Disclaimer: I am not Adam Horowitz, Eddy Kitsis, or Ryan Murphy. If I was, I probably wouldn't be posting here.

This story contains the following: Sexual assault; mention of rape; caning; depictions of mental illness; mention of electroconvulsive therapy; mention of lobotomy; mention/depictions of WWII war violence/the Holocaust/Nazis; human experimentation; cannibalistic mutants; mention of aliens/alien abduction; demonic possession; mention of mutilation; racism; sexism/slut-shaming; homophobia; ableist language; homicide; suicide; general violence, mayhem, and death. Reader discretion is advised.

Prologue

Rumpelstiltskin followed as Baelfire led him deeper into the forest. Excitement and hope radiated off the boy, the very air rang with the power of it. It set his teeth on edge and made his stomach twist itself into knots. The Dark One yearned to lash out, to smother the light with His darkness, to laugh as He watched it flicker and die.

But this was his son. His son! Rumpelstiltskin would not, could not, disappoint him. And so he spoke, his voice cutting through the thickness between them, drowning out the dark thoughts, "What kind of world is this we're going to? What kind of world is without magic?"

Baelfire turned to him, his face determined, "A better one."

He stared at his son for a long moment. He knew he was doing a poor job of keeping his doubts from showing, but Bae seemed unconcerned with his hesitation. He trusted him to keep his word. Turning, Bae tossed the bean onto the ground.

Before his eyes, the bean transformed, growing into a swirling green vortex. It grasped at his ankles, promising to unmake him, to pull him into the ground and leave him buried so deep that there would be no way out. He took several hasty steps backward. He knew this was a plot to get rid of him! Fairies were never to be trusted!

"It's a trick! It'll tear us apart!" he yelled over the wind, trying to get Bae to see reason.

"It's not! It'll be okay, I promise! We have to go through!"

"No, no, I don't think I can!"

Did Bae truly not understand? Did he trust the Blue Fairy so much that he could not recognize his own demise when it was staring him in the face? Baelfire grabbed his hand and leapt for the portal, oblivious to the danger.

Rumpelstiltskin clutched his hand tighter, bracing himself to keep them from falling through. Despite his best efforts, he lost his footing as Bae's weight dragged him forward. Desperately fumbling for his dagger, he managed to plunge it deep into the ground, stopping their inexorable slide towards the portal. But Bae was too close to the edge. Rumpelstiltskin wasn't going to be able to hold on to him much longer.

"Papa, what are you doing? It won't stay open long! Let's go!"

"I can't!"

"Papa, it's the only way we can be together!"

"No, I can't!"

Suddenly, Bae's confusion turned to anger. He screamed at him, his voice breaking in his rage, "You coward! You promised! Don't break our deal!" Bae began to struggle against his grasp. For one brief, sickening moment, he considered letting Bae go. He could at least save himself.

No!

No, whatever fate awaited his boy, he couldn't leave him to face it alone. Closing his eyes, he let go of the dagger, and they tumbled through the portal, together.

Awareness came back to Rumpelstiltskin slowly. There was a dull throbbing in his head, an ache in his leg that he had grown used to living without, and he felt drained. Powerless.

Distantly, he could make out words. Someone was speaking. Slowly, he sat up and opened his eyes. He instantly regretted his decision when a light, brighter than any lamp or candle he had ever seen, shined into his eyes. He shrank back, shielding his face from the glare.

"Easy there," came the voice again.

"Bae?"

"The kid? He's fine."

He opened his eyes again, cautiously. It was still dark out, except for the bright white light that illuminated the patch of road where he was sitting. He squinted over towards the source, which appeared to be twin lamps mounted onto some sort of...giant box? On top of the box, more lights flashed, a dizzying combination of red and blue. He looked away from them, and towards the man who crouched beside him. He was wearing some sort of uniform, a fact Rumpelstiltskin did not find particularly comforting.

"Where is this?"

The uniformed man frowned, "Not far outside of Leeds."

Rumpelstiltskin's incomprehension must have shown, because the man continued, "Hampshire County? Massachusetts? Where you from, buddy? Scotland?"

"The Frontlands."

The man was quiet for a moment, before standing and rubbing his forehead. "Christ," he muttered. "You gotta be kidding me..." He glanced across the road, and Rumpelstiltskin followed his gaze to where another uniformed man stood talking with Bae. Bae was seated on top of another light box, a blanket wrapped around his shoulders. "Hey, Walsh, you getting anything useful out of the kid?"

"He says his name is Baelfire," the other man, Walsh, yelled back. "Your guy's his father."

The man looked back down at him, "You got a name?"

"Rumpelstiltskin."

The man snorted, "Got a first name?"

"That's the only name I have."

"Huh, never heard anything like it."

Rumpelstiltskin shrugged. It wasn't a very common name in his world, either.

"So, what's with the Halloween costume? A little early for that, don't you think?"

Rumpelstiltskin could only give him a puzzled look. He felt it was better that he didn't say too much, at this point. It was becoming increasingly obvious to him that fitting into this world would not be as simple as he had hoped. The man just shook his head wearily at his silence.

"Hey, Harrison, you should get a load of this kid's story!" Walsh called over, laughter evident in his voice. "Says a fairy gave him a magic bean that opened a portal between their world and ours, and that's how they got here!"

Rumpelstiltskin winced.

'Oh, Bae, why'd you tell him that?'

Harrison grinned, "He didn't trade the family cow for it, did he?"

Rumpelstiltskin frowned. He was used to enduring people's derision. He was not so tolerant of them mocking his boy. "Don't you dare laugh at him," he warned. He may not have his powers, here, but that didn't mean he had to swallow his pride and put up with bullies. Not anymore.

Harrison's grin disappeared, "You don't buy this fairy bullshit, do you?"

"My son is not a liar."

"Christ," Harrison said, again. Rumpelstiltskin could only assume that was some sort of expletive people used, here. He would have to store that away for future use. Anything that helped him seem as if he belonged here was useful.

Harrison beckoned Walsh over, "These two are certifiable. I'm not dealing with this craziness, tonight."

"So, what? We let them go?"

Harrison frowned thoughtfully, "Yes. No. I dunno. They're nuts. We let 'em go, and they wander off and hurt someone? That's our asses."

"So what do you wanna do?"

"How do you feel about driving the kid to Stetson School, tonight?"

"Aww, man, are you serious? That's over an hour away!"

"Yeah, I'm serious. Or would you rather take this one to..."

"No! No, I'm not going there at night. That place creeps me out."

Harrison laughed, "Coward. Stetson, then?"

"Yeah, fine." Walsh started walking back to Bae, "C'mon, kid, I'm gonna take you to some people who can help you."

"No!"

The realization that these men intended to take Bae away from him propelled him into action. Grabbing Harrison by the front of the shirt, he used him to haul himself to his feet and launch himself at Walsh. The other man had only taken a few steps, leaving him close enough that his momentum allowed him to tackle him from behind before his leg gave out. He wasn't sure who was more surprised by his success, himself or Walsh. But his victory was short lived as Harrison grabbed him by his collar and hauled him off of the man.

He fell onto his back, raising a hand in surrender as Harrison drew the club he had holstered on his belt. "Please, you can't take my boy," he said, scrambling back as Harrison raised the club.

Bae came running over, but was restrained by Walsh, who had quickly regained his feet. "Papa! Don't hurt him!"

But the time for words was over.

The club came down. There was an explosion of pain, and his vision grew fuzzy. He was vaguely aware of the club coming at him a second time, and then...