Long Road Home

Ch. 6:

When Snow stepped into the mansion, followed closely by Elsa she could immediately tell that something was terribly wrong.

"Elsa... where are Anna and Kristoff? For that matter... how did you two even get back to Storybrooke?"

Elsa's soft footfalls halted by the older woman, she paused for a moment before continuing.

"It's a long story, but in short, Grand Pabbie..."

"Grand Pabbie?" Snow asked curiously. "Oh! Is he your regent? A relative?"

"Yes and no. Yes, Grand Pabbie is currently overseeing Arendelle while we're here, but no... he's not a relative... he's a troll. A... rock troll."

"Your kingdom is being ruled...by a rock troll." Snow said, letting that piece of information sink in for a moment. "I see. That'll make for some tales, later on, I"m sure."

"Oh you should see his other 'top' advisors, Olaf and Sven." Elsa said with a hint of mischevious pride in her voice.

"Oh! Are those your uncles then?" Snow asked. "Brothers, perhaps?"

"Olaf is a living snowman, and Sven is...a reindeer." Elsa said with a chuckle in her voice.

Snow simply stopped and stared, blinking.

"Snow? Elsa? Everything set in here?"

Snow turned on a heel. " We're fine Belle, but well...Anna and Kristoff are missing."

"What?!"

The youngest of the three women stepped cautiously into the doorway. "How? Where could they have gone?"

Elsa looked around, fingers reflexive in case one of them attacked. "I don't know." she gestured towards the middle of the living room. "We came through a portal right there. Almost identical to the one we originally went through to get to Arendelle... Anna and Kristoff... they put up a bit of a fight getting here, but Pabbie gave me some powder to knock them out...I guess it wore off before I could get back from the giant healing center I found."

Belle's face scrunched up momentarily. "Healing cen- oh! The hosptial."

"Yes." Elsa confirmed, still not used to this world's tongue. "I remember seeing it when I first arrived in this world, and thought if anyone could help me, that place could. Why were you two there? Can we find Emma?"

Belle and Snow stopped cold.

"Elsa... Emma has... well... we don't know what exactly is wrong, if this is a curse, or a spell, or what...but Emma may have the same sickness as Anna and Kristoff do."

Elsa felt her breath leave her chest in a tight bubble. "This apparent madness is afflcting Emma? How?"

Belle shook her head. "We don't know. But it's not just Emma. It's my husband, David-"

"David's ill too?" Elsa's hand flew to her mouth. "I"m so sorry, Snow."

Snow smiled, and gave Elsa's hand a tight squeeze. "Thank you Elsa."

"David, my husband, Mr. Gold, in our realm, he was known as Rumplestiktskin... the Dark One... and Henry...I'm sure you remember him."

"The young boy. Yes. He tried to show me video games once." Elsa said with a fond laugh. "You're married to the Dark One? Anna told me stories about that horrible man."

Elsa winced when she saw the look on Belle's face, and backpedaled. " I meant no offense Belle, truly, I didn't-"

Belle hand up a hand with a smile. "I know you didn't Belle. I'm aware of...his...long past, and longer list of misdeeds, but he's trying to change. I know it."

Elsa beamed back. "I'm sure here is. But I'm sorry I judged you so quickly. I'm sorry I interupted you before, who else has fallen ill?"

"Ruby..you haven't met here, but she's really nice. Regina, and Killian."

"The Evil Queen, and Emma's...pirate...boyfriend?" Elsa said, with nearly unblinking eyes, gazing at Snow and Belle.

"Regina sorta prefers to not use the Evil part of her name now." Snow said with a smile, that quickly turned into a frown. "But yes, they're all afflicted too I'm afraid."

"This is almost like...an epidemic..." Elsa said with worry creasing her brow, checking every knock and cranny for her sister and brother-in-law.

"I hope not." Snow said, wishing she had brought her bow and arrows, " Having a hard enough time just keeping everyone whose already ill in check."

"Hold it!"

Snow held up a hand, reflexively standing in front of the younger pair. "I heard something from that room...on the left."

Belle gave a whimper of fright. Elsa steeled herself, raising a hand in self defense, her ice magic cackling to life.

"Anna. Anna it's me Elsa... your sister. Please...come out here... I don't want to hurt you." Elsa begged in a soothing tone. "I know you're sick, and probably afraid...but come out, and we can fix this... Anna. Please..."

The silence met them. Dead silence. It made Snow feel uneasy, and it did no good that this house was barely lit as it was, hiding many things in it's shadowy hallways.

"Elsa! Snow!

Snow and Elsa turned instinctively to see Kristoff charging straight at Belle, his ice axe leveled to strike a damaging blow to her head, a light of fury in his eyes.

"Kristoff stop!" Elsa shouted, but it was futile, seeing the rage in Kristoff's eyes, as he attempted to bring his axe into Belle's skull.

Elsa whispered "I'm sorry" before unleashing a swath of her ice magic, that spread along the wooden floors of the mansion, causing Kristoff to stumble, falling hard to the floor. His axe skittered across the slippery ground.

"Snow- grab it!" Elsa shouted.

Belle kicked the weapon across the ground, and Snow bent down to catch it one easy swoop.

Kristoff groaned on the ground, still dizzy. Elsa lowered her hand, muttering yet another apology to her friend.

"We're friends Kristoff." she said quietly. The man was struggling to get to his feet, but kept slipping on the ice.

"Liar!" he roared, an insane glint in his eyes. "All of you! Liars!"

"Kristoff, I'm...Anna's friend. Belle." the youngest burnette said. " We're here to help you and Anna. Ok?"

"You're not!" Kristoff snarled. "You're all liars! Imposters!" his eyes tore over the frozen ground. "Give me my axe!" he shouted, sounding positively deranged. "Give it back!"

" We can't." Snow apologized. "Not until you get better."

Kristoff's madness fueled eyes burned even brighter. "Give me my axe back." he said in a sing song type voice. "I won't hurt you girls with it. Nope nope. I"ll just use it to bash your little princessy brains in, ok?"

The trio of women stared.

"Kristoff...what has happened to you?" Elsa said, fear lacing her voice. Her fingers reached out to gently brush loose strands of hair from his eyes, but he recoiled from the touch as though it was harmful to him.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Kristoff snarled, enraged anew. "GIVE ME MY AXE! GIVE IT, GIVE IT, GIVE IT!"

"We can't!" Elsa said, louder, but still saddened. " We need to find. Anna. Where is she?"

"Right behind you."

Elsa and Snow whirled, to see Anna holding a dull knife to Belle's throat. Snow quickly surmised that the now insane pair were probably hiding in the home's kitchen or pantry. Now the normally pleasant youngest Arendelle royal had a knife to Belle's throat.

"Just let us leave here, and I won't kill her." Anna said, in her still normally oddly cheerful voice, but the maddening rage glint in her eyes was all too similar to what her husband wore.

"Anna..." Belle said slowly, cautiously, as her friend dug the dull steel into her neck. "You aren't yourself right now. It's ok, it's not your fault. Please, put the knife down."

"Uh-huh. Not gonna do that." Anna said with a dark tone to her usual cheer. "Can't trust you. Can't trust anyone."

"You can trust me Anna." Elsa said. "I love you."

"You are NOT my sister!" Anna roared, holding Belle tighter. "You aren't her! What did you do with Elsa?"

"Anna, you're confused right now. I am Elsa. I'm really her." Elsa said, her tone edging into fear. Snow was analyzing the situation.

"No. You're not." Anna said stiffly. "Now let us leave."

"Ok." Snow said, before either women could protest. "We'll let you and Kristoff go, alright?"

"You'd better keep your word, lady." Anna said briskly. "Or else someone here will get hurt."

"We don't want that." Snow agreed, giving a look to Elsa to prepare, and the other royal quickly took the hint. "Now, let Belle go so she can open the door. She's cloest."

Anna shifted Belle in her grip, the knife wavering in her hands.

"No funny tricks." Anna growled.

"No funny tricks." Snow promised. " Belle, the door, please?"

Belle nodded, still visibly shaken, but holding up beautifully. Silently, the young burnette went to the door and opened it.

Anna made a step, and Elsa struck, unleashing a blast of her ice magic that bound Anna's feet together and kept her from moving.

"Hey! you said no tricks!" Anna snarled, thrashing uselessly.

"Elsa, do you have anymore of that knockout powder?" Snow asked quickly. Elsa reached for the small sack in her pocket.

"Not much. A handful."

"Use it." Snow said. "Quickly."

Elsa stepped forward, and blew the powder, rendering Anna and Kristoff unconscious again.

"It'll have to hold until we get to the hospital."

Snow looked at Belle, who was still shaken. " David's truck, the back should have some rope. We can tie them up, just in case."

Belle nodded, and quickly stepped outside. Elsa crouched down next to her sister's sleeping form, and touched her cheek.

"Whatever ails you sister, I will find the cure. I promise." Elsa told her, squeezing her hand comfortably.

Snow was kneeling down by Kristoff, checking him over in case he hand any other weapons hidden on his person.

"That's what family does." Snow said, before reaching for her phone.

"Ah. The strange communication device." Elsa said, she had seen Killian and Emma use them before. "Who are you sending a message too?"

"Doctor Whale." Snow said, as the call went through. She glanced over at Anna and Kristoff laying on the floor.

"Gonna have to get two more beds ready."

A/N: Thank you to all my reviewers so far! I hope this fic isn't dragging, but there's a lot of chapters to go! Plus, it wouldn't be an OUAT fic without some flashbacks right? A review would be so lovely as well. :)

J. Star