There wasn't a lot of things that you could do to Rumplestiltskin that he would forgive and being cursed to forget the love of his life, and act coldly with her and their family, was definitely something that he certainly wouldn't leave cheap. Fiona had done her worst mistake by playing with him that way. He could accept that she abandoned him, not even caring to give him a name, but he wouldn't take this mess. His mother had a lot to pay for, starting with causing his lover a miscarriage.
After sending Belle and the children to the dungeons with Mrs. Potts and casting some of his best protection spells on it, he found Bae and told him everything, saying that his son should join the rest of their family to keep safe, but lately Baelfire was acting a little bit impulsively and insisted in stay with him just for a while more, as he analysed the barrier in the front doors of the castle. They opened them and Rumplestiltskin tried to use his dagger to pull the barrier down, but it didn't work, so as his magic.
"I can't break the spell." The imp grumbled, frustrated.
"You're the Dark One," Baelfire bounced. "How you can't break the spell?"
"Her magic is strong." He told his son. "There is only one way of breaking it. Killing her."
The only solution in his point of view was to seat and wait for his mother's return, so when she arrived he could rip her heart out of her chest and smash it while she watched, knowing that he was taking her life in avenge for her sins. However, what he wasn't expecting was the big purple cloud of smoke that appeared in the middle of the gardens right in front of them, bringing all the supportive heroes and villains in the Enchanted Forest.
Princess Emma was the first one to step forward, running to the doorstep, where she was stopped by the invisible barrier of the Black Fairy's spells.
"Neal!" She called, desperate, her palms slamming the magic wall.
Baelfire walked to stood in front of her. "Emma!"
"We will get you out!" The princess promised, then looked at Rumple. "Where are Belle and the kids?"
"Hidden in the dungeons." He informed.
"Get them out of there, so as soon as we pull the spell down we can take them somewhere safe."
Her faith in her own powers was really impressive, but the Dark One was more realistic than that. He never relied on any kind of hopes and when it came of magic, that was something he knew so well, he didn't even bother in expecting miraculous solutions like Emma apparently did.
"That's not going to work, dearie." Rumplestiltskin said. "The only way of freeing the castle is killing the Black Fairy."
From the small crowd behind the princess, Zelena came, a mask of concern pulled up on her green face. "You can't kill her before we get my baby back!"
In truth, Rumple was so frustrated with his own problems that he almost forgot that her child was still missing. However, he wasn't really caring about rescuing the little girl, because the only thing that mattered to him right now was to find a way of freeing his family from Fiona's spell. He was about to say that to Zelena, when a black cloud of smoke appeared by the witch's side, bringing his mother with it.
"Yeah," the Black Fairy started, with a delighted smile. "What would be of the sweet little baby Robin if I died?"
"You!" Zelena snarled.
A torrent of green magic came from her opened hands and was joined by Emma and Regina's magic. For a moment, Rumplestiltskin thought that they would be able of striking his mother down that way, but then, when after she staged a little, the Black Fairy started to laugh evilly, he concluded that this was a naïve illusion. It would take a lot more to destroy someone as dark as her. The powers, kept growing in intensity, making his mother stumble, but with just a wave of Fiona's hand, the three women were thrown on the grass.
"That's incredibly funny, my dears, but I think it's time for you all to leave my family alone." She said, walking towards the castle and passing through the barrier, to curl a hand around his son's neck. "Baelfire, let's come inside with grandma."
"Do not touch him!" The imp yelled. "Your curse is broken and now I know everything you did."
"Oh, I won't harm the boy, Rumple." Fiona said, but seemed to think twice and added: "At least not as long as you do as I said. Now, forget those silly thoughts of yours and come with me."
Belle had been peeking a look at the conversation between Rumple and Fiona, hidden behind a pillar near the stairs that lead to the dungeons, her curiosity, making her risk her own safety. She had been watching quiet, until the moment she saw her disgusting excuse for a mother-in-law, grab Baelfire by his throat, dragging him to the dining hall, with Rumple furiously following them, while the barrier glowed with their friends' joined powers attempting to destruct it.
Covering her mouth in shock, Belle turned around and made her way back to where her family was hidden, trying to be as quiet as she could, not to alarm Fiona of her presence. If that woman didn't hate her enough before, then now that Belle broke her curse, she would.
"She got Neal!" The Dark Lady announced, when she entered the cell.
Mrs. Potts was standing near the door, rocking Rose and watching Gideon, who was swinging his feet in the air, sat on the corner of the high bed.
"What?" She asked, coming closer to her lady.
"The Black Fairy is back," Belle informed, exasperated. "And she is using Neal as a hostage!"
Gideon looked up at it, jumping off the bed to go to his mother, hugging her by the legs, his small hands clutching at the fabric of her gown. "Mama, what are we going to do?"
She didn't have an answer for that, because she had no idea of what should they do or if they should do anything. Burring her fingers into Gideon's hair, with the panic growing inside her, she tried to think about something hopeful to tell him, finding herself so wordless that it was almost ridiculous. How could a mother not be able to soothe her son and give him some faith?
Looking at Mrs. Potts in search for help, she saw a tiny glowing thing entering the dungeons and stopping right in front of them to take the size of a normal human-being.
"Hello, Belle."
"Blue?" The lady swallowed, staring surprised at the fairy. "How are you here? I – I thought the castle was locked."
"It is, but with fairy magic. I can pass through Fiona's barrier with no problem." She explained, rolling a dark stick in her hands in a nervous way, before offering it to her. "I came to bring you this."
Accepting the thing, Belle analysed it carefully, remembering about Rumple's little collection of those items that were set in the treasure room.
"A wand?"
"The Black Fairy's wand. It is the only thing capable of killing her." Blue explained with a nod. "Many years ago, there was a prophecy about a boy born with a great light magic, that was going to destroy the darkness, he was entitled the Saviour." She made a pause, looking between all the people in the tiny cell, knowing that her words were going to change everything. "This boy grown to be your lover."
"Rumplestiltskin?" Belle gasped. "But - " she tried to start, as her mind worked too fast, filling her with questions. "But his magic is dark."
"Now it is, because of Fiona." Blue sighed. "When she found out that her son was fated to die as a Saviour, she did everything she could to stop his fate. She cut him from it using a powerful magical tool from the fairies' safe and made him a coward. Unfortunately, in her way to do that, Fiona became the darkness he should destroy."
Feeling that her knees were weak, Belle leaned against the wall, clutching her son more against her in the need of knowing that was there, safe and sound by her side. That story made Fiona's obsession almost comprehensive. Almost. She was a mother too and knew that if she was told that a child of hers was fated to die, she would also do everything she could to stop it, but sentencing it to a life of cowardice was a horrible price to pay. Not to say that the darkness took the Black Fairy in such a way that she became the threat to her own son.
"Oh, gods!" Belle mumbled.
"She wanted to keep your daughter alive because of her gifts, because another Saviour is yet to be born and Rose can predict it." The Blue Fairy continued. "This baby girl is more powerful than you think, Belle."
Glancing at her daughter, laid in the maid's arms, she felt sorry, because that beautiful innocent baby that was so young and pure, already had a huge burden to carry. Rumplestiltskin was right all those years ago, when he told her that any child of his would be always in a great danger. Belle didn't regret having his babies, but she wished them a safe life and only now she realised that this, they were never going to have.
"But if Fiona is the greatest darkness that should be destroyed, then we will have to wait for this Saviour?" She questioned. "Am I fated to live as a prisoner here in this castle forever?"
"No! The Black Fairy can be killed, but as it won't be the Saviour to do this, the darkness will keep surround this realm, founding another host."
"Until Rose sees the Saviour's sacrifice in her visions." Belle concluded.
"Yes." Blue agreed, looking at the baby with pity. "I need to go, Belle, but I wish you good luck."
Nodding, Belle reached for her hand, squeezing it gently in a gest of gratitude. "Thank you, Blue."
The fairy smiled weakly, before turning into a tiny thing again and flowing away by the cell's only window, leaving her to a new quest. Belle kneeled in front of her son, already forming a plan in her mind.
"Gideon, darling, do you want to be a hero?"
"Yes!" The boy answered, determinate.
Belle putted the wand on his hands, closing his finger carefully around it as she said: "You need to get this to your father."
In the books, things were way easier than in real life, Gideon concluded after hearing everything that the Blue Fairy said. His papa always said that he was a villain, but one that somehow got lucky enough to have a brave hero to fall in love with him, but the boy always thought it to be silly, because at least around their family, Rumple didn't act much villainy, and however today Blue had said that he had been born to be a hero. He just didn't know why Fiona wouldn't want him to be the Saviour.
The concept of death was something very abstract for him yet, so Gideon only thought that been the greatest hero of the entire realm this way, should be really cool. He didn't have much time to think, though, as his mother immediately started to work on her plan and instructed him twice, of what exactly he should do when he reached his father. Gideon prepared himself and hided the wand beneath his clothes, getting out of the dungeons with a last encouraging look from his mama to walk towards the dining hall.
Fiona was sat by the table with his brother by her side, while his father screamed some bad words at her, from the other end of it. Rubbing his fists at his eyes and yawning, Gideon entered the hall, tipping a hand on Rumples's thigh.
"Papa?"
"Gideon, what are you doing here?" He asked, abruptly stopping his speech to pick the boy from the floor.
"I woke up and went to your chambers, but you weren't there."
"Oh, the sweet wee boy is suddenly speaking?" Fiona smiled, glancing mistrustfully at Gideon as she stood up, grabbing Neal's arm and forcing him to accompany her. "Why don't we get your little sister to join us here too? And your mother, of course!"
Forcing himself to keep up with the farce, Gideon looked at his father, folding his arms around the imp's neck.
"My face is hot, papa." He whined. "I think I've got a flu again."
Fiona chuckled without humour. "He is lying."
Rumplestiltskin's hand cupped his son's cheek and forehead, his eyes widening as he muttered: "He is burning in fever."
"Get out of my way, let me check on him." The Black Fairy demanded, casting Neal aside for a brief moment to touch on her grandson's green-gold skin, feeling the high temperature in there. "Great, that's all we needed right now, wasn't it?"
"Papa, can you take me to bed and read for me?" Gideon begged, rubbing at his eyes again, pretending to be sleepy.
The imp agreed with a slight wave of his head, his eyes full of concern with both the sick son in his arms and the one his mother was using to blackmail him, but Rumple couldn't let the fever take Gideon and his illness get worse. He needed to do something right now, even if for it he had to leave Bae alone with his psychotic mother for a while.
"I'm going to get some medicine for him," the imp said, looking directly at Fiona. "But don't you dare doing anything to my boy. I'll be back in a minute."
"Oh, don't worry, for now I have a good entertainment." The Black Fairy shrugged. "I just can't decide if I'll bother that little whore of yours or watch those stupid heroes trying to break my spell."
"Alright, you already have a pet, forget about Belle." Neal pointed out.
"Baelfire wants to watch his brave girlfriend Emma!" Fiona laughed, enthusiastically. "Then, there we go."
Feeling how tense his papa as they climbed up the stairs, Gideon couldn't wait for them to be as far enough from the Black Fairy, for him to be able to show Rumple the wand and tell him that they could defeat her. He carried the boy to his chambers, tucking him to bed thoroughly.
"Stay here, there is a medicine for fever in the nursery and I'll get it." The imp said, brushing his thumb at his son's eyebrow.
"No, papa, I'm not sick!"
"Of course you are!"
"No! Mama took a torch close to me so my face would get hot." Gideon explained, getting the wand out of its place and handing it to him. "She said that I should take this to you. It's the only thing that can kill that bad fairy. Her wand."
Suddenly his father's eyes lighted up and he kissed his forehead, happily, letting Gideon briefly tell him everything the Blue Fairy had revealed about his past.
"Your mama is the cleverest woman alive, son." He said. "Go back to her, papa will deal with this."
The boy slipped off the bed, rushing to get out of the room and tell his mama that he did exactly as she said and, for now, her plan was working very well.
"Oh, and Gideon?" Rumplestiltskin called, when he was at the doorframe.
"Huh?"
"Thank you for this. You're learning very well how to be a hero."
Neal had been a lot of things before, just not yet a hostage, but he always imagined that it should be a creepy, scary thing, however now that Fiona was gripping at him with her dark magic hands ready to break his neck at the slight sign that her plans were failing, it seemed even creepier to be in that position as it was his own grandmother threating to end his life. He had never known that woman before the night she cursed his father and took control of the castle, but he was sure about something about her: Fiona was definitely mad.
"It's very amusing, don't you think?" She asked with a smile. "They are very fierce."
The two of them were standing in front of the Dark Castle's opened front doors, looking at his friends while they tried unsuccessfully to break the spell that was locking the whole family inside there. She seemed to enjoy it too much, the evil curve of her lips never falling down.
"Where is Robin?" Asked the redhead witch in their gardens.
Zelena was probably the most angered of all people there, and she in fact had a good reason to be so. Emma and Regina shared a glance while wolf Ruby growled at them, showing her sharp teeth to his grandmother. King David and Queen Snow were uselessly circling the castle, trying to find any breach in the barrier.
"Somewhere only a fairy can reach: the Dark Realm." Fiona answered. "You're not getting her back, wicked one."
"That's what we are going to see." She yelled back, sending a new strong wave of green power to the doors, making the floor shake before she fell back, stabled by her own magic.
A delighted sigh left the Black Fairy's mouth. "Definitely amusing."
"Why are you doing this?" Neal questioned. "I mean, what sick thought is in your mind to make things like stealing children, brainwashing people and causing miscarriages?"
"Sometimes, Baelfire my dear, we need to make some sacrifices in the name of the family."
"Sacrifices? You say that my baby's death was a sacrifice for you? One that you did for the family?" Rumplestiltskin's voice came from the end of the staircase as he walked towards them. "Wasn't it family too?"
"It was just some months old, Rumple, it bet that it barely looked human. Stop complaining." Fiona rolled her eyes. "I did this all for you."
He saw the fury growing in his father's expression, the darkness consuming him alongside with his anger. There was something wild in his eyes that told Neal that today Rumplestiltskin was unstoppable.
"For me?" He asked, with disbelief. "You did nothing for me mother, other than abandon me and then come back to ruin my life."
"You don't understand. I had to leave you behind for your own sake, and only came here to make up for the time I couldn't be with you."
Shooking his head, he pointed an accusative finger at her, each of his features seeming to be tensed. "If you ever loved me, you would have never hurt someone I love."
"There was no other way." Fiona defended herself. "You were destined to die as a Saviour and I saved you from this fate many years ago. I never wanted to leave you, my son, but the fairies banished me. So, if I wanted to be by your side again and have your love, I needed to do all of this."
Neal's eyes got wide. His father was supposed to be something called Saviour? And he was fated to die a hero? Was that some kind of joke?
"They banished you because you became darkness." Rumplestiltskin bounced.
"Yes, but there is nothing wrong with darkness. Not as long as it means that we can be together and you can be safe."
"It's difficult to know how maniac you sound, when you are the one making this speech." The imp mumbled sadly, regretfully, remembering of his own mistakes and glancing quickly at Neal when he said that. "Once, you told me that you needed to choose power over love. I did this choice too, mother, but I regret it and you didn't. You just kept using magic to get what you want, not caring for who you would hurt in the process and I'm sorry, but that, I can't forgive."
Clenching her teeth, Fiona lifted a hand and Neal started to choke, gasping desperately for air, feeling that an invisible hand was squeezing his throat.
"If this is how you want to proceed, then you'll really have something to regret, Rumple." The Black Fairy's fist closed a little bit more, tightening the pressure in his neck. "I hope that you are strong enough to live with your son's death in your conscience."