(AN: First of all I would like to wish a happy Memorial Day to all my American friends and fans, and to all the fans who are members of the military or have family members who are military. It is rather fitting that I get a chapter out today, given the source material, silly Disney source material notwithstanding...

Well, that was quick, wasn't it? Actually I had about 50% of this already written (because I cut it from the previous chapter for pacing purposes). This chapter will officially start the Frozen crossover, aptly called Operation: Arandelle. I have decided to cut out some of the Disney stories from my original outline notes just in re-examining them because some of them just wouldn't work well with human counterparts (like The Lion King) and some of them just wouldn't work (like Pinocchio). And trust me, I'm not going to pull GOT and do a crappy ending. Although, my main complaint is that they could have done that ending, but it would have gone on for another season and something tells me the cast and crew wanted outs.

But I digress...so thank you guys again for all your support and interest in this story. It is much more heavy in the military theming and military jargon/slang than my previous story, but I hope it isn't too much for the civvies or non-English speakers to follow. I try to keep stuff in the Glossary section for that reason whenever possible, but some stuff does slip through the cracks.

So, having said all that, it's time to say those magic words: On with the show!)

The peacefulness of the secluded forest in medieval Northern England was disturbed by the rumble of a military truck following a narrow path through the dense underbrush. Everywhere in the truck's path all forms of flora and fauna fled from its bright headlights and loud, snarling diesel engine.

Dusk had fallen, and the forest had taken on an eerie, almost haunted look. The trees themselves seemed to take on a life of their own, their branches seemed like reaching arms with long, spindly fingers reaching and brushing up against the traveling vehicle. But none of the truck's occupants were easily frightened, having seen much worse things. The ghosts of Afghanistan, and more recently Dubai were far more terrifying than shadows and phantoms in a forest.

The HUMVEE itself was at full capacity, passenger-wise. Maj. Bruce Gavin was at the wheel, driving and getting directions from one of the passengers. SGM Eric Wolfe sat shotgun, his M4 at the ready and squinting through the windshield, scanning for potential threats. LTC David Long, leader of the 'Damned 33rd's Exiles faction, sat in the rear passenger seat directly behind Wolfe. GySgt Paul Jackson, USMC, had volunteered to be in the HUMVEE's turret, manning its platform-mounted M249 machine gun. And, sitting behind the driver was Merlin the Magician, giving directions to Gavin.

"...and to answer your question Major, magic is not a toy that you can just use at will..."

Long shook his head and chuckled.

"Still doesn't explain how the great wizard Merlin from the King Arthur legends needed a lift just as we happened to be passing by. And with a Marine, no less."

The mage turned his attention over to the Exiles' leader.

"I told you, Lieutenant Colonel Long, I was in need of a ride because I got sidetracked..."

"Ah-ah-ah, you got lost, Merlin. Admit it!"

Long turned and stared in shock, the wizard's owl familiar had just spoken. SGM Wolfe was too busy scanning for threats to even notice the owl. Merlin glanced up at the owl, still perched on his peaked cap that had managed to get folded over in the cramped confines of the HUMVEE's passenger compartment.

"I told you, Archimedes, I didn't get lost, I got sidetracked on my way back from the Empyrean."

"The what?"

SGM Wolfe finally realized the conversation and was looking over his shoulder at Merlin, his scarred face creased into a quizzical frown.

"Alright, Sergeant Major, you know that place you just came from? Before coming here, I mean."

Wolfe thought back to the bright light.

"You mean that place where the angel-lady was?"

Merlin smiled.

"Yes, you are quite correct, that was the place I came from...and I take it by the 'angel-lady' you of course mean the Weaver of Fate?"

"You know her?"

"Of course I know her. She is quite a charming lady, and very knowledgeable. Although I wasn't there to see her, but rather her employer."

This time it was Long whose curiosity was piqued.

"Who are you talking about?"

"The Man Upstairs, so to speak. The one who is pulling all the strings and turning all the gears in this world, Colonel."

"Never heard of him."

"I have!"

Major Gavin and LTC Long glanced up at the Marine in the turret. Gunny Jackson was grinning down at them.

"I've met the guy. Dude looks like a cross between Tom Bombadil and Earnest Hemingway, wears Hawaiian shirts and goes by Country Ollman?"

Merlin nodded.

"Exactly." Jackson continued as he ducked to avoid a low-hanging branch.

"I'll admit it, he's nothing like I'd expect a god, or whatever Being runs this 'Verse."

"Ah yes, well I'm glad you made his acquaintance. But, to get back to the conversation, I required transportation because coming and going to the Empyrean is not an easy task for mere mortals, even ones of great magical ability such as myself."

He chuckled to himself.

"Although I overshot my course correction, I had enough prognostication to appear directly by the path of your vehicle."

Merlin looked up and poked his owl familiar with his wand.

"So I was not lost."

He looked back down and over Major Gavin's shoulder.

"Aha, we're close. Just take a slight left over there through the clearing..."

As the HUMVEE turned off the main path, the forest became less dense, and as the headlights pierced the gloom, Gavin could make out a dark shape in the distance. The major squinted through the screen, then turned over to Wolfe.

"Sar'ent Major, can you lend me your NVG's?"

Wolfe handed over his night-vision lenses to Gavin, who stopped the truck and shifted into park. He then leaned forward and pressed the NVG lens to his right eye, trying to make out what was ahead. The night-vision pierced the gloom, rendering everything in different shades of green. The dim light that emanated from the shape was now a bright green, the shape coalesced into that of a medieval castle, complete with moat and drawbridge.

As he scanned it over Gavin could see although it was a large castle, it was also in a state of bad disrepair. Several of the turrets were falling apart, and the tallest tower looked so rickety that looked as though it could be toppled by a gentle summer breeze. The major could also make out two bright shapes slowly bobbing in and out from behind the castle's crenellated parapet.

Major Gavin leaned back in his seat and handed the night-vision goggles back to Wolfe.

"Sir, it's a castle alright, looks like we have guards, should we be expecting trouble?"

Jackson pulled back the charging handle on the M249 SAW.

"If they want trouble-"

But Merlin interrupted the Marine.

"I appreciate your enthusiasm and Marine training to kill anything on sight, but that won't be necessary..."

The wizard looked over to Long.

"I am already a guest at this castle, and we are expected."

Both Gavin and Wolfe looked over to Long, who gave a small nod, then spoke.

"Gunnery Sergeant Jackson, what our wizard friend said is ratified by me. Standard rules of engagement for making diplomatic first contact apply. Keep your weapons slung and nobody does shit unless I give the order, understood?"

He received a "Yes, sir!" from both Gavin and Wolfe, and a less enthusiastic "Roger that" from the Marine. Satisfied, the leader of the Exiles nodded to Merlin.

"Alright, lead the way."

Gavin shifted the HUMVEE back into drive, and the military truck lurched forward. As they approached the castle took shape and became visible even without aid of night vision. They pulled out of forest and into a clearing just in front of the moat. He looked over to Long and raised his eyebrows quizzically. His CO just shrugged.

"Try honking the horn, it always worked at the gate of the Green Zone."

The major pressed the horn button on the steering wheel, and the HUMVEE let out a shrill beep. At first there was no reaction, just the sound of the diesel engine idling. Then, after about five minutes there was a creaking and clattering noise as the drawbridge slowly lowered down, while simultaneously the wrought iron spiked gate opened up. Gavin grinned.

"Well, I guess it did work."

The HUMVEE slowly crept over the drawbridge, the timbers groaned under the weight of the military truck, but held. After passing through the gate it opened up into a courtyard. There were two things that caught LTC Long's attention, one, the courtyard was deserted. A history buff, Long had read in the Middle Ages that castles were manned by a garrison of at least a company-strength of footmen and archers to defend it from invaders.

This castle, aside from the two sentries, had no garrison. The other thing that caught his attention was a familiar-looking shape in the far corner of the courtyard. It was a helicopter, although in the dim light he could only make out that it was some form of the UH-60 Sikorsky military helicopter, a Black Hawk or the equivalent.

So, Long thought to himself, we're not alone in this world. Interesting.

His thoughts were interrupted as he heard a door opening, and saw Merlin exiting the HUMVEE. As Long and the others also opened their doors and exited the vehicle, the wizard straightened up his conical cap and addressed the soldiers.

"Now, I would like you to follow my lead, and for Heaven's sake don't do anything rash..."

They nodded, and the three US Army soldiers and Marine followed Merlin into the castle. As they approached the steps that led up to the castle's great hall, Jackson noticed another familiar object in the corner. It was a tall rectangular box painted desert tan. He nudged Gavin and nodded.

"Check it out, this place can't be too medieval, it's got a Porta-John."

Merlin must have overheard Jackson, because the wizard chuckled.

"Yes, I included something that you would be familiar with, given that indoor plumbing won't be re-invented for another 800 years."

They climbed the steps up to a large set of wooden doors bound in rusted iron. With little effort Merlin pushed the doors open, revealing the castle's great hall. It was probably quite grand and majestic back in its heyday, but like the rest of the castle it was now run-down and dilapidated. There was a long table where a rotund man with a ruddy face from which a set of bristly, walrus-like whiskers protruded. The man glared at Merlin and spoke up in a gruff voice.

"What's all this, now Merlin? More unwanted guests?"

Merlin smiled indulgently.

"Oh, don't be rude, Sir Ector. May I introduce Lieutenant Colonel David Long, Major Bruce Gavin, Sergeant Major Eric Wolfe, of the United States Army, and Gunnery Sergeant Paul Jackson of the United States Marine Corps."

He turned to Long.

"Colonel, this is our host Sir Ector."

The rotund noble harrumphed gruffly.

"More guests? Are you trying to put me out by bringing in every sort of oddity from your travels to my doorstep?"

The wizard turned to leave, and addressed Long as if the noble hadn't spoken.

"Make yourselves at home, I will be right back. I have a surprise for you."

Long raised an eyebrow.

"A surprise, what sort of surprise?"

Merlin smiled enigmatically.

"Well, it wouldn't be much of a surprise if I told you then, wouldn't it?"

Wolfe grumbled to himself.

"I hate surprises, for the record sir."

"Duly noted, Sergeant Major. But I'm afraid we're at the mercies of our guide."

He saw the wizard nod approvingly.

"Precisely, colonel."

Merlin called over to the noble.

"Please show them every courtesy."

Sir Ector folded his arms.

"And why should I do that?"

"Because, one they've had a long journey and it's the polite thing to do, two they're ill-tempered soldiers from the 21st century with advanced weaponry that could take over your castle in a matter of minutes, and three, because, I, Merlin the Magician, said so!"

With that Merlin raised his arms dramatically and disappeared in a puff of smoke. After a long while Sir Ector finally sighed.

"Well, alright I suppose you will be famished from your journey. Come to the kitchen, I'll have the cook make you something..."

Gavin took a step forward.

Now, hold it right there now! Y'all said kitchen?"

When the noble nodded, Gavin continued.

"Man, I've been livin' off Vomeletes and nasty-ass Chicken Fajita MREs for the last six months..."

He un-slung his rucksack and started pulling out various cans of seasonings.

"Tell chu what, Whiskers. You give me access to y'all's kitchen and I'll whip up a pot of delicious gumbo!"

"...And I'm tellin' you, El-tee it was a mistake to agree to help Romeo get his treasure..."

Lt. Bradley glared at Torrez. In the background, PVT Davis, PFC Mayfield, SSG Connors and PFC Pete Gobbi were watching the situation unfold. True to the wizard's word, as soon as the Captain of the Guards and his men disappeared over the dune, all of the soldiers were engulfed in a bright flash of light, and when their eyesight returned, they were in the courtyard of some large castle. Off the side their Sea Hawk Navy helo was parked safely in the corner. At the time they were just grateful to be out of Agrabrah. Captain Pelayo, their Marine pilot, had excused herself, muttering something about it freezing her tits off in this cold.

The grouchy noble who was the proprietor of the castle had gruffly issued them up to their guest quarters, a large, drafty room that was probably a secondary dining room on the third floor. After the sense of relief had worn off was when the recriminations and assigning of blame started.

"What was a mistake, sergeant, was sending a trigger-happy NCO to a volatile sitch...If you hadn't gotten yourself into that mess we wouldn't have had to come in an' rescue your stupid ass!"

PFC Gobbi took a step forward.

"Sir, please, with all due respect..."

Both Torrez and Bradley turned on the private, their past animosities gone, having found a common enemy.

"And you, private! What part of 'make the rally point' didn't you get?"

Gobbi was caught off-balance by the lieutenant's wrath

"Hey! That princess was in trouble, what was I supposed to do? Just let her get captured and have god-knows what done to her?"

"What you were supposed to do was follow the storyline!"

All of the soldiers turned their attention to the new voice. Merlin the Magician, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, was now standing in their midst. His thick, bushy eyebrows were now knitted into a frown as he regarded the soldiers one right after another.

"I understand all of you are soldiers, but this isn't Dubai, you have to think outside the box and not just as soldiers. If you approach every problem as a soldier with a weapon then it's no better than having a hammer in your toolbox and approaching every problem as a nail..."

He turned his attention to Lt. Bradley, who was standing ramrod straight as if receiving a dressing-down from Col. Konrad himself.

"Lieutenant, I am particularly disappointed in you! You are an officer, the men look up to you. Instead of charging in with your guns blazing, you should have...well..."

Merlin paused in his rant, as if so angry he had forgotten what he was going to say next. Flummoxed, he readjusted his glasses and continued.

"..Well, anyways, you should have shown more restraint."

He looked over the rest of the soldiers.

"Now, I want you all to think long and hard about what you did, and how you could have done that differently. If you are to be heroes in this new Tapestry, then you need to act more like heroes..."

The wizard's demeanor then changed, and a slight smile crossed his face, causing his whiskers to upturn.

"On a more pleasant subject, I have a special surprise for you downstairs, but I want you to wait a few more minutes."

His gaze fell on Gobbi.

"I have to speak to Pete for a moment, in private."

Torrez and the others glanced fearfully at the private, but slowly trooped out of the room, leaving Gobbi by himself with Merlin. Gobbi, for his part, looked terrified. He tried to remember the last time he was this bowels-voiding scared, and had to think back to boot camp at Fort Lost in the Woods when he was busted for smuggling contraband. But right now, the private still thought he'd rather face the fury the dreaded 'shark attack' than an angry wizard.

But, to Gobbi's surprise, as soon as the soldiers left, Merlin just let out a long sigh. The wizard gestured with his wand and pulled a chair closer, then sat in it, seemingly deflating in the process. He pulled off his glasses and cleaned them with his long white beard.

"Oh dear me, boy, what a mess you caused back there. I didn't think this at the time, but I do declare that you will prove to be more of a challenge to me than the Wart will be..."

Gobbi finally found his voice.

"Ah, for what it's worth, I'm real sorry about causin' you so much trouble, sir."

Merlin chuckled to himself.

"Oh, if only you knew, my boy. I believe you soldiers call it a 'charlie foxtrot' in your timeline."

He looked up at Gobbi.

"It was quite beyond my powers to fix, the story had already deviated so far from it's original storyline that it had swerved into bad fan-fiction material. In the end, I had to call upon the Higher Power for help."

"Y'mean the Weaver of Fate?"

The wizard shook his head.

"Oh no, this was even beyond Her powers. No, I had to appeal to Country Ollman, the Creator of this Tapestry."

He paused.

"And it took a good deal of convincing. He wanted to see how your romance with the princess would unfold, not to mention the rivalry with Aladdin. He actually thought it would be fun."

Merlin shifted in his chair.

"In the end, I was able to convince him by saying that it would result in 'lemons' something that He not only cannot and will not write, but is also forbidden by the Pantheon."

Gobbi cocked his head to one side.

"What's a lemon, sir?"

Merlin looked up an gave a start, flushing pink in the process.

"Oh! Er, ah, never you mind, my boy. Suffice it to say that I was able to convince him to give me the power to make the necessary changes to the Tapestry."

He started to get up.

"Er, could you help me up, Pete?"

The private nodded, and took Merlin's hand to help him out of the chair. As soon as Gobbi's hand touched the wizard's, he saw a brief flash, and then saw that he hand he was holding was a withered, blackened claw. He almost let go in shock, but Merlin, already on his feet, let out a rueful chuckle.

"Something that Country Ollman had warned me about. Mere mortals, even powerful magicians and soothsayers like myself were never meant to wield the powers of the gods, not without consequences, anyways."

He saw the horrified look on Gobbi's face, then waved the wounded hand dismissively. In a flash, it had changed back to a normal hand.

"Oh, don't worry about me, boy. It'll heal. And it will take more than that to down the great Merlin."

The wizard started for the door.

"Come, I want to show you that surprise..."

(Meanwhile...)

Sir Ector glanced down at the bowl set in front of him. It was some sort of stew, made with a thick brown broth and had several different vegetables and meats in it. He took a spoonful and gave it a cautious sniff. It smelled delicious, with all sorts of exotic seasonings emanating from it. Most of the food prepared by his cook was fairly bland, seasonings such as salt being very expensive and hard to obtain. Finally curiosity got the better of him and Sir Ector took a bite.

Major Gavin stood right at his side, wearing an apron and watching the noble with anticipation.

At first, nothing happened. Then Sir Ector's face turned red until it was the exact hue as his hair, then he opened his mouth and exhaled fire. As coughed up a storm the noble spluttered.

"Gadzooks! What are you trying to do, burn me to death? What is in that devilish stew?!"

Major Gavin boyish features creased into a frown.

"S'my shrimp and andouille sausage gumbo, my family recipe! Y'all better not be dissin' my momma's gumbo, host or no host I'll plant my boot up yer ass!"

SGM Wolfe, who was seated at the table as well, took a bite of the Louisiana gumbo in front of him and shrugged.

"For what it's worth, sir, tastes alright to me..."

He took another bite, then reached for the bottle of Tabasco sauce on the table.

"...bit bland, though."

Long interjected himself between the English noble and the raging Cajun officer.

"Now, now Major, you have understand Sir Ector isn't Cajun."

"I can tell that just by lookin' at him! Hell I even toned down the spiciness to 'Damned Yankee' level..."

"Well, I see that I can't leave any of you alone for even a few minutes..."

Everyone turned their attention back to the great hall's entrance, where Merlin had re-appeared. Sir Ector was the first to respond.

"Merlin! You crazy old goat! One of these...soldiers is trying to kill me with some sort of demonic potion disguised as a stew!"

Merlin held up a hand to silence the noble.

"Sir Ector, I would warn you against insulting Major Gavin's gumbo. As he indicated, it is a family recipe. And there's nothing demonic about it, it just has several different kinds of spices in it."

He looked over his shoulder.

"...And I'm afraid I have to ask the three of you away from you delicious dinner, albeit just for a moment."

"Lieutenant Colonel Long!"

PFC Gobbi and the rest of the soldiers stood in awe. They had assembled in the courtyard, and were awaiting orders from Merlin. But who emerged from the interior of the castle was not the wizard, but three other 33rd soldiers. Specifically LTC Long, Major Gavin, and SGM Wolfe. A broad grin spread on Long's face as he saw all the soldiers assembled.

"SGT Torrez, SSG Connors, PFC Mayfied, PVT Davis, and last but not least, Private First Class Pete Gobbi."

He glanced over to Gavin.

"Looks like a family reunion, right Major?"

The major nodded.

"Roger that, sir! Hey Chuck! Good to see ya again!"

Connors returned the grin.

"Same here, sir!"

Gavin jerked a thumb over his shoulder.

"Well, I hope y'all brought yer appetites, `cuz I just whipped up a big ol' batch of gumbo. An' the local yokel's palate ain't refined enough to appreciate it."

Some of the soldiers started towards the stairs, but stopped when Wolfe spoke.

"Hold what ya got, soldiers."

He started down the stairs and barked out an order."

"'Ten-Huit!"

All of the soldiers in the courtyard stood at attention. Wolfe got to the bottom of the stairs, then spoke again.

"At-ease..."

He first walked up to Torrez, and glared at him. The junior NCO, for his part just grinned at the sergeant major.

"'Sup, Big Bad Wolf?"

Wolfe's glare intensified.

"What was that?"

"That's your callsign, isn't it, Sar'ent Major?"

"It most certainly isn't! An' if I find the fuckstick who pinned that nickname on my I'm gonna skin his nutsack..."

He leaned in.

"An' fer the love of Kerrrist po-lease them moo-stache hairs off yer upper lip!"

Torrez grinned.

"Sorry, Sar'ent Major. We didn't exactly have access to mirrors and razors in our previous mission..."

Wolfe took a step back and addressed the assembled soldiers.

"Well, I'm gonna whip all of yer flabby asses into shape, come hell or high water."

He heard a throat clear, and looked at at LTC Long.

"Ahem, that is to say, do whatever the fuck you want tonight, eat up, drink up, stick yer pathetic little peckers in post-holes for all I care, but come 0500 tomorrow, all yer asses are mine."

He glanced up again at his CO and Major Gavin.

"Including yours, with all due respect, sirs."

Long shrugged.

"Well, based off what Merlin told me, he says we have a big mission planned tomorrow."

He straightened up.

"Gentlemen, what SGM Wolfe said is ratified by me. Enjoy yourselves tonight, but be prepared for training at 0500 and a mission debriefing at 1300 hours."

LTC Long grinned.

"This sounds like it's going to be fun."

He turned to leave.

"Dis-Missed!"

Glossary:

Vomlette: The dreaded Veggie Omelette option in military MRE's. Along with the Chicken Fajita, it is said to be the most disgusting MRE on the menu.

Shark-Attack: Boot Camp terminology for when multiple drill sergeants gang up on one recruit and simultaneously shout.

(AN: Well, that was a brief chapter, but next chapter will be our first real fairy tale mission, wherein the Exiles (and the Damned) will wreck merry havoc in the frozen world of, well Frozen. We all know how the movie turned out with just a older sister with volatile magical powers, and a younger naive sister with only a dimwitted moose and his even more dim sidekick. But how will it turn out with two factions of Army soldiers, with grudges against each other, armed to the teeth with 21st century tech, cold weather gear and chocolate? Well, follow and fav, comment and stay tuned to find out!)