Once Upon a Time season 5, episodes 8 and 9 will see Merida, Mulan, and Ruby uniting, but first a visit to Storybrooke will finally reveal Emma’s plan for Excalibur.

Settle in for two hours of Once Upon a Time tonight as season 5 unpacks episodes 8 and 9! Season 5 is fast approaching the winter finale, and we have a feeling the cliffhanger is going to put someone’s life in jeopardy. Can you guess who it may be based on what will unfold tonight?

Related: The ultimate Once Upon a Time two-hour special breakdown

‘Once Upon a Time’ 5×08:

The battle line is drawn in hour one of tonight’s special. When Emma refuses to hand over the dagger to Arthur, the King calls upon Merlin and Zelena to enact war against Emma and the heroes. In Storybrooke another battle unfolds between Emma and Hook. Refusing to accept Emma’s aversion to complete honesty, Hook finally gets Emma to break through the wall of darkness and let someone in on her plan for Excalibur. In a clip from tonight’s episode, Emma reveals that her plan may have more to do with true love than anyone expected.

‘Once Upon a Time’ 5×09:

In the second hour of tonight’s Once Upon a Time, Mulan and Ruby return to help Merida in DunBroch. In flashbacks we will meet Queen Elinor and King Fergus, who teach Merida what it means to stand alongside the men and fight for something larger than herself. In the present Merida calls upon some old and new friends, Mulan and Ruby, to help her repay an old debt of her father’s to the witch. However, Arthur and Zelena make their way to DunBroch at the same time to capture something needed to put an end to the heroes.

Watch Once Upon a Time season 5, episode 8, “Birth,” and episode 9, “The Bear King,” air tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC.