Disclaimers: See Episode VI for more information.

The events in this chapter coincide with the episodes "Heartless" and "I'll Be Your Mirror", from Season 6 of the ABC television show "Once Upon a Time". Like OUAT's Season 6 Episode 8 "I'll Be Your Mirror", there won't be any flashbacks for this chapter. So, we're in the present day for this chapter. But we'll get to see Frodo on an adventure again. :)

Chapter Six:

The Mirror World

X-X-X

The Evil Queen, after finally getting what she wanted, put Snow White and David's heart under a sleeping curse. Now caught under the curse, where when Snow kissed David, David fell into a deep slumber.

That isn't the only problem. Convinced that he must do something, Frodo traveled to Bilbo's house, hoping he could at last find out what was going on with him and why his Darkness remained in the shadows this whole time…

X-X-X

Bilbo's House, Storybrooke, Maine – The Present

Frodo walked up the steps to Bilbo's house. How long had it been since he'd been here? It was just as long as it had been when he last saw Bilbo. No. He needed to speak to his uncle. That was wise.

He knocked on the door three times, expecting an answer. The door opened, but… no. Bilbo was standing there, alarmed.

"Bilbo, what is it?" Frodo asked. "My Darkness. He's not here, is he?"

"I think you need to run," Bilbo murmured aloud.

"What?" He was confused. He spoke, plain and simple, "Bilbo, I'm not leaving you here, not until I get a straight answer."

"You won't have to," said a familiar, dark voice. Frodo turned around, facing his Darkness. He hadn't changed a bit. "You honestly think you can come here at this hour? Not when I have so many things to teach your uncle about you, about us, about this whole bitter darkness that's writhing inside your chest."

"If you…" Frodo moved towards his darkness, only to be grabbed by Bilbo. "Let go!"

"NO! Frodo," Bilbo said, standing out on the porch. "We need not intimidate him. Not yet. Besides, I've got this."

"You've got this?" Frodo asked him, concerned. "How long have you been harboring him? Why couldn't you come to me sooner."

"Because your darkness is here," Bilbo explained, serious, "and I didn't want to give you away, or your plans."

"No," Frodo's Darkness declared, pulling out a mirror in a gold frame, "no, you wouldn't. You were just trying to protect him. I'm not surprised. Although, your nephew has become quite a nuisance as of late. And you want to know what I intend to do with him, using this mirror?"

"Don't. Please… ah!" Frodo spoke too soon. The blue mist surrounded him, encased him until… he was gone, inside the mirror. He wasn't the only one shocked. Bilbo stared at the spot where Frodo had been. But it was too late. It was… too late.

"Nephew," Bilbo said, shocked. He turned to Frodo's Darkness. "I will find a way to free him. You wait and see. I'll find him again." He jumped back a little as Frodo's Darkness reappeared in front him from a puff of black smoke.

"You'll do what to me?" Frodo's Darkness declared. He shoved Bilbo inside the house, revealing his other prize: Samwise Gamgee, tied to a chair. "This is what happens when you get in my way." He slammed the door behind him and Bilbo. "Now. Let's start again, nicer this time." He grinned wickedly. "We have so much to learn, so much I want to teach you. So, let's do this quietly. Our work has only just begun."

The World Behind the Mirrors – The Present

Frodo awoke with a splitting headache. He was used to them, he guessed. But… everything seemed fuzzy. The light was returning, but it was a sunset over a darkened cloudy sky. And there were mirrors. Lots and lots of mirrors. He stood up, hardly knowing what would happen, but… wait. Was that Emma and Regina's voices. Maybe they could help him.

"Emma! Regina! Hey!" Frodo waved his hands in the air. They were at a near distance from them. If only he could… reach them. A barrier propelled him back inside a stone gazebo. He shook himself off, but felt… alone. "Why can't I reach them?"

"You can't," said a slithering voice. Frodo whirled around, only to come face to face with a massive boa constrictor.

"You," Frodo asked, timidly, "you can talk."

The snake giggled behind his teeth. "Why yes I can. I'm Kaa, the owner of this part of the mirror world. Are you lost? Perhaps, if we work together, I can assist you. But that would be too risky. Now wouldn't it? I know a way to get out of this mirror world."

"Really?" Frodo asked, suspicious, "You can help me?"

Kaa giggled a second time. "We can help each other." He asked, prodding at him, "Now tell me, where might you be bound, so I may join you."

"Storybrooke," Frodo answered automatically. Wait. Just what was he doing, trusting a snake?

"Ah yes. Storybrooke," Kaa said. "Yes, I know the place. I know, too, that Sidney Glass was here. He was the Genie behind the Mirror, was he not?"

"Yes," Frodo faced him, "yes, he was."

Bilbo's House, Storybrooke, Maine

"I'm tellin' you, Frodo's Darkness," Sam spat at Frodo's Darkness, surprising him for a moment, "if you don't let me go this instant, I'll…"

"You'll do what?" Frodo's Darkness chuckled. "You know you can't do anything to me without hurting the original host, in this case Mr. Frodo." He smirked. "It's lovely when I'm in control."

"What would you have me do?" Bilbo asked him. "You have everything now. You don't need me anymore."

"Hm." Frodo's Darkness grunted, pulling out a hammer from his backpack. "Let's just say I've been busy helping Rumplestiltskin and Sauron. And this hammer I received from Sauron. It's impenetrable, but it can also bring a person back, once an object is smashed by this very hammer." He passed it to Bilbo. "Go on. Do it." He bestowed on a table a glass apple. "This apple has many uses, but I also intend on bringing the Shadow into Storybrooke. And if you don't know what that is, that creature, you should probably read Inkheart ahead of time. Or watched the movie." He looked up at Bilbo then and there. "Never mind such scrupulous details." He set the mirror down on the table. "You know what you have to do, Bilbo. So, do it."

"Don't Mr. Bilbo," Sam pleaded with Frodo's uncle. "Don't do this."

"Silence!" Frodo's Darkness spoke up. Bilbo stood between them.

"Wait. At least show me where Frodo is," Bilbo said. "I'll do what you ask."

"Fine," Frodo's Darkness said, poofing a circular mirror in a black frame on the wall. The reflection before them was a different world, where Frodo was in the middle of a conversation with a boa constrictor. Frodo's Darkness' attention returned to Bilbo soon after. "Go on. Smash the apple. Never mind what my better half is up to in the mirror. He doesn't have long now. Make your choice, uncle, before it's too late to decide." He added, "We don't have long…"

It was too late for him. Bilbo turned the hammer over to the circular mirror, smashing it. A blue mist swarmed the mirror's reflection, stunning everyone inside the house.

The World Behind the Mirrors

Kaa chuckled, his body shaking like waves as he laughed. "Why yes, Sidney was here. Quite an interesting storyteller. He received the best news from me." He asked, curious, "By the way, how is the Jungle? I dearly love to see it… what's that?"

"Hm…" Frodo turned around too soon. The blue mist took him, engulfing him and, with invisible hands, dragging him through the mirror.

"NOO! WAIT! FRODO… WAIT—" Kaa lunged forward, but was pulled back by his wooden perch. The blue mist was gone and so was his meal. Kaa tapped his cheek with his makeshift hand. "Oh bother. Just another helpless victim… or two… that I could have eaten. Oh well. Back to hunting for mirror birds." He slithered on, through the mirror maze and into the mirror forest, where he hoped to find his next meal. He just hadn't expected that. Now what was he to do? How would he get out of this mirror world prison now?

Bilbo's House, Storybrooke, Maine

Frodo collapsed on the wood floor and a red carpet. His head swarmed a bit. The moment passed, relieving him of his distress. He no longer saw mirrors about the room. He was back in Bilbo's house, and to his relief, being embraced and helped up by his uncle.

"Uncle!" Frodo cried, shocked at first but delighted to see him. "Thank you. That was you, wasn't it?"

"Well, yes, it was me," Bilbo said. He turned to Frodo's Darkness, as Frodo rushed over to assist Sam with his bonds. He told Frodo's Darkness, "You see. You haven't won."

"Not yet, but I do intend on bringing bigger fish into the harbor, bay, fray," Frodo's Darkness sneered. "Just as well." He turned to his better half. "You've lost, Frodo! Surely you knew that. I have control of this house, the Mirror World, and anywhere else you…" He grunted the second Sam punched him in the stomach. Frodo felt the pain, too. It was almost revolting, but as he recovered so did his Darkness. Frodo's Darkness told Sam, "You have a good arm, Sam. And a good fist."

"Just leave my friends alone." Sam warned him, "You mess with them, you mess with me."

Frodo's Darkness chuckled. "Is that so? Bilbo's still in my power."

"Not anymore," Frodo said.

"I agree," Bilbo said, turning to Frodo's Darkness, "Even you aren't that strong enough. You'll never have my family, nor take them away again. I'll guarantee that you don't."

"Then enjoy your vacation, Bilbo," Frodo's Darkness said. "It may very well be your last day." He poofed himself out through a cloud of black smoke. Frodo turned from his uncle to his best friend. What had conspired today, he feared, wouldn't be the last he'd see of his Darkness. Then again, Sam had quite a good punch.

"I'm sorry about your stomach, Mr. Frodo," Sam apologized.

"Don't worry about it," Frodo said. "He's gone." He was referring to his Darkness, which he also feared was still in Storybrooke. At least they had peace now, didn't they?

-.-.-

Sam's House, Storybrooke, Maine – Sunset

Rosie Cotton-Gamgee/Samantha Willow just finished changing hers and Sam's two-week-old baby boy. He was their fourth child and already blossomed to life. And yet, Rosie's attention turned to the front door, when Sam/Curtis entered their home.

"How is he?" Sam asked, curious. "Merry-lad?"

"What happened to you? You've been gone all day. I was so worried…" Rosie was cut off when Sam lunged in and planted a kiss on her lips. Sam knew it meant something to her, so when they released, they hugged, as if they wouldn't let each other go. Rosie, on the other hand, was eager for a story. "Tell me what happened today. Was there danger?"

"Yes, but… Frodo's Darkness has fled. I will find him," Sam said, "as will Mr. Frodo and Mr. Bilbo. I won't forget what happened at Mordor. My friends need me."

"I know, Sam," Rosie said. "Then you must go with them, but be sure to be back home before dinner. Promise me."

"That's a promise I will keep," Sam said. He raised a finger, "Excuse me." He darted out the door, meeting Frodo and Bilbo by the front gate. "What?"

"So you and Rosie, huh?" Frodo said, folding his arms and grinning.

"We're quite happy that you found a home, Sam," Bilbo said.

"Hey, do you want to step inside and have some dinner? Rosie's bound to good a hearty meal," Sam asked his friends.

"Sure," Frodo said, grinning. The very thought made him think of all the times he shared with Pearl, Elsa and now Mindy. Would he even consider having dinner again with a lady? The very thought…

"Let's go inside. Frodo?" Bilbo turned to him.

"I'm coming," Frodo said. Half the time he looked back, expecting to see a ghost. Or perhaps Mindy… oh. Why bother? But he couldn't stop thinking about it, wondering what his final moment would be. As he entered Sam's house, a vision swirled in his head, concerning the hooded figure and his battle against him. There wasn't any ship now. His future was set… or was it? He had to beat this. He just had to, but where would he begin unraveling this mystery?

There was still a lot more work to be done, before Frodo's story ended. He would have to start getting busy, finding out how to stop his death or worse. But first, he would eat with friends and family, where it was safe. But how was he to accomplish this goal? And where was his Darkness now? Probably hatching a new scheme or rather… something sinister.

-.-.-

Sauron's House, Storybrooke, Maine – Late Sunset

Frodo's Darkness splashed into Sauron's house, dripping wet and soaked in an air of dark stormy clouds. The effort caused Sauron to laugh out loud in full empathy, but also envy. It was as if he won this battle, which wasn't really a battle in his opinion. Oh well. Back to empathy.

"Look at yourself," Sauron said, returning to his sneering glare, trying hard not to laugh again, "A dark cloud spitting out of your perspiration and fear. If you weren't sweating underneath those black robes, I would say that you ought to find yourself tired of ruining Frodo's happiness, like he did mine."

"That isn't the point!" Frodo's Darkness hissed, slapping a folder on the table. "That's your order of things, isn't it, Sauron, the Most Evil Dark Lord in all the land?" He added, waving a hand to clear the dark cloud and the raindrops. "Next to Maleficent, but she's too busy with her daughter to find her husband. So that leaves you to finish off the dirty work involved."

"What's your point?" Sauron said. "You lost. So let someone else take control. Another Dark Lord for example."

"Who? Me, right?" Frodo's Darkness smiled. "Come on. You know this face is pure and clean, and dead set on ruining Frodo's happiness."

Sauron stood up, fury in his eyes. "Hey you! The only one who is taking care of these villains is me. The one who is dead set on defeating the heroes is me." He warned Frodo's Darkness. "I warn you, Frodo's Darkness, you will not take my spotlight again."

"What do you – mean?" Frodo's Darkness choked as Sauron gripped his neck.

"I could split you and Frodo for good, if I wanted to." Sauron released his hand, hardly noticing Frodo's Darkness coughing and sputtering hard on the wood-paneled floor. "But I think I'll let you live, while I do things my way. It's time to give your better half a message. And I know right where to begin. Where it all began." He looked out the window. "At the clock tower. And once I have my revenge, do you know what will happen to you? You won't survive, not even unto the night." He added last, in confirmation. "It's time this Dark Lord came out of hiding, once and for all."