True to her word, 2pm on the dot. The Dark One walked through the station doors to find everyone gathered there except for the Blue Fairy.
"Afternoon all," she greeted coming into the office. "Well let's get started,"
"You didn't bring Rumple with you" Belle pointed out, searching for the toddler.
Riley resisted the urge to roll her eyes, "Bobby is with Granny at the moment. She said she'd be more than happy to babysit, and I don't believe in dragging children into adult issues. May I continue?"
The Bookworm had more to say on the matter but a small part of her had learned from yesterday's experience that arguing would get her nowhere with this woman, she'd just shut her down. Begrudgingly she nodded, "Yes."
"Good, so as Dark One. It turns out that I have access to all core memories of my predecessors incase I need to remember or persuade someone to make a deal."
"Core memories?" puzzled Henry.
"Yes, Little brother. They are the ones that make up your personality and define your sense of self identity."
"So, what you're saying is? Because you have these memories, you are able to understand Rumpelstiltskin and why he did what he did?" asked Snow White, trying to make sense of what she was hearing.
"Not everything, but I know better than the average outsider and I am going to share this knowledge with you."
"As intriguing as that thought is-" interrupted Regina, though very interested at learning about her old teacher's prospects. "We need the information on the Black Fairy that you promised us"
Riley smiled assuredly
"This is why I didn't want Ruel Ghorm to be here today. What's about to happen, she would never allow anyone to leave the building knowing."
"Are you saying, "the pixie would have killed us, Lass?" asked the pirate.
"No, you are her "Heroes" and have a role to play. But she still would've obliviated you"
"Obliviated?"
"Killian," said Emma, "In this land outside of Storybrooke. There is a famous author named J.K Rowling and she wrote a series of fantasy wizarding books. "To "Obliviate" is a spell in there that erases your memory."
"That's scary Love,"
"But she wouldn't have done that?" questioned Charming.
The Dark One took a shallow breath. "David, Fairies are created to be so small. That they only have room for one emotion at a time, and right now she's filled to the brim with Wounded Pride."
Then Riley began to set up her pensieve on the Sheriff's desk.
"Remember when yesterday I revealed that The Black Fairy was Grandpa's Mom? So, we're going back in time to his birth. Where it all started. And you-" (Looking at Belle and Hook,) "are all coming along, no excuses."
The pirate stared at the bin, apprehensively. "Wouldn't it be easier to just come back and tell us?"
"It doesn't take a genius to figure out that with some of you: Seeing IS believing."
Belle hmphed in annoyance.
Soon all the "Heroes", even the reluctant ones circled around the pensieve as Riley poured a clear, syrup like substance inside. With joined hands, the group all leaned in close and disappeared. Seemingly falling through time and space to land in a rundown cottage…
The whole "Hero" squad sat dumbstruck on whatever vacant chair was available upon exiting the pensieve. This went beyond anything they could've imagined:
-Rumpelstiltskin at one point in time. Was originally meant to be a Savior of a prophecy, like Emma. But his mother, "Fiona" was so afraid for her son that she took matters into her own hands.
-Going so far as to becoming a fairy herself to protect him.
-Then going overboard with actually contemplating a plan to remove all the children that might pose a threat to her son by creating the Dark Curse to banish them.
But the ultimate icing on the cake was watching her become her own child's worst enemy:
-By attempting to kill his fairy godmother "Tiger Lily" who'd been helping her all along when she tried to stop her.
-It was then when her fairy's magic turned dark and the dreaded mark showed up on her. That she truly became the Black Fairy!
-Still, Ruel Ghorm gave yet another chance to escape their fate. But, instead of using the Shears of Destiny like Blue advised. Fiona had cut her son's ties to the path of the Savior.
'He takes after HER!' was the frightening thought that had echoed through Belle's mind as she witnessed the scene.
But started to feel a little twinge of sympathy for him, (An emotion she hadn't felt towards her husband in 3 years.) as she had proceeded to watch Fiona's banishment and the fairies lie to Malcom (aka Peter Pan) about her death.
And his reaction in grieving for her and blaming their son. Thus, naming him "Rumpelstiltskin"
In all honesty, she hadn't given his name meaning much thought before. Other than the slight peculiarity of it. Now however that she knew, well…
"Grandpa was abused, wasn't he?" asked Henry, breaking the silence in the room.
Riley looked at her brother,
"Yes, though most of it was mental, not physical. If I wasn't for those Spinster women taking him in and finished raising him? After, Pan later abandoned him at 8 years old in favor of Neverland… I shutter to think how much worse it would have turned out. But it's almost certain there wouldn't have been a Baelfire that would've eventually led to you and me"
"Or Gideon," Belle softly added.
"Him too," the Dark One agreed, grateful beyond words that she was finally starting to get the picture.
"Speaking of Gideon," said Riley several moments later. "Belle, there is something you should be aware of."
The bookworm's ears had perked up at the mention of her lost son, but her eyes narrowed at the warning. "What is it?"
"By Fairytale Land standards: He is a child born of "True Love."
"I know that, what's your point, "Dark One?" Ignoring her sudden hostility,
for she was in the same protective nature towards Bobby. Riley continued, "Just like Emma's Lie Detector gift, he has one too. Belle, Gideon is a natural born "Empath."
His mother now looked slightly puzzled and annoyed. Luckily once again, Henry asked for her. "What's that?"
"It means that he can literally feel the emotions going on around him and later on, manipulate them to his advantage."
"My son would never-!"
"Belle, no offense because I'm sort of in your position too, remember? But just how well do you know your child?"
The bookworm glared disgustedly, "You know very well I don't. Because! I had to send him away with Blue. To protect him at the time from your Grandfather!"
Riley blinked rapidly at the new information, letting it sink in before –
"You sent him with her?! Dang Nabbit WOMAN! Don't you know that's the biggest "F*** You!" You could have EVER done to him?! Especially considering Ruel Ghorm's History with this family that goes beyond what you just saw today!"
"There's more Lass?" questioned Hook,
"Yes, quite" Riley answered in a slightly calmer tone.
"Like What?" came from Regina.
"-Blue had a huge role in sending our father here to this land in the first place! She gave him the bean, then instead of telling Rumple to search the merchant ships from far off lands where he could find another one after he missed the trip."
The pirate grimaced, thinking 'So THAT'S why he wanted it'
"-She informed him about a Curse, "The Dark Curse" and how great the price would be."
The whole "Charming" family stood contemplating this. Finally Snow White spoke "So this whole thing between us and Regina was set up?"
"He was sure desperate enough after planning for over 200 years, but I also think Grandpa took advantage of the situation. And he couldn't cast the Curse himself because he would have to either sacrifice Belle or Cora to make it work."
"The Heart of the thing you Love the Most" the Charming's and Regina said at the same time.
"Right, getting back to Gideon… Again Belle, I know deep down you probably didn't mean to. But I'm afraid that his mind and his heart has been poisoned against his father."
"What?"
"Between you guys "first" meeting in the Temple of Morpheus and his empathic abilities during your pregnancy. Feeding off of your strong feelings of Fear &Hatred for his Papa and the situation.
It made up his own mind: "His father is evil and it's UP to HIM to protect YOU!"
"I don't believe you and that's ridiculous!"
"Is it?" the Dark One asked calmly,
"Did you ever have a positive emotion towards your husband during that time frame? "Children only know what you give them, or don't."
After a big sigh, Riley spoke once more.
"Belle, like it OR not. You did marry into this family. "For Better or Worse" as the vows go out here. We are not characters in your book, nor should we strive to be. Just…to…please…you.
-Upon my Grandfather's death, I became Head of this family. According to my birthright as next in line descendant of his first born. I want to treat you and my baby Uncle with the love and respect owed to my Grandfather's Widow, as well as what was left to you both in his Will."
"-He's not DEAD!" Belle interrupted.
"So, we're back to where we were yesterday?" Riley sat at the desk with her hands folded out in front of her. "I don't want to fight with you anymore, Belle. If you're so sure of yourself and your blind faith in Gideon, I'll make a bet with you?"
"A bet?"
"Yes, unlike a deal. A bet is when each person promises something to the other in the event that the outcome of a situation lands in their favor.
If Gideon when you meet him next, doesn't have One nice thing to say about Rumple? - The both of you will have to give up that stupid book "Her Handsome Hero."
"It's not stupid!" cried Belle defensive of her mother's gift to her, that guided her path to what she ultimately wished to be.
"At once time, it was innocent enough Belle.
But can't you see, it's become an obsession and further endangering your real-life relationships? Sort of like Grandpa with the dagger, I wonder if we sought out that magic gauntlet today? What would be your weakness?"
The bookworm was trembling so bad by the end of the Dark One's questioning, she just had to get out of there! Though a small part forced her feet to remain planted as she met the Dark One's wager with her own.
"Alright," she begrudgingly accepted, "But if when Gideon returns is nothing like you described. "I want my husband back"
Riley sighed, she couldn't give her someone that wasn't there mentally, but this might be what she needed to come to terms with his fate.
"I can't do that, for reasons I have already pointed out. The best I can do is to change him like I did yesterday and let you have one on one time with him, here in the Sheriff's Office?"
It was Belle's turn to sigh in frustration. Why was this woman being so difficult?
Still, alone time with Rumple might be what she needed to figure out this weird spell he was under. Slowly each woman stretched out their hand to the other and met in the middle…