Hi! Sorry it took so long for me to update the next chapter. I was dealing with a bad sinus infection but I am all better now thanks to antibiotics. Anyways this is actually a happy chapter. No angst really in it just a fluffy chapter. Need a happy chapter after dealing with all the angst going on in the previous chapters. Anyways, read and enjoy!

Chapter 36

Xander is carefully following a gimpy Violet. He has three books piled on top of his head. They are in the library continuing the extensive research on Mombi. There is a lot on her in legends but it's hard to differentiate from fact and what has been embellished. Glinda doesn't seem to care at the moment about that as she wants every bit of every information on her, real or fiction. Violet tries to hide the pained look on her face as she is making her way down the aisle. She still has pain all over her body but she got tired of sitting in bed, twiddling her thumbs.

"Here, this looks like it could help." Violet says as she reaches up and pulls out a red covered book. Xander's ears go to the side when the forth book is added to the stack. He doesn't mind the books on her head he just can see that the wounded soldier is going to need to sit down for a little bit.

"That should be enough to read for a couple of hours." He replies. Violet looks at him and opens her mouth to protest but stops when she sees the stern look in the silver eyes. She gives a sigh of defeat before reluctantly nodding her head in agreement. Xander gives a purr and swish of his tail. He leads her out of the aisle and back towards where everybody is congregated. Balian is sitting on the ground, next to the big table, giving a big yawn while scratching his belly. He hates that he can't help out with the reading part but Kira lets him take whatever she has written down to Glinda. He has gotten better on figuring out where everything is in the palace though he does get lost now and again. The Black Bear gives a smile when he hears footsteps coming towards him.

"About time. I thought you guys got lost." Balian jokes. Kira looks up from her scroll with a twitch of an ear. She gives a slight smile at seeing Violet and Xander, who is making sure not to drop the books, walking towards them. Normally, she would laugh at her nephew and try to knock the books off his head. She lost a lot of humor when Elsa was taken from them. Balian's right ear turn towards Kira when he doesn't hear a peep out of her. She has become more serious as the days' drag on and turn into weeks.

"Almost got lost between ancient magic and cook books. Why those two are near each other is beyond me." Xander replies with a guaff. Violet rolls his eyes at this attempt at a joke. Those two are trying their best to make sure nobody suffers from being depressed too long. She just takes the books off his head and heaves them onto the table. She works her shoulder out with a grunt. Having shrapnel stuck in your body sucks but to make sure Elsa didn't suffer this fate was worth the pain she is in. She sits down at the table across from Kira. She grabs one of the books and starts to delve straight into the contents. Both Xander and Balian stay where they are as they don't feel like doing some more research. The Wolger's partial ear starts to dip down with a slight whimper. He is all for being serious and trying to find Elsa but things have gotten too serious for his liking. There has rarely been any kind of smiling or any kind of laughter. He is definitely going to do something about it. He slinks over to Balian and starts to whisper into his ear. A slight smirk appears on the Black Bear's face the longer Xander whispers into his ear. He eagerly nods his head at the proposed plan. Xander gives a purr at him before putting tail around the burly, black neck and quietly guides him away to start it.

"You find anything new?" Violet asks as she looks up from her book. Kira bites one of her claws with a huff.

"Not really. It's the same stuff but said in a different away." She answers with a hint of depression. She feels like they are no closer to getting Elsa back to them. She starts to give a sad sigh but gives a loud 'gah!' when a pillow hits her on the side of her head. Violet blinks her eyes at the sudden attack before looking over to see where it came from only to see another pillow screaming towards her face.

"Bullseye!" Xander hoots when it hits Violet square in the face. He gives Balian a playful nudge in the shoulder with his snout. He used his magic to help the black bear out with his aim. The two are attempting to lighten up the mood by starting a pillow fight. Kira's whiskers twitch when the two Animals start to laugh at the both of them. She casts a glance to the brunette and gives a nod. Violet gives a smirk as she grabs a hold of the pillow sitting on her lap. Within seconds, the two whip the pillows back towards the other two while they are two busying laughing to know what is going on. Their laughter stops mid chuckle when the pillows hit them in the face.

"It's on!" Xander says with his tail furiously swishing back and forth. It didn't take long before pillows are flying back and forth across them room along with loud laughter. Time flies by as they are all actually having fun in a long time.

Nessa opens the door to the library with a tray of food and drinks for the hard workers. She stops a few feet into the room when she feels air rushing past her head. The pillow hits Kira in the back of her head when she was trying to gather ammo for her and Violet. She whips her head around with a glint in her eyes, her paw gripping another pillow. She is ready to throw it but lets it go when she sees her bemused mother standing in the room.

"Mom….hi…"

When hearing this everybody stops what they are doing, all have various degrees of sheepishness on their face.

"I see you all have worked up an appetite." Nessa points out as she walks over to the table to set the food tray down so the four can eat. She is happy that they were doing what they are doing because it's not good when you have to be serious all the time.

"We did." Balian speaks up as he follows Xander's guidance back towards the table. "We were winning."
Violet rolls her eyes while Kira gives a snort. Nessa gives a soft coo as she rubs the top of her daughter's head. The White Tiger melts with a giddy smile while rubbing the hand with her head.

"I'm sure you two would have made a comeback."
Xander gives a mocked hurt gasp while putting a paw to his chest. He can't believe his grandmother said that. She is supposed to take his side because he's the cute grandson. Nessa winks at him while placing a plate of food in front of him. Green eyes sparkle back with his tail thumping on the ground.

"It smells good." Balian hovering over his own plate. He can picture the food in his mind when she smelt all the different scents. His mouth is watering and his stomach gives a loud growl. He has worked up an appetite throwing the pillows.

"Dig in." Nessa replies with a smile. She waits for everybody to start eating before taking a spot next to Violet. She puts a hand under her chin and watches them eat. She bites her bottom lip in thought. She is anticipating the next time Alphie comes back to the palace. She won't say it out loud but she can't wait for it.

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Elsa watches Alphie with slightly narrowed eyes as the two are walking down a beaten path. There is something different about her sister. It's very subtle that she can't put her finger on it or she could just be overthinking things.

"You're lagging Elsa. Am I walking too fast for you?" Alphie shouts over her shoulder when she notices the silvery blonde is not walking next to her anymore. She gives a slight chuckle when she hears footsteps rushing up towards her with a slight huff.

"Where are we going again?"

Alphie looks to her with a smile. She has been smiling more ever since she saw her mom and felt her warm embrace. She is looking forward to seeing her the next time she goes to the Emerald Palace. Right now, she is focused on getting Elsa away from Mombi's clutches and trying to wake up what is being suppressed by the witch. It will be hard as her tendrils are long and deep in the blonde's mind just like it was for her all those years.

"It's a secret." The dark haired woman shoots back with sparkling eyes. Elsa sticks her tongue out at her when her head was turned from her. She stutters to a halt when an arm juts out in front of her to stop her from continuing on. She cocks her head to the side when she is before a wall of willow of limbs. Alphie gives a giggle as she uses her magic to open the limbs like a curtain. Icy, blue eyes widen when the scene is slowly shown before her. It's a perfect forest floor with hints of sun rays peeking through the tree roof. The sounds of different birds fill the air. She watches a grey rabbit dart past her with two, little babies chasing after the animal.

"This is my little hide away. When things get too much for me I go here and gather myself." Alphie says as she walks in. Elsa follows her in and the curtain of willow falls back into place, hiding them in the sacred area. The older woman stops walking and subtly brushes her hand across Elsa's hand when she walks past her. In her mind, she sees a flash of a tall brunette with violet eyes walking on an iced pond. A name pops into her mind next.

'Violet'

She feels her heart warm up and speed up after seeing all of this. The dark haired woman watches Elsa walk around in wonder. That has to be her sister's special person. She straightens her back when she remembers the soldier protecting Elsa from the grenade. That is something she is going to have to apologize for.

"Alphie?"

Alphie blinks her eyes before refocusing her attention back onto her sister. She smiles when she notices the cloud in the icy, blue eyes has lifted for now. Her plan might work. She will have to try and bring her out here more to work on the hold.

"Come on, you have to show me around." The silvery blonde demands excitedly. Alphie gives a chuckle before going towards her. Mombi will go down and she will have her sister by her side when it happens.

Hehe. Well, that is the happy chapter. I hope you all liked it. :) Next chapter, there will be a Violet and Alphie interaction then Glinda and Alphie. I'm pretty sure you can figure out what is going to happen when the two brunettes finally meet. Hehe. Can't wait for you to read it. Until then!

DWK