WRITERS NOTE: Hello! I want to thank each and every one of you for all of your amazing and wonderful comments and support! I am so blown away by all of the positive feedback I've gotten over the last 10 years from all of you! Yes, it's been 10 years since I've last written a chapter. Not once did any of your comments or feedback go ignored! I just simply had a very long and difficult writers block when it came to this story. Today I was able to finally dish out another chapter for all of you! I hope that you'll enjoy it as the mystery continues to unfold. Thank you so much for being fans of my writing and staying with me this whole time! Thank you for sticking with following both Indi and this story! Enjoy. (P.S. - I have an Archive of Our Own Account at KonaKoa if you'd like to follow there! I also have an Instagram and Twitter at ApollowlArt.)
Snow Miser lands outside the ruins of the ice castle he was trying to create and smiles warmly at Indi whom he arrives with. "Well, what do you think...? I know, it's currently a pile of rubble but, the base is still there!" He grins nervously as he motions toward it. Indi takes a moment to glance around at the entire scenery before she looks at the rubble.
"Everything here is beautiful..! So you and the other elements live here...?" Her blue eyes shifting to meet his. "You're so lucky to get to be here. The fact that you can have every element, every season, right next to each other, is so cool!" Indi's smile widens as she then looks over at the crumbled ice castle, her expression changing into a cringe at the sight. "Oof. Well, uhm, it's a perfect spot to build it for sure, but why don't we work on building that castle? Hard to tell anything about it's structure from just the rubble."
"Heh, honest as usual. I have the snow prints with my flakes! I'll just have them bring it over and see what you think." Snow uses his fingers to whistle his minions over. In a flurry they make their way over to their master. One of the flakes holds out the blue prints. "Thank you!" Snow Miser smiles smugly as he takes the blue prints and opens them up, showing the over all design to Indi. "Here it is..! Now what do you think?"
Indi's eyes widen as she looks over the design and layout. It was really well thought out! There were a few design flaws that could use some fixing but otherwise, it was pretty perfect. "This looks amazing, Snowy! Your over all structure is really impressive. May I make a few suggestions though..?" Curiously she tilts her head to look at him.
"Why, thank you!" He beams with pride for a few moments before she asks to make a few suggestions. "Oh, uhm sure! Why not?" Snow Miser summons a pen and hands it to her. "I'd love to see your ideas too..! This is why I brought you after all." Placing his arms behind his back he watches her.
"So what if we..." Sticking out her tongue in a thinking expression, she takes the pen and starts gently making changes to the over all design. "...and we could..." It takes a few moments before she pulls back and grins. "There! What do you think..? I figured this would make for a beautiful ball room area, this could be where Mother Nature could watch over everything, the banquet could go there, a Christmas tree or two here and here, lights all through here, and ice sculptures! Maybe including your family to just get some bonus points." Indi grins an winks.
"..It's.. PERFECT! I...never would've thought of that! Hah, I knew we'd make a great team." Snow Miser smiles warmly at her again and gives a gently wink back. "Now, while I build this maybe I could have your help with standing guard? Someone is trying to sabotage my ice palace. Someone using fire! We think it's a fire sprite but we're not certain. I'd like to get to the bottom of it so they won't be able to ruin our plans any further! This needs to be done in a few days."
"Of course! I'll be sure to find out whose behind this and make sure they don't wreck it again! Also, maybe your minions can gather some stone or have Heat Miser help with making some so we can use it as a base. That way even if it melts down, structurally they can't destroy it!"
"Huh, hadn't thought of that either.." Placing a hand to his chin looking thoughtful, Snow Miser smiles again afterward. "I'll get right on that! I'll send for the hot head now." Looking at his Flakes he nods at them, nodding back the minions take off.
A little while later Heat Miser appears with some of his Ember minions. " You summoned me, oh brother of mine..?" He raises an eyebrow, his arms folding a little defensively as he looks him over.
"Ah, just the brother I wanted to see! I need your help with building the castle." Snow motions toward it and offers a small smile. He wasn't really sure if his brother would be so willing to help out but, he'd hoped for it at least. Even if it would be to just give himself a higher chance of getting that award.
"...Wait, you want, MY, help again..? Is this some sort of trick?!" Heat grumbles and waves a hand irritatedly.
"Not at all, Indi here, had the idea to invite you. She thinks that we should fortify the wall by using some of your stone that you make! That way if someone tries to melt down my ice again, the over all structure should hold." Snow grins as he holds up the new blue prints.
"Ohh, that is a good idea! Also, it falls into us working toge-...wait, Indi is here?!" Heat quickly glances around. "Are you crazy brother?! You actually brought the mortal HERE?" He grabs at his own fiery hair and pulls a little out of stress. "I can't believe yo-"
"Shhhh! Geeze, keep it down, man! Don't lose your cool. If Mother see you freaking out she'll come down here and then we'll really be in a hot mess!" Snow Miser whispers at him. "Yes, I brought her. She is going to be my date after all! I know Mother will want to meet her anyways. Just try to act cool." He nervously bites his lower lip. "Will you help me out or not..?"
"Hnnhh, FINE!" Heat begrudgingly agrees and shakes his head in irritation. "I don't like this one bit with her though but, I ...understand." He calms down and sighs. "Where is she anyways?" He raises an eyebrow and looks around curiously.
"She's currently keeping watch for whoever it was that was trying to destroy the Ice Castle." Snow Miser explains as he looks over his shoulder to watch her for a moment. "Anyways, shall we get to work brother?" Smirking he teases, "...or did you lose your spark for it again?"
"Hah, I'll show you losing sparks!" Heat smirks and gets to work on building the stones for the castle. He still didn't fully approve of Indi already being there but, Snow Miser did need the extra help with keeping a watchful eye on who was trying to set them up. Someone was definitely out to ruin their brotherhood and the castle for sure. Who though..? Who would be so vile? It couldn't have been North could it? Heat Miser ponders to himself as he gets enough stone for the bottom half of the building done. "Whew..I need a small break..!" Heat sits down to try and recharge, having used a lot of energy there.
"No problem, Bro, you just sit and chill out for awhile. I'll work on my part for now..!" Snow smiles and gets to work on it.
Meanwhile, Indi continues her rounds around the backside of the ice castle. She walks from one side to the other, checking in the bushes or trees every now and then. It was pretty quiet to be honest. She hadn't really heard or seen anything the entire time she was there. For now she just enjoys the peace and quiet, the sound of nature around hearing all of its forms.
The only disturbance came from Heat and Snow bickering around the front side of the castle. Softly she giggles to herself as she listens to the two of them. "I bet they don't even realize how much they both really care about each other. They both seem so stubborn about showing their true feelings. It's really cute to see two brothers that close." Indi thinks out loud to herself.
It was then that the girls attention was drawn toward some movement and a sound from her left. "Hello..? Who's there?" Indi's eyes narrow as she cautiously steps forward. Watching the other bolt she quickly follows suite. "HEY! Hold up!" She cries out, turning to shout back at the misers, "I found someone! This way!" Unfortunately for her, the two hadn't heard her cry to them. They were too busy in their own discussions. Having not noticed the two weren't following, she stayed on the trail of the person. "Where are you!? Show yourself!"
Indi pauses in the middle of a clearing, looking around to see if she can spot them. The girls chest heaves as she tries to catch her breath. Whoever they were, they were definitely fast. She sighs as she realizes they most likely got away. "Probably for the better anyways, since I can't exactly fight them.."
Gently she kneels down to take a drink of water from a fresh clean pond she stumbled across while running. Cupping her hands she takes a small drink before squeaking out in surprise at the reflection she sees in the water. "Wh-wha? Who? I..is that me..?" Touching her cheek the reflection does as well, confirming that whoever she is seeing in the water is at least mimicking her.
"Wh-who are you...?" She stares dumbfounded at the girl. The reflection appeared to have blue eyes, orange, blonde and white hair. She was wearing clothes colored in browns, orange, golds and some greens. It was curious to say the least.
"So you don't remember me? That's so sad. You can feel it though, can't you..? A sense of familiarity? Deep down you know me..." The reflection finally replies to her.
"Ah!" Indi jumps back a little, falling onto her butt as she stares at the pond she had just heard the reflection from. "I .." She pauses a moment out of shock before continuing. "Yes, I ..I do but- .." When she sits back up to look into the water, the girl has vanished! Indi blinks a little in confusion. "Where did she go..? Hello? Orange girl?" She calls out but with no luck.
It takes her a few moments but she makes her way back toward the ice castle and the boys. How peculiar, she thought. Maybe the Misers would know who the girl was?
From the shadows two sets of eyes watch as she heads off. Both of them sighing in relief to see her give up the chase. "Whew, that was close, too close. Come, let's get back to the plan!" The mysterious voice urges the side kick to follow as they both disappear for now.