AN: Hey everyone I'm back, so from the updates I got from two of my reviews I have to say to one person yes, they were bare-bottom if it's not put or described in detail; it might be a continuity issue on my part, and as for the other reviewer just re-read the whole thing cause I know it's been a while. Otherwise, I'm going to try to update a bit more for folks at home. Just letting you know people wash your hands and keep safe I can't write if there is no readers.
Disclaimer: No I do not own Frozen
Warning: Talk of cruelty towards Animals, Children, Women and Men. Mentions of Sexual Assault and Suicide. I'm sorry if these themes are too heavy and if anyone is struggling with these things please seek your local help line. Thank you.
Fetching the bus back home, Anna walked within the light of day as school seemed all but a distant memory and a part of her dreaded to go. The smells of the ranch seemed like enough to bring her down, but everything only waivered in a far-off memory. Thinking to her mother, a part of her wondered what she would do if faced with the same situation. She left me. Why couldn't I understand? She left me because she didn't trust me. All this time that I was a jerk to her, all the names I called her. She was trying to help me and our family, and I drunkenly forced myself on her without even listening. The ache in Anna's heart seemed like enough to break her as its pain grew within her chest, until the voice of her father did it for her.
"Anna." Glancing at her father in the doorway, the dam in her broke as tears came from her eyes. As if she were a child again, she ran over to hug the older man, a piece of her felt safe reminding her of long ago. "S-She's gone dad."
"W-Who?"
"E-Elsa she…I saw…I…I betrayed her trust and…I don't think she will ever trust me."
"S-So you know?" Pulling back she looked into the eyes of her father, his own sin and sorrow had been placed on his face making Anna look more closely at the aging man. Knowing her father had served in the Northern Military, not much had been known as her father dared not to speak to her on such a matter. For many within the armed services, the idea of the state conscripting its citizens had been invalid, as the North in its ways had changed unlike the Southern State of the Isles that many had known as Vandrid. Yet for the free democracy that the North had; the government had issued its curriculum of rules to supply the ever need of war, and with it the Tag System had been born.
Within the inner circle of the government, three ranks of division had been formed. The first of these ranks had been the Green Tags home to the Green Ranks for they were the men and women to serve the front-lines within the North. Their skills had ranged anywhere from cooking to infantry. Yet it had been the Silver Tags of the Silver Ranks that sat above the Green Ranks, for they'd been skilled in combat and squad work. For all the glory and valor that had been made within the Green and Silver Ranks; the Black Ranks had been mysterious and unknown to the history books. While the history books told of celebrated heroes within the Green and Silver Ranks, only those within service had shared stories of the Black Ranks, as no part of history celebrated such a group. Overhearing the stories between her father and brother; Anna scraped the edges of her memory, as she remembered her father speaking of those who qualified to join the Black Ranks. Not much Anna had known and not much had the general public knew, as it was rumored that the Black Ranks had the privileged honor to request a favor from the government, upon their return victory within whatever war they served.
Only one and ten thousand had been able to join the Black Ranks, as they were called Black Tags. Skilled in murder and planning, Black Tags had earned their mysterious title and rank as they painted the war-torn lands red with blood; they had been masters of genocide and conductors of death as they killed women, men, children, and the elderly without a second thought. Taught to feel no pain, empathy, or remorse, the Black Tags of the Black Ranks had been hidden from public knowledge as they were only identified by their Black Tags.
Anna had glanced up to the man at whom she'd heard such information; with a small and gentle voice, she noticed the vastly different tone as it wasn't his usual gruff voice, "I think you need to sit down."
Anna caught a whiff of tea as she entered the kitchen, the fresh smell reminding her of her mother. As her father made her a cup; he poured his own before he sat down, the silence pouring into the air as it sat thin on time. "I'm sorry that you had to find out the way you did Anna. When…when my sister left Riverwood, I never thought I would see her again; but we kept in contact briefly and that's when I learned about Claudia. A couple of years later your mother and I were married, and your grandfather was getting sicker by the day; it was only when Raven came to see him, that all of us had heard of Elsa. After that meeting, my father had changed his will and he died shortly after. A month later after your grandfathers funeral; Elsa had been born, and it was when your mother and I went to see Raven in Arendelle Medical Center that Claudia blocked us from seeing her. However, that still didn't stop us from getting the information we needed as Raven listed us as emergency contacts, and that's when I found out about Raven along with Elsa's condition." Watching her father grip the gleaming Silver Tag under his shirt, he knew the next words had been hard.
"Why didn't you tell me about Elsa?"
"Elsa may not be a man, but she carries her burdens like any man would. In that I respect her, and I told the family to do the same. I know you'll never understand Anna, but it's not a man's right to give away another man's pride, nor his burden."
"So…what exactly is Elsa's condition?"
"If I had to be blunt, I don't know what to make of it. From what the doctors told me that day it was said Elsa had been born with both parts of a man and a woman; and she's been this way ever since. At first your mother and I, we wanted to get Elsa from Claudia and we fought for years; but the courts felt it best for her to be in her father's care. Four years later when it was time for us to appeal our case, Claudia had sent her to military school. To think of a child like that in such a place; even now Claudia is not the man I served with. I've heard horror stories from some of the men in my squad about the military schools in this country; I'm amazed that Elsa even got out the way she did." Anna remained silent as she remembered Elsa's words to her and Rapunzel.
"I know you cannot tell from the look of her, but Elsa's father had spent all her life blaming her for her mother's death. That man…he has no limits to his cruelty, and I know it's the reason why Elsa blames herself still till this day."
"Why did she go to Vandrid?"
"I don't know and maybe you can ask her that for yourself; all I know is when they tested her in the Advancement Program, she was the highest score anyone had ever seen, and she qualified for a Bid. Within five years she became the youngest Reichsmarschall ever in recorded military history, and those who feared her called her the Black Kaiser. Mentally her condition has always been a stigma for her, but the military sees it a different way and that's why I can say her hands are stained with blood just like mine. Baby girl when I came back from Solitude, I saw many who served lose hope but sometimes there are some that go into war with no hope at all. For them they go in with two options bloodshed or…"
"Suicide," Anna finished. Aleks face melted into a grim frown telling a story, as Anna stirred in a rush. She's going to kill herself, because I couldn't understand. Abruptly Anna stood, her blood thumping under her skin. "We have to find Elsa."
"Anna slow down," Aleks spoke out as he grabbed her wrist making Anna pull. "What do you mean! I said horrible things to her. All this time, she was looking out for us…she…told me she would protect us."
"Anna relax!"
"Why she's my…" Looking down Anna's tears flowed as her father embraced her, the warmth of her tears sinking into her shirt as her mind wondered to a lost Elsa.
"Don't worry Elsa is fine. Sometimes you gotta let a person solve out their own mess; besides Elsa isn't going to quit you, just like I can't quit your mother," Aleks spoke out. "If that's true what do I do?"
"Well maybe for starters you can talk to her; I know that your still young Anna and it's hard for you to understand, but sometimes with us old blades, we need a sheath to shield us from the pain."
"What if I can't do it, what if mom..."
"Your mother is responding fine to the treatment; Elsa gave me her word that she would take care of you and this family." Pulling back and wiping the last of her tears, Anna sat back down as another unknown piece of her came to life as she opened her mouth. "I'm sorry, about everything dad. I know…things couldn't have been easy for you with all of this and I know that I'm a screw up. I may not be like Kristoff, but I ca-"
"No you're not like Kristoff." A small look of pity crawled on Anna's face as Aleks spoke again, "Your more than that Anna, you're my heart and my baby girl. I still remember till this day when you were born; when you set eyes on me, you melted my heart. Never forget that I love you, and I'm so proud of you." Glancing up the small mist came within her father's eyes, as her own tears melted at the sound of steps coming to the porch.
"Who could that be?"
"Elsa?" Leaving Aleks embrace, Anna ran to the screen-door a small pant coming to her breath as she met the familiar faces of her brother and Mulan.
"Feisty pants! About time you came home." Kristoff scooped Anna into a large bear-hug, as Anna settled into her brother's embrace before setting her down.
"Uhhh…do you guys greet each other like this every day or am I missing something?" With Mulan's voice cutting in, Anna spoke up, "Mulan?"
Anna wiggled from Kristoff's embrace as the blonde stag cut in, "I-I met her while I was shopping at the hardware store; we started talking and one thing led to another when she said she knew you and…well were here."
"Don't worry I come in peace; I brought cake and homework." Watching a blush on her brothers cheeks, Anna knew that an attraction had formed. Tucking away the thought, Anna ushered Mulan in as her father came to the doorway.
"Is this a friend of yours Anna?" Not sure on how to answer Mulan beat Anna to the punch her introduction swift.
"My name is Fa Mulan sir, I'm Anna's classmate and friend. I'm sorry for dropping by unexpectedly Mr. Sommers; I just came to bring some of Anna's homework. I hope you don't mind…I brought cake." A smile came to her friends face as she gave a polite nod before handing over a box of cake as her father almost greedily took the gift.
"Polite and a fan of Retro World. I like her," Aleks spoke up looking to the Goth's T-Shirt as Mulan brightened up.
"Anna, you didn't tell me your dad was this awesome."
"Well…once upon a time I was. Tainted Love was both me and my wife's theme song; and now that I think on it, Kristoff was actually conceived to that song." Anna barely held in her laugh as the red face of her brother twisted his mouth sour, as his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Dad! So not cool," Kristoff sputtered his manhood slightly hurt at the jab. A small laugh came up as Anna looked to her father as it had been the first within a long time that she'd seen him laugh.
"Well it was lovely to meet you Mulan; but now I think it's time for me to get up to my study and make a phone call. Also, I think I'll have a slice of cake while I'm at it. Off with your chores Kristoff, while your sister talks to her friend here."
"Why do I have to do them? Anna skipped school today without telling anyone…again."
"Because your sister was busy with other matters. Now come on off with you." With the room clearing out the shock worn down as Anna had been the first to speak up, "You wanna sit outside?"
"Sure."
Under the shade of Big'O the soft rocking of the wind came to the seat that Mulan had sat in; and with a lazy drift, Anna thought to Elsa as she wondered if the woman had come to school. Wanting to ask Anna dared not to in fear of dragging up something much worse, beating her to it Mulan had been the first to speak up, "I know what I saw that night between Ms. Arendal and you last night."
"Mulan…I…"
"I'm not going to tell anyone, and I haven't told anyone. Your business is your business, but if you want to say something to anyone about it or if you don't like what she did to you; we can go see someone together." Air dropped out of Anna's chest as she gave a brush through her bangs as a small smile came to her features.
"T-Thank you so much Mulan. It means a lot to me, but I don't think I will be needing to see anyone."
"No problem. So…what is the deal between the both of you?"
"It's a complicated story."
"Well your brother told me he would give me a ride back; and I would be a liar to say that I'm looking forward to that. Do you think he's interested?"
"Ew…Really Kristoff…"
"I guess it's a fair point on your end. So since you're not going to the cops or the principle, I'm assuming there is a story."
"Well sit back and get comfortable and if you have a drink, you're going to need it."
"Wow." As the sun began its setting Anna looked on nervously as Mulan's mouth hung open. Taking a small flask from her cut-off black jean-jacket she took a swig, offering it to Anna as she politely declined, before commenting, "That is a fucking story right there."
"Tell me about it, right now I don't know what I'm going to do… I was so rude to her. I mean, sure I could blame it on everyone who forced me into this mess; but still I signed and now I can't seem to get her out of my head. Maybe something is wrong with me, I don't know how everything got like this."
"Maybe it was when she beat up Hans; I can't say that he didn't have it coming to him to be honest. However, you said that she was a Black Tag, right?"
"Yeah."
"My older brother Mushu was a Black Tag. No one knowns this but he's the reason why my band was named after him. It was a long time ago before I was born when he went, and most likely he would be Elsa's age when they tested him in the Advancement Program."
"Wow I didn't know you had any siblings."
"Not many people do, as for Mushu he scored high considering the fact our family hadn't fought since the days of my ancestors. From what I was told by my other brother Shang, when Mushu was alive he would often write him in code. My brother didn't want to tell me, but one day I stumbled on a few letters and he told me."
"I don't know much about the Black Ranks, but I heard that those who test high could ask for anything from the government."
"It's called a Bid, and Mushu qualified for one when he tested. You are right about the testing and sure the government will give you anything; but here's the thing, only one Bid is given out to one person high in rank. So long as their objective is incomplete, the Bid stands. When my brother went to the Black Ranks, he did it in order to save our house after the war in Solitude crashed the economy. Shang always told me that Mushu wanted to be a singer after he got out but…" Placing her hand over her friends Mulan took another drink.
"So did your brother save the house?"
"With my brother sending back money to us every month we were able to save the house even without the Bid."
"So who got the Bid?"
"I don't know someone by the name of Black Kaiser."
Elsa got the Bid, what did she do with it?
Choosing not to speak on the matter, Anna's mind had gone over the facts that she left out from Mulan as she listened in. "My brother he seemed like an amazing person, and from what Shang told me; it's nothing short of a miracle how my brother lived long enough to survive that horror story. They say the Black Ranks are known as the gatekeepers to hell itself."
"How do you know all of this?"
"After hearing about my brother I had a hacker buddy brake into some government files; but the Black Ranks are completely messed up as they are ranked by three different systems, Alpha's, Beta's and Zeta's. From what I was told, it is known in the inner ranks that Alpha's are the worst of them as they have the potential to become…"
"Reichsmarschall."
"Yea but anything from that the records stop. My brother was a Beta and all I know from what I was told by Shang is that they were forced to do unspeakable things. From what was in my brothers letters, it was said that they were forced to keep a puppy and care for it up to two months; and after that…they were forced to kill it. Pretty soon after dogs, they moved to children and the elderly taking orphans and the misplaced from Vandrid. Then when it was time to deploy, they were forced to sexually assault war captives; men or women it didn't matter."
"Did your brother ever make it out?"
"He didn't. He caught a bullet during the Siege of Stormhelm; his comrade that wrote to us said that he died with a smile on his face. I don't…think he wanted to come back and I don't think he could. I'm sure with all that he'd seen and done, he felt that he couldn't go home with honor."
"What happened next."
"According to Shang it was after Mushu's funeral, that suits from the government came to our house and asked for the letters that Mushu sent to Shang. Of course we cooperated but he hid most of the important letters."
"I'm so sorry to hear that," Anna spoke up.
"It's all right. I'm just telling you Anna; even though Elsa is out of war, war still in her. She hates herself more than anything."
"My father said that."
"Well he has a point. Most of those who were in the Black Ranks and are dishonorably discharged are often killed by the government, and for those who've survived the conflict often commit suicide. Either way when they leave this world, their records are sealed and once a Black Tag dies all record of them vanishes. Mushu was like that, we couldn't even find his grave or if they brought his body back."
"I remember Elsa telling me that she was priority enrollment and that she was in military school. Just as well I heard her father say that he got her out of the military. If she's out, just how is she out of the Black Ranks and still alive," Anna asked to herself.
"Claudia Arendal has deep pockets in the city, enough to buy his own daughters life apparently. If you think about it Elsa is his only heir. If Claudia is as big as a jerk as you say he is, then he's using her. However, she's an heir to a dynasty and her family owns half of the city of Arendelle."
"Was Elsa in school today?"
"No she wasn't, do you think…"
"I don't know. I just don't know…"
"Call her and bring her ass back, you're her fucking wife aren't you." Turning around Rapunzel came to the light with a huff with Kristoff in tow as a six-pack of beer had been tucked under his arm.
"About time your ass showed up Rapz," Anna teased taking a beer.
"Yeah. Yeah less talking more texting." Taking out her phone, Anna slowly searched for her lovers number sending a small prayer as her fingers typed.
Smoke filled the hazy bar as another drink had been poured, as the sound of pool played on in the background. The low smokey jazz tunes filled the air, the smell of blood filled her senses as the men and women within the bar were like her. They were animals without a name as each man and woman had worn such titles around their necks. Thinking, Elsa's mind had been filled with a dark cloud; and with it the thought of the gun that sat under her desk within her apartment came to her mind. Rubbing her hands through her hair, she wanted to pull away and with it she looked for a sign. Anna. What am I doing here? Who am I kidding? I couldn't be a teacher; I can't replace those lives I can't do anything. I'm a freak, I'll always be a freak! Maybe I should go back to Vandrid, maybe I shouldn't be here at all.
Getting up the hazy list of doubt in her mind had been drunken, as the smoke stung her eyes. Bumping into a man he'd been a mountain of fading muscle. Looking to the dark green metal that hung on the outside of his tank-top he wore an open button-down short-sleeve along with dark black jeans and black boots. He was bald and his frame had been tall, as he'd had a hooked nose that resembled a hawks beak. He'd been of lower rank as Elsa was sure he served in Maysel, with the gruff drunken tone of his voice he spoke out, "Aye! Watch where you're going you frosty-haired bitch!"
With rage boiling under Elsa remained silent as the alcohol set her blood on fire before cooling. "I'm sorry I was just leaving."
Sliding to the side the man came back into her view again giving a light shove, as he taunted again, "Oh you were just leaving. My question is what are you even doing here? Don't think I've seen your type around here freak? I swear its always like this, a bunch of you scrawny liberal assholes invading our bar, only to kick us while we're down." With a push Elsa stepped back before catching herself on the bar table. Turning around the man in question stared down at her rank.
"Oh look what we have here fellas a Black Tag. Figure you'd sneak in here as one of those assholes do ya huh?" As two large men came to his side, the larger man pulled the teacher by the collar her feet grazing the floor as the music slid to a slow stop.
"I didn't sneak in here, now if you will excuse me," Elsa spoke up as the man shook her violently in his grip.
The sarcastic tone came to the large drunken man, as his gut shook in laughter, "Really now? Tell me if you are a member of the Black Ranks why is a sorry ass like you in our bar; had enough of baby killing and raping for a day?"
Elsa remained quiet as the toad of a man continued, "I heard all about your type, and I say the hell with the lot of ya! You Black Bastards are all the same, my friend died because of you sons of bitches and yet you get to come home as heroes amongst the lot of us!" Hearing some of the comments of others, some had agreed with the large man while others looked on to see what would happen.
"You even wearing that thing, is based on a lie! Stolen Valor that's all you Black Tags are! While we Silver and Green Tags were out there risking life and limb for country, you bastards were out raping and killing women and children. Tell me, have you ever fought real men on the field?"
Elsa gave no answer as she looked away, even in the mans lifted grip. "That's what I thought. You know, I'm going to do us all a favor and kick your narrow arse back to hell where you belong; and maybe you can tell the rest of you bastard friends who sent ya."
Pulling his fist back a strike came to the blonde hitting her square in the nose as she stumbled back into the bar; the warm rush of blood came along with pain as her nose had been dislocated by the impact. As the man came back again the primal instinct of Elsa came back, as she dodged the oncoming blow causing the brute to clash his fist on the bar. Yelping back like a wounded animal, Elsa attacked as her mouth had been over the man's nose pulling as his blood entered her own mouth. Screaming the man frantically punched, pulled, and clawed at her face. Horror came to the Green Tag and others in the bar, as a clear bloody boned hole sat in the middle of the man's face. Spitting out the flesh a smile of sickened madness came to Elsa; the fire in her belly burned and from it her body heated, along with her flesh as it spiked and sparked.
As one of the other two men remained paralyzed in fear, the other of the two ran to attack aiming for Elsa's jaw. Sliding from the man's fist, her knee went to his gut taking the air from him. With her grip going to the man's head, she rapidly headbutted the man's face in so fast that her head ran with her own blood as it mingled with her attacker. With the last man coming for her in fear, she spat a bloody pile into her opponents face blinding him. Striking out, his screams could be heard as Elsa took his head within her hands her thumbs jamming into the man's sockets, as he screamed bloody gore before crushing his eyes against his skull. Staring at the rest of the bar, the room had been silent as the screams of her victims filled the smoke littered air. Patrons looked on in fear as even one threw up. Taking out a wad of bills she slapped it on the counter, before taking another patrons drink before sliding it to the back of her throat. The bartender had been the only one to speak of the small massacre.
"Y-You're a Alpha aren't you, you're the real deal!" Staring back at the man the ice in her eyes simmered as she limped and lingered out of the bar.
Coming out to the city streets the cold air hit her bloody wounds. "So this is what you're doing on your free time when you're not teaching students." Walking up the last step from the underground bar, blood had stained her vision but the voice she'd heard was clear.
"Why are you out of the hospital Claire," Elsa spoke out as her hands went to her knees spitting out a glob of blood onto the city streets. In the distance she could hear the shouting of sirens.
"I slipped out." Dressed in a tan trench coat and blue jeans, she wore a scarf and a white turtleneck her hair had been braided into a side braid.
"You look like shit."
"Nice to see that you still hate me, not that you being my mother-in-law would entail otherwise."
"So that's it? Your just going to show up to school with a busted face, no wonder why your stressing out my little girl."
"Look here I'm not doing anything, besides Anna won't be seeing me ever."
"I swear, just when I thought I couldn't stand you anymore," Claire answered out her voice filled with annoyance.
"Look, the money that I have will go to Anna naturally, and she can use that to treat you and get the ranch from under my father," Elsa explained her voice laced with fatigue.
"I never expected you to be a quitter, sure I expected you to be a pervert, and sure I expected you to be a tad bit strange. Just as well I expected you to be an idiot, but I never expected you to be suicidal."
"Well I am. Just as well, I'm sure your daughter thinks I'm a freak." With the smaller woman grabbing the taller woman by the collar; Claire weakly pushed her against the brick wall behind her the coldness shocking the blonde. The fire within Elsa's belly had burned out, making her feel like a small child within her father's world once again as Claire Sommers eyes held its glare.
"No what you're gonna be is a damn wife to my daughter, I don't know what kind of self-pitting crap you like to tune your strings to; but when my husband calls me and tells me that my baby girl is crying because you won't come back home, that's when I got a problem. You and Claudia may think that waiving money in my husband's face is going to get you somewhere, but your sadly mistaken. When you are a part of the Sommers family you put in the god-damn work; and if you can't Elsa Arendal, then take all your money and you can shove it up your fathers ass. You owe her that much at least for Middleton"
With a light buzz within her pocket Elsa looked down, as Claire spoke up, "I think you want to check that." As Claire released her hold like a pile of heap Elsa slid to the floor, slowly taking the phone from her pocket a small smile came inwardly to her. Noticing Anna's texts they ran within the hundreds along with her calls; hearing a car pull up and the voice of a driver calling her name, reality rang in her ears.
Queerly Elsa looked up to the older woman. "I called you a ride, since you're clearly in no condition to drive."
"What about you," Elsa asked as she could see the oncoming police cars down the street.
"I have to get back to the hospital, I'm sure they're going to be calling my husband to know of my grand escape." Standing up slowly, Elsa took out her keys handing them to her mother-in-law.
"It's the blue pick-up truck, I'll pick it up from the hospital in the morning."
"Good." Walking to the car, the quick thought came to Elsa's mind, "H-How did you know I would be here?"
"I knew because after the war in Solitude, Aleks would come home looking just like you. There is not a militant soul in Riverwood that doesn't know about this place. Don't hide like them Elsa…show yourself I'm sure Anna is dying to meet you. Now get your ass back to the Ranch." Walking on and gathering herself into the car, Elsa watched as the woman headed to her own vehicle before both cars took off.
AN: I hope that can answer somethings for you. Well see ya.
