Arendelle High was buzzing with excitement. Lights were flashing everywhere as the senior class took some of their last photos before the graduation ceremony, purple and green decorations littered the lobby and auditorium where hundreds of seats were placed on the floor in front of the giant platform that also adorned the school's colors along with their mascot: a crocus flower. The soon-to-be graduates were wearing their graduation gowns, caps, and tassels; the girls wearing purple while the boys wore green. Faculty members were dressed formally as they scurried around congratulating just as well-dressed, proud parents and excited students. Graduation day had finally arrived.
"Smile!"
Elsa was blinded by the twelfth flash of light to shine in her eyes. She blinked repeatedly in order to get rid of the white spots flooding her vision. "You know, Anna. For someone who isn't graduating, you are a lot more excited than the person who is."
"Hey! It's not my fault! I've never been to a graduation before!" Anna defended, and took another picture of the picture frame holding the class's senior pictures. "This is so cool!"
A soft chuckle escaped Elsa's lips at her girlfriend's uncontrollable excitement. "Well, take it easy with the pictures. Ceili wants to take some during the actual ceremony."
Anna tensed slightly and slowly lowered Ceili's camera. "Oh, right. I forgot about that."
"Elsa! Anna!" A deep voice exclaimed.
The two girls turned around and were immediately lifted into a bear hug.
"Hey, Marshmallow," Anna grunted merrily as all the air was squeezed from her lungs. "Congratulations, buddy, I'm so happy for you!"
Marshmallow set the two down and beamed at both of them. Despite the fact that the school had to custom order his gown due to his height, it still looked like just one flex of his muscles would cause the thing to rip in at least five places, and his cap was just barely sitting on his massive head. It was almost comical to see just how much the formalwear was straining to fit the mountainous man standing in front of them.
"Thanks!" he boomed excitedly before turning to Elsa. "Elsa, we graduate tonight! You excited?"
"Of course I'm excited," Elsa smiled. "After tonight, we never have to come back to this place ever again. Why wouldn't I be excited?"
Anna smacked her girlfriend's arm and stomped her foot childishly. "Hey! That's not fair! You guys both have to come back in two years when I graduate!"
Marshmallow howled with laughter as he watched Elsa rub her arm and hugged Anna tightly. "I come back for graduation! I promise! I wouldn't miss Anna's graduation for world!"
"Well, you can definitely expect me to be there too," Elsa giggled. She roped the younger girl into a hug once Marshmallow set her down and kissed her cheek. "I wouldn't want to miss my girlfriend's graduation now, would I?"
A pink blush coated Anna's cheeks as she hugged Elsa back. "Good! You guys are all leaving me alone in this damn high school. The least you can do is come back when I graduate and see how I have the school eating out of the palm of my hand."
"Aww, isn't that cute? The lesbos are getting their gay all over everyone," an irritatingly high-pitched voice taunted. A wave of shrieking giggles sounded shortly after.
Elsa, Anna, and Marshmallow all turned towards the irritating noise and frowned. Three girls wearing purple graduation gowns were strutting towards them haughtily. One of them had her blonde her hair down, another had her hair tied up in a bun, and the last one had her short, black hair curled so short that it cut off at her jawline.
"Hello, Aurora," Elsa greeted kindly, despite the obvious venom in her voice.
"Elsa," the girl with the long, blonde hair acknowledged, "look at you. A lesbian cradle robber with no friends and yet you still got to be the valedictorian of our class," she pointed at the medal hanging around Elsa's neck. "How does that work?"
Anna was about to jump in and tell the senior off when she felt something grab her arm. She turned around and saw Marshmallow, Olaf, and Kristoff standing behind her. They all had smirks on their faces as they motioned for her to keep quiet.
"Believe it or not, Aurora, not everything is a popularity contest," Elsa explained coolly. "Good grades tend to do wonders, not that you know what that's like. You were supposed to graduate last year, weren't you?"
Aurora shrugged and brushed her fingers through her hair. "Well, better late than never, I suppose. Daddy made sure that I got into a very high end university now that I'm graduating: Saint Maleficent University. Perhaps you've heard of it? It's a very pristine college that only the best of the best can get into."
A soft chuckle sounded from Elsa's throat. "Oh, I'm sorry that your dad is sending you to an all-girl's Catholic school. In case you didn't know, that means there are no boys for you to fuck like a sex-crazed bitch in heat."
Aurora's eyebrow twitched as she glared at the platinum blonde. "Watch yourself, Elsa Winter-Wolf. I wouldn't be too cocky if I were you. I've made your high school life hell so far. Don't think that just because we're graduating I won't publicly humiliate you."
By now there was a bunch of students surrounding the small group. Most of them were placing bets on who would throw the first punch. Others were silently rooting for one of the girls to win, but it was hard to tell who they were cheering on since the only sign that they were doing anything was the slight fist pump in the air.
Elsa huffed in amusement. "Aurora, there isn't a damn thing you can do to me anymore. It's true that you made my life hell as soon as I came into this school, though I'm not sure why, but you only have so much ammunition to use; and you used it all over the years."
She smirked mischievously. "I on the other hand, have been building up my stock to use against you if I ever needed it. So, I am only going to ask this once. Can't we just put old grudges aside and get through this final night we have together as a class in peace?"
"Awww," Aurora cooed. "That's cute. You think you have dirt on me. Well, I definitely have more dirt on you, Elsa. What's this that I hear about your father being back in town?"
A wave of gasps silenced the crowd around the two girls.
Elsa blinked irritably as her hands balled into fists. "How did you know about that?"
Aurora shrugged. "I can't just tell you that. Now, can I? That would be tattling. So, did he have sex with Ceili again while you watched, or did he involve you this time?"
"That's taking it too far!" One of the guys in the crowd shouted. "Just because your dad works for the police department, doesn't mean you have the right to use that information to your benefit, Aurora!"
"Yeah!" the crowd yelled in unison.
"I think we should call Chief Silver and tell him that one of his boys is blabbing all this private information around," a girl nominated.
Another wave of approval swept through the crowd.
Elsa blinked in confusion. Everyone was…supporting her. That had never happened before in her life. Normally the only people who ever tried to protect her in the whole school were Olaf and Marshmallow.
Aurora gasped in shock. "What's wrong with you guys? You used to gossip about Elsa too. What makes you suddenly all righteous?"
The crowd died down somewhat.
"Yeah, that's what I thought," Aurora snipped. She turned back to Elsa and put her hands on her hips. "Well, what are you going to do now, Ice Queen?"
Elsa smiled and shook her head humorously. "Oh, just this," she grabbed the front of Aurora's gown, pulled it up, and shoved her hands down the front of the shocked girl's dress.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Aurora shrieked. "Help! Police! Rape!"
Elsa pulled two silicone bulbs out of Aurora's dress and dropped them on the floor with an audible smack! Next, she used the screaming girl's own gown to wipe all of the make-up off of her face. Small red splotches covered the once perfect skin.
"It's amazing what you learn when you're crying all alone in the girl's bathroom," Elsa explained. "So, Aurora, tell us. What made you decide to use implants?"
Aurora glanced around the circle in horror as everyone laughed at her. Tears streamed down her face and she bolted down the hall to the bathroom. Her lackeys followed close behind.
Kristoff shouted down the hallway after her. "It's not very nice being on the other end of the ridicule, is it?"
"What's going on here?" a gruff voice demanded.
Everyone jumped and turned towards the source of the voice. A tall, unnaturally thin woman with pale, almost green skin, and tall, white and grey streaked hair was strutting towards them. Her black dress made her look like she had tentacles flowing around her legs.
"Nothing, Principal Morgana," everyone replied in unison.
Morgana crossed her arms and almost sneered down her hooked nose at everyone. "Is that so? Well, then, if that is the case, everyone line up and get ready for procession!"
Everyone scrambled like cockroaches as they all rushed to line up for the walk. Morgana was by far the most frightening person in the school. No one ever dared get on her bad side, and she especially tended to get viler around graduation.
Elsa dragged Anna by the arm as they made their way towards the back of the line. "If anyone scares me more than your mother, it's that squid lady," she admitted coyly. "I swear. She could be a witch."
Anna giggled and hugged Elsa tight. "Don't worry about the evil squid woman. This is supposed to be a happy occasion. Just relax and enjoy yourself." She kissed her girlfriend's cheek and winked flirtatiously. "If you don't, I'll have to make you relax tonight after your party."
A fierce blush exploded across Elsa's face. "Wait. What?"
The sound of instruments playing "Pomp and Circumstance" filled the air and Anna squeaked. "Oops! Sorry, Elsa! I have to hurry up and find where Mom and Ceili are sitting! Break a leg!"
With that, the sporadic red head sprinted into the gymnasium, leaving Elsa standing in line with her mouth hanging open like a fish. The guy standing behind her elbowed her shoulder. She turned around and saw one of the track stars winking at her.
"Awoo! Awoo! Who would've thought the Ice Queen could handle a little spitfire like Anna Summers?"
Elsa's blush intensified and she punched the boy in the shoulder. "Shut up, Naveen!"
The opening speeches were without a doubt the most boring things Anna had ever had the displeasure of sitting through. Each person practically said the same exact thing. "I'm so happy to have been able to share this time with all of you." "I am honored to be able to call you all my family." And they all started with: "Friends, family, and my fellow classmates." This graduating class sure didn't have much for creativity.
She sighed heavily and slumped in her chair. "Are all of these speeches the same in every graduation ceremony? This is so boring!"
"Shh!" Lily hushed irritably. "Be nice, Anna. These kids are probably as nervous as can be right now."
Principal Morgana made her way to the podium and beamed with an almost unsettlingly warm smile. "Thank you, Tiana, for that wonderful speech. Next, the class valedictorian, Elsa Winter-Wolf, will give the final speech before we start handing out diplomas." She held her hand out to the seniors sitting in the first few rows of chairs. "Elsa, if you would please."
Elsa stood from her seat and made her way to the podium with perfect poise and grace. She scanned over the crowd of people; smiling when she saw Anna waving at her excitedly while Ceili gave her thumbs up and Lily waved with a little less enthusiasm than her daughter. She glanced down at her written speech and huffed humorously before crumpling it up and tossing it aside.
"As much as I would love to start this speech off with "friends, family, and my fellow classmates" and go on about how we're all such a big, warm, happy family, I personally cannot do so because for me this is not true. Ever since I was an elementary student, I have mocked by this class because I was raised by my older sister. However, despite all the ridicule I was able to find some of the best friends a girl can ever hope for, and I can say that those friends have been like a family in this school to me. Olaf and Marshmallow Kingston have been my two best friends throughout high school, and even Kristoff Bjorgman has somehow managed to worm his way into my very small circle of trust."
"It's because you're dating my little cousin!" Kristoff shouted jokingly. The crowd of people chuckled awkwardly while the few who knew better roared with laughter.
"It's not my fault she's adorable," Elsa retorted. She scanned over the graduating class. "I can never say that this class is by any means a family, but I can admit that I will not remember everyone here as the bullies who shoved me in lockers and taunted me about how my mother was never at the parent-teacher conferences. Instead, this group of students will forever be known in my heart as the class who could change and take a chance even if they were scared.
"I will never forget the day when Marshmallow, despite his speech impediment, decided to sing the male solo in the song "Seasons of Love" during show choir our freshman year and blew everyone away with how beautiful his voice was. Olaf took the risk of being bullied by all the guys in the school when he joined the cheerleading squad, but he wore that men's uniform with pride and can still do the splits better than any of the girls on the team. After knowing her since eighth grade Naveen decided to take a chance and is now engaged to Tiana; congratulations, by the way."
The senior class cheered wildly as the two mocha colored students blushed and waved.
Elsa smiled and continued with her speech. "Kristoff, despite the fact that he was the captain of practically every male sport's team in school and led most of the vandalism attacks on my house, took his cousin's advice in getting to know me and is now one of my best friends." She stared right at the blonde's blushing face. "Yeah, I know all about Anna's little trick to get you to come to my birthday party, Bjorgman. Don't think I'm so dumb that I wouldn't expect the major snowmobile advocate to come just to ride my sister's snowmobile."
The class howled with laughter as the football and track team pummeled their captain with a barrage of playful punches.
"I could easily go on to talk about how Merida trained day in and day out in order to finally become the state champion in archery, or how Hiccup changed from a dorky little…well…hiccup of a boy to the stud he is now, but that would take up a good hour and I'm sure everyone just wants to get this done and over with. So instead, I'm going to wrap this up by saying thank you." Elsa had to stop and swallow back the hot lump in her throat.
"I want to thank all of the faculty members for the years of motivation and empowerment. I want to thank my sister, Ceili," she pointed to the confused, white haired woman sitting in the audience, "for being my anchor when things got bad and my oar to help propel me forward through all the rough times." She gazed up at the lights as a broad smile stole her lips. "I want to thank my mother for watching over me even in death. And finally," she scanned over her classmates, "Thank you, to everyone in this class, for showing me that people can change, and for those of you who took the risk and helped me change for the better.
"I have one last thing to say before I let Principal Morgana pass out the diplomas. It's a little saying my mother always told me as a child, and I want to say it to everyone here. "It does not matter what happens, for as long as you have love in your heart things will always take a turn for the better." I hope everyone keeps love with them as they go through their lives and chases after their dreams, because I know I definitely will. Now, let's all go out into the world and show everyone just what the graduating class from Arendelle High can do!"
A wave of cheers and applause exploded through the auditorium as Elsa made her way back to her seat. Principal Morgana clapped as she took over the podium and spoke into the microphone. "Thank you very much for such an…untraditional speech, Elsa. Now, we will start passing out the diplomas. Would the first row of students please-"
"What do you mean you don't have it?" Kristoff's voice sounded over the crowd.
"I mean I don't have it!" Olaf exclaimed. "I thought you had it!"
"Dude, you were supposed to pick it up!" Kristoff scolded.
"No, Marshmallow was!" Olaf defended.
"Marshmallow, do you have it?" Kristoff asked.
The larger the two twins shook his head. "No."
"Mister Bjorgman and Mister Kingstons," Morgana snipped irritably, "what on earth are you three doing? You three are awfully close to not getting your diplomas!"
Anna checked her purse and jumped out of her seat. "Guys, I got it! Catch!" She threw the handbag to Kristoff, who barely caught it.
"Thanks, Anna!" Kristoff fumbled out of the audience and took over the podium. "Sorry, Principal Morgana, but I have something that I would like to say before you start handing out the diplomas. You can even keep mine if you want. This is totally worth it."
Morgana glared at the blonde jock but stepped back.
Kristoff placed Anna's purse on the pedestal and smiled at everyone. "Hi! Kristoff Bjorgman, here! Sorry if my little speech isn't as good as the other's we've all heard today, but I was nominated to give out a very special award."
"Nominated? Dude, you were the one who came up with the idea!" One of the football players shouted.
"Hey! I just came up with the idea! You guys were the ones who nominated me," Kristoff admitted sheepishly.
He cleared his throat and tried to make himself appear as professional as possible. "As many of us know, the varsity teams always give out a Most Valuable Player award after the end of every season. This year the seniors in the football, track, and wrestling teams, along with Olaf, Marshmallow, and even my little cousin, Anna Summers, and I all decided that we needed to have a Most Changed award for our class."
He reached into Anna's purse and pulled out a fairly large, glass trophy shaped like a diamond. "The Diamond in the Rough Award: We all went around the senior class asking for donations in order to make this trophy for the one person we thought had changed the most. Everyone we asked to contribute had the same question: "Who is this award going to?" And each time we told them who, they would smile and throw in a bit more money than they needed to.
"In the end, we had more money than we really needed to make the trophy, so we sent the rest into a charity fund at the local children's hospital. Plus, some people thought that it this was an election and we got a lot of votes. Believe it or not, the person we were going to give this to won the unofficial vote by a landslide!"
Kristoff laughed heartily and smiled down at the senior class. "So, without further ado, would Elsa Winter-Wolf come up here please?"
The auditorium practically exploded with all the yells and cheers flying through the air. Elsa was completely catatonic in her seat. Had she actually heard that right? There was no way. She couldn't have heard that correctly. It was only when a bunch of the jocks picked her up and set her down on the stage next to Kristoff that she knew she wasn't dreaming.
She gawked at Kristoff in disbelief. "You're joking."
Kristoff held the trophy delicately in his hands and turned so he was facing Elsa fully. "Elsa Winter-Wolf, on behalf of the wrestling, track, and football teams, and the senior class, I present you the Diamond in the Rough Award. We all agree that the Ice Queen of Arendelle High truly is the nicest, gentlest, warmest person ever, and we all apologize for the years of torment we gave you."
Elsa took the trophy deftly in her fingers and the tears spilled over her eyes. "I-I don't know what to say. Thank you. Thank you all so much."
"We love you Elsa!" One of the wrestlers shouted. A wave of cheers followed from the rest of the team as it permeated through the class.
"All hail the Ice Queen!" One of the girls on the swim team exclaimed.
The flash of light caught Elsa's attention and she gazed out over the sea of people at Ceili, Lily, and Anna. Tears were sparkling in her sister's eyes as she continued to take photos with her camera, Lily was simply smiling at her with a look that almost screamed "I'm so happy for you," and Anna was jumping and cheering like a squirrel monkey on top of her chair. She smiled at the three of them as she took Kristoff's hand and raised the trophy into the air.
Her mother had been right. As long you kept love in your heart, things would always turn out for the better. She had closed off her heart to others, but Olaf and Marshmallow had wiggled their way in. Then, before she knew it, Anna had captivated her heart and with that love Kristoff found his way in too. So there was some truth in that silly old saying after all.
Hello, hello, hello! Alright, let me start by saying that I didn't base Aurora off of the new remake of Maleficent. I loved that movie, but I have never really been a fan of the old princesses such as Aurora, Snow White, and Cinderella. I was never a princessy kind of girl. I liked the fight scene with the dragon in Sleeping Beauty. So I don't want to hear any "How could you make Aurora the queen bitch of the school?!" and what not. I could just see her being the preppy girl who everyone feared in high school, plus a nice little gif on Tumblr definitely made me want to cast her as the "bad guy" in high school.
Aww, isn't that cute? Everyone likes Elsa now! Too bad this isn't the end of the story. Oh, no, we are far from it, my friends ;)
