Chapter Thirty-Nine: The War Begins
In StoryBrooke
"David, you're going to stare a hole into the paper." Mary Margaret rolled her eyes, while David looked down at the Ozonian marriage certificate that once belonged to Michael and Zelena.
"I just don't understand why Zelena would keep this." David ponded aloud.
"She left Michael alone with a baby. What would she want with a reminder of that?"
"I don't know, mate." David and Mary Margaret looked up as Captain Hook walked into the Sheriff's station.
"But I do know this; Emma has found another way to make a portal."
And, unlike any pirate the Charmings had met before Killian Jones, Captain Hook was in fact, telling the truth. Emma stood outside of Granny's diner in the middle of StoryBrooke once more, holding a fistful of purple dust in one hand, while her left hand held one of Gerda's jackets. She stood in front of the gaping hole on Main Street, the remnants of the portal that had been created a few days before.
"Emma!" Mary Margaret ran in front of David and Hook, stopping behind her daughter. Emma turned to her mother, her hair as white as snow.
"I need her heart." Emma stated. Turning back to face the hole in front of her, Emma tossed Gerda's jacket and the fistful of powder into the hole, and smiled as the hole filled with bright blue light.
"No!" Hook screamed, running at Emma. As the portal opened, Killian ran into Emma, hoping to push her away from the portal, so she couldn't get near Gerda.
Sadly, his weight pushed both of them forward, and the two adults fell into the portal, right as it closed once more.
"What do you mean they're in Oz?" Regina demanded of the mirror. She had wanted to contact Snow and David to let them know of what happened to Henry, only to be given more bad news. It didn't bother her that Hook was now in the same realm, but Emma…
"What if she and Sira team up?" Robin asked, and Regina gave him a dark look. The last thing she needed was something else to worry about.
"He does have a point." Glinda pointed out, standing up. "If Sira finds out that Emma is the Dark One…" Glinda didn't need to finish her sentence.
"Well, then what are we waiting for?" Michael piped in, stepping in from the other room. Regina quickly said goodbye to the Charmings, promising she would contact them as soon as possible.
"Well, first we need a battle plan, Mike." Robin stated, beaming at his brother. Michael returned the smile, when his face became downcast once more.
"But that palace is heavily guarded. We'll never get in there."
Regina heard someone sigh from the end of the room, and begrudgingly looked over at Zelena, who gave her younger sister a wicked look.
"Do you forget who you have in your midst?" She asked. Regina pondered that for a moment, and sighed.
"How could I be so stupid?!" Zelena grinned. However, Regina turned back to Glinda.
"Glinda, you lived in the palace. You can get us in there." If looks could kill, Zelena would have burnt Regina to a crisp.
"But, I thought I was waiting here with Mother Superior." Glinda stated. Regina shook her head.
"Not anymore. We weren't expecting another villain to join our battle." Regina stated darkly.
"We're going to need all the magic we can get if we want to get Gerda, Henry, and Mallory out of there alive."
The walk through the forests of Oz in the middle of the night really made Henry think about his life choices, as every passing second made him feel like he was one step closer to his grave.
Henry didn't dare voice his feelings aloud, not wanting Mallory to think him a coward. But if Henry were truly honest, he knew that more fear ran through his veins than the courage that usually flowed through him. What had changed in the past few hours?
"The dark tends to make the mind wander." Mallory answered Henry's unspoken question, startling him.
"When we can't see things for the way they truly are, our minds follow suit, and don't see reality either."
Mallory sounded like an old monk you would find on top of a mountain in the Himalayas.
"I'm just, scared is all." Henry felt relief course through him as he admitted his fear. It felt good. Really good.
Mallory smiled at him, but her face turned back to despair.
"You're thinking of him, aren't you?" Henry asked.
"I always am." Mallory answered. "And until the day I am reunited with Kai, I always will."
Henry sighed, wanting to tell Mallory that everything was going to be alright, but he couldn't state something that he couldn't guarantee.
And besides, Henry wouldn't have enough time to think of a speech that would help Mallory, as he saw the Emerald Palace loom in the distance, which wasn't so far off.
"There it is." Mallory stated. Henry merely nodded, taken aback by the structure's beauty. This palace made the Emerald City in the movie look lame.
Drawing out her sword, Mallory looked over at Henry.
"You sure you want to go through with this?" She asked. Henry nodded, and gave her a small smile.
But before either of them could move, Henry heard voiced behind him, coming closer to where he and Mallory stood.
"Warriors!" She called out, and lunged forward to block off the nearest attacks. Henry joined in the fight, punching and kicking wherever he could. Warriors fell to the ground, mostly because none of them thought it would be a good idea to bring a torch, and ended up running into each other.
However, enough of them were able to maintain their balance in the dark, and grabbed onto the kids. In the heat of the moment, Henry only focused on bringing down as many warriors as he could, falling to the ground on top of a few in order to trip them up.
After a few minutes, one of the warriors spoke above the rest, telling his men to retreat. Henry watched the warriors fall back into the woods, headed towards the Emerald Palace.
Henry wondered why they had given up so easily, and turned to ask Mallory what she thought, until Henry realized that he was alone.
The warriors hadn't given up; they had come to collect Mallory. And succeeded.
Sira made sure Kai had been locked away while her other warriors went after the girl. She didn't want the boy to find out that she had turned on him. If others found out of her betrayal, her warriors would put less faith in their leader.
Besides, when he wanted to, Kai knew how to fight, and would certainly take down anyone who tried to hurt his sister. Sira had taught the boy herself, and knew what he was capable of, even if he didn't show it. And on the other hand, Sira knew she would need Kai as a bargaining chip. Mallory wouldn't just obey her right off the cuff. So Sira sent Kai to one of the many bedrooms in the palace, and locked him away until further notice.
Gerda, on the other hand, moped around the palace, full of pain, though she couldn't explain why. Sira had invited her to the throne room, but Gerda declined, wanting to be left alone.
As she wandered the palace's grand halls, Gerda came across a room she hadn't seen before, protected by a large brass door, which were a crisp black colour, as if they had been burned.
Opening the door, Gerda peeked inside the room, and whistled slightly. The room was filled with green light, and as Gerda walked into the room, she saw a small pond filled with fish that swam about happily.
Gerda was about to turn away from the room when she saw something in the corner.
Drawing closer, Gerda became repulsed and moved away by instinct. The body of a guard sat on the floor, a large cut on his back. But oddly enough, the body didn't smell, which would have been the case with other corpses.
Moving away from the body, Gerda wanted to leave the room, and never think about the dead guard again. But once more, something caught her eye.
On the opposite side of the room, a large mirror hung on the wall, filled with a black void that somehow reminded Gerda of death.
Stepping closer to the mirror, Gerda placed her hand on the cold surface. Almost immediately, the black void faded away, replaced with an image of a young boy and girl, no older than six. Looking more closely, Gerda recognized the little girl as herself, thinking back to the memories she had just recently regained. But who was the boy who stood beside her?
Gerda watched her younger self dance around near her father, while the little boy watched her nervously. Gerda watched as he stepped up to her.
"Can I dance with you?" He blurted out. Gerda smiled as she looked at her younger self, who was really embarrassed by the question. Gerda then felt her heart fall as she watched her younger self run to Michael, while the little boy walked away, sad and hopeless.
However, Gerda knew that couldn't be the end, and watched herself accept the boy's offer. She watched the two children dance, laughing at each other, until they finally stopped, and Gerda wished she knew who this mysterious boy was.
Gerda heard her father call out her name, and watched Gerda turn away from the boy.
"When will I see you again?" He asked. The younger Gerda turned back to him, stating that she would see him soon. And reaching her small hand into her pocket, pulled out something, giving it to the small boy.
"But you can hold onto this until then." Gerda then gave the boy a light kiss on the cheek, and wandered off.
Gerda assumed the memory would end there, but it didn't. And as Gerda watched the young boy in the mirror look at the object in his hand, she felt a cold chill run up her spine.
Gerda had recognized Kai in the main hall of the palace, but now as she saw the memory play out like a movie in front of her, a weird feeling ran through her core.
The small boy held a ring in his hand, a ring that Gerda had seen an older boy wearing around his neck. An older boy that had danced alongside her when they were children.
An older boy who had just broken her heart, choosing his sister over Gerda.
When Mallory opened her eyes, she was no longer beside Henry in the forest that surrounded the Emerald Palace. Rather, she found herself trapped inside the palace, locked away in one of the many dank dungeons a few levels below ground.
Sitting up, Mallory rubbed the side of her head, which had begun to throb. She couldn't remember much of how she had ended up in the dungeons. All she could remember was that she and Henry were attacked by an oncoming band of warriors…
"Henry!" Mallory called out, standing up. She heard no reply. Was Henry in a different cell?
Closing her eyes, Mallory imagined her cell door coming off of its hinges as she threw out her hands.
Hearing nothing happen, Mallory opened her eyes, seeing that the door was still attached. That's when she noticed the talisman that sat on her wrist, a dark emerald green. Mallory tried to remove it, thinking that it had just fallen onto her wrist, but immediately felt her skin start to burn underneath. The talisman was attached to her wrist. Was the talisman blocking her magic?
"I'll just try again." Mallory stated. Taking in a deep breath, she stretched out her hands once more, and waited for the door to open. However, the door remained shut. Was there some sort of magical barrier on the door?
"I don't understand." Mallory admitted aloud. She had been able to do far more complex magic than taking a door off of its hinges. Looking back down at her wrist, Mallory wondered if the thick cuff had anything to do with it.
"We couldn't very well leave you alone to use your magic." Looking up, Mallory didn't even hear her door open, as a tall woman with white blonde hair stood in front of her. She tilted her head to the side as she looked Mallory up and down.
"So, you must be Mallory." The woman hushed, her voice quiet. Mallory recognized the woman immediately, remembering her from all those years ago.
"Sira."
Gerda stared at the mirror, the confusion and curiosity both overwhelmingly heavy in her mind. Kai loved her? Then why did he choose Mallory?
"Why should I care?" Mallory asked aloud, turning away from the mirror as she headed towards the door. However, she paused mid stride, looking back at the mirror. Something kept her staring into its surface, reminding Gerda of the small boy she had met all those years ago.
"We were just kids. It's not as if it meant anything." Gerda said, but she knew right away that she didn't believe it.
But what if it does mean something? The little voice in Gerda's mind refused to give in so easily, making Gerda wonder the same thing. And why couldn't she shake the odd feeling she had in her chest when she thought of Kai?
What if it is love?
"As if!" Gerda spat, shaking her head. "We were kids, I was too little to understand what love was!"
Besides, it's not as if I had a great example. Look at my parents. And yet, as Gerda thought about it, she couldn't remember her father ever being negative about her mother. If Gerda ever brought her up, Michael would just give her a sad look, and tell Gerda how beautiful her mother was.
"How could he love her after everything she had done?" Gerda wondered, but she shook her head, returning to the matter at hand.
Was it really a big deal that Kai chose Mallory over her? Gerda shook her head at the question, trying to confirm her answer in her mind, but she couldn't confirm it in her heart. There was just something about Kai that made Gerda feel light on her feet. Like how he had tried to protect her from Sira and Mr. Gold….
Gerda stumbled out of the room, heading down to the dungeons. She needed an answer. Because Gerda couldn't believe that Kai had made that decision out of his own accord.
"Mallory!" Henry yelled once more, still wandering in the same direction that the warriors took. With every step Henry had taken, he had drawn closer to the Emerald Palace. Now, he stood in a row of trees that guarded the heavy wooden doors that led into the palace itself. Mallory was somewhere in there, trapped.
Looking around, Henry saw no one else in sight, and regretted leaving the cabin. Did he have enough time to return to the cabin and make it back to the palace before something happened? He didn't think so.
Sighing, Henry closed his eyes, gathering his courage. He needed to get into the palace. Gerda's life wasn't the only one on the line anymore.
But as Henry opened his eyes, and started to walk towards the palace, a cloud of smoke appeared in front of the large doors, stopping Henry in his tracks.
Ducking back into the bush, Henry saw a figure appear in the midst of the smoke, and felt his heart drop.
The Dark One had found her way to Oz, and looked up at the large doors that protected the palace. Henry could see his mother grin as she strode towards the doors. Oddly enough, it was as if someone was expecting Emma, for as soon as she got close enough, the doors opened wide, allowing her to enter.
They remained open as Henry stood up, and ran out of the woods.
He stopped a few feet in front of the doors, surprised that there were no guards, but found it to be a stroke of luck. Henry was also surprised that the doors hadn't yet closed.
Shaking his head, Henry focused on how he would save his friends as he walked into the palace, not realizing that his presence was expected by someone inside.
Mallory tried to back away from the Witch, but it was no use. She had pressed herself against the wall of the cell, and couldn't back up any farther. Her heart pounded in her chest as she stared at Sira, feeling the same way she had all those years ago. Lost and afraid.
"Now Mallory, is that anyway to greet an old friend?" Sira tilted her head to the side, smiling wickedly. Mallory felt like she was going to puke.
"Get away from me." Mallory spat, wanting to keep the witch away. Sira, however, stepped forward, only a steps away from Mallory's face.
"Come Mallory, you had to know this day would come." Sira stated, and Mallory did admit in her mind that she knew she would eventually run into Sira. She was just hoping it would be after the witch was defeated.
"Why am I here?" Mallory demanded, unable to stop thinking about Kai. Where was he? Was he okay? Was he even still alive?
Sira laughed, causing the hairs on Mallory's neck stand up on end.
"You are here to help me." Sira answered, and Mallory couldn't help the confusion that swept over her.
"But, you have Gerda…." Mallory's statement trailed off. "Why do you need me?"
"Because, child." Sira stepped forward, and pressed her hand against Mallory's cheek. It was as if Sira had pressed an ice cube against Mallory's cheek, as Mallory felt the coldness ripple through her core.
"You will defeat me otherwise."
The trip to the Emerald Palace was quick and took less than a minute, as Regina combined her powers with Zelena and Glinda. Alongside Robin Hood and Michael, the five adults stooped in the bushed outside the palace, trying to figure out the best way inside.
"We could go through the back." Glinda suggested, but Michael shook his head.
"Probably guarded. Kai and I took a different way. But I don't remember which one."
"Well, that's a great help." Zelena mocked, earning a glare from both Regina and Robin.
"Do you have any better ideas?" Regina demanded, regretting bringing her sister along. But with Gerda and Henry in danger, as well as Kai and Mallory, since Regina refused to leave them behind, the adults could use all the magic they could get.
"How about using the tunnel near the dungeons?" Regina looked over at Michael, smiling.
"That's not a bad idea, Michael." She stated. Michael gave her a fearful look, causing Regina's heart to sink.
"I didn't say that." Regina felt panic rise in her core, until she heard the twist of a cap off of a bottle of rum, and rolled her eyes.
"You've been gone too long, Your Majesty, if you can't recognize my voice." Killian Jones stepped out from the shadows, and gave Regina a cunning look. He held a small silver flask, and Regina could tell by the smell that it wasn't containing goat's milk.
"I did a quick search around the palace to see if I could spot Emma, and came across the tunnel. Not too protected, only one guard." Killian explained.
"Are you telling me that Emma is inside the palace?" Regina demanded.
"Actually, I'm telling you about the secret tunnel. You just have good assumptions." Captain Hook winked at Regina as he raised the flask to his lips. With a wave of her hand, Regina made the flask disappear, earning a dark look from the pirate.
"Bad form."
Robin stood up, an arrow notched in his quiver.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get inside." However, just as Robin Hood started down the small slope that led to the back of the palace, the adults heard movement from behind them.
Turning around, Regina raised her hand, a fireball lit over her palm, as she threw the flame into the distance, barely missing Kyler's arm. He instinctively fell to the forest floor, drawing out his sword. However, when he saw Regina, he rose from the ground, but there was still panic written across his face.
As Kyler drew closer to the firelight of the torches the adults carried in their hands, Regina and Robin saw that Kyler's face was the same shade as one of Regina's poisonous apples. He had just been running, and from the way he was trying to catch his breath, Regina assumed he had been running for a long time.
"Where are the others?" Regina asked.
Kyler sighed, gasping for air.
"They stayed back…fought the warriors….but they are coming…" Robin and Michael grabbed onto Kyler's arms as he started to fall forward, leaning him against a nearby tree. As the others looked at Kyler, Regina looked back into the trees, and saw the firelight of torches drawing closer. She could hear the ragged voices of the warriors. They were coming.
Regina raised her hand, another fireball magically appearing above her palm.
"We've got company."
Gerda walked through the dungeons, eager to find Kai's cell. When she did, she could ask him all the questions she wanted to, starting with the most important one; do you love me?
Gerda thought it sounded a little shallow, but she needed to know. She needed an answer to these emotions that swirled inside her.
However, Gerda couldn't see Kai, instead seeing Sira stand in another cell. Perhaps Gerda could ask her where Kai was.
But as Gerda stepped forward, she could hear another voice in the cell, one she didn't recognize. It belonged to a young girl, roughly around Gerda's age, who demanded to know where Kai was, and what she was doing in the dungeons. Mallory?
"But you have Gerda….Why do you need me?" Gerda heard Mallory demand. Gerda, now full of curiosity, inched closer to the cell, wanting to hear what Sira had to say. What did Sira want with Mallory and Gerda?
"Because, you will defeat me otherwise." Okay, not the answer Gerda was expecting, but it was enough to send a ripple of fear through Gerda's chest.
Mallory didn't respond to Sira's answer, most likely trying to sort out her feelings, just like Gerda was currently doing. What did Sira want with the two girls?
Sira, who had no idea Gerda was so close at hand, explained her thinking to Mallory, who already knew how evil Sira was.
"You and Gerda are gifted, Mallory. Some of the most gifted people Oz has ever seen." Sira began pacing the room.
"Combined, you two could overcome anything." She paused and turned to Mallory.
"Or anyone." Sira stepped forward, staring at Mallory.
"And I know that you two would destroy the Oz that I have created. You would ruin my plans and try to bring back the old ways. The council of the witches, and peace amongst the people."
Gerda felt her stomach drop. What was Sira's ultimate plan? Gerda knew that she had taken over the Emerald Palace, but overall, she hadn't seen all the damage Sira had caused throughout Oz. Stepping closer to the cell, Gerda knew she was pushing her luck, and the chances of her escaping now without being heard were little to none. But she needed to know.
"And we will defeat you." Mallory spat. However, Sira laughed mirthlessly.
"I'm afraid there is no we, Mallory." Sira stated. "You see, Gerda has joined me, and not even your pathetic brother could stop her. And to think, he was her true love."
And in that sentence, Gerda had her answer. She no longer needed to find Kai, for Sira had unknowingly spoiled the surprise. Kai….true love?
But the moment Gerda thought about it, she believed it. She thought back to when she had first met Kai, and how she had felt about him. Sure, they were young, but from what Gerda could recall, no other boy had ever made an impression like that on her before. It was as if her heart knew that there was someone already out there.
And as Gerda thought about Kai, she couldn't help but think about the fact that since the moment Gerda had arrived in the palace, Kai had tried to protect her. He recognized her as the little girl he had met all those years before.
"True love cannot be explained, Gerda." Gerda recalled her father once telling her that, sitting by a small fire in the forest as they evaded the Evil Queen.
"True love comes in all shapes and sizes, and even if you don't see the person for a long time, they still leave an imprint on your heart." Gerda could swear that her father was talking about her and Kai.
Kai…loves me.
And in that moment, Gerda's eyes were opened.
What have I done?
Kai slammed his body against the door of the room he was trapped in. He wanted to find Gerda. He wanted to know she was safe.
Open. Open!
However, the door remained shut, and Kai slumped to the floor.
"Gerda." He whispered. "Forgive me." Kai wrapped his arms around his legs.
"I only chose Mallory because I wanted to protect her. I had no choice. I…love you."
"Oh, how sweet." Kai looked up, seeing a strange woman standing in his room. She wore all black, her white blonde hair tied back in a tight bun. Her face was pale and her lips were as red as blood.
"Just what I need to get the job done." Emma stated. Grabbing Kai by his collar, she hauled the boy to his feet.
"What do you want?" He asked. Emma tilted her head to the side and smiled.
"I want Gerda's heart. And you are going to help me get it."
Henry kept his ears open as he walked through the large main corridor of the Emerald Palace, expecting one of the warriors to turn up eventually.
However, Henry made it to the main room of the Palace without being noticed or bothered by anyone, which made him suspicious.
As Henry walked, he couldn't see the floor in front of him, and almost jumped back in surprise when his foot landed on something long. Stooping to the ground, Henry felt the cool blade of a sword at his feet, and picked it up, waving it around with his arm. He could use all the practice he could get with a sword. He had a feeling a fight was drawing near.
"Hello Henry." Henry spun around, seeing Mr. Gold standing on the elevated platform of the hall, looking down at his only grandson.
"Grandfather." Henry stated, the vivid memory of Mr. Gold sending Gerda to the Emerald Palace flashing through his mind.
Mr. Gold smiled, and stepped down from the platform, walking towards his grandson.
"I knew you would make the right choice." He stated. Henry shook his head, taking a step back.
"I came to save my cousin. And now Mallory, since your 'friend' had her captured by the warriors." Henry spat.
Mr. Gold merely shrugged.
"What has to be done has to be done." In that sentence, Henry finally realized why his family despised his grandfather so much. He didn't care for anyone else but himself, only rescuing and helping others because in the end, it was a benefit for him.
Henry turned on his heel, ready to search the palace for his cousin, when a wall of fire blocked his exit. He turned back to his grandfather, whose face was emotionless and cold.
"How do you think you got into the palace undetected, Henry?" Mr. Gold asked. Henry didn't respond, not even bothering to shrug his shoulders. Mr. Gold sighed.
"I let you in, Henry. I opened the door, allowing you to enter. And this is how you thank me? Walking away?"
The sword in Henry's hand fell to the ground, and slid across the floor. Mr. Gold stooped to the ground, and picked it up in his own hand.
"Why did you help her?" Henry demanded.
"I'm afraid you'll have to be more specific, my boy." Mr. Gold answered. Henry felt his cheeks burn. He didn't care for his grandfather's taunts.
"My mom. And Sira. Why did you send Gerda to the palace?" Henry specified his question.
Mr. Gold sighed once more, and began to walk in a small line from where he stood, as if he were creating a small horizon with his feet.
"I helped Sira because she told me that I would gain what I wanted." He said, looking at the ground.
"And if all I had to do was turn Gerda over to her, in order to get what my heart desired, then so be it."
Henry didn't even bother to hide the disgust in his voice.
"She trusted you." Henry spat. "After all these years, and after everything she had been through, everything that had happened to her, you turned her away, giving her over to a Wicked Witch!"
A flash of panic rolled over Mr. Gold's face, surprised by Henry's outburst. The boy barely ever spoke out of tone.
"Yes, but now I have what I want. My family. My wife. And my grandson." Mr. Gold held out his hand, wanting Henry to take it.
"I wanted to be a father to Bae." Henry felt his throat tighten at the mention of his late father. It was pouring salt into an open wound, making Henry feel weak on his feet.
"But I made a mistake. And now, Henry, I can fix that mistake. By being the grandfather to his only son."
Henry felt tears in his eyes as he thought of his dad, who had died only a few years earlier. He remembered clutching a wooden sword in his hand as he and his dad dueled, remembered meeting him for the first time, back in New York.
But it was because of Zelena, Gerda's mother, that Neal was gone. Henry would never be able to fight against his father again, never be able to share some pizza with a man he was only just getting to know.
Looking up at his grandfather, the image of Neal Cassidy swam in front of Henry, and all he wanted to do was run at his grandfather and give him a huge hug.
But the pressure of reality sank onto Henry's shoulders, and the point of his being in the palace returned; he was there to save Gerda.
Henry looked to Mr. Gold's outstretched hand, and sighed.
"I'm sorry, grandfather." He stated. "But I'm going to save Gerda. That's what dad would want."
Henry watched his grandfather's hand fall to his side, and for a moment felt pity. He then remembered how Mr. Gold had chosen power over his own son, and felt the remorse and pity melt away.
Walking forward, Henry didn't hesitate. He wrenched the sword free of his grandfather's grip, and walked right past him.
He had a mission to complete.
Gerda started to back away from the cell, the reality of her choice sinking in. In a moment of anger, she had chosen to help a Wicked Witch destroy Oz. What was she thinking?
Far enough from the cell, Gerda turned around, thinking of what she needed to do next. First, she would find Kai, and apologize for everything she had done. For not taking his hand when he wanted to help her, for ignoring his warnings. Then, side by side, they would break Mallory out of her prison, and escape the palace. Gerda knew her family was in Oz as well. Perhaps they could head to her old cabin and start searching there.
Gerda was so caught up in her thoughts, she didn't even notice the rope around her arm until it tightened its grip like a vice, stopping her. Looking down, Gerda noticed the thin coils wrap around her, working their way down her arm and to her torso. Looking behind her to see where the rope had come from, Gerda felt her heart sink. They were coming from Mallory's cell, and Gerda doubted that Mallory was trying to stop her.
Sira knows.
Grabbing at the rope's fibres, Gerda couldn't loosen its grip on her arm. She turned around to the length of rope that trailed behind her, and aiming her hand at the rope, imagined it starting to burn. However, nothing happened. Gerda tried once more, and that's when she noticed the emerald bracelet strapped onto her wrist, as if the rope had placed it there.
The ropes had now looped their way around Gerda's legs, bringing her to the floor. As she laid on the cold ground, Sira stepped out of the cell, pulling Mallory behind her. Mallory looked down at Gerda, a look of both pity and sadness written across her face. Mallory wore a matching bracelet on her own wrist. Her magic was locked as well.
"I was hoping it wouldn't come to this, Gerda." Sira sighed, waving her hand. Gerda was magically pulled to her feet, the ropes around her feet unbinding themselves. However, the ropes around her arms and torso remained tight, unwilling to move. Sira held the other end of the rope, making Gerda her captive. Gerda thought back to when she saw Dr. Hopper walk Pongo around in StoryBrooke with a leash, and couldn't help but sense some similarities to her situation and the dog's.
"You tricked me." Gerda spat.
Sira smiled. "And like a fool you fell for it." She then laughed mirthlessly, sending chills up Gerda's spine.
"And the best part about it, you led yourself into the trap." Sira began to walk forward, holding Mallory's arm in one hand and gripping Gerda's rope in another, forcing the two girls along.
"I don't understand." Gerda stated.
"How?"
Sira paused, and turned back to Gerda. For a moment, she let go of the ropes, and traced a finger across Gerda's face.
"I didn't tamper with those memories. You just decided to distrust your father. Not some of your best judgement, was it?" Sira smiled wickedly, and grabbed onto the ropes just as Gerda started to move back.
"Ah ah ah, there will be no escaping now." Sira turned away and started once more to drag the two girls along down the dank corridor.
"There is work to be done."
The warriors ran out of the dark forest and launched their arrows and spears at the group of adults. Kyler's men were right behind, taking down a few of the warriors who guarded the back of the pack, but Regina saw their wounds in the torchlight, and knew that they wouldn't be fighting for long.
Launching fireballs into the crowd, Regina looked back at the Emerald Palace, hoping that they wouldn't be noticed by any of the guards. However, she did a double take, looking up onto one of the many balconies.
Standing in the night, Regina made out his form. Mr. Gold smiled down at the group of attackers, tilting his head to the side. Regina wanted to call him out, demand his reasoning, but merely glared at him instead.
And she could have sworn that Mr. Gold stared straight at her as he snapped his fingers, opening the large doors of the palace. Warriors of all shapes and sizes streamed out of the palace, crying into the night.
Regina looked back at the attack that was happening in front of her, surprised to see that all the warriors had been taken down, only to remember that this was their second fight, as many had been injured by Kyler's men only minutes before.
Robin looked to Regina, about to smile, when he saw the warriors streaming out of the palace, headed straight for them. He notched another arrow into his bow, and nodded at the castle.
"Go." He stated. "Save our niece. Save your son."
Regina shook her head, looked around at the others. They would have to split up, some staying behind to fight against the warriors, the others going into the palace.
"Well, we certainly aren't going to get very far." Zelena noted. And with a wave of her hand, disappeared on the spot.
"Zelena!" Regina screamed, running at the spot where her sister was. Surprisingly, Michael stopped her, holding out his hand.
"It's no use." He stated bluntly, surrendering to the fact that Zelena was gone. He looked back at the warriors that were drawing in closer by the minute, then turned to Regina.
"Find my daughter. Please." He begged. Before Regina could stop him, Michael drew out his sword, and with Robin Hood, Kyler, and the remainder of Kyler's men, he led the charge against the warriors, giving Regina and the others a chance to sneak into the castle.
Regina turned to Glinda and Captain Hook, and sighed.
"Where did they all go?"
Looking behind Hook, Regina saw Zelena step forward, with a large group of warriors following her. Seeing Kyler running into the fight, the rest of the warriors from the village took no hesitation, and ran after their leader, screaming and yelling their battle cry. They may have been few compared to the warriors Sira had under her control, but now at least Michael and Robin stood a fighting chance.
"Where's Michael?" Zelena demanded, and Regina saw the worry in her eyes.
"He, went and fought with the others." Regina stated. And she swore she could see tears in her sister's eyes.
Zelena looked at the ground for a moment, trying to compose herself. When she looked back up, determination lit the fire in her eyes.
"Come on. Let's save my daughter."