Athena's POV

Merida's training was wearing me down big time. It seemed no matter how hard I tried with the red headed princess I was no closer to becoming a hero. At the moment Merida was away answering a call to Zila. Even though I was no longer a dark one I could tell Zila was enjoying her new powers. But what was weird I didn't sense evil within her.

If I wanted to escape from here it was now. I quickly looked around making sure Merida or Zila weren't around before I stood up. I was dressed in warm clothing thanks to Zila. I wore a long sleeved black shirt with jeans and tennis shoes.

I also had a jacket which I was grateful for. I couldn't be that far from town and I ran for it. There was one person who could keep me safe and it was Rumple. I just hoped he still didn't hate me as I ran for my life.

Rumple's POV

When I opened the door to my shop so I knew immediately someone was here. I really should get a security system because I've had enough of people breaking and entering into my own damn store. I walked towards the back office and there on the cot was my sister. She immediately stood up and rushed over to me.

It wasn't long until the two of us were hugging one another.

"Are you alright?" I demanded to her after we pulled apart from our embrace.

"Yes I'm fine Zila hasn't hurt me" she reassured me. "She wants me to pull out Excalibur for her, I was able to get away but I'm scared brother"

"Your safe with me" I reassured her as I wrapped one arm around her to soothe her nerves. Afterwards I made her sit down on the cot while I made us some tea. Thankfully I had her favorite flavor which was jasmine.

"How long was I asleep?" Athena inquired as I handed her a cup of tea.

"Six weeks" I answered.

"Holy s*t"

A smile came to my lips when she swore like Zila. I continued with the tale that we had been in Camelot but a dark curse was casted and our memories in the Enchanted Forest were gone.

"She must have a reason why she did that" Athena said. "As dark ones we have our reasons, which reminds me when I was with Zila I sensed no evil in her"

That got me to arch an eyebrow. All Dark Ones had evil in them the reason why Zila didn't was a puzzle. I had sensed and felt Zila's darkness but no evil. Perhaps I would need to find out what was going on. Athena suddenly paled and she set her cup down on the desk next to her.

"What is it?" I asked now worried.

"She's here" Athena said and I heard glass being shattered. I stood up and came out from behind the curtain to see none other than Princess Merida. Athena came up to my side.

"I told Zila you wouldn't be daft enough to seek shelter in your brother's shop, but she said you wouldn't be able to resist nor seeing your sibling"

"Merida you don't have to do this" Athena said to the red headed princess.

"I tried to fight it but I couldn't!" Merida exclaimed. "So now your fate is up to you"

Merida then strung an arrow to her bow and Athena pulled me into the back office. She shut the door behind us and suddenly the arrow came through the wall and pierced Athena's upper arm. She screamed in pain and I quickly used my magic to take us to her house. Athena's home was a bit larger than mine and it was dusty and needed some cleaning.

"Here let me see that" I told my sister as I pulled off her jacket. She winced and whimpered in pain. I removed the arrow out of her arm and quickly healed her wound with my magic.

"Thank you" Athena said to me. She then stood up and went to take a shower. She returned to twenty minutes later dressed in new clothes. She had a look of determination on her face.

"As long as Zila has Merida's heart, that princess won't stop"

Uh oh I didn't like that long in her eyes. I was about to protest when Athena shook her head and suddenly smirked at me.

"I think I have a way to return Merida's heart to her, I just hope it works and I'll need your help Rumple"

She then told me of her plan which I didn't like but I agreed to help her. Dakota thankfully was with Belle for a few hours which would help. After the sun went down my sister and I got into my car and drove for the town line. Once arriving the two of us got out.

"I hope this plans of yours works" I said to my sister.

"It will" she answered with confidence. "I may no longer be a dark one, but I still have tricks up my sleeve"

"Something you learned from our father"

Athena's smirk grew wider confirming my statement.

"Your confidence will be your downfall"

Athena and I looked to see Merida standing in front of the town line.

"I'm not afraid of the female Dark One" Athena said calmly. "It's time that I stopped being a damn coward, and I'm not scared of you either"

"Well you should be because now she's making me drink this" Merida said holding up a small bottle. She then drank the contents before smashing the flask onto the pavement. For a moment nothing happened then Merida's body began to twitch.

Black smoke then surrounded her and when it cleared a very large bear stood in her place.

"Rumple go!" Athena shouted.

I immediately used my magic to transport myself to safety.

Athena's POV

Merida roared and I turned around and ran for it towards the woods. My goal was to lure the princess into the woods before I went through with my plan. As I continued to run through the dark woods I wished I had Zila's sight as a werewolf. My breath was starting to get shorter and my chest hurt. Ignoring the pain I continued running until I found Rumple.

"She's coming" I told him.

My brother nodded before handing over a vial full of squid ink. It would be used to temporarily freeze Merida and then I could enact my plan. A snarl made me turn and Merida growled as she approached. She then got onto her hind legs and it was then I threw the squid ink onto her. Merida snarled as she became frozen in place and I fished out the potion hidden in a pouch. I threw the pouch into Merida's fanged mouth.

Merida roared again before tan smoke surrounded did her. A second later the princess returned to her human form and she lay on her back. The squid ink released its hold and I rushed over to Merida. She was unconscious and she was alright. Rumple came over to me and I stood back up. My brother then drew me into a hug and I blushed but hugged him back.

"I'm proud of you" he said to me.

A few tears slid down my face when he said those words to me.

Zila's POV

I looked at Excalibur as I sensed my husband, sister-in-law, and Merida enter the basement.

"She bested me fair and square" Merida shouted to me.

"I was getting worried, for a moment I thought I was going to have drag you here myself"

I then turned to face my company. My heart hurt a little when I saw my husband. I had missed him greatly these past few days.

"Well a hero never runs away from his or her problems" Athena began as she approached me. "Now as a former dark one I know you won't stop causing havoc until I pull that sword from that stone"

"Good then we understand each other" I replied.

"And I also know that you won't be able to resist in making a deal, so I how about this I pull Excalibur in exchange for Merida's heart?" Athena offered.

"And my brother's, I want to know what happened to them" Merida added. Athena walked past me and stood before Excalibur.

I turned to my sister-in-law.

"Do you really think your in a position to make deals?" I asked her.

"That's exactly what I think" Athena answered me coming to a stop in front of Excalibur. I then conjured Merida's heart and squeezed it slightly commanding Merida to come closer to me within my thoughts. I then placed the heart back into her chest and she gasped.

"I wasn't going to kill you and I keep my word, now you are free"

"And her brothers?" Athena asked.

"Safe and alive with their mother, now get on with it" I demanded turning to Athena.

"Wait dearie what happens if she can't pull the sword from the stone?" Rumple asked me.

"I will find another way then, I have no intentions of harming her" I reassured my mate. Athena then looked to Rumple.

"Just in case this doesn't work, I want you to know that I'm sorry Rumple, for everything, if I had to do it all again, I would make sure I am the sister you deserved from the very start, I would change everything for your sake"

"It's never too late" Rumple answered. I could tell this change in Athena meant a lot to him. I was also proud of my sister-in-law and I hoped she would continue her path to redemption.

Athena smiled before turning back to look at Excalibur. She placed a hand onto the sword's hilt and pulled. Excalibur's blade came out of the stone with ease. Rumple's eyes widened and Athena's did too.

"Well, a deal is a deal" Athena said before placing Excalibur onto the stone. I walked over to the stone and picked up the broken sword while Athena said to me.

"Now you may have Excalibur but you made one mistake in all of this, a terrible mistake, you've turned me into a hero"

"There are heroes all over this town and not one of them has been able to stop me yet" I told her simply.

"Well that's because none of them are me" Athena answered.

I remained silent while Athena and Merida left leaving Rumple behind so he and I could talk.

"You plan on reuniting the blade with your dagger" my mate said to me.

"Yes soon you will understand why I erased everyone's memories mate of mine"

I then turned to Rumple. I approached him and placed a hand above his heart.

"However the price for reforming Excalibur will cost me, not my life, but to remain the female Dark One"

Rumple's eyes watered and a few tears slid down his face. I kissed the away before pressing my lips against his to comfort him. The kiss calmed him down and afterwards I pulled away.

"When we were in Camelot I learned of a prophecy one that I will share with you soon, for now take care of our daughter"

"She misses her mother" Rumple said to me. I smiled and responded.

"And I miss her very much"

Rumple placed our foreheads together and the two of us shared a moment before he pulled away. I watched him go up the stairs and out of sight.