Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-5634526-20141008124905/@comment-24674051-20141022165646

Well, it is rather clear the the Sorcerer's hat is the one thing that can break the Dark One curse. And given that every dark one has sought the hat, but none until Rumple have possessed it, makes it seem like there are possibly several more dark ones prior to Rumple, and that each dark one possesses at least some knowledge possesed by the previous ones.

Also, how old is the Sorcerer's apprentice? He appeared old when he fought Zoso, and who knows how long that was prior to Rumple becoming the Dark One.