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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
FALL
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INSIDE THE CLOCK TOWER, ELSA STOOD LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW WITH A PAIR OF BINOCULARS AGAINST HER EYES. Behind her stood Henry, Emma, Regina, Snow, David, Hook, Grumpy and Teresa, the latter having returned to the apartment the last night after leaving the ice cave.

"Belle was right. My aunt is actually doing this." Elsa handed the binoculars off to someone else so they could get a look at the dark shimmering clouds in the distance.

Snow took them and peered through the lenses. "The spell of shattered sight."

David grabbed them next. "We open the mines and the vault. We take shelter there."

"This is magic. It doesn't care about ceilings. It's started."

"How long?" Teresa asked as Regina took the binoculars from David's outstretched hand.

The former Evil Queen peered through them. "By sundown. By sundown, everyone in this town will start...tearing each other apart."

"Okay. The answer is simple. Let's not be in town."

Grumpy's eyebrows furrowed. "Last time I checked there's an ice wall surrounding the town."

Teresa rolled her eyes at the dwarf. "Last time I checked there's four people with magic standing right here."

"Yes, but with our magic not being at full power right now with these ribbons on, our magic, even combined, won't be enough to take down the wall. It's far too big," Elsa said.

Teresa sighed. "Then what were you exactly suggesting Emma?"

"We climb it."

➳

It didn't take them long to get to the edge of town; the group of eight peered up at the large ice wall

"Hardly an elegant solution," Regina muttered.

"Nothing wrong with brute force if it works."

"If we can get over, we can build a frame, take people over one at a time," Grumpy said.

David stepped forward with a pick axe in his hand and a large rope on his shoulder. Snow gently touched his arm, her voice full of worry, "David, be careful."

He gave her a soft smile before moving toward the wall. When in front of it, he looked up at the height before swinging the pick axe into the ice. However it couldn't even make x onrasct with it, as the ice wall defended itself by throwing David back and building itself higher.

Teresa's eyebrows shot up as Emma and Snow ran over to help David up.

"You okay?"

"David?"

"Looks like that wall doesn't care much for your brute force."

The ice that covered the ground began to crack, causing Henry to lightly grip Teresa's forearm and pull her away as it cracked toward their feet. It stopped, and Elsa stepped toward the crack in awe.

She stood up, a necklace now in her hand and a large smile on her face.

"Elsa? No, stop. Hey. No! That thing could go off again!" Emma pulled the smiling Elsa away from the unstable ice wall. "Come on..."

"It's Anna's necklace," Elsa's grin widened. "I thought it was gone. It's like a miracle."

"Glad you found it, but sentimentality's not worth risking your life over."

"It's a sign, Emma...a sign we're gonna win."

Regina sighed. "Is everyone into this hope thing now?"

"If we're gonna win, we need to stop wasting time," Emma said. "Mom, dad, Leroy, go tell everyone what's going on. 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 waterfront to see if we can use boats to get some people out."

"I have to warn Robin Hood. His camp's not far from here." Regina's voice was laced with worry for her theirf.

Emma nodded. "Okay, go. Elsa, Teresa and I will go talk to Gold, see if he has any ideas. Henry, you come with us."

"No," Regina said, firmly. "He's with me. I'm his best chance."

"That might not be true. Emma, Teresa and I? I think we're immune."

Regina stared at Elsa as if she had three heads, "What?"

Elsa lifted her wrist as she explained her theory. "These ribbons. If the Snow Queen -- "

"Ingrid," Teresa corrected.

"Ingrid wants us to be her sisters, then the curse won't affect us."

"So I should definitely watch Henry," Emma said.

Regina shook her head. "No. You're part of this nut job's plan. I want Henry near me as long as it's safe for him."

There was a moment of silence, Emma and Regina both staring at one another, before Henry stepped toward Emma.

"It's okay, mom. I'll be fine with her."

Emma sighed, pulling her son in for a hug. "Be careful, kid."

"I'll go with them," Teresa volunteered as Henry and Emma drew apart. "If Regina gets affected by my mother's curse then Henry could use the help."

Regina stared at her, slightly offended. "I would never hurt my son."

"I never said you would."

"Teresa's right," Emma said. "Regina, we don't know how this curse will affect everyone. Teresa and Henry could help each other if needed."

Regina sighed deeply. "Alright, fine, the archer can come."

Teresa smirked. "Don't look glum about it, I make great company."

Regina rolled her eyes at the archer. Suddenly, a loud crack of thunder made them all turn to look at the sky. "We gotta go. This is happening now."

➳

When they arrived at the camp of Robin Locksley and the Merry Men, the found Robin sitting on a chair with his son Roland in his lap. They were smiling at an arrow held in Robin's hand, the father no doubt teaching his son the knowledge of how and arrows.

They trio approached the camp, moving toward Robin, who patted his sons head as he stood from his chair.

"Regina?"

"It's happening," Regina said. "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! Will Scarlet!" Robin shouted.

Said man poked his head out from a hreen tent. "There's no need to yell. I'm just here, Robin."

"Emergency," Robin informed him. "Break camp."

Will nodded. "Right then." He crawled out of the tent and extended his hand toward Roland. "Come on, little man."

Regina turned to her son and Teresa. "Why don't you two help?"

Teresa and Henry silently agreed and followed after Will and Roland to get the camp prepared.

"So do you really think you're immune to this curse?" Henry asked, glancing briefly at Teresa.

Teresa shrugged. "Why wouldn't I be? My mother seems hell bent and making her, Emma, Elsa and I combined in magic. It would only make sense that we would be immune to her curse."

"I suppose you're right..."

Teresa smirked. "I'm always right."

Henry chuckled, making Teresa a brow at him. "What? Do you not believe, Mills?"

Henry's eyes met hers and he smiled. Shaking his head, he responded. "No, no, I believe you. You've been right about a lot of things since we've met."

"Damn right I have," Teresa muttered before moving to help little Roland pick up his belongings.

➳

They had received a call from Emma that they had found where Anna is, only they couldn't get to her. So the trio had met with Snow, David, Emma, Elsa and Grumpy at the library to discuss what to do about Anna and the curse.

"Sure, me and the guys can clear the tunnel," Grumpy said as David's phone rang. "We'll have to work careful, but we can do it."

"Let's go now," Emma insisted.

"Excuse me," David said, going into the next room tl anseer his ringing phone.

"Look at this mess," Regina groaned. "A good mayor checks that these things are kept up to code."

"Yeah, well, if the mayor only has to worry about one villain, and it's herself, that frees up a lot of time for infrastructure. I've had other issues."

Regina gave Snow a look.

"Grumpy, how long to clear the passage and get to Anna?" Teresa asked.

"Couple of hours, maybe. We can get right on it," Grumpy replied.

Elsa smiled in relief. "That's wonderful."

"We don't have a couple hours. Have you guys not been watching the clock? It'll be sundown before you munchkins finish."

"Dwarfs, sister."

"Like I care," Regina said lowly. "Let's just blast through and take the risk."

"That was Belle over at the diner," David announced as he walked back into the room. "It turns out they can possibly make the counter spell even if we don't find Anna. They can pull the mirror dust out of the necklace and try to use that."

"It's exactly the same?"

"Almost," David replied to his wifes question. "It'll take a little longer. The process is difficult and...it will destroy the necklace."

Teresa frowned. "So the necklace can either save all of us or Anna?"

"No. It can do both. We have time," Elsa insisted.

"We don't." Regina's voice was girl. "Exploring these tunnels could take days."

"So what'll it be, folks? Save the town or find the sister?"

Elsa sighed, moving into the next room with Anna's necklace clutched tightly in her hands.

"This shouldn't even be a conversation. If we don't get the necklace to the fairies right now, we and all our loved ones will be hit by this vicious spell. It's one woman's life versus a whole town," Regina said.

"That one woman just so happens to be related to me so I'd choose your words carefully," Teresa said with narrowed eyes.

"Yes, someone related to you, but haven't even met yet," Regina snapped. "You're telling me you'd choose her over all us, little miss archer?"

Teresa clenched her fist and glared at the formed Evil Queen. "Just because I haven't met Anna yet, doesn't mean I don't care about her. She's family."

"Well my family is Henry," Regina retorted.

Emma quickly spoke before a fight between them could break out. "Maybe we just haven't found an option where we don't have to lose anyone."

"Mm, you're talking like a hero."

"Yes, like all you Charmings always do. But right now that's not your job. You're more than heroes. You're leaders, which means making the tough choice where someone has to lose, and you have to say who."

Snow sighed. "I agree with Regina. You're right."

"Yeah, I heard it, too."

"We need to do what's best for the most people," Snow voiced. "We need to give this town its best chance."

David nodded in agreement. "I'm so sorry, but we have to let the fairies destroy that necklace."

Emma moved around them and toward Elsa to speak with her. As they watched Emma explain to Elsa that they had to take the necklace for the town, David sighed, muttering, "This can't be easy."

"It isn't," Teresa said, arms crossed over her chest. "Imagine if we told you that you couldn't save Emma because we needed your necklace.

Snow sighed, guilt seeping into her veins. She desperately wished they could save both the town and Anna, but there was no possible way foe that to happen.

➳

Teresa, Henry, Emma, Regina, Snow and David walked into Granny's Diner where the fairies had turned the diner into a potion lab; Belle perked up at their arrival and moved over to them. "The necklace. "Do you have it?" she asked.

"It's right here." Emma handed Elsa's blue pouch over to the Blue Fairy, who then opened it and spilled the necklace into her open palm.

Only if turned out not to be the necklace at all. "It's pebbles from the mine."

Emma's eyes widened. "What?"

"Where is it?" Henry asked in confusion.

Regina groaned in both anger and annoyance. "She tricked us so she can use it...to keep tracking down her damn sister! I should know better than o trust blondes by now."

"We should go back and get it," Emma suggested.

Belle shook her head. "No, it's...it's too late."

"Too late? Already?!"

"By the time you get back here, yes. Without Anna being here physically, there's no way to make a counter spell in time."

"Time for a hope speech?" Regina looked to Snow, a hand on her hip. "Virtues of blind faith?"

"Well, it seems Elsa's blind faith is exactly what's screwing us right now."

"Coming from you, that's just terrifying," Teresa muttered. Snow always had a view for hope, yet she seemed to not have any for the current situation.

"Well, I'm not giving up," Emma declared. "I know she's down in the mines looking for Anna. I'm gonna go help Elsa find her."

"Well, then go, because right now that's our only shot."

➳

Teresa was nervously and anxiously pacing the sheriff's station as they waited for Emma to return with -- hopefully -- good news.

Suddenly the door opened and several footsteps could be heard. Emma then turned the corner. "Mom, dad, we're running out of time. You said you had a plan."

Behind Emma was a brunette man, a red haired girl and Elsa. David went to reply until his eyes landed on the man. "Kristoff?"

"David?"

"You cut your hair."

"So did you!" The two reunited friends met in a quick hug. As they pulled apart, David smiled at familair red head. "I see you brought your lovely fiancée. Joan?"

"Joan?"

"It was a...code name," Anna explained to her fiancé "David, I like you short hair. Not that I didn't like it long or that I thought it was -- it's good to see you."

David chuckled. "Likewise." They hugged quickly before David introduced his family. "This is my wife Snow, our son Neal, and our daughter Emma."

"Wait. What? How can she be your daughter?"

"It's a long story. Once we survive this curse, I'll be happy to tell you all about it. The plan. What's the plan?"

Snow glanced at Teresa, who sighed. Teresa didn't want to stay out of the plan to stop her mother, she wanted to be there and save her mother alongside Emma and Elsa, but after a very long discussion with Snow and David, she agreed to protect baby Neal in Regina's office with Henry.

The archer moved toward one of the desks and picked up the keys.

"Woah, what're you doing?" Emma asked, eyes widening as she watched Teresa lock her father within one of the cells before moving toward her mother, who held baby Neal in her arms.

"You, Elsa, Anna and I are the only ones immune," Teresa replied.

"You might wanna try that desk, old friend. It's sturdy. Cuff keys are in the top drawer," David said to Kristoff.

Elsa nodded and moved toward the desk. She opened the drawer and took out one of the set of handcuffs before moving toward Kristoff. She then secured him to the desk.

"Teresa stop!" Emma said, moving forward before she could lock her mother in. "We don't know what's gonna happen. We don't know how long it's gonna last. We don't know what's gonna happen to you or me. I mean, what if...what if they starve to death in there?" Emma was now near tears.

Snow was in the same situation as she fought back her own tears. "No, Emma, you're gonna fix this thing, and then you're gonna come back and save us."

"You think?"

"We believe in you," David said.

"Please," Snow said. "Now you know Henry's in a safe place, and Regina and the others can take care of themselves."

"What about the baby?" Emma asked.

"No, don't worry. Neal won't be with us," David reassured his worrifed daughter.

"Who's gonna take him?" Emma asked.

Snow gave her daughter a teary smile. "We discussed this all with Teresa moments before you arrived. She's gonna take Neal to where Henry is. They're gonna be safe."

Snow gently placed her son into Teresa's arms, allowing Teresa to hand the keys over to Emma. Emma tearfully took them and moved forward, locking her mother within the cell.

"We don't fear your magic, Emma," Snow said. "It's what's gonna allow you to take on the Snow Queen and win."

"And when you do, you'll be right back here unlocking these doors."

"We trust you." A soft smile pulled onto Snow's face. "And Henry's right. You are special, and you are going to use that specialness and save both of you."

"You have wonderful parents, Emma."

Emma turned around to face Elsa with a smile on her face. "I know.

"Swan?" All eyes turned to Hook, who had walked in without anyone noticing. "A word."

"Yeah," Emma replied, breathlessly.

"Teresa," Snow voiced. "You need to go before this curse hits."

Teresa moved over to her cell, allowing her another quick moment with her son. "Don't worry, baby Neal is safe with me. No harm will come to him."

"I know," Snow gently squeezed Teresa's hand. "We trust you."

With a final smile toward Snow, Teresa moved over to the desk that Kristoff was cuffed to. She grabbed the diaper bag and threw it over her shoulder before looking at Elsa. "Good luck."

Elsa smiled. "You too."

"Promise me something?"

"Of course."

"If my mother has to die, at least tell her that I forgive her." Elsa frowned. "I think I've always forgiven her, to be honest. It's just taken me now to realize it."

Elsa moved across the room and embraced her, being careful of baby Neal that was still in her arms. "I promise, though I don't plan on having your mother die. You deserve your mother, Teresa, so I will try and get her back for you."

A smile pulled onto Teresa's face. "Thank you." She then looked past Elsa and to Anna. "It was nice finally getting to meet you, perhaps we can actually have a conversation after all of this is over."

Anna smiled. On their way from the beach and into the town, Elsa had told her all about their aunt having a daughter named Teresa. She was excited to meet her. "That would be lovely."

With a final look to everyone, Teresa then left with baby Neal.

➳

When Teresa arrived at the large white building, she bolted inside and straight to Regina's office where she remembered Snow and David held the council meeting a few days ago. She found Henry and Regina wrapped in a tight hug.

"I'm here, I'm here! Sorry I'm late," Teresa apologized.

"It's fine," Regina reassured her as she pulled apart from Henry. She then gently gripped Henry's hands and smiled tearfully at her son. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

Regina turned on her heel and closed the door as she left. With a wave of her hands, the door was magically sealed shut, locking her son, Teresa and baby Neal within the room where they would be safe from the curse.

After a few moments, the building began to shake, the chandelier clinking. A sharp wind blew, moving Teresa and Henry's hair.

"It's here."

Their eyes met as as they shared a panicked look. They may be within a room and safe from the curse, but they still feared what was about to come.

Glass shards suddenly began to fall like rain in the room. Teresa knelt down onto the ground, shielding baby Neal with her body. Henry moved over and knelt down beside her, shielding both of them as he wrapped an arm around Teresa.