Reply To: Rumple's Happy Ending: A Theory

[Slurpeez]

In 4×16, Rumple said that all magic comes at a price, and that he has so much debt he could never hope to repay. It sounds to me like the consequence might be losing his humanity, and that what concerns him is changing the rules of magic so that he’s no longer indebted or weighed down by the cost of his dark one curse.

In 4×12, Rumple said he wanted to survive for his happy ending. His son was his happy ending. It just is so confusing now exactly what Rumple’s happy ending now looks like since (1) his son died and (2) his marriage is effectively over. It sounds to me that Rumple’s idea of a happy ending now is to be free of the high cost of magic without actually losing his magic.

There was a deleted scene from 4×2 in which Rumple and Henry had a talk. The reason it was cut was because it contained too may spoilers for the rest of the season, such as Henry’s lineage potentially making him the next Author or Rumple’s potentially dying. What I liked about it was it revealed Rumple’s mindset.

Rumple: The truth is memories are more often bad than good. We make mistakes throughout our lives. There’s no avoiding them. And they’re woven into a heavy cloak of regret that we wear until we die. Believe me, mine is heavier than most. But it’s bearing it that makes you learn, makes you strong.
Henry: Have you learned?
Rumple: It’s a gradual process.

Rumple must’ve known for some time that things are changing with regards to his health or immortality. He said his mistakes are “woven into a heavy cloak of regret until we die.” I think Rumple knew even then that the price of his dark magic would eventually catch up with him and perhaps, result in his death, which is why he attempted to cleave himself from the dagger via the sorcerer’s hat. Yet that failed, because according to Rumple, the odds are staked against the villains.

Rumple has led the witches to believe that they need to darken Emma’s heart so that the villains get their happy ending. But I doubt Rumple really cares about the other villains getting their happy endings, since the only happy ending Rumple is really concerned with is his own. I now think his goal is to survive, rather than to die, by making it so that he doesn’t have to pay the price of dark magic. He wants the Author to change the laws of magic so that the dark one doesn’t have to pay the price of dark magic.

To do this, I think Rumple needs the literal heart of the savior, which I predict is gold in color, like Henry’s. I think Rumple wants to drive the darkness of his heart into Emma’s literal heart, just like the Apprentice drove Emma’s potential for darkness into Lily. Rumple wants to transfer his own darkness into Emma’s pure heart so that she, rather than he, must pay the price of his dark magic.

Remember how Peter Pan led Henry to believe magic in Neverland was dying and that only Henry could save it? Yet what Pan ultimately wanted was Henry’s heart to save himself. What if Rumple wants Emma’s heart to save himself the way Peter Pan wanted Henry’s heart of the truest believer? Perhaps Emma’s heart is the key ingredient Rumple needs to pay the price of magic without actually losing his magic.

I do think the chances of Rumple dying are increasing with every episode that passes. However, I think what Rumple really wants is live forever without being weighed down by the heavy cloak of his dark magic. What he needs is Emma’s literal heart, which is full of magic. While Rumple might succeed temporarily, like Pan did, I think his goal won’t be successful long term and that he will end up dying to pay the price of his dark magic.