Blue.
The first thing she sees when she opens her eyes is the clearest blue she's ever looked upon. It reminds her of snow and ice… like her sister. "Elsa?" she whispers in the fuzzy haze. Instead of hearing her sister's voice, a male chuckles echoes through her ears. Reaching up, she touches roughness, her own smooth skin prickling.
"No," the male voice responds. It sounds familiar. So does the feel of the scruff her fingers are scratching.
Her eyes shoot open all the way, finally coming to focus on a man clad in all leather, a small smile on his face. "Jones…?" Her voice breaks and tears fill her eyes, threatening to spill over at any minute. She touches his face again, reaching for his hand with the other. Twining their fingers together, she beams at him through her tears.
(Flashback)
A fourteen year old Anna bounces along the worn pathway leading down to the docks. Although she is silent, must be silent, her eyes sparkle with happiness and a giggle is always ready to spill from her lips. Behind her is a dark haired youth of about sixteen, watching her with happiness in his own eyes.
"Lass, you've got to slow down," he hisses. "It might be slippery. We are near the water."
She rolls her eyes and sticks her tongue out at him. Still childish is his Anna, his firecracker. As they get closer to the water, she does listen to him, waiting for him near the side of the ship. Holding out his hand for her, he helps the princess board the ship, being careful not to let her slip and crack her skull. Once they reach the deck, he lets her go.
"There you go, lass," he smiles at her; "the ship, just like you asked."
Her eyes sparkle with green fire. "Thank you," she hugs him tightly, for warmth, comfort, and in thanks. "Jones, this is amazing. Thank you for getting me out of that stuffy castle." Her body trembles with cold. "I wish Elsa were here." Her smile turns to a frown.
"Me too, lass. Me too."
(End Flashback)
Her childhood friend is standing there, staring at her with wide eyes. "I thought you died," she suddenly cries, launching herself at him. "I mourned for days. For Mother, for Father, and for you." Her body trembles. "I thought…"
"Lass," his voice is a low rasp. "I thought I'd never see my little firecracker again."
"How did you survive?" she asks. "They said no one lived. No one could have survived that storm."
"You know me, lass," he chuckles. "I'm pretty good at escaping death."
"How are you here, Jones?" she questions, her eyes full of confusion. "I thought it was impossible."
"Magic, dear firecracker, is a wondrous thing," he rubs the back of her hand with his.
Anna remembers the night where the impossible happened. Where she fell in love under the stars and shared her first kiss with the cabin boy of a navel officer from across the sea..
(Flashback)
"It's beautiful," Anna whispers as she leans over the rail of the ship. It's still freezing out, but the days are getting longer and warmer. In just a few short weeks, the boats will sail again and Jones will be gone. Another winter gone. "I wish it could be like this all the time."
"Aye," his voice is like soft music to her ears. "But the summer sun will eventually set and we'll be back, Firecracker."
"Maybe I can go with you!" She's beaming at him now, her green eyes sparking with mirth. "We could be pirates and come back only when the ship can't hold any more treasure."
"Anna, I don't think your parents would approve of that," Jones scratches his ear, biting his lip at her.
"I'll sneak out," she retorts.
"Lass, you can't," he objects.
"Come on, one little trip around the world. There's no one else here to play with." Her pout almost breaks him. "Elsa never comes out of her room; Mother and Father are always busy. You're my only friend." She clutching at the front of his thick winter jacket, the other hand pressed against his heart. "... You could stay here."
"Land isn't for me," he shakes his head, his arms wrapping around her. "You'll see me next winter. I promise."
"How do I know you're gonna keep that promise?" she asks, scrunching up her nose in that cute way of hers.
"Like this." And with that, Jones is pressing his first kiss onto Anna's lips. Her jade green eyes widen in surprise as he does. Her cheeks flush with color but not from the cold. One of his hands pulls her tighter to him while his other hand wraps itself into the thick strands of her hair.
The moment is almost magical and Anna can do nothing but...
"…Excuse me, but would someone like to tell me what's going on?" a snarky voice breaks Anna out of her thoughts.
Jones backs up and beams. "Of course, Swan." The sides of his eyes crinkle with laughter. "No need to be jealous."
"I'm not jealous. I just…" she is cut off when a smaller body launches itself at her. She looks down to find her arms full of a giggling redhead.
"Hey, Ems," Anna beams.
"Anna?" Emma's voice shakes. The blond can't believe that this young girl, who looks almost the same as she did the day Emma left the orphanage. "How are you here?"
She watches as the redhead bites her lip. "Nico told me."
"Who's Nico?" she asks. Out of the corner of her eye, she notices the pirate going through Anna's bag. Emma rolls her eyes at his surly ways.
Her brows furrow. "I don't know what his real name was. But he told me that the woman he used to love broke a curse here and that I should come visit."
Emma freezes. "Nico…" she whispers. "I think you mean Neal."
Anna's eyes sparkle with laughter. "I knew Nico wasn't his real name." She looks around. "So, where is he?"
"How do you know Neal, Anna?" Emma's tone is a little sharper than she means it to be, but Anna can hear the crack in her voice.
"We lived together up North," she informs the blond. "But he left for New York. He called me a little while back to visit this place."
"You… lived together." Anna nods and Emma bites her lip. "Anna, Neal is dead."
The redhead, who had been almost a happy ball of energy a few minutes ago, almost crumples. Her eyes fill with sadness again, tears in her eyes. Over her shoulder, Emma sees Killian looking on sadly. "We're so sorry, lass, but it's true," he tells her, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"You didn't even know him!" she throws comforting arms off of her. She races to the window, putting her hand to the glass. "He was my best friend. He was like a brother to me. I can't believe…"
Suddenly, in a swirl of snow, her only friend from home appears. "It's gonna be okay, Anna," he whispers in that giggly voice of his. She turns to find herself face to face with Olaf. He's looking at her with sad eyes, but there's a smile on his face. "Maybe he's happier now."
"What the hell is that thing?" Emma hisses, holding onto to Killian's sleeve. "It just… appeared out of nowhere."
"Not nowhere, love," his raspy voice is near her ear. "It came from inside her necklace. Must be magic."
Emma shakes her head, a tiny shiver traveling down her spine at the feeling of his breath on her skin. "I don't like it," she told him under her breath, to which he just huffed and rolled his eyes.
"Hi, I'm Olaf," the snowman from Anna's magical snow globe necklace waddles over. "And I like warm hugs." The redhead stands behind him, a slight blush on her cheeks. Her eyes are slightly red and a tear drops into the hollow of her collarbone, the last remnant of her sadness.
"Sorry about him," Anna smiles up at them sadly. "He's a bit… overly friendly."
"Don't worry, lass," Killian nods. "We're all for new friends here in Storybrooke." Emma grumbles next to him, her mouth set in a frown.
"Anyway, how did you get inside the boarder?" Emma asks, looking skeptical. "Not many people can see across it."
"Nico…" Anna chokes on the word, "I mean, Neal, told me how to find this place."
Killian opens his mouth, about to speak, when Olaf interrupts. "Anna! Anna! Look!" The little snow man is jumping up and down, almost losing his head he's so excited. "It's snowing."
"But it's spring." Emma blinks. "Like, almost summer kind of spring."
"Oh, summer is the most magical time of the year," Olaf's coal eyes sparkle. "Sometimes I just like to close my eyes, and imagine what—"
"Olaf, later," Anna cut him off. "Emma, this isn't real snow. Well, it is, but it's not caused by natural forces."
"So, you're saying it's magic," Killian jumps in.
"Yes," Anna nods. "Elemental magic. The strongest kind there is."
"And does anyone we know have that kind of power?" Emma mutters to herself. "Regina? Or Mr. Gold?"
"No," Anna shakes her head, stopping Emma.
"Then who?" Killian presses.
"My sister…"
Sorry for not updating! It's been crazy with summer camp (with no internet) and beginning college. But, seeing as OUAT is back, I know I must continue this story. Here, we see a time jump from when Regina encountered an almost unconscious Anna, and her waking up in the hospital room. She knew Killian as Jones, Liam's cabin boy. Liam's ship stayed in Arendelle during the winter because the fjord would freeze up, thus not allowing any ships through.
Please review and tell me what you think of this chapter. Next we see Elsa trying to seek shelter and calm herself down. We also get a little Anna/Captain Swan time, with Henry butting in with news about yet another stranger in town.
