Henry escorted his mother up the path with Robin following closely behind. Mary-Margaret, Hook and Emma were just a couple of feet ahead of them hiding behind some bushes leering at what was in front of them. They could hear clamoring just beyond the bushes and Regina waved her hand extinguishing the glowing orb. Emma stood in between Hook and her mother and contemplated their next move. They had reached the mob. Just ahead of them, they could see in between the trees, Elsa's mansion. The building was casting off an eerie blue glow, lighting up her establishment using the moon's light. Regina and Robin stepped closer to hear all of the commotion.
Lit torches could be seen just fifteen feet away from where they were. A distinct female voice could be heard instigating the crowd. "Come on out and face us!"
"Don't be a coward!" said one man.
"We're not afraid of you!" cried out another in the crowd. Elsa stepped forward out on her balcony to peer below at the mob. Marian stepped out in front of the mob to confront Elsa.
"Are you the one they call 'Queen Elsa'?" shouted Marian. Elsa complied and nodded, preparing to protect herself and defend her home if necessary. "We are not here to harm you. However, you have destroyed our homes and we demand retribution. Unfreeze our land where our homes reside and we'll leave from your place with no quarrel."
Elsa backed away from her balcony, unsure how to address this foreign crowd.
"Hey!" roared Marian. "We are not part of the royal company you desire to torment. We are a free people who will fight to protect what is ours! Your issue is not with us, it's with the royal family."
"Marian!" shouted Robin coming out of the woods from behind the bushes. "What are you doing?"
The crowd turned facing Hook, Mary-Margaret, Emma, Henry, Regina and Robin. With their cover now blown there was no use in hiding any more, so they all followed Robin out from behind the bushes. "So much for a plan," said Emma under her frustrated breath.
Robin came forth, hoping his presence alone would be enough to calm the rioting mass. He walked past his friends from camp and headed straight toward Marian. The mob looked on silently, hesitant over the power struggle being displayed. "Who are you fighting for Robin, her?" she said nodding implicitly over at Regina. "You've changed, Robin. You've gone turn-coat on us. If she's a royal leader like she claims to be, she should sacrifice herself on behalf of her people because that's what a good leader of the people would do."
"So is that's what you think you're doing? Sacrificing yourself?" Robin argued back at Marian incredulously. The look of disgust painted his face and it was evident to everyone there.
"She's right," said Regina emerging and forcing her way to the front of the crowd. Robin turned looking at Regina getting close to him. She looked over at Marian, consenting to her statement.
"We need to get people to seek shelter. You don't have to prove anything," insisted Robin.
"Yes, I do. I always knew somewhere deep down, that I wasn't meant for happiness. I've hurt and killed too many people in my past, and that will always make me the villain. No," she said looking down, mustering up the courage to accept what she was about to say next, "it's time for me to pay retribution." Regina looked deep into Robin's eyes, "I'm the villain. I don't deserve a happy ending. That will always be my burden to bear."
"No," said Robin coming over to Regina, tenderly holding her shoulders. "I don't accept that. You are neither the villain nor the hero. You are simply Regina. You are a mother, who loves her son very, very much. You make your own destiny. You said it so yourself to Zelena. All you need to do now is believe in it."
"Why? Why should I believe in that?"
"Because I believe in you and because…," Robin stared into Regina's eyes as if searching for the truth.
The answer bubbled to the surface and it escaped his mouth. He felt as if he had said the phrase a thousand times to her before and that it was the most natural thing in the world, "… I love you."
He lowered his head to Regina's and their lips connected. The buzz that they had once felt before ignited and burst forth into a magical beam of gold light. The passionate kiss broke Regina's curse and her hair and face became flushed with color again. They continued kissing, oblivious to the world, living blissfully in the moment with each other. All of a sudden, the sun began to rise, signaling the arrival of a new morning.
Elsa managed to peek out over the balcony to witness the brilliant event. Elsa threw up her arms to shield her eyes from the stunning radiance that pulsated from the couple. The beam of light passed through every one within the vicinity. Elsa felt the warmth from the powerful kiss pass through her and pierce her heart, stirring feelings she had but never truly felt before until now. The power from Robin and Regina's True Love's Kiss rekindled her soul and illuminated a new confidence that she had been missing all along. It was what Elsa had been missing from herself; Love, but more importantly, self-love. "True Love… Love!" Elsa said in awe.
Just as Elsa came to her epiphany, Rumplestiltskin had freed himself magically by melting his ice trap. He shook loose the ice bonds and stealthily approached the unknowing Ice Queen. Purple smoke surrounded his right hand and when the smoke cleared he was brandishing a sword. Kristoff struggled against his ice restraints, making muffled cries trying desperately to get Anna's attention. Anna, noticing his jerky movements, looked up at Kristoff. She saw his eyes looking frantically back and forth from her and what was going on behind her.
"I should have just killed you when I had the chance," Mr. Gold murmured to himself, not realizing that somebody had been watching him.
Anna turned around and saw Mr. Gold's menacing face. He slowly lifted the blade and Anna ran forward screaming, "NO!" intercepting the lethal blow. She barely had enough time to protect her sister. Just as Anna raised her hand to take on the deadly strike, her whole body became solidified and transformed completely into ice. Gold struck Anna's ice form. The sword collided with Anna's hand and the blade shattered into a dozen pieces.
Gold staggered backwards, stunned by the sudden act of bravery. Elsa turned around and saw her sister's statue behind her. "Anna! No, no, no no no!" Elsa cried. She ran around to the front of Anna's body and held her glass-like face, ignoring a bewildered Rumplestiltskin. Tears tumbled from her eyes as she hugged her sister. "I'm so sorry!" Elsa sobbed, mourning her sister, "I love you."
The few minutes of silence felt like eternity. Rumplestiltskin backed away slowly, putting distance between him and the sisters. Elsa was beginning to despair when she began to feel warmth emit from Anna's chest. The epicenter of color blossomed from Anna's heart and permeated throughout her entire body. Her act of True Love, broke the curse and the remaining ice cascaded off her body like glitter. Anna looked down at her sister and smiled lovingly.
Elsa beamed, grinning from ear to ear, and hugged her sister intensely. "You sacrificed yourself… for me?"
Anna nodded slightly, hugging her sister, "I love you."
"Don't you see?" Elsa replied jovially, stepping back to look into her sister's eyes, holding her hands tenderly. "Your act of True Love…" and then the idea of what Elsa was feeling during Robin and Regina's kiss became clear, "…thawed your frozen heart."
Seeing that the sisters were together again and that Elsa had figured out her dilemma, Rumplestiltskin took the opportunity and disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke. Elsa, overwhelmed by the newly conceived concept, ignored Rumplestiltskin's disappearing act. She learned what she needed to know and no longer needed his services. Even with Rumplestiltskin's magical departure, she couldn't let go of what she just witnessed from her sister. Stunned by the notion, Elsa became filled with joy and excitement. She repeated out loud to herself, "Love… will thaw. That's it!"
She turned looking at Kristoff and using the warmth of her love for her sister she waved her hands over Kristoff and melted his bindings. Kristoff shivered and exhaled with relief. Anna ran right over to Kristoff and hugged him intensely. The force of her hug knocked the air out of his lungs. When he finally caught his breath, he graciously hugged her back.
Elsa came forward to the balcony and waved her hands over the town of Storybrooke. The town immediately began to melt and items were magically restored to their original state.
The crowd below bellowed a collective sigh in relief. Seeing that the town was no longer in a frozen tundra, the mob dispersed and started on their return trek home.
"Wait, what just happened?" Emma asked out loud.
"It appears that Queen Elsa is returning Storybrooke back to us," answered Mary-Margaret.
"I need to go and determine that one for myself," said Emma with a determined look on her face. She walked in the opposite direction of the crowd toward Elsa's mansion.
"Swan, where are you going?" questioned Hook.
"I'm going to confront this Elsa and see what exactly went down. I need to know what happened up there."
… …
Anna released her hug from Kristoff and gave him a remorseful look, "I'm sorry."
"What could you possibly be sorry for?" he asked, curious that their connection was broken by an apology.
"I'm sorry for being so naïve, for being gullible and for not seeing what was in front of me all along." They pause looking awkwardly at one another. "And… I want to say thank you," she continued, both looking eagerly into each others' eyes. "Thank you for your sacrifice, on behalf of myself, our family and our kingdom. If it wasn't for your loyalty, we would have been lost. Thank you for being constantly by my side through everything; all my mistakes… and even my horrendous decisions. I should have realized that it was you who had loved me all along. It was you who kept my heart beating as long as it has." They moved in closer her head meeting with his, and in one gentle and swift motion she kissed him sweetly on the lips.
Honestly, I kind of liked this chapter. A good OUAT twist on the Frozen story. I'm sure you all have been following what's been happening in Steveston and by now I know I am WAAAAY off. But whatever. I suppose that's why fanfiction is great. It fills the idea gaps during the show's hiatuses. Anyways, a special 'whoop! WHOOP!' to BreathingintheSun, Grace5231973 and Montreat11 for reviewing my last chapter. To be honest, I didn't really watch OUAT:Wonderland, and I heard that Robin made an appearance on that show. So I totally guessed Roland's age when I started writing that chapter. I assumed that it had been some time for the little boy since he had seen his mother, Marian. Not long for him to be too old, but young enough to still remember what his mother looked like. I would say that it was a good guess. All you timid readers out there, don't be shy... I want to hear from you! Even if it is just a few words like, "It was good" would mean the world to me! Alrighty, I'm starting to sound desperate. Still finishing my plot points on how to finish the overall story. :( I know. But I gotta end it somehow. My roommates are starting to look at me funny hunched over my laptop all the time. And now, as I take a step back from it, the story is starting to come together quite nicely and I can't wait to share it with you all. Until next chapter... see you there. ;)