A/N: Thank you very much, xxxLeanniexxx, for your review and to everyone who has followed and favorited.
Derailed
Chapter 25: Dark Truths
~ Catspook
"Hello," Rumplestiltskin answered his phone.
"Rumplestiltskin… we need your help," Mary Margaret said. Her tone was uncharacteristically wary, and he sat up straight.
"What has happened? Did Zelena escape?"
"No! No, she's still with Regina and Emma in New York. But something has… come up. We need to discuss it with you, in private."
"I gather it's urgent?" Belle and Bae watched him, concerned.
"Yes. If you don't help us, Emma is going to do something dangerous."
"I see. I will be there momentarily."
"Thank you."
"The Nolans require my assistance," he told his family. "I'm not sure how long I'll be."
"I'll join you," Belle said, getting up.
"They requested privacy."
"Well, that's not a good sign," Bae said.
"It's not." He sighed. "Don't wait up; I'll tell you what I can in the morning."
"All right." Belle kissed him. "Stay safe."
His kissed back. "Good night, Sweetheart. Good night, Bae."
Bae waved, smiling with a cheerful sadness. "Don't stay out all night."
"I'll endeavor not to."
He left his den, appearing in the dining area of the loft. David and Mary Margaret were seated at the table, clearly in deep discussion. They looked up. "Gold," David said.
"David. Mary Margaret. Would you care to explain why you summoned me here?"
"We need your help."
"Yes, that is what you wife said. Something about your daughter. If the Savior is under threat, I would very much like to know."
"She is," Mary Margaret said, at the same time as David spoke.
"She's not."
They glared at each other. "David!"
"You made a deal with Emma. We have to tell Rumplestiltskin. All of it. What if she's right? What of the gods are involved? What if they were from the beginning?"
Mary Margaret looked away. Still looking at his wife, David gestured to Rumplestiltskin. "Have a seat, please. It's a long story. I'll tell him, OK?"
"Fine," Mary Margaret bit out. She turned to Rumplestiltskin. "What we're about to tell you, you must keep a secret. Emma doesn't believe us that it's not relevant to the Sorcerer and the gods and their plan. If you decide that it is, we will tell her. That's the deal we made."
"I see. You may be aware that the last time I made a deal of this nature, it did not endear me to my son. I'm not inclined to take that risk again."
"We'll owe you a favor," David said before Mary Margaret's indignant expression could become an indignant retort. "And it has nothing to do with Baelfire; I promise."
"It's about Emma."
"Yes."
There was really very little about Savior that was not relevant to the story the gods were writing, and a secret profound enough to elicit this behavior from the upright Snow White and Prince Charming was extremely unlikely to fall into that category. He weighed the risks and the value of not only the favor but the information itself. "Deal," he said.
David solemnly offered his hand. Resisting the urge to smirk, Rumplestiltskin took it. He pulled out a chair. "Please begin."
The story they (mostly David) told was obscene. Fearing that their child might one day become dark, they had hired a wizard (from the description, Rumplestiltskin suspected it was the Apprentice) to remove Emma's potential for darkness and house it in another, innocent vessel. Why they had been daft enough to even dream of doing this to Maleficent's child Rumplestiltskin could not fathom, but it did explain why she'd been so intent to kill them when they'd gone into the cavern under the library to retrieve his bottled True Love. The spell had worked but had also inexplicably transported the child, Cruella, and Ursula to Earth, and now Regina had had the bright idea to track Maleficent's old compatriots down and ask what they knew.
When they were finally done, they looked at him expectantly. "You must tell her," he said bluntly.
"But-"
He raised a hand. "You asked me to judge whether this information has bearing on the gods' plans. I think you would have to be truly simple to think it does not. Do you understand what you did? You altered your child's nature to force her into the very role the gods have decreed for her. Of course it is relevant! And if you will allow me to look at your memories of the wizard you spoke to, I would bet money that I would be able to identify him as the Apprentice."
Understanding dawned in David's eyes, and he said, "God, I think you're right. There was something about August's drawing, but I can't quite remember his face… can you recover that?
"Yes."
"Then do it."
The face in the dream catcher was unmistakable. "It was him. This is extremely significant."
"So… it wasn't our fault?" Mary Margaret asked hopefully. "The gods engineered it?"
"Of course it was your fault! You used dark magic to fundamentally alter your child's soul! Did you expect that would work out well for you?"
"We only wanted to protect our child!"
"So did I," he said coldly. "You know what I became. The gods' interference does not absolve me. Nor does it absolve you."
"How do you do it?" Mary Margaret implored bleakly. "How do you live with it?"
Not expecting that question, he sat back in his chair. His curse was strangely silent. "I have to," he said. "My regrets cannot change the past. I accept the reality of what I was… and what I should never be again."
Tearfully, Mary Margaret nodded, glancing at her husband. Perhaps he had discovered the secret of their single-minded devotion to doing the "right" thing - even when other's lives were in the balance. It was rare for the immoral actions of others to disturb him to any significant degree, but the hypocrisy of it burned. His sins had been on full display his entire (very long) life. Thiers had been so well hidden that even he had not known them, let alone their adoring public.
"How… how did you make Baelfire forgive you?" Mary Margaret asked desperately.
"What are you insinuating?" he growled.
"Nothing! But he…" She trailed off, unable to explain herself.
"I did not make him to anything. It was his choice, always." He's spent centuries playing mortals like chess pieces - including the mortals sitting before him now - and he would not hesitate to take every bit of judgment and condemnation for that, but he had never, never enchanted his own child.
"She didn't mean it like that," David insisted, but from her nervous glance, Rumplestiltskin was quite sure she had meant it like that. "But the things you did… you've been where we are now, and Bae forgave you. What did you say to him?"
And perhaps - through his own anger and the delight of his curse - he could understand at least that. He was disgusted by them, but he was even more disgusted by himself. And in any case, a rift in their family could weaken the necessary alliances required to confront the Sorcerer and the gods. He swallowed down an angry retort and tried to phrase a useful answer. The best he could offer was, "The truth. That I love him. That the responsibility was entirely mine and I have never regretted anything more. He elicited certain promises from me that that kept. And beyond that… he has a kinder heart than I can fathom. I had hoped he would forgive me. But I never expected him to."
"You didn't?" Mary Margaret asked. "I thought… your visions?"
"I only knew that I would see him again, not what would happen afterwards."
"You did all that, the curse and everything, not knowing if he would forgive you?"
Her expression was almost awed, and he shifted uncomfortably. "Yes."
"Then so will we," David said, taking her hands. "We will have hope."
Mary Margaret bit her lip. "What if she doesn't forgive us?"
"Then we'll give her some time and try again."
"I can't bear to have her hate us."
If Rumplestiltskin had been a kinder, more compassionate person, he might have suggested they call Dr. Hopper to mediate. But he wasn't. He was angry, and tired, and impatient to learn what Cruella and Ursula might know. "Better for her to hate you than for the gods' trap to spring around her without warning because she did not know. You made a deal. Keep to it."
David glared at him from the corner of his eye, but Mary Margaret nodded. "You're right. Emma's safety has to come first." She pulled one hand away from her husband and picked up her phone. She dialed, switching it on to speaker, and laid it flat on the table as it rang.
They were responsible for Maleficent's baby. A baby. Her parents had sacrificed a baby, just so Emma wouldn't turn out to be a villain. They'd done it willingly. And they'd lied about it. "Gold," she said. She knew that of she addressed her parents, she would start screaming and never stop. "What does this mean?"
"It means that I agree with Regina's suggestion to speak to Cruella and Ursula, and we should renew our attempts to located Maleficent and, if possible, her child."
"I have a general location on the daughter," Regina said, "She's somewhere near Portland; she's been looking for Storybrooke."
"Well, that is certainly curious."
Emma shared a glance with Regina. "Could she know? About… how she got here?"
"She's clearly been in contact with someone that knows her true identity and about the curse. I'd say it's safe to assume that she does," Gold said.
"Then she could be after revenge," Regina said grimly.
"She could," Gold agreed.
"Then you can't approach her, Emma," Mary Margaret said. "It could be dangerous."
"And whose fault is that?" Emma snapped. She didn't answer.
"The matter of fault aside, it may not be a wise idea for you, personally, to approach her," Gold said. "She may be more receptive to Regina, for example."
"Or Cruella and Ursula for all we know," Regina said. "The three of them may be in touch."
"Could they have told her about Storybrooke?" Emma asked.
"Unlikely. Cruella has done all right for herself, but Ursula is… not living the high life. If she knew, I'd expect her to be looking for it as well."
"So we have something to offer her," Emma pointed out.
"Yes. I was going to suggest we start with her anyway; she is the more reasonable one."
"Agreed," Gold said wryly.
"Then we have a plan. I'll call Tink and August to come babysit Zelena."
"Emma, I can-" David began.
"No. I can't talk to you right now. And you're too involved in this."
"Emma-" Mary Margaret tried again.
"No. I can't believe the two of you. It's not only what you did, but you covered it up this entire time! I cannot deal with that right now. I'm calling Tink, and I'm calling August. You'll call me if anything changes, right, Gold?"
"Certainly."
"OK. Good night, then."
"Good night."
"Emma-" She hung up.
"Well," Regina said. "That was a surprise."
"A surprise? That's all you can say? An hour ago, you couldn't believe they were even involved. They sacrificed another baby's soul because they weren't sure I would be good enough for them on my own!"
"It's not a matter of not being good enough. Didn't you hear Snow? They were afraid of the misery a life of villainy would bring you. Villains don't get happy endings, Emma."
"Oh, bullshit! You've got everything you want! Gold has everything he wants! Ingrid has everything she wants! Plenty of villains get happy endings! Whatever, it doesn't matter. I have some calls to make."
"You can't just ignore this."
"I'm not. But we have more urgent things to deal with right now. You said it yourself: Ursula, Cruella, and then we find Maleficent's daughter."
"Her name is Starla," she offered. "Mal was encouraged. It's a fairy name."
"Starla. OK, then. We'll find her and we'll explain."
"I will find her an explain. If she's anything like Mal, she is not going to react well to seeing you."
Emma wasn't ready to concede that. "Let's see what Cruella and Ursula have to say first, then we'll decide.
"Fine."
"Fine."
Something was wrong - really, really wrong. When Henry got up that morning, his moms were not back from their trip yet. David and Mary Margaret said they had found some leads in New York about the Sorcerer and that they would be gone a couple of days. But there was something they were not telling him, something big. They were freaked out and sad, and when he'd asked them what was wrong, they'd said they were just disappointed that Emma would not be back right away.
It was Saturday, so he asked if he could go to the library and hang out. They exchanged worried glances, like they didn't want him to go, but David said, "Sure. Call us if you need a ride."
"OK!"
But he didn't go to the library. He went to the pawnshop. "Hello, Henry," Bae said, looking up from his book.
"Hey. Is your Dad around?"
"Yeah. Papa!"
"In a moment, Henry!" he called from behind the curtain. Henry wondered what he was working on, and he tried to peek in when Mr. Gold swept it aside. Mr. Gold saw what he was doing and smirked at him.
"What can I do for you today?"
"There's something wrong with my grandparents… my other grandparents. There's something they're not telling me." Mr. Gold went very still. "You know what it is, don't you?"
"I do. I consulted with them last night. Unfortunately, they required secrecy as a condition of our agreement. However, Emma will be free to answer your questions when she returns in a couple of days."
"Do you think she will? She's kept things from me before. And, well…"
"I have too," he admitted. Sometimes it bothered Henry how calmly Mr. Gold admitted to doing villainous things, but at the same time, at least he did admit it. It would be way worse if he lied about it. "I can't say, but I expect the truth will come out sooner or later."
"Does it have to do with the Sorcerer? Or the gods?"
"Quite possibly." But he said it in a tone that clearly meant, "yes".
"How about the Author?"
Mr. Gold looked thoughtful. "Now that you mention it… it is a distinct possibility. Boys, why don't you join Belle at the library? I should make a visit to the Sorcerer's mansion."
"We'll come with you!" Henry said eagerly.
"I don't think your mothers would approve of that," he said wryly.
"They don't have to know." Mr. Gold raised an eyebrow at him. "What? They're keeping things from me! Besides, Grandma and Gramps said I could go to the library; they didn't ask which library."
Bae snickered, and Mr. Gold looked at him. "He has a point, Papa," he said.
"You want to do this?"
"I think secrets haven't worked out for any of us so far. It doesn't break your deal if we find something, does it?"
"No. No, it doesn't."
"Then let's go!" Henry said.
"Very well."
"Ursula," Regina said.
Unlike Ariel, she looked nothing like how Disney had portrayed her. She had a much slimmer figure, a darker complexion, and well, legs (not that Emma should have been surprised by that). She glanced up, quickly covering her surprise with a confident smirk. "Well. The Evil Queen. I wasn't expecting to see you here. How's the curse going? And who's the blonde?"
"I'm Emma." Knowing immediately that Ursula was not the type to accept a handshake, Emma instead mirrored her confident posture. "We're here to make you an offer."
"Oh, really," she said skeptically.
"Yes," Regina said. "You have some information we need. And in exchange, we can take you back to Storybrooke."
"Storybrooke? Is that the kingdom your curse created?"
"It's not mine anymore, but yes."
"No yours? Did you get ousted?"
"No. It's complicated, but you could all me a… consultant to our current mayor."
"Please tell me it's not Rumple," she said flatly.
Regina chuckled. "It's not. Although if you're looking for an apartment, you'll want to pay attention to who owns the lease."
"Well, doesn't that sound inviting." Sarcasm - Emma liked her already. "Why would I even want to go there?"
"Because we have magic now. If you don't like it, you can take a portal anywhere. You won't be stuck here, smelling like fish."
She set down her bucket, angrily, but she was considering it. "So who are you?" she asked Emma. "I never heard of you in the Enchanted Forest."
"I'm the Savior," she said simply. She and Regina had debated this, but villain or not, Ursula was plainspoken and to the point. Emma was sure she would respond better to blunt honesty than manipulation.
"Who?"
"Snow White and Prince Charming's daughter. I broke the curse."
The faint humor she'd been sharing with them evaporated. "So you're the reason I'm here. Thanks, but no thanks. I've met enough heroes in my life to know how this ends for people like me."
"It doesn't have to be like that," Regina said. "I got my happy ending. So did Rumple. If we can do it, you can too. The villains don't have to lose."
"You got your happy ending?" she scoffed, but Emma could hear hope under it.
"Yes. I have a son now. And a lover, with his own little boy. I've found acceptance. All I had to do was stop hurting people that don't deserve it."
"And what about the ones that do?" Ursula asked darkly.
"You're referring to my parents?" Emma asked.
"They told you? I'm surprised. They seemed so convinced they could do no wrong. Or is that why they told you? It doesn't count 'cause where villains, right? Did they tell you about Mal's baby?"
"Gold - Rumplestiltskin - got them to admit it. I'm sorry. What they did was unforgivable. I'll do anything I can to make up for it, but I won't let you hurt them."
Ursula examined her like a creature behind glass, and for the first time Emma saw the resemblance to her Disney counterpart. "You really feel bad about it, don't you?" she asked.
"It was a bit of a shock."
"I'll bet," she smirked. "OK, how about this: you go to Neverland, fight Peter Pan and Captain Hook, and bring my voice back. Do that, and I'll tell you whatever you want to know."
Emma and Regina exchanged a look. "That might be easier than you think," Emma said. "We've got Pan in our prison. Well, he's not Pan anymore, but the mortal version of him. And Hook…"
"He'll help," Regina said, her smirk mirroring Ursula's.
Emma rolled her eyes but agreed. "Yeah, he will."
But Ursula didn't believe them. "I see. Then it should be easy. No voice, no deal." She picked up her bucket. "If you'll excuse me, I have to get back to work."
Emma shared a glance with Regina. They had some calls to make.