A/N: Hello fellow Oncers, here with a new story, this time with a Halloween twist. I'm in a bit of a festive mood, and it being October, it felt right to get a little frightened. Despite the fact that this is being written in close proximity to Halloween, it will not take place on Halloween. On the contrary, this will take place during Emma's time as the Dark One, and will go a bit further than the show did.
Chapter One
It's been two years, but I still watch. We all do, but there are those that watch for the wrong reasons. In my time, I had become well acquainted with the darkness, more than any child rightfully should. I have confidence in them, but I also know what grief can do, so I still watch. I know what's coming. I can see it as well as they can see the cloud descending on their town, but I can do nothing. I see the change in my son as clearly as I had felt it in myself, and I am helpless as the cycle continues. All I can do is relate what I saw, and feel what he felt when Darkness arrived.
Henry had seen it with his own eyes, but he couldn't believe it. What was he missing, what were they all missing? His mom stood before them, but she wasn't herself. Her expression was somehow harder and her voice lacked any warmth as they stood in Granny's. And then, she had turned Sneezy into a statue. She had come close to them, and talked of their failure, and that hurt. Seeing the pain in his grandmother's eyes, that hurt. Seeing the disbelief in everyone else's, Henry was right there with them. Emma had cast the Dark Curse. Whatever had happened had pushed her far enough from them that she had cast the Dark Curse. And a Mom that would do that, well it didn't sit right with him. It frightened him more than anything, because he could see the fear in the eyes of his other mother as she remembered that time. He could remember that he had run from her because of it, and that instinct was still there, but this time with Emma, and that was the worst part of all.
"Swan?" Henry watched Killian. The pain in his eyes mirrored Henry's own, and as Emma left the diner, the murmurs swelled around them.
"Now what?" Robin asked.
"Now?" Henry could see the determination in his grandfather's gaze. "We try to figure out what happened in those six weeks."
A/N: The focus of this story is going to be more of a psychological exploration, and will incorporate some supernatural elements as well. It's going to be a tad different than some of my other stories as well as from canon, but hopefully in a fun way. I'm planning to finish it before Halloween, but who knows if that will happen. That is the tentative plan. So, let me know what you think. Any suggestions? Predictions? Questions? Do let me know.