This was ironic.

It was an irony that felt like a slap to the face. Or more accurately like ten stitches and a shattered forearm that practically had to be reconstructed. Elsa sat up. She was still in the hospital, her arm set in a splint and wrapped tightly in bandaging. She was scheduled to get a cast put on the next day but there was no way she staying here any longer for her very presence appeared to be enough to send everything to hell.

All this time, she had tried to protect everyone – protect Anna. She could never have lived with herself if anything happened again and yet, something did happen. Something. Elsa didn't know what to make of it; it could have been from the isolation, or some novel form of brain damage but there was something very, very wrong with Anna.

"There's a godamn understatement." Elsa muttered as she carefully swung her feet over the side of the bed and stood up shakily. This was a nightmare. She hardly even cared that her powers had been revealed anymore for the insanity displayed by her dear sister. It wasn't even a simple case of psychopathy – well there was some violent psychopathy but the way Anna had talked to herself, switching tones and intentions and accents implied there was something more. Elsa could only hope the doctor would figure it out and find a way to help.

It was the very least she could do before she left.

...

It was the oddest sensation to see snowflakes in the middle of summer. Kind of surreal since it was still fairly warm and everyone was still out in their summer attire.

Anna began to walk home, ignoring the whispering in her head. She hoped the weather would simply pass, it had to. Elsa had ice powers but it's not like she could change the seasons right? She couldn't rotate the earth and surely, she didn't posses the energy required to maintain a winter environment over an area so large?

It was getting rapidly colder. By the time Anna got home, it felt like late October and there was a definite crispness in the wind.

"Oh this is not good." Anna muttered as she entered the castle grounds. It was cold enough for snow to start sticking to the ground. How far was it possible for this to progress? This must be taking a tremendous amount of energy – and who knew what kind of state Elsa was in to have caused this?

"There she is!" the Captain of the Guards came rushing towards her followed by what looked to be a physician and of course, the grasshopper Duke of Somewhere.

Before Anna could get a word in, the Duke interjected. "You're behind this too aren't you?"

She loathed that man. That simpering little fucker – what no!

"No!" she took a breath to collect herself. "No, I didn't mean for this, Elsa didn't either! Where is she?"

The physician stepped forward. "She was last seen running across the fjord."

"Across the fjord?"

They all exchanged glances at her obliviousness. Anna's heart was racing, it was even colder than before.

"I think you'd better come with me." said the Captain finally. He escorted her out the gates, and through the streets that were already filled with astonished civilians, gawking at the now heavy snowfall. They got to the warph and he motioned outwards at the completely frozen fjord. Anna's jaw dropped at the sight. She, as well as the others were not expecting this at all. The water was covered in a thick sheet of white ice as far as the eye could see while the ships were held fast in their places – it looked like something from the Arctic! And it had been summer yesterday!

Anna had no words. But the others had plenty to say.

"Oh Elsa you motherfucker, what're we gonna do with you?

The Captain looked down at her, his brow raised. "We are waiting on your order."

Anna shook her head. She could hear herself, in her own voice saying things she never would.

"I have to after her." She declared to the Captain, to the things trying to take over her mind. She needed to be forceful and imposing as they were. "This was my fault, I….I drove her to away and I'm the one who needs to bring her back."

The Captain paused at her odd mannerisms but then nodded. "I'll bring your horse."

'You'll be dead in a day going out like that.'

Anna was about to mount her horse when she heard it. She tried to ignore it but it persisted, clearer than ever.

'You think you can just up and leave? You'll freeze and starve and –'

Oh good lord, it was talking to her. She felt herself go pale at the realization. Should she answer it? No. No she shouldn't indulge, it'll only make it worse –

Anna got off her horse and marched straight back to the castle, muttering angrily at herself. She made a beeline to her room, ignoring the staff who may or may not have noticed the steely, deadpan expression on her usually bright face. They were working in tandem this time as their objectives matched for once, shutting the original Anna out of her own consciousness.

She changed into a pair of thick trousers, and winter gear, suitable for harsh travel before taking a satchel and heading to the kitchen for provisions, again ignoring everyone in her path. She grabbed anything non -perishable, a first aid kit, a long kitchen knife and after a brief internal debate, rope and a handful of Anna's pills. She snuck into the infirmary, into the supplies closet and grabbed a new, hypodermic needle. It was a fascinating contraption to both of them. She placed it carefully in her front pocket, as to avoid breaking the glass. Next, she took a small vial with a cork stopper, filled it with warm water and dissolved three pills, which she placed with the needle.

The Third Person wasn't all that enthusiastic about this idea. It was only for emergencies.

She pulled her hood up to hide most of her face as she made her way back to the horse, her gait straight and purposeful. She hung her satchel over the saddle and swung herself up easily when someone called for her.

No she shouldn't indulge, it'll only make it worse –

Anna opened her eyes and looked around wildly. It was as if she blinked and skipped through time, allowing her to completely change outfits and gather what looked to be supplies in less than a second. It was the most surreal feeling she had ever experienced. How long was she out anyway?

Her heart stopped when something responded 'Just a few minutes, don't worry bout it.'

"Anna!"

She turned around. It was Hans! Someone normal and familiar, thank god. He caught up to her, out of breath. "Anna I heard what happened."

"You...you did?"

"Yes!" He grinned at her. "I had no idea you that's what you were thinking!"

"Me neither!" she was dismayed but that grin on his face was….out of place.

"Wait – what do you mean?" his eyes narrowed. "Didn't you try to kill your sister?"

"No! That wasn't me – I mean it sort of was but…." she sighed in aggravation. She couldn't even explain what was happening to her. " In any case, I'm going after her."

"What?" Hans stared at her in confusion. "Why? Isn't she dangerous?"

"My sister's not danger – well she is dangerous the way a cross bow wielding five year old is dangerous."

Hans stared at her. "So….."

"Could you look after things while we're gone?"

His face brightened immediately. "Absolutely! – are you sure you don't want me to accompany you?"

Anna shook her head. "I'll only be gone a few days. It'll be better if I go alone anyway, Elsa's not exactly a people person."

"Good luck then. I'll be waiting for you." He said it gravely but his eyes were grinning. He was behaving a strangely as she was.

Can anyone guess the premise behind the violent alter ego? Hint: Solidarity...something fascinating about the sorts of ailments that could afflict people. Something profoundly personal...