What IS that weird ball thing Elsa has to hold anyways? The stick thing I get. It's a scepter. But the ball thing? Pfffft. I am too lazy to look it up. 8D SO IT'S CALLED THE ROYAL SPHERE! SO THERE!

Beware the Frozen Heart
Chapter 3: Coronation Day

6 Years Later

The docks were filling up with ships. The streets where covered in carriages. People ran around, dressed in their finest. They were laughing and joyful. It was the day! Finally!

"Why do I have to wear this!" A kid whined to his mother and she answered, "It's Coronation Day!"

"The gates haven't been opened in years!" A man said.

"I can't wait to see the Queen and Princes." Another said.

The King of the neighboring Kingdom stepped down off his ship, accompanied by his bodyguards. He was a tall, pudgy man with a sinister face. "Ah, Jurendelle! Our most mysterious trading partner!" The man clapped his hands together and rubbed them as he gazed at the castle. "Open your gates so I may unlock your secrets and exploit your riches!" He paused and his eyes widened. "Did I say that out loud?" He glanced around quickly.

But no one was paying any attention to him. They were all too excited by the castle ahead. Any moment and the gates would be opened! And the celebration would begin!

All seemed entranced with the castle. All except one man. He stood in the center of the square behind his ice sled. He'd just made his delivery and turned towards the reindeers who pulled his sled. One of the reindeers had squirmed out of her harness and pranced forward to nudge him. The other reindeers all let out snorts and stamped their hooves.

Owen turned and smiled at the fattest of his reindeer. "What do you want Echo? Huh? 'Give me a snack!'" He added in a fake falsetto. He laughed and pulled out a bag of carrots. He passed them out to all of them and took a bit himself.

A kid ran by waving and Echo turned. She let out a squeal and tried to follow. Owen's eyes widened. "Wait! Echo! Get back here!"

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

He paced the room, back and forth. Again and again. He reached one end, spun on his heels, and repeated. Until he had no idea how many times he'd done it or how far he'd walked. Probably all the way up North Mountain and back. But none of it helped calm his nerves. He still wanted to pull out all of his hair. Zach stopped and took a deep breath. He closed his eyes for a moment and willed his nerves to quiet.

There was a knock on the door. Zach sighed and glanced over at it. Yes, he was up! 3 times already staff members had been by to knock on his door and ask if he were up. One man even threw open his door and barged right in when Zach hadn't answered right away!

"Zach?"

He smiled. "Morning Gray."

"Are you awake?"

"Yes, Gray. I'm awake." He said as he stepped towards the door. He pulled it open and smiled down at his little brother.

"It's Coronation Day!" The kid squealed loudly, bouncing on his feet. "Are you excited?"

Zach's smile fell and he let out a sigh. He turned away from the door and took a step away. He was the heir and rightful king of Jurendelle. But he was only 12 when their parents died. Their aunt Claire was crowned Queen until Zach's 18th birthday. And that was today.

Gray darted across the room and scrambled up into the sills of one of the large windows. He pressed his face to the glass. "They are opening the gates!"

Zach shrugged. "Yeah, so what?"

"For a whole day, Zach! There'll be people! It'll be totally strange!"

Zach breathed out and turned to look at him. "I remember, long ago, when they used to be open all the time."

Gray smile fell and he looked at the ground. "I don't."

"It was before you were born."

"I want them to open..." He said softly. "I won't be alone."

Zach stepped towards him quickly. He drew his little brother up in a tight hug. "Come on." He said softly. "Time to go stuff some chocolate in our faces."

Gray's face lit up again and he nodded.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Claire paced her room. She didn't know why she was so nervous! True, she'd been anxiously awaiting this day. But for a different reason than her nephews. She wouldn't be Queen anymore. She wouldn't be forced into hiding for fear of slipping up in the public's eyes. She wouldn't be nodded now. Zach would take care of the Kingdom. And of Gray. He'd so a much better job of it than she ever could. They would be much better off without her around. The whole Kingdom would. And without the fear of being caught, she would finally be free!

Claire closed her eyes for a moment. She took a deep, steadying breath and exhaled it out slowly. She pulled on her cape and gloves, making sure she was covered up to her neck. Then she turned and slipped from her room silently. She started down the hall and stopped in front of the large portrait of her sister and Scott. She turned to face it and looked up at their faces. The only parents she'd ever known.

She lifted her hand and touched the frame gently with her gloved fingers. "I'm sorry." She whispered to them. "I'm sorry it's me and not you here. I'm sorry I didn't do a better job. I tried..." She heard a door opening down the hall. She pulled her hand away from the wall quickly and stepped back.

Zach and Gray walked out of Zach's room, dressed and ready for the Coronation.

Claire turned and lifted her head. "Tell the guards to open up the gates!" She called out.

The boys turned towards her. "Aunt Claire." Zach said with a nod as she came closer. Gray offered her a timid wave and then grabbed Zach's hand. The younger brother pulled the older one down the hall.

Claire paused, watching them disappear from sight. She breathed out and smiled. Maybe she didn't do such a bad job after all. She took another breath and followed after them at a slower pace. "Conceal, don't feel..." She whispered to herself.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

The Ceremony itself was to happen first. Then the celebration would continue. A grand ball and banquet and it was set to go well on into the night. Zach was growing slightly more excited as the minutes ticked by. He was certain it had more to do with the bouncing kid beside him. Zach watched his young brother out of the corner of his eyes. He'd never seen him so excited before. And it warmed Zach's heart. He knew the kid had a lonely life. But that would all change with today. Zach would leave the gates open. He never understood why his parents had closed them off so long ago. And why his aunt had kept on with it. But he wouldn't.

The church was packed. Every pew was filled and the isles and back held standing citizens. Zach glanced back at all the excited people and swallowed. Now he was feeling nervous again. He breathed out and turned back to the front. He was standing off to the side, Gray beside him.

In the front, just behind the alter, stood the priest. Claire stood on the other side. The priest turned and beckoned him forward. Zach glanced down at Gray. Gray smiled and pushed him forward. Zach stumbled for a moment, eliciting laughs from the crowd behind them. But when he stepped up beside Claire, his aunt just turned and smiled down at him.

"Deep breath." She whispered. "You'll do fine."

Zach smiled and nodded his head. He lifted his eyes to meet the priest's and then bowed his head. He closed his eyes as he felt the weight of the crown on his head. Then he opened his eyes and lifted his head. He'd had toy ones as a kid, made of plastic or paper. But the real crown on his head, that was different.

The priest turned slightly and lifted the pillow off the table. It held the Royal Scepter and Sphere. Zach held his breath. This was the part he was most nervous about in the ceremony. If he dropped either...

Claire lifted her hands and the priest frowned and shook his head. Claire paused and looked down at her gloved hands. Sheepishly, she pulled the gloves off and set them down on the pillow beside the royal items. Then she took a deep breath and reached for them. Her hands were shaking as she lifted them up. Then quickly, she turned to Zach.

Zach turned, watching her movements. He caught her shaking hands and for a fleeting moment, wondered why she was so nervous. He held out his hands and waited as she gently set the items in his hands without touching him. Then she quickly turned, grabbed her gloves, and slipped them back on.

The Scepter and Sphere, like the crown, felt oddly heavy and out of place in his hands. And cold. But Zach held them and turned to face his people. He held still, not even daring to breath, as the priest spoke the ancient scripture. And then just like that, the man was done. "King Zach of Jurendelle." And Zach was King.

"King Zach of Jurendelle!" The people sang out and cheered.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Author's Notes: This REALLY is as fun to write as I thought it would be. So... why not just sit here and bang out another chapter while waiting to go to work? 8D (What's bad... is I write it, then pop in the DVD to see exactly where the scenes cut out and make changes if I want to. I honestly have the whole movie memorized. This is a bad thing. 8D)