AN: I've decided to write a sequel to Belle's Dark Deed, since I could continue at least one storyline, but really, several storylines. So here's Rumple's quest for magic, Emma's lessons with the Blue Fairy and the hunter's joy over his new, rather special, knife.

Chapter 1: Silent Search

In which Regina is visited by an unexpected, unwanted and unseen guest

As soon as he felt able, and Belle wasn't watching, Rumplestiltskin had visited the well. He had searched for the remains of his dagger but they were nowhere to be found. Since then, he had returned several times to no avail. It frustrated him immensely and had finally brought him to consider alternative courses of action. One of which he had planned for tonight.

Belle was cheerful. Rumple slowly seemed to come to terms with his loss of power. The condition of his heart was still being monitored but didn't affect their day-to-day life too much. She was mistress of the library, or so he affectionately called her, and he had resumed his duties at the pawnshop. Belle was happy and content. Perhaps some voices would say they were heading towards a rut, but in light of the tumultuous events, a rut was most welcome.

Rumple is slightly ashamed of himself. If Belle could see him now… She would definitely call him an addict. It is a dark night and he is standing outside Regina's mansion. The past two nights he had searched her crypt and office, but had come up empty handed. Now it was time for the most dangerous investigation. He had toyed with the idea of going during the day when Regina was not there, but he would have to close his shop and Belle might hear of it, and would immediately become suspicious. The cover of dark was better for his purpose.

It's been so long since he has done something like this. He had entered houses before, Pinocchio's for one, but this was Regina's mansion, not some shady apartment. He wasn't the Dark One anymore, just a crippled old man with a heart condition. He shudders to think what Regina will do if she catches him. All this anxiety is all the more proof that he needs magic, badly. Without the dagger he is nothing, he feels returned to dust, or broken, like the dagger itself.

He slowly approaches the mansion. Would she have protective spells on it or not? Rumple contemplates going through a window, but his leg is killing him, so it will have to be the door. There's still time to go back, a soft voice inside his head tells him, but he ignores it with difficulty. He deliberately picked a night in which Henry would be home. The disadvantage would be that he might be detected sooner, but the huge advantage was the soothing influence that Henry's presence would, hopefully, have, if he was in fact detected. Their relationship still seemed rocky but good enough to continue the one night a week arrangement they had made with Emma. Regina had been a great deal nicer in the presence of Henry, but that didn't set his mind at rest too much. It would be an illusion to think that she had suddenly become the ultimate sweet model mother. The Evil Queen was still buried somewhere inside her.

Rumple searches the various bookcases in the living room. If only he could find the right ones. He needed the books that contained magic, the spell books. Rumple had been convinced that they would be hidden in the crypt, but they were not. He had seen some potions though, and had been sorely tempted to take them, but Regina would have known about the theft and that would have been an obstruction to this attempted break-in. So he had kept his greedy fingers in check. He is slowly growing desperate, he had already searched quite a few of these tedious books. As he is putting two large books containing gardening advice back, his hand knocks hard against the wall. He manages to stifle a profanity. It stirs the idea of secret handles and soon he is feeling his way across the back of the bookcase to find a hidden space.

A few hours later he is standing in his pawnshop, very disappointed. It had been another trip totally in vain. The only thing giving him the tiniest ray of hope is that he didn't look for secret doors at the other two places. He had been thorough, but maybe not thorough enough. The thought gives him consolation, although he doesn't fancy another sleepless night.

The hunter is very pleased with his dagger. He has made a new wooden hilt for it, and keeps the broken hilt in a small box in his hunting shed. It cuts smoothly through meat and he uses it to skin the deer that he catches. He carries the dagger with him at all times because he is afraid it might be stolen. Such a fine piece of craftsmanship should be protected. He doesn't admit to himself that the dagger has a sort of magnetic pull on him. That his reluctance to leave it in his shed is something other than mere protection of a fine tool.

"Henry," his mother calls to him. "Did you borrow one of my books?" "No, why should I?" Realizing that was a bit rude, he continues, "My books are all in my bedroom and I'm not interested in gardening or fashion or… whatever." "Now, now," Regina replies, "There are also some old books of my father that you might like. About knights and tournaments. Would you like me to find them for you?" she offers. It had been hard enough to connect to him and anything that they had in common might help. For a moment, she forgets why she asked the question in the first place.

As she is about to head to her office, she remembers. Emma had already picked Henry up. It was the most painful part of her week, as always. She enters the living room and stares at her bookcase. Something was different but she couldn't see it. Regina squints her eyes and scans the rows and rows of books. There it was. Her gardening books were not in the right place, nor one or two of her fashion guides. It was usually ordered neatly and alphabetically so any mistakes were easy to spot. What had happened? Perhaps the maid had rearranged them, although that was unlikely. The only other option was Henry, but as he already pointed out, he wasn't into fashion.

On her short drive to work, she tries to think of different possibilities. Perhaps Emma had been sniffing around her home, finding fault with her to take Henry away again. So far, the arrangement had worked fine, but Regina wasn't too keen on that Charming family, and ever ready to expect a sudden turn in the relationship.