CHAPTER 6: Treasure Hunt
A03
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Belle flipped carefully through the books Captain Jones lent her the day before. They were quite old, the hand stitching loose in most places, and irreplaceable if she had to guess by the lack of publisher. They were also very detailed and filled to the brim with information and illustrations on various creatures, some that lived in the waters in present time and some that were things of fiction.
Belle was both mesmerized and uneasy that such books existed. Either someone had a vivid imagination or—somehow—they had captured the specimens first hand.
The marine biologist looked out to Rumple who was floating on his back just at her feet, staring at her with a gentle smile. She looked back and forth at a particular illustration and giggled.
“Are you a selkie?”
Rumple paused his swimming and gave Belle a strange look. “A what now?”
Belle turned the book towards him. “Seals in water, humans on land?”
The sea creature squinted at the book before giggling. “Nonsense! Those are just myths! They don’t exist!”
Belle rolled her eyes and pulled the book back. “They had to at some point.” She muttered, turning to a new page. She paused when she landed on a creature that looked, well, exactly like Rumple.
“Merfolk are indigenous to various regions and adapt to the environments when in said new environment for long periods of time…”
She arched an eyebrow and turned to Rumple. “What does that mean?”
Rumple crawled up the sand bar and laid out beside Belle. “Oh, just that we change whenever we go to a new place. Extra blubber in colder places, more webbing in tropical, and so forth.”
Belle looked over Rumple’s appearance. His skin was a light sea-sick green and slightly wrinkled from the extended stay in the water. His hands were scaly with long black fingernails and fine webbing between his fingers. He had patches of gold scales all over his body, almost like they were armor for his vulnerable places. Nothing about him really gave a direct indication of where he hailed from.
“Where are you from?” she inquired.
Rumple paused, eyes darting around the beach.
“Here and there.” He answered. “I’ve only been in Storybrooke a little while.”
Belle crossed her legs and edged closer. “Where were you before?”
Rumple shrugged. “Some colder places. I stayed there until the native merfolk became too unneighborly.”
Belle’s eyes widened. “So there are other…merfolk…out there? In Storybrooke?”
Rumpled nodded, staring at the waves lapping at the tip of his non-torn fin. “A few in each place, all as rude as the next. None in Storybrooke except me.”
Belle frowned, sensing a tail there. “Is that why you came here? Because they wouldn’t let you stay?”
“Because they didn’t want me.” He snarled lowly.
Belle watched her mer-friend quietly. How could such a gentle-loving creature be treated so wrong, by his own kind no less?
“I’m sorry.” Belle apologized. “I didn’t mean to pry.”
Rumple turned to Belle. His first instinct was to close down, but he hated to see her so sad.
“I’m sorry too, Belle. I’m not…used to this. Talking and all.”
Belle nodded. “I can relate. I mean, Ariel and Merlin are great but…sometimes I feel like I can’t tell them everything, that they’d judge first, ask questions later.”
Rumple barked humorously. “No one deserves to feel that lonely.”
Belle shrugged, turning to the merman. “Is that it? You’re lonely?”
“Lonely but…not alone, not completely.”
“But you said-”
“I wasn’t referring to the merfolk.” He said, blushing at his interruption.
“What do you mean then?” Belle inquired, becoming more excited by the second.
Rumple mused for a moment before hesitantly picking up Belle’s hand. “I really need to show you, if you want to understand.”
Belle stared into his shy, golden eyes. No malice or ill-intent existed there, just the hope of a fellow lonely soul who wanted to show her a part of his world that others could only imagine. It was a humbling honor, and she was not about to pass it up.
She reached into her bag and grabbed her goggles before intertwining their fingers and nodding. With a smirk he began leading her into the water, stopping when it was past her waist.
“Maybe I should go get a boat.” Belle said.
“You won’t be able to use it where we’re going.” He mused, turning on his belly. “Climb on.”
Belle stared at the shiny scales along his punctuated spine. “Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I can do it. It’ll be easier this way.” He looked back at her with a grin and Belle arched an eyebrow in amusement. She carefully eased onto his tail, finding it strangely smooth, and wrapped her legs around his waist and arms around his shoulders.
He began swimming out to sea, far from the familiar waters of Storybrooke. The waves were gentler in the early evening winds, stained orange from the setting sun. A crowd of seagulls began to follow above them, singing “Follow me, follow me.”
“It’s so beautiful Rumple!” Belle called over the sounds.
“Wait until you see the bottom!” he called back.
Belle sensed his plan just in time to adjust her goggles and take a deep breath before they dove underwater.
It took her a moment to adjust to the change in pressure, but years of experience and Rumple’s guiding hands helped her through the moment of uncertainty.
Rainbows of scales flashed them as they entered deeper waters. Below them were reefs filled to the brim with life. It was so magical, something her books couldn’t describe.
Rumple paused suddenly and pulled Belle off his back to his side. Belle nearly lost her breath as a large sea turtle swam up to them. Rumple took hold of her head and led it to the majestic creature, letting her rub her fingers across the deep indentions on his head, signs of an old injury. She turned to Rumple who smiled sadly.
Strong realization hit Belle like a heavy wave. This is what he was trying to protect. He made these waters his home and was trying to share and protect all who inhabited it from the careless humans above.
The turtle bumped against Belle’s chest, nuzzling her like a cat. Belle smiled and hugged the creature, tracing a hand on his shell. As much as she wanted to stay with him longer, her lungs were starting to become heavy. She pointed to the surface and Rumple nodded, taking her hand and pulling her up.
Belle took in a deep breath, pulling up her goggles to rub the stray bits of salt out of her eyes.
“Wow!” Belle breathed, clutching Rumple’s hand. “Rumple it’s beautiful down there!”
Rumple blushed at her praise. “It is. And the creatures…they don’t mind me. We take care of each other.”
“I’ve never seen this area before!” Belle gasped excitedly. “What else is down there?”
Rumple looked out into the horizon. The sun was getting lower by the moment and he didn’t want Belle out in the waters after dark.
“There is another place I wanted to show you…”
Belle smiled gleefully. “Yes, please! I want to see everything!”
Rumple’s smile matched hers and he took hold of her hands, helping her back into the depths.
After she adjusted again, Rumple led Belle to a sea cave under the coral reefs. Belle felt a bubble of nervousness expand in her belly. She had no way of knowing just what was in the cave. An eel or even a shark could be waiting for them and Belle was not a fast enough swimmer to escape, even with Rumple’s guidance.
Rumple seemed confident and unafraid and he entered the cave first, waving her inside. She followed hesitantly but soon lost her worry when she saw the contents of the cave.
All around them were barrels filled with spears, broken fishing poles and even old, rusty swords, chests filled to the brim with ancient coins and jewels, cracked vases and damaged furniture, a china doll with a missing eye, and even a few water-damaged books. Right under a large beacon of light was an aged but complete spinning wheel.
Excited as she was, Rumple reached out and grabbed a rusty fork, the first object of his collection. Belle stared at it in confusion but nodded her head in appreciation before she went to look at the other objects.
Rumple watched giddily as Belle admired his collections. He knew to most it was just things, garbage really, lost or thrown away by unappreciative humans. Despite how he despised said humans for littering in his beloved ocean, he couldn’t help but be fascinated by the things they were able to create. He was thrilled Belle shared his interest. There were so many conversations they could have now, so many places they could go to search for more things.
Neither one of them would be lonely now.
Belle waved him back to the present and pointed to the surface. He took her hand and pulled her from the cave to the gleaming surface.
Belle gasped for air, feeling light she could pass out. She felt herself sinking and clawed at Rumple’s shoulders to keep her afloat.
Rumple’s eyes widened in panic at the sight of her drooping, ready-to-sleep form.
“Belle!” Rumple panicked, popping her cheek gently. “Please! Why are you dying Belle? Please don’t die! I’m so sorry!”
Belle patted his hand as he sobbed. “No, Rumple I’m fine.” She reassured, resting her head against his shoulder. “I was just underwater for too long. I just need to get back to shore, rest a bit.”
Rumple nodded, smiling down in relief at the sleepy human. He carefully arranged her on his back and carried her back to their little space of beach.