It probably was only a matter of time before Frozen plot bunnies hit. I'm not sure if this has been done but I really did want to write a really angsty Anna, thus, this story :)

Disclaimer: Frozen belongs to Disney and I don't own anything except for this plot.

I'm deafened by the silence, Is it something that I've done?

-Astronaut; Simple Plan

"Elsa? Do you wanna build a snowman…"

Kai sighed as he heard the last notes floating down the hallway, carrying with it the innocent yet heartbreaking sound of a child who was abandoned, left to fend on her own much too soon. And in truth, Anna was abandoned. Anna was left to fend for herself much too soon.

He could picture her with her head against the door, singing the notes over and over again, hoping that the door would open, that her sister would appear and all was well again.

But Kai knew it could never be. He hoped that Anna realized that too.

A pitter patter of tiny feet slapping against hard wood made him look up from his sweeping and he saw Princess Anna toddling in, her face set into a moody pout.

"Your Highness," he called and she turned, eyes lighting up as she bounded up to him.

"Hello Kai, what're you doing?"

He grinned and gestured to the broom, pulling a face to elicit a giggle from her. It worked. All the sadness in her posture, tone and eyes were gone as she tottered beside him, babbling about her day.

"…I found a kitten in the kitchen, I named her Chocolate because she was brown," the little royal said, happily chatting now that she had found someone who would listen. Kai nodded, asking questions at the right time, keeping the young Princess entertained.

"And that was when Chocolate-"

"Kai!"

He looked up, startled and Princess Anna stammered to a stop. They both turned to find the chamber maid, Gerda, walking over with a harried expression etched in her features.

"Thank goodness you're here. The Queen wishes for us to start on the new carpeting and she won't take no for an answer," Gerda informed. Kai nodded, propping his broom against a window.

"You're leaving?" The heartbreak in Anna's voice was raw and Kai stopped in his tracks, turning to look at her. The Princess fiddled with one of her braids, her lower lip trembling and her eyes cast down, sadness dimming the bright light in her blue orbs.

Gerda glanced over and nodded, leaving Kai and the Princess alone. He knelt down so that his eyes were leveled with hers, a small smile etched on his lips. He ran a hand through his grey streaked hair and tried to think of a way to explain his 'grown up responsibilities' to a five year old.

"It's okay if you don't want to talk to me, I don't mind," she mumbled. She did mind, Kai saw it in the sad curve of her lips.

"Hey," he reproached gently, placing his hand on her tiny shoulder. "Once my cleaning duties are over, do you want to follow me down to the kitchens? We could play with Chocolate for a while."

Anna perked up, a brilliant smile lighting her cherub cheeks. "Of course," she said, twirling around to run back to her room and then added, in a tone only a royal could muster, "don't take too long." He nodded, an amused smile gracing his lips. He turned and walked to the royal chambers, already dreading the fact that he would have to stand for two hours straight, sweeping dust out of a twenty foot carpet.

~~O~~O~~

Kai didn't show. He didn't come for her as he said he would.

Anna stared at the door, heartbroken as she cuddled her rag doll closer. She sighed, glancing at the outside world, at the Aurora Borealis glimmering in the night sky, taunting her with memories that she tried so hard to forget. Elsa and her ice skating, Elsa's brilliant smile.

She huffed in frustration. What was wrong with her sister? Why did she suddenly hate her?

Anna's eyes filled with tears and she rubbed them away petulantly. She glanced at the dancing lights, at the mountains silhouetted against the colorful backdrop, like one of those dark curtains she saw at a local puppet show she used to frequent with Elsa. Any time now the curtains would part, revealing a funny wooden marionette, strung with invisible thread.

And the Prince kissed the Princess, awaking her from a life time of sleep. They lived happily ever after.

Any time now, somebody will part the curtains, notice her.

And like every single time, nobody ever did.

Not for the first time, Anna wondered what it would be like if she looked beyond the curtain, if she had a chance to leave this puppet-less show all behind and slip into the black box beyond.