Birds chirped in their trees, and a gentle wind blew as the group made their way towards Camelot. While Arthur and his knights rode a little ahead of them, everyone else walked a little behind, taking in the sights. All were suitable awed by the view of the castle. A large white wall with ivy coiled around it stood outside, separating the castle from the outside world. As they walked through the large gates in the outer wall, they noticed a sizeable majestic willow tree standing to the left of the castle. It was supposed to be the centrepiece of the manicured garden. As they looked at their surroundings, Arthur and the knights dismounted from their horses and were taken towards the stables, leaving them all standing looking around. The castle itself stood tall, looming over the kingdom. It was built from white stone, with several multi-level crenellated turrets and towers, as well as what appeared to be vaulted ceilings covered in pale blue tiles. Red flags fluttered in the breeze while sentries stood on the pathway around the outer wall and the ramparts between the two towers at the courtyard entrance. While the others stood in awe, Blue shivered slightly. Everything looked the same as it had when she was last here. She shook her head to clear the memories. Now was not the time to dwell on them.

"Wow!" Henry exclaimed as they looked up at the castle.

David nodded in agreement. "Wow, is right."

Mary Margaret looked down at her outfit, the plain jeans, white jacket, spotted blouse and white flats. "I am so not dressed for this."

They stopped at the bottom of the steps leading up towards the residential area of the castle. The doors opened, and they watched as Arthur beamed at the woman who had appeared. She was of medium height, with brown curls cascaded down her shoulders, complimenting her dark olive skin. Her dress was a rich purple with gold trim, and she carried a regal bearing.

Arthur turned to look at the new arrivals before looking back. "Allow me to introduce the loveliest creature in all of Camelot, my Queen, Guinevere."

At once, the entire group descended into low bows and curtseys as she drew near them.

"Your majesty," Mary Margaret began.

Guinevere held up a hand to cut the woman off. "The pleasure is ours," she smiled, her kind, brown eyes scanning them. "We have been awaiting your arrival from the moment we heard Merlin's prophecy."

"Well, I hope you haven't been waiting too long," David smiled.

"Only about a decade or so," Arthur commented with a wave of his hand.

David chuckled slightly. "Sorry."

"I wager it's been worth the wait," Arthur smiled, his eyes sparkling. "And as a bonus, it's given us more than enough time to prepare a ball in your honour tonight."

Hook pulled Emma aside. "We don't have time to waste on a bloody dance."

Emma smiled slightly. "I won't go dark in one night."

"I'm not willing to take that chance," Hook murmured before he stepped forward. "Your Majesty, when will we start our quest to find Merlin?"

"Well, 'find him?" Arthur laughed. "We don't need to find him. We know exactly where he is," he added. "Come, I shall take you to him."

They followed Arthur out of a side door and into a small courtyard. The centrepiece of which was a large marble fountain. They walked past the fountain and into the gardens until they stopped in front of the willow tree they'd noticed earlier.

Arthur turned to look at them before he indicated the tree. "Honoured guests, this is Merlin." They turned to look at Arthur as if waiting for him to tell them that he was joking. "I assure you that that is Merlin."

Hook frowned, looking over at the king. "So, the most powerful sorcerer in all the realms is stuck inside a bloody tree."

Arthur laughed. "I said almost the same thing the first time I stood there."

Emma turned to look at the tree and then back at Arthur. "And you think we can get him out?"

"Oh, we don't think. We know," Arthur replied with a smile. "Merlin's prophecies have never been wrong."

Percival looked at them, studying them closely. "Why are you so eager to free him?"

David glanced at his daughter before looking over at the two Camelot residents. "Our home is being threatened. It's called the Dark One."

"The Dark One?" repeated Arthur. "Yes, we're well aware of that demon. That isn't good. Well, I pray that Merlin can help. But first, we must free him from his prison. It is said one of you is the Saviour. So, who is it?"

Regina watched as Emma opened her mouth and quickly gripped the dagger in her inside jacket pocket, silently telling Emma to be quiet. She watched as Emma's mouth clamped up before she stepped forward herself. "I am the Saviour," she smiled. "I'm the one who's going to free Merlin from that tree, and then we can take care of the Dark One. And all go home."

Guinevere offered to show them all to their rooms when they returned to the castle. While the others took the queen up on that offer, Regina sensed that Emma wanted to talk to her. She knew they needed to talk privately as they kept the truth hidden. Finally, they got their chance when shown the stairs to Merlin's tower. After a silent conversation with Emma, Regina made their excuses and followed her up the steps to the room. The room itself was dusty, with many books lying untouched. Cobwebs hung from corners and shelves. Drapes were moth-eaten and drab.

"Never do that to me again," Emma said as soon as the door was shut.

Regina rolled her eyes at Emma. "Oh, now you're talking to me?"

"I don't know... Am I allowed to?" Emma asked with an irritable sigh.

Regina pulled the dagger out of her jacket pocket and held it out. "You gave this to me."

Emma frowned as she looked at the dagger, glaring at her name etched against the blade. "To protect me. Not use against me."

"I saved your life."

Emma snorted. "By pretending to be me?"

"Oh, shut up and listen." Regina snapped. She watched as Emma tried to speak but couldn't make any words come out and smiled. "Oh. I can get used to this," she shook her head. "Look, if you told Arthur you were the Saviour, he would have asked you to free Merlin. You would have had to use magic. Dark magic. Do you remember what happened last time you dabbled in that?"

"I lost control."

Regina nodded. "And you gave me this dagger so that wouldn't happen again. But I wasn't lying. I don't care what Merlin's prophecy says. I will figure out how I can get that wizard out so you won't ever have to use dark magic again. So, Swan, you should be thanking me."

"Thank you," Emma replied automatically.

Regina scoffed and turned around to look out of the window. "Whatever."

Emma watched as Regina put the dagger back in her jacket pocket. "Regina," Regina turned around to look at Emma. "I mean it. Thank you."

Regina gave Emma a soft smile before she turned and walked out of the room. She needed to think. And she needed out of the dusty room.

Regina sighed as she looked up at the tree. She had no idea where to begin when it came to freeing Merlin from the tree. She was thankful that she had both Belle and the Doctor in Camelot.

"So, this is where you disappeared to."

Regina looked at the sound of the voice and smiled at Robin, who had come looking for her. She watched as he moved closer to her. Rather than exchanging words, he merely placed a hand on her arm and let her draw comfort from his presence. They stared up at Merlin's tree and wondered how they were going to free him from the tree.

"My lady"

Regina and Robin turned around to see Sir Percival walking towards them, carrying a small jewellery box. He got down on one knee in front of them and removed the lid, revealing a necklace with a purple stone.

Regina moved forward and looked at the necklace in the box, tracing a finger across the purple stone. "For me?"

Percival nodded with a smile. "You are the Saviour, after all. His Majesty would be honoured if you would wear this to the ball tonight."

Regina turned to face Robin and shared a small smile. She picked the necklace out of the box and held it to him. Robin took the chain from her and motioned for her to turn around. As Robin unclasped the necklace, Regina swept her hair to one side so he could put it on her. Once he'd secured the clasp again, he stepped back and looked at the necklace around her neck.

Percival smiled at the two of them as he stood back up. "I look forward to a dance this evening."

Regina smiled at him as he bowed to them before he turned and walked back inside the castle. Regina reached up and stroked the pendant, leaning against Robin as he placed her usual locket into her jacket pocket.

"He's not the only one looking forward to a dance with the Saviour."

As night fell over the kingdom, people began to get ready for the ball. Both Mary Margaret and David had changed into their outfits. Mary Margaret wore a dress made of white silk, that hung off of her shoulders into long sleeves. The neckline and sleeves of the dress was embellished with gold trim, a matching gold belt sat low on the hips and a small gold crown lay around her head. David wore a pair of black pants and a dark gold top with cushioned sleeves. The Doctor had decided that he would be the babysitter.

Mary Margaret settled Neal in the crib that the servants had provided for them, before she looked over at Doc. "Now, if he gets too fussy it means that he needs to be changed."

"I know my way around babies," the Doctor told her. "Hell, I even speak baby. I'm sure he will tell me when he needs to be fed or changed."

"I'm not going. I'll help watch him," Regina said as she walked into the small nursery. She'd left her suite after saying goodnight to Roland and had headed across the hall to see them.

Mary Margaret frowned as she looked over at Regina, who was still wearing the clothes she'd arrived in earlier that day. "But you have to. Everyone's expecting you."

Regina shook her head. "I should be figuring out how to free Merlin. Not foxtrotting my way across Club Medieval."

Mary Margaret tilted her head as she studied Regina. She'd always been able to tell when the woman was being evasive. "Regina."

"What?"

"The truth."

"I can't go, alright. I can't."

"Because why?"

"Because," Regina paused and closed her eyes briefly, knowing she had to admit it to them. "Because I don't know how to dance."

"Well that can't be possible," Mary Margaret scoffed. "You and I went to dozens of balls together."

Regina smiled grimly. "Where your father was more interested in dancing with his precious daughter, than his wife."

While Mary Margaret looked down, almost a little ashamed, David smirked wondering if there was another reason she wouldn't attend. "I doubt Robin won't mind if you step on his toes."

Mary Margaret shook her head. "This isn't about Robin, is it?"

Regina folded her arms and sighed. "People are expecting a Saviour tonight. Not an ex-Evil Queen. How will they ever believe I can free Merlin if I can't even convince them I know how to dance?"

Mary Margaret shared a look with David, before looking over at the Doctor and then back to Regina, a small smile on her face. "You can if we teach you."

"No!"

David chuckled. "Doctor."

The Doctor nodded and opened the music box, letting a gentle piece of music echo throughout the room. David then lowered himself into a bow. "Your Majesty."

Regina sighed, knowing she wasn't getting out of here, without a dance lesson. As she stepped forward, Mary Margaret held out a hand to stop her. "The first thing my mother taught me about dancing is to learn to move in a dress. Not a sensible pantsuit."

"Fine," she replied. With a roll of her eyes and a wave of her hand, Regina changed into one of her favourite evil queen outfits. She frowned at the way the Doctor, David and Mary Margaret looked at her as if to say 'seriously?' And she knew what it meant. "Fine. I'll change into something that's less 'Evil Queen'."

"Oh, yes, please," the Doctor said. "Please, do that. Do that right now, yes."

Regina rolled her eyes. With another wave of her hand, she had changed so that she was wearing a pale pink dress with an elaborate pattern on the delicate silk. It created a bardot neckline though it had two thin straps holding it up. There was a silver trim on the neckline, trickling down the front of the dress. The same silver trim decorated the bottom of the long bell sleeves. Her hair was in a simple up-do.

Mary Margaret smiled as she caught a brief glimpse of the Regina she'd first met all those years ago. "Now that is perfect. And it even matches your necklace."

Regina smiled softly, her hand reaching up to touch it once again. David walked towards her and bowed once again, before holding out his hand for her to take. Regina placed her hand in his and allowed him to pull her closer as she placed her other hand on his shoulder.

David nodded, noting her correct position "All right, follow me. Just feel it. Step back on your left, all right?" Regina nodded in response as they began to move. Almost immediately she stepped on his foot and hurriedly apologised. "That's okay, its fine. You're fine. Ready?" At her nod, he began to count her in as he directed her steps. "One, two, three. One, two, three. There you go," he smiled once she'd started to move without fear. "Now, when we're done, everyone in Camelot will believe you're the Saviour."

Mary Margaret smiled as she looked at her daughter's reflection in the mirror. For so long, this had been all that she'd wished for. Now she was finally getting it. Emma was dressed in a pale white dress with no embellishments. She sighed softly as she placed the crown of flowers atop the golden curls. "I remember my first ball. I was eight years old, and my mother said I was finally old enough to go. It was magical," she paused as she drifted into the past. "All of the lights, the music, and I remember thinking, 'I can't wait to someday share all of this with a daughter of my own'."

Emma smiled at her mother, placing her hand atop her mother's on her shoulder. "I'm glad I get to share it with you too, mum."

After a few final reflection checks, Emma stood up and took her mother's hand. They shared a watery smile, happy to share in this moment finally. Almost instantly, Mary Margaret pulled Emma close and hugged her. When they broke apart, they walked out of Emma's room and into the main sitting area. They said goodbye to the Doctor and a sleeping Neal before heading out of the suite and towards the ballroom.

The main hall was packed to the brim. Every member of the court, as well as a few of Camelot's nobility, was in attendance. They all talked amongst themselves as they awaited the arrival of the honoured guests. From his spot beside Hook and David, Robin tugged at the collar of his shirt. He had gotten used to the clothes he wore back in Storybrooke, so the slightly rough cotton of this shirt annoyed him. Thankfully, he found the rest of his outfit much more comfortable. He briefly wondered why Hook was dressed in his pirate's outfit, but he pushed that thought away as he heard the trumpets heralding the arrivals. They all turned to face the staircase and awaited them. As Emma and Mary Margaret appeared at the top of the stairs, David and Hook stepped forward, ready to greet them at the bottom.

"Presenting Lady Emma and Lady Mary Margaret."

The crowd applauded politely as the two women descended the stairs hand in hand. Finally, they reached the bottom of the stairs, and both men bowed at their dates. David took Mary Margaret's hand and led her to the opposite corner.

"Swan, you look..." Hook began as Emma placed her hand atop his hook.

Emma smirked, enjoying the opportunity to be a little carefree with him. "I know."

"Presenting, the Saviour."

The trumpets sounded again, and Robin stepped forward, awaiting the appearance of Regina. His heart skipped a beat as he saw her appear at the top of the stairs. He noticed that she was wearing a lighter colour than she usually preferred, but Robin couldn't help but think it suited her perfectly. He could tell by how her eyes scanned the room that she was nervous. He caught her eye and nodded slightly, giving her a slight smirk.

Though the room applauded as she descended the stairs, it was all background noise to Regina. She kept her eyes trained on Robin, finding his presence reassuring. As she reached the bottom of his stairs, Robin bowed and held her hand. She shook her head slightly at him but still smiled and placed her hand in his. He kissed her hand before he escorted her to the other side of the hall. They came to a stop beside the other people from Storybrooke as the footmen announced the arrival of Arthur and Guinevere.

From her spot on the sidelines, Mary Margaret scanned the crowd. She smiled as she caught sight of Emma and Hook dancing in the corner. It had been so long since she'd seen Emma look carefree and happy. She could only hope that it wouldn't take them too long to free Merlin so that she could see more of this side of Emma. Her eyes also fell upon Regina, who was laughing at the fact that she and Robin had missed a few steps in the dance they were doing. Mary Margaret was glad that her former stepmother had found happiness.

"David, look," she commented, placing a hand on her husband's arm as she spotted something across the hall.

David followed her line of sight and chuckled as they watched Henry cast furtive glances at a brown-haired girl standing watching the ball from an alcove. "First crush, I'm on it," he said as he took two cups of a passing tray and walked toward Henry. "You know, you could just walk over there and introduce yourself."

Henry smiled as he looked up at his grandfather. "That's your strategy, Gramps? Introduce yourself?"

"Think about it." David laughed, passing him the two cups. "You're from another land. You're mysterious and intriguing. Use it."

Henry nodded and walked over to the girl. She looked up and smiled at him as he approached her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. He held out one of the cups, smiling as she took it. "You, uh, looked thirsty."

The girl smiled at him. "You mean bored," she raised the cup in a salute gesture. "Thanks."

"So, you're not having fun?"

The girl scoffed. "Please. We have one of these practically every night in Camelot."

"Uh, yeah, it's pretty lame." Henry agreed. He reached into the pocket of his tunic and pulled out his mp3 player.

"What is that?"

Henry shrugged. "Just a gift from the Saviour."

The girl's eyes widened. "A gift from the Saviour? Really?"

Henry smiled. "More like a token of appreciation. For saving the day when everyone was trapped in an alternate universe. Yeah. I did that."

"How heroic. Are you a knight?"

"Better. I'm a writer," Henry smiled as he held out an earbud for her to use. He indicated how to use it before he selected a song. His father had taught him the trick, and he wanted to see if it would work. He smiled at her as the opening bars of 'Only You' began to play.

"I'm Violet," she smiled, introducing herself.

"Henry."

The music slowed until it resembled something akin to a waltz, and Regina breathed a sigh of relief. While she may not have been able to dance the numbers familiar to the residents of Camelot, she was familiar enough with other styles to make a reasonable attempt at this particular dance. She smiled as Robin pulled her closer. Revelling in the closeness that the new position provided them, Regina rested her head against his shoulder, her smile softening as his lips brushed against her forehead.

A cough, however, had them breaking apart. "May I cut in?" Percival asked as he approached them. "It would be an honour to dance with the Saviour."

Regina shared a look with Robin and nodded at him. Percival bowed to her before he took her hand. "I trust you're having a lovely evening."

"Oh, yes. Everything's..." Regina tailed off as she spotted something in the room's opposite corner. "Who's that girl talking to my son?"

Percival looked over at the brunette and shrugged. "The better question is, who are you?"

Regina chuckled nervously before looking up at him. "What do you mean?"

"Let me tell you a story." Percival tightened his grip on her hand as they continued to move, ignoring Regina's obvious discomfort. "Many years ago, a boy returned to his village in the Enchanted Forest to find it ablaze. Villagers were screaming. Terror in their eyes. His whole world was burning like a funeral pyre. This boy hid, praying for mercy. But none came. Only the angel of death. She slipped through the flames, relishing the horror she'd wrought. But before she escaped, she saw the boy. And amidst the carnage, do you know what she did? She smiled at him."

Regina was silent. "You were the boy."

"And you're the Evil Queen."

Suddenly feeling sick to her stomach, Regina attempted to look as regal as possible. "Who else knows? Who have you told?"

Percival shook his head. "No one."

"Why not?"

He smiled smugly at her, moving backwards away from her. Regina felt the urge to roast him with a fireball, but while pretending to be the saviour, she was powerless. "Because Arthur would have stopped me from doing this."

Regina stood paralysed as she watched him draw a sword and aim it directly at her chest. He moved his arm back and prepared to strike. Regina braced herself for the sharp sting of pain. However, it didn't come.

Robin had been paying close attention to the knight, especially once they had noticed that the pair had stopped dancing. "Regina!" He ran forward to stop him from doing any harm to Regina. He reached Percival and tackled him to the floor as they grappled for the sword.

Across the room, Emma watched what was unfolding and pulled away from Hook. She raised her hands, ready to use her magic. Hook, however, placed his hand over hers and stopped her. "No, Swan. You can't use dark magic."

Emma glared at him, it was her father caught up in the fight, and she would damn well use her magic if she wanted to.

David ran over to where Robin and Percival were fighting, stabbing his sword through Percival's abdomen and using his foot to push his body off his sword.

Regina rushed over to where Robin lay on the floor, wanting to see if he was alright. Then she saw blood pooling on his white shirt. He had been stabbed, too.

The door to the tower banged open as Hook and David carried in a gravely injured Robin. They were closely followed by Regina, Emma, and Mary Margaret.

"Can you heal him?" Mary Margaret asked, her voice breaking slightly. Regina nodded and walked over to where Robin lay on the table. She raised her hands and placed them above the stab wound. Then, she summoned her magic and tried to send it forward. However, her magic refused to work. It was as though there was a barrier between the wound and her magic.

"Why didn't it work?" David asked.

Regina sighed as she looked over at the sword that Percival had been wielding. "The sword was enchanted to kill me," she looked over at Mary Margaret and gave her a look of utter sadness. "My magic can't heal him." She looked at Emma. "But maybe yours can."

"No," protested Hook. "No, we can't let her use dark magic."

"Regina, this was the whole point of your pretending to be the Saviour," Mary Margaret pointed out."

Regina turned to Mary Margaret. "The whole point was not for Robin to die. And I'm not asking you. I'm asking … I'm asking her." Regina motioned to Emma.

"I don't know what'll happen if I use my powers again."

"I can use that dagger to make you do this, but I'm not. I'm asking you. I've lost love before. And I won't do it again. Please. Save him."

"Alright. I'll try," Emma said as she moved to the table where Robin lay.

"Attagirl!"

Emma snapped her head up, noticing the apparition that had appeared yet again. "What are you doing here?"

Rumplestiltskin smiled. "I told you. I'm here to help you embrace the darkness."

Hook frowned as he looked over at Emma. "Who are you talking to?"

"No one."

"This is too much for her."

"I'm fine," Emma insisted. "I can do this."

"Not yet, dearie," Rumplestiltskin pointed out. "First, you must take a price for the magic."

Emma shook her head. "I won't take one to save somebody."

"Sorry, dearie, but those are the rules," Rumplestiltskin shrugged. "I didn't make them up. There has to be a price."

"Fine. I'll pay it."

"It doesn't work that way. She asked for the magic. So she has to pay it."

"It'll be different. I'm the Saviour."

Regina frowned as she looked at her friend. "Emma, who are you talking to? What's going on?"

Emma took a deep breath and squeezed her mother's shoulder quickly. "It's okay. I can do this."

She raised her hands and concentrated her magic. Everyone in the room held their breaths as they watched a yellow glow cover the wound, stitching the skin back together, blood almost reversing itself back into the body. When she was finished, Robin's eyes flew open, and he sat up with a gasp.

"Robin!" Regina cried, relief coursing through her veins. She threw her arms around him and sobbed into his shoulder.

Emma smiled weakly at the sight in front of her. She then turned around and, putting her remaining energy into kissing Hook. She prayed it was enough to ward off the darkness swirling inside her. Finally, she pulled back from him and looked over his shoulder, seeing that Rumplestiltskin was still standing there.

"Emma, you all right?" Hook asked with a slight frown.

Emma smiled tightly and nodded at him. "I'm fine. I feel a little dizzy. I think I'll lie down for a bit," she pressed a light kiss to his lips before she walked out of the room, giving her parents one last look.

"You liked the power, didn't you?"

Emma glared at the apparition. "No. I just did what had to be done."

Rumplestiltskin smirked at her. "Well, if that were true, then why didn't your kiss stop that?" He giggled as Emma looked down at her hand, noticing it was glowing gold and starting to turn scaly. "Tasty, isn't it? The darkness?"

Emma glared at him before walking across the small hall towards her room.

The room was almost empty when Arthur arrived. Hook had gone to find Emma, but Regina and Robin had remained, knowing that Arthur would want to speak to them. Regina had spent most of her time apologising profusely. Even if both David and Mary Margaret had accepted her apologies, Regina still felt immense guilt about the whole situation.

"Well, I hope that you'll accept my humblest apologies. We don't normally try and kill our guests in Camelot. Percival's actions were inexcusable."

Regina sighed as she stepped forward. "But he was right. I am the Evil Queen."

Arthur smiled at her. "Camelot is, and always has been, a place of second chances. Who you were doesn't matter. Just who you are," he paused smiling at each person in turn, before looking back at Regina. "And if you were able to save him with your magic, then you really are the Saviour Merlin prophesied."

Regina smiled and nodded. "Thank you."

Guinevere entered the room that housed the round table, where she saw her husband, Arthur, sitting alone. She frowned as she approached him.

"These strangers frighten me, Arthur."

Arthur looked up as he saw Guinevere approach him. "You know Merlin's prophecy as well as I do. They're meant to be here."

"Merlin tells us what happens. But he doesn't tell us how." She was silent as she looked at the coat of arms on the table in front of Arthur. "Percival is dead. Who knows what other trouble they will bring?"

"They're here to destroy the Dark One," Arthur stated. "That won't be easy. But helping them may be the only way I'll ever get my hands on that monster's dagger." He took his half of Excalibur out of the holster and showed it to his wife. "And, my beloved, if I don't make Excalibur whole again, we will lose everything we have worked so hard to build." No. He will not let that happen. He will not go back to where he was before he had been king.

Guinevere placed her hand over the top of Arthur's. "We won't let that happen."