When a show like Once Upon a Time is full of heroes, it's easy to see every character in the storyline as brave. But that's not always the case. Once Upon a Time spotlights a lot of different characters that fairy tales paint as damsels in distress and gives them new dimensions. It does the same with fairy tale villains, giving them more layers than they might have had in their original story.
As a result, not all of the heroes have the same amount of bravery, and not every villain is motivated by fear. Some of the bravest characters in the series begin their journey as a villain, and some of the heroes have children who are even braver than they are.
Mr. Gold/Rumplestiltskin
Though Rumplestiltskin might be one of the most fascinating characters and the most beloved in the series, that doesn't mean he's the bravest. His entire arc in the show involves him overcoming his cowardice.
Rumplestiltskin's backstory includes him growing up in fear of his father, avoiding war because of his fear of loss, and embracing darkness as a way to stop feeling powerless. By the end of the series, Rumplestiltskin is much braver than he is at the start, but nearly every character in the show demonstrates more bravery than he does on a regular basis.
Killian/Hook
Some fans might better know this character as Captain Hook. In his past, he certainly does a lot of things the audience can label as cowardly, but over time, he changes his ways, and much like Rumplestiltskin, becomes one of the best characters in Once Upon a Time.
Killian becomes a man of his word, and someone willing to place himself in harm's way when other people are in danger. He bravely turns his life around while still allowing Emma and her family to see all of the bad parts of his past, accepting the consequences when they see the worst of him, and atoning for his actions.
Leroy/Grumpy
One of the dwarves in Snow White's story, Leroy is the member of the seven that tends to get the most screen time in Once Upon a Time. He's always there when Snow White, Prince David, or Emma Swan need a helping hand.
Leroy never hesitates to jump into action either. It's hard to determine if he's as brave of a character as someone like Show White herself only because the audience doesn't see him in action as often as the central heroes of the story. It's entirely possible that he's more impulsive than brave, but his tendency to put his life on the line for his friends and his town make him outrank Rumpelstiltskin and Killian at the very least.
Belle
Just as in the original Beauty and the Beast tale, this version of Belle finds herself living with the "beast" and having to take care of his household in her fairy tale origin. The twist, of course, is that this beast is actually an incredibly powerful magic .
Belle always stands up for herself, even when the person she's standing up to is much more powerful. She doesn't have the innate ability to harness magic that Regina and Emma do, but that doesn't stop her from trying to do the right thing and combat the darkness in others.
Ruby
Once Upon a Time's version of Little Red Riding Hood isn't simply a naive young woman who finds herself in trouble. Instead, she can turn into a wolf herself, and she's more than willing to be the hero instead of the damsel in distress.
Though Ruby is considered one of the main characters in the series, she doesn't get to participate in all of the adventures, and a lot of fans felt she didn't get a satisfying ending on Once Upon a Time. She does end up on a journey of her own in another world, along with The Wizard of Oz's Dorothy at one point, getting her own storyline for a short time. Ruby proves that she can handle intense adventures and that she can open herself up to love in an unexpected place.
Charming/David
The Prince Charming of Snow White's story doesn't always seem to understand quite what's going on, but David is a noble person who just wants to do what's right. His desire to do the right thing tends to outweigh everything else, which is what makes him brave.
He stands up to Regina because of his love for Snow but grows into someone who will fight on behalf of everyone. Outside of the magical world, he even becomes a police officer, trying to protect the citizens of Storybrooke in the same way he would have protected those in the Enchanted Forest. Time and again, David is willing to put his own life on the line for his family and friends.
Mary Margaret/Snow White
Mary Margaret seems like a mild-mannered teacher who would never be able to stand up for herself. And while she is sweet and kind, that doesn't mean she's not brave, especially when she's no longer boxed in by the teacher persona created for her by Regina's spell.
The real Mary Margaret is Snow White. Though she's incredibly naive as a child and ends up in a lot of trouble due to her innocent meddling in Regina's life, she becomes an incredibly brave person. Snow is forced to survive in the Enchanted Forest when Regina has a target on her back. She learns to fend for herself, ally with others who are persecuted and stand up for them.
Regina/Evil Queen
There's no denying that Regina is a sympathetic villain. She becomes so powerful because of all the tragedy that's befallen her. Regina is determined to not let anyone else hurt her, and to have her perfect life. Over time, however, Regina drops the facade and learns to deal with her pain and her fear.
Regina's willingness to grow is what makes her brave more so than any time she stands up to another villain. She learns that she's really her own worst enemy, and just how to deal with her own insecurities. Ultiamtely, she helps to keep the people she cares about safe.
Emma
When her son tracks her down years after he's been adopted, Emma is thrust into a world she doesn't really understand. She's confronted with magic and the idea that fairy tales are real, and while she doesn't initially believe it, she opens her mind to the possibilities all the same. But Emma's embracing of magic and her willingness to fight the bad guys from fairy tales aren't the only things that make her brave.
Emma lives a pretty difficult life long before she is confronted by her fairy tale parents. She grows up in a system that only makes life harder as she struggles to survive. Emma sees every obstacle possible thrown at her at a young age, and she keeps going, hoping for a better life for her son, and using her unique skills to become a detective of sorts. Emma bravely enters the unknown on a regular basis.
Henry
Without Henry, Once Upon a Time never would have happened at all. Henry was brave enough to essentially run away from home to prove that a truly implausible theory about his family was true when he was just a little boy.
Henry is the one who opens Emma's eyes to her own family history and to the world of fairy tales when he finds his mom and brings her back to his hometown. He also manages to get himself in the middle of nearly everyone's adventure in town, just wanting to help make sure that good triumphed in the end. In the show's final season, it's also Henry who, once again, has to delve into his family history in order to help save the day as an adult.