Ok so I'm apologizing right now for not updating this story but I hope this extremely long and dramatic chapter makes up for my absence! Now, let the story begin!
Storybrooke
"Henry Mills. Henry Mills. Henry Mills" one name repeated three times in a row by a pirate who was below deck, waiting, in his ship for a sign. But before Killian Jones could even sit down to wonder if the Dark One would show up there he was standing in the corner smirking to himself.
"Something funny, lad?" Killian asked as he tried to remind himself of who this was and to not be fooled by a single word.
"Out of my whole family, I'm surprised that you're the only one who thought of doing this, seeing as they've been looking for me for days" Henry said with his arms crossed and with the quick turn of his head he flicked his hair giving it an even more windswept look without barely even trying.
"If you know that they're searching then why not reveal your self to them instead of causing them all this grief and pain?" Killian questioned the boy who now came closer out of the shadows. He strode forward looking so comfortable with himself that it was a bit strange that this was the same teen who was still going through that awkward stage only weeks ago. But as Henry drew the up a chair (in the most literal way possible, with a flick of his hand) and sat down, Killian could see that those times were far over and this boy looked anything but awkward. Whether it was the sharp angles in his face or the dark bangs that plastered his forehead Killian could see just how far the Dark One had taken over the boy that he had gotten to know so well.
"That would be no fun" said Henry shrugging his shoulders.
"You do realize that you're putting your mothers in a right state, showing up like that all different and then disappearing. I heard from Emma that Regina hasn't slept for days as she's up all night worrying about her only son and what the bloody hell could have happened to him" Killian said letting it come out angrier then he had meant it, but once he did he decided that maybe the lad should hear it like this. It might just knock some sense into him.
"I didn't mean to hurt my mom but things are complicated" he muttered.
"Really? Because the things you said to Emma that night...well, they were anything but kind. Doesn't that make you see, Henry. You've changed" Killian replied with a slight plea in his voice. He thought that maybe he could make him see reason.
"Well obviously I've changed! I used to be weak, hiding behind people so they could do the fighting for me but now...I meant what I said, she might be my mom, and the savior, but she can't make me listen to her, not anymore" Henry said but the words weren't his and Killian could see through him the same way he had learnt to do with Rumplestiltskin.
"Listen to yourself!" Killian said through his teeth. "Why on you rounding on Emma like that?" He asked but with this Henry went silent. "So that's it isn't? Emma did something to you in Camelot?" But Henry shook his head.
"You don't understand. Everything I'm doing is for a reason and it's for the best, so you're just going to have to trust me on that" Henry said.
"Looks to me that you're even more like the bloody crocodile that I would have hoped, trying to justify everything to make it seem like nothing" Killian told him. Henry was about to answer when footsteps were heard over head. "Hook!" Emma called.
"You should watch out" Henry hissed in a whisper. "I would hate for us to end up on opposite sides" he finished just as his mother was making her way down the stairs. He flicked his hand and famished in a cloud of smoke. "Was that?" Emma said her eyes wide.
"Yes, I've just had a visit from the Dark One".
Camelot
"I don't see why we have to wear this stuff. Its just a ball" Henry said as Regina helped him straighten out the outfit he was wearing.
"Believe it or not, when we lived in the Enchanted Forest this was the norm" Regina said taking a step back admiring how handsome her son looked. She had chosen this herself for him knowing how well the brown leather would complement his hazel eyes. "Henry are you ok?" She asked suddenly just now realizing how tired he looked. Dark circles were beginning to form under his eyes which weren't there before.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Why?" He lied. Henry hasn't been able to sleep since he became the Dark One but he that didn't mean that he wouldn't be exhausted from stress. He lied though, to spare Regina the worrying that would come without a doubt if he would tell her. "What are you gonna wear, then?" Henry asked quickly changing the subject to be about her. "I don't actually know...hmm...how about this" she said and with a light flick of her hand she was wearing a tight black dress that was way too revealing. Henry fell into a fit a laughter while shaking his head multiple times.
"What?" She asked raising her eyebrows and staring down at her dress.
"Well, its a bit...evil" Henry said finally as he stopped laughing. "Try something that says 'you' instead of something that would screams Evil Queen" Henry replied. Regina took what he said into consideration and with a final flick she was standing in lilac colored gown that was fitted by the waist but had a full skirt and sleeves that only just missed the floor. "Good?" She asked.
"Perfect. And I'm sure Robin will absolutely love it" Henry joked. He had never been to a ball before but he read about them in his book. King Arthur had insisted that there would be a ball in their honor after hearing that they had brought a savior to free Merlin from his prison and the entire kingdom was to come. No one knew that they had secretly brought the Dark One into their midst as well and as far as his family was concerned, it would stay that way.
Within an hour that the ball had already started Henry already felt out of place. It was like everyone knew what to do and had someone to be with and he was just by himself. He finally decided to go out on the balcony for fresh air which was going to be his excuse if someone asked why was leaving.
The first thing that hit him was the air. So cold that it felt as if he was being drenched in ice water but a least he was away from the crowd. Until he realized he wasn't alone. There was a girl standing only a few feet away from him hidden by the shadows of the dark corner at the edge, her hands gripping the railing while a cloak draped over her shoulders. She was shivering, her cloak obviously having no defense against the cold but Henry found it strange that she too was out here while a magnificent party was taking place just beyond the doors. But it took him only moments to find the answer once he looked at her face.
She was crying. Tears streamed down her reddened cheeks and fell onto the light blue gown that she was wearing.
"Are you okay?" Henry asked as lightly as possible. But his light tone obviously had no affect as she gave a small jump from surprise, not knowing that he'd been standing there the whole time.
"Of course" she said between sobs.
"I just don't understand why you would be crying out here when there's such a 'fun' party going on in there" he said pointing to the door that led straight to the ball room.
"Why're you not at the ball?" She asked curiously.
"Bored, I guess? A dance isn't that fun when you're alone" Henry admitted.
"Bored is right. We have one of these all the time in Camelot, this is my favorite spot to run away to" the girl replied.
"Are you...always crying at these parties?" Henry asked carefully as to not upset her.
She laughed, thinking how funny it was to ask a question straight out like that but then she calmed herself and spoke "You're one of the travelers aren't you? The ones that just arrived here looking for Merlin?" She asked and Henry nodded. "Well good luck on your quest then...sorry I don't know your name" she said.
"I'm Henry" he said
"Violet" she replied and for the time since talking to Henry, she smiled at him.
"What's it like?" He asked "Living in world like this?" Henry looked to her waiting an answer but before she could say anything they both heard screams coming from the ballroom and Henry didn't wait a second to run in after he knew those cries came from his mother.
Storybrooke
"Why do you think he's doing all of this?" David asked Snow and Regina as they all sat in the mayor's office going over what they would do next seeing as they couldn't just sit around and do nothing. "He must have a reason for the curse, Rumplestiltskin did" Snow said looking Regina.
"To find his son, but Henry is not Gold!" Regina insisted. She kept trying to convince herself this since they had showed up back in Storybrooke a few nights ago. "I just wish I knew where he was so I could talk to him!" She said rather frustrated.
"You shouldn't worry about that your magesty. I've just seen the boy" Killian said as he rushed in with Emma at his side.
"What did he say?" Snow asked in place of Regina who was quietly waiting for an answer.
"Nothing that matters" Killian said sadly. They all looked at each other, not knowing what to say. Of course what do you say, when your family member becomes the Dark One and erases your memories of the past six weeks.
"I want to try" Regina said aloud suddenly. "To talk to him, I want to try. No offense but it seems like I'm the only person he still likes" she said.
"Regina I don't think that's the best idea" Emma started.
"Why? Just because according to Henry you did something to him in Camelot, and now he looks like he hates you" Regina asked with her arms crossed.
"I would never do anything to Henry. Not on purpose" Emma said quietly, although not completely sure of it herself. Henry obviously seemed like he had a reason for hating her. "Maybe I could talk to Henry instead? Maybe all he wants is a good apology, he's still just a teenager and you know how they are" Emma offered.
"Yes but inside him is darkness that he probably doesn't know how to control. So you'll stay here miss Swan and I'll go" Regina flicked her hands up and instantly she was gone in a cloud of purple smoke.
Camelot
Henry and Violet ran together into the ballroom where everyone had backed up against the walls and three people stood in the middle including Regina and Robin. The third however Henry didn't know.
"Shall you tell them who you are? Or should I? Before I kill you?" The man said loudly. He was holding a rather long and sharp sword and was pointing in at her heart. "Please don't do this. You don't have to kill me, look this is just a misunderstanding!" Regina pleaded as she put her arm in front of Robin, stopping him from going in front of her.
"A misunderstanding? So are all the people that you have murdered just a misunderstanding? Are all the villages that you burnt to the ground just an accident?" He asked and Henry could hear the muttering and gasps from the crowd. He turned towards everyone who were all huddled against the walls and pointed to Regina. "You see everyone, this woman here is the Ev-" but what he planned to say was never to be heard as instead the sharp sound of crack filled the air and the man who had threatened Regina fell on the floor dead. Eyes open, neck twisted at such an angle that it completely and utterly wrong, he lay dead on the floor. Henry then slowly put his left hand behind his back, as a shiver went down his spine. No one needed to know that Regina was the Evil Queen and no one needed to know that it was him that had just killed that man.
Storybrooke
"Henry! Henry, please I just want to talk" Regina called as she walk down the steps of her vault. She had already checked their house but it was empty as well as the library had been too.
"Mom" Regina jumped, the voice coming from behind her. She turned around and there he was, leaning causally against the wall. He grinned "Hey" Henry said as if this was completely normal circumstances, but of course it wasn't.
"Henry..." Regina said as she stared at her now different son.
"Can we talk? Just the two of us l?" She asked.
"Isn't that what we're doing now?" He asked an eyebrow raised.
"I guess. But come on let's sit down at least" she said being very careful with her words. She loved Henry and trusted him, but she knew that the Dark One was skilled in manipulation and right now she had to put her feeling behind her and stay strong.
"I need to know what happened in Camelot" Regina said straight out.
"I can't" he answered.
"Listen, whatever's going on, I can help you. I know you might think that you need to do this on your own but you don't. I can help you, Henry. We can help you, the Charmings, the pirate. Even Emma"
"No" Henry said instantly.
"You're still mad at Emma? Can you tell me why?"
"No, I need to leave. This was a mistake" Henry began to get up but Regina grabbed his hand. She shivered for a moment at the touch of his skin because he was so cold. She looked at him, trying to see past the darkness and to try get to Henry.
"Why do you hate Emma?"
"Whatever"
"Why?" She asked again, more harshly then she meant. It occurred to her in the back of her mind that she'd never treated Henry like this, not ever.
"I'm leaving"
"Please just tell me!"
"Because, she's the reason I'm like this!" The words had come out of his mouth before he could stop it. Henry's eyes widened for a moment before he turned away and with a flick of his hand he was gone leaving a very shocked Regina still sitting in the same position, her hand still extended to comfort her now disappeared son.
Camelot
After the ball was immediately ended and all the subjects of Camelot were sent back to their homes. King Arthur had then led Regina, Emma and the rest to a room at the top of the castle where it took only a few short minutes for Regina to admit to him that she is, no, was the Evil Queen. They had all expected to banished after that, to never be allowed in Camelot again. But to their surprise Arthur was understanding.
"Camelot is a place of second chances. It matters not what you once were but what you are now. The question still remains though of who murdered one of my guards, mind you he would've gone straight to the dungeons had he still been alive, but still now we need answers. Oh and do not worry, I have managed to provide an explanation to my subjects that you pose no threat and that you are a great hero but that anyone who would like to come forth about this dark magic do so until the tomorrow noon. After that then I'll begin to search using other matters" Arthur finished. Regina looked towards Emma then back at Arthur.
"Maybe one of your subjects has powers that they've never shown?" Regina offered but she knew who had really done it.
"Well, we shall see. We shall see" Arthur finished as he exited through the door. As soon as he left though, everyone turned to Henry.
"What the hell did you do kid?!" Emma said.
"It was an accident and that man was trying to kill my mom! You can't tell me that I shouldn't have stopped him! So just please, leave me alone!" Henry yelled back at Emma but he didn't sound like himself. Henry was usually the type to get angry like that and definitely not at his mother.
"Henry I think you need to calm down" Regina said carefully.
"I'm fine" Henry replied.
"No kid, you're not. But you will be once we free Merlin and he can get the Darkness out of you then we can go home. But until then-" Emma slowly began I pull a very familiar dagger from her pocket and Henry could feel the power radiating from it.
"Emma what are doing?" Regina asked cautiously.
"Regina I don't want to do this either but you I do think that we have to take at least some precautions, right?" Emma asked.
"Precautions...ooh!" Said a voice. Henry whipped his head to the right and so Rumplestiltskin sitting in an old rickety chair by the wall.
"What are you doing here?" Henry whispered.
"I'm here to help you, of course dearie" Rumple said happily.
"I don't need you're help!" Henry said louder then he meant. He looked behind at his family and saw that all eyes were him. "Lad" Killian started slowly "who are you talking to?" He asked.
"No one, I'm fine" Henry replied
"Fine? Of course you're not fine!" Rumple shouted. "You will NEVER be fine until you get back that dagger!".
"What, no! I gave the dagger to my mom to protect me".
"And now look what she's using it for dearie, she wants to control you. Not to protect you, but to protect those around you. She doesn't want you to have powers, she wants you to be weak. And without that dagger you will be" Rumple finished. Henry looked towards Emma who had a very concerned look upon her face but still held the dagger in her hand, his dagger.
"Mom...I need my dagger back...now" Henry said carefully as he took a step towards Emma.
"Kid, I don't think that's the best idea" Emma said as she slowly took a step back. She looked towards her parents, then Killian, Robin and finally Regina and everyone knew that Henry wasn't being himself right now, and that it wasn't him talking, but the Dark One.
"She doesn't want you to have it" Rumple teased
"Give it to me" Henry repeated his hand stretched out.
"She wants to be more powerful then you" Rumple continued
"Henry please, stop" Emma begged as her son took a step closer, and his eyes had a dark appearance to them that she'd never seen in him before.
"Make her give it to you!" Rumple stood right behind Henry now, taunting him in his ear.
"Give it to me now!" Henry yelled
"Henry..." Emma pleaded.
"Take it from her!" Rumple said.
Henry raised his hand which was now glowing with a purple light. He looked as if was going to attack her, and no one knew what to do to stop him.
"I said give it-" Henry yelled but he was cut off as Emma raised both of her own hands, one holding the dagger while the other began to glow as well.
"Stop!" Emma shouted and without meaning to she sent Henry flying across the room and hitting the wall, he then collapsed on the floor, unconscious. Emma stared at her hands, dropping the dagger on the floor. She didn't mean to do it, she just wanted to stop him from hurting her, but she had made the first move. "I didn't mean to" Emma said quietly.
Regina went over slowly to where Henry lay and put two fingers on his neck. "He's fine, being the Dark One and all he is immortal now" Regina said looking at Emma. She didn't want to believe what had just occurred.
"I don't understand" Killian finally spoke up, speaking what was on everyone's mind. "One moment the boy was fine, and then it was as if all we saw in him was the bloody Dark One" he said.
"I think it started to affect him when he killed the guard that almost killed you" Emma said to Regina. "But he was just trying to help, but then I came on him like that with the dagger and I think the darkness inside him tried to fight back. It's my fault, I'm sorry" Emma said.
"It's not your fault" Regina said. "We all know what happened to Rumplestiltskin when he became the Dark One but I think Henry being Henry we all expected him to react differently" she finished.
"But I think our only option is to free Merlin as fast as we can to take the darkness out of Henry before it's too late".
Storybrooke
They were all there, inside Granny's diner. His whole family eating dinner without him. He wanted to badly to go sit down and join them but he knew that he couldn't. Henry watched from a distance that was just close enough to see through the windows of the diner. And as he saw them all, for a moment he wished things were back to the way they used to be. "Feeling left out?" A familiar voice said behind him. Henry shook his head. "You do realize that I am a figment of your imagination and that I can read every single one of your thoughts? You can't lie to me dearie" Rumple replied gleefully.
"Go away! Leave me alone for once, will you?" Henry asked. But before Rumplestiltskin could taint him once more he heard footsteps behind him.
Henry turned around to see a figure walking down the street coming towards him. He should probably leave before they saw him he thought. "Hello?" Someone called out. Too late, they saw him.
"Can you maybe tell me where the library is? I'm new here". It was a girl's voice, a young one by the sound of it, but Henry recognized it instantly to be one person that he knew only too well, Violet.
