A/N: Thanks you for clicking on my story! As usual, I don't own Elsa & co., or the movie. Disney does. I only own any OCs that may show up.

This is a direct sequel to Take Charge, the monster-length 330,000+ word epic installment I last finished. I have greatly enjoyed writing "my" canon-based storyverse timeline.:) And The Manta is back after months to continue. I am very sorry for the long, long wait, and I just want to say I greatly appreciate the "When is the next update, MantaI-?" messages. That tells me people are enjoying my writing, and that means a lot. I've just had 1) computer issues, and 2) SCHOOL ASSIGNMENTS, and 3) writer's block. I like things to be 'just right' before sharing them. I have quite a bit of this story edited to my satisfaction now, so there should be regular updates at least for awhile.:)

On to the story!

She was lying somewhere dark and uncomfortable. She felt glued to the floor.

…can't move…Olaf, get help. please. …don't understand…

"Elsa, help!"

What is Anna doing here? I'm sorry, Anna, I can't move! Elsa tried to speak up, but something seemed to be preventing her from making any noise.

"See, I told you she's pathetic. Pretty, but pathetic. She's not going to do a thing."

I would if I could just do something! Anna, please understand. I'm right here, and I…I…what is going on?

My ice isn't working. And…and something hurts really, really bad.

"Don't hurt Elsa!"

"Fine, take her place, then."

No! No, Anna, don't do that! Please don't. Please…

I still can't make a sound. I can't even scream.

… …

…

"So weak, Elsa. You should have killed us when you had the chance. Now we'll take care of you, too."

I thought I did. This can't be happening again! Anna, please…please be okay, I…

"Elsa, why…why? You were supposed to protect me. It hurts!"

I tried, I'm sorry…

they are dead, I know it.

…screaming…

just

screaming and there's nothing, nothing at all and I can't do anything and-

wait my ice is working now, I have to get them away from us!

"Elsa, what have you done?! You just killed people! How could you do that? Even dark Elsa didn't kill anyone. Monster!"

"Anna, I…I had to, I-"

"Elsa! Elsa, wake up! It's just me, Anna!" Elsa heard the voice but still couldn't quite make the connection that the concerned voice shouting at her was a perfectly fine Anna, and that they were not stuck somewhere with people that wanted to hurt them. She screwed her eyes shut and curled up in a tighter ball, frost crawling up her arms and snowflakes tumbling around her. Anna, please don't hurt me, I had to do it, I didn't want them to hurt you and I'm scared and I don't understand. What did I do?

Anna nudged little Anikka towards the door. "Anikka, go over to my room and stay there, 'kay? I'll come get you in a little while," she told the little girl. "I think there's some picture books under my bed. You can look at those or something."

"Is Elsa gonna be all right?" Anikka asked, her brown eyes wide in fear. "She's crying an' screaming an' she won't wake up!"

"She's going to be fine. It's just a nightmare," Anna told her, though honestly to her it wasn't 'just' a nightmare if it was making Elsa that upset. "Just go do as I say, all right? I'll come get you, I promise." Anna waited until the little girl was gone before turning her attention back to Elsa. Ok. Blankets, check. Door shut, check. Hold on, Elsa, you're going to be fine. "Elsa, it's just me," she said softly, draping one of the extra blankets over the older girl before tentatively touching her shoulder.

Elsa instantly jerked at the contact, but she was quiet now even though she was still crying and felt awfully confused and frightened. I don't feel hurt. What happened? Anna's…here? Is she hurt? She doesn't sound hurt. Or angry with me. "An…Anna, I had t' do it, I'm sorry! They're dead-they c-can't hurt us anymore, can they? I…I…I just-please d-don't hurt me. Please…"

Anna balled her free hand into a fist and bit her lip. I know exactly what that nightmare was, for sure now. "I'm not going to hurt you," Anna said quietly but firmly. She touched Elsa's shoulder again, but the older girl cringed away and curled up even farther under the covers. Anna sighed and pulled her hand back. "C'mon, Elsa, wake up. I know you're in there somewhere. You're safe. No stupid creeps. And I'm glad you executed them, not mad at you for it."

Elsa scooted a bit closer to Anna. She felt Anna's hand gently stroking her hair, and she relaxed a bit. Anna knew what was wrong. Anna knew what the bad dream was, and she wasn't laughing or pooh-poohing her for being scared, either. "I'm…sorry," she whispered finally. I'm sorry for panicking like that. I'm sorry for waking you up. I'm sorry for not being able to deal with things like a normal person.

"It's all right, no worries." Pause. "I'm going to give you a hug, Elsa," Anna added, just to give Elsa some warning so she wouldn't panic again.

Elsa felt something soft and fluffy wrapped around her, and then Anna just hugging her tightly. I did it again. Anna should be asleep, and I woke her up because I'm still scared from…that incident. This is ridiculous. "It's been two weeks," she muttered. "Anikka…is she all right? Did I hurt her?"

"No, she woke up first and woke me up to help. I sent her to my room to wait for us. She's fine," Anna assured her. Elsa's room was freezing, so she'd slipped on a winter quilted robe and now she could feel the temperature returning to normal. Elsa's all right. She just needs more time to heal and she'll be fine, she thought, forcing herself not to cry. "And two weeks is barely any time at all. It's all right to still be upset from that whole thing. Besides, this doesn't happen every night. Only three or four times total in the whole two weeks," Anna pointed out, squeezing the older girl close. "Is your leg hurting?" she asked.

"Some." A lot, but it's okay, she thought mentally. Elsa had ended up with a broken leg after Grand Pabbie's mirror test for mastering magic, but since it had been caused by Elsa's own magic, it healed much, much faster than it would have otherwise. Still, she could not walk without her brace-unless she counted a couple steps with lots of help-and it still ached sometimes. If she was scared that just made it a lot worse. That mirror test had been the same thing that had left her unable to defend herself when those criminals had attacked her. Luckily Olaf had managed to get help before it was too late. The whole incident was still seared into Elsa's mind, and after executing them so they wouldn't do the same to anyone else, she still felt horribly guilty despite what they had done. "Thank you for not…leaving me alone," she added. "And for not calling me a…a monster for doing…that to them."

"What?! Elsa, why on earth would I do that? I wish you had beaten them up first, to be honest! Look what they did to you! You were starting to really be all right most of the time at night and now you're having horrible nightmares again!" Anna scowled, clutching Elsa protectively in her arms. She honestly did not want to hear about it, but talking about nightmares always seemed to help Elsa sleep peacefully the rest of the night before, so she went ahead and asked Elsa to tell her about the rotten dream.

But just like the other times she'd asked Elsa to tell her about this nightmare, the older girl shook her head firmly. Elsa would not talk to her little sister about this one, simply because she didn't want the images in Anna's head. She knew Anna knew what it was about. There was no need to add nasty details. Elsa found herself remembering odd details like smells and the roughness of the stone floor in the dungeon cell against her back and the sound of her weak ice barrier breaking. And the image of that icicle flying clear across the Great Hall and then sticking in the wall when she'd executed the first criminal. Not only did Elsa honestly not want to stick Anna with the whole thing, how could she explain it? That she could still feel those awful hands choking her and their owner looking all too pleased that she could not fight back? Or the scared fire of pain that erupted all over when they kicked or hit her? And the brief moment of panic when she'd first come to after blacking out that they really had succeeded in doing the unimaginable before Kristoff told her they hadn't. And after that, the picture in her mind of her attacker's terrified expression the instant before her icicle claimed his life. She couldn't get that picture out of her head completely. She'd taken lives. Permanently. That wasn't something she could undo or take back. Granted they could not try to hurt Anna or her or anyone else again, but…they had still been human, and now they were dead.

"I know what the dream was about, sis. It's all right to tell me, I can take it," Anna said quietly.

"If you already know what it was about, then I don't have to repeat it," came Elsa's mumbled response.

"Not the point and you know it. This is about you, Elsa. I want this to stop hurting you so bad. You're scared and feel guilty, which is perfectly normal, but you've gotta let me help. Or tell someone else about this if you don't want to tell me," Anna suggested.

Elsa bit her lip at that comment. I can't do that. Everyone already sees a damaged young girl. I don't want to add to that. And…it's embarrassing. Not only do I still feel horrible about it, I just…it's…personal. "I can still see their expressions," she said finally. There. That was true, and it didn't fill up her baby sister's mind with awful, awful things.

"Can you tell me anything else?" Anna's voice was quiet, trying to reassure Elsa that it was all right to talk about it. Good grief, Elsa, I can easily imagine the whole thing. You won't be telling me anything I don't already know.

"He…he accused me of enjoying what him and his friends did, before I…killed him," she murmured almost inaudibly. Elsa felt tears trickling down her cheeks, but Anna holding her kept her mostly calm. I'm okay. Anna is right here, and she's not mad at me. She understands. I know she does. I was just scared and my mind came up with irrational things because I'm a pessimist, that's all.

"He's a huge scuzzbag," Anna told her vehemently. She wished Elsa had let the guards beat them up before executing them. How dare they say something like that to her?! Just…ugh.

"Where'd you get that word?" Elsa asked curiously.

"Kristoff. He called them a lot of other far more colorful names, just so you know," Anna informed her, sounding quite pleased about this. "He was also very, very glad when you executed them, and very, very disappointed you didn't make them suffer first or let someone else beat them up."

Elsa actually smiled a tiny bit. "Gerda said my ice-dress saved me because it wouldn't rip," she whispered. "My shoulder was all bruised and scratched up, but…private-me was okay." Elsa felt her face flush in embarrassment, and she was glad she was wrapped up in a blanket so Anna didn't see her face.

Anna clenched her jaw, wishing not for the first time that she had been there with Elsa instead of off trying to save everyone's memories with Emily and Rapunzel. She pulled away a bit and looked Elsa right in the face. "Did any of them, you know…touch you through your dress?" she asked gently, not quite sure if she wanted to know the answer.

"I…I don't know." Elsa's expression scrunched up in confusion as she honestly tried to remember. "Does here count?" she asked, her voice hesitant.

"Yes," Anna spat shortly. Elsa had her hand over her heart on her chest. "That definitely counts."

"Someone hit me and said something nasty. It hurt."

Anna had no idea what to say to that, especially since Elsa had quite honestly sounded like a little kid when she'd said that.

Elsa met Anna's gaze earnestly. "Not…not a monster f-for killing them? Promise?"

Anna tugged her close and gave her a hug. "Not a monster, Elsa. They're the monsters for trying to hurt you like that and trying to do the same to me," she said firmly. "I love you very, very much. You didn't do anything wrong, you are not evil, and you are not a monster for killing would-be r-"

"Don't say it," Elsa interrupted. "Please. Th…thank you for understanding," she whispered. She yawned and relaxed in Anna's arms. Anna did not think she was bad or a monster. She was okay, really. Really. "And thank you for…helping me feel better."

"You don't have to say thank you for that. Ever. And…" Anna went ahead and asked her if she minded coming back to Anna's room instead of staying by herself the rest of the night. "Anikka's in there too, remember, so we can have a mini sleepover," she suggested.

Elsa nodded and closed her eyes again. She was safe; Anna would not hurt her; she would protect her and take care of little Anikka, too. So there. Elsa was asleep before they reached Anna's room.

"Are you sure Elsa's ok?" Anikka asked again. She curled up next to Elsa and pressed herself close. Even if Elsa was a big girl, she obviously still needed help. Anikka didn't know how to help, but she did know she was going to try. Besides, Elsa might need help herself, but she loved her, Anikka, too.

"She will be. You remember those bad men that tried to hurt her; that's what made her so upset," Anna explained, carefully being vague. She slipped back into bed herself and put her arm around both Elsa and Anikka.

"They did hurt Elsa!" Anikka pointed out. "And then Punzie fixed Elsa and th' bad men are gone." She clearly remembered when they were all hiding in the cellar from that magic explosive thing she still didn't quite understand and then Elsa was there and she was hurt and Anikka had sort of overheard what happened.

Anna wasn't sure what to say to that. The little girl was six. She didn't understand at all what could have happened. "Those bad men wanted to really hurt Elsa," she said finally, thinking that that sounded stupid, but no way was she trying to explain the whole thing to a little kid.

"But they did," Anikka insisted. "I SAW Elsa, an' she was hurt!"

"All right, all right, shh," Anna replied quickly, not wanting to wake Elsa up. "Don't worry about it, Anikka. I'll take super good care of Elsa and she'll be fine, I promise."

"Who's gonna take care of you?"

"Elsa," Anna said firmly.

"That doesn't make sense."

"Why ever not?"

"'Cause Elsa's hurt."

Anna's fist clenched in the covers. She felt tears burning in her eyes, and she held the other two girls tightly. Anikka, be quiet before I snap at you. You better not tell Elsa that. "She can still take care of me and everyone else," she said softly. "Why would you say that? You've seen Elsa get hurt before."

Anikka was quiet for awhile, and Anna thought she might have fallen asleep. But then she spoke up again. "Elsa take…takes care of ev'ryone. Never, ever care for self. All the…hurt Elsa is getting more'n'more. Won't be ok sometime if it's too much."

"Elsa just needs some TLC, same as you or me or anyone else," Anna said firmly. She had felt Elsa tense under her arm, and she was worried the older girl had overheard the whole thing. "Elsa, if you are listening, Anikka is right, but so am I," she added.

Elsa was indeed listening; Anna and Anikka talking had woken her up. She said nothing, but she hugged little Anikka tightly and scooted closer to Anna. We're fine. So there.

The next night Elsa stayed in her own room by herself; no Anna or Anikka. "You spoil me," she'd told Anna. "I want to be able to be perfectly fine by myself." Then Anna had hugged her and agreed, but only under the condition that Elsa would come get her if she had a nightmare. 'You're our only hope. Please, save us. But be careful!' It wasn't really a nightmare, at least not Elsa's definition of one, but she found herself abruptly wide awake all the same. "It didn't even feel like a dream," she muttered to herself, shaking her head. I shouldn't wake up Anna for this. This is ridiculous. It wasn't even a nightmare…just a weird voice or something. Elsa flopped back into the pillows and closed her eyes, but she didn't fall back asleep.

"Elsa, you look sleepy. Did you stay up really late last night working or something?" Anna asked at breakfast the next morning.

Elsa shook her head. "I didn't stay up really late last night, no," she replied, carefully separating her eggs and pancakes on the plate so they didn't touch. I just woke up in the wee hours of the morning and couldn't get back to sleep afterwards.

Anna frowned. "Then did you have a bad dream? I know you didn't get enough sleep last night. You've got dark circles and you just look tired. You promised to come get me if you had a nightmare."

Elsa didn't answer right away. It wasn't really a bad dream, but…it certainly wasn't a good one, either. I don't want to worry Anna. "My leg ached and I couldn't get back to sleep," she said finally. That was…sort of true. Though Elsa's magic told her that her broken leg was healed and she could walk on it again, it still hurt sometimes.

Elsa thought maybe it had something to do with the weather, since her 'storm sense' connected with her magic told her they would have a downpour and a thunderstorm starting at lunchtime at noon.

"There's something else, too. You never voluntarily admit when you're hurting. So…" Anna paused for effect, "I think you're telling the truth but that's not really what kept you up." Elsa made a slightly put-out expression, and Anna couldn't help giggling, even though she was worried. "I'm right, seeing that funny face you're making!"

"Maybe," was all Elsa would concede to. "It's going to thunderstorm later," she added, just to change the subject. Anna, please don't ask any more questions. It was probably nothing, just me being touchy, as usual.

If it was nothing, you wouldn't mind telling Anna about it, Elsa. If you don't tell her, she's going to be more worried than if you explained it. Sure enough, Anna looked more worried now than when she'd asked the question in the first place. Elsa sighed and stared at her pancakes. Maybe she should just go ahead and tell Anna. It was probably nothing, but maybe Anna could tell her what she thought about it. "I…heard a voice. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it…didn't feel like a dream. I know I was asleep, but then I woke up and…I don't know…it sounds crazy…"

"Maybe it was a ghost," Anna suggested, sounding slightly too excited about that idea in Elsa's opinion.

"Thanks a lot. That's ever so reassuring," Elsa deadpanned. She did not think she believed in any such thing, but considering she had magic and there were trolls, maybe it was possible. Who knew?

"All right, all right, it probably wasn't a ghost," Anna told her. "Are you sure you didn't just imagine it, Elsa? I mean, you were obviously sleepy, or half asleep or something. Maybe it was just a dream. What did the voice say?"

Elsa hesitated. " 'You're our only hope. Please, save us. But be careful!'," she said, matching the tone she remembered as well as she could. "It sounded strained, like it was frightened and in pain." Elsa wrapped her arms around her middle and dropped her gaze to her lap. "I…Anna, I know it sounds stupid and illogical, since I was asleep, after all, but it didn't feel like a dream. I have had nightmares, lots of them, and you know it-you saw me the night before last-and this was not that. When I have a nightmare, it's like being in or watching a very vivid one of those moving picture things, like it's actually happening. Dream-me can feel pain, for example, even though it's not real. There was nothing but that voice. No picture to go with it, no anything."

"Maybe you just can't remember? Hey, wait a minute. Elsa, were you looking at that old prophecy legend thing before you went to sleep?" Anna hopped up and went to give Elsa a hug when the older girl slowly nodded. "I think you just scared yourself and you imagined someone calling for help, since we all are very sure there's other natural mages like you being held by those white trolls."

Elsa was happy to accept Anna's hug, but Anna's explanation had not convinced her that it was nothing. It sounded reasonable enough, but… "What if someone really was calling for help? Like if there's a telepathic mage? If they could send messages like Linnae can?" she asked in a small voice.

Anna frowned and squeezed Elsa closer. "That's a huge, huge 'if', Elsa. Other people's magic can't meddle with you anyway-we know that for a fact. Even if there was a mage that could read minds or something, they wouldn't be able to read yours."

"But receiving a message isn't the same as reading my mind, and I was asleep besides. My magic might not have been completely awake, either. Maybe it sort goes to sleep itself when I do."

"That's silly. I don't wanna bring it up, but when Jade captured us, she…she tried to use one of the power crystals to burn your hands. It didn't work, and you were unconscious. Your magic just rejected it automatically. That creep had to use 'natural' heat." Anna was glad that Elsa didn't seem too upset at the reminder; she'd tensed up, but she was otherwise fine. Anna decided she did not like that determined look on her sister's face. "Elsa…"

Elsa pulled away. "Thank you, Anna. I…I'm done with my breakfast." I need to go try something.

"Elsa, what are you doing? Don't do anything dangerous…please? I-"

"I'm not going anywhere right now. Just up to my room," Elsa assured her.

Anna sighed. Elsa wasn't going anywhere 'right now'? That implied she was going to go somewhere, just not right that second. Elsa, what are you up to?

A/N: For your reference, a refresher on the scroll message Elsa and her friends first read back in the last chapter of Take Charge:

'On earth did appear a natural mage of pure heart,

Able to withstand Dover's dart.

Willing to sacrifice self for all,

Despite the impossibility of it at all.

The League of Seven the mage shall assemble,

Otherwise magic in the world will crumble.

Though the cost be vast,

The pain shall soon pass.

A loved one's demise may be inevitable,

But vengeance only leads to trouble.

Lives have been stolen, yes 'tis true,

And a master's fury derived from love should be rued.'

I am not a poet, so. Lousy rhyming. I did my best.:)

Next chapter will be up next Sunday. This time I can promise, because it is finished.:)