╔═════ ═════╗
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
OPERATION MONGOOSE, PT. 4
╚═════ ═════╝

HENRY RAN THROUGH THE WOODS WITH EMMA RIGHT ON HIS HEELS. The mother and son were heading toward Regina's hideaway home before Snow and David found them again. It was even more concerning that they hadn't seen Teresa in the village with them, which meant she was still looking for Regina. They hoped she hadn't found Regina yet.

"How much further is it?" Emma asked.

"We're almost there!"

"Are you now?" Henry and Emma came to an abrupt stop as Teresa emerged from the trees on their left. Her bow was up, with an arrow ready to fire and end their lives. Henry quickly took in her appearance; her clothes were solid black, even her bow, which was usually brown and now belonged to Regina. On her face was a sinister smirk, something Henry never expected to see on her face.

"I was only out here to find Regina, but boy does my day just keep getting better." A large grin pulled onto her face. "Before I kill you, mind showing me the way to Regina?"

When they remained silent, Teresa hummed, a tight smile on her face. "No? Well then, this may hurt." She fired, her arrow lodging into Emma's right foot.

Emma let out a cry of pain as she fell to the ground. "Ah!"

Teresa smirked and advanced forward, this time her arrow that was nouched was aimed directly at Henry. "Now, I'm going to ask again, and this time you're going to tell me where I can find Regina or your son will be choking on his own blood."

Emma's eyes were wide in panic. She didn't know where Regina's hideaway home was, Henry did, so even if she wanted to, she couldn't tell her.

"You have thirty seconds unle — "

Teresa was cut off as an arrow penetrated her stomach from behind. Her eyes widened and a pained gasp escaped past her lips. Her hands fell, causing the arrow she had ready to fire, graze Henry's arm.

"Ah!"

"Henry!" Emma gasped, her eyes widening in fear and worry.

Henry stumbled, grimacing in pain as he held his bicep. When he pulled his hand away, he found blood coating his palm. He was in luck however, as the arrow had only grazed his arm. It would stop bleeding soon.

Teresa's limp body fell to the ground, revealing Regina, who slowly lowered her bow. "Your welcome," she said, her eyes solely on Henry, as she couldn't see Emma from where she stood. Regina then left, leaving them in shock.

Henry turned to his mother, who had quickly pulled the arrow from her foot with a small cry of pain. "Are you alright? Can you walk?"

"Don't worry about me, are you okay? Let me see..." Emma gently touched his arm, wishing she had his magic so she could heal it for him. He grimaced, which caused her to mutter a quick apology. "Sorry."

"I'm fine."

Emma then turned to Teresa, who seemed to not be moving at all. "Is she...?"

Henry slowly walked up to Teresa's unmoving body. Sadness and grief washed over him as he stared down at her lifeless body. Her eyes were open and frozen in pain; her golden hair was still flowing beautifully around her, even in death; her lips were parted the slightly, with a single droplet of blood flowing down the corner of her lips, and her stomach was bleeding from her wound.

"Yea, she's dead," Henry solemnly replied. He felt sick to his stomach. Not only had he watched Hook die, someone he would most likely call dad in the future, but Teresa as well. She was his friend, really his only friend, since he never really cared to hang out with any of the kids at his school. And now, she was dead. And she would truly be dead if they didn't hurry.

Emma pulled the arrow from her foot, biting her lip to hold in scream. With a grunt, she pulled herself onto her feet and limped over to Henry.

She frowned when she seen his saddened expression. "Henry, I know she was your friend." Emma paused, and possibly your first crush. "But we have to go and stop that wedding." She gently tugged on his arm. "Come on."

Henry gave a nod as they moved past Teresa's lifeless body. He helped her walk all up until he spotted Regina, for then he abandoned Emma and ran toward her before he would lose sight of her again.

"Wait! Stop!" Henry shouted as he ran after Regina. Regina sighed and turned on her heel to face him. "I knew you'd still be here."

"Listen, I don't have time for stories. I need to hit the road before the Evil Queen has my head. Your lucky I was able to get a shot at Holmes before she killed you."

"I brought someone else this time. Maybe you'll listen to her."

Emma stepped forward with a slight smile. "Regina."

"Let me guess — you're his other mother?"

"Emma," she introduced herself.

Regina gave Henry an impressed look. "I have to give you credit — breaking her out of that tower couldn't have been easy."

"Henry, can you give us a minute?" Emma asked.

Henry glanced between them before giving a nod. "Sure." He walked over to a fallen log and sat down.

➳

Trees were a blur around them as they ran as fast as they could through the woods and toward the church where Robin Hood and Zelena's wedding was being held. The trio were panting, having run a long way.

"We haven't heard the wedding bells yet," Henry stated. "There's still time."

"I don't even know what to say to him," Regina muttered as they slowed to a walk toward the church. They were still panting slightly from their run.

"I think in this case actions speak louder than words."

Henry nodded in agreement. "Once you and Robin share true love's kiss, everything should be great again."

"Okay." Regina nervously rubbed her sweaty palms on her thighs, and raised a brow in Emma's direction when she noticed the blonde was wearing a smile. "What?"

"You don't remember this, but I promised you once I'd help you find your happy ending. I'm just glad I'm here to see it. You got this, Regina."

Regina nodded and started heading toward the church, only to have Rumplestiltskin walk up and block her way with his sword drawn. He was wanting to fight.

"I'm afraid none of you are crashing this wedding, dearies."

Emma unsheathed her own sword. "Go. I got the Dark One."

"Dark One? I'm afraid you have the wrong name, dearie."

"We'll see about that. Regina, go!" Even with her foot screaming in pain, Emma fought with all her strength against Rumplestiltskin.

Henry was forced to watch as his grandfather and birth mother kept dodging the quick slashes of blades. It made him uneasy, watching as each slash almost cut his already injured mother.

Rumplestiltskin suddenlu gains the upper hand and locked Emma's sword in his grip. She grunted, struggling to keep fighting. Now off guard, Rumplestiltskin is able to throw her away with his a blast of his magic.

Henry's eyes widened as he watch his birth mother fall unconscious to the ground. "MOM!" Henry quickly picked up her discarded sword.

"Out of my way, boy."

"You'll have to get through me to get to her."

"Very well then." Rumplestiltskin's blade clashes against his, causing Henry to stumble back at the amount of strength he had behind his blade.

Henry was able to shoot a quick glance over at Regina, who seemed to be hesitating to enter the church as she still stood outside. "Go! You have to stop that wedding!" he shouted.

Due to his short distraction, Rumplestiltskin was able to disarm him. Henry's eyes widened as he walked in what felt like low-motion as his grandfather raised his sword to end his life.

"You won't hurt me. You're supposed to be a hero here."

"And that's exactly why I must do this — to ensure I remain one." He then brought his sword down.

Henry waited for that slice of horrible pain that would end his life, but it never came. Instead, Regina Mills had leaped in. The blade sliced cleanly across her abdomen, drawing immediate blood.

"Mom!" Henry caught her and they both fell to the ground. Her eyes were wide and full of pain, as Rumpelstiltskin disappeared in a cloud of magical smoke.

"Mom," his voice cracked as he watched her through tears, die.

"Regina!" Emma, who had woken up just moments ago, exclaimed as she made her way over to them.

"Mom, why didn't you go in the church?" Henry asked.

"I couldn't let you die," she replied, voice weak as more of her blood oozed from her gash.

And then it came. The wedding bells toll, signifying the last page of the book.

Emma's eyes widened in realization. "We're at the end of the book. We're not gonna be able to change anything now."

Just then, the wedding party exited the church. As soon as Robin noticed the injured Regina lying on the ground he was at her side with a worried expression plastered on his face. "Regina?"

"Robin?" Zelena said. "What's going on?" She raced after him, her wedding gown grazing over Regina's wound in the process, which caused the white to be stained with crimson. "Oh, I've got blood on my dress!"

Robin stared up at her in disbelief. "Can't you see she's injured?"

"This was supposed to be my day! And she's ruined it!" Zelena was fuming. She looked down at her hand, which began to turn an ugly green color. She gasped, both horrified and confused, then ran off.

Isaac emerged and his jaw clenched as he watched as Robin tried to console Regina in her final moments of life. "It's okay. It'll be all right."

"No, no I'm not."

Henry was no a crying mess. "No."

"At least I can promise you you won't die alone," Robin said, making her smile.

"Too little, too late." Angry, Emma jumped to her feet and punched Isaac in the face, sending his satchel soaring to the ground, including the Author's quill and paper.

"And you're gonna change things," Emma demanded. "Return things to the way they were. Bring back Hook and Teresa. Save Regina."

Henry's teary eyes caught sight of the Author's quill on the ground. He felt a pull like never before drawing him to it.

"I can't. I'm not the Author anymore. I can't change a thing," Isaac replied.

In his trance, Henry got up from where he was knelt next to his dying mother and toward the quill. As soon as he touched it, not only did it glow a blue color, but he also felt an incredible sensation spread throughout his body, originating from the hand that which held the Author's quill.

"Whoa, kid, what the hell?" Emma said with wide eyes.

"No," Isaac breathed, voice full of shock.

"What's happening?"

"He's the next Author."

"I-I can feel it," Henry nearly whispered.

"Henry. Fix it. Write everything the way it was.'

"Without ink, he's not writing anything," Isaac stated.

Emma's eyes widened in realization. "My blood." She unsheathed her sword, prepared to slit into her skin and drawn blood. "It was supposed to work last time."

"Yes," Henry nodded. "When mixed with darkness, but you're not the savior here, because of him. But that doesn't mean we didn't find one." He bent down next to his other mom. "And in this world, we don't need a dark savior. We need a light one. Hold on, Mom."

"Don't!" Isaac exclaimed in a panic. Emma quickly grabbed him from behind and restrained him from going near Henry and Regina.

"Henry, do it!"

Henry placed the quill into Regina's bloody hand, providing the ink, which he then used to write.

Thanks to the hero Regina's sacrifice, Isaac's villainous work was undone.

A/N: Thoughts on Evil Teresa?

Also, who do you guys think I'm going to make be the new Dark One? Do you think I'll keep it be Emma? Or will I make the new Dark One be Regina? Or how about Teresa? Perhaps maybe even Henry? 😏