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The elevator kept going down until finally lurching to a shaky halt in front of a long stone tunnel, lit only by overhanging lights. Henry grabbed the portcullis-like door and lifted it up, stepping out. He let out a deep breath before opening the leather case Mr. Gold had given him, pulling the Vorpal Blade out. 

The sword felt especially heavy in his hand now, but Henry could feel the wavering power it still held radiating into his hand. "Come now, Edric...this is it. You can do this. Just a silly old Jabberwock. I'm a cat: quick, agile, poised. No damned beast is going to keep me from my destiny." He assured himself quietly, now holding the sword up higher than before. 

Beginning the long, slow trek through the cavernous passage, Henry felt his heart beating heavier in his chest. The tunnel led into a large, expansive cave, rife with drop-offs that seemed endless, the cracks in the ceiling beaming in [i]just[/i] enough natural light to be able to see one's own surroundings. 

As Henry stepped deeper into the cave, he found a large glass coffin just in front of him; a sliver of the covering having broken off, but the entire structure remained. Henry ran his free hand over the glass with curiosity, wondering who it belonged to. 

Shaking his head to focus on the task at hand, Henry backed up until he felt a wall behind him. Readjusting his focus, Henry was preparing himself for battle...until the wall started moving. A large red eye opened slowly, the pupil leering over directly at Henry dangerously before the Jabberwocky's long neck slowly lifted off the ground, revealing the creature in all its might. It let out a loud, ear-piercing screech before breathing what looked like purple lightning out of its mouth, illuminating the entire cave as a thunderous [i]crack[/i] struck the ceiling. 

The Jabberwock slowly looked down at Henry, a huff of smoke puffing from its nostrils. "[b]So...we meet once again.[/b]" The creature said in a booming voice, haughty and cruel. 

"We've never met before." Henry returned seriously. 

"[b]Not [i]you[/i], insignificant Bearer...my ancient enemy, the Vorpal one.[/b]" The Jabberwocky said in a demeaning tone. 

"Enough chit-chatter." Henry called up, feigning confidence as he (somehow) managed to spin the sword around in a way that looked skilled. "Shall we dance?" He added with a short bow, masking tears that stung his eyes as he realized this may be his last few moments. 

The Jabberwocky said nothing, only roaring mightily once again before charging at Henry, who quickly sidestepped out of the way of its gaping maw, wrinkling his nose as he could smell the creature's breath; which reeked of sulfur and rotten corpses. 

"You know--" Henry began, quickly sprinting across the cave to give as much space as he could between the creature and himself. "They wrote a lovely poem about you. I memorized it, word for word!" He exclaimed, trying to talk to keep himself from losing sanity. 

"[b]Silence! Your evasions will save you naught![/b]" The Jabberwocky shouted, causing the rocks in the cave to shake at its voice. Without warning, the Jabberwocky sent another breath of lightning at Henry; who managed to duck behind a large pillar. He could feel the heat of the lightning against the pillar, and knew that a single hit would be enough to finish him off entirely. To keep himself going, Henry began to retell the poem:

"Twas brillig, and the slithy toves, did gyre and gimble in the wabe..." 

Dodging another lunge from the creature, Henry continued. 

"All mimsy were the borogoves, and the mome raths outgrabe. [i]Beware the Jabberwock[/i], my son! The jaws that..." (Another duck), "...bite! The claws that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun the [i]frumious[/i] Bandersnatch." 

"[b]I shall suffer you *no* longer![/b]" The Jabberwock cried, this time using the claws on the tips of its wings to jab at Henry; who dodged and rolled with great reflex, barely missing the sharp talons. As one of the wings neared him, he swiped at it with the Vorpal blade, incurring a cry of wrath from the Jabberwock; who recoiled in pain at the blow. 

"I HAVEN'T FINISHED MY POEM YET, YOU INCONSIDERATE WRETCH!!" Henry cried at the top of his lungs; letting the adrenaline pump through his veins. 

"He took his Vorpal sword in hand; long time the manxome foe he sought— So rested he by the Tumtum tree, and stood awhile in thought. And as, in uffish thought he stood, the Jabberwock, with eyes of flame, came whiffling through the Tulgey Wood, and burbled as it came!" 

The Jabberwock, at this time, was growing increasingly impatient, for no meal had been so evasive or [i]irritating[/i] before Henry. Abruptly turning around, it swept its large tail to the side with tremendous force, colliding with Henry and sending him flying back into a rock formation; dropping the Vorpal blade in the process. Henry crumpled to the ground with the wind knocked out of him. 

Henry tried to climb to his feet weakly, managing only to fall to the ground once again; wheezing most terribly as he could feel an excruciating pain in his chest from where the Jabberwock's tail hit him. Bright lights flashed before his eyes and he became lightheaded and dizzy, his field of vision turning blurry and hazy. 

"One...t-two, one..." Henry stumbled again, the terrible laugh of the Jabberwock ringing out in his ears. "Two...And through, and through..." 

The Jabberwock cackled almost amusedly as it watched Henry struggle to move once again. "[b]Such *false* resolve. Prepare for the End, [i]Hero[/i]...[/b]" The Jabberwock stated threateningly before lifting its neck up, preparing to unleash another gust of lightning from its mouth. 

Henry made no motion to move, too tired and weak to even try and defend himself as he could feel himself fading away to unconsciousness. Just as his eyes were closing, he felt an impulse to open them once again; and look out in front of him.

Looking up weakly, Henry saw not the Jabberwocky, but instead a vision of those he met in Storybrooke and those from time gone past, each looking as they did in the Enchanted Forest. 

[i]"Stand up."[/i] Said a deep, emotionless voice as the [url=http://gentlemint.com/media/images/2012/03/06/67c0c490.jpg.650x650_q85.jpg]Steel Monger[/url] stepped out in front of Henry; woodsman's axe in hand. However, a fine mist seemed to envelop the machine, and it faded away into [url=http://38.media.tumblr.com/c9ca3094b4e738e8e8a93bc412705a2f/tumblr_mkjmbx3j1m1rkeh8to4_1280.jpg]Nick Chopper[/url] who repeated, "[i]Stand up, Henry."[/i] 

“[i]One last push, Cat.[/i]” Said [url= http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OPElzyw6r_k/T3JDfgb2QTI/AAAAAAAACcQ/uD5IlLYb6AM/s1600/Sebastian+Stan+as+Jefferson+The+Mad+Hatter+in+Once+Upon+A+Time+OUAT+S01E17+2.png]Jefferson[/url], who stepped forward next, a grim look on his face.

“[i]Tick-tock, dearie, tick-tock! Time’s wasting…[/i]” Came the shrill voice of [url= http://mjtrim.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/ouat-rumple.jpg?w=550]Rumpelstiltskin[/url], who held a pocket-watch in his hand. 

“[i]I know you can do it, Alexandre.”[/i] Heather said softly, daring an almost loving smile as she did so, moving up with the others. 

“[i]You’re the Savior, Chesh…[/i]” Said [url= http://serialobzor.ru/upload/blogs/0c8b44bc3ca841ac443bbacfd5421f50.jpg]Snow White[/url], who appeared in front of Henry as well.

"[i]Stand up, Edric...for us.[/i]" Came [url=http://www.teenvogue.com/images/entertainment/movies/2014-07/odeya-rush-01.jpg]Alice's[/url] sweet voice from the back as she stepped forth, looking Henry directly in the eyes. 

"[i]For all of us, lad.[/i]" Came one last voice, thick with an Irish accent as a tall, burly [url=http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/19800000/WANTED-2008-thomas-kretschmann-19842005-332-500.jpg?1413858777818]man[/url] stepped forward, dressed in a work apron and tunic, holding a hammer in his hand. 

"P-Papa?" Henry said meekly as he looked upon the Carpenter with shocked surprise, the older man’s weathered face curving into a small smile as a response. 

Overcome with a new feeling of willpower and resolve, Henry slowly rose to his feet; the pain in his chest seeming to subside as he lifted the Vorpal blade from the ground, holding onto the hilt tightly. 

The people in front of him, friends, allies, associates; all began to fade away; for their purpose had been fulfilled. 

As the Jabberwocky charged its breath, Henry could see a single spot on its chest that shone a magnificent purple, resonating like a heartbeat. 

"The Vorpal blade went snicker-snack… He left it dead, and with its head, he went galumphing back." Henry said quietly, his tone hoarse and cacophonic, but filled with resolve as he threw the sword with all the might he could muster. 

Time seemed to slow down as the blade whirled through the air, the Jabberwock just about to deliver the killing blast when the sword plunged itself deeply into the creature's glowing chest. 

Letting out an ear-splitting roar of agony, the Jabberwocky flailed violently as a bright light enveloped it fully; disintegrating it into a pile of smouldering ash, the Vorpal blade clattering aimlessly next to it. 

Henry, now overcome by pain and fatigue, collapsed to the ground, unable to hold himself up anymore. "I did it." He told himself quietly, feeling at the key around his neck as if to personally tell Alice. "I did it for everyone." He added tiredly

Lying there for what felt like hours, Henry gathered enough strength to crawl over to the still-smoking ash pile, seeing a large, egg-shaped object sitting atop the pile. Reaching for the strangely-cool object, something inside Henry told him that this [i]was[/i] it. 

Rising slowly to his feet, Henry took the Vorpal sword in hand and made the long trek back to the elevator; collapsing to the ground as soon as he entered. In a half-awake voice, Henry called for Mark to begin powering the elevator once again, taking the time now to finish the poem:

[i]“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
 Come to my arms, my beamish boy…
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
 He chortled in his joy..."[/i]