Trying to get back in touch with her primitive side was like making conversation with a stranger who spoke another language- it was tedious, exhausting, and damn near impossible. She didn't expect it to be so difficult, mostly due to the fact that things usually came easy to her. The time spent in Storybrooke gave her a loyal circle of friends, a steady job, and a grandmother that raised her through the good days and the bad ones too. She had nearly forgotten her childhood in the Enchanted Forest, along with her parents. The recollection of the first time she transformed was still fresh, however; it had been a memory she kept running through her mind in moments of stillness. She wanted nothing more than to feel that rush again.
"I thought you said it'd be easy to turn back into a Werewolf again," Will called to her in slight frustration, watching her irritated stance ahead of him. They had been walking all day towards Rumple's castle.
"It's not like it is in the movies!" She shouted back, feeling completely exhausted. Being able to say she was a Werewolf was something she prided herself on for years, yet then it seemed impossible. "I have no idea why it isn't working- I think I'm doing everything right..."
Will bit back all the snide remarks he could say back, knowing all too well that they wouldn't do any good. But he was exhausted, and being a smartass was in his blood.
"Maybe you just need to be mad enough- Regina says that always works with magic."
"This isn't the same type of magic!" Ruby shot back, "it just sort of... happens, when you want it to."
Will racked his brain for options, knowing each day spent there was crucial. "When have you felt the most in touch with your Werewolf side in the past? I could find an animal for you to chase down."
Before she could reply with a condescending remark, she paused and waited for him to catch up to her. "Actually, that's not a bad idea. Could be fun, right?"
A smile spread on his face as he took the knife from his back pocket, veering off the path and entering the forest. "You stay here- I'll be fast."
He disappeared into the trees without another word, treading through the forest as quietly as he could manage. Although his brother had become notorious for his prowess in the art of pillaging and thieving, Will liked to think he wasn't too shabby either. The forest had been his home, and he found comfort within it.
Relying on faith alone, he continued further into the woods, trying not to stray too far from the path. He moved swiftly, feeling like a boy again, until the view of a large deer centered in his vision and stopped him in his tracks. Its head turned in his direction almost instantly- Will found himself in the stare down of the century. He hadn't fully figured out a plan yet, so staring back at the beast was his only option.
Before he was able to make his move, (which would have been sloppy and wildly misjudged) a black figure swooped right past him, followed by a rush of wind. Will stood, petrified, as the figure pounced on the deer in a flash, tearing it apart like a chew toy. It took a moment for him to register that the beast, this dark haired, four legged wolf devouring its prey, was his girlfriend. It was an odd sensation watching the bloody scene in front of him, but nonetheless, it's exactly what he did. He soon found himself face to face with the beast, blood coating its snout and fangs.
"Oh shit," he breathed, finding familiarity in her eyes, "Rubes, is it really you?"
The wolf gave a slight nod, making Will wish he had his phone with him to capture the moment.
Caroline couldn't keep her mind off of the impending doom she knew was coming. Magic always came with a price, and she finally understood what that truly meant. It was more than just an overused saying from her family, it was the difference between life and death. She had voluntarily allowed evil to seep between the cracks of their already volatile existence in this new realm, threatening to destroy everything they were fighting so hard for.
Their walking had become charged with haste, the cold only motivating them to continue further into the woods. Although the forest was vast, the threat of both Zelena and the Ice Queen was an unsettling breath down both of their necks. Once again, Robin had next to no plan on what to do next- his world was continuing to crumble with every step they took.
"It looks like a storm is coming," Robin said glumly, peering up at the heather grey sky. The cold air sucked all the life and energy from the two, only making their day worse. Caroline kept her head down towards the dirt- everything was devoid of color, until she saw a flash of gold from the corner of her eye. She halted, watching the shimmer flicker and expand.
"Dad," she called softly, her curiosity growing, "do you see that?"
He walked towards the obscurity, noticing the image shifting as he got closer. Then, the obscure images transformed into familiar faces. Emma, Granny, Tinkerbell, and his son were suddenly right there at his feet, the holographic image shimmering with magic.
"It worked!" Tinkerbell exclaimed, the only one not rendered absolutely speechless.
A million thoughts raced through Robin's head; he didn't know where to begin. His son was right in front of him, stuck there amidst the chaos everyone else in his family was currently facing.
"What's going on over there?" Emma asked urgently, "are you guys okay?"
Caroline struggled to find the right words. Although she could see her family, they still felt like a distant memory.
"We- we got away from Zelena," Robin finally said, "she's powerless, but there's another sorceress here that wants Caroline. We have no idea how to go up against her- Roland, how are you doing?"
The teenager look dazed, his reaction delayed. "I'm... okay. Just worried about you guys. Gold is trying to find a potential portal in his castle."
His words flooded the both of them with relief.
"We've also created a potion that might be able to save Regina," Emma told them, "we're going to put it into action as soon as everyone's able."
"Caroline, you getting by sweetheart? We're all so worried about you." Granny said, noting the dismal look on the girl's face. "I know things look bad right now, but I promise it'll be all over soon. You'll be back here hugging your mom in no time."
She silently vowed to never take another moment with her family for granted. If by some insane miracle they made it out alive, everything would change- she would be the best person she could be.
"I miss you guys so much," Caroline admitted, "I wish we could just snap our fingers and be back home."
Giving the girl a sympathetic look, Granny put her hand on Emma's shoulder. "I know, but sometimes life can't be that easy."
The last thing Robin wanted to do was end the conversation, but he knew they weren't safe out in the open. Seeing his son again have him a resurgence of hope, and he'd be damned if he didn't put it to good use.
"Roland, I love you more than anything," he told him, the pain and sadness obvious in his eyes, "we'll be back as soon as possible- I promise."
Roland managed a slight smile, grateful to see them again. "I love you guys too. Please be safe."
"Yes, please," Emma concurred, before her eyes widened dramatically. "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you- Ruby and Will are in there in the Enchanted Forest looking for you guys!"
He couldn't decide whether that information made him relieved or terrified- his heart instantly settled on the latter. "Do you have any idea where they are? It really isn't safe here, even for Ruby."
The thought of his brother up against the Ice Queen sent a shiver down his spine. Sure, Will was quick witted in the forest, but he also made some of the dumbest, most irrational decisions while under stress.
"We were going to see if we could contact them right after this," Tink said, "not that we want to rush this conversation- it really is a relief to see you two again."
"Same with you guys... it's nice to know you're still out there. If any of you have an idea on how to get a portal back, let us know as soon as possible."
The wind was beginning to pick up around them, giving an unsettling feeling with it. Both Caroline and Robin only caught faint 'I love you's' from the three of them before their images faded, dissolving back into the pile of dirt that it once was.
The trail was almost too easy to follow, residual magic practically hanging in the air, making the blonde woman feel more motivated than ever before. Just a week ago, she was trapped in the imp's abandoned castle, and before that, confined to an urn for an unknown period of time. Absolute power was so close she could feel it buzzing at her fingertips. It was only a short matter of time before she would find the girl with such strong magic and destroy her- this was her ticket to another life, one where she could dictate any sort of future she wanted for herself.
Every village she passed through was completely deserted, save for a few stunned men and women hiding in the safety of the trees. It was thrilling for her to know that the villagers knew of her presence, abandoning their belongings out of fear. All it took was a cold change to the air.
The path Elsa was following continued onward, strong and undoubting, only increasing in its magical potency. Against the bleakness of the sky and dullness of the trees, the Ice Queen quickly found herself standing before a small circle of massive energy, the magical residue indicating that it had been used within hours of her arrival. A superior smile flashed upon her face.
In under an hour, she became so close to the girl that the air around her became as hot and teaming with life as a summer's day, a complete change compared to the frigidness everywhere else. Practically every footstep taken by the young girl could be felt throughout her entire body. When she caught sight of the girl off in the distance, feebly guarded by a man wearing a worn cloak and a satchel of arrows, she eyed her prey for a moment before closing in for the kill.
"You thought you could escape me?" The Ice Queen imposed, causing both father and daughter to whip around with widened eyes. "I'm here to collect my conciliation prize."
Robin put his arm protectively in front of Caroline. "We made no deal with you- that was Zelana. We're just looking for a way back home."
Elsa folded her arms, finding their fear amusing. "Deal or no deal, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to have all that power."
Giving the girl a slight smile, she watched her gulp nervously. "A little thing like you is rare in this realm. How does it feel to be the most powerful entity for miles on end?"
"Please, there must be another way to get what you want, one that doesn't involve my daughter. We're tired; all she wants is to be back with her mother-"
"Don't worry, it'll all be over soon," the Ice Queen interrupted, a sudden drop in temperature following soon after. The woman seemed to only grow stronger in the cold.
Anxiety coursed through the young girl's veins, accompanied with shallow breaths- each one seemed fatal, as it could easily be her last. This was how every moment of the last two days of her life had been, ever since the reveal of Zelena's true identity. Standing there, bones braced against the numbness in the air, Caroline decided she was done with fearing her enemies. If the power within her was as strong as everyone said it was, then it was time to fight back.
"You can't take my magic," she uttered out loud, the force in her voice surprisingly strong. "And I won't let you hurt my Dad or anyone else I love."
While Robin had a look of shock on his face, the Ice Queen only broadened her smile. "Look at who the boss is now," she mused, "I don't care how determined you are to save the day, this won't end well for you."
Before Caroline could even formulate a plan in her mind, she found herself fiddling with the studs in her ears, tossing them aimlessly to the ground. As soon as the rush of electricity hit her chest, she reacted, taking a step away from her father before allowing a surge of magic to escape her outstretched fingers. She was quickly met with opposition as the Ice Queen shot a blast back at her, the two tones of magic meeting in the middle to create a sparking mess between them.
Robin stood back in a stupor, knowing there was nothing he could do as his ten year old daughter went up against an unknown sorceress. Their powers collided in uneven chaos, whomever had the upper hand wavering second by second.
Her mind automatically adjusted to a focus so intense that nothing else mattered. She could feel Elsa's magic pushing against her own, desperate to consume her.
She couldn't let things end this way for her family- not after everything they had been through.
Although her endurance was beginning to wear thin, their combat came to an abrupt end when the Ice Queen pulled back, a wave of weakness overcoming her for a moment. Caroline lowered her hands, taking deep breaths as her surroundings came back into focus. She watched the tall blonde woman quickly regain her composure, though the weakness still shone noticeably through her eyes.
"I bet you feel pretty proud of yourself," she mused, "but one way or another, your magic will be mine."
Elsa then turned towards Robin. "The only portal out of this realm is located in Rumple's castle. If you want it, you'll have to go through me. His castle is filled with all sorts of magical objects for me to use in my favor." She then locked eyes with Caroline, giving her a menacing glare, "be ready for a proper battle, my dear."
Before either of them could react, the Ice Queen used the last of her strength to make herself vanish in a cloud of blue smoke. The air instantly became warmer in her absence.
Caroline clung to her father, magic still running freely through her. She wanted to cry, but no tears came.
The showdown between Elsa and Caroline is coming soon! Ruby and Caroline are both finally getting in touch with their wild sides!