(A/N: This is the final chapter. I just wanted to thanks everyone for your support. I didn't really expect much from this story in terms of traffic from viewers and was just writing this story to explore an alternate idea of Dracus's character, but I'm happy you like it.)
CHAPTER SEVEN: THE FALL OF ARENDELLE
(PRIOR TO INVADING ARENDELLE)
Hans entered the throne room, shocked by what he saw. His father was dead on the throne and all of his brothers, except Lars, lied dead on the floor with spilled cups of wine.
"It had to be done," his mother explained.
Lars bowed before him, "The generals of the armies of the Southern Isles are with you Hans."
Hans smiled.
Elsa immediately looked up as well as her family when they heard the dragon's loud roar and the shaking outside.
"He's going to destroy the kingdom! We have to get out here," Agnarr said urgently, trying to get free but it was useless.
"Don't give up, Elsa. Use your magic. Shatter your chains. You're the only one who can calm him," Iduna encouraged. She gave her a nod when Elsa glanced at her.
Elsa looked down at her womb and was suddenly angered. She focused all her magic on the shackles around her hands and caused them to shatter from being frozen. She removed her the strap from her mouth and fell to her knees holding her womb. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. She suddenly felt movement. Then again. "It's alive! My baby is alive!"
"Free us, Elsa," Agnarr instructed and Elsa used her magic to shatter their locks before turning and freeing the others as well.
"Get everyone out of the kingdom. I have to find Dracus," Elsa said regally before running off. Anna ran after her.
Elsa and Anna were shocked by the sight before them, once they got out of the palace. Their home was engulfed in flames and black smoke blotted out the moon and stars. The soldiers from the Southern Isles were fighting against the wrathful dragon with hardly any success. The people of Arendelle, who were confined to their homes by Hans's forces were running in panic. Others who weren't so lucky were killed by Dracus, apart of the collateral damage.
Anna recognized Hans's mangled body and looked away before taking his sword to follow Elsa into the fire but Elsa stopped her "No, Anna. It's too dangerous."
"If you don't want me following you into fire, DON'T RUN INTO FIRE," Anna retorted.
"You, Father and Mother must lead our people out of the kingdom. Can I trust you to do this, Anna?" Elsa asked.
Anna nodded before Elsa smiled and stroke her cheek before running into the fire. Anna fought every fiber of her being when it demanded she follow Elsa, but she resisted and aided her parents.
Kristoff who was confined to the Ice Harvesters' warehouse escaped with the others. His first instinct was to find Anna. Her safety was all he could think about. Nothing else mattered.
"Kristoff, where are you going?! We have to get out of here!" another harvester yelled.
"Not without Anna!" Kristoff yelled, running through the burning kingdom and the crown of civilians and Southern Isle soldiers who were too preoccupied with Dracus.
Anna ran helping as many people, pointing them in the direction of the woods. "Princess Anna, help me!" Anna turned to see a civilian trapped under rubble. She dropped the sword and tried to lift it but it was too heavy, but Kristoff saw her from a distance, instantly recognizing her hair. "Anna!"
"Kristoff! Help me! It's too heavy!" Anna called desperately.
Kristoff rushed over and grabbed the edge of the rubble from a house. "I lift. You pull her out. Ready?"
Kristoff strained to lift the heavy piece of a torn down home up enough for Anna to quickly drag the middle-aged woman out. When Kristoff turned to Anna, her strawberry lips crashed into his, causing him to stare at her with surprise. She smiled at him and stroked his face before she and Kristoff carried the civilian to safety.
Elsa ran through town with a hand on her womb, running towards the sound of Dracus's angry roars. She watched in horror from a distance as Southern Isle soldiers were being trampled under Dracus's massive feet and reduced to ashes by his flames. Dracus's body was covered with spears but his rage was so great, it shrouded his pain from the poison. "DRACUS!" she called, but he couldn't hear her. She noticed the clock tower nearby and climbed it as quickly as she could.
At the top of the tower, she unleashed all her magic into the sky so she could cover the entire kingdom and put the fires out. Dracus was drawn to the sudden burst of Elsa's magic. "Elsa?"
He slowly walked towards the clock tower, seeing her all the way from across the kingdom, as she sang that song again. "Ah-Ah-Ah-Ah! Ah-Ah- Ahah-Ahah!" He stopped right in front of it and drew close to her, already feeling himself calm. Elsa smiled and reached out and touched his large head. "You have to stop. We're safe. Me and our baby. It's time to rest."
Anna who saw Elsa's magic finally got up the tower, but froze when Dracus eyed her angrily. Kristoff, who entered behind her, pulled her close protectively. Agnarr and Iduna entered after that.
Elsa looked at the utter destruction of her home. Dracus spoke up, "I thought they had taken you from me. I thought he killed you."
"He tried to kill our baby, but he failed. See?" Elsa looked down at her womb where the baby kept moving. Dracus drew close and grazed it gently feeling the movement himself.
"If he succeeded…I wouldn't have been able to stop," Dracus trembled with anger. "I could never forgive."
"Let's leave. You. Me. Our baby. We'll leave Arendelle forever," Elsa suggested which shocked Anna, but Elsa halted her. "Just let me say goodbye."
Dracus pulled away and Elsa walked over to her family. She teared up as she took Anna's and her mother's hands. "They'll never be able to forgive Dracus for the destruction he caused because of me. We have to leave…for the good of Arendelle. I love you all very much." Anna hugged her then her mother before her father joined as well. Anna smiled holding out a hand to Kristoff.
"Oh, uh. I better not. This is kind of a family hug. I'm not-" Kristoff replied awkwardly, but Anna grabbed by the collar and pulled him into the family hug. Elsa finally approached the edge of the clock tower and stepped onto Dracus's head and overlooked the Southern Isle forces standing before them. Elsa look at the regally and Dracus roared loudly, causing them to all drop their weapons and kneel before them. Winds picked up as Dracus began flapping his wings and taking off. Anna watched her sister and the dragon disappear in the clouds and her teal eyes began to tear up. "Goodbye…Elsa." As Dracus flew away from the destroyed kingdom she once called home, she looked back.
"Where are we going?" Elsa asked.
"North. I know of a place where you and our child will be safe. The place where I was born. A place where the north wind meets the sea and a river flows full of memories," he replied.
She didn't understand but when they flew through a mysterious thick mist, her eyes widened with awe and wonder at what she saw.
"Welcome home," Dracus said and she smiled.