I see your point RumplesGirl, and yes, he has defied himself, but we also know how that turns out. He fails. What’s important as well, is that we see him concede to Magic twice in that episode. Once by using a magical heart and again by accepting a magical cure from Mr. Gold for his severed arm. So he really does answer to Magic. He just doesn’t know it yet. So while he can see himself as God, see himself as Victor in all conflicts, the sad OUAT reality is that he is neither of those things.
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Keeper of Pandora's Box & The Yellow Brick Road.