Chapter Text
At the Town Line
Heartbroken, Rumpelstiltskin watched as Belle spun on her heel and stalked back to town. She held her head high, limping in those ridiculous shoes she always wore, acting like she was some noble knight off to fight a dragon; except the dragon was defeated and the knight was being a self-righteous prat about it.
He knew why she was angry, of course. He'd gone too far. His anxiety and desperation were all consuming, and no matter how much he was conflicted, he couldn’t stop his plans. The very idea of anyone touching the dagger was too much. Even Belle.
As it turned out, especially Belle.
Gritting his teeth, Rumple stood and hobbled toward the woods. He needed a cane or he would never make it to the nearest gas station. While he didn’t fancy the walk, crawling the entire way was definitely unappealing.
Upon closer inspection, there were no low hanging branches near the road. The trees themselves were tall and foreboding; not the least bit inviting. Uneasily Rumple searched the sides of the road, hoping a storm had scattered debris. He didn’t like the idea of entering the forest without a cane. Nobody knew for sure what kind of dangerous creatures lurked there. The surrounding forest had always felt a bit dark and mysterious, much like the Enchanted Forest. Without his magic, he would prefer to stay on the road.
Finally, Rumple spotted a large branch twenty yards from the tree line. Hobbling over, he picked it up. Pulling out his pocket knife, he quickly stripped the bark and twigs; slightly smoothing the top to avoid splinters. Rumple sighed, inspecting his new walking stick with an uncritical eye as he slipped his knife back into his pocket.
With each passing moment, the voices in his mind were growing louder. It was unnerving. And considering that the voices had been silent the last time he left Storybrooke, disconcerting. He racked his brain trying to understand the difference, but he couldn’t focus. The voices kept goading him, telling him he was never going to be good enough for Belle or Henry.
That he was a failure.
Swallowing, Rumple shook his head and began putting one foot in front of the other. Physical pain tended to keep the voices away, and it was going to be a long walk to the gas station. As he hobbled down the road, he kept replaying Belle’s last words.
She had called him a beast.
Wincing, Rumple kept walking, contemplating his situation. Was he really that terrible for wanting to be separated from the dagger? For wanting to be free from compulsion? Even his own wife had used the dagger against him twice, yet nobody seemed worried that he was so easily controlled.
Maybe they wanted him that way.
Gritting his teeth, Rumple fought against his spiraling thoughts. Distracted, he didn’t notice how far from the town line he’d traveled until a sharp, blinding pain slammed into his skull. Stumbling, Rumple fell to his knees, a woman’s screams ringing in his ears. An evil green light exploded behind his eyes as a life’s worth of memories burst into his mind; worsening the pain. Blackness surrounded Rumpelstiltskin as he collapsed in the middle of the road, helpless against the torrent of memories that engulfed him.
He opened his eyes and found himself standing in the middle of a wooded clearing. As he frantically glanced around, his eyes landed on a young woman. She couldn't have been more than seventeen or eighteen years old. She stood perfectly frozen; her shoulders thrown back and her head held high in defiance. He turned to see who she was confronting and gasped in horror.
He was more monster than man. Despite the black hood that shrouded his face, Rumple could see his complexion was colorless. The skin on the monster’s face was stretched tightly across his cheekbones and his nose was flat and snakelike. He was crouched slightly, his wand at the ready, and his reptilian crimson eyes emanated malice. Rumple was struck by how closely he resembled the Dark One. As he scrutinized the monster, he felt his mouth grow dry as his eyes lingered on the monster’s cheekbones and shoulders. Despite obvious differences between them, all he could see was himself.
It was like a punch to the gut.
Looking at the girl, Rumple saw that she was short. Even shorter than he was, and he was not a tall man. She wore a simple white dress covered in dirt, sweat, and blood, the fabric ripped in several places. Her long black hair was filled with sticks and debris and she was barefoot. Yet, she had the most determined expression he had ever seen. Her eyes drew him in, a piercing emerald green that glowed with magic. A shiver ran down Rumple’s spine.
“Harry,” He whispered, realizing he knew her, “Harriet Potter.”
He turned and limped to the other version of himself. With each step he remembered; the orphanage, Albus Dumbledore, Hogwarts, learning magic, the basilisk, hating muggles, learning mind magic, making horcruxes, feeling less and less human, emptiness, the dark mark, his death eaters, war, pain, hate, RAGE!
The world spun in a sickening twirl and Rumpelstiltskin fell to his knees, head between his hands, keening, “No, no, no, no!”
He finally understood why the dark magic felt like an extension of himself. Why the corruption didn’t affect him as it had the other Dark Ones.
Because it was him.
Rumpelstiltskin was the Dark One, and the Dark One was Rumpelstiltskin. He had been split down the middle and the two aspects of himself, the man and the monster, had been sent from this world to another.
How the hell could that have happened?
The pain in his head ebbed away, allowing him to stand. Glancing around, he saw that he was still in the middle of the deserted road to Storybrooke, five miles from the town line. His magic swirled around; no longer restricted to Storybrooke. Had magic ever been? Or was it the belief that this was the Land Without Magic that had kept them from accessing it? Either way, Rumple had no idea what he was going to do. He was barred from Storybrooke and he was not safe in this world.
As he stood, he felt his ankle pinch and he instinctively placed his hand on his leg, allowing his magic to flow downwards to ease his pain. Sighing, he pitched his makeshift cane into the woods and looked back toward Storybrooke.
He was a Beast; that much was clear. Too much of a Beast for his Beauty. While he knew he was different from the monster he had been, he still wasn’t a whole man.
Why was he even alive?
Bae should have left him in that vault. Belle should have stopped him when she realized something was wrong, and Regina should never have taken Emma and Henry’s memories away. Everything was fucked and there was no fixing it. The one good thing he had done, dying for that damn town, was ruined.
Zelena had destroyed any progress toward the light he’d made, Belle had his dagger and Merlin knew what she would do with it, and now Henry was alone with Captain Hook. A Captain Hook he had almost killed. A Captain Hook that would turn his grandson against him. A Captain Hook that had made no progress toward bettering himself, yet everyone accepted.
Tears flowed freely down his face as he turned his back toward Storybrooke and headed toward the uncertainty of the Land of Hidden Magic. He had no limp to remind him of who he used to be and he had no love to keep him from the Darkness. He had nothing.
Nothing but the certainty of who he’d been and the disgust of what he was.
He hated himself.
He didn’t want to be here.
He wanted to die.
Rumpelstiltskin cast a glance towards the woods, eyes narrowing into the darkness, before darting forward; wracking his brain to remember if he had ever seen a map. He had no idea where the woods would take him, but he suspected there was a cliff nearby. As he ran, limbs and branches tore at his suit and he felt his leg twinge with every step. His shoes scuffed his feet, rubbing the skin raw. Moonlight shone ahead, urging Rumple to burst into a mad dash. He wanted to find the cliff before he lost his nerve. Quickly, he reached the tree line and skidded to a stop. Looking down, he saw nothing but a dark chasm and a river winding its way through the dark forest far below.
He could jump.
Would it kill him in the Land of Hidden Magic?
Would it paralyze him?
Was this the coward’s way out?
Did he care?
He took a deep breath and thought of his son. The only person in any of his lives that he’d loved fully and without reservation. He thought of Milah and how she broke him. He thought of Cora and how she’d chosen power over him; ripping her own heart out in the process. He thought of his sweet Belle, of how certain he’d been that she was his True Love. His parents had abandoned him for power and eternal youth. The spinners he’d lived with only pitied him.
And then there was Henry Mills.
His own grandson didn’t seem to care if they had a relationship; referring to him as Mr. Gold. Rumple had wanted to address it, but was too afraid Henry would refuse to call him Grandpa to say anything. It would have broken his heart even more if Henry had rejected him.
Funny, he used to pride himself on not having one.
Thinking of the vast difference between Rumpelstiltskin and Lord Voldemort, he laughed. He laughed and laughed and laughed and when he couldn’t laugh anymore.
He jumped.
Storybrooke
2 months later
Ruby was getting tired of Hook’s bullshit. Every morning he and Emma came to the diner for coffee and breakfast, and every morning he kept staring down her blouse. Normally, she would have said something by this point, but Emma had witnessed his behavior and never said a word. Her smile would tighten, her eyes would narrow, but she would always look away. It hurt, knowing Emma overlooked his poor behavior, but not enough to lose a friend over it. She was used to poor treatment from men.
Strangely, it took Dr. Hopper intervening for the issue to be addressed.
“Would you please stop staring at Ruby like a piece of meat, Captain,” Archie scolded as he paid for his breakfast, “She is a human being.”
Hook looked surprised as he glanced over his shoulder, which quickly turned to embarrassment then anger.
“Why don’t you say that to my face?” Hook snarled, shifting toward Archie as he drew himself up to his full height. Emma did nothing as the pirate captain tried to intimidate the town's conscience.
“You heard me correctly the first time,” Archie calmly replied. Bemused, he tilted his head, and asked, “Are you trying to threaten me?”
Hook froze as he realized what he was doing. Looking away, he pursed his lips as his face twisted in unease. The psychiatrist supposed the Captain seemed contrite, yet his slips back into his uncouth, pirate behavior were becoming tiresome.
Glancing at Emma, Archie said, “Really Sheriff, I understand he is your boyfriend, but you do need to say something. His behavior is appalling.”
He paused, watching as Emma’s face turned pale with horrified embarrassment as she glanced between Archie and Hook.
“Especially as I could still press charges against him for kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, and torture.”
Emma couldn’t say anything. All she was able to do was sputter before running out of the diner, Hook calling after her, “Swan, wait!”
“Thank you for that.” Ruby said as they basked in their small victory.
Archie watched Emma and Hook arguing across the street, before he thoughtfully said. “Since Rumpelstiltskin was banished, people act like they can do whatever they want. It’s been terrible of late.”
“You mean the villains?” Ruby pressed, wanting to make sure they were on the same page before she voiced her opinion.
“No,” Archie replied, glancing at Ruby, “I mean the heroes too. They act as if everything they do is just and right. When in reality everything they do is…flawed.”
Ruby sighed and sagged against the table, “Thank god, I’m not the only one that thinks so. It seems like everyone is perfectly happy with letting the heroes do whatever they want.”
Ruby continued, babbling, “I mean, if Rumpelstiltskin can get banished, what is stopping them from doing the same thing to anyone else? He saved the whole town and he’s basically invincible!”
“There should have been a trial. He did try to kill Hook. Despite my dislike for the pirate, that is against the law.” Archie grimaced, “Although, he probably would have gotten off.”
“Not that it would have hurt a lot of people’s feelings, “Ruby whispered dryly, “I don’t think they realize just how many people dislike Hook and prefer Rumpelstiltskin.” Ruby paused and glanced at Granny.
“I mean he was mean and prickly a lot of the time, but we were all used to him,” Ruby amended, “Plus he would always step in before things got too…. intense.”
“Unless he made them that way,” Archie replied, thinking of the wraith Gold had sent after Regina.
“I much prefer his controlled chaos to Regina’s rage,” Ruby said as she surveyed the room, worried someone would overhear them.
“That is true,” Archie replied, “It was always nice to know that he would be there to curb the worst of Regina. Or push the heroes in the right direction.”
They fell into a companionable silence before Archie whispered, “I called him.”
“What,” Ruby whispered back, leaning forward, “What did he say?”
“I couldn’t get through,” Archie replied, obviously distraught, “I’ve tried calling at varying times but no answer. It rings, but always goes to voicemail.”
Ruby bit her lip, “Maybe he doesn’t have his cell?”
Archie shook his head, “Even if he had left it, he would have already bought a new one. In case Henry or Belle called.”
“I’m not sure he would answer for Belle,” Ruby muttered, “Not after the banishment.”
“I….” Archie began but another large group walked into the diner, reminding him of the time. Ruby would soon need to go back to work. Impulsively he said, “Come to my office. We can talk more there.”
Ruby nodded and agreed, “I’ll be there at noon.”
Distractedly, Archie agreed and quickly exited the diner. He was worried about Rumpelstiltskin. Before the unfortunate trouble with Peter Pan, Gold had been making significant progress toward bettering himself. There had been a few small break-throughs, in regards to his obsession with his son and its origins. He’d been doing well and Archie had felt that maybe they could focus on some of his control issues when Henry was abducted. Soon after, Gold had sacrificed himself for the town.
After discovering Zelena had captured him, Archie had been frantic with worry. He knew that Gold’s already fragile mental state and the loss of his son would push him further away from any progress they’d made. Which would then push him further into the darkness. To make matters worse, Belle had been in his office constantly, crying about Rumple's impressment, but unwilling to do much towards saving him. She seemed content to do whatever the heroes wanted, leaving Gold in Zelena’s clutches for far too long.
After Zelena was defeated, Archie had waited for him to resume their sessions, but Gold never had. Worried, Archie began calling periodically to check in. Rumpelstiltskin always answered and would always speak with him. Archie tried treating Gold like every other client, but it was hard. Rumpelstiltskin desperately needed a friend, and he obviously wasn’t going to get one from the heroes. Not that he really blamed the Nolan’s for their standoffish relationship with Gold. He understood their anger. Gold had separated them from their daughter and aided in creating the Dark Curse. However they had built a relationship with Regina for Henry’s sake, the person who had actually cast the dark curse, killing the one she loved the most; her own father.
During his conversations with Gold, he discovered that Zelena had made him suffer far more than the others suspected. It had been a horrible realization when he finally understood what Rumple wasn’t saying. He still couldn’t be sure what had happened between them, but he could imagine. Zelena had complete control over him and there wasn’t anything Gold could have done about it.
It hadn’t surprised him when Zelena was found dead. However, what had surprised him was the evidence that she’d killed herself. He knew it was fake. Why anyone would believe Gold was innocent, was a mystery. She killed his son and controlled his every movement for over a year. She was a dead woman as soon as Gold had control of his dagger.
Another unpleasant surprise had been Rumpelstiltskin's decision to lie to Belle. Their relationship breaking down was disappointing. If Archie had even an inkling about their problems, he never would have married them. He always felt protective of all of his patients, but for some reason he felt even more so for Rumpelstiltskin.
Maybe it was because he so desperately wanted to be good. Maybe it was because he seemed to be filled with so much love and devotion. A devotion that just needed a proper outlet. Archie had thought it could be Belle, but it seemed that without his son he was lost, and not even True Love could save him.
Frustrated, Archie opened the door to his office and threw himself into his chair. He needed to focus on his current patients, but it was hard when he knew someone needed his help.
Ruby was more annoyed with her morning shift than usual. Everyone at the dinner seemed to be on edge today; annoyed with town leadership. Since the Spell of Shattered Sight, petty differences and minor arguments between former heroes and villains were starting to get heated, causing problems among the residents. Just last week Ella and Thomas were arguing with Drizella about side street parking. Now mysterious dead animals were appearing on their lawn. More specially, the mice and birds that Ella fed. When Ella went to speak with Emma about it, she was nowhere to be found.
Poor David was trying to take care of the office and all the outgoing complaints, but he needed help and Ruby knew it was useless going to Regina. Not even her secretary could find her. If she hadn’t constantly been with Emma people would have assumed she had disappeared with Rumpelstiltskin.
“I wish they would just fuck already,” Grumpy growled as he drank his coffee.
“I don’t think that’s it, Grumpy,” Ruby muttered as she refilled his coffee for the third time.
“No?” Grumpy grunted.
He recently made sure everyone knew that Leroy was his townie name and he wouldn’t answer to it. Not that Grumpy was much better in Ruby’s opinion, but it wasn’t her business.
Arguments over what names to call each other were breaking out all over town causing nothing but hard feelings and chaos. The whole town was at each other’s throats and with nobody at the helm, Ruby couldn’t help but fear for Storybrooke.
“No,” Ruby said a bit more firmly, “She’s still obsessing over Hook.”
“Ugh,” Grumpy muttered, “What’s up with her and villains?”
“No clue, but honestly, I don’t think it’s our business.”
“She’s the Savior,” Grumpy snapped, “Not to mention the Sheriff. If she can’t be objective, where does that leave us?”
Ruby said nothing. It wasn’t like he was wrong, but she very much wished to change the subject. She’d been thinking herself in circles all morning as she tried to analyze their problem from all angles. The only conclusion she could make was that Rumpelstiltskin was the only one that could conceivably keep everyone in check.
They needed him back.
Looking at the clock, Ruby yanked her apron off and yelled at Granny that she was taking her lunch. She almost made it out of the diner when she literally ran into Belle. Muttering a quick, “sorry” she shot out the door. She didn't want to listen to Belle as she moaned and groaned about Will Scarlet. She had heard more about that relationship than she cared for. As someone who’d still not found her true love, she found it grating how easily Belle fell in and out of love.
Not that Ruby could judge. Her cursed-self had been very affectionate with other people. Yet, she had never been in love. Belle had; according to her. Yet two months after her separation from her husband and supposed True Love, Belle thought it was possible that Will was “the one.” Those two things did not compute for Ruby. If Belle wanted to embrace her inner Lacey and have fun, then good on her, but she didn’t like seeing people so easily replaced. In her opinion, that was what Belle was doing, replacing a man that was hard to love with someone she could fix.
Knocking on Archie’s door, she waited for the “please come in” and quickly sat on the couch. When she’d been cursed, she’d often come here to try and curb her nymphomaniac tendencies, but she never could. Of course, that was more to do with the curse than her own proclivities, but it never stopped her from feeling slightly embarrassed.
“So, what are we going to do?” Ruby asked.
Archie just sighed in frustration and leaned forward. Technically, it was unethical to be so casual with a former patient, but Storybook was cut off from the rest of the world, making it impossible to treat everyone as he ought.
“I’m not sure there is anything we can do,” He said as he was looking through a notebook, scanning the pages before moving quickly to the next one.
“Rumpelstiltskin is not answering his phone, text or email,” Archie continued, "None of the others mention him. Belle has moved on to another man and nobody seems to know what to do with Gold’s dagger.”
He paused before carefully saying, “Henry hasn’t said a word either.”
“Should we even do anything?” Ruby asked with a frustrated sigh, “I mean Gold is an asshole and would probably sell us out if it furthered his agenda. Why the fuck are we worried?”
“We have a soft spot for him,” Archie quietly offered, “I know that I rather like him. He has always made me feel valued and listened to. People have overlooked me ever since we were forced back into Storybrooke, even after the curse was broken. He never has.”
Ruby was quiet and nodded in agreement, “Gold is very good at making people feel valued. He never discounts anyone’s potential.”
Archie shut the book in frustration. Ruby bit her lip. She knew what needed to be done, but wasn’t sure how Archie would feel about it.
“We need to see the Sorcerer’s Apprentice.”
Archie flinched and looked away. It hadn’t occurred to him to seek the Apprentice’s council. He mostly kept away from magic users, Rumpelstiltskin notwithstanding. He had too many close calls with Regina and her ilk to feel safe around them. It also didn’t help that everyone in the town was incredibly nosey. He knew rumors would start as soon as someone saw them with the Apprentice. Archie would rather have the Dark One back in town before anyone knew he was involved with his reappearance.
“We should probably visit him after hours,” Archie replied after a moment of contemplative silence, “We wouldn’t want anyone to figure out our plan.”
Ruby nodded. If people knew what they intended, someone would try and stop them. She would defend herself if pushed, but she would rather not hurt anyone. There were many heroes and villains that had been glad about the banishment. With Gold gone, they no longer had to worry about being blackmailed. Many of them would do desperate things to keep Rumpelstiltskin out of town.
However the rest of the townspeople, the “small folk” as they used to be called, had been rather anxious about his banishment. Under the guise of certain charities and grants, Gold had been helping the less fortunate. Now Dove was in charge, but if the gossip could be believed, there were things he simply couldn’t do without Belle’s permission and she refused to even speak to him.
Archie looked at his watch. It would soon be time for his next patient and he didn’t want to keep him waiting. However, he was conflicted. He knew that he wanted to help Rumpelstiltskin, but he also knew to do so would mean drawing on skills he had tried hard to forget. He didn’t want to be Jiminy again, but it was becoming obvious that nobody in Storybrooke could live completely innocent lives. In order to do what was right, Archie would need to make peace with who he’d been.
“I’ll see you around ten this evening,” Ruby said as she stood, noticing the time. Granny would need her back as soon as possible. The more disgruntled the town became, the busier the diner.
Still deep in thought, Archie nodded and walked her out of his office. It was becoming increasingly obvious that Storybrooke was going to implode without some sort of intervention. Gold was their only option. He only hoped they weren’t too late.