Chapter: 5 Henchmen Hunting

The team's exhaustion eventually caught up with them, and they had to rest for the night. At the break of dawn, Elsa was the first to rise. The queen gave her sister a nudge and soon all were awake. Quinn cracked her back, "Day two."

Anna yawned, "Any idea how far from Arendelle we are?"

Kristoff glanced passed the treeline. "We must be just outside its borders. Come on, we need to get moving."

"Way ahead of you!" rose Jack as he began to fly. Just as he soared above the others, a bola trap came swinging out of the shadows. The rope snared on his feet, and the stones tied to it brought him down.

"What the?" gasped Anna just as several silhouettes emerged. It was about a dozen thugs led by the notorious Stabbington Brothers. They surrounded the group and drew their weapons, which varied from swords, to clubs and axes.

"Not good," gulped Kristoff. He grasped his pickaxe and stood in front of his wife.

"None of you have to die," assured the eyepatched brother. "Surrender."

"HAH! Fat chance," grunted Jack while trying to untie the bola. Elsa ran to his side, formed an ice shard in her hand, and used it to cut him free.

"Have it your way. Get'em boys!" yelled the crook before his men attacked.

Back in Arendelle, two guards flung Hans into a cell. "Nice going, pretty boy!" scorned another prisoner. "You're plan got us all captured!"

"Exactly," smirked Hans. "Exactly."

"Huh?"

"Patience, my neanderthal of a hired sword...This was just phase one. Phase two...is about to begin."

Olaf fidgeted in a seat while Kai dusted the lobby. "I wish there was something we could do to help."

"Fear not, Olaf. Anna and Elsa have proven they can best any challenge."

"They've been taking too long," thought Erika. "I should go look for them!"

"It's been one night," huffed Kai.

"What if they're in danger? They need someone who can kick some serious butt!"

"That's enough of your nonsense, Erika. You have mail to deliver."

She pouted, "But I can fight!"

The servant rolled his eyes, "Suuuuuure you can. And I'm Judge Claude Frollo."

"You're acting like him," pouted Erika.

"What was that?!"

Erika sighed, "Nothing, Kai. I'll take those letters."

Kai handed her several parchments. "These trade agreements are to go to Princess Aurora and her husband, Prince Phillip. It's a long trip so you'd best get started." Erika grumbled, packed her satchel, and went on her way.

Olaf gave the lead servant a tug, "Mr. Kai sir...What can I do to help?"

"Nothing, Olaf. Go...play with Marshmallow or something."

"But there must be sooooomething I can do."

Kai sneered, "Olaf, everything is under control." He glared down at the snowman's puppy eyes. "Fiiiiiine you can help. Why don't you help Gerda fix up the dinner tables. Some of them were wrecked during the fight."

"Okay!"

"But I warn you...if you mess up those fine tables any more than they already are...I shall leave you as I leave snow...as I left ice cubes...alone in the scorching summer heat...melting alive...melting alive."

Olaf grew frustrated, clenched his fist, and screamed, "KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAI!"

Anna evaded a punch and kicked a man square in the jaw. Elsa and Jack were freezing crooks left and right. Kristoff was locked in a deadly fistfight with both Stabbington brothers. The men were far too big for even his bulky self, and began to overwhelm him. One put him in a headlock while the other gave him a punch in the gut. Kristoff pivoted his head back, bashing his assailant's face and kicking back the other. "Kristoff!" gasped Quinn. "Hang on, blondie!" She bolted through the air and into the eyepatched brother's groin. He yelped as she flew up and uppercut him in the jaw.

This distraction allowed Kristoff to take on the other twin singlehandedly. Jack swatted a swordsman down with his can while Elsa blasted him with ice. Another foe grabbed her from behind, but she stomped on his toes with her icy heel. "Anna, lookout!" shrieked Elsa before freezing her sister's attacker.

Quinn twisted the Stabbington man's nose. "Who's your fairy mama?" she taunted.

"SHUT UP!" barked the twin, angrily grabbing for her.

She sped around him, making him dizzy. The fairy then grabbed his ear and gave it a painful twist. "Come oooooon. Who's your fairy mama?" He punched at her, but she evaded, causing him to strike a rock. He howled in pain before she yanked at his sideburn. He turned left and ran head-on into a tree. The outlaw fell over in a daze as Quinn flew over to his eyes and whispered, "Who's your fairy mama?"

"You...are," he groaned before passing out.

"And don't you forget it!" smirked Quinn while dusting herself off.

Kristoff punched back the other twin while more mercenaries came charging in. Jack lifted Elsa into the air, and she unleashed a might flurry that froze half of the enemies and sent the other half running. A final punch by Kristoff knocked the second twin out, and all grew quiet. All that could be heard were the pants of the heroes catching their breath.

Anna cracked her knuckles and walked off. Her blue eyes brightened at the sight of the Weselton hooftracks. "The trail! I've found it again! Come on come on come on! We need to move now!" Without waisting another minute, the team mounted their steeds and followed the tracks.

Erika sat in her own personal sailboat and departed from Arendelle. "Just my luck," she scoffed. "There's a call to action, the prince has been kidnapped, and I'm delivering mail. URGH!" she stamped while grumbling to herself. She was out at sea when suddenly, a mermaid emerged from the water, startling her. She immediately assumed a fighting stance, "Alright, bring it! BRING IT!"

"Don't hurt me!" worried the mermaid. "I mean you no harm!"

Erika calmed down, "Oh...sorry. I thought you were a sea monster."

"Nope," gulped the mermaid. "I'm Adella. Fifth daughter of Triton."

"I'm Erika. Only daughter of...my daddy."

"Sorry I scared you. I thought you were someone else. I'm looking for a man named Marco."

"Marco, you say?" thought Erika. "Dreamy smile? Curly brown hair? Sexy build? Alluring mustache-goatee combo?"

Adella nodded like her head was going to roll off, "Yes yes yes...and yes! Have you seen him?"

"Unfortunately,"

"Unfortunately?"

"Well...Queen Elsa of Arendelle sent me to deliver a message to him. When I found the guy, he was as rude as can be. He told me he wanted nothing to do with Elsa or the kingdom!"

"Marco said that? It couldn't be him then. The Marco I saw was kind...bold...and very loyal to this Elsa woman."

"What?" Erika raised a brow.

"Yes. His ship sank and I met him as he lay adrift. Then, this evil, witch woman...thing, came up and snatched him! She was a nasty thing...with huge red and yellow eyes."

"That's terrible! Elsa thinks he despises her!...wait...those eyes...those eyes! I saw them too. I don't know what's going on...but I'm gonna get to the bottom of this! Do you know which way this witch took Marco?"

Adella pointed south and Erika thanked her. "And before you go...if you see Marco, please give him this." Adella smiled and handed her a white gold necklace with the crest of Arendelle on it. "He dropped it."

Nikolas tugged and tugged at his ropes, but couldn't break free. The henchmen had tied him to a tree while they slept. Dominik awakened and gasped at the sight of sunlight. "Oh no! We've slept in." He kicked Fritz, "We should have been with Eris by now! Get up!"

Fritz woke up and grabbed Nikolas. Just as he lifted his head, he saw the Arendelle search team riding straight for them. "There they are!" yelled Jack from above.

"MOMMA!" screamed Nikolas as Fritz mounted his horse.

"Nikolas?" gasped Anna. "Nikolas!"

"We're coming, son!" yelled Kristoff. "Come on, Sven. Faster!" They chased after the men, pursuing out of the forest and across a series of hills.

Elsa spurred her mare and hollered, "Jack! Quinn! Go!" The snowy flyers zoomed through the air to close in.

"I'll distract 'em," saluted Quinn before nosediving the riders. She buzzed around Dominik as he tried to swat her away. Meanwhile, Jack swooped in to grab Nikolas, but was punched by Fritz. He fell to the ground just as Elsa picked him up.

"Hold on, Frost!" she said as he gripped her waist.

"I guess I have to do everything," growled Quinn before biting Fritz in the hand. He loosened his grip on Nikolas, allowing the prince to escape. He held onto the back of the horse while Quinn distracted Fritz. Kristoff brought Sven alongside them as Anna stretch out her hands. "Jump Nikolas!" she yelled.

"Jump off the horse, kid!" ordered the fairy.

Nikolas froze up, "I...I can't!"

"Trust me! You'll be alright!" assured Anna. "Mom will catch you!"

"I'm scared!"

"Jump, Nikolas!" called Quinn. The boy remained petrified, just as Fritz smacked Quinn hard. She spiraled onto one of Sven's antlers.

"Get me in closer, Kristoff!" panicked Anna. "Jump, Nikolas! Please!" She stretched out her arms to catch him.

Nikolas tensed up, took a deep breath, and timidly prepared to jump, "GOTCHA!" growled Fritz as he nabbed him again.

"Noooooo!" screamed Anna as the Weselton rider changed direction. "We can't let them escape!"

Fritz met up with Dominik, and the elder henchmen ordered, "We'll lose them in the caves." They rode down into a jagged ravine as the royals followed behind. Kristoff kept his gaze fixed on his son. Sven went into overdrive, running so fast that you couldn't even see his hooves! Elsa and Jack rode double right behind them.

"Get ready, Anna!" said her husband. The princess switched places with him and leaned forward, prepared to grab Nikolas.

She was closing in when Dominik drew his sword and sliced at one of the jagged stones. It collapsed on its own, but triggered a chain reaction within the ravine. The very ground began to crumble, and the henchmen made it out just in time. Anna, Kristoff, Elsa and Jack plummeted down with the rubble, disappearing into the darkness below as rocks piled atop.

"Momma Poppaaaaa! Auntie Elsa!" cried Nikolas. He felt tears swelling up in his eyes. He grew even more frustrated with himself because he wasn't brave enough to jump.

Dominik grumbled, "That'll take care of them. Let's get to Eris without any more problems." Fritz chuckled alongside him as they rode down the hills and made for a mountain range.