Author's Note 1:Reminder-Zoso is nothing like he is in the show except for his physical description. :)

Chapter 16 A Chat with the Dark One

Rumple fiddled with the golden tip of the walking stick (it was really a sorry word for the elegant thing in his hand, but he hadn't come up with anything remotely fitting to describe it yet) in his hand and surveyed the room around him. Belle's hand was in his free one and he squeezed it reassuringly as he noted the trepidation in her eyes. For though she had met every new bit of information with the same bravery and courage she always seemed to have in abundance, she wasn't devoid of fear. He couldn't forget the look on her face when she had been told of the Dark One and read out his name. He could read the fear in her eyes though her tone never wavered and as he had come to realize, whenever she became fearful she would sit up a little straighter, as if the very act called on courage to assist her.

Rumors of the Dark One were quite prevalent. The fairies hated him, that much was certain. He had most likely been their biggest threat before they took over, and they took no time in spreading stories of stolen babies, murdered and pillaged villages, and whole armies being turned to snails and squished. He had read Belle's book too, though it said precious little about the sorcerer. It only spoke of his great power, and for a book that spoke in length about genies and how specifically you should phrase your three wishes, it seemed strange that this was the person they were going to meet (if he was actually a person-a description of him was also something the book lacked).

'This room feels so empty, so lonely doesn't it? Especially after the rooms full of all those wonderful books' Belle spoke beside him, her voice only wobbling slightly.

He looked around. Dark gems were set at the very top of each ornate pillar that claimed a corner of the room. Decorative paneling made the walls less flat, yet there was no other bit of decoration, no furniture, nothing except a rug that they stood upon. The rug was intricately woven with thread that would rival his own. In the middle of the rug, the image of a dagger with spiral patterns coming out of it was the only other break in the otherwise empty room.

'Yes.' He said, as he didn't really know what else to say, he felt she had only spoken to fill some of the void in the room, and he answered in kind. His heart thud loudly in his chest, and he wondered if Belle might be regretting bringing along such a coward. He wouldn't leave her though. It had been such a tough choice. Belle, realizing the possibility of danger where they were going (it just being unknown was dangerous enough, not to mention the Dark One and the magic he could bring upon them!),she had quietly suggested leaving Bae with Pierre.

'He would be safe, and fed, and looked after.' She had argued when his heart's first thought was that they did not know Pierre and there was nothing that would separate him from a member of his family.

However, the more he thought about it, the more he realized that Bae's best chance was to stay behind, in case-in case they didn't… He didn't want to think about that either. Besides, Belle seemed to trust Pierre, and she hadn't steered them wrong yet.

'And you'll go with me?' Belle had looked at him with her pleading blue eyes, as if worried that she might have to do things alone.

'Of course, as long as you want me to.' He had said softly, kissing her cheek. He wouldn't leave her for the world, as long as she wanted him. He had almost lost her once, he would do everything in his power (as feeble and as weak as that might be) to make sure it never happened again.

'Of course I do, Rumple! I just worry-your leg, I have no idea what all I'm supposed to do…'

'Ah, that!' Pierre had been close enough to hear the conversation, no embarrassment on his face for interrupting such an intimate moment. In fact, he seemed so eager for any and every conversation to be had that he looked almost as excited as Bae. 'I have something that might help you there, one moment.' And he left the three of them alone.

'Are you scared, Mama?' Bae asked once Pierre had gone.

Belle turned towards him and ruffled with his hair. 'Of course I am.' she smiled. 'But I must admit I'm also a little curious. A prophecy! About me! What an idea.' She laughed.

Bae wrapped his arms around her. 'You're the bravest person I know-you and Papa-and if anyone is going to save the world, it would be you. Just-just be safe.' he squeezed her tighter and he noticed Belle shed a couple of tears before wiping them away.

'I'll have your Papa to look after me.' She finally said, before Pierre came in with the walking stick. It was half the size of his staff, skinnier, all sanded down and stained a dark color and tipped in a golden handle. It looked like something a rich merchant might use for a gouty leg (before fairies and curses, of course), and Rumple trembled as he took it. It looked much too grand for him, but Pierre insisted that he take it. Belle had bitten her lower lip and smiled as he tested it out, noticing how it seemed to take the balance of the weight of his bad leg more so than the staff had done.

'Now.' Pierre said after Rumple had walked the length of the room and back. 'You are ready for the next leg of your journey.' He pulled from a pocket in his clothing a piece of paper. It looked blank at first, but as he gave it to Belle, Rumple noticed that the more he stared at it, the more words seemed to appear, until the small piece of paper was completely filled with words that made no sense.

'A spell?' Belle questioned.

'Yes, another spell, Little Wanderer. You will need to read it out loud once you stand in the middle of this room.' And he motioned them to follow him. They each gave Bae one last peck on the forehead and a squeeze and a tear, and followed Pierre into the room that he and Belle now stood.

'This room' He had explained when he had opened the heavy doors. 'Is replicated in the other realm, on the other side of the wards. The stones that surround us will allow you to transport to the identical room in one piece. You'll find the Dark One in this other place. I do not know if he will be in residence, so stay in his castle until he comes, do not leave until you meet him, do you understand?' They had both nodded. Pierre had taken both of Belle's hands in his and squeezed them as a way of saying good luck and left them to take the next step on their own.

'Are you ready?' Belle's eyes betrayed all her fear, but her tone was yet still steady.

Rumple could only nod his head and swallow hard.

Belle let go of his hand for a moment and held the paper out with trembling hands to begin reading out the words. Once she had finished-nothing happened. It was like the invisible wards of the library all over again. No flashing lights, no noise, nothing to let them know that the spell had worked. Belle looked around her, her forehead all scrunched up in curiosity. She grasped the knob of the door-the same door they had come into and carefully opened it. She gasped as it revealed stone walls instead of wood. She turned to face Rumple and all at once her face lit up, her lips were bitten again. Rumple was inwardly trembling, but followed the dancing eyes of his beloved wherever this was going to take them. They joined hands once more, and he began the trek to go and find this Dark One.

They had explored the castle for at least an hour. The halls were gray and cold, but any of the doors that were unlocked to them had been laden with things that at least looked like someone lived there. One room was clearly a dining hall-a long table with one lonely chair-Belle's eyes immediately saddened at the sight, one room looked like some sort of study with an oversized chair and a heavy dark desk, almost the size of the one in the library. Some rooms were completely empty besides a rug and perhaps a sprinkling of furniture-layers of dust on them telling them that those particular rooms were unused.

'A gigantic castle that's hardly used.' Belle said wistfully. 'Must be lonely.' leave it to Belle to feel sorry for a powerful sorcerer! He smiled at her kindness, hummed his agreement and they walked on. Eventually they found a kitchen that was also dusty, dusty and full of cobwebs. Belle wrinkled her nose at the state of it, yet kept exploring. Rumple kept looking over his shoulders every few minutes. The thought of the Dark One watching them from a corner (or perhaps he was invisible somewhere, ready to strike them if they made a wrong move!) unnerved him and he was ready to find a room to wait on this sorcerer and not move until he came. He must have said so out loud, for Belle replied.

'But look here, Rumple.' She stated excitedly, reminding him of Bae's enthusiasm when he discovered something new. 'A whole pantry full of food I've never seen before! Not a speck of dust or dirt in here, thank goodness. You would think with the amount of power he had, he could keep his castle clean.'

'Ah, but that would exhaust a great amount of energy on my part and why would I do that?'

Belle squeaked and dropped a vegetable she had been holding. Rumple started, the furious beating of his heart began a true race at the being that materialized in front of them.

Being was the only word Rumple could use to describe him in that moment. Human was hardly applicable, though he had two arms and two legs. His parlor was a sickly gray green shade that if he turned his head just right seemed to sparkle. His face was set in hard lines that if he actually had been human, he would have been considered elderly. As it was, his eyes looked even older than his face-those eyes yellow and black and other worldly. He had seen fairies, and he had seen a seer, this was something unlike either of those things, yet he could feel the magic that settled upon the being coming off of him in dangerous waves.

Belle gathered herself first. Her back became just the least bit straighter (he was so thankful for the telltale sign she had-letting him know that he wasn't the only one scared out of his wits!) and jutted her chin out ever so slightly. Her look was not unkind, Belle could never be such a thing, but her eyes were all nerves and fire mixed together, and he was just very glad that he got the warm eyes to himself and this sorcerer was the one subject to this particular look.

'I believe you must be The Dark One?' Her voice only trembled slightly, she spoke every word carefully and mostly steady.

'And you are the very girl from the prophecy. That seer saw you well-a beauty, with brown hair and blue eyes.'

The description and then the large unnerving smile that came afterwards made Rumple want to get just the least bit closer to Belle for some reason.

'What is your name, little heroine?'

Belle's nose scrunched up-Rumple was certain that she had about enough of being called 'little'. Rumple was quite happy that she was as small as she was. And yet, her strength lay not in her stature, of course. She was bursting with courage and compassion, traits that needed no overpowering size to obtain. She quickly overcame her distaste for the overused moniker and pulled out her chin again to answer.

'My name is Belle, Sir. And this is my husband, Rumplestiltskin.' The Dark One had been eyeing him a bit and she had turned at the end of her speech and introduced him as well.

'Ah, so your name literally means beauty, that makes great sense now. Seers are great at many things, I suppose, but details are not one of them.' it was amusing that he repeated a platitude that Pierre had used as well. If there were seers that were on 'the other side' they still did not seem as universally liked or respected as they were on the fairies' side.

'And you-Rumplestiltskin is it? What a mouthful!' Rumple wanted to bristle at his words but refrained, mostly from fear. 'I suppose you'll want to find out exactly what is going on, won't you?'

Belle nodded.

'Of course, of course, right this way.' And instead of directing them to follow him they were enveloped in purple smoke and landed on a long couch (he and Belle) and a black menacing chair (the Dark One's, obviously).

Rumple and Belle coughed and sputtered as they breathed out the purple mist. Rumple felt the room sway a moment before he finally could grasp his bearings. Belle seemed to be going through a similar ordeal and he checked her over quickly to make sure she was alright. At her assuring smile he went back to looking at the sorcerer, though he didn't exactly look him in the eyes-those were too terrifying. The Dark One didn't seem to notice.

'May I ask, Dark One...' Belle began.

'Zoso-the Dark One is really my title, Zoso is my name, as you saw on the cover of the book I gave you. You may use it here, in this castle, though you may not use it outside of the castle except for the strictest of emergencies in case you need help. Do you understand?' This time Rumple did catch his eyes and the look he gave was one that had Rumple nodding immediately for fear of being struck down where he sat.

'Now, you were saying…'

'What reason is there for me to be here, when you're-you're the Dark One. Your power almost rivals the fairies, and I have no magical abilities whatsoever.'

The Dark One glared at Belle and Rumple slid closer to her as if he could shield the glare with his body.

'I thought you were supposed to be intelligent.'

'I beg your pardon!' Rumple grumbled, before catching himself and his body stiffened in fear.

'The book, did you not read the book?'

Belle's eyes were now strictly fire, she did not tremble or shake, she was now unafraid. The man had slighted her reading and comprehension capabilities-she was furious and if Rumple were anywhere else and doing anything else, he might find amusement with her beautiful fury.

'Of course, I did.'

'Then what, pray, am I supposed to do? Which is more powerful, dark or light magic?'

'That depends on the spell, or type of magic.'

'Hmmm, alright, so not completely useless then.' Zoso had a sideways smile that made his face look even greener than it did before-quite unsettling. 'And how do you defeat someone with magic?'

'That depends again on what type of magic is being used. Light magic is best defeated by other and more powerful light magic, and the same with dark.' Belle spoke quietly yet calmly.

'And what kind of magic do I have?'

'Dark, sir. You are, after all, the Dark One.' Belle smiled and that scared Rumple more than anything else had thus far-smiling at the Dark One! Rumple only knew bowing and cowing, and trying to remain as invisible as possible when it came to beings with magic. They had yet to be turned to snails, or smitten, in fact, the Dark One was-chuckling?

'Obviously.' He smiled, and his teeth were black with rot. 'What do you know about dark magic, little one?'

She didn't let her nose wrinkle this time, only straightened in her seat.

'It's not as straightforward as the fairies make it out to be. In our realm, the fairies have suggested that light magic is pure, right and just-dark magic is disgust, fear, and sin. This is not true, as my husband and I have learned firsthand. However, the book does say that magic feeds off emotion, correct?'

'Mmmm, yes, light magic feeds off happy, lighter feelings, dark magic feeds off darker emotion.'

'Then how can the fairies be so corrupt? Wouldn't they eventually begin creating dark magic?'

'That' Zoso said emphatically. 'Is impossible. Dark magic wielders can only produce dark magic, and visa versa. If I could produce light magic, don't you think I would have kicked the fairies out a long time ago?'

'I suppose…' Belle stated, unsure of her answer.

'You can be happy doing something cruel-just as you can use pain and heartbreak to do something kind. Does that make sense?'

Belle nodded.

'The fairies live in their own little self-righteous bubble. Some of them have convinced themselves that they are actually on the side of good, others revel in the joy at creating other's pain.'

'And that's how they can continue to create magic. Joy in other's pain?' Belle shook her head in disbelief.

'Exactly.'

'And you? What are your intentions in overthrowing the fairies?'

Rumple looked at him intently too-this was something he had been wondering himself.

'You want to know if you'll be exchanging one powerful regime for another?'

Both nodded.

'For that I need to have a chat with you individually. And with that there was purple smoke again and Rumple found himself locked in the room-alone.

Author's Note2: If you have more questions than answers at this particular part of the story, I promise it's intentional (sorry!) the answers are coming, and hopefully they make sense!

Things will continue to be quite different than the show, in terms of characterization, but I will try to keep the explanations coming for each time I do something like that.
As always, thank you for reading!