Alright, I am very happy with how fast those reviews and follows and favs popped up. I woke up this morning and checked my email with the biggest smile on my face. You guys are great, and now I am going to address the reviews. First, Hook won't be in the story all that much. I don't like him either. I personally feel that Emma and Bae were like made for each other. Second, I did base Lucinda off of Merida. Turns out, me and my friend were watching Brave when she came up with the idea (for obvious reasons lol), and don't worry, Lucinda will show her bratty side very soon. And lastly, Regina does not get a whole lot involved, she is mostly just someone Lucinda goes to for advice because she feels her dark magic could somehow be affecting her and she doesn't want to talk to her father about everything because...well...her father is a guy and Belle doesn't have magic to begin with. Belle also becomes SUPER important as we get more and more into the story. She'll have her moments. As for Gretchen...well that's a surprise my dear readers. That is a great surprise. Hope you enjoy and thank you for your support. Don't forget to spread the word, check out Trickster (next chapter will be there this weekend), and for my other partner on Fanfic, I haven't forgotten about our story. I'm still working on making it perfect and I am very pleased with how well it is going. Thanks again and, as always, enjoy.

Fairytale Land of the Past

Todd blinked his eyes and looked around, unsure of where it was he had found himself located. This didn't look like home. This looked nothing like home. In fact, this was unlike any place he had ever been to before. A large room with several carpets and windows, but drapes covering every one of them. A large table crossing the whole room, cabinets and shelves of treasures and jewels. All seemed so priceless and so rare. How he just wanted to touch-

"Don't even think about touching anything," a stern voice called and Todd quickly brought his hand back to his side, resisting the urge to touch the wand. He looked behind him and saw a strange looking man enter the room. He was different, too. Crazy hair and scaly skin. He wore a lot of leather, too, and Todd thought his boots looked a little funny. He dressed nothing like Todd's master. He held back his giggles as the funny man approached him.

"What's so funny?" the man asked and Todd shrugged his shoulders. "You. You look funny," Todd chuckled, biting his lip to try and prevent it. Mommy had said it was not polite to point, stare or laugh at people. "Really?" he asked and Todd just bobbed his head up and down. The man just scuffed his nose as if a bad smell had filled his nostrils. "Rude little worm, aren't you?" Todd was just too young to get it. "Mommy says it is not nice to call people names."

"Yeah, well, mommy isn't here anymore, little worm. Just you. How old are you anyway?" Todd held up four fingers, smiling proudly at how big he was. "Young. Vulnerable. Good. Do you have any brothers or sisters?" Todd shook his head. "Any aunts or uncles?" Again, the little boy shook his head. "Anyone besides your mother?" He paused for a moment, truly thinking. Anyone besides his mother? Todd shook his head. "What about your father?" he asked and Todd looked to the floor. "He died in the Ogre Wars," Todd responded. Rumple huffed and brought his finger to his temple. "What's your name?" he asked with a groan. "Todd," answered the little boy. Rumple seemed to be disgusted by it, as if it was the worst name one could pick.

"Well, Todd, before I can find further use of you, or someone who will want you, I am afraid you are going to have to stay here for a few days. A week tops. So, why don't we lay down some rules, shall we?" Rules? He could handle that. He obeyed lots of rules back at his master's place. He nodded his head rather enthusiastically. "Good," Rumple smiled and took Todd's tiny hand, dragging him over to one of the rather large chairs at the table and setting him in it.

"First, and most important, rule," Rumple began, "is to not touch anything! Got it?" Todd nodded. "Got it." Rumple continued. "Second, you are to never ever leave the castle. Do you understand?" Todd was too focused on the fact that he was in a castle to truly interpret Rumple's rule. "Castle? I get to live in a castle? Mommy always wanted to live in a castle!" He clapped his hands wildly and jumped up and down in his seat. "Stop that," Rumple order and snapped his fingers, causing the boy to sit till, unable to move. "You are never ever to leave the castle, understood?" Todd nodded. "Yes," he cheered. "Third, no annoying sounds. Especially when I am working." Todd raised his hand, causing Rumple to roll his eyes. "Yes, Todd." He put his hand down and asked his question. "Does this count as annoying?" He brought his lips together and made a rather messy babbling noise that would ruin any parent's or guardian's set of ears. Rumple covered his ears quickly, but Todd was still going, so he placed his hand over the boy's mouth, allowing some drool to slip onto his palm. "Overly," he replied and Todd nodded once more. "Okay," he said, his voice muffled due to Rumple's hand still covering it. He removed his hand, wiping the contents off on the boy's rags and continuing on with the rules. "Forth, no making a mess and if you do, you clean it." Todd bowed his head before looking up, awaiting the next rule. "And lastly, you are to be seen by no one, hence, you are unable to leave your room unless I say it is okay. Okay?" Todd smiled and nodded. "Okay!" he shouted, putting a tiny thumb up. "Good," Rumple sighed and lifted Todd off the chair.

"You are going to have to bathe, too before you make my whole castle smell," Rumple commented, holding his nose as he examined Todd, who looked as though he had just been plucked out of the dirt. "I only get one bath a month," he explained, and that did explain a lot. "Perfect," Rumple spoke sarcastically. Todd leaned forward and sniffed Rumple before he had a chance to move away. "You don't smell like a bucket of roses either," he commented. Disgusted and annoyed, Rumple picked Todd up from the back of his rags with one hand and carried him out of the room. Though it was to frighten the child, Todd was enjoying it far too much. He stuck his arms out in front of him and made that babbling noise again. "Hey, what is rule number three?" Rumple asked and Todd quickly stopped the sound, but continued to enjoy the feeling of flight.

One staircase. Two staircases. Three. Four. So many that Todd lost count until it seemed that had reached the highest room of the tallest tower. Inside was just a bed and a wardrobe with some candles on the walls. "This is your room," Rumple said as he placed Todd down on his feet. The little one quickly scampered to the bed as if it was a boulder of gold, so overly excited to touch it. He slapped his hands upon it, as if making sure it was real, before turning to Rumple and asking, "This is for me?" The Dark One nodded without a sign of emotion. "You will have to make the bed every morning, Todd." The boy agreed with a smile and a nod before turning back to the mattress and quilts. "I never had one before," he whispered as he gazed upon it. "A room?" Rumple asked, but Todd shook his head. "No. A bed."

This took him a little off guard, but he felt a hint of warmth within him once he came to realize what it was he had just done for this little boy. He walked over to the tiny Todd, and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, turning the boy's rags into pajamas. "A bath tomorrow morning. Be up early if you want breakfast, but right now, you get some sleep. You look like you need it," he said, and Todd looked up to him. "Breakfast?" he asked with tearing eyes. Rumple nodded and Todd looked down, confused and lost. "Sir, I haven't been a very good boy. I cried a lot to my mommy and I have even stolen from my master. I don't deserve any of this stuff. Other little boys do." It touched his heart, and he didn't think anything could, but for some reason, just the way this boy spoke, it reminded him an awful lot of Baelfire. He patted the boy's head, running his hand through Todd's thick and black mussy hair. "Trust me, Todd, you deserve every bit of this. Now, get some sleep."

Rumple lifted the boy up into his bed and was sure to slip him under the covers, making it his priority to be sure Todd was warm. He turned on his heels to leave, but Todd's tiny squeak of a voice stopped Rumple from progressing out of the room. "Sir, where is my mommy?" he asked. Rumple stood in the doorway, debating whether or not he should tell Todd the truth or just leave and not give him an answer. It was hard because it would be like answering Bae. Where is daddy? Where is papa? He took a deep breath and a large swallow before turning to Todd, facing his fears, and answering him. "She is gone, Todd. And she is never coming back." With that, Rumple closed the door, locked it, and ran down the stairs, not ever looking back.

Fairytale Land of the Present

Her throat was bleeding from how hard she was screaming. How could this happen to her? She looked exactly like her father, just like him, only her hair was longer and her eyes were green instead of amber. What the hell had happened to her? She kept screaming, kept touching her face, trying to imagine that this was all just a dream when indeed it wasn't. This was actually happening and she was suffering through this pain and this torment. She had changed, fully.

"Lucinda," she heard her mother cry as she slammed her hands on the door. "Lucinda, open the door!" she called from the other side, but the door never budged for Lucinda was too lost within her own astonishment of what had happened to her.

"My face!" she cried. "My beautiful face! What happened to my perfect face? It is gone! Why is it gone? Why do I look hideous? I am hideous!" she sobbed, slapping her hands against the mirror, believing that it was lying. That it was wrong, false. Believing this was some kind of sick and twisted joke placed upon her by the staff or even her father. Possibly everyone. "My hair! My gorgeous hair! It's ratty now! Why?" She banged her fists on the mirror, furious with the secrets it spilled. "Show me my beauty! Show me myself! I want to be pretty again! I am not this ugly! Show me my face!" But the mirror refused to change, unable to lie.

Her fists began to pound the glass harder, cracking it and making little splinters of it cut her hands and arms as she went on a rampage trying to bring back her once elegant form, now beastly. And just as she began to release everything, all the anger and hate, all the sorrow and self pity, is when the doors bursted open by her father's command and Belle rushed to the aid of her daughter.

"Lucinda, stop," she ordered as she began to pull her daughter away from the shattered mirror. She clawed and kicked as her father helped pull her away. She was stronger now, much stronger in this form, and Belle could not stop her fists or feet of furry alone. It was a difficult task, but the two managed to pull her away from the shattered glass and bloody ruins, but she still fought them as hard as she could, embracing the fact, slightly, that she had claws, attempting to scratch her way out of their grasps. "Lucinda, you must relax," Belle tried to sooth. "No! No! I look like father! I look like father!" she cried and still continued to kick and fly her fists in rage. "It will pass once you relax," Belle explained, "but you must relax. You have to stop fighting. It will go away." Yet, Lucinda refused to believe such things for her own reflection in the mirror seemed to have lied to her.

Then, suddenly, she stopped. Her clawing, her kicking, her fighting, her sobs. It all stopped and she was still, like she had just died from an overdose of fear and anger all mixed together to create this super pill. She just passed out in her mother's arms. Belle looked at her, touching her face, trying to feel for a plus. And when she was sure one was there, she looked up to her husband who had his face buried in his hands.

"Rumple, what did you do?" Belle asked, but he shook his head before lowering his hands to show his face once more. He wasn't crying, but it was clear he was distraught. "She'll wake in an hour or so, Belle, but until then I needed her to stop. Look at what she did to herself," he said as he gestured towards the open wounds and cuts running up and down their daughter's arms. "She was scared. She was frightened. She didn't know how to react, and personally I don't think I would know how either," Belle said as she examined her daughter's arms. "Lucinda is not a threat to herself, but image is everything to her, you know that. No matter how hard she tries to deny it." Rumple shook his head and sat on the edge of his daughter's bed, frustrated and for the first time in a long time, confused. What to do? What to do? "She doesn't mind looks until they're upon her own face. You saw how she reacted."

"Well, why did the transformation start? It only happens if she makes it happen or if she gets angry or greedy."

Rumple looked away, unable to gaze into his wife's eyes as he admitted this truth. "I pushed her. It was my fault."

"What happened?"

"She brought up the arranged marriage. How she wanted me to threaten the people of Parliament to get her out of it. To release her from her bonds to it. But she has no idea. I can't go back to my old ways, Belle. You of all people know that. She doesn't care unless it best suits her needs."

"I know that and you know that, but she doesn't. It could have been instigated by Regina today, as well."

Rumple looked to her in shook. "Regina? You let her speak to our daughter?"

Belle shrugged. "She needs a woman to speak to about her powers."

"Not Regina. Why not you or Emma?"

"Because Regina knows what it feels like."

"To what? Hate?"

"To be unwanted."

Rumple took a step back in his mind, for Belle did have a point and she usually did for the things she does. This one was one of them. A very good reason at that, and Belle furthered explained too. "Regina was in Lucinda's position back at Storybrooke. No one wanted her around even when she wasn't that evil anymore. Regina was the best person to talk to because she was hated everywhere she went, knows how to control dark magic, and knows how to get past that bitter feeling of being scorned and judged everywhere she goes. I don't know what ideas Regina put into Lucinda's head, but they can't be wrong ones."

He shook his head and tried his very best to remain calm. His wife often made him crazy, but he could never lay a hand on her. He was his best around her and he never forgot that. "Belle, she probably told her that we have been lying to her for all these years."

"And that wouldn't be wrong to say either," she responded. Tears pricked at her blue eyes as she thought about all the secrets that they have kept hidden from Lucinda, believing it was for her own good. That it was for the right reasons, but now, Belle could not seem to find one.

"Rumple, I think we should tell her everything. Beginning to end. Your wife, everything about Baelfire, Cora, my father, Storybrooke, everything. She needs to know about her past in order for her to have a prosperous future."

"We promised, the day she was born, that if we should make it back home that we would keep that life a secret for good reason. To protect her."

"To protect her from what? So it seems, we are the only ones hurting her." Damn, another good answer. Oh well. He sighed and folded his hands in his lap, hunching over and looking at the floor. "Rumple," she spoke, but he didn't look up. He wasn't sure he was ready to face this. To face any of this. "My love," she whispered softly, and for someone reason, he could not help himself but to force his head up, gazing into her blue eyes. "I'm not saying that we tell her tonight. I'm saying that we tell her eventually."

So this is what it comes down to? Having to explain an entire past to her when he was almost one hundred percent sure that Lucinda was simply not ready to hear any of it. It could possibly make her run away and find her own ambitions. It could make her disappointed in her family and its past history. It could make her lose sight of what was truly important. It could make her forget herself, and she has traveled so far. Rumple took a moment to debate over his options and came down to the conclusion that he had none.

He gave a deep sigh before looking between his wife and his daughter, who resembled him too much for even his liking. She deserved to know the truth. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, working up his courage before nodding and opening his eyes. "Okay," he whispered. "Okay. Sixteen. We tell her when she is sixteen." Belle nodded, giving a slight smile and a little twinkle in her eye. "Agreed," she said and placed one hand on her husband's knee, gently grinning up at him. Oh, he could never stay mad at her for too long.

"You want to bring her to the guest room?" Belle asked and he smiled slightly. Slowly, he climbed off the bed and scooped his daughter up into his arms. "Perhaps you should make that sleeping spell on her stronger so she does not wake up in the middle of the night and freak out again," she suggested, and he agreed. So he softly placed his hand on her forehead, and made her fall into a much deeper sleep, able to last up to hours or for the rest of the night, at least. "And her wounds," Belle said as she pointed to them, walking along side her husband as he carried Lucinda out of her damaged bedchamber. He waved his hand slightly over the sleeping princess's arms, sending the markings away, hidden from all eyes including his own. She was going to be alright for now, so long as she just continued to sleep.

Fairytale Land of the Past

Todd wasn't sure if he was allowed to look around if he was not to be seen. What harm could it do? No one was in the castle, right? So after leaping out of bed like a jumping bean, Todd scampered to his door and found that it was unlocked. Strange because he thought he heard a click last night after the man left. Either way, the door was open now, which meant his key to exploration had been granted to him. Oh, he almost forgot-the bed.

He quickly ran back to it and was sure to spread the covers out nice and evenly, folding it at the top to be sure it was neat. After he was done, he ran back to the door, jumping up to reach the handle before forcing it open. Once the door budged enough for him to slip his body through, Todd hurried down the stone stairs, being sure to keep his balance as he went, steady down the stairs. Once he made it down all of the flights, Todd had to open yet another door to get out of this stone staircase. He pushed with all of his might, making the door open just slightly. He wiggled through and found himself in a rather large corridor with hundreds of doors lining the walls. Why would someone who lives here all alone need all of this space?

He shrugged it off and remembered what his new master had told him; not to touch anything. So he restrained himself, but kept his eyes open for anything interesting or worth his while. His old master had pretty fascinating stuff, but this guy's stuff was just unbelievable. A lot of tapestries and a bunch of strange looking pieces that he had no idea what they could possible be. Artifacts, possibly, or maybe trophies of some kind. Wands and hats, weapons and books. All were quite amazing and he stared with big eyes, soaking up the scene and all there was that surrounded him.

He ventured down the corridor and found himself back in that same room with the many windows and the large wooden table. His nose then caught a whiff of some of the most splendid smell his sent had ever presented to him. Why, it got his mouth watering and his stomach rumbling, reaching past the point of desire, but rather craves. What was that delicious smell? He closed his eyes and inhaled it deeply, imagining an over-stuffed plate with foods from every category. Smoked sausage, fresh vegetables, nice sliced fruits, a side of eggs as well. He could only picture, he thought to himself, not actually have.

"I was told food always attracted the young, I just never believed it," Rumple spoke as he appeared in the room with a tray in his hands, setting it carefully on the table. "I see you found your way out of your tower," he went on to comment. Todd took a deep gulp, afraid his new master was angry with him. "I just wanted to explore since I would be staying here," Todd explained, kicking his foot and folding his hands behind his back, trying to appear to be innocent. "Oh, stop with that. Come, you must be hungry." Excited that he actually got to eat, whatever it was that smelled so good, Todd ran over to the table and jumped up to see what was on the tray. Rumple shook his head at the child's failed attempts at getting his vision over the table line. He just picked Todd up and placed him on the chair after summoning a few useless books onto it, placing him down gently above the stack so he was able to reach the table, his feet dangling.

Rumple placed the plate of food before the boy and he was overjoyed to see that it was exactly what he imagined. He clapped his hands and smiled like an idiot when his plate was pushed to him. "I'm only feeding you because I have to. I can't let a child starve or else no one will want you." But Todd was too lost in his food to really pay any mind to what his new master was saying, just picking it up with his hands and forcing it into his mouth, unable to hold back. Rumple didn't know why, but he couldn't help, but to grin.

While Todd ate up his food, rather quickly, Rumple poured him a glass of milk and placed it beside his plate. As soon as he set it down, Todd gripped the glass with two hands and chugged some milk down his throat, praising the gods above that he was getting something other than water for once. Some of it dripped onto the table, but Rumple did not at all mind seeing as how this kid was deprived of the basics to live. Todd set the glass down on the table and went back to digging into his breakfast with both hands, shoveling hand-fulls in at a time. Rumple gripped his arm and pulled it away. "Hey, smaller bites. No choking on me." With cheeks full of food and milk dripping down his chin, Todd nodded his head and swallowed the contents in his mouth. He proceeded to eat slower. Rumple poured him another glass of milk before settling down beside him, eating his own plate and drinking a cup of tea.

"We should get help, you know?" Todd said. "Help?" Rumple asked and Todd nodded as he reached for his milk. "Yeah, like a maid. My old master used to call my mom the help, the maid." Rumple nodded, as if considering it. "Maybe one day, but as of right now, I don't need one." Todd stuck another piece of sliced apple into his mouth. "Well, I was just thinking it since I'll be here for a while and all-"

"Wait, wait a second, kid. What makes you think you're staying? I said a week tops, that means you won't be staying here for more than seven days," Rumple explained, and Todd seemed saddened by this fact. "You mean, you don't want me either?" Todd asked, tears pricking at his eyes as he looked to Rumple. The Dark One locked eyes with the little boy, watching as his deep blue gaze shifted suddenly from joy to sorrow in a matter of seconds. Wow, how one statement can change everything. "Ah, kid, it has nothing to do with you. It's just that I have my own little boy to be concerned about." Todd looked down and reexamined his question. "I haven't seen any other boys in the castle." Rumple sighed and stopped eating, looking to his plate. "He's missing. I need to find him," he mumbled and looked over at Todd who was drinking his milk with one hand. "Both hands on the milk, please," Rumple said, to which Todd responded by placing another hand on the milk and chugging the rest of it down. When he placed the glass back down on the table, Rumple couldn't help, but to laugh at what he saw. Todd had a little white milk mustache on his face, and he saw his reflection in the silver tray, laughing himself.

When Rumple caught his breath, he looked to Todd who wiped away the milk with the back of his sleeve. "You remind me of him," Rumple stated as Todd went for one of the last few grapes on his plate, popping it into his mouth and letting the juice drip between his teeth. "You have no place to go, do you?" Todd took a moment to really think, honestly, if he had any other family or even friends to go to. He shook his head and looked back down again, unable to face whatever it was he felt his new master was going to tell him. Rumple took a moment to breathe and really think this through before leaning over the table and speaking softly. "I'll tell you what, Todd," the little boy's head slowly raised from the floor to his master. "I'll make you a deal. If you promise to obey the rules I have given you and call me by my name instead of sir, I will let you stay here as long as you desire." Todd's frown grew into a large smile as he took in his new guardian's words, letting them flow into his heart. "What is your name?" he asked. Rumple gave a slight smile before extending his hand to the messy and sticky Todd's. "Rumpelstiltskin," he said. Todd took his hand and his smile extended even more. "Deal, Rumpelstiltskin," he said and the two shook on it.

Fairytale Land of the Present

Lucinda blinked her eyes open slowly, feeling light headed and that everything was just too bright for her eyes, but they soon adjusted. She brought her hand to her head and gave it a gentle squeeze before sitting up straight and rubbing her eyes. She realized then that this wasn't her room. This was the room down the hall. Why was she here? Then her thoughts went back to the night before. How she ruined the celebration at her nephew's castle, how she fought her father, how she had transformed.

She pulled the covers off of her and raced out of the room, pulling the doors open with great force and sliding down the halls. She nearly slipped, but she maintained her balance, going straight for her room and nowhere else. When she pushed the doors open, the evidence of her damaged perfection was plastered all over the floor in broken glass and red ink. The mirror was smashed to pieces and her blood was splattered everywhere.

She knelt down near the mess and picked up a pice of the broken mirror, using a spell her father had taught her to see into the past. Quickly, the tiny piece of mirror rewinded the reflection, showing Lucinda smashing it with her fists, reliving cutting her arms on the broken glass, clawing her face with her own nails, desperate to get to the skin she believed at the moment was resting underneath her scales. She dropped the glass when she saw what she once looked like not too long ago. It frightened her and made her bones shiver. She sat there, kneeling by the evidence of the past as she tried to piece it together; all of this new information, all there was about herself that she had yet to discover. She didn't know she could transform into the Dark One form and back. Was that a power only she contained?

She didn't know how long she had been sitting there, it couldn't have been a while, and she didn't bother to figure it out. All she did know was that her concentration was broken by the sound of Maid Mary-Lu's voice. "She had a rough night the other day. I could hear her screaming from my own chambers. The King and Queen insisted we leave her alone, but this morning they asked me to tend to her, make sure she stayed in bed. They said she would be very weak today." Then there was a slight pause. She had to be talking to someone. Gossiping. Probably to another maid. "Yes, I know. Personally, however, I'm glad that little worm is feeling ill. If you ask me, she deserves every bit of it. Do you know what she said to Maid Kate when she was feeling ill and even vomiting? 'Best be sure to clean that up and get back to work,'" Maid Mary-Lu imitated her. Did she really say that? Yes, she did. Lucinda placed her face in her hands at the memory of it. By the gods, I can be such a bitch sometimes. She pulled herself up and scurried towards the door, running down the halls as to not be seen by any of the maids, but before she left the room she was sure the grab the storybook with her.

She climbed back into the bed, slipping the book under the pillows, and making it seem like she had just woken up. Maid Mary-Lu entered not too long afterwards, carrying a tray of breakfast and some freshly brewed tea. "Good morning, Princess Lucinda. How are you feeling?" She had to give the maid props for putting on a good show. She didn't seem to despise Lucinda at all even though the young princess new for a fact that the maid hated her guts. Well, anyway, she sat up in the bed and nodded. "Better, but still a bit light headed. Do you know where my parents are?" she asked as the maid set the tray down on the bed and began to make the princess's tea. "Yes. Your parents are in a conference with Parliament. They won't be out till later. Your father insist that you just get some rest today. You had a very difficult night, I heard, and by the looks of your room, I would say you lost a lot of blood." Well, that explained the light headedness. "Thank you, Maid Mary-Lu. Could you just bring me my lunch when it is noon and let my parents know I wish to speak to them once they get of this meeting?" She tried to sound as sweet as possible, trying to gain more pity for some reason even unknown to her, but she should have guessed Maid Mary-Lu could see right past her. Scoffing a bit before standing up tall and bowing. "As you command, young princess." She then turned on her heels and left.

Lucinda wasted no time on food, she wasn't even that hungry. Okay, so maybe she was, but she had other things to focus on. More important things than just food and tea. She had until noon to start piecing this altogether. She reached under her pillow, grabbing the storybook and retracing her fingers over the title. Once Upon a Time. So, this book could tell her all about her past? Her parents's past as well? She climbed out of her bed again and rushed over to the mirror. This one was covered with a blanket as well, but one sheer tug on it caused the heavy cover to crumble down in a thick ripple of wool. Once the mirror was visible, Lucinda stared at her reflection, clutching the book tightly, holding it close to her chest. And she stared some more. Magic is not about thinking, her father once said, it is about feeling. Don't think too much, Lucinda. Just feel. And so she focused on that feeling. The one she endured when she had transformed last night. Could she do it again without getting so angry? She closed her eyes and really focused, concentrating hard on what she had gone through. When she opened her eyes, she saw it.

Her hair ratty and scattered about her head, her eyes wide and horrid, her teeth ruined and yellow, her nails black and claws, and her skin no longer pale, but as scaly as a crocodile. So she could change back and forth whenever she pleased? But she didn't change back, rather just examined her new form. She looked just like her father, exactly like him except the eyes and the female figure. She clutched the storybook even tighter before bringing it up to her vision so that she may reread it again. Once Upon a Time. The title was not going to change, so why did she expect it to? Probably because she felt she held the answer key to every question she ever had and it was obtained so easily. Too easily. She took a deep breath and looked at herself in the mirror once more.

She then turned on her heels and crawled back into bed, staying in her Dark One form. She took a sip of her tea, getting a good look at her claws now that she was bringing them much closer to her face, and set the cup back down carefully. She then pulled open the book. She was going to find out about her past, no matter what it would take. She didn't care that she would be going behind her parents's back. They deserved it, in her opinion. She would learn about their past, and she began her research with the first line of the first page.

Once Upon a time in an Enchanted Forest...

Fairytale Land of the Past

Todd was sitting cross legged on the floor as he watched Rumple spin his straw into gold. Going in as brown stringy pieces of worthless nothing, coming out as solid gold strands of pure wealth and perfection. Todd was in awe and could watch his guardian spin for hours. It fascinated him. "How do you do that?" he finally asked, watching the wheel spin by Rumple's command. He was always so curious at how it was his guardian managed to do such a task, he never seen anything like it.

"Magic," Rumple answered and Todd lowered his head. "Oh," he mumbled. Rumple looked over his shoulder at Todd who plucked at the carpet. "What's wrong?" he asked and Todd bit his lip. "Mommy sold me for magic, didn't she?" Cleaver boy, and Rumple wasn't going to lie because he respected cleaver children. Bae was a cleaver child. "I'm afraid so, Todd. I'm so sorry." He didn't even bother to look up from the floor. He just kept picking at the carpet, trying to figure out why it was he was given up.

He looked rather well, though. Rumple had been taking good care of him. He gave Todd fresh boots and breeches. Nice tunics to wear and cloaks of all colors to keep him warm on nights the castle was cool. He even managed to tame the boy's hair and keep him clean which was nearly an impossible task since Todd was restless. He always wanted to discover new things. Always wanted to venture into the backyard and just dig holes in the dirt for whatever reason. Maybe that was how he past the time back home, who knew? Alls Rumple did know was this boy was wild, and that wasn't a bad thing, for it was very easy to calm him. Just show him a bit of magic and you bended him to your will.

"Can you show me how to do that?" Todd asked, pointing to the spinning wheel. Rumple looked back over at him, seeing Todd's eyes poking up with wonder and ambition. "What?" Rumple asked and Todd pointed to the wheel. "Magic. Can you teach me how to use it?" Rumple shrugged. "Not everyone is born with magic, Todd." This time, Todd shrugged. "You gave magic to my mother, can't you give it to me?" Rumple smiled and nodded. "I suppose I can. What will I get in return?" Todd put his finger to his nose and shut his eyes.

"What are you doing?" Rumple asked and Todd responded without opening a lid. "It is how you make a wish," Todd said. "My master's wife taught me. You close your eyes and put your finger on your nose, but only when no stars are out." This made no sense. "Why?" Rumple asked and Todd opened his eyes then and shrugged, finger still on nose. "I don't know. It is just what I was taught, and I know it works." Rumple leaned over to get in Todd's face as if interrogating the boy. "And how do you know that?" he asked. Todd removed his finger from his nose and gave a sly smile. "Because it has worked before," he said. "There. I taught you how to make a wish, now you teach me how to use magic."

Very cleaver boy. Rumple bowed his head to him, approving of the intelligent boy. "Fair deal," he agreed and pulled Todd onto his lap at the spinning wheel.

"Magic, Todd, is very easy to understand. All you have to do is really feel it, not think about it. You have to put yourself into balance. Think of really bad times, times you found yourself hurt or sad. Once you have that in mind, you got to think of a very happy moment in your life. Something that made you so happy that the corners of your mouth began to hurt from smiling so much. Do you think you can do that?" Todd was silent for a moment before nodding his head up and down, excited to be in the position he was in. "Yeah, okay," he spoke in a anticipating whisper. "Alright, whenever you're ready, just start."

Todd closed his eyes and focused on all the memories a four year old could possibly have. The time his master hit him so hard with his hand. His bottom was sore for a whole three days. Todd placed his tiny hand on the wheel, Rumple assisting him to be sure he didn't fall off of his lap, to be sure he could reach the wheel or even spin it. He then thought of his first day here, with Rumple. The bed he was given, the fresh clothes, the breakfast, the bath. His life had finally been good to him. He finally felt like he belonged somewhere. Like he was wanted. His hand moved the wheel and he spun it with Rumple's hand on top of his. Even the Dark One was surprised by what he saw.

"Hey, Todd," he whispered into the little boy's ear. "Look." Todd's eyes peeped open and he was shocked to see the brown straw being spun into gold by his tiny hand on the wheel. He nearly jumped up and down with joy once he saw the pure gold flowing out from one end of the spinning wheel. "I did it!" he cheered and Rumple smiled at the young one's accomplishment. "Yes, you did, Todd. You are a natural at this." Todd stopped spinning and turned in Rumple's lap, wrapping his arms around his neck and embracing him tightly. "Thank you for teaching me," he spoke as he squeezed his new guardian. Rumple, a bit taken back by the sudden gesture of great emotion,welcomed it all the same. "Your welcome, Todd," he replied and hugged the boy back. After a moment of just holding him, he pulled Todd away. "You wanna try again?" he asked and Todd clapped with excitement. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" He turned around and put his hand back on the wheel, spinning it with ease.

The question then came to mind as he began to process how Todd being here came to be. Gretchen. She had given him away and Todd seemed both saddened, and yet thrilled by that fact. He swallowed hard and then asked the question he dreaded. "Hey, Todd," he began. "Would you ever forgive your mother for what she did?" he asked. Todd took a moment, stopped his spinning, and really thought about it. It was hard to grasp for he was only four, but in simple terms, his mother gave him up for power. That was what she cared about more and he was able to understand that. He went back to spinning before mumbling the answer Rumpelstiltskin feared he would hear.

"No."

Again, a million times thank you and sorry it is a bit short. Next one will be longer. Thanks again for the support and don't forget to spread the word and check out Trickster. Six more days till season four guys! YAY!