A/N: I would like to thank all of my wonderful readers for all of their comments. You have strengthened me, and have given me my spunk and spirit back, which, inevitably, has brought about this beautiful chapter. It's five pages long! And yes, I will warn you, there are some things that may require you to have a box of tissues nearby. And you may be mad that I included something that made everyone gag this past Sunday. But, it was necessary. All will be revealed soon my dearies! Enjoy! Love, Joanne.

The nightmares were back.

I hadn't had these nightmares for a few years, and I thought I had put all of these troubling dreams and my past behind me, but it seemed I was wrong. Nights where I tossed and turned, dreaming about the flames that surrounded me, growing ever closer, trying to reach my body. I was trapped in that room of fire, the one in which there was no escape. My lungs filled up with smoke, causing me to choke and cough. I could barely see what was in front of me, except for the bright flames that kept growing larger and larger. A part of the ceiling began to collapse, and I covered my head and face as it came down.

"SOMEBODY HELP!" I screamed, choking and coughing as the fumes gagged me. "ANYBODY THERE?"

I looked around, trying to see through the smoke and flame, but there was no one. I was alone, and trapped in this fiery enclosure.

I screamed and screamed, and somehow felt something touch me, and I began to twist and fight to get it off of me. "LET ME GO!"

"Belle!" said Mr. Gold as he tried to wake me. "Belle, wake up! It's a dream, you were only dreaming."

I opened my eyes, and tried to remember how to breathe. I wiped my sweaty forehead, and noticed that Mr. Gold was looking at me oddly as he sat at the opposite side of my bed, and it was making me feel even more uncomfortable than I already was. "Did I hit you at all?"

He chuckled softly. "You ask, after you've had a nightmare, if you hit me? Oh, Belle… You are something else. But yes, I will live."

I gave him a small smile, and sat up in my bed. "I'll be alright. Just a little shaken up."

"How often do you have this dream?" asked Mr. Gold. His demeanor reflected a sense of concern as he shifted closer to me. "Maybe I can help?"

"It comes and it goes," I said with a sigh. "I've had these dreams for a long time, but I had been going to therapy to help with the nightmares, and it worked for a few years. And now, all of a sudden… it's back again."

"Can you describe it for me?"

I took a deep breath, and looked down at my hands ashamedly. "It's embarrassing. To be afraid of this room of fire. It's enclosed, so there is no way out, and no one is there to help you or save you. It's plagued me for so long, but I thought I would be past this by now…"

Mr. Gold inhaled sharply. "You've been cursed."

"I've been what?" I asked, getting up from the bed quickly. "Are you mad?"

"I'm very sane, my dear," said Mr. Gold as he calmly stood up, leaning on his cane. "It's one of the side effects of a curse."

"So you are telling me that magic has addled me?" I asked, rolling my eyes.

"If you weren't so upset, Miss French, I would take you over my knee for that," he hissed. "But yes, magic has been the cause of your nightmares. Do not think that what I believe is folly. I believe in magic because I know that it exists and that I can wield it for my own purposes."

"We're both insane!" I cried, covering my face in my hands and massaging my temples. "God, I need an aspirin…"

"There's some in the bathroom cabinet," said Mr. Gold. "I'll go get you a glass of water to wash it down with."

I nodded, and walked to the bathroom. I opened the cabinet, and found the little bottle, and closed it. My own reflection stared back at me as I opened the bottle, shook two little pills out, and placed the cap back on. I looked back at my reflection in the mirror, and saw that I looked extremely flushed. I splashed some cold water on my face, and walked out of the bathroom, still holding the pills.

"Drink this, it will make you feel better," said Mr. Gold, who had been standing outside the door, waiting for me with a glass of water. I popped the pills in my mouth, and drank the entire glass in no time. "Feel better?"

"How is magic real?" I asked. "I'm no more magical than you are, yet you said you could wield magic."

"That is because the magic I wield is very limited," said Mr. Gold. "A long time ago, I used to be able to wield magic, but now, magic is very very rare."

"I'm not understanding," I said, rubbing my forehead. "How can something be real if it doesn't exist."

"But it does," said Mr. Gold.

"Show me."

"I cannot," sighed Mr. Gold. "There is more to magic than you know. But I cannot tell you any more. There are things you need not know more about me, and I fear I have already said too much…"

When he arrived, Cora was waiting for him at her castle. Her long brown hair was carefully swept up in an elegant updo, her lips, a deep crimson, and her dress an elegant navy blue with a moderately cut neckline, exposing an ample amount of cleavage, but in good taste. She wore a sapphire necklace and a matching sapphire and diamond tiara. Cora's arms were folded as the Dark One walked towards her, and she smiled to herself.

"What have you summoned me for?" asked Rumplestilzkin.

"I have heard you created a curse," smirked Cora. "A brilliant one, might I add. One that will cause a lot of mayhem and mischief to the people of this land if it is cast. There are rumors that someone is going to enact it."

"And YOU think you are going to unleash the fury of my curse?" asked Rumplestilzkin, his playful, impish ways come out to play. "Oh Cora, my little pupil. Did I not teach you anything? All magic-"

"Comes with a price," she finished with a tiresome air. "I know. But it is not me who will enact it. It is my daughter."

Rumplestilzkin gasped sarcastically, feigning his shock and surprise at her news. "Regina! How very interesting. Taking it out on Snow and Charming for not being invited to the wedding are we? Like I didn't know she would. I always knew she needed a shove in the right direction. Now, what is it that you want of me?"

"That curse that you've created," said Cora. "It will bring us to a land without magic. A land where most of the people here will forget who they are, and forget who they love. It is a place-"

"Where unhappiness reigns, yes, yes you stupid woman, you think I don't know what I put into that blasted curse!" growled Rumplestilzkin angrily. "GET ON WITH IT!"

"I want you to make sure I stay here, and I remember who I am, and have all of my powers and memories."

"And what will I gain from you for that?" asked Rumplestilzkin in a deadly voice. "You have nothing I want."

"Oh, but I do," smirked Cora. "You see, I know about a certain young boy that was lost to his father many years ago. His name was Baelfire. May I continue, teacher?"

Rumplestilzkin felt his insides twist inside him. "You know where he is? You know where I can find him?"

"I know he is in the land where we are all going to be sent to," said Cora. "And this map that I hold in my hands shows where he is in this land called America. It's magical, so if he moves to another place, it will reflect it in the map. You may have it if you grant my request."

"You are not tricking me?" asked Rumplestilzkin. He circled around Cora, trying to judge if she was being deceitful or honest. "My own pupil, turned against me? Because you know, if I find this deal to be untrue, I will hunt you down and drag you to this hellish world we are all about to be sent to, and cause you more anguish and pain than you can even imagine. I will make sure that the curse takes away all of your memories and powers if you are fooling me, is that understood?"

"Yes, master," smiled Cora. "Now, let's seal the deal like we used to…" She threw her arms around his neck as she pulled him into a kiss. Rumplestilzkin let Cora have her disgusting kiss, and pulled away smoothly.

"My map, if you would be so kind," said Rumplestilzkin, his hand outstretched towards Cora.

She chuckled as she gave him what he wanted. "Such a pleasure doing business with you, old friend, my lover."

Inside, Rumplestilzkin cringed at the latter. Yes, Cora and he had been lovers, but not in any sense of the word. What they did was consume each other; there was no love in their escapades, only magic and power. He hadn't realized what love was until Belle had entered his life, and made him rethink everything he had ever done.

He snapped his fingers, and was instantly transported back to the Dark Castle's grounds. He placed the map in his pocket for later, and began to make his way up towards the front entrance. As soon as he was within three feet of the castle, he knew there was something amiss. He hurried towards the door, and threw it open and closed it with a loud bang. He fell to his knees instantly as he saw his beloved Belle lying on the floor.

"No, no!" he gasped for air as he held her in his arms. "The spell! The spell should have worked! Gods be damned!"

He held her in his arms, caressing her hair, and as he held her close, he heard something drop to the floor. He picked up a rose hair pin, and, sensing the magic that pulsed in his hand, knew that it had been poisoned and had been the very thing that rendered Belle lifeless. "Who has done this to you?" he asked the lifeless form of Belle.

Gently, he cradled her in his arms and carried her to her bedchambers, laying her carefully down upon her bed. Tenderly, he caressed her face, pressing a gentle, quick kiss upon her pale pink lips before he began to undress her. As was custom long ago, before he became the Dark One, one was to cleanse the dead before paying respects and finally committing the body to the ground.

The Dark One looked not upon Belle's naked, lifeless form with desire and perversion, but with sadness and respect. After he had finished undressing her, he carried her towards the awaiting bath, and carefully placed her into the warm water. Conjuring up the sweetest smelling soaps and oils, he cleansed Belle's body before he began to cleanse her hair. After rinsing out the remaining soap left in her hair, he picked her up, wrapped her in a towel, and carried her back to her room. With the last of his energy, he conjured up a beautiful, soft blue dress for Belle, and, satisfied that she looked even more beautiful in death than she had in life, fell to his knees sobbing.