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Here's another new chapter! It's long too :)
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-FantasyWriterFoSho
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Summary of the Previous Chapter: The Snow Queen returned to her secret lair and tried to further persuade Emma, but the latter resisted her efforts; however, they were soon discovered by an ill-intending Gold.
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Chapter Thirteen: Steep Measures
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6:22PM -The Loft
Giving the potion a final swirl, Regina pulled the stirring utensil out and grabbed a small piece of fabric from her kit. Rubbing the residual liquid off, she looked over her shoulder at the company. "It's done. Get me something of Emma's to use it on."
David nodded before heading upstairs, his feet treading lightly against the wood. When he reentered the room, a few silent minutes later, he was holding a red knitted beanie in his fingers. Walking over to Regina, he held it out for her to grab, which she did in a snatching motion.
Sliding out a tiny dropper with her free hand, she placed the end into the potion and squeezed the top, her eyes watching intently as the liquid was subsequently sucked into the tube. Tapping it against the cauldron, to get rid of the excess, Regina then held the dropper over the hat before releasing the elixir over it, a tiny hissing sound permeating the air.
Immediately, it twitched then hovered above her hand, but before it could take flight, she quickly pinched her fingers onto a portion of it, trapping the fabric in her grasp. Returning her attention back to the potion, Regina removed then lined up several vials before refilling the dropper and pouring the elixir inside of them.
When she finished, she put down her tool then pocketed the bottles, her hand was still in her jacket when she turned around to face the others. "Are you ready?" Regina asked as the hat continued to pry itself from her.
The others nodded their heads, anticipation coursing through their bodies.
"Open the door," she directed at Killian, who was the closest. He instantly obeyed and the second after he had flung it open, Regina let the hat go, which immediately soared past the others to get out the door.
"Henry," Mary Margaret called out, turning around to look at her grandson while the others quickly trailed after the enchanted beanie. Grabbing his shoulders when he approached, she continued in a soft voice. "I need you to watch after Neal. Can you do that for me?"
"Don't worry," he quickly reassured, despite wanting to go look for Emma too but he also didn't want to fight his already stressed out grandma. "I'll take care of him."
Mary Margaret gave him an appreciated smile before pulling him in for a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thank you," she said, releasing him in order to head for the door. "Call me if anything happens!"
Henry nodded, his eyes following her darting form out of the room and down a couple of the descending stairs before he walked over to the door and closed it, a sigh and a prayer on his lips.
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6:45PM -The Forest
After Mary Margaret rejoined the group and climbed into the truck, alongside the others, they soon found themselves back at Emma's car, prompting David to declare the current tracking potion as another "deadend" the minute they had all clambered out of the vehicle.
Regina was quiet.
While the others verbally tried to think about their options, her focus was mainly on the twirling hat, which was still bouncing over Emma's allegedly last known location in the truck's beaming headlights. "Curious," she whispered as she moved closer, her eyes following its exact movements.
"Where could she be?" Killian asked, panic rising inside of him after he retrieved, then pointed, the flashlight in different areas of the forest. "Why would the potion bring us here if she's nowhere in sight?"
"Maybe she returned to this spot after we left?" Mary Margaret weakly suggested, folding her arms over her chest in order to hide her shaking hands.
Seeing her reaction, David instantly moved to stand by his wife where he then pulled her into a hug, his throat thickening at the prospect of missing her. "Or maybe this particular potion won't be enough to find Emma…"
"I don't believe that," Killian challenged, his pressure rising. "She has to be around here somewhere. We just need better ideas as to where..."
"How are we going to figure that out?" Mary Margaret countered, her tone grim. "Both Regina's and Gold's magical influence can't seem to find her and from what I can see," she paused, using her razor sharp vision to look at the ground around them. "Tracking would be useless. I don't see her footprints anywhere. I see the ones David and I previously made as well as the new ones we just created, but not hers..."
Impressed, Killian raised his brow. Looking back at Emma's car, he exhaled loudly, his eyes tracing over it. Where are you? he thought, wishing that he could just summon her to his side. He recalled the memory of her stunning hazel eyes and swallowed hard. He didn't know what he would do if he never saw those again...
"What if," Mary Margaret began, an idea popping into her head. "What if the Snow Queen has her?"
Killian's attentioned snapped over to her. "Do you see any of her prints?"
"No," she began, shaking her head. "But it would make sense. She could've just magically teleported her away, right?"
"Aye, she could've," Killian agreed, his tone slightly excited. "You're a bloody genius, Snow."
Mary Margaret gave him a genuine smile.
"Before we get too absorbed with that idea," David said, making them look at him. "Based on that, another possible explanation could be her using her own magic to take herself somewhere...like the townline..."
"She would have to get past that giant ice wall, mate," Killian countered with a wide gesture, obviously not agreeing with David's suggestion. "Besides, she isn't fully trained in the magical arts to perform such a feat." At least, I hope not, he unwittingly thought, despite the impossible factors involved.
Still, the three grew quiet as David's words sunk in further, breaking their hearts.
Listening to what they had been saying, Regina maintained her supervision over the beanie, waiting for it to do something else. "Since we're just shooting out theories," she began, not even bothering to look at them. "Did you ever consider that maybe she just doesn't want to be found? That maybe, through an unintentional burst of magic, she's somewhere close by but no longer traceable?"
Mary Margaret, David and Killian felt as if they had been punched in the gut.
"Could...could she do that?" David asked, speaking for the group, his voice rough with emotion. "Would she do that?"
"I doubt it," Regina returned, finally looking at them. "Not without proper training. She does have the capacity for it though. Anyway, It was just a theory, remember?"
"Regina," Killian cautioned.
"Just breathe, Captain," she continued, rolling her eyes. "I was just spitballing like the rest of you; however, I must say that I agree with Mary Margaret, which; therefore, includes your piggybacking, Hook." Her gaze was directed at Killian before broadening to include the others. "I believe that the Snow Queen ambushed Emma at this location then magically took her to another."
"Why didn't the scarf just take us to where she is keeping her then?" David asked, puzzled.
"Because, based on what I've heard, she's powerful enough to prevent that from happening," Regina responded easily. "The Snow Queen probably has Emma trapped in a place that's protected by her own magic and depending on certain factors, this beanie here could bounce around for a couple hours before actually moving to Emma's last location..."
Mary Margaret gave her husband a look to which he responded with a conceding smile. They definitely should have stayed longer, the first time they were here, regardless of the growing darkness, but that was before Regina decided to help them. Had she stayed in her original position, they would've waited for the morning and been faced with the same issue.
In any case, for now, he was glad to have been proven wrong.
Thinking for a moment before reaching a conclusion, Regina then turned and snatched Emma's floating hat from the air, her lunging time perfect. Magically hiding it, to deter the tracking potion any further, she then glanced at the three. "I'll be right back. Don't wander around. I don't want to have to search for you guys too."
Lifting both hands up and waving them, she disappeared in a large cloud of purple smoke before they could even respond back.
Reemerging inside of a building, Regina stealthily glanced about Gold's shop, expecting to see then to confront him. When she realized that it was empty, she lowered her guard and nonchalantly began looking around, her eyes surveying everything in sight. Looking for something specific, she moved over to the coat hanger he had behind the counter and rummaged through the various styles of jackets and blazers before finding his notorious red scarf.
As her eyes glossed over the fabric, she lifted then flourished a hand, encompassing herself in her teleporting smoke, which instantly whisked her back to the forest. When Regina reappeared in front of the others, who all jumped at her quick reentrance, she stuffed a hand into her jacket pocket and pulled out one of those extra bottles she had stashed there.
"What are you doing?" Mary Margaret asked, looking at the red scarf. "Whose is that?"
"It's Gold's," she answered, holding the clothing up. "I have the sneaking suspicion that he's more involved in this than we actually think. After all, sneaking around and lying is a part of his charm and he also wasn't in his shop when I got there, not that the latter is a real indication, but still. So," she trailed off, tugging the bottle's cork free. "To ease our minds, we're going to follow it, in the hopes of either discovering nothing or seeing the Dark One in action..."
Lightly sprinkling the tracking potion onto the scarf, Regina waited until it began moving before instructing them all back into the truck. Using the flashlight and the headlights to guide them through the darkness, they followed the rapidly moving item, which led them deeper into the forest.
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7:09PM -Unknown Section of the Woods
Due to David's speeding and Killian's accurate positioning of their light source, they reached their destination in 14 minutes. Surrounded now by various hills, thick gangly trees and what appeared to be a crystallized cave, they watched the scarf accelerate around the latter, the ends of the material flapping wildly in the wind.
"Get out!" Regina cried, spurring the men to push open the doors in order for everybody to climb out of the truck. Running to catch up, they all silently hustled to where they had spotted it last, their pace equally swift, and when they rounded the rock formation, they immediately spotted the person they were tracking.
Standing beneath the unsuspecting scarf, with his back facing them, they saw Gold in the entrance of what now appeared to be an icy cave. Desperately trying to close the distance between them, the group charged forward, but before they could gain ground, the older man's figure disappeared behind a huge stone that now blocked their way inside.
Their path now gone, Regina slowed down in front of the opening and nimbly grabbed the floating scarf, which had dodged out of the way of the closure. "Dammit!" she exclaimed irritably. Breathing heavily, she twisted the fabric in her hands then turned around to glance at her company—Killian was standing the closest to her, followed by David then Mary Margaret.
Noting their shared frustrations, Regina wiped her forehand with her free hand, trying to regulate her breathing.
"What now?" David asked breathlessly, moving past the others so he could observe the stone. Tapping it, he shook his head. "Can you take it down?"
"No," she answered. "Gold's simple tricks of magic often turns out to be his most intricate and protective. Tearing it down could either drain me or not work at all..."
"What about the..." David trailed off, wiping his hand against the cold facade of the cave. "...ice?"
"The Snow Queen," Killian stated loudly, their thoughts confirmed.
"If you're suggesting that I burn it down, I doubt that I could do that too." Magically stowing the scarf away for possible future purposes, Regina continued, still irritated. "The Snow Queen is an ice witch by profession, which means that I would have to have the same amount of skill in order to take this down or just a fraction of it, which I don't. Another way for me to remove it would be if it's structure was already compromised..."
"Then, we should go get Belle," Mary Margaret countered, one of her hands rubbing at a stitch in her side. "She has Gold's dagger. She can force him out. It's either her...or Elsa."
"I don't think Elsa would be able to do this," David said, sadly. "She's too inexperienced and, according to Regina's explanation, she wouldn't be able to do much damage. Plus...in order for her to do magic, she would need her sister, Anna, and we still have no idea where she's at..."
"Agreed," Killian said under his breath, a hot sensation pricking at his ears and neck at Mary Margaret's words.
"Belle and the dagger, it is," Regina said, lifting her hands up to prepare her teleporting cloud. "Where is she?"
"She went to the library. Believe it or not, she's actually there with Elsa," Mary Margaret replied quickly, eager to have this entire situation dealt with.
"Wait," Killian suddenly said, though he hesitated right after he spoke. All eyes turned to him; noticeable questions now pointed squarely into his direction. Tell them, he thought. Now's the time. Tell them the truth.
"I have something to say," he began, his throat thick. Breathing deeply, he met their gazes before divulging what he knew about Gold and his dagger, including the fact that he had blackmailed him for the temporary use of his other hand.
Their reactions were varied at the revelation but none was more prevalent than them being shocked.
"I should have mentioned this sooner," Killian finished, looking downward in shame. "I apologize for my role in this secret..."
Mary Margaret was the first to respond.
Gathering her wits, she moved forward and gently placed her hands onto his shoulders when she stopped directly in front of him. "Look at me." He closed his eyes before obeying her. Staring into them, she offered him a small smile. "I accept your apology. What matters now...is that you told us. Besides, Gold has never been a trustworthy man. If anything, you further solidified our suspicions about him being involved."
Stunned, Killian's mouth fell open. "But if I had said it sooner..."
"If Gold hadn't been a coniving coward," David cut in, moving to stand beside the other man. "Then there's a good chance that none of this would have been an issue. I'm not happy that you've kept this from us, but I can't ignore the fact you've provided us with important information. Had you not found this out, I'm sure our lives would be the worst for it..."
Killian's eyes brightened with relief. "Thanks, mate."
"Are we done?" Regina asked, one of her brows raised. "Is this emotional, Hallmark special done?" Ignoring their glowering expressions, she raised her hands up again. "Before this gets any sapper, I've already decided to grab both of them. Doing so may optimize our chances of getting inside; however, only one of them can guarantee us a way in..."
"What do you mean?" Mary Margaret asked.
"I need another magically inclined individual..."
"What are you saying?" Killian followed.
"In layman's terms, I may have a plan..."
Twisting her wrists, Regina then disappeared in a billowy cloud, once again leaving before they could respond. When the smoke dissipated, she found herself standing inside of the library, inches away from the front entrance. Looking around, she quickly wandered down the aisles until she found them in the back, surrounded by long tables. Though they were standing, they were up to their ears in books and loose papers when she approached them, their mellow expressions rapidly changing to one of surprise.
"Regina?" Belle said, taking a step towards her. "What brings you here? We were actually on our way out..."
"Actually, you two leaving this place is what I'm here for." Regina glanced at the pair before continuing. "Listen, we have a complicated, difficult situation happening in the forest right now and I need you both to come with me."
"What are you talking about?" Belle asked.
"Whose 'we'?" Elsa followed, folding her arms over her chest.
"I'm helping to find Emma for the Charmings and for the love sick pirate," Regina replied before looking squarely at Belle. "I made a tracking potion and it led me to the same place it took David and Mary Margaret earlier. I then decided to track your husband and by doing so," she paused, seeing the light change in the other woman's eyes. "We found an ice cave, which is most likely the Snow Queen's lair."
"Gold's working with her?" Elsa asked, exchanging glances between the brunettes. "But why?"
Regina shrugged her shoulders, her gaze unwavering from Belle's. "We're not entirely sure about that but...there's more I should tell you." Inhaling sharply, she quickly relayed what Killian had just revealed. "...Gold never gave you his real dagger. The one you have is a fake and was given to you to throw off suspicion for whatever it is he's conniving..."
Belle shook her head, finding the information hard to swallow. "You're lying."
"No, I'm not," Regina countered, her eyes softening. "I have no reason to, but he does. He's planning something, Belle. We don't know what, but he is...and you have to accept that."
Belle opened then closed her mouth, her body trembling. Taking a step back, she wrapped her arms around her frame. "No...no. I have his dagger. It's in my possession. I'll prove it to you. Take me to the shop and I'll show you that—"
"Unfortunately," Regina interjected, lifting her hands up. "We don't have the time and I'm not in a patient sort of mood." Waving them the air, she summoned a cloud around herself and the other two, whisking them all to the ice cave in a matter of seconds.
Jarred by the sudden magical spur, Belle and Elsa stumbled out of the cloud, when they landed, but were immediately supported by David and Killian, who had rushed to their sides at the first opportunity. Gripping their elbows, the men easily steadied the newcomers.
"Where a-are we?" Belle slightly stuttered, her wide eyes moving from person to person.
"I told you," Regina stated, stepping away to finally analyze the looming structure. "We found an ice cave." Touching the thick, shining surface that lined up perfectly with the stone blockade, she pursed her lips. "This isn't going to be easy…"
"What's going on?" Belle asked, still unwilling to believe what she had been told. "Where's Rumple?"
"He's inside, Belle," David answered, one of his hands still on her elbow for any further aid. "We saw him go inside..."
"Please, don't make any of us reiterate it again," Regina suddenly interjected, turning around to face them with a wide gesture. "If we do that then we're just wasting more time. We all saw him going inside before he placed this stupid obstacle in the way. Now, I have a plan on getting inside but it's going to take some cooperation on everyone's part. Okay?"
Everybody nodded their heads, except for Belle. She was too stubborn, too in denial, to just readily believe what was happening, unlike Elsa, who stared at the ice cave in wonder.
"How are we going to break through this?" she asked incredulously, though she already suspected the answer.
"You and I are going to do it," Regina answered. Moving closer, she stared deeply into the other woman's now terrified eyes. "We're going to attack that thing with everything we have. You're going to breathe, focus and dig deep. That's the only way for you to tear down another ice witch's creation. I'll be your backup. I'll help boost your magic for added effect."
"No, no," Elsa said, shaking her head in absolute fear. "I can't! I don't know how to control these powers! I won't be able to!"
"I just told you what you have to do," Regina stated firmly. Reaching out, she then took Elsa's shaking hands into hers. "If you don't do this, then things could end very badly. I can't do this by myself. I need your help."
Elsa opened then closed her mouth before looking away. "I...c-can't. I'm sorry...but I can't..."
"I sympathize with you, I really do," Regina said, using another approach. "But if you can't do this for me then do it for Emma. She's counting on you." Half turning, she released a hand to point at the ice cave; however, her gaze never wavered from the other woman's face. "There's a good chance that she's in there now. We can save her. You just have to be brave..."
Resuming eye contact, Elsa swallowed hard, her mind twirling. She couldn't do this. She wasn't experienced enough to handle this task. I need Anna, she thought pitifully, tears making their way to her eyes.
Seeing her teetering over the edge and knowing what she was thinking, Regina decided to press her by giving her another tough love speech. "She's not here," she began, spurring Elsa to look at her. "At some point in your life, you're going to have to start depending on your own natural abilities, not on your sister's, and today is that day..."
Absorbing everything, Elsa looked over at the ice cave before glancing back at a smiling Regina, who then startled her by pulling her forward. Walking them both over to the fortress, she then stationed them in front of the thick wall she had analyzed a few minutes ago.
"Raise your hands," she instructed. "On the count of three, we give it everything we have."
Elsa said nothing. She was too terrified to speak but that didn't stop her from doing what she was told.
Breathe, focus and dig deep.
Anna isn't here. You have to do this by yourself…
Lifting them up when Regina did, she breathed deeply and concentrated, her eyes honing in on a particular focal spot. Pushing away her fears, she waited, her body taunt and alert when she heard the countdown.
"One."
"Two."
"Three!"
Releasing them in a sudden burst of energy, two powerful beams, shot out and struck the ice.
Giving it everything they had, the sheer force of their united front instantly sent shockwaves throughout the entire structure, kicking up mist, dirt, earth and wind all around it and beyond, making the other members of their company duck and watch through their fingers in awe.
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More to come! Stay tuned and thanks!