@HappyEndings wrote:
Belle is really not that important, Rumble is and if Rumble was smart for Belle’s safety he would leave her in storybrooke other wise Hook could do something to her again or someone else could use her against Gold. Gold could always come back after they get Henry back and they both could return to FL together then. After all her father is still in Storybrooke.
On her own accord, I’d say Belle doesn’t have a large part to play in the plot development. Yet, in connection to Rumplestiltskin, I’d say Belle actually will play a huge role in helping him become a better man, but only if she recovers her memories. Along with Baelfire, Belle is actually his strength, rather than his weakness. The whole love-is-strengh motif applies to them. Only time will tell whether Rumple chooses love over power this time. Lots could happen before that actually happens, but if there is a threat to SB, I doubt Belle would remain behind. She’s the type who craves adventure, and there’s no bigger adventure than NL. Also, Belle’s relationship with her father isn’t exactly happy, so I don’t think she’d stay just for him.
"That’s how you know you’ve really got a home. When you leave it, there’s this feeling that you can’t shake. You just miss it." Neal Cassidy