A few weeks later, Belle, Baelfire, the Professor and Clara Oswald had travelled through the land to Rumplestiltskin's old castle, the Dark Castle. They were in the main dining room, looking through all the books and knickknacks that Rumplestiltskin had collected through the years, hoping to find anything that may help them with the Wicked Witch. And Baelfire and Clara's desire to return home.
"If there's anyone who can defeat that witch and get you back to your homes, it's the Dark One," Belle said as she leafed through a book. "The way to resurrect him has to be in here."
"Maybe," the Professor said. "Cheating death can be a big secret. He may have wanted to take that to the grave."
"You believe in him?" Clara asked them.
"I love him," Belle said, looking at Clara. "All of him. Even the parts that belong to the darkness."
"It took me a while to see past all that," Baelfire said. "To the good man trying to get out."
"He did get out," Belle said.
"Yeah. He did," Baelfire said with a nod. "Irony is, I need the dark part to get to the ones I care about." He took a small golden necklace from his pocket and held it up for everyone to see.
"What's that?" Clara asked, looking at the swan engraved on the pendant.
"A necklace. It was Emma's. It's supposed to represent our life together. I don't know how it survived the trip."
"Because it's made from true love," the Professor said. He turned to Belle. "Like the teacup." Then turned to Clara. "And our ice heart."
"Come with me," Belle said. "I think I know where we can find what we need." She led them through the castle until they reached the library. The one that Rumplestiltskin had built and given to Belle in what seemed like a lifetime ago.
"You think there's magic in here?" Baelfire asked.
"No. Something better than magic. Books. Books on history and witchcraft, and hopefully, some on the Dark One." She began to light a three-tier candle on one of the tables.
"Where do we start?" Clara asked.
"One shelf at a time," Belle said, blowing out her candle with which she lit the candelabra. "Hello there," came a man with a heavy French accent.
"Did you say something?" Clara asked the Professor.
"Over here," the French voice came again. Everyone turned around to see the three flames of each candelabra candle merge to form a face of a man. "Allow me to introduce myself."
"What the Hell?" Baelfire asked.
"No need to be frightened. I am but a humble servant of this castle. My name is Lumiere."
Belle looked a Lumiere and exchanged looks with the Professor. Both were confused at this new person – well, candle – talking to them. "I don't understand," Belle said. "I've dusted every nook and cranny in this place – how have our paths never crossed?"
"Mine too," the Professor added. "I've been here longer than you, Belle. I don't remember seeing you. Or hearing you."
"It's a big castle," Lumiere answered, "and I was woefully under-utilised. Sadly, I only awaken when my candles are lit. Those are the rules of my punishment."
"I'm sorry. Did you say punishment?" Clara asked. "Who punished you?"
"Whom do you think? Rumplestiltskin, of course. We made a deal a long time ago, and when I couldn't live up to my end, he made sure I paid the price."
Everyone looked at the Professor while Baelfire was inspecting Lumiere and walking around the table that he was on. "He could be telling the truth," the Professor said. "I didn't go everywhere with Rumple. And as I said, he did have his secrets."
"He's not here, is he?" Lumiere asked. "No. He's dead," Belle answered.
"We're trying to bring him back," Baelfire added. "You said you spent a lot of time here. Do you know anything that could restore the Dark One, and …"
"I know a great many things," Lumiere interrupted.
"Please! You got to help us. If you don't, I'll never see my family again. The people that we love."
"Boo-hoo. Why should I help resurrect the man who put me in this wax prison?"
"The Rumplestiltskin you knew may have seemed cold and hard, but he's changed since then," Belle said. "If you help us, I know he would restore you to your human form. Please."
"The bookcase behind you," Lumiere said. "Bottom cabinet. You shall know it once you see it." The Professor nodded and went over to the bookshelf and opened the bottom cabinet. "It's a volume befitting the Dark One," Lumiere added.
The Professor grabbed a thick brown leather book with a familiar pattern printed on the spine. He pulled it out and thumbed over it. "The same pattern as the dagger," he mused, walked over to the table, and placed the book on the wooden surface. He began to open it and leafed through the pages.
"What the hell kind of book is that?" Baelfire asked, watching the Time Lord.
"It's not a book," the Professor said. "The words inside mean nothing. The letters mean nothing. It's a hiding spot." He reached the middle of the book and spotted a weird looking key cut into the remaining pages. He pulled it out, examining it.
"What's that?" Clara asked.
"A key," the Professor replied.
"A key to the Vault of the Dark One," Lumiere explained. "The Vault of the Dark One?" Belle asked.
"Where the first Dark One was made. Born out of the, well, darkness. If you wish to bring back Rumplestiltskin to life, it is where you must go."
"I've never heard of this place. Well, through legends, but that's about it," the Professor admitted. "I don't know where to find it? Will you lead us there?"
"If your promises that the Dark One will return me to my human form are true, then, yes, I will," Lumiere told them.
The Professor put the key to the Vault of the Dark One back inside the book.
"We leave the first thing in the morning," Baelfire said and walked over to the candelabra and blew out the flames – making Lumiere disappear for the night.
The four of them left the library to their rooms, unaware that one candle of Lumiere had lit itself again. And another. And another. His face appeared again, but now, he was looking at the Wicked Witch. Without anyone knowing, she had now appeared in the library. She walked around the table that he was on.
"Nicely done," the Wicked Witch said. "I don't think they suspected you for an instant, which says more about them than you. That Belle isn't as smart as she thinks. And neither is the Professor. The arrogance of a Time Lord. And Rumple's son?" She chuckled. "Dumber than a box of hair."
"They are merely desperate to bring back their Rumplestiltskin," Lumiere said.
"Not only desperate. Blind."
"Release me! I have aided you enough."
"I'd watch your tone, candle. There's more to be done. And you shall do it. Unless you desire to be the wax seal on an envelope."