Inside the Camelot Castle, Zelena and King Arthur appear in a cloud of green smoke after returning from their encounter with Emma and the rest of the group. And, because she is used to magic, Zelena lands just fine on her feet, but Arthur, however, drops heavily onto the floor.
"Welcome home, your majesty." The Wicked Witch says, offering the king her hand. But Arthur ignores her and sits up, looking down at his hand where Killian stepped on him. "Oh. Does that hurt? I can make it go away."
"I don't need any more of your dark magic." He glares up at the witch.
Zelena raises her brows, knowing full well he needs her. "Really? Would you rather I sent you back to face Merlin and Emma on your own?" Arthur groans slightly as he stands up, facing her. "My dark magic is what allowed us to escape after you let them take control of Excalibur." Zelena informs him.
"Because you spent the battle pinned to a tree." Arthur retorts, gratingly.
"Careful, or you'll wish you never cut me lose." She threatens.
"You think I want to be working with a villain like you? Like it or not, we still need each other."
Zelena laughs. "You mean you need me to help you finish your pitiful quest to restore Excalibur."
"Which I can use to destroy your sister - " Arthur explains as they begin walking. " - so you can escape and give birth to this precious child of yours."
Zelena stops walking and lets out a sigh as she holds her stomach. "Well, what do you suggest?" She asks, catching up with Arthur. "Because the combined power of Merlin and the Dark One makes your knights useless."
"Not true. My knights will help us defeat our foes if we give them the proper motivation. How far can your magic transport us?"
"Far enough. Why?" She asks, smiling wickedly. "Where do you want to go?"
"There's something that can help us in another land - a land called DunBroch."
DunBroch...
Merida places a yellow flower on top of her father, King Fergus', gravestone before stepping back with a smile.
"I did it, Dad. I saved the boys. And I proved to the clans that I am fit to be their Queen." She says, proudly. But her smile soon fades into a frown. "Well, I may have united the clans behind me, but now comes the hard part, ruling over them. You always made it look so easy. I wish you were here so you - I could ask you how you did it."
"He's always with you, Merida." Merida turns to find her mother, Queen Elinor, approaching. "Even if it doesn't seem like it." Queen Elinor looks sadly at the grave. "I miss him, too. But today is not a day to wallow in sadness." She says, looking back at her daughter. "Come. You can't be late to your own coronation."
Merida nods, giving her mother a smile and allowing her to lead her back to the castle.
King Arthur and Zelena are walking through the woods of DunBroch together.
"There it is." Arthur points to a cottage, leading Zelena towards it. He bursts through the door, but the cottage is silent. There's no one around - until a large guard wolf approaches the king. Arthur quickly grabs his sword. "Whoa, whoa, easy." He says, frightened by the snarling wolf which backs him towards the door. "Easy. Easy."
Zelena then throws magical dust on it, knocking it unconscious. "I see you've met me pet." The witch, who lives there, suddenly appears. "I'm afraid I won't be as easy to subdue." She warns them.
"We're here for the magic helm, I need it to save my kingdom." Arthur tells her.
This amuses the witch. "You're not the only one, dear. Unfortunately, I don't have what you're looking for."
"Where is it?" Zelena asks, angrily.
"If I knew where it was, I wouldn't have sent someone to fetch it for me."
"Who did you send to find it?" Arthur asks.
"If you're not gonna buy anything, I think it's time you leave." She prepares to cast a spell to send them away, but Zelena teleports behind her, stopping the witch by shoving her head over the cauldron. "No one out-witches me. Tell us who's looking for the helm, or you go bobbing for eye of newt."
"Alright, alright, I'll tell you." The witch gives in. "Merida of DunBroch, King Fergus' daughter." Zelena releases the witch.
"She was a prisoner in my dungeon." Arthur recalls.
"And you let her go?" Zelena scowls. "No wonder you only had half a sword."
"I didn't let her go. She escaped."
"Is that supposed to make me feel better? You're lucky I'm on your side because, when I'm done with that girl, she'll wish that she never left your prison cell."
Just hours earlier, in the DunBroch Castle, Lord Macintosh approaches the royal family, holding a crown on a cushion as bagpipes play in the background.
"On behalf, of Clans of MacIntosh, Dingwall, and MacGuffin, we freely give this crown." He bows as Queen Elinor stands and walks over, taking the crown.
"Then it is my honor to crown you, Merida of Clan DunBroch - " She walks over to her daughter, ready to set the crown on top of Merida's hand. " - as our true and rightful - " But before she can finish, they are interrupted by the witch bursting through the doors.
"Did you forget to invite me, dear?" The witch asks.
Merida quickly stands and draws her sword. "What are you doing here, witch? Is this about the magic I took?"
"No, I'm here because of another happy customer of mine - King Fergus."
"Lies. My father would never stoop so low." Merida claims as she goes to stand back near her mother.
"Well, he did not stoop - except to get through the door. But he did come for magic - " The witch reveals the contract she made with the king. " - an enchanted helm, to be exact, one that glistens like the sun."
"Merida, I'm afraid that is your father's mark." Queen Elinor recognizes the marking on the bottom of the contract which is a signature similar to King Fergus'.
"Unfortunately, King Fergus died because he could pay me what he owed." The witch goes on to say. "Um, with interest - 10,000 gold scats." She shouts towards the crowd, shocking them.
"That much gold would bankrupt the clans three times over." Merida explains, shocked by this.
"If you don't have the gold, you could simply return the helm."
"I can't return what I don't have." Merida shouts.
"Then you best find it." The witch says, turning dark. "If you don't return it by sundown tomorrow, I'll have no choice but to curse the entire kingdom!" She yells, causing the entire room to go into a panic.
"Oh, you wouldn't."
"One drop of this - " The witch shows Merida her potion. " - and all your subjects will live out the rest of their lives - " She laughs, loudly. " - as bears!"
"Quiet!" Merida orders, trying to calm the clans. "Keep your heads!"
"Harder than it looks, dear." The witch grins. "If you ever hope to wear that crown, you need to figure out how to do what your father couldn't - lead."
She then teleports away in a puff of smoke, leaving Merida standing nervously as she looks around at all her frightened subjects.
Inside Queen Elinor's bedroom, she opens up a wardrobe, looking frantically for the enchanted helm.
"You won't find the helm here." Merida says, walking in.
"I will if you help me look." Queen Elinor exclaims, frustrated. "Check that sideboard." She points as she walks to the other side of the room.
"No, you won't find it because it's not here." Queen Elinor stops searching, giving her daughter a quizzical look. "I packed that helm in Dad's trunk myself when we left to fight the southern invaders." Merida explains.
"You mean he was wearing it when - "
"When he was killed." Merida finishes. Elinor gasps, sitting down. Merida walks up, sitting opposite of her. "What was the witch on about when she said Dad didn't know how to lead? What do you think the helm's magic did?"
"Whatever it did, I'm sure Fergus had good reason for needing it." Elinor says, defending her late husband. "But right now we have a more pressing question. If the helm's lost, what are we going to do about the witch?"
Merida narrows her eyes at her mother. "I didn't say it was lost. I just said it wasn't here."
"You know where it is?" Elinor asks.
Merida kneels down in front of her mother, taking her hands. "After the knight killed Dad, he took the helm from him right there on the battlefield. Whoever the killer is, he has the helm."
"No, Merida." Elinor exclaims, standing up. "Absolutely not!"
"I haven't even said anything yet!" Merida exclaims, defensively.
Elinor looks furiously back at her daughter. "But I know what you're thinking. You are not going after him. That knight already took Fergus from me. I can't lose you, too."
Merida stands and grabs her bow. "If I don't figure out who he is and where to find him, my entire kingdom will be doomed."
"He killed your father for that thing." Elinor reminds her. "He won't give it up without a fight."
"That's what I'm counting on. Because this time, my arrow won't miss."
"Hand over the money - " Our old friend, Mulan, orders three thugs in a dark looking tavern. " - or things are going to get messy."
"Your boss promised us ten barrels of whiskey, not five." One of the thugs, Edgar, tells her.
"So? The deal's changed. Now give me what you owe him, or I'm gonna take it myself." She demands.
Edgar stands, facing the warrior. "You really think you can push us around, little lady?" He asks, pushing Mulan back.
"Touch me again, and you lose the hand." Mulan says with a smile, almost hoping that he does.
Edgar pushes her again, but a little harder this time. "Is that so!?"
Mulan draws her sword and takes out Edgar's two men before turning her attention back to him, playfully spinning her sword. "I'll let you choose." She says. "Do you want me to take the left hand or the right?"
Edgar jumps at Mulan with his dagger, but she tries to defend herself by pushing him back, only to be distracted by an arrow firing overhead and pinning Edgar against the wall. Mulan turns around to find Merida. "You're daft taking on these brutes by yourself." Merida tells her.
A frustrated Mulan then turns back to Edgar and punches him in the face, knocking him out. She looks back at Merida, placing her sword back into her sheath. "I had it under control. What are you doing here?" She asks, turning her attention to the gold.
"Looking for you. It's my kingdom and my family, Mulan. I need your help."
"Sorry, but the only person I help these days is myself."
"Where's your sense of honor?" Merida asks, amusing Mulan.
"Honor." She chuckles. "Honor won't fill my purse."
This attitude of Mulan's baffles Merida. "What's happened to you, Mulan? The warrior who taught me never cared for gold or riches."
"Then you didn't know me very well."
"If gold is what you're after, then have all I've got." Merida tosses a pouch of gold to Mulan, who catches it.
This triggers something inside Mulan. "Okay." She says, walking closer to Merida. "But on one condition."
"Aye. What's that?"
"No more questions about me." Mulan says, sternly, walking away.
Mulan and Merida are soon walking in the opening of the woods when Merida spots something in the ground. She runs over and picks it up.
"What is it?" Mulan asks.
Merida shows Mulan the arrow. "This arrow, the fletching, I'd recognize that anywhere." She smiles. "I made it."
This only confuses Mulan. "And?"
"You don't get it, do you? This is the arrow I fired on that day, the one that just missed my father's killer."
"But you didn't miss his cloak." Mulan points out as Merida pulls a piece of cloth from the arrow.
"We can use this to find him. I've got to make him pay for what he did to my dad."
"Mourn on your own time. We're wasting daylight. Let's go." She says, unsympathetically.
"What happened to you, Mulan!?" Merida yells.
"What do you mean?"
"You knew Fergus, too, but you're acting like you - like you never even met the man."
"Have you already forgotten our deal?" Mulan asks, annoyed.
"No, I remember." Merida assures her. "But what kind of friend would I be if I stuck to it? Why have you closed off your heart like this?"
"There's one lesson I didn't teach you the last time we were here. A true warrior doesn't let anything hurt them." She says before walking away.
"I love my dad." Merida tells Mulan, causing the warrior to stop. "And I won't give up until he has justice." Mulan looks back at Merida. "Look, if we find a weaver, they can tell us where this fabric was made."
"Wait." Mulan stops Merida from walking any further. She places her hand on the ground, sensing something. "Someone's coming."
"That's a clever little trick - " Zelena suddenly appears with King Arthur. Mulan and Merida quickly draw their weapons. " - but not clever enough." Zelena grabs her stomach. "Come now. You wouldn't attack a mother-to-be, would you?"
"Arthur, what are you doing here?" Merida asks. "I'm not going back to your dungeon if that's what you're thinking."
"You really think I'd come all the way to this wretched place just to drag you back to Camelot?" Arthur scoffs.
"We're here for something else, dear - your father's helm." Zelena reveals.
"You, the witch - why does everybody want that bloody helmet?" Merida asks, frustrated.
"It's the only way I'll ever save my kingdom." Arthur tells her.
"So had the witch threatened to turn your people into bears, too?"
Arthur smiles, clearly amused, coming to the realization. "You don't even know what the helm does, do you?" Merida is silent, answering his question. "It has the power to make other men fight your battles, however dangerous they may be."
"Are you lying?" Merida asks, shakily, looking over at Mulan. "That can't be."
"It is." Arthur confirms. "And it's the only way I'll ever get my knights to stand up to Merlin and the Dark One."
"No." Merlin shakes her head, upset. "My dad would never use magic to force people to fight for him."
"Aw, apparently, Daddy Dearest wasn't the great king that you thought he was." Zelena taunts.
"Back off." Mulan warns the villains. Arthur draws his sword as well. "We need that helm to stop the witch from cursing this land.
"I'm afraid you're gonna have to find some other way to do that." Arthur says, pointing his sword at them.
"And who will even notice?" Zelena wonders. "These people are practically animals already."
"Even if we wanted to give it to you, we can't. We don't have it." Mulan says.
"Perhaps you don't, but we will." Zelena uses her magic to take Merida's bow.
Merida rushes forward, desperate to get her bow back. "That belonged to my father!"
Mulan quickly stops Merida from going closer. "I know." Zelena reveals. "And with a simple locator spell, it'll lead us to another one of his possessions - the helm."
"No." Merida continues to fight against Mulan. "But that bow was the last thing he ever gave me."
"Ooh." Zelena frowns, not caring. "Then you'll have to console yourself with memories and the knowledge of what a terrible ruler he turned out to be." She grimaces, laughing. "Ta-ta." She waves her hand, teleporting Arthur and herself away.
Merida rushes back to the horses, followed by Mulan.
"Where are you going?"
"Where do you think?" Merida asks. "Home."
"Well, don't. There's no need." Mulan tells her. "They may have your bow, but we have this." She holds up the cloth. "We'll find that helm first."
"Oh, you don't get it, do you? It's not about how we find the helm - it's about what the helm's magic does."
"Why does that matter?"
"Well, 'cause now I understand what the witch meant when she said my dad couldn't lead." Merida explains. "If he can't do it without magic, how can I?"
"Merida - " Mulan attempts to comfort her friend.
"No." But Merida refuses to listen. "My father used dark magic to lead innocent men to their deaths, and he paid the price for it. He died, too. I'm not gonna make the rest of the kingdom suffer just to prove I could do what he couldn't."
Mulan watches as Merida jumps on the back of one of the horses. "So you're gonna let the witch curse DunBroch?"
"No, I'm gonna do what I should've from the start - tell MacIntosh and the rest of the lords I can't find the helm, give them enough time to get it before the witch turns us all into bears."
"Those lords can't even find the pointy end of their spear."
"Well, they still stand a better chance that I ever will." Merida argues.
Mulan grabs the horses reigns, refusing to let Merida go. "You cannot give up like this!"
"Why not? You have. Or is there another reason you're out here working for the highest bidder?"
Unable to answer, a saddened Mulan watches as Merida rides away on her horse.
Mulan, after traveling back, ties her horse reigns onto a wooden pole and places Fergus' killer's cloak into her pocket before heading into the witch's cottage.
"Alright, Witch, show me who this cloak belongs to." She says quietly to herself. Mulan draws her sword and slowly approaches the door, noticing the lock is broken. She opens it and walks inside, looking around. Everything is quiet - until the growling that earlier approached Zelena and Arthur, comes out, growling at Mulan. It pounces towards Mulan, causing her to step back outside. She carefully watches as the wolf walks out. Mulan begins to smile, realizing something as she stares at the wolf. "You're not a wolf." The wolf jumps onto Mulan and pins her on the ground, but Mulan remains fearless of its' growls. "You just need a little help remembering who you are." Mulan suddenly kicks the cauldron, causing it spill over the wolf. The smoke soon dissipates from around the wolf, revealing its true nature - Red Riding Hood.
"Sorry about that." Red a.k.a Ruby says, breathing heavily from the transformation. "My name's Ruby, but my friends call me Red."
Later that night, Mulan and Red, who is now wearing her red hood, are walking through the woods.
"How did you know I was a girl in wolf's clothing?" Red asks, curiously.
"You're not the first person I've met who a witch turned into an animal." Mulan explains.
"Yeah, well, wolfing out is kind of my thing. But the witch found a way to put me under her thrall." Red lets out a sigh, looking quizzically at the warrior. "Are you Mulan?"
"Yes." Mulan confirms, confused on how Red knows this. "Have we met?"
"No, but my friends told me about you."
"Phillip and Aurora?"
"Snow and Emma." Red reveals. "But I know Phillip and Aurora. I was in the other land with them. Last I saw, they're doing great. They were about to have a child." Mulan's silence causes Red to sense something is wrong. "Is everything okay?" She asks, looking over at Mulan's saddened face. "Did I say something?"
"No, I'm fine." Mulan assures her, firmly. "It's just I know how difficult it is traveling between realms. How did you end up back here?"
Storybrooke / Months Ago...
During baby Neal's coronation party inside Granny's Diner, Red stands at the back of the diner smiling as she listens to David get everyone's attention.
"Excuse me, if I could have everyone's attention just for a moment - " David calls out.
"It is our great joy to introduce you to our son - Prince Neal." Snow announces. Everyone applauds, except for Red, who seems upset. As she walks further into the back, Snow approaches her friend. "What is it?" She asks, folding her arms with a slight smile.
"What's what?" Red asks, acting dumbfounded by the question.
"Well, we just defeated the Wicked Witch and survived a time-travel adventure we didn't know we were a part of, and you're - what? The new bathroom attendant? What's going on? What's wrong?"
"I'm fine." Red tries to assure her friend. But Snow simply stares, knowing she's lying. She's known Red for too long not to. "Okay." Red sighs. "Look, ever since we got back to Storybrooke, I feel like I haven't fit in." She admits. "And at first I thought it was because of the curse, but now that it's been broken, I - "
"Because you're the only one of your kind here." Snow realizes.
"Maybe." Red says, sadly. "I don't know. I - Yeah, probably. I just - I want to find more people like me. So, I've been helping Tiny work on his burnt-out fields, back when we thought we were gonna have to escape Zelena, and we haven't had much luck, but we did manage to grow this." Red shows Snow a single magic bean.
Snow nods, understanding. "You want to go back to the Enchanted Forest."
"Please don't try to stop me." Red begs. "I know you think I'm crazy."
But Snow brings her friend into a hug, surprising her. "I think you need to do what makes you happy."
Red sighs happily onto Snow's shoulder. "Really?"
Snow pulls away, keeping Red at arms length as she looks deeply into her eyes. "You are my friend. What else could I possibly want for you? It doesn't mean I'm not gonna miss you." She says, tearfully.
A tearful Red looks back lovingly at Snow. "Not as much as I'll miss you."
DunBroch / Present...
"And did you find what you were looking for here?" Mulan asks.
"No." Red says, disheartened. "My pack, the others like me were gone. There's no trace of them. So I went to the witch for help."
"And that's when she turned you into her guard dog." Mulan realizes.
Red nods. "Thank you for freeing me."
"At least my visit helped someone."
"Why exactly were you there?" Red asks, curiously.
"I set a bad example for an old friend." Mulan tells her. "I wanted to find a way to make things right. I thought the witch might have some magic that would help us track down the man who killed my friend's father."
Red notices the piece of cloak Mulan has in her hands. "That belonged to him?" She points.
"Yes."
Red smiles. "You don't need magic to hunt the killer down." She says, confusing Mulan. "Come on. Let's go help your friend."
Back at the DunBroch Castle, Merida is sitting beside her mother, holding her crown with a glum face.
"You can't seriously be considering giving the crown to him?" Queen Elinor asks in shock.
"It's the only way to ensure we won't all end up under the witch's curse." Merida tells her as she looks over at Lord MacIntosh, who is standing with a smug look upon his face.
"I think I'd rather be a bear again than to bow down to Clan MacIntosh." Elinor exasperates.
"Mom." Merida quiets her mother. "If you can find the helm before the witch's deadline the crown is yours." She tells him.
"Don't hand it over just yet." Mulan says, walking into the room with Red. Merida and her mother stand, surprised to see the warrior again. "You were right, Merida. I gave up, and I was wrong. But so were you. We're gonna find the knight that ran Fergus through."
"How?"
"I brought a friend." Mulan says, looking at Red.
"I'm gonna sniff him out." Red tells Merida as she holds the piece of cloak in her hand.
At the Shores of DunBroch, King Arthur and Zelena stand.
"Are you certain the helm's here?" Arthur asks, angrily.
Zelena looks up at the bow she is holding. "Well, this is where Daddy DunBroch's bow says it is." Using her magic, Zelena lifts the helm from the water, bringing it towards Arthur with a smile. "When will you learn to stop doubting me, dear?"
But before Arthur can take hold of the helm, an arrow flies by, knocking it to the ground. "That doesn't belong to you." Merida claims.
Arthur grabs his sword, infuriated. "Oh, you don't know when to give up."
Merida begins to approach with Red following behind. "Where is he?" She asks. "Where's the man who killed my dad?"
"That's him." Red nods at Arthur. "He killed Fergus. His scent is all over this cloak." She says, shocking Merida.
"You. You're the one."
"I led my knights on a quest to find the missing piece of Excalibur." Arthur explains. "We heard rumor of magic in these lands, so I landed here in the hopes I could finally complete my sword."
An angry Merida draws her sword. "So it's true. You killed my father." She starts to charge him, but Mulan quickly stops her.
Arthur steps forward, pointing his own sword at her. "A knight does what he must on the battlefield." He says, defending himself.
"You're gonna get yourself killed." Mulan tells Merida.
"She isn't the only one." Zelena adds.
"This isn't about revenge." Mulan continues, ignoring the Wicked Witch. "This is about you finding the helm and saving your people."
Merida looks on confused. "But he - If you're the one who killed my dad, why don't you have the helm? I saw you take it off him with my own eyes."
"'Cause the helm Fergus was wearing when he died wasn't enchanted." Arthur tells her.
"What?"
"It was a piece of iron polished to a shine. When I put it on to rally my men, it didn't do anything. We lost the battle."
"Dad must've thrown the helm he got from the witch into the sea before the battle began." Merida realizes.
"And you know what this means, right?" Mulan smiles.
"He didn't use magic to lead the troops into battle. They followed him because they believed in him."
Zelena rolls her eyes, having heard enough. "Oh, as touching as this family drama is, we need the helm." She reminds Arthur.
"And I'm gonna do whatever it takes to stop you from leaving DunBroch with it." Merida says, confidently staring down Arthur. "My people are counting on me."
"And so are mine." Arthur glares, menacingly. "I've already killed DunBroch's king. Now it looks like I'll have to kill its Queen."
The two immediately begin to battle, clashing each other's swords, continuously. "You have no idea of the dark path you sent me down." Merida claims, holding Arthur's sword back as their faces meet.
"Oh, I've been down plenty of my own. It's the burden of wearing a crown."
"I blamed myself for my dad's death, when I really should've blamed you." She pushes Arthur back, aiming their swords back at one another. "I'm not just gonna keep you from getting the helm. I'm gonna make you pay for what you did to him."
The two jump forward, clashing swords again, continuing their fight.
Zelena takes this opportunity to walk towards the helm, but Mulan jumps in her way, aiming her sword at the Wicked Witch. "Don't take another step. This isn't your battle."
"Do you have any idea who you're dealing with?" Zelena asks.
"You don't scare me." Mulan grins. Zelena creates a fireball in her head, only causing Mulan to ready her sword, preparing to deflect the magic. But before Zelena gets the chance to throw it, Red steps up and throws magical dust at Zelena, knocking her unconscious. "Sleeping powder. Clever."
"She used it on me." Red says. "How do you like it now, witch?"
"Hurry. It won't last long."
In the background, Merida and Arthur continue their fight for the helm. Their sword clash and their faces meet again. "I need that helm to get Excalibur and fulfill my destiny as Camelot's King!" He exclaims desperately and furiously. He roars loudly, pushing Merida away. They both point their swords at one another, glancing down at the helm on the ground. "Reach for it, and I will cut you down just like your father."
"Make another move - " Lord MacIntosh suddenly yells from behind the king, aiming his bow and arrow with Lord MacGuffin and Lord Dingwall at his sides. " - and you'll look like a porcupine."
"This time, one of those arrows is bound to hit more than just your cloak." Merida threatens.
Arthur looks around, realizing he is losing this battle. He panics, unable to find Zelena. "Oh, where's that bloody witch when I need her!?"
"She's sleeping on the job." Mulan answers, walking up with Zelena at sword point with the help of Red. "Even your magic can't stop all these arrows."
"Seems we need to find some other means of retrieving Excalibur."
"Yes." Zelena slurs. "But perhaps that's a discussion best had in Camelot." She then teleports Arthur and herself away in green smoke.
Once the villains are gone, Merida quickly places her sword back into her sheath and retrieves the helm. "Thank you." She says to MacIntosh and the clans. "All of you. I wouldn't have the helm if it wasn't for you."
"We wouldn't let our Queen fall." MacIntosh states before kneeling down and bowing before her, along with the others.
"After all this, you still want me to be your queen?"
MacIntosh and the others stand back up. "You were willing to give up your crown for the good of the kingdom, give up your life to get that helm." He explains. "I only ever saw one person make a sacrifice like that, and it was your father. If you're not fit to lead the clans, no one is."
This causes a tearful smile to Merida's face.
Back at the castle, Merida is sitting on her throne before her subjects.
"Presenting Queen Merida of DunBroch, leader of the clans, protector of the highlands, and my daughter." Queen Elinor announces proudly while the crowd lets out a loud cheer.
Suddenly, the doors open and the witch enters. "You're early." Merida comments.
"The sun's nearly set." The witch tells her. Red begins to move angrily towards the witch, but Mulan holds her back. "Unless you want to rule over a kingdom of bears, you better have me helm."
"Oh, I have it - " Merida grabs the helm, standing up. " - but I'm not gonna hand it over to you. I'm going to destroy it." She says, looking at Mulan who gives her a nod.
"Are you sure that's wise, dear?"
"Merida?" Queen Elinor questions.
"I know what I'm doing, Mother." Merida assures her. "No one should have the power to lead people into a fight they don't believe in. I'll find a way to stop your curse, but I am not going to be bullied into giving this back."
The witch chuckles. "I was hoping you'd say that." She says, confusing everyone.
"What, now?"
"This was never about the helm, dear. This was about you."
"You mean this was all a test?" Merida asks.
"King Fergus came to me asking for magic to ensure the future of his kingdom, and that's exactly what I gave him." The witch smiles.
"Getting the helm back made me understand what it takes to rule."
Queen Elinor glares at the witch, annoyed by her antics. "Your magic's never very direct, is it?"
"It gets the job done." The witch shrugs. "I pride myself on satisfied customers."
Merida raises her brows. "Are we done, then?" She asks.
"Not quite. I wouldn't have come to a coronation without a gift."
"It's not another carving of a bear, is it?"
"Better. There's one person who could not be here today to see you crowned."
A shocked Merida hands the helm over to her mother before approaching the witch. "My dad." The witch hands her a canteen "What's that?"
"Magical ale. You know the legend of Seonaidth, don't you, dear?" The witch asks.
"Aye. Is it true?"
"Indeed. One cup of this can summon the spirit of anyone who's passed to the Underworld."
Merida begins to become emotional, realizing what she can do if she drinks the ale. "You mean I can talk to my dad?" The witch simply hands over the ale, nodding. "Thank you." Merida says, appreciatively.
The witch proceeds to turn around and walk away. "Long live, Queen Merida!" MacIntosh shouts, causing the crowd to cheer.
Over at King Fergus' grave later that day, Merida is there with Mulan and Red.
"Thank you." She says to them both. "If it weren't for the two of you, I'd have let my whole kingdom down."
"And if it weren't for you, I'd still be shaking down thugs in a tavern." Mulan tells her.
"And I'd still be licking my chops in that witch's cottage." Red adds making the other two chuckle.
Mulan takes out the pouch of gold Merida had given her when they first met up. "Here. It wouldn't be honorable for me to keep this."
"Does this mean I can finally ask what happened before I found you?" Merida asks.
Mulan lets out a heavy sigh. "Well, if you must know, I was trying to get over a broken heart. I waited too long to tell someone how I felt about them. And when I finally worked up the courage, it was too late."
"I'm sorry, Mulan."
"You know, I might not be the best person to ask for dating advice." Red chuckles lightly. "I kind of ate the only boyfriend I've ever had."
"Yes, I think that disqualifies you." Mulan scowls.
"But maybe I can help." Red offers. "Come with me. It might do you some good."
"Searching for werewolves?"
"It's better than wallowing in self-pity."
"I don't wallow." Mulan argues. Merida scoffs, amused. She quickly looks away when Mulan glares at her.
"Look, maybe helping someone else find their path will help you with yours." Red continues.
Mulan smiles softly at her new friend and nods. "Thank you."
"Well, good luck." Merida tells them, before giving them both hugs. The two then walk off together, leaving Merida alone at her father's grave. She grabs the magical ale from off her shoulders and looks apprehensively at the grave. "Here it goes." She lets out a breath before sprinkling some of the magic ale over King Fergus' grave. But when nothing happens she sprinkles a bit more.
"Don't waste that!" Her father's voice suddenly scolds from behind, startling his daughter. "It's good ale."
Merida stares at her dad in disbelief. "Dad." She says with shaky breath.
"Merida - " He says, looking proudly at his daughter. " - you did it. You became Queen."
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"I lost faith in you." She admits, disheartened. "I thought you used the enchanted helm to lead your troops into battle."
"It's alright." Fergus assures her. "I lost faith in meself when I went to the witch for that helm."
"Why didn't you use it? What made you change your mind?"
"You did - " He reveals. " - the night before the battle. After I spoke to you, I realized if I wanted to show you what it took to be a leader, I couldn't use magic to do it."
"Aye." Merida agrees. "You showed me what a true leader is. And I will never forget that. I just want to make you proud, Dad."
"You already have."
Merida brings herself into her father's arm and hugs him close, crying into his shoulder. "I wish you were still here."
"Me, too."
But as she holds her father, the effects of the ale start to wear off and Fergus' spirit glows blue before fully vanishing. "Dad - " She whispers with tears streaming down her face. " - I love you."
Merida, however, doesn't stay sad for long as she stares at her father's grave, remembering the man who put him there. A look of rage fills her face as she turns around. "Arthur, you have no idea what's coming for you."
Storybrooke / Present...
Still immobilized by the squid ink, Emma looks back and forth at the Wicked Witch and, the new Dark One, her sister, Avia Swan.
"Get on with it." Zelena impatiently urges Avia, who is glaring furiously at her sister as she slowly approaches. "That squid ink's going to wear off soon."
"Avia, please." Emma begs. "What are you doing?"
"You took my memories, Emma." Avia tells her. "You tried to stop me from knowing the truth. You took what was inside of me and just put it back as if everything was just going to be okay this time. And now I'm going to return the favor." She lifts up the dreamcatcher which used to contain her memories and uses her new magic to pull thoughts from her sister's head.
Zelena giggles at this. "By the look on your face - " She says to Emma. " - it would appear someone needs restraining." She then places the cuff that used to be around her wrist onto Emma's. "There. No more magic for you. Now, I assume given my helpfulness, you'll allow me to go about my business undeterred."
"For almost killing me...twice?" Avia glares at the Wicked Witch before looking back at Emma. "Sure. As long as you don't get in my way, I won't get in yours. Try killing me a third time and, well - " Avia smirks, menacingly.
Zelena smiles. "I do like this new you. So, no need. But, first, tell me, how does it feel to be a Dark One?"
With an eerie smile on her face, Avia continues to look at Emma. "It feels like who I was always meant to be." She says, sending chills down Emma's body.
Back in the Enchanted Forest / Missing Six Weeks...
Avia's eyes open as she lays in the Dark One's vault, surrounded by nothing. She slowly gets to her feet and soon enough tendrils of darkness wrap around her ankles, swarming their way up her entire body and making it so she is trapped inside a vortex of inky blackness just like she was supposed to be before Emma took her place.
Avia begins to let out a curling scream as he goes through her transformation. Memories of her past begin to run through her mind. Her many trips to the hospital when she was younger, the doctors, and foster parents who abused her. Memories of her time with Ingrid and being placed in the middle of the road in front of a moving car. Memories of finding her parents, and being sent to Neverland where Pan took her heart. Being brought back to Storybrooke only to be sent away and lose a year of memories. To coming back and having the Wicked Witch attempt to drain her blood for her magic, and then have Rumplestiltskin kill her for her magic for his own personal gain.
The inky blackness fills the Vault of the Dark One and withers around in the lid before, finally, a dark figure begins to rise. The darkness then drips away to reveal its newest Dark One: Avia Swan.
Her long black, slick straight hair falls down the dark gray cloak she is wearing, and under her hood she opens her eyes to first thing she sees.
"Hi." The vision Rumplestiltskin crouches down, slightly, and gives Avia a small wave.
Avia looks on in annoyance. "Rumplestiltskin." With her anger quickly rising, Avia lets out a loud yell and attempts to run at the imp, only for Rumplestiltskin to disappear and reappear on the other side of the vault.
"That's not gonna work. I'm not out here. I'm in there." He points to his head. "I am your guide - the voice in your head."
"Save it." Avia turns, glaring furiously. "I know who you are. You were inside Emma's head, too. All the Dark Ones are in my head." She scowls as she walks around the forest. "But it doesn't matter because I won't listen to you."
"What if I told you that together, I could get you the one thing you've wanted for years?" This intrigues Avia, causing her to stop and listen. "Your revenge." He giggles. "That's right. I saw what you saw, dearie. I saw your pain. And I can ease it. Stick with me and you will finally do what you never could before."
"And what's that?"
"Why, kill your family, of course."
Storybrooke / Present...
"Emma!" Snow yells for her daughter as she, David, Killian, and Regina run up the porch.
"I'll check the basement." David tells them.
"I'll get the upstairs." Regina says as they walk into the house.
"Emma!" Snow shouts. "Emma!" But as David runs to the basement and Regina runs upstairs, Snow sees her daughter laying on the couch. "Emma." She says, softly, walking towards her. Killian turns and follows Snow. "Hey." She crouches down in front of her daughter.
"What happened?" Killian asks.
But Emma is silent, just looking brokenhearted at her mother and boyfriend.
"You turned Avia into the Dark One?" Regina exclaims.
"It was the only way to save her." Emma glumly replies now sitting up with Regina and Snow around her.
"And you didn't think of the consequences to everyone else?"
Snow sits down, clearly unable to find the words knowing that, now, both her daughters are the Dark One. "I couldn't just let her die. She's my sister, Regina."
"Yes, I know." Regina sighs. "But now we have a bigger problem."
"I know." Emma agrees. "I didn't think any of this would happen. I was trying to get rid of the darkness for good. You can't tell me that after everything Zelena's done to you, your life would be easier if she was gone. I was doing you a favor."
"Emma." Snow interrupts. "This is premeditated murder. We are your parents. We would have helped you figure out a way to save Avia."
"And risk losing someone else?" Emma questions. "You may not remember, but I saw the way you and Dad looked when Avia was lying on the floor of the diner back in Camelot, dying. After everything that we have been through, I was not going to watch my sister die. I did what I had to do. I couldn't let her or you, for that matter, know that what I tried desperately to protect her from, I simply put back into her." Snow sighs, knowing she can't argue with her daughter because she may have done the same if she was in Emma's position. "I thought the best way to control the darkness was to isolate myself." Snow narrows her eyes, disapprovingly, at her daughter. "But when I did that, there was no one around to give me hope or - " She looks at Regina. " - tell me when I was being stupid!"
"Fine." Regina scowls. "You're being stupid. So stop it." She orders. "Right now, we have to clean up this mess."
"No, we don't." Snow disagrees. "Give us back our memories. Your dreamcatchers - Regina can access them, can't she? We can piece together Avia's plan and stop her."
"I'm afraid not." David says, walking into the room with Killian.
"Dreamcatchers you said were in the shed - " Killian says to Emma. " - they're gone."
"What the hell is your other dark daughter up to?" Regina asks, angrily.
David and Snow run frantically into their apartment.
"Avia!?" Snow shouts. "Avia!?"
"I'll go check her bedroom." David starts for the stairs.
"No need." Avia surprises her parents by stepping out from their bedroom.
"Avia!" Snow exclaims. Her daughter's new appearance shocks her. In her small, petite stature, Avia is wearing a white shirt with a black bomber jacket over it, along with black leggings, and black combat boots. Her once long and wavy brown hair is now slick straight and black, hanging around her face.
"Avia, we know what happened." David says quickly, holding up his hands to his daughter. "We know what Emma did. But you have to understand that she was just trying to save you."
Avia smirks, shrugging. "Of course she was. That's all she does anyway, right, save me? Cause I'm just such a handful, I need saving."
"Avia, no." Snow gasps, lightly. "You are not. You - "
"It doesn't matter anymore." Avia interrupts. "Because now I am what I was always meant to be - "
"Avia, you are not meant to be - "
" - what you made me to be?" Avia interrupts her father coldly, with raised brows. David and Snow look at one another with worry. "Emma fought so hard all my life to keep the darkness out of me, but - " Avia smirks as she sits down on the stool by the counter. " - I guess she just isn't as strong as we thought she was."
"Avia, we can figure out a way to get the darkness out of you." Snow tries to assure her daughter. "I know what your father and I did, but I thought we were past that. I thought you understood what we were doing."
"Of course - " Avia smiles, eerily. " - Mother. You were trying to save Emma from darkness and, instead, put it inside of me. Trust me, I get it. And, sadly, for you, you failed. Because not only do you have one dark daughter, you have two. Parents of the year."
"Okay. Avia, listen to us. We are still - "
Avia, with her magic, makes Excalibur appear in her hand. " - my parents?" She interrupts her father. "Of course you are." She laughs. "Parents who really suck at their job."
Snow looks surprised to see Excalibur. "Avia, what are you doing with Excalibur?"
Avia traces her finger over the sword. "Oh, you know, making sure no one - " She narrows her eyes up at her parents. " - can control me anymore. Putting me, finally, in control of everything and - " She chuckles, evilly. " - everyone. Bye, for now, heroes."
"Why wipe my memory if she was going to announce her plan of being in control anyway?" Emma wonders as she stands inside Regina's office with the others.
"There must be more to it." Killian assumes.
"What about Merlin's message?" David asks.
"He said this 'Nimue' is the key to stopping the Dark One." Snow remembers.
"Nimue was Merlin's true love." Emma tells them.
"And she was also the first Dark One." Rumple adds.
"I know. How do we find out more about her?"
"Start your search with the Dark One Chronicles. There are many texts that can help us."
"As much as I appreciate devotion to scholarship, there is an easier way." Emma says, narrowing her eyes down at Rumple. "I am still a Dark One." She looks over at her parents. "I can protect you. You just have to take off the cuff." David and Snow exchange looks, along with Killian, Regina, Rumple, and Belle. "You don't trust me." Emma realizes. "Killian!" Killian sighs, wanting more than to help her.
"It's not that, Emma." Snow tries to tell her as she looks at her husband. "It's just - "
"We are still your parents." David tells her. "And we are Avia's. We have to do what is right for both of you, and we can figure out a way to save Avia without using dark magic."
"So, it's true." They all turn to find Nick and Karley walking into the room.
"Avia is really a Dark One." Karley finishes, dismayed.
Regina gives her children a sympathetic look. "Yes." She confirms.
"And for me to protect all of you, I need you to take off this cuff." Emma says, firmly. "It's the only way to figure it all out."
"No." Karley quickly refuses. "You lied to all of us - about Avia, about everything."
"Why should we trust you now?" Nick wonders.
"I thought you would be the one person who would understand." Emma says, slightly surprised by Nick's attitude towards her.
"And I thought you were the one person we could all trust - who Avia could trust. Now she's the Dark One because of you."
"I saved her."
"Maybe. But you changed her into the one thing she never wanted to be. The one thing she tried hard to conceal. The one thing you took away from her, only to put back in." He claims, disgusted.
"You sound just like Avia."
"Because as much as you think you know Avia, we know her, too." Karley says, confidently. "And we know she would have trusted that you would have found another way to save her."
Nick turns away from a hurt Emma and looks at the group. "Do we know what she's after?"
"Sadly - " Regina sighs, glancing at the Charmings. " - it's who."
Karley and Nick furrow their brows in confusion. "Unfortunately, what happened before Emma was born started this - put the darkness into Avia the moment she was conceived." Killian explains.
David sighs, placing his hands on his sullen wife's shoulders. "Now she needs us to finish it."
"We should really get to the library." Belle tells them. "We've got a lot to do."
"I have a stop to make first." Regina tells them as they all stand to leave. "I'll meet you there."
"Let me guess - " Emma says, desolately. " - I'm not invited."
"Emma - we love you." Snow assures her daughter.
"You don't trust me."
"We don't trust the darkness." David corrects her. "Stay here and let us save you - and Avia."
With Emma's back turned towards them as they each walk out of the room, Killian walks up behind her. "I can stay with you." He offers.
"No." Emma says, struggling to keep it together. "Do what I couldn't do. Save my sister."
With a slight nod, Killian looks sadly at his true love before following the group out.
Enchanted Forest / Missing Six Weeks...
At the Vault of the Dark One, Merlin is bending over, placing his hand over the closed vault.
"There's nothing we can do." He says to Snow, David, Regina, Lancelot, and Killian. "It's too late. The vault has already forged Avia as its new Dark One."
Snow notices some tracks on the ground. "She went this way." She says, as she and the others follow the tracks. But it's not long until the tracks stop. "And then the tracks disappear."
"We should split up." David suggests. "Search the woods."
"She's a Dark One." Regina reminds them. "She can transport herself anywhere. So can Emma."
"She's our daughter, Regina." David argues. "So we have to start looking somewhere. Dark One or not, she's still fifteen. She's a child!
"There's no time." Merlin tells them. "Of all the paths I foresaw for your daughter, I'm afraid that this was the darkest."
David shakes his head, refusing to believe it. "Emma was not destined to turn Avia dark. We may have made a mistake in our past, but Avia forgave us. Emma stopped the darkness from getting into Avia the first time. We watched as light magic became fully inside of our daughter."
"And in my vision I also foresaw the sisters against each other."
"No. Emma would never hurt Avia." Snow says in frustration.
Merlin sighs, discontent. "Exactly." This only causes more worry to Snow and David. "We should return to Granny's. Even without my magic, I still have enough ingredients to make preparations."
"I don't care how bad things got - Avia, nor Emma, would hurt us." David tells him.
"Maybe. But this new Dark One - "
"Our daughter." Snow corrects him.
"It's time to face that both your daughters are the Dark One, love." Killian says, calmly, to Snow. "And both very powerful."
"And we need as many allies as we can get." Merlin adds.
"Lancelot, your mother's the Lady of the Lake, could she help us?" Snow wonders.
"Perhaps." Lancelot says.
"Perhaps?" David questions, feeling defeated by his answer.
"Lancelot, you should go." Merlin tells him. "She does have great power. The lake is but a two-day journey from here. It's worth a try."
Snow nods, glad to see Merlin agrees. "And if I don't make it in time?" Lancelot asks.
"Well, then you get to spend your last moments with your mother."
Lancelot grins slightly before walking off and Merlin, Regina, and Killian make their way back to the diner. Snow looks at her despondent husband. "We were so close, Snow. We had finally got the darkness out of Avia, and Emma was seconds away from destroying the darkness in her and ending this."
Snow scowls at David. "And Avia would have been dead." She reminds him. "She chose her sister, David. Like she's done her entire life. What we trusted her to do the second you placed them in that wardrobe. You can't tell me if either one of us were in either one of their positions, we wouldn't have done the same thing."
"Of course we would have!" David exclaims. "We just - We almost had them, Snow. We almost had them - free of all darkness."
"And we will get there, David." She says, firmly. "We will save our daughters. That is what our family does. So have some faith in them."
Meanwhile, Avia is making her way through the woods and getting her cloak caught in various branches as she does so.
"What the hell am I wearing?" She asks herself. "Why do Dark Ones dress like monks?" Avia uses her magic to change her outfit to her somewhat normal, yet, dark attire.
"Yes, much better." The vision of Rumplestiltskin commends.
"Leave me alone!" Avia stomps her way through him, causing him to disappear.
Rumplestiltskin reappears near a tree Avia walks passed. "Try to ignore me. Bet you can't."
"Say all you want to me." Avia exclaims. "I know you're lying. There's no way that I can get my revenge. Not with Emma on their side."
"Well, that's where we come in, dearie. Might I suggest a Dark Curse?"
"And crush the heart of the one I love most to enact it?" Avia questions. "I won't kill my sister."
"Yeah, but there's always a loophole."
But before the vision of Rumplestiltskin can go on, Emma runs up. "Avia! It worked!" She exclaims, now wearing her new Dark One attire. "You're alive."
"Thanks to you." Avia glares, confusing Emma. "You spent fifteen years keeping me away from darkness, only to put it inside of me yourself! Thanks a lot, sis! You saved me... again!" She shouts, sarcastically.
"Binding you to Excalibur was the only way to save you." Emma explains.
"Right, Excalibur. And where is my new sword?"
"I don't know. It disappeared right after you did."
The vision of Rumplestiltskin bends down slightly to Avia's ear, smirking at Emma. "Isn't that convenient?" He asks, sarcastically.
"How long has he been with you?" Emma asks, noticing Rumplestiltskin.
"You can still see him?" Avia asks, a bit surprised.
"Sadly, yes." Rumplestiltskin, himself, confirms. "I mean, she's still a Dark One. No matter how ineffectual she may be."
"Don't listen to him." Emma pleads. "He's not real. But I am." Emma grabs onto Avia's hands. "I'm right here. Look at me." Avia slowly lifts her dark green eyes up to Emma. "This all means nothing, Avs. You do not have to embrace it. Neither one of us do. We are still sisters. We are still family. And we still have people who love us. We can live our normal lives back in Storybrooke."
"It's what I've always wanted." Avia whispers.
"Avia. Look." Avia turns seeing that the vision of Rumplestiltskin disappeared.
"He's gone."
"Hey. We can do this." Emma assures her. "Swans sisters never give up, remember? We can get the darkness out of both of us for good."
"How?"
"By doing what I just did with you. By going to those we love."
Storybrooke / Present...
The Wicked Witch bursts into Storybrooke General Hospital, causing Nurse Ratched to look up from her desk.
"You!" She exclaims. "The Mayor told me explicitly not to let you through."
"Well, then, you're just doing your job." Zelena says, waving her hand, using her magic to knock the nurse unconscious. "Poorly, but you're doing it. Kudos to you." She continues making her way down the hall towards the maternity ward.
"Not so fast, sis."
Zelena turns to find Regina standing against the wall with a small grin upon her face. "Sister, dear. Thank you so much for looking after my bundle of joy while I was off being kidnapped." She says, sarcastically. "But I've come to take her back now. Bye." Zelena begins to walk towards the ward.
"Good luck with that." Regina says, insincerely.
Zelena looks into the window, only to find that her newborn daughter is missing. Her face drops with devastation as she turns back to Regina. "Where's my daughter!?"
Regina chuckles. "Did you really think, after everything you've done, we wouldn't protect that child from you?"
"She is my child!" Zelena yells, tearing up.
"She's also Robin's. And you will never take her away from him."
"You just can't stand, that after a lifetime of you getting everything, it's finally my turn!"
"The only reason you have that baby is because you killed Marian and you deceived Robin in the most vile way imaginable." Regina points out, furiously.
Zelena scoffs, amused. "Is that a compliment?"
"This insanity has to stop."
"Agreed. But I don't think it can."
But Regina seems to think otherwise. "Actually, I think maybe it can."
Back at Regina's, Merida is pointing an arrow firmly at Emma.
"You know, when Regina asked me to guard you, the last thing I wanted to do was be in the same room as you." Merida states, annoyed. Emma, who is lying on the couch, rolls her eyes. "Now that we're here, this isn't so bad."
"Put it down, Merida. We both know you're not going to shoot me." Emma says, calmly.
"Oh, won't I?" She questions. "After everything you've done to me. Fine. I'd say an arrow to the knee would do you right good." She smiles. "Maybe me, too."
As Merida aims her arrow at Emma's knee, Avia appears. "Don't worry, sis." Merida quickly turns around and fires her arrow at Avia, who catches it between her fingers with ease, causing Emma to sit up. She watches as Avia uses her magic to knock Merida out. "A broken knee is nothing on a broken heart, right, Em?" She looks around, amused. "Where are our heroes? I was expecting to find everyone deep diving into books trying to figure out how to stop me."
Emma stands up. "That's not why you're here. You're here because you miss this. You miss being apart of something."
Avia scoffs. "Apart of this?" She shakes her head. "Of course I always wanted to be apart of something - apart of a family. But, unfortunately, Mommy and Daddy sent us away so I couldn't have that."
Emma furrows her brows at this. "Avia, we have that now. We've had it for the last three years."
Avia frowns. "Did we, though? Because if I recall, we've just had villains constantly after us, succeeding in splitting us apart. Mom and Dad even went back to the Enchanted Forest to start a new family."
"You know that's not true." Emma argues. "You've always had me. You still have me."
"Do I? Because all I feel towards you is betrayal."
"You don't mean that."
"When you tethered me to Excalibur, you opened my eyes to who I am truly meant to be. And that caused me to see who everyone else is as well - liars. My life has never been about me. It's been about the - " Avia grimaces up at her big sister. " - Savior. And making sure I don't turn dark, or else I ruin everyone's lives. No one cared about me. Keeping me away from the darkness was all for selfish reasons."
"Avia, you know that's not true!" Emma exclaims.
"It doesn't matter because I'm free now." Avia shrugs. "And I no longer have the Savior or Snow White and Prince Charming holding me back. Because of what they did - now you all have to live with the consequences. For so long, I tried playing the respectful daughter - the princess. But many years before that I was hoping they were dead."
"Avia - whatever you are thinking of doing, it's not worth it. The darkness is using you." Emma tries to explain. "It doesn't care what you want. It only cares what it wants."
Avia looks coldly into Emma's eyes. "I don't care. As long as I get what I want, I don't care about the rest. And you of all people should understand that. You were there. They put you in that box, too!"
"I know, now, Avia, that everything they did, they did for the both of us for good reason. They protected us."
"Then where were they when we were getting beat on in foster homes? Where were they when we were starving and couldn't eat for days? Where were they when we were being touched and prodded on by doctors after leaving a foster home who had just touched us themselves? Where were they when I was raped!? Where were you!?" Avia yells out angrily, startling Emma. "Where is my second chance!?"
"You can have it - " Emma steps up to Avia attempting to take her hands. " - Avia - "
"No!" Avia pushes Emma away. "Finally I have the power to do what I've wanted for so long. You can't protect me anymore, Emma. I'm finally becoming who I was always meant to be - the Dark Orphan."
"You are not an orphan anymore, Avia! I thought we were passed this!?"
Avia smirks. "I'm tired of forgiving and letting go. It's time to hurt them like they've hurt me." She begins to back her way to the door. "I guess the prophecy was right. It looks like it really will be you and I at the end."
With that, Avia turns away and walks to the door, leaving Emma left crying.
Enchanted Forest / Missing Six Weeks...
Emma pulls away from her hug with Avia and caresses her cheek softly, brushing away a tear. "Okay. I am going to go scout our path. You stay right here. I'll be right back."
Avia simply nods as Emma turns and walks away. But, suddenly, loud whispers begin to swarm her head. "What is that?" She groans.
"That's the sound of the dagger singing to the sword." The vision of Rumplestiltskin explains, appearing in front of her. "And if you can hear it, that means Excalibur is quite close."
"But Emma said it disappeared."
"Wake up, dearie!" Rumplestiltskin yells. "Your sister is lying. She has the sword."
"Why would she lie to me?" Avia questions. "Emma never lies to me."
"So she can continue to control you. Not that she needs Excalibur. She's quite good at doing that all on her own. She's always controlled her - " Rumplestiltskin smirks. " - little sister."
Avia glares defensively at the imp. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"You!" Emma returns, seeing the vision of Rumplestiltskin. "Get out of here!"
"Oh, we were just talking about you." Rumplestiltskin smiles. "Why don't you ask her yourself?" He asks Avia.
"Ask me what?" The whisperings appear to have gotten louder inside Avia's head as she grimaces from the sounds. "Avia, what the hell's going on?"
"Emma, do you know where Excalibur is?" Avia asks.
"Avia - " Emma begins slowly, walking closer. " - Rumple is manipulating you. That's what he does." The vision of Rumplestiltskin disappears.
"Are you lying to me?" Avia begins to pant painfully from the whispers. "I can hear it calling to the dagger, Emma. Do you have Excalibur?" Emma stays silent. "Stop lying to me!" Avia yells.
"Yes." Emma reluctantly admits, appearing Excalibur magically into her hand.
"Did you use it on me?"
"What? No, of course not. I was never - "
"Then why didn't you tell me the truth?" Avia interrupts. "Are you afraid I was gonna ask you for it?" Emma narrows her eyes at her sister, guilty. "You never planned on giving it to me, did you?"
"Avia, I did it to protect you." Emma says, softly. "We have dealt with this before, and you told me you were not strong enough to resist the darkness."
"Which is why I told you in the first place not to turn me!" Avia yells. "But you did it anyway because you always do what YOU want! What I say never matters!"
"You were dying, Avia!"
"And you know what the worst part about all this is, Emma? When Mom wanted to use the dagger to stop you from crushing Merida's heart, I'm the one who convinced her that you needed to make that decision yourself because I believed in you - just like I always had! I've always believed in you. I always trusted you! But it seems that it's always been one-sided! You never believed in me. So, how am I supposed to fight the darkness now!?"
Emma grabs Avia's arm. "Avia - "
But Avia pushes her away. "Don't touch me."
Avia proceeds to poof herself away leaving Emma dismayed on where to go from there.
Storybrooke / Present...
Regina is leading Zelena upstairs to Snow and David's apartment.
"Before we go in, let me remind you that you may have your powers back, but I've also got mine." Regina reminds her sister.
"What are we doing here?" Zelena wonders. "Because if it's more lectures about hope, decency, and redemption, I can save you the trouble - I've heard it all."
Regina rolls her eyes and opens the door, walking them inside to reveal Robin Hood holding the baby in his arms. "Zelena." Robin greets her.
"Did you miss me?" She asks, smugly. "Told you. Once you go green, you'll never go Queen."
Regina raises her hand in anger, ready to use her magic on Zelena, but Robin quickly stops her. "Regina - " She exhales sharply, pulling back. " - we talked about this." Robin says, softly.
"Oh, couples therapy?" Zelena asks, amused. "I should imagine you two need that now."
"Let me remind you of something." Regina says, furiously. "As wicked as you may think you are, you're not even in my league. I've spent so many years doing terrible, terrible things beyond your imagination. But you know how I turned it around?" She asks, growing softer. "Nicholas and Karley. It took having children - that unconditional love - it made me my best self. And I'm hoping that kind of love will do the same for you."
As Zelena stares silently at her sister, taking in her words, Robin steps forward with the baby. "Make no mistake, Zelena, we are never gonna be a family, the three of us." Zelena scoffs, amused by this. "But Regina and I have agreed you are her mother. So against our best instincts, we still have hope for you. So, you can visit with our child as long as one of us are present." Zelena stares longingly at her baby before Robin finally passes her over.
She turns away, looking lovingly at her newborn daughter in her arms. "There, there, my little green bean." She smiles, happily as the baby coos at her. "I'm your mommy."
Over at the library, Belle, David, and Snow are sitting around a table looking through books while Killian walks the floor, studying another. With much frustration, David slams a book closed and grabs another while Nick walks by and drops another book on the table before proceeding to the shelves for another.
In another section of the library, Karley is looking through a bookshelf when Emma suddenly appears behind a wall. "Karley!" She whispers, getting the girl's attention.
Karley looks surprised to see her. "Emma. You escaped?" She scowls.
"And for good reason. I know how to figure this all out. I need your help. I need you to trust me." Emma pleads, desperately.
Karley rolls her eyes before glancing to where her brothers and the others are. "Yeah. But I don't. Not after what I seen you do to Oliver and Avia."
"I know, I know, and I heard you." Emma glances slightly at the others before looking back at Karley. "I heard all of you. I really heard you. I'm not asking you to remove my cuff."
"Then how are you gonna do it without magic?"
"I'm gonna do it with the help of you." She glances at Nick, who has his back turned to them. "I would ask Nick, too, but he is far too weak when it comes to Avia. I can't risk it. You are the strong one. Avia listens to you. And you're not afraid to say how it is. Right now, I believe you're the only one, besides Regina, who can help me."
"Then why not ask my mom?" Karley asks.
"Because your mom is apparently busy with other things. Wicked Witch things to be exact. I need you, Karley. Avia stole the dreamcatchers. She took my memories, too, which means I must know something." Emma explains. "If we can get it back, I can help everyone. And you know how to get around places without being noticed. It's your specialty, right?" Emma smirks.
Karley sighs, shrugging. "I guess I have been able to move myself around without being noticed. Yeah." She looks at the others who are still buried in the books before looking back at Emma. "You'll need a locator spell. There's one in Rumplestiltskin's shop. All I'll need is the stuff you used to make the dreamcatchers. It will take us to the others."
"So, you will help me?" Emma asks, happily.
"I just want my friend back, Emma."
Emma nods, understanding. "And I just want my sister back. Thank you, Karley."
Karley simply nods before the two of them begin to head out of the library.
Enchanted Forest / Missing Six Weeks...
"Avia?" Emma calls out as she walks through the field where she rescued her sister from death. "Avia?" Emma lets out a heavy sigh, regretting what she'll have to do. She finally forces the broken Excalibur to appear in her hand with magic. "Dark One, I summon thee." She says, forcing the new Dark One to appear at her side. With cold, dark eyes, Avia stares stoically at her sister. "I'm sorry." Emma quickly apologizes. "I didn't know how else to get you here."
"You could have given me a choice for the first time in your life." Avia tells her.
"We need to talk about this."
"Do you have any idea how it feels to not be in control of yourself?" Avia asks, annoyed. "Dark One, or not, I am never in control of my life! First our parents, then foster homes, then Peter Pan, then the Wicked Witch, and now a freakin' sword that is being wielded by you! It's always you, Emma!"
"I know exactly how it feels!" Emma shouts. "I was there, too, remember! I was being controlled, too! Our parents, fosters homes, social workers, CURSES! I understand how it feels, Avia! But I was about to lose you to the darkness."
"It doesn't matter, Emma." Avia turns and begins to walk away.
"Avia, wait!" And because of Excalibur in her hand, Avia has no choice by to stop. "Ugh! I didn't mean to do that."
Avia faces her sister with fury in her eyes. "You never do! And that's my point, Emma!"
"That's not why I called you here! I called you here because I do believe in you! I do trust you to control your own fate!" Emma steps closer to Avia, holding out Excalibur to her. "It's yours if you want it." Avia slowly grabs the sword. "We are going to get the darkness out of both of us. We are going to do it together. I don't care what the prophecy says. The only way we will face the end is if we are standing side by side, together, as heroes - not as villains." Avia places the sword into her sheath. "I promise you, kid, I will never try to control you again." Emma holds out her hand, taking Avia's. "I love you." Avia furrows her brows, dismayed. "What?" Emma asks.
"It's just - I almost forgot what that feels like." Avia admits.
Emma nods, and pulls Avia into her, hugging her close. "That's the darkness." She whispers into her sister's hair. "But don't worry. I'll never let you forget."
While they stand outside the diner, Regina, Killian, David, and Snow notice Emma and Avia approaching.
"There you are!" Regina exclaims. But their faces fall at their sudden new dark attire. "We've looked everywhere for you."
Emma walks up, holding Avia's hand. "Emma, what happened to you?" Killian wonders.
"Avia, are you okay?" Snow worries as she steps up to her daughters. But Avia steps back, confusing her parents. "Avia - "
"We're okay." Emma interrupts. She gently shakes her sister's hand. "For now. It looks worse than it is."
"Are you sure?" Regina asks.
"Where's Merlin?" Avia asks, impatiently.
"He's inside." David answers as they all continue to stare baffled by the new Dark Ones.
"Then let's do this." Avia walks away, passing her parents, who stare after her.
"Emma - " Snow worries, looking at her oldest.
Emma holds her hand up. "She'll be okay once we get the darkness out of us. I promise."
Inside the back room of the diner, Merlin is hunched over a cauldron, recording a message that they find later from the Crimson Crown.
"If you're receiving this message, then things are worse than I feared." He says. "There is only one person that can help you defeat the Dark One now. Her name is Nimue. If you want to destroy the darkness, then you must - " He stops talking when he hears the door of the diner open behind him, watching as Avia enters. "The Dark One's found me already." He tells the cauldron as Avia uses her magic to lock the door.
"Heard you're preparing for something pretty bad." Avia says, coldly, as she walks towards the back. "Well, here I am."
Merlin steps out of the back room, facing Avia who immediately shoves her hand into Merlin's chest, pulling out his enchanted heart. "Careful, dearie." The vision of Rumplestiltskin appears to warn her. "That's the oldest heart in all the realms. Let's cut it open and count the rings." He giggles.
"You're too late." A weakened Merlin tells them both. "I've already left a message for the others."
"Well, they can't stop me." Avia shrugs as she studies the Sorcerer's heart in her hand. "Not while I have this at least." She points to Excalibur at her side.
"Excalibur." Merlin exasperates. "What do you want?"
"My revenge. But to get that, I need to get back to Storybrooke." Avia tells him. "I can't get my revenge if everyone isn't there to watch." She grins.
"Do you want to cast a curse? It's not possible. Not without crushing the heart of the thing you love most."
"Which is why I am not going to crush it." The vision of Rumplestiltskin says. "But someone else will - someone who might actually have feelings for you, dearie. And that's not me."
The vision of Rumplestiltskin then transforms into Nimue - the first Dark One and also Merlin's true love. "But it is me."
Merlin appears dumbfounded by this. "Nimue."
"Remember? I am all Dark Ones." She says, approaching him. "It's romantic, isn't it? After all that's happened between us, you're still the thing I love most. And I do love you. I always have."
"But you're not really here."
"But she is." Avia says, amused. "She lives in all Dark Ones. So when I crush your heart, so will she."
Storybrooke / Present...
With a glowing ring of dreamcatcher materials, Karley and Emma step out of the clock tower's lift, looking up at all the dreamcatchers Emma had made.
"This is it." Karley tells her. "You put them here."
They begin to climb the stairs to the top. "Makes no sense." Emma says, perplexed. "Why would Avia keep the dreamcatchers where we could so easily get to them?" But when she tries to reach out and grab one, a protection spell repels her hand from doing so.
"Because we can't get to them."
"She knew I wouldn't have magic." Emma realizes. "She's toying with me, tormenting me."
"Good thing the locator spell wasn't the only thing I took from Gold's shop." Karley pulls out a potion from her pocket. "Call me an optimist, but I was hoping I'd have to use it."
Emma seems surprised by this. "Karley, are you sure? You don't have to."
"You didn't have to include me, but you did. We want the same thing. We want to save Avia. Now, let me take the first step in helping you." Emma smiles and stretches her wrist out, allowing Karley to pour the potion onto it, making the cuff glow. She then removes it from Emma's wrist, and her magic returns.
Emma places her hand gently onto Karley's cheek. "Thank you." She says, appreciatively.
Enchanted Forest / Missing Six Weeks...
Emma steps into the diner, shocked to see Avia holding Merlin's heart, with the vision of Nimue standing nearby.
"You were playing me the whole time." Emma realizes.
"Once you lied about Excalibur, all bets were off." Avia tells her. "You promised to never lie to me, and yet, you did. Plus, I knew it would be just a matter of time before you tried to control me again. And now - " Avia smiles. " - no one will ever control me again." Avia looks down at Excalibur. "Go back from whence you came - back to the stone." Excalibur disappears from Avia's side.
Emma narrows her eyes disapprovingly at her sister before turning to Nimue. "I don't understand." She says, approaching the vision. "Why are you helping her get her revenge?"
"Don't be naive, Emma." Nimue says. "Dark Ones never do anything without getting something in return."
"What do you want?" Emma seethes.
"You're a Dark One." Nimue reminds her. "You know what we want. You want it, too."
Emma furrows her brows, coming to the realization. "No - " She utters. " - you can't."
"Yes, we can. And we will."
Emma turns to her smiling sister. "Avia - your revenge is not your happy ending." She places her hands onto her sister's face. "Our family is. It's what you've always wanted. If you destroy this heart, you will destroy your happy ending along with it."
"I'm sorry, Emma." Avia says, unapologetically. "My happy ending will never be with them - not the people who abandoned me and is the reason I am the way that I am. That girl back in Storybrooke died the moment you turned her into a Dark One."
Avia lifts her hand and without a second thought, she crushes Merlin's heart into dust, killing the Sorcerer instantly. As Avia walks away with the dust in her hand, Emma falls to the floor next to Merlin. Avia walks into the back room and places the dust into the cauldron, causing purple smoke to rise from it, enacting the Dark Curse."
Merlin's dead body continues to lie on the ground while Emma kneels down next to him. "Oh, don't take it too bad." The vision of Rumpelstiltskin tells her. "I mean, he died for a good cause."
"I'm sorry." Emma whispers, ignoring the voice in her head. "Rest in peace." She uses her magic to cremate the body, turning the Sorcerer to dust and allowing him to drift away.
Avia walks out from the back. "It's over, Emma."
Emma stands up, facing her sister. "I told you I would never abandon you. I'm not going to start now."
"Well, I'm sorry, sis." Avia grins. "Once a curse has been enacted, you can't stop it. You should know that. We've been through enough of them."
"Yes. I might not be able to stop it, but I can make you forget why you cast it." She quickly waves her hand and Avia falls to the floor, unconscious. "And that you were ever the Dark One in the first place." She then makes a dreamcatcher appear in her other hand.
"Clever, dearie." The vision of Rumpelstiltskin commends.
Emma stands over Avia and holds the dreamcatcher over her sister's head, extracting her memories of the last six weeks in Camelot. Emma then drops the dreamcatcher and kneels down, running her hand over Avia's head. "When you wake up, you'll be the girl you were. The girl I love. The girl who loves her family, her friends, and her town." She leans down and places a gentle, soft kiss onto her sister's forehead.
"Uh, you're going to have to do more than that if you want her to forget she was ever a Dark One." The vision of Rumplestiltskin tells her.
Emma sighs, standing up with the dreamcatcher. "I know." She waves her arm and magically sends everyone who traveled there into Granny's Diner, all unconscious on the floor. She begins to wave the dreamcatcher around, taking all their memories. "I need to erase the memories of everyone who knew that I turned Avia into a Dark One." She then makes sure to magically place the cuff back onto Zelena's wrist.
"Right. Because no one could possibly understand. Why trust your family to help when you can do it all yourself?"
Emma looks down at Avia. "This was my fault. I'm the one who's going to fix this." She then heads into the back room where purple smoke continues to rise from the cauldron.
"By using dark magic to add a memory wipe to the curse." Rumplestiltskin realizes. Emma places the dreamcatcher into the cauldron. "But you won't like where it leads. Or worse - you will."
The curse begins to spread more rapidly as Emma heads back into the main room. She kneels down on the floor and takes Avia into her arms while tears stream down her face. The purple smokes begins to cover them all and teleports them back to where they belong, along with the entire land of Camelot.
Inside the castle, Excalibur has returned to its stone at the center of the Round Table, shocking Arthur.
"How did this get back here?" He asks his wife Guinevere.
From the window, Guinevere turns to her husband, panicked. "Arthur." Arthur turns to see the purple smoke coming for them, covering the land. "What is that?"
"Dark magic." Arthur tells her as he looks out the window. "Extremely dark magic."
Storybrooke / Present...
Inside the Mayor's office, the group, who is now joined with Merida and Robin are standing in the middle of Regina's office, looking back at Emma and Karley.
"And we're meant to believe you're gonna give back our memories, just like that?" Merida asks, unconvinced.
"We can trust her." Karley assures them.
"Karley, I don't - "
"You can." Emma interrupts Regina.
"She wants what we want." Karley tells them. "She wants to save Avia, and she wants to free them both from the darkness. Whether we want to trust her, or not, Emma is our only way of doing that."
"Okay." Regina gives in, trusting her daughter.
Each of them hold out their dreamcatcher in front of them. Emma looks at her parents, who looks proudly at her. She then uses her magic to access them all, causing each of them to glow gold as the memories stream back into their owner's heads, allowing them to finally remember the missing six weeks in Camelot.
They all stand staggered when the process completes, but Emma more so, remembering Avia's plan. "Emma, what's wrong?" David asks his daughter.
"I remember." Emma says, dismayed. "I know what she's doing." She looks up at her parents. "I know what they are doing."
"Congratulations." The vision of Rumplestiltskin says as he stands next to Avia near the pond inside the park. "You didn't completely fail. You're exactly who we needed all along. You, dearie, can open portals. Well, your blood to be exact." He giggles. "This pond holds a portal to the Underworld itself."
"This is where the Fury tried to drag Robin Hood to hell." Avia recalls. "I thought the portal only appeared when the moon reaches its zenith."
"Yes, for a Fury." Rumplestiltskin nods. "But it's always existed, dearie. You just have to know how to open it." He glances down at Excalibur.
Avia follows and grabs Excalibur which is hanging at her side. She pulls it from the sheath and holds out her hand. She glances at the vision of Rumplestiltskin, who is smiling with excitement, and then at the pond. She lets out a heavy breath before using Excalibur to slice the palm of her hand.
Avia squeezes her hand into a fist, allowing her blood to drop into the pond. The blood spreads quickly through the water, causing a shimmer across. But it isn't long before a fog begins to spread and a boat emerges with passengers of hooded figures.
One of the hooded figures steps out onto the water, wearing a familiar golden mask, and walks across the pond as though it's merely land. When the hooded figure steps onto the actual land in front of Avia, it removes its mask, revealing itself to be Nimue, the first Dark One. "We're here." She says to Avia. "All of us, as promised in the flesh. And now it's time to get to work, to do what Dark Ones do best - snuff out the light."
Avia appears excited by this as they look back at the other Dark Ones still remaining inside the boat. "Welcome to Storybrooke."