing orange, like… like the sun of Urcus. Avonlea is not the biggest planet, that’s Queenheart. A magitrion particle is a particle left by a ship during a hyperspace travel. It has a distinguished signature depending on the time it was built, and who did it. Erythotrions are sons of bitches but they have some kind of honor. And some stories about the Empress are true and others are false.”

Nicholas smiled briefly at her and dropped his hand by his side, and added after a moment of silence. “Wow, you’re capable of shutting up”
She punched his arm and he reflexively massaged the place she had punched before catching himself and stopping.
"This will teach you to insult a woman on her Land" She snapped.
"I beg your pardon ? You wouldn’t even leave me time to answer your questions !"
"Sorry for being happy to meet you !"
"Happy to meet me ? You’re just leeching on my brain !"

She punched his shoulder again.
"Stop it, girl !"

They stared at each other, glaring and frowning, until Belle’s eyes shifted behind him and she relented.
"I’m sorry, Nicholas. I overstepped my boudaries."

Now, THAT surprised him. He turned around and saw three men with green hoods looking toward them. Their hoods were hiding their features, plunging their face into darkness but they were clearly looking at them. Nick could feel their gaze upon them both. Belle was glancing between him and them, looking nervous.
"Are you alright ?" He asked, trying not to sound concerned. It was like the girl had been swapped, and she wasn’t the same than 5 minutes ago.
"Yes… They just came out of the praying home."
"You don’t… seem… like you like them."
"Not really." Belle replied, trying to keep her face neutral but her eyes were sparkling.

Nicholas looked around and offered his arm, which Belle took.
"You were about to show me the well."

Belle relaxed and nodded. “Yes, this way, please.”
Nicholas heard the thanks she didn’t say outloud in the tone of her voice.
"Who are they ?" He asked in a low voice.
"Clerics. I…  I don’t wish to talk about them."

Nicholas nodded. “You’re alright ?”
"I.." And then she nodded quickly. "Yes. I have… something planned tomorrow. Big day for me."

They walked to the well. “Here it is…” Belle said. “It’s a very classic well, a hole in a ground and there’s water deep down, and we plunge a bucket with a rope and when we pull it out, it’s full of water.”
"Yeah I know what a well is."

They grinned at each other.

——

The sunset found Belle home and Von Stiltskin in his ship.

He was calculating the distance from the planet where he was to Avonlea, his next stop. He needed to check with his contact on that planet if the Rebels had given him any news.
His relationship with the rebels was muddy at worst, messy at best. They used him to carry messages and items from one hideout to another. He had drawn the line at carrying people because 1) nobody but him could go onboard of his baby - his ship and 2) he was not part of this revolution and didn’t wish to be. However, a man needed to eat, drink and buy fuel. So he dealed his services, he procured hard-to-find objects in exchange of information, water, food or credits, this galaxy’s money. And with that shady business came the need for discreetion.

He didn’t want to endanger what he considers like his purpose in life, what he was born for. When he was smuggling, he hid himself behind a faceless head and used cameo to disguise his ship. When he stole it, he had discovered while messing with the buttons and controls that he could change the appearance of his baby. So when he was conducting honest business, he used her genuine appearance, and when he was dealing, he concealed her.
He liked her original looks way better, but needs must.

He stroked the console lovingly, his fingers stroking the metal tenderly before turning on the communication station. It was a screen where every communication ever written, or spoken was coded. To read them, you had to have a code and this code was the receiver’s key. Noone but the receiver had the key to open it, and noone but one with that same key could write the message and send it.
He looked for messages for himself and he checked messages for his bad counterpart. He had one. Next to no one could contact him. Actually, new people finding him were extremely rare and those messages were dissected. His counterpart was a wanted man. The Empire was looking for him for crimes of betrayal, smuggling, rebellion, escaping, get-away and theft. The Empress C Illmergs had given her daughter Ina Illmergs the mission and means to bring him in front of her court, to be judged in a mock trial and executed, unless Ina just shot him on sight.

Von Stiltskin opened the message and read : “Rush, Avonlea’s rules have become harder. the militia has noticed Rebellious forces and is hunting them. Come back as you or do not come back. I will signal when it is safe again. If you need shelter, go to Nostos. Be careful. JH”

Fuck. He didn’t like that at all. Avonlea was probably what he was considering almost his headquarters and he had wanted to go there after replenishing his water tanks. He needed to talk to Jeff, Nostos wouldn’t do. it wouldn’t do at all.

A discreete knock echoed on the hatch. Who dared ? Who dared touch his baby ? He turned off the communication station and walked to the main controls console, turning on the outter cameras. He saw Mauo with a fuming bowl with a spoon inside in one hand and a opaque glass in the other.
Nick activated the audiocom of the camera. “Step aside, opening the hatch”.
He couldn’t deny it was great to eat fresh food. He usually ate rehydrated dehydrated powder. It was a tasteless white paste that contained every nutriment a human could need for a day. He washed it down with a lot of water and treated himself with a cup of farherb infusion. It had the taste of a very diluted coffee and was purple-coloured. It was a very weak drink, not at all like he used to take his own coffee, but when in space, one couldn’t afford to be picky.

In any case, he was happy to have fresh food. He just hoped it was something edible, that actually had a nice taste. After all, it is not because they looked humans that these persons were actually humans. He was surprised to have seen so many humans around the galaxy but from what he had gathered from studying and informing himself, parasites nestling in hosts had exported humanity for milleniums to be slaves, and like a disease, mankind had spread. But there were also lots of breeds, he couldn’t really say aliens, because aliens refered to visitors on earth, but he had taken in his mind to call them simply non-humans. He had seen as much non-humans as humans, and then he could divide those categories into human-looking hybrides and non-human-looking hybrides, or half half. It had taken lots of time to be used to that but nothing could shock him anymore.

The hatch opened and Nicholas got out, the access to the ship closing quickly behind him, after all he didn’t want Mauo to think he could get in - nobody had the permission to go inside.
"Good evening, Mauo"
"Good evening, Nicholas. I brought you something to eat." Mauo offered him the bowl and the glass.
"Thanks"

Von Stiltskin examined the content of each, the glass contained a fair green liquid and the bowl had some kind of stew in it. He could distinguish badly grinded red and green leaves, with beige chunks. The gravy was thick. It was smelling good, though. Nick smiled at Mauo but made no move to eat. He wanted to scan them first in case there was some things in it that wasn’t good for human health. This was the only rule he never broke and never would : never eat something that you’ve never seen before.

Mauo swallowed and then looked up at the stars up in the sky.
"I wanted to talk to you privately. I would like to reconsider our deal."
"You would ?"

Nick hated doing that because it meant troubles.
"My daughter." Mauo started. "She’s… in trouble. The priests of our land… No it’s not the right way to start… I’ll just start at the beginning."

And he explained about the monsters, the clerics, the ritual of Arkibalt and its necessary sacrifice, Belle being chosen. Everything just spilled out of his mouth, his tone stressed but the more he talked, the more he was relieved, like he could finally confide into someone. Poor guy must have held inside him for years. Mauo told him he thought the beliefs were outdated and no more fitted to this age of civilisation. He didn’t want his daughter to fall victim to local superstitions.
"So… I thought, instead of agriculture…. It may not be the smartest leading decision here but… instead of agriculture, I thought you could give a lift to my daughter to a more civilised place."
"Ah."

He could understand the request, this man was a father and thinking and acting as such, but no one put his or in this case, her feet in his baby. Now he just had to make the man understand it was no.
"Mauo, I do not how to say that, but as a rule, I do not fly people"

Mauo looked crestfallen. “You cannot let my daughter die…”
"I have a strict policy of non interference with the politics of the planet I’m on…"
Nick’s tone was final, his eyes stern, and he kept on. “We have a deal. An irrigation plan against water. That’s it. No regociation, no changing terms. I will deliver my part in the morning and you will too. Because no one breaks deals with me.” He casually leant against the ship, right next to small hatch hiding a cannon.

After all he didn’t live more than a decade alone in space by being soft and accomodating.
Mauo understood the thinly veiled threat perfectly. “How about a new deal, Nicholas?”
"No other humans than myself on board of this ship, Mauo"
"Have the curtesy to hear me out, please."
Von Stiltskin’s eyes narrowed. “But of course, and please, have the curtesy to accept my answer as it will be.”
"We still have elkium." He started gesturing, describing with his hand a cube of one cube meter. "That much. It’s yours if you take Belle away from this place, wherever she wants to go."

That was serious food for thought. Elkium was a metal which, once melted, was added to fuel and increased his capacity of at least 200%. It had been very popular a few centuries ago and it had been overexploited and elkium ressources emptied. Nicholas had never used elkium in his life but he knew some little rocks of it could be sold a small fortune. If he took the deal, he was going to be a very rich man. That’s something he could definitely afford. He had had his eyes on an artefact for years in an antique store on Queenheart, which had the same markings than his ship and he could use it to further and deepen his researches.

Nick was in a dilemna : principles versus science. And as always science won.
"Very well, Mauo. You convinced me. We have a new deal."

The men shook their hand.
"Enjoy your meal, Nicholas. The tanks you gave us to fill will be ready in the morning."
"Thank you."

Mauo left and Nicholas stayed there, wondering if he had made a mistake accepting the girl on board. After all, he was not the most agreeable of men, he had been on his own for longer he could remember, he had next to no social skills out of deal making, and from what he had seen of the girl, she liked to talk. And god know Nicholas Von Stiltskin had next to no patience for small talks. There was the chance she’d want to go to a planet with girls things, like Amallia, the planet turned shopcenter. He’d gone there once, never again. All those people around… Most of the time, when Nick wasn’t flying was spent on Avonlea, in the area 112, or scanning the communication station for deals.

He got inside his ship, and deposited the plate on the scanner and turned it on. He had preprogrammed his DNA in the scanner and it knew to analyse anything he put under, to determine if it was dangerous to humans.
He waited the usual 3 minutes before the scanner bipped and some green lights blinked. Nick smirked, considering that at first, the colours had been yellow for positive, purple for negative and he had had to work out how to change the colours to red and green. It had taken a lot of time, but he did it. He had been proud. The scanner screen started showing the DNA results of the food but he didn’t read them. The green light was enough. He did the same for the drink and was pleased when the drink showed the same result.

He sat in the pilot chair, turned the back of the chair toward the consoles and ate. It was good. It tasted like a lamb stew with orange and mint flavours, no that he really remembered what lamb, orange and mint really tasted like. He had been up in space for so long he thought he could actually taste beef and not recognize what it was. At the beginning, he had tought he could have killed for a barbecue or a beer, now he was just happy to eat something with taste.

He ate quickly, staring into nothingness, lost in his thoughts of irrigation, and drained the glass - it unsurprisingly tasted very metallic. After all, the planet had been drilled for metal, so it had a lot, and the sources and ressources were both underground. Out of politeness, he went into the kitchen and did the dishes. His poor ship. His poor baby. Invaded. This girl would ransack his ship. Maybe he’d just lock her up somewhere while traveling. This was a good idea. She wouldn’t be able to touch anything and he would keep an eye on her.

Knocks on the hatch echoed in his ship. Again ? How dare that planet keep on interrupting his musings ? He looked at the outter camera screen and saw Belle. Jeez first the father, now the daughter ? Will this family ever leave him alone ? Sometimes it felt like the universe was paying a fucking cosmic joke on him, and not even a funny one.

He strode to the hatch and opened it, walking out with majestic pride. “Girl.” He crossed his arms for effect, and looked down at her. “What do you want?”
"I’m coming to fetch the bowl, Nicholas."
Oh. He had his hands empty.
"I’ll go fetch it" Nicholas said, trying to salvage a bit of his pride, and he moved back into the ship to fetch what Mauo had lent him.
Belle followed him inside. Nick heard her footsteps behind him and he turned. She was INSIDE his baby.
"What do you think you’re doing, exactly ?"
"Following you in after you didn’t rudely invite me."
"I didn’t want you to come in !"
Belle tutted. “So you’d leave a woman out there in the cold ? How educated. How gentlemanly.”

Nicholas just stared at her. The nerves of that girl. He took too long to form a reply in his head and she took that as a sign of victory. She passed by him and up into the consoles room.
"Ooooh what are all those buttons doing ?"

That sentence seemed to shake Nick out of the trance that girl had put him under and he ran - he ran!- into the room she was in.
"STOP !"

She turned and looked at him “Oh you finally found your tongue and feet ?” She sneered a little.
"Touch nothing ! Nothing, hear me ?"

He put himself between her and the console, the terrified look of a father defending his child against a monster in his eyes. “Don’t touch her !”

Belle looked confused. “Her ?”
"My baby. Don’t touch my baby !"
"Who is your baby ?"

Nicholas gestured at the space around her. “My ship, of course, who else ?” His tone was full of contempt.
Belle cocked an eyebrow and she grinned. “You genderized your ship ?”
"Yes."
"For real ?"
"Yes."
"Oh."

Belle just smiled at him, a little tenderly. “Nicholas… I would not have touched those buttons without you allowing me to do it. I’m not an idiot.”

Doubt wrote itself all over his face and she frowned and pursed her lips as she continued. “I came for the bowl.”
"The bowl ? Oh. The bowl. Yes."

Nicholas walked forward, forcing Belle to walk backward till she touched the wall, as far of the console he could put her.
"Do not move, under any circumstances." he ordered, trying to be stern, looking into her blue eyes.
Belle gave him a very beautiful smile.

His nostrils flared and he strode out of the room, trying to fall over or worse, run away.

He went to the kitchen, his ears perked, ready to go back at the least noise. He grabbed the clean bowl, spoon and glass and walked as fast as he could back into the cockpit.
"Here they are" He announced, coming in the room.

She didn’t appear to have heard him. She seemed lost in the observation of the console room, the room that was his life. She was looking around, in awe at the screens, the lights flashing and the various scanners noises.

Nick paused and examined her. The girl was quite cute, with big blue eyes, and plump lips. Long reddish brown hair and round face. Yeah, she was pretty. And her next sentence made him decide she was also smart.
"The reddish screen… Is it a magnetic field scanner ? To analyse how the planets’ inner core meet and fight the solar winds ?"

He took a long moment before answering her.
"Yeah."
"What do you use it for ?"
"To see how active the inner core is, helps me determine how old the planet is and if I could survive out there, as an exposition to solar winds would kill me. Also, flying creatures can use it to guide themselves, and I had to trap some of them, it helps finding their trajectory. I use it to find my way too sometimes."

Belle was listening to him, fascinated. It made him feel weird in his belly and he decided he didn’t like the weight of her gaze on him.
"Your bowl, dearie."

Belle took the kitchenwares and held them against her chest.
"Thank you."
"The meal was good… Your doing ?"
"Yes." Her reply was so low he had to strain his ear to hear.
"you.. you cook well."

Both cleared their throat in the same time and Nick took a step backward.
"K, you got what you wanted.. I think you should-"
"Dad told me what you’re going to do for me. Thank you"
"No matter."

Von Stiltskin cleared his throat.  “Look, Belle, it’s a deal with your father. Nothing personal”
"Still thank you. I owe you my life"
"I’m just… No.. I am the guy your father pays to fly you somewhere. If you owe your life to someone, it’s to your father. I think you should leave. I have a departure to organise."
Belle shook her head and took a paper out of the pocket of her jacket. “Here are the coordinates to the Elkium reserve, does this ship have a beaming technology ?”
"It can teleport." Nick spoke through clenched teeth. He hated giving details about his ship but sometimes it was necessary. He had to be practical.
"Perfect. What time do we depart tomorrow ?"
"Would the Princess agree to a sunrise departure ? See your sun one last time before leaving ?"

Belle looked a bit perplexed at his saying but went on. “The sacrifice requires a departure at sunrise, we’ll have to leave before that.”

Nick nodded. “Night departure… We could just leave now, then. Keep the bowl as a memory” He smirked, knowing no one could ever leave under such short notice.
"I have to say goodbye to my father."
"Of course, of course… Are you aware you’ll need credits ? Lots of money…"
"My father has given me his savings" Belle replied. "I’ve readied a bag with some clothes, money, some food"

Nicholas thought Belle was way too optimistic. “You’ll need more. Do you have habilities ? Can you do things ? I mean, okay you can clothe yourself, support yourself a little while, but when it’s all gone ? A pennyless person is bound to do stupid things, Belle. And there’s bad guys out there. So, what can you do ?”

Belle thought for a moment. “I’ve read a lot… Maybe I could work in a place where they keep books ? I’ve read it existed before.”
"Before. Now all is on tablet… Like you have. I guess you could use your savings to buy a small spaceship and go sell tablets and knowledge to the outter world. Could be something."

Belle looked at him as if he had given her the world, and his uneasy feeling returned. “Well it’s just an idea” His voice sounded defensive though he knew there was no attack. “You don’t have to follow it.”
"Thank you, Nicholas."
"What time shall I expect you back ?"
"Sunrise will do, actually. I want the clerics to choke on their sacrifice as they see me fly away."

Nicholas relaxed a little and chuckled. “Alright” He stroked the nape of his neck, looking up slightly before turning his gaze back to Belle who replied.
"And come rescue me if they lock me up."
"Certainly not in our deal, Dearie. I shall wait, but you’ll rescue yourself."

Belle grinned back at Von Stiltskin. “Maybe I’ll arrive a bit sooner, then”
"I don’t sleep often, I’ll be awake when you arrive."

What in the world did happen to him for him to issue such an invitation? He never had before, it was a rule. No one on board but him. No one ever on board but him. He was going crazy. He was going to deliver that girl to Avonlea, entrust her into Jeff’s care, and sanitize the spaceship and forget everything about that planet and Belle. Then he was going to sell that Elkium, collect the money, and go to Queenheart to buy the artifact he had had his eye on for months, analyse the hell out of it and learn more about his ship. That was his plan. That was his perfect plan.

"Then, see you later, Nicholas." Belle smiled at him, and took her leave.

He stayed for a long staring at the corridor going from cockpit to outside and jerked out of his thoughts when he felt the wind on his face. Yeah, he didn’t need that kind of trouble. He walked to the console and closed the hatch off with a vengeful push against a poor innocent button, before apologizing mentally to it.

——

Mauo was in his house, sat by the fire, knees to his chest, arms around his knees. He was feeling devastated. His daughter was going to leave. His territory was going to be heirless. He knew pointing the finger at someone was pointless, in the end, it was circumstances that led there. If his daughter didn’t leave with the stranger, she would be walking to the Headcity and he’d never see her again - the clerics had to believe the sacrifice had been made to leave her alone. If his daughter left with Nicholas, he’d bring her somewhere she wants to go. His daughter had such a curious mind, he could show her so much.

It was a leap of faith. He knew nothing about the man who came from the stars, but the way he carried himself, his way of talking spoke of a man who was used to responsibilities and his mini rant about respecting the concluded deals had some kind of worth to Mauo’s eyes. However, he was not stupid either, and he was thanking the Old Gods Belle had been given some male education. His daughter could handle the small man Nicholas was, if he decided to behave like the scum of the universe. He had heard of people eating the flesh of other people, ransacking their spaceship, stealing their goods, and selling the survivors as slave. Nicholas didn’t seem like a slave trader but appearance could be deceiving. Fortunately, his daughter was as prepared as she could be.

He knew he had to be strong. After Belle’s departure in spaceship - he had to admit the other plan was better on a discretion plan, but changing planet was putting more distance between her and the clerics - he would be questionned but he would feign ignorance and pretend to be devastasted her daughter had betrayed her education, her traditions and the honor of his blood. He also knew that anyone knowing Belle would know it was a lie, because if Belle was one thing apart from curious, it was brave. If she had no choice, she would go into battle unarmed, trying to survive barehanded. Mauo was actually very proud of her, so proud he didn’t even regret she wasn’t a boy, and he had appointed her as Heiress.

Chances would be he would lose his status of chief of his tribe, but as long as his daughter was safe, he didn’t mind. Maybe he would even be exiled, but if he played the part of the victim properly, hopefully, it wouldn’t come to that. The ones he pitied were his Tribe members. Those poor ones would suffer the most when the clerics took power over them. Any tribe under their lead slowly turned into fanatical devotees, and that was a fate Mauo would have liked to spare them. He had acted as a father, he had acted as a man he could still face in the mirror, and Mauo the Leader had bowed down to Mauo the Father. Of course, there would be consequences for everybody, and though he couldn’t spare his people, he could make sure himself was the one facing the worst repercussions.

Belle opened the door of their home, and Mauo immediately took a more relaxed stance. He didn’t want to worry her more than she should already be. She looked happy, and it made his heart break a little, which he felt guilty about. He was genuinely happy to be able to give her her dream but he would have liked her to mourn their parting a bit more obviously.

Mauo had readied her bags, now that she was not walking any longer, she could bring things with her. He had given her memories, trinkets for her to hold close and remember her papa and her mommy. He had prepared bags of dried food for her to eat, tanks of water for Nick, medical supplies, and documents on plants, etc..
"good evening, Belle"
"Father…"

Belle walked to the shelf, put the kitchenware back to its rightful place and went to sit by his father’s right side.

She smiled at him, a bit sadly ; maybe she was not as unaffected as he thought she was. It was comforting in a weird way.
"You know… You can never come back."
"I know, Father." She sighed. "I’ll try to send things… when it gets better"
"Belle, keep everything. You will have more need of it than me. I want you to be careful. Careful is your motto, alright ?"
"Yes Father, careful will my other name."

Mauo leant to his left and grabbed a cover. He swallowed, his face fell while Belle could not see it and carefully composed his mask back before turning to her, with a slight smile. He wrapped the cover over his daughter with trembling hands, and his grip on the cover tightened as he pressed her into his side in a protective hug.
"Belle…"

The lump in his throat prevented him from saying more.
"I know, papa, I know. I love you too.. I’ll miss you too."

Mauo let the tears in his eyes fall, and he sobbed, happy she couldn’t see his face, and he crushed her to him.
"My girl… I love you so much.. Promise me you’ll be fine, promise me you’ll no one mistreat you. I’m sorry… I’m so sorry I cannot come… I’m sorry I can’t protect you better than that"

Belle didn’t answer at first, holding her father tight, burying her face in his chest as she started to cry too. “I promise, papa, I promise… I understand… Protect your people in my honor… I’ll be fine…”

They held each other, crying, for a long time. The fire died, the stars dimmed as the sky announced the rose of the sun.
"Belle… It is time. I’ll walk you, and help you carry your bags"

Belle nodded and added. “Papa, Nicholas said he could teleport things on board. We should just carry the bags behind the house and Nicholas will transport them on his spaceship. It will be… I guess easier.”

Mauo stood, and helped Belle up, brushing her clothes. “You should change your clothes… Put some clean ones on, freshen up. I’ll carry the bags outside.” He was forcing himself to behave professionally, to act like the proper leader he was not anymore.

Belle looked at him and nodded. “Very well, papa. I will go”
"If you… If you want to.. take other things, well… " He picked up a leather bag, and give it to her. "Put them inside that. I packed up everything I thought you would want but… it’s your call."

Belle gratefully took the bag, nodding in thanks. “Papa. I’ll never thank you enough for what you’re doing.. I know it will probably be hard for you when I’m gone…”

Mauo cut her off with a raised hand. “Say no more, Belle. I will survive, I will live and make the better out of it. Maybe I’ll even remarry ? Who knows. But you. I would like you to find a nice place where you feel good, find yourself a gentle and educated person, with whom you feel well, and live happily. All I want is your happiness, Belle, alright ? Be careful, I love you, and if you ever have to come back, do so. I’ll fight off the clerics. *kisses her* We’ll find a way of dealing with the monsters that doesn’t involve stupidity.”

Belle hugged him hard. “Papa…”

Mauo let her cuddle him a bit longer and then took a step backward to break the hug. “Go prepare yourself, Belle, it’s time.”

Belle looked up at him, and nodded. “Very well, Papa.”
She turned around and left the room, toward the bathroom.

"Belle ?"

She stopped and turned around to look at him.
"Yes Papa ?"
"Put some practical clothes on, like in training, alright? You never know what you have to start running."

She nodded again, a sad smile on her face and in her eyes and she walked to the bathroom to wash.

Mauo grabbed the first bags, and carried her out. She had 6 bags that he had packed himself, plus one, if she chose to add another, and Nicholas’ water tanks, the 8th of them.
He carried everything out quite slowly as the bags were filled up to the brink, he had almost not been able to close them. The water tanks were quite heavy for a lone man but thankfully they came with little wheels that could be hidden. He had put 80 liters in every one of them. Once everything was readied, he debated with the idea of covering everything with a cover to hide the contents of Nicholas’ payment. The water tanks were expected, but not the bags.. He did his best to hide them behind the tanks, as much out of sight as he could.

Mauo waited for Belle and 15 minutes later, she appeared, dressed in practical clothes, as he had asked. She was wearing dark brown leather trousers, fit but not tight, a belt and boots in the same leather. She also wore a beige tunic tucked in with a reddish brown thick rain coat reaching down her mid thighs. He could see she had tucked in gloves in the coat pockets, and she had a small knife sheathed at her belt.
"Oh Belle… You’re lovely."

He smiled warmly at her and hugged her once more. He squeezed her tight and took the hood of her coat to put it over her head to hide your face.
He explained in a low voice. “I don’t want the clerics to recognize you.”

Belle smiled up at him and nodded in acknowledgement. “Let’s be quick, papa. Nicholas is expecting us.”

Mauo let go of her and took her hand, leading her quickly toward Nicholas’ ship. They walked fast and in silence. They were on their guard, but Belle’s eyes were inspecting everything, trying to carve every details in her memory.
Soon they were at the spaceship and Mauo was knocking on the hatch.
A little red dot blinked and Nick’s voice raised up in the still of the night.
"Coming ! Get away from the hatch or it’ll crush you."

The two Marchlandsians stepped aside. The red dot shut down and the hatch opened one minute later in a smooth and silent move.
"Good morning, ready to depart ?"

Belle smiled at Nicholas, in a friendly way, and he looked away quickly.
Mauo replied “Not really, but we need to do it.” He turned to Belle and sighed, taking her hands in his.

Nicholas nodded at them and sensing his presence was not needed, went back into the cockpit, leaving the hatch open. He sat in his armchair, and he waited, with an impeding sense of doom. He had seen they had no bags, and figured they’d have to make two stops, one to teleport her belongings, and another to teleport the elkium. He had looked onto the scanner and seen the elkium was located in a cave hidden in a cannyon, quite far the Tribe village, and rather in the middle of nowhere. Nick figured it must have been a treasure kept for rainy days for half a millenium, and now it was all his.

Problem was it was in a cave, so Nick had planned on destroying the roof of it with laser cannons and then with the help of the scanner, he’d teleport his payment on board. And then they’d be on their way. ‘Good thinking, old boy, good thinking.’ He thought as he looked impatiently toward the corridor leading to the storage dock in which the hatch leading outside was situated.

Outside, the raising sunlight was hurrying Belle and Mauo’s farewells. They both could hear the village starting awaken and they knew she had to be in the spaceship before the clerics could see them saying goodbye.
Mauo hugged her tight. “I love you, Belle. Please… Always remember that. Take care”
"I love you too, Papa… thank you for what you did.. for me… And please, don’t let them bully you. You have strong warriors, and they are loyal to you."

Belle stroked her father’s face and she kissed his cheek sadly.
"Goodbye, Papa… Go home before you’re seen"

He had troubles letting go of her, but he forced himself, staring at the ground.
"Bye Belle"

His voice broke and he turned his back on her, striding away, his back rigid, his shoulders shaking and Mauo somehow found the strength not to look back.
Summary: This is a AU Rumbelle. I’ve fusioned Once Upon A Time and Stargate Universe, sprinkled with a little dash of Doctor Who. Belle is stuck in a little corner of her planet, with her father, powerthirsty clerics, and a war against monsters rage. One day, a lonely traveler arrive and strikes a deal with her father for her.

Pairing: Rumplestiltskin/Belle (It should be Rumshplestiltskin, considering I’ve merged Rumple and Nicholas Rush)

Word Count: 14,587 / Complete.

Rating: M
© 2013 - 2024 RipperBlackstaff
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