Disclaimer: "Frozen" and all characters related to the movie belong to The Walt Disney Company. Frozen was created by Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee, and Shane Morris. The Snow Queen was published by Hans Christian Andersen, and redistributed by the Walt Disney Company as "Frozen". Frostbitten and Lovestruck and any characters not associated with Frozen or any other multiverse crossover characters thereof, belong to Berserkeroo. All rights reserved.
(A/N: I hate when my sarcasm bites me in the ass. Ask for a miracle to cure your fever, and it's gone by the next day. Random reader: "Yay! :D" Yeah, yeah, yeah… -_- I think I got most of this polished off pretty good, but knowing me, I'll come behind myself and tidy up any errors I find when I reread this later. Before I even get into other things: my relatives from up north are coming for a visit for the week, so I might not post a chapter next week since they'll be staying with me. Who knows?! They're coming home for the week so they may not be in the house for most of the time — meaning they won't eat up my time.
Didn't get any questions this time around, but someone did guess what I had in mind of this chapter, and now I have to bump up security again for Hans. Hans: "Why do people hate me so much? :(" Aw… it's okay Hans. Some of us happen to like — or maybe a better word is tolerate — you on this ship. Come on people! I'll either go into debt or Hans is going to get drunk under the table with all the free cocktails I have to give him. Also, we get to see some backstory on Ursula and learn something about Esmeralda! Random reader: "Fuck them! I want my ElsAnna damn it!" Uhm… rude much? I'm getting to it. You'll get some not-so-friend-like ElsAnna next chapter. Anyways, as always: thanks for joining us on the ElsAnna cruise ship, and enjoy the chapter.)
If any other word described what Elsa Rimes-Arendelle was doing at that moment, it would be brooding. Her companion sensed this unease. The young heiress was one her closest friends — if not the closest female friend she had. "Elsa," Esmeralda called as she placed her index finger under the sulking girl's chin, and guided Elsa's dejected visage to face her.
A pair of blue eyes glistened in the reflection of emerald eyes. "What has my Elsa so down," she asked in sincerity.
Ever since earlier that week she hasn't been able to shake her funk. What could she say: seeing the girl she liked — no, the girl she loved — in the arms of another? It stung. Bad! But who was she to get jealous? She was viewed as nothing more than a friend: a sister. She shuddered at the word.
"Esmeralda I don't know what to do anymore. I like Anna. I've liked her since our first year but she just doesn't seem to get how I feel, and then I see her with Hans!" Elsa hissed his name with enough venom to make an Inland Taipan envious. "I've tried being subtle so I don't embarrass myself if she doesn't feel the same, but who wouldn't get all of the hand holding, opening doors, gifts, everything!"
Esmeralda gasped with mock-horror. "I'm more shocked that you're cheating on me with another woman," she pulled out a handkerchief and pretended to sob. The odd, comedic gesture brought a smile to Elsa's face. "There she is. I was worried that I was sitting next to a stranger," the gypsy beamed at her accomplishment.
"Focus Es! I have a real problem," Elsa said as she got back on subject.
"Right, right, right. I am in the zone."
Elsa rolled her eyes as she continued, "You know the plot to Moulin Rouge?"
Esmeralda lifted her brow as if she didn't hear correctly. "Duh. The writer is in love with the courtesan, and they put on this big production to disguise their secret love affair as a means profess their love to each other." And that's when it clicked. "Are you fucking serious? That's why I didn't get lead?! It all makes sense now. There's no way in hell Ms. Atlantica would have let Anna on stage!" she said in realization.
"Will you keep your voice down!" the winter-blonde shushed.
"Sorry. So what are your plans, Romeo? I mean Christian?" the tanned temptress asked.
The male lead paused. Honestly, she had no clue. "I was just hoping that she'll get it and then I can tell her how I really feel. It's the only thing I've got. I've tried everything."
Esmeralda focused every fiber of her being in not harming herself or her naïve friend. Her forehead yearned to become one with the table but she resisted. She would do this slowly so that Elsa could connect the dots for herself. "You've tried everything. As in everything?" she inquired suggestively.
The question — alongside how she incorporated her words with mischievous eye contact — made the pale teen anxious. She bit her bottom lip and asked, "What's your definition of everything?"
Oh, how she tried not to harm herself or her friend, but she couldn't resist. She face-palmed and slid the hand down her face with disdain. Her eyes flickered over to her awaiting friend. "Elsa, you're a sweetheart — really, you are — but have you even tried to show her you're interested in her outside of friendship. Holding hands, holding doors, and all that is nice; but you know who I can do that with? My nana."
Elsa cringed at remark. Was she really that bad at portraying her feeling? Conservative life in Arendelle Manor had its advantages, but it crippled her in certain norms of modern society — and if what Esmeralda said was true, it crippled her in the romantic field. Her father was more liberal about her upbringing, but she spent more time with her conservative mother so her mother usually outweighed any influence he had. It was part of the society she was raised in, but it was killing her chances to woo Anna.
Her gestures were genuine, and filled with every bit of affection that was appropriate, but Anna was a fine portrayal of the modern, American girl. Spontaneous, bubbly, fun loving, and proactive. Yes, she would need someone that kept her grounded, but she also needed someone who kept up with her appetite to embrace and enjoy life.
Even Mr. Peabody, a passive yet intelligent figure in the school, encouraged her to be an aggressor; but she didn't know how.
"I only say this because I care. Grow a pair!" Esmeralda paused at what she just said. "Damn it, you know what I mean. You can't just go with nice gestures. Compliment her, flirt, take her places, flaunt your rockin' bod. I don't know if you've noticed, but you're kind of hot; as in super hot; as in I can list some of the chicks in this lunchroom that would like to bang you right now kind of hot. Do something more than subtlety otherwise you'll leave this school without a girlfriend and go out a virgin."
The mere mention of any possibility of making love to Anna was enough to make her hide behind her hands. As much as she hated to admit it, Esmeralda had a point: she was a romantic at heart but she didn't grasp the concept of some of the more risqué quirks in the pursuit of love.
Modern courting was an elusive creature, much like her favorite animal — the snow leopard. "But I suck at it," Elsa whined.
The prospect of her comrade's plight merited Esmeralda's pity and she decided the best course of action would be to take her friend under her wing. "I'll teach you, and by the time opening night comes, you'll be a pro!"
Elsa let out an elated squeak and hugged the gypsy. "I fricking love you Es!" she purred with excitement clear in her voice.
"You say you love me, but I'm the side-chick in this relationship. Better be careful, or your number one will catch on," she chuckled and enveloped Elsa into a hug.
If only Esmeralda knew how right she was. They were right in sight of a familiar Princess. She watched the events unfold from the table across the way. For this lunch period she decided to introduce her youngest sister to her older sister, but the girl was nowhere in sight until Mulan pointed out the heiress accompanied their other friend. Let's just say the boys were cowering on the other side of the table.
Damn, why are females so scary?!
"It's a good thing you weren't born a Super Anna otherwise you would melt that girl's head off with heat vision or something," Coraline said emphatically.
"Yeah, well Elsa should be with me!" Anna huffed with folded arms. That brought up quite a few — okay, every — eyebrow at the table. "T-To help me with my lines," she added on.
Ariel glanced over to Mulan and Belle. They didn't believe her. Didn't help that Anna slightly stuttered either.
"You sound envious of Esmeralda," Mulan muttered from behind her thermos of dragon tea.
The pigment left her sun-kissed skin. "Envious? I'm not envious. I just don't want to look stupid on opening night. The only reason I didn't say no to Ms. Atlantica about the Satine role is because I thought I would be see more of Elsa, but I'm actually seeing her less; because of Esmeralda," she muttered the last bit so that no one heard her.
"Jealous," Ariel whispered amongst her other friends.
Coraline gave her sister a stare that clearly stated oh really? "I'm calling bull sh-," Peter covered the girl's mouth. He shook his head at her as if to give a sign for her to shut up!
Kristoff decided that now was as good a time as ever to talk to the feisty cheerleader. "Elsa really cares about you," the entire table looked at him like what he said was the understatement of the century, "… and won't let you get embarrassed on stage. I remember our Rent production: she saved the show when our lead caught the flu. You just need to trust her."
"All right. I'll trust Elsa."
Right after lunch Anna was headed to her homeroom class — once she escorted Coraline to her class that is. Just as she traveled down another hall she bumped into a familiar, athletic build.
"Anna," Hans grinned at his crush. "May I grace your presence and escort you to homeroom?" he asked with his arm extended in the most gallant fashion.
"Uhm, sure," she replied but rejected his extended arm. The boy frowned at his declined chivalrous gesture but he didn't let that deter him from anything else he had up his sleeve. "Your skin is extremely radiant this day. Did you try a new lotion?" he asked and took one index finger and caressed her bare shoulder.
Anna shuddered at the sudden contact. "No. Same thing as usual," she answered in her best attempt to recover from her blush.
"Well then you naturally grow more beautiful with each day then."
The girl diverted her eyes from him. "Thank you," she muttered with a renewed flush to her speckled skin.
Hans took this as a sign to go even further. "I know this may sound crazy, and a bit forward even, but can I take you out on a date after school. I have my own car and I'll pay for everything," he promised. "There, I said it. Way to go Hansy ol' boy," he patted himself on the back.
"I can't Hans. I have to help the dancers learn their moves for the play," Anna apologized.
"Oh… well that's okay, but I'll give you my number in case you change your mind." He expeditiously scribbled his cellphone number on a stray piece of paper and gave it to her. "My homeroom is this way so I'll see you later maybe," he said even though it seemed like he made a request.
"We'll see," she waved him off as he entered his class.
Anna strode up a flight of stairs, and caught sight of Elsa with her arm propped up against the wall. At first she thought that the girl was hurt or probably saddened by another vicious rumor, but the more she paid attention the more she noticed that the winter-blonde was mumbling something.
The Princess tilted her head slightly and realized that Elsa's thin body was towering over someone, and pressed their bodies closer to the tiled wall. "Hey baby, you must be a light switch; because every time I see you, you turn me on," she purred to the girl beneath her.
Okay now she needed to know who the hell Elsa had pinned to the wall. She crept closer just a hair and caught a glimpse of dark skin, wavy black hair, and… green eyes. Esmeralda!
Esmeralda looked up at her with hooded eyes. "Is that so? Then maybe we should play a little horizontal tango in the dark," she whispered the last part and snaked their fingers together. Horizontal tango? Horizontal tango?!
"Maybe a bit later. We have to go to homeroom. After you m'lady," Elsa said as she offered her arm to escort her friend to her homeroom class. The girls giggled at their nonsensical flirting. It was so corny but Esmeralda wanted Elsa to be comfortable while being seductive in close proximity to a female body. After that, the process could be applied to Anna. But Anna didn't see it that way. She didn't know. If only Elsa had looked back she would have seen her crush rendered speechless.
At that moment she didn't know what to do or who to turn to. All she knew was that she didn't like what she saw. It stirred her in a bad way. She didn't want to confront Elsa after school. She just couldn't be in the room with the winter-blonde and Esme-fucking-ralda! She pulled out her cellphone and sent a text to the number that was on the paper.
Moulin Rouge rehearsal was barely in swing as both students and faculty alike came together for the production's preparations. The entire dance team was already there and so was Coach Calhoun; but where was Anna? "Has anyone seen Satine?" Ms. Atlantica asked and rubbed her chin in thought.
The entire room went quiet before the students clambered about to gather information on their missing leading lady. None of them knew where she was.
Elsa wrung her hands together in mild anxieryt. Where was she? What if something happened? "Elsa calm down. She might be running late or something," Peter tried in a valiant attempt to comfort her.
Ursula let out an exasperated groan but composed herself in seconds. "The show must go on. Esmeralda I need you to substitute as Satine for theCan-Can scene," she instructed with her script in hand. She wanted to help Elsa with her pursuit of love, but she had other students to cater to as well.
"Uhm, yes ma'am. You okay with this Els?" Esmeralda asked. She knew how much Elsa had her heart set on Anna being here but their hearts belonged to the theater. The show must go on.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Working together. It's nothing new to us, right?" Elsa said although it was evident she was concerned about Anna's whereabouts.
"Action!"
The next day Elsa arrived early — earlier than usual — to her chemistry class. As the bell rang she saw every student walk passed her or into the classroom. Merida didn't bother her with a look like that in her eye. As much as she tried she didn't calm down about Anna's sudden absence.
Two minutes later she saw her.
At first Anna wanted to opt out and pretend that she didn't see her but Elsa was determined. She had her arm extended to block Anna's path to the door. How's that for aggressive Mr. Peabody?! The strawberry-blonde looked up at the heiress with wide eyes. She wasn't scared of Elsa but she didn't want to confront her either; especially with those big, blue eyes of hers — filled with an array of emotions that stemmed from displeasure to worry. There was just too many to list.
Anna felt bad — really bad. Somehow she knew that she was the heart of the conflict reflected within Elsa's eyes.
"Where were you after school? Nobody knew where you were and I couldn't-" Anna pulled Elsa into a hug in attempt to soothe the girl's worried mind.
"I'm fine Elsa. I..." she paused. She had to think of something to say, but she knew that Elsa hated Hans, and the truth would piss her off. "I went home after school. I thought I was getting a little sick but it turned out to be a false alarm."
A hefty burden lifted from Elsa's shoulders, and restored her composure and her peace of mind. "Oh," was all that escaped her lips. She would have said more but the bell rang.
All throughout class Elsa stole glances towards Anna; or tried to ask questions about the cheerleader's illness — or if she could be of some assistance — but she was bound by her word to tutor Hercules; and thus she was at his side to aid him in the complexity of polymers and balancing chemical equations. Even with her worried-ridden mind she made an excellent tutor, but she couldn't stay still for the life of her.
Elsa heard the familiar yet faint humming of Come What May from the other side of the classroom. She glanced up to see that Anna looked directly at her. Mr. Gru told her to "quit with the vocal noises," but that was more than enough to satisfy her until after class.
After class the two were in a deep conversation; but Anna stuck to her lie and told her friend not to worry about her. "All right but don't hesitate to call me if you need to reach me," Elsa insisted as she programmed her number into Anna's phone. "I look forward to seeing you this weekend."
"I'll look forward to seeing you at lunch," Anna reminded her. Yet, with every good moment, came its bad moment.
Hans swaggered over to Anna, once again completely ignoring Elsa, and kissed the back of her hands. This arrogant jackass was really about to piss her off. Her mother always advised her to act like a lady, but Kristoff despised Hans as much as — and possibly more than — she did. His advice offered a loophole: Act like a lady; punch like a man! It's not like the statement wasn't fitting. She had both sets in full so she might as well utilize the advice and put it to good use; but she opted out for peace… for now. "He's lucky I'm more of a lover than a fighter. But that doesn't mean I can't do both!"
"So Anna, I was hoping we could go on another date this weekend? Maybe Sunday when the crowds aren't so bad and we can go see a movie," Hans suggested.
Date? Wait did he say another date? As in they've been on one already?! What kind of fuckery was this?! When did this happen? Elsa had so many questions in her head. She was so confused.
If she couldn't stand the sight of Anna in Hans's arms, then she felt downright sickened once she heard that they went on a date.
Second period ended just seconds ago and it painstakingly annoyed the theatre instructor. No her students hadn't caused her any problems. She knew how to handle wayward teenagers. It was a lack of enthusiasm from someone in particular. Elsa refused to acknowledge her name when called for attendance, she never sang, and had about as much zeal as a dead fish.
Right at that time Kristoff arrived in the classroom and found his sister curled in on herself in her usual seat in the soprano section. He failed to notice that his teacher had passed him and brought Elsa to the silent room. It was a soundproofed room in the classroom for private voice recordings.
Kristoff shuffled across the class and entered recording room. Ms. Atlantic didn't mind his presence. She knew that he was close to Elsa. "Elsa. You have to talk to me. You're worrying me. What happened?" he asked as he knelt to her eye level.
Tears misted from the corners of icy blue eyes. "What have I wasted three years of my life for?" she choked out. Their teacher was about to ask for further elaboration but she was met with a sharp remark from the girl. "She went on a fucking date with him!"
Elsa never let her tongue slip when it came to her elders. She respected most of the teachers at Laneway but she could give less than half a damn about such things currently.
"One date doesn't mean that she's dating him and for all you know Hans is lying just to get to you. I wouldn't put it passed him for trying," Kristoff sneered. One thing that Kristoff couldn't stand was a bully, let alone one that tormented his sister. To hell with Anna's sis-zone bullshit. If anyone at Laneway had bragging-rights to call Elsa a sister it was him! When something hurt her, it hurt him too.
Ursula tapped her plump finger across her pert lips. "I'm going to tell you a little story about my past Elsa…"
About thirty years ago Ursula was once a young teenager, out in the world, but the world differed far greater than it did now. It was so unforgivably cruel to those who were unusual. Yet that never got to her since she had a kind, older brother who stuck to her like they were twins. They were so different yet so similar.
One day neither of them could have known that one similarity would drive an reprehensible wedge in their relationship. It, or rather, her name was Athena. It was like love at first sight. Both were instantly smitten with the beautiful girl but only one of them could be with her.
Athena had a fondness for Triton but her heart longed for Ursula — a woman. She knew she couldn't. That she shouldn't! Love between women was taboo in those days, but Ursula wasn't all woman either. It gave leeway to their relationship until society and their peers got involved. The pressure swelled and swelled until it became unbearable. Ultimately, Athena chose Triton yet her heart still belonged to his sister.
She married Triton to save her image, but what's done in the dark came to light eventually. Ursula and Athena had one affair after the other for several years after the "wedding."
"You are a boss Ms. A!" Kristoff hooted.
"I was young and in love. There is nothing I wouldn't have done for Athena, but that's in the past," the teacher said and continued her tale.
As far as either of the two women were concerned: nothing could tear them apart. But reality permanently skewed their delusion. It was fate's cruel hand that tore them apart. Athena was bedridden from a terminal illness; and in her dying days she wanted to be honest with Triton. He had a right to know about everything before she left.
"I bet your brother was pretty mad, huh?" Elsa piped in form the floor. At least she talked. That was a good thing.
Ursula shook her head. "I'm sure my brother knew about the affair. That's the only reason I think he didn't take it so badly, but what made him reject me was what she said afterwards," she explained.
"What she say?" the blondes asked; their interest piqued.
The instructor chuckled at their avid curiosity. "He disowned me when she told him that he probably wasn't the father of most, if not all, of hisdaughters."
Their jaws dropped at the revelation. "Oh snap!" they exclaimed in unison.
"At least three of the girls — Alana, Adella, and Arista — have most of my features, but I do know that I'm not Ariel's aunt. Athena was with me too often around Ariel's conception for her to be Triton's. Ariel looks so much like Athena. It drove my brother insane to think that he didn't sire her and he refused to let me see any of my nieces."
The inseparable duo just gaped at the revelation. Holy fuck! Shit got real!
"By now most of the girls already know this, and we talk every now and then, but I think that's why Ariel tries to avoid me. She wants to get to know me but she's such a daddy's girl that she tries to spare Triton's feelings."
Whoa head rush!
"How is this supposed to help to me again?" Elsa asked out of confusion. Too much fuckery was being thrown her way for one day.
"I shared this with you to point out that when things look bad, love has a way to make it work. If times were different when I was younger maybe Athena and I could have been married, and I could have raised my daughters, but you have so much potential Elsa," Ursula cupped her pupil's cheeks as she gazed into her eyes.
"I didn't give up on Athena Elsa. I stayed with her through her marriage, childbirth, and until her last breath. You have so much more than I ever did when I was younger. Most of your peers accept you; your family loves you; no one is against you liking another girl; you have people to talk to about this. If you really love her, you can't give up on love so easily. You're not a quitter."
The words of her confidante sunk in. She knew she had to try: if not for herself than for the sake of achieving more than her teacher ever had; to achieve more than those who similar to her, in the past. She had to try!
(A/N: So we find out that Esmeralda isn't a threat to our beloved ElsAnna after all. You can stop holding your breath now Anna. *Anna blushes* Anna: "I wasn't worried. I knew it all along!" Uh-huh, sure you did. *rolls eyes* Our main threat still remains to be Hans, but will something about Hans change? *grins wickedly, because I know stuff you guys don't* Also, some pretty heavy stuff from Ursula. Show of hands; who saw that one coming? No one? Good! Just goes to show, I got some pretty good stuff in store for you guys in the future. We're only just beginning! Leave reviews and tell me what you guys think of the character development... or other stuff. See you guys next time! :3)
