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Astrid was seared next to Peter across from Regina in the booth they sat in with everyone else nearby. David spoke up first, "So you can really do it-- Take the Dark One dagger and put it together with Arthur's sword to re-create the original Excalibur?"

"I hope so," Merlin nodded.

"And we can use it to save Emma?" Snow also questioned the famous sorcerer.

"Perhaps," Merlin replied, "But I need two things. The magical means to unite the two blades. That's my and Astrid's and Emma's quest. From you, I need-"

"The two blades," Peter finished, glancing over at his love who was unusually quiet. He moved his hand across her lap.

"We're pretty much at the open-warfare stage. Now, getting the partial sword from Arthur won't be easy." Robin commented as he now sat next to Regina.

"As long as you're looking at the future, any hints on how?" Hook spoke up.

"Well, the future isn't exact," Merlin explained, "There are many parts-"

"Of course there are." Hook cut him off, "You're willing to send us behind enemy lines, but when it comes to specifics, everything's a little fuzzy, isn't it!?"

"Hook, Merlin's helping Emma," David told the said pirate who argued, "Is he!? She's sitting out there right now, making things to pull memories out of people's heads, because that's what she does now instead of sleeping. I'm not quite seeing the helping!"

Astrid moved one hand to the side of her head as she squeezed her eyes shut somewhat, feeling strange. Peter noticed the action and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him in comfort.

"I know what it is to lose someone you love to the Dark One," Merlin told him, "All I can ask of all of you is that you bring me that sword... and that you have patience with Emma. Her kind of power, for good or evil-- much like Astrid's-- it is a weight on the soul. And love is a great help, if you can find it."

Astrid buries her face in the crook of her husband's neck just as Merlin glanced over at her with furrowed eyebrows, starting, "Astrid?"

The said girl looked up and convinced a smile, saying, "Yeah. I'm fine. Are- Are you ready?"

The famous sorcerer approached their booth and carefully watched her before he began, "You're seeing the two paths for us, aren't you?"

Astrid nodded in confirmation and leaned a little more up. "Yeah. And it sucks."

Merlin smiled in understanding and spoke back up to the group, "We leave as soon as possible. Get your stuff ready."

Astrid stood up and started to take a step forward but soon fainted just as Peter caught her in his arms before she could fall to the floor.

"Astrid!" Her family let out in worry and surrounded her and Peter who still held her up in his arms. Merlin was currently outside talking to Emma about the plan.

The said girl's eyes lagged some as she slipped into a brief unconsciousness yet remaining awake somewhat also.

"Tell Merlin that she's not in good shape to travel anywhere with him and Emma." Hook spoke up as he kept a concerned hand on the girl's arm while Peter held her in his arms also.

"I-I'm fine-- I'm fine..." Astrid let out while multiple visions about herself and her friends and family played out in her mind.

Merlin walked back into the diner after David had went to go tell him about his daughter.

The great sorcerer places a hand over Astrid's forehead lightly and closed his eyes as he concentrated. "They're right, Astrid. You must stay here for the time being, and then you will find your sister and I."

"What's wrong with her?" Snow questioned aloud on concern.

"She's half caught up in the future right now, and since this is the first time that's she's experiencing future visions... It's a little disorienting and can weaken you for the time being. It'll pass, though." Merlin explained as best as he could to her family.

"What can we do?" Regina also questioned.

"Continue with the plan." Merlin sighed, adding, "But one of you must stay behind and keep an eye on her while she's like this. Anyone finds out that Astrid can see into the future, they'll want to take her and try and take advantage of that power."

Peter nodded, saying, "I'll stay behind and watch her. She's my wife, after all."

"N-No, you-you have to go with them..." Astrid let out weakly, "H-Hook will."

"Love, why?" Peter began, not wanting to leave her while she's in this condition.

"I-I see all- all of it, every bloody thing..." Astrid murmured breathlessly.

"Okay." Peter nodded and kissed her forehead before looking up at the one handed pirate, saying, "Keep her safe."

"Promise." Hook assured.

***

Emma and Merlin finally emerged up the hill and came upon a ruined wall with what looked to be a mirror on it.

"This structure marks the end of Prometheus' theft. The stolen flame burned on for a great while..." Merlin explained, "Long enough for Excalibur to be both forged and broken here. This is where the first Dark One killed Nimue, the woman I loved."

"What happened to the flame?" Emma began.

"The first Dark One took it and still possesses it in the form of a single ember with the spark deep inside." Merlin answered.

"So that's what I need to get. Okay, bring him on." Emma started, still hesitant.

Merlin reluctantly handed her the Dark One dagger, making Emma freeze in her place as she looked down at the blade and let out, "My family let you take this?"

"I didn't ask permission. You need its power to talk to the first Dark One, to reach all the way back to the origin of dark magic." Merlin began.

Emma now held the dagger in her hand as she felt the magic and slowly said, "It's buzzing like... like ants crawling up my arm. Is it safe?"

Merlin shook his head and admitted, "Of course not. Your power is totally unchecked, and I've just handed you the power to kill me. Now... Call on the spirit of the previous Dark Ones."

Emma clutched the ring necklace in one hand and then tightened the blade in her other hand, letting out, "Take the right path..."

She took a deep breath and focused on the dagger as the name changed from hers to all of the Dark Ones' names, muttering, "It's just in my head. It's just in my head. It's just in my head..."

A figure in a robe and a mask then appeared in front of the two as Merlin spoke up, "You did it."

"You can see him, too?" Emma breathed out.

"Yes. Power has its advantages. And it's not a him." Merlin commented.

Emma glanced down at the dagger to find the name 'Nimue' now wrote on it. The former Dark One in front of them suddenly removed its mask to reveal none other than a woman named Nimue who's face was green and sort of sparkly.

Emma let out in shock, "Nimue."

The said woman nodded and replied, "Yes. I'm Nimue. And you are Emma. How pretty, the first Dark One and the newest Dark One standing as sisters."

"I already have a sister. Her name is Astrid." Emma remarked before she added, "It makes sense. You killed the woman he loved because you killed the woman you used to be."

The blonde looked over at Merlin and inquired in confusion, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Merlin began with a small nod, his eyes watery as he looked at his former love, "I did tell you. The creature over there the first Dark One. It's not the woman I loved."

Nimue simply looked over at Merlin and spoke up, "It's been a long time, Merlin."

Merlin replied, "I've thought of you every day."

"And now, on your last day, I'll be your last thought. How poetic." Nimue remarked. Suddenly, she used her powers to send Merlin back as he crashed into the ground a few feet away.

"Why are you doing this?" Emma questioned her, "You loved him."

"Even when you love someone, you have to say, "No, this is mine. You can't take it away from me." And if they don't listen, if they try to stop you from being you," Nimue answered, "Then you have no choice. You have to kill them. Oh, and you're doing this."

Suddenly, Emma was kneeling above Merlin and choking him, unable to stop herself. "...because we are one and the same now, all Dark Ones, and we must destroy the threat to us. We must destroy Merlin."

Merlin gasped out, "Emma, please-"

Emma shook her head and let out in desperation, "It's... not me!"

"Finish the job!" Nimue told her.

"Don't listen!" Merlin also told her.

Nimue then added, "He wants you to make a sword to destroy me, to destroy us."

"You can control this." Merlin tried again.

"Don't listen to him! He doesn't understand what you and I do. He doesn't understand the power." Nimue continued, "If you don't do this, you'll go back to being powerless."

"Killing is the dark path." Merlin gasped out.

"No! It's power to protect yourself and your loved ones!" Nimue stated.

"Let the light win..." Merlin breathlessly let out.

"Kill him! Don't go back to being nothing!" Nimue yelled at the blonde who then glared over at her and yelled back, "I'm not nothing! I was never nothing!"

Emma raised her dagger at Nimue and continued, "The power you have I don't need! Now I am going to take that ember from you, and you are going to let me."

The ember flew out of Nimue's chest and appeared in Emma's hand as the former Dark One gasped, saying, "The spark you need is in there... But the sword you will make has more than one use, and I am not dead yet, girl. You know where to find me when you want me."

Nimue lightly tapped Emma's forehead and added, "I'll be right in there." Then she vanished.

Merlin stood up and caught his breath, letting out in relief, "You did it."

"I did," Emma nodded.

"How did it feel to take the right path?" Merlin inquired as Emma looked down at the ember in her hand and smiled somewhat and told him, "To be honest, Merlin, it feels damn good."

***

"Is it possible for someone to have the darkness, but use it for good, use it to protect people?" Emma began.

Merlin shook his head and immediately shot her down, "Emma, don't let those thoughts tempt you."

"But... is it true?"

Merlin glanced over at her and sighed lightly before admitting, "Someday, perhaps, there will be a person who's worthy to hold that much power and not let it burn through to darken their soul... like your sister... But if we can wipe out the darkness, we'll never have to ask that much of anyone."

Emma slowly nodded, saying, "Sounds like we need to find the other half of Excalibur."

***

Astrid woke up with a sharp gasp just as Hook rushed back over to his daughter, a concerned hand immediately placed on her shoulder. "AJ? You alright, lass?"

The said girl caught her breath while glancing over at the pirate, letting out, "We- We have to go... They need our help."

"Who?" Hook asked.

"Everyone," Astrid muttered before she stood up a bit wobbly at first as she grabbed his arm and made the two vanish in a cloud of white smoke and appear in Arthur's castle beside David, Peter, Regina, and Robin with Arthur and Zelena in front of them and Snow tied up in a chair.

Peter looked over at his wife and immediately stepped over to her, moving a protective arm in front of her. "You alright, love?" He whispered her way as Astrid simply nodded.

"You know, if you treated me fairly for once, maybe I wouldn't turn on you," Zelena spoke back up towards the group.

"Yes, you would." Hook replied.

"But I'd enjoy it less," Zelena shrugged before glancing down at the open book on the table, "Oh! Here we are, one of Merlin's cookbooks."

"Is it the right spell?" Arthur questioned the Wicked Witch who answered him, "Oh, yes. It's quite an ingenious recipe for a tethering potion."

"Excellent." Arthur nodded.

Zelena then performed a spell on the half sword with it glowing green before it stopped glowing, her saying, "There-- You can take it now. Cookies are done, and by 'cookies', I mean that Artie here may have a shorter sword than a man would like, but it can control the world's greatest wizard. His plan, but I like it. Happy to help."

Arthur revealed the half sword to show Merlin's name now written on it as he glanced over at the redhead and nodded, "Much obliged, my lady."

David stepped forward, his hand slightly outstretched to let him know they mean no harm, saying, "Arthur, please. You can't see a way out, but there is one. You can start over."

Arthur simply lifted the sword in the air and called out, "Merlin!"

"We've all started over-" David tried again.

"Merlin!"

Astrid then stepped forward beside her father and also tried, "Emma is worth more to you as the Savior than the Dark One. Please."

Arthur glanced over at the two of them and replied, "Thank you, David, Astrid. But... Merlin!"

Suddenly, the said sorcerer appeared a few feet from them as he slightly looked around in confusion before settling his gaze on Arthur who commented, "Ah, Merlin. How kind of you to come when called. For your first task, please use your magic to keep these fine people from attacking me in any way."

Merlin waved his hand over towards the group, which caused them to drop their swords and bows to the ground.

Zelena laughed, "Wow."

"It is done, Arthur." Merlin told him, "You can put that down. We don't have to do this. Emma has passed her test."

Astrid breathed out in relief and shared a look with her husband and her parents while Arthur remarked, "Oh, Emma passed her test? How nice for her."

"I have what we need to unite Excalibur and fulfill your legacy." Merlin told the King, "Give me the sword."

"You mean give you the glory?" Arthur replied, tilting his head somewhat, "No."

"Glory?" Merlin began, "You seek glory? Is that really what you've become? I am so sorry I wasn't there to guide you, Arthur. This isn't the man you were supposed to be."

"Oh, I am exactly what you made me." Arthur commented, "Look at the half-man with his half-sword, solving riddles from a tree. I bet you laughed."

"I was trapped, and I put my faith in you." Merlin replied, "You were meant to be like a son to me."

"Shut your mouth." Arthur said while holding up the sword in front of him, "I was never a son to you. You lied. You told me legend would speak of the great King Arthur, using Excalibur to strike darkness from the realm! Tell me how this was not a lie!"

"Because you will do that." Merlin began just as everyone glanced over at Astrid who had spoke up, "You're a part of doing it right now. I've seen it myself."

"A part of it?" Arthur repeated while glancing back and forth between the sorcerer and Astrid who shared a look with Merlin.

"We have what we need. The future is in your hands, Arthur," Merlin added, "Give me the sword. We can repair everything."

"No, not everything." Arthur said, lowering the sword, "This is my charge and my right. I will be known for more than defeating a stone."

"Arthur, you cannot-" Merlin tried but was cut off by Arthur raising the sword once more, saying, "Be quiet. We have intruders. Make them leave. Except for the Creator whom seems to know a lot about the future like you."

Merlin waved his hand over the group again, making everyone but himself, Astrid, and Zelena disappear from the room.

Astrid shared another wary look with the great sorcerer and sighed, lifting her eyebrows slightly now.

Astrid fell to the ground and rolled on her back, panting as she trembled and tried to even her breathing.

Merida and Belle quickly moved over to her and helped sit her up, Gold speaking up first, "You alright?"

Astrid groaned and looked around the room before noticing her sister with blonde hair now and in her regular clothes but unconscious. "Emma..."

The girl was helped up to her feet as she then rushed over to her sister, starting with slightly watery eyes, "Hey, hey, wake up, Emma... Come on, Em..."

Emma still didn't wake up as Astrid kissed the top of her head, letting out in a pleading way, "Please come back. I-I-I need my sister..."

Emma abruptly yet slowly opened her eyes and looked up at her twin who held her in her arms and replied, "I'm right here, Astro. I'm not going anywhere... Thank you for saving me, but what- what did you do?"

Astrid softly laughed and hugged her sister even tighter and commented, "What I had to in order to save my sister and stop the darkness from ruining my family's lives..."

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