Back in Camelot, two months before the heroes' return to Storybrooke, they were lead to the sorcerer Merlin, by King Arthur. Sort of.
"So, the most powerful sorcerer in all the realms is stuck inside a bloody tree." Hook said in near disbelief. "How the hell did that happen?"
"No one knows for certain." King Arthur replied. "But we know, thanks to one of Merlin's prophecies, that one of you will soon set him free."
"Did this prophecy include how we do it, or at least a starting point to work from?" David asked. "We are in something of a hurry."
"Why?" Arthur asked. "Is there something particular you need from Merlin?"
"Our home is being threatened." David replied. "By what is known as the Dark One."
"I see," Arthur said. "Well, that is bad. We, too, have a problem only Merlin can solve. My kingdom is faces the threat of another Dark One."
"Pardon?" Robin Hood inquired. "Do you mean to say that there is more than one Dark One?"
"Yes." Arthur answered. "The Dark One you face is part of a younger dark legacy. When Merlin was but a young lad, there was a Dark One who was part of a legacy of evil that stretched back over fifteen hundred years. Merlin and other heroes of that era managed to imprison him. He has remained trapped until he somehow escaped a month ago."
"Well, that is just great." Hook said sarcastically. "What is this Dark One after?"
"We do not know." Arthur replied. "When he escaped, he took a number of Merlin's books. Most likely, every book that had a reference to him."
"Smart." Regina said. "We will help you deal with your Dark One after we deal with our own."
"Thank you, and now I have preparations to make for the ball tonight." Arthur replied.
After Arthur and his knights left, the heroes began to discuss this new information. They speculated on what the existence of another Dark One could mean.
"This is bad." Emma said. "Now, we have bigger problems than me. I have a feeling this Dark One is not going to try to restrain his powers."
"Do you think he might know Emma is the other Dark One?" Snow inquired.
"If so, then he just made it to the top of our problem list." Regina replied.
"We need to learn everything we can about him." Belle said. "I volunteer to skip the party and see what I can find in Merlin's library. Hopefully, this other Dark One forgot to take something."
"Alright," Regina replied. "Now, let's get ready for the dance. But don't forget to be on guard."
Everyone nodded in agreement, none of them noticing the crow hiding in the branches of the nearby tree, listening intently to their conversation. As they left, the crow flew away, out of the castle and into the forest. When it landed, the crow suddenly turned into a cloud of black smoke. Out of the smoke, a man appeared. This man was holding a dagger with "Seth Rekon" engraved on it. He bent down and picked up a stone on the ground. Then he blew his breath on it and the stone became a beautiful pink-jeweled necklace.
"Finally," He said to himself. "Time to begin."
Back in Present Day Storybrooke…
It is the morning after the heroes' return to Storybrooke. Not knowing what else to do, the seven dwarves prepared for another day of mining fairy dust. They were walking to the mine, when they saw knights on horseback riding toward them. They circled around the seven dwarves, drawing their swords. One knight got off his horse and walked straight to Grumpy.
"I don't know who you clowns are," Grumpy yelled. "But you don't mess with dwarves!"
Grumpy swung his pick-axe at the knight. However, the knight knocked it out of Grumpy's hand with his sword. Instead of attacking the disarmed dwarf, the knight sheathed his sword and removed his helmet. Underneath was a handsome young man with dark skin tone.
"Quite right, Grumpy." Lancelot said, with a smile.
Two months ago, in Camelot…
"You really don't know how to dance?!" Snow exclaimed.
"You don't have to repeat it." Regina replied. "It was embarrassing just saying it myself."
"Well, then I had better give you some quick lessons." David said.
"Fine," Regina replied, then used her magic to instantly change into a stunning dress.
Then, just as the lessons started, there was a knock at the door. A handsome young servant, with dirty blonde hair and green eyes, entered the chamber. He carried in his hands, a small wooden box and walked straight to Regina.
"King Arthur wanted this delivered to you as a gift." He said, handing the box to Regina.
She opened it and found there was a pretty pink-jeweled necklace inside.
"Please tell the king I am grateful." Regina replied.
After she put it on, the servant quickly left the room. What the heroes did not see was his wicked smile as he left. Or how most of his eyes and the skin around them turned black for a brief instant. After leaving the heroes, he made his way to the king's chamber and turned himself into a rat so he could sneak in undetected.
"Arthur, are you certain this is a good idea?" Guinevere said to her husband. "If they free Merlin, you know it could be the end of you."
"I know, but helping them may be the only way I can get my hands on the Dark One dagger." Arthur replied. "Then I can finally complete Excalibur."
Arthur held up his sword, revealing that part of its end had been broken off and that there were engravings on it similar to those on the Dark One dagger.
"Once I complete Excalibur, I will finally be able to destroy the darkness and be remember as the greatest king of all time." Arthur said. "The Dark Ones and Merlin will die by my hand."
Back in Present Day Storybrooke…
"You're alive!" Snow exclaimed. "We thought that Cora killed you, Lancelot!"
"She almost did." He replied. "But I managed to deceive her and escape."
Snow White, David, Regina, Lancelot, and a beautiful woman named Guinevere were having a meeting in the mayor's office. Apparently, the curse that Seth used to bring everyone back to Storybrooke also brought a number of people from Camelot along for the ride.
"I don't understand," Regina said. "Why did Seth bring us back to Storybrooke? Why take our memories? And what does he want Emma for?"
"We would like to know that as well." Lancelot said. "By the way, who's Emma?"
"Our daughter." David answered. "This new Dark One has her and we don't know why. Personally, I vote we track him down and force him to give Emma back."
"David, you know we can't do that." Snow said.
"I am not going to fail to protect her again." David replied. "I had no choice but to send her away when she was but a child. I could not be there for her for twenty-eight years. I was helpless when she absorbed the Darkness. I won't fail her again!"
"I will not pretend to understand your pain my friend." Lancelot said. "But I know that acting recklessly will not help your daughter."
Before the conversation could continue, Robin Hood entered the room.
"We believe we have found most of the people who arrived from Camelot." He said. "But we have found something else. Bodies. Half a dozen of them. All burned down to the bone."
"What killed them?" David asked.
"We don't know." Robin replied. "My Merry men are searching, armed with bows and arrows."
"I will see if I can get some of Camelot's knights to join the search." Lancelot said.
"We will come with you." Snow said.
As they left the office, Guinevere grabbed Robin by the shoulder.
"Among the citizens of Camelot here, did you find Arthur?" She asked.
"I'm afraid not." He replied. "Don't worry. He will turn up."
"I am worried, but not for the reasons that you believe." Guinevere said. "Any love I had for Arthur died a long time ago He is a villain that must be stopped."
Two months ago, in Camelot…
The ball was wonderfully boring. At least that is what Henry said. The music was slow and so was the dancing. Henry stood by the tables, helping himself to food. Just as he pulled out his iPod out of his pocket, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Henry looked behind him shoulder and saw a beautiful girl that was about his age, wearing a purple dress.
"Hi," She said. "Are you as bored as I am?"
"Guess so." Henry replied with a smile.
"I am Violet." The girl said. "You're one of the strangers from another land, aren't you?"
"Yes." Henry replied. "Want to hear some music from my land?"
"How can I?" Violet asked. "Do you have an instrument?"
"Sort of." Henry replied as he put an earbud in her ear.
Together, they listened to "Your Starry Eyes," by Parabelle. You could tell from the expression on her face that Violet clearly enjoyed it. Across the dance floor, Regina saw them.
"Who's that girl with my son?!" Regina asked Arthur.
"That is the daughter of Sir Morgan, one of my finest knights." Arthur replied. "Don't worry he'll be fine. Now, if you would care to dance?"
Regina took his hand and they danced. The King was actually worse than her.
"Sorry, it's just I don't dance all that often these days." Arthur said. "I am constantly busy making sure my kingdom is safe and happy."
"I understand." Regina replied. "And by the way, thanks for the gift."
"Pardon?" Arthur inquired with a confused expression.
"You did send this necklace to me, right?" Regina asked.
The moment the king shook his head, the function of the necklace was triggered. It suddenly turned black and tightened around her neck. Her veins turned black and she collapsed. Everyone's attention became focused on her. Robin ran to her side. Hook was the first to notice Emma's disappearance.
"Bloody hell." Hook said, along with some other swear words.
Emma suddenly found herself in a forest. In front of her was a scary looking man. This man wearing a black hood, leather boots, and red gloves. There were metal paddings on his knees, elbows, and shoulders. On his shirt, a painted red spade. His eyes were disturbing. While his pupils were bright green, the rest of his eyes and the skin around them were pitch black. In his hand, he held a dagger with "Emma Swan" engraved on it.
"Hello, Emma Swan." The man said. "Or do you prefer the Dark One?"