When the next day came, Elsa was staring at the ice wall she had created that was still there overnight along with Emma who was standing beside her, also looking up at the wall. She looked over at Emma with a nod before looking back at the ice wall as something had to be done about it now.
"You did this," Emma said proudly. "You might not totally control it, but this is amazing and... Unique, and you said you're the only one who has this power." she then told the other woman.
"That's probably a good thing for everyone." Elsa replied to Emma.
"And you," Emma smiled. "I mean, this is kind of... Cool," she said. "Pun intended." she grinned.
"Well, regardless, there's no need for a barrier anymore. Let me take it down," Elsa told Emma before she soon used her powers on the wall as strongly and best as she could, though nothing seemed to happen. "Why can't I bring it down? There's no reason this thing should be staying frozen. I'm the only one with this power. I should be able to undo it." she then pouted in defeat.
"So, what's keeping this thing up?" Emma wondered with a small frown.
Elsa began to look thoughtful about that question herself.
Meanwhile, at Storybrooke's ice cream shop, Any Given Sundae, Leroy was visiting with Dee Dee as the woman behind the counter was currently scooping up some chocolate for Leroy as Dee Dee was waiting for her own ice cream cone.
"Thanks. Power outage must be your worst nightmare," Leroy replied as he looked at the ice cream supply. "Lose a lot of merchandise?" he then asked the ice cream woman.
"No. I didn't lose anything," The woman smiled innocently. "Just lucky, I guess."
"Mama, where do you want these extra cones?" A younger voice asked coming from the backroom.
"Please put them out here in the front, dear," The woman told the younger voice as she got Dee Dee's ice cream ready next. "We seem to be pretty popular right now."
"Alright." Elwin said as he came out from the back room, looking hard at work.
"My son." The woman introduced.
"Hi! I'm Dee Dee!" Dee Dee smiled as she came to get in the older boy's face.
"Diamond, not too close." Leroy warned as he pulled Dee Dee back by her shoulder.
Elwin suddenly took a step back at how exuberant Dee Dee was, with her about to get in his face. Once Leroy pulled Dee Dee back a bit he returned to the spot she had been in before. "Hey, I'm Elwin," he then reminded her. "You might remember me from yesterday. I go to school with your cousin Doug and Henry's sister, Evie."
"Ohhhh, yeah..." Dee Dee nodded. "Now I remember you."
"Sorry, she gets a bit eager about making new friends." Leroy said to the ice cream woman.
"That's quite all right," The woman smiled softly. "I know how children can be at times."
"I like ice cream," Dee Dee smiled back at Elwin, showing her frozen dairy treat before licking it. "Do you whistle while you work? My papa whistles while he works at The Mines. He says it's better than mopping up stuff at the hospital, he kinda blames Regina for that and he often says 'I don't need to take that sh'-"
"Come along, Dee Dee, we better let these people work." Leroy suggested with a nervous smile.
"Anyway, have a nice day..." Leroy said before nodding and leaving with Dee Dee. "Come along, Diamond, you can see Elwin later."
"Aww... Papa..." Dee Dee pouted as they walked off together out of the ice cream shop.
The ice cream woman waved them off before looking at Elwin with a small smile. "Did you move the cones, dear?" she then softly asked her son.
"Oh, yes, here they are, Mama." Elwin told his mother, showing the box.
"Oh, good," The woman smiled warmly. "I can tell we'll have new people any minute now. We're very lucky..." she then said before waving her hand over a bucket, turning its contents into ice cream with special powers that resembled Elsa's before she stuck her finger in and decided to lick it. "But of course, I need a free sample of this first~"
Elwin gave a small smile.
"Help yourself if you want some too, dear." The woman smiled back at her son.
"Can I have a little Rocky Road, please?" Elwin requested with a small smile.
"Well... All right..." The woman smiled back. "You love your rocky road, don't you, dearest?" she then replied as she went to get that flavor just for her son.
"Well, you make the best ice cream." Elwin smiled to her.
The woman smiled back as she beamed. "And don't you forget it..." she then said as she smirked, leaning against the back wall which began to make it freeze just a bit under her touch.
Elwin enjoyed the Rocky Road and she looked at his mom and gave a small smile. "Shall I try chilling an ice cream?" he then suggested.
The woman thought about it before smiling. "All right," she then nodded. "Just remember what I taught you about that."
Elwin nodded. "Not too much or too little." he recited. She then bit her lip to concentrate and waved her hand over some ice cream that needed refrozen.
"Exactly, my dear," The woman smiled. "Let's see what you have learned since the last time you tried."
Elwin concentrated on making the ice cream perfect. The woman, named Sarah Fisher in Storybrooke, though had a much different name back in Fairy Tale Land, smiled warmly as she watched Elwin and looked very proud of his progress so far. He had come a long way. Elwin then stepped aside to show his mother.
Sarah walked over and eyed the treat up and down before she smirked. "Nice work, but there's only one real way to find out." she then began to say.
Elwin looked at his mother. "Tasting it, Mother?" he asked.
"Yes," Sarah smiled before she took out a couple of spoons. "Why don't you have some too, my little darling?"
"Thank you, Mother." Elwin smiled, but let her mother get the first spoonful.
"You're welcome, my little snowdrop," Sarah smiled back before she put her spoon in and decided to taste it before beaming. "Delicious~"
Elwin smiled warmly to that and took a spoon. "It worked well this time." he smiled, shyly proud.
"You did very well," Sarah smiled back. "I'm so proud of you."
Elwin blushed and smiled, before giving his mother a hug.
"Aww... Come here..." Sarah smiled back as she hugged her son back. "I love warm hugs, especially from you~"
Elwin chuckled as they hugged.
"Don't grow up." Sarah whispered hopefully.
Elwin gave a small smile. "The only way that will happen is if you freeze my age like Jack Frost~" he giggled a little.
"Should I try it?" Sarah then asked, though playful as she smirked at her daughter.
Elwin hummed, pretending to think about it. "I don't know if it would work~" he then said.
"Oh, well," Sarah smiled warmly. "Just promise me you won't be in so much of a hurry to grow up then?"
"I promise." Elwin smiled.
"Good boy." Sarah smiled back.
Elwin smiled. "Oh, customers." he then noted, letting Sarah go for now.
"Remember your manners." Sarah smiled back as she nodded before she then came to greet the upcoming customers.
"Yes, Mama." Elwin nodded.
As the Fisher mother and son worked together in their ice cream shop, the Hood family began to make their way down Main Street to explore Storybrooke up close since Marian was still new around it.
"I know this town might seem strange at first, but you do get used to it," Robin was telling Marian. "And Roland loves it here... He loves watching the boats at the harbor and eating at Granny's-" the outlaw then started to list.
"And ice cream!" Roland interrupted excitedly.
"Yes. How could we forget about ice cream?" Robin agreed and then asked, with a smile.
"Can we get some now, please?" Roland asked his father hopefully.
Marian seemed a bit overwhelmed by the ice cream offer.
"Well, I think your mother's seen enough strange things for one day," Robin said. "We should get back to the camp." he then added.
Roland soon looked at his mother with a pleading look on his face. "Please, Mom? Regina let her daughter Evie take me." he then said cutely.
Marian began to look defeated before she gave a small smile. "...Sure." she then said.
Robin raised his eyes a little, knowing Roland had used that to try and get his way. Roland just smiled innocently before they came to go inside the ice cream shop, seeing a flavor out that really got him excited. Robin soon walked inside with them.
Sarah nodded as she then stood out to the front with Elwin. "Welcome to Any Given Sundae!" she then told the family. "What would we like today?"
"Rocky Road! Rocky Road!" Roland piped up and beamed as he came more further out than his parents.
Robin gave a small smile. "Make that two please." he said.
"Looks like we did a good job at getting fresh Rocky Road, my dear." Sarah said as she smiled warmly at Elwin before she then went to get a couple of cones for the father and son.
Elwin nodded with a smile. He then got out some cones for them ready. Sarah smiled back as she got ready to scoop up the ice cream and the cones to give to Robin and Roland while Roland looked very excited and eager.
"What do we say, Roland?" Robin quietly asked his son.
"Rocky road for the little man." Sarah nodded, handing Roland his ice cream.
"Thank you." Roland said happily.
"You're welcome," Sarah smiled before giving Robin his ice cream next. "And his dashing father," she then turned to Marian. "And I don't believe that I've met the beautiful mother."
"Uh, this is Marian." Robin introduced.
Elwin looked at the new woman curiously. "Ah, yes, I think Lonnie said something about a Marian being in the camp she and her mother were staying in at Storybrooke." he then commented.
"Yes, Mulan is a very nice honorary Merry Man," Robin nodded. "She's really brought honor to her family with defeating Shan Yu and another being by the name of Xianniang."
"I've heard of that one," Elwin remarked. "A shape-shifter and Shan Yu's most trusted ally."
"Indeed." Robin confirmed.
"It is lovely to finally meet you, Marian," Sarah said to the woman before she walked back behind the counter with Elwin. "This is my daughter. Well, since you've been through such an ordeal, the least I can do is... Is get you something on the house," she then introduced and suggested. "What flavor would you like?"
Marian soon looked surprised and conflicted. "I... Don't know." she then answered meekly.
"Uh, in our world, the, uh, flavour choices of ice were dirt and mud," Robin gave a sheepish smile.
Elwin tilted her head. "Maybe a vanilla, Mother?" he then suggested.
"Vanilla from my Vanilla Bean. That sounds like a good idea to start out with," Sarah smiled warmly before facing Marian calmly. "In this world, we've made some improvements. Trust me, there is no problem that can't be solved with a bit of ice cream." she assured Marian before she went back to the countertop and got a vanilla ice cream cone ready, casting some magic on the dessert with her hand when they weren't looking before coming back over to the Hood family.
Roland beamed in excitement. Dee Dee sent a selfie to Henry of her eating her mint chocolate chip ice cream with Leroy next to her, cracking a small smile and added in "#Sunday/SundaeComesEarlyThisWeek". Elwin smiled a bit to that, and didn't notice her mother use magic though.
"Thank you, that's very kind." Robin told Sarah.
Roland looked very happy which warmed Sarah's heart as a child's happiness always meant so much to her which was how she earned Elwin in her life.
Sarah smiled as she peered over the counter and looked at Roland. "No, thank you. Seeing a happy family like yours in here really warms my heart." she then replied softly.
Marian then tried some of her ice cream and seemed to like it as she smiled, following Robin and Roland out the door. "Mm~"
Elwin smiled at his mother too.
"He seemed cute." Sarah commented about Roland.
"Yeah, I guess they usually are then." Elwin added sheepishly.
"Now if only he was my age." Sarah then giggled playfully.
"I don't think you should be a matchmaker, Mama." Elwin smirked.
"I'm just trying to have some fun," Sarah smirked. "Aren't I a cool mom?"
"Both ways~" Elwin assured her with a chuckle.
"Don't you forget it." Sarah smiled warmly before playfully booping him on her nose.
Elwin blinked and chuckled.
"Maybe we'll share some Rocky Road together when we take a break." Sarah suggested.
"Sounds nice." Elwin smiled and nodded before going to finish her tasks.
Sarah smiled back as she began to help out, making sure there was enough ice cream to go around as they would be met with more customers.
MEANWHILE...
Emma, Elsa, Killian, and Harry were at Mr. Gold's pawnshop, hoping that they might get answers as to why Elsa was around here and what was needed for the icy young woman. Ben got a hold of his father on the phone and he quickly sent himself over, telling Belle he would be right back, though Belle would be waiting with Goldie, Neal, and Koda and they would just keep that a secret until they would find a way to reintroduce Neal to Storybrooke since everyone believed he had died during the battle against The Wicked Witch of the West.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I've never seen her before in my life." Rumple said once he met Elsa face-to-face.
"So how'd she end up inside your urn inside your secret vault of terror?" Emma demanded.
"Look, if you really want to know how she wound up there, she's standing right beside you, Miss Swan," Rumple retorted. "Why don't you simply ask her?"
"She did, but I can't remember," Elsa remarked. "Something happened to my memories."
"That seems to happen a lot around here." Gabrielle commented.
"Pity," Rumple added. "But as you can see, many objects fall into my possession... urns, necklaces, all manner of things. I can't know the history behind all of them."
"Only if there's something in it for you. Right, mate?" Killian guessed and interrupted as he looked like he wasn't buying Mr. Gold's story.
"Yeah, well, that may have been true once, but recently my life has been...Turned upside down," Rumple defended as he glanced at Ben and Gabrielle softly. "I've lost a son. I've gained a wife and a new son and daughter. So you might say... I've decided to turn over a new leaf."
"Don't forget about my superpower," Emma reminded the older man. "I'll be able to tell if you're lying."
"How about I do you one better? Let's simply have Benjamin use the dagger on me." Rumple retorted.
"Your dagger?" Ben asked with wide eyes.
"Yes, your mother suggested I bring this over and let you use it too so you can see how much has changed since our honeymoon." Rumple nodded at his son.
"Oh, uh, I don't know, Dad..." Ben said bashfully.
"No, no, no. Miss Swan wants proof. And I'm happy to cooperate." Rumple insisted to his son to prove his innocence.
"Come on, Ben, what harm could it do?" Gabrielle added.
"Fine..." Ben sighed in defeat as he gave in and soon glanced down at the dagger his father brought with him from his and his mother's trip and soon held it out to test it out. "I command you, Dark One...To tell them the truth." he soon said as bravely as he could.
"The truth is..." Rumple began to say, pausing momentarily and then added what he said was true. "Just as I said. I had no idea there was someone inside there. I know nothing about Elsa. Or her sister, but I wish you the best of luck finding her."
"Sorry to bother you on your vacation, Dad." Ben sighed.
"That's all right, son," Rumple reassured him. "Perhaps your mother and I should cut our special vacation short just to make sure you children will be all right since something new has befallen on our town."
Ben looked a little anxious about that, but he thought maybe it would be best.
"Can I call you Papa?" Gabrielle asked Rumple.
"As long as you don't get carried away with it." Rumple smirked at her playfully.
"I'm very sorry too." Rumple added.
"Are you now, Crocodile?" Killian demanded. "And what about this other son of yours?"
Ben flinched as that stung a bit and he wanted to defend his father, but he wouldn't say something so profane and socially unacceptable in public due to how he was raised to be a perfect young gentleman.
"Hey, Ben isn't like that," Emma tutted at the adult pirate. "He might be the son of Rumplestiltskin, but I remember Ben being very loyal, kind, and helpful, especially to the kids who are descended from the villains in this town like that purple-haired girl."
Ben flinched briefly, but nodded as he tried not to let it bother him, but he still very much deep down missed Mal and wished he could have helped her out a lot better than he did when she was still in Storybrooke. "I just hope you find who you're looking for and I'm sorry that we weren't much help." he then said softly.
Emma sighed at that as they found another dead-end and it was hard to ignore.
Mary Margaret had invited some people to a "fireside chat" so they'd know her current plans and hear their opinions. Once that was official, people began to make their way over and crowded to see Mary Margaret as David helped them inside.
"Hi." Mary Margaret greeted a person and handed them a piece of paper.
"Come on inside," David told their company as he then walked out of the meeting room into the foyer and came to see Mary Margaret. "Need a hand?" he then asked as he reached out for Baby Leo from her.
Mary Margaret smiled and held her son just a little tighter. "Oh, no... I got it." she assured her husband.
"You're planning to run your first fireside chat holding a newborn?" David asked, surprised and concerned.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Mary Margaret assured. "Mothers are natural multi-taskers."
"That may be, but you're juggling a lot right now." David replied as he touched Neal's head.
"Well, that's true," Mary Margaret agreed then grinned. "I have to say, I'm starting to have more and more respect for our court jester every day." she told him.
"Yeah. Rupert was special." David remarked.
Mary Margaret chuckled.
"But you're sure you can..." David then started.
"We took back a kingdom, remember? I can handle this." Mary Margaret smiled.
David then smiled back before they came into the meeting room to meet all sorts of familiar faces such as Robin Hood, Marian, Roland, Leroy, Archie, Tinkerbell, Ruby and Granny, and more.
"Hi, everyone," Mary Margaret greeted. "And welcome to the very first mayor's fireside chat. For too long, this office was a place to be feared... Well, I want every citizen to feel welcome and included here, so, if you could just refer to the meeting agenda I've printed, there are..." she started to say and then turned the page over to get to the first page.
"Uh, what's this about an ice wall?" Archie asked.
Mary Margaret looked slightly surprised. "Oh, that's, uh, item four. We'll get to that in a minute." she said.
"I vote we skip items one, two, and three. Show of hands." Leroy then suggested.
The crowd then murmured in agreement with his statement and they all raised their hands.
"Yeah, that's... oh, fine, No, I can..." Mary Margaret smiled and gave a calming sigh. "I can be flexible... The ice wall is nothing to worry about. For the time being, it does surround the entire town." she started to say.
"What?" Ruby asked, sounding slightly angry at Mary Margaret's last statement.
"The entire town?" Archie gasped.
"Are you serious?" Leroy added as he stood up angrily.
"So, no," Mary Margaret said then tried to stop Baby Leo's crying. "Oh, Everyone calm down... The wall isn't hurting anyone." she said in a placating manner.
"We've been through all this before," Leroy scoffed, still unimpressed and still standing up. "I ain't worried about the wall. I'm worried about who made it." he then added.
"Leroy..." Nova whispered in concern, reaching out to grab his arm.
"Come on, Nova, you know it too," Leroy reminded her. "Dee Dee almost got hurt from that ice attack that started this whole mess in our town."
"Item five, her name is Elsa," Mary Margaret said, glancing down at the paper. "She's a friend." she assured.
"Is she the one that froze my truck and nearly hurt Dee Dee?" Leroy then asked, sounding irritated.
"Dee Dee didn't get hurt, Leroy." Nova reminded him.
"Yeah, I know, but I'm on a roll." Leroy defended a bit firmly.
"And made that snow monster that almost killed Marian?" Granny added as she was knitting in the corner.
"Bu... I-I'm fine. Really." Marian defended as she jumped in before she began to look like she wasn't all there right now.
"I've spoken to Elsa, and I promise you we will have all of this under control very soon," David told them all as he stood up before Marian began to look dizzy and voices began to sound distorted. "And there will be no more danger of any kind."
"So, if we could all just circle back around to item one, we can all discuss..." Mary Margaret started to say, not realizing Marian wasn't 'alright'.
Robin was standing beside his wife and looked down at the paper for a moment. Marian then closed her eyes before she then suddenly passed out in her husband's arms, shifting the focus from Mary Margaret and David right onto her.
"Marian?" Robin asked in surprise as he then gently lowered her to the ground. "Marian! Marian!" he called, trying to wake her up.
"She might need to lay down with some water," David suggested as he looked down at Marian. "We'll help her for you." he then told Robin calmly as the woman was knocked out.
"Everyone, I think we should reconvene another time." Mary Margaret said as she thought it best everyone go for now.
Everyone else in the place looked at each other before they thought that would be best too, even if Leroy was being his typical grumpy self, though Nova would do whatever she could to calm him down, especially since he was being quite protective of Dee Dee as usual, though he WAS her new papa after all.
Robin looked to David. "She feels cold." he said quietly.
"I'll put some fire in the fireplace." David then suggested.
"Please." Robin said, as he lifted Marion to a sofa nearest the fire.
David nodded and soon tended to the fireplace right away as Marian was going to be out cold for a while (no pun intended).
"I'll go and fetch Regina." Robin decided, knowing she would be helpful.
"Let's just hope she isn't too busy." David replied as he got the fireplace ready for Marian.
Robin nodded, he then headed off to try and find Regina. David nodded at him as he continued to tend to the fireplace for Marian.
MEANWHILE...
Henry sat at Granny's Diner as Evie helped him with his homework and Regina was on her way over to them. The family luckily recently patched things up with each other, though there was still only slight friction as Henry talked Regina into letting him come back and how he wasn't going to give up on her even if she had already given up on herself and Evie felt very proud of her little brother for doing that. Kiara placed some hot chocolate with cinnamon in front of Henry as well as a glass of apple juice for Evie before she held her head and walked off.
"Are you okay, Kiara?" Evie asked out of concern.
"Fine... just got a small headache," Kiara replied as she rubbed her head a bit. "Don't worry about it, I'll just get a glass of water and let someone cover for me since Ruby and Granny are at Town Hall right now."
Evie nodded as she just hoped her friend wasn't coming down with something.
"Man, how did you get so smart, Evie?" Henry asked as he was very thankful for the homework help.
"Just lucky I guess?" Evie shrugged bashfully. "I do actually love Math and Science quite a lot, especially with Doug."
Henry hid a small smirk at the mention of Doug, but didn't say anything as suddenly, a stack of comic books was in his line of sight.
"I didn't know which ones you were reading these days, but I got these recommended from Nicholas Zimmer hanging around Darkstar Pharmacy." Regina told the boy with a small smile.
"These are awesome. Much better than Algebra. Thanks," Henry beamed and chuckled as he looked over the various comic books that had superheroes inside of them. "But you didn't have to do this."
"Well, I wanted to... but don't get used to it." Regina replied, dropping her voice for a moment before laughing to assure Henry that it was okay.
"Wow, Mom..." Evie rolled her eyes and smirked before checking out one book. "Zatanna, huh?"
"Yes, apparently she has magic of her own, but like the fake magic that Emma talks about in Las Vegas with the white tigers or the big guy and little guy who doesn't talk like a mime," Regina remarked as she reached out to pick one comic book up and flipped through the pages as her children did the same. "Isn't it funny how these are just ink and paper but everything in your storybook is real?" she then asked Henry innocently. "Makes you wonder who wrote it, doesn't it?"
"Wonder?" Evie asked. "About what?"
"The storybook?" Henry added as he turned to look at Regina.
"Mm-hmm." Regina nodded.
"No one knows." Henry shrugged.
"Oh, come on. You're such an expert on all this," Regina said as she placed the comic book she was holding back on the counter. "You've read it cover to cover. There's nothing in the book that gives... Even a clue?"
"...that's a good question," Evie remarked thoughtfully. "Henry, I wonder who did write your book?"
"What are you up to?" Henry asked Regina since she seemed oddly genuinely interested in his storybook she used to brush off in the past.
Regina scoffed momentarily before sighing in defeat. "These stories about me in the book, I was written as a villain," she began to explain. "And things never work out for the villain, so I... Want to find who wrote this book and make them... Ask them... To write me a happy ending. Is that crazy?"
"Oh, Mom..." Evie whispered softly as it made sense now.
"This is the best idea you've ever had," Henry added out of enthusiasm. "We have to change the book because it's wrong about you. We just have to find the clues."
"'We'?" Regina repeated in surprise. "What? You'll help me?"
"It'll be our own secret mission." Henry reassured her.
"Served family style." Evie added with a nod.
"Exactly." Henry agreed.
"Like that 'Operation: Viper' you had with Emma." Regina commented.
"Cobra, but yeah," Henry chuckled and corrected her before he looked thoughtful. "This one we'll call 'Operation'..."
"Hmm..." Evie paused to think too.
"Mongoose." Regina suddenly suggested.
"Perfect. 'Operation: Mongoose' it is." Henry agreed.
"Maybe I'll call it Rikki-Tikki-Tavi." Evie then said, making both Henry and Regina laugh a little warmly.
The bell to the diner jingled and suddenly the door came open as a certain outlaw who still looked clearly distressed as he made his way over to where the Mills family was sitting. " Oh, Regina. Can we talk?" he then greeted and asked.
"Ahem..." Regina cleared her throat awkwardly as she stood up and walked toward him. "What are you doing here?" she then managed to make herself ask.
"It's Marian. Something's happened to her. I'm sorry," Robin explained, sounding a bit breathless. "I didn't know who else to turn to. I need your help."
"Oh, dear." Evie whispered in concern while Henry looked wide-eyed.
Soon, Mary Margaret and David were still watching over Marian for Robin as David was poking at the fireplace, hoping that the fire would help warm the woman up a bit more.
"How is she?" Robin asked when they arrived at the office.
"Not good. She's getting colder." David replied regretfully.
Robin headed straight to Marian.
"Regina, thanks for coming." Mary Margaret sighed in relief.
"Don't thank me 'til I've done something," Regina replied before looking over as she stopped in her tracks and noticed the bird painting on the wall which grabbed her attention in a rather negative way. "Whose idea was that?" she then demanded to know.
"Ms. Blanchard?" Evie asked in accusatory.
"Oh, I thought I would put my own personal touch on the office." Mary Margaret smiled.
"Well, you've succeeded. Hideously." Regina replied coldly before walking off over to where Robin was kneeling.
"Is there anything you can do?" Robin asked Regina.
Regina released a sharp exhale in response before she began to warn Robin. "This is strong magic. I-I can't stop it, but maybe I can slow it down." she then said to him.
"What happened?" Emma then asked as she came by with Elsa, Killian, and Harry.
"Perhaps you should ask your new friend," Regina retorted. "After all, it was her monster that attacked Marian."
"Well, to be fair, we provoke the beast." Killian admitted.
"But this isn't my magic," Elsa said softly. "Someone else did this."
"Oh, and we're supposed to trust you?" Regina then scoffed a bit at her.
"You can trust me," Emma said. "If she says it was someone else, it was." she added.
"So how do we break the spell?" Henry asked curiously.
"The only way to cure a freezing spell is an act of true love." Elsa said as she nodded to Henry.
"True Love's Kiss." Regina said as she sadly realized where this was going.
"Well, then there's no time to lose," Robin said. He turned back towards Marian, then leaned down to kiss her. After a few moments, he pulled back when it obviously wasn't working. "What's wrong? Why isn't it working?" he asked.
Evie looked slightly relieved, but also guilty for feeling that way that the kiss didn't work, but she of course kept that to herself. Something about Robin Hood told her that he was going to be the perfect guy just for her mom.
"I've seen this once before when Frederick was turned to gold." David memorized.
"Who the hell's Frederick?" Emma asked.
"Long story." Henry told Emma.
"So, the cold is acting as a barrier? Is there nothing we can do?" Robin asked, frustrated.
"Well, every curse is different," Regina replied as calmly as she could. "I need more time to study this one. Evie?" she then faced her daughter. "Maybe you can try to look into Marian's past to see who did this to her?" she then added as a suggestion.
"Okay, Mom, this should be easy," Evie nodded as she approached Marian and put her hand on the woman's shoulder, however, there seemed to be some sort of jolt of green electricity that zapped the blue-haired girl's palm, causing her to flinch and recoil. "YOW!"
"Evie!" The others cried out in concern.
"Evie, are you all right, dear?" Regina asked her daughter softly.
"I-I think so... something was trying to block MY magic too somehow... I can't figure out who did this to her." Evie replied as she held her hand, feeling a stinging pain in the palm of her hand before it went away. "Phew, at least that wasn't very long." she then sighed once the pain ended.
"Weird..." Henry commented.
"You're telling me." Evie nodded in agreement.
"I'm going to go find who did this before it happens again." Emma said, before turning to leave.
"Well, I hope you bring back-up." Regina advised.
"What the hell was that supposed to mean?" Emma asked, annoyed.
"Well, between the snow monster and the cave-in... Seems like The Savior needs saving these days." Regina explained as calmly as she could.
"I think you're bitter and you're taking it out on the wrong person. I'll be fine." Emma replied, turning to leave again.
"Well, I like that battle plan, so I'm with you, Swan." Killan offered as he went to go after Emma.
"No. Take Elsa to the sheriff's station," Emma suddenly said as she stopped the adult male pirate. "Keep her out of sight. Once people get word of this, they're going to be calling for her head."
"I'd rather save yours than hers," Killian retorted as he was clearly more concerned about her. "There's someone dangerous out there."
"I don't have time to argue with you about this!" Emma countered with a sharp tone of voice. "Can you for once just do what I say?" she then added before leaving the room, not seeing Killian's surprised look.
"Uh, I'll help you out, Dad." Harry offered.
"Sure, son..." Killian sighed and nodded. "I guess I can live with that."
Meanwhile, Leroy, Nova, Archie, Tinkerbell, Ruby, and Granny were standing with the same group of people from the meeting at the front of Granny's diner, and they were having their own meeting.
"Elsa's the problem," Leroy said, still sounding annoyed. "Today it's Marian. Tomorrow she could freeze the whole town."
"Much as I like to move the hot cocoa, somebody's got to stop her." Granny added as she and the others followed Leroy out of the diner's grounds.
"Wait," Archie said as he tried to stop them. "You can't just condemn her without all the facts."
"Look around. Who else can turn people into popsicles?" Leroy piped up. "It's Elsa, and we all know it, so she's got to be stopped before she hurts someone else."
"Well, no one really wanted to trust me at first since Tinkerbell is best known for being Peter Pan's partner-in-crime." Tinkerbell commented.
"That's different," Leroy scoffed. "Since when are fairies dangerous?"
"I see someone doesn't know about the fabled Black Fairy." Tinkerbell commented to Nova.
"She's long gone and I don't wanna talk about her right now," Nova retorted. "Leroy and I have already been through a lot for me to lose him because of another tyrannical fairy... please, no one tell Mother Superior that I said this, but she makes me so... so... peeved!" she then added before gasping, blushing, and then cupping her mouth as though she had said a curse word.
"Well, don't worry about that; you're not the only one with a Big Bad Secret," Ruby said before checking her phone as she was given an emergency text. "Aww... Kiki's not feeling well," she then said before looking over. "Granny, I'm gonna go back for her and take her home, all right?" she then added.
"All right, I'll catch you later." Granny nodded at her granddaughter, appreciating her for taking responsibility for Kiara who was like Ruby's little sister.
Ruby then went the other way as everyone else walked down Main Street, passing "Any Given Sundae" while Sarah watched them walk past with an amused smile on her face.
Meanwhile, Killian, Harry, and Elsa were in an alley on Storybrooke's Main Street, waiting until Leroy and his angry mob passed by.
"All right, all clear." Harry then said as he took a look for them.
"Thank you, son." Killian nodded as they stepped out onto the pavement together.
"No problem, Dad," Harry added before he looked over his shoulder to see that Elsa wasn't following them. "Uh, Miss? That means it's time to go." he then explained to her.
"I'm not coming with you," Elsa shook her head. "There's someone out there with powers like mine. I need to find out who. I-I can't just hide out in some sheriff's station.
"Oh. Well, that works out quite nicely, then," Killian smirked. "'Cuz that's not where we're going."
"It's not?" Elsa asked out of surprise.
"With Emma running into danger? Not a chance in Hell," Killian countered and explained. "And the sheriff's station's that way."
"And what's that way?" Elsa curiously.
"With any luck, danger." Killian smirked before he began walking along with his son, allowing Elsa to follow them.
"Danger is my middle name." Harry told Elsa boastfully.
"We both know it's not and stop flirting, she's too old for you." Killian told his son abruptly.
"Hey! I'm not old!" Elsa complained.
"Well, too old for him anyway." Killian then said before they walked off again.
Elsa firmly pouted before she continued to follow after Harry and Killian.
MEANWHILE...
David and Emma were in the woods, and are approaching Robin Hood's tent.
"Robin and Marian's tent's up ahead," David said to his daughter. "So, what exactly are we looking for?" he then asked.
"If whoever cursed Marian has the same powers as Elsa, maybe they left a trail." Emma explained.
"So we split up and we look for anything... Cold?" David asked.
Emma scoffed at that in response.
"Yeah," David then said. "Well, shout if you need help, and I'll-"
"Okay. Yeah. I got it," Emma interrupted him before leaving David and walking toward the famous outlaw's tent. She soon heard clattering coming from inside and drew her gun, knowing it's not Robin. "Whoever's in there, come out." she demanded.
A strange looking man soon slowly stepped out of the tent and put his hands up in a surrender motion.
"Who the hell are you?" Emma asked. "What are you doing in that tent?"
"It depends who's asking." The man retorted, speaking in a Cockney accent.
"The sheriff's asking." Emma countered.
"I never did like sheriffs very much," The man shrugged and smirked. "Though you do seem like the decent sort, so I'm guessing you're not gonna shoot a man in the back."
Emma looked at him in confusion, and her eyes widened when he suddenly took off. "Hey, stop!" she called out before chasing after him through the woods and as she was about to catch him, she tripped over a log and hit the ground hard in front of a certain dog. Dude whined and came over to Emma, sniffing her as he looked up at her.
"Hi, Miss Swan." Carla and Carlos greeted.
"What're you guys doing here?" Emma asked as she began to come up on her feet.
"Taking Dude out for a walk and we saw Jay around here not too long ago." Carlos explained.
"I'm right here," Jay said as he came by. "I guess Lonnie and her mother are out, I was hoping to maybe learn how to use a sword."
"I hope for lethal purposes." Carla said to Jay.
"Maybe?" Jay shrugged innocently.
Carlos and Carla just rolled their eyes at that.
David then suddenly appeared from behind a tree and tackled the strange man to the ground, before quickly making him stand and still holding onto him tightly. "Where were you going?" he then demanded.
"I almost had him, but I... Fell." Emma said as she panted heavily while catching up to her father as the teenagers followed her.
"Don't worry about it," David reassured his daughter. "That's why we have two sheriffs."
"Two sheriffs? Bloody hell," The man complained. "That's not even fair, is it?"
"Hi, Mr. Scarlet." Jay greeted and crossed his arms.
"You know him?" David asked Jay.
"He knows you?" Emma added to the man.
"Yes, I suppose he does. All right. My name's Will Scarlet," The man explained. "I used to be a Merry Man until me and Robin Hood had a bit of a falling out and he decided a woman was a better fit than another man like me."
"Hey, that woman saved her kingdom from a deadly threat so her father wouldn't die because he was already old and withered by the time he was drafted," Jay retorted firmly before smirking smugly. "Lonnie taught me that~"
Carlos and Carla chuckled at that.
"Hey! We're just friends!" Jay glared in defense, shaking his fist at them before smirking. "Besides, Carlos, how's Jane doing?"
"Oh... uh... Jane?" Carlos asked nervously as he blushed a little while Dude face-pawed him a bit. "Jane who?"
"Somebody's getting sweaty." Jay smirked.
"Jay, be nice." Carla pouted.
"Aw, I'm just teasing him," Jay shrugged. "It's all in good fun."
"Hmm..." Carla paused as she felt unsure about that.
"So what are you doing in Robin Hood's tent?" Emma demanded from Will.
"Well, I heard what happened to Marian," Will explained, trying to sound mature and collected. "Terrible thing, but I kind of know something that might help."
"Well, he's not here right now, so tell us." Emma replied.
"Look, I'm a thief. Always been a thief, always gonna be a thief," Will defended. "And when there's a black-out like the other night, do you know what a thief does?" he then rhetorically asked.
"He goes to work because there's no 'team' in I." Jay stated.
"Well, I was talking to the lady sheriff, but yes," Will admitted and then continued to explain. "So, I'm working me way down Main Street when I break into the ice cream parlor and see the strangest thing. There'd been no electricity for hours, but still all the ice cream was frozen solid. H-How does something like that happen?" he then added.
Jay glanced at him and then over at Carlos and Carla. "Any ideas, guys?" he then asked the twins.
"I might need to think about this for a minute." Carlos replied.
"I know I definitely do." Carla added as she hugged Dude close in her arms.
Dude whined a bit in their hold as he looked up softly at Carlos and Carla.
"Anyway, you're gonna take us somewhere?" Carlos asked Will.
"You guys are coming too?" Emma asked the teenagers.
"You shouldn't be surprised at this point, Miss Swan," Carla replied. "We're the descendants of Misthaven so this is just as important to us as it is to the adults."
"I'm not gonna win the argument if we get into one about you guys staying put, am I?" Emma guessed out of exhaustion.
"Nope!" Carlos, Carla, and Jay replied innocently.
"Ugh," Emma groaned before facing Will. "Let's just get this over with." she then suggested.
"Right then, follow me like The White Rabbit." Will nodded as he walked off ahead of them.
The others then began to follow him as needed.
Soon, everyone found themselves in front of the local ice cream shop across from the frozen yogurt place owned by the Muffet family. Will had been still trying to convince them that the power didn't go out over there during the blackout as everyone either peered through the door or the window.
"I dunno, looks pretty normal to me." Emma told Will as she felt lost.
"It was bleedin' cold in there, I'm telling you." Will defended.
"Gee, it was cold in an ice cream shop?" Jay deadpanned. "Can you imagine that ever happening?"
"During the blackout." Will clarified out of annoyance.
"Says the guy who's trying to avoid jail." Emma remarked.
"I may be a thief, but I'm no liar and I can bloody well prove it." Will defended as he moved to the door and tried to use a paperclip to unlock the door.
"Really? You think breaking in again is gonna help your case?" David asked the former Merry Man, unimpressed.
"Can you just be quiet a second, mate? I'm just trying to do this," Will shushed David as he tried to work. "Takes concentration. Bit tricky."
Jay rolled his eyes as he soon knelt down and came to do it. "Here, let me." he then said as he picked the lock and soon unlocked the door, opening it as the bells jingled.
"I could've done that too." Emma commented.
"You could have?" David asked Emma in surprise.
"Neal taught me a few things." Emma confirmed and added.
"Well, I know a few tricks myself," Jay smirked. "I'm always one jump ahead of most people."
"Especially the law." Carlos smirked back.
"Watch it, Carlos." Jay glared.
Dude growled and barked at Jay in warning.
"Ooh, I don't think Dude liked you talking to Carlos like that." Carla smirked.
"Let's just go inside, shall we?" Jay suggested out of annoyance.
Carlos and Carla chuckled together as they followed David, Emma, and Will inside.
"Emma, it doesn't look like-" David began to say.
"Wait. Shh," Emma interrupted and shushed. "Listen."
Everyone soon got quiet and tried to listen for something, even Dude who was a dog, could barely hear anything other than everyone breathing.
"I don't hear nothing." Will shrugged.
"Exactly. No compressor hum means no cooling system." Emma explained.
"So what does that mean?" Jay wondered.
"I guess Will was telling the truth and something isn't right here." Carlos clarified.
"Exactly." Emma nodded.
"Check the back," Will challenged. "You'll see how right I am."
"He's worse than Reza Qamar in school." Carlos muttered.
"Well, isn't he the son of a royal astronomer?" Carla asked Carlos.
"Reza and Carlos are academic rivals," Jay explained to Carla. "It doesn't get pretty whenever they're pinned up against each other."
"He doesn't have to use such big words to show how smart he is." Carlos rolled his eyes as Dude nuzzled him in comfort before he smiled at the dog.
However, Will suddenly began to look shifty and slowly backed up while everyone else seemed to be distracted.
Emma soon came in through the freezer as David followed her. "Well, look at that." she then told her father.
"I guess we owe Will an apology." David added.
"Hey! Where are you going?!" Jay's voice suddenly asked.
Before anything else could be said or done, the bells were jingled at the door and Will seemed to had run right out the door as he was gone in a flash.
"Son of a... He's gone!" Emma complained.
"Yeah, he just got up and left." Carla shrugged.
"Not just that, guys," Carla said as she looked at the cash register. "He cleaned out Elwin and his mother." she then added to see that it was empty.
"Man... I guess he's slicker than I am." Jay commented, sounding both horrified and impressed.
Emma glared and she soon went to run right after Will only to be blocked.
"Emma, stop. He's not the most important thing right now." David told his daughter as he stopped her.
"So I just let him go?" Emma scoffed in frustration.
"And then you'll find him." David added in comfort.
"Will I?" Emma glared before turning away.
"What's going on?" David asked out of concern as Emma seemed very cold and distant right now. "Emma, I'm your father. Talk to me."
"It's Regina. What she said, she was right. It's like I can't save a cat from a tree right now," Emma explained in annoyance and frustration. "It's like I'm the Anti-Savior."
"You're being a little hard on yourself," David comforted. "We all have bad days."
"Well, I'm having a run of them," Emma countered. "I know."
"But you can't lose faith in yourself," David advised warmly. "Trust me."
Emma looked soft at that, not sure what to say or do about that now. Dude whined a bit as he nuzzled in Carla's hold.
"It's okay, Dude," Carla soothed as she hugged the dog. "Oh, I bet you wish you could talk to us, huh?"
Dude whined in response.
"I wish we could talk to you too, buddy..." Carlos added as he petted Dude on the head before they left the ice cream shop in despair.
"I wonder what Harry's doing right now?" Carla commented to herself quietly, seemingly out of the blue.
