In the enchanted forest James and Regina stood at the clearing where they tried to cast the dark curse. The old man from their castle walked up to them. "Maybe it's for the best. The forces you guys are summoning are darker than we can conceive" he said. Regina turned to face him slowly. "Oh, now you're trying to protect me" she said. "It's what I do" the old man said. "I know" Regina said looking between her husband and the old man. "You two are the only ones that have ever tried to protect me" Regina said. James took Regina's hand and kissed it. "I will always protect you no matter what the cost" he said. "Helping you is my life" the old man said. "Then help us understand why this curse isn't working" Regina said. "If you guys want to know that, then you two need to go back to the person who gave it to you guys in the first place. Revenge is a dark and lonely road. Once you go down it, there's no heading back" the old man said. "What is there for us to head back to" Regina asked.
In the dungeon where Rumplestilskin is being held two mice were squeaking and running around on the floor outside his cell. "It's just the three of us, dearie's, you can show yourselves" Rumplestilskin said. Just then the two mice transformed into James and Regina. They cracked their necks and sighed. "That curse you gave us. It didn't work" James said. "Oh, so worried. So, so worried. Like your brother and his lovely wife" Rumplestilskin said. James and Regina looked at each other. "What" Regina asked. "They paid me a visit as well, They were very anxious about you two and the curse" Rumplestilskin said stepping closer to the bars of his cell. James and Regina walked closer to the dark one's cell. "What did you tell them" Regina asked. "The truth. That nothing can stop the Darkness" Rumplestilskin said. James and Regina looked at each other and smiled. Even the dark one is saying nothing can stop this curse. They were finally going to win.
"Except, of course, their unborn child. You see, no matter how powerful, all curses can be broken" Rumplestilskin said, The smile left James and Regina's faces. Rumplestilskin smiled at them. "Their child is the key. Of course the curse has to be enacted first" he said. "Tell us what we did wrong" James said. "For that, there's a price" Rumplestilskin said. "What do you want" Regina asked. "Simple. In this new land, I want comfort. I want a good life" he said. "Fine. You'll have an estate. Be rich" James said. "I wasn't finished. There's more" Rumplestilskin said. "There always is with you" Regina said. "In this new land, should I ever come to the two of you for any reason, you guys must heed my every request. You guys must do whatever I say. So long as I say please" Rumplestilskin said looking at them with anticipation. "You do realize that should we succeed, you won't remember any of this" Regina said. "Oh, well, then, what's the harm" Rumplestilskin asked. "Deal" Regina said smiling.
Rumplestilskin looked at James expectantly. James rolled his eyes. In this new land the dark one wouldn't be a threat to him and Regina. He didn't see the harm in making this deal with the dark one. "Fine deal. Now how do we enact the curse" James asked. Rumplestilkin smiled and backed away from the bars that held him in his cell. "You need to sacrifice a heart" Rumplestilskin said. "I sacrificed my prized steed" Regina said. Rumplestilskin lunged at Regina and grabbed her face from behind the bars. Regina grunted. "A horse? This is the curse to end all curses. You think a horse is gonna do? Great power requires great sacrifice. The heart you need must come from something far more precious" Rumplestilskin said. Just then his hand burned and he pulled it away from Regina and back in the cell. James had just burned his hand. "Ever grab my wife like that again and you will have to deal with me" James said. Rumplestilskin smiled.
"You hate your brother so much but you are just like him. You both would do anything to protect the women you love. Your more similar than you care to admit" he said. James ignored him and focused his attention on Regina. "Are you OK" he asked. Regina smiled at him and nodded her head. "Yes I'm fine" she said. She turned her attention to the dark one. "Tell us what will suffice" Regina said. "The heart of the thing you guys love most" Rumplestilskin said. James glared at the dark one. "What we loved most died because of my brother and Snow White" he said. "Is there no one else you guys truly love" Rumplestilskin asked. James and Regina looked at each other. They knew the answer to that but they just didn't want to admit it to themselves. "This curse isn't going to be easy. Vengeance never is, dearie's. You two have to ask yourselves a simple question. How far are you guys willing to go" Rumplestilskin asked. Regina leaned in close to the dark one. "As far as it takes" she said. "Then please stop wasting everyone's time and just do it. You two know what you guys love. Now go kill it" Rumplestilskin said bringing his face inches from Regina's. James and Regina waqlked out of the dungeon. They knew what they had to do but it was going to be hard for them to do.
A half hour later Charming and Maleficent walked into the dungeon. "Maleficent my dear it's nice to see you and look you brought your son. Wow Prince Charming twice in one day. You must really be desperate" Rumplestilskin said. "I am. The fate of my family and my kingdom is on the line" Charming said. "You know all about this curse so tell us how do we protect the kingdom and my son's family from this curse. There has to be a way" Maleficent said. Rumplestilskin let out a laugh. "There is no way to protect the kingdom or your family from the curse. It's coming and you will all be separated from the one's you love" he said. Charming and Maleficent looked at each other. "You said my daughter would break the curse. How" Charming asked. Rumplestilskin shook his head. "You get nothing from me for free" he said. "What do you want" Maleficent asked. Rumplestilskin let out another laugh. "Trust me the two of you have nothing I want. Now leave I'm done helping people for today" Rumplestilskin said retreating into a dark corner of his cell. "Wait tell me how to protect my daughter" Charming said. He got no answer. "Honey it's OK we don't need him. We'll figure out how to stop this curse ourselves" Maleficent said. Rumplestilskin watched from the corner of his cell as the mistress of all evil and her son left. He smiled. Everything was going perfectly according to plan. No one was going to be able stop what was coming. These people were to easy. They were like chess pieces and he was moving them around the board flawlessly. Now all he had to do was wait and his master plan would come into fruition.