Zila's POV
Hook proceeded to disappear using his new magic and I sent Zelena out of the house using mine.
"Zila!"
The front door opened and in came Snow, Charming, and Regina.
"No need to shout I'm right here" I greeted my friends.
A few minutes later I sat the three of them down and explained what happened to Hook back in Camelot.
"You turned Hook into a Dark One?" Regina asked to make sure she heard me right.
"I had no choice Emma grabbed my dagger and I was under her control" I explained.
"Now we got bigger problems" Snow added.
"Yes and I intend to fix them and I've changed my mind about Zelena I'm not going to kill her"
I still despised the witch for killing Neal, and endangering my daughter but the witch was now a mother and I wasn't going to take a child's mother away.
"It's also about time I restored everyone's memories too" I continued. "My dreamcatchers will return them to you"
"Zila I looked in your shed the dreamcatchers are gone" Charmed announced.
"F**k" I hissed. "Hook must have stolen them so I wouldn't restore everyone's memories"
"Just what the hell is Captain Dark One up to?" Regina demanded.
Athena's POV
Rumple, Dakota, and I looked at Hook completely dumbfounded.
"My wife turned you into a Dark One?" my brother questioned.
The pirate nodded with a smirk.
"I have Emma to thank for that once I see her later"
"He's here for me not you Rumple" I spoke up. "Is that right pirate?"
"Aye but my plans for you Athena are completely different" the new Dark One bragged. He picked up a sword and slid it across the floor towards me. I shot the pirate a confused look before picking the blade up.
"Get your affairs in order because at noon we duel on my ship"
"Deal but this sword cannot kill you" I pointed out.
"Very true but this one can"
The pirate then conjured the whole Excalibur.
"Holy crap" Dakota muttered.
"I'll give you a chance to take this blade away from me until then milady"
Hook disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
"Are you sure you wish to fight him dearie?" my brother wondered.
"I am a former Dark One so yes I'll face him" I responded.
I placed a hand on Rumple's shoulder and did the same with Dakota.
"I think it's time you two go see Zila, she'll need you"
Rumple nodded and he gave me a hug. My niece squeezed my hand and I kissed her forehead. I had no intention of dying today. I planned on staying alive so I could redeem myself for all of the atrocities I have done.
Enchanted Forest
Zila's POV
"Oh man I f**ked up big time" I growled as I walked through the darkened woods.
"Zila!"
I turned around to see Rumple and Dakota rushing over to me.
"Are you hurt? I felt Hook leave the well"
"Yes I'm fine mate of mine" I reassured him. "I have to fix this"
"We'll help you Mom" Dakota promised.
I flashed my beloved child a smile before the three of us went to find Hook. We eventually found him talking with Emma and their conversation was pretty heated.
"Hook"
The pirate and Emma turned to us as we approached.
"Zila I don't blame you for my current predicament" Hook stated. I felt bad for Emma because she simply wanted to save the man she loved.
Rumple and I saw Athena's spirit smirking beside the newest male Dark One.
"How long has she been whispering to you?" Rumple growled.
"Oh come on I like to be a guide to new Dark Ones" Athena's spirit giggled.
"Hook you have my word I'll get the darkness out of you"
The pirate now had my attention.
"But Zila what about you?
"I have to pay my price when I reforge Excalibur"
Athena's spirit suddenly disappeared and I hoped she would stay away long enough so I could release Hook from being a Dark One.
Storybrooke
Rumple's POV
I knocked on Zila's front door and my beloved wife opened it.
"Mate of mine"
I brought Zila into a hug and it felt good to hold her again in my arms. Dakota was next to receive a hug from her mother. A few minutes later I joined everyone else in the dining room.
"So how do we stop Hook?" Regina wondered.
Emma had been crying by the look of her face. She must have crossed paths with her true love before coming to Zila's home.
"First I need my dreamcatchers back" Zila answered. "Once I have them I will restore the memories I erased, I'll understand if any of you don't trust me, I know Henry won't because I hurt him"
"In Merlin's message he said Nimue is the key into stopping the Dark One" Mary Margaret pointed out.
"She was also Merlin's true love and the first Dark One" Zila then turned to me. "Love can we find out anymore information on her?"
"The Dark One chronicles is a good place to start" I suggested.
"Grandma"
Henry came to the room and Zila stood up.
"Henry I'm so sorry for what I did to Violet, I understand if you don't wish to forgive me"
"I was angry at first" my grandson continued. "But I understand why, I forgive you"
Several tears went down Zila's face and my wife went over to Henry and hugged him.
Enchanted Forest
Still Zila's POV
"Hook if I may have a word?"
We had been walking back to Granny's when I decided to speak with the new Dark One in private. Rumple shot me a questioning look but I gave him a reassuring nod. My husband walked off with our daughter and Emma.
"You'll have to talk with Emma again at some point"
"I will I just need time"
I nodded before summoning the broken half of Excalibur into my hand and I held it out to Hook.
"I have no desire to control you with this so take it"
The pirate thanked me before taking the broken sword.
Storybrooke
Athena's POV
"Ah Athena I wasn't sure if you would show"
"I'm no longer the coward I once was" I replied.
I readied my sword and Hook drew out Excalibur. I charged forward and the song of swords rang in the air. The last time I wielded a sword was centuries ago but when your fighting for your life adrenaline fueled you. We exchanged various blows while moving around the ship.
During the fight Hook gave me a kick to the gut and I fell down the steps. I was quick to get back up and I drove my sword through Hook. The pirate smirked before he suddenly he swiped at me using his hook and I fell to the ground again.
My arm bled and now Excalibur was now pointed directly at my heart.
Zila's POV
"Good work Henry" Rumple praised the teen as we left the elevator.
My grandson had suggested a locator spell and used one he made himself so we could find the dreamcatchers. They turned out to be in the clock tower. Dakota was in the library below helping the others find out information about Nimue.
No sooner had I reached the dreamcatchers dark magic blocked them. Rumple easily diffused the spell and the three of us took down the dreamcatchers one by one.
Enchanted Forest
Zila's POV
When we arrived outside of Granny's Hook wanted to go in alone. That didn't suit well with me and my husband so after telling Dakota to stay with the others my husband and I approached the diner. The door was locked and I used my magic to unlock it.
When we went inside Hook was holding a heart. The heart belonged to Merlin and next to the sorcerer was Nimue.
"You were playing us the whole time" I growled.
"Yeah that's what Dark Ones do Zila" Hook confirmed.
"You bastard" Rumple hissed and I placed my hand onto his shoulder.
Hook then sent away Excalibur while I approached Nimue.
"Why are you encouraging this?" I demanded from her.
"Don't be naïve Zila Dark Ones never do anything without getting something in return"
"Just what the hell do you want?" Rumple asked next.
"You two are Dark Ones you know what we want, you two want it too"
I had no bloody idea what she was referring to but Rumple did.
"You can't"
"Yes we can and we will"
I turned to Merlin because I knew he was about to die.
"Thank you for trying to help me"
Hook then crushed Merlin's heart and as the sorcerer fell Rumple caught his body. Hook went into the back to begin to cast the dark curse. The same curse that would take us back to Storybrooke.
Storybrooke
Athena's POV
"Well I'll hand it to you Athena you lasted longer than I expected"
Something distracted Hook which was no doubt the spirit of my former self and I used this moment to my advantage. I unleashed a blast of light magic at my opponent and he was sent flying and he landed onto his back. I snagged Excalibur and I placed the blade at his own chest. The pirate smirked.
"Well get on with it"
"And taint my heart again? I think not" I hissed.
Hook then disappeared leaving me to my thoughts.
Enchanted Forest
Zila's POV
"Don't take it too badly he died for a good cause"
"Be quiet you" Rumple snapped at Athena's spirit.
"I'm sorry Merlin" I told Merlin even though he was gone. "Rest in peace my friend"
I used my magic to send Merlin's body away.
"It's over you two"
Rumple and I got back onto our feet.
"I'm going to make things right for you Hook"
"I'm sorry Zila but I'm rather attached to my new powers, the curse has already been enacted and can't be stopped"
"Yes it may not be able to be stopped but I can make you forget why you cast it"
Using my dark magic I put Hook to sleep. Rumple caught him and carefully lay the pirate on to the floor.
"Dearie I want you to wipe my memories from what transpired here too" Rumple suggested.
"No I can't" I began but my husband silenced me by pressing a quick kiss on my mouth. Eventually my mate pulled away. "When the time is right I know you'll return them"
Rumple placed his forehead against mine and we closed our eyes for a few minutes before I put my beloved mate to sleep. After placing him onto the floor I summoned one of my dreamcatchers.
"Good move" Athena's spirit complimented.
I activated the dreamcatcher and erased the memories from the past six weeks from Rumple and Hook's minds. Then I summoned everyone who came to Camelot into the diner. Using my dreamcatcher again I erased everyone's memories including that of my daughter. I then conjured the cuff back onto Zelena.
I then went into the kitchen where the cauldron was. Inside the Dark Curse was stirring. I placed the dreamcatcher into the cauldron and once it was inside did the purple smoke begin to climb out of it.
I returned to the diner and brought my husband and daughter close to me. I kissed both of them on the forehead as the purple smoke of the curse soon surrounded me and those I loved. It wouldn't be long until we were all back in Storybrooke.
Storybrooke
Regina's Office
Zila's POV
Rumple and Dakota stood on either side of me holding dreamcatchers. Snow, David, Henry, Merida, Emma, Regina, Robin, Belle, and Gabriel each had one too. I activated the dreamcatchers and everyone's memories were restored to them.
"Oh crap" I muttered when I figured it out.
"Dearie what is it?"
"I know what Hook is planning" I answered. "What they are planning"
Hook's POV
I stood before a pond.
"Congratulations you didn't completely fail, you have exactly the right ingredient for our plan" Athena's spirit told me. "The blood of a woman who had been to hell and back, Athena has done what few can claim, he died and then he returned, this pond holds a portal to the Underworld itself"
"This is where the fury tried to drag Robin Hood to hell I thought the portal only appeared when the moon reached its zenith"
"Yes for a fury, the portal has always existed you just have to know how to open it"
The spirit then nodded to the blood on my hook. I walked forward and dipped my hook into the water. The water changed and smoke came to life above it. Then a boat appeared and in it were a lot of occupants.
"Bloody hell" I muttered.
"That's exactly where that came from" the spirit beside me informed.
The boat came to a stop close to the shore and a single Dark One stepped out of it. I held my hand out and the Dark One took it.
"Hello again Nimue" I greeted as she took off her mask.
"We're here 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"
I smirked.
"Welcome to Storybrooke love"