<P> Gideon explains to his parents that he has arrived in Storybrooke to kill the Savior and take her powers for himself in order to defeat the Black Fairy and free the Dark Realm . Belle agrees to work with Rumple in order to save their son from the darkness growing inside of him and to prevent the looming "war" in Storybrooke . Rumple and Belle later learn that Gideon has been under the control of the Black Fairy, who has stolen his heart . After Rumple secretly forges an alliance with his mother in order to retrieve Gideon's heart, he returns the heart and Gideon happily reunites with his parents . The Black Fairy then casts her curse to start the Final Battle, which separates Belle from her husband and son and turns her into a recluse and a hermit, afraid to leave the confines of her home . This is in direct contrast to Belle's true nature and love of travel and adventure . In addition, the Black Fairy once again steals Gideon's heart and commands him to kill the Savior . To break the curse, Rumple kills the Black Fairy, and he and Belle happily reunite . Together they enter the mines to once again retrieve Gideon's heart and stop him before he can kill Emma . Upon finding the heart and considering the power he could gain from Emma's death, Rumple makes the decision to ignore his dark impulses and commands Gideon to let Emma live . The end of the Final Battle sees adult Gideon disappear and reappear to Belle and Rumple as the baby she originally gave up . Belle and Rumple celebrate their "happy beginning" together with the Charmings, Emma, Hook, Regina, and Zelena at Granny's Diner . </P> <P> One year after the events of the season six finale, Belle and Rumple are planning baby Gideon's first birthday party . Rumple gives Belle a travel book and promises her that he's going to give her what she's always wanted: an opportunity to see the world . Ten years later, along their travels, Belle, Rumple, and Gideon explore an ancient bridge above a river said to grant people's greatest wishes . Rumple reveals to Belle that he no longer wishes to have the powers of the Dark One, because he wants to live out a mortal life with her . He drops the dagger into the river, but it instantly reappears . Belle vows to help Rumple find a way to be rid of his curse forever . Eight years later, Belle, Rumple, and Gideon are living in a castle or large estate in an unspecified location . Belle and Rumple are ecstatic to discover that (a now 18 - year - old) Gideon has been accepted into a prestigious academy . Belle then reveals to Rumple that she has discovered and translated a fairy prophecy, which states: "When the Dark One finds eternal love, at the sun's brightest set, where time stops, the path will appear to where the darkness shall rest ." Rumple tells Belle that the place referred to by the prophecy is the Edge of Realms, the edge of all existence where the sun never sets and time passes differently . Belle understands at this time that "the sun's brightest set" means her own death, but purposely withholds this from Rumple because she knows he would do anything to prevent it . Belle decides she would rather live a long, happy life with Rumple rather than endlessly seeking another answer . The two travel to the Edge of Realms and decide to build their home there without the use of magic . Many blissful years pass, as Belle ages into an elderly woman and Rumple remains immortal . On her deathbed, Belle reveals to a distraught Rumple that only by letting her go may he finally find the answer to getting rid of the Dark One curse and ultimately reunite with her in death . Rumple tells Belle that he is too afraid to let her go, but she reminds him of their timeless tale . As she passes, Belle's final words to Rumple are: "You let me go once before, and we found our way back to each other . You're a good man, Rumple . Your heart is pure . You will find the answer you need to get rid of the dagger, and you will find your way back to me, okay? I promise ." </P> <P> As the season progresses, Rumple's quest to reunite with her seems hopeless, until the series finale "Leaving Storybrooke", in which he sacrifices his heart to save the Captain Hook from the Wish Realm . Upon his death, Belle appears to him on Mount Olympus in her signature golden dress . The two embrace and dance together . </P> <P> The producers had planned to make the Belle character a recurring role in the series, but after sporadic appearances in the first season, she was promoted to a series regular in the second . </P>

Where did belle go in once upon a time