Disclaimer: I don't own these characters! All rights go to Once Upon A Time for their amazing characters, and Hans Christian Andersen for inspiring my little snow queen.

...

Storybrooke

It has been over three hour since Zelena forced Adanna into her room. Adanna still hasn't come out to talk to her mother about Rumplestiltskin, though so many questions crowd her head it almost hurts. She looks at the digital clock on her nightstand. It's nine p.m. and Adanna is hungry as hell. She hadn't had dinner because of the unwillingness to go confront Zelena.

Adanna rushes over to lock the door and then shoves some pillows under her blankets to make it look like a person is sleeping there. It won't fool her mother, but it should buy some time. Adanna opens the window and a rush of cool air hits her face. With a wild grin on her face, Adanna climbs out the window, pulls the curtains together and closes the window.

She figures Zelena will most likely be in the cellar with the Dark One, so Adanna takes a walk down to Storybrooke.

She walks along the sidewalk to Granny's Diner. She knew that most likely nobody would want to see her, and she is on her mother's side for the battle, but she feels bad about leaving such a mess at the Diner.

She opens the door of the diner and the bell jingles. The diner still has snow in little nooks and crannies, and people are eating, cleaning, and talking. Once Adanna enters, everybody looks up to stare at her. She tries to sound confident.

"I'm not here for trouble," she says. "I got in trouble with my mother, so I got hungry."

People still look at her, and Adanna trembles. Granny looks at her with a scowl on her face.

"May I help you clean up?" Adanna asks. "I feel awfully bad about the scene with my mother."

"I guess," Ruby mutters, and shoves the broom and dustpan into Adanna's hands.

"There is no need," Adanna says and sets the cleaing supplies down. She holds her hands out and everybody takes cover. "Oh, come on. I am not going to turn you all into popsicles. I feel awful enough, so go ahead and rub it in. All I need is more salt in my cuts."

They all rise slightly, still unsure. Adanna holds her hands back out to either side of her and slowly pulls her hands inward. Responding, the snow lifts itself from everywhere inside the diner and flies toward her hands. Once the snow is all gathered above Adanna's hands, she wraps her hands around it. When she pulls her hands apart, the snow is gone.

Everybody is still staring.

"Ma'am," Adanna says, looking at Granny. "How much would two hot chocolates cost?"

Once Adanna receives the hot chocolates and gets back home, she suspects Zelena has gone to bed, to exhausted to go on grilling the man in the cage.

Carefully and quietly, Adanna clasps her hands together, and once she pulls them apart, there is a key of ice sitting in her palms. She shoves it in the lock and the door to the cellar opens. There is no light, and no sound save that of a spinning wheel.

"Hello?" Adanna calls. The wheel stops. The girl closes the cellar door, climbs down the stairs and turns on the light.

The Dark One sits there on the stool, staring at her. There is a cut on his left cheek, but other than that, he looks just like she had first seen him.

"I brought hot chocolate from Granny's." Adanna says and hands him a warm cup. "I suspected you don't get those anymore. Being locked up in a cage and all."

"Thank you, dearie," the man says and takes a sip of the hot chocolate.

"What did you say your name was?" Adanna asks.

"Rumplestiltskin," he says, tipping his head. "At your service."

"Oh, but I don't require your services." Adanna says softly and sips her hot chocolate.

"So tell me then, dearie," Rumplestiltskin says. "Why are you here?"

"To talk." Adanna replies, staring at the cup in her gloved hands. "I have questions."

"And why would I answer them?" Rumplestiltskin gets closer to the cage, and in that moment, his brown eyes flicker amber.

"Because I don't lock people up in cages and beat them to tell me answers. I am patient and don't capture those who are meant to be free." Adanna says, leaning in closer to the cage. "I talk. I am not my mother Rumplestiltskin."

Adanna and the Dark One have a staring contest for a minute, and then they both back up, Adanna on the step of the staircase and Rumplestiltskin back on his stool.

"Obviously," he says and then takes a sip of his warm beverage. "Zelena would never get me a cup of hot chocolate."

"So may I ask you my questions?"

"Ask away, dearie."

"Why did my mother lock you up?"

"Because she needs my power. She needs what I can do for her."

"Why?" Adanna presses. "What does Mother plan on doing?"

"Time travel spell," Rumplestiltskin says. "It has never been done before, and she needs my help to make it happen."

"Wait, but if you really are the Dark One, you wouldn't be imprisoned here. You would probably be off making deals right now."

"Possibly."

"So why are you still here?"

"Because your mother wields my dagger," he says and chugs down the last of his hot chocolate. "Whoever wields the dagger of the Dark One controls him. So your mother controls me."

Adanna is no longer thirsty, and no longer sure what her mother is truly up to. Is this imp lying? Or is the liar Zelena?

"Now answer my questions," Rumplestiltskin says.

"It is only fair," Adanna replies.

"You are her child?" he asks.

"Yes," she replies flatly.

"You don't look it," he says. "Your features remind me a lot of a woman I know. And your personality. Are you sure that the Wicked Witch of the West is your mother?"

Adanna stiffens.

"That's what they're calling her?" she utters under her breath. "That's what they're calling my mother?"

"Dearie, calm down."

"I will not calm down! She was right! You all shunned her and called her awful names. She is an outcast to you!" Adanna backs up.

"Adanna, listen."

"What?" Adanna snaps her head back.

"You know where we are all from?"

"I've heard the term 'the Enchanted Forest,' but Mother always told me that we lived in Oz."

"My point is, we are all from different worlds. Regina is the Evil Queen, and her sister, Zelena, is known as the Wicked Witch of the West."

Adanna's eyes narrow. "Rumplestiltskin, would you lie to me?"

"Possibly."

"Can you vow to me that you are telling me the truth?"

"I vow so."

Adanna gets up and takes the empty cups.

"I have to go, but I shall speak with you tomorrow as soon as I can. I need to know what is really going on. I don't think my mother is telling me the truth."

Adanna turns out the lights and just before she leaves, Rumplestiltskin calls to her.

"What has she told you?"

"That you all thought she wasn't good enough for anything. That royalty always prevails in the end." And with that, Adanna locks the door to the cellar.