In the Storybrooke clocktower, Elsa peered out the window with a pair of binoculars. She focused them on the curse cloud in the distance. The curse that the Snow Queen had enacted earlier. She watched as it crept closer to the town. She took a small gulp. "Belle was right. My aunt is doing this."
Elsa was not alone. With her were Leroy, Emma, Mary Margaret, Regina, David and Hook. Mary Margaret took the binoculars from Elsa and peered through them, too. "The spell of Shattered Sight," she whispered, passing the binoculars to her husband.
"We open the mines and the vaults. We take shelter there," David said.
Regina sighed. "This is magic. It doesn't care about ceilings. "It's already started."
"How long?" Hook asked.
Regina took the binoculars and had a look through them. "By sundown," she answered. "By sundown, everyone in this town will start tearing each other apart."
Emma looked at Regina and then back at the magic cloud coming for them. "Okay. The answer is simple. Let's not be in town." Maybe they could cross the town line – all of them – before the Spell of Shattered Sight could affect them.
They arrived at the town line soon after, but they all stared at the giant ice wall in front of them – blocking their way to leaving.
"Hardly an elegant solution," Regina stated.
"Nothing wrong with brute force if it works," Emma replied.
"If we can get over, we can build a frame, take people over one at a time," Leroy mused.
David approached the wall, carrying a small bundle of rope with him. Mary Margaret looked at him. "David, be careful," she told him.
"Yeah, yeah," David said with a nod, then took a pick axe and approached the wall. He swung at the ice wall, hitting it upon contact, but the wall rumbled and shook David away. He fell over backwards, and the others ran over to him.
"You okay?" Emma asked, taking one side of David.
"David?" Mary Margaret asked, taking the other side, and they both helped him up and walked him away from the wall.
"Looks like that wall doesn't care much for your brute force," Regina mused, looking up at the giant structure.
However, on the ground, a crack was forming in the ice. Elsa looked down at it before seeing something she recognised. Anna's necklace. She bent down and reached for it. But it was stuck on something.
Emma noticed, and she shook her head. "Elsa, no. Stop," she said, going over to her. "Hey, no! That thing could go off again!"
Elsa didn't listen and stayed where she was until she pulled out the necklace. She held it up to the light. "It's Anna's necklace," she said with delight. "I thought it was gone. It's like "
a miracle."
"Glad you found it, but sentimentality is not worth risking your life over."
"It's a sign, Emma," Elsa told her. "A sign that we're going to win."
Regina sighed as she looked over at the two blondes. "Is everyone into this hope thing now?"
"If we're gonna win, we need to stop wasting time," Emma told the others. "Mum, Dad, Leroy, go tell everyone what's happening. When this goes down, everyone needs to be separated from their loved ones if they don't want to hurt each other. Killian, go to the waterfront. See if we can use boats to get some people out."
"I have to warn robin Hood," Regina said. "His camp's not far from here."
"Okay, go. Elsa and I are going to talk to Gold, and see if he has any ideas. Henry, you come with us …."
"No," interrupted Regina. "He's with me. I'm his best chance."
"That may not be true," Elsa said. "Emma and I, I think we're immune."
"What?" Regina asked.
"These ribbons," Elsa said, holding up the yellow ribbon tied to her left wrist, "if the Snow Queen wants us to be her sisters, then the curse won't affect us."
"So, I should definitely watch Henry," Emma added.
"No," Regina said again. "You're a part of this nut job's plan. I want Henry near me as long as it's safe for him."
"It's okay, Mum," Henry said to Emma. "I'll be fine with her."
Emma approached Henry and hugged him. "Be careful, kid," she whispered before hearing the rumbling of the curse clouds in the distance.
"We gotta go," Regina said. "This is happening now."
Elsa and Emma arrived at the pawnshop, hoping to see Mr Gold, but they were greeted by Belle and the Professor instead. The two had been looking for anything about the Spell of Shattered Sight and seeing if they could stop the spell.
"Any luck?" Emma asked them.
Belle sighed and shook her head. "No. It appears to be pretty much unstoppable."
"However, there could be a way to undo its effects on anyone who has been affected by it," the Professor told them.
"That's wonderful," Elsa said.
The Professor nodded. "When somebody has been affected by this spell, you can use them to undo it. And with a strand of their hair, you can make a counterspell to reverse the effects."
"My sister."
"What?" Emma said.
"My aunt said she put me in that urn. I didn't believe her because Anna would never do that unless she were under that spell. We have to get to her."
"But you still don't know where she is," Belle said.
"No, but now you can help me find her. You said you could use this locator spell if I had something of hers. Well, now I have something," Elsa said, taking out the necklace she had found again and handing it to the Professor. "Sometimes sentimentality pays off."
"Point Elsa," Emma said.
The Professor looked over at the necklace, then frowned at it. He then placed it under a magnifying glass and examined it closer. "There's something in here," he mused.
"Like what?" Emma asked.
"Mirror dust. It looks as though it is embedded in the metal."
"So I was right," Elsa said. "She was under that spell. So, if we find Anna, she can save everyone."
"I'll round up the fairies," Belle said. "They can set up shop somewhere close and figure out how to make the counterspell."
Elsa smiled. "Thank you," she said to Belle. Then turned to Emma. "Let's go."
"Elsa, you realise this is a long shot. I was time travelling when I brought you here. And when Anna disappeared, it was …."
"Thirty years ago," Elsa interrupted. "I know. But she's okay. She has to be. And I don't care how old she is. She can save us."
"Okay, then. "We're relying on mirror dust and fairies," Emma said, then she turned to the Professor. "Wait. The TARDIS. You can use it to take everyone out of Storybrooke, can't you?"
"We could. But it won't do much good. Not this close to the Event Horizon of this spell," the Professor said. Like a Black Hole. Or any type of curse. "If we're not careful, we could damage the dematerialisation circuit this close to the curse. But, unfortunately, we don't have a spare that we can use. Not yet. Not until we find Gallifrey."
Emma nodded slowly. Then, she turned to Elsa. "We still have one plan. Now, let's find your sister."
Hook raised his spyglass and looked out across the ocean. He had already figured there was little to no way of getting away from Storybrooke by sea due to the ice wall. But now, that idea seemed incredibly hopeless, as it appeared to grow several more spikes as it sprung up further around the waterfront. "No fleeing by boat, then," he muttered.
"This Snow Queen is good, isn't she?" Mr Gold asked as he approached Hook before sitting on the bench. "Sit lad," he added, indicating the spot beside him. "Don't forget where your heart lies," he said as Hook sat down. "Now I have a job for you. You remember how this works." Mr Gold finished as he pulled the hatbox out from his jacket pocket.
"The hat?" Hook asked, horrified. "Not Emma."
"No, no," Mr Gold replied with a chuckle. "Not this time. This time I have a better plan. At this moment, Granny's Diner is being converted into a temporary hive for the vilest of creatures. Those pious little fleas."
"Pious?" Hook asked. "The fairies?"
"Just like any flying pests, if you want to eliminate the infestation, then it's important to get them all," Mr Gold replied. "And in doing so, it will infuse this hat with enough power to allow me to cleave myself from the dagger and then leave this town with my powers intact," he added. "A suddenly urgent undertaking. Now, will you assist me?"
"You have my heart," Hook sighed. "You know I can't refuse."
"Indeed," Mr Gold smiled. "But here's the rub, dearie. My wife has just called to inform me that she intends to spend the day sequestered amongst said fleas," he added. "So I need you to stand by while I get her out of the way."
"The fairies are working to stop this spell, and you're killing the cure?" he asked. "You do this; you condemn the entire town. Even your grandson to whatever happens."
"No, I won't be leaving Henry," he said. "I will take him. I will take Belle. I will take the people closest to me. And then, I will leave this town to its fate." He knew what he had to do. He had to leave this town and its limitations if he were to go out onto the world. And the cosmos.
"But Emma and everyone else..."
"I don't have time for everyone else," Mr Gold spat. "And if I have to choose between everyone else and me...' me' wins every time," he added, taking his dagger out of his coat pocket. "So you can clench your jaw and flash your eyes all you wish because it doesn't change the fact that we're in this together." He waved the dagger over the golden hatbox, and the Sorcerer's hat appeared on the bench between them in a cloud of purple starry smoke.
Regina and Henry walked through the woods towards the camp. Although the front Regina was putting up, Henry could tell she was worried about what would happen within the next few hours. Regina didn't want him hurt, but he knew she didn't want him to see her in full Evil Queen mode, which was why they had to stop the Snow Queen and the Spell of Shattered Sight as quick as possible. They reached the camp and stood on the edge of the clearing for a few moments, watching Robin entertain Roland.
Regina and Henry approached Robin, which he noticed and told Roland to stay put before getting up and going over to both of them.
"It's happening," Regina told Robin. "You and your men need to scatter. All together like this, with all these weapons, you'll kill each other once the spell hits."
"Will!" Robin called out, looking around the camp for him. "Will Scarlet!"
Will poked his head out from a tent. "There's no need to yell. I'm just here, Robin."
"Emergency. Break camp."
Will got out of the tent and approached Roland. "All right, then. Come on, little man," he said as he placed a hand on Roland's shoulder and guided him towards the other side of camp.
"Why don't you help?" Regina suggested looking at Henry. He nodded in reply before walking over to the others. Regina couldn't help but smile when she saw Roland grab hold of Henry's hand. She turned her attention back to Robin and just stared at him.
"What?" he asked with a frown. "Is there something else?"
"No. I'm just trying to memorise you like this," Regina replied, taking his hands in hers.
"Like what? Nervous and alarmed?"
"No, with love in your eyes," Regina replied, letting him pull her close to him. "I told you what this spell is going to do."
"Maybe it won't," Robin said with a small smile. He was used to Regina's pessimism by now.
"It will. The only people who believe in me in this town are Henry and you," she added, pulling back a little to look up at him. "The thought of you looking at me, like everyone else in the town, with hatred. It just might kill me." she finished turning her head to avoid his gaze.
"Stop thinking," Robin said as he lightly cupped the back of her head, causing her to look back at him. Then he moved his hand from the back of her head to her cheek. "We're here now, and this is true," he finished before leaning in and kissing her lightly.
When they separated, he pulled her close, letting her rest her head against his chest. There may be a time limit hanging over their heads, but if this provided her with some comfort or strength in the coming hours, he would hold her as long as she wanted.
Elsa watched as Emma poured the locator spell over the necklace. They watched as it hung in mid-air and glowed brightly before dimming and becoming a pulsing light.
"Is it supposed to do that?" Elsa asked as she placed it in the palm of her hand.
"Yeah," Emma nodded. "I know this spell. It gets brighter as you get closer to your goal," she added. "It's how my parents found each other."
"Did you see that?" Elsa asked as they watched the necklace glow once more. "That means it found her, right? So she's out there?"
"Yeah," Emma smiled. "Don't just stand there. Let's keep going," she added as they watched the diamond at the centre of the star glow.
"The library?" Elsa frowned as she noticed the direction they were walking in. "But I've been inside there before, and Anna wasn't in there."
"The library is a funny place," Emma replied. "There are these tunnels underneath."
"You think she could be down there?"
"Regina kept a whole dragon under there for 28 years. I'm sure you can fit a small princess, too," Emma shrugged, ignoring Elsa's surprised look at the dragon comment. But unfortunately, there wasn't enough time to unpack Regina's tumultuous history with Maleficent.
"Yes, frozen by the Snow Queen," Elsa said. "That's why we never found Anna. But now we will."
"Perhaps," Emma said, inclining her head slightly. "But now we will find her," she said as she pushed open the library door, and both women walked inside.
Emma and Elsa took the elevator down to the mine tunnels and walked through them as they followed the glow of the necklace. They looked around every corner, into every nook, hoping they would find Anna.
"It's brighter!" Elsa exclaimed as they turned another corner. "There," she added as she pointed at a spot ahead of them. Her face fell as they noticed the rocks blocking their path. "How can there be a barrier?" she asked. "Look how bright the glow is," she added. "She must be practically right on the other side," she said as she moved up close to the wall. "Anna, are you there?"
"Look at this dust," Emma said as she crouched down and looked at the dust on the floor. "It just recently fell," she added. "All the new ice spiking and earth shaking that the Snow Queen's been doing must have caused it."
"I can move this," Elsa said as she stepped back and raised her hands.
"No, Elsa, stop," Emma said, putting her hand in front of Elsa. "As much as I enjoyed our last cave-in, I don't wanna do it again."
"But she's right there!"
"Then we'll find another way."
Emma and Elsa returned to the library, where they called the others. David, Mary Margaret, Regina and Leroy. They stood around a table in the library, poring over a map of the town. Regina frowned as she watched Leroy study them closely.
"Sure, the guys and I can clear the tunnel," Leroy said. "We'll have to work carefully, but we can do it."
"Let's go now," Elsa commented as David's phone rang. He excused himself from the conversation and walked towards the front of the library.
"Leroy. How long will it take you to clear the passage?" Emma asked.
"Couple of hours maybe," Leroy replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "We can get right on it."
"That's wonderful," Elsa smiled, knowing she was getting closer to reuniting with her sister.
"We don't have a couple of hours," Regina interrupted. "Have you guys not been watching the clock?" she asked. "It'll be sundown before you munchkins finish."
"Dwarfs, sister."
"Like I care," Regina replied with a roll of her eyes. "Let's just blast through and take the risk."
"That was Belle over at the diner," David said as he rejoined the huddle. "It turns out they can make the counter spell even if we don't find Anna," he added. "They can pull the mirror dust out of the necklace and try to use that."
"It's exactly the same?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Almost," David replied. "It'll take a little longer, the process is difficult, and it will destroy the necklace."
"So, the necklace can save all of us," Emma said. "Or Anna."
"No," Elsa said. "It can do both. We have time."
"We don't," Regina replied. "Exploring these tunnels could take days."
"So, what'll it be, folks?" Leroy asked, looking around the assembled group. "Save the town, or find the sister?"
Mr Gold and Hook walked along the sidewalk as they approached Granny's. Hook wondered just what it was that Mr Gold would want him to do as he held the Sorcerer's hat in his good hand. Either way, this was something that would get back to Emma, and she wouldn't be too impressed. Even if he wasn't in control of his actions.
"Go around the back and wait," Mr Gold said as they stopped outside the entrance to Granny's. "You'll know when you're needed."
Mr Gold watched as Hook walked around the side of the building as though he was going to the bed and breakfast. He walked up the front path and hurried up the stairs, pulling the door open. Almost as soon as he walked into the diner, Mother Superior rushed forward and glared at him.
"What do you want?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him.
"Excuse me," Mr Gold replied. "But I'd like to borrow my wife. I need her at the shop for a short while."
"She's working," Mother Superior snapped. "We need her."
"Mother Superior's right," Belle replied. "This is too important. We're really close here, Rumple. But, please be patient."
"Of course," Mr Gold smiled. "Well, until you can go, I'll just, uh...keep you company," he added, making a point of sitting directly opposite Mother Superior. It also gave him a view into the back area of the diner, where he could see Hook lurking, waiting for the signal. "Perhaps I'll be helpful."
"This is light magic, Dark One."
"Well then," Mr Gold shrugged. "Maybe I'll learn something."
"This shouldn't even be a conversation," Regina snapped as she glared around the assembled group, catching Elsa staring at the glowing necklace that once belonged to Anna. "If we don't get the necklace to the fairies right now, we and all of our loved ones will be hit by this vicious spell," she added. "It's one woman's life versus a whole town."
"Maybe we just haven't found an option where we don't have to lose anyone." Emma countered.
"You're talking like a hero," Mary Margaret commented with a small smile.
"Yes, like all you Charming's always do," Regina said with a roll of her eyes. "But right now, that's not your job. You're more than heroes; you're leaders," she added. "And that means making the tough choice, where someone has to lose, and you have to say who."
"I agree with Regina. You're right," Mary Margaret said, causing Regina to look at Emma in shock.
"Yeah, I heard it too," Emma said.
"We need to do what's best for the most people," Mary Margaret said. "We need to give this town its best chance."
"I'm so sorry," David said, looking over at Emma. "But we have to let the fairies destroy that necklace."
Emma nodded before she steeled herself and walked over to where Elsa was standing. Mary Margaret and David watched as she spoke in low tones with Elsa before she handed over the small purse containing the necklace. Emma gave Elsa a sad smile before turning around and walking back to where her parents were standing.
Elsa waited until everyone's back was turned before she looked down at the necklace in her hand. Then, she walked to the elevator and opened the doors with a wave of her hand. Once she was inside, she closed it with another wave and locked the doors behind her so that no one would be able to follow her.
Meanwhile, as Elsa descended into the mines again, Emma, closely followed by her parents, Regina and Henry, arrived at Granny's Diner. Never had Emma been so grateful that Granny's was close by. She pulled open the door and hurried inside.
"The necklace, do you have it?" Belle asked as she hurried over to them.
"It's right here," Emma replied as she passed the purse over to Mother Superior.
"It's pebbles from the mine," Mother Superior replied as she opened the purse and looked at the small rocks in her palm.
"What?" Emma asked.
"Where is it?" Mary Margaret asked.
"She tricked us so she could use it," Regina said with a slight snarl. "To keep tracking down her damn sister," she added. "I should know better than to trust blondes by now."
"We should go back and get it," Emma suggested.
"No, it's too late," Belle replied sadly with a shake of her head.
"Too late? Already?" Mary Margaret asked
"By the time you get back here, yes," Belle replied. "Without Anna being here physically, there's no way to make a counterspell in time."
"Time for a hope speech?" Regina asked, looking over at Mary Margaret. "Virtues of blind faith?"
"Well, it seems Elsa's blind faith is exactly what's screwing us right now." Mary Margaret snapped in response.
"Coming from you, that's just terrifying," Regina said, glancing over at Mary Margaret.
"Well, I'm not giving up," Emma said. "I know she's down in the mines looking for Anna. So I'm gonna go help Elsa find her."
David sighed. "Well, then go. Because right now, that's our only shot."
Emma was thankful it hadn't taken her that long to find Elsa in the tunnels. "Elsa!" Emma called out as soon as she saw the figure of Elsa ahead.
Elsa turned around. "I'm sorry. I have to try this," she called back. She then raised her arms and threw magic at the wall. A rumbling was heard as the wall gave way, and they were staring out at a beach. They walked forward as they stepped onto the sand.
Emma frowned a little. "The beach. That map couldn't have been any more wrong." That had not been where the tunnel had led to on the map. But that hardly mattered now, not when she watched Elsa practically deflate in front of her eyes. There was no sign of Anna at all.
Elsa looked around, then walked forward more. "I don't understand. She should be here."
Emma followed. "Elsa, I'm sorry. Magic isn't always perfect."
Elsa looked down at the necklace, then back towards the ocean waters. "So, even though it's still glowing, because she's not here, it means …."
"The search is over," Emma commented sadly, placing an arm around Elsa's shoulders. "Thirty years is a long time."
Elsa turned around to look at Emma. "You think something's happened to her, and this has all been a mistake?"
"I think we need to deal with the problem in front of us right now. I'm sorry," Emma said as she began to walk back to Granny's with Elsa in tow.
"I'm sorry, Emma," Elsa said. "But I still have faith. I still believe that she's..."
"What?" Emma asked, noticing that Elsa had stopped in her tracks.
"It stopped glowing."
"I'm sorry."
"She's really gone." Elsa sighed sadly, looking down at the necklace in her hand. "This was my present for Anna for her wedding," she said. "It was among our mother's things, but to us, it was new," she added. "And I turned it into the last gift I ever gave her."
"Elsa, I'm so sorry," Emma replied, soothingly placing a hand on Elsa's arm. "But it's almost sundown. That cloud is going to hit at any time. We have to go now," she added. "Everyone's gonna turn on each other, and something tells me that being immune to the curse is not gonna stop them from attacking us."
"I failed," Elsa sighed. "I deserve to be attacked. This," she added, holding up the necklace. "This is all I have left of Anna. Now I'll never know what happened to her." Elsa held the necklace close to her chest and stared at the waters. "Anna, wherever you are, whatever happened to you all those years ago. I'm so sorry I didn't find you. But, I still have faith," she added as she felt a few tears fall. "I know that you're out there somewhere. I won't give up hope. I just wish I wish you were here with me now."
Emma stood a little way away from watching the scene unfold. She couldn't imagine how it would feel about spending ages searching for someone, only to lose them before you could find them. However, she could undoubtedly emphasise the searching aspect. Especially when she considered how long she'd spent looking for her parents.
"Elsa, come on," she said, feeling a prickle of magic ripple across her skin. "Something's happening."
"Do you think it's my aunt's spell?"
"I don't know," she replied, looking around the beach for any sign of magic.
Emma and Elsa stood on the shore and watched as a blue light appeared in the middle of the sea, creating a swirling vortex. "What is that?" she asked Emma.
While Elsa frowned a little, Emma recognised the occurrence for it was. A portal. However, she wasn't entirely sure where from. She only hoped it wasn't another villain. They really couldn't deal with more chaos than they already had. Almost as soon as it had opened, the portal disappeared. It left nothing but a calm ocean and a trunk floating on the surface.
They watched as the current brought the chest onto the shore. As soon as it had reached the beach, the lid of the trunk popped open, and they could see that the trunk had contained two people, a man and a woman, in strange clothing. Or at least odd to Emma.
"Anna?" Elsa breathed as she looked at the two new arrivals. "Anna!" she exclaimed as she realised it was her sister, and she rushed forward, eager to help her out of the trunk.
"Elsa!" Anna exclaimed and ran over to Elsa, and the two sisters hugged each other.
"Anna, oh, I couldn't find you," Elsa said as she checked her sister over to ensure she was perfectly fine.
"I was looking for you," Anna replied. "I put you in an urn."
"You missed your wedding."
"It's okay. We're here," Anna said soothingly as she looked at her sister. Then, smiling, she realised nothing had changed, despite how many years had passed between them.
"But you're still young."
"We were frozen," Anna explained.
"For 30 years apparently," Kristoff added as he looked around the beach he now found himself on.
"How did this happen?" Anna asked
"How did you get here?" Elsa asked at the same time.
"It's like you wished it," Emma smiled, interrupting the reunion.
"My necklace!" Anna exclaimed as she noticed the object that Elsa was holding in her hands. "It was the Wishing Star."
"This is an amazing miracle," Kristoff commented. "But it is a cold miracle, and we're all wet, so..."
"Yes," Emma said as she picked up his train of thought. "If we can get Anna back to the fairies right away, she might be able to stop the spell." She looked up at the clouds of magic up ahead. Anna and Kristoff did, but they didn't know what it was.
"Wait," Elsa said. "There's something I have to do first," she added as she threw her arms around Anna and held her tight.
Belle looked around Granny's and marvelled at the speed with which the fairies were working. It was almost as if the news that they'd found Anna had lit a match underneath them.
"So, Anna's on her way," Belle said as she moved to stand by her husband once she heard the news that they had found Elsa's sister. "I mean, do you think they can do it?"
"Well, perhaps," Mr Gold replied thoughtfully, placing his phone back in his coat pocket after speaking to the Doctor. "But, if there's one thing I've learned, it's never trusting a fairy. Let's get you somewhere safe...just in case," he said as he placed a hand on her back and guided her out of the diner. "I've just received word that the Doctor may just have a plan to keep you safe from the Curse." He looked over his shoulder and caught sight of Hook lurking in the back. Mr Gold gave him a slight nod letting him know to put the plan into action once he was clear of the diner.
As the husband and wife left the diner, Mother Superior looked down at the potion that had finally finished brewing. Now, all it needed was a couple of Anna's hairs, and the potion would be complete. She wasn't entirely sure how best to spread it around the town, but Mother Superior could only hope that Emma would figure out a way for them to do it. A crash of thunder, followed by a quick flash, caused her to look up. She noticed that there was a force sucking her sisters away. She dropped the vial she was holding and hurried around the counter, hoping to hide from whatever was taking them away. As the screams from her sisters died away, she breathed a sigh of relief, hoping that whoever had been behind the attack would leave.
Mother Superior heard the footsteps on the other side of the counter and prayed that she wouldn't be found. She looked up as a pair of boots came around the side of the counter. She looked up to see Hook walking towards her, a pained look on his face carrying a familiar hat at his side. She had only seen the hat once long ago, and she prayed she'd never see it again. Or the Sorcerer who had once wielded it.
"I'm so sorry," Hook said as he held the hat aloft. "I truly am," he added as the hat sprung to life again, pulling the last fairy into it.
Once the hat was silent, Hook let it drop from his hands. He hung his head in shame. Mr Gold may currently be controlling him, but that didn't mean he couldn't feel the guilt of what he had just done - the guilt about all that he'd been made to do. He wished he'd never gone to Mr Gold in the first place. He heard footsteps outside and ducked down behind the counter, pulling the hat with him. He just prayed whoever it was wouldn't spot him or stay that long. As the door opened, his heart dropped as he realised just who it was that had walked in.
"What happened here?" Elsa asked as she looked around the destruction that had befallen the diner.
"What do you think?" Emma asked in response. "The Snow Queen."
"What does this mean?" Anna asked.
"It means that even with you here," Emma replied. "We can't protect everyone."
"So, what do we do now?" Elsa asked as she looked around the diner.
"Prepare for the worst," Emma sighed sadly with a shake of her head. She turned around and walked out of the diner, followed by Elsa, Anna and Kristoff.
As he heard the bell above the door sound, Hook wiped away the tiny tear that had fallen. Thanks to Mr Gold, he'd probably just lost Emma for good. But, even if they found a way out of this, Hook doubted that Mr Gold would pretend that this had never happened.
It was eerie just how silent Storybrooke was with no residents anywhere. Everyone had locked themselves away, somewhere where they couldn't hurt anyone they cared about. Belle looked up and down the street as she tried to recall ever having seen it this empty. She frowned as they came to a stop outside the shop.
"You'll be safe in here," Mr Gold said as he opened the door to the shop, and they both entered to see the blue box of the TARDIS standing in the middle of the room.
"I thought you couldn't use the TARDIS to leave," Belle stated as she looked from the TARDIS to the Doctor.
"Who said anything about leaving?" the Doctor asked. "Once inside, I'll turn on the TARDIS's siege mode. Then, nothing can get in or out. Not even the curse. We'll be safe inside, and Rumple here can keep watch over us. Keep us somewhere safe."
Belle turned to Mr Gold. "You're not coming with us?"
Mr Gold shook his head. "No. As Dark One, I may be immune to this spell. I'm the perfect person to watch over. Go inside and stay with the others."
"Who else is there?"
"My son, Clara, Ellie, and Clara's family," the Doctor answered. "They don't need to see what a curse can do."
"I'll seal the shop with a protection spell so no one can get in," Mr Gold said to the Doctor.
"Thank you," the Doctor said in a small whisper, watching as Mr Gold hugged Belle, then she and the Doctor went inside the TARDIS and closed the blue wooden doors behind them. Then, there was a blue light that covered the TARDIS. It whirred as the light grew brighter, and the TARDIS was gone. In its place was now a small metal cube, covered entirely by Gallifreyan circles.
Mr Gold exited the shop, then waved his hand over the building, and a protection spell spread outwards across the door and the shop as a whole. Then, from the corner of his eye, he saw Hook approaching him, carrying the golden hatbox in his hand. "Is it done?" Mr Gold asked him.
"You know, they truly believe in you," Hook commented. "You could have Belle forever or all the power in the world. It's your choice."
"I don't need to choose, thank you," Mr Gold smirked as he took the hatbox from Hook. "I can, and I will have both."
"Now that it's settled, are we done?"
"No, no," Mr Gold replied. "I'm not going to give up control of you just yet," he added. "Not until I have everything I need."
"What's left?"
"That is my concern and not yours," he replied with a shrug. What he was planning was his business and his business alone. And he certainly didn't want to tell some pirate his plans. "But by morning, all should be complete. Including your life," he added. "Now run along, dearie, and enjoy your last day in this, or any, land."
After seeing the destruction at the diner, Emma hurried into the sheriff's station to see her parents standing beside the cells, holding her baby brother, Neal. Behind her were Elsa, Anna and Kristoff.
"Mum, Dad, we're running out of time," she said. "You said you had a plan."
"Kristoff?" David asked with a smile as he saw who had walked in with Emma.
"David?" Kristoff replied as he moved forward and hugged his old friend.
"You cut your hair?"
"So did you," Kristoff replied with a laugh.
"And I see you brought your lovely fiancée," he said as he noticed the red-haired woman standing beside Elsa. "Joan?" he questioned with a smirk. He'd figured out exactly who Joan had been a while back and couldn't resist teasing her a little.
"Joan?" Kristoff asked with a frown.
"It was a code name," Anna replied as she hugged David. "David, I like your short hair," she added when they broke apart. "Not that I didn't like it long, or that I thought it was..." she stopped and took a breath. She was rambling again. She had to stop that. "It's good to see you."
"Likewise," David nodded with a smile, and he hugged her. "This is my wife Snow, our son Neal, and our daughter Emma," he added, indicating each person in turn.
"Wait, what?" Anna asked, her frown mirroring Kristoff's as she looked over at the woman who'd been on the beach with Elsa. "How can she be your daughter?"
"It's a long story," Emma replied with a small smile. "Once we survive this curse, I'll be happy to tell you all about it," she added before looking back at her parents. "The plan. What's the plan?"
Mary Margaret walked to the sheriff's desk and picked up a set of keys. Then, she walked over to one of the cells. "This is the plan."
"What?" Emma asked.
"You and Anna and Elsa are the only ones immune. So, the rest of us need to protect ourselves," Mary Margaret said, holding the keys out to her daughter.
David walked over to the other cell, and he stepped inside it. "Hey, you might wanna try that desk, old friend," he said to Kristoff. "It's sturdy. Cuff keys are in the top drawer."
Kristoff looked over at David, then the drawer, which Elsa went towards and opened the top drawer, revealing two handcuffs.
"I'm not locking you in there," Emma told her mother.
"Yes," Mary Margaret told her daughter. "You have to."
"We won't be able to hurt anyone from in here," David replied.
"Take the keys, Emma," Mary Margaret said as she watched Elsa handcuff Kristoff to the desk.
"I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know how long it's going to last. I don't know what's going to happen to me," Emma said. "I mean, what if you starve to death in there…."
"No, Emma. You're going to fix this thing," Mary Margaret told her daughter. "And then you're gonna come back and save us."
"You think?"
"We believe in you," David told her.
"Please," Mary Margaret begged, and Emma approached Mary Margaret and she took the keys off her. "Now, you know henry's in a safe place, and Regina and the others can take care of themselves."
Emma nodded as she locked David in the cell first. "What about the baby?"
"Don't worry," David told Emma. "Neal won't be with us."
"Who's gonna take him?" she asked, moving on to her mother.
"You are," Mary Margaret answered and gave Emma her baby brother.
Emma looked at Neal as he was handed to her, as Mary Margaret shut the cell door on herself. "We don't fear your magic, Emma," Mary Margaret continued. "It's what's going to allow you to take on this Snow Queen and win."
"And when you do, you'll be right back here unlocking these doors," David added.
"We trust you. And Henry's right. You are special. And you are going to use that specialness and save us. Both of you."
Elsa smiled slightly. "You have wonderful parents, Emma."
Emma turned around to look at Elsa. "I know." Though, secretly, she was horrified by it, mostly because she couldn't be sure that they would be able to break it.
"Swan? A word."
Emma turned around to see Hook standing in the doorway. "Elsa, can you hold my brother?" Emma asked. She could sense that Hook needed to speak with her. Elsa nodded, carefully took Neal out of her arms, and settled him again. "What are you doing here?" Emma asked as she walked over to him. "You know what's about to happen."
"Aye," Hook nodded. "I know. I just needed to see you," he added with a smile. "Before I chain myself to the dock for the protection of all, I… needed to see you one more time."
"Killian …" Emma began to sob. "I'm not a tearful goodbye kiss person," she added. "But maybe just this once," she said as she grabbed the lapels of his jacket and pulled him close before kissing him deeply. When they separated, she kept her arms around him, briefly resting her head in the crook of his neck.
"Goodbye," Hook said before turning around and walking out of the station. Emma watched him leave with a sad smile. Something beyond what was about to happen was troubling him. She just didn't know what. With a shake of her head, she turned back around and took Neal back off of Elsa.
"Not long now," Kristoff murmured as he reached out a hand for Anna.
"Looks like one more adventure together," Anna smiled.
As static crackled and thunder crashed, Mary Margaret reached out a hand through the bars between the two cells and waited for David to take it. "Here it comes," she said, feeling David take her hand. They then both turned to share a love-filled look and a smile, unsure when they'd see the other like this again.
Regina hurried into her former office, Henry close by. Then, as she heard the unmistakable sound of magical thunder and lightning, she dropped his hand and moved a little away from him.
"Henry, I'm so sorry," she told him. "I should have stayed focused on Operation Mongoose. But Robin Hood … I let my heart pull me elsewhere."
Henry shook his head. "Operation Mongoose is not over. We're going to find the author. You will be happy."
Regina nodded. "First, we have to survive. Now listen to me carefully, Henry," she said. "I'm going to seal this place," she added. "You're going to be locked in, but more importantly, everyone else will be locked out."
"I understand." Henry nodded.
"Don't be scared," she told him.
"I'm not, Mum," he said with a smile. "Emma and Elsa will fix this. Have faith."
"I wish I were as brave as you," Regina said with a small smile as she hugged him.
"Now go," he said. "I'll be okay. Really. Go."
"I love you," Regina said as she kissed his forehead. "No matter what this spell makes you think or feel, remember that."
"I will," Henry smiled. "I love you too."
Regina took one last look at her son before she turned around and walked out of the office, closing the door behind her. She raised her hands and drew a heart shape, protecting the office and Henry.
"So where to now?" came a man's voice behind her.
Regina spun on her heel to see Robin standing behind her. Even though she had told him to go and find his safe place, she couldn't help the smile that rose to her face or the swell of emotion she felt for him.
"My vault," she replied. "And you need to get as far away from me as possible," she added. "It's dangerous even being around each other now," she said as he moved closer to her. "We're moments away."
"It's okay," Robin soothed. "Roland and Marian are locked away somewhere even I don't know. Henry is safe in there," he added, indicating the office. "I'll go and chain myself to a tree in a minute," he said with a smile. "Unless you want me to come with you."
"No, no, no, no, no," Regina replied, shaking her head. "I need to seal and lock myself in that vault."
"What? To keep people out?" Robin asked with a frown. He didn't like the idea that she might get hurt by what was about to happen.
"Well, no. To keep me in," Regina replied, feeling a tremor of fear travelling down her spine.
Robin placed his hands on both sides of Regina. "Regina, I'm not afraid of you."
"But you really should be," she replied grimly and slowly backed out of the office. She didn't want to leave Robin alone, but this was for her good. For his safety. And hers.
Regina hurried to her vault in the cemetery and descended the stairs before raising her hand and casting a spell over the vault. She only hoped that no one was stupid enough to try and break it. She didn't want to hurt anyone, especially not someone that she cared about. She only hoped that Robin had gotten himself far enough away so that if she found herself outside of her
vault by some chance, she wouldn't harm him.
"Never let go," Mary Margaret said, turning to face David so she was looking at him directly.
"Hey," he said gently. "Don't be afraid. You know we share a heart, and nothing can come between two halves of one heart," he added. "These are just precautions," he said, indicating the cell bars. "No spell is strong enough to break what we have."
With the last crash of thunder and lightning, the spell hit Storybrooke. Millions of tiny shards of glass began to fall from the grey clouds like rain. They cared not for ceilings, walls, or anything that could keep them out. As they came through the sprinkler system in the station, Emma crouched forward, covering Neal as best she could. Across the room, Kristoff focused on Anna, who was hugging Elsa. She looked up from Elsa's shoulder and smiled slightly at him. However, Kristoff's tender look had hardened into something darker in a blink of an eye. Anna buried her head back in Elsa's shoulder, trying to remember the delicate look that Kristoff usually gave her. In the cells, however, Mary Margaret and David dropped each other's hands as the spell hit them. Instead of looking at each other with love, they now looked at each other with something akin to hatred.
The Snow Queen smiled from her spot in the woods as she looked over Storybrooke. She had won. Soon the town would destroy itself, and she would be alone with just her sisters. Her perfect family. Just like she'd always wanted.