Chapter 5: Losing Control
In which magical knowledge causes distress
Radolph was becoming more aggressive every day. At night he prowled the streets looking for trouble; during the day he took great pains to appear as normal as possible yet several people had already remarked on his behaviour. A friend that advised him to visit Dr. Hopper needed to visit Dr. Whale after that particular discussion. Several fights had followed the first one, and he was banned from Granny's and his favourite bar. A wave of nightly vandalisms had hit the town, and although the sheriff had warned off a group of teenagers, they weren't the ones responsible. The feeling of power he derived from all these actions and confrontations continued to grow.
Emma has been frantically reading her confiscated book. The origin of many species, such as fairies, dwarves and humans is described in detail. The first uses and abuses of magic also take up quite a portion of Original Sin: Source of Darkness. The most interesting parts are about a being called the Reul Ghorm also known as the Original Power. According to the book, many events in the history of the Enchanted Forest were orchestrated or altered by this powerful being. Emma had become terribly shocked when she was casually flipping the pages in Mother Superior's office and had read on a random page that Reul Ghorm was the leader of the Fairies and also called the Blue Star or Fairy. Her parents had told her nothing but good about the Blue Fairy but the book did not applaud this being at all. Quite the opposite. It even blamed the Reul Ghorm for the awakening of dark powers. Emma is not sure what to do, and more importantly what, and who to believe.
Belle had chided Rumple about magic again. "I've seen you looking at those books. You should really get it out of your mind." "I have, you know that," he gave her the most innocent smile he could muster. Unfortunately it didn't look like that, being rather crooked, it resembled a smirk. "No you haven't; it's in your blood. You're entire being is tuned to it. Perhaps you should get some sort of deprogramming, brainwash treatment. Maybe Dr. Hopper knows how to." "No, Belle, that's not going to happen. I promise I'll try not to do anything stupid. I swear." Both of them noticed that the promise didn't mention magic explicitly.
The Blue Fairy considered her options. She could talk to Emma, or either, or both of her parents. She could also wait and see what happened. Her biggest fear would be Emma teaming up with Regina against her. Fortunately Rumplestiltskin wasn't a problem anymore. The dagger had been destroyed, allegedly —she had checked the woods surrounding the well herself— never found again or whispered about. That had been such a relief, her biggest problem gone, although in a mysterious way. The dagger had caused such trouble throughout history, her own history as well. A part of her is grateful that Emma has found the book now, rather than later, since her powers are very great but still latent to some extent. Emma as an enemy at her full strength isn't a pleasant thought.
That night both Radolph and Rumple are out on the streets. The Dark One and the former one. Initially they do not meet, but somehow they sense each other's presence. Rumple gets shivers when he sees someone walking in the distance. The threat that radiates from this person hidden in the shadows is palpable. Inside him the longing stirs, the longing to send out this vibe himself. He is both drawn to and frightened of the enormous power he senses. It feels almost familiar.
Although he is on his way to the library, he decides to follow the man, from afar. He sees him smashing car windows, twisting traffic signs and breaking wooden fences, telephone poles and whatever else is in his path. A sleeping cat gets a piece of his fury. Rumple racks his mind to put a name to the man, but doesn't dare to venture closer for a better look. When the man finally enters the forest, Rumple ends his surveillance. Walking in the dark with a cane in those murky woods isn't the smartest move. He visits the library instead and is resolved to give an anonymous tip off to the sheriff about the spree of vandalism.