Everything was perfect!
Elsa had been feeling nothing but bliss the moment she had entered Ahtohallan all those months ago. She had discovered the origin of her powers and what she was meant to do with her life, as well as finally having closure to her parent's deaths. Now she did not need to worry about anything. She could use her powers to her hearts content, have fun with all of the other Spirits, and she was on good terms with Northuldra and Arendelle.
Elsa's days had been to ride around the forest, and on the weekends, she would go visit her sister. Outside of that, Elsa liked to spend her days inside of Ahtohallan and to just watch precious moments in her life.
Elsa was doing that just now. Watching a younger version of herself and Anna making Olaf. It was such a precious memory, because it was the last one, she would have with her sister for years.
"Elsa."
Elsa heard grand Pabbie's voice but ignored it. It was probably just another memory.
"You cannot move forward if you will only ever look at things that you want to see your majesty."
Elsa turned her head to that.
"Grand Pabbie?" Elsa called out in confusion. "How are you here?"
"Elsa, did you think you were the only one who could inter into Ahtohallan?" He asked her annoyed.
"Well, I just thought that because of it's importance, and that I am the only one who has received its powers, that I would be the only one." Elsa said flustered.
"Yes, it might be the place that your powers come from, but I think you overestimate its importance."
Elsa was confused by that and she tilted her head as she asked. "What do you mean by that?"
"Certainly, it is important and special, there is not many places that can show you the past as it is, but it is not a place that needs to be protected or hidden." Grand Pabbie explained.
"But the Water Spirit protects this place. Only those that he deems worth my entire." Elsa was confused, she had thought Ahtohallan was the reason that the Spirits lived in the Enchanted forest, and that all magic came from it.
"What made you think that?" The old Troll asked.
"Because it attacked me." Elsa said hesitantly, realizing the flaw in her reasoning.
"Because the forest was damaged, the Spirits were simply rampaging. The dark sea is simply the Nokk's home, and you trespassed onto it."
"But All magic flows from Ahtohallan. Surly that makes it special?" Elsa tried to reason.
The troll King simply gave a sad sigh. "Have you learned nothing from your last adventure?" Elsa frowned at him, but he simply raised his hand. "I am assuming that you believe this to be true do to the Northuldrain lullaby, Elsa." Elsa shut her mouth at that. "You had traveled and faced many obstacles to find out the truth of what had happened to the Enchanted forest, of who truly started the fight and trapped everyone inside the mist. That was knowledge that had been lost only forty-three years ago. Now imagine what could have happened to a simple lullaby that has been passed down for generations. Perhaps the words had changed, or that for some time it was forgotten and then when it was revived, some of its meaning lost. Or perhaps it had always been a lie."
"The Northuldra people would not do that." Elsa said angerly.
"Wouldn't they?" Grand Pabbie questioned. "Just because the Northuldrain people you know today are kind, does not mean they were so in the past. And, if you do not mind me speaking my mind, I have always felt that I could tell the faults of a bloodline. For your family, specifically that of your fathers, I believe fear has always been your greatest advisory within. Your fear of your powers, and hurting others, your fathers fear for your safety, and your grandfathers fear of magic. Even now I think that is a challenge you will continue to face. As for the Northuldra, I believe they face the flaw of pride. Saying how nature would not bless a child of Arendelle with magic. Calling themselves the people of the sun. Refusing to even think one of them could have even started the war simply because of who they are. And only except you and your sister after they learned your mother was Northuldrain. Would it surprise you if they had made themselves and the place they live, more important than they actually are?"
"What about the Spirits? If this place wasn't so special, then why do they live here?!" Elsa stood up, she didn't mean to shout, but she had felt insulted.
"Because this is simply their home. They are magical creatures that were either created or traveled to this place and decided to stay."
"But they are so powerful! Why would they just decide to stay in some random forest?" Elsa just could not except it. All her life she had been searching for the purpose of her powers, and now she was being told that they simply existed.
"The Spirits are not that powerful." The Troll said and Elsa scoffed. "They might seem powerful to you because you have never seen any other magic. But I have lived a long time and have witnessed many things. I am sorry Elsa, but Ahtohallan is simply a place that holds memory, nothing more and nothing less. It is somewhere that people can come to for guidance or the truth, but that is all."
Elsa slumped down, she knew that she was being childish and simply throwing a tantrum, but she could not help it. It all felt pointless now, and she wondered why she had even left Arendelle. She had told herself that she belonged in the Enchanted forest as its protector, but from what Grand Pappi had told her, the forest didn't need protecting.
"Why did you come here?" Elsa asked feeling exhausted.
"You have to come back to Arendelle and rule as it's queen."
Elsa frowned at that in confusion. She wasn't against the idea, especial after the conversation she just had. But it was a little sudden. "Anna is queen, I don't think she would appreciate me just taking it back."
"Your sister no longer exists."
Elsa stared. Her eyes were blank. Suddenly she stood up and ran to Grand Pappi. "What are you saying!? What are you talking about?! What has happened to her!? She can't be dea… she can't be…" Elsa covered her mouth as tears started to well up in her eyes.
"She is alive and well." Grand Pabbie quickly reassured her.
Elsa gave a sigh of relief. She smiled as she wiped her tears away. "Don't scare me like that. Now what do you actually mean she no longer exist?"
The ancient troll king could only look at her with pity as he told her everything, of Anna's dream, realization, and decision.
"How could she decide something like that!?" Elsa started to pace. How could Anna think she was a curse. The only person who was guilty in their family was their grandfather and he had nothing to do with them. "Don't worry I will talk with Anna and straighten all of this out." Elsa said as she turned to the troll confidently.
"I am afraid that you are too late."
"What?" Elsa stopped. "What do you mean?"
The spell has already been cast. No memory of Anna exists anymore except with a select few."
"How could this happen?" Elsa said in disbelief. "Why would she decide something like this without me?" Elsa asked as she looked at the troll.
"Because that is what you taught her." He said and Elsa could her a slight edge to his voice.
"What?"
"Trying to help you control your powers, saving Arendelle from an eternal winter, saving herself from a frozen heart, trying to protect you in the Enchanted forest, losing you, losing Olaf, making the decision to break the dam and destroy Arendelle, becoming queen. She was forced to do all of that on her own, and you only ever pushed her away."
Elsa took a step back at his words. Two images of Anna appeared in her minds eye. Up in her ice palace, "No we can do this together, I won't leave you Elsa", in front of the Enchanted forest, "Promise me we will do this together". And what had Elsa done? She had created a snow golem to throw her outside and tricked her into an ice boat to send her cascading down a mountain.
"I…" Tears started to well up in her eyes. "I was just trying to protect her."
"That is something I can understand." Grand Pappi said kindly. "She is your little sister. You grew up in a situation where there was nothing but fear, and you could only think of the worst in yourself."
"What could I have done then?" Elsa asked him desperately as she fell to her knees.
"Talked with her." He said gently and grabbed her hand in comfort. "You cannot make every decision for her. If your powers are out of control, tell her the risks and let her decide. If you are unsatisfied with your role as queen, then let her help you figure it out. If you feel like she is overstepping her bounds with you, then tell her. Don't just push her away and have her try and figure it out, be honest and trust her."
Elsa nodded her head slowly. "She isn't a curse." She said quietly.
"Then you should have told her that." The old troll said, and Elsa lifted her head.
"I…I did." Tears were streaming down her face. The troll king could only look at her with pity.
"You never did, and when you finally said it, it was to late." He said angerly and Elsa could only stare at him in shock. "You didn't believe in her when she was trying to help you control your powers and save your kingdom."
Elsa once more thought back to that scene in the ice palace, "What power do you have to stop this winter?".
The king continued. "In the Enchanted forest you never relied on her, you simply treated her like a burden. It was only after she had to make a cruel choice and destroy the dam, that you finally told her she was worthy of something, but that was only also because you had found something greater for yourself. Not even her own parent had told her she was special before they died."
Elsa covered her face in shame and wept. The troll king stepped away from her.
"Stand up Elsa." He ordered. Elsa looked at him in shock. He met her gaze with cold eyes. "You can no longer evoke pity for yourself. You must no longer complain about your purpose or your powers. What had happened to your parents or the accident that separated you from your sister. Now, you must take responsibility for your actions. You must put others before your own sorrow. And you cannot run away because of your own fears. Whether they be because of your powers, or because you are not happy with what you have. You have to stand for yourself now"
It felt like he had slapped her. The troll gave her a stern look and Elsa became angry. She stood up on shaky lags and looked down on him.
"I am going to talk with Anna." Elsa said confidently. "I will tell her I am sorry and then I will return everyone's memories of her."
"Elsa, what's done is done. I did not come here to argue with you, only to tell you what has happened and try and help you find the best way to move forward." Grand Pappi said calmly.
"And what would that be?" Elsa asked in a cold voice.
"Except your sister's decision. Return to Arendelle as their queen and help build better relationships with the Northuldrain as the Fifth Spirit and guarding of the Enchanted forest. Then, find your sister. You Kristoff and she are the only ones with memories of who she is. You cannot be sisters anymore, at least not in public, but you can still have her in your life, whether it be as a friend or perhaps you can give her a job."
"Why should I except any of that?" Elsa clenched her fists. "Why should Anna be forgotten after everything she has done?"
"Because it is what needs to be done."
"I refuse to except that!" Elsa shouted. She then realized the hypocrisy. She had abandoned Arendelle because she had believed she belonged in the Enchanted forest. She had trusted in magic and fate instead of her heart. But she could not except this.
The old troll simply stared at her unblinking. "And how do you plan on returning everyone's memories?"
Elsa smiled confidently at him and flourished her hands. "With the power of Ahtohallan." She gestured to the memory she had been watching. Elsa gazed down at him and he simply gave a sad sigh.
"I am sorry Elsa."
The troll king raised his hand and Elsa could see the light of magic emanating from it. The memory changed, the ballroom turned into a snow field, and Anna and she changed from their nightgowns to winter clothing. It was just like the replacement memory that he had placed in Anna when she was young.
"I am sorry you ever thought you were more powerful than me."
Elsa waved her hand, trying to bring back the old memory, the true memory, but nothing would happen.
"What did you do?" Elsa was shaking.
"I changed the memory; I am something of a natural at it." Grand Pabbie explained. "This is my offer to you. Either you do as I suggest, and I will leave this place alone, or if you continue to refuse, then I will erase the memory of Anna even in Ahtohallan, and for a final precaution, I will take even your memories of her."
"Why? Why are you doing this?" Elsa looked at him with lost eyes.
"Because you gave me no other choice. Do not make me erase her existence Elsa, to make her live knowing even you have forgotten her."
Elsa stared at him wishing she could see a way out, that she could tell he was bluffing, but he met her gaze. In that moment, Elsa remembered the first thing he had said to her.
"What did you mean, that I am only looking at what I want to see?" She didn't know why she needed to hear his answer, but she needed to understand.
Grand Pabbie nodded his head. "You feared your magic because you hurt Anna." Elsa nodded. "Ahtohallan is the source of your magic and reflexes what you want to see. You wanted to know why you had magic, so it showed you, and you wanted to know why the mist was entrapping the Enchanted forest, who really started the fight, so it showed you just that, but only that."
"What do you mean?" Elsa asked but she already knew the answer.
"Ask it. Ask Ahtohallan more questions. Ask why, your grandfather feared magic and hated the Northuldrain people."
Elsa closed her eyes. She felt her powers surge out and Ahtohallan shift. When she opened her eyes, she was greeted with a very young image of her grandfather from when he was a child.
"There coming! Quick!" A woman was carrying her grandfather, she had a panicked look in her eyes. Scanning she spotted a hole in a tree. Quickly she ran to it and lowered the child into it. She grabbed fallen branches and covered the hole. The little boy looked up at her as she hid him tears streaming down his eyes. The woman gave him a smile and raised a finger to her lips. She then got up and ran. Then something came into view. A creature. It was big and black, and Elsa immediately knew that it was magical. It chased after the woman and Elsa covered her face when she saw it reach her. Elsa lowered her hands and looked over to her grandfather. His eyes were wide as he witnessed his mother's death.
The image crumbled and a new one arose. Now her grandfather was much older. Elsa would have to guess he was ten years younger from when he betrayed the Northuldrain. He was standing in front of the Enchanted forest and was with someone. Elsa new it had to be a chief, but it was not the same one her grandfather had killed, this one was much older.
"Please, my wife is dying, if just one of the Spirits could lend me it's powers, she might be saved!" Elsa's grandfather pleaded with the man. The man however didn't even flinch.
"The Spirits are for the Enchanted forest and those who they have deemed worth to live with them. I am sorry for what is happening to your wife, but if nature has decided that it is time for her passing, then that is what will happen, we will not concern ourselves with it." The man spoke as if he was talking to an ignorant child.
Elsa's grandfather became enraged as he straightened up and clenched his fists. "I am king Runeard of Arendelle! I command you and the Spirits to help me!"
The man simply gave him a blank stare. "If you think a king can hold a candle to the magic of the Spirits, then you are a foolish king." And with that the man turned and walked back into the forest.
Elsa stepped back, not believing what she had just saw, but she could not deny it.
"A life of tragedy." Grand Pabbie said sadly. "Fear and hatred embedded itself into his heart until he made the unforgivable sin of taking an innocent man's life and condemning his solders and innocent people to be trapped for forty years."
"I didn't know." Elsa sobbed. She still remembered when she had judged her grandfather for being a cowered that fell to his fear of magic.
"It didn't matter if you knew or not." Grand Pabbie reassured her. "What he had done to the Northuldrain was unforgivable, no matter what his past might have held."
Elsa now understood what he had been telling her. The truth was more complicated than what was simply shown. And magic was not always fair and just.
Elsa turned her head back to the memory of her childhood. They had been so close. Smiling and laughing together as they got up to mischief. Now Elsa could only see cold ice statues mocking something she once had.
"I except your offer."
Author's Notes:
smc-smfan1: Thanks for the heads up! I knew I was writing his name wrong but I had just been to lazy to find out. I also didn't think any one would care. You proved me wrong. ;)
And that concludes this story!
As I said before I will be writing a special chapter to just explain my thoughts and reasons for making this. I know some people would want me to make this into a full story, but honestly, I can only ever give Frozen 2 one shots or complaints in my author notes. It exhausts and frustrates me to no end, rewriting it or making a sequel just reminds me of how much this movie infuriates me. I have no idea on how a third movie could ever fix the mess that the second left it in. On another note, the next chapter will also have a plot idea of how I think Frozen 2 could have been done. Yes, I do like to complain and listen to others complain about Frozen 2, but I also found out that I love hearing people's ideas of what could have been done, and also what they think was good about the movie. Yay for fanfiction! I have many ideas of how Frozen 2 could have been better, but I just simply do not want to write them. So, I am just going to give you an outline and the reasons for those decisions.
Thank you for reading!