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.

Description

 * 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.
 * Dark Ones cannot use Foresight, even though Merlin, who also got his magic from the Holy Grail, can. But they can manage it to have it afterwards.
 * 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.
 * When appearing in a Dark One's mind, the Darkness can manifest itself into whoever Dark One it wishes, including the current one.
 * 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.
 * They can also be put into sleep by using sleeping spells.
 * Because once tethered to the Dark One's Dagger, the Darkness and the dagger are connected. As a result, the dagger can sometimes call its "other half" by whispering.
 * All Dark Ones seem to find it irresistible to make deals.
 * According to Mr. Gold, a person who dies as a Dark One must have an unfinished business, therefore this person is automatically sent to the Underworld.

Trivia

 * -|On-Screen Notes=

On-Screen Notes

 * Zoso, as a Dark One, appears in the title card for "Desperate Souls" ; Rumplestiltskin, as another Dark One, appears in the title card for "In the Name of the Brother" . The Darkness itself 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".
 * The waterfall in the pocket dimension inside the Vault of the Dark One is liquid darkness.
 * There is information about the Dark Ones written in the Dark One Chronicles.
 * The fact that Emma still can hear the whispers from the dagger indicate that there's still some Darkness left in her.


 * -|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.