A/N: Wow, cliffhangers eh? There are some questions in the reviews; just know everything will be answered in due time - there shall be no loose ends by the time this story comes to a close. And without further ado: ...until -
Chapter Fourteen
A frozen wind sweeps through the entire town, opening the door of Granny's Diner like a ghost– blowing snow and ice into the silenced diner.
Something was definitely happening now.
Leroy was quick to grab his coat and charge out of the opened door; what he saw was a sight of horror – wind was blowing, snow was falling and something was coming from up in the sky. The dwarf turns back to the people in the diner – the drama that just occurred already forgotten – their attention focused on the present.
Suddenly, the whole world shook. Leroy turns back around to now see a giant block of ice (about the size of bulldozer) sitting atop Gold's Shop – or what was left of it.
He looked at Belle, who saw the fear in his eyes and immediately knew: her husband was in danger. At that, Belle took off running before anyone could stop her.
Regina met Snow's look, fear evident in her once step-daughter's eyes. But she didn't have time for that, and turned instead to the woman's daughter: "Emma, get these people to safety – take them to my vault."
"Mom," Henry says, looking at Regina.
"What are you going to do?" Emma asks, a panicked look on her face.
"I need to get Rumple –"
Just as she said it, he appeared right before them. Regina was never more glad her former mentor was alive!
"Belle!" Rumple said. "She was here, where is she?"
"She went running out of here before anyone could stop her," Granny supplies.
His face pains. "Oh no, you don't," Regina says, binding her former mentor.
"Do you really think you can stop me from getting my wife, dearie?" Rumple looks at Regina.
But Regina summons Belle's purse – which the woman had left – and reaches inside for the dagger. Once in her hand, she says, "No, but this –"
Rumple smirks.
" – this isn't real," Regina finishes.
"Exactly, dearie."
Regina could sense he was about to disappear any moment, so she says quickly, "You go after her now, and your wife is as good as dead!"
Rumple glares at her and Regina continues, "You're the only one that can control the vessel. If you go out there right now, this doesn't become a fight – it will be your death; and the death of us all. Save yourself now, Rumple – save all of us!"
"What are you all to me? All I need is my Belle," Rumple replies.
Regina raises an eyebrow, "And do you think your precious Belle will be with you if you abandon all of us?"
Rumplestilskin closed his eyes, he knows Regina is right but he couldn't just leave Belle. But if anything were to happen to him, he'd be giving her less of a chance – plus Regina was right, Belle would never forgive him if he dooms the entire town. And so, he nods affirmatively to Regina.
"Right," Regina says, looking at Rumple, "take everyone my vault – and stay there. Elsa does not know of its existence, of that I'm sure."
Henry had tears in his eyes, and Regina watches as he hugs Emma, "I love you."
Then Snow was making a grab for her daughter, hugging her tightly – "Be safe. Find your father!"
Regina grabs a hold of Henry then, cups his face in her hands and kisses his forehead, "My little prince." She looks him in the eye, "Stay with Snow and Neal, do you hear me? I will come for you." He nods, "I love you, Mom."
Robin grabs Roland from Little John, places a kiss atop his head, before giving him to Marian. He pleads with her, "Please, go with them. Stay with him." (And Regina looks away) as Marian places a kiss on Robin's lips: "I love you." Robin nods his head, and touches his forehead to hers.
Suddenly, Roland is waving the piece of paper again: "Gina! Here." Regina reaches for it – finally allows herself to look at the hand-drawn picture, "It's perfect, Roland, it's perfect."
And then they were gone, and left standing in the room are Robin, Regina, and Emma.
Emma nods to the two of them and bolts out the door – no doubt to find her father and her pirate.
Robin looks at Regina. "Regina, I –"
But she interrupts him, looks at the two of them – somehow they always find themselves in this situation – together, about to fight an enemy.
And so, she places both hands on the lapels of his jacket, pulling him close. "Whatever happens," she says, looking at him intently, "just don't get in my way."
He nods (feels as if he should kiss her now, but he doesn't) – no, he smiles, her words stirring his memories. "I wouldn't dream it."
:::::
The noises coming from outside of the diner had bewildered Regina before she finally stepped out – she couldn't fathom how one woman was causing so much havoc. But now, as she stood just outside the diner's door, her whole being meeting the glaring frost; she can see that it was not one woman at all that was causing the screams.
Two gargantuan ice monsters were making their way down the streets, as large pellets of ice rained down from the sky.
Everyone was running in each and every direction – she sees a flash of red and black (Emma and her pirate), then a glint of silver (Charming), and arrows flying everywhere (the Merry Men).
Regina looks at Robin, who was looking at the scene wide-eyed.
Together, they both ran to the middle of the street as the two ice monsters let out a bellowed screech and then – everything goes quiet, the ice pellets stop, and the two towering monsters halts in their attack.
Regina sees her then, coming towards her – walking majestically down the Storybrooke street.
The Ice Queen halts her steps, close enough just to recognize the Queen of the Enchanted Forest.
"Regina," Elsa states, staring at the familiar face.
Regina steps forward, ignoring Robin's request for her to stay put. "Elsa," she says, "what are you doing?"
"I can't believe you shouldn't have a clue. Don't you already know that story?" Elsa questions menacingly, "Although I don't doubt the Dark One has chosen to keep some parts of it from you."
Regina shakes her head, stating simply, "No, I know everything,"
"Then why is it that you haven't handed him to me, yet?"
Regina shouts too, matching Elsa's tone, "Look around you, Elsa! You're not innocent either…you've hurt so many people in your short time here!"
"So you mean for me to stop?" Elsa asks. "If I learned anything from the Dark One, it is that everything has a price: this time the price is him! I end this eternal winter, free all of your little townspeople…and you give me Rumplestilskin!"
Regina hesitates.
And then suddenly Belle is running forward, Regina hadn't even seen her at this point, and she's yelling: "You stay away from Rumple!"
Elsa turns, recognizing the woman, "You again!" She sends an icy blast to Belle's feet, freezing the woman to the ground.
"I bring a block of ice coming down on Rumplestilskin," Elsa says – looking at Belle, "only to arrive to see that he has eluded it. Then you come running, yelling his name in vain – who are you?"
"I'm his wife," Belle spits out. And Regina almost groans at her stupidity.
"His wife?" Elsa states, looking disgusted at the thought. "How can you be with such a monster?"
"He is a good man," Belle yells back, trying desperately to move from her entrapment.
Elsa was furious. "Well, your 'good man' took from me my little sister, the person I loved most in this world – and now I'm going to take you from him!"
"You'll never get my Rumple," Belle replies.
The Ice Queen raises her hand towards Belle, and this yields another cry from the crowd – Belle's father, "NO!"
"Father, get back!" Belle screams, as Elsa gives a menacing smile.
Everyone was at a standstill – no one made a move, no one knew what to do. Any attack now would only end in vain, seeing as how any of the two gargantuan ice monsters can crush them all with one step.
And so, they all became a witness to the next scene to unfold – all of it happening so fast: Belle's father moved forward just as Elsa sends an icy blast towards the aging man, encasing him in ice. "You will lose him or your husband!" Belle's anguished cry. Suddenly, Elsa closes her hand to a fist, Belle's father freezes throughout, his body become a solid block of ice – one more look to Belle (face frozen in shock). Elsa opens up her hand and the man is broken; like an ice sculpture shattered.
Elsa now turns back to Belle, hand poised to encase her in ice – she succeeds, but before she could do more, a sword is suddenly hurtling through the air towards Elsa: Charming!
This gives Regina enough of a distraction: she had been at war with herself, despite it all – if she gave Rumplestilskin up, it could mean salvation for them all; but losing him could also mean doom for everyone, should Elsa be untrustworthy and go back on her deal. In truth, she didn't know which one of them she could really trust. But the death of Belle's father –.
So, now, as everyone is glued to Charming's sword making contact with Elsa's arm and drawing blood – Regina waves her hand – Belle (encased in ice) disappearing on sight.
Elsa lets out a blood curling scream – both at Belle's disappearance and her wound – and she looks to both Regina and Charming (who was now defenseless). She raises both hands, aimed at them:
Emma sees it, meaning only hurl her father back from the danger – but still not being in total control of her magic – Charming is sent high into the air, stopping only when he hits a light pole, knocked out. Hook looks wide-eyed at Emma, who says, "Better a concussion than shattered to pieces!"
Regina has put up a barrier, blocking her (and Robin, still beside her with arrow at the ready) from Elsa's blast – and at the Ice Queen's surprise, Regina decides to send a fireball hurtling towards her.
Elsa is furious, and at her command the two ice monsters come back to life, snow and ice pellets once again falling from the sky – but the Ice Queen had a target: her focus is now solely on Regina.
Regina sees this, realizes what it means – and without a word, she sends Robin further down the street – landing him beside his Merry Men, who were all shooting arrows at one of the giant beasts.
Robin was taken aback by his current position, cursing Regina under his breath. He knows the Ice Queen was now out to get Regina, and the woman had sent him here to literally keep him from her way. Robin tries his best to get back to Regina right away, but his Merry Men were greatly outnumbered by this giant ice monster – their arrows doing nothing to deter it.
Meanwhile, Emma, Killian, and the others are faring much better with the other ice beast – which had now lost both arms, courtesy of Emma's magic. They finally bring it down after the loss of two more limbs (with a whoop from the dwarves), and Emma is making her way towards the Ice Queen while Killian runs to Charming – still slumped by the light pole.
Robin sees the other beast fall, and was relieved as he watched Emma running towards Regina. Suddenly, Little John is tossing him a rope – Robin grabbed on, knowing it was his duty to stay with his men – they needed him to help to bring the frozen beast to the ground. His heart ached to go to Regina's side – but at least her Majesty now has Emma.
In truth, Regina was tiring, her powers spent from trying to keep her barrier up whilst hurtling fireballs at Elsa. And then suddenly Emma was there, tossing the Ice Queen up into the air with her hands, much to Regina's relief.
But Elsa was barely shaken, spreading her arms wide only to bring them back together – an action that brings two large mounds of ice careening towards Emma, meaning to squish her. Regina sees the blonde fumble with her magic, and she means to blast the woman back, but then an arrow comes whooshing in, clearly meant for the Ice Queen but it somehow completely misses her – nevertheless, it garnered Elsa's attention.
Emma manages to crush both ice blocks coming her way, shaken – but not for long. Leroy comes running towards her, and is suddenly by her side, nudging her attention back to the fallen gargantuan ice monster – where now a small army of much smaller versions of the ice monster are rising from its form.
At the same time, Regina becomes transfixed at the direction of the arrow – she knows Robin and any of the Merry Men wouldn't miss that bad. She squints – it couldn't be, that ignorant wench: there was Marian, running from the alley while holding up a bow and arrow.
Then Elsa's feet are back on the ground, and her focus is solely on the female archer. Regina screams, she must have, because suddenly Robin is turning – his feet carrying him towards her (always towards her). He watches her look to his left, he follows her gaze only to land on that of his wife brandishing a bow and arrow – and then suddenly she's gone, Elsa's icy blast hitting only a cloud of purple smoke.
Robin focuses back on Regina, his strides more fueled as he watches her crumple to the ground – her energy and her magic spent.
Elsa now sees Regina in her weakened state, her hand is poised; and all Regina could (would) do is stare back – she wouldn't do this woman the satisfaction of her looking away. Then unexpectedly, her form is being tackled across the ice towards sidewalk.
And she watches; and sees as Elsa, eyes hard and lethal, hurtles a blast towards Robin – who was now right where she had been moments before. The blast makes contact, and Robin is suddenly grabbing his chest, his hand on his heart; as Regina sees him fall face first towards the ground.
Regina feels as if the breath has been knocked out of her – she cries out his name. But her anguish turns to power – and then she's up on her feet again, an endless blast of fire emanating from her hands: directed at Elsa.
The Ice Queen was taken aback, finding herself engulfed in Regina's flames – but she moves quickly. At her motion, her army of ice monsters dismember to nothing but snowflakes – and then the Ice Queen is rising, high above the flames trying to engulf her; and with snow billowing at her feet, Elsa is carried away from the site of the battle and back towards her castle.