A/N: Episode 8 Desperate Souls. This takes place right after the Rumpel massacre, and both Rumpelstiltskin's thoughts and Bae's on the subject of him being the Dark One. Hope you like!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the epic characters (and David/Charming) in the television series Once Upon a Time, those belong to the creators, writers, and ABC. these characters were brought to life by the amazing actors that play them (and Josh Dallas; just kidding) :)
He had done it. Gone was the life of Rumpelstiltskin, the pathetic coward who ran. No, now, just as with his new appearance, Rumpelstiltskin was a new person, was given a second chance.
He knew that he could never undo what he had done, and he knew that if he was given the chance, he would refuse.
Now, as the Dark One, magic surged through his being, a constant reminder that he was the one in charge now. Rumpelstiltskin was no longer a name to be laughed at, or sneered upon, but a name to be feared. Yes, feared, for the untold magic he possessed.
Rumpelstiltskin wasn't even sure how much power his new form had, enjoying the mystery of it all. How easily he had killed the guards who threatened his boy was a very pleasant discovery.
How frail their bodies were compared to his own, how easily they crumpled under his hand, the fear that never left their eyes as they took their last breaths, his name the last one upon their lips.
Rumpelstiltskin looked around at the crumpled forms surrounding his home, his son looking at him, his face very hard to interpret.
"What-why did you do that, papa?" Bae asked, confusion in his voice.
"I was getting back what belonged to me," was his simple response, his body still shaking from the adrenaline rush of what a few moments had been a massacre.
People began to open their doors and stick their heads out, trying to find the source of the commotion. Rumpelstiltskin heard a woman scream at the sight of the bodies.
"Come on, papa, let's go inside," Bae urged, clutching his father's arm as he tugged him into their small hovel. Now that he was so much more powerful, Rumpelstiltskin looked upon the small living quarters with a look of disdain. Why should he, the Dark One, be forced to live in such lowly conditions? If only he knew how to make a large mansion appear, flick his hand and a castle erupt from the ground.
Sadly, Rumpelstiltskin wasn't sure how to do something like that, yet, but he would learn, oh how he would. But for now, he needed to go and address his people. Bae seemed to know what his father was planning, standing purposely in front of the door.
"Papa, please, don't go out there. I don't want you frightening the villagers. We need to figure out what...this is before people know about it. Just stay in for the night. Please."
Bae's eyes were hopeful, and who was he to deny his son something. After a second of thought Rumpelstiltskin nodded his head towards his son.
"Alright Bae, I will stay here for the night. Tomorrow, though, I will make my appearance," he said, flourishing his hands upward at the end.
Bae observed his father warily. After a moment, Bae told his father he was going to help remove the bodies, leaving Rumpelstiltskin to his own devices.
Sitting down, Rumpelstiltskin looked around the house, trying to figure out how best to test his new abilities. First things first, however. Rumpelstiltskin realized he still had his dagger, his name gleaming in the dried blood of the beggar man.
Concentrating on the dagger, Rumpelstiltskin imagined it clean, the blade shining in the dim light. He snapped, dark smoke forming on the blade. Once the smoke cleared, the blade was cleaned, his name clearly engraved on the metal.
Looking around, Rumpelstiltskin tried to find a good hiding spot for the blade. Seeing nowhere fit enough to hide the precious blade, Rumpelstiltskin stuck it inside his robe, keeping it close.
The rest of the day Rumpelstiltskin spent testing his new ability, all the while Bae sat watching him, concern riddling his face.
Baelfire cared for his father, even after realizing what had really happened to his mother, realizing his father was the village fool. He was his father, how could he not care for him, no matter what?
It was precisely the reason he cared for his father that he looked upon him with such great concern. His father was many things, but a murderer had never been one. Everything about him was off, to the green tint of his skin, to the dark, empty eyes inside his head.
By becoming the Dark One, his father's humanity had died, leaving him nothing but a beast with a thirst for magic and chaos. Even like this, still Bae cared for his father, hating to see him so disturbed, the magic like a disease leeching from every part of his humanity.
His father seemed unperturbed by it, however, taking in a childlike delight in the wonder he casted around the house, black smoke trailing from his fingertips. For the first time in a very long time, Bae saw his father happy, and he hated that seeing him happy scared him so.
Bae was willing to go into battle, fight for his people, sacrifice his life for the greater good, but his father wanted to protect him so much to the point of destroying his own being in the process.
The thoughts plagued the young boy as he tried to sleep that night, his father still wide awake.
The next day arose with new hopes, Rumpelstiltskin standing in front of the whole village, no longer a pathetic weakling, but a commander, a ruler.
"You may all know me as Rumpelstiltskin, the man who ran. Well, I'm here to tell you that that man is dead, which is a just action on my part. I have become the Dark One, owning all the powers our late tyrant possessed. Now with these newfound abilities, I will put an end to the Ogre Wars once and for all!"
People who had shrunk from him in the beginning began to cheer at this last promise of hope. Rumpelstiltskin drank in their cheers, enjoying the power he had over these people.
"I will bring our people, our children back. I will put myself in the middle of the war, ending the war with a sweep of my hands. By nightfall tonight, we will all be welcoming back those who have survived this harsh punishment that has fallen upon our village. I, Rumpelstiltskin, will bring our people home!"
More people yelled, cheering, calling out his name. Rumpelstiltskin left his village, declining any gifts that were volunteered to him, not accepting any armor, any weapons, leaving only with the clothes on his back.
He was going to be the hero, the one that saved everyone. He was given this gift, for he no longer thought this wretched skin and darkness inside him a curse, for a purpose, to help those who needed him. This power, this magic, was given to him to use, so why refuse the gift?
A/N: Can't think of a good Author's Note so...R&R I guess. Also, in case you already haven't, go on LiveJournal and look up Once Upon a Time Abridged created by the very creative and hilarious Daesgatling. Enjoy, it's amazing!