Chapter 38—"Bring Back the Light"

Pretending to read Saviors: Their Victories and their Deaths was a good way to keep Tiger Lily from noticing that anything was wrong. Beans, too, although Beans was more worried about Madam Faustina than he was about why Bae might have a sudden fascination with a certain Savior-turned-Dark One who was still alive. Beans was easy to deal with, but Tiger Lily was entirely too smart, and Bae had to hide this.

He felt like he'd been gut-punched every time he thought of the fact that his papa had been supposed to be the Savior. Back before everything had gone wrong, his papa had been the kindest and most caring person; Rumplestiltskin had been good. He'd wanted to help others, too, like that beggar he took in even when they barely had enough to feed themselves. The rest of the people in their town always bullied and kicked Rumplestiltskin, but he never held it against them. He'd still been kind to everyone, even when he was afraid of them.

Is that where his courage went? Guilt suddenly welled up; Bae had called his father a coward more than once. But if his fate had been stripped away, and he'd been left empty and rudderless, maybe that hadn't all been his fault. Not until he'd taken on the darkness, anyway, and let that demon eat at his soul and change him. Then he'd become a monster, the exact opposite of the Savior he'd been meant to be. Yet the stories Bae had heard about his father weren't all bad. Yeah, he made deals, but he had helped people, too. Can you see me with that power, Bae? Bae had always thought that power like that wasn't meant for simple people like them.

I want my father back, Bae had said to Rumplestiltskin more than once. Now, however, he was surprised to find that he still did. He was still angry—Bae wasn't sure anything could make him forgive the way Rumplestiltskin had let him go—but he was starting to see the full picture of things now, and he didn't like the way it looked.

Maybe, just maybe, he wasn't the only one who had been wronged by this whole mess.


"You're not ugly, you know." Belle crept upon on Rumplestiltskin while he stared at his new-old features in a long mirror, wrapping her arms around him from behind, tucking her chin up on his shoulder. "I think you're quite handsome."

"And I think you're quite biased."

Belle laughed. "Believe me, I'm not. I'd tell you to ask Mulan, but you're not really her type."

He snorted. "Yes, even I have noticed that, sweetheart."

Rumplestiltskin supposed that it was nice that Belle thought he was handsome; he was still certain that she was biased, but he would take what he could get. His human face was still a strange sight to him, particularly after so long behind the scales and sparkly skin, but he supposed that he could get used to it. Particularly if Belle liked it.

"I especially like your hair." Her soft laugh tickled his ear. "It's so soft."

"Is it?" Rumplestiltskin supposed he'd sort of noticed; he was much cleaner now than he had been in his peasant days, and his hair did fall rather nicely when it wasn't grimy and tangled.

"Yeah, it is." Belle squeezed him around the middle. "I like you like this."

"I'm—I'm glad." He had to swallow hard. "I'm still so uncertain."

"How's your magic coming? Does the price make sense yet?"

That was the hard part. Rumplestiltskin almost didn't want to tell Belle what he'd discovered, because he knew that she'd be delighted—but could he ever live up to what she'd want him to be? To what he'd been fated to be? If he'd been the Savior, it all would have been so easy. He would have been born for this and grown into it, but now, with so many centuries of darkness at his back…

"Rumple?" Belle came around in front of him, her brow creased with worry. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah." He took a deep breath. "I fear it's quite simple, actually. This magic seems to work like standard light magic in terms of cost…so long as you try to help others, and stay on the path, the price takes care of itself."

She cocked her head. "You mean no more deals?"

"I suppose not." Sighing, Rumplestiltskin took the plunge and told the whole truth. "It's mostly dark magic that comes with a steep price, sweetheart. If you don't make someone else pay it, the cost comes out of your soul. Doing light magic, on the other hand…well, that's hardly bad for your soul. The power can exhaust you if you use too much, but most light magic users don't have enough to do that."

"You do, though."

"Yeah. It's grail magic. It's rather limitless."

"And you're still immortal." Belle didn't look surprised, which made him cock an eyebrow at her. She shrugged, blushing. "I did some reading."

"Surprise, surprise." Rumplestiltskin found his smile fleeting, though. "I know you didn't expect that, Belle, and I—"

She silenced him with a kiss. "We'll deal with that when the time comes, if you want to. For now, I want to be with you, Rumple. Forever. However you'll have me."

"Are you—are you—"

Bang, bang. Snarling, Rumplestiltskin turned to face the offensive knocking on the outer doors. Thankfully, he'd remembered to lock them after Jefferson had left the day before, because there'd be no keeping his new nature secret if all and sundry could just waltz right into his great hall. A moment's focus on his wards and spells told Rumplestiltskin that there was a messenger outside his hall, and he groaned.

"Someone important?" Belle unwound her arms from around his neck with a pout.

"Probably not." Flinging one hand up, Rumplestiltskin slid the illusion in place, glancing over his shoulder at the Dark One facing him in the mirror. "Do I pass muster, hmmm?"

"You look presentable." Belle reached out to adjust his vest before nodding. "But try to avoid the giggle. It's not the same."

"Really?" He'd thought he was doing that quite nicely, but Belle would know. And had she been asking him to marry her? Rumplestiltskin wanted desperately to spend the rest of his life with Belle, to love her like she should be loved, but he was so afraid that she would say no.

"Really. But you look the part, at least." She shooed him forward, heading over to sit on the table. "Go on. See what deal someone wants."

He shot her a grin over his shoulder, feeling terribly light hearted. "Bossy."

"You know it." Belle folded her hands primly, and Rumplestiltskin had to school his face back into an appropriate scowl before facing the doors and waving them open.

Much to his surprise, the Apprentice stood there.


Letting Beans wander around while Madam Faustina was near Port Mystic was a bad idea, but Bae figured he was pretty safe. Besides, getting out of the house would give him something to think about other than the book and his father, which he really needed at the moment. Madam Faustina had no idea who he was, so he could afford to take a look around and see if she was gone.

Tiger Lily sighed. "I still don't think this is the best idea."

"Yeah, but you don't have a better one." Bae gave her his nicest smile. "Besides, it's not like she knows what I look like."

"She might've saw you with me," Beans spoke up, and Bae shot him a glare. You're not helping!

"But she probably didn't. And even then, we need to know if she's gone, 'cause it's not like the Blue Fairy is gonna do anything about that."

Tiger Lily's sigh was even louder this time. "No, she isn't."

Bae almost felt bad for Tiger Lily; she'd obviously trusted that the Blue Fairy was going to help. Bae, having had a bit of experience on that front, knew that wasn't going to happen, but he still knew how much being disappointed like that sucked.

"She never will." Beans' eyes went foggy again. "The fairy wishes for darkness to remain in the world to keep humans weak and dependent—for then the Curse will come and they will depend upon her. She casts the shadow while standing in the light."

"Well." Bae blinked. "That was weird. You okay, Beans?"

Beans shook his head. "Um. Yeah?"

Tiger Lily fussed over Beans for a moment before turning back to Baelfire. "Fine. Go out and take a look, but be careful, all right?"

"Sure. I had enough of crazy youthful magic users with Pan. I'm not looking for trouble." Thinking about crazy magic users did leave him with a thought, though. "Hey, um, y'think that if she's still around, your friend the Black Fairy might help with her?"

That made Tiger Lily pause thoughtfully.

"You know, maybe she will." A wry laugh. "The worst she can do is say no, and that's still no worse than Blue did. Let's find out if this 'Madam Faustina' is still hanging around first, though, right?"

"You got it." Bae grinned and ducked out the door.


"You must help me save her!" As opening arguments went, it wasn't the politest, but at least it had the advantage of getting right to the point. Still, even a pirate knew that shouting at a King and his soon-to-be-Queen (who was also the rightful queen of another realm) was not good manners.

"What my companion means to say is that we are here to beg for your help," Killian elbowed Gaston in the side, hoping the over-muscled lout would get the hint. He was really starting to think that partnering with Gaston in this enterprise had been foolish. Gaston was loud, obnoxious, and none too bright.

He also snored.

"Why don't you tell us about your lost love?" King James stepped forward, still holding his fiancé's hand. "You said her name is Belle?"

"Yes, it is. The Dark One stole her away from her home and her family, and I—we—have been on a quest to rescue her ever since." Gaston looked so very earnest that even Killian almost believed him.

He could have spoken up and added a bit of truth to that 'plea', of course, but why? He'd take whatever advantage he could get if it got him revenge upon Rumplestiltskin.

Snow White and James exchanged a look. "I can't recall seeing any girl at the Dark Castle the last time I was there," Snow said pensively.

"Nor I."

"She's likely to have been locked up, Your Majesties," Killian interjected smoothly. "I shudder to think of what the poor lass has gone through in the months she has been gone."

"Do you even believe a word you're saying, Captain?"

Whirling to face the new speaker, Killian found himself face to face with Tinker Bell. "Bloody hell, Tink, what are you doing here?" he blurted before he could stop himself. "And of course I believe every word I'm saying!"

Belatedly, he recalled telling Tink about his desire for revenge against Rumplestiltskin once when he was in his cups. She'd been on Zelena's side, hadn't she? What in the blazes was she doing here in King George's old castle? But before he could ask—or cast any aspirations about her loyalties—Tink turned to the royals and continued:

"Belle is just fine, Snow. She's at the Dark Castle willingly—I saw her just a week ago. She wanted to go with Rumplestiltskin, as her father is well aware." Tink shot Gaston a glare. "Sir Gaston here tried to conquer Belle's family lands with Zelena's help. He's not trying to rescue her. He wants to force her to marry him."

Those words made thunderclouds cross both royals' expressions, and Killian had to think fast. It's been nice being allied with you, Gaston, but you really were starting to get on my nerves. "I thought you said you loved her, mate."

"What?" Gaston's mouth dropped open in shock, as if he couldn't believe Killian would betray him. I'm a pirate, not a knight. I practice expedience, not honor. "I thought we were—"

"Your Majesties, please accept my humble apologies for having come before you on false pretenses. I have only recently become acquainted with my companion here, and I honestly thought he was on a quest to save his lost love. Even a pirate would never force a lass unwillingly."

"Not any pirate?" Of course that was Tink, who knew damned well who he'd been working for.

Killian flashed her his best smile. "Not this one, love."

He met her gaze and held it; Killian was willing to bet that Tink didn't really want to explain how very much time she'd spent at Zelena's castle, either, so it was in both of their interests' to stay quiet. She glared at him, but not terribly hard, so he winked.

She rolled her eyes.

"Your apology is accepted, Captain, of course," King James said after a moment. "But I am afraid that we cannot offer either you any help in your quest, whatever it may be."

"Oh, it is my quest no more, Your Majesty. It is definitely time Sir Gaston and I went our separate ways."

"You—you coward! All this talk of vengeance, and you walk away at the slightest challenge?" Gaston wheeled on him furiously. "Just you wait! I will find the Dark One's dagger and have Belle. I will—"

"You'll have a nice long walk ahead of you." The Huntsman—Killian remembered him from Zelena's palace—grabbed Gaston, interrupting his rant and dragging him outside. Unfortunately, that left Killian on the spot.

"Are you done being Zelena's lackey?" Tink asked pointedly, and didn't that get everyone's attention.

Apparently, his internal bet about her had been wrong. "Aye. The Queen is a mite needy, if you know what I mean, and our business relationship was only ever one of convenience. A pirate must eat, after all."

Tink snorted. "I'm sure."

"Captain, I would recommend finding yourself a new patron—or, better yet, sailing far from our shores," King James spoke up again. "Once our peace treaty with Queen Zelena is signed, there will be no place for privateers in our waters."

"And we will do whatever it takes to protect our people." Snow's voice was hard as steel, and Killian had to give her an appreciative look.

"I can think of a few ways that might be arranged, Your Majesty." He waggled his eyebrows at her.

"Excuse me! I'm an engaged woman."

"Aye, but not married yet." Daringly, he bent over her hand to kiss it, although Snow yanked it away.

She glared. "Close enough."

"Then my apologies." Straightening, Killian attempted to put on an abashed look, but it was hard. Snow White was a beautiful woman, and full of fire, two attributes he most admired in women. Alas, she only had eyes for King James; had she even given him a hint that she might be interested, he would have pursued her. "With your permission, then, I will return to my ship."

His ship, of course, was docked in Zelena's largest port, but they didn't know that. Even Tink didn't object when he departed, which meant he at least remained one step ahead of the Dark One. Gaston, Killian decided, could fend for himself. The fool had outworn his welcome, and Killian just needed time to come up with a new plan to find that dagger.


"Well, well, well what have we here?" Rumplestiltskin cocked his head at the Apprentice—he'd never seen the man before, not up close, but he knew very well who he was.

Then his mother appeared in a swirl of purple smoke, already glaring at the interloper. "This was not what I had in mind!"

"I imagine it is inconvenient to be caught in a lie, yes." The Apprentice shook his head. "I have seen enough."

"You damned well have not!" Fiona grabbed the Apprentice by the arm before he could teleport away, turning her stink eye on Rumplestiltskin. "Do let the man in and take down that damned illusion, will you?"

Rumplestiltskin couldn't help twitching. He'd agreed to this, or at least to his mother talking to the Apprentice, but to be put on the spot like this rankled. His voice came out in a growl. "Mother…"

"Rumple, is everything all right?" Belle's voice was quiet, but she'd come up next to him, touching his arm for support.

"My lady, are you all right?" The Apprentice seemed to notice her for the first time, concern in his old eyes.

Oh, right. Dark One and fair maiden. I know where this goes. Rumplestiltskin wanted to howl in frustration. But at least the Apprentice wasn't about to come after him with a sword, even if he could feel magic building in the air.

"No need for that, dearie." He waved a hand towards the spell that the Apprentice had started. "Do come in."

"Not without a good reason to do so."

"Didn't I give you that already?" Fiona sounded fed up, and the look she threw Rumplestiltskin was apologetic. "I asked him for a portal, not a house call!"

The Apprentice bristled. "And I require proof, particularly from one such as you."

"Will you all stop it?" Belle's voice slashed into the argument, making everyone turn to stare at her. "This is getting us nowhere. Fiona, please come inside. And um, Apprentice? You, too. No one will harm you here." She threw a quick glare at Fiona, saving a bit of bite on the end for Rumplestiltskin. "No one wishes to."

"Very well." The Apprentice stepped forward cautiously, but at least he came within the great hall. Rumplestiltskin stepped back, watching his mother glare at the Apprentice's back while Belle watched everyone with bright and curious eyes. "I have come for proof that the Dark One has been vanquished, and I do not see that before me."

"That's because you're looking with your eyes, dearie, and not with your magic." Rumplestiltskin took a deep breath, and then twitched his hands, allowing golden smoke to swirl around himself. "Rumplestiltskin, at your service. Figuratively speaking, of course."

The Apprentice looked him up and down for several long moments, enough to make Rumplestiltskin grow rather uncomfortable. If not for the way Belle stepped close to him and his mother watched the Apprentice like a hawk, he might have done something violently foolish. He didn't like being judged. Having this 'good' sorcerer stare at him like he was on trial was insulting.

"This should not be possible."

"I told you how." Fiona was starting to sound petulant.

The Apprentice looked at Belle. "And you are, my lady?"

"Belle of Avonlea." Boldly, she slipped her hand into Rumplestiltskin's. "Rumplestiltskin's True Love."

"And the breaker of his curse," Fiona added. Rumplestiltskin merely met the Apprentice's eyes, waiting for the man to call them all liars, even though he should have been able to see the truth.

"This…this cannot have happened. That curse grew out of Nimue's darkness, and even True Love should not have been enough to break it." The Apprentice shook his head in confusion, slack jawed and disbelieving. "I have spent centuries studying that curse. There will always be a Dark One. That power cannot be extinguished."

"Ah, but no one said anything about extinguishing it." Rumplestiltskin smiled thinly. "The power remains. It is the darkness that is gone."

"You claim to have grail magic."

Rumplestiltskin spread his hands, palms up. "I make no claims. I am what I am."

"That's not what your mother says." The Apprentice's eye were still narrowed and hostile, and my, wasn't that a nice way for a 'good' magic user to present himself.

"My mother says a great many things." Rumplestiltskin shrugged.

"Don't you start getting snarky, young man." Fiona speared him with a glare as she walked over to join him and Belle, but it wasn't a very fierce one.

"You have…if you have actually turned the darkness back to the light, show me." The Apprentice drew himself up as if he was determined to regain control of the situation

Rumplestiltskin cocked his head. "And what would you have me do, dearie? Shall I dance a jig, or do you have something more specific in mind?"

"No." That earned him a scowl as the Apprentice reached into his own sleeve. "Open this."

A small, round box floated through the air towards him as the Apprentice tossed it, and Rumplestiltskin felt his breath catch. Fiona actually gasped, a hiss full of both anger and fascination, but Rumplestiltskin caught the hat box deftly. A distant part of his mind reported that he must have retained some dexterity from being the Dark One; even in his youth, he'd never been truly graceful. But muscle memory was not unlearned even with a curse break, so he's light on his feet and able to catch the precious box he'd sought for so many centuries.

If Nimue had still been in his mind, she would have been roaring with eager power, demanding he open the hat so that all the Dark Ones could be free. Oh, she would have been lying—he knew that, now—but she would have promised him a freedom from the curse while he could still keep his power. A kiss did that, Rumplestiltskin thought, stealing a glance with Belle. Simple love and light magic accomplished what all the darkness in all the realms never could. A shiver tore down his spine. He had burned for this hat, once, just like all of his predecessors had. Now it meant nothing to him.

"No Dark One has ever managed to reveal the Sorcerer's Hat." The Apprentice cleared his throat. "Open the box, and I will believe you."

Rumplestiltskin could have, however. He'd figured out how ages ago, but now wasn't the time to mention that. Instead, he lifted his right hand, summoning light magic to his palm—and drawing the hat out.

The Sorcerer's Hat really was quite beautiful, blue with sparkling stars, almost like a universe of power. The magic within it thrummed against his palm, beating in time with his heart. Yes, this hat could have held enough magic to sever the Dark One from his body. Rumplestiltskin could see that right away. But it could not have saved him from becoming an empty shell afterwards—or from the other Dark Ones forcing him out and taking over. Perhaps Merlin had crafted this hat to contain the Dark One. Rumplestiltskin would never know.

Nor would it ever matter again.

"Satisfied?" Rumplestiltskin looked the Apprentice in the eye, and perhaps a better man would not have so enjoyed his shocked expression. He could try to be a good man, but Rumplestiltskin would never be a saint.

"It seems I must be." The Apprentice still looked dazed, particularly when Rumplestiltskin closed the hat up and tossed it back.

"Take it. Guard it, if you will." Rumplestiltskin shrugged, thinking of Zelena and how she would salivate over that hat. Or worse yet, Cora. That thought made him shudder. "There are still plenty who would use its power for ill."

"You would hand this back to me? You, after all your centuries questing for power?"

"Ah, but I don't want that responsibility. Merlin gave the task to you." He finally managed a slight smile, feeling rather good about himself. "I don't need that power."

Belle squeezed his hand, and he could feel her glowing with pride. Even Fiona looked pleased, if a bit torn—she might have had a thought or two about things the power in that hat could do. His mother was no saint, and Rumplestiltskin loved her for that. Had she been some good fairy, he would have spent the rest of his years feeling inadequate.

"What I do need, however, is a portal to where my son is, in the Land Without Magic," he said when the Apprentice seemed too dumbfounded to talk. "And as I lack the time or inclination to craft a portal creating wand the way Merlin did for you, I would be much obliged if you would do it for me."

"Such things take time—"

"And I have passed your test, Apprentice." Rumplestiltskin felt power building, creeping up his spine, and the room trembled ever so slightly. "My son has waited long enough. Draw me a portal, or leave."

A long moment passed before the Apprentice nodded.


He'd almost headed home when Bae spotted Madam Faustina in the doorway to the blacksmith's shop, leaning against the doorframe and laughing. He dove behind a tree, but she walked away after a few minutes, not even looking in his direction. Bae thought about following her, just a little bit, except she teleported away in a swirl of black-gray smoke—and then he spotted the man who she had been talking to.

Why was Flynnigan Rider still in town? The trade fair was long over.

"Hey, kid." Flynnigan had spotted him, so Bae decided to play it cool, wandering over like he was still interested in the stories Flynnigan had to tell. He was, really, but not so much now that he'd seen Flynnigan talking to Madam Faustina.

"Hi."

"What are you doing out here so late? It's getting dark."

"On my way to the baker." He had a few coins left in his pocket; maybe he'd go buy some cookies. Tiger Lily always liked cookies, and she'd been depressed ever since Blue had refused to help her. "Tiger Lily doesn't feel great, and cookies always help."

Flynnigan laughed. "I bet they do. You still looking for stories about terrible magic users?"

"Dunno." Bae shrugged as casually as he could. "Was that another one? Seems awfully pretty to be evil."

"Oh, no, not her." Flynnigan's smile was easy. Too easy. "She's just a childhood friend. I was surprised to see her here—I'd just stopped to check on my horse's new shoes."

A childhood friend? Bae almost asked the question out loud before remembering that he wasn't supposed to know that Madam Faustina was really old. Probably almost as old as me, but I don't see Morraine around here.

That thought made guilt well up; sometimes, Bae wondered what had happened to his best friend. He figured that he'd never know, even if he went to the Frontlands to find out. No one really kept records on peasants, and Morraine probably didn't rate even a footnote in a history book. I bet Papa would know. That thought reared up too quickly for him to quash, and Bae grimaced before he could stop himself.

"All all right, Baelfire? You look a little queasy."

Why had he told this guy his name? What kind of idiot was he? Bae shook his head to clear it. "I'm fine. I was just thinking of a friend who died a long time ago."

"Well, it couldn't have been that long. You're pretty young."

"Yeah." Bae shrugged. "Seems like it, though. She was my best friend."

He could remember how she looked, too, or at least almost. She'd had blonde hair, too, like Madam Faustina. She'd been short, though, not tall and stately, and she'd been a lot nicer than a witch who sucked the life out of people she cursed to be eternally young. So, he supposed that the resemblance really didn't matter much, did it?

"How'd she die?" Flynnigan just couldn't let it drop, could he?

"I dunno. I wasn't there." Bae really didn't like how this conversation was going, so summoned up a smile and changed the subject. "What other evil magic users do you have stories about?"

He half-hoped that Flynnigan would say more about his father, but instead Bae got regaled by stories about the Wicked Queen, who apparently kept a harem of heartless men and was out to destroy Snow White. It was an interesting story, but not really what Bae was looking for. Flynnigan kept talking until after the bakery closed, too, so he couldn't even get the cookies he'd been hoping for.

He didn't find out where Madam Faustina had gone off to, either, but at least she had left Port Mystic.


She knew that boy.

Madam Faustina watched the pair in the market, hiding in a house of a merchant near the blacksmith's. She'd teleported here when she'd been spotted with Flynnigan, her heart racing and confused. Port Mystic was far from her usual haunts, but the Seer was here, and she needed him. Her magic was unraveling, and as best she could tell, that started when "Beans" escaped. Leaving someone running around with her youth and beauty curse ate at the power that kept her alive. She didn't really know what would happen if that magic fell apart, not to her or to anyone else.

That didn't matter. She'd finish what she'd started with the Seer, but he wasn't the boy she watched now. He wasn't Baelfire.

She remembered how he'd been sucked into a portal to lands unknown, that that sanctimonious "good" fairy had promised "help". When she'd been young, she'd thought Reul Ghorm was a benevolent power. Now she knew better.

How was Baelfire back without aging a day? Looking at him made her heart hurt. He looked almost the same, even wearing the same smirk and with the same way of moving. There were new shadows in his eyes, though. Shadows that even having the Dark One for a father had not caused. Concentrate, Madam Faustina told herself firmly. He was friends with the Seer. That would be a problem, but surely she could avoid him, couldn't she?

She would have to. Flynnigan could handle that much, surely. Her friend the mercenary would be loyal as long as he thought she would make him immortal, and he'd not grown disillusioned yet. He would help her until he realized said immortality would only lead to his death, and then she would let him go. Killing him would have been smarter…but she preferred killing strangers. It was easier.

Baelfire. She threw one last look at her old friend and then walked away. She hoped she would never see him again.


"I need your blood to open the portal," the Apprentice explained, looking like he expected Rumplestiltskin to disagree.

"What for?" Belle got in before Rumplestiltskin could summon a dagger—not the dagger; that one was still tucked away safely and always would be, just in case—her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"To direct the portal." Rumplestiltskin shrugged a bit. "The Land Without Magic is large, and without a way to pick where the portal emerges, it might be miles from Bae."

Bae. I'm coming for you, Bae. Rumplestiltskin could barely breathe from excitement. He was so close, for the first time in so long! His heart was pounding so hard that he didn't even notice the pain when he pricked the back of his hand, squeezing a few drops of blood onto the tip of the Apprentice's wand.

"Or thousands of miles. The realm you seek is far larger than our own." The Apprentice still looked disapproving, although a little less so than before. "What will you do if your son does not wish to return with you?"

"Then I will stay with him, if he'll have me." Rumplestiltskin's heart clenched; he knew Bae would be angry, but surely Bae would hear him out, wouldn't he?

"And I'll come with you." Belle squeezed his arm, and he almost collapsed from relief. Power or not, Belle made him stronger, and he didn't know what he'd do if he had to choose between her and Bae.

"As will I, of course." Fiona's words made Rumplestiltskin whip around in surprise, but she only smiled crookedly. "What kind of terrible mother and grandmother would I be if stayed here while you left?"

Rumpelstiltskin's heart was too full to bursting for words.

Woosh. Suddenly, a whirling circle of magic appeared in front of them, twisting to and from wildly. It felt like no other portal Rumplestiltskin had ever seen, but he could see his own blood twisting among the magic, so he merely watched, struggling not to take a step back. Now was not the time to remember how he had let his son go, or how his father had taken a portal only to abandon him. Now was the time to be strong for his son, to do what he should have done centuries earlier.

Wind howled, and the portal refused to steady. It wobbled, a sideways tornado of white and red that offered glimpses into a strange world of tall buildings and noisy vehicles. Alien honking sounds filled the Dark Castle's great hall, along with a grinding noise that made Rumplestiltskin's teeth hurt. He could see trees one moment and an ocean the next; the magic was searching, stretching out and searching for Baelfire. The Land Without Magic had to be truly vast if it was taking so long—blood should lead to blood more quickly than this.

I'm coming, Bae! I promise. His chest was growing tight with fear, and Belle gripped his hand harder.

"Why is there no door?" Fiona asked after a long moment. The howling continued, magic reaching and searching and—

Then the portal collapsed.


A/N: Holy cow, it's been an age! Prepare for the end of this story to come at you in a rush-I've got six (maybe seven) chapters coming in the near future, and I hope you enjoy! Thank you to everyone who left reviews while I dropped off the face of the fandom.