Merlin and Robin, with help from others, attempt to pull the Dark One from within Rumpelstiltskin. Belle is mortified.
Meanwhile, Regina and Emma aren't very happy about their fiance risking his life so close to the wedding.
And a forgotten hero is about to make an appearance!
Storybrooke Town Line - Minutes earlier
As it came around the final bend, supposedly close to the Storybrooke magical border, Belle felt herself lurch forward, the car braking suddenly.
Looking over Ariel's shoulder from the back seat, she could see three figures standing in the road, recognising one, as they drew closer. Someone they'd seen only three days ago, at the airport. "What's going on, Rumple? What's Merlin doing standing there?"
"Waiting for me, it would seem. I suspect this is something to do with the forgetting potion I took back there."
Ariel looked behind her, at her girlfriend, worried. Rumple tried to sound reassuring. "Ladies, would you kindly stay with Gideon, while I find out what this is all about?" He tood off his seatbelt, opening his door.
But Belle couldn't be put off so easily. "No chance, I'm coming with you! Ariel, please mind Gideon?" She heard the other woman agree, before opening her door and stepping out of the car to join him. Rumple had already started talking to them, although she calmed a little when she realised one of the men beside him was her son's godfather. The third man seemed to be the Sorcerer's son. Andy? Charlie?
However, that calm changed the moment she saw Robin take Rumple's right hand forcefully in his own, before twisting some sort of bracelet onto his wrist? The other, younger man did the same to her lover's other wrist!
"ROBIN, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" she yelled at him.
"I'm sorry Belle! Welcome back, by the way. You'll see shortly!"
Merlin said something, but she didn't catch it. Almost immediately, all four men turned to face the town, walking quickly towards the line, almost dragging Rumple with them. It all happened so quickly, she had to rush after them. Then, as they crossed the border, Belle was again stunned to see the landscape change once again, the road continuing, but with Storybrooke now clearly visible in the middle distance. Next, she noticed the instant stiffening, the straightening up of her husband, as he crossed.
His magic's returned. The Dark One's back!
However, as she ran to join him, she recognised the bracelets he was wearing. Magic dampening cuffs? Why the hell would they do that?
It also took a matter of moments to realise they weren't alone. There seemed to be at least a dozen of Blue's fairies divided either side of the road, all with their wands raised in unison, to form some sort of arch.
What on earth are they doing here?
Directly in front of Rumple now stood the tall figure of Rumple's old friend Jefferson, his face deadly serious, focusing on her husband. He appeared to be holding one of his hats in front of him, the inside facing toward them. As Rumple spotted the scene, he seemed to be having some sort of conversation with himself, twitching violently. Belle knew the signs from old. The darkness is talking to him! Something bad's going to happen!
Whatever it was that happened next, happened very quickly. Realising he was in trouble, the Dark One raised his arms in the direction of Robin and Merlin, ready to cast a spell. Then he looked in utter surprise, seeming to have only just spotted the magical cuffs! Belle realised now she was looking at the Dark One. Not Rumple!
However, his reactions weren't as quick as Robin or Merlin's. The pair seemed to have fired something back at him, some sort of wave. Even Belle, now standing behind felt its heat! The Dark One was blown back, spinning violently, but still trying to remain on his feet. However, as his head rose again, the young dark-haired man stepped forward, his hands also raised. That's when she spotted his eyes! Merlin's son now seemed to have no whites in his eyes whatsoever, merely shiny black discs! He looked seriously terrifying! Belle froze with fear, before moments later letting out the most chilling, blood-curdling scream.
Charles Sage ignored her, muttered a chant, inaudible to everyone around, as a piercing dark grey beam emanated from his hands towards the figure before him. It blasted the Dark One violently sideways, making him spin and land flat on the ground. Belle brought her hands to her mouth, unable to speak. Robin and Merlin quickly stepped forward, casting spells to keep the twitching body down. Within moments, Charles stepped closer, his arms wide and seeming to ask the Dark One to come to him. A dark mass, a creature, human shaped and almost like a shadow in the moonlight, rose from the body towards him. Jefferson, clearly frightened, also stepped forward.
Finally, Merlin issued his command. "CHARLIE - NOW!"
The creature seemed to twitch and lurch violently from side to side, as though unsure which direction to go. The black mass turned towards the chanting man, racing towards his middle, as though about to attack! However, Jefferson moved the hat, a white light now emanating from within, much closer, forcing the malevolent creature to change direction, as though being magnetically pulled into the hat, by some invisible force.
Within seconds, despite trying to resist, the creature disappeared inside!
"JEFFERSON, THE SEAL? QUICK!" Merlin bellowed. The Hatter turned the hat upright with one hand, casting some sort of spell over the top. Charles Sage lifted the hat from him, before also placing his own spell over it. His father followed immediately after it, with a spell of his own.
"Yes! It's contained!"
The fairies instantly relaxed at Merlin's words, most breathing out loudly, relieved. Reul Ghorm had already dropped down to where the still body of Rumpelstiltskin now lay, checking his pulse, before looking anxiously up at the Sorcerer.
"DON'T TOUCH HIM! LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Belle yelled at them, finding her voice within the anger. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HIM, YOU BASTARDS?"
She dropped down to Rumple's body, roughly shoving Blue aside, desperate to see if he was still alive. However, as she moved her hands either side of his face she heard Blue call up to the Sorcerer. "My Lord? We need to move fast!"
Within seconds, Rumple's body disappeared in a mist. As did Merlin and Blue, leaving the rest of them behind.
"WHERE HAVE THEY TAKEN HIM? WHERE?" She screamed in Jefferson's face. "HE WAS YOUR FRIEND! HOW COULD YOU?" Jefferson, more occupied with the hat, looked at her in sympathy but didn't reply. Instead, he glanced at Merlin's son, nodding before they too disappeared from the scene in mist, together with the hat.
Belle felt a hand on her upper arm. "Belle…if you could just listen for a moment?" The next second Robin felt the slap. A loud, vicious slap across his left cheek.
"WE TRUSTED YOU! YOU'RE GIDEON'S GODFATHER AND YOU BETRAYED US!" she screamed, flecks of spittle showering his face. "I HATE YOU!"
Robin was initially shocked but understood, his cheek starting to sting. "Belle, please listen to me? I-"
"No! Fuck off, Locksley! I never want to see you ever again!" She turned to one of the fairies. "Where is he?"
"In the hospital. There's a team standing by."
"So, you planned all this? Knowing he almost died last time?" She growled, furiously heading back to the car beyond the town line.
~oOo~
Ariel was now standing on the other side of the barrier, Gideon still asleep in the car, all the events that have happened still completely invisible to her. All she saw was Belle reappearing from nowhere, closely followed by Robin Locksley, who seemed to be shouting to her back?
"Belle, Rumple asked us to do this, to get rid of the Dark One! He knew it was weakened, after your trip!"
She angrily spun around to face him, cheeks bright red with fury. "KNOWING HE WAS LIKELY TO DIE? LEAVING OUR SON BEHIND? He wouldn't do that to me! Just...leave us alone!"
Ariel stepped up to her lover, trying to hold her. "Belle? What's happening? Robin, what are you doing here?"
"They've probably killed Rumple!" Belle yelled again, more directed behind her than at her lover. "Get in the car! We need to get to the hospital!"
The Nolan Farm - ten minutes later
"So, you managed to take the Dark One out of Gold? You're serious?"
David sat with Snow, his phone on speaker mode, on the kitchen table, listening to their shortly-to-be son-in-law. "Is he alive? Where have you put it? Robin, we don't want that bloody thing coming back! You remember what happened to Emma last time?"
"All too well! But Jefferson and Charlie Sage trapped it in a hat. They triple-sealed it, then sent the hat to another realm entirely, and sealed that realm."
"So, some other poor innocent souls must deal with it now?" said Snow, even more worried. "That hardly seems right, Robin!"
"According to Jefferson, it's not actually an existing realm, but a new one. Something he called a 'dimension' with nothing in it! They sealed the hat, and then sent it there and sealed the only portal. There's no way in or out. If it does manage to get out of the hat, which Merlin said was nigh on impossible, there's nowhere to go."
"And Gold? What's happened to him? What sort of state's Belle in?"
"Not good! She's very pissed off with me. With all of us. They've gone to the hospital. Not the best way to end a six-week vacation, is it? Still, I'm on my way over there now. I left the fairies taking down the magical tunnel they put up, just in case it tried to escape, but we're all done." But Robin's thoughts turned to another issue he had to face. "How are Emma and Regina?"
"Both still pretty angry with you, Robin!" Said his imminent mother-in-law, brow arched. "What did you expect? Risking your life a week before the wedding? You could have easily been killed! What the hell were you thinking?"
"It wasn't that dangerous, Snow. We had Jefferson; and Merlin; and his son! That Charlie boy's different! You should have seen his eyes! The Dark One went straight for him!"
Snow shivered. "I don't want to think about it, but you need to do some serious apologising! Emma doesn't like being left out of things at the best of times, and being excluded from this really annoyed her. Especially knowing you were risking your life. Robin, you have five beautiful children. They need their father! Now go and sort it out. I don't want either of them cancelling the wedding with a week to go!"
"What Snow's basically saying, is you have some serious grovelling to do, Robin." At least David was smiling.
Storybrooke Hospital
"Dad, I may be a Cardiologist, but this one's got me flummoxed! His heart's weak, but stable. All the vital signs are all there, but his coma's deep. The way you described it, should this guy even be alive?"
Annabelle Sage stood over Rumple's body, holding his heart in her hands, having examined it in detail. In the land without magic, even attempting to remove his heart would have killed him instantly. But one of the joys of being a magically gifted heart surgeon in a magical world, was the way she could just reach in and take them straight out!
"I've seen some of his future, Anna, so I know he does get through this! Though how to bring him back? I'm not sure myself, as I've never taken the darkness out of a Dark One before." He sighed. "He's going to be here a while, so perhaps we should ask Victor to get back here? Neurology's his field, after all."
Olivia, one of the new nurses, popped her head around the door. "Professor? Doctor? I have Mr. Gold's wife outside. She's not happy!"
"Hmm. Can't say I blame her. Show her in please, Olivia?"
Moments later, the door burst open as Belle rushed in, before being joined by a slower moving woman carrying a child seat with a sleeping baby in it.
"Rumple!" her breath hitched when she saw the various tubes coming out of the former Dark One. Then she spotted Anna holding the heart. "Put that back! My god, what have you done to him?"
"Please calm yourself, Mrs. Gold. Your husband's perfectly safe, even if he is unconscious. Doctor Sage is merely examining his heart this way, to avoid invasive surgery and leaving him with scarring." Annabelle nodded, before using her magic to put the heart firmly back inside the unconscious man.
She turned to Merlin. "YOU did this to him! Who the hell do you think you are?"
But the Sorcerer stared back, unphased. "I'm somebody who Rumple asked to help him! Somebody who is trying to lift one of the most evil, most controlling forces in the universe. A force that cannot be killed. Despite what you think Belle, Rumple knew about this. That's why he took the memory potion. To avoid the Dark One finding out his plans once he crossed the town line."
That threw her. The librarian glared back angrily, unsure how to react. "You almost killed him! He's the father of my child!"
"I am fully aware of that fact. There was a risk, yes, but one your estranged husband was prepared to take."
"WE'RE NOT ESTRANGED! WE'RE TOGETHER!" She screamed, her anger returning.
Rumple hadn't spoken to him properly since before their trip. So that surprised him. "You are? Well that's a good thing. He's going to be needing care in the coming months. He will recover Belle, of that I'm sure. The only question is when he'll wake. Comas are odd things. It can take days, weeks, months..."
"But you're CERTAIN he'll come out of this? Don't lie to me, Merlin!"
"I'm as certain as I can be, having seen glimpses of your future. Belle."
"He's in some sort of sleeping curse?" Ariel, spoke for the first time. "Like Snow White?"
"Not really, it's just a coma."
Turning her back on them, Belle moved back to her husband's body, before leaning over and whispering in his ear. "Rumple, please come back to me?" She looked across at the mermaid, who'd joined her on the other side. "To us? We've had such a short time together since, well, since everything. Gideon needs you, my darling. I need you! Please?"
Anna, just within earshot, was also a little surprised when Ariel, leaving the sleeping infant to one side, stepped the other side of the bed, leaning. "I need you too, Angus. Just like Belle and your beautiful son, I need you! Wake up? Please?" They watched as Belle pecked him on his lips.
A small blip sounded on the heart monitor.
"Dad, look?" Anna pointed at it. "He's reacting!" She stepped around the mermaid, taking his arm for a pulse. "Heart beats the same."
"Belle, do that again?" Merlin instructed. "I didn't feel any magical response, but he definitely reacted. Do it again, and keep talking to him? Ariel, I heard what you just said. Perhaps you should try, too?"
So, they did. The two women leaning over his face, whispering encouraging words. As they did, Annabelle gave her father a certain look. She needed to have one of their little telepathic chats.
[Dad, do you know if they're together. The three of them?]
[Last time I spoke to him, they'd separated. I thought the women were together though]
[t looks like things have changed then?]
[Possibly. They won't wake him this way though. It's not a sleeping curse]
[But if it gets his brain working? Got to try, right?]
He coughed, to get their attention. "Er, Ladies? While this is a coma, not a sleeping curse, Anna and I wonder if we could try something? Do I take it you both have feelings for Rumpelstiltskin?"
"Of course I do. I love him!" Belle hissed, as though it were the most stupid question ever. Ariel took her hand to try to calm her.
"And you, Ariel? Do you also have feelings for Rumple?"
The mermaid looked up at him, her eyes sad as she decided whether to finally admit to someone else what she felt. "I do. It's all very new for me but, after our trip...I think I do."
"Then why don't you both tell him that? Together, perhaps?"
Belle looked up, confused, before locking eyes with her lover, who nodded. The librarian moved her hand over the mermaid's, intertwining their fingers on his chest, as Ariel hovered over him, still whispering. Angus, although I've only known you properly these past months, I've grown not only to care for your family, but you too! I've come to know the man behind the stories. The real Rumpelstiltskin! Falling in love with Belle was one of the most unexpected events of my life, and I'm devoted to her. But I also love you Angus Gold. I love Belle. I love you both. Come back? Please?" She leant over further, pressing her open lips over his, trying to avoid the breathing tube what came out of his nose.
As she did so, Belle was also whispering. "And you already know that I love you, Rumple!" before pressing her lips to his forehead.
The others watched the monitor closely. Moments later, there was a spike on the screen, followed by several more, the wavy line starting to fluctuate wildly. But it was the warm wave of heat that preceded it that made the mermaid jerk back. Not having magic, neither of them saw the octarine colour of the wave.
"Is that? Does that mean…"
"It means he heard you!" Anna smiled down at the pair, waiting for her father's opinion.
"I can see you both felt that? And yes, that was a true love wave. Firstly, it means he definitely loves you both in return, otherwise that wouldn't have happened. Secondly, it means his mind's active, and should be open to stimuli."
"But if it was, why hasn't he woken up?"
"Because as I said Belle, he isn't under a sleeping curse, he's in a coma! But the right stimulus will eventually help bring him back. He's a lot more stable because of what you just did, so now we just have to wait. However, I think talking with him regularly will definitely help. Perhaps you should bring in his grandson too, if he's coming back?"
An hour later, Robin had called in at the hospital, for an update on Rumple's situation. He didn't see the patient, as a nurse told him that Belle or Ariel were with him. So he thought it best to avoid them for the moment. However, as he walked outside, his phone rang. It was Henry.
"Where the hell are you, Robin? You're supposed to be here for the fashion parade! They're waiting."
"Damn, is that the time already? Sorry Henry, how are your mothers?"
Henry sighed loudly. "Still pissed off with you, I'm afraid, but they haven't told me why! I'm not sure what you've done but, they're being quite secretive, refusing to talk about it! Just get over here as soon Ras you can, so you don't upset the girls as well? They're all dressed and waiting."
"Okay, the last thing I need is four angry women and two angry babies, right? I'm just leaving the hospital now. Give me a few minutes, and I'll be there."
"Just teleport, it'll save time. What are you doing at the hospital? Will said you were heading towards the town line? What's happened?"
"I'll have to tell you later, Henry. Just let them know I'll be there soon, okay?"
Mifflin Street
Shortly after, Robin now found himself sitting in the middle of the sofa, next to Snow, as Honour and Margot, in their new fitted dresses for the big day, paraded down the staircase before him, each walking slowly and rather grandly, into the living room. Snow chuckled to herself, knowing they'd obviously been watching the way their older mother always purported herself in public.
Margot, coming up from behind Honour, now stood proudly side-by-side with her sister, waiting for their father's reaction. Margot was a little more tomboyish than her younger sister, but even she relished wearing this beautiful bridesmaid dress. Robin felt his breath hitch at the sight before him. They're growing up too fast!
A month ago, Honour had begged to wear white on the big day, but when her mothers tried to explain, calmly, why she couldn't, she had a blue fit worthy of Regina! It had been Snow who calmed the girl down, explaining that white was reserved only for brides, but she too could wear it one day. She went on to suggest she and her sister wore ivory, the nearest thing. Placated, they'd gone on to choose two matching ivory silk cap-sleeved dresses, with gorgeous flowing skirts and a sequin-embellished bodice.
"My goodness! Girls, you look absolutely stunning. A beautiful vision!" Robin breathed, feeling a lump at the back of his throat, as he remembered how he'd missed the first five years of their precious lives. "Can I take a few pictures of you?" A rather heavy camera apparated in his hands. "I want to remember this, so I can draw you both."
"You're going to draw us, papa?" Margot's eyes widened. "Like those pictures you did of Rolly's mum?"
"I am. An artist needs inspiration. And you, my loves, are two of my biggest inspirations!"
That made the girls both jump up and down with excitement, before leaping at their father, who dropped to his knees to hug them both.
The little scene was being watched from the landing by Emma and Regina, each holding one of the babies. As Emma's grin widened at the touching scene below, her wife breathed in her ear. "Not yet. We're still angry with him, remember?"
"Girls," Snow stood. "You look lovely; but we said you'd need to change back, so you don't get those dresses dirty before the big day? So, come along, spit-spot!"
Someone's been watching Mary Poppins! Thought Robin, as his soon-to-be mother-in-law led his girls up the staircase.
That's when he spotted Emma and Regina at the top, each holding the other Locksley girls!
Standing by the door to the kitchen, Henry watched the scene play out, amused. Whatever Robin had done, they were clearly still furious with him! Regina cautiously walked down the staircase, carrying Faith in her arm. Emma following with Hope. When they reached the bottom, they put the two infants on the floor, both now trying to walk, onto the carpet. Each fourteen-month-old was dressed in a tinier version of Honour and Margot's bridesmaid dresses. Hope wobbled on her bare feet the moment she spotted her delighted daddy, launching herself straight for him. Robin stepped over immediately in front of them, trying to support them standing. "Oh, my babies! My princesses. You look perfect too!" He moved to pretend-bite Faith's cheek, making her giggle.
Nice try, mate! Thought Henry. Put on a cutesy scene in front of mums and watch them melt? Though he noticed his mothers still wore annoyed stares. Maybe not. What the hell did you do to make them so mad?
"Well..." Emma was the first to speak. "Nice of you to join us. If you weren't too busy trying not to get yourself killed?"
Henry's ears pricked up when Robin saw her. "Emma…we've been through this. You know I had to."
"Had to? I know nothing of the sort! You risked your life, Robin! You have five children and a wedding in a week's time! Yet you know you chanced your life! I mean, what the hell?" Emma grew louder, now yelling, moving over to gather up Faith, as she'd tumbled.
"Emma, I-"
"You just said they were your inspiration! These girls, your inspiration? Yet you were determined to do whatever the hell Merlin wanted! All to get rid of the Dark One?"
That shook Henry! "What? What do you mean, get rid of the Dark One? What's she talking about? Robin, what's going on?" He felt a tightness in his chest. Grandpa? What's happened?
"Like you wouldn't have done the same?" Robin fought back. "How many times have you two risked your life? You've both done it before! You have the magic, so you use it!"
"To save our family, yes! But not on some bloody wild goose-chase!" Regina joined the attack. "How did you even know you could take him on? How could you-" she didn't get a chance to finish as Henry yelled over her.
"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU THREE TALKING ABOUT? WHAT THE HELL'S HAPPENED TO MY GRANDPA?"
All three turned, shocked by the outburst, Hope now starting to cry. Snow had now come onto the landing on hearing the raised voices, even before Henry's outburst.
Robin decided to nip it in the bid.
"Henry, Rumple asked Merlin for help to remove the Dark One from him. He thought it had been weakened to a point we could take it on, and contain it. Merlin asked for my help, along with Jefferson, his son and Blue. An hour ago, we removed it and Rumple's now in the hospital.
"You killed the Dark One? You can't kill the Dark One! It's immortal! It'll just transfer to somebody else! Somebody who can't control it like he can! It's…"
"Currently contained in one of Jefferson's hats, sealed by three different magical seals, and transported into a newly built realm with nothing else in it! Nothing, no living thing there to attack. That realm has also been sealed up, so nothing can get in or out. It's over Henry. The Dark One is gone! Rumple's finally free of him!"
"So why's he in hospital? It nearly killed him last time!"
Regina stepped over to her shaking son, putting a hand on his arm to comfort him.
"HE asked us to do this Henry. Rumple even drafted a letter for you if things had gone wrong. But they haven't. He's in a coma but he's responding to treatment. I just left there. Belle and Ariel are with him right now."
"I need to get over there!" was all he said, before a mist swirled around him, leaving them all staring as he transported himself to the hospital.
Olympus
"So, let's get this right. You're telling me both Henry's mothers, currently married, are going to be getting married to Robin Hood as well? They're all like, together?"
"It's true, Baelfire. We have seen the visions for ourselves."
"And they had even more kids? Emma's also had a baby girl?" He couldn't believe his ears. "And they're a family of nine, including Henry?"
"Indeed," Hera added to Mnemosyne's update. "Regina has given birth to two daughters in total, Emma one, plus of course your son and Robin Hood's son. He also fathered a child by Zelena, the Witch. Six offspring in total. The two youngest will have very strong magic, like their three parents."
"And my own dad's relationship with Belle is back on again after they split? And Triton's daughter is involved with both of them? This is unbelievable?" Neal shook his head in disbelief.
Hera's tone hardened, a hint of ice in it. "I hope you are not implying we are lying to you, Baelfire. God's don't lie! Everything my sister wife and I have told you is true. We are merely preparing you, as Zeus asked."
"Forgive me, I didn't mean to imply you were lying, Hera." Don't piss them off now, they may not let me go back! "I'm just very surprised at the news. I guess it's a good thing, right? Dad having someone else who cares for him?"
"He has changed a great deal since you last saw him. Love for his wife has helped him to gain at least some control over the darkness, which has not come out during his sabbatical. The young mermaid has helped, but most importantly, his young son has been the biggest factor in suppressing it."
"I knew about Gideon, my little brother. I can't wait to see them both. But Henry above all! But you want me to help the Queen of DunBroch first? So, can we go through that again before you send me?"
The wives shared a smile, please he still had their priorities in order. "Very well, firstly-" though Mnemosyne she was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Themis, who apparated directly in front of them.
"Stop! All change, I'm afraid! Zeus has just received news on the status of the Dark One!"
Neal bristled. "Dark One? Dad? What's happened?" Please don't say I can't leave?
"The Dark One has been forcibly removed from his host by the Sorcerer and others! Rumpelstiltskin lies unconscious, in a hospital bed, as we speak. Zeus has agreed you may go to him first, and help resolve the matter, before leaving for DunBroch. He sends you best wishes for your father's recovery."
"So, when do I leave?"
"Now!" said the three goddesses, in unison, as the mist took him from them.
~oOo~