Darkened Arrow ｡ Henry Mills

1 - THE DARK ONE

　　Peace and happiness washed over Storybrooke. A warm, light feeling in all their hearts, for, once more, the heroes had prevailed. Only this time, it was only one hero that everyone had to thank for being saved. One brave soul that had stood his ground, looked the villain in the eye, and didn't cower with quaking fear. An optimistic heart of a hero that nobody would have expected to be so brave. And that person was none other than fifteen-year-old Henry Mills.

　　He had saved everyone from the horrible life they were forced to live within the pages of Isaac's newly written book, Heroes and Villains, by using a magical key to go inside the book so that he could find the Savior and so that Emma Swan could save the day and return everything to the way things were supposed to be. And though he had rescued his birth mother from the tower which she was being held in, that did not happen. Instead, it was he who defeated Isaac, and in the most unexpected way.

　　During the final battle in the village of Nottingham, Regina Mills had bravely sacrificed her own life when faced with danger. She had saved the life of the son that she couldn't even remember, and was moments away from death as Robin Hood held her hand and declared his infinite love for her. The woman had been prepared to die but it was Henry Mills that made it so that wouldn't happen.

　　Something had called to the boy, whispering his name, drawing him in, and when he looked down at the ground, Henry had noticed that the Author's pen was glowing a soft blue. In that moment, Henry had bent down and claimed the pen for himself and by doing so, was declared the new Author. By using the blood of this world's Savior, for he had no ink to write with, Henry wrote a new ending to Isaac's book. Thanks to the Hero Regina's brave sacrifice, he had written, Isaac's villainous work had been undone.

　　And then, just like that, everyone was back in Storybrooke and sharing joyous reunions with their friends and family.

　　Not long after, everyone met up at Granny's Diner to celebrate the victory. But it was during their celebration that Belle had come storming inside with troubling news. According to the bookworm, Gold's heart was withering away and, in result, they were all in danger from the darkness that lived within his heart.

　　Immediately, they had all went to Gold's shop, where Teresa, Henry, Emma, Snow White, David, Killian, and Belle watched as The Apprentice held a box which contained the Sorcerer's hat. With it still in his hands, the elderly man bent over the barely living, unconscious Gold, as Belle anxiously bit her lip. She was kneeling on the other side of the dying Dark One.

　　"He tried to use the hat to free himself from the dagger," realized Killian Jones.

　　"This is not unlike that," The Apprentice said as he prepared the spell. "We are pulling the darkness from him and containing it."

　　"Does that mean his heart will be healed?" Belle asked worriedly. The brunette was on the verge of tears and was trying so hard to keep her emotions at bay so that she could focus on what really mattered right now: saving the love of her life.

　　"Perhaps, if the strength is there," he told her gravely, while turning to look at the unconscious Gold. "This is more dark power than the hat's ever been asked to contain."

　　"Do what you need to do," Emma told him, determined to keep the man alive no matter the cost. Aside from her son, Gold was the only connection to her first love that she had left, and she wasn't sure she could handle losing someone so soon after Neal. More importantly, she couldn't let her son lose more of his family.

　　The Apprentice gave the Savior a nod before he placed his hand over Gold's heart and recited the incantation of the spell. "Purest evil, blackest bloom, darkness, too, can find its doom." He reached into Gold's chest and effortlessly ripped out the man's heart.