CHAPTER 18 - THE SUPERHERO CONVENTION
"Come, come! Come here, Bolt!"
Elsa waited with open arms while Bolt raced in her direction, his clumsy paws staggering in the soft snow. A tottering run was the best he could do, for now, considering his limbs weren't flesh and bone but solid ice. Despite his deficiency, the dog pounced eagerly at the eight-year-old, knocking both down on the slush. Elsa giggled when Bolt tried to lick her face, getting ticklish by the ice snout rubbing her neck. When conceived, Elsa had forgotten to give Bolt a proper tongue, so gentle strokes were all he could do.
"Sorry, Bolt!" little Elsa petted his head. "I'm going to make you a tongue next time!"
Iduna observed the recreation from the porch, amazed at their new sentient snow dog. The puppy was one of the countless feats Elsa had managed to accomplish in the last fortnight. It all started with static, unmoving sculptures that became more and more real as the days passed, until finally gaining a life of their own. Elsa couldn't look happier, smiling as brightly as the light of the sunrise that warmed the day's chilly morning.
"Hey, Bolt! Check this out!" little Elsa tittered, extending her hand towards the dog.
Bolt watched with the most fascination his features could convey as Elsa's fingers curled inwards and outwards, each motion causing a different element to emerge from her palm. Electricity crackled at her fingertips at the start; a single flex later, and the sparks became a purple fire, bleeding from her dainty hand like a burner; one more curl and the flames extinguished, shooting rays of dazzling light skyward, similar to a flashlight; and in the third movement, her body disappeared altogether.
Bolt jerked back in confusion, snout darting to and fro, searching for his now invisible owner.
"Boooo!" little Elsa appeared behind him, startling the dog into a barking fit. "Sorry, Bolt!" she laughed. "How about we play tag? Or hide and seek?"
Bolt's tail swung rapidly at the mention of those games, replying with an obedient bark.
"Okay! Let's see if you can catch me!" Elsa challenged and bolted across the courtyard, pumping her arms in an aimless sprint.
Iduna couldn't suppress the smile creeping on her face. Seeing her daughter play was always a heartwarming privilege, and she was so enamored that Agnarr passed by her unnoticed. The man cleared his throat to get her attention.
"Oh! I didn't see you coming," Iduna exclaimed.
Agnarr chuckled. "Elsa is growing so fast, isn't she?" he glanced pensively at his daughter, "Every day that goes by, she seems to be accomplishing more wonders. Sometimes I think about what Father would do."
Iduna would rather not think about Runeard in such a joyful moment. To not dwell on him further, she remained quiet.
"C'mon Bolt! Go on," Elsa taunted.
Both parents settled on a pair of chairs, staring at Elsa while she played with Bolt. It was a completely one-sided game of tag, for each time the dog was about to catch her, she dashed with inhuman speed, barely noticeable to the eye. At times, as to confuse Bolt even further, the girl's body split into two, or three, or four, dividing continuously to the point of having multiple Elsa's running in the courtyard.
"Can't catch me! Hehehe!" several Elsas giggled simultaneously, one even sticking her tongue out to the fatigued dog.
"Let him have a chance, little snowflake," Iduna said from afar.
"He's not supposed to get tired, Mom! He's made of ice!" Elsa disagreed. "I'll make sure he's faster next time I make him."
"Maybe if you stopped cloning yourself, he could have a chance," Agnarr suggested.
"But that's no fun, Dad! Cloning is fun!"
Bolt whined at her comment, and Elsa began to pity him. The only person to blame for his slowness was herself. With a pout, all the little Elsa clones fused together into a single body.
"Ok, I get it. Multiplying myself is a cheap move. What about this, Bolt?" Elsa stamped her foot on the snowy ground, and a green hue glowed beneath her feet. Without delay, several bushes, plants, flowers, and trees were brought to life. The playground was now similar to a well-kept garden.
"Elsa, sweetie, don't overdo yourself like last time!" Iduna frowned when the soil quaked, opening up space for the blooming flora. "We don't want any unnecessary attention to us!"
"Don't worry, Mom! I got it under control," Elsa chuckled when Bolt jumped in her lap, barking with joy.
Iduna groaned and shook her head. Elsa couldn't contain her excitement whenever she could flaunt her powers, even when isolated at home. Bolt was still pursuing her persistently, weaving around bushes and trees though not even remotely close to catching the mischievous blondie. Elsa wasn't running anymore: she was gliding in the air, flying with gentle movements in close proximity to the ground. Bolt's little paws slipped on the slush, and he yelped when she got too far.
"Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" Elsa shrieked, somersaulting over the dog with her tongue sticking out, landing as if the air had cushioned her fall.
"Don't fly too high, sweetie," Iduna said.
But Elsa didn't really listen. The fruitless chase continued, and Bolt halted when Elsa levitated over a shrub, too dense for him to run across. He sniffed it curiously, attentive to the leaves and twigs rustling about, knowing that the girl was hidden somewhere in there. For a fleeting moment, Bolt caught a glimpse of a bright burst of light, and the shrub seemingly grew bigger. The sprigs stirred, and the branches crackled more intensively, announcing that something sinister would come out of that foliage. Bolt recoiled with a whimper.
Elsa came out from within the bush, blowing all of its leaves up in the air, and there was a pronounced disparity in her form: little Elsa was now giant Elsa, hunting Bolt instead of running from him.
"Muahahaha! I'm big, Bolt! Run from me!" she cackled at the dog's despair, clomping in his direction with earth-quaking steps.
"Elsa! This too much!" Agnarr said apprehensively. "The neighbors might see you!"
"Please, sweetie! Come back to normal!" Iduna chided.
Elsa stopped dead in her tracks with an indignant groan, and Bolt followed suit. Agnarr and Iduna had sprung from the porch to the courtyard, peering at Elsa, who loomed overhead like a cliff. Her size probably surpassed seventeen feet tall, limbs fortunately proportional and not elongated, but her sheer bulk had cast a shadow over the house.
"Little snowflake, we have talked about this already. Please, you can't transform like that!" Iduna criticized.
"But Mooooom! It's just so much fun! Look how cool I am now!" Elsa said.
"Elsa, we just don't want anybody seeing you like this," Agnarr said. "Could you please come back to normal? And remove all those trees and plants as well?"
"But you told me I could play with my powers!" Elsa pouted, looking down at her parents with both hands on her hips. "Every time I play with them, you tell me to stop!"
"Yes, sweetie, we know, but the neighbors might see you!" Iduna craned her neck to meet her daughter's eyes and sought to smile. "You stand out too much like this."
Elsa sighed in defeat. All the same, she decided to take a long sweeping gaze around the block, making use of her remarkable height to get a full view of the neighborhood. She didn't like what she saw.
"There are barely two houses next to us! Nobody will see," the little giant beamed at her mom, eyes pleading for another chance.
"Sorry, sweetie. Could you please come back to normal size?" Iduna pressed her lips together. "We can have chocolate at home."
"Fine..." Elsa frowned, slowly shrinking herself. "We can play at another time, Bolt."
With a snap of her fingers, all the plants gradually withered and dissolved. Not even the tiniest trace of a twig was left behind.
"You can test your powers and play with Bolt at Bulda's," Agnarr offered. "What do you think? Just like last time?"
At the mention of Bulda, Elsa stopped shrinking and whipped her head towards Agnarr, eyes filled with dread. "N-No! I-I don't like to play there," she stammered.
"But Elsa— "
"Please, Dad! Not there!" Elsa insisted.
"At Bulda's, you can test your powers as much as you want, little snowflake," Iduna said. "We can get you—"
"I don't like to play there!" Elsa screeched. "I don't!"
Agnarr and Iduna recoiled when Elsa's voice thundered in their ears, apparently coming from everywhere at once. The generous, affectionate child they usually knew had changed into something terrifying, exuding a dangerous and hair-raising presence. She had retained her super height, and every orifice of her body radiated power; blue currents of electricity flickered from head to toe, mounds ice and purple fire rippled from her feet, and her eyes, those charming azure eyes were now shining deep red.
"I don't like it..." Elsa panted. There was this discomforting hum coming from her crimson irises, releasing a blinding, piercing light.
"Little snowflake... it's better this way, please," Iduna said, taking a step back.
"I don't like to play there..." Elsa sobbed. "Why don't you let me play here?"
Elsa woke with her heart jackhammering in her chest, entirely awake. Her pajama was sopped with sweat, forehead clammy and throbbing under a grievous migraine. The bedside clock read five-thirty in the morning, and Elsa cursed the premature wake-up call. With a hoarse groan, she pulled the blankets over her head and noticed they were covered in frost. It had been weeks since the last time her sheets were found like this. The recurring nightmares aroused her powers once again, Elsa realized. The dream was still fresh and vivid in her subconscious, streaming through her mind so quickly it caused nausea.
"Elsa!"
It was Anna's voice. Elsa could hear her hasty steps echoing in the hallway, getting louder and closer until she burst into the bedroom. There wasn't enough sunlight filtering through the windows, so Anna flicked the nearest switch, and Elsa protested against the brightness.
"Elsa! What's going on? Are you hurt?" Anna blurted.
Elsa answered with incomprehensible muttering, stretching underneath the covers.
"Elsa! Snap out of it! You were screaming while asleep!"
Elsa rolled up and blinked her sandy lids, finding a shocked poofy-haired Anna by her side. "I'm...I'm alright. It was just a nightmare," she reassured.
"You're sweating..." Anna placed her palm in the blonde's temple. "Are you feverish? Is this a panic attack? Should I— "
"I'm fine. Just... give me a minute."
With a weary sigh, Elsa shimmied out from bed and trudged straight to the bathroom, not mumbling a single word along the way. Anna eyed her with concern, still confused and uptight about what happened, but decided to yield the heroine some personal time to recompose. Elsa closed the door and performed her morning ablutions — washing her face, brushing her teeth, using the toilet — all without turning on the lights, for any excessive luminosity accentuated her migraine. In fact, the headaches were even stronger than before, an unbearable blistering heat that burned inside her skull.
Anna was sitting on the edge of her bed when Elsa returned, fumbling with the rime-covered sheets.
"I'm back," Elsa grumbled.
Anna stood up straight, "Elsa...you look awful. Is this like a superhero hangover? I could hear you screaming from my bedroom! I came running because I thought something had happened—"
"Don't worry, Anna, it was just a nightmare," Elsa repeated, massaging her temples. "And they usually come with severe headaches, but I'm fine."
"Headaches? What do you mean?" Anna asked.
"When the dreams are...unpleasant, they normally make me feel really feverish."
"Look, don't get me wrong, but this doesn't add up. Nightmares shouldn't give headaches strong enough to pull you down! Does this happen often?"
"Yes..." Elsa said, dispelling the frost blanketing her bed. "I keep having these odd dreams about my childhood. But none of what I saw really happened. I don't know why I keep imagining all those things..."
"You sounded like you were in pain or suffering. I was horrified! For how long this is going on?"
"They are happening more frequently these past few weeks..." Elsa admitted. "I'm always arguing with my parents because of powers I don't even possess. It doesn't make any sense."
"Are you sure you're alright?" Anna insisted. "I thought all that booze you drank acted like a super weakness or something. Is this... because of what happened yesterday?"
"It's not related, but..." Elsa took a deep breath. "I really want to talk with you about yesterday and explain myself, Anna. I don't even know how I managed to sleep...after what happened."
"Yeah, I... didn't manage to catch a wink of sleep either. Look, Elsa, I —"
But before Anna could say another word, Elsa dropped to her knees with a painful grunt, both hands clutching her head.
"Elsa!" Anna screamed, running to Elsa's side and supporting her by the arms. Her skin was drenched in sweat and abnormally warm.
"I'm fine. It's ok," Elsa held up a hand, and Anna drew back slowly. "I just need something to eat."
"Are you sure?"
"...Yes."
"Okay, huh, I'm...gonna check what we have for breakfast."
Anna assumed she would be the only one who had undergone a sleepless night. It turns out that, while she had soaked her beddings with tears, Elsa had drowned hers with sweat and ice. Both had been deprived of sleep, though for totally different reasons. The dark circles under Anna's eyes weren't caused by mysterious headaches or ghastly nightmares but for blatantly lying to her superhero friend. A loyal, beautiful, and powerful friend.
Who happened to be making out with her the previous night.
"Are you sure you're feeling better?" Anna sipped her coffee, clutching the mug like a lifeline. They had prepared a lovely breakfast table, livelier than the girls themselves.
"I'm fine, Anna," Elsa said, "Look, about yesterday..."
Shit.
Anna had been trying to avoid this subject during the whole morning. She had dodged questions while aiding Elsa with her recovery, shifted her focus to preparing breakfast, and brought up the superhero convention numerous times, but Elsa was hellbent on explaining her reasons. Which made sense, considering how Anna had acted before going to bed.
"...it was never my intention to make you feel uncomfortable. I just thought — I-I wanted — I needed the drinks to become more relaxed. I'm usually not that good with words, and to be able to talk with you more freely, I—"
"Elsa, you didn't make me feel uncomfortable," Anna said, looking down at the butter-smothered toast that she didn't eat. She had lost her appetite.
Elsa poured herself a mug and added a lump of creamer on top. "I never thought the alcohol would make me act like that. I overstepped, and I'm sorry."
"If anyone overreacted, it was me. Please, believe me when I say it's all good between us," Anna said, adding more butter to the toast and grudgingly taking a bite.
Elsa didn't look even slightly convinced. Anna wondered if her own appearance seemed as weak and tired as Elsa was. An uncomfortable silence lingered in the air, and Anna broke eye contact first.
She stood and walked to the counter, bringing back a plate with a towering stack of pancakes, "You need to eat, Elsa. And you were pretty funny while drunk, by the way," she jested, attempting to ease the oppressive atmosphere.
The joke got a minute smile and a blush from Elsa, though not enough to alleviate her concerns, "T-Thank you. But you still seem troubled, Anna. You have been tense ever since dinner. Are you sure this is all nervousness? You can be honest with me."
Anna swallowed a hunk of bread and washed it down with coffee. "I-I just wasn't ready. For...you know," she mimed the word sex with her lips.
Elsa munched her pancakes way too slowly, thinking very carefully about her words, "Isn't it... isn't it because I'm a superhero?"
"What?"
It wasn't a barefaced lie. Indeed, Anna had never had any sexual involvement with a woman, and the idea of experiencing it with a superhero was...overwhelming. Not in a negative way. Just wondrous, terrifying, and baffling at the same time. It had nothing to do with the fear of sex, although she wished that was the case. It was the conversations and the lies she had told Elsa and the thought of Ahtohallan committing all those crimes that tormented her mind. She had promised Kristoff to plug the pen drive today.
"Well..." Elsa continued, burying her face into her mug and guzzling it down, "...being in a relationship...with a superhero. Or in any relationship at all...with me. Is that why you're nervous? I didn't want to imply anything that serious, I-"
"No! Hey, look, I... liked it, ok? I liked the kissing, and the touching, and whatever, you get it. I... like you too, you know?" This time, it was Anna that dove into her mug, taking overly-large gulps of coffee before resurfacing. "I might have overreacted in that regard, but...let's sleep on this for a bit, go on with the day, and then we can talk tonight? With no alcohol? About us?"
Elsa gingerly reached for Anna's hand, interlocking their fingers together. "If you need time to think, that's totally alright. I just want you to know...that you have been a great friend to me. And I don't want to lose this... I don't want to be the one to ruin the friendship we have built. There won't be something... more, if you don't want to."
Anna threw the entirety of her toast into her mouth and swallowed; it went down like a brick scratching her throat. In desperation, she slurped her coffee too quickly and burnt her tongue. "Agh, hot! Hot!" she breathed out.
Elsa tried her absolute hardest to hide her smile, "Anna?"
"Not you!" Anna blurted, "I meant the coffee. The coffee is hot. Not that you're not hot, because you are. I mean...hot. What about the superhero convention? You're going, right?" she grinned stiffly.
Elsa rolled her eyes, "Yes, I'm going. It starts in two hours. Why don't you come with me? Someone needs to make sure I don't break anything," she quipped.
Anna scratched her head, "Well... I need to finish some work for Kai—"
I need to plug that goddamn pen drive before I implode.
"Is Kai overwhelming you with work?" Elsa seethed, "That worthless old man. I swear to god, one day I squeezed him so tightly I almost broke one of his—"
"What? No!" Anna affirmed, "Kai has nothing to do with it! I just need to finish some work. Some reports were supposed to be ready yesterday, and Kai is on my ass with them. I will come by after lunch, alright?"
"I'm not sure," Elsa began fidgeting with the silverware. "I'm not that patient with people, and you know I can snap sometimes. There will be too many obsessed fans in one place."
"It's just a bunch of nerds, and Olaf will be there! He will be pretty happy to see you!" Anna reassured. She finished her coffee and walked to the counter, rinsing her mug in the sink, "You can lift tons with a single arm. I'm sure you can get through some nerds."
"I really hope you are right," Elsa said, "If you're going to Ahtohallan now, you better let the others know I'm taking the day off. I need to get into my suit, and it takes ages to squirm into that confined spandex."
Anna smiled but didn't respond. I like that confined spandex...a lot.
"Call me when you leave, ok?" Elsa requested. "I don't want to be alone for a minute extra with those people."
"Chill out. I'll let you know when I leave," Anna comforted, "And don't think I forgot what you said about squeezing Kai! I hope that was a tasteless joke. Don't you dare!"
Elsa ducked her head down, "Oh, that's... it's just a figure of speech..."
After washing the breakfast dishes, Elsa went to her bedroom to change, and Anna remained in the living room for a thoughtful minute. She was somewhat relieved that the morning wasn't as awkward as she thought it would be. Elsa had no clue about her inners struggles, and Anna wished she had enough courage to tell the heroine the truth. Fear was the only constant that stopped her from doing so. She would meet Kristoff this morning, and all this Ahtohallan nonsense would be over by lunchtime.
Or at least, that's what Anna hoped to happen.
"Oh, you're still here?" Elsa said, surprised to find Anna in the same spot after a few minutes.
Truthfully, Anna had lingered in the living room for too long, lost in her own thoughts. Elsa was already heading out, ready to face the Superhero Convention and all its ardent fans. When she donned her superhero suit, braided her hair, applied the smallest amount of makeup and magenta lipstick, she became a veritable goddess.
And this was Anna's last chance to confess her sin.
"Yeah, I'm...I'm going out in a minute," Anna replied, "Elsa, I...I hope you have a great time."
Elsa smiled, "I will be waiting for you, Anna."
If Olaf had to choose one day to be his favorite one of the year, it would be this day.
The Superhero Convention date was sacred. The festival held such influence Arendelle declared a holiday owing to its popularity. Its purpose was quite simple: honor superheroes and unite them with the common folk. It was a peaceful celebration. Heroes didn't have to worry about crime-fighting, and people didn't have to fret about being saved. The atmosphere was free of danger, the perfect opportunity for fans to interact with their idols. Nothing too intimate, of course, because honestly, nobody could or dared to get too personal with them. For Olaf, a mere glimpse was all he needed to be satisfied.
The tickets were pricey and nearly impossible to grab these days, but Olaf bought them in advance. As a seasoned conference-goer, he knew how to prepare himself; he brought chargers, granola bars, a Sharpie and a notebook, sunscreen, a pair of comfortable sneakers, and a poster tube, all stashed away neatly in his backpack. Planning was very required to face the annual gathering of geekdom. The convention was always a hectic place, bustling with sweaty nerds and weirdos everywhere.
And Olaf loved some geek extravaganza.
The morning had dawned sunny and warm, and there was no place better than the Nolthuldra park to host the event. The entire square had been remodeled to fit the holiday; high stages and pavilions jutted out from the grassy lawn, all very colorful and cheery amidst the lush landscape. The arrangements contrasted surprisingly well with the trees' white bark and orange leaves. And yet, it was the thousands of fans that dominated the scenery, some dressing an elaborate cosplay while others went for the short-sleeved shirts with pocket protectors.
Needless to say, the event was far from perfect — there was a shortage of powerful, high-classed superheroes like Elsa. They rarely participated in community celebrations like this one. Most were too busy saving millions of lives, stopping a meteor, or doing any grandiose feat people assumed they did. Still, Olaf was content with the lower-class supes.
After all, he did meet the strongest superhero to ever exist on his birthday.
Nothing would ever come close to his encounter with the Snow Queen, but this year's event was promising. Olaf arrived with childlike glee in his eyes, ready to share his passion for the divine celebrities. The signs and banners for attractions increased as he walked through a paved path, and crossing the main entrance was like traversing to another dimension. Members of the festival staff shouted over loudspeakers, filling the air with muffled announcements, and the walkways were packed with a multitude of stalls. People were boisterous and milling about, forming lines for selfies, autograph booths, costume try-outs, but the activity Olaf enjoyed the most was the power displays.
And as expected, there was an enormous line of fans already waiting to see the She-Beast, the highest-class heroine attending the festival.
"Transform! Transform! Transform!"
Enthusiasts clamored for the She-Beast to use her metamorphic powers. Any picture or video of her transformation would probably do well on social media. Olaf navigated through the masses, seeking a good angle to see the show, but his short stature wasn't helping.
"Ok, calm down. I'll do it," the woman said through a microphone, standing on a grand stage. She garbed a golden uniform that gleamed like gemstones under the sunlight. Olaf acknowledged she was good-looking, flourishing a brown hair ponytail, hazel eyes, and a pair of yellow opera gloves that matched her suit.
In a millisecond, all her attractive features shifted with an inhuman contour. Her feminine limbs enlarged and stretched, thick brown fur emerged throughout her skin, and bones bent into a bestial shape. The lovely girl turned into a magnificent beast, roaring towards the sky for the excitement of her fans.
"Holy shit!" Olaf gawked.
He had to take a picture.
Olaf hitched the backpack off his shoulder and tried to reach for his phone, unsuccessfully. The sudden change of weight, along with the clumsiness of his movement, caused him to lose balance and stumble over his own shoelace. He staggered and plunged face-first into the grass, yelping girly-like. To aggravate the embarrassment, the contents of his backpack scattered, including his precious ice statue (which he faithfully carried with him at all times) that Elsa had created as his birthday gift.
Some of the people standing in the line turned, staring at the uncoordinated boy sprawled on the ground. The snickering soon followed in low, hushed voices. Olaf couldn't care less about what they thought. He slowly heaved himself to his feet, wiped the dirt off his face, and ran to collect his belongings. Nobody seemed to pay much attention to him after a while... except for one person.
"What is that?" a pimply teenage girl pointed at his sculpture. "Is that ice?"
Olaf followed her gaze and perked up. "Oh, yes! Yes! It's an ice figure made by the Snow Queen! It was my birthday gift!"
"How the hell did you meet the Snow Queen? Is she here?" another girl neared the ice piece. She was stout, had a double chin, a flaccid jowl, and curly hair as coarse and black as iron wire. When the teens stood side by side, Olaf realized they were twins.
"The Snow Queen is a friend of a friend of mine! She was invited to my birthday party!" Olaf said proudly.
"Psh, you're lying!" the chubby girl marched his way, trampling over some posters he brought up for autographing. "The Snow Queen would never go to a birthday party, especially the one of a loser like you!"
"Hey! Those are the She-Beast posters I brought up for signing!" Olaf exclaimed, hurrying to collect the ones that weren't crumpled. He had worked very hard to gather all of those.
"I don't care about your posters! I want to know how you got this statue!" she nudged it with her feet. "My big sister said the Snow Queen never does anything for the fans! She's leagues above people like me and you! Right, Joy?"
She looked at a gaunt young woman for reassurance. It was probably the big sister. "By all means, Jeniffer. The Snow Queen would never care about you nor Annabelle. She's awesome and all that shit you keep blabbering about," Joy said, lacking interest in her voice. Her hair was white and trimmed around the edges, face hidden by oversized glasses. Although Olaf found her cute, her lips and brows were fabricated for frowning. She was frowning now.
"I'm not lying! Hey, that's mine—" Olaf panicked when Annabelle snatched his ice figure, but before he could take it back, Jeniffer shoved him away.
"You think the Snow Queen would care about you?"
"Stop lying!"
"You are pathetic."
Jeniffer pushed Olaf aside as Annabelle mishandled his precious gift. Joy just stared at the scuffle, too apathetic to reprimand her sisters' actions. Nobody flexed a single finger to help Olaf. Even the crowd waiting in line didn't seem to bother, and the fans passing by just shrugged at the bullying happening in front of them. The festival was too noisy and too packed for people to notice. Annabelle swung the sculpture back and forth, grimacing at the rigid structure it had. Maybe she realized there was something unnatural about the ice, and that irritated her.
"Stop it!" Olaf shouted. He was too weak and too short to fight against the pair of plump, petulant sisters.
"Leave the boy alone."
Everyone turned around at once, searching for the grave voice that brought order to the chaos.
It was the Boy Wonder, accompanied by the She-Beast.
Both superheroes approached the commotion, demeanor so listless and world-weary that they might have been asleep. Perhaps they had already placated a good amount of rebellious teenagers for the day, Olaf imagined, and dealing with pampered children was beneath them. Nevertheless, their presence caused an effect. The pudgy girl called Annabelle recoiled immediately, and all onlookers moved away, opening up a path for the heroes to reach Olaf. Members of the festival staff also followed suit, forming a protective circle around them to avoid any undesired interference. Olaf was kneeling on the ground to collect his belongings that weren't ruined, and the She-Beast crouched alongside him. He put on his bravest face, but everyone could tell he was on the verge of tears.
"What happened with you?" The She-Beast asked.
"Nothing. My backpack fell, and my posters spread all over the ground," Olaf said, too discomposed to feel excited about the two superheroes talking with him. He gave Annabelle a quick look, "the twins stepped on some of them. But it wasn't on purpose."
The She-Beast sighed. "That's not it, boy. I know they were messing with you. What really happened?"
"They...stole my birthday gift," Olaf said lamely. He zipped his backpack and gestured to the ice statue, still being held by Annabelle. "And they keep saying I'm lying."
"Give the statue back to him, children," The Boy Wonder demanded.
The Boy Wonder was the ultimate definition of manliness. He was muscular, athletic, with smooth tan skin that gleamed in combination with his strawberry blond hair. His chiseled face, square jaw, and robust form reminded Olaf of a Greek god.
"Why are you calling him a liar?" The She-Beast asked the sisters, who retreated in trepidation.
"He said the Snow Queen made him this! He's lying!" Jeniffer dared to speak, voice not so confident anymore. Annabelle reluctantly returned the statue back to Olaf.
The Boy Wonder chuckled. "From the Snow Queen? That's unexpected."
"I'm sorry about my sisters...ugh, Beast, and Wonder Boy...whoever you are," Joy said dully, nearing the group. She was at least trying to defend her kin.
The She-Beast nudged the brawny hero next to her and then looked back at Olaf, "What's your name, boy?"
"Olaf," he said, a sudden glee flashing in his eyes.
"You shouldn't lie, Olaf. The Snow Queen wouldn't like to see you carrying replicas of her powers around."
"What?" As quick as it came, the happiness in his face twisted into a frustrated frown. "You don't believe me?"
"It's normal for kids to lie," the She-Beast replied, "But chose your lies a tad better next time. Maybe a B-class hero instead of an S-class?"
"We all want to feel a little special at some point, don't we?" the Boy Wonder jeered, "I would lie if I didn't have any powers."
"See! Annabelle was right! Even the Boy Wonder think he's lying!" Jeniffer scoffed, "What a loser!"
Emboldened by the heroes, the twins felt they had the right to resume the harassment. They gabbled like a broken record player, so irritating it was hard to concentrate. Olaf tried to explain himself, but his words faded in the loud surroundings; nobody would listen to him. And before he realized it, a staff member whispered a few words to the heroes and escorted them elsewhere. He was left alone with the twins as if nothing had happened or changed. Even the people around them dispersed; there was no reason to stay there anymore, no ruckus to see, and no superheroes to watch.
Olaf could swear he glimpsed a condescending smirk in the Boy Wonder's face, but that couldn't be genuine. Was the man actually enjoying Olaf's misfortune? Even the She-Beast left without a single backward glance.
Why did nobody believe in his story?
Anna would've believed in him. She would've berated the twins and reprimanded the heroes. But she wasn't here now, and Olaf was all alone, as he often was.
Olaf wished he had someone he could count on besides Anna.
And as though hearing his wish, the sky answered with a crash of thunder.
Olaf looked up when the clouds rumbled, barely able to make out a silhouette of a woman descending from above. The Snow Queen dispelled her snow flurry just in time to land on top of a green Skoda, smashing the car to pieces.
"What the fuck! That's mom's car!" Joy, the eldest sister of the group, screeched, running towards the vehicle.
There were so many people at the festival the management had opened some parking spots near the power display pavilions. It was a small and improvised yard, more or less secluded from the congested pathways. From where he stood, Olaf had a good view of the destroyed car. Luckily, the blast only turned a few curious heads, for most of the crash sound got damped by the speakers and perpetual hubbub; only a select few witnessed and understood what really happened.
Olaf couldn't help but smile.
He knew it was the Snow Queen that had landed; nobody descended as fast as she constantly did, tearing the air like a speeding bullet. It was visually impressive, but all that momentum was harmful to whatever lay under her feet. In this case, she accidentally buried herself into the car's bodywork. Nothing that could injure her in any way, and Olaf would've mourned the vehicle if he wasn't so shocked by her presence — and by her unexpected entrance. His excitement was such that he couldn't even move nor speak. The Snow Queen was lodged in there, stuck between the heaps of metal that the Skoda had become. The wreckage eventually stirred, steel rasped and clanged as a pale hand moved them away. Elsa ultimately popped out from the remains of the car, unscathed.
"Gods, what the hell," Elsa turned around to stare at the mess, scratching the back of her neck, "Oh, no. Anna is gonna kill me."
"You! That was...my mother's car..." Joy caught up to Elsa, watching the heroine vigilantly.
"Looking down from the sky, I thought it was just grass. This car's roof is way too green," Elsa shrugged, "I'm sorry. That wasn't supposed to happen."
Joy sidled Elsa around, glaring at what was once a green Skoda. "Are you the S-Snow... who are you? You... destroyed it...mom's car. We were still paying for it."
"This happens more often than it should," Elsa admitted, "Ahtohallan can repay you later if you open up a complaint. Regardless, is this the so-called Superhero Convention?"
Joy's eyes were fuming, but before her mouth could spit vile oaths and curses, someone shouted from afar.
"Look! It's the Snow Queen!"
As soon as she heard the scream, a dreadful scenario played in Elsa's mind: a savage horde of avid fans mobbing her, all sweaty and stinky, huddled awkwardly against her body. They would touch her, ask her inappropriate questions, and she would lose control of her temper once again. She could practically feel the markers and posters being shoved on her face, the constant yelling, the cameras flashing restlessly. Coming without Anna might have been a bad idea, she thought, but there was no backing down now.
Elsa squeezed her eyes shut and, on the count of three, peeked out of one eye.
There was no fanfare to herald her arrival, no throng of filthy and obsessed men. Nobody was taking pictures or fishing posters from tacky fanny packs. Instead, Elsa counted no more than six people warily approaching her, including the sisters whose car got smashed. The Superhero Convention didn't seem to notice her presence; everyone continued to walk as if nothing happened, save for a few inquisitive glances of passers-by. And when a patrol of confused guards approached the Skoda, searching for the source of damage, Elsa thought she would be held accountable. But surprisingly, nobody addressed her. In this isolated parking area, she might as well be an excellent cosplayer.
"Woah! That's a nice outfit!" a boy dressed as the Nokk said, exiting an adjacent car, "I almost thought you were the real Snow Queen! You look just like her!"
"She could be a good impersonator!" his father chortled, taking him by the hand, "C'mon son, we need to get in line for the power showcase! We are late!" he waved at Elsa and then vanished without thinking twice.
Elsa blinked and almost barked a laugh at how comical the situation was.
Perhaps she had reached a status in which her presence was so unlikely, so unexpected, that nobody believed she would come. The individuals that saw her descent were hopelessly trying to convince others in the vicinity, pointing fingers to the sky and then back to the Skoda, but people merely snickered or regarded their claims with a certain skepticism. Joy was adamant about convincing the guards as well, but the men didn't react any differently. Most seemed to even praise her uniform, and Elsa's superhearing caught 'it's just a good cosplayer' a couple times.
A big grin spread over Elsa's face. She crossed the parking lot and headed towards the pavilions, going deeper into the crowd and feeling the air grew thicker. She had never seen so many people dressed as superheroes. The festival possessed its own unique environment, colorful and vivid, and every nook and cranny of the place was teeming with nerds. And the surroundings were so incredibly loud. As she walked, she spotted three little girls dressed as the Snow Queen and imitating her hand gestures, usually the movements she performed while shooting ice from her hands, and that filled her heart with a strange, gratifying emotion. Elsa had this sudden, inexplicable urge to protect those girls as if they were her own children. She could take a bullet for them — one that would actually injure her.
She had, admittedly, enjoyed this peculiar sensation before. A long time ago, when she first started working as a superhero. Seeing those lovely ladies served as a cathartic release. It was proof that people still cherished her, even after the terrorist attack fiasco. Anna would be proud, she thought.
"It appears I have arrived in the right place," Elsa mumbled. The loudspeakers announced an upcoming Boy Wonder showcase, and the Snow Queen wannabes skedaddled towards the stage before Elsa could greet them. "Of course, Hercules would be here. That self-centered brat."
"Snow Queen!"
Elsa recognized that voice. Amongst the thousands of distinctive sounds and tones coming from the crowd, one of them was familiar. It was a boy's voice, innocuous and filled with innocence. Her head snapped towards the call, and her eyes found Olaf pushing whoever stood in his way. He struggled to get closer, limited by his not-so-imposing physique, but eventually found his balance and broke into an ungainly sprint. The sight warmed her heart.
Elsa was happy to see Olaf again.
"Snow Queen!" Olaf shouted, unwittingly lunging forward.
Smiling, Elsa hunkered down to Olaf's level and caught him in a tight embrace. He felt so tiny in her arms, nothing but a flimsy little boy. "Hello, Olaf," she said.
"I never thought you would come here!" Olaf beamed, "This is amazing!"
"Anna managed to convince me," Elsa said, watching out of the corner of her eye as more people began to surround them. Naturally, her glaring similarity of appearance with the Snow Queen would be recognized, especially in a place with so many superhero experts. The number of wide-eyed double-takes, head turns, and surprised gasps began to increase ever since she left the parking lot. Not to mention those discomforting, eerie twin sisters that followed her like a parasite all the way here.
"Is Anna coming too?"
"Anna is coming after lunch," Elsa replied, and Olaf dejected a bit. "But I'm glad to see my gift is still standing in one piece," she pointed to the ice statue sticking out of his backpack.
"Oh, yes! It's only intact because it's indestructible! Some people were—"
"I can't believe this!" The twins whispered to each other, although Elsa's keen hearing caught the conversation perfectly. "The loser was actually telling the truth!"
Loser? Elsa allowed the words to sink in, and her lips pulled down into a slight frown. She broke the embrace and stood, cocking her head at the twins, "Excuse me?"
"It's a long story..." Olaf murmured.
The twins cowered when they realized Elsa was addressing them. Taking a deep breath, one of the girls stepped forward, "Did you really make that statue for him?" Jenniffer said, pointing to his backpack.
Elsa followed her gaze. "I did—"
"B-But why? Why would you make that for him? You are the Snow Queen!" Annabelle jabbered. The twins looked at Elsa with an expression that mixed fascination and annoyance. "We have been to all the Superhero Conventions so far, and you have never participated! Not even once!"
"Erhm, don't listen to my sisters, Snow Queen," Joy said nervously, pulling both girls back. "They're just surprised to see you! Annabelle doesn't know what she's talking about," she gave Elsa a deliberate chuckle, "Hmm... what about our car? You mentioned a complaint..."
Joy wouldn't be getting a satisfactory answer any time soon. The Snow Queen had narrowed her eyes, sensing that something was off. Everyone looked embarrassed, eyes downcast and shifting between Olaf and the ice statue. Their distress wasn't about the destroyed car, and maybe, not so much about her presence but with... "What did they do, Olaf?"
Olaf seemed reluctant to say it at first, "The twins... they... stole the ice statue you made for me. They didn't believe me when I told them you were the one that'd made it—"
"So it's true? The Snow Queen made you this? Could you make one for me too?" Jeniffer cut him off, and Joy yanked her back.
"We never stole it!" Annabelle yelled, "We just borrowed it!"
"— and the She-Beast and Boy Wonder didn't believe me either," Olaf continued.
Elsa's eyes widened, "They stole your statue because they didn't believe it was me that made it? And the heroes didn't believe in you either?"
"That's pretty much it, I guess," Olaf shrugged, "But that's fine. I'm used to people like this. And it wasn't all the heroes, just the—"
"Stay here," Elsa said tersely. Her face scrunched up to a scowl as she walked towards the sisters, ignoring a few infatuated teenagers that begged for selfies and autographs. At this point, most fans in the area probably suspected she was the real Snow Queen, but her mind was focused on a different matter.
Elsa understood what had occurred before she arrived. Teenagers could be downright cruel when jealous, and Olaf seemed to be the perfect victim for those types of bullies. How could someone abuse such an innocent and angelic person like Olaf? And the sisters knew what they were doing; Elsa could tell by the fear and hesitation in their movements. The twins looked up when a shadow fell across their faces, for Elsa remained standing right ahead of them. "What are your names?"
"Jeniffer and Annabelle!" they squealed simultaneously.
"Right, Jeniffer and Annabelle," Elsa harrumphed. She ought to take it easy with the girls; Anna wouldn't like her to be too angry. "I did make that statue for him. And before you supplicate for one, you must know I don't go around making ice souvenirs for any random supporter I meet. Olaf's case was special. He's a dear friend of mine, unlike yourselves," Elsa added with a bit of satisfaction, "So, you must understand that taking this gift from Olaf not only makes him angry, but it makes me upset as well. If you ever steal it from him again, you two will be in trouble, and we don't want that, do we?" Elsa stated, giving a flat pat on Jeniffer's shoulder. Even though they were being criticized, Annabelle felt envious of the touch.
"We understand!" the sisters nodded, "We won't do it again!"
"Good. Now, if you excuse me—"
"Wait!" Annabelle cried, and Elsa felt a sharp tug on her cape. The girl was gazing at her pleadingly, attempting to look adorable before begging for a treat. Elsa thought the expression didn't seem authentic at all, but rather repugnant. "Could you take a selfie with us?"
Honestly, Elsa was beyond furious. But she couldn't, in any shape or form, tyrannize kids. Even if those children were immoral and domineering, and even if she wanted to pulverize anyone who ill-treated Olaf to oblivion, she couldn't do anything harsher than a tongue-lashing.
On the other hand, the superheroes who wronged him...
"I'm sorry, Jeniffer—"
"I'm Annabelle!"
"Annabelle..." Elsa sulked, eyelids and lips spasming, "...but I need to talk with some superhero colleagues first, all right?" According to the recent announcement on the speakers, Elsa had fifteen minutes before Hercules's showcase started.
"All right. B-But—"
"Perfect," Elsa said dismissively. She suddenly turned on her heel and walked off, each step leaving ice shavings behind. The snow trail was the irrefutable proof everyone needed to believe that the actual, all-powerful Snow Queen was now among them. Obviously, it would take a while for the word to spread throughout the entire Northuldra park, but the power display pavilions were already more agitated than before. Olaf and the twin sisters followed, bumping into each other and exchanging insults along the way — Joy continued to protest about the destroyed car but still accompanied the group.
"Belle!" Elsa shouted, "Hercules!"
Hercules was lifting a bench with three overweight ladies on top, flexing a bulging bicep that shined upon the camera flashes. Belle was back in beast form, interacting with some curious youngsters while they caressed her shaggy brown fur. Elsa stormed by the spectators, cutting through their line of pictures without any care for etiquette. When the heroes realized she was there, both stiffened.
"Snow Queen!" Hercules choked on his own saliva, inadvertently dropping the bench. An obese woman yelped with the sudden jerk and tumbled to the side. "So that's why the crowd was so boisterous! I didn't know you were coming!"
"Snow Queen!" the She-Beast cawed, stepping forward and standing next to Hercules, "What a surprise!" she said, voice visibly tense despite being graver than her human pitch.
Belle was a majestic creature whenever transformed into beast form, an apex predator like no other. Towering over lesser men, she could easily mangle flesh with her horns and claws, absorb bullets with thick fur and skin, and break through solid concrete with sheer force. And even though she was three times bigger than Elsa, the blonde seemed unfazed.
"There was this little boy in attendance today, called Olaf. Remember him? Elsa asked, eyes shifting between the heroes.
Belle morphed back to human form, and all her intimidating physique was gone like an eddy of water. Instead of an imposing monster, Elsa stood before an insecure and vulnerable girl, a head shorter than herself. "Of course, I remember—"
"Olaf told me you called him a liar," Elsa said, "Care to elaborate?"
"Oh, you know kids these days," Hercules guffawed, throwing his hands up in the air, "But I never called him a liar. Belle did."
"What?" Belle squealed, glancing furiously at Hercules for a second, and then looking back at Elsa pleadingly, "Snow Queen, this was all a misunderstanding—"
"Are you calling me a liar now, Belle?" Hercules rebuked, "It was just a small scuffle, I'm sure—"
Hercules was cowed into silence when the Snow Queen placed a hand over his shoulder, one thumb lingering uncomfortably close to his larynx. There was an amused half-smile on Elsa's face, but her gaze was subtly threatening. "To start with, my question was directed to Belle. It's impolite to interrupt people."
"Of course..." Hercules whispered.
"But what I have to say concerns you both," Elsa continued, "Please, whenever a kid tells you something, don't dismiss it outright. Superheroes shouldn't doubt a kid's words and certainly shouldn't neglect bullying."
"Absolutely!" he agreed. "A hero shouldn't overlook such things!"
"Glad to know we are on the same page," Elsa clapped Hercules on the back, and the hero breathed a sigh of relief, massaging his throat.
"And you, Belle," Elsa moved agonizingly close to the heroine, "Never call Olaf a liar again. Am I clear?"
"Very clear..." Belle gulped.
"Great," Elsa grinned, ruffling Belle's hair as if she were a naughty child. She turned to Olaf, who was attentively observing the whole exchange from the depths of the crowd. "Olaf, come here."
Olaf blinked owlishly, looking around before pointing his finger to himself with raised eyebrows. He was accustomed to only being the spectator, the secondary character in the bigger scheme of things. When Elsa smiled and nodded encouragingly, he mustered enough courage and came forward, walking in his typical wobbling gait until he was at Elsa's side.
The Snow Queen looked back at Belle and Hercules, and her grin pursed into a thin line, "Apologize to him."
For a second, Elsa saw the pained surprise on their faces. Heroes weren't accustomed to being ordered, and infrequently someone regarded them with haughty disdain. It was a blow to their pride. And considering the tumult and noise coming from the witnesses all around, the news would spread pretty rapidly.
"So?" Elsa questioned.
Both heroes averted their eyes, one looking down and the other up. "Sorry, Olaf," they muttered.
"Good!" Elsa rubbed her hands together, "Also, would you two mind being my guide throughout this event? I'm sure there's a lot of things to do!"
"Sure..." Belle replied, glancing uneasily at Hercules, who scowled and crossed his arms.
"It seems we'll be having plenty of fun here, right Olaf?" Elsa asked wryly, looking back at the astonished crowd.
Strangely enough, Elsa recognized she could have fun during this event. Perhaps not like Belle and Hercules would, because she couldn't care less about being pampered or if the fans would cater to her every whim. Her idea of entertainment was the total opposite. The Snow Queen was the only one capable of disciplining narcissistic and arrogant superheroes, and if what happened with Olaf was any indication, possibly chide some overbearing fans along the way. There was, undoubtedly, an excellent opportunity to practice modesty here. Elsa could foster humbleness amongst her work peers, be a promoter of good conduct, and most importantly, show the masses what a real superhero is.
She could play this game while waiting for Anna.
"Here, take this earpiece. Tapping it one time turns it off. Tapping it two times turns it on. Remember, go to the uppermost floor, find the data servers, and connect the pen drive to any port. I'll be guiding you along the way."
"Okaaaaay, but... what do I do after I plug it?"
"Just act normally, as if nothing happened. The information will be directly sent to us."
"I'm not sure if I can do this."
"Just focus! This is very important! Turn off the earpiece if any supe is near you! You saw how the Snow Queen could hear our bug. While I think most heroes don't have a hearing as advanced as hers, don't risk it. Turn it off!"
"Alright. I can do this. I think..."
Those were the last exchanged words between Anna and Kristoff. They had agreed to meet at a bus stop near Ahtohallan, intent on dissecting the intricacies of Anna's mission. It turns out that there was no need for an elaborate plan. She would walk through the front door, go to the last floor, find a contraption or a data server of some sort, and connect the drive. According to Kristoff, Flynn's computers would filter the information instantly, and the Snow Queen's innocence or guilt would be determined in a minute.
They had also struck a deal in which Kristoff had agreed to immediately contact Elsa if she was proved clean.
Because Anna was convinced that Elsa would be innocent.
And because nothing could go wrong, right?
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Hey guys! I'm back after a month!
Honestly, I'm not happy with how this chapter turned out. For those few who read the story, unfortunately, that's what I have for now. There are several reasons why this took so long, though.
The first one is that I needed a break. I felt like I needed at least a 2-week break from writing, and that happened by the time I had updated chapter 17 and got the Elsa dream sequence and Elsanna's morning conversation done.
The second reason was that I really couldn't get this Convention part right. I was never satisfied with it (and I'm still not). I re-wrote the sequence several times, and I always thought it had something missing or wasn't as impactful as I wanted it to be. I had several ideas, including expanding on the Convention activities and making everything seem more significant, but those things will go in the next chapter. For this one, part of me wanted to make a small comment regarding bullying and narcissism, but it never felt right to me. And then, when I reached a version I was semi-satisfied with, I thought it was too big. I also thought about ending the chapter in the part that Elsa lands on top of the car, but I just couldn't see myself re-writing all the stuff I had done once again and make it fit a new chapter format. I was just too tired of re-writes and wanted to progress the story further at this point. So, in the end, this whole Elsa and Olaf section is what I got. Maybe one day, I will revisit this. Who knows.
Well, for those who managed to survive this behemoth of a chapter, please comment. If you want to chat about the fic or maybe even proofread it, you can reach me at guz#4802 in discord.