From 5.05 "Dreamcatcher", in flashback, Cyrus and Merlin confronted the Dark One.

Freya/Priscilla: (voice over) "Previously on Worlds Colliding (Once Upon a Time)."

Cyrus raised the Dark One dagger. "You destroyed my mother."

From 5.05 "Dreamcatcher", in flashback, Ella, Emma, Rose, Lisa, Blake and Grace freed Cyrus and Merlin.

Arthur drew Excalibur. "You ruined my life!"

"We all know that broken sword can't hurt us," Cyrus told him.

From 5.06 "The Bear and the Bow", in Freya's basement, she was looking at Excalibur in the stone.

Cyrus: (voice over from 5.05 Dreamcatcher) "The restored weapon has great power. It can eradicate all dark magic forever."

Gold successfully removed the sword from the stone.

Cyrus: (voice over from 5.05 Dreamcatcher) "But in the wrong hands, it can also destroy all light magic."

From 5.01 "The Dark Witch", in Enchanted Forest, Freya looked at Rumple. "What are you?"

"Rumplestiltskin is but one of many," Rumplestiltskin told her. "All the Dark Ones' power inside you."

From 5.01-5.06, there were flashes of Freya losing control of her magic in past and present.

Merlin: (voice over from 5.06 The Bear and the Bow) "There's only one person who can help you defeat the Dark One now, Cyrus. Nimue."

Cyrus looked completely numb, chilled to the bone.

Rose was concerned by his reaction. "Cyrus? Who's Nimue?"

ღღ

Day One

Storybrooke

Night - Freya's House - Basement

Freya walked toward the rock with Excalibur and her dagger in either of her hands, placing the dagger on the rock, looking at the sword.

Rumplestiltskin giggled. "Beautiful, aren't they? Both halves finally reunited. You know what they represent, now, don't you?"

Freya was annoyed by his presence. "Power."

Rumplestiltskin walked closer. "It's much more than power, dearie. It's history. Excalibur's promise was born eons ago. And now it's time for that promise... to be fulfilled."

ღ

1000 Years Ago

Camelot

Day - Desert

Merlin and another man were running through the desert, both breathing heavily.

"They following?" the man asked.

"No," Merlin answered. "They wouldn't trail escaped generals into this, much less foot soldiers." The man fell to the ground in exhaustion. Merlin noticed the sun was glittering off something in the distance, tapping the man's shoulders to get his attention. "Look, look, there is it again."

"It's a mirage, Merlin," the man told him. "There's no water there."

"I would rather find out for sure than lie here and die," Merlin pointed out. "Come on."

They approached a gilded goblet of water on a rock.

"That's a gift from the Gods," the man told him.

"We are hardly worth notice of the Gods," Merlin told him.

"The Gods could do worse," the man replied. "But if you don't want any..."

The man placed his hands around the goblet, in unbearable pain, beginning to scream, before turning into dust.

Merlin was in shock, sighing. "Well, then, to drink or die? With your permission..." He took the goblet in his hands, relieved to find her could without dying, drinking deeply. "Thank you. Thank you." He drank more. Under his hand, the desert turned into greenery. "I have magic."

Merlin stood, looking around to find that a beautiful forest now surrounded him.

ღ Worlds Colliding (Once Upon a Time) ღ

Six Weeks Ago

Camelot

Day - Granny's Diner

Everyone but Freya was inside. Jefferson looked out the window to see Freya sitting outside making dreamcatchers, growing ever more worried about her, becoming more dark and mad himself. Lisa and Blake walked up to Merlin and Cyrus.

"Well, well, after all the time we spent for you, it's nice to finally meet you," Blake told them.

Merlin chuckled. "The legendary Divine Pair, I presume."

Lisa nodded. Blake smirked in superiority.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you both," Cyrus told them. "We wrote so many prophecies about you."

Lisa looked at them in shock. "Wait, that was you?"

"Of course," Merlin answered. "I wrote the very first prophecies about you two. It's one of the first prophecies I ever got after I got my powers. And when Cyrus was born, we both did it."

"Wait, so you didn't make us?" Blake asked.

"Of course not," Cyrus answered. "We only prophesied you."

"Wait, how did you get your powers?" Lisa asked.

"I got my powers from the Holy Grail itself, and that power was passed from me to Cyrus," Merlin answered.

Blake was in shock, impressed. "Wow. The Holy Grail made from the Gods themselves?"

"Yep," Cyrus answered.

"But if the Gods gave you powers, does that mean you're Divine Beings too?" Lisa asked.

"No, I'm afraid not," Merlin answered. "We still have Divine magic, but we're not Divine Beings."

"Though our magic is very powerful, trust me," Cyrus told them. "We just don't like using our magic unless we have to because we've seen what it can do."

"But then, if you didn't make us, then who did?" Blake asked.

"I'm afraid I do not know the answer to that, but something tells me you'll find out very soon," Merlin told them.

Lisa and Blake exchanged a look.

Emma looked at Merlin and Cyrus. "So you can really do it? Take the Dark One dagger and put it together with Arthur's sword to recreate the original Excalibur?"

Cyrus nodded. "I hope so."

"And we can use it to save Freya?" Ella asked.

"Perhaps, but we need two things," Merlin answered. "The magical means to unite the two blades. That's my, Cyrus and Freya's quest. Rose, Grace, Lisa and Blake, your power can help us get what we need, and your presence will most certainly help Freya." The four of them nodded in understanding. "From the rest of you, we need..."

"The two blades," Regina finished.

"We're pretty much at the open warfare stage," Derek told them. "Now, getting the partial sword from Arthur won't be easy."

Killian looked at Merlin and Cyrus. "As long as you're looking at the future, any hints on how?"

"Well, the future isn't exact," Cyrus told them. "There are many parts--"

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

Tori knew what was wrong, trying to calm him down. "Jefferson. Merlin and Cyrus are helping Freya."

"Are they?" Jefferson asked. "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!"

Alcina stood. "Jefferson. Hey. It'll be okay."

Grace took his hand in hers. "Papa. Please."

Jefferson sighed, lowering his head. "I'm sorry, Grace."

Grace looked at him sadly. "It's okay, Papa. It's not your fault."

Saphira looked at Merlin and Cyrus. "Jefferson's being affected by whatever's happening with Freya. He hasn't been able to sleep either."

"Whatever's going on with Freya, we think it's more than just effecting Jefferson," Mathias told them. "Neither one of them are the same."

Cyrus nodded. "We understand. We know what it is to lose someone you love to the Dark One. All we can ask of all of you is that you bring us that sword, and that you have patience with Freya. Her kind of power, for good or evil, and her kind of mentality, the madness, it is a weight on the soul. And love is a great help, if you can find it."

ღ

Flashback

Camelot

Day - Main Village

Merlin was healing a man. "There. You're healed."

"Gratitude, great Merlin," the man told them.

Merlin chuckled. "You're both very welcome."

Young Apprentice approached Merlin. "I think that's it for the day." He saw the woman named Nimue. "Wait, I didn't see her arrive. I'll get her to leave."

"What does she want?" Merlin asked.

"Don't you know?" Young Apprentice asked. "You always know."

Merlin chuckled. "I'll talk to her. Uh, you head back, check on the brooms." He approached Nimue. "Have you come to see me?"

"You're Merlin?" Nimue asked.

"Not all wizards have long white beards," Merlin told her. "Please, tell me, what brings you here?"

Nimue sighed. "My village. Uh, I was in my garden when a masked man rode in. His name is Vortigan. He ransacks towns, burns them to the ground, so I--I fled on foot to the woods. I looked back from the hillside, and everything was in flames. He had killed everyone."

"I'm so sorry," Merlin told her. "Please, allow me to help you. What can I grant you?"

"Revenge," Nimue answered. "These were all I had on me when I ran." She handed him seeds. "They're seeds from the middlemist flower. They only prosper around my village. When Vortigan scorched the earth, he could have killed them forever. My best revenge would be for them to live on despite him."

Merlin nodded. "We will plant them here."

"Thank you," Nimue told him. "If the flowers survive, at least something other than me lived on." She poured the seeds into a pot. "I'll try and pass through again in the spring." She sighed. "I want to see them in bloom."

"Well, why wait?" Merlin asked, using magic to make them bloom beautifully. Nimue smiled in shock, gasping in relief, kneeling to look at the flowers, inhaling the scent. Merlin knelt next to her. "Stay close. You can come and see them anytime."

"You see the future," Nimue told him. "Do I do that?"

Merlin sighed. "With you, for some reason, I have no idea. I hope so. What's your name?"

"Nimue," Nimue answered.

Merlin smiled. "Nimue."

ღ

Six Weeks Ago

Camelot

Day - Granny's Diner - Outside

Freya was still making dreamcatchers. Lisa, Blake, Rose, Grace, Merlin and Cyrus joined her outside.

"Freya?" Blake asked. "Freya." Freya looked out of it, dazed, confused. Blake walked closer, concerned. "Freya."

Grace took her hand, worried. "Mama? Mama. Hey."

Freya snapped out of it, looking at Grace, looking at her hand in hers, sighing. She looked at the others, who were just as worried about her.

"According to Cyrus and Merlin, there is a way to make Excalibur whole again," Lisa explained. "Will you come with us today so we can get what we need? It's not far."

"What is it?" Freya asked.

"A spark from mankind's original fire, the Flame of Prometheus," Rose answered. "Its heat forged Excalibur, and that's what we'll need to put it back together."

"So will you come with me, Lisa, Blake, Rose, Grace and Cyrus to collect the spark?" Merlin asked. "We'll be back by nightfall."

Lisa looked Cyrus and Merlin. "You look dire. What is it?"

"When we get there, we will need to deal with the first Dark One," Merlin answered.

"The one who wore the mask?" Freya asked. "The one who killed the woman you love? Cyrus's mother?"

"The very same," Cyrus answered. "This is not a trival task."

Freya frowned. "I was seeing my father, like a voice in my head, and I just got rid of him, and now you want me to let another one in?"

"Yes, and not just anyone," Cyrus answered. "This is the first Dark One, the original, the one from whom all the evil that followed was born."

"Will we win?" Blake asked.

Merlin sighed. "I see two paths for our journey. On one, Freya resists the darkness and we succeed. On the other, she succumbs to the darkness, and I do not return. I die, but the rest of you will not."

"You die?" Grace repeated. "But..."

"Even immortality has exceptions," Cyrus told them. "A Dark One does have the power to kill us."

"But they won't even be there," Rose told them. "Not really." Merlin and Cyrus looked down. The teens realized, looking at Freya. "Oh."

"It would be Freya?" Lisa asked. "If you died, it would be her?"

Merlin nodded. "If I die, it means that she lost her battle and the darkness stained her soul. Everything and everyone that you know will be at the mercy of the most powerful, most dark Dark One ever. Freya."

Cyrus looked at Freya awkwardly. "No pressure."

ღღ

Ella and Killian were walking together.

"What's wrong, Ella?" Killian asked.

"Just feeling like everything's falling apart, and while I have the power to do something about it, I can't help much," Ella answered.

Killian turned to face her. "You're the Savior."

"Which meant helping Lisa, Henry, Rose, Tori, Saphira, Jefferson and Freya break a Curse Regina cast, and releasing Alcina from her prison, her reuniting with Regina, finding out she was family to Freya, Jefferson, Grace, Henry, Rose, Gold, Neal, Zelena, Faye," Ella told him. "It led to Grace reuniting with her family, to me, Emma, our mother and Freya falling through Jefferson's hat and meeting you and Mathias and helping Mathias get here to Tori and Saphira. And it brought all of these other things. Magic back to Storybrooke, villains like Cora, Pan and his minions, Zelena, Faye, Snow Queen, darkness. But it also led to Faye becoming a family with Regina, Alcina, Tori, Saphira, Mathias and Belle. It brought Derek to Saphira and Robin to Alcina. Derek and Faye having a baby. And it led to Blake reuniting with Lisa and becoming part of her family with Freya, Jefferson and Grace. Cyrus, Axel. Emma and I finally got to have our family with Henry, Rose and our parents. And yeah, we help save and protect people like we should, but everything bad keeps happening."

"Well, everything bad is always gonna happen," Killian pointed out. "It's not like we can stop that, love. But we can continue to live our lives despite it." He took a necklace with a ring off of his neck, handing it to Ella. "Ella..."

Ella laughed in surprise, not knowing where this was going. "Whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa."

Killian smirked. "Calm down, Swan. I'm not proposing. You know I'm a survivor. This ring is why. I've had it for many years. It's the reason I'm alive. Or it could be. Who knows? But it's also given me hope when I never knew I needed it, so maybe it can help do the same for you, since now would be the time you need it most."

Ella smiled. "Thank you, Killian."

They shared a long, slow, passionate kiss, leaning their heads together.

Further away, Alcina joined Lisa, Blake, Grace and Freya for the short goodbye. "You'll return by nightfall, right?"

Jefferson walked closer.

"Yes," Blake answered. "We go get this spark thing, and then we're working our way back to you. Anyway with a bit of luck, we can put Excalibur together tomorrow, and then, bam, no more darkness."

Jefferson looked at all of them seriously. "Be careful." He pulled out the necklace from 5.01, putting it around her neck. "Recognize this?"

Freya smiled in surprise. "The necklace you stole when we were kids and gave to me. It helped keep you sane in Wonderland."

Grace smiled slightly. "So maybe it can help you keep sane today. Or any day."

Lisa looked at Alcina and Jefferson. "You know we won't die today. Freya's immortal now. Merlin and Cyrus said the rest of us will be fine."

"The Dark One is immortal," Alcina corrected. "Cilla isn't. And whatever happens out there, it could leave a scar on all of you."

"All of you come back okay," Jefferson told them. "We love you."

Grace embraced them. "We love you, too."

Jefferson and Alcina embraced the others. Freya kissed Jefferson sweetly and passionately.

Blake walked away, sitting down, waiting for the others so they could leave. "Come on."

Faye walked closer. "Hello, Blake."

"What's up, lollipop?" Blake asked.

"Lollipop, really?" Faye asked. "What happened to the insanity part?"

"Well, you're obviously still insane, but not that much, so you need a new nickname," Blake told her. "And after what you told me about Zelena, I'm not gonna keep calling you science project."

Faye chuckled. "Wow. That was almost a compliment."

"Don't get your hopes up," Blake told her. "That might be the closest you ever get to a compliment."

Faye nodded sarcastically. "Wouldn't have it any other way." They smirked at each other before Blake turned serious. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Blake told her.

Faye used his words from their talk in 5.05. "Really, Blake, lying?"

Blake sighed. "Fine. I'm afraid I'll fail. I mean, we're on a journey to rebuild Excalibur and going to fight darkness, and I don't know what will happen. I don't want to fail Lisa, Grace or Freya."

"Hey, look at me," Faye told him. Blake looked at her. "Stop. That's not who you are, okay? Where is the all high and mighty celestial being that always says he is the best and never fails?"

Blake smirked. "Well, I am the best."

Faye tilted her head in amusement. "See, there it is, the smugness that we need, that they need, so when you go out there, just remember who you are, and you're not going to fail."

Blake was impressed, moved and surprised, chuckling lightly. "Thanks, Faye."

Freya, Grace, Lisa, Rose, Cyrus and Merlin arrived. Faye and Blake looked at them.

Rose nodded. "It's time."

Blake nodded. They walked away, leaving Faye behind. Faye watched them go, looking thoughtful, smiling a little.

Saphira approached her with Derek. "Oh, my, is that what I think it is?"

"What?" Faye asked.

"What do you think, Derek?" Saphira asked.

Derek smirked. "I think you are right, Saphira."

Faye gave them a look, tilting her head. "Come on, tell me."

"Looks like Sister Faye has feelings for Blake," Saphira told her.

Faye scoffed defensively. "What? God, no. And I'm the one that has been calling you Sister Saphira since the day we met, so don't steal that from me."

"Don't try to change the subject, Faye," Saphira replied.

Derek smirked, looking at Saphira. "I totally saw this coming. You owe me a drink. I win."

"What?" Saphira asked. "No, I win."

"No, you said it would take longer, and I said sooner," Derek told her.

Saphira sighed, giving in. "Ugh, fine."

Faye looked at them in shock. "Wait, what? You guys bet on this?"

"Yeah," Saphira answered in a duh voice.

"Of course we did," Derek agreed.

"It was Derek's idea," Saphira told her.

Derek smirked.

"You know what?" Faye asked. "I'm gonna walk over there, because if I stay here with all this plus baby hormones, I might Dragon blast you both."

Faye started to walk away.

Saphira called after her teasingly. "Going out to plan your wedding?"

"Don't forget to invite us," Derek told her in amusement.

Faye kept walking away, not looking at them. "I hate you both!"

Saphira and Derek were laughing. Further away, Tori and Mathias were watching Saphira, Derek and Faye, having heard everything, smiling in amusement.

"I'm glad for them, you know," Tori told him. "Saphira and Faye. Saphira has love like she never had with Derek. And yes, Zelena did this whole thing to Faye with Derek's child, but they've been making it work. And Faye and Derek are going to have a child that they can love."

Mathias smiled slightly, chuckling. "Yeah. They do. They're all grown up."

Tori chuckled. "Yeah." She was thinking. "Have you ever thought of having another child?"

Mathias looked at her, only a little surprised, chuckling. "What?"

"I mean, you were talking to Saphira, Faye and me about how you went to be a knight so that you could find a way to help us when you and Derek didn't think you could help us from right here," Tori told him. "And you and Derek did help us by going out there and getting what we needed. I felt what you felt when you said that we missed out on bringing up Faye, and missing the years of raising Saphira, Mathias. So, have you ever thought of having another child?"

Mathias turned to face her. "Tori. Tori, Tori, Tori." They chuckled. "Tori, whatever thoughts I've had about having another child, it was in a dream world any father has of having a boy when he's already had two girls."

"Well, why can't we?" Tori asked. "When we get home, we can have another, hopefully this time a boy, and we can have everything we want. I already talked to Saphira and Faye about this."

"Of course you did," Mathias told her.

Tori smiled, taking Mathias by both hands. "And they are thrilled with the idea of having a little brother or sister. They're also hoping for a little boy so they have a little brother to help raise and pick on like normal sisters."

Mathias smiled, chuckling. "Okay. Why not?"

Tori and Mathias smiled, looking at each other happily for a moment before kissing passionately. Mathias wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her up lightly. Tori wrapped her arms around his neck as they continued to kiss passionately.

Elsewhere, Alcina and Robin were walking together.

"I'm going to bring Roland to Little John," Robin told her. "You're sure you don't want to come with us?"

"I'm pregnant, not paralyzed," Alcina told him. "Robin, if there's something I can do that can help free Freya from this, and help make sure nothing happens to Jefferson, then I'm gonna take it. I can't let them suffer any more than they have been already."

Robin smiled slightly. "And I love that you've evolved that much from the Dark Sorceress, Alcina. I'm just worried about you. You've been pregnant since before Derek, Roland and I had to leave town with who we had thought was Clarissa, but was actually Faye. You're a month or so away from giving birth. Don't do something that will get you hurt, please."

Alcina turned to face him, meeting his gaze reassuringly. "I'm not going to. I just need to help Cilla and Jefferson. And I will. Besides, pregnancy hormones are making me really cranky, and I need something to take it out on, and Arthur's soldiers sounds like a good idea to me."

Robin couldn't help but smile at this. "All right." They kissed slowly and passionately. "Be careful." Alcina nodded in agreement. Saphira and Derek were passing by. "Derek, Saphira, take care of Alcina for me."

"Of course," Derek told him. "We'll be fine, Robin. Just make sure Roland is, too."

Roland ran up to Derek to give him a hug for the short goodbye. "Uncle Derek!"

Derek smiled, returning the embrace. "We'll be fine, Roland. Go with your father. We'll see you soon."

Roland nodded, leaving with Robin. Saphira, Derek and Alcina watched them go with small smiles.

ღ

Flashback

Camelot

Day - Village

This was sometime after Merlin and Nimue had been married and had had Cyrus. Cyrus was sitting next to the middlemist flowers. Merlin and Nimue walked closer.

"Is this some new magic you gained from your father, Cyrus?" Nimue asked. "Are you frowning them into growing faster?"

Cyrus smiled. "Hello, Mother. Father. I was just thinking about this magic and how ever since I reached this age a few years ago, I haven't been able to age since, and Father thinks it's because I gained some of his immortality."

Nimue sat next to Cyrus. "Well, if there is one thing I learned, at least now we know the girls will never come for our son. If I teach you nothing else, it will be to laugh at yourself, son. Merlin, do you have any lessons for Cyrus?"

"Well, you know that I didn't always have magic, but I've never actually said how it happened," Merlin told them. "It was a gift. I found the Holy Grail."

"What?" Cyrus asked. "The Holy Grail? You found the Holy Grail? Father..."

"I drank from it, and it gave me magic," Merlin explained. "But it also gave me eternal life, which now you have, Cyrus. I don't age. I don't die, and now you have the same affliction. So, Nimue, if we're to watch our son grow old and have the life he deserves..."

"We could severe immortality from both of you," Nimue finished. "If you still had the Grail..."

"I do," Merlin told them. "It's in the bottom of the chest, in the main room of the tower."

"It's in our living room?" Cyrus asked in surprise.

"Wait," Nimue told them. "There's your answer, o wise ones. Let me drink from the Grail. We can live forever together."

"I'm so sorry, my dearest, but I've already seen the cost of immortality," Merlin told her. "And don't you wish Cyrus could grow the way he is supposed to? Life is made of little moments, precious as diamonds, but imagine there were an endless sea of diamonds, all the same, because Cyrus can never change. They'd all be worthless. They'd be as common as sand. I do have another solution, if you'll accept it. We take the Grail, and we remake it into a sword. Such a blade could cut away our magic, our immortality, and then we can come back here, and we can live normal lives together."

"You both would really give up so much?" Nimue asked.

Cyrus nodded. "For us. I don't want this moment to get lost in an endless sea of time."

Merlin smiled. "Come. Come make the preparations."

ღ

Six Weeks Ago

Camelot

Day - Granny's Diner

The Charmings, Matthews, Regina, Alcina, Jefferson, Killian, Derek, Robin and Zelena were gathered. Faye was laying on the counter nearby, holding a hand over her belly, where Zelena was sitting at the counter.

Snow sighed. "Okay. What's the plan?"

"We take them by surprise a go in through the front gate," David told them.

Faye put her hand to her head in a face palm sort of way.

"Well, after our jailbreak, they'll be on high alert," Emma told them. "We need a diversion at the drawbridge. The rest of us can fly in thanks to Saphira and Mathias. And luckily for us, Tori and Faye are willing to lend a hand in controlling the guards with song."

Faye rolled her eyes, sitting up.

"Are you forgetting something?" Regina asked. "Emma, Ella, Alcina, Faye, Saphira, Mathias and I all have magic. We can just poof into Arthur's bedroom."

Zelena scoffed.

"What?" Alcina asked. Zelena made a dramatic gesture at Alcina for her voice. "Well, if you're going to make a scene, you might as well make noise."

Regina sighed. "Alcina, give her her voice back."

Alcina sighed, magically giving Zelena her voice back.

Zelena sighed in relief. "Oh, thank you. I do love hearing a sensible person talk."

"Spit it out," Saphira told them. "Faye. I know you have something to say too. So go on. What are you thinking?"

Faye looked at David. "I'm thinking going in the front? Suicide." She looked at Emma. "Diversion? Arthur hides the sword. We need it on him." She looked at the ones with magic. "And we could all poof right in front of the blade. Oopsie. And Saphira and Mathias flying us in will announce us to everyone. We need to sneak in so quietly, no one knows we're there."

"How?" Derek asked sarcastically. "Hang glider? Oh, giant slingshot."

Zelena smirked. "If sir-castic would let me speak, I'd tell you that I wasn't idle during those days in there, playing mute handmaiden at Faye, Regina and Alcina's side. I was plotting an escape."

Saphira nodded sarcastically. "I knew it."

"And I found a way out," Zelena told them. "And if I know a way out, I know a way in."

"You're going to help us?" Saphira asked skeptically.

Zelena smiled. "Of course. Because you're going to help me. I want my magic back."

Mathias sighed. "You've got to be kidding me."

Tori rolled her eyes slightly. "Bloody hell. This won't end well."

ღ

Castle - Outside

Everyone was talking outside the castle.

"It's a tunnel, abandoned for years," Zelena told them. "It will take you to the courtyard."

"Well, if it's so good, why didn't you escape through it?" Jefferson asked.

"Observe the massive metal grate," Zelena answered. "See, without magic, I'm a delicate thing."

"Well, it leads in the right direction," David told her. "Looks like your information is good. At least this far."

"Thank you," Zelena told them. "Now I've done my part. You can do yours. Take off this bloody cuff."

"For all we know, this leads to the guards' quarters," Saphira told her. "We make it out safe with the sword. Then we'll talk."

"Mary Margaret?" Regina asked. "How do you feel about guard duty?"

Snow smirked. "Oh, I'd be delighted. We'll chat. Have plenty of how-to-be-a-better-mother tips. After what you did to Faye with Derek, you really need some."

Zelena rolled her eyes. "Good Lord, this is worse than being in my cell."

"All right," Ella told them. "Everyone. Let's get this sword."

Ella used magic to remove the grate. Jefferson, David and Killian took out their swords. The others prepared to use their powers as they made their way inside, leaving Zelena and Snow outside.

ღ

Cyrus and Merlin's Tower

Arthur was working on a spell/potion.

Guinevere was pacing. "These are powerful ingredients, Arthur. I hope you know what you're doing."

"We need something to protect us," Arthur told her. "These people drop from the sky, then they turn on us, freeing prisoners. They won't stop until they've taken everything from me. Guards! Infidels are on their way. Call up the reserves. Get every man on the parapet, and patrol every hall. And, you, give me your helm." The guard gave him his helmet. Arthur put it on the table, getting mixture from his potion. "The ladle and the cauldron have special protection spells. This helmet and our friends do not." Using the potion, he used the potion on the helmet, making it melt into nothing, handing the cauldron to the knights. "Throw this on any stranger you see, and bring me what's left of them. It will be nothing but teeth and bones. This is war now."

ღღ

Woods

Freya, Grace, Lisa, Blake, Rose, Cyrus and Merlin were walking together.

"Aunt Freya?" Rose asked. "I know that you were seeing your father the night that we freed Cyrus and Merlin. Because my moms, Aunt Emma and Faye convinced you to go through the emotional torture of reliving your worst memories of your dad. Are you seeing him now?"

Freya shook her head. "But if I dig deep down, the darkness is winning."

"But there's hope, right?" Grace asked. "Cyrus, Merlin, you wouldn't be bothering to get this spark if there wasn't still hope."

"There is hope, and it's up there," Cyrus answered.

"That's a whole lot of up," Lisa told them.

Merlin sighed. "We can make it. The question is, will I come down?"

ღ

Flashback

Camelot

Night - Desert

Merlin, Cyrus and Nimue were overlooking the remains of Nimue's old home.

"This was my village," Nimue told them. "My home. Look what's become of it. My house was--was right here. Or maybe... maybe it was there." She scoffed. "Oh, it's so different now."

"Sometimes the sole survivor of a tragedy can feel guilty," Merlin told her. "In the future, they'll call it--"

"I don't feel guilty," Nimue told them. "I feel angry. This shouldn't be the way that those who cannot take are taken. If I had magic like yours, if I had a million lifetimes to hand out power to those who need it and to strike down those who..."

Merlin shook his head. "Nimue, shh. It's been decided."

"Look," Cyrus told them. "In the street, cups. It looks like every household brought out their cups for him. Why would they d..."

"He was questing for the Grail and torching down each hiding place as he annihilated it," Merlin answered. "Will you check the pack and make sure the Grail is secure? I've never taken it away from the tower before. I'm going to perform a detection spell. Cyrus, you can help."

Nimue took the Grail from the pack.

As Cyrus helped his father with the spell, he got hit by a flash of vision, gasping. "Vortigan. He's here, over the horizon, the way we came. Hurry."

"He's just a man," Nimue told them. "You could kill him with one magical word."

Merlin shook his head. "If Cyrus and I use magic to kill, darkness will take root inside of us. Nothing, nothing is worth risking that. Come."

ღ

Six Weeks Ago

Camelot

Day - Castle

The group was sneaking inside, nearly walking into the main walkway until they saw knights patrolling.

Mathias stopped them. "Back."

Derek saw the potion. "You suppose that's for us?"

"I have a feeling we don't want to find out," Regina told them.

"Come on," Emma told them. "Let's keep moving."

"I keep waiting for the ax to fall," Ella admitted.

Alcina sighed. "I didn't think she had it in her, but... Zelena hasn't screwed us. Yet."

ღ

Outside

Snow was guarding Zelena. "Good thing we're in the shade. I guess the sun's a problem for you now that you're not green." Zelena sobbed. "Oh, no."

"I'm finally trying to do something to help, and nobody believes me," Zelena told her. "They're always the winners, and I'm always the loser, and they're taking Faye away from me."

Snow walked closer. "Zelena? Zelena. Zelena, are you in pain?"

Zelena lunged up suddenly, kicking Snow down, knocking her out, tying her up. "Not now that you've shut up. Oh, there's no rest for the wicked."

ღღ

Flashback

Camelot

Night - Forest

Nimue, Merlin and Cyrus arrived to a rock sculpture in the middle of the forest lit up by torches.

"It's amazing," Cyrus told them.

Merlin chuckled. "Come. You'll see that's an understatement."

"Are you sure this will work?" Cyrus asked.

"We're quite sure, Cyrus," Nimue answered. "This will give you and your father the lives you wish for, shorter, but you, Cyrus, will be able to grow and find love of your own when the time comes."

Merlin smiled. "Our lives will be full of love and meaning."

Cyrus and Merlin were casting the spell on the Grail to turn it into Excalibur, with the help of the Flame of Prometheus.

"Oh, my God," Nimue told them. "Wait."

"What?" Cyrus asked.

"Vortigan," Nimue answered.

They turned to see Vortigan behind them.

"There's no more Grail, sir," Merlin told him. "Leave us be."

"He wants the sword," Cyrus realized.

Vortigan grabbed Nimue, holding spikes to her throat.

"The sword will bring you no joy," Merlin told him. Nimue elbowed Vortigan, escaping his grasp. "Nimue, be still!"

"I can do this," Nimue told them. "You don't know!"

Nimue ripped off Vortigan's mask. Vortigan growled, stabbing Nimue in the stomach.

Cyrus yelled in shock and denial. "No!"

Merlin and Cyrus caught Nimue as she fell, holding her.

"Nimue?" Merlin asked. "Oh, no, no, no!"

"I'm sorry," Nimue told them.

"Mother?" Cyrus asked in shock, crying. "Mother. Mother!"

ღ

Six Weeks Ago

Camelot

Day - Forest

Cyrus and Merlin brought Freya, Grace, Lisa, Blake and Rose to the same structure from before.

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

"What happened to the flame?" Blake asked.

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

"So that's what we need to get," Lisa realized.

"Okay," Blake told them. "Bring him on."

Merlin handed Freya the Dark One dagger.

"The others let you take this?" Rose asked.

Merlin shook his head. "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."

Freya was shaking. "It's buzzing, like ants crawling up my arm."

"Is it safe?" Grace asked.

"Of course not," Cyrus answered. "Freya's power is totally unchecked, and my father's just handed her the power to kill both him and me. But with your help, Grace, and the help of Lisa, Blake and Rose, she can win this. Now, call on the spirit of the previous Dark Ones."

"It's okay, Freya," Lisa told her. "Take the right path."

"We're right here with you," Rose told her.

Grace took Freya's hand in hers. "You're not alone."

Lisa took the hands of Grace and Blake, while Blake also took the hand of Rose. Them together, along with Freya holding the dagger, could call the spirits of previous Dark Ones.

Freya was breathing shakily, fearing what could happen, her magic even more unstable as well as her mind, whispering to herself as she watched the names of the Dark Ones scroll across the dagger. "It's just in my head, it's just in my head, it's just in my head."

A figure in a robe and mask appeared before them.

"We did it," Blake told them.

"You can see him, too?" Freya asked.

"Yes, because this spell is allowing them too," Merlin answered. "Cyrus and I can see it even without this spell. Power has its advantages."

Cyrus looked at the first Dark One numbly. "And it's not a him."

They looked at the Dark One dagger, seeing the name Nimue on it. Nimue took off her mask, revealing blue skin.

ღღ

Flashback

Camelot

Night - Forest

At the structure, Cyrus was holding Nimue's body, glaring at Vortigan. "You killed her!"

Vortigan picked up Excalibur. "And now I'm going to kill both of you."

Merlin and Cyrus stood to face him.

"That power was never meant to be a weapon," Merlin told him.

"Then you shouldn't have turned it into a sword," Vortigan replied.

Before Vortigan could use the sword, they heard flesh rending. Vortigan fell to the ground, revealing Nimue behind him with his heart in her hand.

"Nimue?" Merlin asked in shock. "How?"

Cyrus realized. "When we cast the detection spell."

"Yes," Nimue answered. "I drank from the Grail. Cyrus, Merlin, you didn't tell me what it feels like to be strong, to be immortal."

"Nimue, you let us watch you die!" Merlin told her.

Nimue sighed. "I'm sorry about the play acting, but it was my last chance to remind you what death looks like."

"What matters now is that you're holding a man's heart in your hand," Cyrus told her. "Please spare him."

Nimue shook her head. "He doesn't deserve sparing!"

"If you kill, your magic will turn dark," Merlin told her. "You'll commit atrocities that you can't even imagine."

"This man took my home and my family," Nimue told them. "I had nothing to care for but a handful of seeds!"

"We're not fighting for him," Merlin told her. "We're fighting for you. I need you to be the woman that I know, the woman I love, Cyrus's mother. Cyrus and I cannot bear to watch you become this."

"I know you feel you've lost everything, but, Mother, if you do this..." Cyrus trailed off worriedly, horrified. "We've lost everything."

Nimue didn't want to listen, and though she didn't have any darkness in her besides anger, she crushed the heart in her hand, breaking the hearts of Merlin and Cyrus as well as they knew that they were going to lose her. The Flame of Prometheus faded into the ember.

Nimue's skin turned blue. She picked up the sword, aiming it at Merlin and Cyrus. "Let's not think about cutting away anyone's magic or immortality."

"Please don't," Merlin told her. "Don't do this. Nimue."

Nimue broke the sword in two.

Cyrus was horrified by everything that happened, near tears from losing his mother. "No! No."

"I'm sorry," Nimue told them, disappearing.

Cyrus fell to his knees in shock.

Merlin knelt next to him in shock and despair. "Cyrus... I'm sorry."

ღ

Six Weeks Ago

Camelot

Day - Forest

At the structure, Freya, Grace, Lisa, Blake and Rose looked at Nimue in shock. Cyrus and Merlin were disturbed, numb.

"Nimue?" Rose asked.

"Yes, I'm Nimue," Nimue answered, turning to Freya. "And you are Priscilla. How pretty, the first Dark One and the newest Dark One standing as sisters."

"It makes sense," Grace told her. "You killed the woman Merlin loved, Cyrus's mother, because you killed the woman you used to be."

Lisa looked at Cyrus and Merlin. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"We did tell you," Merlin told them. "The creature over there is the first Dark One. It's not the woman I loved. And she is not Cyrus's mother."

"It's been a long time, Merlin," Nimue told him. "Cyrus, you're still as young as you were."

Merlin swallowed nervously. "I've thought of you every day."

"And now, on your last day, I'll be your last thought," Nimue told him. "How poetic."

"Why are you doing this?" Blake asked. "You loved him. He's Cyrus's father. Cyrus is your son."

Nimue chuckled. "Even when you love someone, you have to say, 'no, this is mine. You can't take it from me'. And if they don't listen, if they try to stop you from being you, then you have no choice. You have to kill them." She waved her arm toward Lisa, Rose, Grace and Blake, which caused Freya to do the same without realizing what she was doing, making them to fall unconscious. "Oh, and you're doing this." Freya was stunned and surprised, worried that she had unintentionally rendered the four teens unconscious, her family. When Nimue reached out to strangle Merlin and Cyrus with magic, Freya did the same without meaning to. Freya rushed toward where Merlin was on the ground with inhuman speed, kneeling next to him, strangling him, though she didn't seem to be in control of any of her actions, trying to fight it. "Because we are one and the same now, all Dark Ones, and we must destroy the threat to us. We must destroy Merlin. And then it is up to you to destroy Cyrus. Then Lisa, Blake, Rose, Grace. And then onto Jefferson and Alcina. And most definitely your father. Then everyone else."

Cyrus gasped for breath as he was strangled so he couldn't help his father from dying. "Freya, please."

Freya was fighting it, but feeling like she was burning from the inside out because of the darkness and madness, felt like she couldn't do it. "It's not me!"

"Finish the job!" Nimue told her.

Nimue was next to Freya, whispering shouts to her. "Don't listen! They want you to make a sword to destroy me, to destroy us."

"You can control this," Cyrus told her.

"Don't listen to him!" Nimue shouted, making Freya jump as the shout added to the voices she was already hearing in her head. "They don't understand what you and I do. They don't understand the power. If you don't kill Merlin now with me by your side, and if you don't kill Cyrus and your family on your own, you'll go back to being powerless."

Merlin struggled to breathe. "Killing is the dark path."

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

"Let the light win," Cyrus told her.

"Kill him!" Nimue told her. "Don't go back to being nothing!"

Lisa, Blake, Grace and Rose were waking up.

Freya was so angry she broke free, looking insane but in control at the same time. "I'm not nothing! I was never nothing! The power you have I don't need!" She turned to hold the dagger up toward Nimue, but the name on the dagger went back to Priscilla, her own name. "Now I am going to take that ember from you, and you are going to let me."

Freya used magic to rip the ember out of Nimue, holding it in her hand.

Nimue gasped. "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. In that head of yours. Or in the head of Jefferson's. Which do you prefer?"

Freya glared at her angrily, using magic to send her away. The others, now all awake and okay, looked at her in surprise and relief, awed.

"You did it," Rose told her.

Grace smiled, holding Freya's hand. "I told you you could."

"How did it feel to take the right path?" Cyrus asked.

Freya was catching her breath. "To be honest, Cyrus, it feels damn good."

ღღ

The group was walking through the woods on their way back.

"What happened after she turned into the Dark One?" Lisa asked.

"First, my Apprentice, Cyrus and I made sure the sword would be safe," Merlin answered. "Then Cyrus and I created the dagger. We tethered her spirit to it so we could control and prevent her reign of terror. But eventually, she got it away from us."

"She put you in the tree and put Cyrus in the stone," Rose finished. "She wore the mask then."

"Yes," Cyrus answered. "She took that mask from a man who did her great harm. It's easier to live with the darkness if you can dress it up as vengeance."

"I realize your hearts were broken, but now I know, Nimue loves you both still," Freya told them. "It's all twisted up, but I felt it."

Cyrus took a deep breath. "Thank you. That means a lot to me."

Merlin nodded. "And me."

ღ

Flashback

Camelot

Day - Merlin and Cyrus's Home

Cyrus was sitting in shock, looking up at his father. "Too bad you couldn't see her future. You could have not talked to her in the first place. You wouldn't have had me. And none of this would have happened."

Merlin turned to him, shaking his head sadly in despair, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "No, no, my boy, no. Never think that. Even now I would live through it again. Life is made of moments, and I had the best moments of my life with your mother. And having you is everything to me, Cyrus. And it was everything to Nimue. I promise."

ღ

Six Weeks Ago

Camelot

Day - Woods

The group was still walking.

"Is it possible for someone to have the darkness, but use it for good, use it to protect people?" Freya asked. "I mean, Blake does."

"Freya, don't let those thoughts tempt you," Merlin told her. "Blake's darkness is the half from the realms that can be lived with without turning him into a killer. Your half, it's with the darkest of all, the darkness that drives you to alienate and kill everything. With your madness, it will only be worse for you than it has ever been for any other Dark One before you."

"But if we can wipe out the darkness, we'll never have to ask that much of anyone," Cyrus told them.

"Would you be able to get rid of the darkness inside of me too?" Blake asked. "That way I'll never have to lose control or hurt anyone ever again?"

"Is that what you want?" Grace asked. Blake didn't answer, sighing, looking down. "Let us know when you know the answer. If you do want it gone for real. But don't change yourself just because you're scared, Blake."

Blake smiled slightly.

"Sounds like we need to find the other half of Excalibur," Rose told them. As the others walked ahead, Rose stayed behind to walk side by side with Cyrus. "I'm sorry. For your mother. I couldn't imagine everything you had to go through, Cyrus."

Cyrus nodded. "It was hard, Rose. I'll give you that. But I loved her. My father loved her. And from what Freya tells us, she still loves us. Do I hate what happened? Do I wish I could change it for the better? Of course. But I don't regret having a family with her or still loving her."

Rose nodded understandingly in sympathy. They walked along to follow the others.

ღ

Castle - Round Table

Arthur was holding the sword when David, Emma, Ella, Killian, Regina, Alcina, Jefferson, Faye, Tori, Saphira, Derek and Mathias walked in after powering through the entire castle with ease.

Arthur lunged to attack. "Foul witches, you've overpowered the guards!"

Alcina used a wave of magic to freeze Arthur in place with an outline of dark blue magic. Regina used magic to teleport the sword from Arthur's hand to the table in a whirl of dark blue smoke.

"Sword's on the table," Derek told them.

"Don't touch it," Killian told them. "It could have protection charms."

"Tell your timbers to stop shivering, Hook," Tori told him. "Nothing in here can hurt us."

"Arthur doesn't know how to do magic," Saphira told them. "We're fine."

Zelena walked in with a bound and gagged Snow, smiling. "Hi, guys!"

Alcina gave her an incredulous look. "Oh, hell, no."

"Be more like Neal and Freya, Alcina," Regina told her sarcastically.

David stood worriedly. "Mary Margaret!"

"Zelena, let her go," Mathias told her angrily. "If you hurt her--"

Faye looked at Saphira. "Ooh. Daddy's angry."

Saphira sighed. "Bloody hell."

Zelena waved a hand to free Arthur from Alcina's freezing spell. "Let's undo that."

"How did--" Emma started.

"Well, Arthur was kind enough to remove that constricting jewelry," Zelena answered.

"Fine," Ella told her. "I'd prefer an even fight."

Zelena grabbed Faye by the arm to pull her daughter in front of her. "Don't worry, Faye, I just need your help right for the moment."

Regina formed a fireball. "I will go through Faye to get to you. Luckily, she won't be harmed by fire."

"No," Derek told her. "But the baby will. Don't."

"You know, if you treated me fairly for once, maybe I wouldn't turn on you," Zelena told them.

Jefferson scoffed. "Yes. You would."

Zelena shrugged. "But I'd enjoy it less. Oh, here we are. One of Cyrus and Merlin's cookbooks."

"Is it the right spell?" Arthur asked.

"Oh, yes, it's quite an ingenious recipe for a tethering potion," Zelena answered.

Arthur smirked. "Excellent."

Zelena laughed. "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 wizards." Merlin and Cyrus's names had appeared on the blade of the sword. "His plan, but I like it. Happy to help."

Arthur nodded. "Most obliged, my lady."

"Arthur, please," David told him. "You can't see a way out, but there is one. You can start over."

Arthur ignored him, shouting. "Cyrus! Merlin!"

"We've all started over," Emma told him. "You can too."

Arthur ignored her, shouting. "Merlin! Cyrus!"

"Freya is worth more to you as a friend than the Dark One," Ella told him.

"Thank you, Ella," Arthur told her. "But... Cyrus! Merlin!"

ღ

Woods

Freya, Grace, Lisa, Blake, Rose, Cyrus and Merlin were walking.

"Well, let's go back," Lisa told them. "It's a lot easier now, isn't it? I mean, Freya, are you..."

Before she could finish, they realized who had just disappeared.

"Cyrus?" Grace asked. "Merlin?"

ღ

Castle - Round Table

Merlin and Cyrus were forced to appear.

Arthur smiled. "Ah, Cyrus, 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."

Cyrus and Merlin were forced to listen, using their magic to freeze everyone in place before they could fight back.

Zelena laughed. "Wow."

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

"Oh, Freya passed her test?" Arthur asked sarcastically. "How nice for her."

"We have what we need to unite Excalibur and fulfill your legacy," Cyrus told him. "Give us the sword."

"You mean give you the glory?" Arthur asked. "No."

"Glory?" Merlin repeated. "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 told them. "'Look at the half-man with his half-sword, solving riddles from a tree and stone'. I bet you laughed."

"Well, I'm laughing now," Faye told him.

"Faye, not helping," Tori told her.

"We were trapped, Arthur, and we put our faith in you," Cyrus told him. "You were meant to be like family to us."

Arthur angrily pointed the sword at them. "Shut your mouth. I was never family 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 told him. "You're a part of doing it right now."

"A part of it?" Arthur repeated.

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

Arthur shook his head. "No, not everything. This was my charge and my right. I will be known for more than defeating a stone."

"Arthur, you cannot--" Cyrus started.

"Be quiet," Arthur ordered. "We have intruders. Make them leave."

Cyrus and Merlin were forced to make everyone disappear.

ღ

Now

Storybrooke

Night - Freya's House - Basement

Freya was looking at her dagger and Excalibur on the rock in front of her.

Rumplestiltskin was there. "Go on. It's time."

Freya held her head, glaring at him. "Why will you not leave me alone?"

Rumplestiltskin smirked. "Well, how could we? We're here to witness something historical."

Nimue appeared. "Rumplestiltskin's eyes are fine to see through most days, but I wanted to see this for myself."

"You tried to keep me from doing this," Freya told her.

Nimue chuckled. "Back then, there was a chance that you would use Excalibur to cut away the darkness, but now you can douse the light instead. We are proud of you." All of the Dark Ones from the past appeared. "All of us."

All the Dark Ones spoke together. "All of us. All of us. All of us."

Seeing all of them, Freya was even more overwhelmed as the darkness and madness got stronger, hearing the whispering voices getting louder and stronger. She took out the ember of Prometheus, using her magic to ignite it in the air, making a bigger ball of flame with her hands, crushing it in her hands to make a powerful flame in the air, picking up the sword and blade, putting it into the flames to reunite Excalibur into one blade, reaching out for it, but stopped. "Cyrus." She remembered seeing Cyrus for the first time as a young girl in 5.01. "Cyrus told me not to do this when I was a girl."

"And now you're a woman," Nimue told her.

"Take the power," Rumplestiltskin told her.

All of the Dark Ones whispered, getting louder and louder as they repeated the phrase. "Take the power."

Freya reached out to grab the sword, looking at the blade in her hand curiously, looking up at the Dark Ones surrounding her.