A/N: Please let me know what you think and thanks for reading!
Chapter 4 – The Ice Queen Returns
Elsa pulled her cloak tighter around her as Mulan started to descend. Elsa could see the glittering lights of Campus in the distance, and she took in a sharp breath at the unadulterated feeling of utter loathing the sight inspired. Elsa had thought that there might be some part of her that missed Campus and her former life, but no; there was nothing but rage and disgust, especially since Anna wasn't there to temper her darker side. The thought of Anna made Elsa glance down at her ring, and in spite of her foul mood, she smiled. She was going to do whatever Leader wanted her to and then she was going to get the fuck out of here and go back to her future wife. And whatever Leader had in mind for them and the Rebellion after this plan was completed didn't matter, because Elsa was never leaving Anna again.
The ground came ever closer and finally Mulan landed on it with a soft thud. Elsa slid off her back and waited, standing off to the side as Mulan changed back into her human form and slipped on her IRB uniform. Feeling far too warm now that they had descended, Elsa took off her cloak and placed it in her satchel, revealing the form-fitting Ice Queen uniform she wore underneath. Mulan's eyebrows quirked as she noticed two things almost immediately. "So when did you two make it official?" she asked in her quietly amused way, her gaze dropping to the sparkling ring on Elsa's left-hand ring finger.
"Two days ago," Elsa said, immediately offering her left hand to Mulan for closer inspection. Elsa could sense the sometimes-dragon wanted to see her ring, and she was exceptionally proud of it and their engagement, so reaching out to Mulan to show off was an excessively easy decision.
"It's beautiful," Mulan commented, taking the proffered hand, "and it looks handmade."
"It is," Elsa confirmed. "Anna designed it herself and was able to find someone to make it for her."
"Ah, that's why the stones perfectly match her eyes," Mulan observed, her slight grin becoming a full-blown smile. At Elsa's slight blush, she tentatively squeezed the hand she held before letting it go. "Well, I'm happy for you both," she said sincerely, and Elsa smiled in return. Mulan smiled back and then coughed as Elsa's blush brought out the other thing that she had noticed when the cloak came off. "Not to be impertinent, Master, but you might want to put the cloak back on," Mulan said, her own cheeks coloring slightly. "During your, um, 'celebrations', Ginger must have forgotten that your uniform is a scoop-neck."
Elsa looked down immediately, and sure enough, tiny bruises and blemishes tarnished her pale white skin from her collarbone down to the tops of her breasts. The purposeful imperfections were unusual; Elsa loved to claim Anna's skin as her own, but Anna rarely marked her. As determined and territorial as her Intended had been the night of their engagement, though, it made sense that Anna might have left a few tokens behind. "Firstly, please call me Elsa, or if you insist on code names, Ice Queen or Morgan," she stated. "Anyway, I am far too warm to put the cloak back on," Elsa decided firmly without a trace of embarrassment, and Mulan smiled. Life with Ginger hadn't mellowed her out apparently; the Ice Queen had lost none of her attitude.
"You are going to be staying in the Philosophy Club room in the Library," Mulan said, changing the subject. "As you know, there are no cameras in that room, and Leader was hoping you retained enough of your saboteur skills to be able to navigate the Library while avoiding the cameras. She's got a special cuff for you that will allow you to talk to any of us and unlock all of the doors you'll need, but it's not hooked up to the State system and they can't track you." Elsa's face grew still, and Mulan could practically see the icicles forming in her eyes. "I must have said something wrong," Mulan thought apprehensively.
"I have retained all of my skills," Elsa said pointedly. "And I am not happy about having to wear a cuff again, but I'll manage. What truly bothers me is this: if I am hiding out in that massive Philosophy Club room, why in the Pillars' name couldn't my Apprentice be here with me?" she asked, her voice dropping into an icy, menacing register.
Mulan shivered and swallowed nervously. So pretty much everything she had said had been wrong, she realized. "I don't know, Master, um…Ice Queen," Mulan admitted. "I am very sorry, but you'll have to ask Leader."
"It had better be a good answer," Elsa said ominously to no one in particular. Taking a short breath to calm the icy fury that seemed to build so much faster when Anna wasn't around, she turned to the wary Thinker, and Mulan could see the ice melting a bit. Without Ginger, though, Mulan suspected that the ice would never go away completely. "It was inappropriate of me to be angry with you," Elsa stated, sounding every bit the Master that she used to be, emotionless and professional. "I will try to do better in the future."
Mulan's heart dropped just a bit. They had been on Campus for only a few minutes, and already the young woman who had excitedly shown her a beautiful engagement ring was disappearing and turning back into her coldly impassive former self. Mulan only hoped it was a temporary response to being back on Campus and being unwilling separated from Ginger. "I understand, Master," she said sympathetically, and Elsa looked at her, her glare frigid. Mulan sighed. "I know you have made your wishes clear, but I can't change years of conditioning and etiquette training in a few minutes," she pointed out in exasperation. "You are my elder, a person whom my parents would say demands respect, and you were a Master, a title which the autocratic State requires me to acknowledge. I'll do my best, but I make no promises I'll get myself to call you anything but 'Master'," she finished in a huff.
A smile tugged at Elsa's lips at the spirited outburst. So there was the spunk and personality that Anna had sworn Mulan possessed. "I'm not that much elder," she protested mildly.
Mulan noticed the subtle smile, and she smiled back. "Elder enough," she retorted good-naturedly. "Now let's get you to the Library before Leader thinks we have both been captured."
They made their way out of the forest clearing towards the Campus and within minutes they were at its borders. Elsa paused to take in the sight of the familiar layout and frowned when several of the buildings that should have been there weren't. It didn't take her long to realize that every barren patch of ground she saw used to reside under a building that she had been the lead Architect on. "They demolished my buildings?" she asked Mulan quietly.
"Yes, they did; every single one of them, in fact," Mulan confirmed. "They quickly became makeshift shrines to you and Ginger and the State couldn't let that situation continue."
Elsa's frown deepened. It was completely true that she had never wanted to be Plebian and that being an Architect was a result of being part of the State she hated, but in spite of this, she had always put all of herself into her buildings. They were her creations, and she was inordinately proud of them like a mother would be about her children. To see them all of them demolished after she had put so much time, effort and inspiration into them hurt her deeply in a way that she hadn't anticipated. But that was probably the State's intent, Elsa realized. It was the State's way of showing her that they were still in control, that they could still hurt her. At that thought, the hurt quickly turned into anger and resolve.
"Are the Patricians supposed to know I have returned or does Leader have a specific time where she would like to reveal my presence?" Elsa asked Mulan, an idea forming in her head.
"I am not really sure, Master," Mulan answered. "Leader merely told me to escort you to the Library."
"I see," Elsa said noncommittally. Mulan continued into Campus, but Elsa, mindful of the ever-present cameras and her new plan of action, didn't follow. Mulan looked at her questioningly, but Elsa shook her head. "I'll be fine," Elsa assured the apprehensive Thinker. "I know exactly how to move around this Campus without being seen. There is something I want to do before I hide myself in the Library and with dawn approaching, I have to do it now."
"As you wish, Master," Mulan replied, giving her a small smile before turning and leaving.
Elsa watched her go and then turned herself towards the center of Campus. As she expected, a small patch of grass was all that was left where her clock tower once stood. That tower had been her first commission as a Master and she had designed it in a Venetian style that was a striking mix of old and new. It had garnered the attention of many on Campus, including the Patricians, and Elsa thought it only fitting that it be a focal point once again.
Elsa raised her hands and a square structure with a pointed roof rose out of the ground. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she expertly wielded her power to embellish the tower with all of the features that its predecessor had possessed, including a working clock. The clockworks were a bit tricky, but she managed and soon it was ticking for all to hear. A working bell was a problem, however, as a mallet striking ice would crack the ice but make little sound. Elsa decided that for now she would put in an ice bell and replace it with a strikeable one when she came to wind the clock.
After adding a few more details, Elsa stepped back and she smirked proudly at the recreated beauty before her. She would have remained longer, but a shout in the distance prompted her to head for the safety of shelter. Before she went, Elsa added a flurry to make sure that inclement weather would not damage her clock tower, and after a final self-satisfied grin, she ducked into the nearest building to reacquaint herself with the Campus ducting system. Many ducts and a few buildings later, she dropped down into the Philosophy Club room right in front of a disgruntled-looking Leader.
"You couldn't just come to the Library like you were asked," Leader said, her blazing anger apparent on her features.
"No," Elsa confirmed, her face growing cold. "Not when I needed to make a statement to this Pillars-forsaken State."
"You have completely taken away any element of surprise that we might have had," Leader said, her voice tightening in her wrath.
"And I couldn't care less," Elsa countered, her own voice icy. "I'm back on Campus, soon to be wearing a cuff, and I am without my Apprentice for reasons unbeknownst to anyone but you. Speaking of which, if there isn't a very good reason for why my Intended couldn't accompany me, my clock tower will be the least of your worries."
"Is that a threat, Ice Queen?" Leader challenged.
"No, it is an absolute promise that I will walk out this door and kidnap Mulan to take me to Old New Orleans if I don't like your answer," Elsa promised coldly.
The two strong-willed women stared each other down for several long, tense moments. Finally Leader took a sharp breath. "I sent Ginger down to Old New Orleans because I wanted to keep her safe," she admitted at last.
"I can keep her safe much better if she is with me," Elsa countered. "But now I can't protect her. I told you once, but apparently you still don't comprehend, so let me explain again. Anna is my sole reason for living and fighting. Without her, the Ice Queen and everything that she means to this Rebellion is dead."
"Bullshit," Leader said succinctly. "You were a saboteur long before you met her."
"Only because I was dead inside and I wanted them to catch me," Elsa snapped, and Leader looked at her in shock. "I wanted them to execute me so that I could stop living the pathetic farce my life had become," Elsa said with a bitter laugh. "Then I met her. And she made me see that life was actually worth living because she made me Elsa again. If I lose her because you were stupid enough to separate us, then after I kill whoever took her from me, you will never see the Ice Queen again."
Looking at the deadly serious face of the Ice Queen, Leader finally understood that she had made a mistake. She had sent Ginger to Old New Orleans for two reasons. The first had been the reason that she had told the Ice Queen, namely to keep Ginger safe. The other reason, though, and the one she could never tell the Ice Queen at the risk of being impaled, was to remove the distraction of Ginger from the Ice Queen. Leader had thought that not having Ginger around would make the Ice Queen more focused. Now, though, Leader saw how wrong she had been; the woman was a sociopath without Ginger and though it chafed her pride, Leader knew she had to apologize or risk losing the one person who had become critical to their cause. "I'm sorry, Ice Queen," she said sincerely. "I didn't want to believe that you truly cared for Ginger above everything else. As soon as this is over, I will get you back to her and none of my plans will separate you again."
Elsa's scowl deepened, her mistrust of Leader's apology apparent, but after studying the brunette for a few moments, Elsa relaxed. "Apology accepted," she said, her mood returning to one of polite professionalism.
"I knew from day one that you were head over heels for her," a new voice commented warmly, and Elsa turned around at the out-of-place but still familiar voice. "Assistant?" she inquired, stopping her spin when she spied the familiar face. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, my former boss decided to reveal she was an Extraordinary to the entire population of the State, so I needed a new boss," the Assistant teased. "After I made a few inquiries, I discovered a group of like-minded people and miraculously I was transferred to a new position here. I am currently the Assistant for the Master Librarian and devoted member of the Philosophy Club." He walked up to Elsa and unexpectedly put his arms around her for a hug. "It is so wonderful to see you again, Master," he said emotionally. "When you left that night, I knew you weren't coming back, and it broke my heart a bit. I missed you."
Thank goodness Anna was a hugger and Elsa had gotten more used to them; otherwise the Assistant might have found himself hugging a statue or being belted across the room. Instead, she gently hugged him back. "It's good to see you too, Assistant," she replied, meaning every word. "And thank you so much for the llama. The Apprentice loved it."
"It was supposed to be for you," he reminded her with a laugh when they parted.
"Yeah, well, the Apprentice gets anything she wants out of me," Elsa admitted. The Assistant's grin grew wider, and he grabbed her left hand to look at her ring finger pointedly. "Yes, even that," she confirmed. "But technically she asked me," Elsa clarified. The Assistant laughed at that, and even Leader had to crack a smile. Now embarrassed, Elsa cleared her throat self-consciously. "So what are these plans of yours?" she asked Leader gruffly, hoping to rapidly change the subject.
"In the simplest terms, you are going to 'recruit' me to the Rebellion by kidnapping me for your cause," Leader explained.
Elsa studied her for a few moments. "There has to be more to it than that," she observed. "Otherwise I wouldn't need to be here for a month."
"Well, you also need to show everyone that you still exist and are still rebelling, and I had planned for you to demonstrate that by sabotaging things like you used to," Leader said. "In fact, if you had done it on my schedule, the clock tower was exactly the sort of thing I was hoping for."
"If you had let me know, I wouldn't have made my presence known so soon," Elsa pointed out.
"I know and that was my mistake," Leader admitted. "I'd forgotten your reputation for straightforwardness."
"'Straightforwardness' is a very diplomatic way of putting it," Elsa replied, a wry smirk threatening to emerge. "Most people just call me acerbically blunt or demanding."
Leader smirked. "Well, there is that, but I didn't get to be Leader without being somewhat diplomatic," she said. "Anyway, after this period of letting everyone know you are still alive and still active, you, me, Voodoo Queen, Debutante, Llama and Hacker will be leaving. The rest of the Club will stay here to maintain our presence and provide intelligence."
Elsa had heard all of it, but only one thing stood out. She turned to the Assistant. "Llama? Really?" she questioned incredulously. "That was the code name you picked?"
"It was the best out of a lot of bad choices," he stated simply.
"That sounds familiar," Elsa muttered, and Leader fixed her with a glare before the Master Librarian continued. "I am in the process of arranging transports for us all, and when those are confirmed, we will be able to proceed with the kidnapping plan."
"Why are just those four people leaving with you?" Elsa asked, curious.
"I need Hacker for the technology aspect of things and Llama has proven himself invaluable as an Assistant," Leader responded. "Voodoo Queen and Debutante, well…" she trailed off, not knowing if they wanted to divulge their personal information.
"…they're expecting a child within the next few months, and they both will be damned to hellfire before their child is born here and taken away from them," a honeyed drawl informed them. Elsa turned around to discover a noticeably pregnant Debutante entering the room with Voodoo Queen not far behind. "Once we saw the tower we had to come," Lottie said impishly. "But look at that ring!" she squealed, grabbing Elsa's hand, examining it and pulling her into a hug. "How are you and Ginger, honey?"
"I would be better if my Apprentice was actually here," Elsa admitted, surrendering reluctantly to yet another hug. "But what about you? When did all this happen?" she asked, pulling away.
"I'm twenty five, sugar," Lottie stated simply, and Elsa's face softened in sympathy.
"Then yes, you need to get out of here," she agreed. "Did they give you any indication who the father might be?"
"That would be me," Voodoo Queen said with a proud smirk as she wrapped her arms protectively around Debutante. "A good friend of ours is a Master Physician here on Campus. Between her, Leader and Hacker, we were able to make sure that this little girl was ours." The joy on their faces was unmistakable and Elsa smiled at them in return. Not only was she happy for them, but it encouraged her that technology was far enough advanced that she and Anna would be able to have children of their own.
"So getting back to the plan, when everything is set, you three ladies will be transported to Old New Orleans to meet Ginger," Leader said. "The other two and I will be headed to Dunbroch. After that, we will have to see who is going to stay down there and who will be joining us in the cottage."
That statement set off another round of discussions and in spite of herself, Elsa was enjoying the company and the conversation. She still missed Anna of course, but it was nice to be amongst friends once again. Eventually the conversation died down as the others had to go to their professions, and one by one they left. Leader was the last to leave, and she apologetically handed Elsa a cuff before she left. Elsa glared at it but reluctantly put it on. Left alone, she started to plan the havoc that Leader wished her to wreak on the Campus.
Elsa spent the few weeks being alternatively euphoric and depressed. With Leader's blessing, she had determined that reconstructing her ruined buildings was the best way to make a statement, so one by one, in the order that she had created them originally, she recreated them in sparkling, embellished ice. Bringing them back into existence using the powers that the State hated her for was a thrilling experience, and only her happiest times with Anna could compare with the rush it gave her. But during the day, when she was alone, she missed her Apprentice with an ache that threatened to consume her. There were no shared coffees or breakfasts, no intricate yet playful discussions about random topics, and no evenings of languid lovemaking that ended with Anna snuggled in her arms, only for them to wake the next morning to start the whole cycle over again. There was only loneliness, and Elsa was more than glad her time back on Campus was drawing to a close.
Elsa took a long look at the huge parcel of bare ground. It had once been a museum complex that housed the State's finest treasures of Art and Science, and it had been Elsa's proudest accomplishment. Now the treasures were in storage and a grass-covered field awaited a new Architect and a new complex. Elsa looked at it and let the anger dissolve into inspiration. Knowing she had to work fast or be captured by the Enforcers, she lifted her hands and began to direct the ice and snow in a symphony of wind, cold and sparking beauty. The buildings were finished first, each a perfect frozen replica of the building that once stood there, and after they were completed, Elsa decided on a bit of whimsy. She entered each building and recreated many of their exhibits, so that by the time she considered herself done, there was a Tyrannosaurus rex and other carnivores grinning toothily in the natural history museum, a serene woman smirking at other icy masterpieces in the art museum and a spirited propeller plane flying into the great snowy horizon in the State history museum. She took one last look and still smirking, Elsa melted into the background of Campus as only she could. Much to their dismay, when the Enforcers came they found nothing but the buildings.
Leader smirked at her when Elsa dropped in from the roof. "I knew you were capable of many things, but an entire museum complex in less than half an hour is pretty extraordinary, even for an Extraordinary," she said in admiration that didn't have to be forced. While still not the best of friends, they had grown on one another over the past weeks and their relationship was much more cordial now.
"Thanks," Elsa replied. "It was my last constructed commission, so I wanted to show them how truly talented I really am."
"As modest as ever, I see," Leader responded wryly. "Anyway, I thought the exhibits were a particularly nice touch."
Elsa smirked and went to pour a cup of coffee from the ever-present pot. "Any news?" she asked.
"Big Daddy's report says that things are going well down there," Leader reported, knowing that news of Ginger was the news that the Ice Queen was fishing for. "Ginger has managed to charm her way into everyone's hearts and he seems pretty loathe to give her up when all this is over."
"You really screwed up by making her a spy," Elsa mentioned, sipping her coffee. "If you had made her an interrogator, she could have found out all of the State's secrets within weeks."
"But then I wouldn't have an Ice Queen in my ranks," Leader countered, and Elsa couldn't counter that counter. Leader smirked and continued talking. "Big Daddy did have some other information though," she revealed. "Apparently Ginger's been sick for several days and everyone down there is a little worried. They are calling in a trusted local doctor to see if he can help her." Elsa scowled and her body tensed up, but before she could complain or demand to go to Old New Orleans, Leader started talking again. "I knew you would be worried about her, Ice Queen, and we've made our point about you being a rebel, so I think it's time for me to be recruited and kidnapped," she stated. "Our transports have been arranged for departure tomorrow."
Elsa relaxed, her face growing thoughtful. "Thank you, Leader," she said simply, her deep gratitude showing on her face.
"You're welcome," Leader replied, noting it was the first time the Ice Queen had addressed her as "Leader" without being sarcastic. There was silence for a moment as the two powerful and uncompromising women studied each other, and without words, a new bond of mutual respect formed out of what had been mere tolerance. "Now quit drinking that coffee and get some sleep," Leader ordered gruffly, a bit uncomfortable with actually liking the Ice Queen.
Elsa impertinently drained her mug with a smirk before rinsing it and putting it back by the coffee pot. She headed to her small living space hidden amongst the bookshelves, and Leader shook her head in resignation before shutting off the lights and leaving.
Elsa slept for most of the day before rising to sneak her way to the showers. She could hardly contain her excitement about seeing Anna again and she unconsciously started humming in the shower in her delight. After she got dressed and repacked what little she came with, Elsa sat on one of the couches in the Club and tried to read, but she was far too excited and eventually she gave up. Club members came by from time to time to prepare for Leader's imminent departure and/or say goodbye and during one of these visits Elsa's luggage disappeared. Finally, the appointed time arrived and after happily disposing of her borrowed cuff, Elsa disappeared up the vents, only to reappear within full view of the cameras at the entrance to the Library.
Elsa smiled her icy smile and the camera dutifully captured it before she annihilated the device with ice. She strode proudly through the halls, eliciting gasps from the few Library patrons that remained as she made her way to Leader's office. Elsa blew the door off of its hinges and Leader looked up in mock alarm, letting her fake terror show for the cameras that were all around. Elsa smiled again, the one colder than the last and this one directed at Leader. "Join us or die, Master Librarian," she offered, and Leader didn't have to fake the shiver that traveled down her spine at the cold malevolence of Elsa's voice.
The Philosophy Club had debated for hours about whether or not Leader's departure with Elsa should look willing or coerced. They had decided on coerced, mainly so it would look like Leader had nothing to do with the plot. If it looked like Leader had no idea about the kidnapping and was not willing to join the Rebellion, then those she associated with, namely the other Philosophy Club members, would not be under as much suspicion. However, the counterargument had been that coercion might diminish Elsa's reputation with the People. If she was shown to be using force, then she was no longer as morally superior as she had been. But, as several members pointed out, the People had seen her nearly kill all eight Patricians without an ounce of remorse. The People knew she could be violent and they loved her anyway. Thus, Leader found herself starting in ice-cold eyes whose malice she hoped was only for show.
"And what if I refuse?" the Librarian asked, her voice wavering.
"You don't want to do that, Master," the Ice Queen assured her. "My Apprentice isn't with me at the moment."
It was all Leader could do to keep an admiring smile off of her face. Elsa had made no secret of the fact that she really hated mind games and politics, and yet, she played them so well. In one sentence she had managed to threaten without violence and remind all listening that she was only here because of whom she loved. "I hope she's worth the death sentence you'll receive for kidnapping me," Leader spat, purposely trying to sound like a woman grasping for straws.
Elsa chuckled, this one a little more merry and a little less cold. "I nearly killed all of the Patricians in front of the entire State, Master," she reminded Leader. "I don't think your kidnapping is what I'll be executed for. But yes, my Intended will always be worth it." She flashed her ring to the cameras before grabbing Leader's arm and pulling her from her seat.
As they expected, the Library was surrounded by Enforcers by the time they made it outside, but there were fewer on the roof that they exited out onto. Elsa took care of them with ease and when she was done, she destroyed Leader's cuff. "I can't do anything about your biometrics chip, though," Elsa said apologetically.
Leader looked at her arm in wonder, seeing the bare skin for the first time in years and relishing the freedom it represented. "It's okay," Leader replied. "Hacker knows how to deactivate them. Speaking of which, where is that kid with our transport?"
"Right here, Leader," a voice answered and both women turned around to see a small hovercraft and a spiky blond head in the driver's seat. Leader smiled at him before she and Elsa both climbed in and they took off to rendezvous with the rest of their party. Once there, Hacker pulled out a small electromagnetic device and zapped Leader's chip followed by his own, and then Llama's, Voodoo Queen's and Debutante's came next. Elsa took care of their cuffs and waited indulgently as four people savored their first moments of true autonomy in a long time. When the moment had passed, Leader smiled and started ordering people around.
"We need to get out of here, people," she stated. "You two gentlemen are with me, and you three ladies are with that gentlemen over there." He waved and Voodoo Queen smiled so wide her dimples showed up. "I can't believe he was the best transport you could get," she joked.
"If he's taking us home, he's perfect, honey," Debutante responded. "Even if he is the biggest philanderer in Old New Orleans." With the thought of home, Lottie decided she was just about done with this place, so she tugged on Tiana's hand to get her attention. "I wanna go home, Tia," she said bluntly, and her wife smiled.
"You heard the lady, people," Leader said with a smirk. "Goodbye ladies; we will see you soon." Tiana and Lottie nodded and headed towards the craft. "Goodbye, Ice Queen," she said offering a hand.
"Elsa," Elsa corrected before taking the hand and shaking it.
"Pleased to meet you, Elsa. I'm Belle," Leader said, releasing Elsa's hand with a smirk before going to her own craft.
"Elsa is a beautiful name, Master," Llama said, stepping up after Leader had left.
"Then you should use it," Elsa said pointedly, and he blushed.
"Only if you call me Kuzco," he offered.
"Deal," Elsa said, and her former Assistant gave her a bone-crushing hug before joining Leader and Hacker.
After everyone was settled in their crafts, they waved to one another as they took off. Leader's craft headed north, and after a few evasive maneuvers to avoid patrols, Elsa's craft headed south.
"So are either of you ladies going to introduce me to your lovely friend?" Naveen asked as they settled into cruising altitude.
"Naveen, this is the Ice Queen," Lottie said. "Ice Queen, this is Naveen, a former Plebe who failed the test and became Proletariat only to end up working for us. He is lazy, arrogant, and he has slept with or attempted to sleep with anyone who might remotely be attractive."
Elsa was a bit surprised that the usually-friendly Debutante was being so snarky. Tiana saw the surprise and decided to clarify. "Naveen here tried to coax me away from Lottie when he first started working for her Daddy," she explained. "When that failed miserably, he tried to coax her away from me. Didn't work either time, and a strict talking to by Big Daddy set him straight, but Lottie can hold a grudge like no other and she will bring it up from time to time. Especially when my sugar is tired, and he is trying it with someone who is obviously attached."
"She's taken too?" Naveen whined. "Ahshetanza! Why are all the beautiful ones already taken?"
"Even if I wasn't, you wouldn't be my type," Elsa said diplomatically.
"And why not?" Naveen persisted. "I am quite attractive, you know."
"Yes, you are, but you are lacking two attributes that I find most attractive and you have one attribute that I have never found myself attracted to," Elsa stated, and both Lottie and Tiana smiled knowingly.
Naveen glanced over his shoulder and saw the smiles. Comprehension dawned as he put all of the pieces together and he smiled wryly. "You are secretly funny, Ice Queen," he acknowledged. "And now I know why the lovely young lady staying with Mr. LaBouff warned me that I could lose body parts if I tried to flirt with her." He shook his head and sighed. "All of the beautiful ones are taken," he pouted again.
"You'll live, Playboy," Tiana teased him. "And the Ice Queen wants to see her Intended. Take us home."
"Of course, Miss Tiana," he said impishly and turned back to flying.
A couple of hours later and Tiana and Lottie could see the familiar skyline of the city they used to call home. Elsa noticed their excitement and grew excited herself, knowing she would at last be able to see Anna. The stop at the Enforcer checkpoint went smoothly and soon they were on their way. As they got closer, though, Lottie and Tiana's excited grins turned into frowns and Elsa peered out the window to see what they were seeing.
A beautiful mansion with extensive, beautifully landscaped grounds lay out before them, and for a second, Elsa didn't see anything amiss. But then she looked at the front gate, and she frowned as deeply as Tiana and Lottie. A squadron of Enforcers waited there and while they were being held back by the walls and the wrought-iron fencing, based on the artillery they had brought, they wouldn't be for long. Within the compound, Elsa could see people scrambling, and fear and anger surged through her at the knowledge that Anna was down there.
The craft started to turn back from the grounds as Naveen followed the orders he had been given to keep the ladies in his craft away from any danger. Elsa noticed immediately and within in an instant she was up at the controls. "Turn around and go back," she ordered.
"I can't, Ice Queen," Naveen apologized. "I've been ordered to keep you safe."
"I don't give a fuck what your orders are," Elsa spat. "Take this craft back to the compound now or I will freeze you solid and do it myself."
Naveen glanced at Tiana, who nodded her permission, and Naveen gently turned the craft around. As they started descending, Elsa shook her head. "Don't try to land," she said. "Just pop the emergency hatch. I can get to the ground from here."
Tiana shook her head. "The distance is too great, even for someone like you, Ice Queen," she pointed out. "You would never survive that fall."
"I'm one with the wind and sky," Elsa said immodestly. "My powers won't let me fall."
"That may be true, but your powers won't do a damn thing for me, so I need to be closer to the ground," Tiana countered, and Elsa nodded in understanding. Tiana looked at Lottie. "I'm sorry, sugar," she murmured, gathering her pregnant wife in her arms, "but these bastards have already taken one of our Mommas and Daddies from us. I can't let them do it again."
"No, you can't, Tia," Lottie agreed. "I wouldn't be much help in my condition, though, so I'll stay with Naveen. We'll stay close and if you need us, call us." Tiana tightened her grip, holding on to her wife and unborn daughter with all that she had. Only when the hovercraft touched down did she let go.
The hatch opened and Elsa and Tiana bounded out. The hatch closed and the craft took off, but before either of them could speak, a loud explosion sounded in the distance. Elsa and Tiana looked at one another briefly and then set off at a dead run towards the now-smoking mansion.