Hey everyone! Here's another long chapter for you! Thanks for the reviews, you guys are partially right of what Anna was seeing. Even lies have a bit of truth hidden in the core (Hint, hint)

Review responses:

Wolf Heart 22 - You bring up a very interesting thought. :)

Also, shoutout to Elsa Tomago! It's been a while, welcome back and sorry for the long wait! I do intend to keep going until I finish it this time. So thanks for sticking around. ;)

Enjoy!

Anna's POV

Here we are.

Arendelle.

I pull my hood tighter over my head glaring at the castle. Hans is in there. With the sun just starting to peek out, I can see the changes since my last trip here. The fjord is full of boats now, there's no way it can't be ignored that something big is happening to the people now.

I feel Kristoff's hand gently rest on my shoulder.

"It's okay Anna. We'll get Elsa out of there."

I tear my eyes away from our stolen kingdom and give him a grateful smile.

"I know we will."

Sven gives a positive snuff and Olaf agrees with him. Kristoff turns to the pair.

"Okay, you two need to lay low till the bells ring. We don't want Hans catching a whiff of us being here."

Sven nods looking serious and Olaf pats his head.

"No worries! We're great at hide-n-seek! Especially since Elsa explained the whole not being found concept." The snowman says.

I smile.

I remember how excited he was after she taught him. I think it took about a solid week after that to then explain that you need to tell someone first that you want to play first before hiding though. Kristoff turns back to me holding out his hand.

"Ready?"

I nod bracing myself for whatever happens. I grip his hand.

"I was born ready."

-}{-

The kitchen looks to be empty as we are ushered in by the young guard, Eric. He managed to have the supplies for the kitchen "accidentally" delivered to the wrong entrance, so everyone is there instead. However, I turn to see Kai and Gerda standing at the ready by the closed doors. I rush over hugging both of my caretakers

"Kai! Gerda!" I greet them feeling a relieving sense of security.

Gerda is smiling.

"It's so good to see you safe and sound dear!"

Kai is grinning as well.

"Welcome home, Princess Anna."

I smile even more.

"This is great! I knew Eric could find you two to help. Now we just need to get into Elsa's room and rush out to tell the people the truth."

The two let go of me gently and I look at their faces when no one responds.

Gerda grows noticeably pale and a sinking feeling drops into my stomach. I turn to the woman.

"What?"

She and Kai exchange a look before she focuses on me hesitantly.

"Princess…Anna, she…That is…Elsa doesn't appear to be in her room." She finally manages to say.

Gerda is looking at me as if I'll crumble, and I might just do that later. I feel numb as I look to the only three here who might know.

"Then where is she?" I question as calmly as I can.

Eric clears his throat looking uncomfortable.

"I heard Prince Hans was going to take a visit soon to the dungeons today." He offers.

My legs give out.

Ah, there's the crumbling…

I barely register that Kristoff and Kai are quick to catch me as I sink straight down. The numbness only seems to grow and sounds dim.

"I caused this…" I hear myself say out loud.

While I was grumbling to myself about tossing and turning on moss at night, my sister was trapped in a cold, dark cell!

"Princess Anna!" Three voices call at the same time; "Anna!" Kristoff calls.

My eyes move up to look at the group. They don't look angry, just concerned. Don't they understand what I did?

"Four days. Elsa has been locked in there for four days." I explain.

Kai lets go and Kristoff helps me stand.

"Anna, no one blames you. Hans did this, not you."

Kai nods.

"He's right, Hans has been very controlling of every little thing in the castle. I'm sure he was already looking for any reason to send her there."

I frown.

"But it wasn't just any reason, it was me. I was too impatient and tried to rescue Elsa on my own. She was absolutely terrified of him finding out and pleaded with me to leave, but I didn't. I caused this."

Gerda sweeps me up in a warm hug just like what she would do when I a child.

"Princess Anna, enough of this talk. We will rescue her and you will be the only person she will need. Not that irredeemable prince."

I wipe my eyes with my sleeve and nod.

"You're right. Let's go save my sister."

}{

So far the plan to break out Elsa is going smoothly. And by smoothly, I mean it just started. Guardsman Eric will relieve the guard of his dungeon duty hopefully long enough for him to get a warm meal or something while I sneak in with Kristoff. Kai and Gerda are on standby in case Eric can't get the key, along with keeping an eye out for Hans. The sound of voices interrupts my thoughts.

A gruff voice is getting louder by the door of the dungeon.

"Many thanks, lad. I don't think I could handle the cold for much longer. I'll be back after I grab a hot glogg."

A large guard walks out looking very eager as he heads away from us. After a moment, Eric pops out and waves us in right after the guard left. As we enter, he frowns slightly looking ashamed.

"Forgive me, Princess. I was unable to persuade him to allow me to hold the key."

As disappointing as it is, I smile at him.

"It's okay, Kai and Gerda will handle that part like we planned as a backup."

He looks a little brighter and Kristoff opens the entrance door to the stairs. Immediately, a blast of cold air waifs out strong enough to blow Kristoff's unmanly blonde hair gently.

"She's definitely down there." He says.

Eric closes the door behind us and takes the guard's spot at the entrance. As Kristoff and I descend the stairs, the cold air the guard was complaining about grows stronger. I already start to miss the warmth from the valley as my fingers rapidly get cold. We stop at the first cell, it has to be hers.

The cell is radiating cold. Like even colder than it should be with the ice queen inside. Colder than her ice castle or the snow she creates.

Kristoff frowns examining the door.

"I think it's frozen shut," He places a hand on my shoulder; "Don't worry, I've got it. You just focus on Elsa, okay?"

I nod and he squats down to start hacking away at the base of the door with a small knife. I take a deep breath as I focus on the small window on the door.

Peeking in, I can see ice covering all the surfaces. A pile of carefully stacked empty bowls and flat waterskins lay discarded on the floor. I see Elsa standing with her back to the door by the window.

Oh, Elsa...

"Elsa?" I call out quietly.

Why am I so nervous to talk to her?

At my words, Elsa visibly stiffens but doesn't turn around, instead, she continues to stare out the window.

"I'm not in the mood today. Go mock someone else, like Anna." She answers coldly.

Now it's my turn to stiffen.

Is she upset with me?

"Umm…" I start before stepping closer to the door; "Oh trust me, I'm already doing that since I'm Anna?"

She scoffs.

"No, you're not." Before I can say anything, she continues; "The real Anna is far away probably basking in the success of tricking the foolish princess of Arendelle into betraying her own brother." She growls out.

Clearly responding to her emotions, the air grows colder and I stare at her. I've never heard my sister take that kind of tone before. Why is this strange anger coming from?

"I know you're mad. I showed up and only made Hans mad at you. I didn't mean for that to happen. But I need you to help me break you out, okay?" I ask as soothingly as possible. I hope it will help calm her down enough to listen, but it seems to have a different effect. Elsa crouches down holding her enclosed hands to the side of her head as if it will block out my voice.

"N-No. You are not real! The real A-Anna is far away and you're just here t-to torment me again." She stutters but sounds almost bitter.

My heart breaks.

"Elsa, please just turn around and look at me. I really am -"

I notice it only gets colder as she cuts me off.

"Go away!" She growls

Ice explodes from her as she yells. Kristoff yanks me to the side out of the door just before ice comes shooting out from between the bars. Icy spikes start to grow as if planted where the ice falls. The jagged ice stretches out effectively blocking us from the cell and the exit. We stumble back and I can tell both of our hearts are beating fast thanks to the iceman holding my head against his chest in a protective manner. I pry his hands gently away since he appears to be stunned.

"It's just like Grand Pabbie said." He finally says quietly.

I nod slowly before managing a response.

"Yeah, it's definitely worse than before." My voice is hoarse for some reason.

Elsa's POV

It's dark.

I'm breathing heavily.

The feeling that something was just ripped away from deep inside my core, has started to become familiar. I feel cold and sharp edges where I lay.

Did I blackout again?

I struggle to open my eyes as I drag my cuffed hands to my sides to push myself up. I immediately can tell my arms are shaky, but I continue. What if Hans visits today? I need to be presentable.

Sure Elsa, as if he's come to see you even once…

It actually hurts that my own brother has refused to even look at me since he put me here. I've heard him speak to the warden when he brings my healing water and porridge. However, he's never even so much as peek his head in.

He has every right to be angry with me. I broke his trust. I hurt my only brother by letting the woman who broke his heart, flee again. I did that. Not Mother, not father, not even Anna, but his own sister!

I deserve to be down here…

I bite my lip and my eyes finally open at the pain of my heart and lip. My cell now has more jagged shards of ice to join its ranks on the ceiling and walls. I stand up weakly and nearly stumble into an icy spike in the ground behind me. Another wave of anxiety rolls through me.

This ice…it keeps growing stronger it seems.

What am I doing wrong?

I look down at my encased hands. Under the metal, I can still faintly feel the smooth gloves that are practically fusing to my hands at this point. The metal has surprisingly held together despite the extreme temperature even though I can't quite remember what color the metal is underneath the thick coating of white ice and frost. Everything looks to be intact so the ice isn't coming from hands. So how do I control it?

"You can't because you're a monster, Elsa." The voice sneers.

I wince. The ice Anna is back again. Only this time, she doesn't sound to be trying to be nice.

I guess she realized it didn't work to pretend to care.

The icy figure steps into my view smirking.

"Elsa, are you trying to ignore me?"

She hums with her hands behind her back lifting her leg to take a step as if on a stroll on the pier. I close my eyes and turn away.

"I told you to leave me alone," I say thickly.

I hear a scoff.

"Did you? I don't recall being here earlier."

She gasps dramatically.

"Could it be the real Anna showed up?" Her voice carries a clear mocking tone; "Could she have come to rescue the scary ice monster who can turn hearts to ice?"

She comes up right behind me and leans in. I feel the cold radiating off of her.

"Hmm? Is that what you want?"

I don't answer.

Of course, it's not what I want…right? She is the reason I'm here in the first place. I finally remember everything she did. She will only try to hurt Hans again.

The sudden sound of many boots starts coming and the figure and I exchange a look.

"Guess it's time I go." She gives a mocking bow; "See ya, sis."

The figure blows away as if she was never here, and I sink down hugging myself.

I'd like your thoughts on these developments, nay or yay?

Thanks for reading!