Chapter 9
Dark Neal
The immobilizing spell over Mary-Margaret, David and Regina wore off. They rushed into Emma's house hoping they weren't too late. As they split up to search Mary-Margaret called to them finding Emma unconscious on the couch with the magic dampening cuff on. As Emma slowly opened her eyes she looked disheartened. As she saw David and Regina come in she said "I failed, I tried and failed".
David said "where are the dreamcatchers"?
Emma said "outside in the shed, no point in keeping them now".
As David went to get the dreamcatchers, Regina asked "why? What did you fail to do"?
Emma replied "I told you how you begged me to save Robin, what I didn't tell you was someone else got fatally wounded later on that no magic could cure, almost. I was about to unite the Excalibur and cut the darkness away but fate was not so kind. Before getting Arthur's half of the sword he used it, he tried to attack Tally, Neal like any loving father got her out of the way but got hurt. It looked like a tiny cut, hardly anything to worry about but by the time I was uniting the sword the cut started bleeding profusely. I couldn't, wouldn't lose him, I knew the only way to save him was to tether his life to Excalibur aware it would turn him into another Dark One".
Regina asked "and none of us tried to stop you"?
"You all did, well except for Tally, she felt some responsibility for what happened, his death would have torn her up, I thought surely there was nothing wrong in trying to protect my family. It took me six weeks, and I still wanted to get rid of the darkness I thought with Neal's previous experience with the darkness he'd be even more eager to get rid of it. I was a fool, I let everyone believe I cast the curse to bring us back but it was Neal. I knew then I had to fix things, firstly I would have to return Excalibur to the stone and ensured Arthur couldn't pull it out, to protect it from the wrong hands, his. Secondly I needed Neal to forget why he cast the curse, to forget he was ever a dark one. Afterwards I realised too many people knew what I did to him so I needed to make them forget too. With the curse coming I knew Arthur and all of Camelot was coming along. With your memories gone you wouldn't know he wasn't to be trusted so I needed to take away all the memories of everyone in Camelot. Shortly after getting back I still couldn't let anyone know what happened if Neal remembered what he did"...
Regina said "the darkness in him would spread, that's what you meant. Without him knowing the darkness was dormant, but if he remembered he would get darker".
Mary-Margaret asked "taking away his memory sounds like a short term plan. Did you have a plan to get rid of his darkness forever"?
Emma replied "that's why I took Zelena. I planned to put the darkness in her and strike her down".
Regina cried "Emma".
"I needed someone no one would miss. You're the only family she has and you can't tell me after everything Zelena's done you would miss her if she were gone".
Mary-Margaret said "this is premeditated murder. What you did to Cruella was understandable, what you're planning to do to Zelena would have been pure darkness".
Emma said "she got away so you can stop worrying about me killing her".
Regina stated "Zelena aside, now we have a bigger problem. Emma surely you know what he's planning to do".
Emma replied "he wanted to give me a taste of my own medicine and took away my memory".
Mary-Margaret said "why not give us back our own memories? Your dreamcatchers, Regina can access them and if we remember we can figure out what he's planning".
David came back in and told them "we can't, the dreamcatchers that were supposed to be in the shed, they're gone".
Later they were all at Regina's house, Neal had sought out his father to challenge him to a dual. Belle said "he said if Rumple doesn't show he'll infect the town with a deadly plague".
Emma asked "why wipe my memory if he was going to announce his plan, there has to more to it"?
Hook questioned "if I were a Dark One I'd wager my first thoughts would be towards revenge. I can only guess he's doing the same but why would he want revenge against you"?
Mr Gold said "he gave a number of reasons. When you took Milah I told him his mother was dead, I thought that would be easier. I abandoned him, speaking as an abandoned child myself I understand his anger but I thought we'd moved past it. Taking away his memory of the worst thing he ever did, I think and I'm sure Emma would agree that was justified".
Emma agreed "indeed, unfortunately because I unblocked it when he got his memory back he got that memory back".
Mary-Margaret asked "what did he do that was so terrible".
Emma and Gold looked at each other and knew there wasn't much point in keeping anything from them now. "We were in the midst of the Ogre Wars when I became the Dark One. I used my power to destroy the Ogres and lead all the children who been ripped away from their families and forced to fight home. I was called a hero and Bae was so proud of me unfortunately a solider who'd been there,
Beowulf was not as impressed. He said everyone would pay for my using dark magic and he didn't intend to wait for me to slip me. He kidnapped and killed a few villagers and told the others a monster took them. When I was sent to kill the monster Bae convinced me to do it without magic. In the end I gave the dagger to Bae so if I was tempted he could stop me. When Beowulf found us he stole the dagger from Bae and told us his plan, to claim I killed the villagers. I told Bae to run while Beowulf ordered me to stay. On his return to the village Bae got the dagger back and summoned me. Beowulf hoped I kill him so Bae wold see me as a monster. I wanted to take Beowulf back and tell everyone the truth but it'd be my word against his. Bae thought Beowulf should pay, he ordered me to kill him so I broke his neck. That night as we talked he had no remorse, nor could he care less. A darkness like that could only grow unless he forgot, so I put memory potion into his tea. When he found Beowulf's sword behind my cloak he knew I killed him. I let him believe I did it of my own accord rather than let him know what he did.
Mary-Margaret remembering said "any father would give into the darkness to keep their child in the light, that's what you meant in Neverland".
Regina realized and turned to Emma "and that's what you meant when you told Tally you didn't want the darkness to spread" and Emma nodded.
David said "well what about Merlin's last message, he said this Nimue could destroy the darkness".
Emma said "not sure which Nimue he was talking about but the only one that comes to mind is his true love".
Gold adds "who was also the first dark one".
To no one in particular Emma asked "how can we find out more about her"?
Gold answered "there are many texts, I would start with the Dark One chronicles".
"As much as I admire devotion to scholarship there is an easier way, remove this cuff and I can protect you" Looking around the room Emma could see no one was even considering it. "You don't trust me".
Gold asked "if our roles were reversed would you trust me".
"So, you're here" Emma turned around and saw Henry and Tally.
"Henry, I need you to tell them it's okay to take off this cuff".
As Tally was about to Henry pulled her back and said "no, after everything why should we trust you now".
Tally asked "where's daddy"?
Henry added "and this time we want a straight answer".
Emma said "back in Camelot he got hurt and was dying. There was only one way to save him and I took it. I tethered his life to Excalibur aware it would turn him into another Dark One".
Henry folded his arms "you shouldn't have kept it from us".
Emma said "I thought you would understand".
"I thought I could count on you".
"So you can forgive Regina and Gold for all they've done but not me, not your own mother".
"They've changed, they've shown me they've changed".
"So have I".
"And reverted. As a bailbonds person you did things alone, here in Storybrooke you learned to trust and accept help from other people. But when things got tough you decided to do it alone. We were supposed to be a team".
"Operation Cobra I remember".
"Now you just want your dark magic back so you can do it alone, and I've seen what you do with dark magic".
"It was my mistake, I wanted to fix it" Henry took off back upstairs.
Tally took out piece of paper and said "I saw something, I think it's important". She showed everyone her picture, there were several hooded figures. On the left hand side was a woman of grey-green skin and on the right was the sword sticking out of someone not even Tally knew who.
Gold said "whenever a Dark One is formed they always wear a hood" and Emma nodded.
Emma said "this woman", she pointed to the woman in the picture and said "she looks like".
She and Gold said at the same "Nimue".
Hook asked "and the unfortunate soul dead, any idea who it could be"?
Emma said "the only way to vanquish the darkness is to kill the Dark One with Excalibur. If the darkness is not put into anyone else that's me or Neal".
Tally just watched until everyone said they were going to go to the library. Regina told them she had a spot to make first and in either situation Emma could guess she wasn't invited. Hearing the sadness in her voice Tally said "it's alright mom, I'll stay with you".
Neal was wearing a dark cloak and it felt heavy and uncomfortable. Without needing to say anything Neal was suddenly wearing a version of what his father wore. A vision of his father appeared and said "I must say I like the look".
"Get out of my head" Neal said.
"I'm here to help you"
"And how do you intend to do that? You are nothing but a vision".
"You're not really mad at me, or are you"?
Neal cast his eyes down then said "the darkness took my father and twisted him into something I couldn't recognize".
"And let's not forget isolated you from friends, people, the truth".
"The truth"?
"He kept so much from you, should you not want some retribution from him".
"Hard thing to do here".
"Then the answer is clear, a dark curse".
"Another problem, to cast a dark curse you need to crush the heart of the one you love most, I won't do that to Emma, or Henry, or Tally".
"Well, that's the beauty of being a Dark One, all Dark Ones are every Dark One, multiple Dark Ones, multiple things they love most".
Emma in her new dark leather attire ran up to him "Neal, it worked you're alive".
Neal said "I said not to, a Dark One is the last thing I wanted to be".
"It was the only way the save you, to tether your life to Excalibur. So how long has he been with you"?
Neal asked "you can see him"?
Rumpelstilskin answered "of course she can, she's still a Dark One. No matter how hard she might try to hold onto the light, although by the look of things I'd say something changed".
Emma said "things aren't always how they appear. For example it looks like your father is here, but he isn't. This illusion isn't real and you know that. I however am real, Henry and Tally told me about the house, and that's what I want, you just need to want it to".
"You know I do".
"Do you still see him".
Neal looked around "he's gone".
Emma said "we can do this, we can get the darkness out of both of us"
"How"
"By remembering a reason to, by being around the people we love".
Zelena burst into the maternity ward, the Nurse said "you, the mayor told me not to let you through".
"Then you're just doing your job" Zelena said and knocked her out "poorly though".
As she came around the corner Regina said "not so fast sis".
Zelena replied "Regina, thanks for looking after my bundle of joy while I was off being kidnapped but I'm here to take her back now".
Regina said "that's not going to happen". Zelena looked through the nursery window and saw the crib saying 'BABY GIRL HOOD' was empty.
"Where is she"?
"You really thought after everything that's happened we wouldn't protect that child from you".
"She's my daughter".
"She's also Robin's, and you will never take her away from him".
"You had everything while I got nothing, now I finally have something rightfully mine you've decided I can't have".
"Rightfully, the only reason you have her is because you killed Marian and deceived Robin in the most vile way imaginable. Little... whatever Robin decides to name her deserves her father, to set a good example for her and teach her to be good. This insanity has to end".
"I agree but I don't think it can".
"Actually maybe there is a way".
Merida had been called to watch Emma and Tally to make sure nothing unexpected happened. Emma lay on the couch as Merida aimed an arrow at her. "When I was asked to watch you the last thing I wanted was to be in the same room as you. Seeing you now, you look so vulnerable".
Tally ran out in front of Emma "please don't hurt my mom. Remember what I told you is my favourite phrase"
"To be heroic is show mercy? I wasn't planning to kill her, but I was thinking perhaps a good arrow to the knee would set things right".
"Well, that's not going to happen". Merida spun around and seeing Neal she released her arrow but he caught it before it could hit him. He threw Merida across the room and commented "a broken knee is nothing on a broken heart". He turned to Tally "hello Sugar Plum". Tally would usually be ecstatic to see her daddy but for now she reserved judgement. She'd seen what the darkness did to Emma and didn't know what it might have done to Neal. "Why are you going to duel Grandpa Gold"?
"Unfortunately Grandpa Gold did some things I need pay back for"?
"Revenge is the path of darkness, especially on your own father" Emma commented.
Neal laughed "you're talking to me about the path of darkness".
Emma said "whatever your end plan is, you know there will be a price, all magic comes with a price".
"As long as I get what I want I don't care about the price".
Tally said "that's easy to say when you don't know what the price is".
Neal said "then your mother can pay it".
Emma replied "I did questionable things, I admit it, but everything I did, I did for you, for us, to keep our family together".
"And that's your problem. You're so afraid of losing the people you love you push them away. You don't need some villain to tear away your happiness you do a pretty good job of that all on your own. That is why you will always be an orphan and very soon everyone you love will be gone".
Regina took Zelena to Mary-Margaret and David's apartment "What are we doing here, if your speech of redemption didn't work a year ago what makes you think anything they say will have any effect".
"Oh they aren't in" replied Regina, "but who is will help you". Regina opened the door and there was Robin holding their baby girl. Zelena smiled and asked "finally realised the green beats the queen".
Regina turned and was about to lash out until Robin stopped her so instead Regina said "as wicked as you think you are you're not even in my league. I spent so many years doing terrible, terrible things beyond your imagination. But now I'm not the evil queen anymore and you know why: Henry. It took having a child, that unconditional love, it had made me my best self. And I am hoping that same kind of love will do the same for you".
Robin said "make no mistake, we are never going to be a family you and me. But Regina and I agree you are a mother, so against our best instincts we will allow you to visit with our child as long as one of us is present".
Zelena didn't like this arrangement but knew if she had any hope of holding her child right now she had to agree "fine". She held out her arms and Robin slowly put their arms. Zelena cradled her and said "hello my little green bean, I'm your mummy".
Emma and Tally came up with a plan but they needed Henry's help so they went to the library. As Henry was getting a new book Tally came up to him. Henry whispered "why are you here"?
Not really answering him she replied "come with me".
She pulled him into the shadows where Emma was "mom, you escaped, we called Merida to watch you".
Tally said "she was until dad appeared, he said soon everyone she loves will be gone".
Emma said "and we came up with a plan".
Henry looked at her wrist and said "I'm not taking the cuff off".
Emma said "I'm not asking you to, your dad stole my dreamcatchers and also took my memories so I must know a way to stop him. And this time I'll do it with help".
Tally said "you know better than anyone how to work around magic".
Henry replied "if you have the stuff you made the dreamcatchers with we can use a locator potion. There should be some in Grandpa's shop".
Emma replied "sounds like a plan".
Henry said "all we need now is a name".
Tally said "Operation...Past Revealed".
Henry said "nah".
Emma suggested "Operation Cobra 2.0".
Henry replied "perfect".
Emma and Neal arrived back at Granny's, Regina, Mary-Margaret and David were a little worried at Emma and Neal's appearance. Emma saw this and said "it looks worst than it is".
Regina asked "are you sure"?
Neal said "of course, we're ready to get the darkness out of us".
Emma asked "where are the kids"?
Neal added "and Merlin".
David answered "Hook's looking after the kids while keeping a look out, and Merlin's inside".
Neal said "I'll go in and get him".
Neal went in and saw Merlin recording a message "preparing for the worst case scenario, sorry to tell you you're a little late". Neal reached into Merlin's chest and pulled out his heart.
Rumplestiltskin appeared and said "careful Bae, that is the oldest heart in all the realm, or any other".
Merlin said "I've already left a message for the others".
Neal replied "and they can't do a thing to stop me".
Merlin asked "what are you planning to do"?
"Wouldn't you like to know" Neal answered "but I can tell you I need something from Papa, and for that I need to get home to Storybrooke".
"You're planning to cast the dark curse. It won't work with my heart, it requires the heart of who you love most".
"And that's the beauty of being the Dark One, being all Dark Ones" The vision of Rumpelstiltskin turned into a vision of Nimue. She said "you're the one I love most, quite poetic, even after everything that's happened I still love you".
Neal said "so when I crush your heart so will she".
As Emma grabbed her stuff Henry stole a locater potion. The locator potion lead them to the clock tower. At the top was all the dreamcatchers just hanging there. Emma said "this makes no sense they're all here".
Tally asked "isn't that a good thing"?
Emma replied "it's too easy". She reached out but was prevented from touching them. "Alright now it makes sense".
Henry said "he wanted you to find them without being able to take them. To hurt you".
Emma replied "he knew I would have magic. It's like eating a steak in front of a starving man".
Henry said "if you need magic to get to them I guess I only have one choice".
"Are you sure"
"You didn't have to involve me in this but you did, and that means there's still hope".
He took the cuff off Emma's wrist.
Emma replied "Henry, thank you, I promise I will make it up to you because of everything".
Henry said "you can start by saving the day".
Emma came in and the sight before her told her something wasn't right. "Neal what do you think you're doing"?
Nimue said "unlike you his hold on the light isn't as strong".
"What do you want"?
"While your transition to the dark isn't complete you know what we want. Some part of you wants it too".
Emma thought then realised and gasped "no".
"Yes Emma".
Emma turned to Neal as said "you don't have to do this".
Neal replied "actually I do"
"No, you said you wanted the darkness out. Back in Storybrooke when your fathers heart was almost completely black you permitted the apprentice to take out the darkness saying it was what you'd wanted for years. I know you can still be the man I love".
As she attempted to kiss him Neal said "that man was a weakling, but now I'm strong enough not to listen to you". He crushed the heart and completed the curse.
Gold had faced Neal and miraculously bested him. Neal had gotten in a through swipes and even drew blood which he promptly wiped off. Gold got Excalibur but didn't have it in his heart to kill his son so he just left. He'd told Belle if he won he's go to the well and she could choose to come or not. "You won" Belle said coming up
Gold replied "and you came".
As he came over she said "Rumple I love you and some part of me always will".
Gold replied "I love you too but I nothing good ever came after and some part of me always will".
"You've broken my heart too many times, there's too much broken trust".
"But I've changed, I'm longer a beast, my heart is pure".
"I know, you're now the good man I knew you could become. We have a chance for a life together, but it's still only a chance. I'm not sure if I want only a chance, and to figure out if I can take a leap of faith I need to do it alone. I spent years trying to mend your heart and now that it is I need to protect mine".
"Belle, please" he said as he watched her walk away not once looking back.
Emma sent Merlin to his final resting place and telling him to rest in peace. Emma pulled out Excalibur and Neal asked "Emma, just what are you planning to do with that".
She replied "this is too powerful for anyone to use, and to make sure I'm not tempted. Return to stone from wenst you came only able to be released by a noble hero with a true heart".
Neal asked "so now what's your grand plan to stop me knowing you can't stop the curse".
Emma answered "true a curse can't be stopped once it's enacted, but I can make you forget why you cast it". With a wave of her hand she put him under a sleeping spell. "I can make you forget you were ever a Dark One". She waved one of her dreamcatchers over him making him forget their time in Camelot. "When you wake up you'll be back to being the man I love".
The vision of Rumpelstiltskin said "you'll have to do more than that if you want him to forget he was ever a Dark One".
Emma teleported everyone who'd come over from Storybrooke into Granny's making them unconscious at the same time. She re-cuffed Zelena as a precaution. Emma said "they all need to forget" and pulled their memories of Camelot into the dreamcatchers. She put another dreamcatcher into the cauldron with the curse and added "everyone needs to forget".
Rumplestiltskin said "because why trust your family to help when you can do it all yourself"
"It's my mistake to fix".
"By using Dark magic to add a memory wipe to the curse. You might be a good vessel for the darkness after all". As the curse engulfed all within the land (including Merida who only came to confront Arthur) Emma held Neal in her arms.
Everyone who went to Camelot to help Emma plus Merida were in the Mayor's office with Emma. Emma had given them all their dreamcatchers. Merida asked "and we're supposed to believe you'll give back our memories just like that".
Emma replied "yes, just like that, and your memories were just taken because you were in the wrong place at the wrong time".
David said "so activate your dreamcatchers and let's see our memories".
Emma was about to then hesitated Henry asked "what's wrong"?
Emma turned to Tally and said "before I do, Tally when you see what the reason I did what I did to daddy remember it was Arthurs fault for attacking a child".
Emma took a deep breath and returned all their memories. They all looked at Emma who looked horrified. Hook asked "do you know what Neal's doing"?
Emma nodded "and now Tally's drawing makes sense. He didn't want that dual with Gold for revenge, he did it for the blood of man who's been to hell and back. It's an ingredient for an ancient dark spell, probably the darkest there could be. The Recalled Dark Souls spell ".
Regina asked "and why is that"?
Emma said "as you know with the exception of Neal and myself the Dark One position goes to whomever killed the last one. There has been a long and bloody line of Dark Ones since Nimue. The Recall Dark Souls spell can return all of them to the land of the living".