Birth - 5x08

"Birth"
By Joanne Denney
​@Dragonlady755
 
Would you want to know the truth, no matter how terrible the answer?  Captain Hook has relentlessly pursued Emma to learn what happened in Camelot that turned her to the dark side.  In this episode, Emma’s dark secret revealed, and we witness not one, but two births.
 
As the episode begins, Charming, Hook, and Robin arrive at Arthur's camp and confront him on why he tried to burn the Crimson Crown and the identity of Nimue.  Arthur attempts to flee cutting his way through the tent.  Hook and Arthur tussle. When Killian loses his weapon, Arthur brings his sword downward only to be blocked by Emma with Excalibur.  She has appeared out of nowhere to save Killian.  Arthur realizes that Excalibur is finally whole before Emma knocks him out. 
 
Hook demands to know from Emma about Nimue and why she wants Excalibur.  Emma finally confesses that she's doing it all for him and then disappears.

​Three weeks earlier in Camelot, Emma worries about Merlin disappearing, so she tells Henry that they are not safe and that they need to lock up the diner.  As Granny tosses Henry the key to lock the front door, Henry and Granny are frozen into place by magic.  Merlin appears reassuring Emma that they will be fine.  He tells her that he's following Arthur's orders that he must re-forge Excalibur. 
 
With Merlin and Zelena helping, Arthur has captured Emma's family and is holding them prisoner in the Caledonian forest.  Arthur demands that Emma brings the Prometheus spark with her so that Merlin can re-forge Excalibur.  Arthur proposes an exchange of the sword and the flame for Emma's family’s lives. 
 
Emma protests the spark is not yet a flame.  Merlin tells her that with her power and when she's ready to light the spark into the flame it will happen.  Merlin begs Emma not to be like Nimue and seek vengeance.

In present day Storybrooke, Arthur is now behind bars as Hook interrogates him about who Nimue is and what happened in Camelot.  Arthur tells Hook that he lost his memories just like the rest of them because of Emma’s spell.  Hook doesn't buy it.  Why would he still destroy the Crimson Crown if he couldn't remember what went on before? 
 
Regina’s theory is that Emma is trying to destroy all light magic while Killian is convinced that Emma is working on his behalf for some reason.  He decides to go to Mr. Gold’s shop to get answers from Rumple.  Rumple reveals that Emma had broken into his shop, stealing the squid ink he had for protection against her.  Rumple is convinced that Emma is acting out of regret and advises Hook to find out why Emma is atoning. If he wants to find her, he should give Emma a reason to find him. Hook leaves the shop calling out Emma's name, determined to make her come to him.

Three weeks ago in Camelot, Emma is trying to ignite Prometheus spark to a flame. Dark Rumple appears, warning her not to ignite the spark.  Once Arthur has re-forged Excalibur, he will use it to kill Emma and that is bad news for all the Dark Ones in Emma’s head.  Emma tells Dark Rumple that she has no choice; she has to save her family.  She attempts again to ignite the spark, failing, wondering what is wrong with it.  Dark Rumple says “Wrong with it or wrong with you?” When she is ready to let go of the dark magic, she will be able to light the spark. Apparently she's not ready yet. 
 
Emma is interrupted by Henry, who witnessed her talking to herself.  He asked her what the voices said, and she tells him that she could not yet light the spark because she's not yet ready to let go of the dark magic. Henry informs her that maybe she just needs a little bit of motivation, and shows her a newspaper ad for a house.  He tells her that he and Killian were working on Operation Light Swan. The house was meant to be a promise of a future for her, Hook and Henry to be together as a family. Emma informs Henry that she is not yet ready to give up the darkness and that she needs to use it one more time.

Back in the Caledonian forest where her family is being held captive, Emma approaches with the Prometheus spark as Arthur waits with Merlin and Zelena.  She tells Arthur that she has brought the dagger and the flame, but he will not get them until he frees her family.  Arthur demands that she hand the items over, or he will unleash Merlin. Merlin doesn't want to fight Emma, but Zelena is spoiling for a fight.
 
Flashing forward to present-day Storybrooke. Zelena is reading "Hansel and Gretel" to her unborn child when suddenly she starts to experience pain.  She screams to the nurse for help. Regina and Robin are called, only to find that her pregnancy has accelerated by magical means.

Meanwhile, Hook is on top of the library roof calling for Emma Swan. Trying to get her to come to him, he jumps off the roof with a leap of faith hoping she will save him.  Emma teleports Killian safely to the ground, and they meet face to face.  Hook demands that Emma tell him what happened in Camelot and that he forgives and loves her. Emma said that she doesn't need his forgiveness.  He replies that, as a pirate, he had committed many terrible crimes and that his rings were trophies.  Now they are sad reminders of things for which he needs to atone.  In response, Emma shows him the ring  he gave her in Camelot.  He thought he had lost it. She tells him that he can have it back, but he wants her to keep it.  Emma is convinced that he is sincere, and tells him that she needs to show him something.
 
Emma takes him back to her house, showing him the telescope and an ocean view. She reminds that back in Camelot he told her that the sea calmed him and that he and Henry had picked out this house for them to live together as a family.  The house was a symbol of their future together, and everything she has done was to keep that future alive. They kiss passionately, but Emma had tricked him, and he passes out.

Meanwhile, Zelena is wheeled into a hospital room with Robin and Regina. Dr. Whale is waiting for Zelena and reminds her that the last time he delivered a baby was when she tried to steal Baby Neal.  "Why steal a baby when making one is much more fun?" Dr. Whale quips. (Robin looks sheepish in the corner.) Regina makes cutting remarks of her own about his blonde dye job. 
 
Belle and Snow burst into the room with a book in tow, warning everyone that Emma might be after the baby. Emma needs the cries of a newborn child for a spell to destroy light magic, according to the book.  Zelena begs Regina to take the anti-magic cuff off so that she can defend her baby.  Regina refuses, saying that she can't trust Zelena, and she will do what it takes to defend the child.

Back in Camelot, Zelena taunts Emma, asking her who should she execute first; Emma’s boyfriend or her father?  Emma hands over Prometheus' spark to Zelena.  Arthur demands that Zelena check inside the flame's box to make sure it is real.  It's a trap! Dark tentacles of magic bind Zelena to a tree. With his first line of defense down, Arthur commands Merlin into action. Merlin and Emma have a wizard's duel, and Merlin proves to be more powerful than Emma. She falls to the ground, defeated. Arthur commands Merlin to kill Snow. Using his magic, Merlin causes a vine to come down from the tree Snow is tied to, and slowly starts to strangle her.
 
Emma begs Merlin to fight Arthur's control and Excalibur. "You are the greatest sorcerer that ever lived!  If you can't fight off the darkness, then no one can!" She tells him.  Merlin struggles and frees himself from Arthur's control. As Arthur tries to regain control of Merlin, Killian manages to free himself from his chains by removing his hook.  He lunges at Arthur as Arthur swings Excalibur at Hook to defend himself. Arthur manages to scratch Hook's neck with the sword, but Hook takes Arthur down with a punch. Arthur turns tail and runs, freeing Zelena; they disappear in a puff of green smoke leaving Excalibur behind.  Victorious, Emma magically frees the Charmings, Regina, and Robin. She then heals Hook's neck wound with magic. 

​
The heroes return to Granny's with Excalibur. Emma still needs to light Prometheus' spark into a flame. Regina tries to have a heart-to-heart talk with Emma, who is worried that the dark voices in her head might be right and that she is not ready to let go of the darkness yet. Regina decides to cut through Emma's indecision by commanding her with the dagger to tell why she is not ready to give up the Darkness yet. Fortunately or unfortunately, Hook and the Charmings intercede, taking the dagger from Regina as Emma stalks off sulking. Snow accuses Regina of being cruel. Regina dismisses the accusations saying that she was getting to the truth, and it's not her fault if the truth is painful.
 
In Storybrooke, Zelena delivers a baby girl. Robin holds the baby tenderly.  He is so happy to have a baby daughter.  Zelena thinks Regina is green with envy.  They are interrupted as Emma suddenly arrives. Emma throws Whale against the wall, knocking him out as Robin draws his sword to defend his newborn daughter.  Emma informs them that she isn't after the baby.  She wants Zelena instead. They are stunned as Emma poofs Zelena out of the room.
 
Hook awakes in Emma's basement to find himself chained up next to Zelena. They think that maybe Emma is preparing a spell to steal Zelena's dark magic.  Emma arrives to inform them that she doesn't want Zelena's magic, but that she wants to give Zelena her dark magic instead.  Her plan along has been to destroy dark magic.  She wants to transfer her darkness to Zelena and then kill her. She needed the baby to be born before she could cut Zelena down with Excalibur. Emma feels justified in killing Zelena because she killed Neal and Marion.  Killian argues that it is still cold-blooded murder. He reminds Emma that they went to find Merlin to help remove the darkness from her.  Surely Merlin has a way to help Emma that doesn't involve killing Zelena.  Emma tells Hook that Merlin can no longer help them.  Once again, Killian demands to know what happen in Camelot.

Back in Camelot, Emma contemplates Prometheus' spark.  Killian approaches Emma; he apologizes for Regina's actions.  Emma admits that Regina is right, she does know why she is afraid to let go of the darkness.  Because of Emma's walls of defense, she can only admit her true feelings when she thinks that she is losing someone.  She worries about her future with Killian. Hook thinks that she is rejecting him, but she corrects him saying that she does want a future with him.  "The minute you take away the darkness, that future begins," Emma said.  Hook, so happy she wants a life with him, comforts her and tells her just to trust him.  The future is nothing to be afraid of, and as they kiss and the spark is lit into a flame.
 
In the present day, Regina, Mary Margaret, and David approach Emma’s house to rescue Zelena. Meanwhile, as Emma paces upstairs, Zelena persuades Killian to cut off her anti-magic cuff by using his magically imbued Hook.  Despite not knowing whether not he can trust Zelena, Hook removes the cuff.  Zelena then uses her magic to free both of them from their shackles.
 
Outside, Mary Margaret and Regina argue about what they should do with Emma.  Emma emerges interrupting their argument, declaring that she does not need saving. She tells them that they should trust her and by the time that she's done with Zelena, everybody will be thanking her, especially Regina.

Hook and Zelena sneak up from the basement. They see that Emma is busy outside with Regina and Mary Margaret, they argue about their best course of action.  Killian decides to stay so that he can help Emma, but Zelena wants to leave.  Hook’s plan is to find the squid ink that Emma stole from Mr. Gold’s shop.  If he can use it on her, then he can get her to tell him what he wants to know.  Hook proceeds to search for the squid ink in Emma’s house as Zelena makes a quick exit.  Killian sees a picture of a forest and decides to check it on a hunch.  Just as he's taking the picture off the wall, Emma returns to discover him.  She claims that she was trying to help him.  He spies the squid ink taped to the back of the picture.  He manages to grab it just in time and throws the squid ink at her so she can't use her magic. 
 
Hook tells her that he thinks Regina was right, she is a villain now, and he wants to know what happened to turn her into a villain.  Zelena re-enters the room, telling them she’s back because she couldn't leave without making the Dark One pay. She approaches Killian with a knife and stabs him in the chest.  Still paralyzed, Emma's helpless to save him. 
 
Miraculously, Killian pulls the knife from his chest and is not hurt or even bleeding.  Hook’s surprised and claims Zelena worked some magic on him.   She counters by saying that she came upon some dreamcatchers outside and that Emma needs to return his memories to him.  Emma begs Killian not to trust Zelena than that she can explain everything.  Hook tells the witch to do it.  Killian’s memories from the dreamcatcher are released, and he watches his past in Camelot unfold.

​The memories flashback takes us back to Granny’s Diner, where Emma is ready to re-forge Excalibur using Prometheus' spark for the spell.  As she starts to re-forge Excalibur, Hook’s neck wound opens back up, and he starts to bleed profusely.  Emma stops the spell, rushing to Killian’s aid.  Merlin explains that Excalibur was forged to cut immortal ties and even though she seemed to heal him before it, her power wasn't strong enough to heal Killian.  As Hook lies dying, Emma decides to use her Dark powers to release Merlin from Excalibur, tethering Killian to it instead to save his life.  Merlin tells Emma that her action would multiply the darkness.  It could not be destroyed, and she would pay the steepest of prices.  It will be her final step into the darkness. 
 
Snow and Charming beg Emma not to do it.  Regina also tells her not to do it. Emma asks, “What would you have done to save Daniel if you could?” She was not going to lose Killian if she could help it.  Declaring that she would not let anyone stop her, she uses her magic to transport her and Killian back to the field of Middlemist flowers.
 
Killian wants Emma to let him go.  He doesn't want to become dark.  She tells Killian that she will help him fight the darkness, and they can work together to find a solution. He insists that he is weak like Merlin and that he would not be able to fight the darkness.  He was dark before in his life, and it took him centuries to overcome it.   He doesn't think that he can do it again. Emma reminds him that they have a future together, but he says he is happy just to know that she has a future.  Hook passes out, close to death.  Using Excalibur, Emma tethers Hook’s life to it.  Killian’s body disappears within the spell, his name appears on Excalibur, Emma's appearance changes into her Dark Swan form, and we see Hook emerge from the black tar of the Dark One's vault.  We witness the second birth of the episode as another new Dark One is born.

Back in present-day, Killian realizes now what is happening to him and what Emma has done.  She tells him that she is sorry, but she didn't feel like she had a choice.  Hook finds it hard to swallow the truth.  Zelena emphasizes her point by revealing his name on Excalibur from under a cloaking spell. She laughs at him, “The truth was right under his nose the whole time!”  Hook now realizes why Emma saved his life twice in one night; not because he was in danger, but because it would reveal that he was immortal.  Emma tells him that all her actions since they returned from Camelot was to save him. Killian is not happy with what Emma has done.  Zelena laughs and asks him if he wants to know what else happened in Camelot, and he agrees, but first they have to take care of Emma.
 
Now that Hook has learned the terrible truth, will he team up with Zelena in seeking vengeance against our heroes?  Why did he never hear the Dark Ones’ voices in his head?  Will Emma be able to follow through on her promise to save him, or is he lost forever to the Darkness?  And where is Merlin?  The last time we heard, the Dark One was coming for him.  But who was it?

​ Emma or Killian?