: Because Isaac broke the Author's code by writing himself a happy ending, he loses his powers. Henry is chosen as the new Author and uses Regina's "Light Savior" blood as ink to restore the world to its original state. The Storybrooke Aftermath
is the 23rd episode and second half of the two-hour Season 4 finale of Once Upon a Time , which originally aired on May 10, 2015. The episode concludes the "Heroes and Villains" arc, following Henry’s quest to restore reality after the Author, Isaac Heller, rewrote the lives of the residents of Storybrooke into a "Bizarro" Enchanted Forest where villains win and heroes lose. Plot Summary [S4E23] Operation Mongoose (2)
: In the rewritten world, familiar characters have swapped roles: Snow White is a cruel Evil Queen, Regina is a powerless bandit, and Rumplestiltskin is a valiant "Light One" knight. Emma is imprisoned in a tower without magic, while Hook is a cowardly deckhand. : Because Isaac broke the Author's code by
: During a confrontation at the church, Regina chooses to save Henry from a fatal blow by Rumplestiltskin, proving her growth as a hero even in a world where she has no memory of him. The episode concludes the "Heroes and Villains" arc,
: Before dying from the darkness's attack, the Apprentice reveals that only the Sorcerer, Merlin , has the power to destroy the darkness forever, setting the stage for Season 5. Key Revelations & Details Once Upon a Time season 4 finale recap: Operation Mongoose