Here is another possible explanation for the dagger being empty. Rumple gets redacted. Notice how the Author’s little notecards took immediate effect on Cruella. Say, for whatever reason, whether at Rumple’s request, Belle’s, or someone else’s, the Author (whoever he is) writes “Rumplestilskin is not the Dark One.” At that point Rumple turns human and probably immediately disintegrates into dust as time finally catches up with him. But the curse of DO is not lifted — instead what is created is the paradox of the nameless dagger which essentially causes some kind of cosmic cataclysm which Emma must prevent by sacrificing herself. Just a theory.
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