What Happened
Rumplestiltskin raises a hand up with a short intake of breath, a question forming on his tongue so obscure, even for him, that he has to stop from speaking it.
He takes in the sight before him. A messy blonde who claims to be Emma Swan, daughter of the fateful Princess Snow and Prince David, and his own dirty, hook-handed nemesis.
"I understand who the fuck you are," Rumplestiltskin hisses at them. "What I don't understand is why I haven't murdered you," he walks closer to the man, his arm still outstretched and sparking with magic, "With my bare fucking hands."
"Whoa, Mr. Go-" Emma starts, then stops with a brief sigh, "I mean.. Rumplestiltskin, you need to keep him alive. Look- We know how crazy this is, coming from the future, but you of all people should know that magic is unpredictable. Regina's wicked sister sent us here from a land without magic from your future, and well... If something happens to either of us while we're here, who knows what consequences that could entail. You have to help us. Snow White and Prince Charming were supposed to have met in a robbery on the way to King Midas' Kingdom. I intervened slightly, and, well- it didn't happen."
To this winded response, Rumplestiltskin breathes out a long and extended sigh.
These two idiots, he thinks. Obviously they're telling the truth. Who else would know to tell him these details in order to get him to cooperate. He has no choice.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me," he eventually says. "Fine, you goddamn idiots. Emma, you of ALL PEOPLE SHOULD-" he finds himself a little too close to her with his hand in her face. He breathes deep again and draws back. "Where did you get those, woman?" he asks, gesturing at her clothes.
"Uhm-" she says, dumbfounded, and looks away.
"For darkness' sake," Rumple whines and poofs them to their original home. In their place are black lace boots, and a blood-red, long skirted dress. A black and gold embroidered bodice cinches her up neatly, and as a spontaneous finishing touch he adds a thick gold necklace, embellished with modest rubies and black opals. For necessity, he doesn't bother to adorn her with a complete set of undergarments.
"Uhm" she says again.
"We-" Hook begins, but Rumple just yells.
"Don't!!!!" he demands, "Speak to me! I will tolerate your presence, but not your voice!"
"What is all this for?" Emma asks, lifting her expansive skirts up.
"That, dearie- Is for The Ball. Unfortunately, you will have no escort. For this-" he looks at Killian with one of disgust, "Pirate. Has other business to attend to. You will be collected by this pirate in a days' time. In that time, his job is to fix your mishap with your dear, True Love bound parents."
Emma's face appears as though she's having a tough time taking this in. Rumplestilskin smirks with a quiet laugh and they stare at each other.
"And me?" she finally asks, breathless.
"You, sweet summer child. Must stall the young and terrible Queen Regina from hunting after your mother."
Rumplestiltskin doesn't miss the barely concealed anger Hook betrays in his desperate glance at Emma.