Board Thread:Character Discussion/@comment-26229833-20180723172045/@comment-25375217-20180723172533

1) The Guardian was, supposedly, the only way to get rid of his powers. Rumple obviously didn't want to burden Alice, but he also knew that if he didn't, he would (supposedly) be stuck as the Dark One forever. Kind of the same situation as Season 3 where he was debating whether or not to save Henry. He didn't really want to kill Henry and knew it was the wrong thing to do, but he also didn't want to die himself.

2) Yes, he was rid of his powers, but the Guardian was also supposed to make sure he was reunited with Belle. Since he lost his powers in a different way, he still had all of his crimes against humanity to deal with and expected he'd end up in the Worse Place. I think Alice explains this as Rumple prepares to die. I'm not sure about the prophecy -- we were told that it had already been fulfilled by Rumple sacrificing himself to kill Pan, anyway, so I don't know that it really matters.