I'll save the sentimental stuff until the end.
Disney owns Frozen
"We don't care!" roared a councilman who must have been a hundred years older than her. "We asked for the queen, not you! We would have preferred anybody but you! You're nothing but a spare. Get out of here. You would never understand what we were saying anyway!"
"Councilman," tried his colleague but the man ignored him.
"Leave!" he ordered, pointing the girl out.
Shoulders slumped and brown eyes fell to the carpet. She turned on her heel and crept away, trying to fight back the tears that threatened to fall. This wasn't the first time she had been forced away from a meeting her mother had asked her to attend in her absence but she never told her about it.
The twirled her short, cinnamon colored hair on the edge of her finger, scowling.
"Spare?" she whispered, furrowing her brows as she rounded a corner.
She hugged her freckled arms to her chest and frowned deeper. She came to a stop in front of a window, catching her reflection in the glass.
"Am I really just a spare?" she asked it. "I mean, I'm not the heir but… I'm definitely more than just the spare!" She squared her shoulders and nodded firmly to herself, bangs getting into her face. "Right!? Right!"
She strutted away, talking to herself. "Just like an extra button or… or a horseshoe on the barn door! I'll be useful someday but that day has yet to come!" She turned another corner and started to run before leaping, her feet hitting the floor so she could go zipping down the halls. "Maybe I don't have powers, maybe I'm not perfect but gosh darn it!" She skipped over to the staircase and hopped onto the railing. "I'm more than just the spa— Ah! Aneira look out—!"
"What?"
But it was too late. On the second floor landing, she went toppling off the railing and collided with her older cousin, the two of them tumbling to the ground and Aneira's books going flying.
"Ohmigosh!" she cried, scrambling in al directions to collect her cousin's things. "I'm so, so, so sorry, 'Neira!"
"Ugh, it's alright, Melody," the older princess moaned, stumbling to her feet. "I guess I should have heeded your warning."
She shook her platinum hair out of her eyes, sweeping it back with her pale hand, the single black lock of hair that stood out among her mostly pale complexion bouncing down from her attempt to tame her mane. Her chocolate eyes followed her younger cousin as she scooped up the books she dropped.
"Oh, Mel, hold up," Aneira sighed, dipping down and gathering up what books were left. "You don't have to help."
"Too late," grinned the younger princess bashfully, handing over the books. "Sorry, again. I was caught up in the moment."
"I thought you were supposed to be at a meeting Auntie sent you to," Aneira said, tucking her things beneath her arm.
"I was but…" Melody bit her lip. "They kicked me out."
"They what?"
The room grew colder around them and Aneira realized it, immediately taking a deep breath so the temperature could return to normal.
"Mels, you have to tell our moms. They would be so furious!" Aneira said, genuinely upset her dear cousin had been kicked out of a meeting she was sent to. "Did you even tell the council who sent you."
"They said they wanted your mom, not me," Melody explained.
Aneira rolled her eyes. "C'mon, silly, we're gonna go have a talk with our mothers."
"Oh, no, please," the brunette prattled. "They don't… I really don't want to make any waves. This isn't a big deal, really. I'll be fine! They're just crusty old men— let go of my hand, stop dragging me with you! Aneira, are you listening to me!? Let me go!"
But she wasn't listening to the rambling that the fifteen-year-old was sputtering out. She kept on marching down the castle halls until they came to a stop in front of the Queen's study. Melody shook her head, Aneira responding with several nods. The silent battle of nods and shakes went on for a good two minutes before Aneira sent her a stern look, making the younger girl cave.
"Fine," she sighed at the seventeen-year-old.
"Thank you," Aneira said confidently, throwing open the doors, catching the two women inside in mid conversation.
"—that's so stupid," Anna complained. "If the dumb Southern Isles refuses to open their routes, we'll never get our good down to Corona!"
"It's my only option right now," responded Elsa, folding her arms across her chest. "I don't like it any more than you do but I won't let their vendetta get in the way of our trades with other countries."
"I don't want Arendelle to trade with them!" Anna argued.
"Anna, do you want our kingdom to suffer?" Elsa said icily.
A beat. The oldest princess groaned.
"No… fine. I'll put up with the Isles," she growled, glaring down at the map they were examining. "For now. But one slip up and I—" She noticed the two girls standing in the doorway. "Melody?" Elsa turned her head to meet her sister's gaze. "Aneira… what are you two doing here?"
"I though Anna sent you to the meeting, Melody," Elsa said slowly.
"They kicked her out, Mum!" Aneira said. "They said… well, actually I don't know what they said."
Teal, blue, and brown eyes fell on the youngest in the room. She started to fiddle with her hands, avoiding their gazes.
"They just… they wanted you, Auntie Elsa, not me. Or anyone else. Apparently I wouldn't be able to understand or something and, well, they called me the spare," Melody explained, her voice getting quieter and quieter. "They didn't care if you sent me, Mom." She glanced at Anna. "I mean, they aren't wrong. I'm not ever gonna be the queen so why would they need me to know all this royal stuff."
"You're gonna be so important!" Anna said, striding over to her daughter and pulling her into a hug. "You'll grow up to be Aneira's right hand, her most loyal—"
"But I don't want that either!" Melody said suddenly, stepping away from her mother. "I want to mean something more. Find something of my own!"
Elsa joined her sister at her side. "Melody, sweetheart, it's okay to want something more than just being the second born princess. Your mother should be able to understand."
Anna nodded gently. "I did want to be more than just Elsa's sister, dreaming of traveling to distant lands."
"You can be more than just Princess Melody," Aneira added. "I'll find my own right hand." She winked at her cousin and tousled her already unruly, choppy hair.
Melody giggled. "Thanks."
"But right now," Elsa said, her face clouding over. "I have a council to scold. Anna, would you like to join me?"
"Please. Girls, follow us," Anna said as they left the study. "Right hand or not, you need to see how being a royal brat is properly done!"
The two girls laughed, trailing after their mothers as they marched to the council room where Anna usually held the meetings. Once the doors were opened by the two sisters, the council fell silent, rising to their feet in respect.
"Sit down," Anna snapped.
Stunned, they sank back into their seats and exchanged looks of astonishment. Anna strutted to the head of council's seat where the man who had kicked Melody out was sitting.
"Your Highness," he ruffed.
"Get up," she said lowly.
He scrambled to his feet and returned to his usual chair. Elsa stood behind Anna, the two princesses following her over.
"I sent my daughter over here to attend this meeting and take down notes for me," Anna began and instantly roused shifting and mumblings. "Then she comes to me to tell me that she was kicked out of the meeting. I am absolutely— how dare you speak to a royal in such a condescending… I can't even fathom what gave you the bright idea to be so rude!"
"But, Princess Anna—" tried the councilman but Elsa interrupted him.
"I am disgusted with you all," Elsa said harshly. "Nobody rushed to help her, nobody stepped in, people kicked her out… I expected better from this hand selected group."
"Maybe having a council was a bad idea from the start," Anna sighed.
"No, your Highness," assured a councilwoman. "You're right, we should have done what you asked. It was wrong of Councilman Danby to be so rash."
"Councilman," Elsa said sternly. "Apologize to the princess."
"Your Majesty—" Danby tried.
"Now," both Anna and Elsa snarled.
The old man flushed a shade of puce before mumbling out an apology towards Melody. The princess nodded her head in forgiveness and Anna dismissed the meeting, the council leaving the four ladies inside peacefully.
"Thanks, Mom," Melody said quietly.
"They have to learn to respect you," Elsa said, placing her hands on her niece's shoulders. "No matter who you are in the family."
"Dumb council," Aneira insisted, adjusting her books in her arms. "But everything is okay now thanks to Auntie Anna!" She beamed at the three. "Now, if you'll excuse me I have some extra studying to do before Gerda quizzes me on the foreign affairs." She inclined her head gracefully. "Good day. See you at dinner."
As Aneira left, Anna started giggling, earning incredulous looks from her sister and daughter.
"I'm sorry. Oh, Elsa, she's almost everything you could have been if you had never conked me in the head," Anna teased.
The queen rolled her eyes. "Yes, well, I'm lucky that my daughter grew up in a loving and supportive environment. Now, Melody, do you think you can help your mother and I with a few things around the castle before dinner time?"
"Oh, sure!" Melody nodded, following her aunt and mother outside. "Though, I'm warning you now that I'm clumsier than Mom."
"Hey!" Anna protested as Elsa laughed. "I'm not that clumsy."
The princess stuck up her nose as she strutted down the hall before knocking over a vase.
Aneira was already seated at the table when the three entered the room, going through many documents and sorting them in the library. Elsa took her seat at the head of the table, Anna on her right and an empty space on her left. Melody took the seat beside her cousin, who was seated next to the empty space.
"So all we're missing are the boys," Elsa observed.
"Kristoff should be back before dinner," Anna said, sipping her water. "At least, that's what he said."
"And Thomas—" Elsa began but the doors were thrown open, a very tired King Thomas strolling inside.
"Greetings, family!" he yawned with gusto, waving and taking the seat across from Anna, filling the empty space between his daughter and wife. "I was not expecting to be held up in that staff meeting. Really, Elsa, darling, I don't see why Kai can't handle the stuff on his own."
"Dear, it's simply to ensure there is proper order," Elsa said, winking at him. "While I handle the trade agreements, Kai is to give you tasks until we figure out what to do about the dignitary meetings next week."
"Dad," Aneira piped up, "are you going to take me to London next month like you promised?"
Elsa shot him a look and he shifted nervously in his seat.
"'Neira, the funny thing about a promise is that I usually have to run it by your mother first," he said honestly, making his sister-in-law laugh.
"He's got a point here, sweetie," Anna said to her niece. "Elsa's always in control— ow! Don't kick me!" She and Elsa glared at one another for a few seconds before the younger rolled her eyes and leaned back in her chair.
Aneira and Melody snickered under their breath.
"Well, anyway, love," Thomas continued to his daughter. "It's hard to say if I can. Perhaps on your eighteenth birthday."
"That's next year!" the heir complained.
"It's plenty of time," Elsa said sternly. "Aneira, you have to remember that leaving Arendelle can endanger you—"
"But she's got ice powers!" Melody cut in. "She can protect herself form any foe."
"I don't train my stuff for fighting," Aneira pointed out. "It's a creative outlet and I enjoy the sport." She drew herself up hall, her long platinum locks bouncing on her shoulders. "And anyway, I don't want to hurt anyone with them. I'm lucky I didn't ever hurt you growing up."
"That's because we kept your powers under control in a correct way, keeping an eye on them, until you got a better grasp of them," Elsa reminded her.
"Speaking of ice," Thomas said. "Where's Kristoff and—"
"It's too cold sometimes, Pops," said a voice still undergoing puberty.
"Nikolas, it's a way of life. And if you're ever gonna be Royal Ice Harvester, you gotta get used to it!" Kristoff insisted.
In walked the mountain man and his son, Nikolas, who shared the similar features of his sister including the freckles and cinnamon hair but his eyes were teal instead of brown. Kristoff took the seat next to his wife— kissing her cheek— and Nikolas sat across his sister.
"Hello, lil' sis," he saluted.
"By five minutes," Melody hissed at him.
"You're never gonna let that go," Aneira laughed.
"He's my twin!" Melody argued, flailing her arm at her brother. "We were born on the same day!"
"Five minutes apart," Nikolas teased.
"Shut up," Melody growled, her cheeks turning red.
"Let's not fight at dinnertime," Elsa said, raising a hand to calm her family.
"Yeah, it's gonna ruin my appetite," Nikolas agreed.
"Honey, don't be mean to your sister," Anna said, sighing. "And Kristoff, if Nikolas is complaining about being cold then give him heavier coats!"
"I can't control the cold, Anna, so I can't anticipate when it's going to be a good day or a bad day," Kristoff said plainly as servants entered, placing the first course in front of the royal family. "I told you I should have brought him out earlier."
"I wasn't the paranoid one," Anna said defensively. "Elsa was."
"Would everyone stop blaming me for things?" Elsa complained, raising her eyes to the ceiling, praying for patience.
"Hail Queen Elsa!" the three kids bellowed, jumping to their feet. "The most beautiful, powerful, dangerous, and cold queen you'll ever face. She'll seduce you and sedate you, she'll save you from harms way but she will ask for payment!"
Nikolas thrust up a fist. "The Snow Queen!"
Melody threw hers up too. "The Ruler of Arendelle!"
Aneira tossed hers with theirs. "She is Elsa!"
"All hail the queen!" they chimed as one.
"For the love of all that is sane," Elsa groaned as the kids cracked up laughing.
"Alright, alright, sit down!" Thomas said, trying not to grin. "Leave her alone."
"What even was that?" Anna asked.
"Their stupid mantra," Elsa said. "I'm surprised you haven't heard it yet."
"It's new," Aneira giggled as she adjusted herself in her seat. "For annoyance purposes."
"How did I have the first child?" Elsa wondered. "The little leader."
"We alternate," Melody corrected. "But it just so happens to be her this month."
"Can we just enjoy a dinner where it's normal for once?" Kristoff said slowly, taking large gulps of his soup.
"Kristoff, you've been here long enough to know that's never gonna happen," Thomas said, finally grinning.
After dinner that evening, the parents went through the castle to finish off their daily jobs before bed. The three kids, however, took to the rooftops of the castle to watch the Aurora Borealis dance in the sky. They were all lying on their backs on one of the flat tops, Melody squeezed in the middle of her cousin and brother, their eyes gazing in wonderment at the colorful rays.
"Melody," Aneira said, breaking the silence. "Remember what you said today about not wanting to be my right hand?"
"Yeah?" responded the youngest.
"Why not?" Aneira asked.
"It's nothing against you," Melody said quickly. "It's just… I'll never be more than just the spare, y'know? The princess who will never be queen, the youngest in the royal family. I want to travel to distant places, find something all my own." She nudged her brother in the ribs. "This one already has his path set. To take Dad's place."
"It's not glamorous," Nikolas assured her. "I harvest ice and distribute it out to Arendelle. I'll never be a King."
"But you know what you're gonna be," Melody emphasized. "I don't. The Queen's advisor or right hand? No way. I just don't see myself doing that."
Aneira took her cousin's hand gently in her own, her other arm behind her head to support her neck.
"Whatever it is, Mels, I know it'll be something great," Aneira said.
Nikolas took her other hand. "Yeah, sis. You'll find it someday."
The youngest princess smiled up at the sky, feeling both safe and loved in the presence of Aneira and Nikolas. She took in a deep breath, squeezing their hands in hers.
"Thank you, guys," she whispered. "I promise that if it takes me away from Arendelle, I'll return to visit."
"You better," Aneira said with a chuckle. "One day I'll be queen and I'll make it a law that Princess Melody of Arendelle has to visit us every month."
"That would be expensive," Nikolas said. "How 'bout every other month."
"No," Aneira said shortly. "I am queen and I make the rules."
"You're not queen yet," Melody defended her brother, though not unkindly. "Besides, that would require a tragedy in the family. Be thankful that you won't have to take the throne at twenty-one like Auntie Elsa did."
"Yes, I am always thankful," Aneira nodded. "And I'm thankful that I'm never alone…"
"Kids!" came Anna's voice from the balcony they accessed the roof from. "C'mon, it's getting late."
The three sighed and clambered off the roof with ease before heading to their own bedrooms for the night. After Aneira changed into her nightgown, she found her parents in the room and bid them goodnight with kisses on the cheek and warm hugs.
"Sorry about the annoyance at dinner," Aneira apologized to her mother.
"It's alright," Elsa smiled. "I know you're just having fun with your cousins. I don't want to seem like I'm keeping having fun from you. If anything, I want you to have as much fun as you can before you become an adult."
"Oh, I'll still be fun," Aneira assured her. "But studious. That's a possible combination and I'm proving it everyday!"
"You certainly are," Thomas said from his writing desk.
"You're definitely more fun than I was when I was your age," Elsa said.
"Mum, you were locked up in your bedroom," Aneira reminded her bluntly.
Elsa rolled her eyes. "My point remains." She brushed her daughter's bangs out of her eyes. "Just be true to yourself, sweetheart, and I know you'll find happiness."
"I stick by that no matter what," Aneira said, lifting a palm and producing her own special snowflake. "Unique."
Elsa mimicked her. "Exactly."
They exchanged loving smiles before Elsa stood up.
"I should be heading to the room," she said, hugging her daughter. "Good night, my snowflake. I love you."
"Love you, too, Mum," Aneira breathed into her mother's shoulder.
After she strode out, Elsa kissed her husband.
"And I love you," she told him.
He chuckled. "I'll never get tired of hearing that for as long as I live."
A few doors away, Nikolas simply wished his folks goodnight, got a mug of warm milk, and shut himself away for a long slumber.
When Melody approached her parents, she was pulled to the side by her mother. Anna sat her down on the bed— out of earshot of Kristoff— and she gave Melody her serious, motherly expression that she saved for very special occasions.
"Melody," she cooed, managing a tender smile. "I understand your desire to be more than what you are. And I don't want you to think you're anything less than what you are. You have so much potential and I believe that you will discover something so great that it will be known world wide." Anna tucked a few strands of hair behind her daughter's ear. "I see so much of myself in you but your drive is much larger than mine. Plus you have the freedom of searching beyond the castle gates. I don't ever want you to be afraid to come to me about this kind of stuff."
Melody mustered a grateful smile at her mother, tears dancing in her eyes.
"Thanks so much, Mom," she croaked, drawing Anna into a hug. "That means more than you know."
"Aneira has a lot on her plate and her future as it is and Nikolas is pretty set in his ways but you are able to experience feats greater than they can possibly imagine," Anna said, winking. "I'm not putting them down for it, don't get me wrong. But they have things figured out. It's okay to not have things figured out at your age and to take your time.
"Now, get to bed, Melody." Anna kissed her forehead. "I love you very much."
"I love you, too, Mom," Melody said before standing, saying goodnight to her father, and leaving to go to bed.
"As much as you worried you weren't going to be a good mom," Kristoff said, smiling adoringly at his wife, "you're pretty wonderful, Anna."
She flushed. "Thank you, Kristoff. That's sweet of you to say." She got to her feet and kissed him. "It's the end of the month so you'll be on your own tonight. See you in the morning."
"Have a nice time," he said, kissing her once more, and sending her on her way.
Anna met Elsa in front of their old bedroom door, both of them dressed in their nightgowns and beat from the long day they had. Even though they were in their forties, were gaining a few wrinkles here and there, and they weren't as spry as they used to be, they still gave each other quality time at the end of the month.
Wordlessly, Elsa pushed open their door and they greeted their childhood bedroom together. They picked a bed, snuggled underneath the blankets together, and closed their eyes, hands intertwined beneath the blankets, reverting back to their younger selves once again.
"You know, Anna?" Elsa began.
"Hm?" replied Anna.
"I think that we're all gonna be okay," Elsa said, smiling.
Anna smiled, too. "You just figured that out?"
"No… but it's always nice to say. We've gone through so much, you and I." She opened her eyes, meeting Anna's teal ones. "And I can't wait to go through more."
"There's still a lot of time between then and now," Anna reminded her.
"True. But I just get so happy when I know I get to spend it with the most important person in my life," Elsa sighed, kissing her sister's nose. "No matter who enters it or leaves it, I can rest easy knowing it all comes down to the one person who will never let me out of her sight."
"Even when we're old and cranky," Anna agreed.
Elsa laughed. "Yes, even then."
The End
Coping was my second Frozen fan fic… and I have a lot to say about it.
It's messy and crazy and in need of a reboot someday but I am so damn proud of it anyway. It's been a year old already, a year since my love for Frozen took off. And I can't thank it enough for helping me improve my writing over time.
Then there's you guys. You helped it reach 300+ reviews. You loved it, the characters, the incredibly confusing plot, the flaws, everything. Thank you for joining me on his crazy ride.
But now Coping must come to a close so I may open a space for a new story. I have many ideas that require the attention it needs.
Elsa and Anna will still be updated and I may have the three kids be featured in it so if you want to possibly see them again, be sure to follow that story as well.
I love you all so much.
Thanks for reading.
See you next time!