Darkness

"I'm many things. I'm the voice in your head; the Dark One's powers inside you, inside all the Dark Ones."

- The Darkness, under Rumplestiltskin's appearance, to Emma

The Darkness, and its host the Dark One, is a magical entity featured on ABC's Once Upon a Time. It débuts in the first episode of the first season.

Known Dark Ones

 * Nimue † (Original Dark One)
 * At least eighteen unnamed Dark Ones †
 * Gorgon †
 * Zoso †
 * Rumplestiltskin / Mr. Gold
 * Emma Swan (Darkness removed)
 * Killian Jones (Darkness removed)

Trivia
|-|On-Screen Notes=

On-Screen Notes

 * Rumplestiltskin, as the Dark One, appears in the title card for "In the Name of the Brother". The Darkness appears in the title card for "Birth". The hooded figures of all Dark Ones prior to Rumplestiltskin appear in the title card for "Swan Song".
 * True love's kiss will not break a Dark One's curse if the Dark One likes the power and does not want to give it up. When the afflicted wants it, it is no longer a curse. Nor will true love's kiss work if both people involved are Dark Ones.
 * According to Cora and Mr. Gold, when the Dark One is killed without the dagger, she/he will expel the power of the darkness, with no new Dark One, and the curse will "pass from this world".
 * The Darkness is immortal. This is a result of Nimue drinking the waters of the Holy Grail.
 * Dark Ones don't need sleep, as the power of the Darkness keeps them energized. Dark Ones such as Rumplestiltskin and Emma Swan developed hobbies to pass the time instead; Rumplestiltskin spun straw into gold and Emma made dreamcatchers.
 * However, they can and do sleep.
 * The waterfall in the pocket dimension inside the Vault of the Dark One is liquid darkness.
 * All Dark Ones find it irresistible to make deals.
 * There is information about the Dark Ones written in the Dark One Chronicles.


 * -|Cultural References=

Disney

 * When Emma emerges from vault, the Darkness (in the form of Rumplestiltskin) can be heard whistling "Whistle While You Work" from Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Appearances
Note: "Archive" denotes archive footage.