Back with an update! Phew! Thank you SO MUCH for your patience and support. I'm sorry for that cliffhanger. I usually leave them at a happy place because I know it might take me long before another update, but this time I was kinda evil. So sorry! XD I still can't believe this Elsa and Regina adventure has taken quite a long trip. I regret nothing!

FROZEN DREAMS
Chapter 28

A swirl of light and air spiraled into the pendant and Regina couldn't do anything to stop getting sucked into its power. She was terrified at the possibility of appearing in an unknown world, as the floating realm in between theirs had vanished when Regina crossed over to the fairytale land. But after the explosion of magic and the bright light faded away, she looked around her and felt relief to find a familiar context. She was back in Storybrooke, in her own bedroom, and Henry was sleeping on her chair while wearing the second necklace that complemented the pair. Regina had put inside the envelope she gave to Olaf when they sent him through the portal door to find Henry.

She didn't think the necklaces could work again after transcending realms with the power of their true love and their child's, and Regina was baffled that the magical pendants could still hold enough power to make one last trip. Elsa must have known this but kept it from her.

Regina went to her son's side and gently squeezed on his shoulder. "Henry," she said softly to wake him up.

"Mom? Is this a dream?" He opened his eyes lazily, rubbed them with his hands—his vision was a little blurry—until he could focus his sight on his mother.

"You're not dreaming, my little prince. I'm back," Regina said sweetly, though she could not fully mask the worry in her voice.

"Mom!" He embraced her tightly, and then another—smaller—person, or thing, hugged her leg.

"Mom!" Olaf greeted her with excitement and Regina was so happy to see him, she didn't remind him her name was Regina, not mom.

A lively Olaf was a sign Elsa was still a live, her magic was still latent, but she had to go back as soon as possible if she wanted it to remain this way. Time moved differently when they traveled with the magic of these pendants and she didn't know if time had passed or not, as she had jumped right into Storybrooke, without a middle dimension.

Henry had seen the pendant glow brightly over his nightstand at some point during the night, waking him from his slumber, and immediately put it on, but nothing happened. He had a hunch and sneaked out of his grandparents' apartment and went home, to the last place where his mother had been, and then fell asleep while waiting in vain for an adventure—until this moment.

In the letter Regina had sent him with Olaf, she told him about the magic of these relics and how it helped her go back to the fairytale world. But since it had taken a grand power to make the portal jumping, they weren't sure they still held any magic left to use for this intent—well, Regina wasn't. She had sent it as a gift for her son to receive if it would be her last present, should they perish at the hands of the King of Arendelle.

But even if the pendant had contained any magic, Henry hadn't been born in the magical land, so he couldn't have used it to travel to their world. But it served as anchor to bring Regina back to Storybrooke the moment Elsa put it on her and made her wish to send her to safety, where the Duke of Weselton couldn't command her heart to do things she didn't want to.

Elsa must have figured it out, or she knew more than she pretended to about these lockets. Of course, she'd been living for months in the Enchanted Forest, and Belle was almost like her sister; she must have taught her many secrets of magic during this time away. But this card Elsa had hid up her sleeve could only buy them so much time before Aurelius took it against her, and Regina was desperate to go back to protect her, but she needed help. Raz was too powerful. They needed a Savior.

"We must go to the portal door, Henry. Call Emma. We need her. With her light magic and mine and Elsa's combined, we can defeat Raz together." She hurried him and poofed themselves to the Charming's apartment right away.

"Emma! Emma!" The mayor yelled, and Mary Margaret came to tell her Emma was out with Ruby, and scowled at Henry when she realized the sneaky brat had escaped in the middle of the night without telling anyone.

"Typical. When you need saving, the Savior is out of reach," Regina grumbled.

"But, Regina, how? When did you come back?" Mary Margaret asked her, but Regina had no time for chitchat.

"Just now. There's a portal somewhere in the woods, but I have to go now. Elsa's in danger and I have no time for this. Henry, you'll stay here. Olaf, let's go." She poofed them to the mountain, but then realized someone had clung to her when she teleported.

"Henry!" Regina exclaimed.

"Mom! You're not leaving me behind again," Henry said sharply, eyes reddened.

"It's too dangerous," Regina felt conflicted. She wanted to bring her son with her so she could show him their world, but the timing couldn't have possibly been any less favorable.

"So I'll stay somewhere safe. Please, I want to come with you."

"When this is over, I promise I'll come back for you. Until then, please stay here with Emma," Regina said sadly. She knew that might actually never happen. The danger was real.

"It's not the same! Nobody cares about me anymore. First Elsa, then Ruby; neither of you acknowledge my existence. I feel invisible!" Henry cried against his will, letting out words he'd been keeping hidden. "I don't belong anywhere. I'm alone," his voice sounded smaller and it broke Regina's heart.

"Henry…" Regina thought for a moment, but she really had no time waste. "Very well. But I'm leaving you somewhere safe, and I need you to promise me you will stay there and not go on your personal adventures until I get back to you."

"Deal," Henry offered a small smile as he wiped off his tears.

"But… should I fail to return," his mother made a long, skin chilling pause. "You will immediately come back to Storybrooke through the portal."

"Hey, don't say that. You will make it back, mom, and you will show me your world. Promise," he looked deep into glassy brown eyes.

"I promise I will do my best to come back to you," Regina wiped her tears away and kissed him in the forehead. "Let's go."

Regina could sense light magic nearby and Olaf guided them to the portal door's location, she waved a hand to undo the cloaking spell that made it seem there was a precipice instead of a cave into the mountain, and smiled at Henry.

"Since this is a door to our world, anyone may come and go, even if they weren't born there," she spoke like a teacher would explain a student, but then her tone became motherly once more. "I'm so proud of you, Henry. You executed the spell perfectly," she put a hand over his shoulder and squeezed lightly.

"It was easy. I've been practicing," he smirked smugly. He was clearly Regina's child.

When they passed through the dimensional bridge, Belle was already waiting at the other side for them. "I will keep him safe," she assured Regina, who was positively surprised because she hadn't called yet for her help, and couldn't ever be thankful enough for Belle's unconditional support to Elsa and to her, of all people. Life made many turns and Regina was glad they had made amends.

Minutes earlier. After Regina disappeared from the palace.

"How dare you mock me again!" Lord Aurelius was furious after Regina was gone.

He walked up to Elsa and suddenly slapped her in the face.

"You just had to make me do this, didn't you?" He blamed her for his violence. "Why do women enjoy bringing the worst out of me? I don't get it."

"You've always been your worst! You're scum, and I will never stop coming after you until I succeed getting rid of you," Elsa's hands glowed with magic, but just as she was about to shoot it, Lord Aurelius held something before him.

"I still hold that cunt's heart in my hand, did you forget?" He punched her in the stomach and caused her to lose her breath and fall on her knees. "You look much better like this. Bending the knee for me."

Elsa was having difficulty with catching her breath, and pain made it impossible for her to defend. He knelt beside her and his free hand went to tug on her hair, as his left kept a steady grasp on Regina's beating heart.

"You know, I could learn to like you with your short hair, though. Reminds me of my previous steward," he grinned with malice as he yanked to see her more closely, his stinking tobacco breath over her, giving Elsa an unpleasant feeling. "But your face I still can't stomach. Maybe I should have Raz provide you with a new one."

"Lay a hand on her and I will end you!" Regina's voice was loud and dangerous, and caught him off-guard.

He turned around and found the Evil Queen standing very close to them. It had taken her some minutes but she was back, and relieved to see Elsa was still alive.

Elsa was trying to recover her breath and had not enough strength to break free from Aurelius' grasp. She was also very frustrated to see Regina back so soon, but at the same time was glad her partner was an untamable force that would obey no one but herself, and Elsa admired her free spirit.

"What big balls you have to come back when I still hold your heart in my hand," Aurelius smirked proudly, and a strange glint glimmered in his eyes.

Was that... lewdness? Regina was uncomfortable, angry.

"Just like I like my men," he muttered under his breath. "There's a first for everything. Oh, don't look at me like that. I would be the one giving you the honor," he told her and rejoiced in seeing Elsa's glower. That was what gave him the most pleasure, toying with their feelings for each other.

"I don't have balls, you misogynist asshole," Regina told him. "And I won't be one of your fucktoys. I'm a Queen, and a bit more refined," she sized him with her own glare of disgust.

"Only for so long," he laughed. "Until I make you dance," he grinned as he squeezed a warning into Regina's heart.

He made Regina flinch, but she bit her lip and stood her ground. She was not going to show weakness, but she couldn't attack him because not only did he have her heart in his had, but he also had Elsa in his grasp.

Elsa began to struggle and Aurelius recognized the silver swirl of magic in her blue eyes, and immediately barked a command into Regina's heart.

"I command you to resume your task. Rip out Elsa's heart and crush it to dust," he ordered but the brunette didn't react this time. "What?" He was puzzld because it wasn't working.

Elsa used the opportunity of his confusion to break free, and ran to Regina's side.

Lord Aurelius was enraged and decided to squeeze at Regina's heart to punish her. "Enjoy your last moment together because I will have my sweet victory and both your heads on a spike by dawn."

On their brief meeting, Belle provided Regina with an amulet that neutralized dark magic, preventing her from causing damage to others with the use of it, and the only magic she could have at hand was that born from light.

Regina fell on her knees in pain, and Elsa felt a new level of hatred for this vile monster.

A ray of light and blue magic suddenly blinded them, and then the guttural scream of a man echoed in the tower.

Regina's heart rolled down the spiral stairs, causing her to faint, and as the heart continued rolling down, it came to the edge and almost fell to a fatal end, but Elsa was able to magic it to her hand in time, and ran to her beloved's side to put it back inside her chest.

Baldur stared in shock at the blood pouring out from where his hands used to be, no longer in possession of Regina's heart, or even the Death Book, as it fell from the top level when Elsa's magic cut off his hands, and ripped part of his cloak and armor apart.

"Raz! Kill the blonde wench now!" Aurelius yelled desperately, seeing how quickly the game had been turned in favor of the rightful ruler of Arendelle.

"STOP!" They heard Anna's voice this time come from below them.

She had recovered conscience some minutes ago and got hold of the book when it fell from above. She made it close to them while they stood in surprise, and stopped Raz in time before he went to take Elsa's life.

"Anna," Elsa was relieved to see her awake, and even more when she saw her holding the cursed book in her hands as she walked closer to where Baldur lay now on his knees in pain.

"Please move away so I can finish him," Elsa asked her sister.

"What? No! This ends now. I don't want to lose anyone anymore!" Anna stood in front of Baldur, and Elsa couldn't quite believe her eyes.

"You don't have your memories, Anna. He's not who you think he is," Elsa tried to come closer but Anna held up the book and asked her to remain a distance.

"Don't try to hurt him or I will have Raz cease you in… I don't know, some un-harmful way," her sister told her, making the impostor Baldur smirk with pride.

"Anna, you're making a mistake," Elsa tried to reason.

"Elsa… I know exactly who he is," she told her and revealed her secret, that she remembered everything. "But he's also my love. Please, sister, you protected yours even when she didn't have her heart and was forced to rip yours out."

"It's not the same, Anna," Elsa said sympathetically.

"It is! Only it's his soul what was ripped from him, and it's trapped inside this book. Please! Let me have a second chance with him. I beg you."

Elsa looked into Anna's tearful eyes and nodded, and then used her magic to make ice rise from all around Lord Aurelius and trapped him in an unbreakable crystal cage from which no human without magic could escape.

Anna had the book safe in her possession and Ordered Raz to go back inside it, and watched as Elsa knelt beside Regina, took her in her arms carefully, and waved a hand above her head.

"Please wake up," she spoke softly and watched her magic take effect, and brown eyes opened slowly to look into blue that were filled with much love for her.

"My loves, how are you two feeling?" Elsa asked Regina as she now hovered a hand over her stomach to check if their child was safe, and smiled again when it glowed in response to her question. Baby was unharmed.

"I just feel slightly dizzy and have a headache," Regina responded.

Regina asked what had happened after she blacked out and Elsa explained how they had trapped the false king in the crystal cell. But when Regina reincorporated and walked to lean her weight against a wall, she noticed the familiar red glow coming from one of the boxes.

"Hearts," she mumbled. "There may be a thousand or more," she was shocked because it was a much bigger collection than the one Cora had collected during her time. That eerie red glow in the burning tower was from ripped-out hearts, she'd sensed it but didn't imagine they were so many.

"What?" Elsa looked at her in confusion.

Regina pointed at the wall around them, moved to open one of the boxes that had been broken when Elsa's icy spades got encrusted, and retrieved a dim heart to show her. Elsa was stunned momentarily and felt broken that it had been her own outburst what took the life of around a dozen people when she shoot her magic to make Lord Aurelius show himself.

"It's all my fault," Elsa wanted to cry but Anna embraced her.

"No, Elsa. It's Aurelius' fault," her sister tried to soothe her.

"So much death because of greed…" Elsa parted from her sister's hug slowly. "So much darkness," she said as she walked toward Aurelius' jail. "But these were the last lives you ruined with your hunger for power, Aurelius. You will meet true death, no more trickery."

He was bleeding out after having lost both of his hands, but Elsa healed his wounds and Regina kept his hands in a magical chest that would prevent them from decomposing. He was severely weakened but he still managed to pull a mocking smirk and Elsa felt tempted to wring his neck with the flick of her wrist, but resisted the urge for Anna's sake. There had to be a way to undo the spell and make Aurelius leave Bladur's body so the true Asgardian could occupy his place, next to his beloved.

Regina used her light magic to connect with all the glowing hearts at the same time, and ordered the owners of said hearts to stop fighting and retreat to the castle. At the same time, Elsa made appear a bright shooting star in the sky to let their own army know the war was over, and the creatures of the shadows stopped attacking the yielding slayers.

The courtyard slowly filled with the remaining heartless soldiers and with dark creatures that had once been human. The night was soon going to end and they still had a last task to fill before the sunrise.

Elsa went to the rooftop of the castle, pulled the Heart Stone out of a satchel, and held it up against the nightsky. The center of the stone began to glow and Elsa tried to align the small array of stars that scintillated at the core, with the stars that were up in the sky. It had to be done before the first rays of dawn, or wait another night, but they could spare no more time for it had already been thirty years of a curse.

The small stars aligned with the ones in the sky and a bright beam of light shoot from the stone bathe the whole realm in gold and white light, and when the sun began to rise, the people of Arendelle started to awaken from their loss of memory. All whom had known Elsa's existence began remembering, and the books and paintings of her that had disappeared, returned to occupy their places in the castle, the kingdom, and history. Hans' work was finally undone.

When Elsa was back inside the palace, she could already hear the echo of her name coming closer, as people advanced in the streets in a march for freedom, unity, and justice.

Every citizen went to the outer court of the castle and waited with hope that the gates would open again for them. They needed answers and demanded to know what had been of the Regnant Queen. What had been of Elsa of Arendelle.

The doors opened to welcome them to the courtyard, where the no longer heartless slayers stood before the entrance to the palace in protection of the royal family. Queen Anna was the first to emerge up on the balcony, greeting her subjects and asking them to let her speak, but they weren't willing to listen, they wanted justice and demanded to have the Prince of Asgard executed for his crimes against the realm.

The commotion was understandable, but they had to listen and pay close attention, for what they would be seeing was going to be quite shocking. Still, they refused to hear anything that came from Anna because she was considered a traitor for supporting King Baldur all through his reign of oppression, and some did believe she wasn't mentally healthful.

"Off with her head, too," could be heard amongst the protest.

As the murmur and sudden yells of discontent continued, Elsa slowly emerged from behind her sister, and stood beside Anna to salute her subjects and appease them.

There was a unison gasp in the audience when the older people recognized her and the crown that had been lost for so many years. "Hail Queen Elsa of Arendelle!" They started exclaiming, but Elsa kindly asked them to be quiet.

"I may have been your Queen once, but now you have Queen Anna of Arendelle, and you will respect her as is your duty," she said to them, but people began shouting in opposition, what made Elsa irritated. "Or you will be held to the consequences," she was firm.

People became more silent, but the fractals weren't happy with her warning and took it as a threat. They had had enough of it with King Baldur and they wouldn't accept to live again a life of subjugation perpetuated by fear, and they were hungry for justice.

"You will be held to the consequences, as is going to be the man who betrayed Arendelle," Elsa said loudly, and with her magic she summoned the crystal cell in which the King was held captive.

Everyone turned to see the imprisoned vile King and felt their blood pump again in excitement and content that they might get their wish for justice after all. They wanted to see his head roll down the floor.

"This man is not who you believe he is," Elsa spoke. "He isn't Baldur of Asgard. This vile monster is the Duke of Weselton, who recurred to dark magic to posses his body and become King after murdering Hans."

People were both shocked and skeptic, but then Elsa beckoned her sister to come forth. Anna approached, held up the death book, and summoned Raz's presence for everyone to witness.

The dark creature appeared in a black cloud of magic and everyone believed her words now.

Raz, similarly to the Dark One, was unable to hurt whoever held the book in their hands, but their main difference was that he was a reaper of life, and his only form of payment for his every deed, cost a pure heart in return. But every curse could be broken, no matter how ancient, and Regina had asked Belle—who came to them after Elsa used the Heart Stone—to provide her with everything she knew about the book and Raz's existence.

Raz had lived for nearly a thousand years and was believed to have been created by the Black Fairy—mother to all wicked fairies that wielded dark magic—and it hadn't been figured out yet how to kill him, as he even feeded on True Love hearts. But there was a way to undo his last reaping.

Only the last life that had been stolen from light might be able to be recovered, if the vessel that had been its body still lived. Anna's hope had been right; they could attempt to draw Lord Aurelius out of Baldur's body to return his soul trapped in the cursed book, but all magic had a cost. Light or dark, you still had to pay for a deal with the reaper.

"If you want a life, a pure heart will be the price," Raz told them.

"We can't trade the life of an innocent for another, Anna. This isn't—" Elsa was speaking.

"It isn't right. I… know," Anna smiled sadly, and her tears fell on the page that contained Baldur's story. She held the book against her chest and wept silently.

"Unless someone gives it willingly," they heard the soft, tired voice of Nan Josephine come from below.

"Nan Josephine!" Anna exclaimed surprised to see her, and ran down the stairs so she could go embrace her.

It had been her fear that she had already died in the hands of her—no, not her husband; the impostor, and it was a big impression to find her Nan was still alive, and very much kicking.

"My little blossom of joy, what I wouldn't give to see you smile again," the mature lady said lovingly. "If my heart can make such a miracle, please let me do it. There's nothing I wish more than to afford you, the two of you, happiness, my blossom and my snowflake."

"No! We wouldn't. We can't. We love you," Anna hugged her tightly as she cried.

"I have lived enough, and don't that have many years left in this old, tired body, anyway. I wish to make this present to you," she told her. "Let it be my gift."

Anna had been holding the book but her grip on it loosened while in their embrace, and the older woman used her distraction to snatch it and order Raz to take her heart as payment and let the life of Baldur out of the book page.

"No!" Both Anna and Elsa screamed while they watched the creature follow the command.

They watched in shock as Raz expelled the Duke of Weselton from King Baldur's body to return the right soul to its vessel, and as he did, Lord Aurelius kept screaming that they would pay for this, that he would find his way back to tear their kingdom to shreds, until he was finally cast out of Baldur's body and the story of the Duke of Weselton replaced the chapter of the third Prince of Asgard, the man who came to Arendelle in search for a second chance and met Princess Anna.

After finishing with his end of the deal, Raz proceeded to rip Nan Josephine's heart out, but when the creature swallowed the glowing heart, began to combust. White rays of light started to spurt out of its body until it finally exploded, and the only thing left behind was the red glowing heart on the ground.

"Naaaaaan," the sisters cried out as they ran to her side. She was lying on the ground, a mere distance from her heart, and was still breathing, and the heart was still beating. They put it back inside and the old woman smiled to them.

"A selfless act of true love," Belle commented.

Nan Josephine had sacrificed herself for her little princesses, and that was the undoing for the reaper.

"A heart given willingly, not taken from an innocent to be used as payment," Regina explained as she moved to their side.

With Raz gone, the book began to turn into dust, putting an end to that ancient curse.

They went to see Baldur, and when Anna approached the cage, his pupils widened in surprise and he ran to see her from up close through the bars.

"How long has it been?" He asked her and tried to touch her face but couldn't, and a look of horror invaded his expression.

"Right… Your hands," Regina said, and used her magic to return his missing limbs.

"Is it really you?" Anna looked closely and her eyes welled up in tears when she could recognize the warmth with which he had once looked at her so many years ago. "My prince!" She cried out, and Elsa vanished the cell so they could embrace.

Regina and Elsa held hands as they looked with warmth at the heartbreaking reunion, as did the rest of Arendelle, and everyone heartedly cheered for them. It was the start of something beautiful for Arendelle, at last. There was a new sun shining upon them with the promise of a brighter future.

"Why didn't you claim the throne? Wasn't that part of the reason why you cast the curse?" Regina asked Elsa once they were in what had been Elsa's bedchambers in her childhood. She was sitting on bed, finishing buttoning a borrowed nightgown that had been Anna's while pregnant with Anthony.

"Because I can't stay in Arendelle. It stopped being my home the moment you became it. I just needed to make sure my sister could have the same," Elsa answered.

She walked up to Regina and knelt before her by the bed.

"You're the rightful Queen of Misthaven," she told Regina as she took her hands in hers. "Would you have me be your Princess Consort and rule beside you?" Elsa asked with a faint blush on her cheeks and a nervous smile on her lips.

"What… do you mean?" Regina asked shyly, and her eyes twinkled with happiness. She wanted to hear it with all the words.

"Would you do me the honor of becoming my spouse? Would you marry me, Regina?"

Regina's eyes filled with tears, she leaned down and cupped Elsa's face in her hands and brought her face close to kiss her. "Yes," she answered before pressing their lips. "Yes," she placed another kiss.

"I wish to share my life with you. You'll be my Queen, my Princess Consort, my lover, my best friend, my everything for as long as I may live," Regina said with happy tears, but then her tone of voice changed.

"But if you ever cast a curse without me again, I will fireball your vanilla ass back to Arendelle. Do you understand?" Regina said both playfully and seriously, and Elsa chuckled gleefully.

"Never again, my chocolate spoon. I promise."

They were exhausted and needed to have some rest, and now that peace had been restored, they could sleep this day nap without anything to fear for. It was nearly impossible to believe all what they had been trough, but they were back together, their child was safe, and Anna finally had Baldur with her, and soon she would be able to see her son as well. Happy endings were coming their way.

I've checked and checked x 10000 and I keep making changes, corrections, additions and whatnot, so please be patient if you find errors. Comments are always well appreciated. :)