Chapter 19

The Interrogation of Wes Brawnstone

Elsa was taken down to the dungeons, where the pirates first replaced her temporary bracelet with a pair of cuffs, fashioned with blue crystals threw her into a cell as locked the door. She immediately ran to the door.

"Please! My sister I dying! If you have a heart, let me save her!"

"Sorry Queeny" responded one of the pirates. "Ain't got no heart!" he laughed, walking away, locking the dungeon door. They remained outside to stand guard, leaving Elsa alone in the dungeon, which was sadly familiar. The first thing she did was try to pry off the cuff. She grabbed one and desperately tried to yank off over her hand.

Nothing.

She tried harder, feeling her skin burn in pain as she forced it against her hand. Realizing it would be useless, she stopped. She then smashed them repeatedly against the cell wall, trying to crush the crystals. Again, no use. They were cast into the metal, making removing them impossible, and they were nearly indestructible when they were full of anti-magic. She smashed them a few more times before she stopped.

Elsa began pacing the room, trying to find a way out. She looked at the door, the bars on the window, anything.

Nothing. This dungeon was well put together. There was no way she was getting out. Disheartened, she sat down on the bench. There was no way she was getting out of here, and it wouldn't belong before that elixir began to drive its way into her mind.

"Anna" she thought. She thought of the last time she saw her sister, still despondent from being hit with the magic, her magic. Why was it always her magic? It was always her fault.

She looked up, clenching her hands together. "Please, God, help her find an act of true love; please save her... I have failed her... I've failed everybody." Elsa covered her face with her hands and wept.

Wes woke up in chair a small room, illuminated only by a candle on the table in front of him, with a reflective disk to keep the light concentrated on him. He noticed his swords and his stash of transportation capsules were missing, which made him feel uneasy, but at least his mask was on. He went to move, only to find himself tied to the chair, his arms strapped down to the armrests.

"Aw man, not again! This is the 27th time this has happened!" he complained, trying to pull himself free. "What happened anyway? Let me see... we were trying to capture the queen, I cornered them, then..."

He remembered the punch.

"I was, knocked out by a woman?! Aw man, this is so embarrassing! That's it, I'm so over her!"

The door opened, allowing a man to walk in. He calmly walked over, sitting at the table in front of him. Wes couldn't see Captain Ander's face till he came over.

"Alright, you low-life...!"

"Hey, what's with the insults? What have I done to deserve that? I don't even know you! Wait, do I owe you money?"

"No. Now, here's how this is..."

"Wait, do you owe me money?"

"No! Pay attention!"

"Eh, I don't do attention, I'm more of a free spirit, a loose cannon, a rebel without a cause if you will."

Anders leaned forward, slapping the table hard. "Listen you! You know Lars' plan! Tell us it and we'll go easy on you!"

Wes looked down, then up at him. "Ahh, so this is an interrogation! I've actually only been in 4 of those..."

"Are you going to tell us, or am I going have to force it out of you!"

Wes was taken aback for a moment. We narrowed his eyes. "Are you threatening me?"

Anders slapped his face with his palm. "Alright, let's try this, just tell us what you know, and we'll let you go, how about that?"

"Wait, really? Wow, that's pretty stupid, what if I give you false information?"

"Believe me, I can tell when a person's lying."

Wes stared at him. "Well, I'm a flying baby elephant with a mouse as a best friend..." he said with a confident face.

"Do you think we'll get anything out of him?" asked Jase. He, Kristoff, Anna, Isaac, Olaf, and Gideon were waiting in a room just outside where Wes was being kept.

"Believe me, if this Wesley knows anything, Anders can get it out of him. He's the best interrogator I know."

Anna was sitting next to the fire place with Olaf, trying to keep warm.

"I can't believe the kiss didn't work" said Olaf sadly. "If you want, I can attack Kristoff and you can jump in front of him."

Anna giggled slightly. "Thanks Olaf, only I think it would have to be legit danger." Anna looked to the fire sadly. "If only Elsa were here."

Olaf walked up to her, pulling one of her blankets up over her shoulder."Hey, I'm sure she's fine. I bet she's planning an escape plan right now and will be here in no time!"

"Thanks Olaf... She's probably blaming herself for this, for me."

"But it wasn't her fault."

"I know that, but Elsa doesn't always feel that way, and after that bad news she heard, I don't think she's doing well right now."

It was then Kristoff walked up, sitting down next to her. "Hey, how're you doing?"

Anna shrugged her shoulders. "I'm warm, for now anyway. My hair hasn't grown more white, has it?"

Kristoff shook his head. "No, just the one streak."

Anna breathed a sigh of relief. "At least it's slower this time." suddenly, Anna shivered, rubbing her shoulders. Kristoff grabbed another blanket and wrapped it around her, kissing her on the for head. "Kristoff, I' so scared."

He knelt down, holding her. "I know."

"What was I thinking? I should never have come."

"Hey, don't say that..."

"Kristoff, I'm dying! And that means the baby is also..." Anna couldn't bring herself to say those last words. "I survived being turned to ice last time, but what if the baby can't? What if it's already to cold?"

Kristoff held his wife's head in his hands, pulling it to face him.

"Anna, listen to me, you are going to make it. Just like last time, you're both going to be fine."

Just then, Anders came into the room, pushing the door open with great force.

"Anders! How..." asked Gideon as Anders pushed past him, making his way to the coffee that was already brewed on the table. "...did it go?" He quickly poured himself a glass and drank it straight up, no sugar or cream. He jugged it down fast, then slammed it down on the table.

"That guy is insane!" exclaimed Anders. "I can't tell if I'm making progress or not! It's like, he's immune to reality, he thinks its a game or something! I can't begin to figure out how to break him!"

Gideon looked to Jase, breathing out hard. "What if we torture him?"

Anders nodded. It was not something they typically did, and it was frowned upon, but given what was at stake, they would have no other choice...

"Wait!" said Olaf. Let me talk to him!"

Gideon and Anders looked to the snowman with curiosity. "Olaf, I appreciate your dedication, but that man is dangerous..."

"Wait! said Anna, pushing herself up. "Olaf handled him before, maybe he's on to something."

"Anna, are you sure?" asked Kristoff.

"Think about it, he convinced him to hand over his last two magic bean things. I mean, maybe Olaf is just the nontypical form of interrogation we need on this guy!"

Gideon thought about it, then looked to Anders. "She might be right. I would prefer not to use torture, and it is a lengthy process. What do you think?"

Anders shrugged his shoulders. "It's worth a shot."

Wes was by himself, mumbling some tune to himself. "Do doo be-do-do... Mahna mahna...Do do-do do... Mahna mahna"

Just then, the door opened, then closed, someone short walking in. Wes heard the od sound of snow plopping against the floor, wondering what it could be. Then, Olaf hopped up on a chair.

"Well hello!" Olaf greeted with his normal, positive demeanor.

"YOU!"

Olaf looked to himself, confused. "Uh...yes, me."

"You left me in the middle of the desert! I walked around for hours trying to find a way to get back, some guards kept harassing me, calling me a street-rat! That's a really offensive term by the way! I mean have you ever seen a rat?!"

"Look, I'm really sorry about that..."

"Oh, don't you try your innocent snowman thing on me! You may look all nice and innocent on the outside, but inside... DARKNESS!" He screamed dramatically.

Olaf stared at him incredulously, looking no more dark than a bunny rabbit. "Uh, right. Anyway, could you tell us your brother's evil plan? I really want to know what it is."

"Ha! Like I'd squeal on my own half-brother!"

"I thought you said he was crazy?"

"Hey, so am I! I guess it runs in the family."

"Well, that's reassuring... I think... actually no, not really. Say, you brother's a bright man, right?"

"Eh, he's alright."

"I bet this plan of his is foolproof, huh?"

"Oh, yeah, see he's got this "master plan". See, the girl we currently have is not as powerful as we all thought she was, so we bluffed it up, hoping to get your way more powerful, like, infinitely more awesome, Snow Queen to show up, use the mind control thing-a-ma-chig on her, than take over... HEY! You tricked me!"

"I did?"

"Yes! you... I don't know what it is you did exactly, but I'm not falling for it again!"

"But we need to save Elsa!"

"Wait, you mean that plan actually worked?! Lars caught her?"

Olaf nodded.

"Well, then he's probably going to use that tree bark hallucinogen thing on her, which should take a few hours, then... Ah! You did it again! See, I knew it! You have dark magic!" Wes began struggling in his chair, his chair shaking back and forth. "Be gone, demon snowman!"

"Do you hear this?" asked Kristoff, leaning against the door with Gideon. "He's actually making him talk!"

"But he's not even trying."

"Hey, I don't know how he's doing it, but you can't argue the fact that he's giving information..."

"Sooo, can you tell us how to get in and save her?"

"Stop it! Keep your voodoo snowman powers away from my head!"

"I'm not a hoo-doo, I'm Olaf, and I like warm hugs."

"I don't care if you like long walks on sandy beaches! I ain't letting you use your twisted psycho powers on me!"

"But I don't have any magical powers... you know, except for being living snow..."

"That's just what an evil snowman would say!

"Whoa, take it easy" said Olaf calmly.

"You take it easy!"

"Maybe that mask is on too tight, what if we just take it off, let some blood get to your brain?"

Wes screamed like a little, frightened girl. "NEVER! Do you even know why I wear this? I'll give you a hint, it involves that crazy flying boy with this thing about maiming pirates and has a little fairy friend!"

"What? You told me it was... Hang on, what's behind that mask anyway?" Olaf asked.

"KEEP YOUR STINKING TWIGS OFF MY MASK YOU DARN, DIRTY SNOWMAN!" Wes then flipped his chair over, slamming against the floor. He then used his head to try and crawl his way out, centimeter by centimeter.

"Must!...(eh)... Es...(eh) scape!...(eh)!"

Olaf just stared at the man as he inched his way across the floor, using his own head to crawl his way around. "Wow, you're craaazzzzy."

"NO DUH! (eh)"

Olaf hopped on the floor, walking over to him.

"OK fine! I'll talk, just stay away from the mask!"

"Lars originally tried to take Elsa but that went south when he was banished and he couldn't get near the castle again so by some miracle he found Princess Kira in Berglia and since no one knew him here he was able to use ropes to sneak in and kidnap her and he's spent years trying to control her only to find out she wasn't as powerful as he thought so he trained her how to amplify her magic to make a bluff but that took almost a decade but he was able to do so his plan was to use her to draw out Queen Elsa away from the safety of her castle that's when he asked me to rejoin the crew since he needed my teleportation capsules then once he got her he was going to use his stuff he found from the North Lands to both capture and control her and then take over Norway maybe the world if he felt like it the storm surrounds the entire city but if you kept my capsules which are obviously not on me you can teleport to the east courtyard where none of our men are positioned Elsa's probably in the dungeon until she can be controlled and Kira was last kept in the South tower facing away from the ocean Lars' stash of magic stuff is in the King's former room he has stuff that can deflect and absorb magic as well as make him temporarily intangible as well as see other places but only during certain times of the day and he's really good at sword fighting and he's quick on his feet he's usually in the throne room as well as most of the men if you can get a blue crystal on the princess you can both subdue her powers and Lars' control on her my last name is Brawnstone I was born August 12 1797 my imaginary friend is a hedgehog names Cornelious and I have this phobia of romantic duets..."

"Whoa! OK!" exclaimed Olaf. "I think that's way more information than I needed."

"...I fell in love with an elf once but then I found myself in this crazy love triangle as some elf dude liked her and he was really good with a bow and that's why I wear this mask or was it that time I met that weird looking black dragon with those strange ear flap things or maybe it was the ninja Easter bunny with boomerangs..."

"Oh boy."

Immediately after Olaf walked out, Gideon wasted no time in pulling out a map of the castle and laying it on a table.

"Alright, the east courtyard is here..." he pointed to a specific spot on the map. "The dungeons are down here on the opposite end, and the throne room is in the middle, Kira lies in the north tower here, just above the south end of the throne room ... My room where he's keeping the blue crystals is here, not far from where Kira is. If we can get there first, grab the crystals, then make it to Kira, Lars' can't control her anymore."

"But what about Elsa?" asked Anna. Gideon looked back at the map.

"Well, according to are lunatic friend, we still have several hours until whatever Lars gave her can kick in. If we split up, we can reach her and Kira, lift the storm, then my men can break through and storm the castle... Is everyone in agreement?"

It was quiet for a few seconds as everyone contemplated the plan.

"I like it" said Jase.

"I'm good with it." added Kristoff. "But how many of those capsules did Wes actually have?"

"Only 7" said Anders, walking in with the bag. "That means only a team of 7 can enter against who knows how many pirates."

Gideon nodded. "Alright, so, who's coming then?" he asked, looking to the others.

"I'll come" said Jase, stepping forward. "And I think Gunnolf and Marshmallow should come, they've got more fight in them then half a dozen men."

"I agree. Kristoff, are you coming?"

Kristoff looked to Anna, unsure of himself. "We should both go" Anna said confidently.

"Uh uh, no way!" demanded Kristoff. "You're not going anywhere in your condition!"

"Kristoff, I'm not going to get better sitting here. The faster I get to Elsa, the better, you know that."

"Anna..."

"Kristoff, I'm not going to find an act of true love here, and I want this thing gone as soon as possible!"

"I think she's right" added Jase.

"But we're already limited with who we can take in" added Gideon. "I would prefer someone who can fight and help us secure Elsa and Kira."

Kristoff thought about it. He was considering bringing his pregnant wife with a frozen heart into a war zone with limited help. But... her only help did lie in her sister. The sooner she got to her, the better. He turned to Gideon.

"Sir, this is your kingdom, and I do not wish to tell you what to do, but Anna needs to get to Elsa as soon as possible. Please, let her come."

Gideon breathed hard. He turned to Anders, then to Kristoff. "Alright. We'll be spread thin, but I owe it to you for helping us in the first place."

"Thank you" said Anna.

"Well then, including Anders, that's 7. We'd better get ready then... Anders, inform Jonathan to have the men at the edge of the storm and be ready as soon as the storm clears. Who knows, maybe it will take attention away from us."

"Yes sir."

Oky doky, we're nearing the climax. I have a general outline on how it's all going to go down, but as to how many chapters it's going to take, it's up in the air, somewhere between 5-10. Also, Elsa's still got some soul searching to do.

Rhombur Vernius: Yeah, I tried not to make it look like that, but there's only so much I can do. Good eye though.

Finals are coming up in a few weeks and papers are due, so you may get a week or so between chapters without warning. Sorry for any future cliffhangers.

Thanks to all who have been reviewing! See you in the near future.