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Summary of the Previous Chapter: After finding the necklace at the ice wall, they noticed a strange cloud covering the town. Belle then goes to confront Gold before heading back to Regina's office, where the group uses a locator to find Anna.
...
Chapter Eighteen: Caution Ahead
…
"Elsa?!" Anna returned, hugging her sister back fiercely. "Kristoff, look! It's Elsa!"
"Thank God," Kristoff responded, pulling the two women into a hug after he carefully stepped out of the chest, which he then promptly kicked away. "Where are we? Blackbeard isn't nearby, is he?"
"He better not be," somebody retorted, making Kristoff spin towards the voice. He then met the curious gaze of Killian, who, along with Emma and Robin, were wading in the water towards them. "Otherwise, I'd have to kill him."
"Killian," Emma said, swatting him on the shoulder when she passed by him to get to Anna and Elsa.
Kristoff regarded him for a moment but then shrugged. "And that would be fine with me." Extending an arm, which Killian gripped at the elbow, Kristoff turned to look at his fiance, who was talking rapidly to her sister. "Come on, Anna."
Hearing him, but not responding, she accepted Emma's help while Elsa steadied herself with Robin's hand. Slowly, they all teetered back to the shore with Anna's loud, unfolding story. "...so, we went looking for you, but got lost several times and ended up on this mean ship with a mean crew, who Hans was a part of...and they had this mean Captain, who, if not for his long, weird beard, had a decent face. Not handsome, but decent..."
Kristoff gave her an exasperated look. "Anna…"
"You know I love you," she responded, her tone sweet before she turned her attention back to Elsa, who was just lovingly staring at her. "But he's right. Anyways, they trapped us in that chest and we, somehow ended up..." she looked around, her eyes taking in the other people. "...where are we?"
"Storybrooke," Regina answered, magically drying all those who were wet with multiple hand waves. When the purple wisps disappeared, she looked at Anna with interest. "I don't mean to be rude by interrupting your reunion but we're running out of time." She then took a step closer to her. "Do you see the grey clouds above us?"
Anna looked up. "Yes…?"
"We're waiting for it to rain down a powerful spell, which will happen in less than two hours." She then stopped to observe the auburn haired woman. "It was unleashed by the Snow Queen..."
Anna blinked in confusion. "Who's the Snow Queen?"
Elsa stepped in.
Clasping her sister's hand and bringing it to her chest, she looked at her imploringly. "Do you remember the last time we were together? Because I don't. My memory has been tampered with but..." she then raised her other hand, which had been clutching the necklace the entire time. "...I found this in somebody's shop and I—"
Anna's eyes widened. "Where did you get that?! Oh," she breathed, her eyes suddenly welling up. "How could I forget? Oh, Elsa! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to trap you in that urn! I-I wasn't myself! Our aunt tried to turn us against each other but it didn't work at first, so, she put me under a spell! I trapped you after I had ripped that necklace off of my neck and threw it into the fire...She then froze all of Arendelle for years and...I-I, we couldn't find you and..."
"Wait, wait," Elsa said, trying to calm her sister down. "Our 'aunt'?"
"A 'spell'?" Emma and Regina said, honing in on those words.
"'Urn'?" Belle concluded, nodding her head.
"Yes," Anna said to all three questions, blinking back her surprise. "Ingrid. She's one of our mom's sisters. We were shocked when we found out that she had two of them since they were never mentioned but…um, why are you looking at me like that?"
Elsa's mouth had dropped open with sheer confirmation. She then exchanged glances with everybody before answering her sister. "What does she look like?"
"Um, she actually kind of...looks like you, but wears a long, white lace dress," Anna recounted, thinking back to the last time she had seen her. "She also has ice powers! Which, in a way, is where you got your magic from. It's inherited!"
"The Snow Queen," Emma then said. "She's your aunt, Elsa..."
"All the pieces are coming together," Regina followed. "It's nice to know that we were on the right path from the start…"
"So," Anna continued, looking at everybody then up at the sky. "She's trying to release that spell again, but on everybody in this place?"
"Yes," Killian and Robin said, both trying to keep up with the pace of the conversation.
"Then it's definitely Aunt Ingrid," Anna concluded, looking back at her sister. "She desperately wants to find love with somebody who's special like her, after what happened in her life, and she was even willing to get rid of me to do it...you know, since I'm not magical and all..."
"Oh, Anna," Elsa said, hugging her sister to her again, which made her squeal in surprise. "You're special to me, to Kristoff to all of Arendelle. She's just too blind to see it and..." she said, pulling her away to look into her eyes. "I'm not mad at you. I'm just so relieved that you're okay and we're together again."
Suddenly the necklace in Elsa's possession then shook and disappeared, the ends of the snowflake fading away in bright wisps.
"What happened?" Elsa asked, confused at the display.
"A wishing star," Regina announced, her tone surprised. "Once you wished for your sister, it's job was fulfilled."
"Well, that puts Hans' demands of wanting our 'wishing star' into better context," Kristoff said, raising his brows.
"But," Robin began, drawing everybody's eyes. "Didn't you need that for the counter curse?"
"Yes," Regina answered, her mind already processing their next move. "A piece of it would've helped since it would've added to the potency of the potion, but as long as we have somebody who has already survived its influence," she glanced over at Anna. "Then we should be fine. If not, we'll just make due."
"Wait, what?" Anna questioned, her eyes bouncing off every person until it settled back onto Elsa.
"Don't worry. I'll fill you in on everything," her sister said, threading her arm in-between Anna's, who willingly accepted.
"Guys," Belle then said, mindful of the cloud and the time. "We need to get back..."
Regina agreed. "Gather in close."
Using her magic, she teleported them back to her office, which was now empty, her movements quick but practiced. "I'm going to tell you what I need for this counter potion," she said, looking at Belle, Robin and Emma. "And you're going to prepare them for me. When I ask for it, you'll either give them to me or dump them into the cauldron," she finished, demonstrating each step with a point.
Combing a hand behind an ear, Regina pulled out one of the books she had brought earlier and flipped to the page of powerful base elements, which were commonly used in counter spells. Deciding what would harmonize well with one another, she selected five of twelve—all of which she had in her possession—and assigned a person to an ingredient. Scurrying around, each helped in their duties. When somebody needed a new tool, either Killian, Kristoff, Elsa or Anna assisted; none wanting to waste precious seconds by pulling someone's focus.
Regina wiped some sweat and hair from her forehead when she did a time check:
5:24PM.
Shit, we have less than an hour left…
"I'm ready," she announced, trying to maintain calm. "Start bringing what you have over."
Thankfully, all five assignments were brought to her. Everybody, but Kristoff and Anna, promptly dropped something into the base, which worked out well for Regina, who beckoned the latter to her. "I need a piece of your hair," she told Anna, who—along with her fiance, were quickly informed about what was happening by her sister—instantly unbraided one section of her hair to pluck one out.
Making sure the root was attached, she then handed it over to Regina before rubbing at the sore spot and rebraiding.
Stirring the contents, she was happy to see that everything was going well. Nothing risky or dangerous was occurring, which was all she could ask for. Exhaling quietly, she waited a minute before dropping the hair in, which was accepted with a hiss and a single white puff of steam. Smiling, she grabbed four vials—one for each pair—and poured the potion in with a spare ladle, the light purple liquid sparkling within the clear glass.
Passing them out, but keeping one for herself, Regina checked the time again.
5:27PM.
Feeling slightly relieved, but not less stressed, she looked at them. "We're going to go to the well. Once there, I'll give you further instructions. For now, let's go."
She then raised a hand, summoning a cloud to take them away, before any more time slipped from them.
…
4:19PM -Same Day; At The Sheriff's Station.
The surveillance cameras around and inside of the building shook then disconnected when a flurry of ice ripped through them, blanketing what remained in icicles.
Her white dress trailed behind her when she entered, a cold mist following her around every corner. Slinking down the hallway, the Snow Queen effortlessly found what she was looking for. Gliding over to the bars, she had a look of vexation on her face.
"I just saw your wife leave," she said, observing his intense expression. "She didn't seem too pleased, which is understandable...if I had you for a spouse, I would certainly understand the disappointment."
Nothing.
"Keeping it quiet, are we?" she continued, tilting her head. "No matter. To the victor goes the spoils," she gloated, smiling when she said the phrase. "I will say though that I knew playing this game, our little exchanges, the various deals, etc., would turn out interesting. Interesting and very revealing of one's character."
She then leaned in, her forehead pressing into a few of the bars, feeling the magical zap that accompanied the action due to Regina's spell. "Based on that deduction, the pirate, Killian...is a brave man," she declared, remembering how he had risked to tell her the truth about Rumple and stood by Emma's side; despite the upcoming consequences. "You," she then sneered, noting the small changes in his demeanor the more she talked. "...you are nothing but a coward."
A twitch pulsed near his temple when Gold turned to give her a cold glare.
"There he is," she said, pulling away from the cell with a mischievous smile. "There's the Dark One, I remember."
"On that note, I don't know if you know," he said, speaking for the first time in hours. "But as the Dark One, your spell won't have any effect one me. Sorry to dampen your annoyingly high spirits, dearie."
Looking at him, she then shrugged her shoulders. "I know. You flaunt your title enough for me to remember." Leaning against a nearby wall, she swept the back of her dress out from behind her. "And, may I remind you that since you betrayed what little trust I had for you, I may pay more attention to your family when my spell hits and it will hit very soon..."
Gold's eyes narrowed.
"Luckily for me, they won't be immuned." She then laughed. "Consider all that I've done to you, like the kidnapping, and this penance for your past sins when they rip themselves to shreds."
"I'm going to enjoy killing you when I get out of here," Gold said harshly. His timbre low and dangerous.
Shrugging again, she looked about his cell. "Out of curiosity, how close were you to weaning yourself from that dagger?"
He looked away, his fingers flexing.
"That close?" she mocked, laughing again. "Well, then this decision will be an easy one for you to make…"
He slowly turned back to meet her eyes.
The Snow Queen's face and voice then turned serious. "You're running out of time. I know because I've had it in my possession before...so...how about we make a real deal?" When he just stared at her, silently urging her onward, she continued. "I offer you your freedom and Killian in exchange for sparing Emma and her magic."
"Is that all?" he asked, questioning her motives.
It was her turn not to respond. She just looked at him with a neutral, but powerful, expression.
Breathing deeply, Gold considered it from all angles. Silently, he weighed his wants against her needs before nodding his head. "Agreed."
Inspecting him for a moment, she then raised a finger and summoned a tiny spark to its tip. Slowly dropping her hand, she brought it down to one of the bars. The connection of her powerful magic against Regina's created a rippled effect. Her light blues combated with the dark purples, surging the latter backwards until it reached the very top and bottom of the cell; forcefully released it from the inescapable magic.
Pulling open the door, the Snow Queen stepped to one side before beckoning him out with that same look of neutrality.
Standing up, Gold partially limped out of the cell, his eyes observing the woman who freed him. Briefly, he thought about attacking her. Afterall, he wasn't in the cell anymore and she never stipulated that her safety was part of their agreement. Loopholes, he thought malevolently, but he chose not to.
He had more important matters and not a lot of time to fulfill them.
He was growing sicker. His tether to the dagger was slowly killing him and his only chance to survive was getting that hat back and acquiring his final ingredient for the ritual.
The Captain's heart.
Knowing where they were most likely keeping it, because of Belle's brief phone conversation, he snapped his fingers, teleporting himself in a puff of dark red smoke over to Regina's office, leaving a watchful Snow Queen behind. Cloaking himself in invisibility, he watched as Regina poured a locator potion over Elsa's necklace before chasing after it, prompting everybody in the room to leave, except for his grandson, Mary Margaret and the baby in her arms.
Cursing his bad timing, he smoothly made his way over to the desk and glared at the three remaining forms, who were still distracted, before something metallic caught his eye.
The Hat! He silently exclaimed, praising his fortune that it was so carelessly forgotten and left behind by the group. Seizing the opportunity, he raised a hand, which summoned it into his invisible grip with a cloud of smoke before leaving the room entirely, but not before glimpsing at the time:
4:21PM.
Needing as many magical individuals as possible, he then began roaming around the town, having no choice but to resort to his original plan of catching fairies. Disregarding the dark cloud formation above him, Gold shifted the object into its secondary position before he desperately began collecting as many people he could get; watching and waiting until they were alone before indiscriminately sucking them inside the hat.
He even targeted Mother Superior, who begged to be spared, but he ignored her. Her cries meant nothing to him...
No one's did.
White stars soon dotted the hat; littering it in various colors until it resembled a galaxy.
When he had gathered enough power to complete the ritual, Gold morphed the hat back into its primary circular appearance with a dark smile. He just needed the pirate and he would be severed from the dagger forever.
Raising his hand up to go find him, he was about to snap his fingers when he spotted something that made him stop.
Mist and wind strung and weaved itself together, in front of him, before forming a familiar wispy figure.
"I'm fulfilling my end of the bargain," the Snow Queen said, her tone hushed. "The Captain is back at the office...they're trying to stop my spell," she added, more forcefully. "The sooner you go after him, the happier we'll both be."
Watching the apparition then dissipate, Gold raised a curious brow before heading back to the office in his invisible form. Quietly slinking into one corner, he observed them and waited. They were hard at work finishing a potion, which was no doubt for the Snow Queen's spell, and as Regina began pouring it into vials and passing them around, he could feel his time ticking away.
He had a deadline to meet.
The more he tarried, the more impatient he became, but he had no choice.
It was better to lie low then to risk his plans, especially when they were unaware that he was now out of his cell. Besides, he knew himself. If he did attack them, he would end up breaking his deal with the Snow Queen about leaving Emma alone.
Her magic alone would add to my success, he thought, his eyes focusing on her before they naturally moved to the one person he'd been avoiding since entering the office.
Belle.
He fought the shiver that ran down his spine.
I'm doing this for her.
We'll be better if I wasn't attached to this dagger. I'll be alive and I'll spend every waking moment fixing my wrongs...
Redirecting his attention back to the group, he watched as Regina then raised her hand, about to whisk them away to the well.
His gut tightened in anger.
I don't have time for this.
Lifting his own hand, his gaze fierce, Gold was about to forcibly teleport Killian into another location, when a text message provided him with a better opportunity.
…
Emma's phone rang loudly in her pocket, the accompanying vibrations scaring her and everybody else senseless.
"Sorry," she apologized, pulling it out to look at the screen. Her mom had sent her a text. Clicking on it, she read it and could feel her body seize. Her face paled and her eyes blankly stared at the words.
"Swan?" Killian said, noticing her pallor immediately. Already standing beside her, he gently tugged at her elbow to get her attention but when that didn't work, he leaned in to look at the screen, the side of his face brushing against her shaking temple.
"I-I need to go," Emma stuttered, her mouth dry. "M-my dad…"
Everybody immediately perked up.
"What happened?" Robin and Regina asked, the former taking a step forward.
"Is he okay?" Elsa and Belle then questioned, both horrified at the answer.
"Mary Margaret sent her a message," Killian answered, his throat constricting. Tenderly skimming his hand from her arm down to her back, he pulled her closer to him. Alarmingly, she just slumped into his side, barely registering his touch. "David's condition has worsened. She, uh, she even sent an image..."
He then handed it over to an already approaching Regina, whose anxiety was written all over her brow.
The skin on his face had begun turning a bluish hue and it was rapidly spreading to other parts of his body. His skin also, according to the message, was ice cold.
Regina's mouth opened, closed and then opened again, sickened by the serious change of events.
"Wait," Kristoff suddenly said, peering over Regina's shoulder at the image. "I...I know this man." When everyone gave him a curious look, he gestured wildly. "I met him many years ago, he helped me out and..." he then looked at Emma quizzically, noticing the closeness in age. "You're his daughter?"
Emma didn't answer but Killian gave him an irked look.
"Nevermind," he whispered, moving closer to a visibly upset Anna.
Handing the phone back to Killian, who held onto it for Emma, Regina cleared her throat. "We'll...we'll split up. Belle, Robin, Elsa, Anna and Kristoff with me to the well," she then gave the pair an understanding nod. "Killian will go with Emma to the hospital."
Kristoff hesitated before partially raising his hand up. "Could I actually go to the hospital? Like I said, he was a good friend. I…" he paused, sadly glancing over at the two softening individuals before him. "I wouldn't mind seeing him again..."
Mustering a smile, Emma agreed. Yanking out her keys, she then took her phone from Killian and plopped it back into her jacket's pocket, along with the potion vial, trying to stand on her unstable feet. When they all gave her a concerned look, she found her voice and gave them a calming gesture. "I'll be okay to drive. Don't worry."
"If you're able to rejoin us," Regina began gently. "Let me know. We'll most likely be at the well..."
The three nodded their heads as they filed out, Anna kissing an understanding Kristoff goodbye when she decided to stay with Elsa.
"Alright," Regina said, when they left. "To the well."
…
Trying to dismiss that picture of her dad from her mind, Emma concentrated on the roads she was currently speeding down, her insides a jumble of emotions. Licking her dry lips, she could feel her chest tighten and fingers tremble around the steering wheel when she turned a corner, her peripheral vision catching a glimpse of a concerned Killian.
"He's going to be fine, Emma," he said, sensing her pain. "He's a fighter. He'll defeat this."
Her eyes stung. "I hope so," she whispered.
"I can't believe this is happening to him," Kristoff said, recalling the bits and pieces he had heard from Elsa. "But, like this guy said...he'll make it through this."
Emma gave him a weak smile in the rearview mirror. "Thanks. I—"
She then braked hard, her eyes flickering from what lay ahead to what she had just seen behind them.
"Emma, what—?"
"Stay in the car," she ordered, her face darkening. Pushing open the door, she got out, her eyes taking in her surroundings before she slammed it shut behind her. Walking a few feet from it, she could feel her blood pumping.
Gold.
I know I saw you…but that's impossible. You should be locked up...
She then heard the car open then close behind her.
"What is it?" Kristoff asked in concern, staring at the back of her head.
"Emma, what did you see?" Killian followed, rounding the front of the vehicle from the passenger's seat. "Talk to me."
Shaking her head, she swallowed hard. I must be going crazy, she thought when she continued to see nothing. Biting her lip, she began turning back around. "I thought I—" her eyes then widened.
There, now standing directly behind Killian was Gold.
"Killian!" she shouted, running forward, her eyes fearful. "Killian, move—!"
A grunt then spewed from her mouth when she was magically ejected into the air, her hair whipping around her head until she landed hard on her back, a spittle of blood bursting from the corner of her mouth, and down to the street below, when she flipped onto her side.
Kristoff's cry soon filled the air when he too was flung, but in the opposite direction, his legs barely missing the side of a house when he crashed onto the ground and rolled to a motionless stop.
Wrestling to get to her knees, Emma crawled on her bruised hands, her senses rattled. Seeing a blurry Gold grabbing at Killian's throat made her form tremble in fear. Groaning, she rallied every stitch of strength she had left and shoved herself up then forward, her joints resisting with bone rubbing shrieks.
"No!" she cried out unevenly, barely making out the teleporting cloud that was beginning to swirl around the two.
Fighting to remain upright, Emma half-sprinted, half-tripped back to her car; her figure barely barreling through the magical portal to an unknown location.
…
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