The coronation started in the Church Chapel. Aubrey was standing at the alter, ready for what was to come. Chloe was off to the side, peeking out to the audience. Chicago waved at her from the pews, making her smile.
The crown was placed on Aubrey's head. She was very nervous, she kept thinking about freezing the scepter and orb. They were on a pillow before her. She slowly reached for them.
"Your Majesty, the gloves," the bishop whispered. Aubrey looked at her hands, she had forgotten about them. She took a deep breath, still very afraid, and slowly took them off. She hesitated before taking the orb and scepter, but then she grabbed them quickly, hands shaking. She turned to her people.
"Sehm hon hell-drr in-um hell-gum ayg-num ok krund ee thes-um hell-gah stahth, ehk teh frahm fur-ear u-thear...," the bishop said in Old Norse.
She felt herself getting more and more nervous by the second. She starts to feel the orb and scepter start to freeze over. She thought this was it, this was when people were going to know the truth.
"...Queen Aubrey of Barden," the bishop exclaimed.
"Queen Aubrey of Barden," the crowd responded with enthusiasm. Chloe hollered for her sister, she was thrilled.
Aubrey set down the orb and scepter back on the pillow, just in time before anymore noticed the ice. She picked up her gloves and slipped them on. She did it. She was done for now, all she needed to do now was try and keep away from as many people as she could.
Later that night, music filled the Great Hall. Guests were dancing, eating, and laughing. The trumpets sung.
"Queen Aubrey of Barden," their servant, Benji, announced. Aubrey entered, poised and looking surprisingly content. She stood unfer a formal awning.
"Princess Chloe of Barden," Benji announced, again. Chloe stumbled into the room and waved awkwardly. Benji ushered her over to stand next to her sister.
"Here? Are you sure," she asked him. He left, ignoring her completely. The sisters sneaked awkward glances at each other. They hadn't seen each other in over ten years. Chloe was wondering what to say, same for Aubrey.
"...Hi," the blonde broke the silence. Chloe looked at her and then behind her.
"Hi me...," she asked awkwardly. Aubrey nodded. "Oh, um hi." She waved awkwardly at the now queen.
"You look beautiful," the older woman commented. Chloe blushed.
"Thank you. you look beautifuller. I mean, not fuller. You don't look fuller, but more beautiful," the ginger rambled. She cleared her throat, trying to divert from her awkward ramble. Aubrey chuckled.
"Thank you." There was a silence. Both of them looked at the party. "So, this is what a party looks like?"
"It's warmer than I thought," Chloe giggled.
"And what is that amazing smell?" They both closed their eyes and inhaled. The sweet smell filling up their nostrils.
"Chocolate," they said in unison. They open their eyes and start laughing together. Aubrey looked back to the party, but Chloe looked at her sister. She had so many things she wanted to say to her, but she can't think of where or how to start. When she finds her way, Benji interrupts.
"Your Majesty," he bows. "The Duke of Weaseltown." A tiny man approached the two sisters. Bowing respectively.
"Weselton," he argued. "The Duke of Weselton." He turned to the queen. "Your Majesty, as your closet partner in trade, it seems only fitting that I offer you your first dance as queen." The Duke did a funny flitter of his feet along with a few weird dance moves, scaring the royal sisters, slightly. "One, two, three. Jump." He was in a deep bow, his hand out, head down, toupee out of his head. Chloe giggled, not being able to hold it in. Aubrey looked at her sister, stifling a giggle herself.
"Thank you... only I don't dance." Chloe tilted her head at her sister, confused as to what she was saying.
"Oh," Bumper asked clearly offended.
"But my sister does," she replied. She was hiding her amusement from her sister. The Princess looked at the blonde shocked.
"What," she exclaimed.
"Lucky you," Bumper said.
"Oh, I don't think-" Chloe got cut off by the Duke grabbing her arm and yanking her to the dance floor before she could protest.
"If you swoon, let me know, I'll catch you," he advised. The ginger looked at her sister, desperately. She needed an out.
"Sorry," the Queen mouthed to her sister.
The Duke did a bunch of funny moves around Chloe, making a little scared. He was making moves that the ginger didn't know where humanly possible. He was so awful and so close to her, she hated the entire thing. She tried to make the best of it by thinking about the hunky prince she met before, but it wasn't working that much.
"Like an agile peacock... Cluck-cluggle-cluck," he shouted. Chloe looked at him strangely. He landed on her feet, making her wince.
"Ow, ow, ow," she mumbled.
"Speaking of, so great to have the gates open. Why did they shut them in the first place? Do you know the reason? Hmmm..." He got really close to her face, suspicion in his eyes. Chloe was confused, but she tried to be normal about it.
"No..." He eyed her, trying to figure out the truth.
"Oh, all right." He let it go, they continued dancing or whatever it was. "Hang on. they don't call me the little dipper for nothing." He spun Chloe and then dipped her. Aubrey peaked at the crowd, barely holding in her laughter. Chloe kept shooting her sister 'help me' looks, that were ignored.
They finished dancing, much to Chloe's happiness. She started to limp back towards her sister, a little bit winded.
"Let me know when you're ready for another round, m'lady," Bumper shouted after her.
"Well, he was sprightly," Aubrey laughed. Chloe reached towards her feet, rubbing them.
"Especially for a man in heels," the younger girl sighed.
"Are you okay?"
"I've never been better. This is so nice. I wish it could be like this all the time." Chloe was loving talking to her sister. They hadn't talked in so long and talking now felt so right. She smiled at all the people that were dancing.
"Me too," Aubrey said. She slumped slightly at the thought of never having a party again, but it couldn't happen. She stiffened and looked away from her sister. "But it can't."
"Why not? If-"
"It just can't," Aubrey cut her sister off. Chloe's smile drops and she tires her hardest not to cry. The blonde felt guilty for hurting her sister. She opened her mouth to apologize, but Chloe spoke first.
"Excuse me for a minute," Chloe said. She walked away. The queen watched her sister go, she felt sad for hurting her sister.
As she pushed her way through the crowd, the princess bumped nito a bowing man's butt. She fell, but before she hit the floor, she was caught. She looks up to see Chicago who was smiling at her. He looked perfect to her.
"Glad I caught you," he teased.
"Chicago," Chloe smiled. Chicago held her, and then led her to the dance floor where they shared a romantic dance.
They hung out for a while. Talking and learning about each other. Laughing and just spending time together, it was Chloe always dreamed about. She couldn't wait to marry him, she was sure she was going to.
They were sitting in the balcony, still talking and having fun together.
"What's this," he asked, pointing to her white streak.
"I was born with it," Chloe said, a little insecure, "although, I dreamt I was kissed by a troll." She tried to hide it, but he grabbed her hand and stopped her. He brushed strand with his hand. Chloe blushed.
"I like it," he smiled. They laugh and start to make jokes at each other, having a good time.
"Okay wait, wait," Chloe's laughs calming down. "So, you have how many brothers?" Chicago calmed down his laughs too.
"Twelve older brothers," he told Chloe. She let out a small wow. "Three of them pretended I was invisible... literally... for two years."
"That's horrible," Chloe gasped. Chicago waved his hand to dismiss her reaction. He didn't seem to think it was a big deal, but Chloe found it completely wrong, she went through the same her her life, sort of.
"It's what brothers do," he shrugged.
"And sisters," Chloe added. He looked at her, listening. Chloe loved having all his attention, she had never received any while she was growing up. "Aubrey and I were really close when we were little. But then, one day she just shut me our, and I never knew why." She looked down, feeling all that sadness flow back. It dialed down when she felt a hand take hers.
"I would never shut you out." He leaned towards her. Chloe felt a little suffocated for a second. She leaned back a little.
"Okay, can I just say something crazy?"
"I love crazy." She jumped off the ledge they were sitting on. "All my life had been a series of doors in my face." She closed the door and turned to the prince. "And then suddenly I bump in to you." He smiled at her.
"I was thinking the same thing. I've been searching my whole life to find my own place, and maybe it's the party talking or the chocolate fondue." He stroked her cheek, leaning in. The red head giggled and moved away from him.
"It's like we were meant to meet, meant to be with each other. You're so different from everybody I've met."
"Can I just say something crazy," he asked. Chloe nodded. "Will you marry me?" He got down on one knee. Chloe gasped, she couldn't believe it. It was all happening so fast, it didn't feel right, but yet again, Chloe didn't care much.
"Can I just say something even crazier? Yes!"
Chloe pushed through the crowd, Chicago in tow. She on the way to see her sister and ask her for her blessing. She felt overjoyed with the news, but there was something gnawing in the back of her mind which she decided to ignore. She could feel that growing little by little, it was going to be a problem in the future.
"Oops," she said as she bumped into someone. "Pardon." She kept pushing through the crowd. "Sorry." She stopped in front of some people. "Can we get around you there?" They nodded, moving to the side. "Thank you." She threw them a bright smile. "Oh, there she is! Aubrey!" Aubrey turns towards her sister. Chloe curtsied, awkwardly. "I mean... Queen... Me again." She giggled and cleared her throat. "May I present Prince Chicago of the Southern Isles." The blonde gave a polite curtsy. "So, um..." The ginger looked between her sister and her now fiancee. "We would like," she grabbed his arm.
"-your blessing," Chicago cut in.
"-of our marriage," they exclaimed at the same time, smiling at each other. Aubrey blinked, slowly.
"Marriage...," she inquired. The ginger nodded.
"Yes!" She jumped slightly.
"I'm sorry, I'm confused." The queen looked at them with a confused expression, waiting for them to elaborate.
"Well, we haven't worked out all the details ourselves. We need a few days to plan the ceremony. Of course, we'll have soup, roast, and ice cream and then- Wait. Would we live here," Chloe rambled one. Aubrey tried to keep up with what her sister was saying, but she was so overwhelmed. She could feel herself start to get stressed which was not good.
"Here?" Aubrey eyed the two again.
"Absolutely!" Chicago beamed.
"Chloe-"
"Oh, we can invite all twelve of your brothers to stay with us-" Aubrey shook her head, but it went unnoticed.
"What? No, no, no, no, no," the blonde said.
"Of course, we have room. I don't know. Some of them must-"
"Wait," Aubrey interrupted, finally catching the princess' attention. "Slow down. No one's brothers are staying here. No one is getting married." Chloe blinked and shook her head.
"Wait, what?" Aubrey took her sister's hand.
"May I talk to you, please. Alone." Chloe took her hand back and scowled at her sister, but the scowl wasn't powerful because of the sadness in her eyes. Chloe looks at the prince, looking at his worried face and pulls him close.
"No. Whatever you have to say, you- you can say to both of us." Aubrey looked between them and took a deep breath.
"Fine. You can't marry a man you just met." Chloe gasped. The blonde closed her eyes and waited for the fight that was about to begin.
"You can if it's true love!"
"Chloe, what do you know about true love?"
"More than you. All you know is how to shut people out." The queen felt hurt at that statement. It wasn't her decision to shut Chloe out, but it was for the best. Clearly she knew about love and sacrifice, two things involved in love.
"You asked for my blessing, but my answer is no," Aubrey concluded. "Now, excuse me." She turned to leave, but Chicago caught her attention.
"Your Majesty, if I may ease your-"
"No, you may not. And I-I think you should go." Aubrey could feel her emotions getting out of hand. She was starting to feel very overwhelmed. The thought of ice started to grow in her head and she felt scared. She walked away. She spotted the Royal Handler and ordered, "The party is over. Close the gates."
"What," Chloe asked. She looked as her sister walked away, telling orders to close the gates. "Aubrey, no. No, wait!" She ran after her sister, grabbing her hand and accidentally pulling off her sister's glove. Aubrey gasped, spinning around and reaching for the glove, panicking.
"Give me my glove!" Chloe held it away from her sister's reach.
"Aubrey, please," the red head begged desperately, clutching the glove in her hand. "Please. I can't live like this anymore." Aubrey tried to hold her emotions back, but it wasn't working, she could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. Her sister was feeling the same way.
"Then leave..." She looked at her sister's heartbroken blue eyes. She felt like it was too much, so she turned away and tried to ran away. At this point, the party had gotten silent as everybody was watching the two sisters. "Enough, Chloe."
"No. Why? Why do you shut me out?! Why do you shut the world out?! What are you so afraid of?!" Chloe's voice was cracking as she yelled at her sister. She felt very hurt.
Then it all felt like to much to Aubrey and she snapped, "I said, enough!" Ice shot through her hand as she turned around, spikes forming on the floor. The people around gasped and cried out in shock, backing away.
"Sorcery," Bumper said from behind his men. "I knew there was something dubious going on here."
"Aubrey...," Chloe said. She was confused as to what had happened, she didn't know about her sisters powers. It made her head hurt slightly. She didn't know what to do. She instantly felt guilty for pushing her sister too much.
The blonde rushed out of the room. Panic filling every bone in her body. She ran to the courtyard, bursting through the door. That caused everyone to look at her, making her even more overwhelmed as the people cheered. She ducked through the crowd, holding her bare hand. She backed away from the citizens, knocking into the fountain grabbing the edge. The water froze, making her powers known to the other citizens of Barden.
"There she is! Stop her," Bumper exclaimed. Aubrey gasped and started to run away.
"Please, just stay away from me," she told him. "Stay away!" Magic shot out of her hands on accident and froze the staircase. The crowd panic as a snowstorm begins to form as Aubrey fled. Chloe ran out of the palace door, still carrying her sister's glove.
"Aubrey," she called out. Chicago was close by her as she ran. Aubrey ran over the shoreline, freezing the water as she ran on it. Chloe started to call her.
"Aubrey! Wait, please!" The blonde glanced back at her sister, but then turned away. "Aubrey, stop!" The princess ran over to where her sister was, slipping in the process.
"Chloe," Chicago said. He rushed towards her side.
"No," Chloe whispered to herself as she saw her sister's form get farther away.