Sorry, I have not updated in so long. Came down with a particularly nasty cold, which left me spending my free time recovering instead of writing. Anyways, I hope you find it worth the wait. Happy Reading :)


Chapter 2

The harsh sun baking his face and lips dry. The coarse feel of the splintered driftwood under the palm of his hand. The salty sea breeze assaulting his nostrils. The rolling waves nudging against his back. The faint shouts of men stirring him awake while they hoisted his body up on deck. The freezing cold water completely drenching and immediately snapping him into consciousness.

At his peripherals, he observed a man carrying a nearly empty wooden bucket dripping drops of water. Suddenly a burly brown-bearded man covered his entire vision. The bearded man, whom he would later call Captain Morgan, donned a red coat with gold-trimmings and a matching tricorne hat. Captain Morgan stared intently at him, "What's your name, boy? And what, in God's mercy, happened to you?"

Slowly he propped himself up. Then, head down in thought, he attempted to desperately recall something. But when nothing resurfaced from within the deep recess of his mind, he instantly clutched his head as throbbing pain pulsed mercilessly. Eyes flickering back and forth as panic burrowed in, he grimly stuttered in reply, "I… I… I don't know. I'm sorry… I can't remember anything. Not my name… or where I came from… Not a god damn thing!" Then a hand on his shoulder shook him out his dark reveries, and he glanced up to discover the captain handing him a flask.

"Here. This should calm your nerves." Graciously accepting the offer, he swigged down a mouth full. Grimacing and coughing when the unknown fluid stung his parched throat, he instantly felt woozy and queasy. So he promptly returned the flask to the captain. Chuckling Captain Morgan slapped him on the back and exclaimed, "Not a fan of rum?! Well, you better get used to it. There is nothing else to drink out here at sea. And quite frankly, I much prefer rum anyways."

Crouching down until at his eye level, the captain then stated, "Listen, boy. I do not know what you plan to do next. But until you have your bearings, you are welcome to stay on my ship and work your fair share like the others." As he nodded his head in gratitude for the captain's offer, he observed Captain Morgan lift the corner of his lips up into a toothy grin before standing up straight. Returning his attention to the wide-eyed curious sailors around them, Captain Morgan shouted, "Alright, you seadogs. Keep an eye out for this greenhorn. It looks like we got ourselves a John Doe."

From then on, he adopted the given namesake out of convenience and tackled various jobs while aboard the merchant ship. Well, more like they pushed the tasks on him. But grateful to the captain and crew for taking him under their wings, he wholeheartedly accepted any kind of work shoved his way. Whenever they needed something done, John was the man. Sure, life at sea proved grueling and gruesome. He nicked his thumb and nearly it sliced off while helping the cook prep in the galley as a particularly nasty wave struck starboard. Another time, a rope chafed the palm of his hands red when attempting to hold the sail steady amidst a tumultuous storm.

Still the freedom and the exhilaration that came with sailing and exploring new lands brought such happiness; he believed himself destined to live the life of an adventurer. Like a dry sponge soaking up water, he reveled in each moment spent at sea. But after four months, even though he enjoyed his time on the merchant ship, John decided to head his separate way from Captain Morgan and the crew. With the wages he saved the last few months, he headed off to learn about his past life. Most importantly, he hoped to encounter the mysterious woman plaguing his sleep every night in person.

Not once had he received a clear glimpse of this woman haunting his dreams. Her image always fragmented and blurred in his mind. Running his fingers through her wispy blonde hair. Piercing blue eyes holding him frozen in place. Luscious rosy lips lifting into a sly grin, constantly taunting and daring him. Shivering uncontrollably and tucking numb fingers under his arms while desperately chasing after her distant silhouette through a terrifying blizzard. His outstretched hand nearly reaching her until…

Abruptly his eyes ricocheted open. For a moment, he stared blankly upwards in a daze from paralyzing shock while his heart thumped madly against his chest and his mind hopelessly clung tightly to the faded bits of the hazy dream. Without fail, something – the alarm bell demanding men to rush up on deck, the accidental swift kicks of his sleepwalking bunkmate below, or the loud knocks of the tavern owner demanding pay – always dragged him prematurely back to reality. Feeling utterly bitter, he wished for the dream to last a second longer before begrudgingly crawling out of his bed to prepare for the day. And this morning was no exception.

Rolling over towards the edge of his wooden cot, John blindly searched for the chamber pot underneath. As soon as his fingers grasped metal edges, he swiftly slid the pot out and promptly vomited right into it. For a long while, he continued to hurl until he completely emptied his stomach and severely burnt his esophagus raw. His nausea temporarily relieved; he flipped on his back to rest for a moment. Regret instantly sank in while he puzzled together the pieces of his memories from last night to determine the culprit for his current horrendous state.

His footsteps echoing against the stone-paved pier. Briskly making his way into a bar to escape the cold night air. Leaning over the counter. Hoping to catch the balding bartender's attention. "Excuse me. May I talk to the owner?" The overly friendly barkeep greeting him and asking him what he wants to drink. Muttered words escaping his lips. "Sorry, I am not here for that. Is the owner around? If possible, I wish to work in exchange for lodging." Nervously attempting to brush off the barkeep's odd and suspicious looks. Feeling more anxious as the bartender called over a giant red-bearded guard. An intimidating interrogation with the guard. Fumbling to explain his predicament.

"They call me John Doe… I'm simply a traveler… Been searching for someone. A blond-haired woman, actually. Vague, I know. But I'm afraid that's all I got to go on… Don't even have her name… Kind of a crazy and hopeless venture… Still I'm convinced she is the key in regaining my lost memories. Ever since I woke up, drifting at sea, not remembering who I am or what happened to me… I've been… lost… Sorry I'm rambling. I really should not concern you with my problems. But I assure you, Sir. I do not want trouble. It's just that… I've spent my last coin for the fare here. So I am hoping to make a trade. Otherwise, I'll be camping out in the woods tonight."

He felt apprehensive and confused as the bartender and guard quietly conversed between themselves. After quite some time, the red-bearded guard left without a word and the barkeep named Paul agreed with his proposed live-in-work arrangement. The night passed uneventfully until the last bar patron headed out the door. As he finished tidying up around the tavern, John noticed the bartender gesturing for him to come and sit at the counter. Once seated, he observed Paul set two tulip-shaped glasses and a tall bottle down as he proclaimed, "We've worked hard today. Let's enjoy a nice drink before we head off to bed."

Politely John declined, "While I appreciate the gesture, Sir, I am not much of a drinker. Even after months living alongside rugged sailors, I never developed a taste for liquor. Just cannot burn through that stuff like they do. It never sits well in my stomach." But the barkeep insisted as he boasted about the special alcohol – the unique yearlong aging process involving travel abroad a ship. Paul claimed that he has not truly lived until he tried the Linje Aquavit. Unable to refuse, John accepted glass after glass poured out for him. At that point, his memory about the rest of night blotted out in a hazy blur. He had not the faintest idea how he managed to safely climb up the stairs and land on his bed.

Nausea once again rising from deep within his gut, John flopped over towards the edge of his cot and heaved sour air into the chamber pot. Then he wearily sat up straight and gently rubbed his temples, hoping to massage his massive headache away. Despite his pitiful state, he could not really complain. For even though he felt remorseful about forcing that foul liquid down his throat, he begrudgingly appreciated the wretched experience. Strangely a new and intriguing dream of the mysterious blond-haired woman emerged as a result of his late night drinking session.

Crunching his forehead in concentration, he mentally willed his shaky hand still. After several failed attempts, he smiled triumphantly when he managed to insert the key and unlock the door. Then he clumsily shoved his bedroom door open and awkwardly staggered into the room. Utterly disorientated, he quickly leaned against a nearby cabinet for support and momentarily stayed there as he tried to regain his sense of balance. Suddenly an angelic voice alerted him to the unexpected guest waiting at the foot of his bed.

"Well, it is about time you return. Just how long were you going to keep me waiting?! I was beginning to think you would spend the entire night away, drinking at the bar." That same mischievous smile teasing him. Those hauntingly marvelous blue eyes mesmerizing and pulling him in. Braided platinum blond hair shinning bright like a sunbeam reflecting off glass. Slender legs crossing seductively and folded-arms reprimanding playfully. Her sparkling crystal blue dress snuggly fitting and perfectly accentuating her curvy figure.

Awestruck by this vivid vision of the mysterious woman haunting his dreams for months, John stared at her in complete disbelief. For the first time ever, he finally received a clear glimpse of this beauty before him. Then with each trepid step, as if any sudden movement on his part would unpleasantly snap him awake from his sleep, he drew in closer. So enraptured, his gaze remained firmly fixated on her. Meanwhile, the blonde young woman gracefully stood up to greet him, and anxiously gazed at him as bashful uncertainty replaced her confident bravado.

Stopping short in front of her, he shakily slurred out, "Is it… Is it really you? The one… The one I have blindly searched for… the one who will bring back my memories… Or is this… is this all a dream?" Nervously John swallowed a lump in his throat. Her worried glance confirmed his sinking suspicion as his heart dropped in disappointment. His eyes danced all around her face, trying to soak up and memorize her visage fully in his mind before reality could roughly drag him back once again. Then he softly muttered out, "If this is just a dream… then I never want to wake up." Boldly he titled her chin upward and captured her enticing lips with his.

Though timid at first, anticipating her to disappear upon contact, he then deepened the kiss as the dream persisted longer. Surprising cool and refreshing like peppermint, he savored every precious second and cemented the sensation in his memory. After quite some time, he reluctantly pulled away to catch his breath. Instantly he regretted his decision as her image began to blur. Faintly he noticed her mouth moving, but no sound reached his ears. Then his vision gradually flickered pitch back.

Soon he discovered himself once again in an unfamiliar room and bed, suffering wave after wave of agonizing nausea and prickling headaches. Even though unrelenting headaches always accompanied these dreams, in many ways, this had been his roughest morning to date. He began to suspect there were more to these dreams, perhaps fragmented memories of his former life. Thus it frustrated him whenever morning arrived to end it so abruptly, more so than ever today when he finally gained such a vivid glimpse of the mysterious blonde woman.

Suddenly a loud knock erupted at his door and interrupted his musings. While nursing his stinging headache, he shouted, "Hold a second. I'm on my way." Disgruntled he pushed the cover away and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. Slowly he crept across the wooden, planked floor to greet his unknown visitor. When he opened the door, he surprisingly discovered the red-bearded guard from last night standing in front of him.

Stern eyes inspecting him from top to bottom, the guard grunted, "Make yourself presentable. The Queen wishes to see you. I will be waiting downstairs to escort you." With a sharp turn of his heel, the bearded guard left without another word. Watching the guard walk away, John felt utterly perplexed. He wondered what exactly the Queen wanted with a complete stranger like him as he returned back inside his room to freshen up and prepare for the meeting.


"I cannot believe you hit him on the head! What if it made his situation worst?!" Kristoff raised an incredulous brow at his fiancée, still completely bewildered at what transpired hours ago. Presently he sat up front with Anna on a horse-pulled wagon led by Sven while a humming Olaf rested against the reindeer's back. Holding the reins tightly in his hand, Kristoff directed the horse, reindeer, and snowman team as they headed up the mountain towards the Valley of the Living Rock to meet with his family and ask for their help.

At the corner of his eye, he observed Anna shrug in response, "Well, he was not cooperating at all. If we had wasted any more time trying to persuade him, then it would have taken us all day! Besides, it won't matter once Grand Pabbie restores his memories." Sighing, Kristoff reluctantly nodded his head in agreement. Then he peeked over his shoulder at the duo sitting at the back of the wagon. Queen Elsa leaned against the rail while her lap cushioned the head of an unconscious Prince Ali, who now called himself John Doe.

When he first heard about the return of the amnesiac Persian prince, he found it suspicious and thought the man an impostor. Over the years, he cared for the royal sisters like family. So naturally his instinct to protect kicked in, and he felt determined to keep the stranger from doping and cheating the two at all cost. But he kept silent as he watched a smiling Elsa describe to an exuberant Anna what the queen discovered last night. He decided to quietly reserve judgment until they properly questioned the man.

A knock at the door shifted his attention from the scheming sisters, who instantly stopped their debate on the best way to sensibly handle the circumstance and effectively explain to him the truth about his past life. Entering in the queen's study, Captain Bjorg stood at attention and bowed, "Queen Elsa, Princess Anna, and… Baron Kristoff." Upon hearing his decorative title, Kristoff inwardly groaned. Reluctant at first when Elsa bestowed the designation and placed the Valley of the Living Rock under his custody, he eventually accepted as he realized the queen's plan helped him secure his engagement to Anna and ensure the secrecy of his home with the trolls.

"That is all, Captain. Thank you. Please leave us alone to speak with our guest." The queen's firm tone shook him out of his thoughts. Then Kristoff closely observed a dark-haired man cautiously tip-toe into the study while Captain Bjorg silently shut the door behind him. At first glance, he acknowledged the man impeccably matched the Persian prince's unique likeliness, either that or the man donned a disguise of uncanny resemblance. Save for the beard he sported, Kristoff could see how everyone else would believe the stranger to be the lost prince. Still the mountain man remained unconvinced. His experience with people in the past made him apprehensive of any strangers. But then the man's odd behavior led Kristoff to suspect that perhaps this memory-loss act was not a con after all.

The Prince Ali look-alike appeared anxious, though he supposed that standing before a coolly composed queen sitting behind her desk while he and Anna stood flanking her at each side would intimidate most people. When the stranger raised his head and connected his gaze with Elsa, Kristoff noticed him immediately tense. Frozen in place, the life in the man's eyes drained out as if petrified by a ghost. He then regained his composure when Queen Elsa addressed him, "Both Captain Bjorg and Paul have informed us of your current predicament. And we believe we can help you… But first, tell us what you can remember about yourself."

For a moment the man's eyes lighted up in excitement before he timidly bowed and bashfully explained, "I go by John Doe… In an account of losing my memories and all… Though I suppose, Her Majesty already knows that… Umm… Let's see. When Captain Morgan rescued me, he found me floating at sea on a piece of driftwood off the coast of an island somewhere in the New World. That was five months ago. Other than that… I'm afraid… I know very little about my past life, Your Majesty. Perhaps except for this mysterious woman haunting my dreams… Which led me here… There are very few places where you can find genuinely blond-haired and blue-eyed women as gorgeous as yourself, Queen Elsa."

Then John flashed Elsa a sheepish grin, a perfect replication of Prince Ali's trademark smile. Meanwhile, the queen blushed profusely and shifted slightly in her seat. Rolling his eyes at them, Kristoff coughed and interrupted the weird synergy between the two. But unlike him, Anna blatantly ignored the strange atmosphere in the room and gleefully exclaimed, "Isn't that wonderful, Elsa?! He remembers you. If we just tell him what we know, I am sure everything will come right back to him." So the princess proceeded to recount everything about Prince Ali from his past adventure to Persia with Elsa and his most current one around the world, which ended in the New World when he abruptly went missing the same time he lost his memories.

Rather than enlightened to hear about his old life, John appeared alarmed. As Anna promptly approached him in her excitement to retell his story, he shuffled backwards and inched closer towards the door. Nervously he chuckled, "You're joking right?! Am I hearing this correctly? My name is Prince Ali, a Persian prince who spontaneously summons fire with a snap of my fingers!" Growing more hysterical, John repeatedly snapped his fingers and hollowly laughed when nothing happened, "Also… you expect me to believe that walking, talking snowmen exist… created by your sister, Queen Elsa, who controls ice and snow. And now… you want to drag me up the mountain so that rock trolls will magical piece my memories back together! Well, if this is how you blue bloods like to mess with strangers… Bravo! You got me. In any case, this has been lovely. I guess I better get going…"

Rushing towards him from behind her desk, Elsa immediately interjected just when John's back touched the door, "No, wait! I know this might sound all fantastical to you, but… It's true. Look." Quickly the queen conjured a glowing white ball between her circling hands before releasing it up in the air. Soon dancing snowflakes floated down from the ceiling and littered all around the study. Anxiously they watched the amnesiac prince gasped in disbelief and gripped the doorknob tight. His frightened eyes flickered back and forth between them before he suddenly turned the door open, only to stumble back in surprise when Olaf gleefully skipped inside the room.

"Hi, guys! There's a rumor going around that… Prince Ali! So it is true after all. I am so glad you are back. And just in time for summer too. Think of all the fun we can have. Going on a picnic. Going to the beach. Going hiking and camping. Going sailing and swimming… Oh, gosh, there is so much to do with so little time! We better get started right away. But what should we do first?" The cheerful snowman glanced up with exuberant eyes at the dumbfounded John Doe. Then Kristoff observed Elsa gently pull the snowman aside and calmly explained the conundrum of the former prince's memory loss to him.

Meanwhile, John stood still in place and muttered to himself, "This is just a dream. A really absurd dream where snowman, not only walk, but also talk… And queens have magical powers over ice and snow… Yes, it is only a dream. One from which I will wake up any second now…" Several times the man opened and shut his eyes, only to grow more wary as his anticipated return to reality refused to happen. Then Kristoff noticed John clutched his head pain. Recognizing that the man was reaching his breaking point, he jolted forward to stop the former Persian prince from bolting. But a flash of red hair crossed his vision as Anna sprinted pass him. With a book in her hand, she grinned triumphantly when she knocked John Doe out cold.

Shaking his head at the memory of logging around the prince's slumped figure while keeping their intentions a secret from the castle staff and guards, Kristoff wearily sighed. Somehow they managed to leave the kingdom on the wagon without too much of a fuss. He hoped that all the morning's craziness would pay off in the end. Suddenly he sniffed a pungent, sour kind of smell, unique to the various underground steam vents in the area. As they round the bend, Kristoff alerted his companions of their arrival at his home with the trolls, The Valley of the Living Rock.

While Anna and Olaf woke up his family up and asked for Grand Pabbie, Kristoff assisted Elsa and lifted the unconsciousness prince off the wagon. Noting the queen's forlorn expression, he mustered some encouragement, "Don't worry, Queen Elsa. They are really good with this kind of stuff. I am sure Prince Ali will be back to his old self once Grand Pabbie restores his memories." Weakly Elsa returned his kind words with small smile before she joined Anna and Olaf amidst a circle full of whispering rock trolls.

Following after the queen, Kristoff carried the prince and laid him down in front of Grand Pabbie. While Queen Elsa recounted the prince's predicament to the old troll, he noticed the former prince gradually stirring awake and promptly propping himself up with his elbow. When John gained awareness of his surroundings, he stared blankly at the rock trolls all around him and stammered quietly, "So it's not a dream after all…" Then he shifted his attention as Grand Pabbie stood directly in front of him.

"I sense such powerful magic... Pardon me, Prince." As soon as Grand Pabbie set his hand against the prince's head, a blinding white light flashed suddenly, causing Kristoff to instinctively shield his eyes with his forearm. When the light dissipated, the mountain man discovered the prince squeezing his head and groaning in pain. Eventually he calmed down as long, deep breaths replaced shakily, sharp ones. Meanwhile the eldest rock troll grimly professed, "Sorry, Prince Ali. I had not meant to place you in such a state of discomfort. But this magic is far beyond my realm. For when I probed your mind, I found empty chunks… Significant gaps in your memory… As if something forcibly ripped parts out... I'm afraid there is nothing I can do without those missing pieces."

Upon hearing the news, Kristoff slumped his shoulders down in defeat. He noticed similar dejected expressions on everyone's face, most notably Queen Elsa who clenched her fist tightly as she strained herself to remain composed. But then Grand Pabbie weakly smiled, "Still, there is hope for you yet… Though quite slim… The agonizing headaches you have been experiencing are the results of your fragmented mind desperately connecting the shattered remains. Perhaps in time, and with some coaxing… Those remaining shards may just congeal together. So here is what I suggest. Stay in a place that feels familiar to you. Learn as much about your old life as you can. Try to find out what exactly is the cause of your memory loss. Maybe then, I will have a better idea how I can help you regain your memories. Other than that… this is all we can do for now."


Hope I made up for my long absence with this long chapter. Please let me know what you think by leaving a review. In other news, I decided to create an Facebook Author page (See link in my profile page). I felt really bad not having some form of communication to let you guys know that I would not be able to update as planned due to my cold. Fanfiction is not as interactive as I want it to be. So this author page came to mind. I'll be posting updates/news regarding about the story, and maybe even sneak peeks to the next chapter. Also feel free to post/comment and theorize with other readers. While I am open to questions, I will be more tight lip about future plots. If you guys have other suggestions regarding the author page, then just let me know. Until next time :)