Teresa Holmes hadn't slept a wink all night. Every time she closed her eyes, she could see herself back in Hyde's cell and could hear his words bouncing against her eardrums. He knew her father... But how? How did Sherlock Holmes go from Arendelle to the Land of Untold Stories? And where was he now? Was he in Storybrooke, round up with the other refugees that Snow and David came across? Was he still in the Enchanted Forest? Had he traveled to another realm? Was he dead? Teresa wanted answers, no matter the cost. It's what she deserved.

So, instead of going to work her shift at Granny's like she's supposed to, Teresa snuck around Storybrooke, making her way toward Hyde's cell to speak with him more while making sure she stayed unseen. If even one person saw that she was sneaking around, they'd rat her out and she'd lose the only chance she has of trying to find her father. Possibly, for forever, as Hyde will never talk if everyone questioned him. Teresa knew that it had to be her and her alone. Even if she felt guilty for not telling Henry about any of this. But it was better that her boyfriend didn't know. He'd freak out and become even more protective over her than he already is.

The platinum-blonde peeked out from an alley with a sigh. There were people everywhere. She could spot Leroy right away and knew that if she stepped out from the shadows, he would see her.

"I'm doomed," she murmured.

Teresa knew of only one way that she was getting into Hyde's cell now. She just had to hope that no one else was in there with him.

The platinum-blonde stepped back further into the alley, and just as she was about to teleport herself into Hyde's cell, her phone rang. She cursed whoever it was calling her as she scrambled to answer it.

It was Granny.

She knew if she didn't answer then Granny would think something was wrong, so Teresa put the phone up to her ear and forced a smile onto her face, hoping Granny wouldn't catch her in a lie.

"Teresa, where are you? You didn't show up for your shift this morning, and we are overflowing with refugees. We need all hands on deck."

"Yeah, I know, sorry. I'm just ─ I wanted to get in a hunt before my shift, but I kind of lost track of time. I'm on my way now. I'll be there soon, Granny," Teresa replied. She bit down on her lip, hating that she lied to the woman who was like her own grandmother, but she had to. Granny loved her, but she wouldn't hesitate to tell the others what Teresa was up to if she found out.

"You better, missy," Granny said before hanging up.

Teresa huffed as she closed her cell phone and stuffed it into her pocket. "Looks like I'm not getting my answers today," she muttered as she made her way out of the alley. She began heading toward Granny's, kicking stones along the path of the sidewalk with a frown.

When the platinum-blonde arrived at Granny's, she made her way inside and headed straight for the counter where Granny thrust her apron in to her arms. "Thank goodness you're here," the elderly woman stressed. "You can start by brewing a fresh pot of coffee and then taking these plates to booth four."

Teresa gave a nod. She removed her jacket, tossing it beneath the counter before tying her apron around her waist. She got to work on brewing the pot of coffee, then made her way toward the food window and gathered the three plates in her arms, taking them to booth four with a smile on her face. Teresa asked them if they needed anything else before departing back behind the counter to ask for coffee refills.

As the clock ticked by, the platinum-blonde rushed around Granny's in a frenzy, refilling cups of coffee and serving breakfast orders while guiding the new arrivals from the Land of Untold Stories toward empty booths, where, as mayor, Regina Mills was planning to speak with them about where they will remain while they searched for a way to help them all get home.

Among the crowd of people were Calista, Kit, and Soren. Snow and David had left the house early to escort them from the hospital and to the diner. The trio sat alone, speaking amongst themselves while sipping hot cups of tea, which Teresa had been kind enough to make for them. They also made time to release Mary Poppins from Regina's vault, the young woman conversing with a group of other women.

Killian and Emma turned away from the restless crowd to lean up against the counter. The pair sighed and glanced toward the platinum-blonde. "They're getting restless," the Savior remarked. "Did Henry mention when Regina was planning on showing up?"

Teresa shook her head. "No. He just said he had to debrief her on Operation Cobra: Part Two, but promised they'd be here."

Killian lifted a brow. "Operation Cobra: Part Two?"

"Yep, and this time Regina's the hero," she informed.

"Okay!" David addressed the room. "Room keys are on the counter. Fresh clothes are by the jukebox."

Everyone looked at him in confusion and a series of whispers asked, "What's a jukebox?"

"Lunches are by the front door," David went on. Nobody but Calista, Kit, and Soren seemed to be listening to him, as they began whispering amongst themselves, overpowering the volume of David.

Emma turned away from the crowd and rubbed at her temples. "Teresa, can I get a coffee, please? They're giving me a headache."

"Make that two," Killian added, and the platinum-blonde gave them a nod.

Teresa grabbed two mugs and set them on the counter before reaching for the fresh coffee pot she had brewed moments ago. "There you are," she said, sliding them the filled mugs. They eagerly took a sip.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

The bell above the door chimed as it opened up, causing Teresa to look away from Emma and Killian. The corners of her mouth lifted into a smile at the sight of her boyfriend, who was being followed by his adoptive mother.

Henry Mills smiled back.

"Your Majesty, it's about time. The rabble are getting restless," said Killian.

"Morning," Henry greeted.

"Morning." Teresa set the pot of coffee down and leaned across the counter in front of him. "Let me guess ─ one cocoa with extra cinnamon?"

"Please," Henry responded.

The platinum-blonde shook her head in amusement as she got to work making it for him. "You're too predictable, Henry." She glanced toward Regina, who stood with the storybook pressed against her chest. The woman looked nervous. "Anything for you, Regina?"

Regina Mills looked up and met the cerulean-blue stare of Teresa Holmes. "No, thank you." She set the storybook on the countertop and straightened out her jacket, making herself look more presentable.

Henry touched his mother's arm, gaining her attention. "Mom, you've got this."

Teresa set the cocoa down in front of Henry and gave the former Evil Queen a smile. "You've dealt with a lot more people than this before, Regina. Trust us, you'll be fine."

With a nod and a clear of her throat, Regina swiveled on her heel to address the restless crowd. "As mayor, I would like to officially welcome you to Storybrooke. You fled to the Land of Untold Stories because you were afraid that whatever was in this book is going to play out. But now that you're here, I'm sure you're scared it will. But what you don't realize is... I'm just like you. I'm also getting a fresh start, and I don't know what the future holds either. But I do know one thing. We don't have to be afraid of anything, because whatever comes next, we're going to face it... together." By the end of her speech, the crowd erupted in applause, smiles upon their faces.

Teresa grabbed the coffeepot and began offering some refills. As she did, the bell chimed again and this time, the person who walked through the door startled the archer. She knew for certain this woman had been under a sleeping curse, yet here she was, awake and walking around Storybrooke. Belle French.

Emma and Killian were the first ones to approach her. "Belle. You're here, and you're awake."

"Yeah, and I need a place to stay."

Killian stared at her confusion. "What about the Crocodile?"

"We're ─ uh ─ we're not together at the moment," Belle stammered, appearing embarrassed to confess her marital problems out loud. "So, I thought maybe Granny would have a room."

Teresa furrowed her eyebrows, wondering what could have gone down between. Since she's been in Storybrooke, all Belle has ever done is defend the man, and now she was hiding from her husband. What had changed?

"Oh, I would not wish those mattresses on my worst enemy. We'll find you something better," Granny offered with a kind smile.

"Aye," Killian nodded. "I know just the place. What do you say, Swan?"

Emma smiled. "Lead the way."

As Emma and Killian left with Belle, Teresa switched her attention toward her boyfriend. She leaned up against the counter and peered down at the pages of the storybook he was reading. "What're you looking for?"

"Just skimming through," Henry replied. "Hey, did you see a man standing here before? He had long brown hair and was wearing a strange jacket."

Teresa shook her head. "No, why?"

"I was planning to find his story, but he just vanished out of thin air."

"I'm sure it was nothing."

"That's the thing, it was something. I think he might be a vampire. Count Dracula maybe?"

Teresa snorted. "You think Count Dracula was here? Henry, come on."

Henry gave her look as she tried to contain her amusement, but her effort was terrible. "Don't laugh. I'm being serious. He was here one second and gone the next. If that doesn't scream Dracula, then I don't know what does."

"Oh, no." Teresa's eyes grew. "I suppose we better supply the town with wooden stakes and garlic necklaces," she teased.

"Hilarious," Henry smiled. "You know, if you wind up with a vampire on your neck, don't come crying to me."

Teresa stuck her tongue out at him.

A look of realization then crossed over Henry's features as he scrambled to reveal something from the inside pocket of his jacket. "Oh! He also left this." He extended a cream-colored envelope toward her.

Teresa's brows furrowed as she peered at the crimson seal with the letters 'M' and 'C'. She knew for a fact that nobody ever uses letters anymore. At least not here. People talked by cell phones in Storybrooke. Turning it over in her hands, she found the names Snow White and Prince Charming written in calligraphy. "Weird. It says this is for Snow and David."

"What?" Henry snatched the envelope from her hands and with wide eyes, stared down at the calligraphy. "Why would he need to see my grandparents?"

Teresa shrugged. "Beats me." She noticed Snow and David heading out the door and gestured toward them. "But there they go, so you better catch them."

"Watch the book for me?" Henry asked, sliding it toward her while rising from his stool.

Teresa nodded, taking the book and placing it behind the counter so no one would steal it, before watching as Henry rushed out the door to stop his grandparents from leaving. She stood there, watching and waiting for a reaction.

After a few minutes, they parted ways and Henry returned, sittingdown across from her once more. He wore anexpression of worry on his face.

"So?"

"I was wrong, it's not Count Dracula."

Teresa raised a brow. "Okay, I will ignore how disappointed you are about it not being a vampire and ask, who was it then?"

"Count Monte Cristo," Henry replied. "It turns out that my mom hired him to kill Snow White. I guess he's come to finish the job my mom hired him to do. Do you remember him?"

Teresa's eyes widened. She thought back on her days in the Enchanted Forest for a moment, but she couldn't seem to recall a Count Monte Cristo from those days. "Uh, no. Sorry. That all must have happened after Emma and Killian brought me through the portal." She watched as Henry's shoulders sagged, worry for his grandparents filling his eyes. "I'm sure it's nothing to worry about, Henry," she assured, trying to remain positive. "Regina will take care of this and clear it all up."

"I know," Henry sighed. "But what if my mom can't get there in time and he kills them?"

Teresa frowned as she continued to watch him worry about his grandparents. "Snow and David are two of the strongest people I know. Trust me, with Regina on their side, they'll be okay."

Henry bit down on his lip, still feeling uneasy about the entire thing. Not that Teresa could blame him. She worried for them, too. But she also knew that Regina could handle this. After all, she's the one who hired the guy to kill Snow.

Sensing that Henry would not stop worrying soon, Teresa reached under the counter and grabbed his storybook. "Here, why don't you do what you do best and help people by finding their story? You did in the Underworld and it worked, remember? Maybe you can do the same here. It might help take your mind off this Monte Cristo guy."

Henry smiled and opened up his book. He glanced behind him, scanning the room, before choosing to stop the man was about to walk out the door. "Excuse me!" The man turned around. "What's your name?"

The man wore a pair of black breeches and a similar color for the solid tunic covering his torso paired with high black boots and a sword was on his hip. Above his lip, there was a small and well taken care of mustache, and his dirty-blonde hair pulled back from his face, though few strands surrounded his handsome features in a perfect, yet messy, fashion.

"Beg your pardon?"

"What's your name?" Henry repeated. "If I could find your story, then maybe we could figure out how to pick up where you left off."

"I see," the man responded, appearing intrigued. He strode up beside Henry and peered down over his shoulder toward the opened storybook. "Well my boy, I am the Dread Pirate Roberts."

Teresa recognized the name, thinking back on the first movie Henry ever introduced her to when she first arrived in Storybrooke. The Princess Bride. From what she can remember, Dread Pirate Roberts was the feared alias of Westley, a farm boy who fell in love with a girl that later became Princess Buttercup. Westley took on the name after the former Dread Pirate Roberts ─ whose named was Ryan; the name Dread Pirate Roberts centuries old and being passed down to each proteģe ─ spared his life and took him under his wing. Ryan later retired and gave Westley his crew as the new Dread Pirate Roberts. It was an entertaining movie and kept her on her toes. She liked it.

"Wait, the Dread Pirate Roberts?" Henry asked. His eyes met Teresa's, and he grinned, brown eyes shining bright with excitement. "I know your story!"

"Aye," the pirate smirked. "I have acquired quite the reputation for myself. But I can see now from the look upon your face you do not fear the name like others. It makes me wonder ─ how so?"

"It's a long story, but I know yours well because I've heard of it before. You're Westley, the farm boy turned pirate whose in love with Buttercup. I'm Henry Mills, by the way."

The man seemed shocked by everything Henry had said to him. Nobody knew his real name. No one. He was always Dread Pirate Roberts. Westley sat down next to Henry, lips parting as he stammered for words.

"I am, yes," Westley said after a long moment of silence. "I had been sailing the oceans until myself and my crew shipwrecked in a bad storm and found ourselves in the Land of Untold Stories. None of them survived. I've been trying to return to my land ever since, so I may go home to the one I love."

Teresa watched as Henry began flipping through the pages of the storybook and when he came upon Westley's story, they began reading the pages together. As they read through the book, Henry began asking Westley a thousand questions, and Westley, eager to share his story, answered them all.

Deciding to leave them to discuss Westley's life together, Teresa got back to work before Granny would scold her.

　
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After Teresa's shift ended, she made her way toward the sheriff's station with Henry and Westley. The place was empty, which is as they expected. Given how Killian and Emma were helping Belle, and David and Snow were working with Regina to eliminate the newest threat against their lives, they expected the sheriff's station to be empty. They walked in and headed straight for Emma's office.

"What is it we are here for?" Westley asked.

"Don't worry, my mom and grandpa are the authorities in town," Henry assured as he sat down at his mother's desk and began looking through the database on her computer.

"And we're here because Emma thought it was a good idea to have everyone listed in her system with their cursed identity and their real one. That way it's easier to figure out who's who for these types of situations," Teresa explained.

Westley nodded, only partially understanding the plan and following them with it, anyway. Anything to get him back to Buttercup. He stared at the computer screen in awe.

"Which means, if Buttercup was from the Enchanted Forest, she could have been part of the curse and is in Storybrooke," Henry continued as he began typing away on his mother's computer. "We just have to find the list. It should be on here."

After a moment, Henry found his mother's database, and he clicked on the file. The names were listed alphabetically, cursed surname first. He began scrolling down the long list, three sets of eyes searching with desperation for the name Buttercup. Near the end, when all hope was lost, they found her.

"She's here," Westley breathed, a relieved smile spreading on his face as he blinked away his tears.

"Sarah Walsh," Teresa read aloud. She pondered for a moment, trying to think of who and where she's might've seen a Sarah Walsh in Storybrooke before, but her mind was blank. So was Henry's, it seemed.

And that it her.

She knew Sarah Walsh.

Maybe not personally, but very recently.

Sarah was the nurse that had been working the Emergency Room reception desk when her and Henry brought Calista, Kit, and Soren to the hospital. Her name tag had read Sarah Walsh. It was like they were meant to find Calista, Kit, and Soren last night. Otherwise, Westley may never have found the love of his life.

A grin spread on Teresa's face as she turned to face both Henry and Westley. "I know where to find her."

Henry stared up at her in confusion. "You do?"

"She's the nurse from last night, Henry. The one in those yellow and pink scrubs," Teresa explained, causing Henry's eyes to widen in realization. His girlfriend was right. Because, as he had been coming back in from calling his moms, he ran into that nurse and got a glimpse of the name printed on her hospital I.D.

Henry smiled and clicked the exit tab on the screen before jumping up from the desk. "Let's go."

"Where are we going?" Westley asked, seeming to snap out of his daydream as Teresa nudged him toward the door. They walked outside and started walking down the sidewalk once more.

"To the hospital," Teresa replied.

"It's where she works as a nurse," Henry explained.

"As a nurse?" Westley's brows furrowed. "I can assure you that my Buttercup has never sewn a wound in her life. Are you certain this is the correct Sarah Walsh?"

"The database doesn't lie," Teresa stated. "Besides, unless Sarah Walsh has always wanted to be named Buttercup, I'm certain we've found her."

"Fair enough," Westley muttered.

By the time they made it to the hospital, Westley felt his heart grow weary. What if she did not remember him? What if she moved on? Was this cursed identity of hers married to another? His palms began to sweat as he followed through a set of glass doors that opened like magic.

Teresa glanced around the Emergency Room, and when her eyes landed on a head of honey colored hair that sipping a cup of coffee, she smiled and turned to face Westley. She patted his arm and pointed in Sarah's direction. "There she is."

Westley followed her gaze and his heart stopped. It was true. This woman was his Buttercup. And she was just as beautiful as he remembered. She wore odd clothing colored bright green and yellow, her long hair styled in a braid, and she stood laughing while talking with an auburn-haired woman in blue. Her laugh was enchanting, and it brought on old memories that made his eyes burn. After being nudged once more by the platinum-blonde on his left, Westley began to approach the love of his life.

Teresa and Henry watched as Westley approached her. When he was close enough, the auburn-haired woman asked if he needed any help, which brought Buttercup to turn and see who had arrived. Buttercup's lips parted in surprise and her coffee spilled to the floor at their feet, the clatter of the styrofoam cup surprisingly loud. Heads turned to see what was the matter, watching on in silence as Westley and Buttercup stared at one another, neither moving nor speaking.

And then, after the longest time, Westley stepped forward and sealed the space between them with a kiss. They laughed and cried, and Teresa and Henry smiled at the mission they accomplished. They had brought together true love.

Henry reached across the space and took Teresa's hand, tugging her toward the exit. "Come on, I think they have a lot of catching up to do," he said.

Teresa nodded and followed him out of the hospital. "Well, one down, many more to go," she said. "Who do you feel like helping next, Mills?"

　
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Teresa Holmes and Henry Mills planned on returning to Granny's so they could help someone else with their story, but their plan got sidetracked when they ran into Emma, who explained how the encounter with the Count of Monte Cristo went. Apparently, he would not let up on his mission to kill Snow White and David. So now Regina was blaming herself for not being able to pull the plug on the newest threat before things got more out of hand.

After searching what parts of town they could, Teresa, Henry, and Emma came up short. They couldn't find him anywhere. So, they split up. Henry joined Regina in the woods, using the storybook as research while on a town-wide manhunt, Emma called Killian for an extra set of eyes and went off searching the town with him, while Teresa called Snow White and David to find out where they were and if they were okay.

The phone rang and rang and rang, and for a moment Teresa was sure the Count had reached them. But then Snow White answered, causing the teenager girl to sigh in relief. "What took you so long to answer?"

"Sorry, my phone's on vibrate. What's going on? Were you, Henry and Emma able to find him?"

"Nope," Teresa sighed. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she walked down the sidewalk. "Emma's going to keep searching with Killian and Henry joined Regina, but I need to know where you guys are. I'm serving as protection detail until this is all over."

"We're at the docks."

With a wave of her hand, Teresa teleported herself to the docks. Once the white flurries vanished, she glanced around and caught sight of her friend and her husband not that far away from where she had landed. "I see you. Don't move. I'm on my way." She hung up and began jogging towards them.

When Teresa reached their side, her footsteps against alerted them. They turned around and David raised an impressed eyebrow.

"You got here fast," he remarked.

"Teleportation has its perks," the teenager smirked. "Now, what does this guy look like so I'm not attacking someone else by mistake?"

"Well, he's about my height. Long brown hair, brown eyes ─ oh, and he'll be wanting to kill us," David explained.

Teresa raised an eyebrow, a little caught off guard by his sarcasm. She hadn't been expecting it given the predicament at hand. David always kept cool during these types of situations. She gave him a look. "Okay first, I'm proud that you're coming into the sarcasm. Second, there's no need for it. I'm here to protect you both. I get you're stressed, but that's not helping the situation. We need to stay sharp if we want to find this guy before it's too late."

David sighed, running a hand down his face. "You're right, I'm sorry. It's just ─ "

"I get it." Teresa cut him off, her expression soft. She understood because she was feeling stressed out, too. After all, Monte Cristo wanted to kill her best friend. "I am, too."

David smiled.

After a moment, his smile vanished, but his gaze stayed locked with Teresa's. He was telling her something without having to say it out loud. With Snow having to hear him say it, for he knew it would to a long argument about how both of them would make it through this.

Don't worry about me, just save Snow.

There was a time that Teresa would have been okay with that. Just saving Snow. Back then, Snow White was all she had. It was just them and the woods, playing an endless game of survival against the Evil Queen and her Dark Knights. She had blood on her hands that would never wash away because of those days. But not now and never would she play by those rules again. The people of Storybrooke, though not related by blood, had become her family. A family she would be willing put herself on the front line of danger to protect them. So no, she wasn't going to only save Snow. She would do everything in her power to save them both.

But, for the sake of this moment, Teresa gave David a nod.

They began walking down the docks at a leisurely pace, not wanting to draw attention to themselves. They kept alert, eyes searching the area for any sign of a man out for blood. When they turned the corner of a warehouse near the edge of the docks, a man stood with a sword drawn against them, knuckles white against the hilt as he stared toward them.

They came to an abrupt stop and David, on instinct, moved a hand out in front of them.

Snow's lips parted in surprise. "Edmond?"

"Edmond, come on." David held his hands up in surrender while cautiously approaching him. "This is all just a big misunderstanding."

Teresa allowed her magic to flare up as she studied the man's every move, awaiting his strike. Frost licked up to her elbows, awaiting her command, and a light yet deathly cold wind blew through the area, whipping their hair.

"Oh, you have no idea," Edmond replied.

And then he lunged.

Teresa, Snow and David ducked beneath the sharp and desperate swing of his blade, allowing it to chop away at the frosty air around them. They crawled against the wood before rushing to their feet. Teresa stood in front of them, icicles forming like daggers in her palms as Edmond turned to face them.

"I don't want to hurt you," Teresa told him. She gripped tight to the icicles. Everything in her body was telling her to throw them; to allow the point to end his life so that her friend could live, but that wasn't her way of life anymore. She couldn't just take lives like they no longer mattered. Besides, David mentioned this was a misunderstanding between them and Edmomd is. What if she was killing an innocent man? She didn't want more innocent blood on her hands.

"I have no quarrel with you, child. I suggest you leave now or forever regret it," Edmond warned.

Child.

Teresa's nostrils flared. Her grip tightened around the icicles. "I'm not a child," she said through clenched teeth before spinning and throwing the icicles with elegance. One caught Edmond's arm. It drew some blood, but he dodged them both before they could make a fatal hit.

Teresa turned to face Snow and David for a moment as she formed new ice daggers in her palms. "Run." Before either of them could protest, she dashed forward, charging at Edmond and engaging in battle. She swept under the swing of his blade once more and caught the back of his knee with the tip of her ice dagger, bringing him down for only a moment before he swung at her again.

She stumbled back when he swung hard and true, his jaw set and teeth clenched. As she did, she noticed that neither David nor Snow had run away like she ordered them to do. Instead, they had armed themselves. David grabbed hold of a trash can lid, while Snow armed herself with a discarded metal pipe from behind some empty fishing barrels.

Teresa threw swung her ice daggers toward him, but Edmond dodged them. He caught her off guard as she struck left, going right and throwing his boot into her stomach. She grunted, a flare of pain erupting in her gut, the air being knocked out of her lungs. Teresa stumbled back and into some barrels, her foot catching some rope and causing her to fall.

Snow gasped and moved to stand in front of her. She glanced down at her friend, concern swimming in the oceans of her blue eyes, before looking at Edmond once more, hand tightening around the metal pipe in her grasp, ready to defend herself and her family.

"Edmond, we can explain everything," David tried.

"The Queen's our friend," Snow said. "She's changed. She doesn't want you to do this."

"That's where you're wrong. She does." Edmond lunged for Snow, but David was quick to act. He caught the sword with the lid and threw it away from the love of his life, allowing Snow to step forward and swing the pipe against his jaw.

Edmond, quick to recover from the blow, turned on his heel and swung his blade toward Snow White. Metal clashed against metal as Snow White brought the pipe up to defend herself. The moment allowed David to slam the lid into Edmond's gut, pushing him backwards.

"Then why are you doing this?" David asked.

Edmund grunted in pain, holding his stomach as he tried to regain his bearings. "Because she has my heart!"

Teresa's eyes widened. How could Regina not tell them that?

While there was still distance between them, Teresa slapped her palm against the wooden surface below their feet. As fast as the speed of light, a sleet of ice consumed the ground around Edmond and the man lost all footing, stumbling backward while trying to regain his balance.

Teresa smirked and jumped to her feet. She formed a new set of ice daggers in her palms and while she still had the advantage over Edmond, as he crept towards them while walking on the sleet of ice, being careful not to slip, she lunged. Only she was immune to such magic and weather, therefore that sleet had no effect on her. The platinum-blonde danced across the slippery surface like a figure skater on ice, moving in perfect elegance with each swipe of her ice daggers.

Despite the advantage she had over him, Edmond escaped the sleet by jumping and rolling against the wooden ground and rising to his feet as fast as a bolt of lightning. He turned and swung his blade at David, who caught the blow with the lid. The two men pushed against one another, but it was Edmond who won by shoving his full weight against David and causing the man to stumble away.

Edmond turned on Snow White and drew back his blade, but before he could swing it, Teresa blasted him away. Sharp and cold winds threw him against the warehouse and into the empty barrels, emitting a pained groan from his lips as he scrambled to get up.

Edmond lunged into battle once more, diving his blade into the middle of them. David caught it with the lid and Snow shoved the pipe against his arm, while Teresa wrapped her arm around his throat and touched her cold hand to his cheek, covering the area of skin in frost. His skin became numb, and he grunted in pain. They held their positions, each one pushing against one another to gain more power in fight.

"Who, Edmond? Who has your heart?" David grunted.

"The Evil Queen."

Teresa, Snow White and David shared a look of confusion. They knew for a fact that the Evil Queen was dead. Regina had crushed her heart after the separation in New York. So how could the Evil Queen have his heart? None of it made any sense.

Seeing their moment of surprise, Edmond used it to escape their grasps. He brought his elbow up into Teresa's face, causing the teenager to stumble backward and reach for her face. On instinct, her eyes had watered up from the hard blow to her nose. She blinked the tears away, watching as he pushed David and Snow backward with his sword. Teresa felt a trickle of warm liquid flow down her face and reached a hand up. Her nose was bleeding. Anger washed over her. She set her jaw and lunged for him, swinging ruthlessly with her ice daggers.

"She can't be," Snow voiced what was on all their minds.

"Yeah, well, it looks like she is," David breathed as he caught the tip of Edmond's blade with the lid as Teresa maneuvered around him.

Edmond stuck the lid repeatedly, beginning to weaken David, but David pushed back, shoving his shoulder into the lid and trying to throw Edmond off his balance. But Edmond remained strong, pushing back against the lid with all his might. Both of the grunted.

"But it doesn't matter. We'll find a way to stop her," David grunted. Snow and Teresa came up behind him and that extra weight caused Edmond to fall backward, his back connecting hard against the sleet. He slid. "We always do."

Edmond was quick to get back on his feet. "I hope so..." With a simple swipe of his blade, he cut a rope clean in half, causing a heap of barrels that were strung up came barreling towards them. While Teresa rolled out of the way, Snow and David weren't so fortunate. The barrels flew right into them, rendering the couple unconscious. "... because this isn't the ending I wished for any of us."

Teresa rose to her feet and hurried to stand in front of their unconscious bodies. With her nose bleeding and ponytail disheveled, she glared toward Edmond with cerulean-blue eyes almost as sharp as the ice daggers in her hands.

Or so she thought there were ice daggers in her grasp.

Suddenly, her magic was gone. Which didn't make sense because Henry had her crystal pendent. He carried it around in his jacket ever since their encounter with Hyde in the park the other day. So what happened? Where did her magic go? And why did it have to leave her right now?

Teresa's eyes widened.

Edmond smirked. He felt relief, for her powers had become a problem against the task he had to complete. "It seems you've extended the limit of your powers. Now, step aside and no harm will come to you. This is between me..." He pointed his sword at Snow and David. "...and them."

"Over my dead body," Teresa sneered. In a flash, she picked up Snow's discarded pipe and met his blade in the middle. She pushed against his weight and spun, moving around him and sending a hard blow to his jaw.

Edmond grunted. He cupped his face before lunging for her head. Teresa had to duck out of the way so her head wouldn't get chopped off, but as she did, Edmond swung down and caught her arm. A hiss of pain fell from her lips as her delicate flesh opened up and blood began to seep through her sleeve.

Teresa didn't have a change to check her arm before Edmond was lunging for her again. Metal met metal once more, and they both pushed hard, trying to knock each other off balance. But neither wavered, staying strong. Teresa gritted her teeth and tried hard to conjure her magic, but it was gone. As if it wasn't even there to begin with.

Grunting against his weight, Teresa knew she would eventually grow weak and lose the battle, so he had to be quick on her toes and form an escape plan. So, she did the only thing she could think of and swung her head forward, head-butting him with everything she had. A throbbing headache was quick to form in her temples, emitting a groan from her lips.

"You're strong, I'll give you that. But without your powers, you're no match," Edmond said.

Teresa clenched her jaw and swung hard, but she was stupid enough to fall for his trick. He intended on angering her, so she would strike first and he could catch her off guard by swiping out her feet. She hit the ground so hard that her vision blurred over for a moment.

She blinked and went to rise, more fight in her, but Teresa was met with the tip of his blade staring her in the face. Her jaw clenched as she stared up at him.

"I'm sorry." His voice was sincere. Edmond did not want to kill this child, but he had no choice. The Evil Queen was very specific. Kill anyone that got in his way. And Teresa had. "All I wanted was a fresh start."

Edmond drew back his sword and then he swung.

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a/n: In my offense, I never intended for this cliffhanger to happen....... but then the opportunity came and it was just too good to pass on. Also, did you like the chapter? Do you think Teresa will get her answers? Did you enjoy reading Teresa in action with those ice daggers? Also, what did you think of Westley and Buttercup's tie in? I told you I had plans with that nurse Sarah