Boston, 1982
Ingrid, who is still dressed in her Snow Queen gown, is calmly making her way through the busy city. She looks around at all the residents of Boston, trying to make of their attire, just as they try to do the same to her, chuckling lightly.
She walks passed a building, intrigued by one with a glowing sign that reads 'Psychic.' Ingrid walks inside and is immediately greeted by the owner.
"You have traveled a great distance, but I can help you." The dramatic voice says, startling the Snow Queen a bit. The owner walks out from behind a curtain. "Madame Faustina is here."
"Sorceress - " Ingrid bows. " - can you use your powers of crystal gazing to show me a girl not yet born?"
"This girl is special to you?" Madame Faustina deduces.
"Very much so. At the age of twenty-one, she will arrive in a town called Storybrooke." Ingrid explains.
The psychic raises her hand. "Madame Fautina knows all." She assures her. "Come. The crystal ball awaits." She gestures towards the chair and table which Ingrid quickly sits down as Madame Faustina sits across, extending her hand. "How will you express your gratitude?"
Ingrid smiles kindly. "Thank you."
Madame Faustine looks confused. "Payment. How will you pay me?"
Ingrid removes her necklace and hands it to the woman. "Will this do?"
Madame Faustina smiles and begins to wave her hands around the crystal ball. "Spirits of the ball, hear me and obey. I see a child."
"Yes." Ingrid says, excitingly.
"A girl...Who is...special."
"Yes. She has many gifts. Tell me more."
"The child's name is...Susan."
"Liar!" Ingrid shouts as she bursts out Madame Faustine's store. "Her name will be Emma Swan! The apprentice's scroll promises this!"
Madame Faustine follows Ingrid out. "I don't know nothin' about a scroll." She says now with a southern accent. "Now get outta here or you're gonna get a wicked beating."
"Where I am from, charlatans such as yourself are severely punished." Ingrid raises her hand, expecting her magic to shoot through, but nothing happens. Her magic doesn't work inside this land.
Madame Faustine holds out her bat, threateningly. "Last warning, fruitcake. Hit the bricks."
"Your trickery changes nothing." Ingrid turns around and begins to walk away. "I will find Emma. She is coming, and I will find her." She says, determined. "And I will wait for her as long as I must. And then I will have what I deserve."
Storybrooke / Present...
As Ingrid makes her way through town, the last of the Shattered Sight spell is settling down. She victoriously makes her way down the street, hearing the sounds of intense arguing coming from the townspeople. Suddenly, an arrow fires at the wooden pole beside her head, just missing her.
"He's coming!" Leroy shouts from across the street at Granny's Diner. "He's coming!"
Leroy starts to run, revealing Happy, who is holding out his bow, angrily. "And I ain't happy!"
Ingrid's smile grows wider as she continues her walk through the town.
Inside the Sheriff's Station, Snow and David are glaring furiously at one another from their separate cells, the spell taken affect.
"Prince Charming." She seethes. "Finally I'm seeing you clearly."
David smirks. "And what do you see?"
"A fraud. A shepherd who has no business being royalty."
"Well, I see a spoiled little princess who ran away from her troubles; who always runs away!" He shouts. The two of them stand up from their cots in anger, getting closer to one another. Thankfully the bars of their cells are keeping them apart.
"I can't believe I had a child with you." Snow says, disgusted.
"Oh, who knows? Maybe you didn't. Could be Whale's."
They then return to the opposite sides of their cells. "You know, if this is what marriage is like I'm glad you keep postponing ours." Kristoff, who is shackled to the desk, observing the two, says to Anna.
Anna sighs, frustrated. "You don't mean that, Kristoff. It's the spell."
"No. I'm seeing clearly now, too. I'm beginning to think that this haircut wasn't my only bad idea."
"I know this isn't really you. I know it. But it's still upsetting, so I'm just - I'm gonna go see my sister. And you just stay here handcuffed where you can't hurt anybody...but me...with your words." Anna calmly walks away as Kristoff tries to get free of the cuffs, but can't.
Inside her office, Emma is standing with Elsa, cradling her sleeping baby brother in her arms. "My parents - that's not who they are." Emma says.
"They're their worst selves." Elsa states as she watches through the window. "It's like when Anna put me in that urn." She turns to Emma. "She didn't mean what she said either... I hope."
"I didn't." Anna assures her sister, having overheard her as she walks into the office. "That doesn't make any of this less horrible." She falls into her big sister's arms, needing her comfort.
"It's okay. You're immune." Elsa says, thankfully. "We all are. And we're together."
Emma sighs. "Not all of us. I need to get Avia back. It's quiet right now..." She grimaces as she looks at her parents. "Sort of. But it'll get worse once she figures out a way to break free."
"She'll be okay. After all, you are the savior."
Anna scowls. "Is that, like, a real job here?"
"Apparently, is it." Emma chuckles. "I promised all these people I'd get them their happy endings. And I will. I'm just not sure how at this moment."
"So, let me get this straight. Avia can destroy happy endings and you can save them?"
Emma shrugs. "I don't quite understand it either. We have power. Power neither one of us understands. Even though my parents conceived her, Avia is the second born and a part of me is in her. So, I guess she got an extra dose, or something, but not only was I made to save everyone; I was especially made to save her - to make sure she stays on the right path. She's the key to good and evil. If she chooses the wrong side, we're all on trouble."
"Just like a big sister should." Elsa grins.
"I think I might have an idea." Anna says, suddenly. She turns to Elsa. "Do you know how the Snow Queen got the idea for the curse? It's from the legend called the Trolden Glass."
"Never heard of it." Emma says.
"Its origin isn't important. What matters is how they broke the curse."
"What was done?" Elsa asks.
Anna begins to think. "Um. To break the spell - Oh." Her face drops once she remembers. "They had to kill the king." Emma's eyes widen, realizing what that means. "So, in this case, that would mean Ingrid."
Ingrid furrows her brows, disagreeing. "I don't believe killing is ever the answer. Are you sure we can't reason with her?"
"She's beyond that." Emma says, knowingly. "We all want another way, but if it comes down to it, I'm gonna do what has to be done."
"But - "
"We're out of options. Anna, how are you with kids?"
"I love kids." Anna answers. Emma walks over and hands baby Neal over to her. "Wait."
"Elsa, we should get going."
"Wait. I'm the babysitter?" Anna asks, unhappily. "The Snow Queen is my aunt, too. If this is what has to happen, I wanna be by your side."
"Anna, sorry, but someone has to stay here with everyone else." Emma explains.
"Emma's right." Elsa agrees. "Stay with Kristoff."
"But this was my plan." Anna argues as Emma places a gentle kiss on top her brother's head.
"I know it was." Emma walks away, as Elsa reassures her sister. "You're the smartest person I know, and you're my sister, which means you need to stay safe. Ingrid is a problem that Emma and I have to solve."
"Do you trust Emma?" Anna whispers.
"I do." Elsa says, undoubtedly. "She's my friend."
"Then go."
Elsa leaves while in the background David and Snow are still arguing as Kristoff throws a stack of papers at them, yelling for them to keep it down.
Over at the Mills family mausoleum, Regina is attempting to free herself from her own containment spell that she put herself in. But, fortunately, she can't get through and just begins to bang angrily upon the doors.
"Sealed in my own vault!?" She seethes furiously. "This is...This is..." Then a thought enters her mind, infuriating her even more. "This is the Savior's doing." She glares menacingly, making her way back down below. "I should've incinerated her years ago. This is what I get for being subtle!" Regina then turns to her mirror that is hanging and stares at herself, mortified. "What the hell am I wearing?" She waves her hands, and with her magic, changes her outfit into the Evil Queen's attire. Regina gasps, staring at herself in awe. "I've missed you."
Inside the hospital's basement, Rumple is watching Avia through the window of the door. Through her anger, she has managed to gain control of her magic and was now using it to try to free herself from her 'cell.'
"Stupid parents! They always put Emma first! It's always about Emma! 'Emma is the Savior. Emma will save us all.'" She mimics. "Well, not today!" Magic shoots from Avia's hand, towards the door.
Rumple steps back a bit, humored by this. He couldn't wait to feel this power. Killian runs in. "What kept you?" Rumple asks, displeased that it took the pirate so long to get down there.
"Well, it's like swimming with sharks up there." Killian tells him. "The minute one of them tastes blood, they'll tear each other apart." He steps up to Rumple, looking through the window at Avia.
"Well, count your blessing you're not one of them."
"Why was I spared the cloud's curse?" Killian asks.
"Because your heart wasn't in your chest, dearie. It is here with me." Rumple explains in annoyance.
Another wave of magic hits the door. Killian furrows his brows, seeing the young Swan full of rage and anger. "What is it you need? Why am I here?"
"Once I get what I need, I will take Belle to the town line. I will need you to discard young Swan here."
Killian scoffs. "I will not hurt her."
"No need. Once I am finished, you need not to worry. Avia will already be done for. I just need you to get rid of her."
"You want me to lie of how she died?"
Rumple nods. "Precisely. And tomorrow night, when the stars in the sky align with the stars in the hat, I shall finally cleave myself from this dagger." He says, showing Killian the dagger in his hand. "And on the other side of that ice wall before dawn."
"Are you saying there's a bloody way out of here?" Killian asks, intrigued.
"Dark One always finds a way."
"Well, if the Dark One is so powerful, why does he need a little girl's magic?"
"Yes, I am powerful." Rumple agrees. "But Avia's magic is pure. She was conceived from Snow White and Prince Charming - mixed blood with the Savior. Her magic is threatening and her magic is pure. Her magic will not only kill this town, but she will kill herself along with it. It is too strong for her. Once I take hold of her power, she will be saved."
"Only to succumb to the magic of the spell, just as everyone else. How is that saving her?" Killian argues.
Rumple simply shrugs. "Not my problem. She is the key to good and evil. I'm just simply helping her choose. Now, stand back, pirate."
"You won't win." Killian tells him, knowingly. "Villains never do."
"Don't be ridiculous, dearie. When Belle wakes up tomorrow morning in New York City, she won't remember a thing about tonight. I'll then the Snow Queen destroyed Storybrooke, whilst I saved everyone I could." Rumple laughs. "I won't be a villain. I'll be a hero."
Rumple turns back to the door that contains Avia and opens it with his dagger. Avia is sitting on the floor, her knees pulled close to her chest. She narrows her eyes up over her folded arms at the imp, shaking as her power runs through her.
Over at the ice cream parlor, Ingrid waves her hand over the carrot sherbet ice cream, making it disappear and revealing two purple rocks that were hidden underneath. It's the memories she harvested with the magic of the rock trolls.
She then exits the store, finding Elsa and Emma waiting for her.
"This must end, Ingrid." Elsa insists.
"Our magic is a part of us now." Emma adds. "We control it, and we control it really well."
"I'm so proud of you both." Ingrid tells them. "You've finally embraced who you truly are."
Emma and Elsa share a look before they both attempt to throw magic at the Snow Queen, but nothing happens. "Emma." Elsa exhales, confused by what didn't happen.
"Again." Emma insists.
They try again, but nothing happens. Emma and Elsa then notice their yellow ribbons glowing. "The love that flows through our ribbons is without equal." Ingrid explains. "Its strength protects the life-force that we all now share."
"She's made it impossible for us to hurt her." Elsa realizes.
"We gotta get these things off." Emma says, pulling at her ribbon.
"There's no need." Ingrid tells them. "Soon, you won't want to hurt me. Soon, you will love me." She smiles. "For real."
Minnesota / Nine Years Ago...
"Hey, look what the new girl brought with her!" Kevin laughs as he records a fourteen year old Emma who tries desperately to get her stolen video camera back.
"Give it to me!" Emma shouts.
"Give it back, Kevin." Ingrid, the group foster mom, shouts from in the hallway. She walks into the bedroom, carrying a six year old Avia in her arms. "The camera is Emma's, not yours." She puts Avia down next to Emma, who quickly wraps a secure arm around her sister, while Ingrid takes the camera from Kevin. "We respect property in this household, don't we, Kevin?"
"Yes, ma'am." Kevin exasperates before walking out.
Ingrid hands the camera back to Emma. "Here you go, Emma." She says with a kind smile. "It's okay, sweetie." She smiles down at a timid Avia who grew attached to her since she and Emma arrived. "I know you girls are new here, but you're gonna be just fine." Ingrid then walks out of the room, leaving Emma and Avia alone. "Okay, lights out in fifteen!" She shouts to the other kids. "Don't forget to brush your teeth!"
Once Ingrid is out of sight, Emma takes her sister's hand. "Let's go get ready for bed, Avs."
But before they can walk out, Kevin steps up, blocking their exit. "It's your choice, sweetie. You can either give me that camera tomorrow or I can make your life a living hell." He chuckles.
Avia looks up at Emma, who is staring coldly at the boy as he walks away. "Emma." She says, shakily.
"Come on." Emma whispers, ushering her sister out of the room.
Later that night, with Avia asleep in her arms and their bag hanging from her shoulder, Emma sneaks downstairs of the foster home, attempting to run away. But when she makes it to the front door, the lights flicker on and she is surprised to find Ingrid waiting for her on the couch.
"I made us some cocoa." Ingrid says with a smile, showing Emma her mug. "Wanna join me?"
Emma stares awkwardly at the woman, clutching her sister closer to her as she sleeps, oblivious to what's happening. "No."
"Suit yourself. You know by my account, there are fifteen separate subconscious signs or tells that a new foster child displays when they're going to run away on his or her first night. In the brief time we were together, you showed seven." Emma looks down, guilty. "Not that I blame you. When I was younger, I did the same thing."
Emma looks at the woman in disbelief. "You ran away?"
Ingrid shrugs. "I tried to. People in my life, they intervened. Do you wanna know why?"
Emma scowls. "Does it matter?"
"It did to me. They stopped me because they cared about me."
"Lucky you." Emma says with a hint of jealousy.
"No. Lucky you. Because now that you're living under my roof, I'm gonna care for you - " Ingrid glances at a sleeping in Avia, content in her sister's arms. " - I'm gonna care for both of you the way they cared for me."
"Yeah, well, don't waste your time. I'm not interested. I can take care of us on my own."
Ingrid nods. "Suit yourself. Go. I won't stop you." She says, surprising Emma.
"You won't?"
"No. Go on." Ingrid urges. "More cocoa for me." Emma slowly turns to the door. "I understand how difficult it must be to live under the same roof as someone like Kevin - " Ingrid adds, stopping Emma from walking any further as she listens intently to her foster mother. " - who's deathly afraid of spiders." Emma steps back, taking this new information in. "Any spiders, really. Small spiders. Big spiders." Emma walks back into Ingrid's view. "Even the rubber one I keep in my desk." Ingrid chuckles lightly. "In the drawer on the right. Behind the box of staples. Poor Kevin." Emma grins at the idea. "It's a shame you and Avia can't stay, Emma."
Emma takes a second, looking down at her sleeping sister. "Maybe we could hang around for one more day."
Ingrid smiles. "Works for me."
Storybrooke / Present...
Emma and Elsa walk into Gold's shop. "Gold?!" Emma calls out. "Belle?" But no one answers. "You in here?" Emma realizes no one is in the shop, turning to Elsa. "They're gone."
"Then what do we do?" Elsa wonders.
"We do it ourselves." Emma says, confusing the Ice Queen. Elsa watches as Emma makes her way behind one of the display cases and takes out a knife. She then places the blade under her ribbon, attempting to slice it off.
Inside the hospital basement, Avia slowly rises as she stays against the wall. Magic is flowing through her veins while she glares coldly at the imp standing on the outside.
"Now, now, Miss. Swan, I simply just want to talk." Rumple begins.
Avia scoffs. "Talk? Since when does the Dark One like to talk?" Rumple smirks. He could feel the evil rushing through her small body. It was already beginning to be too much for her, but she was standing strong. He had to commend that. "You're here to take my magic." She continues. "Just like every other villain who has made their way into this boring town."
"I am just here to help you."
"No you're not. No one ever wants to help me. Why would you be any different? You just want to take what's not yours. Just like everyone else who has crossed my path." Killian then leans in, looking into the room. Avia laughs. "Seriously? You brought the pirate? What's he going to do? Hook me to death?"
"Just here to make sure you're okay, Avia." Killian tells her.
Avia scoffs, rolling her eyes. "Whatever. You're here to make sure Emma stays okay. Well, guess what, pirate? Emma may be the savior, but I'm more powerful than she will ever be. After all, we share the same blood." Avia raises her hands and grins down menacingly as she watches sparks shoot from her fingertips. She narrows her eyes back up at Rumple and Killian. "You want magic?" Avia stretches out her hands towards them. "Here you go." Purple magic strobes shoot out from Avia's hands, causing the entire building to shake and Rumple and Killian to fly across the room, landing hard onto the floor. Avia walks passed them. "It's time to teach some people some lessons."
Rumple and Killian slowly stand up, terrified at what they witnessed. "She more powerful than I thought." Rumple comments.
"What are you going to do?" Killian wonders.
Rumple grabs his dagger from the floor. "Follow her."
Outside, Avia steps out of the hospital, power still rushing through her small frame while her eyes that were once green are now a shade of black. She smiles as she watches the townspeople fight on the streets.
"Seems this town isn't so boring after all." She says to herself before making her way down the street.
Over at the sheriff's station, Anna is looking out the window while Snow and David continue to argue from inside their cells.
"That's ridiculous." David snaps at his wife.
"At least I know how to swaddle our child correctly." Snow fires back.
"I swaddle him perfectly."
"He's a baby, not a breakfast burrito."
"Stop it." Anna approaches the couple after checking on the sleeping baby. "I mean, I expected more from the two of you. Use your heads. Think back to what it was like before the spell changed you. Sure, you had issues with each other, but they were minor."
"Minor?" David questions. "Minor? When I first met her, she hit me in the face. If that wasn't a sign, I don't know what is."
"Yes, you responded by hanging me in a net from a tree." Snow retaliates. "You're a real Prince Charming."
"Yes - " Anna agrees. " - he is Prince Charming, and you're Snow White. And those things sound terrible but they are also romantic. Can't you see that? Cause if you can, then maybe you can defeat this dark spell."
"Someone slip me a poison apple and put me out of my misery." Snow begs, bored.
"Oh!" Kristoff, who is still chained to the desk, beseeches. "Me! Pick me!"
"Oh, shut it, ice man." David tells him.
"Ice man? Who you call ice man, stable boy?"
"I'm calling you ice man. And you're from Arendelle. What are you doing selling ice? The whole place is frozen!"
"Ice is a very important commodity." Kristoff argues.
"You know what, swiss miss?" Snow says to Anna. "You do know me. I pick flowers. I talk to birds. I do all kinds of warm, fuzzy things. And you know what else?" Snow leans her head against the cells, smiling slightly at Anna. "I kill." She admits. Anna gives her a discontent look. "Yeah, that's right. Snow White's a murderer." Snow laughs. "I killed the Evil Queen's mommy. And I said I was sorry. And I didn't mean it."
"That's horrible." Anna tells her.
Snow shrugs. "Still wanna hold hands, sing 'zip-a-dee-doo-dah'?"
Anna lets out a long, heavy sigh and walks away, muttering to herself.
Inside Gold's shop, Emma is trying everything sharp she can get her hands on to rip the ribbon from her wrist, but the magic protecting it is too strong.
"I give up." Emma sighs. "It's useless."
"I guess the Snow Queen meant what she said about her love." Elsa says.
"I'm sorry. I was too busy thinking of ways to punch her to retain that."
"She said the love flowing through our ribbons - " Elsa grabs Emma's wrist, looking at their ribbons. " - was without equal."
Emma stares curiously at her wrist, getting an idea. "Maybe without equal, but not without an opposite that's equally strong."
"What?"
"If her amplified love put these ribbons on our wrists, then maybe what we need, is someone's equally amplified hatred to get them off."
"Emma, you're a bit prickly, but you're certainly not hate-able." Elsa states.
"Tell that to Regina." She then lets the word Elsa used for her sink in. "I'm prickly?" She asks, taking offense.
"If you let Regina out while she's under the influence of the Snow Queen's curse, she'll kill you."
"She'll try. But right now, it's - "
"A theory." Elsa interrupts.
"The best chance we have. If Storybrooke wants to survive, Regina needs to hate me like she's never hated me before."
Emma and Elsa walk through the graveyard, approaching the Mills' Mausoleum where Regina has contained herself.
Meanwhile, inside the vault, Regina, while reading one of her spell books, senses the presence of her worst enemy She turns towards the entrance and smiles excitedly.
The Snow Queen is now inside her ice lair, in the middle of the woods of Storybrooke, holding three rocks containing, not only, Elsa and Emma's memories, but Avia's as well. Ingrid takes her other hand and hovers it over the rocks, causing them to glow. As she removes her hand, she extracts certain memories from the rocks, which come out in the form of ice crystals and then a stream. They form a small ring in the air, and in the center is a large crystal that Ingrid taps with her finger, causing it to glow brighter as it begins to swirl.
Minnesota / Nine Years Ago...
An excited six year old Avia is bouncing up and down as she stands in front of Ingrid, watching as fourteen year old Emma attempts to grab a stuffed Dalmatian from the claw machine at the theme park.
"You got it, Emma!" Avia's tiny voice squeaks out.
But Emma misses the stuffed animal just so, and the claw closes. Avia groans in disappointment as Emma simply laughs. "What do I do?" She asks Ingrid. "Help!"
"Don't look at me." Ingrid laughs. "You're driving!"
Emma tries again, but she misses it. "I can't do it." She laughs.
"Concentrate." Ingrid advises. She wraps her arms around Avia, holding her back. "Let's give your sister some room, Avia."
Emma shakes her head, amused, staring intently at the toy in front of her. "Okay." She begins to concentrate.
"Trust your instincts." Ingrid tells her. "And let it rip." Emma concentrates, moving the claw carefully. Suddenly, some of the lights begin to blink and the machine sparks. Avia gasps, grabbing Ingrid's hands. "Don't let go." She continues to encourage Emma, who had backed away. Emma focuses back on the machine. "Win."
Emma takes hold of the claw once more and works it downward. Avia watches her sister carefully as the claw makes its way down to the stuffed Dalmatian finally getting a grip on it and lifting it from its position. "You did it, Emma!" Avia shouts happily, jumping up and down. They all begin to celebrate as the toy falls into the chute and Ingrid retrieves it, handing it to Emma.
"Here you go, sis." Emma hands the plush toy to Avia.
With wide eyes, Avia takes the toy and looks up at her sister. "Really? It's mine?"
Emma smiles, nodding. "Of course."
Avia wraps her arms around Emma's waist, hugging her. "Thank you, Emma!" Avia pulls away and looks in awe of her toy. She furrows her brows as she takes a closer look at the stuffed dog's collar. "Look, Emma, something for you, too." Avia unties the collared string and hands a ring that's hanging on it to Emma, who looks curiously at it. Avia looks up at Ingrid. "Can I go see the fish?"
Ingrid smiles, lovingly, at the girl. "Stay close." Avia nods, happily, running towards the fish. "Let's see what you won." Ingrid looks at the ring Emma had now placed on her finger.
"I love it." Emma chuckles.
"This is a great lesson, Emma. If you push yourself and you ignore the flickering lights and the distractions of this world, you can accomplish anything."
"Ingrid, it's a plastic ring, not a scholarship to Yale."
"I know, but you're a special girl, Emma. And someday, you'll surprise everybody with your extraordinary gifts."
"Okay." Emma says, amused. "Now you're going overboard."
"I'm serious I'm glad I got to know you - " Ingrid looks behind Emma at Avia who is watching the fish. " - both of you."
Emma looks at her sister. "This is the happiest she's been in a long time, Ingrid." She looks back at Ingrid. "And that's because of you." Ingrid looks at the girl with tears in her eyes. "Thanks for making it a safe place for her - for us." She admits, sheepishly.
Ingrid brings Emma into her arms and hugs her close. "You're welcome." She pulls away, smiling widely at the girl.
Emma frowns. "Ingrid, are you crying?"
Ingrid shakes her head, bashfully. "No, just - a little emotional." She chuckles.
Emma then glances down and notices the envelope from Twin Cities in Ingrid's purse. "We're being sent away again."
"What?"
"That's why we spent the day together."
"No."
"It's why you're crying."
"No." Ingrid quickly denies this, grabbing the envelope from her purse. "You couldn't be more wrong."
"Then what is it?"
Ingrid takes a moment, staring nervously at the teen. "Um. I'm - I'm filling out the paperwork to adopt you - to adopt you and Avia. We're gonna be a family."
Emma is taken aback. "Are you serious?"
"I know that it's a big leap. And you may not look at me as a mother. I know how hard that is, but - I promise I will be the best big sister that you could ever hope for."
"Emma!" Avia shouts.
Emma turns, smiling at her sister, before looking back at Ingrid. "Just as you are to Avia." Ingrid finishes.
Emma hugs Ingrid. "I love you."
Ingrid begins to cry, happily, holding Emma close. "I love you, too."
"Emma! Ingrid! Hurry! Come see the fish!" Avia shouts.
Ingrid pulls away, keeping Emma at arms length as they both laugh, slightly embarrassed by their emotions. "We better go before she decides to take one home." She jokes as Emma takes her hand, ready to walk towards her sister. Ingrid pulls back, looking seriously into Emma's eyes. "Remember, Emma, you and Avia will always be safe with me."
Tear develop in Emma's eyes as she nods, not trusting her voice at that moment. They then run over to Avia who is chatting away and pointing at each fish with so much excitement unaware of what just happened that is going to change her life for better.
Storybrooke / Present...
Avia stands in the middle of the street, throwing her magic every which way as the townspeople run by, screaming. Her magic is so powerful she was able to break the asphalt of the road, set fire to the trees, and blast a hole into one of the establishments.
"I can't believe they sent me to this awful world to save you idiots." She sneers at the townspeople. "Well, I'll show them they made a mistake."
Avia continues to walk down the street, blasting her magic through the town.
Meanwhile, Emma and Elsa continue to make their way towards the Mills' Mausoleum.
"Okay, stand back." Emma instructs Elsa. She grabs a rock and throws it at the doors, causing the containment spell to become visible. "Containment spell. Okay." Emma takes a deep breath, readying herself. "Here it goes." Emma raises her hands and closes her eyes, concentrating on undoing Regina's magic. But nothing happens.
Elsa steps up, placing an encouraging hand onto Emma's shoulder. "You can do it."
Emma jumps up, shaking her hands before trying again. She refocuses, raising her hands that soon begin to flash a bright light, breaking the spell. "Well, I'm still getting the hang of the controlling the magic thing. But lucky for us, the next part should be easy for me."
"What's that?" Elsa asks as they head inside.
"Be prickly."
Inside the vault, Regina smiles when she hears footsteps approaching.
Emma walks in and is shocked by Regina's Evil Queen attire. "Whoa. Little late for Halloween."
"You." Regina glares murderously at the savior.
"How do you walk in that thing?"
"With the poise and composure of a Queen. Perfect timing, Miss. Swan. I was just reading up on how to turn you into a garden topiary." Regina narrows her eyes at Elsa. "What's she doing here?"
"I wanted to see your face when you learned the truth." Elsa says.
Regina grimaces, placing her hand on her hip. "The truth about what?"
"I lied to you, Regina, about Marian." Emma admits. "I knew all along. I brought her here on purpose."
"Tell me something I don't know."
"What you don't know is why. Not only did I want to break your heart, I wanted you to see me and Hook together, see the happiness you could never have, and ruin it again, just like my mother did."
"I've been waiting a long time for this." Regina says, anxiously. She furiously throws a fireball towards Emma and Elsa who raise their ribbon-bound wrists and make it so that the fireball burns the ribbons only, which disappear in a burst of sparks. Regina gasps, shocked by this.
Emma then throws her own magic at Regina, causing her fly backwards into the wall and fall down. "Let's go." Emma grabs Elsa and they run out of the vault.
"Swan!"
Over at the mayoral's office, Nick and Karley are still locked away in their separate rooms. However, this doesn't stop the two from bickering.
"You were always telling me what to do!" Nick shouts, standing at the door.
"And if I didn't then you would be dead by now!" Karley shouts back.
"Funny!" Nick scoffs. "Because it looks like I survived thirteen years without you!"
"Yeah. You survived by hiding under Mommy." Karley retorts.
"At least I had one!"
"I wish you would have died! Not Dad!" Karley yells furiously, kicking the door.
"Back atcha!" Nick shouts.
"I hope Avia kills you first!" Nick smirks and grabs a vile filled with red dust from out his coat pocket. He then pours it on the door, breaking the containment spell. Through the window, Karley gasps, seeing the door open. "How did you do that!?"
Nick laughs. "If only you were smart enough to work with Rumplestiltskin. Have fun locked up!" He makes a run down the hall as Karley bangs incessantly on the door, trying to break free.
Emma and Elsa run into the streets of Storybrooke, on their way to the Snow Queen.
"What the hell?" Emma looks around at the destruction.
"Did they do this?" Elsa wonders as she watches the townspeople run by.
"There's no way they - "
"Well, well, well." Emma and Elsa's eyes widen when Avia steps in front of them.
"Avia." Emma exhales. Her sister looks different. Her veins her apparent and it's obvious the Shattered Sight spell has worked its way through her. Avia's magic was practically glowing throughout her body.
Avia smiles, menacingly. "Hey, sis. Where are we running off to so fast?" She questions. She forms a fireball in her hands. "Perhaps to see our parents? I'll go with you." She raises her brow up at Emma. "We can all die together."
"Okay. Avia." Emma begins calmly. "This is the spell talking. Let go of your magic and we can talk."
Avia shoots a strobe of magic down in front of Emma and Elsa's feet, causing the road to crack in-between them. They both gasps at how powerful Avia is, and how much control she now has. "Or I can just kill you. No more Savior means I'll finally have my own place in this world. I'll finally be able to be who I want to be without the constant reminder of how perfect Emma Swan is. I'll no longer have you telling me what to do!" Avia shouts, causing the ground to shake.
"She's too powerful, Emma." Elsa whispers.
Emma lets out a heavy sigh, raising her hand. "Please don't make me use my magic on you, Avia."
Avia laughs. "Please do." Avia raises her own hands and immediately magic spews out of both of them. But as soon as they counteract with one another, a blast of white and purple magic explodes in the middle of them, sending them all flying through the air and landing hard on the ground.
"Emma, you're going to kill each other!" Elsa exclaims. "Your magic is too strong! You'll kill each other and the entire town!
Avia stands, ignoring her injuries as if she can't even feel them. Avia's hands glow with magic as she walks towards Emma and Elsa who are standing up. "You can't always win, Emma! You're not the boss of me anymore! Don't you see it!? I'm more powerful than you will ever be. You can't save this town! I won't save this town! It's my turn to be put first!"
"It's us or this town, Elsa." Emma says as her own hands glow with magic. "I have to stop her."
Avia grins. "You can't stop me, Emma." She laughs. "I was made to destroy."
"I love you, Avia." Emma raises her hands as Avia does the same, readying themselves. But before magic can shoot out from Avia, she is suddenly hit with a blunt force. Emma drops her hands, looking confused. "What the - " Avia grabs chest, gasping, as she falls to her knees. Emma and Elsa look up to find Rumplestiltskin holding out his dagger towards Avia. "Gold!" Emma shouts. "What the hell are you doing to my sister!?"
Rumple narrows his eyes coldly at the girl in front of him. "She's not your sister anymore."
Avia continues to gasp for air as she kneels painfully on the ground, feeling as her magic is being ripped out of her. Emma and Elsa run towards them. "You're hurting her!" Elsa screams.
"No." Rumple says, calmly. "I'm helping her."
With tears in her eyes, Avia manages to look up, making eye contact with her sister. "Emma - " She croaks. "I - He's - magic - "
"Gold, stop! There has to be another way!" Emma shouts.
"You said it yourself, Miss. Swan. It's her or this town. Which would you rather it be?" Rumple asks. "Or would you rather kill her yourself? Can you, Miss. Swan, walk around with that burden on your heart."
Emma thinks for a moment, staring into Rumple's eyes. She furrows her brows, coming to the realization. "Avia was right all along. You want her magic."
"Your sister is too weak to carry this kind of power, as you can see."
Elsa shakes her head slightly, seeing the greed upon the man's face. "Avia can handle it. We can help her."
"I'm saving this town." Rumple retorts.
Emma scoffs. "You're saving yourself. You could care less about this town, or anyone for that matter." She raises her hands towards the imp.
Rumple laughs. "You think you are stronger than I am? Remember, I am the Dark One."
Emma shrugs. "And I'm the Savior. How about we test it out? I won't let you destroy my sister, Gold."
"She's evil." Rumple points out.
Emma shakes her head. "So are you."
Avia slowly glances up, her dark eyes staring at her sister. "Emma." She says, weakly, as her body shakes from the dagger's force. "Emma. No."
Emma looks down. Her sister may be under this spell, but her voice and her eyes, Emma knew her sister - her loving, selfless, sarcastic sister is in there. She's looking right at her after all. "I love you, Avia."
Emma's hands glow with magic as she raises them more towards Rumple. "No!" Avia shouts as she throws a hand up and shoots a laser of magic towards Rumplestiltskin, knocking him straight off his feet, dropping his dagger to the ground, no longer attached to Avia's power.
Emma's eyes widen. "Avia!"
Avia slumps down to the ground, narrowing her eyes at the imp. "If you want my powers, all you have to do is ask."
Rumple regains his footing, taken aback by what just happened. How was he ever going to retrieve Avia's power if she continuously used her power against him? He had to break this spell. Avia was stronger with it than without it. "It's more complicated than that, I'm afraid." With that, Rumple grabs his dagger and walks away.
Emma quickly falls to the ground next to Avia, looking her over. "Avia, are you back?"
With her green eyes now glistening with tears, she looks at her sister. "I couldn't let him kill you, Emma."
Elsa kneels down, holding a smile. "Your love saved each other."
Emma and Avia share a small smile with one another. How could they ever destroy one another after all they have been through? Avia may be the key to good and evil, but with her sister by her side, Avia knew she'd always make the right choice. "Now - " Emma exhales heavily, with determination in her eyes. " - let's go save the town."
And with that, Emma and Elsa help Avia to her feet and head towards their destination - to the person who started this all.
Emma and Elsa are standing on either side of Avia, guiding her into Ingrid's ice lair, but it seems the Snow Queen is no where to be found.
"This place is creepy." Avia tells them as they look around.
"You can say that again." Emma mumbles.
Elsa touches Emma's arm, getting her attention, pointing her to the mirror which was used to cast the spell of Shattered Sight. Unbeknownst to them that Ingrid is watching her 'two sisters' and the teenager, she couldn't wait to get rid of for good, with a gleeful expression upon her face.
Minnesota / Nine Years Ago...
Ingrid, Emma, and Avia are walking down the sidewalk, on their way home, and almost get splashed by a car driving past them.
"Oh!" Emma and Ingrid gasps, jumping back.
"It's nights like this I wish I just had the power to poof home like Harry Potter. If I was like him, I could be standing here in the cold one minute, and home soaking in the tub in the next." Emma jokes.
Avia jumps into a puddle, splashing her sister on purpose. "It's just water, Emma." She giggles at the surprised look on her sister's face.
"Avia!" Emma laughs, grabbing her sister and tickling her as Ingrid watches on with love in her eyes.
"That would be something, wouldn't it?" Ingrid says, intrigued by Emma's words about magic.
"It would be awesome!" Avia exclaims. "And we could get ice cream, too!"
Emma laughs, pushing her sister playfully as she jumps into another puddle. "Emma, do you remember how much fun we all had in the arcade last week?" Ingrid asks.
"Of course." Emma smiles. "Best day we've had in a long time."
"Because you're adopting us, right?" Avia stops playing, her green eyes looking at Ingrid with so much hope.
Ingrid smiles warmly at the child, her eyes glistening. Not only was she going to be gaining a sister - Emma. But she was going to be gaining possibly a child of her own - Avia. "Right."
"How we could we forget?" Emma asks.
Avia begins to play in the water again as Ingrid continues. "And do you remember how the lights in the game flickered right before you won?"
Emma's eyes furrow as she thinks about that moment. "Yeah. Weird."
"What if it was more than just weird?" Ingrid asks. "What if it meant that you were on the cusp of a great self-revelation?" Emma looks even more confused while a nearby car is starting up and heading their way. "I think it's time."
Ingrid suddenly grabs Avia and leads her into the street. Emma watches deeply confused and scared as this woman places her sister in the middle of the street. "Ingrid, what are you doing!?"
Avia's eyes widen, seeing the car heading straight to her. "Emma!" She tries to move, but Ingrid pushes her back.
"You're going to be okay, Avia. I just need you to stay there for a moment." Ingrid orders as she goes and drags Emma off the sidewalk. "What are you doing!?" Emma exclaims.
"Stop the car, Emma."
"Emma!" Avia shouts in fear.
"What!?" Emma yells. She tries to grab her sister, but Ingrid pulls her back.
"Emma!" Avia starts to move, but Ingrid holds out her hand.
"Don't move, Avia!" She demands. "Trust your instincts, Emma!" The car starts to honk as it drives towards Avia, only seeing her at the last moment. "Do it! Stop the car!"
"Let go of me!" Emma cries out. She manages to free herself from Ingrid's grip and lunges for her sister, knocking her out of the way of the car, only just missing them. They fall onto the road as Ingrid watches, horrified by what she's done.
Ingrid runs over to the girls as they stand back up. Emma holds Avia as she cries uncontrollably into her shoulder. "I'm sorry!" Ingrid tells them.
Emma looks at her foster mother in complete disgust. "Are you crazy!? You almost killed my sister!"
"I made a mistake." She admits. "When I was younger, I had a traumatic experience that unleashed a power that I didn't even know I had." She steps forward, trying to take the girls into her arms, but Emma steps back, refusing to be touched by this woman.
"What are you talking about?"
"I thought the arcade was a sign that you were coming into your own." Ingrid explains.
Emma looks shocked. "You think I have powers? Like Harry Potter?"
"No, Emma." Ingrid chuckles. "That's fiction. What you have is more real and more powerful than you can possibly imagine." As Avia cries harder into Emma's shoulder, Ingrid tries to reach out to her. "Oh, Avia, I didn't - "
"Don't touch her!" Emma yells, backing away. "Don't touch her and don't touch me ever again! I should've known the only person willing to adopt us would turn out to be a nut job."
Heartbroken, Ingrid attempts to touch Emma again. "No. Emma - "
"Don't touch me!" Emma continues to stare painfully at Ingrid, trying to find something to say, but instead running away was her answer. She holds tight to her hysterical little sister and makes a run for it, never to look back at the one person she ever thought of as good.
"Emma, wait!" Ingrid tries to chase after her. "Emma!" But Emma was too fast. She's lost her. "Emma!"
Storybrooke / Present...
Regina runs into the sheriff's station in search of Emma, but instead she finds Snow and David locked in cells while Kristoff remains handcuffed to the desk and Anna tends to baby Neal.
"Well, well, well. Isn't this my lucky day?" She says, glaring evilly at Snow White. "I had come here to kill Emma, but now I get to kill the two idiots who started it all."
"Hey, I wasn't the one that told Cora about your secret boyfriend." David points out in aggravation to being blamed for something he didn't do.
"Are you selling me out?" Snow asks in disbelief.
"Shut up!" Regina order them both. "You both deserve to die. Not just for what you did, but for your whining. But your punishments should fit your crimes. Snow, you took my first true love from me." She declaims. "Now I'm going to return the favor by taking your baby."
"No!" Snow presses herself against the cell bars, deeply worried for her son.
"Regina!" David angrily shouts.
Anna jumps in front of the baby's stroller. "Please, your majesty, let's be reasonable." She begs. "You're under the Snow Queen's spell. You don't actually hate Snow and David."
"It does sound like she has her reasons." Kristoff says to his fiance's annoyance.
"Kristoff!"
"I don't know who you are - " Regina glares at the two strangers. " - but why don't you go back to where you came from?" She waves her hand and with a cloud of magic, Anna and Kristoff disappear. "Where was I?" She waves a hand, unlocking Snow's cell.
"Gonna use your magic, Regina?" Snow wonders. "You afraid to get your hands dirty?"
"I don't need magic to kill you." She waves her hand again and a sword appears into Snow's hand as Regina holds one as well. "Magic is too good for you." Snow steps out of her cell, holding out her sword, while Regina simply caresses her blade. "I wanna watch you bleed." Regina then aims her own sword at her stepdaughter.
Maine, Seven Years Ago...
Ingrid is wandering down a long road with her scroll in tow. She unravels it, hearing the apprentice's words in her head, explaining to her that when the time comes, it will lead her to her third sister.
She continues to stand in the middle of the road until she looks up again seeing that what was once not there - stores, lights, vehicles, homes - is now a town called Storybrooke.
Ingrid smiles. "Hello, Storybrooke."
Storybrooke / Present..
Emma, Elsa, and Avia continue to make their through the ice lair when the Snow Queen finally emerges.
"You two have no idea how long I've waited for this moment." She says, startling them. Emma and Elsa prepare themselves, shaking their hands to ready themselves to fight, and that's when Ingrid notices. "Your ribbons - " A look of disappointments falls upon her face. "What have you done?"
"I'm not much for accessories." Emma tells her smugly.
"Those ribbons joined us together."
"Get it through your head, lady." Avia glares. "They're not your sisters. And they're never gonna love you."
Ingrid sighs. "Oh, Avia. I see you survived."
"No thanks to you." Avia spats.
"Because of Emma and Avia's love for each other." Elsa explains. "True sisters."
With a wave of her hand, Ingrid knocks Avia down to her knees, causing her to yelp out in pain. "Avia!" Emma exclaims, reaching for Avia. But when she goes to touch her, Emma is shocked and pulls back. "What did you do?"
"I just need a moment with you. Avia was, after all, always a distraction." Avia scowls at the Snow Queen as she tries fight through the woman's force field that is surrounding her. "Don't try to fight it, dear." Ingrid smiles at the teen. "You use your magic, you will surly kill yourself." She sits down, making herself comfortable. "You'll girls will soon see that you're wrong." Ingrid goes to grab something, and Emma and Elsa immediately hold out their hands, threateningly.
"Don't do it!" Emma orders her. They watch as Ingrid holds out three stones. "The hell are those?"
"They're memories I took from the three of you. And now it's time to give them back."
"Why? So we can remember just how badly you treated us?"
"The funny thing about time is we romanticize the good and forget the bad." Ingrid explains. "That's exactly what's in these crystals. These are the good memories and nothing else. Lovely the moments the three of you shared with me, which I'll cherish forever and now so will you."
Avia scoffs. "I doubt I ever cherished a moment with you."
Ingrid smiles, softly. "Oh, my dear, but you did."
"I hate to break it to you, but magic can't make someone love you." Emma informs her.
"You're right, Emma. Magic can't create love. But if someone loved you in the past, it can make them love you again. And I know you've forgotten, Emma, but you did love me." She looks down at Avia who is trembling from the icy floor. "And, do did you, Avia." She smiles at Elsa. "All three of you did." She stands up and walks over to them. "That's why, right now, you're not doing anything." Emma and Elsa back away, but try to keep close to Avia as the Snow Queen approaches, walking past them. "We all know the only way to stop me is to kill me, and you're both hesitating." She smiles, turning to the girls.
"Let me go." Avia tempts. "I won't hesitate."
Storybrooke / Two Years Ago...
Emma and Avia quickly walk inside the ice cream shop, Any Given Sundae.
"Still open?" Emma asks the owner whose back is turned from them. "My sister and I need a couple of pints."
"Yes." Avia jumps, happily in her place. "I love this place, and I'm also having sugar withdrawal." She jokes, earning a laugh from Emma. Mary Margaret was limiting Avia's sugar intake since the accident and Avia felt like she was going crazy without it.
The owner turns around, revealing herself to be Ingrid. Emma and Avia quickly recognize her and step back, shocked. "Ingrid." Emma says with widened eyes.
Pleased to see them both, though having seen them around town, she smiles in awe of the two, especially towards Emma. "Emma. Avia."
Avia, who was obviously still scarred from what happened when she lived with Ingrid, suddenly stands in place, unable to move, nor take her eyes off the woman she feared. Emma stands in front of sister. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Ever since you girls came to Storybrooke, I've been waiting for you to come into my shop." She walks from behind the counter and over to the two. Avia grabs onto her sister, closing her eyes, and drawing herself closer to Emma. Emma could feel her sister shaking under her touch as she attempts to hide her from this woman. "I wanted to give you your space, let you come to me."
"My space?" Emma narrows her eyes at the woman who continues to walk closer. "Are you out of your mind? Are you following us?"
"There are so many things that I wanted to tell you, so many things that I wanted to say. And look at you, both of you, you're all grown up." She reaches for Emma.
"Don't touch me!" Emma snaps. She grabs Avia and leads her towards the door. "This makes no sense. You don't look a day older. That was almost ten years ago."
"After you girls ran away, I came to Storybrooke to wait for you." Ingrid explains. "And people don't age here the way they do in a world without magic. The apprentice was right. He said that you would be here on your 21st birthday, and here you are." She says, excitedly.
Emma and Avia glance at one another, freaked out by Ingrid's use of the words 'apprentice' and 'magic.' "You're even loonier than when we ran away."
"I'm not, Emma. You know that this place is special. You girls were sent here for a reason. You're both very special." She says, smiling at Avia, who averts her eyes away, unable to look directly into the woman's eyes who gave her nightmares after nearly getting her killed. "Your storybook, Avia. Everything is true. They're real."
Emma moves back in front of Avia, hiding her. "No! You don't get to talk to her! You screwed up our lives. You tried to get Avia killed! You're crazy." Emma grabs her cell phone from her back pocket. "Get out of my way. I'm gonna call Sheriff Graham. Come on, Avs." She takes Avia's hand and tries to walk to the door.
Ingrid steps in front of them. "No, you're not calling anyone."
Avia looks confused when Ingrid holds out two purple rocks. "What's that, your pet rocks?" Emma asks, amused.
"No, Emma." Ingrid smiles. "No, it isn't. It's magic from my world." She waves her hand over both their heads and pulls out a stream of memories into the rocks. Once the process is complete, Emma and Avia stumble into one another, but Ingrid is there quickly to catch them. "Oh. Are you girls okay?"
Emma and Avia look at one another in slight confusion. "What happened?" Emma asks.
"You girls almost fell - you would have toppled over each other if I wasn't here to catch you." Ingrid chuckles. "Do you still want that ice cream?" She walks behind the counter, but not before playfully tapping Avia on her chin.
Avia smiles. "Definitely." She looks at Emma who is still trying to process what happened. "What, Emma, two pints of cherry vanilla?"
Ingrid opens her freezer to grab the pints. "How about some rocky road on the house?" She offers.
"Sweet!" Avia says, happily. "Mary Margaret loves rocky road."
"Thanks." Emma pays for the pints before she grabs them and heads for the door.
"Bye!" Avia waves at Ingrid as she follows her sister out while Ingrid watches with sadness in her eyes.
Storybrooke / Present...
David watches from his cell as Snow and Regina engage in a sword fight; the Evil Queen soon bending Snow over the nearby desk, their blades press hard against one another as they stare at each other with fury in their eyes.
"Careful!" David warns them. "The stroller's not under warranty anymore!"
"You said you bought it new!" Snow exclaims, struggling to push her stepmother away.
"It was gently used!"
Snow manages to push Regina off of her and swipes her sword at the Evil Queen, who dodges it quickly. "Let me know when you're tired of missing, Snow."
"I only have to hit you once." Snow points out. She tries to slice Regina with her sword, but Regina moves inches away, causing Snow's blade to clash into the bars of David's cell. Regina pushes Snow down to the ground, but Snow doesn't stay down for long. She stands up and throws a stack of papers at the Evil Queen to obscure her vision. But it doesn't take long for the two to continue clashing their swords again. In a quick move, Snow positions herself behind Regina and wraps her arms around the Evil Queen's neck. Regina pushes Snow against David's cell, giving David the opportunity to grab Regina's wrist through the bars, making it so she drops her sword on the floor. Regina thrusts herself backwards, slamming Snow into the cell. She walks away as Snow painfully stands up, and looks down into the stroller at the baby.
"My, my. Aren't you a good sleeper?"
"You think this spell has made me angry? Do not wake my baby!" Snow yells before charging at Regina with her sword. Regina grabs Snow and tosses them both over the desk. Snow stands up and grabs Regina, throwing her into the other desk, much to David's satisfaction, before she grabs Regina again and flings her towards the glass door of the office, which smashes as she falls through it. More angry than before, Regina turns to Snow and extends her arm out, causing Snow to fly backwards across the room. Snow remains on the floor, panting, as Regina slowly approaches her stepdaughter. "You said no magic."
"And you said you could keep a secret!" Regina furiously reminds her.
"I - " Snow stands up. " - was - " She grabs her sword, charging at the Evil Queen. " - ten!"
David continues to watch with worry as the two continue to clash swords.
Back on the beach that Anna and Kristoff previously washed up on, the Evil Queen had simply sent them back from where they came from.
"Where did she send us!?" Kristoff exclaims as Anna chases after him.
"She tried to send us back to where we came from, and this was the closest spot." Anna explains as they come up to the trunk they were washed up onto shore in. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going back to Arendelle, even if I have to swim there." Kristoff says in frustration.
"I don't think that's how portals works. I mean, sure, I've only ever been through one, but they seem pretty one-way."
Kristoff turns to Anna. "I'm tired of this! My life used to be simple - just me and Sven. No sister-in-law who sets off eternal winters. No crazy aunt who wants to kill everyone I know." Anna sighs, sadly, knowing he's right. His life was simple before meeting her. "No fiance who delays my wedding for thirty years!"
"That wasn't my fault." Anna defends herself. "Okay, the first few weeks were, but we were frozen for the rest of it!" She suddenly trips over a glass bottle that is embedded in the sand.
With his back turned from her, unaware of what happened, he attempts to take off his shoes as he continues to complain. "And you know what? I'm tired of listening to you and I'm tried of listening to reason. I'm going back, and nothing you do will stop me!"
Anna grabs the bottle. "Sorry, Kristoff, but you'll thank me later." She stands up as Kristoff successfully takes his shoes off. "I'll make it up to you, I promise. Close your eyes." She smashes the bottle over Kristoff's head, causing him to pass out into the sand and allowing her to retrieve the message hidden inside. Anna picks it up and begins to read it, soon realizing that it's a letter from her mother right before she died. "Kristoff." She whispers in disbelief. "Kristoff! Do you have any idea what this is!?" She exclaims. "Oh. Right." She says, looking down at her unconscious fiance. "I knocked you out. Wake up!" She tries to shake him awake. "We have to take this to Elsa!" She kisses him on the cheek. "I love you! You're amazing." She frowns. "You're unconscious. I'll be right back. Stay here. I mean, I know you'll stay here, but I'll be right back anyway!"
With that, Anna sets off to find her sister, leaving an unconscious Kristoff on the beach.
Still inside the ice lair, Elsa and Emma cautiously stand in front of Avia, who still can't move, holding their hands out slightly in defense.
"It's okay." Ingrid assures them, holding out the rocks. "Come. Be my sisters."
Elsa grunts in frustration. "I can't do it, Emma. I can't hurt her."
"Yeah, well, I can." Emma starts to throw her magic at the ice witch when Anna suddenly runs in.
"Wait!" She shouts. "Stop!"
"Anna." Elsa worries for her sister's safety. "She's too dangerous."
"You should listen to my sister and go." Ingrid advises.
"Your sister?" Anna exclaims. "She's mine. And Emma is Avia's. They will never truly be your sisters. And whatever you're gonna do, well, - " Elsa and Emma hold Anna back from approaching Ingrid. " - don't." She unravels the note she found in the bottle, turning to her sister. "Elsa, I found this on the beach. It's from our mother." Ingrid becomes intrigued, watching carefully as Anna explains. "She must've thrown it into the ocean before their ship sank. It came over in the portal with us."
"Just be careful." Emma warns her.
But Anna refuses. "No, I'm not gonna be careful. She needs to hear this. You all do." Anna opens the letter and begins to read. "'Elsa, Anna, I don't know if your father and I will ever get back to you, but I need you to know we were wrong to tell Elsa to conceal her powers.'"
"How fitting that you, who are so much like your mother, should share her last words." Ingrid interrupts, rudely. She waves her hand, intending to hurt Anna with her magic, but Anna continues anyway.
''I feel terrible that it happened before and I can't let it happen again.'" Anna reads, looking at Ingrid.
"What?"
"'My sister Ingrid, like you, also had ice powers. I never told you about her or my other sister Helga, but I should have.'" As Ingrid starts to become vulnerable, so does her magic, releasing Avia from the force field. Emma helps her sister stand, holding her close as they continue to listen to Anna recite her mother's last words. "'They were beautiful and kind and wonderful, and I was fearful. And I let that fear guide me. I let Ingrid hide when I should have celebrated her for the person she was. I loved her so much.'"
"You're lying!" Ingrid insists. "My sister hated me! She called me a monster!" She remembers, her voice cracking as the memory of that dreadful day. "She put me in that urn, like you did Elsa!"
"'In this crystal are the memories of my sisters, which I stole from the people of Arendelle.'" Anna continues to read. "'Please return them. My sisters deserve to be known. In a cave in the North Valley, you'll find an urn that contains Ingrid. Please do what I should have done long ago and release her." Ingrid now stands with tears streaming down her face as she listens to her sister's final words. "'When you see her, please tell her I love her and I'm sorry. I'd give anything to take back what I did, to hold her hands one more time.'" Ingrid looks desolately at Anna, who smiles in hopes for a response.
Suddenly, the Snow Queen raises her hand and begins to choke Anna with her magic. "Ingrid!" Elsa shouts.
"Let her go!" Emma shouts.
Avia then lets out her magic, clashing it against Ingrid's who holds out her other hand, struggling against one another. "I can't hold her for long." Avia grimaces. She's small and Ingrid is stronger. There's no spell giving Avia the strength she needs.
"I understand, Aunt Ingrid." Anna strains, helplessly. But Ingrid continues holding both sisters she has tried desperately to get rid of over and over again with her magic. "I understand now why you cast this curse."
"Avia, let go." Emma urges desperately.
Avia strains, forcing everything in her to push Ingrid's magic back. "I stop, we could die."
Anna continues to choke, gasping for the air she desperately needs, as she tries to get through to her aunt. "But you can come back from it."
Ingrid scowls at her niece. "Understand me?" She questions. "How could you? You're nothing like me!" Anna is forced to her knees, struggling to breathe. "You understand nothing!" She cries out.
"You're right." Anna inhales sharply. "I'm not like you. My mother wasn't like you. But if she was able to love you for who you are, so can I. You're a part of our family no matter what. And family never gives up on each other."
"You lie!" Ingrid yells, using her magic to slap Anna to the ground, gasping for her. Her magic also releases Avia, causing her to fall back into Emma, who catches her with ease. Elsa rushes to her sister's side as Ingrid takes Gerda's note, reading it herself. "Oh." She gasps, lightly. Then, she taps the crystal embedded in the wax seal, unleashing the memories that were stored inside. Ingrid flashes to her childhood with Helga and Gerda as they decide on a new use for the ribbons from the destroyed kite. She then flashes to her two sister adults, looking at themselves in the mirror as they laugh while trying on jewelry. Helga and Gerda dance with one another around the room as Ingrid watches from her bed, a wide smile upon her face. With the good memories filling her head, Ingrid falls to her knees, grasping the note close, realizing that her sister did love her. "Oh, Gerda..." She cries out. She looks at Anna, Elsa, Emma, and Avia, horrified by what she has done. Ingrid proceeds to stand up and walk over to the empty mirror on the wall. "I need to reverse this."
"You can't." Anna tells her, as she and the other three stand back up. "The only way is if you - "
"I know." Ingrid interrupts, turning towards the girls. "I have to destroy myself."
"No, Ingrid." Elsa calls out.
Ingrid begins to summon the magic she needs. "Wait!" Emma begs.
"There's no other way." Ingrid tells them as streams of glass flow down from the ceiling. "I am a monster; not because of my powers, but because of what I let them turn me into. I have to undo this."
"No, Ingrid." Elsa says, desperately. "You'll die."
"I know." She smiles at the girls. "It's okay. Elsa, Anna, you found each other. And, Emma, Avia, you found your family, even if it wasn't with me." Emma and Avia stare sadly at the woman. Ingrid holds out the purple rocks. "You deserve your memories." She uses her magic to unleash their memories and the purple streams flow from the rocks and into the minds of Emma, Avia, and Elsa, who soon remember all that the Snow Queen took from them. "You four are so special. Never forget that."
The glass begins to consume Ingrid, forming a bright light. She stumbles in pain. "There has to be another way." Emma stresses. "You deserve your happy ending, too."
"Long ago, a prophecy told me that you would lead me to just that, Emma." Ingrid explains, proudly. "And this is it. All I wanted was to have my sister's love, and now I have it." She smiles at the four saddened girls who are staring back at her with tears in their eyes. "Now, I get to join them."
With those being her last words, the glass finally consumes all of her and the Snow Queen disperses as a large white flash is given off, blinding the girls slightly.
With Ingrid now dead, Emma, Elsa, Avia, and Anna stand inside the ice lair as the Snow Queen's remains fall down on them in the form of snow. "She sacrificed herself for us, for all of us." Emma tells them.
"Anna." Elsa brings her sister into a comforting hug.
"Elsa." Anna holds her sister close.
Avia looks up at Emma, who wraps her arms around her, securely. "Now what?"
Elsa picks up her mother's note from the ground. "Now we must follow through on our mother's last wish. We must bring back the memory of Ingrid and Helga to the people of Arendelle."
"We will." Anna assures her.
The two sisters then turn to Emma and Avia, who smile sadly of the Snow Queen - their aunt.
Out in the streets of Storybrooke, those who are fighting begin to tear themselves away from one another due to the spell of Shattered Sight ending. However, the snow from Ingrid's death begins to wash over them.
Inside the sheriff's station, while David is standing in his cell, he watches as Regina and Snow engage in some sort of struggle which ends abruptly when the magic held in the snow washes over them as well. Their swords drop from their hands as they realize what they have done.
Regina looks down at herself, seeing that she is dressed as the Evil Queen. "What am I wearing?"
Snow looks at her stepmother and begins to laugh uncontrollably, causing Regina and David to do the same, finding all of what occurred ridiculous.
Back on the streets, Anna, Elsa, and Emma, who is also carrying Avia on her back, make their way through the town, enjoying the falling snow.
"Emma! Avia!" Snow exclaims, pushing Neal's stroller through the street with Regina, who has returned to her normal clothes, and David on either side of her. Avia hops off Emma's back as they both rush towards their family. David picks up Avia as Emma crashes into his and Snow's arms.
"Mom!" Nick shouts, running towards Regina.
"Mom!" Karley shouts from the other side.
Regina looks relieved to see them both. "Nicholas. Karley." She brings them both into her arms.
"I'm glad I didn't kill you guys." Avia says as David sets her down. She falls into her mother's embrace as they laugh.
Holding her daughter close, Snow looks at her husband with guilt. "Look, I know that we were under the Snow Queen's curse, but - "
"We were under a curse." David interrupts. "It's okay." They then share a passionate kiss in the snowfall as the crowd of townspeople begin to gather around, hugging and laughing at what they went through.
Avia crashes back into her sister's side as they stand near their sleeping brother. "Thanks for saving me, again." She smirks.
Emma sighs, kissing her sister's head, soaking everything in. "Thanks for letting me." She whispers.
Meanwhile, in the back of Gold's shop, Rumple himself is watching over a sleeping Belle when Killian walks in.
"You failed." Rumple states, looking at the pirate.
"And it seems so have you." Killian retorts.
"The Snow Queen's plan also failed. But mine won't." Rumple slowly approaches the pirate. "Enjoy this snowfall, dearie. It'll be your last."
"Then grant me one dying wish."
Rumple rolls his eyes. "I'm not in the business of making deals with you anymore."
"Leave Emma and Avia, and the rest of Storybrooke be. There's no need to harm them."
"When I step over that town line with my magic intact, the Swan sisters and Storybrooke have nothing to fear from me as long as they don't get in my way. I may not have their powers, but I can still destroy them.
Killian glares at the imp as he walks past him, grabbing his coat, and stepping out into the snow, continuing on to work on his plan.
