‘Once Upon A Time’ Season 5 Premiere Preview

It’s time to dive into another chapter in the “Once Upon a Time” tale on Sunday night, and this one centers on the Dark Swan.

Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison) chose to save her friends and family in the Season 4 finale, but in the process, it was her name that ended up on the Dark One’s dagger. As the journey in Storybrooke continues this new season, Emma’s friends and family will be forced to come together in a dangerous quest to save her from embracing the darkness.

“I think we’re starting a journey that hopefully will encompass the entire season, so Emma’s journey as a character is a series long journey, and this Dark Swan phase of it is something that we’re going to explore over the whole season,” Adam Horowitz previously told Access Hollywood.

WATCH: ‘Once Upon A Time’s’ Jennifer Morrison Hints At Changes Ahead For Emma

“When and if she is no longer the Dark Swan, you can be certain that what she’s gone through will continue to inform who she is and take her to a new place,” he added.

Emma’s sacrifice saved her Storybrooke nearest and dearest, and now its their turn to try and save her.

WATCH: Colin O’Donoghue & Jennifer Morrison Tease Roles In ‘OUAT’ Season 5

“Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold was never able to detach from being the Dark One even though he tried everything, and it didn’t work, so this a big challenge for Regina and I don’t think she knows how she’s going to go about it just yet,” Lana Parrilla told Access at Comic-Con. “But she also doesn’t like owing anyone anything, and so she’s frustrated and mad at Emma for doing this. There had to have been another way and we didn’t find it because there wasn’t any time and now this is the new reality and so everyone has to get work to save Emma.”

Hook (Colin O’Donoghue), who heard those three little words before his girlfriend was swept up into a cloud of evil smoke, will also be on tenterhooks as he tries to reunite #CaptainSwan.

“He got ‘I love you’ and then she was gone,” Colin previously told Access. “But I think that now that he knows that she loves him in much that the same way as he loves her — it’s complicated because he knows what it’s like to give into the darkness and he’s sort of — in the same way that Belle could see the good in Rumple, even when he was dark, I think Hook is going to be the same. He can still see the woman that he loves. He’s going to want to try and bring her back from that. Now whether or not he decides to go dark in the process, because he’s done it before, so why not, why wouldn’t he? But we don’t know yet, so it would be interesting to see.”

This season, to try and help Emma, a new adventure awaits.

PHOTOS: ‘Once Upon A Times’: Scenes From The S5 Premiere

“We have to find Merlin, so we have to go to Camelot because we need to find a way to pull the evil, pull the darkness, from Emma, which we participated in somehow implanting or igniting,” Ginnifer Goodwin, who plays Snow/Mary Margaret told Access back at SDCC.

The Charmings will do anything they can to try and save their daughter.

“Snow and Charming are gonna go to some extraordinary lengths to get her back, and to get her back to being the savior that she is,” Josh Dallas, who plays David/Charming, said at the same event.

Not everything, though, in “Once” is on the heavier side this season – especially in Camelot.

“You’re going to see Charming and [King] Arthur bro out in a big way and you’re going to see Charming at his most heroic,” Josh said.

The magical place that houses the Knights of the Roundtable will bring some happy moments for some. Asked if we’ll get some love or romantic moments on the way this season (for any of the characters), the producers hinted something was on the way.

“Well, we’re going to Camelot. How horrible if there weren’t any moments of love!” Eddy said.

“There’s gotta be romance in Camelot,” Adam added.

Sunday night’s Season 5 premiere will set up more than the quest to save Emma. It marks the debut of Merida from “Brave,” played by Scottish actress Amy Manson.

“Merida’s been a lot of fun to introduce to the show,” EP Eddy told reporters at a screening of the premiere, earlier this month.

“Amy Manson who plays her is Merida,” he added.

“She came in and read and just was the character and we have some stuff that we’re really excited for her coming up… that I think’s a lot of fun,” Adam said.

Back at Comic-Con, the producers hinted that the character’s involvement in the show will go beyond her encounters with Dark Swan Emma, which were revealed in the sneak peek clip released earlier this week.

“Merida just fits right in. Like you can just see her and bandit Snow going to kick some a**, so we’re really excited,” Eddy said, noting they have “scenes plotted out with everyone” and the flame-haired spitfire.

Of course, there’s another redhead around who will continue to spice things up – Zelena (Rebecca Mader) – who is pregnant with Robin’s (Sean Maguire) baby.

“We explore her pregnancy and what happens,” Adam said when Access asked at the “OUAT” S5 screening about the Wicked Witch’s pregnancy.

“I would be disappointed if I didn’t see a baby,” Eddy added, seemingly hinting at the tot’s arrival later this season.

“Once Upon a Time” returns Sunday at 8/7c on ABC.

— Jolie Lash