AN: Sorry it's been almost a month since I updated. I lost my job, broke up with my boyfriend, and school just started up again last week. But I still wanna thank all of you for reading this story and reviewing and/or fav/alerting this. It means a lot to me.
Sorry if this isn't the best chapter as I've been writing it on and off for the past month, but this was way overdue.
And Happy New Year!
Chapter 9-Plan in Motion
The shackles on that bound Elsa's hands were quite tight, and for over an hour, she struggled to free herself. The blizzard outside picked up and frost began to decorate the ceiling of the cell.
Elsa yanked and yanked on the chains, but they wouldn't budge. The frost on the ceiling began to spread and the temperature gradually dropped. Elsa could soon see her breathe in the cold air. She gave the chains one more pull with all of her strength, but it was no use.
Exhausted, she sat on the cot and leaned against the stone wall. Pitch appeared from the shadows and smiled at her. Elsa rose to her feet in an instant.
"What do you want?" she sneered.
"I came to offer you a deal."
Elsa was silent, so he continued, "I've watched you for a long time, Elsa…watched you grow up from the shadows. I've seen what you've become, the raw power you have. It makes sense as to why your parents shielded you from the world for so long, and how you came to view yourself as nothing other than destruction. But, I'm here to tell you otherwise. I want to create a world where everyone embraces what is different, even if I have to do it by force. I would like you to join me."
"Why? I'm the enemy, remember."
"No, your father and the Guardians cast me out, and you were not even born then. You were never my enemy. You only had the power I sought. But I've seen your potential…I've seen all that you can do! I would say that you're even more powerful than your father, and people try very hard to contain what they can't control. But with me in charge, you won't be contained. You will be a Queen, the true Snow Queen that you are. Besides, what goes together better than cold and dark?"
For a second, Elsa was brought back to the moment when she fled Arendelle and created her ice palace. It was so refreshing to let herself go, let her powers go, and just be who she was. But in the back of her mind, she knew that it wasn't where she belonged. The solitary was freeing, but very lonely, and she had left a terrible blizzard behind her. Kristoff had made her realize what was really important, and that was to save Arendelle and her family.
Besides, she would never be happy with herself if she was the one that helped cover the world in ice and darkness. She would feel guilty her whole life and she would once again be trapped by that guilt as she had growing up. But now, she had the choice to not be afraid anymore and stand up for what was right, rather than be consumed by her fear.
"No, I don't want to people to fear me. It might suit you, but not me. My grandfather and mother never used fear to rule Arendelle, only intelligence and kindness. And I can't be afraid anymore, because it only makes you stronger. I WON'T BE AFRAID ANYMORE!"
Pitch stepped back, amazed at the sheer power of Elsa's voice and will. It terrified him because he was losing control of the situation. Elsa's fear was the main thing feeding his power, and now it was almost gone. He had to find a new source by the time of the eclipse.
Elsa smiled in delight as Pitch cowered away from her, and began to become consumed with thought. Then, he grinned. "Fine, if that's the way you want it. Remember, I did give you a choice, though, but I see what side you're on. No matter, you're still trapped here with no way out and the eclipse is to start soon. Darth!"
Darth appeared dutifully by Pitch's side. "Yes, Master?"
"Tell Hans that he will need to get the town square fixed up for a special occasion. There's going to be a wedding tonight." Darth nodded and disappeared, while Pitch turned back to Elsa, his face lit up.
"What are you up to?" Elsa asked.
"Nothing that concerns you anymore. I'll make sure that you have the best view of the ceremony. In the meantime, sweet dreams, princess," Pitch taunted as his magic smoke began to wrap around Elsa's body.
Drowsiness hit her like a ton of bricks, and she instantly fell onto the cot.
As Pitch exited the cell, he broke the lock on the door, so that absolutely no one could get in or out.
The sound of bells ringing from the castle's bell tower awoke Elsa from her slumber, and her conversation with Pitch came to fruition in her mind. She glanced out of the window and realized that she had less than an hour until the eclipse began.
From the cell's window, she could see that the palace had scrambled to assemble a quick ceremony space in the town square and all of Arendelle was participating in some shape or form.
They were all exposed to Pitch and his shadow warriors, even though they were notably absent at the moment. Pitch must be preparing his army and creating more warriors, Elsa thought. This was her chance to escape and she had to do it fast.
Frost had already covered the shackles and half of the cell, so Elsa pulled on them to break them. After some time, she still wasn't free, so she used her powers to freeze them even more, and her magic began to spread all over the room. Elsa yanked on the shackles a bit harder, and she heard the walls begin to crumble. She pulled on them again and soon, brick by brick, the wall started to come down.
As the cell collapsed, the shackles broke off from her body and Elsa slipped out of the giant hole that was created in the process. Now she was on the roof and clutching the side of it for dear life. She died down the storm as she remembered the items she brought and slipped on the tiny teeth earrings that Tooth had made from her very own baby teeth.
They held memories and Elsa could use those memories to transport herself to wherever the memories allowed. Elsa was instantly transported to the room where she was born, and the memory of her parents holding her for the first time slowly faded into a room that now held all of her grandparents' belongings. Rapunzel had put all of their things in here because thieves had tried to come in and sell it.
Elsa was saddened that they weren't here with her, but it made her more determined to save her own parents. Elsa shed her cloak for one that belonged to her grandfather, and entered the hall.
She snuck through the palace and slipped right outside of Arendelle without anyone noticing her as everyone was concerned with preparing for the wedding. Elsa crossed the frozen fjord to reach the woods much faster and soon caught up with Sarah, Sven, and the others.
Hans plastered a big smile on his face as Roman's unattractive granddaughter came down the aisle with her father. Her dark hair was pulled back very tightly in a bun, causing her face to seem quite frozen. Her blank, brown eyes stared at him in happiness and she flashed him a smile, showing off her snaggletooth. Hans shuddered, but kept up his false elation.
Right when, his bride reached the altar, a wooden arch covered in white flowers that nestled between the two frozen fountains in the square, Hans took her hand.
The priest announced, "We are gathered here to today to bear witness to this young lady and Prince Hans as they become lawfully wed. Now, if anyone has any objections speak now or forever hold your peace."
Hans glanced at the audience and then back to his wife-to-be. "Well, actually, I have an objection. We're starving. There's enough food to feed you and your family, but what about the rest of us?" an elderly man asked as he stood in the middle of the aisle.
"Well, I…" Hans started to say but a woman stood up and asked, "Yeah, that's not fair at all. In fact, where's Queen Rapunzel? She would've never stood for this."
"Where's Queen Rapunzel?" another woman asked.
"Where's the Queen?" "Where's our food?" "When is this winter going to end?" The crowd became abuzz with questions that Hans didn't have time to answer as the kingdom became covered in darkness.
Lanterns were lit for light, and everyone looked to the sky at the eclipse that was happening.
Then, Pitch let out a loud cackle as the dark crystal in his makeshift crown began to glow red. He stood at the top of the castle and raised the crystal high in his hand.
Then, everyone began to scream as a giant cloud of black dust settled over the kingdom. Out of the dust rose Pitch's shadow warriors and horsemen, and the closest one near Hans knocked him out cold.
His bride screamed and fled but she was captured by a shadow warrior. In fact, everyone was captured and shackles were placed on their hands and feet.
"So, you want Queen Rapunzel? Well, here she is!" Pitch announced and Rapunzel appeared before the people in a pile of smoke.
Everyone gasped as their beloved queen seemed to be on the verge of death. Then, several figures began to appear and the children gasped in response.
"Mommy, its Santa! And the Easter Bunny!" one little girl cried out.
"That can't be…they don't exist," her mother replied.
"Your mother's right, little girl. They don't exist, but I do. I'm here to take all your nightmares away. Just believe in me," Pitch told them.
"No! Don't do it! He's the Boogeyman! He's the cause of all of your nightmares! Don't do it…OW!" Kristoff began to protest but then the shackles gave him a mild shock of energy.
"Give it up, Pitch!"
Everyone looked around to try to find the source of the voice. "Who said that?" Pitch asked.
Then, a blast of icy magic nearly toppled him over. Pitch regained his balance and saw Elsa, dressed in full Snow Queen form.
Elsa stood right in front of the gates, unafraid, and ready to unleash her magic. There was no more fear in her, only fury, and even Pitch could feel it from where he was standing. It made him a little fearful.
Behind her, there was Marshmallow and several dozen giant snowmen, the Trolls, Sven, and Sarah and her children.
"I'm not afraid of you, Pitch. I'm here to make a stand…for myself, my family, my friends, and all of Arendelle. So, back down now and you won't get hurt," Elsa glared.
"Fine. So be it." With that, Pitch held up the dark crystal and a light beam from the eclipse fed power to the crystal. A dark cloud began to appear above Pitch's head and began to grow a rapid pace.
"Elsa, stop him!" Sarah called out.
Elsa shot out another icy blast, knocking the crystal out of Pitch's hands, but the dark cloud kept growing in size.
"It's too late, Elsa. You can't stop it now," Pitch grinned.
"But I can stop you," she shot back.
"If it's a war you want, then fine. So, shall we begin?" Pitch smirked as he clutched the moon crystal in his other hand.
AN: Please Review!