Twenty years later
"Princess! Wake up! It's coronation day." John called from outside the younger princesses door.
Anna sat up in bed and wiped her eyes sleepily. "Wha? I've been awake this entire time. John don't be so foolish."
"Then we expect you downstairs in ten minutes. The gates will be opened soon."
Anna heard footsteps walk down the hall. It took her a moment before her eyes snapped opened fully. "The gates are opening today!" She jumped out of bed and ran to get ready.
Finally the gates that had been shut since she was a baby where opening today, her coronation day. She had spent since her sister was 10 and she was 8 without her older sister, her father telling her it was for her own safety. But she never could figure out why her sister was dangerous. She didn't seem dangerous. Her mother always told her to listen to her father, even though even at a young age Anna knew her mother was the true ruler of the kingdom.
Anna raced downstairs and saw her sister sitting at the table. She froze for a moment at the sight of her sister sitting there. She had grown up so much in the past 10 years. It broke Anna 's heart that she didn't get to watch it happen. "Hey sis. Long time no see." She tried weakly.
"Wow. You look amazing." Elsa said quietly. "I remember when you were just a little girl, always asking for piggyback rides."
"Thank you. You've grown up to become a beautiful woman." Anna smiled. "Welcome out of your room by the way." She winked to let her sister know that she was kidding.
"Yeah..." Elsa bit her lip and looked down.
"Hey." She walked next to her and went to reach out for her sister, but she flinched away. Anna 's hand fell to her own lap. "I'm sorry. I was kidding."
Elsa nodded and Anna trailed off. "I'll see you soon. Gotta finish getting dressed and all." Anna stood to leave and glanced back at her sister, who didn't look like her at all. Where Anna had red hair, rumored to be from her fathers side, Elsa had blonde hair to the point it was almost white . "See you." She turned out and walked away.
Anna walked through the familiar halls which were soon to be filled with people. Strangers. Little flashes of her life without her sister, and eventually no one but caretakers, filled her mind. She was excited, but the quietness was about to be shattered for one glorious day. Then she'd be forced back into the darkness of this huge castle, alone once more. Her sister would retreat back into her room, or even worse block off a entire hall so she had more room to be queen. But what Queen refused to come out and see her people? She hoped that she would get that job, being the face of the kingdom for her sister. Anna planned on asking as soon as she got the chance, she wanted out of this infernal castle. Now.
Elsa stood in front of a mirror, checking herself over. She wanted to look her best, and not like her other parent. Regina. Hook, she couldn't bring herself to call him father after everything, despised the little bits of the winner of his wife's heart in her. She was seen as a reminder of his lost. Elsa pulled on her gloves, a visual aid in the attempt to keep the magic in her down. Both her parents said that she was dangerous if she let the power loose, and Emma never lied to her. Unless there was a damn good reason behind it. But if there was a good reason behind this lie Elsa never got the chance to hear it, considering her mother was dead at the bottom of the ocean. With a breath she left the room to announce to the guards to open up the doors.
Anna left the empty halls and heard people running around up above her. The gates were opening. There were going to be actual real life people in the halls that haven't held a ball in 10 years. She gathered up her skirts and ran out into the main hall. She wanted to greet everyone, see who was coming, and maybe find love.
She wouldn't admit this to anyone but she was a bit of a sap. She wanted a true love like her parents and grandparents. It seemed so wonderful, having someone to lean on, to trust, to spend the rest of you life with. Someone who wouldn't slam doors in your face, or tell you to go away. She'd be loved again. Something that hadn't happened in ten years. Anna couldn't help a little bounce as the large doors opened up and the faces of hundreds of strangers appeared, looking at her with wide eyes. The princess had grown up.
"Hi." She said weakly. "Please, come in. The gates are finally opened, best make good use of it." Anna smiled as the first people pushed into the castle, greeting Anna as they walked in. A hour later the last little boy was greeted into the halls. Elsa was standing stiffly at the top of the stairs, smiling and nodding at passer-bys. Anna walked up next her. "Aren't you going to great them? I mean you are the queen."
Elsa blinked once. "You've been doing a wonderful job. I was actually going to ask you to be the face of the kingdom. You seem personable, I can deal with the business end of things. I would just need you to be with the people."
Anna looked over at her sister, dumbfounded. "You mean it?"
"Of course. I've heard that you've been looking forward to this since you heard the gates were opening. You deserve to see the world Anna." Elsa spoke like she had thought long and hard about this, and it seemed practiced. Maybe it was for all Anna knew. She didn't know what Elsa did all day in her room.
"I have been!" Anna said, excited. "I'd be honored to be the face of the country."
"Wonderful." Elsa sighed like a huge weight had been lifted off her chest. "We should go. We need to be in place soon for the ceremony."
"Of course. Let's go." Anna ran down the steps gleefully, she wouldn't have to be stuck in this castle. She would be free of these stuffy walls with no one to talk to.
The music swelled through the room. Anna was reminded of a wedding as she stood to the side. Music, walking down a aisle with a train, two people waiting for you at the end... She shook her head and watched Elsa walk towards her, obviously nervous. Anna smiled encouragingly at her. Elsa got to the end and took a deep breath. Anna didn't pay much attention to the man speaking, except for when he told Elsa to take off her gloves. Both sisters looked at him in shock. Elsa never took off her gloves. He shrugged and Elsa handed her gloves to her sister. She quickly took the items and turned.
"All hail Elsa Jones, Queen of the Enchanted Forest." Rang out through the hall, a second passed and Elsa quickly put on her gloves, smiling slightly.
Later that night was the ball. Elsa and Anna stayed close to each other in the sea of unfamiliar faces.
"So how does it feel? To be queen?" Anna asked her sister.
"I feel the same way I did when I woke up. Just out in public for the first time." Elsa shrugged as her eyes scanned the room, keeping an eye out for people wishing to speak to the royal family.
After a few more minutes of the sisters chattering a older man walked up to them. "Hello you majestys. I'm one of the Enchanted Forest's biggest trade partners, I was wondering if you would like to dance?" He looked straight at Elsa and Anna could feel her sister stiffen up from beside her.
"I can dance with you sir. My sister isn't one for dancing." Anna tried, but he only had eyes for her older sister.
"Sir. Me and my sister have-" Elsa nodded in agreement.
"One dance isn't going to kill you know is it?" He replied with a grin. Elsa looked over at her sister and took the man's hand, heading out onto the dance floor.
Anna watched with careful eyes, not wanting him to try anything. After a dance he wouldn't get her go back to her sisters side. Anna made a move to walk forward but found it impossible. After another dance Elsa tried to pull away from the man but his grip tightened. Anna walked forward towards the pair. "Let her go." She tried in her most demanding voice.
Elsa tore away from him and backed up towards her sister. "Leave." She demanded. He lurched towards the sisters and Elsa flung her arm up to protect Anna, causing a massive wall of ice to form. Gasp where heard from around the room as she slowly backed up, glancing around from person to person.
"Elsa?" Anna asked, shocked. "Where?"
"I have to go." Elsa said, backing up slowly towards the doors.
"Elsa what's wrong?" Anna reached a hand out to touch her sister.
"Anna don't. I'm dangerous." Elsa finched away from the hand.
"Get her! She froze me!" Anna turned around the see the archduke stuck in ice. Just his hand, but still.
Elsa took off out of the castle, Anna right on her heels. "Elsa wait!" The ground started to freeze under Elsa's shoes as she ran, the air getting colder and colder. A crowd soon followed and the air got colder and colder.
At the edge of the lake Elsa turned to face her sister. "Anna, leave me alone. You're safe here. Go be the queen the people deserve."
"Elsa!" Anna reached out to grab her sister but it was too late. The blonde had taken off, turning the water to ice as she ran away from everything, the walls, her past, and her people.
