3 years later

"Princess Anna," Kai said softly through the door.

"Hm?" Anna asked groggily, her hair plastered to her face. "What is it?"

"Sorry to wake you, ma'am," he said.

"No, no, you didn't wake me," Anna lied, yawning. "I've been up for hours."

"It's time to get ready," Kai said.

"Ready for what?" Anna asked.

"For your sister's coronation," said Kai, as if it were obvious.

"My sister's… corneration." Anna's eyes drifted towards the fancy ball gown in the corner of her room. She suddenly jolted awake. "It's coronation day!"

Anna had been looking forward to Elsa's coronation day for years. Not for Elsa's sake, of course. It was so unfair that Elsa was going to have a big party just for her when she hadn't even done anything. Why should she get to be queen just because she was the older sister? Not that Anna really had any desire to be queen herself, but surely she would be a better one than Elsa. At least she would come out of her room every once in a while.

No, Elsa's coronation day was Anna's big chance to finally meet new people, which she hadn't done since she was a little girl. Not even Elsa could stop the gates from opening and the people from flooding in to see the new queen - and the princess. Anna could make new friends; maybe she could even find the one.

Anna was so excited that she ran out of the castle onto the pier. But just then, she bumped into a horse. That horse belonged to a handsome young man named Prince Hans of the Southern Isles. He and Anna hit it off right away. But then the bells rang, and Anna had to leave for Elsa's coronation. Typical Elsa, Anna thought. Always ruining my life even when she's not here. Especially when she's not here.

All through the coronation, Anna stared at Hans, who smiled and waved back at her from the pews. She wasn't paying attention to Elsa at all, but if she had been, she might have noticed how Elsa was petrified to hold the orb and scepter without her gloves, how frost began to form on them when she held them, how she hastily put them down and slipped her gloves back on before anyone saw.

At the coronation ball that evening, Kai announced Elsa and Anna to the guests. He gently moved Anna to stand beside Elsa. It suddenly struck Anna how similar they looked. It was like looking in a mirror. Except for the hair, of course.

"Hey," Elsa said.

Anna was startled. This was the first time Elsa had spoken to her in years. For just a moment, her heart leapt, but then it constricted in anger. Oh, now she wants to talk to me, she thought. Play the loving sister while we're in public, pretend like everything is normal, but she'll shut me out again as soon as the ball is over.

But of course she couldn't say that. Not here, not now. She couldn't detect any malice in Elsa's tone or expression. Maybe Elsa didn't hate her after all.

"Hey," Anna replied cautiously.

"You look beautiful," Elsa said.

"Thanks," Anna said. "So do you." And it was true - Elsa did look very regal as the queen.

Elsa smiled. "Thank you."

Anna started to feel a little bolder. "I wish things could be like this all the time," she said. "The gates open, people dancing, music, chocolate…"

"Me too," Elsa said. Then her smile faded, and she looked away. "But it can't."

"Why not?" Anna asked. Was this finally her chance to get some answers out of Elsa?

"It just can't," Elsa said more firmly, taking a step away from Anna.

Anna backed away from Elsa, and her anger resurfaced. Even now, when the gates were open, Elsa still couldn't stop shutting her out. She wouldn't even give a reason for it. Anna left Elsa's side and began to make her way through the crowd. She almost tripped over a dancing couple, when she was saved by a familiar gloved hand.

Hans smiled down at her. "Glad I caught you," he said.

"Hans," Anna said, grinning. There was no one she wanted to see more right now.

Hans and Anna went out in the courtyard and got to know each other. It turned out they had a lot in common. Especially when it came to siblings.

"How many older brothers do you have again?" Anna asked.

"Twelve," Hans said. "Three of them used to pretend I was invisible. Literally. For two years."

"That's horrible!" Anna said.

Hans shrugged. "It's what brothers do," he said, smiling.

"And sisters," Anna said. "Elsa and I were really close when we were little, but one day she just shut me out and I never knew why." She looked away from him, trying to conceal the bitterness in her voice.

Hans looked intrigued. He put his hand on Anna's. "I would never shut you out," he assured her.

"Okay, can I just say something crazy?" Anna said, smiling. "Ever since we met, I felt like we have this real connection."

"I was thinking the same thing!" Hans said. He got down on one knee before her. "Can I say something crazy? Will you marry me?"

"Can I say something even crazier?" Anna gasped. "Yes!"