Rumplestiltskin was able to alter his course when he stole the dagger that controlled The Dark One and killed him with it, taking on his powers and curse. With his vast magical powers, Rumplestiltskin terrorized his fellow villagers, leading Baelfire to ask for help from The Blue Fairy. The Fairy gave him a magic bean to transport him and his father to a land without magic, but at the last moment Rumplestiltskin refused to go, sending Baelfire into the void alone. Rumple swore he would find a way to get back to his son, even if it took a curse of unimaginable power to do so.