'Once Upon A Time' Season 5 Spoilers: Dark Swan vs King Arthur, female heroes rise in twin episodes

Actress Jennifer Morrison and actor Robert Carlyle who plays both Rumplestiltskin and Mr. Gold, on the new series "Once Upon A Time" speak during a panel session at the ABC Summer TCA Press Tour in Beverly Hills , California August 7, 2011. Reuters/Fred Prouser

“Once Upon A Time” Season 5 delivers two new episodes this week as it comes close to the ending of its pre-fall chapter. The Dark Swan aka Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison) is seen in a heated swordfight with King Arthur (Liam Garrigan) in a promo video from ABC. Meanwhile, more female heroes are rising (and returning).

Spoiler alert: This update contains “Once Upon A Time” Season 5 spoilers. Read on only if you have watched the most recent episodes. You may go to ABC Go to stream the latest episodes.

This Sunday's 2-hour OUAT event on ABC starts with an episode called “Birth.” Zelena's (Rebecca Mader) pregnancy is expected to figure in this special. A week ago, Zelena has sealed her alliance with King Arthur and Merlin (Elliot Knight), who is only on Team Arthur because he got the sword. The situation gets dire that Emma is compelled to make a difficult choice. Captain Hook (Colin O'Donoghue) wants answers.

In the second hour of “Once Upon A Time” Season 5, familiar faces and female heroes return for “The Bear King.” Meghan Ory returns as Red/Ruby, Jamie Chung is back as Mulan, and Amy Manson reprises her Merida role.

Emma Swan is harboring some serious resentment against her parents, Regina (Lana Parrilla) and Captain Hook. It seems they have all failed her at one point. Emma has also told her son Henry (Jared S. Gilmore) that he is the only one who did not disappoint her. What else would unravel in Camelot and Storybrooke? As of last week, the viewers remained uncertain as to how Emma Swan gave in to darkness.

There is a new hero in Storybrooke, and he is not too pleased about it. Rumplestiltskin aka Mr Gold (Robert Carlyle) draws out the excalibur upon the Dark Swan's insistence. Belle (Emilie de Ravin) and Merida have been instrumental to making this “mistake” happen. In an episode, Mr Gold hints at Emma that she would regret this. But isn't everyhing going exactly as Emma had planned? Is there a chance that the saviour who used light magic is still in control within the Dark Swan?

Answers are expected from “Once Upon A Time” Season 5, Episodes 8 and 9. There is no new episode next week, so ABC is delivering a 2-hour event this Sunday, Nov. 16.

WATCH: 'Once Upon A Time' Season 5 promo video | ABC on YouTube