A/N: I'm so sorry for the hug break between updates. I hit a bit of a wall with this story as I tried to figure out where it was going and had to work on some other things before coming back. But now I have the whole story outlined and I'm fairly certain I know everything that will happen. Hopefully, be on the lookout for the next chapter before next week.

Rumpelstiltskin hadn't slept a wink all night. The constant war between himself and his curse over the fate of his apprentice ensured that his mind was far too preoccupied for sleep. Every ounce of the limited remaining goodness in his soul wanted to save Ches from enduring such nightmares. Especially after the previous night's incident. Ches had awoken with burns all down his arms. He was in real danger in this dreamworld he couldn't escape. If there was even a chance that consulting with this fairy could help the boy Rumpelstiltskin was willing to risk it. His curse on the other hand felt differently.

"Just leave the boy to his fate," Zoso-the voice of his curse today- whispered. "This is our chance to be rid of the child without any fault, spinner. Surely even you can stomach allowing someone to succumb to their fate."

But at the moment Rumpelstiltskin was winning the fight. "No" he replied audibly to the voices in his head. "I'll not let that happen."

"You need to rid yourself of this foolish notion that this boy is some second chance," Zoso fired back, "You weren't even strong enough to save your own son, what makes you think this one will be any different."

Rumpelstiltskin shook his head in attempt to dispel the voices, but he couldn't refute Zoso's point. He had failed Bae. Who was he kidding? The Dark One couldn't hope- "Stop that," he commanded as he began pacing across his workroom. His curse was clever, preying on his insecurities, he had to block it out. He had to help Ches.

"He'll only betray you in the end," this time it was Nimue whispering to him.

"He wouldn't," the imp replied stubbornly.

"Why because he's just a child?" The first Dark One laughed, "that didn't stop Bae from using the dagger on you."

"Don't you speak his name!" Rumpelstiltskin growled as mad laughter rolled through his mind.

"The coward does have teeth after all. Your own child used the dagger and then left you-"

"Bae didn't leave me. I let him go because you made me."

"We can't make you do anything Rumpelstiltskin. Your actions are your own."

The imp actually snorted at that, "Yes, yes, you just 'persuade' and 'aid' me into your desires. You're completely innocent in all this."

Nimue continued, ignoring his latest comment, "Your boy saw you for what you are. A cowardly, worthless, little man and he couldn't wait to leave you. What child would want to claim something like you as a father."

"You're wrong. He wanted to help me. He was trying to help me get rid of you," Rumpelstiltskin whimpered losing ground within his own mind.

"You are the Dark One now. Until someone else takes the power, you cannot be rid of us. We are you."

"The Land Without Magic-"

"Wouldn't stop us from existing within you. We may be powerless, but you'll always hear us. Surely your boy knew that. Surely the fairy told him."

Rumpelstiltskin dropped to his knees and put his hands over his ears hoping against hope that that might drown out the voices. He had been gaining so much ground against his curse, yet now he was slipping so easily back into the madness.

"Rumpelstiltskin?" A small voice called from the door.

The imp looked over and saw Ches standing in the doorway watching as the imp lost control of himself. Something akin to fear shone in the boy's eyes and that gave the spinner something to latch onto. The father in him kicked into gear and pushed his curse back into its poorly constructed cage. He would not frighten Ches again.

Seeing that he had his master's attention Cheshire continued, "Are you alright?"

Rumpelstiltskin nodded slowly as he rose to his feet. "I'm fine," he lied easily and if his voice sound slightly more gruff than usual, the boy either didn't notice or ignored the fact. The imp cleared his throat before walking over to Ches, his mind officially made up. "Ready to go meet a fairy?"

Cheshire nodded enthusiastically at his master before a cloud of maroon smoke enveloped them both.

They'd used a looking glass to get the most annoying little world Rumpelstiltskin had ever had the misfortune to venture to. Then quickly found themselves in the seediest bar he'd ever set foot in. To say that this excursion was off to a bad start would be a huge under-exaggeration. Not to mention they would be meeting a fairy soon. His curse was having a field day over the sheer stupidity of the spinner's actions. However, Rumpelstiltskin had thankfully relocated his determination to help his apprentice.

He adjusted his high collared dragon skinned coat as they sat down at a table in the back corner of the bar. His dark presence and growing reputation had garnered them quick entrance and many fearful glances continued to be shot their way. The imp prided himself on his newly acquired wardrobe. Dragon skin and sharp edges combined with fine silks provided him a menacing look that commanded far more respect than anything the dirty peasant he'd once been could have.

Rumpelstiltskin ordered Ches something to eat as a serving girl passed by and attempted to keep the boy's attention away from the lecherous woman sitting at a table across from them. As he distracted his apprentice with tales of Wonderland a young woman in a deep purple cloak entered the room. She spotted their table with ease and made her way over.

The fairy was still young in terms of her kind. She'd yet to become a Godmother but had been working her way towards that lofty goal. Rumpelstiltskin admitted to himself that, for a fairy, she was a rather handsome woman. Her light blonde hair sat in a prim bun atop her head with not a hair out of place. Her prominent high cheekbones and light blue eyes extenuated her sharp features. She was both formidable and mischievous, while retaining some essence of the light inherent in all fairies.

Ever the gentleman, the Dark One stood as she approached pulling out a chair for her as he studied her. This was not their first meeting and he rather doubted it would be their last.

"So, the Dark One is finally in over his head," the Indigo fairy smirked as she leaned back in her chair, studying the imp closely.

Right to business then, the imp thought to himself. Rumpelstiltskin merely sneered back at her, "I simply have a question or two for you about sleeping curses fairy. Whether or not you can answer them, well..." he let the insinuation of her intelligence, or lack thereof, hang in the air around them along with the subtle threat he'd implied.

The Indigo fairy eyed the Dark imp carefully, "Idle threats will get you nowhere dear. You called for this little meeting now what exactly do you want?"

The imp shot the briefest of looks to his protege before answering, "You've the foremost knowledge of sleeping curses and spells of any magic user I know. I require information."

"Hmmm," the fairy's calculating look reminded Rumpelstiltskin why he rather liked this one. Or at least was less inclined to kill her on sight. "What type of information are we talking about?"

Clever clever, he thought to himself. "My apprentice has been placed under a few inadequately executed curses and is suffering some severe side effects." Purposefully he neglected to mention that it was not him who performed said inadequate curses. Let the fairy believe it was me, that can only help my -

"I didn't know you were the caring type," she smirked in return.

Damn it. Well so much for reputations. "I'm not," the imp giggled allowing none of his earlier frustration to leak into his expression or voice. "I simply require my apprentice to perform his duties and he cannot focus if he's constantly exhausted." There perhaps that's cold enough to win back that healthy dose of fear the imp thought.

The fairy obviously understood more than she let on but let the matter drop. "And what would I get out of the affair."

"I won't kill you where you sit," the imp quipped dangerously.

Instead of the fear he was accustomed to seeing, Rumpelstiltskin saw humor flash through the Indigo fairy's eyes. "My my now dear," she laughed, "threats are well and good, but we both know that you won't kill me. I'm useful. And beside that you don't think I'm daft enough to have come here without back up." She indicated a small woman standing just outside the door of the tavern. The stranger looked small and was well disguised in a traveling cloak, but the Dark One could sense her magic even from this distance.

Oh, this one was plucky and so very correct in her assumptions. Rumpelstiltskin found her as entertaining as he did useful. So, no he wouldn't kill her, not yet anyway. He wasn't even sure if he could frighten her as he did the other little bugs. But that didn't mean he was above blackmailing her.

"You're clever," he admitted leaning across the table towards the plucky woman, "but not nearly clever enough." Ever the theatric imp he paused for a moment to let his words sink in. He leaned his head on the hand closest to her allowing him to drift even further into her comfort zone. "But I do have information that I think you will find quite worth a trade…" Rumpelstiltskin paused once more for dramatic effect, before whispering in a conspiratory fashion. "You see I have many eyes across the realms and you can imagine my surprise when one of them divulged that he'd seen a fairy hanging around one of the clerics temples." The fairy in question paled ever so slightly. "Not strange on its own of course. The fairies and the clerics work together quite often. However, this particular fairy has been seen visiting a single cleric quite often and staying with said cleric for far longer than propriety dictates is suitable. Now what fairy might be willing to go against the Blue Fairy's wishes in such a fashion?" As he asked his final question he placed a finger to his chin in c contemplative manner, before turning a smirk to his guest.

If looks could kill the Dark One would be a puddle on the floor from the glare that the little fairy directed at him. She hadn't expected him to be so very knowledgeable. He cut her a wicked smile and continued, "For your information on sleeping curses, I'm willing to hold my tongue."

A shrewd look crossed the fairy's face as she contemplated all that Rumpelstiltskin had divulged.
She glanced at his enraptured companion as she thought about her response. "And you believe that the Fairies and the Holy Order will believe the likes of you?" She asked coldly.

The darkness inside him raged in pleasure as the unsuspecting woman fell further into his trap. "Oh, heavens no!" The imp scoffed flailing his hands flamboyantly as he spoke. "They'll never believe me, but they will take to heart the information my informant will provide. And even if it's nothing less than a rumor it's enough to ensure that you and your little toy never see one another again. Especially once others in the area begin sharing similar tales with the Holy Order," he gave Ches a wink as the fairy's mouth became a thin line of displeasure. "Do we have a deal?"

He'd won oh so easily and Rumpelstiltskin knew it. He loved toying with people but, felt vindictive pleasure beyond anything else while toying with a fairy. Even if he liked this one.

"Meet me back here in two days," she finally conceded. "I'll have everything you need to deal with your little problem." She rose gracefully to her feet and gave Ches a small nod, before turning her attention back to the demon who'd so successfully ensnared her. "Well played Rumpelstiltskin."

As the fairy turned and walked away, Rumpelstiltskin couldn't help the smug feeling of joy that surged through him. He'd bested the fairy no doubt. She'd known that there would be a deal, yet she obviously meant to get something out of it. He sensed that she hadn't expected him to be so cunning. What had his predecessors been like if no one believed the Dark One could be as cunning as he could be powerful.

"Surely he has her enthralled in some manner or another," the periwinkle fairy exclaimed to her old friend.

"I'm not so certain," the green fairy confided. A day had passed since she'd witnessed Indigo's discussion with the Dark One. She tagged along when Purple asked, fearing that the rebellious fairy had gotten herself into deep trouble. She never would have guessed the extent of that trouble.

Indigo had been her friend for many years and the two had been through more than one scrape together. Green knew just how reliable the other fairy was in a fight, but she also knew that Indigo had a mischievous streak a mile wide.

The periwinkle fairy worried over her tea as the two companions sat in Green's assigned room. "Certainly, she wasn't working with such a vile creature of her own free will. It wouldn't be the first time this Dark One has used a fairy for his own purposes."

The two exchanged a dark look remembering the incidents surrounding the Magenta fairy's death.

Green shook her head in reply, "The way she spoke, it seemed as though could be black mailing her. But she met with him on her terms. I don't think he's controlling this one."

Periwinkle's head bobbed as she took in the new information. "What kind of blackmail?"

Green had the grace to look uncomfortable for a moment as she further betrayed her friend.

A/N: Originally, I was going to ignore the total character retcon of Bae using the dagger in ep 6.13, but unfortunately the Dark One's didn't want to ignore that. My apologies to Baelfire. Thanks for reading! If you enjoy what I do (or even if you don't) shoot me a review and let me know what you think. As always see you guys in the next chapter!