What If…?
Grand Pabbie Was Useful
Elsa huddled closer to Papa as the troll stepped closer. Instead of being as tall as the fjord with jagged teeth, a long nose and hungry eyes, he was smaller than her, rounder than a barrel and looked about as threatening as Gerda's cat Skog.
Instead of hunting mice, the large, fuzzy tuxedo cat spent all day sleeping in whatever sunny spot he could find, glaring at Gerda whenever she admonished him for not doing his job in protecting the pantry.
"What happened?" The troll asked, his voice as soft as Mama's shawl. He looked at Elsa with an understanding spark in his eye.
Elsa stepped forward, the magic inside bubbling up, screaming to be let out. "It was an accident. We were playing and I slipped on the ice. I reached out and…" Tears leaked out, turning to snowflakes and blowing away on the hot wind.
The troll took her hands in his. Despite being made of rock, his hands were warm and smooth. "Your name is Elsa, isn't it?"
Elsa nodded, glad the troll wasn't shouting like Papa had.
What have you done…this is getting out of hand!
It made her wish that she never had them. That she was just as ordinary as Anna.
"Elsa, I believe you and we're going to fix this, okay?" He said before looking at Anna, wrapped up in Mama's shawl and snuggled in Mama's arms. The troll touched Anna's forehead. "An easy fix. I recommend she retains her memories so she learns to be more careful. I'll even leave the fun."
"Do what you must." Papa said.
The troll wiped Anna's forehead, cupped his hands and breathed into them. Still cupping his hands, he touched her forehead again. Anna smiled in her sleep. Elsa wiped away her snowflake-tears. "She'll be okay?" Mama asked.
"She'll be okay." The troll said before turning to Elsa again. "Elsa, were you born with these powers or cursed?"
"Born and she's getting stronger." Papa said before Elsa could answer.
"That's to be expected." The troll said before taking Elsa's hand. "Elsa, there's nothing wrong with your powers and you should never wish you were normal. But your father is right. You will become stronger."
Elsa looked at her hands. What else could she do with her powers in time?
The idea frightened her. The old prophecy came back like a monster Anna was convinced lived in their wardrobe.
Your future is bleak! Your kingdom will splinter! Your land shall be cursed with unending winter! With blasts of cold will come dark art. And a ruler with a frozen heart. Then all will perish in snow and ice. Unless you are freed with a sword sacrifice.
The troll broke her thoughts with a gentle question. "You're thinking of that old prophecy, aren't you?"
"Yeah." Elsa said, gripping the troll's hands tight.
He smiled, showing mossy teeth. It was comforting. "I don't think you're that ruler with the frozen heart…but others might."
"Others?" Elsa asked, her voice a squeak.
"Others will not be kind when they see what you're capable of. But I'm going to tell you a secret." He said, beckoning her closer. Elsa leaned in. "If you aren't afraid of your powers and keep love in your heart, you'll keep control of your powers and do amazing things with them."
"I…I don't understand." Elsa said, her thoughts an odd jumble. It sounded like a prophecy.
One far less scary than that Frozen Heart one…but a prophecy still.
"With time and practice, you will." The troll said before looking at Mama and Papa. "I know you must be thinking about separating the sisters."
Separated from Anna? Her playmate? Her best friend? Her sister?! Never seeing her again was a horrifying thought. Anger and fear boiled in Elsa like a teakettle on the fire.
It wasn't fair! She stamped her foot.
A thin sheet of ice spread out from her foot, covering the valley floor. The other trolls jumped back and her parents gasped.
Only the leader of the trolls didn't react. "This is exactly why I recommend you don't keep them separated. Keeping her away from any loved ones and not allowing her to make new friends and family will result in her losing control of her gift."
That's what he had to say? Relief overtook the fear and anger and the sheet of ice seemed to dissolve, rising to the skies. Elsa raised her hands and waved them apart. She didn't even think. She just did. The snow dissipated. Mama gasped "Good heavens…". Papa rested his hand on Elsa's shoulder and pulled her close, wrapping his arm around her. She felt safe in his embrace.
No need to show her magic when she felt this…content…
The troll smiled, wisdom sparkling in his eyes like the beads he wore around his neck.
"Now you're beginning to understand."
A/N: Now I love Frozen to pieces but I'll admit that the films both have a fair share of problems.
Beginning with the trolls. As cool as the concept is and how important they are to the plot, I find it a little silly that they're "love experts" as Kristoff calls them. How It Should've Ended brought up this interesting plot; why didn't Grand Pabbie immediately call Agnarr out upon hearing this plan? While it was born out of a father's desire to protect his daughter (an earlier draft of the screenplay had a prophecy involved that better why Elsa was isolated from everyone and why her powers are considered dangerous, which I included), it ended up causing far more problems for Elsa. If Grand Pabbie was truly wise and an expert in love as he was supposed to be, why didn't he advise against this?
So this fanfic combines both Frozen and its sequel and is made up of all the issues that I've had with the films...and how I would've fixed them.
So join me next Friday when we ask...what if the King and Queen decided to isolate both girls together away from court at their royal sommerhus?