[Keb]

Well….Belle….was THERE?

But Belle & Anna! Yay!

Maybe Rumple will be “inspired” to help Anna get home. I will be sad if they set this up and Belle never sees Anna again though.

[Keb]

Well, right now Rumple clearly believes that his involves infinite power and Belle by his side and SOMETHING else that they haven’t explained yet.

But they’ve also had characters in the show intone that one’s happy ending isn’t always what one expects.

Keeper of Belle's Gold magic, sand dollar, cloaks, purple FTL outfit, spell scroll, library key, copy of Romeo and Juliet, and cry-muffling pillow, Rumple's doll, overcoat, and strength, and The Timeline. My spreadsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6r8CySCCWd9R0RUNm4xR3RhMEU/view?usp=sharing

[Keb]

Perhaps Ursula has a sister or a mother whose backstory we’ll explore? Perhaps a relationship with Ariel’s father?

Keeper of Belle's Gold magic, sand dollar, cloaks, purple FTL outfit, spell scroll, library key, copy of Romeo and Juliet, and cry-muffling pillow, Rumple's doll, overcoat, and strength, and The Timeline. My spreadsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6r8CySCCWd9R0RUNm4xR3RhMEU/view?usp=sharing

[Keb]

THANK YOU A&E. They confirmed what I’ve seen about Rumple. I’m not imagining it.

Also: OMG yay more Aurora. Can we have an Aurora-Belle ep finally? They chatted in the background of 312 and Belle’s besties with both Aurora’s true loves (or whatever they are). I NEED this. I need them on screen together.

…and yes, I really just want more Belle. Always.

Keeper of Belle's Gold magic, sand dollar, cloaks, purple FTL outfit, spell scroll, library key, copy of Romeo and Juliet, and cry-muffling pillow, Rumple's doll, overcoat, and strength, and The Timeline. My spreadsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6r8CySCCWd9R0RUNm4xR3RhMEU/view?usp=sharing

[Keb]

Love and hate are very closely intertwined. It makes sense to me that if you can’t fully love, you can’t fully hate without a heart.

Keeper of Belle's Gold magic, sand dollar, cloaks, purple FTL outfit, spell scroll, library key, copy of Romeo and Juliet, and cry-muffling pillow, Rumple's doll, overcoat, and strength, and The Timeline. My spreadsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6r8CySCCWd9R0RUNm4xR3RhMEU/view?usp=sharing

[Keb]

I like the suggestion that she’s young Ursula…the singing voice made me think, “Siren.” Well, a young sea goddess might be a siren!

Keeper of Belle's Gold magic, sand dollar, cloaks, purple FTL outfit, spell scroll, library key, copy of Romeo and Juliet, and cry-muffling pillow, Rumple's doll, overcoat, and strength, and The Timeline. My spreadsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6r8CySCCWd9R0RUNm4xR3RhMEU/view?usp=sharing

[Keb]

I think Rumple’s given Hook more free will than we’ve seen others give their heart-slaves, but Hook is definitely not doing Rumple’s bidding willingly. And, he’s the Dark One; he may not have to be holding the heart in his hand to use its power. Having it in his possession may be sufficient.

Hook is not blameless for everything (and his recent attempts to blackmail Rumple probably increased Rumple’s desire to toy with/kill him), but the attempted kidnap of Henry and the massacre of the fairies was not his fault. And while obviously Hook does not want what Rumple’s doing to happen, I think on some level he recognizes that there are times in his life when he would’ve done something similar. Like when he tried to kill Black Beard, condemning Eric in the process. You know, like six months ago.

Keeper of Belle's Gold magic, sand dollar, cloaks, purple FTL outfit, spell scroll, library key, copy of Romeo and Juliet, and cry-muffling pillow, Rumple's doll, overcoat, and strength, and The Timeline. My spreadsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6r8CySCCWd9R0RUNm4xR3RhMEU/view?usp=sharing

[Keb]

Oh, I know he got his heart back in Wonderland. BUT. They haven’t explained thing one about his presence in Storybrooke NOW. And since he’s had it removed before, if something happened to Ana, he MIGHT have removed it again somehow. Or she might have. Or who knows.

Nothing in his behavior really swayed me either way during the curse–he was picking pockets and trying to pick a fight with Hook (and evidently drunk again) but honestly I could see him doing that without the influence of the curse.

Keeper of Belle's Gold magic, sand dollar, cloaks, purple FTL outfit, spell scroll, library key, copy of Romeo and Juliet, and cry-muffling pillow, Rumple's doll, overcoat, and strength, and The Timeline. My spreadsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6r8CySCCWd9R0RUNm4xR3RhMEU/view?usp=sharing

[Keb]

I also theorize that the spell doesn’t affect him (he was able to look into the mirror, too) because, as the Dark One, he already sees the worst in everything.

Keeper of Belle's Gold magic, sand dollar, cloaks, purple FTL outfit, spell scroll, library key, copy of Romeo and Juliet, and cry-muffling pillow, Rumple's doll, overcoat, and strength, and The Timeline. My spreadsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6r8CySCCWd9R0RUNm4xR3RhMEU/view?usp=sharing

[Keb]

I think Rumple knew but others didn’t know; remember, he’s got the most magical knowledge of all of them, and removing a heart doesn’t exempt you from every curse. (However, I’m now very curious about whether Will was under the curse’s influence or just taking advantage of the confusion…and also very curious about all the people whose hearts Regina still has in her vault.)

However, taking your heart out is risky (anyone can crush it or control you) and the act itself is suggested to be a bit painful. Only a handful of people actually have the ability to pull hearts (Regina & Rumple of the active, alive players on the board) and I think Rumple was allowing the curse to happen because it gave him the chance to go through with his plan and emerge a hero to the two people who matter to him. He knew what was happening and had some means to stop it (the dagger or the hat probably would have stopped Ingrid even after the curse was activated); he chose not to because he had his deal and saw how he could benefit from the situation.

So Regina would have needed to know that pulling a heart would exempt someone from the curse, and given how afraid she was of who she would become, she would have taken her own heart out first if she had known. I’m convinced she didn’t know about this loophole in the curse.

There may also be the added caveat that Hook’s heart was in Rumple’s possession; it may not simply be enough to have your heart out of your chest, though Rumple’s statement certainly suggests that was sufficient.

Why he didn’t remove Belle’s heart (or DID he?) is another question…but I think that in general, Rumple would be reluctant to do that to her. He can just put her to sleep, or protect her by separating her from the rest of the world with magic, or a thousand other things that leave her intact. Even if it wouldn’t frighten or harm her, I don’t think he would do it except in a far more drastic situation; for him it would dredge up flashbacks to Milah & Cora, among other reasons never to do it (like, you know, caring about her and loving her and respecting her autonomy–they REALLY needed to keep that dock scene in to show that he does still, especially if he DID knock her out during the curse).

Also, back to Cora–his horror at the idea that she would remove her own heart suggests that to him, it’s a horrible thing to do. Perfect for people you hate, spells that require it, but an awful thing to do to yourself or someone you love.

Keeper of Belle's Gold magic, sand dollar, cloaks, purple FTL outfit, spell scroll, library key, copy of Romeo and Juliet, and cry-muffling pillow, Rumple's doll, overcoat, and strength, and The Timeline. My spreadsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6r8CySCCWd9R0RUNm4xR3RhMEU/view?usp=sharing

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