𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄𝐃 ★ 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 ⁵

•Chapter 14: Excalibur•

"Oh, I'd be delighted," Mary Margaret answered, "we'll chat, have plenty of pregnancy tips."

"Good lord," Zelena hissed, "this is worse than being in my cell."

"Glad I'm not staying with them," Sam joked as Katherine and I smirked and laughed.

"Alright everyone," Regina announced, "let's get this sword."

She waved her hand in front of the grate and it vanished before everyone who didn't have magic pulled out their weapons. Instead of using my magic, afraid of what might happen if I did, I took my bow off my back and loaded an arrow onto it, receiving a confused look from Killian as we continued through the tunnel towards the castle. Killian led the way as we made it to the courtyard before signaled for us to stop as we watched a group of knights walk past us with a steaming cauldron.

"You supposed that's for us?" Robin asked.

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

"Come on," Killian told us, "let's keep moving."

"I keep waiting for the ax to fall," Robin sighed.

"I didn't think she had it in her, but," Regina said as she followed Robin, "Zelena hasn't screwed us...yet."

After walking through many hallways and hiding from a countless amount of guards, we finally made it to the throne room. When we threw the doors open, we saw the one and only King Arthur with Excalibur.

"Foul witch!" he shouted at Regina, "you've overpowered the guards!"

When he approached us with a mace in his hand, Regina made him stop in his tracks before the mace vanished.

"Sword's on the table," Robin stated.

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

"I don't think there's a spell on it," I smirked as I walked closer to Arthur, "he doesn't know how to do magic."

A small smile slowly made its way onto Arthur's face, causing my smirk to disappear.

"Hi, guys!" Zelena called as she walked out from behind a drape with Mary Margaret bound and gagged.

"Mary Margaret!" David exclaimed, "if you hurt her-"

"Oh!" Zelena said as she forced Mary Margaret into one of the chairs, "daddy's angry," she then looked to Arthur, "let's undo that."

With a wave of her hand, Arthur's ability to move returned.

"How did-"

"Well," Zelena interrupted Regina, "Arthur was kind enough to remove that constricted jewelry."

"Fine. I'd prefer an even fight," Regina hissed before a ball of fire forms in Regina's hand as I watched Robin's eyes widen in shock.

"No! Don't!" he yelled, "the baby!"

At his words, Regina sighed as she made the ball of fire disappear.

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

"Yes," Killian stated, "you would."

"But I'd enjoy it less," she gasped when she looked to the book on the table, "here we are! One of Merlin's cookbooks!"

"Is it the right spell?" Arthur asked.

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

"Excellent."

With a wave of Zelena's hand, Excalibur glowed a bright green, then stopped. She smiled and let a chuckle escape her mouth.

"There, you can take it now, cookies are done" she then looked from Arthur to us, "and by 'cookies' I mean that Artie here may have a shorter sword that a man would like, but it can control the world's greatest wizard. His plan, but I like it. Happy to help."

"Most obliged, my lady," Arthur told her as I felt someone grab my wrist and pull me backward before I looked to see Killian force Sam, Katherine, and me behind them.

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

"Merlin!" Arthur shouted at the sword, completely ignoring David.

"We've all started over!"

"Merlin!"

"Emma is worth more to you as the Savior than the Dark One."

"Thank you, David," Arthur sarcastically said, "but...Merlin!"

Out of nowhere, Merlin appeared looking completely confused before Arthur points Excalibur at Merlin's chest.

"Ah, Merlin," Arthur said as Merlin looked at the sword, "how kind of you to come when called. For your first task, please use your magic to keep these from attacking me in any way."

Merlin looked to us and, with a wave of his hand, sent all of our means of defense to the ground.

"Wow," Zelena laughed.

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

Everyone exchanged looks then focused back on the situation at hand.

"Oh, Emma passed the test?" Arthur questioned, "how nice for her."

"I have what we need to unite Excalibur and fulfill your legacy," Merlin stated as he held his hand out towards Arthur, "give me the sword."

"You mean give you the glory? No."

"Glory? 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. '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. You were meant to be like a son to me."

"Shut your mouth," Arthur commanded as Merlin grew silent, "I was never a son to you. You lied. You told me the 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 calmly stated, "you're a part of doing that right now."

"A part of it?"

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

"No. Not everything," Arthur said as he lowered the sword, "this is my chance and my right. I will be known for more than defeating a stone."

"Arthur, you can not-"

"Be quiet," Arthur told Merlin as he points the sword at him, "we have intruders," he then points his sword at the rest of us, "make them leave," he then looked to me, "except the little blonde girl and her friends."

"No," I heard Killian whisper before Merlin looked to us and, with a wave of his hand, made all of them, except Sam, Katherine, and me, vanish.