When Emma ran away from her foster home, she found a dagger in an ally way that kept calling to her. Unknown to her, the dagger is Carnwennan(White Hilt) it is said it is able to shroud the user in shadows, it was the dagger of King Arthur. The dagger now belongs to Emma.
Emma is homeless. Emma finds Neal, gets pregnant, and lands in jail, and gives up Henry. Once Emma is out of jail, she takes her dagger and finds herself a home in an abandoned building. She lives there doing odd jobs for people, always keeping her dagger on her (she seems to find herself merging with the shadows) until Henry shows up and drags her to Storybrook.
Emma doesn't know how to fit in with the town because all she knows is being homeless. Emma finds an abandoned building to stay at in Storybrook. She steals food.
The thing about homeless people is that they don't want help to be like every body else; with a job, money, clean clothes, a home. A homeless person's home is on the street. Other homeless people become there family and teaches them things. It's like a community. There is a sort of freedom you have if you are homeless. Many homeless people don't want to go back to living inside.
Emma is the reincarnation of King Arthur
Regina is the reincarnation of Morgan Le Fay
Henry is the reincarnation of Merlin
In the past, Morgan Le Fay tried to kill King Arthur and was an enchantress. Morgan hated Arthur's purity and plotted to take Excalibur and the throne.
Merlin started out as a prophet and over time became a magician. Merlin became Arthur's tutor. Merlin taught The Lady of the Lake magic. The Lady of the Lake imprisoned Merlin for fear she would be enslaved by him. Without Merlin at the battle at Camlann, Arthur died.
Fate gave them another chance. This time Emma and Regina fall in love. Regina teaches Emma magic.
Emma is not pure like Arthur was. Emma could actually see herself just like the evil queen.
Henry is able to see very cryptic visions.
Instead of Emma and Snow falling into the hat into the Enchanted Forest, Emma and Henry fall into the hat and into Avalon. Wile there, Henry has a vision and leads Emma to The Lady of the Lake to retrieve Excalibur. Unlike Arthur, Emma has magic, what will that do to Excalibur?
Excalibur's blade is engraved in phrases on opposite sides. One side says "Take me up" the other "Or cast me away". Wile holding Excalibur, one can not die of blood loss. Some say Excalibur was made by Hephaestus. It is unbreakable and is extremely sharp with magical reinforcement. When Excalibur is drawn or used, it shines or blazes.