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Chapter Five: Arendelle or The Enchanted Forest
"We can't worry about the dagger now, Killian. We need to get everyone to safety then worry about saving Emma." It was times like these that David felt more like a Prince than a Shepard.
"Spoken like a true Prince. Very well, how do you suggest we do that?"
"I haven't the faintest idea."
"I do, Grandpa. The door to Arendelle is still in the Author's house." Henry smiled remembering the door never vanished after Anna, Kristoff, and Elsa left.
"Well, we can't send everyone through it without a way back." Regina didn't like this plan, but she wasn't going to be separated from Henry either.
"Travel from Arendelle is easy by boat, but from the Enchanted Forest back to Storybrooke not so much." David remembered meeting Anna for the first time as if it was yesterday.
"I can get us back with a magic bean and the Jolly Roger." Killian was determined to get his ship back from the Southern Isles and Black Beard. But he would do it the honorable way.
"Those are hard to come by. Luckily for you, I managed to find a small vine still living after the rest of the crop was destroyed from the last time we were here. And they are ready to harvest."
David smiled and stepped up to the former giant. "Anton, it's good to see you. I figured you were returned to your rightful size once we returned to the Enchanted Forest."
Anton smiled and ducked his head before tucking his curly hair behind his ears. "I was, but I wasn't happy being alone. So I made my way back to the human world. I found the spell that had changed my size was still in effect since I shrank once my feet hit the ground. I set out to find all of you until the curse hit."
"Where have you been?"
"I've been hiding."
"That's nothing to be ashamed of, Anton." David clapped Anton on his shoulder. "Okay, with Anton's help all those who don't want to go to Arendelle can return to the Enchanted Forest now. The rest of you give us an hour to talk to Elsa and ensure we are welcome in Arendelle. Until then everyone be safe," he finished before gently pulling Snow aside.
"What's wrong, David?"
"Nothing's wrong, Snow. I just wanted to ask you to take Neal and go to Arendelle."
"David, you are not leaving me behind. I'm coming with you to help Emma."
"Snow, Neal needs you, and if something happens to me at least he'll still have his mother."
"No, we're going to be fine, David. Neal is going to have both of us for a very long time. We stick together."
"All right, we stay together. I had to try. Do you think one of your birds can fly through the portal?"
"I don't see why not. It'll be the fastest way to get a message to Elsa."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Regina wanted to get Henry to safety as quickly as possible.
Elsa, Queen of Arendelle, stood on a balcony of her castle overlooking the crystal blue waters. Anna and Kristoff had only been gone a week, but to her it felt like an eternity. She missed her sister's non stop chatter. She also knew her sister's honeymoon was long overdue curses aside. She was glad she could be there to witness the happy occasion. Elsa jumped not expecting a bird to fly by her from inside the castle.
"Where did you come from?" Elsa smiled watching the tiny creature turn around and and beside her hands. "You're carrying a message I see. Lets get this off of you." Elsa gently removed the message from the bird's leg and opened it.
"Dear Elsa and Anna, I hope this message finds you both well. A lot has happened since you left us. There's no easy way to say this except to say we need your help. Storybrooke is no longer safe for us and the Enchanted Forest even less so. There's a new Dark One and it breaks my heart to say it's Emma. She sacrificed herself to save us, but now she needs to be saved. But Dvid and I must ensure our people's safety first. May we take refuge in Arendelle? We await your reply, Mary Margret."
Elsa grabbed a pen and quickly wrote her reply then reattached the message to the bird's leg. She followed it into the castle and watched the bird fly back through the portal. She stopped one of the wash maids once the bird was gone. "Sally, have all the guest room linens been washed and changed
"Yes, my Queen, they were just done this morning."
"Wonderful, because we are about to receive a castle full of guests."
"I will make sure everything is attended to, my Queen."
"Thank you, Sally." Elsa walked to the portal door and waited. She still couldn't believe that Emma was the Dark One now. She intended to help her family save her any way she could. She also knew once Mary Margret received her answer people would be walking through that door. She wanted to be there to greet each guest as they arrived in Arendelle.
Mary Margret held out her hands as the bird she sent came flying through the portal. She held it gently as she removed the message attached to the tiny leg. She opened it and read the one word reply. A smile spread across her face and she nodded her head to David and Regina.
"Oh joy," Regina said before vanishing in a cloud of purple smoke.
Snow smiled at David until she heard a crash in the next room. "Henry, Lexi, Hook, are you all right?" She walked quickly into the other room.
"We're fine, Grandma. I'm just frustrated I can't find a reference to Camelot in any of these books."
"You think..." Lexi smirked at her older brother. They'd been looking through the all ready filled story books looking for clues to what they'd face once they reached Camelot. Her Henry had the same idea, but they never had the chance to look. "We'll find it Henry. It's just going to take time."
"Yeah, time we don't have. We're about to leave Storybrooke, and we haven't even touched half of the books here."
"We'll find it, Henry. I know we will."
"And we'll help look." Snow hated the look of utter despair on Henry's face. He was always the hopeful one of the family. It broke her heart to see him like this. An idea suddenly popped in her head bringing a smile to her face. It was worth a shot. "David, keep looking with them. I'll be right back."
"Where are you going?"
"To test a theory. I'll be back soon." Snow planted a kiss on her husband's lips then slipped out of the room...
Regina reappeared inside the Town Hall where a very loud discussion was taking place. "IF I may interrupt all of you for a moment. The Queen of Arendelle has granted us sanctuary in her kingdom. Those who wish to go meet at the Author's house."
"Regina, we've been talking and we have a question. Would leaving Storybrooke through this portal return us to who we once were?"
Regina looked from Dr. Hopper to the rest of the town folk. That was something she hadn't thought of. "I don't know. We'd be returning to a land near the Enchanted Forest, so I don't see why you wouldn't return to the cricket you once were."
"Thank you, Regina."
"You're welcome. Time is of the essence, so make your decision quickly."
Archie looked around the room smiling as he saw each person nod their head. "It's unanimous, Regina. We're all going to Arendelle."
"Very well, meet us at..."
"No, Regina, we mean we're ready to go now," Archie said interrupting the former Evil Queen.
"I see. Well, in that case..." Regina extended her hands out and waved them around in a circle touching every person with her magic. In the blink of an eye the entire room was engulfed in her purple smoke before they all vanished leaving the room eerily empty. They reappeared inside the Author's house but finding no one waiting for them worried Regina. "David, Mary Margret..."
"I'll be right back." David walked back into the other room. "Wow, that was fast. Is this everyone?"
"Yes, it seems the entire town has chosen to go to Arendelle."
"Excellent, then as soon as Mary Margret returns we can start sending people through."
"Where did she go?"
"She said she needed to test a theory. She'll be right back."
"Fine, I'll go check on Robin and his men while we wait." Regina vanished once more into her purple smoke knowing Henry was in safe hands.
"Any luck finding a way to reach Camelot?"
David looked at Gold and frowned. "No, not yet why?"
"Because I've been there before, and I know how much my grandson wants to save his mother."
"That's right, I forgot about the gauntlet you brought back from Camelot." Belle couldn't believe she'd forgotten all about it.
"What can you tell us about it, Gold?" David wanted to know what they'd be up against once they got there.
"It's not a happy or cheerful place that it once was. It seems a darkness has befallen the great city."
"That's it? That's all you can tell me?"
"I didn't stay long. I went to steal a gauntlet, but found no one standing in my way. The people all hid and the castle seemed void of people as well."
"Which means..." It was like pulling teeth with the man.
Rumple sighed before he continued. "Which means Charming, I believe Camelot is under a curse..."
Regina reappeared in the forest near Robin's camp. She smiled hearing Roland's little voice calling out to her. She knelt down and opened her arms to the running child. He threw his arms around her neck and she wrapped her own around his small body. Rising to her full height, she easily lifted the small boy as his father came into view. "Is everyone ready to go?"
"Yes, we are. I hate to ask, but what about Zelena?" Robin gently rubbed Roland's back as he focused his eyes on Regina.
"As much as I want her to pay for what she did to us, I can't hurt an innocent child. She'll go to Arendelle with us, but I'll make sure she's still locked up. I don't want my sister hurting anyone."
Robin nodded his head satisfied with her answer. He glanced over his shoulder at Will. "Gather the men so we can leave."
"Sure, Mate, I'll jump right on that." Will threw his pack on his back and walked off to gather the Merry Men.
Ten minutes later, Regina winked Robin, Roland, Zelena, Will, and the Merry Men to the Author's house. She kept a tight hold on her sister as they reappeared. "So, is everyone here yet?"
David frowned as he looked around the room. He'd been so preoccupied with helping Henry he didn't realize Snow wasn't back yet. "No, Snow still hasn't returned yet."
"What's taking her so long? She should have beaten me back here."
"I know, and that's what has me worried." David reached for his cell phone and quickly dialed Snow's number. "Come on Snow, please answer..."
"No! I won't let you hurt my mother!" Emma stood over her mother's unconscious body with the Dark One's dagger held high over her head.
"You won't! I think you will! She will be the first of many I kill! And you won't be able to lift a finger to stop me, Emma! Now, say goodbye to your Mommy!"