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Such a silly little girl. Stealing was the only reason he was after her until she proved herself to be more valuable. It had been his full intention to just give her back to Gaston, but she was far too delightful for that oaf! However, if she was really dying to go back to Gaston, maybe he could bring the hairy man to her. Oh the way she would react to that would be a week’s worth of entertainment! The thought made Rumpelstiltskin smile. 

It was not enough to trust the word of a thief, in all of his years of experiences, he had learned to never trust anyone. With a wave of his hand, and a few magical words, a contract appeared in his hand and a quil appeared on the table. “Before I let her go, sign your agreement on the dotted line, love.” He said thrusting the paper into her hands. With a gleeful laugh, he waited for her to go to the table and sign the paper. Once her signature was on the paper, it would disappear. “Good! Now that it is all settled….” With a wave of his hand, the chair went back to where it belonged at the table and Esmerelda fell on her butt without the chair to support her. 

Rumpelstiltskin turned to Belle and smiled. “By the way, I never made a deal with your overly furry fiance. I took your lock of hair, found you then left. But I can just see the turmoil in your eyes. Will you ever get to see your beloved monkey again? Rest assured fair maiden,” He dipped into an elegant bow. “Your wish is my command! He shall be waiting for you at my castle. You can even marry the buffoon if you so desire.” Rumpelstiltskin stood up with a wicked smile on his face.

The gypsy stood up from her place, tears in her eyes. “I am so sorry Belle.” She whispered though she dared not move with the monster in her house. “I am so sorry.” Rumpel looked back at the woman, tisking. “You used to be so full of spirit and spite, my old gypsy.” He said as he turned to face the woman. “Goes to show you, love only makes you weak.” He spat at her feet, a return for her earlier disrespect. “You can keep on living your miserable life away from your deformed child.”

“Belle, it is time to go. I have important things to do.” He snapped his finger, drawing her close to him, then dropped a bottle at their feet. A cloud of red encircled them and when it disappeared they were standing in a grand hallway. “Get out of my sight. I am sure Gaston is here somewhere, go find him or something.” Rumpel waved a hand at her and continued down the hall, each foot step echoing in the dead silence of the marble hall. 

Back to his potions. Still had that one ingredient left….

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“Daddy, where are we going?” The ten year-old boy tugged on Zeus’ hand.

“You are going on an adventure, my son. One that I cannot go with you on.” Zeus stopped, and got eye level with his son. 

“Daddy, I have waited for you for so long! I want to be just like you!” Hercules protested.

“You will never be like me, Hercules. Let go of that stupid fantasy now, because it will never happen.” Zeus told him sternly. 

“Da-” A slap across the face cause tears to spring into Hercule’s young eyes.

“Never call me dad again. I am Zeus to you.” The little boy looked up at him with hurt eyes and a broken spirit. It almost made the god crumble. “Go my son, learn more of your powers. Become strong. Tell no one that you know me personally. I will help you when I can.” 

“I already know my power da- Zeus!” Hope filled the little boy’s eyes. “I am strong! Probably the strongest man on earth!”

Zeus almost smiled but then wiped the emotion from his face. “You are more than just strength. You are so much more than that. You are a demi-god. Learn what that means.” He stood up and the sky darkened. “I have to go.”

“Daddy!” the boy cried, reaching for his father’s hand, but Zeus was already gone. Rain poured from the heavens as the little boy fell to his knees crying. 

Eighteen years later, Hercules had found that he does quite alright on his own. Moving from village to village, empire to empire. Never really staying in one place for longer than a few months. Never again to his broken heart learn to trust. After killing his sister and being personally abandoned by his father, Hercules did not see the need to trust anyone for all they did was le you down. There were a few girls who tried to win his heart, beautiful as they were, none of them were able to succeed.

Even yet, as the demi-god went from one place to the next, he was called a hero. Story after story was told about his daring, his bravery, his strength. Some tales ringing with less truth than others. Still, despite all his adventures, Hercules could not figure out what his had had meant to find his powers. The only thing he had was his strength and his trusted ax that he carried on his back all the time.

Hercules walked into a village at the base of a large castle. It was said that the princess, no not princess, what did they call her here? Either way, he had heard rumors that she had cursed a servant into being a tiger due to disobedience. It was as good of a reason as any to come visit a new city. 

Not even five minutes into the town,was he stopped by a guard. The man was well built but wore the strangest clothing, no shirt, bright pastels pants that were tight at the ankles and hips and lose everywhere in between, and shoes that rounded into a point above the top with a ball of white fabric attached to the end. “Excuse me, but you are not allowed to own a weapon in this village.” The weirdly dressed guard said.

Hercules looked over his shoulder at his ax. “I did not know. I have no where to put my weapon, please allow me to keep it. I swear no harm will come to anyone at the hand of my ax.”

“I cannot let you, we will take it from you and put it in our armory.”

“Will I get it back?”

“No.”

Lightning flashed in Hercules’ eyes and his face turned cold. “Then take it from me.” He dared. Out of no where, a man grabbed at his ax from behind. Relying on nothing but instincts, Hercules reached behind him, grabbed the guard’s head and pulled him over his shoulder meaning to just have the guy land on his back. Instead, as the body flew over his shoulder he could feel the neck snap. “Damn it.” he growled as he let go of the dead guard, allowing the body to fly.

It was never his intention to kill the guard. “He killed him!” One of the guards shouted. All at once, five guards surged him, and he just dropped to his knees. Other than wanting to take away his ax, these men had done nothing wrong and he did not want to kill them. Chains and shackles were attached to his wrists and legs and he was lead to the palace and to the throne room.

The guards presented Hercules in front of the Princess, he never could remember what she was to be called. “Your Majesty, this man killed one of your guards without even hitting him. I think it could have been done by magic.” The guard pushed on Hercules’ shoulders to get him to bow but he refused to bow to any royalty. He was the son of a god!

The guard tried again, this time all but lifting himself up off the ground. Hercules laughed. “You cannot make me bow.” he said simply. He grabbed the cuff on one hand and broke it with a tug then did the same to the other hand and his feet. The guards stared open-mouthed. “Princess, let me introduce myself. I am Hercules, and I did not mean to harm your guard. I was simply trying to protect my own property from being stolen.” He casually walked closer to the throne. “I truly did not mean to kill him.” He said bowing his head a little.