3rd Person's POV

camelot

And so, as Emma frantically works on her dreamcatchers, Scarlett works on sharpening her blades-- making them being her new hobby.

" 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?", David asks from insider Granny's.

" I hope so", Merlin says.

" And we can use it to save Emma?", Snow asks.

" And Scarlett", Regina adds.

" Perhaps, but I need two things. The magical means to unite the two blades. That's my and the girls quest. From you, I need--".

" The two blades".

" We're pretty much at the open-warefare stage. Now, getting the partial sword from Arthur won't be easy", Robin says.

" As long as you're looking at the future, any hints on how? We need to know as much as we can to save Emma", Grant says.

" And Scarlett", Regina quips.

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

" 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?!", Killian exclaims.

" Hook, Merlin's helping Emma", David says.

" And SCARLETT! Is he?! She's sitting out there, making dozens of blades and sharpening them with rocks, because that's what she does now instead of sleeping while Emma is making things to pull memories from people's heads. I'm not quite seeing the helping!", Killian yells.

" I understand. I know what it is to lose someone you love to the Dark One. All I can ask of all of you is that you bring me that sword... and that you have patience with those two. Their kind of power, for good or evil-- it is a weight on the soul. And love is great help, if you can find it. Scarlett and Emma are two very different women... but right now, they are in the same boat".

----

As Merlin walks up to the two girls, he calls their names. Only on the second time do there hear him.

" There is a way to make Excalibur whole again. Will you come with me today so we can get what we need? It's not far".

" I-I", Emma stutters.

" I'll go. You stay here with Grant", Scarlett says.

" Are you sure, with the babies--".

" Emma... go. The two of you might not have a moment alone in a long time. I'm trying to be nice... so don't get used to it".

Emma hugs Scarlett, before running into the diner.

" What is it?", Scarlett asks.

" A spark from mankind's original fire, the flame of Prometheus. Its heat forged Excalibur, and that's what we'll need to put it back together. So will you come with me to collect the spark? We'll be back by nightfall".

" You look dire".

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

" The one who wore the mask? The one who killed the woman you love?".

" The very same. This is not a trivial task".

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

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

" Will we win?".

" I see two parts for our journey, Scarlett. On one, you both resist the darkness and we succeed. On the other, you succumb to the darkness and I do not return I die".

" Because the only thing that can kill you... is the Dark One".

" You have the power to kill me. If I die, it means that you lost your battle. And the darkness stained your soul. Everything and everyone that you know will be at the mercy of the most powerful Dark One ever-- yourself. The fact that you're the product of great darkness means the prophecy is at your footsteps. And, Scarlett, I beg of you... do not fulfill it... no matter how much it seems like you have to".

----

" When I was seeing my father in my head, he said he would only be with me until I embraced my dark powers. So recently, I've been thinking maybe not seeing him is a bad thing", Scarlett admits as she and Merlin are on their journey.

" Have you embraced your powers?".

" I've done some dark things recently. I hurt someone-- my brother... and if I dig deep down the darkness is winning. But, alas, there's hope. Right?".

" There is hope. And it's up there", Merlin says as he looks up a hill, " The question is... will I come down?".

" Very funny, Merlin", Scarlett says, then transports them to the top of the hill.

" You really shouldn't be using your magic".

" I've been doing this my whole life, now can we get on with this?".

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

" What happened to the flame?".

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

" So that's what I need to get. Okay. Bring him on", Scarlett says as he hands her the dagger, " My mother 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 to the origin of dark magic".

" It's buzzing, like... ants crawling up my arm. You sure this is safe?", She asks, instinctively clutching her stomach.

" 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".

And, so, Scarlett does just that. She focuses her mind on the first Dark One, summoning her as her eyes turn pitch black. But, as soon as the first Dark One appears, they return back to their normal green.

" You did it".

" You can see him too?".

" Yes. Power has its advantages. And its not a him".

Scarlett looks down at the dagger, seeing the name "Nimue" written across it. The first Dark One removes its mask, revealing the face of the woman Merlin first loved.

" Nimue".

" Yes, I'm Nimue. And you are Scarlett. How pretty. The first Dark One and the newest Dark One, standing as sisters".

" It makes sense. You killed the woman he loved because you killed the woman you used to be. Why didn't you tell me?".

" I did tell you. The creature over there is the first Dark One. It's not the woman I loved", Merlin says.

" It's been a long time, Merlin", Nimue says.

" I've thought of you every day".

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

Nimue uses her link with Scarlett to make her send Merlin flying with a blast of magic.

" Why are you doing this? You loved him?", Scarlett asks, not in control of her actions.

" 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, then you have no choice. You have to kill them. Oh... and you're doing this", Nimue says as she makes Scarlett rush over to Merlin and put an iron grasp around his throat, "... Because we're one and the same now, all Dark Ones, and we must destroy the threat to us. We must destroy Merlin".

"... Scarlett... please", Merlin pleads.

" It's... not me!", Scarlett says.

" Finish the job!".

" Don't listen!".

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

" You can control this".

" Don't listen to him! He doesn't understand what you and I do. He doesn't understand the power. If you don't kill him now, you'll go back to being weak".

" Killing is the dark path".

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

" Let the light win".

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

" I'm not nothing, I was never nothing!", Scarlett shouts as she lets go of Merlin, " The power you have I don't need! My power alone could destroy you, or any Dark One their is. Now I am going to take that ember from you, and you are going to let me".

She then rips the ember from Nimue, allowing it to rest in the palm of her hand.

" The spark you need is in there... but the sword you make has more than one use, and I know exactly what you are going to do with it".

" You did it", Merlin says as he stands up, seeing the ember in her hand.

" I did", Scarlett says, staring down at the ember.

" How does it feel to take the right path?".

" To be honest, Merlin... it feels damn good".

storybrooke

Emma walks down the steps of the cellar, standing next to Scarlett by the stone as she holds the sword.

"{giggles} Beautiful, aren't they? Both halves finally reunited. You know what they represent, now, don't you?", Rumple asks.

" Power", Emma says.

" 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. Go on. It's time".

" Why will you not leave me alone?".

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

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

" You tried to keep me from doing this", Scarlett says.

" Like then, there was a chance you would use Excalibur to cut away the darkness, but now you can douse the light instead. You can fulfill the prophecy. We are proud of you... all of us".

All of the former Dark Ones then appear behind her, here to witness one of the greatest acts of history.

Scarlett picks up a box that contains the ember and opens it, using her magic to make a single spark fly out. She sets the box down, placing the spark in the pit. Her hands guide the fire up, then close around it to form it into a ball. Scarlett grabs the Dark One dagger and Excalibur, thrusting them up towards the flame and steps back.

Before she knows it, the two blades are reunited. She steps back up, grabbing the handle of Excalibur with her dominant hand, feeling the power seep through her veins as a smirk appears on her pink lips.

" Let the games begin", Scarlett whispers, rubbing her growing stomach as her eyes flash black.