Hello everyone! I apologize for not uploading sooner, but my week has been crazy busy. I'm sorry to say that I'm going on vacation next week and won't be able to upload a chapter at all then. I'll put up one as soon as I get back, promise. Anyway, enjoy and don't forget to review!
Chapter 9 Experimenting
Elsa's POV
"Where are we going?" Heidi asked.
"My ice castle," I replied.
"Ice castle," Raya echoed. "Um, you know my weakness is cold, right?"
I turned mid-flight to look at the girls. They were standing on a piece of earth that Heidi was levitating. Heidi looked excited, while Raya looked nervous.
I smiled confidently at Raya. "I know. Which is why we are going to practice getting close to each other. We have to be prepared for whatever Pitch throws at us."
Raya still looked uncertain, but nodded, and I continued to lead the way to the North Mountain. Heidi's eyes grew flashed with recognition as we drew closer.
"This is where I found you! You were shouting," Heidi remarked, addressing me.
"You were shouting?" Raya repeated, amusement in her voice.
"At Pitch," Heidi added.
"At Pitch?"
I decided to remain quiet while I led the girls to a space of land above my ice castle. "Raya, is it possible for you to make a warm section of ground for yourself just in case you get too cold?"
"I can try." Raya stepped off Heidi's still levitating earth, the snow immediately melting at her touch. She walked over to an area about five yards away. Her palms facing the ground, she set the ground around her on fire. Turning back to me and Heidi, she said; "It's an unquenchable fire. Meaning it won't go out unless I want it to."
I flicked my hand and a small snowstorm started behind me, swirling around and around, but remaining in one place.
"Show off," Raya muttered, though her face showed that she was impressed. "So now what?"
"I thought we would get as close as we could to our opposite temperatures," I replied. "And eventually, I hope, you would be able to stand in my snowstorm, and me in your fire."
Raya nodded, her face full of determination. "I'll go first."
Raya's POV
Elsa nodded and flew over to Heidi, who was sitting on her still levitating piece of earth.
I turned to face the snowstorm. Taking a deep breath, I began to walk slowly toward it. As I neared it, the temperature began to drop, and I had to stop for a minute to gather my strength. Little by little, bit by bit, I grew closer to the storm. Every time I felt my strength weaken, I would halt until it returned, and then begin walking again
I finally reached the storm and stopped outside it. The wind ruffled my hair, and I resisted the urge to shiver. Sucking in a breath, I stepped into the storm.
I had one word for it; cold. Freezing wind whipped my hair around my face, and icy snowflakes stung my cheeks. My only thought was to warm up. I ignited myself, and to my surprise, felt the storm lessen and finally disperse.
I extinguished my flames and turned to look at Elsa, thinking she had stopped the storm. But one glance at her surprised expression told me that I had stopped the storm myself.
Elsa's POV
I grew more and more nervous as Raya reached the snowstorm. When she stepped in, I'm sure the whole world would have frosted over had I not been flying. At first, I saw nothing in the blizzard and was tempted to retrieve the girl myself. But then I saw flames shoot up from the center of the storm. The blizzard dispersed in about one minute, leaving a flaming Raya standing alone. She extinguished her flames and looked to me, the surprise as clear on her face as it was on mine.
I floated over to stand before her. "My turn." Raya nodded and walked over to stand beside Heidi.
I turned to the space where my original snowstorm was, and made a new one in precaution. The closer I drew to the pillar of fire, the hotter it grew. Standing in front of it, I doubted I would hold up. Taking a deep breath, I stepped in. The heat slapped me in the face, and flamed licked at my dress.
Panicking, I blasted ice everywhere, dousing the flames, and cooling the air. It took me a second to realise what I had done. I had put out Raya's unquenchable flames. I looked to Raya and Heidi, who both had an amazed look on their faces.
"Raya? Can you do your fire again?" someone behind me asked.
I turned and looked at the speaker in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
Jack's POV
While Elsa, Raya, and Heidi went to practice their powers, I went to visit North. Walking through the portal, I saw North examining something in his hand.
"What's in your hand?" I asked, floating over to him.
North gave a start and lifted his head. "Jack! You scared me!"
"Sorry. What are you looking at?"
North held out his hand. In it was a white crystal pendant on a thin silver chain. "It's the air gem. Did Elsa tell you about her ice gem?"
I nodded. "We also found who the earth and fire gems belong to."
"You did?" North looked curious. "Who do they belong to?"
"A girl named Heidi has the earth gem, and another girl named Raya has the fire gem."
North's brow furrowed. "How old are they?"
"I think they are both fourteen years old," I replied.
North looked concerned. "They're both so young."
"True, but they were both held in Pitch's lair for a long period of time, and I believe they will fight against him. Elsa took them to practice their powers today. Speaking of today, how long have I been here?"
"A few minutes. You should probably get back before you're missed. Oh, Jack, before you leave, I need to tell you something." North's eyes twinkled.
"Okay," I answered, wondering what this was about.
"I was brushing up on what the children of the world want for Christmas when Jamie's wish caught my eye. He wants snow. For his birthday. And I happen to know two things about today. One, it's the middle of August. Two, it's Jamie's birthday and he asked for snow."
A slow grin started to spread itself across my face. "I'll tell Elsa, and we'll go to Jamie's house. Oh, and we'll also keep an eye out for the person who will wear the air pendant."
Luke's POV
"What are you doing here?" Mother asked.
"I followed you," I replied simply.
"Why?"
I shrugged. "I wanted to know what you were doing." I looked to Raya. She looked different; more confident, but still beautiful.
"Why did you ask for me to start my flames again?" she inquired.
"I want to be able to be near you without collapsing," I answered.
Raya blushed, and began to walk over to where her flames had stood, but Mother stopped her.
"Wait. Luke, Raya is more powerful than you, and so am I. Going in Raya's fire was dangerous enough for me, and I've had plenty of experience. We also have pendants that increase our power. You don't have a pendant. The flames could kill you."
I thought for a minute before responding. "Mother, what is your center?"
"My what?"
"Your center. Father's is fun. What's yours?"
"Love," answered a voice above me. "Her center is love." I didn't have to look up to know it was my father. He flew over to my mother. "Why do you want to know her center?" he questioned me.
"Because mine is the same," I responded, and Raya blushed a darker shade of pink. "Risking everything because you love something," I glanced at Raya again. "Or someone." Raya's face looked like someone had painted it pink. I turned to face my mother again. "You know what I'm talking about."
Elsa's POV
I knew exactly what my son was talking about, but how could about, but how could he know? He must be talking about me trying to protect Anna by shutting myself in my room for thirteen years.
"How did you know about that?" I demanded.
Luke looked slightly guilty. "While you and Father read the letter your father wrote to you, I went to have a look around. As I was doing so, I bumped into a lady with wings and feathers all over herself. She introduced herself as the Tooth Fairy, and handed me a golden cylinder. She explained that it held your memories and told me to look at them. I did."
"How much did you see?"
"I saw you freeze Aunt Anna's head, I saw your coronation, I saw your death, and saw you becoming a guardian. But in the midst of it all, I saw you and Father growing closer with every passing day."
Luke's POV
I watched my mother closely. Her first expression was shock, then shame, and finally understanding. She shook her head, then sighed, and finally smiled. She must be talking to Father through her thoughts.
"Alright, Luke," she sighed again. "Raya, start your fire again."
Raya's face was still pink, but she nodded, and walked a few feet before setting the ground on fire. She then stepped back, allowing me to start forward. I reached the pillar and stepped in without hesitation. It was warm, but not as warm as I had expected. I looked at the flames; pictures flickered in them.
Raya showing off her powers to her very surprised family. Raya walking the streets of a now burnt down village. Raya exploding at Heidi for mentioning the village. And lastly, Raya meeting me, our hands reaching out to shake each other, our lips smiling.
I don't know how long I was in the flames, but I could hear my mother calling my name with panic in her voice, so it must have been long. Palms facing down, I reluctantly put out the fire. Shocked faces met my appearance.
"What?" I asked.
"You're red," Heidi answered.
I looked down, surprised. Sure enough, I still had the same clothes on, the sweater and pants that were replicas of my fathers', but they were different. Instead of a blue sweater and brown pants, I had a red sweater and even darker red pants.
Looking behind me, I noticed that the ice I had used to put out the fire was also red. How had I changed, when Mother hadn't? Did I have red ice all the time?
To find out, I reached out with my left hand and summoned my power. To my surprise, red flames danced in my hand. Extinguishing them, I summoned power to my right hand. Red snowflakes sparkled there.
Raya's POV
My fire changed him. I had made Luke different. Guilt spread through me.
"I'm sorry," I murmured.
"Sorry?" Luke repeated.
"I changed you."
Luke flew over and put his hand on mine. "I'm glad you did. I'd rather be like this than not be able to go near you."
I felt my face grow hot and I glanced at Luke's hand, which was still on mine.
"He loves you," the unmistakeable voice of my father whispered in my ear.
My heart skipped a beat. I've only known him for a few weeks. He can't love me.
"But he does," my father replied. "And you love him."
No, I don't.
My father chuckled. "You can't hide anything from me, Raya. I know you too well."
Go away.
"Raya, is something wrong?" Luke asked.
I looked down and realised that I was gripping his hand tighter than I wanted. "I'm fine," I responded, finally snatching my hand from his grip.
Elsa smiled at something Jack said. "Luke, can you take the girls back to Arendelle? Your father and I have to go."
Luke nodded with understanding, though his eyes were sad. Elsa smiled again, and flew after Jack, who was laughing as she tried to catch up. Heidi gathered up her chunk of earth, and Luke wrapped his arms around my waist, causing an icy spider to run down my spine. Luke lifted off, and began the flight back to Arendelle.
