Emma continued on her path alone. She was still thinking about what had happened to Merlin earlier. Where did he go? Why did he abandon her? But at least she had the Flame of Prometheus. Or, at least, a spark from it.

She entered the cottage to be greeted by the Doctor and Henry.

"Mum," Henry said as Emma entered. "Did you do it? Did you find the spark of…"

"Prometheus, yes," Emma said with a smile. "Now I can use it to fix Excalibur."

"And now, we can get that Darkness out of you."

"Yes, let's," Emma replied. "Where's the sword?"

"Your parents haven't come back yet," the Doctor said. "I'm starting to think that something's happened to them. They should have been back hours ago."

"Have you seen Merlin?" Emma asked.

"I thought he was with you," Henry told Emma.

"He was," Emma began. "But then he vanished. Something's wrong. I don't think we're safe here anymore."

"The TARDIS," the Doctor said. "We'll go in there. She'll protect us."

Henry nodded and was going to head towards the blue box when he was frozen with a purple light.

"Henry?" Emma asked as she went over to her son.

"He'll be fine," came a voice behind them. "Once we're done."

Emma turned around. "Merlin?"

"I'm sorry for the theatrics," Merlin continued. "It's not usually my style, but I had to follow orders."

"Whose orders?" the Doctor asked. "Who's making you do this?"

"Arthur's," Merlin answered. "My wayward pupil has done something I did not foresee. He's tethered me to Excalibur. Arthur has ordered me to reforge Excalibur into a whole sword. Which means I will need your dagger and the Promethean flame."

"No," Emma told him.

"Then he will order me to kill your family. And, Emma, as much as I hate it, I will obey."

"Arthur has my family?"

"Yes. Because of me. I'm sorry. He wants to make a trade in the heart of the Caledonian Forest n one hour. Their lives for the dagger and the flame."

"That's not enough time. This isn't even a flame yet."

"I've seen the strength in you, Emma. When you're ready to light the spark, it will burn. And Arthur will have what he wants. The sword will be whole once again."

"So I'm just supposed to give up without a fight?" Emma asked.

"Acceptance is a form of strength. I know the Darkness lives in you, Emma. But I beg you, please. Do not seek vengeance. Do not make the same mistakes as Nimue."


Once Merlin left and unfroze Henry, Emma moved outside and sat down on a rock. She opened the small box and looked down at the Promethean spark. She flicked a hand, hoping to be able to light the flame that she needed. But nothing budged.

"I wouldn't light that if I were you," came a voice behind her. "Which, as a matter of fact, I am."

Emma turned around. Rumplestiltskin. The voice in her head was back.

"If Arthur uses that to forge Excalibur, he will kill you," Rumplestiltskin continued. "And that's bad news for those in your head."

"I don't have a choice," Emma told him. "I need to ignite this spark to save my family. I can't risk their lives." Emma sighed as Rumplestiltskin took a seat beside her. "What the hell's wrong with this?" she asked about the flame. But, unfortunately, it still wouldn't light.

"Wrong with it?" Rumplestiltskin asked. "Or wrong with you? Merlin said, 'You can only light that when you're ready to let go of the Darkness'." So perhaps you're not."

"You're wrong," Emma told him.

"Well, prove it then, dearie. Light the flame. Go on. Do it. Just do it … Light it!"

"I'm trying!" Emma snapped back.

"Hey!" came Henry's voice behind her. She didn't know that she was being watched. She stood up from the rock and looked at her son.

"Henry. You weren't supposed to see that."

"What were you trying to do?" Henry asked. He was holding something behind his back.

"Get this flame lit."

"Well, what did the voices say?"

"I can't do it because I don't want to give up the Darkness."

"Maybe you just need a little motivation?" Henry asked, showing his mother what he was holding behind his back. A newspaper. "Here," he said, showing her the real estate section and a house marked in red ink. "I've got something to show you. A little project Hook and I were working on. Operation Light Swan. He was looking for a house you'd like. So when we got back home …."

"He can ask me to move in," Emma finished.

"He said that the house is a promise. Kind of like a plan for the future."

Emma handed the paper back to Henry. "You know what? That voice in my head was right. I don't want to give up the Darkness. Not yet."

Henry tilted his head. "What?"

"I need to use it one last time."


King Arthur stood next to Merlin in the middle of the heart of the Caledonian Forest. He watched his prisoners tied to the surrounding trees wrapped in chains. He waited for Emma to appear. And she did, followed by the Doctor.

"We brought the dagger and the flame," Emma told King Arthur. "But you don't get it until you free my family."

King Arthur shook his head. "No. You will hand it over now," he said, holding out Excalibur. "Or unleash Merlin."

"Emma, please," Merlin begged. "I don't want to fight you."

King Arthur looked at Merlin. "Who do you want to kill first?"

"Please, Emma," Merlin said again. "Give him the flame. This is a battle you cannot win."

The Doctor stepped forward. "No one's getting any flame. Not in this universe or the next."

"And look who finally showed up," King Arthur commented. "But without a weapon, no doubt."

"I have no weapon," the Doctor told him. "I don't need a weapon." He opened his coat and turned around to prove to King Arthur that he had no weapon. But he did take out a black leather gauntlet. "Because I am the Doctor. And this is my spoon!" He took out a metal tablespoon and drew it with a flourish. "En garde!"

The Doctor and King Arthur engaged, clattering their weapon against each other. The spoon and the half of Excalibur clashed as they hit each other. The Doctor got in the first blow, kitting King Arthur in the face and pushing him back. They went again.

The Doctor dodged Excalibur as he advanced towards the King before rapping him on the back of the head with the spoon.

Emma stared at the sight in front of her. So did her friends and family.

"You are amazing," Emma breathed.

"I've had some experience, you know," the Doctor said as he and King Arthur moved to a small ledge that overlooked a valley. "Richard the Lionheart!" He clashed his spoon against Excalibur, dodging another parry. "Cyano de Bergerac!" The metal objects clashed again. "Errol Flynn! He had an enormous ego! But not as enormous as yours, Arthur."

King Arthur glared at the Doctor. He attacked the Doctor, but the Doctor moved slightly and rapped the King on the bum. "You will rue the day you crossed King Arthur," he said as he stood up straight and lunged at the Doctor, managed to cut a button off the Doctor's coat.

His eyebrows turned furious. He spread his arms out, watching as King Arthur lunged at the Doctor again. The Doctor dodged, turned King Arthur back, and pushed the disgraced King off the ledge. The Doctor stared at him and polished the spoon on his elbow. Then he turned back to Emma. "As I said, no one is getting the flame."

"Remind me never to go up against you again," Emma replied. "But we still need Excalibur."

The Doctor nodded and looked down at where King Arthur fell. But he was gone. "Where's Arthur?" he asked.

However, King Arthur didn't want to take no for an answer. And he hated losing, especially in his own story. He had to be the hero. He had climbed out of the small gully and was standing behind them. He still held Excalibur in his hand. "Merlin!" he yelled. "Attack them!"

Merlin didn't want to, but he had no choice. He blasted blue magic towards Emma and the Doctor, but Emma stepped forward and blasted her own magic back. The two streams of magic clashed in the middle. "I wish you could defeat me, Emma," Merlin said. "But I've played this game for too long," he said, and his magic overwhelmed Emma and knocked her to the ground.

"Merlin!" King Arthur breathed. "Kill her mother."

Merlin turned to Mary Margaret and waved his hand to animate the vines around the tree she was chained to. They snaked down and began to wrap around her throat, strangling her as they grew tighter around her neck.

"Merlin…" Emma groaned. "You have to fight it."

"I can't!" Merlin grunted.

"You are the greatest sorcerer to have ever lived," the Doctor said. "They've written stories and songs about you. If anyone can fight off the Darkness, then no one can."

Merlin looked at the Doctor, then at Mary Margaret's face as it began to turn blue, before releasing his hand, and the vines around Mary Margaret relaxed and descended towards the tree.

"I said, kill her!" King Arthur demanded. "By the sword, I command that you kill her!"

However, Hook had removed the chains around him by removing the hook he had in place of his left hand. He raced towards King Arthur and swung his chains at him. "Not today, mate," he said as King Arthur swung Excalibur at him, just nicking him on the side of his neck. But Hook swung the chains again, knocking King Arthur to the ground.

King Arthur let go of Excalibur and tried to reach for it again, but Hook ran forward, stepping on King Arthur's hand to stop him. "I know someone who needs that," he said, and he picked up the sword himself.

King Arthur gathered himself up before running back into the forest. Once he was gone, Emma waved her hand and freed the rest of her family and friends chained to the trees.

Emma went over to Hook. "Thank you," she said.

"Easy, Swan," Hook said. "You got tagged pretty good there."

"So did you," Emma said, noticing the small scratch on Hook's neck.

"This thing?" Hook asked. "Well, I've had worse cuts itching my nose with the wrong hand."

Emma shushed him. "Hold still," she said as she moved her hand over the cut, healing the cut.

"Thank you. Didn't even sting," he said, then looked at Excalibur. "And look at that. There's a sword."

"We did it. Now all I have to do is light the spark, and we can get the Darkness out."

"Well, then let's do it, go home."


Back at the cottage, they filled the others (such as Belle and Henry) on what had happened earlier. Henry couldn't believe what had happened.

"You punched him?" Henry asked. "Awesome."

"Gave him a 'left hook', if you know what I mean," Hook said as the door opened and David, Regina and Robin entered.

"Well, the woods are clear," David said. "Arthur must have retreated far from here. Maybe even went back to Camelot."

"I'm afraid Merlin won't be much help," Belle said. "Resisting Excalibur has taken its toll on him."

"And Emma?" Regina asked. "How's she doing with the spark?"

"he said she needed time alone," Mary Margaret said. "She took it outside."

Nodding, Regina turned to leave the cottage and found Emma in a well in the backyard. She was staring at the dagger, Excalibur and the spark.

"Need a light?" Regina asked.

"Regina," Emma sighed.

"I thought you could use a friend."

"He's playing with me," Emma said. "He said I can't light it because I'm not ready to let go of the Darkness."

"Are you?"

Emma turned her head. "Regina."

"No one knows the lure of the Darkness better than I do. You can lie to your parents. You can lie to yourself. But you can't lie to me."

"I don't know," Emma stated.

"It feels good, doesn't it? Indulging every impulse. Wielding great power. Doing whatever you want."

"Yes," Emma admitted, "Yes, it does. Is that wrong?"

Regina sighed. "Of course it is. But it's also human. Look, I know you, Emma. It took a long time, but I know you. And you're not as weak as I once was. So if you're clinging to the Darkness, you have a good reason. And it's beyond temptation. So what is it?"

"I don't know."

"There's a difference between not knowing something and not wanting to admit it. Those walls you put up, Emma, it's time they come down," Regina said, reaching over and picking up the dagger and holding it out.

Emma watched. "What are you doing?"

"Helping you break the walls. But, as your friend, I command you, Dark One, tell me, why are you so afraid to give up the Darkness?"

"Once I let it go, I won't be able to protect my family," Emma admitted.

"It's another wall, Emma. Now, the truth."

"It is. Regina, please."

"No. It's not. You must be brave enough to knock down all those walls you're hiding behind. The dagger can make you look, but you … You have to choose to see. Now, come on. Come on, Emma, see. Tell me what you are terrified of?"

"Regina, what're you doing?" David asked as he, Mary Margaret and Hook walked up behind her.

"I'm getting answers," Regina answered.

"By controlling her?" Hook asked, snatching the dagger from her. "That's enough!"

Regina scoffed.

"Are you alright?" Hook asked Emma. But Emma didn't answer, and she picked up the spark, the dagger and Excalibur and walked away.

"You think you're helping her by being cruel?" snapped Mary Margaret.

"I wasn't cruel," Regina answered. "I've been cruel, and trust me, you'd know it. But I was getting to the truth. So it's not my fault that it's painful."


Hook followed Emma until he saw her in a clearing in the woods. She was sitting on a log with the dagger, the spark and Excalibur in front of her.

"There you are," Hook said as he approached where Emma sat. "I've been looking everywhere for you."

Emma looked up at him. "Dagger's right here. Regina was going to use it on me. Why not you?"

Hook sat beside her. "What she did was wrong. I'm sorry that had to happen."

"That's funny. I'm not. She's right. I do know why I'm scared to let go of the Darkness. Because of her, I finally admitted it to myself."

"What are you so afraid of, love?" Hook asked.

Emma took the newspaper she had given back to Henry earlier. "This," she said, showing it to him. "Our future."

Hook sighed. "I see you talked to Henry. Sometimes I forget that the boy can't keep secrets."

"Don't blame him," Emma said. "He just thought it would help if I knew what I had to look forward to when we got home."

"What are you trying to tell me here? That you can't ignite the Promethean Flame because you're afraid to take the plunge and move in with me?"

"It's not about moving in," Emma said. "It's everything. When I told you I loved you back in Storybrooke, it was because I thought I would never see you again. It was the same way with Neal. I could only admit my true feelings when I thought I was losing him." She leaned closer to Hook. "And you."

"Well, I guess it's even worse than I thought. You can't even see any future at all with me."

Emma placed her hand against Hook's hook. "That's not it," she said. "Don't you get it? I'm afraid because I do want a future with you."

Hook looked over at Emma. "You do?" he asked with a tilt of his head.

"Yes," Emma answered. "And the minute you take away the Darkness, that future begins. I know it sounds crazy."

"It doesn't sound crazy at all, Emma. On the contrary, that sounds like music to this pirate's ears. You have to trust me. The future is nothing to be afraid of," Hook said before kissing Emma. He looked down and saw the spark of Promethean's Flame ignite. "See?"


Emma and Hook returned to the cottage, where they saw everyone waiting in the front room. Merlin walked over to Emma, and she looked at him. "Are you ready?" he asked her.

Emma nodded. "Yes."

"Then it's time to destroy the Darkness, once and for all," Merlin said as he opened the lid of the box that stored the spark. He stood back, watching as Emma ignited the spark and lifted it into the air.

With her hands, she made the spark into a fireball. It glowed brighter and cackled. Emma reached for the dagger and Excalibur and nearly stuck them in the fireball. But she could see Hook in front of her. He became woozy, and he almost lost his balance.

"Bloody hell," Hook muttered, placing his hand over where he had been cut earlier.

"Hook, what's wrong?" David asked as blood started to gush out of the side of his neck.

"He's bleeding!" Mary Margaret exclaimed, watching as Hook fell to the ground.

Emma stopped, and the fireball descended back into its box. She turned to Hook. "Killian… No."

"When did that happen?" Regina asked, looking at the now giant cut on Hook's neck.

"It was Excalibur. But it was just a small cut. I healed it."

"I'm afraid it only seemed that way," Merlin began. "Excalibur was forged to cut immortal ties. Nothing can heal a wound from it."

"What?" Mary Margaret asked. "There has to be something we can do. That she can do."

"Even Emma's power isn't strong enough. Nor is my own."

"Killian," Emma began. "You have to hold on. I can't lose you."

"It's alright," Hook said weakly.

"No. Please, no. Please don't leave me. You have to stay," Emma said as tears began to well in her eyes. She didn't want to get her old life back but lose Hook. "Come on, Killian. What about our future together?"

"Our future is now. Reunite the blades so I can see them before I go."

"No," Emma demanded.

"No?" asked Regina.

"I'm not gonna let him die when I know there's a way to save him."

"Emma…" Regina began. "Merlin said it. There's nothing you can do."

"That's what he said, But it's not true, is it?" She got up and looked over at Merlin. "You told me how powerful I am. Let's use that power. I can use the Promethean Flame to release you from Excalibur, and then I can use it to tether Hook's life to it instead. It could save him."

"Emma, you know what that could do," Merlin said.

"Create another Dark One," Regina answered.

"It would multiply the Darkness so that it cannot be destroyed. Not without you paying the steepest of prices. And it will be your final step into the dark."

"I don't care what happens to me."

"Emma, wait," David told his daughter. "You need to think this carefully."

"Please, listen," Mary Margaret begged. She wanted Hook's life to be saved, but not at the expense of her daughter's soul. "You can't."

"Emma, your parents are right, Emma," Regina said.

"If you could've saved Daniel or Robin... Look how far you were willing to go and how you pushed me to save him!" Emma cried, her voice breaking. "I'm not going to lose Killian. I won't let anyone stop me." She engulfed Hook and herself in a cloud of black smoke, poofing them to a field of middlemist flowers. Emma looked down at Hook.

"Emma …" Hook weakly said.

"Killian…" Emma began. "You're going to be okay."

"No … Please… You have to let me go …"

Emma shook her head. That wasn't an option. "No."

Hook groaned. "I don't want to pay this price. I don't wanna become that."

"You won't," Emma said. "You can fight the Darkness. I can help you. We can do it together."

"I'm not as strong as you are," Hook said. "Or Merlin. I'm weak. The things I've done … I've done … I've succumbed to Darkness before in my life. And it took centuries to push it away. I don't know if I can do it again."

"But our future."

"I'll just be happy knowing that you'll have one…." Hook said, feeling himself grow weaker.

"That's not enough for me!" Emma cried, grabbing Excalibur, holding it in front of her, and over Hook. The blade glowed bright yellow, and streams of Darkness covered and wrapped around Excalibur before pouring into Hook's nearly lifeless body. Once all the Darkness was inside Hook, his whole body glowed bright yellow, and he vanished. Emma watched as Hook's name – Killian Jones – appeared on the blade, replacing Merlin's.

Then, a black cloud covered Emma. Finally, it dissipated, and Emma dressed in a black leather outfit. Her transformation into the Darkness was now complete.