Author's Note – Want to give quick shout-out to Annabelle Vane for the praise. Also thanks to FunkyMonkey for describing my story as "Aweomse".

Thanks to the rest of you readers as well. This chapter's a bit shorter, due to how freaking huge the last one was. Will try to keep quality up. Stay classy.

-TheStanfordExperiment

Chapter 9 – Old things, New things

"The reparations are going smoothly, as the wind only caused minor structural damages around the kingdom…"

"Hmm…"

"The festival, aside from the avalanche, was an enormous success! People are already clamoring for another demonstration…"

"Mm-hmm…"

"And then there's the matter of…your majesty, please!"

Elsa's head snapped up. She had been daydreaming again. She had done a lot of it since the avalanche, since the intruders…

Since Ignus.

She lightly clapped her face. What was she doing?

"Sorry, Kai…it's just…recent events have been stressful."

"Indeed, your majesty." The large advisor seemed not entirely pleased, but he shrugged it off. "As I was saying, there is also the matter of retrieving the royal tiara…"

"Oh." Elsa stopped short.

Kai looked at her accusingly. "Yes. That little thing I've been reminding you about for months and you have continuously put off? I'd hoped you'd take it a bit more seriously. It is a royal heirloom, after all."

Elsa dipped her head, ashamed. Kai was right. She had put it off. Since she had left it in the ice castle, she had been too distracted with her newfound freedom. She and Anna had spent almost every day together, and it had been difficult to concentrate on actual, queenly duties.

"You're right, Kai. I have been…irresponsible."

To her surprise, Kai looked somewhat amused. "I understand you had more things on your mind. And I certainly wished nothing more than for you and your sister to reconnect at last. Yet now that you can't even eat separately, perhaps we could now focus on such trivial matters?"

"I don't think it's trivial." Elsa said, somewhat sullenly.

Kai raised an eyebrow. "Now then, who shall I send?"

Elsa looked at him. "I figured I should go retrieve it."

"Your majesty, you really should remain here. The townspeople want answers to the shocking light and wind they saw the other day, and your powers could certainly aid in the reparations."

"But…" They were interrupted as two voices entered the room.

"…I'm telling you, it's true!"

"Rock trolls? Look, I've been around, but telling me there are talking rocks? It's a bit hard to believe."

"That's my family you're talking about!"

"Alright, fine, if you say so. I'd never want to insult family."

"Well, good. Anyway, if it's that hard to believe I should just take you up the mountain and show y-"

Kristoff stopped as he and Ignus entered the throne room. Elsa's eyes met Ignus' and her hand involuntarily shot up to straighten her hair.

"Uh…oops. Sorry to interrupt…"

"You said you knew your way around this place!" Ignus said, promptly chucking Kristoff under the bus.

"I said I knew it better than you!"

"Guys! Guys!" Elsa shouted. Both silenced themselves.

"I actually was about to look for you Kristoff. I need to ask you a favor."

Kristoff looked up. "And what would that be?"

"I need you to travel to my Ice Castle and retrieve the royal tiara. I…well, I sort of left it there after the coronation."

Kristoff seemed excited. "No problem! I'd love a chance to see that masterpiece again!"

Ignus seemed interested as well. "Maybe I should accompany him? Always wanted to see that thing myself." And I also want to see up where the avalanche happened…

Elsa hesitated. She wanted him to stay.

"To help protect me of course!" her mind readily shouted.

"Alright. I guess it would be safer that way."

Ignus grinned. "Guess we should get ready, then."

Kristoff looked at him in consent. "Okay then. I'll go start hitching up." He walked out of the throne room.

Elsa stifled a giggle. "Kristoff?"

"Yeah?"

"I believe the exit is that way." She pointed at the opposite door.

"Ah…right." Kristoff's face burned as he quickly exited.

Ignus smirked. "Guess I should get my things!" He walked away.

Then he stopped. Then walked towards another hallway. Then stopped again.

He put his hands on his hips and looked down.

Then he turned towards Elsa.

"Third door on the right, that hallway." She said, shrewdly.

Ignus muttered "Right, that was the one…" and walked out.

Elsa could hardly keep herself from laughing.

Ignus entered his room, finally. The castle was a maze! And it didn't help that he always had to go to Elsa to get directions…

He groaned and walked to get his things. He tied on his sword, his several pouches and a ice pick he carried with him sometimes.

He was about to walk out when he looked at himself in the mirror. He still looked pretty raggedy.

He gave his reflection a stern look, then smiled. It was time for a wardrobe change.

Taking off his equipment, and making sure the door was locked, he stood in front of the mirror and flexed his arms. Fire slowly crept over him and his clothes as they began to shift and change. The holes in his pants mended, and his sleeves extended, covering his arms. His jacket stretched out.

When he finished, he inspected his work. Not bad, he thought, satisfied.

Let's see Elsa giggle at this.

"Why can't I come?"

"Because Elsa asked me to do it, and because Sven can only take two people."

"Why does Ig get to go?"

"He hasn't seen the castle before."

Anna wanted to pout more, but Kristoff put a hand on her mouth and looked into her eyes. "And also because it gives you and Elsa a chance to talk about recent events. I'm sure she'd like that."

Anna smiled beneath Kristoff's gloved hands. He always had a good reason.

"Okay. At least be careful!"

Kristoff gave a mockingly offended look and drew himself up. "You think I can't take care of myself?"

"Nah, you're right, you'll have Ignus there too if something goes wrong."

Kristoff's figure slumped as he grumbled quietly.

"Kristoff, are you all ready to go?"

Elsa had walked out into the stables.

"Ready as can be. Sven's locked and loaded."

"So I see." Elsa said, keeping her distance from the leftover carrots on Sven's snout.

"That just leaves Ignus, if he'd hurry up."

"Relax, man, I'm right here."

Elsa turned around to say something, but her mouth stopped working once she saw Ignus.

His clothes had completely changed. His dirty jacket was now a coal-black trench coat, with intricate designs of orange and red along it, making an outline on his sleeves that connected to his gloves. His pants, all black, were hole-free and tucked neatly into his boots, which were shined and had metal plating along the toe and upper part. His sword hung from his belt, which gleamed in the sunlight. He still had his hood up, but it had an ornate symbol on the front, which looked like an image of fire. All together, he had the image of fresh charcoal with a fire burning within it.

Ignus raised his eyebrows and looked at Elsa. "I found my way out of the castle. Crazy, right?"

"A miracle." Elsa managed to choke out. She wasn't sure what she was referring to.

Sven sniffed Ignus eagerly, then tried to lick his face.

"Whoa, easy, boy. New duds. Fresh made. Reeeeally don't think reindeer saliva is what they need right now."

He climbed onto the sled. Kristoff hopped on next to him. "Ready?"

"Ready."

Anna reached up and kissed Kristoff quickly. "Take care, guys! Don't do weird boy things, like pick your nose and eat it!" Anna said brightly.

"Wait, what?" Ignus looked at Kristoff.

"Nothing." Kristoff said quickly. Ignus scooted away from him a bit, nonetheless.

"Come back soon." Elsa said. "I mean…you know, when you've found my tiara. Come back then. Whenever that may be."

Ignus smiled at her. "Not a problem. Back in a flash."

And they took off.

Anna and Elsa watched them go. Then Anna looked at Elsa sharply.

"You like him, don't you?"

"Oh my god, Anna, I am NOT doing this right now." Elsa started walking away.

"He's really cute, you know! I think he's great for you!" Anna followed close behind as the two re-entered the castle.

Elsa put her hand to her eyes. She wondered if the tiara was really worth spending a day of getting relationship advice from Anna.

End of Chapter 9