Chapter 26

Don't Judge a Book By It's Cover

(Especially if it's a woman!)

Jase, Kristoff, and Anna were brought up from the dungeons, through the castle, and into the throne room. It was morning now, and sunlight was peaking through the windows. Around them were pirates, murmering among themselves, sometimes, wondering what would have happened if they succeeded. They were forced through the crowd, Sebastian trying to keep the way clear. They were forced to stand in the middle of the room now circled by pirates. Coming from the tower, Lars walked in, followed by a bound Gideon, Kira behind him, followed my Margary and Gannet. Anna couldn't help but notice Anders and Gunnolf wasn't with them, along with a white streak on Gideon's head.

"Oh no" said Anna to Kristoff, just noticing the hair. The pirates brought forward Gideon and dropped him with the others. Being bound, neither Jase nor Kristoff could help him stand up.

"What happened?" asked Kristoff. "Did she hit you with her magic?"

Gideon nodded gravely. "Heart."

Anna almost gasped, if it weren't for the fact her won heart was frozen.

"Where's Anders?" asked Jase.

Gideon just shook his head, indicating his fate. "We've failed."

"No we haven't" said Jase. "Not till

Lars walked through the murmuring men to the throne. He could feel the tension in the room. They had come so close to disaster, if Kira hadn't sounded the alarm, they might have gotten away with it. He knew that morality might be slipping; but he had to keep appearances. He stood before the throne, staring down the prisoners.

"Well, look what we've got here! Trespassers, gentlemen!" The men laughed. "A valiant effort, but a foolish one. As you can see..." he gestured to Kira, who was standing nearby, "...I've got you outmatched. Without your precious Snow Queen, your pathetic!"

"Her name is Elsa you pig!" shouted Anna. Her outburst was apparently enough for her hair to turn completely white. She shivered, then fell, Kristoff unable to catch her.

"Anna!" he cried, kneeling down next to her, using his bound hands as best he could to pull her up.

Jase turned from Anna to Lars. "You've condemned her to death, and the King, if you keep Elsa to yourself! At least let Elsa save them!"

"First of all!" Lars interrupted as soon as Jase finished. "I'm not fool enough to give the Queen any leverage when it comes to her magic. Secondly, how do you even know she could help her? Only an act of true love can thaw a frozen heart."

"She saved me once when my head was frozen, and I know she can save her sister!"

"A head can be cured by other methods, but I'm afraid a frozen heart is much more deep. Magic has a funny reaction when it comes to the heart; it lingers, tightening its grip. Only love can remove such an ailment, and even with that, it has to be pure, unhindered love, without the desire to save oneself!"

"She's pregnant you (language inappropriate for K plus rating)! How can you be so cold?!"

"Oh, I can be very, very cold to get what I need... In speaking of cold, I believe it's time to give the queen her medicine." He turned to his second in command. "Sebastian! Bring the Queen to me! I think the elixir has done its job by now."

Sebastian nodded, then went with several men to the dungeons.

"Face it" said Lars. "You have lost, and now I'm going to take the Queen's power for myself, then I'll freeze the oceans, stopping trade and communications altogether. I'll force the other kingdoms into submission, whether they like it or not. Then, King Gideon..." Gideon glared at him. "Then you can have your sister back, for whatever little time you have left."

Gideon got up, wanting to strangle him, but was held back, Lars laughing at his attempts.

Anna was freezing, and there was little Kristoff could do to stop it. "Kristoff" she said. "I'm sorry... I don't think I'm going to make it..."

"Don't say that!" he said. "I promise, we'll find a way."

"With what time? My hair's completely white, and it's just a matter of time before I'm ice... I don't think Elsa's going to be able to help us."

They heard a door slam. behind them, the men cheered as Sebastian dragged out a half sober, listless Elsa.

"Elsa!" Jase called.

Elsa didn't even turn in his direction. As they came closer, Kristoff lashed out.

"Elsa! You have to snap out of it! Anna's dying! You have to break free!"

Elsa didn't even flinch. She just kept walking in the direction she was led. Sebastian stopped with Elsa just before Lars. Lars walked down, signaling Margary to bring him a bottle of elixir. Reluctantly, she came forward with it.

"Elsa!" Kristoff continued to cry out. "I know you can hear me! You have to break free!" Kristoff was rewarded to a punch to the gut by one of the men, trying to keep him quiet.

"Take them away!" said Lars. "Throw them in the dungeon! I have no further need for them."

The men pulled them along, Kristoff and Jase trying to struggle free, while someone dragged Anna along.

"No! Elsa!" cried Jase. He was powerless as he was dragged away.

Then, something very, very unexpected happened. In a puff of smoke in the middle of the room, Wes Brawntsone appeared.

"I object!" he called out, catching everyone by surprise.

"Wes?" asked Lars. "Ha, there you are, you're just in time..."

"OK, first of all, 'Hey, where were you, I was worried sick! Are you alright?'" he said in a mock voice of Lars. "'Oh, well I'm fine, thanks for asking! I was just held captive by the enemy and tortured beyond measure!' You know, we need to work on your manners."

"Wes, would you pipe it! I'm busy here..."

"Lars, you may be my brother, but I can't let you do this!" he yelled, walking forward. "You promised no children would be harmed!"

Lars turned to Wes, handing the cloth to Margary. "What brought this on?"

"Princess Anna is pregnant, with a baby, and you're going to let her die!"

Kristoff and Jase shared incredulous glances, Anna whimpered in a "huh?"

"Wes, brother, I know how you feel about the subject, but I'm afraid this was all an accident. There is nothing I can do..."

"Don't give me that! There's always something you can do, and I'm going to do it!" He drew his twin blades. "I challenge you to a duel!"

The men gasped in astonishment, looking to see there captains response. Lars looked at him indifferently. "You've obviously snapped. A duel with a lunatic is hardly considered fair. Arrest him!"

Before Wes knew it, two pirates held him down. "Well, that could have ended better." One of the pirates grabbed his swords... "Hey! Keep your hands off Topanga and Angela!" Another slapped cuffs on him. "Hey, watch it, I chafe!"

Wes was dragged away with Kristoff and the others. He was shoved awkwardly in with them. "Wow, I didn't plan this through, did I?"

Lars returned his attention to Elsa, who had not moved since Sebastian put her there. He took the bottle, poured some of its contents into the cloth, and walked forward.

"You monster!" called out Jase. Kristoff and Gideon continued to struggle, but there were simply too many pirates.

He could hear the prisoner's pleas, but they fell on deaf ears. "Not so defiant now, are we?" asked Lars mockingly. "Sebastian, unlock the cuffs."

Sebastian reached for a key. "Alright, here we go..."

Lars kept his eyes locked on Elsa, soaking in the fact that he had finally got what he was after all these years. The legendary Snow Queen, under his command. Nothing could stop him now, nothing...

Then he saw it. just as Sebastian placed the key into the key hole, he saw Elsa's eyes twitch to the side, eying her sister briefly. It was quick, almost deliberate; a conscious decision, not something a listless person would do...

"No! wait!..."

It was too late. As soon as she heard the click, and the magic suppressing cuffs left her hands, Elsa whipped her hands to the side, letting loose a wave of the winter elements; wind, ice, snow, everything she knew how to make. Every pirate in range fell to the ground, Lars and Sebastian included. The entire throne room was filled with howling winter winds, throwing the men off their feet, either being thrown against the wall or out the windows, none of which were intact. Ice filled the room, spreading through the floor, causing even more to slip and fall. The room went into chaos, snow blinding the pirates and confusion ensuing. It went everywhere, except for a protective barrier around Kristoff, Anna, Jase, Gideon and now Wes. Seeing sharp icicles form around them Jase immediately started cutting his bonds on the ice, everyone else following his actions.

Kira instinctively held her hands up, blocking the wave of the winter elements from herself. After a minute of unleashing her rage, Elsa stopped, surveying the damage. Some of the pirates were blown out the window, while others lie dazed on the floor. The snow died down, leaving a light layer on the floor. Lars was the first to rise, seeing Elsa before him. Behind him was Anna and the rest of Elsa's friends.

"Impossible!" screamed Lars. "You were out! No one can resist that poison! Nobody!"

Elsa just glared at him, rage in her eyes. "Guess you don't know me after all." She looked over him, seeing Anna, whose hair was completely white. Kristoff had just broken free his bonds and went to help her up. "Now, I'm going to see my sister, and you're not going to stop me!"

Immediately, Lars reached into his coat, grabbing his glove laced with blue crystals. Behind him, Kira walked up to him, still obedient.

"Oh yes I am!" He put the glove on, then drew a sword with the other hand. "You will be mine! Even if it costs me my life!"

Elsa just stared right back, cracking her neck. "I'm counting on it!"

Finally! Ladies and Gentlemen, we have reached the climax! We are out of the depressing moments (for the most part, some minor stuff ahead, but nothing compared to what I already put you through) and the next chapter will be action packed, I promise!

Sorry for the short chapters.

See you soon!

P.S. It occurred to me that this story has gone through some borderline Teen material. Right before I post the next chapter, I'm going to raise it to teen.

-Batman