Chapter: 20 A True Friend

Zi launched herself off of the castle balcony and slid into the gardens. She turned passed the topiaries to see her husband standing before her. "Tsao," she panted. "Why have you returned?"

He walked up and caressed her pale cheek. "Because I did not believe what I had heard. You would never betray our clan."

"What...what are you talking about?"

"Clearly this Arendellian has brainwashed you into thinking his cause is just. I have returned to bring you home." He reached for her hand but she shuttered.

"Tsao, the Raven is evil."

"But do you not trust our grandmaster?"

Zi stomped, "I trusted our grandmaster when he gave orders himself. Orders that protected China. Now he works for the highest bidder."

Tsao grimaced and shook his head, "You foolish, ignorant woman. DO you truly think this is all about money?"

"There they are!" yelled Tomas from the other side of the gardens. He was flanked by Alek and Benjamin. "Stop there!"

Tsao dashed out of the garden with Zi hot on his heels. "Why is she doing this?" huffed Benjamin. The chubby explorer's overworked legs wobbled.

"I don't know," admitted Tomas.

"If she stands against us, she will die." asserted Captain Alek.

"We have no proof of that."

"She's fleeing with one of our enemies. What more proof do you need, Tomas?"

Tomas ignored Alek's words. "I will not believe it. Come on!"

Tsao and Zi ran around the castle grounds and across the sea bridge. A line of guards stood at the end of it, their spears pointed towards the two. Tsao readied his swords to slaughter them and performed a leaping slash. "No!" yelled Zi. As he came down, Zi launched over and kicked him passed them. Her husband skid across the ground and kept sprinting. Zi stayed right behind him, in an exasperated pursuit. Soon, the two assassins disappeared far into the thick forests surrounding the kingdom.

Back at the castle, everyone was restless in the foyer. Alek sat on the couch, his leg constantly bouncing. Kristoff sat by Anna, nursing her wounds while Elsa put ice on them. Benjamin nervously ate an green apple while Tomas paced the room. "Why would she do this?" chewed Ben.

"This doesn't make any sense," thought Tomas. "Why would Zi ever...She saved us. She couldn't...She-"

"It's called a double agent," grumbled Alek.

His words went unheeded, and Tomas continued to pace, "Maybe she's-"

"Dammit, Tomas!" Alek slammed his fist on the table, rattling every glass atop of it. "You can't ignore the truth!"

"Who says it's true?!" snapped Tomas. He stopped pacing and walked up to Alek.

Alek stood up and stared him down. "I say it is! Face it...You pity her, Tomas. You think people change?"

"Yes," Tensions began to rise as the men's voices elevated.

"She's going to stab you in the back."

"She didn't kill us, and she had plenty of opportunities to do so."

Alek grit his teeth and tightened his fists, "That's how she reels you in! She plays the good girl and strikes when you least expect it."

"You don't know Zi," contested Tomas.

"Oh, and you do?" retaliated the captain. "Clearly not if you are guessing why she ran away with her assassin friend. Key word...ASSASSIN. She's a sellsword, Tomas. The only thing she's loyal to is money."

Each of Alek's words only further angered Tomas. He did not want to believe that Zi had betrayed them. They had worked together and overcame so much. He was not willing to give up on her any time soon. He stood tall against the captain's accusations. "And who are you to judge her?"

"The Captain of the Arendelle Guard," he growled. "And a witness of such treachery before." He glanced over at Anna. "The princess knows treachery all too well."

Anna began, "Captain Alek I-"

"No no. Please Anna. Do enlighten Tomas on your relationship with Prince Hans of the Southern Isles. Clearly he will not listen to me." He urged her further, "Go on...tell him."

Anna sighed, "Before the Great Thaw, Hans said that he loved me. I thought he was going to help me save my sister. Instead, he attempted to kill us both and claim the throne for himself. But with all due respect, Captain Alek, I do not believe that Zi is-"

"With all due respect, princess..." interrupted Alek. "You are in no position to defend her. Hans' betrayal proves that you aren't the best judge of character."

Now Anna became infuriated. She narrowed her lips and refuted, "I'm sorry, Alek. But did I not tell you about Tomas when he saved me?"

"And your point?"

"Clearly I judged his character correctly!" exclaimed Anna.

The captain scoffed, "Clearly not." He glared at Tomas. "You think you're so noble and just. The Maelstrom would've had Zi hanging from the gallows the second she seemed suspicious. How far you've fallen from their ways."

Tomas felt the anger and pain building up within him. "That's enough, captain."

Alek stared him down and jeered, "You're a disgrace to the Maelstrom, Tomas. I can think of no greater dishonor to all who died on the mountain that day."

"I said THAT'S ENOUGH!" He was swarmed with thoughts of Carina and all of his comrades who died in the battle against the Raven. Overcome by grief, anguish, and frustration, Tomas lunged at Alek, his fist raised high. He punched the captain across the cheek.

Alek kneed him in the gut, only to get punched again. Kristoff grabbed the captain to hold him back.

Benjamin held back Tomas to the best of his abilities.

Regardless, Tomas and Alek broke free from their restrainers and charged at each other again. Before they could clash, a snow flurry blasted them to the ground. "Enough, you two!" ordered Queen Elsa. "We can't fall apart on each other. We are all that we've got."

Alek rose to his feet, "But your majesty..."

"We don't need the Raven," affirmed Elsa. "Clearly we can tear ourselves to pieces just fine." Tomas stood and made for the door, "Tomas? Where are you going?"

"To find Zi," he said before exiting. He mounted his steed while asking the bridge guards, "Which way did they go?"

"Through the woods towards the North Mountain," replied a guard.

Tomas was about to spur Thor when he heard Lucky squeak on his shoulder, "No, buddy. Sit this one out." The snowgie refused to leave him, so Tomas spurred his horse and rode for the mountain. As he did so, memories of the battle fought long ago filled his mind.

Tsao finally stopped running, and planted his feet on one of the North Mountain's snowy peaks. Zi trudged through the snow behind him as he turned and smiled. "I knew you would choose me."

Zi caught her breath, "I'm not returning with you."

"Then why follow me here?"

"To convince you." She stood tall. "I love you Tsao, I won't deny it. I want to believe you love me."

"Of course I do."

"Then side with me against the Raven." Tsao's smile disappeared as she continued. "Together we can stop him, then return to China and restore the Scarlet Sword to what it once was." Her husband remained silent. "Tsao?"

He shook his head as a single tear escaped his eye, "You came all this way...just to betray me-"

"Tsao stop this! Listen to yourself! I don't know what they've done to you, but you're brainwashed!" Zi gulped, "My husband would always stand by my side!"

He sneered at her, "Then I am no longer your husband." The words shattered Zi's heart, causing her to tear up for the first time in years. He unsheathed his twin daos and pointed them at her. "You are an enemy of the Scarlet Sword, and we'll pay with your blood!"

Zi stared down her former lover and hissed, "So be it." She flourished her dao just as he charged at her. Their swords clanged thrice before they spun and struck again. Zi tripped Tsao, and brought her sword down on him. He rolled away and kicked her in the chest, sending her tumbling back into the snow. She sprung up and kicked him in the jaw. She kicked again just as he did, and their feet met each other. They simultaneously spun and jabbed with their swords. Tsao put Zi in a chokehold, but she growled and punched him in the ear. She then backflipped away, only to be elbowed in the face. Tsao swings his swords across. The first barely missed while the second slashed Zi across her arm. Her blood struck against the pure white snow and she fell to her knees. She weakly raised her sword, only to have it kicked out of her hands.

Tsao placed his twins swords at her neck, as if they were a giant pair of scissors ready to behead her. They locked eyes once more. While her eyes were filled with emotion, his only teemed with rage. Zi realized that the Tsao she knew as truly gone, and soon she would be to. He firmly gripped the swords and prepared to finish her when he heard thunderous stomping. He turned just as Tomas barreled through with Thor. Tomas leapt off of his horse and tackled Tsao into the snow.

Tomas struck him with his shield, but Tsao evaded the next hit. He swung both of his blades against Tomas' single sword, and disarmed him. The blacksmith stuck to his shield and charged at Tsao. He bashed him so hard that he dropped both swords. Tomas then turned while unsheathing his throwing axe. He wedged it into Tsao's shoulder, drawing a spurt of blood. Tsao headbutted Tomas back and pulled the axe out of his shoulder. He proceeded to throw it at Tomas, who caught and threw it back. Tsao caught it and flung it back again. It grazed Tomas' leg, causing him to stagger. Tsao ran up and kneed him in the face, but Tomas quickly recovered and grabbed hold of his leg. He yanked Tsao down and punched him in the face. Tsao then grabbed his sword and surged forward.

In her weakened state, Zi tossed Tomas her sword, "Tomas!"

He caught it dueled Tsao. Tsao flipped away and flung several throwing knives from his sleeve. Tomas ducked under the projectiles while Tsao grabbed his shield. He flung Tomas' own shield at him, which sent Tomas colliding into Zi. Both went sliding down the mountain with the shield as their sled. Tsao yelled, "This is only the beginning!" His scream echoed across the mountain as Zi and Tomas sled down. The two then slid upwards and crashed against a palace of ice. They fell over, both breathing heavily. Tomas rolled over to face Zi, "Are you alright?"

"Thanks to you...I am," she groaned.

Tomas glanced over at his shield and back to Zi, "That...was kind of fun."

Zi began to smile as the two laughed. They're moment of joy ended with the sounds of tremendous stomping. The doors of the ice palace opened as a monster snowman emerged. Zi and Tomas had no energy left for a fight or quick getaway. They watched as the beast growled at them. It raised an icy claw just as Lucky popped out of Tomas' sleeve. He squeaked in protest.

The monster growled.

Lucky squeaked.

The monster growled.

Lucky squeaked.

The monster...growled.

And...Lucky squeaked.

The monster shrugged and went back into the ice palace.

Tomas looked over at his little snowgie, "I don't know what you just said, but I'm happy you tagged along."

Lucky squeaked as Tomas grabbed some bandages from his satchel and nursed Zi's arm wound.

Tomas, Zi and Lucky mounted Thor and returned down the North Mountain. On their way, Tomas found himself staring at a particular cliff. It was the one where he had lost Carina, which prompted wave upon wave of horrible flashbacks. "Tomas?" worried Zi.

"Huh?"

"Are you alright?"

"Yes...I'll...I'll be fine."

Zi remembered his story about Carina and mournfully stared at the cliff. She sighed and kissed Tomas on his cheek, surprising him. "Thank you," she said.

"For what?"

"Coming after me."

"Of course," smiled Tomas. "You're my friend, and I'll never give up on you."