Rumplestiltskin sat down before a spinning wheel, eyeing a piece of straw in his fingers. Maleficent sat down beside him. "How is this going to help fight poverty? If you're making more money, you're just going to be causing inflation." Rumplestiltskin smirked. "I'm not trying to spin straw into gold coins, dearie. But golden straw can be sold for a lot on the market." Rumplestiltskin stuck the straw into the spinning wheel and placed his hand on the wheel. Maleficent held a hand on the edge of the spindle. "Well, let's hope that..."
The spindle snapped in half, revealing a sharp needle underneath. Rumplestiltskin grabbed Maleficent's wrist and held it away from the needle. "Careful! The wheel is enchanted. For all we know, it could put you into an eternal slumber if you're not careful." Maleficent stepped away from the wheel. "I've had experience with sleeping curses before, so I know their one weakness. And I have a daughter, so I'm not in any danger."
Rumplestiltskin nodded. "How is Lily, anyway?" Maleficent sat down. "Still don't get to talk to her much. Duty always gets in the way. The Ogre Wars, and Lily guarding that lunatic who calls herself the Savior." Rumplestiltskin chuckled, pulling 24-karat gold straw out of the spinning wheel. "The last thing we need right now is a Savior. Not when we have an army to protect the light."
Three men on horses approached the castle to greet Rumplestiltskin and Maleficent. The first of the three knights knelt down. "I seek an audience with King Merlin." Rumplestiltskin nodded and waved his hand, opening the front gates to Camelot. The knight looked up, noticing the intricate handle of the sword at Rumplestiltskin's side. "Excalibur? You have it?" Rumplestiltskin nodded. "Well, it was a move of desperation. Merlin needed someone to safeguard the light." The knight stood up straight with a look of disbelief. "I need to see Merlin. Now."
The three knights marched into Merlin's throne room. Merlin stood up. "Arthur. I know what it looks like. Please understand..." Sir Arthur angrily pointed at Merlin. "I devoted my LIFE to preparing myself for that blade! I endured very trial you put me through, passed every test, and you give the glory to a spinster!" Sir Lancelot gave Arthur a mischievous smirk. "As opposed to giving the glory to a stable boy?" Arthur angrily glared at Lancelot. "You be quiet."
Merlin shook his head. "Glory? Is that all that mattered to you?" Merlin walked up to Sir Arthur. "If you were only in this for personal satisfaction, then maybe I made a mistake training you. Maybe making Rumplestiltskin the Light One was the right choice after all." Arthur scowled. "Oh, we'll see about that." Arthur, Lancelot and Sir Percival stormed out of the throne room.
Arthur turned to face Lancelot and Percival. "We've all heard the tale of what Excalibur can do. Taking it from the Light One by force is impossible. Even if we could, it has already chosen its wielder. It wouldn't give us any power." Lancelot crossed his arms. "Then what should we do?" Arthur clenched his fist. "We prevent Rumplestiltskin from becoming the Light One in the first place. Assemble the Round Table. Our quest... has only just begun."
