Family is Everything [Jefferson Hatter || OUAT || Mad Red #5]

Chapter 26

Cruella, Henry, Blaze and Grace were in Cruella's car, and she was driving them somewhere recklessly, "Can you please slow down?" Blaze asked.

"Darling, you three wouldn't be here if you didn't like a little danger. I mean, look at all of you... Sneaking away from your families to bring me back to life. Such naughty children," Cruella said.

"I just want to find the pen and get this over with. What are we even looking for?" Henry asked.

"A sign, signal, whiff of ink. Look, you're the Author. You're connected to that quill," Cruella said.

Henry saw a bright light and pointed to it, "Stop! I saw something," Henry said.

Cruella stopped the car immediately and the tires screeched as she came to a dangerous stop. Cruella and Henry got out, Henry helped the two girls out of the back seat, they all walked towards where he saw the bright light and Cruella followed but she wasn't happy with it.

"Well, there's no pen here, just dirt and things that smell like dirt," Cruella said.

"I swear I saw it," Henry said.

"Well, then, move those little legs of yours and keep looking all three of you. Go!" Cruella said and shooed them off.

Henry continued to make his way through the forest with Grace and Blaze beside him. He stopped and looked around, when a hand reached out and grabbed his shoulder, Henry turned to see the Apprentice, the three children looked at him confused.

"Quiet. We have little time," The Apprentice said.

"I don't understand. W-What are you doing here? You were a devoted apprentice to Merlin your entire life. What unfinished business could you possibly have?" Henry said.

"You, my boy. I am here to prevent you from making a terrible mistake. You must not resurrect Cruella De Vil," The Apprentice said.

"So the pen can bring someone back. You told me it couldn't," Henry said.

"That was necessary... Half-truth. Up there, yes. Down here, the rules are a little more... Flexible. I saw no reason to tempt you. The dilemma you are currently in is why," The Apprentice said.

"I'm not getting the pen for Cruella. I'm getting it for me. I just watched my aunt become the Dark Queen again. I watched her kill herself die and I couldn't do anything," Henry said.

"You are the Author. As such, you should use the quill only to record the stories, not create them," The Apprentice said.

"I don't care about the stupid stories anymore. I'm sick of sitting on the sidelines. I want to be a hero. I want to help my mom even if it means helping Cruella," Henry said.

"In the Sorcerer's mansion lie all his great works of light magic, the quill included. It is protected by a powerful spell, but the sheriff took the key from me. Acquire that key and the quill is yours," The Apprentice said.

Henry looked surprised, "Wait, what? You're... You're helping me?" Henry said.

"Why?" Grace asked.

"You just told him not to," Blaze said.

"This is your choice, Henry, but the only way that I can move on is if you make the right one. I trust you," The Apprentice said before he disappeared.

Blaze looked at Henry and they held hands, "We're going?" Blaze asked.

"We're going," Henry said.

"Let's go then," Grace said.

Inside Emma's house, Emma, Killian, Giselle, Will, Brennan, Jefferson and Rose Red were inside and Emma removed a sheet from the sofa in the living room, "Aunt Rose, sit down," Emma helped her aunt over to the sofa, "Let me take a look at you," Emma said.