I would like to start this with a disclaimer: I have my own sort of interpretation about the curse of the Dark One. So it'll probably be different from the interpretation of the show or from other people's thoughts. Please do message me in case you want discuss this in detail. I do appreciate reviewer 'Lord Pain's' (cannot reply to review for some reason) insights on the Dark Curse. I honestly didn't understand it at all and came up with something that I actually want to develop into another story. I feel like there are many sides to the dark Curse that what we have seen.

I'm marking this and finished because I don't know yet how to incorporate Neal in the next few episodes. But if I do find another opportunity to include Neal in any future episodes I will do so! Thanks for all the feedback!

Anyway, on with the 2nd part!

Belle felt him shaking as soon as she took his arm and left Emma's basement. His shaking intensified as they moved away from Emma's house and nearer to their own. Merida, seeing the struggle, helped in keeping him upright. When they finally arrived at the Victorian, Rumple was a shaking mess who they only manage to guide down to the sofa.

"I can't believe I just did that," whispered Rumple as he covered his face with his hands.

"Which part?" asked Merida. "Puling the sword or acting like a hero and threatening Emma? Because I can say for a fact that it didn't look like an act to me or to her."

"It was an act," said Rumple. "It was a plan to get your heart back and find out what happened to your brothers. We weren't even sure it would actually work."

"And yet you pulled Excalibur out from that stone, Rumple," said Belle kneeling in front of him. "The sword wouldn't have yielded to just anyone. It would have only been pulled by a hero who deep inside knew he was one as well."

"She's right," said Merida. "If you didn't believe it yourself then you'd be dust."

Belle glared at her but Merida just shrugged her shoulders. It had been a long day. They had offered Merida their home for the time being until they figured out how she could get back home. Merida also wanted to repay them for getting her heart back by making sure the two were protected from Emma.

"Do you have any of those freezing block things?" asked Merida, placing her weapons down. "It'll help with his wrist and ankles."

"I'm fine," began Rumple as Belle raised his sleeves to see the rope burns around his wrist.

"Did you do all this?" asked Belle as she glared at Merida.

"Recently," answered Rumple. "But most of them came from when I was in Emma's basement."

"That was worse," said Merida. "At least I had him sit down when I tied him, Emma had him standing up for who knows how long."

Belle's eyes widened at the information. She should have done more in looking for him. He had suffered so much during his time in Emma's hands.

"Where else are you hurt?"

"It's ok really," said Rumple.

"Rumple, I believe you said earlier today that you should know never to argue with me by now," said Belle, her eyes pushing him to tell her the truth.

"My leg," said Rumple. "I've been putting more weight on it since the forest."

Belle sighed. "Merida, could you go that way and get a bowl of cold water and a cloth. There's also a small white box somewhere. I'm sure you'll find it and bring them here." She pointed to the kitchen and Merida nodded her head. It was the least she could do after what she had done to Rumple.

"Rumple take off your shirt," ordered Belle.

"Belle really, I'm—"

"Rumple," began Belle. "I know you're hurting so please let me help you."

It was her eyes that convinced him to slowly remove his jacket, vest and tie. She helped in unbuttoning his shirt and Belle gasped at what she saw. His entire torso was covered in different shades of bruises.

"I do apologize," said Merida, returning. "Half of those probably came from me."

She had a basin half-filled with water, a cloth and she had managed to find the first aid kit. Belle looked through it and found some bandages and some pain meds which she offered to Rumple, who swallowed them.

She proceeded to bandage his torso but knew she'd probably ask Neal to look at his father's wounds once he arrives or she would call Victor for a house call. She still didn't want to inform the heroes of what had happened, particularly about Rumple pulling out the sword. Because she knew for sure the heroes would only twist that again and turn it against Rumple and how he now helped the Dark One in snuffing out the light.

"There," said Belle. "But I'm going to ask Neal to look at them again in case we need to bring you to the hospital."

Rumple nodded and Belle smiled knowing too well that he didn't argue because of his earlier statement.

"Could I stay here?" asked Rumple.

"It's your house Rumple," said Belle, her face changing to confusion.

"I…thought it wasn't anymore," whispered Rumple and Belle felt like someone punched her in the stomach.

"I…think I want to go outside and ummm see the stars, yes that's good," said Merida, leaving the two of them alone.

"Rumple," said Belle sitting down on the sofa beside him. "I…we we're both at fault with what happened."

"No, I—"

"No Rumple," said Belle, looking at him straight in the eyes. "You should have told me and I should have let you explain instead of just leaving you out there with nothing."

"You had every right to do that Belle," said Rumple. "I have done nothing but betray your trust and confidence in me."

"And I have done the same Rumple," said Belle, placing her hands on his shoulders. "I know we should probably talk but not now. A lot has happened today and I'm just glad to finally see you alive and awake." She leaned her forehead against his and she heard him take a deep breath.

They were far from being fix but it was a small step towards getting there.

Neal waited in the car as Henry got his things from Regina's house. He had also stayed behind when Henry went to the crypt. The heroes had been trying to reach Merlin and apparently Arthur had deceived them and now needed someone chosen by Merlin to contact the wizard.

Henry, who had taken on the mantle of the Author, was a chosen of Merlin and his son had tried but only received a more mysterious message from Merlin. That a person called Nimue was there only hope of stopping the Dark One.

Neal was knowledgeable in a way with Arthurian knowledge and if he was right, Nimue was the name of the Lady of the Lake, the ruler of Avalon. In some stories, the love interest of Merlin, in others an enemy. Whatever was going on, things weren't good.

"All set," said Henry as he got into the car and impatiently waved his hand so his father would get a move on. "Come on Dad. We need to get back to the Victorian! I want to know what happened!"

"You and me both buddy," said Neal as he started the Cadillac and headed for the Victorian. As soon as Neal parked the car, Henry dove out and ran to the front door. Neal shaking his head and moving as fast as he could to open the door.

"Just us," he called as he opened the front door.

"We're here!" replied Belle and Neal and Henry made their way to the living room to see Merida sitting on the floor and Belle and his father occupying the sofa. Neal frowned upon seeing his father. He had his shirt unbuttoned and showed his torso wrapped in bandages. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up and the Neal could see clearly the rope burns that were around his wrist.

"We should probably call Whale," said Neal.

"I've given him some pain killers," said Belle. "But I will call Victor tomorrow and ask him to do a house call."

"Probably a good idea," said Neal and he and Henry told them about the failed attempt to contact Merlin and about Arthur's treachery.

"But he pulled the Excalibur from the stone before," said Belle. "What has happened since then?"

"I remember his wife and Lancelot coming for the dagger before," said Rumple. "It was how I got the gauntlet. She wanted to the dagger so Arthur could make Excalibur whole."

"But you didn't give it to her," said Belle. "And I remember you having the gauntlet when you returned from Camelot. How did you do that?"

"She exchanged it for a bottle of sands from Avalon," explained Rumple. "It can fix anything. Even a broken heart."

"Are you saying that Guinevere doesn't love Arthur?" asked Henry.

"Well she was awfully close to Lancelot when I saw them," said Rumple.

"Ok, so Arthur is someone we need to keep an eye on," said Neal. "But what I really want to know is what have you been doing Papa?"

Rumple gave his son a small smile. Trust his own son to be a very impatient man, just like he was when he was young. As the two sat on the floor, Rumple began with how he woke up in Emma's basement, briefly, before Emma knocking him unconscious again with her magic. The next thing he knew he was bound to the gate in Emma's basement, alone and looking at Excalibur.

"She went down to the basement often and I could hear her talking to someone," said Rumple. "I'm pretty sure she was talking to a manifestation of the Darkness that was trying to entice her, seducing her to do things."

"Like the one I saw and heard when we shared a mind?" asked Neal. Neal shuddered at the memory. When he and his father shared a mind, Neal became a witness to his father's battle with the Darkness. It took on different forms but most of the time it was Rumplestiltskin himself. Telling him to do things that he did not want and his father suffering when he showed resistance.

The greatest price he paid was that the Darkness was able to penetrate the protection his father had on his human heart. As Rumple tried to protect the Darkness from hurting Neal when they resisted the pull and commands of the Darkness, it resulted in the Darkness penetrating his heart. It was then that his heart started turning black…the Darkness finally could conquer a human host and once the host's heart was erased of its humanity, the Darkness would remain.

"I believe all the Dark Ones had to face a manifestation of the Darkness," said Rumple. "I remembered it telling me that it will disappear once I accepted the Darkness but I think I never truly did."

"You used the power to save children from the Ogre Wars," said Henry. "And then you used it to find Dad. I don't think that was what the Darkness pictured as the use of Dark Magic."

"Back to Emma," said Neal. "She said she wanted to turn you into a hero and that she had a job for you. What was it?"

"To pull Excalibur from the stone," said Rumple and both his son and grandson's eyes went wide. "She then ordered Merida to take me to the woods and begin. At that time, I had no idea what she meant until Merida told me to pick-up a sword."

"What is this?" asked Neal. "Hero-training like the one in Mulan or something?"

"Really dad?" said Henry. "I was thinking more of the lines of Hercules."

"Well he has a girl worth fighting for," said Neal and Belle could only roll her eyes at the two.

"We're getting side-tracked," said Belle and motioned for Merida to continue with the story.

"Which he didn't do," said Merida. "Your father is a very stubborn man. Until I reminded him what he had to fight for."

"And what was that?" asked Neal.

"Dad!" said Henry, giving him a look. "Do you really have to ask? You just mentioned Mulan and Girl Worth Fighting For"

Merida fished out a pouch and gently handed it to Belle. "After he was able to hold his own with a sword, I went to get Emma and found these on the floor. He broke it so he could escape and get to you."

"I'm so sorry Belle," whispered Rumple as Belle took the pouch and opened it to see the remains of the cup.

"It's all there," said Merida. "I'm sure you'll be able to fix it."

"I don't have magic anymore," said Rumple sadly. "I don't think—"

"There is the magic of glue Rumple," said Belle with a smile. "And I'm glad you used our chipped cup to get back to me. It's always been doing that for us."

Belle continued the tale from there. How she had been in the library when Rumple managed to get in the lift and arrived in the library. How they managed to get to the shop but Merida arrived soon after.

"What did you have in the shop?" asked Neal.

Rumple sighed and Belle grasped his hand. She knew that Rumple was struggling with the next part of the story and how he would tell it.

"Neal," began Belle. "You have to understand. Emma was coming after us and—"

"You were going to run," said Neal and he looked at his father who avoided his gaze. "Papa, its ok I understand. I ran away from my problems last time. But I came back, just as I assume you did as well."

"He came back and saved me," said Belle and she told them what happened and how Emma had given Merida a potion that transformed her into a bear. The bear almost devoured Belle but Rumple interfered and managed to transform Merida back and that's when Henry and Neal had arrived.

"Oh that's not where you are ending this," said Neal knowing too well that there was more.

"You had things to do," said Henry, recalling their conversation in the woods. "Seeing as Merida is no longer trying to kill you. You must have gotten her heart back."

"I offered her a deal," said Rumple.

"Merida's heart for what exactly," said Neal, not liking the sound of that.

"I would try and pull Excalibur from the stone," said Rumple.

"You what?!" chorused father and son.

"Papa are you crazy?" asked Neal. "With that, Emma could succeed in ridding the world of light magic."

"For her to forge the sword as one, she would the sacred spark that was used to create the weapon in the first place," said Rumple. "I doubt she'll find it here."

"Wait are you telling me that you did it grandpa?" asked Henry his eyes wide in realization.

Neal looked at his father. "You did!"

"How do you even know that?" asked Belle with a smile.

"Well he's not dust or anything," said Henry. "He's alive and breathing and he just said that even if mom had Excalibur she wouldn't be able to fix it just yet and we have time. Implying that my mom has the sword because grandpa did it!"

"I wonder when he gets his brains from," said Rumple. "I sure doubt that he got it from Bae or from Regina's upbringing."

"Hey!" stated Neal but he didn't dwell on it. "Papa, please just answer the question. Did you or did you not pull Excalibur from the stone?"

"I did."

"YOU PULLED EXCALIBUR FROM THE STONE!" exclaimed both Neal and Henry at the same time both getting to their feet.

"Do you know what this means, grandpa?"

"You actually did it, Papa!"

"YOU'RE A HERO!" exclaimed the two at the same time again and Belle couldn't help but smile as Rumple shook his head but a smile on his lips.

"Would you two mind calming down a bit," said Rumple. "My heart is racing for your shouts."

"Sorry," father and son chorused and Belle saw just how much alike the two are.

"But Papa, you're a hero!" said Neal.

"And you recognize it as well," said Henry. "You wouldn't have been able to pull Excalibur if you yourself doubted who you are."

"He still does you know," said Merida. "But deep inside I think he is willing to be one for you three."

They looked to Merida and she continued. "He thinks he's not a hero but he would gladly do it for the three of you, the people he cares and loves the most. He's willing to be a hero for you three. And for me, that's bravery in its truest form."

"Told you," said Belle and Rumple turned to her. "I see a hero Rumple. You just need to see him as well. And I think you're starting to."

"I've always seen you as a hero Papa," added Neal. "I may have been mad at you for some time, but I always knew you were a hero. My hero."

"Someone who was willing to die to protect the people of this town should be a hero in everyone's books," said Henry. "It's time people recognize it."

Rumple looked at his family and couldn't fight the smile that found its way on his face. "Thank you."

"I think that is enough for tonight," said Belle. "Neal, let's look at his injuries tomorrow and decide from there if we need to call Victor or not. Right now, I think what we all need is some good night's sleep."

"Agreed," said Neal. "You're bunking with me buddy. Merida you can sleep in Henry's room."

"I'll lend you some clothes," said Belle. "Well if I can find some that will fit you."

"Come on Papa," said Neal and with Henry's help, they managed to guide Rumple to his bedroom. Belle helped him unto the bed and tucked him in.

"I'll just help Merida then I'll be back." said Belle and Rumple nodded, barely keeping his eyes open.

They left him to sleep and made their way out the room.

"I suddenly realized," said Henry as they silently walked to their own beds. "If he pulled Excalibur from the stone, doesn't that make him the rightful King of Camelot?"

Belle giggled. Neal playfully pushed his son. "No getting any ideas, Henry."

"What? I'm just saying that'll make me a prince of the Enchanted Forest and of Camelot."

"You just want to impress Violet."

"Do not!"

"Do too!"