Summary: Emma notices more and more Elsa is not herself, knowing the cause of her friends pain is her lost memories of her girlfriend Mulan. Emma struggles to tell her the truth, unsure it will provide any closure. All this while they struggle to adjust to life in Arendale post curse.
"Hey, put that down, it's not yours" Elsa yelled, running into a large room, filled with children playing, two in particular were fighting over a doll, each holding onto an arm pulling in opposite directions.
This only further enraged her; she barged over as snowflakes began to fall from the ceiling.
"Give that to me".
The children were about four years of age, and they looked up to Elsa bewildered for a moment as she snatched the doll away, before both of them burst into tears.
"Elsa what's going on"? Emma asked, as she followed her friend, noticing the commotion.
"This belongs to Anna; she loved this doll".
"Ok, I'm sure she won't mind if these girls play with it"
"She's not here to ask though, once again I've left her on the other side of the door"
"I know…"
Emma came closer wrapping her arms around her friend she could feel how tense she was, an outsider in her own home. Strangers had moved in and made it there's, in the time they'd been gone, now it was so foreign, it didn't even smell the same.
"Believe me I know, but it's different now, we may be worlds apart but at least they know we love them, and they love us, where not alone anymore".
After a moment she let go and Elsa handed the doll back to the girls, making sure they were happy to share this time.
"I'm sorry, I just can't help but feel, I'm forgetting something important…"
Elsa trailed off confusing herself she held her hand to her forehead with a frown, while Emma froze knowing exactly what was causing Elsa distress. Emma looked away ashamed, in her mind Rumpelstiltskin's voice warning her, of the price. She knew now this was it, but she wasn't the one paying it. Side by side, they walked down the hallway past a large painting of Elsa and Anna, aged eight and five and Elsa stopped her eyes longing and hopeless.
"Don't worry, they'll find us"
"How will they even know we've been sent back to the enchanted forest"?
"My parents were there, they saw it"
"Emma, I'm so sorry that must have been awful"
From down the hall running through groups of refuges, confused, and scared as his eyes desperately searched was Killian.
"There you two are, I woke up and everyone was gone".
"Sorry Killian... wait where is Red?" Emma
"Maybe getting breakfast?" Elsa
"Let's find her, she wouldn't have gone far" Killian
Emma was fidgeting looking unsure of herself as she trailed behind Killian and Elsa, making their way down to a large dining hall. They weren't the only ones awake, many people walked around the castle, completing various tasks including laundry and maintenance. Most were heading in the same direction, Killian, Elsa and Emma followed hoping to find Red or some answers. The closer they got the more people where gathering, soon they were brought to a standstill in the doorway, unsure where to go next.
"Get in line, move along"
The three of them looked to the left to see the were being directed towards a long line of children, all of them coated in dirt quietly waiting, their expressions a familiar solemn sadness.
"You kids, over there with the other orphans"
"Where not..." Killian protested.
Pushed aside before he could even finish his sentence, Killian felt a rage inside him suddenly, knowing they all had more family then most, but they were in Storybrooke.
"We have to face it, right now we are orphans" Emma
"Emma?" Killian
Killian shared a concerned glance with Elsa as Emma scanned the room for Red, while they slowly pushed through the crowd, to join the long line of children.
"What should we do"? Elsa
"Get something to eat" Emma
"No, I mean, we need to figure out what's going on here, try and help" Elsa
"Where not in Storybrooke, we should just keep quiet, stay in line" Emma
"Emma, what's going on with you?" Killian
"Nothing, I'm fine" Emma
In the middle of the room was the unmistakable sign of a Red cloak and they knew they found there friend; she turned coming over to them.
"You guys made it, sorry I smelt the food wanted to make sure, we didn't miss out" Red
"Not her, we wouldn't be fighting over scraps if it wasn't for her kind" A woman sneered, pushing Red to the side as she tried to join the line.
"Don't touch her" Killian
Suddenly a tall man in an apron burst through the doors from the kitchen, and they swung shut behind him, with a loud clang. The chatter came to a halt as they turned to him, with anticipation for what he had to say.
"Alright, listen up I need you to move quick, we are in short supply today, only enough for this morning's round".
"What! there are still more to come, what about those in the fields"?
It was too late for discussion as the lines faded, the once orderly setting dissolving into chaos, as voices began shouting.
"Let the children through first".
Everyone around them surged forwards, what little comradery they had faded in an instant, shoving people out of the way, walking over them in order to get to the front.
"Help"
A child's voice called out from the floor, as they got pushed to the ground, about to be stomped under the feet of the swarm. The air become cold as Elsa marched forward into the rioting crowd, her frustration growing as she looked upon her home, now infested with these desperate and cruel people.
"We need to get out of here" Emma yelled.
"Going to have to fight our way through" Killian
The room filled with icicles that flew around the room hitting people and knocking some over, their warm breaths becoming visible in the now cold air. Emma shook her head grabbing Elsa's arm and pulling her backwards, surprised to see her friend so quick to anger.
"Elsa, wait you could hurt someone" Emma
"I know" Elsa
A ball of fire soared across the room towards Elsa and Emma, who were quickly bowled over by Killian, before it struck them. Hitting the wall behind them, the fire exploded outwards singeing their hair and leaving them breathless.
Suddenly all eyes were on the teenagers, some looked to them in horror most with hate, revealing a whole room of magical creatures. Now on all fours Red let out a warning growl, people stepped away forming a circle around them. Upon seeing this transformation, most dropped their bowls and fled, others even froze in fear at the sight of the enormous wolf.
"I told you, she a shapeshifter, one of them".
"How dare you let that beast in here, with us"
The cook came back out of the kitchen his face enraged, now with a knife in hand, he charged towards Red ready to strike. As she had done nothing but let out a warning growl, this seemed excessive to the Emma, Elsa and Killian who paused for a moment confused, in fear for the friend's life.
"Stop this now" Cora yelled
She waltzed into the room causing and immediate reaction, the noise stopped as they looked towards Cora in fear and backed away. Emma frowned paying close attention, she noticed a boy just behind her had a quiver in his lip as he looked up to Cora.
"Back up; we don't want a fight". Killian
"Don't tell us what to do boy, you're the one who brought that monster in here".
A large oath of a man yelled stepping closer to them towering over Killian, who didn't flinch glaring back at him.
"I said that is enough, these children have asked for sanctuary and that will be granted, just as it has for the rest of us, and you will line up orderly for your meal". Cora
Much like they had last time Cora showed up, they all moved along, picking up their bowls and marching back into line. While Cora looked to the four teenagers gesturing for them to follow her out. Unlike yesterday they sensed the fear the others had of Cora, and it became clear she wasn't a leader by choice, but force. Emma walked over to her and the others quickly followed, out of the dining hall and into the corridor.
"If you're going to start fights in here, you'll won't last long in this new world". Cora
"This is my home; how can they treat us this way". Elsa
Cora shrugged as they continued down the hall away from the crowd into a more desolate part of the castle, it was empty and for good reason. The windows broken even some walls collapsed inward, as if a great battle had taken place here.
"This isn't your home anymore girl, you've been gone sixteen years, the people here now have barely survived, fleeing from other abandoned kingdoms".
"Abandoned, they weren't abandoned, everyone was torn from this land, forced to live in another world by Regina". Emma
"Yes, I know what happened, the rest of us where stuck here, once the dust settled, the ogres returned, other dark creatures grew in numbers, like werewolves, a lot of people have lost loved ones to them, that's why they fear you so much".
"We didn't know". Elsa sighed ashamed.
"I understand, you have your own problems" Cora tone was condescending as she forced a smile to no response from them.
"I assume there will be people looking for you, parents perhaps".
After keeping up a brisk walk she suddenly stopped, looking towards Emma for a response, watching her closely as if trying to get more information than what she had asked.
"Maybe its best if we leave Arendale". Killian
"With your family trying to find you, you should stay, be nice to see the reunion".
Cora picked up her pace again, now leading them through to another smaller sectioned off part of the castle.
"Stay here, don't get into any more fights". Cora, her words were kind, but her tone was almost menacing.
"Right, thanks". Elsa
"Goodbye". Emma
The four stayed silent waiting for Cora to walk back down the long corridor, out of sight and earshot before talking.
"I don't trust her". Killian
"We need to leave, now". Emma
"Follow me, I can get us out of here, unseen". Elsa said.
"I'll catch up, we need to get supplies if we are going into the forest" Killian said.
"You want me to come with you"? Emma asked.
"I'll be quick, you three stay together". Killian
Leaning down Killian kissed Emma quickly on the lips, before turning around looking through the cupboards for anything that could be of use.
Elsa walked quickly while leaving a small trail of ice for Killian to follow their path, taking them through a labyrinth of halls and stairways revealing the beauty of what her home used to be. They walked past portraits and ornaments from a happier time, long since lost. Elsa didn't speak keeping her eyes forward, avoiding glancing at anything.
"Quickly through here"
Elsa instructed lifting a small leaver disguised as a lamp that opened a doorway to a hidden room, they had to crawl through the entrance. It led into a large space at the very back of the castle overlooking the forest, with books lining shelves, from floor to ceiling on every wall.
"Awesome"
Red said as she morphed back into her human form and got dressed walking over to Emma and Elsa.
"What now"? Emma asked.
"We can break this window, and I'll build us a staircase over the wall and down to the forest… then I don't know".
"Hey, I'm, I'm really sorry" Emma
"For what"? Elsa
Emma almost said it, but there words didn't leave her lips as she looked into her friend's loving eyes, it was fruitless explaining it, Elsa had no memory of Mulan.
"You finally return home, only to find it overrun with squatters and having to flee". Emma
"It's ok, home isn't place, it's your people and were together". Elsa
The three girls fell silent huddling together with their arms around each other before sitting down on the ground looking out at the Enchanted forest. A sight Emma wasn't sure she'd ever see with her own eyes, she looked upon it with wonder and awe but as she turned to her left, Red's eyes where blank.
"Are you ok?'" Emma
"Nope, not even close" Red
"Me neither" Emma
"It just sucks, life just keeps separating us, from those we love" Elsa added
The three of them continued to sit in silence, watching a family of birds as they nestled in together longing for their home.
"I miss Granny, I can't even remember the last thing I said to her, she's the only family I very really had". Red
"What about your parents"? Emma
"They died when I was very young, Gran doesn't even tell me stories, it's too painful, she says". Red
"It's hard missing so much time, the most precious thing in this world and we just keep getting it taken from us" Elsa
"Or we trade it away" Emma
"What do you mean Emma"? Elsa
"Elsa, I have to tell you something, I think I know why you've been feeling upset, it's not just because where stuck here" Emma
"What is it?"
Emma hand suddenly clasped tightly on Red's shoulder, to which she turned to face Emma bewildered. Within seconds she crumbled to the ground her face pale before screaming out in agony, clenching her chest tears streaming down her face.
"What's happening to her?" Elsa.
"I don't know, Emma please what's wrong" Red
"It hurts" Emma said through agonising breaths.
"She's not hurt, someone she loves is" Elsa
Suddenly all three girls looked up trying to spot Killian, but he wasn't in sight, still searching for supplies.
"Killian"! Red and Elsa yelled out
Before Elsa ran for the small door to search for him, he crawled through the secret entry, frowning as he upon seeing Elsa's concern. Before his eyes went to Emma, who lay on the floor with an agonised expression, her head in Red's lap, who could do nothing but hold her hand.
"What's happened to her, I've only been gone a few minutes"? Killian
"Killian, we don't know, she just collapsed" Elsa
"It's my parents... something wrong" Emma
"How did you know"? Killian
I can feel it, I can feel their pain, we need to find a way back to Storybrooke, now"!
Emma Swan wiped away her tears, repressing her heartache for the moment, focusing on placing the supplies Killian had stolen, into a satchel. The four teenagers worked together with guidance from Elsa, ransacking her former home for robes, food, really anything that may help in their journey. Although enchanting the world outside was mysterious a place, once filled with colourful characters, heroes, and villains alike, now a wasteland.
"Where should we go"? Killian
"The only thing we know, is after coming through the portal those knights attacked, maybe they know something?" Emma
"I'll find a trail, still have the scent of those who attack us, when we arrived". Red offered.
"Are we sure that's a good idea?". Elsa queried.
"It's the only lead we have". Emma replied determined already climbing out the window.
"Wait Emma, I need to build the staircase first".
"I know sorry, I just can't think". Emma
"Do you want to rest before we go". Killian
"No, we need to move fast". Emma
Elsa nodded looking forwards she let out a deep breath and her hands went up, as they did a sheet of snow and ice formed. Soon all they could see out the window was white it beautifully cascaded around, forming a staircase like bridge over the moat and to the edge of the forest below.
"That never gets old" Red said before stepping outside her nose in the air trying to pick up a scent.