Board Thread:Show-Related Questions and Answers/@comment-25926288-20151120003425

Merlin and Nimue (and all DOs) have their magic from the Holy Grail.

Merlin and the Apprentice showed that they could traverse any realm, even the land without magic.

My theory is that the Dark One's powered dimished with each dark One as the Darkness keeps piling up. But Rumple not having Foresight when Merlin had it and then Merlin traversing realms and Rumple or the others not being able too. Then, the Apprentice shouldn't be near Merlin or the DO's power and even if Apprentice was close to it, why would Rumple not have the power?

Retcon, maybe? I mean it would destroy the plot if Rumple could have always traversed any realm.

(Side theory: The Apprentice got his magic from Merlin and Nimue gave dark magic to several people, similar to how Rumple trained them.) 