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CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
HEROES AND VILLIANS
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WHEN MORNING CAME, TERESA AND HENRY STOOD AMOUNG THE ICE WALL AT THE EDGE OF STORYBROOKE. With them were Elsa, Anna, Emma, Hook and Kristoff. Anna and Kristoff were awestruck at the tall height.

"Wow, that is a lot of ice."

"And it's time for it to come down." Elsa stepped forward and extended her hands toward the ice wall. The ice wall began to melt into blue flurries, that soon made their way to Elsa's glowing palms. A soft wind blew as soon the ice wall completely vanished as if it were there.

"Okay. Now can we go back home?" Anna began happily skipping toward the town line causing Emma's eyes to wide. The blonde savior moved forward to stop her.

"Stop! Don't take another step! That's the town line."

"Right. But I want to leave the town," Anna said. "Didn't I just say that?"

"The wall may be down, but I sense that some of Ingrid's magic remains." Emma was hesitant at first, but soon placed her hand up against the town line. A barrier of magic stopped her hand. "Yeah, leaving this town has never been simple. And Ingrid? She didn't change things. She wanted to be here alone with us. She wanted to make Storybrooke her ice castle, and clearly she wanted to protect it."

"So how do we get back home?" Anna asked.

"Walking wouldn't get us there anyway. We're in a different realm," Elsa told her.

"We need to find a portal. Or magic beans or something."

"Okay, now I'm lost," Kristoff muttered.

"Well, then let's get one of those things. We have to hurry."

"No, we don't need to rush. We need to be careful," Elsa said. "Arendelle will still be there while we figure this out."

"It might not." When Elsa stared at her in confusion, Anna turned to her fiancé. "Did we forget to tell her?"

"A lot of stuff was going on," Kristoff replied.

"Tell me what?"

"Arendelle's been conquered...by Hans and his 12 brothers."

Elsa's eyes widened. "Emma, we need to find a way back...now."

"We'll do our best."

➳

Henry walked into Gold's shop to find with his backpack of his shoulder and storybook I hand. In the back room, he found his grandmother Belle packing a very large suitcase.

"Hey, grandma. Are you taking a trip?"

"Uh, yeah. Rumple's taking me to New York for our honeymoon," Belle replied, with a smile.

"But the Snow Queen left a spell on the town line. Anyone who goes can't return. Didn't you hear?"

"No, I-I-I didn't," Belle confessed, her dark eyebrows knitting in confusion. "But I'm sure he must have a way to remove it."

Henry bit his look, a conflicted look in his eye. One that didn't get past Belle. She frowned in concern. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Henry sighed. He placed the storybook on the table, allowing Belle to stroke the cover. "This book. It's got all your stories in it. It started all this. And my mom...lots of bad things happen to her in it."

"Well, that doesn't mean they'll always happen to her that way. I...I wouldn't worry. She's on a much better path now."

Henry smiled, though he still wanted to help his mother. "Thanks, grandma."

"Yeah, you know...Belle's good."

Henry chuckled, "Got it."

"Okay, so, I need another suitcase." Belle have him a questioning look. "Help me look?"

Henry nodded and removed his backpack. He moved away and began looking for a suitcase. "You know, when you're in New York, you've got to go to the public library. No offense, but it blows the one here away." He spotted one on top of a shelf and climbed up the ladder to retrieve. As soon as he pulled it down from the shelf, several things fell. "It's got these looks outside of it..."

Belle jumped. "Aah! Are you okay?"

Henry gave her a sheepish look. "Sorry. Let me get those." He climbed down and began cleaning up the mess. "Huh. He really keeps some strange things here."

Henry glanced up at his grandmother to find a shocked look on his face. His eyes widened and he jumped up in concern, scared he broke something. "What's wrong? I'll clean it up."

"N-no, no. It's...It's okay. I-I got it." Belle reached down and picked up what appeared to be a piece of medieval armor. "I just, uh, didn't expect to see this here."

Henry looked at the piece of hand armor in confusion, wondering why it seemed so important to her. Instead of questioning it, he resumed cleaning the mess.

➳

At Granny's Diner, Teresa sat at a booth with Emma, Elsa, Anna and Kristkff. The group of five were figuring out a way to get Elsa, Anna and Kristoff back to Arendelle where they would be able to take back their kingdom. And to be honest, Teresa was saddened by this. She just discovered who her family was and now they were all leaving her.

"Swan." The sound of Killian Jones' voice ended their conversation; they all turned to look at the smiling pirate. "Come celebrate, for I may not be the Saviour, but I've just saved the day."

Elsa and Anna perked up at this. Emma glanced at them, "Hang on. Don't get your hopes up yet." The blonde then got up from the booth and moved to speak with Hook.

"So Teresa, will you coming back with us to Arendelle?" Anna asked.

"Oh, umm...I-I..." Teresa stuttered.

"You do not have to come if you don't to," Elsa voiced. "But if you do, I would be able to help you with your magic. That is, if you still want me to."

"Of course I want you to," Teresa replied. "It's just..."

"You have friends here?"

"Yea."

Elsa smiled and reached across the table to take her hand. "You don't have to decide now, why don't you think on it? And if you wish to come with us, you can always come back to Storybrooke."

Teresa gave her cousin a smile. "As soon as we discover a way, I'll let you know what I've decided."

➳

Apparently Hook had told Emma that there was way. Gold had told the one-handed pirate that there was a portal within the mansion by the lake.

As they made their way toward the mansion, Teresa walked in the back of the group with a conflicted look on her face. Her mind was working hard to think of a decision. On one hand she wanted to go to Arendelle with her cousins, but on the other hand she wanted to stay with Snow and Ruby and everyone she knew in the Enchanted Forest.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Teresa jumped as she turned to find Snow next to her. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know what to do," Teresa confessed.

"About what?"

"You know I love and care for you, right? That you'll always be my friend."

Snow looked at her in concern. "Of course I know. Teresa, what is this about?"

"I don't know whether to go with Elsa and Anna or not."

Snow stopped and pulled her into a hug. "I admit, I would miss you, but if this is what your heart desires then you should go."

"But that's the thing, I don't know what my heart desires." Teresa pulled back from her comforting embrace. "I want to go, believe me I do, but I'll miss you and Ruby, and the others. Elsa said I could come back after she teaches me to use my powers, but — "

Snow cut her off, leaning forward and gripping her shoulders. "Then go."

"What?"

"Go." Snow gave her a soft smile. "You can learn about Arendelle and to control your magic. Go to spend time with your family, and then when you want to come back, we'll be here waiting for you."

Teresa thought for a long moment. Tears burst in her eyes and she threw her arms around Snow. "I'll miss you so much."

"I'll miss you, too."

"Mom, Teresa, you coming?!"

They broke apart and looked ahead to where the others were waiting for them. With an arm wrapped around Teresa's shoulder, they began moving toward the mansion.

As soon as they walked in, Henry was awestruck. "This place is amazing." Henry then spotted a large blue door and his eyes widened in curiosity. "Hey Mom, I'll, uh, be right back."

"Hey, kid, wait!"

They followed Henry through the doorway and found him standing before a large blue door that was in the middle of the room.

"Well, Emma, I think this is it," Snow muttered, a hint of sadness in her voice. She was really going to miss Teresa.

"Crocuses!" Anna grinned in excitement as she spotted the symbols on the door. "Arendelle crocuses! Elsa, we're almost home."

Before the excited red head could open the portal door, Emma stopped her, "Wait, maybe I should open it. Magic can be unpredictable."

"So this is it." Elsa turned to Emma with a thankful look, and reached to take the hand of her new friend.

"Appears so."

"Thank you for taking such good care of my sister.'

"It's kind of what we do."

"It's our pleasure." Snow gave the Arendelle sisters a smile. "Now, don't you all have a kingdom to go save?"

"We sure do," Anna replied. "I hope Hans isn't too comfortable on that throne 'cause I'm gonna knock him right off the minute we get back."

"And the second minute we're back," Kristoff stepped forward. "Maybe we could get married? Just a thought..."

A large grin formed on Anna's face and she nodded toward her fiancé, then moved toward David to say goodbye as Elsa did the same with Emma.

"It's time," Elsa announced after embracing Emma. "Please, thank Hook and Mr. Gold for us, as well." Elsa then looked to Teresa. "Teresa?"

All eyes were now on the archer, who took a step toward forward. "Let's get going."

From next to hed fiancé, Anna grinned. If it wasn't obvious already, she was quite excited to get to know her cousin.

David, Henry and Emma however looked utterly confused. Henry's face fell as he looked at her in sadness. "You're leaving, too?"

At the sound of Henry's voice, Teresa's heart clenched. Over the time she's been in Storybrooke, she and Henry and gotten close. He was the kindest and most caring teenage boy she's ever met; she was going to miss him just as much as Snow and Ruby.

Teresa turned and met his gaze. "It's not forever, I'll be back. I promise." She stepped forward and threw her arms around him. Their hug lasted a while as the two teenagers silently said their goodbye.

As they pulled apart, Teresa embraced Snow again before moving to stand before David. She hadn't known him long so she patted his arm, "Take care of Snow or we're going to have some problems."

David chuckled. "Noted."

Teresa then turned to Emma and pulled the blonde into a hug. "Thank you for bringing here."

"No problem, kid," Emma replied.

Teresa pulled away and gave her a look. "Haven't we established not to call me kid?"

Emma playfully rolled her eyes at the teenager before moving to open the portal door. After opening the door, a shimmering light was revealed; a portal.

With a smile on her face, Elsa walked through the portal.

Teresa turned to her friends and gave them a smile, her eyes landing on Henry last, who returned her smile with sadness in his eyes. The archer waved before moving forward and stepping through the portal.

➳

That night, Regina sat at the counter at Granny's Diner, alone, consumed by her sadness. Just earlier, in order to save Marian, she had to let yet another one of her love's by sending Robin over the town line with Roland and Marian. It was the only way to save Marian, whos frozen curse had began to return.

First she lost Alice, and now she lost Robin. She was beginning to wonder if she would ever find happiness again.

Emma walked up and sat next to her on a stool. "I'm not in the mood for a hope speech, Emma," she muttered.

"You're mistaking me for my mother. Besides, you don't need a speech. You need a drinking buddy. Shots?"

Regina looked at the blonde in shock before shrugging. "Sure. Why not?"

Emma turned to the woman working tonight at Granny's and ordered them two shots. "You know you did the right thing today."

Regina rolled her eyes. "There it is...a hope speech. I thought we were drinking?"

"It's not a speech," Emma said. "It's a compliment."

"Well, I don't need your validation. I know I did the right thing. I know because I'm miserable...again."

"Thanks," Emma said as two shots were placed in front of them. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, so is Gold."

"It does." Regina clinked her glass against Emma's, but before either of them could down their shot, the door burst open and an out of breath Henry ran in, almost knocking Emma off her stool.

"Whoa, kid. Slow down."

"Mom! Mom! I found something big! You're gonna want to see this," Henry grinned.

➳

Henry led them up a staircase in the mansion. "After you guys left, I stayed behind to look around, and I found something."

When they got to the end of a hallway, Henry reached forward and pulled down a wall lamp. It made a clinking noise and then the wall opened, revealing a library.

Regina gasped in a awe. "A library!"

"Not just any library." Henry walked over to the shelf and pulled one of the books down. "Look."

"That looks like your book."

"Only it's blank." Henry opened the book, revealing blank pages. "They all are. And if this place is full of potential Storybooks..."

Regina's mood was slowly brightening. "Then maybe this is the author's house." She grinned at her son and pulled him into a hug. "Henry, you did it!"

"Did what?" Emma asked in confusion. "What's going on?"

"Well, uh, we were looking for the author," Regina revealed. "I was hoping he could write me a happier story."

"We called it Operation Mongoose."

"I like it. It's got style." Emma smiled. "I'm in."

Regina's eyes widened. "You are?"

"I made you a promise I intend to keep. Everyone deserves their happy ending."

A/N: So I've looked through all the comments and have chosen a ship name!! #ArchBeliever! It's like #CaptainSwan and I love it! Thanks LacyKs for thinking of it 😀