Reply To: Shard or a Box?

[Slurpeez]

Maybe because he just got done with an arc where a God wanted Belle’s baby? And also nabbing Belle is the only leverage someone else would have against the most powerful person in the world.

Yes, seeing how Hades just used Belle and their unborn baby as leverage over Rumple, it isn’t all that surprising from our perspective. We have more knowledge than Rumple did at that point. However, the only things Rumple knew when the portal opened were (a) Hades had already been defeated thanks to Zelena, and (b) Henry and his mommies all wanted that Olympian crystal back. He likely thought the portal was some form of magic created either by Henry’s power as the author or by Henry’s mothers’ combined magic. Rumple didn’t yet know the Charmings were stuck in A Land of Untold Stories, so he had no reason to suspect Mr. Hyde was the one targeting him. Moreover, as much as we collectively give the Charmings a hard time for throwing Belle under the bus (which they did), Rumple had no reason yet to think anyone else besides them knew of Belle being in that box.

What happened to true love being the most powerful magic? Love is strength remember! Even if Rumple didn’t think anyone would go after Belle and instead would go after the crystal, he should still get Belle first. Even though he thinks he needs the crystal, he actually doesn’t! That’s his own flaw sure, and he probably really did think someone would take the crystal. But it’s his lust for power that makes him think that way. He’s more worried someone would take the crystal over taking his wife! If he thought about his wife first, his first instinct would be to protect her, regardless of whether he thought she was in immediate danger. Like if your wife or husband was next to you (in a box or in person), and you knew a portal was coming, wouldn’t your first instinct be to grab her/him? Idk, I just think the writers deliberately wanted us to see Rumple going for the power before Belle. It mirrors his choice for power over his son when he let Bae get sucked into the portal.

100% agreed. Everyone knows Rumple is a man who makes the same mistake over and over. Rumple already tried TLK but it failed. He probably thinks it’s because Belle doesn’t want to be with him anymore (as Emma expressed). Even after Belle spelled it out for him when she banished him, Rumple still doesn’t seem to grasp the real reason TLK didn’t work (i.e. because his true love is power).

Which makes me feel like he truly hasn’t learned anything, and also makes me think Rumple is in line to lose someone else he loves yet again which will drive him completely to the side of darkness.

While I don’t think he really has learned anything (seeing how he keeps choosing power over Belle), I think he really does justify it by telling himself (and Belle in the box) that everything he’s done, he’s done to help her and the baby. However, I think there will come a time when Rumple will finally choose Belle and the baby over the power and that is when TLK will work. I don’t think he’ll get to experience a happy ending, but he’ll probalby die a hero or something (again).