Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-1475805-20150331011255/@comment-24674051-20150408040350

Here's a thought. Gold said he has wracked up a ton of debt as the DO, The curse probably takes it's toll. I think eventually, the DO curse "kills" it's possessor, gradually taking over the host until there is nothing left. The Host probably right towards the end is desperate enough to be free of the curse that they find some "desperate soul" to pass it on to, freeing them in the end.

What I have heard is that Regina was essentially having her life sucked out of her when Emma showed up. I think that whatever is going to happen to Gold happens right around that time, Regina maybe gets caught in the crossfire, and Emma Grabs the Dagger. The Hat may very well be involved as well (This is just a random speculartion on my part), meaning that perhaps Gold is freed from the Dagger.

My fear on the scene is that Gold will be alive without the DO influence, and when they pick up the dagger (where it fell when Emma dissappeared), they will show a closeup of the dagger to reveal that it is Emma's name on the Dagger now. Fade to black.