Present Day…Granny's Diner…
"…You did this?..." Regina said, confounded and absolutely devastated.
"I just wanted to save her life," said Emma making a poor attempt at explaining herself.
"You're just like your mother, never thinking of consequences!" said Regina, her devastation turning into fury.
"I didn't know."
"Of course you didn't. Well, you just better hope to hell you didn't bring anything else back." Regina took a few moments doing her best to regain her composure. She looked around the diner, "I'm taking Henry home with me tonight," she stated toward Emma. "Where's Henry? Henry!" Regina called out in the diner.
Henry was sitting at a neighboring booth with his grandparents and saw Mary-Margret and David look up at the interaction, which prompted him to turn around in his booth to do the same. "I'm right here Mom," said Henry as he exited the booth.
"Henry," Regina pleaded. She held on to both of Henry's shoulders looking straight into his eyes. It was her most loving way of being honest with him. Holding on to his shoulders was also a distraction for her hands, preventing them from performing dark magic, "I need you to come home with me tonight. I can't be alone right now. I'm afraid if I stay any longer I'll do something I know I'll regret." She looked up to give Emma a vicious glance. It was taking every ounce of her strength to resist the temptation of lighting a fireball and hurling it towards Emma's face.
"What's wrong? What happened?" implored Henry. He wanted to remedy whatever ailed his mother and was causing her this much pain. He could see the distress on her face and her eyes on the verge of tears.
"I'll tell you when we get home honey, but for now, I need you with me to remind me that I'm… I'm…" Regina stuttered, struggling against a violent reflex, "…still good."
"Ok, Mom. Ok. We'll go," Henry replied, sympathetic to her confliction. He looked over at Emma, "I'll call you later, ok Mom?" Emma nodded obligingly. Henry took Regina's hand and he led her out the door before another fight could break out. Things were going so well tonight, the last thing he wanted was his two moms to feud again.
… …
Somewhere in the dark distance lies the remains of Zelena's shattered residence. In her deserted barn house, Elsa awakens discovering this new land. Seeing the damned urn that Rumplestiltskin used to trap her she pulled off one of her gloves and used her magic to freeze the object, shattering it to a million pieces. She strutted out of the barn house to gain her bearings. Rumplestiltskin must be close by, she thought. She looked left and right, ready to freeze anybody or anything that moved. Ask questions later. Nobody. No castle. Just a forest that surrounded the outskirts of this humble property. Nothing looked familiar. Nothing looked exotic either. She was determined to make things look familiar if she had to create it herself. Although a fire fueled burned within her, she still managed to manipulate ice and snow. She felt a pull to the forest. At least the trees in this land were familiar to those in her land. She looked for the highest vantage point in this new land to rebuild her ice domain. She wanted to get a better look over whatever kingdom her urn had traveled her to.
It was nightfall, so she used the moonlight to guide her up the advantageous hill. She glided to the hillside's plateau, practically floating as she gracefully came to a halt. Not much space, but it will do. She couldn't build her ice castle like she did before, but she could certainly build one that would look down upon the village that twinkled like fireflies in the night. She went to work that night. She created ice crystals and positioned them accordingly to harvest the moon's light. Her ice mansion illuminated, giving off an iridescent glow. She reached the second floor balcony of her mansion and looked down at the Firefly Village, pondering her next move. Elsa stared down at the little town. She couldn't sleep.
She reflected back on how she accidentally froze her entire kingdom. How she removed herself to protect anyone else who may have still been alive. She thought about her sister. The last words she heard from her was of her own name. Was she even alive? Doubtful. Elsa, Queen of Arendelle. This land is definitely not Arendelle. So Queen of… what? She was the ruler of nobody, except for herself. As Queen of herself, her first act would be to find answers. Answers to questions like: What is this land? What kingdom is she in? Where is her kingdom now? But most importantly, where is Rumplestiltskin? As Queen of herself, she demanded justice and retribution for his actions and she wanted to make her presence known.
She looked down at the town casting her hands above it causing the first snowfall of Storybrooke.
... ...
The sun breaks out over the horizon. Storybrooke residents wake up to discover snow had decorated their town like icing on a village of gingerbread houses. Some braved the snow and even stepped outside to play in it while others felt something very ominous about the first inclement weather of Storybrooke and remained indoors. Kristoff stepped out from his little house that was in proximity of the town's stables. He stepped out into the snow without hesitation, but with deep reservations. Something about it was calling him, like destiny. He couldn't remember the last time he experienced snow in Storybrooke, except on the day of Elsa's coronation before the curse. The sight of snow reminded him of home. And when the first snowflake touched his head, he was given a strange surge of hope; that his happy ending was near. He looked up into the sky and smiled as snow continued accumulating on his head.
Snow. Elsa?! He immediately thought. Is there a connection between the two? Or was he jumping too quickly to conclusions? He had to find out. Kristoff took off in his truck and immediately headed into town to settle his doubts and get answers once and for all.
… …
Elsa strutted into the village and with a flick of her wrist froze the billboard that said, "Welcome to Storybrooke". The billboard collapsed from the side of a building, crashing heavily to the ground. She saw its citizens scatter and return to the safety of the shops and homes. Snow continued to fall from the sky as she nonchalantly looked about her in this odd village. She shouted into the cold air, "I demand to speak to a representative of this town! If no one comes forth within fifteen minutes, I shall freeze you all inside your homes unless someone brave comes forward!"
The town ran quiet with fear. Elsa didn't require any amplification because the silence within each home allowed her voice to carry and ricochet off the walls of the surrounding buildings. From within her mansion, Regina could hear her callings. She held on to Henry to protect him as they both heard Elsa's demands. "Henry, stay home. I've got to confront this person that's terrorizing my town."
"Mom, let me come with you I can help."
"No! Call Emma, and keep her on the phone so that we both know you're safe. I'm still the mayor of this town, and as mayor I must do what I need to do to protect the citizens within it."
Regina left Henry's side and grabbed her coat. She attempted to open the front door to her mansion but had no success. Seeing that the door was frozen shut, she threw her hands up in the air using magic to free the door and it burst forth with a loud 'bang'! An immediate wall of cold air rushed inside her mansion blowing wind into Henry's face as she left. Henry did, for the most part, what his mother had asked, but had different plans. He ran upstairs to his bedroom and searched for his cell phone. Three missed calls from his other mother, Emma. He grabbed the cellular device and threw on his coat, following Regina out the front door.
"Finally, my fire will be put to some good use," said Regina to herself as she held up her hand and uncurled her fingers exposing a magical fireball. She threw the balls of fire on the ground melting the ice and snow exposing the cement to Storybrooke's streets. Regina boldly walked down the street, revealing Storybrooke's road as she went. She approached the mysterious woman who threatened her town. "Excuse me, I don't know who you think you are, but no one threatens my town but me."
Elsa spun on her heels facing her threat. They both faced each other in front of Granny's diner. Unbeknownst to the two powerful women, spectators were watching safely through the windows of the establishments along Main Street. Both women had their hands ready, waiting for the other to make the first move. "I am Queen Elsa of Arendelle. Who are you?"
"I am Queen of the Enchanted Forest. Here, I am Madame Mayor of Storybrooke, why have you come here?"
"I have never heard of this Kingdom of Storybrooke."
"That's because I created this place from a curse which removed everyone from the Enchanted Forest to this realm. There are no kingdoms here in Storybrooke."
"Where's Rumplestiltskin?"
"Why do you want to speak with him?"
"Because he and I have unfinished business."
"You're going to have to go through me first before you speak with any one of my citizens."
"My pleasure…"
Elsa slung sheets of icicles and snow towards Regina's direction. Regina used her magic and projected a heated shield melting the incoming ice and snow.
"Mom!" called out Henry.
Just at that moment, Henry ran out from behind a bank of snow to protect his mother. Emma and Hook ran behind him failing miserably at attempting to stop him. Elsa paused to look at the oncoming adolescent. A look of fear flashed on Regina's face. "No Henry! Go back inside with Emma…"
Elsa seized the moment, taking advantage of Regina's vulnerable distraction and shot another unexpected enchanted projectile at Regina's heart, hitting it dead on. Regina flew through the air upon impact landing feet away from her original spot. When she landed her body skidded along the ice and she slowly came to a halt. A streak of white painted her hair starting at her temple and stretched all the way to the end.
"Regina!" "Mom!" shouted Emma and Henry at the same time. They both ran after Regina's fallen body. Henry knelt down by Regina cradling her head, calling out her name to resuscitate her. Emma stood by her feet shaking her gently. Hook stood between Emma and Elsa, staring down this new villain preparing to take the next icy blow to the heart to protect Emma.
Elsa bellowed at the town, looking at everyone hiding behind the building windows, "I will freeze the hearts of everyone in this village unless someone comes forth with information on Arendelle or the whereabouts of Rumplestiltskin!"
Elsa lifted her hands to strike Hook, Emma and Henry…
"Queen Elsa!"
Right at that moment, Kristoff jumped out of his car and ran to confront Elsa. "Queen Elsa! Your sister is not dead."
Elsa turned facing Kristoff. Upon hearing her sister's name, she exhaled a joyous and loving breath, "Anna…" Elsa, as relieved as she was to hear of her sister's fate, immediately began to relax. However the moment soon ended when she reflected her regretful past, and her face turned quickly to anguish.
"Yes. My Queen, my name is Kristoff…" said Kristoff, raising his hands out of surrender, trying to be as non-threatening as possible.
"Yes, Anna spoke quite often of you," said Elsa vaguely remembering, "You worked at our Kingdom's stables, right?"
"Yes. We grew up together and have since been really close friends. Please, let me help you…" he said, offering his hand and reaching for hers. Elsa, scared over what she might do and unprepared to meet her sister, looked around nervously at the destruction she already did to the town. She began having panicked flashbacks to what she had done to her kingdom. Afraid of inflicting more damage she shouted at Kristoff, "No. I… I can't!" and immediately recoiled disappearing in a cloak of magical snow flurry.
Well, here we are... Storybrooke. See? The FTL chapters weren't too bad, huh? Thanks to , Grace5231973, and Montreat11 for your reviews. It was such a treat to hear your opinions. Let's keep the momentum going! If you are new to my story send me a reply. I love hearing from fellow Rumbelle/Oncers. :)
