A/N: Thanks to everyone who's followed/favorited and/or is reading but not reviewing!

On to the story! I am so sorry for taking so long to update. It has been horridly busy where I work and just...yeah.:P It'll probably be awhile before next chapter too, but it is coming.:)

"Elsa, you're really okay with this plan?" Anna asked her again. "None of us know exactly how long it will take. I know you hate the idea of being in that safe room alone."

Elsa nodded. "It really is fine. I can listen, and I know you will come let me out. So I will be okay," she explained simply. No, she didn't want to go in the safe room at all, but it would be all right. I won't be happy in there, but I won't...freak myself out either. I'll be fine.

Anna gently set Elsa down on the blankets and pillows Rapunzel had put into the tiny safe room, still not wanting to leave Elsa in there. Elsa didn't seem frightened, exactly, but she was tense and making her carefully neutral expression Anna hated. "Maybe I should stay in there with you," she suggested.

"No, that nosy ambassador needs to see you playing your role. If we're both mysteriously missing, it will not help mitigate his suspicions that we are here," Elsa said firmly.

"Maybe you could-"

"Anna! Please listen to me. You know I wouldn't pass, not for a second. My accent will give us away-something I cannot hide like you can, I'm injured-which is something that could immediately identify me if he somehow knows what happened back at home, and I can't sew dresses like my supposed job entails, either." Elsa shook her head, looking almost amused at that idea. I can make magical ice-dresses, but I definitely don't know how to make an ordinary one. All I know how to do is simple things, like sewing a button back on. "It has to be you. Uncle Thomas will let him barge into our room, you will be sweeping it and look startled, and Rapunzel will come in and interfere because he 'scared' her so-called servant. The end."

"...well, okay..." Anna frowned, but she gave Elsa one last hug and then put a light blanket around her. "We'll try to hurry. You have a candle and a book, and a canteen of water, anyway, in case it takes awhile." I hope our plan works. Elsa hugged Anna back as tightly as she could, but she didn't say anything else. Anna finally let go and moved to shut the tiny safe room off again.

"Wait a moment," Thomas said suddenly, unfastening his watch from his wrist. He knelt in front of Elsa to hand the watch to her and said quietly, "I'll be back for this, you know. Primrose gifted that watch to me before we married. You can keep track of time this way." I know she doesn't really trust anyone here except for Anna. She wants to but doesn't yet.

Elsa smiled a little bit and nodded emphatically. Thank you. "I will take good care of it," she promised. I don't understand why he is trusting me with something that special, but I won't mess that up, either.

"I know. Hopefully this will be quick. Seal the opening off with ice once it's closed, just in case, please." Thomas debated on giving her a hug and then decided not to; he didn't think Elsa trusted him enough for her to actually want a hug. Instead he gently squeezed her shoulder. "Anna will be back for you in a bit. That we can promise."

"Okay." Elsa nodded again, her guarded expression faded now. She looked mostly happy again and just a bit nervous. I don't need to hide how I feel here. Relax, Elsa. Why are you still thinking something terrible will happen or one of them will just leave you alone or something again? They won't. You know that, she told herself. Anna's reassuring smile was the last thing she saw before the safe room was closed.

"You seal it off yet, Elsa?" Thomas asked through the wall.

Elsa quickly did so. "I have now," she called back. There was a sickening creak of the bookcase's wood, and Elsa pulled herself toward the wall of the safe room farther from the opening. The candle flickered dimly in the tiny room, casting shadows on the walls, and she closed her eyes. I wish Anna was in here too. She is right out there, Elsa, you can hear her.

"Thank you, Elsa. Nobody's getting in there unless you let them now," she heard Thomas say. Elsa listened intently as Rapunzel and Anna talked outside her hiding spot. Seconds seemed like ages. The crate they'd hidden in had not been so bad since Anna had been there too, but now Elsa felt as if her surroundings were pressing in on her. She stared at Uncle Thomas's watch.

One minute passed. Then two.

I want out. I know I can get out-I could blast free if I wanted to. I am not trapped.

I have my Anna bracelet. It's fine. Elsa tried to settle her racing thoughts, but trying to listen to whatever was happening outside her hiding spot was not helping. It only made her feel more trapped, even though she knew that was not the case and it was not her room or closet or that dungeon cell that used to frighten her so much. I will wait, and I will be fine. I will not make magic mistakes or scare myself thinking too much.

Read the book, Elsa. Read the book or try to sleep.

I don't want to sleep here. I will read. Elsa held the book near the candle and began reading the book.

She jumped a couple of minutes later-four and a half to be exact when she checked the watch-as someone knocked lightly on the wall. "Miss Elsa? Your aunt sent me here. Said I should stay with you if you didn't mind," came Gerda's voice from Rapunzel's room. Then she heard Rapunzel asking if she could unseal the opening. Elsa quickly dissolved the icy seal, and then blinked as light from outside the tiny safe room flooded inside. Gerda came in, and Rapunzel waved before pushing the opening closed again.

"Anna's in the other room. She says hi again," Rapunzel said, and Elsa actually laughed and said thank you.

Gerda squeezed next to her; the tiny safe room wasn't really wide enough for both Elsa and Gerda, but Elsa felt less claustrophobic than more so with Gerda there. "I'm glad I don't have to stay in here alone," Elsa whispered. "Thank you for coming." She felt a warm arm wrapped around her, and she closed her eyes, feeling much, much better. I'm such a child, I suppose, but I do not feel irrationally scared anymore. Uncomfortable, yes, but...fine.

"I'm just happy to see you and Anna safe again," Gerda whispered back. "Your aunt has told me you two were fine and safe, but I really wanted to have a chance to see you for myself." She was glad Elsa seemed much improved than she had been on the boat trip there. Resting here in Corona had helped a lot already. I shall still ask her all the same. "Are you feeling at least a little better now?"

"Much," came the quiet reply, but Elsa's contented tone indicated she was not just pretending to be okay now. The candlelight looked cozy now instead of eerie. I never, ever told that I felt scared in here alone. How did anyone know I would feel better if someone stayed with me? I said it was fine. Insisted on it, actually. Maybe Anna asked.

Gerda smiled and gave Elsa a gentle squeeze. "Good. You know what I mean, though. Does your back still hurt a lot, or does that feel better too? Is your sister making sure you take that medicine?" She was quite sure Elsa's 'much' reply just referred to her emotional state, which was good, but she wanted to make sure Elsa was healing physically too.

Elsa mulled this over for a minute before she answered. "It hurts, but...less than before. Anna convinced me to take half doses...some. I just hate the way it makes me feel, Gerda. I would honestly rather be in pain than feel like I am not in control of myself," she said hesitantly. "And, I'm scared of becoming addicted to it. So we compromised with half doses instead."

"All right, Miss Elsa. As long as you aren't overdoing anything and you're able to sleep." Gerda was much acquainted with Elsa not wanting anything that altered her perception in some way or made her 'not in control'. That had not changed even though she could control her magic fine now.

"I have just been sleeping, reading, and playing board games with Anna and Rapunzel." Elsa sounded surprised but happy now. I have had such a lovely time here. Too nice, really. I hate causing so much fuss for them. I wish Anna and I had not had to come under these circumstances, but I'm glad we came, too. "And...thinking what to do to about...what has happened and how to get my parents...back."

Gerda frowned; Elsa had grown a bit colder to touch at her last comment even though she didn't seem particularly upset. Elsa's magic knows she's wary of doing that. Horrible thing to think, but I don't want her finding them unless things will change. "If you must," she said after a moment.

"I must." Elsa didn't go into detail further; she still missed them and yet didn't exactly want them to come back either. That's a terrible thing to think, but it's the truth. I hope I can make Mom and Dad proud...eventually. Once Dad finds out I revealed myself in public...then what? I can control it now. Will that be enough? If I don't get better, will I be in trouble for that too? Elsa closed her eyes, wondering if the incident had been her own fault. She should not have left the castle in the first place with only Anna, but she thought that was the only mistake. She definitely hadn't done anything to antagonize Damian in the marketplace; she'd simply existed and he didn't want her to exist. That was that.

Rapunzel's voice right outside the tiny safe room startled Elsa. "I can't hear anything if you guys are talking, but just in case I'm telling you my dad is bringing the nosy ambassador dude right now. Don't answer or anything, I'm just saying."

Elsa stayed very still, holding onto Uncle Thomas's watch in one hand and Gerda with the other. Gerda kept her arm around Elsa and said nothing. They would just listen and wait.

"If you are so sure I have hidden my nieces from Arendelle in Princess Rapunzel's servants' room, I suppose I could humor you," Anna heard her uncle say loudly from in the hall. Anna began sweeping the floor slowly, mostly listening and not sweeping much. I have to convince this dude I'm not Princess Anna. Time to act.

The man knocked but then barged in without waiting for an answer. Behind him Thomas gave Anna an encouraging smile. "Oh," the ambassador said hurriedly, "you aren't who I thought you were...are you?"

Anna feigned being startled, so she yelped and dropped her broom prop. She dropped an awkward curtsy and said politely, copying the native accent Rapunzel had, "That depends who you're looking for." Then after a moment, because she thought the man was looking at her a bit strangely, "Sir. Sorry."

"Now, see here, leave this girl alone. You've seen her, now let my daughter and her servant have their privacy," Thomas said firmly. While Anna could indeed match accents impeccably well, and she didn't act particularly prim and proper the way Elsa would do most likely; she didn't sound like an ordinary servant girl either. Anna just sounded like she was addressing an equal. If Thomas let their charade go on for too long, that could potentially give them away.

The Weselton ambassador nodded and started to leave, but then turned back to Anna. "What is your name? And where is your friend I heard you came with?"

Anna answered without missing a beat. "Kat," she said instantly, because there was a picture of a cat on the wall and 'Kat' could be short for multiple names. What do I say about Elsa? We can't produce her for this guy to see. "She's fitting Princess Rapunzel for a dress. They don't want to be disturbed," Anna said after a moment, slightly too loudly in the hopes that her cousin would hear and not interfere as they had originally planned. She moved directly in front of the door linking the rooms together. C'mon, Rapunzel, don't come in. Please understand.

"Not that color! Ow, that pin stuck me!" came an exclamation from Rapunzel in the other room. Anna relaxed. Good. Thank goodness she understood.

"You have seen my daughter's servant. Now let her be, please." Thomas held the door to the hallway open and looked at his guest pointedly. The message to get out of the room was clear.

"Very well. Sir, I must tell you, there is something strange about that girl all the same," the ambassador was saying as he went off down the hall. "She's not Princess Anna, but still! Doesn't act like a servant at all. Not like the ones at home at least."

Anna let out a deep sigh once the ambassador and her uncle were gone. She immediately ran to lock the door to the hallway, and then opened the door to Rapunzel's room. "Thanks so much, Punzie! Your comment convinced the dude to go away."

Rapunzel laughed. "Good. I was hoping it would! Elsa, it's safe now-you can de-ice the opening to the safe room, okay?" she said now.

"Okay. It is done."

Elsa's quiet reply did not sound at all scared, which made Anna feel much better about going through with their plan in the first place. The second the safe room was open, Anna knelt next to Elsa and just hugged her close. "Thank you so much for staying with Elsa, Gerda," Anna said quickly.

"She's very welcome. A bit of stiffness is well worth being able to hold my grown-up princess after she would never have let anyone so close just a few months ago." Gerda stretched uncomfortably and stood up smiling. Somehow Anna and Elsa were still the sweet little girls she had wished were her own years before...just older. They might have technically been her boss, but she loved those girls all the same. Seeing the two of them together again, happy and smiling, made Gerda happy too. The only thing wrong with the current picture in Gerda's mind was that Elsa was injured and they had no idea if she would ever completely heal or not.

Elsa's cheeks turned pink, but she said nothing. I have all these people around me that love me just the way I am. I still don't understand it, but it makes me so happy and warm inside. It...doesn't matter that I'm not like Anna. I don't want those tiny feelings I still have that I shouldn't be here anymore to ruin everything. But I don't want to ruin things by...being here, either. She hugged Anna tightly, still holding Uncle Thomas's watch in one hand. Elsa felt herself starting to cry again, only a few tiny snowflakes floating around her.

"Is there something wrong?" Rapunzel asked hesitantly.

"No," Elsa replied, her voice muffled against Anna's shoulder. She lifted her head and wiped her eyes. I wish I could stop crying. I feel like I am always about to do so, whether it's because I'm scared or sad or happy or...anything. I never thought I would have a safe place like this where I could just be myself and no one would mind. "I am sorry." I'm sorry I get overwhelmed and am like this even though I really am happy. The longer I'm here the more I feel that way.

"You don't have to be sorry one bit. I cry sometimes when I'm happy too," said Rapunzel, feeling a bit awkward. Elsa was hard to read; she liked having friends close, but she didn't usually want anyone but Anna to touch her, it seemed like. Gerda must have been on Elsa's list of people she trusted enough to touch her without flinching. If I could call it a list. That's two people. And that's it. She did want a hug from Mom though. She just wanted warning first. "So...what would you guys like to do for Christmas?" she said to change the subject. That was something all of them would want to talk about.

Anna picked Elsa up and gently set her down on Rapunzel's big purple chaise lounge. "Let's put a tree in here!" Then she tugged Rapunzel to the opposite side of the room and whispered in her ear, "Can you get Elsa a big chocolate cat? Please? I want to give her a cat for Christmas."

Rapunzel looked at her a bit strangely but then giggled and nodded.

Elsa watched curiously but said nothing. I shan't mess up whatever Anna's trying to surprise me with. Obviously she's excited and I have messed up enough things for her. She looked down at Uncle Thomas's watch, still held carefully in her hand. Not only is everyone just...helping me like they would a normal person, they seem to understand certain things that irrationally scare me too. Why? I did not explain. Not to anyone but Anna. Elsa knew Anna had given a brief explanation of previous goings-on, but still. She had never been able to make anyone else understand before, even when she had tried to explain. The magic inside her no longer hurt all the time either. It was just hers, the same as it had been when she was little.

If I go home now and we get Mom and Dad back, how can I go back to the way things were before? How can I not? I know I'm not exactly easy to deal with. A dark thought came to her: maybe it would be better if something conveniently happened to her before they tried to go home. Then no one would have to deal with her at all, and besides, she would at least be able to talk to Anna first. But I promised Anna. I'm happy here. Stop it, Elsa. Don't think that. Anna would not want that even if you believed it was better for her.

Anna's worried voice cut into Elsa's morbid ideas. "Elsa. You aren't here again. What...what's the matter?" she asked, sitting next to Elsa and taking one of her cold hands. She's cold again. Why is Elsa upset now?

Rapunzel slipped into the hall, and Gerda quickly locked the door behind her as she requested just in case. I am finding Mom. And then I'm gathering Christmas stuff for us. Anna can make her feel better easier without me in there. I'm sure of that.

Elsa tugged her hand away from Anna and hid her face in her hands. I can't do this to them. I just can't. I can't even force myself to act...normal now either. The outside of me is broken too. She felt Anna trying to hug her, and she pushed the younger girl away. "I...I can't do this to any of you," she said sharply, the crack in her voice on the last word not matching the rest of her tone. Just quit it. Leave me alone and have a normal life. I don't want you to leave, but I think you should.

"Do...? Do what? Elsa, look at me. Look at Gerda. You aren't...doing anything to us. You weren't before and you aren't now. I-I thought you've been doing really really good with your magic and feeling better, like, emotionally in general. All I see are snowflakes!" Anna reached for Elsa again and wrapped a blanket around her so Elsa couldn't just push her away a second time. But this isn't the same pushing away as before. What's going on in your head, Elsa? What's hurting you? She stubbornly held onto her sister tightly enough that Gerda whispered to her to be careful and not injure Elsa further. "You stop it! You're not losing control and you won't hurt me. It's all right, I promise."

This is proving my point! You're just staying here and wasting your time. Elsa finally gave up and just lay trembling in Anna's arms; she wasn't strong enough to make Anna let go and she couldn't just get up and leave either. "You don't...d-don't understand."

"No, I don't. Can't you tell me what's wrong? Are you hurting again?"

"...

No."

Anna frowned. "That's a lie. Elsa, I know you. You're not scared of hurting me right now. Something else is making you cry and push me away, and I don't get it. And you said 'any of you' before. What is it that you think you're doing to me and Gerda and the rest of our family that's so bad you need to push us away?"

The snow falling around Elsa grew stronger, but it was still only snowflakes, so Anna held on. Elsa wasn't freezing to touch like she was when she was about to panic and lose control, so Anna was sure it was safe. "Not...not safe," Elsa whispered finally.

"Yes it is. You're not freezing to touch, and you know how to control it now anyways." Anna rested her own head on Elsa's shoulder and stayed put. "I am staying right here until you explain yourself."

I don't know how. You're just going to say, It's okay Elsa, I'll take care of you. And that...that makes me happy, but I don't want to take up your time. If I can't function right without help, it shouldn't be

your problem. "I just...don't want all of you to waste your time. Time is not something anyone can get back," Elsa said finally, unsure what else to say. I feel wrong letting myself start feeling so content and happy like I have been.

Gerda scowled. "Miss Elsa, no one is wasting time. I know you hate needing help, but that doesn't mean helping you is wasting time."

"If I don't get better, I'll always need help, even if the inside...emotional parts of me are okay," Elsa's bitter reply made Anna hold on to her tighter; she sounded almost angry with herself.

"We want to help! It's our time to so-called waste, Elsa," Anna shot back. "If you think it's a waste of time, then fine, think that, but you're wrong and I will spend my time how I please! I've told you that before and I'm saying it now!" So Elsa is not okay with being hurt. She may not be scared of it, but she's upset for needing help because of it. That I can fix. Punzie and I need to figure out how to use her healing magic on Elsa. That's all. "And don't worry about not getting better-we don't even know yet anyways. It's okay to accept help. It's being offered to you 'cause we want to-you aren't ordering it or even asking it."

Elsa wished she could explain that she genuinely wanted to just accept everything was different now, but that the tiny niggling voice that her friends and family were wasting their time had grown strong enough that she couldn't ignore it and just let herself be content and happy right now. "I believe you, I just..." I can't explain. I can't do it.

Elsa, talk to Anna. She will definitely not understand if you do not try to talk to her. It's been months and she always understands when you try explaining. "I can't ignore it any longer. The...thinking that I genuinely feel much better but that to get that, I'm...being a burden on everyone I care about. Like most of me is happy, but those dark parts inside are still there, just...waiting. Waiting for a chance to kill me if I let it grow. I don't want to be here if I will cause trouble for all of you, and I know I am, even if you are all saying otherwise." Elsa immediately wished she hadn't said a word. Now Anna would be all worried and concerned again.

Gerda gently touched Elsa's hair and sat next to the two girls. "Miss Elsa, the trouble we have run into isn't your fault. I'm no expert on your family's role, but I think it has far more to do with the position you were born into than...you yourself. You know that."

"I left the castle with only Anna without anyone knowing. I dumped us on my relatives' doorstep with no warning. You are all forced to keep an eye on me because there's something wrong with me I can't fix no matter how much I try. Those things are my fault." Elsa twisted herself in Anna's arms so she could see Gerda and immediately winced. Anna noticed this and just held her still.

"You also saved a child and moved a storm, Elsa," Thomas spoke suddenly, startling all three of them. "I'm sorry, I didn't know Anna had let you and Gerda out already. Otherwise I would have knocked. I had Punzie's key, and I knew she was not in here." He pulled up a chair and calmly sat down; then asked Gerda if she minded returning to Primrose's rooms purely to keep up their ruse of who was who. Gerda said of course, gave Anna and Elsa hugs, and excused herself. Then Thomas returned his attention back to Elsa. "Elsa, you and Anna were invited here, at any time, for any reason. There was no 'dumping' on our doorstep. Did it occur to you that perhaps you simply need some time to heal? If Anna were stolen from you and treated badly for a long time before you were able to rescue her, wouldn't you take care of her as long as it took for her to feel better?"

Elsa nodded. "Of course I would, but that's different."

"Why is it different?"

"Because...because it's Anna. I love her. I would do anything to help her heal. No matter what, no matter how long it took." Elsa felt Anna's warm arms still holding her, still treating her like just plain Elsa even after everything. Anna would never leave her. Never, ever. Anna had never given up on her all those years in the past, either. She would do the same if Anna was in trouble. I know that. I trust her.

Thomas looked straight at Elsa. "Replace Anna's name with yours. That's how the rest of us feel about you." She's not going home if I think she's going to let herself be hurt again after her parents are rescued. Absolutely not. It wouldn't be right if I did.

"But I wasn't...um..." Elsa trailed off. I have no argument. Elsa, let yourself relax. Try to push those old thoughts away. You're surrounded by people who care about you the same way you care about Anna. It will be okay. It's fine if it seems illogical. I think. She abruptly held out her uncle's watch and blurted a thank you.

He did not say anything about the unintentional snowflakes or the tears still streaking her cheeks. What he did say was, "Anna, do not let her out of sight, even for a second."

Elsa had a sneaking suspicion that Uncle Thomas knew exactly what had been wrong, but somehow she felt more relieved than embarrassed or upset. I do want everything to be okay. I don't really want to leave Anna, I just...still don't want to mess things up for her or anyone else, and I know if I wasn't here, then I can't mess things up.

Thomas hesitated before saying simply, "Let me show you something, Elsa." He rolled up his sleeve and held out his own arm. "I think you know exactly where this scar is from, don't you." It wasn't a question.

Elsa blinked. Uncle Thomas did...that...himself? How long ago? It must've been something more destructive than a piece of sharp ice. That's old. Was he the same age as I am now? Who helped him feel better? Did Aunt Primrose help or had she met him yet? Was it after they lost baby Rapunzel? She looked at Anna and then up at Thomas hesitantly. "I promised Anna I wouldn't make another attempt," Elsa said very quietly. "Months ago."

Thomas smiled at her. "That doesn't surprise me. I just wanted you to know you were not the only one that's felt that way before. You don't have to talk about it or ask questions if you don't want to, but now you know. You can ask about it if you ever want to." He reached for Elsa's hand, and this time she did not yank it away. "A few months are not very long. You've been stressed since you were quite little, and it sounded like more stressful things happened even after you got Anna back. Being injured doesn't help matters either. You will feel better. It will just take time, same as healing a physical injury."

Elsa was surprised not to be made to ask questions or even talk much if she didn't want to. She just nodded. Somehow hearing Anna-ish comments from someone else, someone else that had once felt the same way she did, really helped. Logically I know they are right. It's just the...scared, hurt part of me that disagrees and I have to ignore that. "What if...what if it doesn't?"

"You have help, Elsa. Help given freely that you don't have to ask for. You will be okay," Thomas said firmly. "What is not okay is if you two rescue your parents and things go back to the way they were before. That's what set you off, isn't it? Thinking about something like that?"

Yes.

Elsa twisted her bracelet from Anna around her wrist. "How did you know?"

"Because you were just locked in that safe room so the ambassador would not see you, and I know you were scared of being left in there even though you insisted it was fine." Thomas sighed. Do I get Primrose? Maybe Elsa would prefer talking to her. I need to talk about...other things with Elsa sometime. Anna is here...she should be fine.

"That's because stupid Dad locked her in her closet and stuff like that," Anna said, clearly angry. "I don't even want them to come back if that sort of thing will happen again!" I love them but I won't have Elsa hurt. Never again.

"That cannot happen again. Absolutely not. That is one thing I needed to talk with you two about. What do you think of simply bringing either Primrose or me with you when you go home, just in case?" Thomas asked.

Anna and Elsa looked at each other and then both nodded simultaneously. "We like that idea," Anna said. "Then we'll have, like, an actual grownup around that has the power to interfere if necessary. Like if Elsa won't do anything," she added pointedly. "And if everything goes fine, then that's good."

"I still do not want any fuss," Elsa put in, her expression back to her usual self again. It's fine, Elsa. They want to help. Uncle Thomas even really understands how I have felt. He won't pressure me about it because he knows what it's like, but he will make sure I'm not left alone, either.

Thomas shook his head and smiled ruefully. "Elsa, I'm just going to say it since you seem all right now. There is almost certainly going to be 'a fuss', but it won't be because of you. You know my obnoxious guest we had to hide you two from? You've rights to declare war on Weselton. That ambassador let slip 'it would not be smart' for me to continue supporting 'the parents of that magical Arendelle girl'. We wanted confirmation that they were alive. Now we have it. I did not react to that bit, but I did give him a good dressing down for being so ridiculously rude."

Elsa considered this for a moment and then asked, "Does he know about the incident in the marketplace?" If he does and thinks I'm dead, I need to get myself together and get home before something terrible happens to Arendelle. I don't know what they're planning, but that doesn't sound good. My country doesn't have a huge military force. I will have to help somehow, and I don't know how.

"I'm not sure, but I tend to think not. It's likely word has reached Weselton itself by now, but I don't think the ambassador here knows. When I asked what he meant by 'magic', he just said he knew the crown princess was 'cursed by ice'. I told him magic could be used for good and he should consider that before judging." Thomas paused; Elsa seemed utterly unsurprised, her gaze back on her clasped hands. "Frankly I wanted to tell him off, but I didn't want him to know I already knew about you and your magic, so I feigned surprise instead."

"My being here is putting you in a tough position," Elsa said slowly, clenching her hands into fists. I could cause international issues if I'm not careful. I need to do something. Take authority away from people like the duke and his ambassador.

"No, he's all bluster. He doesn't know you are here, and no matter what he claims, he must know Corona could wipe Weselton off the map if provoked. Could be costly, certainly, but possible. You have the tough position, Elsa. If it comes down to it, you'll need to have a plan to protect yourself and Arendelle. I can help, but it's...it's something you need to handle yourself mostly for political reasons. You don't want other countries seeing you have to rely on Corona for assistance. Help, yes. Helpless without, no. Does that make sense?"

Elsa closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It makes perfect sense. It also means I need to get home immediately after Christmas. I must. "I am terrible at verbal communication. I can't meet with that duke-I will ruin everything even more."

"But you can write, and you have magic no one really knows the extent of, not even you. Use those things, and use people's ideas that an eighteen-year-old girl doesn't really know what she's doing and surprise them."

I can fight by myself. I have done it. I can do better. I just need to learn how.

Elsa nodded again, her expression determined. "And Anna is good at speaking to people. Maybe she can do that in my place if necessary, and I can do the behind-the scenes work."

"Well yes, of course Anna can help you, but I'm sure you can talk to people. You spoke up in the marketplace. You don't have to like talking to strangers to be able to do so. Being naturally shy is fine." Thomas continued speaking calmly and matter-of-factly, though he still felt torn every moment he spent with Anna and Elsa. There was no reason his nieces should have been separated for so long, and he still couldn't help thinking it was not fair that he'd lost his own daughter for so long...while a short ship's journey away someone else hadn't been taking care of his children properly at all.

Anna was smiling and hugged Elsa yet again. Uncle Thomas understands Elsa perfectly. I know she can do stuff by herself even if she doesn't like it. It'll help lots for her to hear it from someone else. "Yeah, exactly. Told you so," she said triumphantly.

"I need to plan for trouble before we go home." You need to...learn how to fight properly. You must. You aren't willing to use the magic to protect yourself, but you will do it for others. Elsa glanced at Anna again; the younger girl looked worried now.

"I don't want Elsa to have to fight or something though," Anna protested. "She might get hurt again."

"If she practices once she feels better, she will be less likely to get hurt," Thomas said quietly. "She knows Arendelle doesn't have a large military force. Hopefully it wouldn't come down to brute force, but if it did, then Elsa has the ability to fight and defend. All of us know that. You know it better than I do, Anna, since you've actually seen her do larger scale things."

Anna went quiet and looked at Elsa, who was just studying her hands very intently, as if they might tell her what to do next. I do know. I just...don't want her to? "I guess I sound dumb, saying Elsa can do tons of things with her magic and not wanting her fighting with it. I mean, I want Elsa to defend herself if she's in trouble obviously but I don't want her to have to. I like helping Elsa practice using her powers but I hate the idea of practicing because there might be somebody else that wants to hurt us on purpose."

"Anna, it's not dumb. You want to protect her. Do the two of you have any guards back at home that you trust enough to practice with?"

Elsa didn't look up from her hands, but she said, "Erik. And Kai, though he is not technically a guard." I need to figure out the exact limits of what I can do with the arm that didn't heal quite right. That I can do now. Large scale things need to wait, but I could start with that.

"When you go home, you could have them practice on you. They should practice sparring against someone with magic anyway just in case. Surely you aren't the only person out there that has powers they can potentially fight with, yes?"

"Sparring with me?" Elsa asked curiously.

Uncle Thomas's eyes twinkled. "Think you might be too much for them?" he questioned with a grin.

"...What?! No!" Elsa's cheeks turned pink, and she sent Anna a help! look, but Anna only sat next to her stifling giggles. "What is so funny? I can't even move-why are you both laughing now?!" she asked. Don't sass them, Elsa. Don't ruin everything. You know better.

"This is why. Look at this." Thomas held out a drawn pocketknife and stood up. "Take the knife away or otherwise neutralize it before I throw it and it hits the wall."

Elsa blinked again; then she reacted in a flash as her uncle drew his hand back and released the knife. A thin wall of ice crackled into existence instantly and the little knife clattered to the floor, unable to pierce the ice. Anna beamed proudly, but Elsa dissolved the ice immediately, feeling guilty for using her magic that easily around someone that was not Anna. What if Uncle Thomas changed his mind? "I'm sorry."

"No, no, no, don't be sorry. That proves my point. Elsa, you just need practice. Probably not even much of it. Now I need to go finish my work for the day. I'll be back with Christmas decorations later. All right?"

"A tree!" Anna squealed that evening when Rapunzel told her and Elsa that she and Eugene had spent the afternoon finding said tree. I'm so excited! A family Christmas with Elsa. Nobody saying I can't see her.

"

Yeah! Dad and Eugene are gonna bring it in here. All those decorating supplies Dad brought in here earlier are for us to make ornaments with," Rapunzel said happily. "Though I guess you already know that," she added, seeing the long sparkling red and green paper chain draped across Elsa's lap, other chairs, the bed, and the floor. "Were you guys working on this all afternoon? It's pretty!"

Elsa looked up from where she was carefully adding tiny shimmering ice crystals to more links in the paper chain. "Mostly." Are you sure this is okay? I know Anna likes my decorations, but...you are not Anna.

"Cool," Rapunzel said, plopping next to Anna, who was gluing more links to the paper chain. "Hey, wait a second. These sparkles are from you, Elsa! They're so detailed. Are they hard to make?"

"...No," Elsa replied after a moment, her voice quiet. She watched as Eugene and Uncle Thomas brought in a big Christmas tree. Aunt Primrose was behind them with Gerda; they were sweeping up the fallen needles from the tree. I'm...having a real Christmas with Anna and even more family besides. This is normal for everyone else. I shouldn't make a big deal out of it. But it makes me happy. She didn't say anything else, but Anna, who was sure she knew exactly what Elsa was thinking, sat next to her and put an arm around her.

"This is different for me too, Elsa," Anna whispered in her sister's ear, "because I'm going to get to spend Christmas with you. So thinking it's a big deal isn't weird." Anna was rewarded with a hug and a smile from Elsa. Good. Elsa understands. I bet she won't talk much with everybody in here, but at least she is happy.

Soon the tree was set up in a corner, ready and waiting to be decorated. Rapunzel and Eugene ran to fetch a box of ornaments from the attic, and Gerda followed them to help, leaving Anna and Elsa with their aunt and uncle.

Elsa briefly wondered if this was intentional, but then decided she did not care if it was.

Primrose pulled two sprigs of holly out of a small bag and tucked them into Anna's and Elsa's hair. "There. I'm very glad you two are here to spend Christmas with us," she announced. Primrose looked right at Elsa next. "Do you feel well enough to help decorate the tree?"

"...I'm all right, but I can't, Aunt Primrose," Elsa said slowly, staring at her aunt. Please don't be disappointed or mad at me. I'm sorry. She twisted her bracelet around her wrist again nervously. Elsa, stop. Aunt Primrose has been nothing but kind to you. You don't need to be nervous. Say something else. "I...I think I would like to though," she added after a moment.

"Good," Primrose said briskly. "As nobody but your family is going to see you anyways, you can use your magic to help yourself do that if it won't hurt you. We would like your help hanging ornaments too." She patted Elsa's hand and went back to fluff the Christmas tree branches.

Elsa blinked in surprise and looked at Anna. Anna shrugged and crossed her arms, grinning at her like the Cheshire cat again. Elsa thought Anna had been doing that an awful lot recently.

"Well, go ahead then," said Anna, sounding extremely pleased.

"A sled or chair, something you can move yourself easily," Uncle Thomas suggested. "You made that detailed model ship, so I know you can also create something to help yourself, too. Imagine what your powers might be able to make to help Anna if she had been the one who was injured like you, and do that for yourself."

Elsa looked down at her hands and then back at Anna again. It's...okay to do something like that? It really is? The overwhelming feeling that she wanted to cry fell over her again. If she had been back at home with their parents and she'd been injured, what would happen there? Certainly she wouldn't have them telling her to use her magic to help herself do something...right? "It's really okay?" Elsa heard herself say.

"Yes, Elsa, it's okay," Primrose said gently. "You're safe here. If you still don't want to, we'll understand and figure something else out, but you are safe and it is okay. All right?"

I just don't want to be left alone again. I don't want you to hate me. I don't want to let myself trust you and be hurt again when you don't want me anymore because I messed something up and made a mistake. I hurt Anna before.

Elsa hesitated and then just etched those same thoughts on a piece of ice, not trusting herself to voice them aloud.

"Is this for me to read?" Primrose asked.

Elsa nodded, her fingers clutching at Anna as tightly as she could. Anna was there. If nobody else wanted her any longer, Anna would still save her. Anna, she trusted. Anna had rescued her enough times that she knew she could believe that.

Aunt Primrose seemed unsurprised, though; she set the ice aside and knelt in front of Elsa. "Do you really think any of us would not want you anymore because you made a mistake?" she asked quietly.

"I don't know. I...I suppose not?"

"I can understand why you don't want to let anyone else in again. Trusting someone makes that someone hurting you hurt worse than it would otherwise." Primrose gave her a reassuring smile and squeezed her hand gently. Elsa's hand was cold, and she immediately pulled her hand away. Primrose didn't say anything about it; she just waited for Elsa to say something.

"I don't know how to trust anyone else implicitly besides Anna," Elsa whispered. She sounded choked, as if the words hurt to say out loud. Please let me talk right, she silently begged herself. I'm trying to do better. I do want to be able to trust others. I trust Gerda and Kai, but not quite as much as I do Anna. I trust Erik with...official things, but I wouldn't want him to know I'm like this, either. I trusted Mom and Dad to protect Anna from me, but nothing else.

"That is because no one else has given you reason to do so, and people you should have been able to trust betrayed that. Can you give us a chance, Elsa? You do have Anna here. If anyone here ever betrayed that trust, I am sure she would make sure that never happened again."

Anna did not interfere; she stayed uncharacteristically quiet, still holding Elsa's hand. Elsa seemed to relax again, and she actually smiled. "I can do that. That I can do," Elsa said softly.

"This tree is going to look awesome," Rapunzel said happily a little while later. The sparkling paper chain had been done, but ornaments still needed to be hung.

"Not as awesome as the ice girl's throne," Eugene deadpanned. "Can you make more?" he asked Elsa.

Elsa turned red, but she nodded and smiled shyly. She had finally just made herself a wheelchair of ice so she could put ornaments up too, and while Anna had first been worried Elsa would hurt herself further being up and about on her own, she had quickly stopped that once she realized how much Elsa must have missed doing things by herself. Elsa seemed much more relaxed now, and she wasn't feeling so guilty because she needed help to get things. It made Anna more hopeful that Elsa would get better soon too, and that if she didn't, she would still be okay.

"You should sell them and get rich. Oh wait, you already are," Eugene said now.

Elsa laughed, and she shook her head. That is ridiculous, but thank you for making me laugh, she thought happily.

"Do I get a nickname too?" Anna asked, laughing herself. "You call Rapunzel Blondie and Elsa ice girl."

"I haven't thought of a good one yet," Eugene replied instantly. "If I do then you do."

"Fair." Anna hung a few more ornaments on the tree. She kept an eye on Elsa to make sure she was okay, but the older girl was clearly content at the moment. Elsa may not have been directly participating in conversation with anyone, but she was watching the others and hanging ornaments from the small box on her lap. And she was smiling. I wonder what Elsa's thinking now. She's not talking, but she doesn't seem nervous, either. I guess she just wanted to be included at all. Still, Anna also didn't want Elsa to hurt herself, either. Maybe she should lie down again. "You'll tell someone if you need to go lie down, right?" Anna whispered in Elsa's ear.

"...Maybe," Elsa replied honestly. "Anna, please don't fuss. You know I'm fine-you always know if I'm not."

"Yeah, I see that you're happy but your back hurts," Anna shot back, crossing her arms.

"Aw, she can finish hanging those ornaments, Prin-Anna," Eugene said casually. "The ice girl is tough. Just make her sleep once we're done decorating, maybe." He hesitated before adding to Elsa, "I think Blondie can help you, you know. I didn't want her or you guys to get your hopes up but seeing you use your magic easily right now makes me think she still has hers too, even though I said the opposite before. We were testing it earlier today."

Rapunzel frowned at him. "Eugene, why are you telling Elsa that already? We weren't even sure it was working!" she protested.

"Because it's true. Seeing her create ice and the blue glow her magic makes confirms it. Your hands were glowing gold earlier when you tried. Maybe it petered out because there wasn't anything for you to heal around, not because you can't do magic anymore," Eugene mused. "Anyway, I think you guys should experiment later."

The three girls all looked at each other and then nodded.

AN HOUR LATER...

"I'm so glad I get to have my cousins here for Christmas," Rapunzel said again. She, Anna, and Elsa were all lying on the carpet in front of the Christmas tree, the only light coming from the cozily crackling fireplace. They sipped hot chocolate and nibbled jelly cookies.

"Me too. It's so...homey here," Anna said, stuffing another cookie into her mouth. "I mean Corona definitely isn't home to me but you and Aunt Primrose and Uncle Thomas and even Eugene feel homey. Especially since Gerda's here."

Elsa stayed quiet, looking thoughtful. It does feel homey. Even for me. When I feel wrong, I know it's just...me, not because of anything anyone else said or did to me. I can think, and even if I can't talk right all the time, no one fussed at me or became annoyed. Elsa remembered speaking up back at home in the marketplace. She could too speak up-it just had to be for others. When it was for herself, she couldn't or else didn't know how. But Anna would do that much for her. The logical part of her knew her newfound family members in Corona would do the same. It was only the terrified little girl locked away for so long that didn't know it. This thought made Elsa smile, and she closed her eyes. If I can just stop myself from being lost in those negative feelings...I will be okay. I know that. I'll be fine.

Anna knew Elsa was most definitely off in her own little world thinking, but since Elsa didn't seem to be panicking or otherwise upset, she let Elsa be. She did put a light blanket over Elsa and hug her, though. Elsa sighed happily and said thank you, but she didn't even open her eyes. It was clear the older girl was falling asleep.

Rapunzel wished she had a sister too. Quiet Elsa had someone close to her she could confide in and outgoing Anna had a built-in friend she would always have. She felt a bit jealous as she watched her cousins and then felt bad for being envious of them for that. "I think you're the one Elsa trusts the most," Rapunzel said quietly. "I sort of wish I had an Anna too," she admitted aloud.

Anna looked from Elsa to Rapunzel and back again. I didn't do anything special. And I'm pretty ordinary. I know Elsa's just being...Elsa, and she doesn't trust much of anyone, but... "Why would you say that? You have the bestest parents and a fun boyfriend. Or husband. Sorry, I just keep thinking he's just a boyfriend."

"Because you're, like, the ideal friend. If I had a little sister I would want her to be just like you," Rapunzel said, sipping the hot chocolate.

Anna felt a bit offended on Elsa's behalf. "What about Elsa? Are you saying you wouldn't want her?" she demanded quietly, feeling very protective of Elsa. There had been far too many people hurting Elsa and not wanting her. Anna was scowling now.

"Of course not!" Rapunzel exclaimed hurriedly, "she's nice, and funny, and she has magic like me besides. And, I said little sister. Elsa's not a little sister. She's a big sister."

"Oh. Okay," Anna said, mollified by that explanation. Tired Elsa was watching them curiously now, and she looked somewhat amused. "What's so funny, Elsa? I thought you were sleeping."

"You two. It's funny that someone thinks I'm funny, and you are being far too touchy, Anna. I thought that was my job," Elsa deadpanned. She closed her eyes again and sighed. "Thank you for everything. This has been such a nice evening. I think that I would like to have you come visit Arendelle when it's safe for Anna and me to return home."

"We didn't really do anything particularly special, though. I wish I could go outside the castle with you guys," Rapunzel said. "But I'd love to come visit! I hope I can sometime."

Elsa thought for a moment and then just answered, "It was special to me. You didn't exactly have family Christmases before either." I shouldn't have said that. Elsa, why did you say that? It sounds rude and way too defensive. And you just told Anna she was being touchy.

"I didn't know I had another family. I thought Mother Gothel was all I had, and we did do stuff for Christmas, like having a tree and things. I guess...I guess I thought if she did that then certainly they weren't super special things. It was doing it with Mom and Dad that made it special, y'know?" Rapunzel sounded thoughtful and quiet now, and she swirled her spoon around in her hot chocolate to stir it up some more.

Elsa decided she did not want to explain that she had not had a tree in her room, and that after being told no the first Christmas after the accident, she hadn't bothered asking again. "Anna put special cards under my door every Christmas," she said instead, which was true and had always been the one thing she looked forward to every Christmas. "I would wake up and stand by the door waiting for her to put the gift under it after the first few times she did it." Elsa smiled and reached to give Anna a hug.

Anna frowned, but instantly hugged her. Elsa giving hugs herself still felt very special to her after all the times Elsa wouldn't let anyone near her because she thought she would hurt someone. I don't wanna think about Elsa doing that by herself. I guess at least I made her happy. "Well, you won't have to be alone this year," Anna promised.

"...Can I ask something?" Rapunzel asked hesitantly.

"Depends," said Anna, just as Elsa said, "Yes." Elsa gave Anna a pointed look, and Anna amended, "Well, all right, yes."

"It kind of sounds like you'd have been happier here, Elsa, so how come your parents didn't send you here to visit or something? I mean, my dad is actually really pissed you weren't sent here. He thinks I don't know, but I've heard him talking to my mom. He's angry he lost me for all those years and another father had two daughters and didn't take care of them properly. I...I think he's still sad, too," Rapunzel said softly. "He was mad, but I could hear him crying."

Elsa thought of the scars on Uncle Thomas's arm that he had shown her earlier and wondered if they had something to do with losing Rapunzel eighteen years before. She would not ask, but something told her that suspicion was probably right. He probably felt guilty after his baby daughter was kidnapped and unable to be found, and he would never have known whether his child was alive or dead, either. "I don't know," Elsa whispered finally.

"He prob'ly feels guilty for losing you and missing you growing up," said Anna, still clutching Elsa tightly. No wonder Uncle Thomas is so mad at Dad. This is why.

"I know, but it's not his fault. He and Mom tried to find me!" Rapunzel protested. "I think they spoil me, actually."

Elsa smiled a little at that. "I don't know, but I think your parents are not spoiling you. I mean, I did hear Uncle Thomas scolding you for mentioning us in public even if it was before promising not to. They are just kind people and...reasonable." Do I believe that? Yes. Yes I do. For Rapunzel anyway. She deserves her parents to be kind to her. Elsa felt Anna hold her even more tightly at that, but she didn't say anything about it or try to pull away.

There was a small crash and then a tiny yelp from Anna as she accidentally dropped the almost-empty hot chocolate mug with the hand she was not using to hold Elsa. "Oops. I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, and gently put Elsa back on her pillows before starting to pick up the pieces. "Ow, I think I cut myself," Anna muttered a moment later.

"Anna, what are you doing?" Elsa asked, sounding both worried and amused. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm just gonna go wash my hand and then-oh wait! Punzie! Try healing my finger! Because if you can do that, then you can help Elsa. It can be an experiment," Anna said excitedly. "Oh I'm glad I cut my finger on one of those shards now. Perfect. We didn't want to risk hurting Elsa by experimenting on her when she's already seriously hurt, this is a good experiment."

Elsa watched curiously as Rapunzel took a deep breath and began singing her healing flower song. She has magic just like me. I can see it, she thought happily. Even if her cousin could do nothing to heal her, it felt so nice to know and see for herself that she was not the only human girl with magic. Rapunzel's magic might not be like Elsa's, but it still made Elsa feel that she wasn't so different after all. Except...Rapunzel's magic isn't dangerous like mine.

Stop it, Elsa. Think of the good things instead. You aren't alone. Anna is here. Your relatives care about you. Christmas will be lovely. You get to hug Anna anytime you want. Elsa ticked off good things in her head until Anna practically jumped on her with excitement a few minutes later. "Anna! That hurt," she protested.

"I'm sorry, but! Elsa! Elsa, Elsa, Elsa! I think Punzie really can help you! Lookit at my finger! You can't even tell where I cut it! And she says the more she directed the magic with her hands while she sang the easier it got. Can we try to heal you too? Please? Please can Punzie try?" Anna's words were tripping over themselves because she was talking so fast. She tugged Elsa's arm until Elsa nodded, more to make Anna stop yanking than anything else. "Oh goody! Goody goody gumdrops!"

Elsa's blue eyes were more wary than excited. What if my magic reacts to Rapunzel's like it did with the troll magic when we tried to get Anna's memories back? And... "What if it doesn't work?" she asked in a small voice.

Rapunzel hesitated but then decided to just answer honestly. "I don't know, but I'm sure I could at least heal you enough so you're not in pain anymore. We still don't know if you'd heal completely in time or not, but if some of it is permanent, I dunno if I can fix that part. But I think I could at least make it not hurt. I feel like I can anyways." She looked nervous now, twirling a bit of her brown hair around her finger.

"Promise you will stop if I say so?" Elsa asked, looking her cousin straight in the eyes. "I, um...I don't know if my magic will react to yours trying to help me. If it does and I can't contain it, you and Anna need to run into the other room and leave me alone for a bit. I do want your help, but I don't want to risk hurting you, either." There. I talked properly, and that is reasonable. I do want help, but I won't have them hurt because of it.

Anna knew Elsa was thinking of the trolls. "Just speak up before it gets to be too much to hold in, all right? We understand, but I won't leave you alone. So you better say, I need you to stop now, before it gets to be too much pressure," she said in a very serious voice.

Elsa nodded. I can definitely do that. She let Anna help her sit up and just stay resting in Anna's arms. If this works, I can actually do something for Anna's birthday, Elsa thought hopefully.

"Okay, I'm gonna try now, Elsa. Is that okay?" Rapunzel asked. "Gosh, now I'm nervous! I hope I can help."

Elsa nodded again. "I'll speak up if I need you to stop." Elsa closed her eyes and fiddled with her bracelet from Anna as she heard Rapunzel begin singing again. An odd warm foreign magic mixed with her own normal cool sense of magic, but Elsa did not feel as if her ice were trying to kick Rapunzel's healing magic out. It just feels...wary. Like it's related to mine somehow but different. It doesn't hurt. And I feel better already. Not hurting in the normal way so much anymore, either.

"It's working, Elsa!" Anna said excitedly. "I know so cause you moved your leg a bit. Can you feel it?"

Elsa nodded, but she refused to let herself get too excited just yet. At the very least she wouldn't be in pain anymore, like Rapunzel had said. I'm not going to expect anything at all. Then I won't be disappointed. Whatever happens, I still have Anna here with me, and if I still need help, then...I suppose that's fine. I just still really don't want her to have to, but I know I can't do anything about that. Anna continued holding her, and she stayed very, very still. The ice inside remained calm, just wary of the intrusion on its owner and ready to react if something harmed her. No, ice, it's just Rapunzel. It is fine. All of a sudden the outside magic went away, and then there was Anna gently shaking her shoulders and asking if she was okay. "I-I'm fine. That was...strange. But Rapunzel's magic didn't hurt me like Grand Pabbie's did."

"Can...can you move, Elsa?" Anna asked hesitantly. Elsa doesn't look like she's hurting anymore, at least. I guess that's good? If she still can't, then that probably means she never will.

Elsa's blue eyes lit up, and she nodded happily. "I don't think I feel back to normal, exactly, but I don't hurt anymore and I can move," she said slowly, as if she were trying to figure it out herself. "I shall fall asleep instantly tonight. I feel so much better!"

Anna thought Elsa had already been falling asleep quickly since she had been injured, but she didn't say this. She must've been hurting more than I thought. I knew she was in pain, but she's seemed so...unbothered by it, I guess I didn't think about it as much I might have otherwise. I wasn't going to let her overdo anything, but I didn't make her take that pain medicine all the time either. "Good. Thanks so much for helping Elsa, Punzie. She really needed it," Anna said gratefully.

Rapunzel looked extremely pleased with herself and beamed. "I'm just sorry I couldn't heal you right when you got here, Elsa. I'm glad you at least feel better. Not that I know what I'm talking about, but...did other magic hurt you too? It kinda felt like there was some other magic that injured you somehow. But mostly ordinary means? Does that make sense?"

Anna and Elsa traded glances. Anna decided to let Elsa explain herself, and if she had trouble doing so then she would help. "I was shot with a normal weapon, but the bullet had some sort of...other magic in it," Elsa explained simply. She tentatively tried to stand up; then immediately lost her balance and would have fallen if Anna hadn't caught her. Okay. I can move, but my balance is off. I can't get one leg to hold me. Fine. That might improve if I practice, and if not, I shall figure something else out.

"

I bet, Punzie, that you can heal injuries caused by ordinary stuff. And not magic. That would explain why Elsa seems much better but isn't back to her normal self, either," Anna thought aloud. "Elsa, let me clean up the mess I made breaking that mug, okay? I don't want you to fall on it." I know Elsa feels better, but I still hope she gets completely back to her normal self again. But if not I shall always help her.

"Okay," Elsa said agreeably, and she let Anna help her back over to the chaise lounge she had been resting on earlier.

Soon the mess was gone, and the girls went back to lying comfortably near the tree with blankets and pillows. Elsa told Rapunzel thank you several times and curled up next to Anna, thinking she would actually figure out exactly what she could and could not do tomorrow. For tonight, it was enough to know she was no longer in pain and could at least move again. Rapunzel turned pink, still thinking she should have been able to heal Elsa before when her cousins had first arrived. I guess at least I made her and Anna happy. Cause I don't think they have gotten to be happy very much. They make me happy too. I like getting to have visitors. And Elsa's lucky to have Anna. I'm sure she would agree, too.

"I don't wanna do this anymore! She has magic like me and I changed my mind. Don't want to hurt her anymore! I shan't make any more bullets for you," the young girl proclaimed stubbornly.

"You'll be punished severely if you back out now. You know too much."

Green eyes glinted in the dim light of the candle. "You do that anyway. Maybe I'll use mine on you. I didn't want my power, but you don't know how to take it away. So there."

The diminutive man backed away from the young girl fearfully. "Th-that won't be necessary. I'll write to your parents instead."

The child seemed stunned speechless temporarily. "Fine. I'll help. Just don't...don't hurt them."

A/N: Previous readers probably know it's a younger Kiara at the end there. However circumstances are different this time...

Next chapter coming soon!:)