Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-26580042-20160826010854/@comment-25926288-20160828191440

For Rumple, the situation is the first one, but I expect that the dagger just appeared to him at some point, as Excalibur disintegrated and disappeared.

As for Nimue, I think she's surely dead. I doubt they will revisit it, but I'm certain that The Dark Ones are once more dead (or worse) since those souls were there temporary.So, likely, they all went back to the UW with their dark power (and connection) to it severed.

Now, with the Shroom, Henry had some sort of connection to Merlin, but that was it. Almost like in Kingdom Hearts where a connection to someone can even be used ressurect (in that series). But nevertheless, the initial point I was countering is that you don't need Merlin's power to have an apprentice, astral project to people, and create powerful magic objects. So, Hook had Merlin's power, but it diesn't make him in charge of the Author anymore than Merlin or Rumple or Emma. He's simply the creator of the Quill and likely hired someone to do that job, like he found his apprentice.

Once's magic system though isn't up on its rules as it breaks all the laws of magic and the price is arbitrary. Plus, magic isn't an intellectual endeavor until it is. Once must have its own Jekyll and Hyde in the writers room.

Gosh, I can talk Once's magic and worldbuilding all day. XD