CHAPTER FOUR: the price of gold

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Chapter four

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ASHLEY JENKINS WALKED OVER TO EMMA, WHO WAS HENRY'S BIOLOGICAL MOTHER. She hadn't learned much about the newcomer in town. 

"Thank you," the woman smiled.

"Welcome," Ashley walked away, glancing up when the bell rang above the door; in walked Regina, who immediately stood in front of Emma.

"Seriously, what is up with that woman?" Ashley questioned.

Ashley turned to get someone else's order, only to soon turn back. She smiled. "Okay, I'll be back with your drinks."

She left the table to get the drinks.
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"I'm just saying if he's a doctor, why the fuck is he so creepy? Aren't doctors supposed to be the people you trust?" Ashley questioned.  "I wouldn't trust Dr. Whale."

Ruby hummed, pretending to listen along.
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Rocky nervously glanced around the room, searching for her Snow and Charming; when people began to clap, turning to look up, they saw that the prince: Prince Thomas and Ella were walking down the stairs. Everyone clapped as the two made their way into the room before stopping.

Rocky then saw her sister and Charming speaking to the newlyweds.  Rocky quickly made her way down.

"Congratulations!" Rocky grinned, pulling her onto a hug.

Rocky stood by a random person she didn't know the name of. Then, suddenly both Ella and Snow were in front of her, pulling her to dance with them. "Seriously? Guys, I have no one to dance with."

"You can dance with us," Ella smiled.

"Oh, yes, my sister," Rocky sarcastically pointed to Snow. "And one of my very few friends. And in a much less population group, my girl friends."

The two pulled her, Snow spinning her.
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"So, this boyfriend of her's, you don't think he was involved in her disappearance?" Emma questioned.

"To do that, you'd have been at least in some part of the person's life," Ashley says.

"That would mean he was involved with her at all, which he wasn't," Ruby says simultaneously. "He left her in the lurch right after they found out they were expecting. Hasn't spoken to her since."

"I'm going to go inside and-"

"Hey, hey, hey, Billy!" Ruby exclaimed when she saw that her car had been dropped. "Be careful. You almost shattered my wolf thing, Billy. It's good luck."

"I'm sorry, Ruby, but look, it's fine."

"Uh, Ruby, Ashley, what about her family?"

"Oh! Ium. She's got a stepmom and two stepsisters that she doesn't talk to."  Ruby says.

"Wait, stepmom, stepsisters, and she's a maid?" Henry asked.

"Henry, not now," Emma tells him.

"Look, I don't know what you heard, but it's wrong. Everyone thinks she's not ready to have this kid, but she's trying."

"She is taking night classes," Ashley spoke up,  he turned to look inside.

"Trying to better herself, trying to get her life together," Ruby continued.

Ashley walked back into the dinner, figuring that she at least needed to work.
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"Oh, she's back; still asking about Ashley?" The black-haired girl questioned.

"Yes," Ruby says, annoyed.

"You know, I would only joke with her that we've got the same name," Ashley says. "Other than that, I don't remember speaking to her."

"You don't speak to a lot of people."
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Rocky followed the others, her bow thrown across her shoulders.

"Why are we down here?" Ella questioned.

"We need a place to keep him," Thomas answered.

"Rumplestilskin is the most dangerous man in all the realms," Charming said. "He needs his special prison, so we converted the mines to hold him."

"But, how will we get him here? He's eluded all forever."

"His strength is also his weakness. His deals. He can't resist making them," Grumpy speaks. "and we already know who he wants to deal with next. You."

"We've sent word with one of Snow's bluebirds. He's accepted a meeting with you. You're gonna tell him that Doc heard something with his stethoscope, two heartbeats."

"You're going to tell him it's twins," Thomas says

"And if he wants both, which he will, you say you want a new deal," Rocky tells her.  "Grumpy."

The man lifted the box he was holding, lifting the lid to reveal a feathered pen.

"A quill? I don't understand."

"The Blue Fairy cast a spell on it. Whoever signs with this will be frozen – their magic made impotent," Grunpy informed.

"All you must do is get him to sign the contract. Ella, this man is a scourge. You'll be doing the entire land a service." Charming speaks.

"Should we even use magic? Isn't that what's causing these problems to begin with? What if this magic also has a price?"

"Then, I will pay for it. I will do whatever is needed to save you and our child."

"Watch what you say," Rocky warned. "Even though he's not here, at the moment, it isn't certain he won't know."

"Let's go." charming says.

They go farther into the dungeon until they come to a cell.

"Hope you like it. A lot of dwarf blood went into it,"  Grumpy tells her.

"You sure this will work?"

"Once he's in there, he'll never get out. You'll be safe

"I can do this, Ella."

"Okay. Let's get him."
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"Seriously, if you're all powerful, can't you make yourself look, less..lizardly?" Rocky questions.

"Rocky," charming says in a scolding tone

"What? Sorry if it sounded rude, but it's the truth!"

Cinderella suddenly stomped up to the cage holding the dark one.  "What did you do?"

"Ella, what's wrong?" Charming asked.

"Your Highness, what happened?" Grumpy questioned.

"What did you do to my Thomas?" Cinderella inquired of.

"I haven't done anything. In case you haven't noticed, I've been otherwise engaged."

"Something's happened to him. You know. Tell me!"

"I have no idea, dearie. But I did warn you – all magic comes at a price. Looks like someone has just paid."

Immediately, Rocky brings up her arrow.

"Don't listen to him. We'll find Thomas." Charming tells the girl.

No, you won't. Until that debt is paid, until that baby is mine, you're never going to see him again. In this world or the next, Cinderella, I will have that baby."

"Tell us where Thomas is, or I shoot this through your heart."

Of course, Rumplestilskin laughed. "You can't kill me, dearie."

"I know. That doesn't mean I can't torture you,"

"Rocky," Charming began to pull the girl away.
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