This chapter coincides with the rest of the episode "A Tale of Two Sisters", from Season Four of the ABC television show "Once Upon A Time".

Chapter Two:

Attack of the Snow Beast

Storybrooke, Maine – The Present

It was mid-morning when a low bellow rumbled in the distance, interrupting his train of thought. Frodo, or Asher, looked out the window to see a massive white snow monster stampeding through the downtown area of Storybrooke. His cell phone buzzed, causing Asher to answer it as he grabbed his keys. It was Sam, or Curtis, on the other line.

"Asher – I mean, Mr. Frodo," said Curtis.

"Sam, what's happened? I just saw a snow beast out my window," said Asher, heading towards the front door to his apartment.

"Well, whatever that thing is, it's heading towards the forest. We're heading there now, Mr. Merry, Mr. Pippin, and me," said Curtis.

"What about Gandalf?" Asher asked, unlocking his front door.

"He's meeting us there. He suspects the monster's heading to Robin Hood's camp," said Curtis.

"I'm on my way," said Asher, closing his cell phone. He locked the front door, rushing downstairs to the front of the building.

Buckland, the Shire, Middle-earth – The Past

As soon as he dressed, twelve-year-old Frodo retreated to his new bedroom. His mind still reeled over the loss of his parents. Nothing could bring them back. He felt more alone now in this silent room. He could hear footsteps approach his bedroom, yet he said nothing. No tears streamed down his face. Oh, how he wanted to cry. He peered at the open doorway as his Uncle Saradoc Brandybuck son of Rorimac "Rory" Brandybuck, who was actually Frodo's great-uncle, entered his bedroom.

"Frodo, your aunt wanted to know if you were up and about," said Saradoc.

Frodo let out a small grunt, but said nothing. All he could do was stare. His heart felt in too much pain. He watched Saradoc as he sat down on the bed next to him.

"You know, it's all right to grieve. But then people grieve in different ways," said Saradoc.

"I know that," said Frodo.

Saradoc patted Frodo's small leg. "You'll find a way to release those tears, Frodo." He moved his hand off Frodo's leg, resting it on his leg.

"I'm fine, uncle," said Frodo.

"If you need anything…"

"I'll talk to you. Thank you, Uncle Saradoc," said Frodo. "I think I can handle myself."

"Well, come to breakfast whenever you feel ready," said Saradoc, getting up and leaving the room.

"Yea," said Frodo, thinking of a way he could distract himself from his grief. Then it occurred to him as Saradoc fell out of earshot. He murmured to himself, "Farmer Maggot. Why didn't I think on it before?" He grunted in satisfaction. Maybe stealing some mushrooms was the answer to distracting himself from his grief. He hoped it was the solution.

Storybrooke, Maine – The Present

Asher, or Frodo, drove close to the woods. Once he parked his car, Asher stepped out, hid his keys inside his pocket, and fled into the forest. He ran for a while until he reached Robin Hood's campsite, where Curtis, or Sam, and Michael, or Gandalf, were waiting for him to arrive.

The second Asher, or Frodo, approached the two he asked them, "Hey, did anyone else come?"

Curtis, or Sam, pointed out Emma, Hook, and David approaching the campsite. Just then, the same roaring noise sounded. What Asher, or Frodo, saw surprised him. Frodo was looking at a giant snow monster heading their way. It was then Hook told Emma to use her magic on the snow beast. Emma blasted her light magic at the snow beast, but only irritated it. Just like that, everyone was knocked unconscious… well, almost everyone. Gandalf was still awake and standing, while Marian came to, just as Regina arrived on the scene. As Gandalf blasted the snow beast with a fireball, which only affected the snow beast enough to knock it on its knees, the snow beast was destroyed thanks to Regina's fire magic.

It was then Asher, Curtis, Emma, Hook, David, Robin Hood, and the Merry Men came to. Gandalf helped Frodo and Sam to their feet. Before Emma could get Regina, Regina vanished in a purple smoke.

Curtis told Michael, "Thanks."

"Thank you. I'll be fine," said Asher, seeing the concerned look on Michael's face.

Curtis looked at Asher, "Asher – Mr. Frodo, you've been in your apartment all day until now. What is it?"

Michael was also interested at Asher's business.

Asher looked at Curtis then, with the serious thought in mind. "If I can just discuss this with you, Sam; right now, I'm not ready to discuss this with anyone else… at my apartment, if you don't mind."

"Sure, but what for?" asked Curtis, confused.

"It's about my parents. I don't want to tell anyone else. You're the only one I can trust right now with this secret," said Asher. He looked at Michael then.

Michael understood. "I'll stay out of your way, but if there's anything you need…"

"I know, Gandalf. You'll be there in an instant," said Asher.

"I'll meet you at your apartment, all right?" asked Curtis. "Do you want me to walk you to your car?"

"No, I'll see you there," said Asher. He took off, heading in the direction of his car.

The Shire, Middle-earth – The Past

Twelve year old Frodo clambered and ran through Farmer Maggot's corn field. Maggot's dogs were on the hunt for him, but Frodo tore through the corn field without stopping. He had his prize: some of the freshest mushrooms grown in Bamfurlong. He knew he needed to revel in this moment, once he returned to what was now his home. Although Frodo did drop some mushrooms along the way, and his feet were red and sore from running fast, he kept going. He did not stop until he reached Brandy Hall in Buckland, but by then the dogs had stopped chasing him.

"Yes!" panted Frodo in relief. He proved victorious: a success in stealing mushrooms from the infamous Farmer Maggot. He would have to try that again. Just as he grabbed one of Aunt Esmeralda's baskets and plopped the mushrooms in it, figuring it was best if his aunt did not ask questions about where he'd been, or so he hoped, Frodo heard a high-pitched chuckle coming from near the smial. He turned upon seeing a man with gold-speckled skin and wearing crocodile-skinned leather clothes. The man also had shoulder-length dark hair. Frodo ignored the man, only telling him as he hoped to get inside the hobbit-house before anyone saw him, "Sir."

As Frodo entered the smial and closed the door, he was stunned to see the gold-speckled man inside the hobbit-hole. Frodo looked back at a nearby window, but didn't see the gold-speckled man. Then he heard him again in the kitchen:

"Looking for me, deary!" asked the gold-speckled man, cheerfully.

Frodo, alarmed and frustrated, picked up his mushroom basket and walked into the kitchen. "I didn't invite you in. Who are you and why are you trespassing?"

"Trespassing? Weren't you just trespassing, Frodo Baggins?" asked the gold-speckled man.

Frodo was in shock. "How do you know my name? I didn't give it."

"Nor I. Allow me to introduce myself: Rumplestiltskin at your service," said Rumplestiltskin, bowing before the hobbit boy.

"I didn't ask for any servants," said Frodo. He said, gruffly, hoping Rumplestiltskin would go away. "Good day, sir."

"Nor I," repeated Rumplestiltskin. "But I do love children."

Frodo was once again in shock. "What do you want with me? I have nothing."

"You do have those lovely mushrooms. Ah ha!" Rumplestiltskin took a single mushroom from Frodo's basket. "Thank you, deary. Now that I have my payment, I will in turn offer you something. Call it a fair deal, if you don't mind."

"I do mind," said Frodo, growing suspicious. He had to do the right thing here. There was no denying it. "You don't have anything I can ever want or need."

"What about your parents? Wouldn't you like to know their fates? You don't need a letter to learn where they went, before you were born," said Rumplestiltskin.

Frodo hesitated. Maybe this man did know something he didn't about his parents. He turned to Rumplestiltskin and said, "I'm listening. What is it you know of my parents?"

"Only that they went to another land called Arendelle. You interested now? Would you like to know more about what happened to your parents whilst they were over there?" asked Rumplestiltskin.

"I can't just get up and leave, like Bilbo did. People would become suspicious," said Frodo.

"Oh. Then leave them a note and we'll travel there now. Take the mushrooms with you. They may prove useful for food. I'll gladly escort you there and back. Do we have a deal?" asked Rumplestiltskin, extending his hand.

Frodo hesitated but, wondering if Rumplestiltskin would keep his word, shook his hand. "It's a deal." The two released. Frodo asked Rumple, "How do we get to this land: Arendale it's called?"

"Arendelle and I'll show you the way, but first that letter," said Rumplestiltskin.

"Right. I'll get on it and meet you back here," said Frodo, about to head out of the kitchen.

"Oh, there's no need for that," said Rumplestiltskin, magically giving to Frodo a blank piece of parchment and a white quill.

So twelve year old Frodo wrote a note and left it on the kitchen counter. Once that was done, Frodo grabbed his basket of mushrooms and traveled with Rumplestiltskin through a portal in the air.

Storybrooke, Maine – The Present

At Asher's apartment, Asher, or Frodo, found he was the first to arrive. He waited a few minutes until Curtis, or Sam, arrived and knocked on his front door. Frodo answered and let Sam inside, before closing the front door. Sam looked around the apartment in confusion.

"What is it? Why did you want to speak to me in private, Mr. Frodo?" asked Curtis.

"Come with me. I have something to show you," said Asher, leading Curtis into his bedroom.

"Look, Mr. Frodo, I'm sure your parents were great hobbits. There's nothing they could keep from you that we don't already know," said Curtis.

Asher pulled out the letter, still in the open envelope, and handed it to his best friend. "Take a look at it, Sam. It's all right. You can read it aloud."

Hesitant but obeying Frodo's orders, Sam opened the letter. He read it aloud, "'My Darling Frodo, I know this will be difficult to explain, but you must understand what became of us and how you were born. Your father and I traveled to Arendelle, a land filled with magic as ours is but of a different sort, to make sure I was pregnant with you. The trolls there were a big part in helping us ensure you were going to be born. You see, I was left barren due to what happened to your father's house. Thanks to what we did in Arendelle, the curse on his house was lifted and I was with child: you.

"'But this is not the only news I have to tell you. You see, Middle-earth and Earth are connected in more than one way. Magic does exist in both worlds. No matter what happens, we and all the inhabitants of Middle-earth can still use some sort of magic outside boundaries that the majority would say contains no magic. Don't believe what certain people will tell you about magical and non-magical worlds. All worlds have their magic, whether by nature, other forces, Eru Ilúvatar, etcetera.

"'While this letter may be a warning, it's also a first clue in your search for answers. Know that your father and I love you with all our hearts. Don't believe that Middle-earth/Earth is the only world that exists. Other lands exist as well. Your Mother.'" Sam looked up at Frodo, who looked as if his heart was heavy. "Mr. Frodo… I don't know what to say."

"Nor I. There's something else I forgot to mention to you, all those years ago. I knew the truth long before I read this letter. It was a long time ago and Rumplestiltskin – Mr. Gold was there with me for the beginning and for half of the journey. In a way, we're connected through an old deal we made. I don't think it's ended. The truth is I knew there were other worlds, other lands out there, thanks to him," said Frodo.

Sam, or Curtis, sat down on the bed next to Frodo, or Asher. "Mr. Frodo, you can't be serious. What is it that you know?"

The Shire, Middle-earth – The Past

Esmeralda Brandybuck entered the kitchen, calling Frodo's name. It was nearly luncheon and Frodo was nowhere around. That's when she saw the letter on the kitchen counter. It read in fine inked handwriting, in Frodo's handwriting:

Uncle Saradoc and Aunt Esmeralda,

I can't explain where I've gone or what has happened. Rumplestiltskin's taken me to Arendelle, the land where my parents were before I was born. He won't say anything else, but I'm sure to find answers there.

Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I promise I will return soon.

Your Nephew,

Frodo

The letter was unbelievable. How had Frodo learnt to write a letter, when he said it himself he never learned how to read or write his letters for the first time? The whole thing was suspicious, but was this truly in Frodo's handwriting? Something was very off. And who was this Rumplestiltskin?

Esmeralda called, "Saradoc, I found a letter. It's in Frodo's handwriting, or so I hope."

Saradoc arrived in the kitchen, took the letter, and read it to himself. The writing style and the way it read definitely sounded similar to the way Frodo talked. It couldn't be. He read the letter to himself before telling Esmeralda. "Esmeralda, we have to find him. I know where to begin looking for him."

"You do. How?" asked Esmeralda.

"Because Frodo's parents brought me to Arendelle once, a long time ago," said Saradoc. "Come on. You'll need your cloak and a fresh supply of food and dresses and…"

"Yes, I know how to pack, Saradoc," said Esmeralda, heading off at once in search of a pack. Saradoc, in the meantime, searched for his walking stick.

Storybrooke, Maine – The Present

Frodo, or Asher, gave Sam, or Curtis, his answer. "Arendelle was where it began for them, my parents. It's where they fell in love. Before that, it's where my grandfather's curse truly started on my father's house."

About Frodo's parents' backstory behaving similarly to the plot from "Into the Woods" with the baker and his wife, that I did not intend. Hopefully, I can make the plot different than the plot from "Into the Woods", as I'm sure an idea will come along. What I do hope comes around from this is that this is a similar yet inspired plot from "Into the Woods". Of course, this is a crossover with "Once Upon A Time", so expect inspiration... now I'm sounding like Anna from "Frozen".