Disclaimer: I do not own The 10th Kingdom. This is merely a fanfiction.

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"… can't … go on … much further … so cold … so cold …"

The blistering wind and snow blinded Tony as he trudged through knee-length snowbanks. Prince the Dog shivered beside him.

"But … we have to," Tony continued. "Gotta … get help … must save … Wendell … gotta … warn … the Fourth Kingdom …"

He stopped. All around him was nothing but pure white snow. The blizzard was intensifying. But that would mean that the Snow Queen was growing stronger. He had to move, he had to get to the Fourth Kingdom and get help for Wendell. But his legs felt like lead. He could feel his blood freezing. His lungs screamed for air in this high altitude. He wheezed, trying to will himself along.

It was no use. They were in the middle of nowhere in the Eighth Kingdom, miles and miles away from the Fourth Kingdom and with no idea where they were going. Tony squinted his eyes, trying to see through the snow drifts. Nearby was a small mound of stone, nearly covered in snow. He trudged over.

"Gotta sit … just for a minute …"

He turned, sitting on the edge of the crumbling stone. Prince whined, biting at his furry sleeve. Tony frowned at the retriever. "Just … for a minute … boy … gotta sit …"

Prince bit harder, pulling Tony, trying to get him to his feet. The dog knew that if Tony began to relax, he would never get up again. The blizzard would claim him. He clamped down harder. Tony resisted.

"Sit, boy … I just gotta … take a breather … feeling warm … nice and warm …"

The dog became more frantic. If Tony was beginning to feel warmth, that was a sign that he was nearly freezing to death. He bit harder. Tony pulled his sleeve away from the canine. "No Prince … bad Prince … I –" He never finished his sentence. The stone that he was sitting on suddenly crumbled away, and Tony found himself plummeting, plummeting down into a deep well …

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New York City – At the Same Time

Wolf's head was spinning. He sat up, holding his temples. The last thing he remembered was planning on how to smooth things over with Virginia when … his hand went to the back of his neck. There was a tiny prick. Some dried blood. What happened?

He scampered to his feet. He was in a stone cell. Iron bars trapped him. He grabbed the bars, shaking them. No, he couldn't be back in prison! That was the worst thing that could happen to a Wolf! He shook the bars. "Please! I didn't do anything! I have a cub on the way and a wife!"

"Oh good, you're up."

A man in black clothing and combat gear stood up from a chair next to the cell. He appeared to be in his early thirties, blonde hair. A scar along his cheek. And a rifle slung over his shoulder.

"Look, let me go! I haven't done anything -."

"You crossed over," the man said simply.

"Huh?" Wolf was confused.

"The mirror. From the Fourth Kingdom."

"You know about the mirrors?"

The man squatted down so he was eye level with Wolf. "I know everything about your world. And of the devastation you wreaked the last time you and your little troll friends came here."

Wolf raised a finger. "Now wait a minute, they are not my friends -." He stopped as he found the end of the man's rifle forced under his chin.

"Friends or no, you're all the same. Disgusting creatures, ruining the lives of everyone around you. I came here to New York to leave my old life behind me and dammit you still managed to invade my world."

"Sounds like a personal problem."

The man pointed to his cheek. "This isn't the only scar from your world … well, our world."

"You mean … you come from the Fourth Kingdom too?"

"As I said … scars …" The man stood up, towering over Wolf.

Wolf continued his protest. "Look – you don't understand … I have a wife."

"Virginia Lewis."

"So you know of her? Well then, if you know anything about the dynamo I'm about to marry, then you should know she'll come looking for me. She'll stop at nothing to get me out of here!"

The man laughed. "I'm counting on it. And she'll bring your … er … unborn 'cub' was it? A creature of two worlds. An abomination. And I'll terminate it before it can contaminate this world. And … there's a personal score to settle with your little wife to be …"

The man turned, heading down the shadowy corridor to be met by two other similarly armed men. Wolf pleaded. "No! Please! You can't do this!" He let out a howl of desperation.

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Warmth was the first thing Tony felt. He sat up, groaning. He was covered in furry blankets. Prince lay at the foot of his bed. Where was he? The last thing he remembered was almost freezing to death and falling down a well. His eyes adjusted, taking in his surroundings.

He was in a cottage. Looking out the window, he could see a beautiful apple tree and green grass with only a small dusting of snow. "If I'm dead, then this is a piss-poor afterlife."

The door to the cottage opened and an old woman with the biggest teeth Tony had ever seen walked through. She dropped several bags on an old wooden table. Prince bounded over to her, licking at her hands and face. She laughed. "Oi doggie, there's a good lad." She met Tony's gaze. "Oh good, yer up. Make yer bed, will ya? And be sure shake out the sheets, that's a good chap."

Tony sat up. His fur coat was hung to dry and he was in his usual plaid shirt and jeans. The old woman was busy bustling about, getting a kettle ready.

"Umm, no offense," Tony said. "But where the hell am I?"

"You're in the home of Mother Holle. I go by Frau Holle too, that's what them German chaps called me all those years ago."

"German chaps? You mean the Brothers Grimm?"

"Aye. That'll be them. Shake the sheets then, will ya?"

Shrugging, Tony stood up and shook out the sheets.

"A bit harder than that, lad."

Tony did it more forcefully this time. As he did so, snowflakes began to fall from the sky. His eyes widened.

"That's a good chap, we need a good frosting." She was setting a table. Prince was wagging his tail, helping her by carrying over mugs and plates with his mouth. Mother Holle pointed to the fire. "Well go on, mind the bacon -."

"Look, I appreciate your hospitality, but we really have to be going."

Mother Holle glared at him. "I find you at the bottom of a well, nurse you back to health overnight and this is the thanks I get?"

Tony held out his hands placatingly. "Look, I don't think you understand the situation. The Snow Queen awoke -."

"Oh bah, she won't bother Mother Holle."

"She's captured Prince Wendell's soul and is planning on taking over the Nine Kingdoms!"

Mother Holle waved him off. "Mind the bacon then. Your doggie's been a grand help, but so far you've done nothing but complain and sleep."

Tony walked with her as she bustled about. "I don't think you're grasping the seriousness of the situation. I have to get to the Fourth Kingdom! Is there a town nearby?"

"I just made the trip there this mornin'."

"Great! Can you take us? Now? Please?"

"Oh, it's a two hour journey and this old woman's bones are exhausted. Would you sweep up for me, lad?"

Tony grabbed the old woman by the shoulders. "Listen! There's a psycho Snow Queen trapping souls! Prince Wendell is a block of ice and his soul is in her mirror! Take us to the town - NOW!"

"Ungrateful child! I save your lily-livered life and your lazy backside can't even help with some minor chores?" Mother Holle waved her hand in his face. "A pox be upon you!"

"A pox? Who talks like that?" Suddenly, a croak emerged from Tony's throat. He began gagging. Something was crawling up his throat. He gagged again. There was something slimy in his mouth. He coughed, spewing something glistening and wet right onto the floor.

There was a croak. A toad was hopping on the floor.

Mother Holle laughed. "That's what lazy guests get! One hundred toads!"

Tony's eyes widend. "A – a hundred?!"

"Ninety-nine left to go! Be glad I didn't pour pitch all over you! Now mind the bacon and be sure you don't get toad slime all over the place!" She turned away to her kettle, still laughing as Tony gagged again, spewing out a second toad.

Prince lay on the floor, covering his eyes with his ears.