Zila's POV
"Not so fast" I told Arthur using the now completely whole Excalibur to block his sword from hurting Hook. The pirate was on the ground and he was weaponless.
Arthur's eyes widened at seeing his former blade now as one.
"Excalibur it's whole" he said in shock.
"Yes it is" I agreed. "But it's not going to help you, not after you threatened to hurt someone I care about"
I then used my magic to make Arthur fall asleep and the king of Camelot landed on the ground with a thud.
"Are you alright?" I asked Hook looking to him.
"Aye I am thank you Zila"
I helped the pirate to his feet before I began to take my leave.
"Zila hold on a minute!" Hook called and I stopped.
"I know you're not completely evil I've seen it" Hook continued. "But why do you need Excalibur? I want to help you and there is someone named Nimue who can erase your darkness"
I sighed before turning to him.
"My friend Nimue can't help me though I thank you for trying, even when I accomplish my goal with Excalibur I will remain the female Dark One it is the price I paid when I made Excalibur whole"
"I see" Hook replied with a sigh.
"This will all end soon and I intend to restore everyone's lost memories" I promised before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.
Enchanted Forest/Outside Camelot
Zila's POV
"Mom!" Dakota exclaimed as Rumple and I entered Granny's. I hugged her and Rumple kissed her forehead.
"Grandma did you get the spark?" Henry asked.
I smirked and showed my grandson the box containing the ember.
"That I did kid"
It was then Rumple and I noticed the others haven't returned.
"Damn it" I growled not liking this. "Something isn't right"
"Agreed" my husband voiced in.
"Then we're closing shop" Granny announced coming back into the diner with a crossbow. "Henry lock the front"
Granny tossed the key to our grandson when suddenly it froze in mid air as did Henry and Granny.
"This is Merlin's magic" Dakota stated.
"Smart girl you two have" Merlin praised. The mage stood behind Granny. "They'll be fine once we're done here, I'm sorry for the theatrics, it's not my style but I had to follow orders"
"Arthur tethered you to Excalibur" Rumple pointed out.
"Yes he has and he's ordered me to re-forge Excalibur into a whole sword, which means I will need Zila's dagger and the Promethean flame"
"Absolutely not" I growled.
"Zila he will order me to kill your friends and family, he has Belle and Gabriel too, as much as I hate it, I have no choice but to obey and your husband and daughter cannot come or else your sister will die"
Anger surged through my veins and Rumple placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Arthur wishes to make a trade in the heart of the Caledonian Forest in one hour, their lives for the dagger and the flame"
"That's not enough time, there isn't even a flame yet" I countered.
"I've seen the strength in you Zila, when you're ready to light the spark it will burn and Arthur will have what he wants for the sword to be whole again"
"So my Mom is supposed to give up without a fight?" Dakota demanded now angry. "She chose this to protect me!"
Both Rumple and I placed a hand on our daughter's shoulders to help calm her down. Merlin looked to her.
"Acceptance is a form of strength young one"
He then looked to me again.
"Zila I beg you please do not seek vengeance, do not make the same mistakes as Nimue"
"I don't intend to" I said meaning every word. Merlin then disappeared and I went on a profanity rampage.
Storybrooke
Rumplestiltskin's POV
"Zila saved you?" Emma inquired from Hook. All of us were in my shop figuring out the next step in the plan to prevent Zila from using Excalibur to snuff out all light magic.
"Yes she did and I have a feeling she's hiding something from me" the pirate confessed.
"She's a Dark One and whatever she's hiding she must have a good reason" Athena added.
"So how are we going to stop her from using Excalibur?" Regina asked.
I shook my head because I had no bloody idea how.
"I'll go see if can I find out anything" Belle suggested before leaving with Gabriel.
Enchanted Forest.
Zila's POV
Anger filled through my veins when I approached the meeting spot. Everyone I cared about was tied up and to my surprise Zelena was free. She wore a smirk that was asking to be knocked off her damn face. In one hand I held the ember in its box while I held my dagger in the other.
"Hand over the dagger and flame witch" Arthur commanded as I came to a stop.
"Uh uh asshole we aren't going to discuss anything until you release one of my loved ones"
But the stupid king wasn't going to budge and talking terms of my loved ones being released were out the window. Zelena came up to me and made a snide comment but she immediately shut her mouth when she saw the death glare I sent her. I then looked to Merlin and it pained me to see him in such a state.
Sighing I offered the box with the ember out to Zelena. The witch took it and Arthur told her to make sure she had the real thing. As soon as she opened box enchanted black ropes surrounded her and she was soon bound to a tree.
"Now you wanna free my loved ones? Or keep fighting because I'm through talking" I hissed at Arthur.
"Merlin!"
Arthur raised the broken half of Excalibur up.
"Please Zila give him the flame this is a battle you cannot win" Merlin begged me.
I shook my head and sent my dagger and the ember away before unleashing waves of my dark magic against Merlin's magic. However my magic was no match for this sorcerer and I fell to the ground in defeat.
"Merlin kill her sister!" Arthur commanded.
"No!" I shrieked and I watched as Merlin turned around and he made a tree vine wrap itself around Belle's neck. Soon the vine tightened and Gabriel screamed out for his wife. The others tried to get free of their binds.
"Merlin you have to fight it!" I yelled to the sorcerer.
"I can't!"
"Yes you can you are the greatest sorcerer who has ever lived! If I can fight the darkness so can you!" I encouraged.
Merlin heard my words and he was able to get free from Arthur's commands. The vine around Belle's neck loosened and Hook chose that moment to attack Arthur. The pirate punched the king who fell to the ground. The pirate had his foot on the other half of Excalibur and my loved ones were now free.
Arthur ran over to Zelena and unbound her before she and him disappeared in a cloud of green smoke. I hugged Belle glad she was safe. No one threatened my sister period. I didn't go retrieve the other half of Excalibur until I made sure everyone else was okay.
"Thanks pirate" I told Hook and I healed the wound on his neck.
Storybrooke
Zila's POV
"Are you alright Zila? You've been pacing" Smaug asked. I was in his cave and the other dark ones were gone thank god. Even Athena's spirit wasn't around.
"I'm fine my friend I'm just waiting on something" I reassured him.
My dark magic then detected what I was waiting for. I then transported myself into the hospital room where Zelena, Robin, Dr, Whale, and Regina were.
"Looks who's glowing"
I then used a spell to make Whale fall asleep. Robin had his sword out pointed at me. In his arms he held his newborn daughter. Excalibur was in my left hand and I approached Zelena.
"I will not let you take this baby" Robin notified me.
"Not without a fight" Regina added.
I turned to Robin and Regina.
"I would never hurt a child" I reassured the new father.
My attention then went back to Zelena. I smirked before I used my magic to transport us out of the hospital.
Enchanted Forest
I was watching as the ember was slowly returning to life. Soon Excalibur would be whole again. But Nimue's words never left my head.
"Love?"
I turned to see Rumple and Dakota walking over to me.
"Everything okay?" my husband asked.
"I'm not sure"
I then told him and Dakota what Nimue told me. Dark Ones were well known liars but Nimue hadn't been lying to me.
"Mom are you sure you still want to forge Excalibur even with what you just told us?" my daughter wondered.
"Yes sweetheart I do"
I then brought her into me and hugged her.
"I don't regret becoming Athena's successor so I could keep you safe"
As Rumple said all magic had a price and I was ready to pay it.
Storybrooke
As much as I hated to do it I kidnapped Hook as well. He deserved to know the truth with what happened in Camelot. I had the necessities ready for my spell to work.
"Good your awake" I greeted my captives. They immediately stood up. "And as promised Hook I will tell you what happened in Camelot"
"But why the bloody hell do you need Zelena?" the pirate demanded.
"I plan on killing her" was my response. "She endangered my daughter's life, and my intention with Excalibur is to destroy all dark magic not light, the darkness needs a vessel and that would be you witch"
"Zila this is still cold blooded murder" Hook protested.
"She killed my son-in-law who gave his life to protect his sister"
"You really are a monster Zila" Zelena hissed.
"If I was a monster witch I would have done harm to your child" I informed Regina's half sister. I then sensed I had company outside of my house. Growling I left my captives and soon I closed the door to find Regina, Snow, and David on my front lawn.
"I'm afraid the darkness within me is here to stay" I began. "By the time I'm done with Zelena you'll be thanking me especially you Regina"
"Why would I thank you?" she wondered. She then realized what I meant.
"This is not the way Night"
"I'm sorry you don't feel that way"
I then tapped Excalibur on the ground and everything around us glowed gold. This was a temporary spell that would hold my three friends in place. I then went back inside and I found Hook in my dining room.
"I'm not surprised to see you free"
I then swore when Hook grabbed the bottle of squid ink I had hidden and he threw the contents on me and I became frozen. While this happened I dropped Excalibur.
"I'm sorry Zila but you left me no choice" the pirate apologized.
"No I'm the one who should be sorry" I corrected Hook.
"Oh you should be Zila" Zelena sneered coming into the room.
"F**k you witch be grateful I can't move" I snarled at her.
"Why did you come back Zelena?" Hook demanded from the witch.
"Well I thought you said you didn't want to run away without some answers and I realized I couldn't either, not without making the female Dark One pay"
I called Zelena a rude name while she approached the pirate and the next thing I knew she stabbed him. Hook growled before taking the object out of his body and threw it to the ground.
"Why am I not dead?" the pirate questioned now confused. "Answer me witch!"
"Your about to find out" I replied and Zelena smirked as she held up one of my dream catchers. "Hook I hope you can forgive me but you'll see I had no choice"
Zelena snickered and I told her to shut the hell up and get on with it. Hook deserved to know the truth and Zelena proceeded to activate the dream catcher where the memories from six weeks ago came to life.
Back in Enchanted Forest
All of my loved ones were around me as Merlin asked if I was ready.
"Yes I am"
Merlin smiled before he opened the box containing the ember which was now ready to use. Rumple kissed my forehead before I used my dark magic to conjure an orb of fire to life. I allowed it to levitate in the air for a few seconds before I pressed my hands around it. Eventually the orb of flames changed color and I released it so it could levitate in the air again. I grabbed my dagger and the broken half of Excalibur and was about to go forge them when Hook muttered.
"Bloody hell"
The next thing everyone knew the pirate fell to the floor clutching his neck. The orb of fire went out as everyone surrounded him. I smelled blood and I put my dagger and the broken half of Excalibur down. Emma was now panicking and I didn't blame her.
"Damn it" I growled seeing the injury I healed earlier was now back on the pirate's neck. "I healed his wound"
"I'm afraid you've only seen it that way" Merlin interrupted getting our attention. "Excalibur was forged to cut through multiple ties, a wound from it cannot be healed"
"There has to be something we can do, that Zila or Gold can do!" Snow exclaimed.
"Zila and Rumplestiltskin's power isn't strong enough nor is my own" Merlin went on.
It broke my heart to see Emma begging for the man she loved to hang on. The next thing I knew Emma swiped my dagger and I was now under her control. Rumple protested but I held my hand up.
"What is it you wish for me to do Emma?" I asked.
"Do you think you can save him? To release Merlin from Excalibur and tether Hook to it instead?"
"I can but the price is steep" I nodded to Hook. "He will become a Dark One, it will multiply the darkness making so it cannot be destroyed"
"And Zila's final step into the dark" Merlin added.
I let Emma talk with her parents and Regina who were trying to persuade Emma not to do this. I shot Rumple and my daughter an apologetic look. Sensing Emma was ready I transported us to a field full of pink flowers.
The Savior was in tears and I decided to let her and Hook share a few moments alone in private.
"Zila I'm ready" Emma notified me.
I nodded and picked up the broken half of Excalibur and knelt down so I was over Hook.
"I hope you can forgive me for doing this to you" I told Hook before calling to my dark magic. I held the broken half of Excalibur over Hook and soon the darkness from Merlin surrounded the blade. The darkness then entered inside Hook and once all of it was inside him did the pirate disappear. His name appeared on the blade officially making him a Dark One.
My attire changed into the black one I had seen in my visions. Emma was distracted and I was quick to get my dagger away from her. I used my power to make her fall asleep and I caught her unconscious form. She wouldn't remain asleep long.
Storybrooke
Hook was shocked to see what he had become. Zelena finished showing his lost memories.
"Zila" the pirate began.
"If Emma didn't have my dagger I wouldn't have done that to you" I interrupted him. "You know I would never have turned you into a Dark One"
"I beg to differ" Zelena sneered.
"Shut up witch" Hook and I told her.
I then became free of the squid ink and I made Zelena fall asleep with my magic. I picked up Excalibur and showed Hook where his name was on the blade along with my own.
"I used a cloaking spell so you wouldn't see this"
"I'm not angry with you Zila you had no choice" Hook reassured me. "And I don't intend to kill Emma either, I just need time to think"
"Then I will warn you now don't go after my husband and daughter or I'll will end you"
This was a promise I would kill him if I went after my family.
"I won't you have my word Zila" he promised. And he meant it too.