I do want to point out that the Author doesn't exist in this story. The story line wasn't well thought out and honestly unneeded. The Dark Curse could have simply created the book for Henry to use to get Emma to Storybrooke. After all, the curse was built around the idea of eventually being broken. In fact, that's what I thought originally happened.

This song was written by Roses & Revolutions.

Chapter 4: Big Bad Wolf

Storybrooke

Ruby and Archie were silent as they made their way through town, alternatively glancing over their shoulders. The night was calm and pleasantly cool with a clear crescent moon hanging in the sky. There was a very light breeze and the smell of salt hung in the air. The town was utterly silent.

Seeing the small cottage, they hurried up the short steps and knocked on the door. Shuffling sounds could be heard from the inside making them nervous. Glancing at each other they were startled when the Apprentice abruptly answered the door.

"Can I help you?" The Apprentice asked as he looked between the two.

"May we come in?" Archie asked, "I'm Dr. Archie Hopper and this is Ruby Hood. We have a few questions."

He motioned for them to come in and asked them to sit. Ruby and Archie nervously perched on the edge of the couch and watched as the Apprentice sat across from them.

"What is this about?" He began, "I am rather surprised to see the town conscience and werewolf together, at night, with the full moon so close."

Ruby said nothing, she just pinched her lips together, but Archie was not to be deterred. He wasn't afraid of Ruby. Never really had been. That was one advantage of being a cricket, man's natural predators no longer scared him.

Archie began, "This town is on the brink of chaos, and the only person we think can fix it is Rumpelstiltskin."

"Why would a villain such as Rumpelstiltskin help you?" the Apprentice asked calmly.

Archie paused, stuck searching for the right words. Looking at Ruby, who nodded in encouragement, he finally answered, "Because there is good in Rumpelstiltskin. If there wasn't, we would all have been dead a long time ago."

The Apprentice cocked his head in thought and then nodded in agreement, "Rumpelstiltskin is a very interesting case. Of all Dark Ones, he has been cursed the longest. He seems to have a natural affinity for keeping the Darkness at bay. I have always wondered why."

"Could it be love?" Archie asked, "He was very attached to his son."

"Possibly," The Apprentice agreed, "I have known other Dark Ones. None of them were as "human" as Rumpelstiltskin. By the end, a few had turned into nothing but wild creatures capable of horrible atrocities."

Archie and Ruby said nothing for a moment. They once again glanced nervously at each other. It was really beginning to sink in just how cursed Rumpelstiltskin was. It was one thing to know the Darkness existed. However, it was another thing to truly believe that this curse wasn't of Gold's own making. Both had believed that the curse was something that Gold brought on his own self, not something that happened to him. It brought home just how important the dagger was to Storybrooke's continued existence.

Finally, Ruby said, "Belle isn't protecting the dagger. She just totes it around in her purse. Anyone could steal it. Honestly, I trust Rumpelstiltskin with it far more than I do anyone else. It seems everyone is easily corrupted by the idea of using that thing."

"You are not wrong Ms. Hood," The Apprentice agreed, "However, while I do not trust Mrs. Gold to keep it safe, I am not sure that I trust Rumpelstiltskin with it either."

"Then what do you purpose we do," Ruby asked with a huff, "Belle is making me nervous."

"Give it to the Savior of course," The Apprentice suggested but Archie and Ruby both made disagreeable noises at that idea.

"She is dating Hook," Ruby said with contempt, "She would give it to him just on principle. It doesn't matter that Mr. Gold is Henry's Grandfather or that Hook is just as much a villain."

"She isn't acting very Savior like," Archie added.

"I'm not speaking of Storybooke's Savior," the Apprentice replied as he stood up and walked over to his bookshelf, "I have realized that Emma Swan is currently troubled. She would not be an appropriate choice to safeguard the dagger. I'm speaking of this world's Savior".

"The Land Without Magic has a Savior?" Archie asked, confused at the prospect. His memories of the wider world may be false, but they did remind him that this world was very large.

"This is not the Land Without Magic," the Apprentice replied, taking a book from the bookshelf and handing it to Ruby. It was an extremely slim book created out of red leather. It had maybe twenty or so pages and on the spine the words "The Chosen One" were embossed in gold. The cover showed a young woman with a lightning bolt scar, holding a wand, with a huge imposing castle in the background. She wore a determined expression on her face. Ruby was startled when the picture began to move. She watched as the young woman was seen fighting an unseen entity, using her wand as a weapon.

"This book appeared here, along with all the others, during this last curse. The Apprentice said, "While the book isn't large, it does have enough information to start your journey." The Apprentice paused and took a sip of water, "Just know that this is the Land of Hidden Magic. According to the book, that young woman has saved this world from a great evil. She would be the perfect person to help us."

"And how are we to leave Storybrooke to find her?" Archie asked absently. He was watching the young woman twirl and twist. He itched to open the book and delve into its contents. There was something about the young woman that drew him in. The way she moved was fascinating.

"That I cannot tell you," The Apprentice replied with a sad smile, "But I can say that I will speak with Mrs. Gold and convince her to give me the dagger to safeguard. Between the three of us, surely, we can find a way to protect this town from those that would do it harm."

Archie reached out and touched the book, taking it gently out of Ruby's hands. He didn't know how they were going to move forward but he suspected that some of those answers would be found in the book.

Ruby, for her part, was anxious about the next step in the plan. She was doubly anxious about the dagger now that she knew more about the Dark One. It did make sense that Gold's extreme behavior would coincide with someone else's will being imposed on the dagger. Although she was glad, they now seemed to be one step closer to a concrete plan. She was even more worried what Gold would be like once they were able to find him.

Grimly Ruby said, "It's about time we do something for ourselves instead of allowing the "heroes" to do it."

The Apprentice smiled, "I couldn't agree more."

Regina was holding her phone in a crushing grip. She was listening to what Robin had to say but she couldn't believe most of it.

Gold killed Zelena? Gold had his powers? Gold had helped Robin? Zelena had still been alive?

"What does he want in return?" Regina asked with an edge to her voice. There was always something with Rumpelstiltskin. No good deed went unrewarded with him.

"Nothing that I know of," Robin said as he hurriedly packed "He wasn't in a good place Regina. We found him wandering the streets and brought him back to the apartment. He was dirty and unkempt and out of his mind. When he came to, he realized Marian was Zelena."

Regina sighed. She didn't even know how to respond to that. Gold unkempt? When had she seen Rumpelstiltskin look anything but pristine? Even in Neverland, he had looked more put together then the rest of them and they were all traipsing across an island!

Grimacing at the memories she said, "You need to get back here."

"But how do I get back in?" Robin asked. His voice high in frustration and fear, "I don't want to stay here a moment longer. While I am worried about Mr. Gold. I'm even more worried someone is going to realize Marian is missing!"

"I'm working on it, Robin," Regina said, placing her hand on her kitchen counter and leaning forward. She could feel panic creeping up. Any other time she would run to the pawnshop and ask Rumpelstiltskin for help, but since he was banished and not picking up his phone, she had to reason it out on her own.

She was not a fan of that.

"Can you call his cell phone?" Regina asked, pacing, "I have tried to call him a couple times since his banishment, but it goes to voicemail and his voicemail is full."

"He probably doesn't have one," Robin said, "I think something other than banishment was on his mind."

"What do you mean?" Regina asked, stopping and frowning. Something worse than Zelena?

"Right before he disappeared," Robin replied, "His eyes changed. They looked like they had in the Enchanted Forest. It was almost like he was turning back into the Imp."

Regina made a click with her tongue, that didn't sound good in the slightest. She needed Robin back before Gold sought him out for payment. Or to use him as leverage.

"I'll ask Emma," Regina said, "Maybe she can think of something to bring you home."

"I don't care who you ask," Robin responded, "Just get me out of her Regina."

"I will," Regina vowed, "I promise."

She hung up and called Emma. She heard the other woman's groggy voice whisper sleepily, "Hello?"

"Emma, I need your help." Regina was throwing on her coat and was heading out the door. She wouldn't lose another true love again, not if she could help it, "It's important."

The Apprentice calmly walked his visitors to the door. Once it was firmly closed behind them and the dead bolt back in place, he leaned against the door in exhaustion. The mere mention of the Dark One always set his teeth on edge. Rumpelstiltskin more than the rest.

He never could understand it. The Darkness should have already taken him over. It was the pattern, the Darkness took a host, burnt them out, and in an act of desperation the host manipulated someone into murdering them. Then the cycle continued. However, it deviated with Rumpelstiltskin.

Why?

Did the Darkness find what it was looking for?

Did Rumpelstiltskin have some unknown power no other had?

Most of the lore and his personal experience with the Dark One, always included a master or mistress. Someone who controlled the Dark One. Yet, Rumpelstiltskin only recently had to deal with that problem. The consequences of that being Michael's and the fairy's entrapment in the hat and Rumpelstiltskin's banishment. He was still uncertain how they were all released from the hat. Nobody had admitted to helping them and the Savior had been content with not knowing.

Shaking his head, he moved to his bookshelf and listlessly began looking through the tiles.

Did Rumpelstiltskin's freedom somehow slow the spread of the curse?

He knew Dr. Hopper preferred the idea of love, and while love was powerful, it wasn't enough against the Darkness. If it had been, there would have been no Dark One in the first place. Merlin would have been able to help Nimue.

He remembered what Merlin had said about the Darkness, "It came out of nowhere Michael. One minute she had been herself, and the next…she was gone."

Sighing, Michael decided it was late and slowly made his way to his bedroom, turning off his lights as he went. He was tired. He had lived a very long life, and since coming to Storybrooke he felt every bit of those years. Laying down, Michael stared into the darkness of his room, still trying to process all of the information he had.

He was uncertain about helping Rumpelstiltskin. However, with Storybooke increasingly becoming dangerous, the Savior being unhelpful, and nowhere to turn, Michael couldn't afford to remain neutral. This town would fall to darkness without help.

He just wished that help wasn't in the shape of Rumpelstiltskin. The Imp could easily help the town if he so chose. Or he could embrace the town's dark nature and cause it to implode.

That thought kept Michael up for the rest of the night.