Chapter 18

I had never felt so weak and so alive in any moment as I stood there before Zalena and her crystal. I finally understood why I was doing this and it made sense. I didn't need her to suffer or to pay for what she had done. What I needed her to know is that she wouldn't win, not this time. This was about her knowing that even though she had gotten us all to our most weakest points, we could still come out on top.

Reaching down to Terrence's belt I pulled his sword from it's holster, it was heavy in my arms and I could barely hold it. Stepping away from him and towards the crystal I shakely raised the sword up above my head. Zalena looked at me, and I could see the fear in her eyes. I took a deep breath, the cold air stinging my lungs and my side burning.

"This is for OZ" I said bringing the sword down on the crystal. It began to crack and I smiled slightly, raising the sword again.

"This is for Anna" I said, I thought about the first time I had seen my little sister and how much I had longed to save her and give her a long life, knowing she had lived long in a number of days. The sword made another crack in the crystal that went deep into it smoke starting to seep out. I looked at Terrence who nodded. Looking back, I raised the now much heavier sword above my head, my arms shook as I suddenly felt dizzy but willed myself to stand before them.

"You're done Zalena." I taunted. "You know who this is for. I have all my strength in this last hit." I wanted her to watch as I took away what she had taken from me. "This is for Aly. This was always for her" I cried.

I didn't even remember bringing the blade down again but the force shook me to the core. I winced, watching the thick green smoke form around me, filling the room. The crystal shattered onto the floor. Zalena screamed as Regina stepped back letting her fall to the floor. She writhed for a moment, screaming at me. I grabbed Terrence, who quickly put his arms around me, and held me up with his strong embrace. Zalena looked at me one last time before she turned to glass and shattered before us. I felt a wave come over me, feeling a tingle of magic go through me as all of her magic and the power that she had taken from Oswin escaped into the air.

"We did it." I breathed, feeling Terrence kiss the top of my head.

"You did it," Regina said looking at me, she walked over brushing back my hair.

"I could have never done this without you, Zalena would have killed us both if it wasn't for you." I said smiling softly.

"Anything for you" Regina smiled.

"Do you think everything is taken care of in Storybrooke?" Terrence asked.

"I hope, I'm anxious to get back to everyone there. Mostly Henry and Robin, I don't care much for the two idiots." She said, I chuckled slightly, leaning into Terrence a little more as I felt a sudden wave of dizziness come over me.

"So does this mean that we can get married?" Terrence asked.

"Slow down love, I need to stop bleeding from my side first." I said looking down at my side, I could feel the blood running down my leg, my dress totally covered in dark red.

"Want me to take a look at it?" Regina asked. She knelt down moving the fabric from the gash in my side, I felt hot all of a sudden. This wasn't normal for me. I stepped away from her making her look up at me. I started to shake, feeling the ice around me melt. My head started to spin and I closed my eyes feeling myself fall to the ground.

XXXXXX

Terrence looked at Regina as he knelt beside Elsa.

"Can you do something?" He asked as Regina knelt down next to Elsa.

"Not here we…" Regina stopped, hearing breathing from the thinning smoke.

The smoke started to clear and Terrence pulled Elsa away. Laying her head on the wet ground carefully. Terrence stood looking at the mass on the ground, it was a woman, her cropped black hair sticking up in curls of several directions, and blue jacket tattered and worn. He moved forward, stopping when she pushed herself up.

"Dorothy?" He breathed.

"Terrence?" She smiled looking up at him, he gave her his hand helping her to her feet.

"You're alive. What were you doing in there?" He asked.

"Elsa, Leo, Sawyer and I tried to trap Zalena in there but… As you can see it backfired a bit." She said looking at the shattered glass everywhere. "Are they alive?" She asked looking back at Terrence.

"I…" He started, there was a loud rattle on the door followed by some barking.

"TOTO" Dorothy smiled running to the door. She flung it open revealing a small terrier. Dorothy cried scooping him up into her arms.

"I'm glad for the happy dog reunion but we need to leave, NOW" Regina said throwing her hand up in the air, noticing the giant ice chunks beginning to crack on the ceiling.

Terence flinched, but suddenly felt his feet on the soft carpet. They were back in the Emerald palace. Elsa was on the ground with Regina beside her.

"What happened to her?" Dorothy asked, now noticing Elsa's injury.

"Zalena. Before Elsa destroyed the crystal, Zalena attacked us, she was cut on a piece of ice." Terrence said as Oswin burst through the door using his magic.

He saw Elsa, and stopped in his tracks.

"Is she alright?" He asked hurrying over. He knelt beside her, laying his hand on the top of her head. With swift motions, he ran his hand along her side, letting his magic heal her cut. Regina looked at him swallowing hard, realizing that he had done in seconds what she had hesitated to do, but glad nonetheless.

"Let's get her into the bed, she can sleep it off" He said.

"I've got her." Terrence said, Oswin stood up letting Terrence gently pick Elsa up and into his arms.

As Oswin watched Terrence carry Elsa to a bed, he noticed the new addition to the party. "Dorothy, you're alive!" Oswin exclaimed, hugging her.

"Thanks to Elsa," Dorothy smiled softly, shrugging.

Terrence pushed open the door to Elsa's bedroom, taking her to the bed. He laid her down, pulling a blanket over her and kissing her forehead.

"Feel better, my love," he whispered, turning to walk back down the stairs.

He walked out closing the door behind him quietly, but he was greet by Dorothy, Oswin, and Regina were standing there looking at him.

"Someone should sit with her in case something happens," Oswin said looking at Regina for a form of agreement.

"We could take shifts." Regina suggested. "We don't know if there was any dark magic in that injury."

Terrence nodded.

"If you don't mind I'd like to sit with her first." Oswin said.

"That's fine." Terrence said putting his hand on Dorothy's shoulder. "We have catching up to do." Dorothy smiled sweetly and nodded.

Regina watched them, not sure what to make of the friendship, and a puzzled expression covered her face.

"Dorothy came to OZ many years ago when she was little. She helped Terrence get back here and we helped her get back home." Oswin said seeing that Regina was watching her. She turned nodding softly, realizing that there would be many components of her daughters life in Oz, and that there would never stop being another chapter to her story.