A/N: Well here we go! This is a short chapter because it is pretty much straight filler, but it's vital to the story at large. I'm sorry if things seem so sped up here at the end, but I tried to as much justice as possible. Hope you guys enjoy!
He was a wretched and vile creature. A horrid old monster, good for nothing except spreading pain and darkness. Rumpelstiltskin berated himself constantly after sending Ches to safety. He'd hurt the boy, put hands on a child who'd already been hurt so much. He was the worst sort of monster. The kind he'd always promised himself he wouldn't become.
Yet now the evidence lay in front of him, Rumpelstiltskin had become his father through and through. There was no denying it now. He'd abandoned one child and hurt the other. His father was right, Rumpelstiltskin was a worthless thing that ruined everything he touched. Misery ripped through the spinner cutting his soul into shards and leaving very little of the man he'd once been behind. The voices of his curse laughed in unison at his anguish.
Finally seeing your true colors for yourself eh spinner, Zoso taunted.
Certain you want to find your son now? You'll only ruin him as well. Nimue mocked.
Weak, cowardly, horrid, disgusting creature, the imp named himself. Hating himself more and more with each passing moment, the Dark One wallowed in the grief of the former peasant. Rumpelstiltskin could only find a small spark of satisfaction in the fact that he'd sent the boy away. He'd managed to get Ches to leave. The further the boy was from him, the safer he would be.
Once again Rumpelstiltskin found himself alone and full of self-loathing. Wandering the dark and lonely halls of his castle, the Dark One reassured him that this was for the best. The apprentice had only ever stood in his way. This way Rumpelstiltskin could focus on getting to his son and the darkness could focus on wreaking its on havoc through the spinner. He had to apologize to the bo- to his boy. Only his boy.
The gaping hole in the imp's heart ached with despair, but it was for the best. Rumpelstiltskin knew that he deserved to be alone.
The mountain path that was so familiar to Ches fell away in a blur as tears cascaded down the boy's cheeks. Rumpelstiltskin had sent him away, banished him for good. And it was his own bloody fault. He'd forced the imp's hand in the hopes that Rumple would see sense. In hopes that he would let go of his foolish quest. But no, Cheshire had underestimated just how much a father could love his son.
Of course, he had though. The young man had so little experience in what a father was supposed to be. The closest he'd come had been the Dark One and look how that had turned out. Rumpelstiltskin was an old fool, Cheshire could see that now. If the sorcerer wanted to waste his life on a pointless mission, then let him. Ches had always been better alone.
Despair hardened into resolve as the boy reached the village crossroads. Either direction would lead him to a new life, the only one forbidden to his feet lay behind him. Choosing the path to the left, Cheshire made his way to the Marchlands in search of adventure. Perhaps if he could fill his time with excitement he might forget the gaping hole in his heart that leaving home had left.
Three weeks later
Cheshire had been on the road for weeks now, taking his time as he made his way to the coast. He'd done a few odd jobs for a little cash and slept outside when he could in order to save his earnings. The gold Rumpelstiltskin had left him with, was more than enough to buy him a lifetime of comfort, but Cheshire refused to use the imp's money unless it became necessary.
Through his weeks of travel the boy became accustomed to helping strangers for money and hitching rides with whomever would take him. Which is why the dark carriage that pulled to a stop behind him didn't worry the boy a bit. Cheshire knew how to take care of himself, if nothing else, that much was for certain.
However, he hadn't expected several men dressed in black cassocks to jump from the carriage as its door swung open. Ches also didn't expected to be grabbed by said men and tossed roughly into the coach. Bright gold dust hit him in the face before he had time to do more than let out a startled shout. Sneezing and swearing, the young man took a swing at the man nearest him only to fell his hand connect with the hard wood of the carriage's interior.
Pain blossomed for only a moment before the boy's world went dark.
Cheshire awoke to find himself in a dark stone room. A single torch lit the room in a dreary light. He was strapped in a sturdy wooden chair somewhere close to the center of the room. His head ached from whatever they'd thrown at him and it took several long moments before his vision cleared enough to allow him a good view of his latest predicament.
The first thing he noticed was an all to familiar cuff attached to his wrist. Letting out a whispered curse, the young man pulled at his bonds, testing them for weakness.
"All that's going to do," a gravelly voice sounded from behind him, "is tire you out. And I'd hate for you to be too exhausted on your first day of training."
Cheshire's blood ran cold as he recognized that voice. It haunted more than one of his dreams lately, reminding him of an adventure he'd rather forget. However, Ches was no coward.
"So nice to see you again Frollo," the boy intoned casually. "It's been too long."
The old cleric stepped in front of him into a pool of garish light. While his figure was a rather unimposing one, in the unforgiving light of a single torch Frollo was the most terrifying vision Ches had ever seen. The cleric tutted as he leaned in towards the youth. "You've spent far too much time with that imp."
Even the mention of his former master was painful, but Cheshire allowed none of that heartache to seep through his mask. Instead he pulled a sneer onto his face. "I haven't spent much time with him at all here lately. But I'd be happy to deliver a message for you."
"I'm well aware of how long you've been out of the Dark One's company," Frollo disclosed. "I'm also privy to the fact that he's disposed of you."
Bastard, Ches thought as the cleric's words cut him, but his resolve to drive the cleric mad outweighed his heartache. "You know you think you're this terrifying holy man, but you've really got to work on your delivery," Cheshire quipped with a laugh.
"I'm not trying to frighten you just yet, boy."
"That's good to hear. At least now I don't have to pretend to make you feel better."
A thick vein at Frollo's temple began ticking as the man clenched his jaw. Cheshire's expression grew smug after noticing that. He was getting under the cleric's skin.
"That cheek won't survive this place child," Frollo responded coolly.
"Oh, I can't wait to prove you wrong. Sarcastic comments are pretty much my only talent." Cheshire's smile grew a bit manic as the older man's anger built.
"I can see why the Dark One discarded you. It's amazing he didn't kill you," the cleric mumbled the last as he turned and gave a nod to someone standing outside of Ches's periphery. "But don't trouble yourself child, we'll make good of his gift."
"Gift?" Cheshire's mouth opened before he'd given it permission. He cursed himself as a calculating smile spilt the clerics gaunt face into a macabre mask of death.
"Oh yes, you don't think you ended up here by accident now do you?"
Ches desperately shook his head, unwilling to believe the old man's obvious ploy. "He doesn't like you."
"Nor you it would seem," Frollo countered. "The Dark One was very generous with his aid. Gave us a locator potion and one of your belongings to track you."
Frollo paused to let his information sink in, but Ches saw an opening to stem this ridiculous ruse. He had to counter the cleric's words, had to believe that Rumpelstiltskin wouldn't sell him out. If he strayed for even a moment, then there would be nothing left to him. No happy memories or thoughts could oppose that level of betrayal. It didn't matter how badly they'd hurt one another, Ches didn't believe the imp wouldn't hand him over to the clerics. He had to believe that.
"You know if you want to sell a lie, you should really do your research. Rumpelstiltskin didn't have anything of mine, because I didn't have anything to start with. The magic wouldn't work on something I never considered as my own."
That cold smile only grew as Frollo rebutted his words. "Not even this?" The old man let an object fall from his hand. It was a small round vial attached to a golden chain. His necklace. The one Rumpelstiltskin had given him to stop the sleeping curse nightmares. Ches hadn't had a need for it in months. He'd left the blasted thing on his nightstand at the Dark Castle.
It couldn't be true his mentor wouldn't do this to him. He couldn't believe it.
"Seems you misjudged the Dark One, eh boy," the cleric laughed cruelly. "Did you hope he was a man still? Don't feel too bad, many have made that mistake before you. You must have really angered him though. He was quite quick to make a deal. I gave him material to create a portal jumping hat and he gave me the whereabouts of his former apprentice. Now that I have you, that's one more dark stain removed from this world."
Cheshire's world was spinning. It couldn't be true, could it? The cleric could have stolen the necklace or made a deal for it like he said, but with Rumpelstiltskin none the wiser as to how it would be used. Or… or Ches had been a fool for far to long.
"He's going to be pissed when he finds out you have me," the teenager rallied with one last show of defiance.
"That creature isn't coming to your rescue child. You belong to the Holy Order now and you will be trained by our specifications."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then this won't be a pleasant experience for you."
The cleric's face contorted into something that was not human by any standards. Rage and an age-old hatred were etched into every lone of the old man's face. An involuntary shiver traveled up and down Cheshire's spine. No, this wouldn't be a pleasant experience at all.
Four years later
A bloodied figure lay in the center of a stone room as a final breath wheezed past cold lips. The boy had fought with impressive strength, but in this place no spirit could survive for long.
"Well done my son," Frollo's praise sang out from across the room.
The old cleric hadn't aged a day in the past several years, the newest member of the Order knew that there had to be some magic sustaining the old man. "Thank you, sir," a calm voice answered. "This one proved a fair opponent. But no stands against the Order for long."
Menacing as ever, Frollo's smile created a knot in the young cleric's stomach. "I think you're ready."
"Now?" the dark cloaked youth queried unable to contain his surprise.
"You've grown quickly, my son," the elder man nodded. "I'm proud of what you've become, especially considering where you started."
"Thank you master," was the only correct response.
"You leave at dawn," Frollo said, dismissal apparent in each syllable.
The young man turned on his heel and made to leave the dungeons he'd brought his latest enemy into. He made it to the cell bars before his master's voice reached him once more. "And Cheshire," Frollo called out, a note of steel prevalent in his tone, "do make you sure you finish the job this time. I won't have old sentiments baring our way towards a realm free of darkness."
"Yes, sir," Ches responded.
He couldn't fail at this most important task. He'd been training for this moment for years and it was finally time to prove himself. Soon he would show the world what he was capable of. He'd show them all that he was the most powerful sorcerer in all the realms.
But first, he had an old acquaintance to visit.
A/N: What did you guys think? Do you think Rumple betrayed Ches? Or is Frollo lying? What did you think about Ches's transformation there at the end?
I have a bit of editing to do on the final chapter, but it's pretty much finished. So, you can expect it tonight or tomorrow night, depending on time. I really hope you guys are enjoying these final twists and I hope to see everyone in the next chapter and in the sequel. Thanks for reading!
