Chapter 11: Gold

(*MEANWHILE IN THE PAST*)

"What are we going to steal from the Dark One?" Elsa asked Jafar in Rumplestiltskin's Dark Vault.

"Gold." Jafar said. "We need gold that was spun specifically by him."

"For what?" Elsa asked.

"A symbol of knowledge." Jafar said.

"How is gold a symbol of knowledge?" Elsa asked.

"You'll find out when we get it." Jafar said.

"How?" Elsa said.

"This will be a collaborative effort." Jafar said. "I'll need you to...distract the Dark One while I take his gold."

"How exactly will I be distracting him?" Elsa asked, hoping Jafar did not expect her to seduce the dark wizard.

"You'll be doing some acting." Jafar said. "Right now, Snow White and Prince Charming are on the run from the Evil Queen. I'm going to use magic to turn you into Snow White. You'll show up at his doorstep and ask if there's a way to get rid of the Evil Queen. There's nothing that man loves more than making deals. While he's distracted, I'll take his gold. Just give me five minutes and then tell him that you've changed your mind."

"Sounds simple enough." Elsa said.

"Be careful." Jafar said. "You mustn't actually make any deals with him. That could alter the future. He's dangerous and powerful. He can use his magic to kill you if you anger him."

"I seem to remember doing just fine against you and Amara when we fought in Arendelle." Elsa reminded.

"True, but Snow White does not have magical powers, especially not those of ice." Jafar said. "It's important that he does not discover your true identity."

"Has he met me before?" Elsa asked. "Is that one of the memories that I'm missing?"

"I don't think so." Jafar said. "However, he has faced another like you, with ice magic. He knows how to defeat you."

"What do you mean?" Elsa said. "Are there others like me?"

"There is at least one." Jafar said. "If you don't remember her, then it's because it's one of the memories that was taken."

"Tell me about her please." Elsa begged with a tone of happiness.

"When we get to the future." Jafar said. "We can't get there without this third ingredient."

Jafar then waved his arm around Elsa. She was soon consumed by a cloud of purple smoke. When the smoke cleared, Elsa had been transformed into a shorter woman with long, back hair, a white dress, and a white cloak. Elsa could feel that her body was different and she could see the different clothes. She went to the closest mirror and had a look.

"Is this Snow White?" Elsa asked.

"Yes." Jafar said. "Unfortunately."

"Why do you say that?" Elsa asked as she turned back to Jafar.

"Because in the future, she and her family are a colossal annoyance to me." Jafar said. "Now, I'm going to transport you to Rumplestiltskin's doorstep. You just have to knock on the door and distract him for five minutes. I will transport myself inside his castle and take the gold and we'll be finished."

"Why can't we just take the gold and erase his memories like Lancelot and Bo Peep?" Elsa asked.

"Even my magic is not strong enough to make the Dark One forget." Jafar said. "Are you ready?

"Yes." Elsa said. "Let's get this over with."

Jafar then waved his arm, consuming Snow White (Elsa) in a puff of magic smoke, and bringing her to Rumplestiltskin's doorstep. Elsa suddenly found herself standing in front of the door to a castle, much larger than her own in Arendelle. After pausing for a moment, she knocked on the door three times. After waiting an entire minute, she knocked three more times. Then, the door suddenly swung inwards and the Rumplestiltskin stood in the doorway.

"Hello dearie." He said. "To what do I owe the pleasure."

"I've come to ask your help." Elsa said, with Snow White's voice.

"Troubles with the Queen?" He asked with a smirk.

"How'd you know?" She asked.

"I know a lot of things dearie." He replied. "I know that you want your throne back and that the Queen stands in your way."

"Is there anything you can do to help me?" She asked. "Is there some deal we can make?"

"Well let me see..." Rumplestiltskin said, pondering his options.

With the Dark One distracted at the door, Jafar was able to appear in a puff of magic smoke in his grand hall without being detected. He soon saw Rumplestiltskin's spinning wheel at the end of the room and ran over to it. He figured the faster he moved, the better chance that he would be able to get the gold before Elsa somehow messed up. He soon found a small pile of spun gold about the size of a football. Rumplestiltskin must have been spinning when Elsa knocked on the door. Jafar picked it up and held it in his left hand. He then waved his right hand over the pile of gold and morphed it into the shape of a golden brain. The magic in this brain reflected the Dark One himself, making it powerful and the perfect ingredient for the time travel spell.

"That's all I want." Rumplestiltskin said. "Let me have the name of your firstborn child and I shall arrange for the Evil Queen's downfall."

"Isn't there anything else?" Snow (Elsa) asked.

"No." Rumplestiltskin said. "I can't believe you're not accepting this. I thought you'd do anything to get the Evil Queen out of power."

"I just think my child's name should belong to me." She replied.

"What about all the lives the Queen will take while you try and defeat her on your own?" He asked.

Elsa suddenly grew silent.

"I have to go." She said. "I'm sorry to have waisted your time."

"Not so fast." Rumplestiltskin said. "We're not done here."

"Is there a problem?" Prince Charming said as he walked up to Snow White and the Dark One wearing a red cloak, that he was careful to keep his arms hidden under.

Elsa had no idea who he was and the Dark One was made slightly more annoyed by his presence.

"Hello dearie." Rumplestiltskin said. "I was just making a deal with the princess."

"No." Charming said. "I told her that this would be a waste of time. We'll figure out a way to take Regina down ourselves. If we ever truly need your help, we'll come to you."

"I'm sure you will." Rumplestiltskin said. "Now be gone."

The Dark One then slammed the door in their faces.

"Relax Elsa." Charming said. "It's me, Jafar."

"I don't understand." She said.

"Just walk with me. The Dark One can't see us transport away with magic." Charming said.

The two then walked outside his castle grounds and deep into the forest.

"What are you hiding under your cloak?" She asked him.

Charming (Jafar) then held out his arm, revealing the golden brain.

"We have our next ingredient." He said.

Jafar then consumed them both in purple smoke and transported them back to the dark vault. When the smoke cleared, both had been returned to their original selves.

"Thank goodness that's over." Elsa said.

"We make quite a good team." Jafar said.

"Don't you ever say that." Elsa said. "I'm still angry about what you did to Anna."

"Be angry then." Jafar said. "I'm going to be happy because we only have to collect one more ingredient before we can travel to Storybrooke and you can look for your sister."

"What?" Elsa asked.

"A symbol of innocence." Jafar said.

"Like what?" Elsa asked.

"We need to find ourselves a baby." Jafar said.