A soft, pale blue light was already lining the horizon of the sky only minutes into Elsa and Anna's new journey. Kristoff was sitting atop the front of the wagon, with Sven hauling the method of transportation with little issue, his strong build more than enough for the current load. Elsa was finally sitting after hours upon hours of nonstop work. Her magic now had the appropriate occasion to recover from the intense workout she gave it, and Anna wasted little time snuggling close into her older sister, her presence more calming than Elsa could ever anticipate or appreciate fully. All seemed well, for the moment, and Elsa didn't particularly mind the quiet of the morning, even Olaf taking a moment to close his eyes and doze off…which inevitably led to minor snoring, preventing Elsa from easily finding sleep alongside her own anxious mind refusing to quiet for even a moment.

'I'm having trouble, too.' Anna mumbled, shifting beside Elsa and squishing in closer. Elsa lifted her hand to cradle Anna's head against her chest, stroking the girl's hair delicately. 'Oh, but that kinda helps.'

'How are you feeling?' Elsa decided to ask, aware she needed more time to calm down before being capable of having a much-needed nap.

'Me?' Anna giggled. 'I'm doing fine. Adventures are always fun, even if this one is a little scarier than usual.'

'Yes…' Elsa wondered about the four spirits and that strange voice that had engaged with her more recently. They felt like two separate factions yet were part of the same force luring Elsa to the north and the Enchanted Forest. Then, there was the melodic voice, which was distinctly feminine, so, that added a third party? But they were all working in tandem, weren't they?

Elsa dismissed her spiraling mind, deciding it was best for her to take a breather from such mentally taxing scenarios. Thus, she pulled back from Anna, and began combing her hair with her fingers.

'May I add a braid to the back of your head, Anna?' The queen offered, and she heard Anna make a sound of pure delight, her little sister immediately moving within the comfort of the wagon in order to make it easier for Elsa to work.

'Um, yes, please!' The girl happily answered.

'So, I'm basically going north a ways, or what's happening here?' Kristoff wished to verify before Elsa and Anna got too invested in their private time.

'Yes. Use my ice palace as a marker, and proceed from there. I imagine I'll be given some kind of sign indicating that I am going in the right direction, but maps dictate that a mysterious, forested sector of land resides in that area, and it is worth investigating, if anywhere, at the moment. All clues point to that spot, at least.'

'Sounds good.' Kristoff's voice seemed a little tired, or perhaps even sad, but he managed the trip well enough, leaving Elsa to Anna once more.

'We're kinda sorta winging this, aren't we?' Anna voiced Elsa's concerns adequately.

'We are. But that's your style, is it not?'

'I don't know what you're talking about.' Anna giggled, and Elsa began working on her sister's lovely hair, seeing the way her collection of platinum strands had begun to grow out subtly, leaving little of that one fateful night's incident. Anna had been given the offer of having such whiteness removed from her head, at one time, but she swiftly refused it, stating quite clearly that she enjoyed the connection it represented she had with Elsa no matter its origin. It was little moments like those that stayed with Elsa, fostering the love she couldn't resist no matter what the spirits or omnipotent voice wanted from her. Only the melodic song that had urged Elsa forward seemed welcoming no matter what path the queen of Arendelle had chosen to walk.

'Goosebumps on my goosebumps…' Anna sighed.

'It's so soft. You take such good care of your hair, surprisingly.'

'You just had to say "surprisingly", didn't you?'

'I don't think it's odd for one to be shocked that the tomboyish rascal I grew up with gives so much attention to an upkeep many would call something of a vanity project.'

'Well, when a certain older sister says how much she loves that "vanity project", a little sister does everything she can to make sure it's pretty, okay?'

Elsa was left somewhat speechless at that, easily braiding Anna's hair since they had practised so much on one another as children.

'I hope our bracelets are okay. The matching sun and moon ones.' Anna started, the way her mind connected thoughts ever baffling to Elsa at times.

'Me, too.' Elsa admitted, because she treasured the trinkets more than any other piece of jewellery she had. 'The castle seemed to be in a stable condition, the natural disasters beginning to calm some upon my return to Arendelle, but hastily picking up on severity near my second departure.'

'The spirits want you on the road to help them out, huh?' Anna laughed.

'Apparently I had little choice in the matter.' Elsa finished Anna's braid, satisfied with her work. 'There. Perfect.'

Anna reached behind her head and checked Elsa's job, humming with approval.

'Oh, yeah! Super cute! Thanks!'

'Always a pleasure.'

Anna turned suddenly, however, and stared at Elsa with an intensity that caught the older sister off guard. Yet, just as quickly as the look came, Anna sighed, relaxing her expression and shifting to offer Elsa her lap.

'Scoot in, you busybody. I think the queen should get a tiny bit of shut eye while she can, don't you?'

'I'd like to, but Olaf's snoring…'

'Does he even have to actually breathe? He's a snowman.' Anna questioned.

'Oh. Hm. Good point.' Elsa wiggled her finger and sealed Olaf's mouth with a light sheet of snow, his snoring instantly much more tolerable.

"Maybe you can use that trick on Kristoff someday." Kristoff joked in Sven's voice.

'Just say the word, Sven.' Elsa laughed, allowing herself to lay in Anna's lap, the warmth of her sister's legs more than a little soothing.

'There you go.' It was Anna's turn to stroke Elsa's hair with her fingers, and Elsa had difficulty denying a very similar reaction.

'Goosebumps…on my goosebumps…' Elsa slurred, instantly feeling the lull of fatigue and sleep enveloping her alongside the rhythmic bumping of the road.

'Right?' Anna's touch tickled Elsa's face, and the queen barely heard her little sister mutter something under her breath before she was traversing into another realm of tender rest. 'How can any of this possibly be wrong when it feels so perfect?'

Elsa wanted to answer Anna's quiet plea, but she was already gone, the lack of sleep from the night before taking hold of the queen of Arendelle and cradling her in coordination with her sister's overly pleasant thighs.


"Elsa…"

You. You're…not the spirits.

She was back in the forest; the same one she had been when witnessing the young boy and girl talking. Elsa was sure it was some manifestation of the Enchanted Forest. What else could it be? The colours were a little strange, with a faded, white-hued shading creating a sense of fragility and artificial makeup, but Elsa could recognize the place from her previous out-of-body experience. She had expected as much the moment she allowed herself to sleep.

"You are on the right path, but…"

But Anna, right? My love for her bothers you.

A fake wind made Elsa's clothes tremble, her outfit feeling loose and delicate. Was it still magic even in her dreams?

"I am nothing."

Was it just Elsa or did the voice's tone change? It seemed…more feminine? Was that possible? What had happened? The shift in its sound alerted Elsa's ears, her entire body tingling with apprehension.

What are you saying?

"Calm the spirits. Calm their anger. Your unnatural love terrifies the very order they function upon."

That's the plan.

The setting changed, Elsa catching glimpses of the girl with dark, auburn hair so like Anna's and the blonde boy with a distinguished nose. She was floating in the wind confidently, while the boy flailed about, shrieking in restrained terror. The forest then went black for an instant, illuminated slowly by redness and a clear notion of antagonism.

"You have no future with her."

My future is her.

"She sees her little life in a little village with little eyes. You desire more; much more. You're capable of more."

With her by my side.

The blood-red forest only filled with more crimson before it was swallowed by the dirt, replaced with a white so bright Elsa had to cover her eyes.

"Follow the song. Follow your destiny. Follow who you can become."

Elsa swallowed, the act catching her in the throat and causing her to squint in pain.

All I want to know is how I became the way I am.

"…You want so much more than what Arendelle has to offer, Elsa."

Elsa shifted her jaw, panic climbing into her chest because of how frustratingly close to her soul this voice was getting.

I am still determining what I want…

"But you insist on being with your sister? You would lower yourself to an incestuous, ridiculous relationship that none in this world will ever truly accept."

It's possible…

"It's not. It's not and you know it. How quickly did everyone forget about the feelings you two risked everything to share? Only the maid resisted, and we know intimately well how twisted she is, which is giving us very little leverage."

Elsa closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she was in her ice palace, overlooking the light of day, sun piercing through her body and mind. She breathed out deeply, the air freezing and collapsing at her feet in sharp fragmented icicles.

Anna…is all that matters.

"That's a lie. You struggle with being royalty. You worry you're holding Anna back. You felt true happiness alone. You are meant for more than leading the masses. The weaklings. The reliant children who would do just as well under your sister's rule."

Stop it.

The voice changed again, and Elsa's chest felt like it was about to collapse. It was echoing her own tone. It sounded like her…if ever so slightly off. But perhaps that was because she was hearing it for the first time outside of her head.

"She wants a family and we do not want to give one to her. A child? A son? A daughter? We have trouble enough with ourselves. We cannot be what she wants us to be."

Talkative now, aren't we?

Such a difference. This voice was cryptic at best initially. But now, it was as if it was gaining power and intelligence, even going so far as using "we" instead of "you". Elsa noticed the minor rhetorical slip, and the fact her voice was being used caused her even more panic.

"We would waste what we've been given? Waste it on one girl when we could be akin to a Goddess?"

Elsa gripped the balcony of her ice castle, her hands turning white with frost.

Impossible…

Cold didn't affect her almost ever. This was clearly an alternative realm of reality within her own mind, but Elsa could feel the chill entering her blood.

"Your fate…should you continue on such a path. You will be rejected by your destiny. And you will die."

W-who are you to tell me such things? Elsa's teeth chattered, the white chill moving upward on her arms. She struggled against the corrosion, but she risked breaking her limbs if she resisted too much.

"Who…am I?"

The voice twisted and changed again, returning to its original deep, omniscient presentation.

You claim to know so much, but I can only assume you're using my own doubts and fears against me. Why? What do you gain? I'm going north. I'm saving the Enchanted Forest. I'll quell the spirits' rage.

Elsa breathed some relief when she realized the freezing enveloping her body had stopped.

"You…are so much more…"

Perhaps. But if Anna can't be part of whatever that "more" is, then I have little interest in it.

"She…will be disappointed."

Who? Elsa's entire body bristled, because part of her knew precisely what answer would end her "dream".

"Your mother."


'Aren't they a couple of cuties back there?' Anna managed to get herself seated next to Kristoff, who was guiding Sven well through the somewhat unused paths they were forced to take "north".

'Your sister must be tired if you were able to sneak her off your lap and get here without waking her up.'

'Well, as always, she worked herself to the bone before even thinking about resting first.'

'What about you though?' Kristoff asked kindly, his voice low and gentle. 'I'm guessing you were up with Elsa the moment anything started going down, which means you're probably just as tired.'

'How fast he forgets, Sven.' Anna joked, the reindeer huffing in agreement. 'I'm the hyper one. I got energy in reserve for days!'

'Hah! Fair enough. But…uh…you can rest up here if you need to. I'm used to it just being Sven and I on these sorts of trips.' Kristoff shifted in his seat, as if presenting his shoulder considerately.

'O-Oh, I'm good. Seriously. I just wanted Elsa to have a little more space to stretch out. I'll get my turn.'

'Man. You really go all out for her, huh? From what I can see around Arendelle, and even with my troll family, siblings seem to like bugging one another over being nice any chance they get.'

'Most brothers and sisters get over that. I mean, even Elsa and I got on each other's nerves growing up; we still do! It's just part of being that close.' Anna reflected fondly on the silly reasons she and her sister would argue. Toy possession was one, of course. Elsa wanting some quiet time while Anna almost never did was another. Dessert. Royal duties. Anna being more adventurous and dragging Elsa into trouble. The list went on.

'But you two…' Kristoff clicked his tongue, obvious confusion overcoming his masculine features. 'There's definitely something different? No. Special? Yeah. Maybe that's it. You two are, you know, really close. I've never seen anything like it.

Tell me about it. Anna inwardly laughed wryly.

'We've been through more than most. That's probably it.'

'True.' Kristoff seemed to think about it. 'Yeah. That's really true.'

'I mean, we did fall in love, so, there's always that, too.' Anna looked out into the brilliant horizon, the outskirts of Arendelle turning into the true country that Elsa helped govern.

'Yeah. It's obvious you guys really love one another. I feel bad for anybody that tries to get close to Elsa with you around. That whole suitor thing was a mess.'

Anna's face construed painfully. Not even a moment of hesitation. Kristoff completely negated Anna's confession. But she still had to say it, otherwise, she was scared she'd somehow forget in moments like this. In vulnerable, accessible moments like this…

'Elsa struggles with letting anyone but me in. I…don't see her getting married unless, like, the perfect person shows up randomly.'

'Right? I've personally known her for, what, three years now or something? I think she's just started to open up to me a teeny tiny bit.'

"In your dreams." Kristoff voiced for Sven, and Anna giggled.

'It's not just you, if that helps.' Anna encouraged, touching the man's arm and quickly retracting the moment of familiarity clumsily. 'Elsa's built so many walls around her heart I don't see anyone getting near it anytime soon.'

'She's still young and everything, and I hate the whole "what about an heir?" thing, but you think your family will ever have someone to take over the throne someday?'

Anna felt her stomach pinch, and she shrugged, hating the emptiness that followed the scenarios she had no choice but to seriously consider. Nevertheless, she forced a smile, as was expected of her.

'Oh, it'll be fine. Elsa will do what's right for everyone. I'm sure of it.'

'…Yeah. She's a good queen.' Kristoff let the statement drift into the morning mist that was finally beginning to thin. 'And everyone knows Daryun's still got the biggest crush on her ever, so, that's always a possibility. They seem to get along, right?'

A prickle of jealousy nipped at Anna's temple, but she agreed readily.

'They train together almost every morning. I guess it's possible.'

Kristoff chuckled.

'You're too nice. You know he doesn't have a chance.'

'Nope.' Anna also laughed. 'But he's okay with that. I think he just likes being around her, at least, and maybe that's good enough for him?'

'…Maybe.' Kristoff became a little solemn after that, his posture stiff and the ride going on until he began speaking again. 'I'd rather know myself if I didn't have a prayer.'

'Oh.' Anna blinked, realizing what the man was getting at and understanding where he was coming from.

'I-I mean, there's obviously no pressure still, but I almost wish we hadn't dated…or whatever people call it, because now I just have these brutal moments where I really miss "us" and…and you, of course.'

A beat.

"Way to go, idiot. Now she's all awkward." Sven broke the silence, and Anna chuckled into her hand.

'I'm sorry, Kristoff. I think…' Anna teetered between giving the man false hope and being completely honest. 'I think Elsa and I just have a lot to work through before either of us are ready for that kind of thing. We're both way more messed up than we let on, and dragging you into that grossness just wasn't fair.'

'But I don't mind a little "grossness". I grew up with trolls and have lived with Sven all my life. No offense, Sven.'

"You're no picnic to room with either." Sven answered through Kristoff before he went on in his normal voice.

'Seriously. I like helping you out, and I really tried to be understanding – as much as a guy like me can be, considering I don't have that much experience with women…'

Anna breathed out deeply, the cool early autumn air coming out in a wisp of frost from her breath.

'Oh, Kristoff…' She sighed hopelessly, old wounds surfacing so very readily. 'It's always only going to be Elsa for me. That's just something I can't fight. I tried; believe me.'

'But…she's your sister. Does that really mean – ?'

'Yes. It really means I can't be with anyone else. She's more than a sister to me.'

'More than a sister…?'

Anna watched Kristoff's face work through the information, but his mind was clearly being blocked from every angle.

'Not sure I get it, but…well, until you tell me there's no chance in Arendelle, I don't mind just going about our days like normal.'

Here was her opportunity. Anna only had to turn Kristoff down once and for all. That would be the end of it. No more of these difficult conversations where she had to dance around a subject she knew he wanted to get answers for. So, Anna readied herself, aware she would be crushing this poor man's soul a second time within the span of a few years. How cruel…

'I…I just need more time. Does that make sense?' Anna checked behind herself to see if Elsa was still sleeping, her voice scratching her throat as the final sounds escaped her lips. What on earth was she saying? That wasn't the right answer at all!

'Oh! Yeah. Yeah, of course!' Kristoff had trouble hiding the excitement on his face and in his tone, which only made everything harder.

"Don't lose your cool now, big guy." Sven grunted, but even Kristoff's impersonation sounded compromised with glee.

'I-it could be years, you know.' Anna tried, but her chest was still burning.

'I didn't care what love was for more than two decades, Anna.' Kristoff laughed, adjusting his hold on the reins attached to Sven. 'A few years for a chance at reuniting with the perfect version of it? Yeah. I'll wait. Happily.'

Anna groaned inwardly, rubbing her head and knowing she was being negatively influenced by the spirits and such. Yet, the images of a life with Kristoff full of laughs and adventure and normality were terribly tempting in moments of weakness. The little boy or girl they could have together. The multiple children Anna would want and knew Kristoff would be more than happy to help take care of distracted her from the love she knew she had in her sister.

Everything would be better for everyone if Elsa and Anna lived their own lives while supporting one another as sisters and only sisters. Elsa was still looking out into the distance no matter how much Anna begged for her to be happy with what she had. This, of course, was somewhat hypocritical of Anna because, truth be told, she was also gazing longingly at a future she wasn't sure she could obtain anymore. They were in love; hopelessly so. But did that love have a future in this world? Was it worth denying both girls of any other happiness life had to offer?

"Un…nat…ural…"

Anna felt a chill run her spine, the whispers of the wind sounding almost like a voice? But that was Elsa's gig. Anna couldn't hear the spirits or whatever, right?

'Random fact…' Anna lied, something urging her forward against all reason. 'Elsa says she's not even that interested in having kids to begin with, you know? So, the whole heir thing is a problem right from the start.'

'That…doesn't completely surprise me.' Kristoff responded easily.

'No?' Anna struggled hiding her surprise.

'Could I tell you why exactly? No. But it doesn't surprise me. You seem like the one to want a bunch of babies. You're amazing with children. It's basically your calling.'

'Yeah…I do like them…' And Anna truly wished Elsa felt differently than she seemed to. Anna understood her older sister's reasoning, but if only she could see the amazing beauty having a little person made by love could be as well.

'I'd want somewhere between three and six myself. Growing up without a brother or sister wasn't so great. And I know it can be hard, but there's so much fun to be had with a big ol' family like that, you know?'

'Right? Exactly!' Anna's heart leapt, and she gave Kristoff a glance she didn't mean to, her eyes wandering about his body and wondering if she had really made the right decision by choosing Elsa over such a normal, "natural"…

'Ugh…! Stop it!' Anna screamed suddenly, shaking her head and pounding the wagon's seating in the front.

'Whoa! Easy! You going to be okay?' Kristoff was particular about his vehicles.

Another huff from Anna.

'Hopefully.' Anna crossed her arms, trying to enjoy the pretty scenery beginning to develop around her. She rarely made it out this far into the country, and the beauty of autumn really was something to marvel as the trees' leaves started to change and the land prepared for one final spectacle before hibernating for a few months.

A tap to Anna's shoulder made her jump, and when she saw Elsa's face so close to her own suddenly, the terrible guilt from the night before when she had been caught thinking similar thoughts near Kristoff came over her, and Anna turned away shamefully, because she knew she was above and beyond in love with this woman.

Stupid spirits…

'Join me…' Elsa whined adorably, obviously still half-asleep and tugging at Anna's shoulder.

'Heh. Sounds like someone needs her sister.' Kristoff nodded toward the back of the wagon, Olaf still totally out cold, impressively. 'Don't worry. We still got a ways before first stop and lunch. Take a breather, Anna.'

Anna nodded after a moment, and straddled her way back beside Elsa, feeling her sister cradle her into a tight embrace, their legs curling into one another and the queen immediately falling back into a tired slumber. Normally, Anna was the one that could become unconscious at the drop of a hat, but this time, it took her a solid ten or twenty minutes before she was no longer having conflicting thoughts she struggled to discern between her own and that of influential spirits doing everything in their power to convince her that she had made a terrible, terrible mistake…

'I love you, Elsa…' Anna whispered, knowing she had to just say it.

"She shouldn't love you…"