storybrooke

" Get on with it, Captain. That squid ink's going to wear off soon", Zelena whines.

" Killian... you and I both know that you can't hurt me... ", Scarlett says, trying her best to keep her emotions hidden.

" While that may be true... you took my memories, Scar. You tried to keep me from knowing the truth. And now I'm going to return the favor", Killian says, bringing the dream catcher up to Scarlett's forehead to remove her memories.

" That wasn't... my doing".

" Sure, Emma is the one with the dream catchers... but you're the puppet master, love".

" By the look on your face, it would appear someone needs restraining. No more magic for you, Zelena says as she places the magic resistant cuff on Scarlett's wrist, making her cry out, " Now, I assume given my helpfulness, you'll allow me to go about my business undeterred".

" As long as you don't get in my way, I won't get in yours", Killian says.

" Ah. I like this new you. Tell me, how does it feel to be a Dark One?".

" It feels like I've been reborn".

A soon as he and Zelena disappear, Scarlett drops down to the floor, clutching her stomach as she yells in pain.

She makes her way over to the couch, laying down as tears start to form in her eyes from the pain.

" Scarlett! Oh, my baby, what's wrong?", Regina asks after a few hours when everyone barges in.

But then after she explains...

" You turned Hook into a Dark One?".

" It was the only way to save him", Scarlett says.

" And you didn't think of the consequences to everyone else?".

" I thought about the consequences of my children growing up without a father!... I couldn't just let him die. You can understand that".

" Well, yes, but...now we have a bigger problem".

" I didn't think any of this would happen".

" Scarlett... I think you should tell them", Emma suggests.

" I-I can't... not yet", Scarlett says, not daring to let her tears fall.

" This still doesn't explain why you kidnapped a baby", Snow says.

" All I can tell you is that it was to save my children", She says.

" You should have come to us", Regina says.

" And risk losing someone else? I almost lost my husband to the darkness... and I'm not willing to lose anyone else".

" Right now, we have to clean up this mess".

" No, we don't. Give us back our memories-- the dream catchers. Regina can access them, can't she? We can piece together Hook's plan and stop him", Snow says.

" I'm afraid now", David says as he and Grant walk into the room, " The dream catchers you said were in the shed... they're gone".

" I told you we should have put them somewhere better", Emma says.

" Shut up, Swan", Scarlett groans.

" What the hell is Captain Dark One up to?", Regina asks.

----

"{chuckles} Once a pirate, always a pirate", Scarlett says as she toys with the cutlass Killian gave to her father for their duel.

" As a man, Hook spent centuries trying to kill me. It makes sense that revenge would be on his mind", Gold says.

" But why wipe mine and Scarlett's memories if he was going to announce his plan anyway?", Emma asks, " There must be more to it".

" Yeah, well, even if there is, we only have until noon to stop him. And to save you", Belle says.

" What about Merlin's message?", David asks.

" He said this Nimue is the key to stopping the Dark One", Snow says.

" Nimue was Merlin's true love... along with the first Dark One", Scarlett says as she props her feet up onto her mother's lap.

" How do we find out more about her?", Emma asks.

" Start your search with the Dark One chronicles. There are many texts that can help us", Gold says.

" Aren't those the books you would read to me when I was a child?", Scarlett asks.

" What now?", Regina asks.

" Good going, Scar", Gold mutters.

" Well, there is an easier way... I am still a Dark One... I can protect you, father", Scarlett says as she puts her hand on top of his, " You just have to take off the cuff... Do none of you trust me?".

" Can you blame us? You the product of Great Darkness", Grant says as he crosses his arms.

" If the situations were reserved, would you trust me?", Gold asks.

" So it's true. You're here", Henry says as he walks in.

" I need you to tell them it's okay to take our cuffs off. It's the only way to figure it all out", Emma says as she slowly approaches him.

" No. You guys lied to us-- about Hook, about everything. Why should we trust you now?", Henry asks.

" Henry, I'm your mother".

" Are you? Because the mom I knew wouldn't keep things from me".

" I thought you were the one person who would understand".

" I thought you were the one person I could trust".

" So you can forgive Regina and Gold for everything they've done, but not me?".

" They've changed. They showed me they changed".

" So did I".

" When we first met, yeah. But the minute things got tough, you didn't come to anybody. You decided that you would figure it out on your own. We were a team".

" Operation Cobra. I remember".

" But now, you just want your dark magic back so you can do it alone. And I've seen what you do with dark magic".

" Scarlett", Emma pleads as Henry walk away.

" He'll know the truth soon enough. I promise".

Even with the cuff on her wrist, Scarlett and Emma are still connected through their Dark One bond.

" We should really get to the library. We've got a lot to do", Belle says.

" I have a stop to make first. I'll meet you there", Regina says.

" Let me guess-- we're not invited", Emma says.

" Scarlett... can I talk to you for a second", Gold says, helping his daughter up out of the chair and into her old bedroom, " Do your actions have anything to do with the prophecy?".

" What prophecy".

" Don't play dumb, sweetheart. I raised you. I saw your future before you were even born... but this part was never clear".

" You know what I'm up against but don't seem to be stopping me".

" I was the Dark One... I know how strong the pull is for your children... and I know what it feels like not to succeed. And, Scarlett, no matter how much this pains me to say... you must fulfill that prophecy".

----

" You know, when Regina asked me to guard you, the last thing I wanted to do was be in the same room as you. Now that we're here, this isn't so bad", Merida says as she taunts Scarlett with her arrow.

" Put it down. We both know you're not going to shoot me while I'm pregnant", Scarlett says, laying down on the couch with her hands resting on her stomach.

" Oh do we? After everything you've done to me? Plus, the little ones can't get hurt if you can't. I'd say and arrow to the knee would do you right good. Maybe me too", The red-head says with a smirk.

" Don't worry, love", Killian says.

Merida fires her arrow at him, but he catches it with ease then throws her across the room with his magic.

" A broken knee is nothing compared to a broken heart. Isn't that right, Scar?... What is this? I expected to find you and the heroes huddled over a mountain of books, trying to figure out my terrible plan", He says.

" That's not why you're here. You're here because you still have feelings for me", Scarlett says as she stands up.

" Oh, darling, of course I still have feelings for you. Anger. Hatred. Disappointment".

" You don't mean that".

" When you tethered me to Excalibur, you opened my eyes. And I now see you for what you really are... an anchor . Ha! And I see clearly now that you were nothing but a witchy sexy distraction. But guess what, Scar? I am a free man now. And you will never hold me back from getting what I want again".

" Killian... whatever deal you made to get your revenge on my father, it's not worth it. The darkness is using you. It doesn't care what you want. It only cares what it wants".

" You're one to talk, eh? As long as I get what I want, I don't give a damn about the rest. You out of all people should understand that".

" Everything I did, I did for you and our kids".

" Well, you see, that's your problem, Scar. You're so afraid of losing true love, that you push it away. And that is why you'll always be... hated. You don't need some villain swooping in to destroy your happiness. You do that quite well all on your own".

His words bring tears to his wife's eyes, but anger to her heart.

" Why are you doing this?".

" Because... I want to hurt you... like you hurt me".

His thumb drags across her bottom lip, before he slowly backs away.

camelot

" What the devil am I wearing? Why must all Dark Ones dress like monks?", Killian groans as he walks through the woods, finding his new powers by poofing into a new outfit.

" Yes, much better. I went with the leather as well", Rumple says.

" Get out of here", Killian says, walking right through him.

" Try to ignore me. Bet you can't".

Talk all you want, spirit. I know you're lying. There's no way that I can get my revenge when Gold's in Storybrooke and I'm trapped here in Camelot".

" Well, that's where we come in, dearie. Might I suggest a dark curse?".

" And crush the heart of the woman I love most to enact it? No, no, no. I won't kill Scarlett".

" Yeah, but there's always a loophole".

" Killian! It worked! Y-You're alive", Scarlett says as she runs up to her husband.

But before she can touch him, he takes a step back.

" Aye. It did. After centuries quelling my bloodlust, you threw me right back into that darkness! Job well-done, Scarlett!", Killian shouts.

" Are you blaming me for saving your life? For giving you the opportunity to be the father to your children?", She asks, " Binding your life to Excalibur was the only way to save you".

" Right! Excalibur! And where is my shinny new tether?".

" I don't know. It disappeared right after you did".

" Ah. Isn't that convenient?", Rumple asks.

"How long has he been with you?".

" You can still see him?".

" Sadly, yes. I mean, she's still a Dark One. No matter how ineffectual she may be", Rumple says.

" Don't listen to him. He's not real. But I am. Our family is. I'm right here. Look at me".

Scarlett places his hand on her stomach once more, hoping it'll change something.

" We're going to have that future we always dreamed of. Settling down. Having beautiful children... and spend the rest of our lives together. It's ours. You just have to want it, too".

" Aye, love, I do. More than anything".

" Killian... look".

" The demon's gone".

" We can do this. We can get the darkness out of both of us for good".

Scarlett words may not be true, but Killian has no idea as he listens contently.

" How?", He asks.

" By doing what I just did with you... by choosing love over everything else".

Killian grabs his wife's hips, using that to pull her close to him as he crashes his lips down on hers.

" All right, enough distractions. I am going to go scout our path".

" I'll go replenish our water supply".

The two part was, just long enough for Killian to start to hear whispering.

" That's the sound of the dagger signing to the sword", Rumple says, " And if you can hear it, that means Excalibur is quite close".

" No, it's impossible. Scarlett said it disappeared".

" Wake up, dearie! Your lover's lying. She has the sword".

" Why would she lie to me?".

" So she can control you. Not that she needs Excalibur. She's quite good at doing that all on her own".

" No... not my Scarlett. Not my wife. I know her, she would never do that".

" If you had a heart I would rip it out of you right about now", Scarlett snarls at the spirit.

" Oh, we were just talking about you. Why don't you ask her yourself?", Rumple asks.

" Ask me what?", She asks.

" Scarlett... do you know where Excalibur is?", Killian asks through his teeth.

" Killian... its manipulating you. That's what it does", Scarlett says, slowly making her way towards him.

" Are you lying to me?", He pants, " I can hear it calling to the dagger, Scar. Do you have Excalibur?".

And with one wave of her hand, Scarlett makes the sword appear.

" Yes".

" Did you use it on me?".

" Of course I didn't, Killian".

" Then why not tell me the truth? Are you afraid I was gonna ask for it? You never planned on giving it to me, did you?".

" I did it to protect you. You told me yourself. You were not strong enough to resist the darkness".

" Which is why I begged you not to turn me into the bloody Dark One in the first place! But you went and did it anyway".

" You were dying...".

" You know what the worst part is? When your own mother wanted to use the dagger to command you to remove the darkness, I'm the one that convinced her that you needed to make that decision for yourself. There's never been a moment where I didn't believe in you, where I didn't trust you. But you clearly don't believe in me anymore, so how am I supposed to fight this?".

Scarlett takes a deep breath in and a deep breath out, trying her very best not to let her anger get the best of her. She decides to search for her husband, which doesn't turn out to be very successful.

" Dark One I summon thee".

" Oh come on", Killian groans.

" I'm sorry. I didn't know how else to get you here".

" Try giving me a choice".

" We need to talk about this".

" Do you have any idea how it feels? Not being in control of yourself? The last time a Dark One controlled me, I had to watch as the love of my life suffered. I had to kneel, powerless, while he almost crushed my heart!".

" I know exactly how it feels! All my life all everyone's ever wanted to do was control me! My parents were so afraid of me that at one point they literally sent me to hell!".

" I never tried to control you".

" I know. But I was about to lose you... a-and I can't. Even after all the times we've lost each other... it was never like that. It never had me feeling like I would never see you again. And now just thinking about it breaks my heart. I-I can't lost you, Killian. Our children can't lose their father. Excalibur is yours if you want it because I believe in you... and I trust you to control your own fate".

As Killian hands reach toward the sword, Scarlett utters a lie once more.

" We are going to get the darkness out of both of us. We are going to do it together. I promise you... I will never try to control you again. I love you... and I'll travel the seven seas for you".

" Just to show my love for you".

Killian looks down at the ground, a smile creeping upon his lips.

" What?".

" Usually I'm the one who has to say that first".

Once again, Killian brings his wife into his embrace, smashing his lips down onto hers. But not with passion. With true love.

Things do not go as planned. When Killian and Scarlett return to Granny's, he gets dark. Darker than he's ever bee before. He decieved his wife. All so he could get Merlin's heart in his hands.

" You have got to be kidding me", Scarlett says once she walks in, " You were playing me the whole time".

" Once you lied about Exalibur, all bets were off. I knew it was just a matter of time before you tried controlling me. And now no one will ever control me again. Go back from what you came from. Back to stone", Killian says to the sword.

" Why are you helping him get his revenge?", Scarlett growls at the spirit.

" Don't be naive, Scarlett. Dark Ones never do anything without getting something in return", Nimue says.

" What do you want?", Scarlett asks.

" You're a Dark One. You know what we want. You want it too. To fulfill the prophecy", Nimue says.

" What prophecy?", Killian asks.

" Killian... your revenge is not your happy ending... I am", Scarlett says, doing his best to distract him, " You told me that. If you destroy this heart, you will destroy your happy ending along with it".

" No, Killian Jones told you that. Your lovesick puppy dog. But that man died... when you turned him into a Dark One", Killian says, then crushes the heart and dumps the ashes in the cauldron.

" Scarlett... you know what you need to do. Tell the pirate what the prophecy is and work together instead of playing this ridiculous charade", Nimue says.

" Yes, I am quite curious as to what that is. So, tell me, darling, what is the prophecy?", Killian asks.

" The prophecy... if not fulfilled... will bring great harm to our children", Scarlett says.

" Never a straight answer with you", He chuckles.

And then, Scarlett snaps.

She uses her magic to choke Killian, slightly lifting him off the ground.

" All I've ever tried to do... since I became the Dark One... is for the benefit of our children. And what do you do? You bitch and complain about it. You get angry at me for saving your damn life? Is the alternative really better? Me raising our children as a single heart broken mother? No. I'm done. I'm done playing nice. I'm done playing by the rules. I'm done! ".

Scarlett puts Killian to sleep, using her magic to transport everyone else into Granny's. She commands Emma to use her dream catchers to remove their memories. Scarlett places the dream catcher in the cauldron, which causes the smoke of the curse to rise out. She holds onto her husband as it captures them.

" I will fulfill this prophecy... if it is the last thing I do".