Chapter 8 : Valehuela
North's P.O.V
Elsa was sitting next to me in the sleigh and Pitch was lying on the floor at her feet. He was tied up of course but I was still uneasy having him with us. Everyone was staring at Elsa, she had been distant ever since The Nokk had been killed. It was as if she had retreated inside of herself and nothing could reach her. Kiva sat on her lap and Elsa was subconsciously petting her. I had always known Elsa was powerful but what she did today was incredible, and Pitch said that was only a fraction of her power. I remember once when Manny first brought Elsa to meet me, she was always in her Kitsune form, always on guard expecting an enemy attack at any time. Manny had asked me to help calm her down and return her to being a sweet and innocent cupid. She had lived at the North Pole for a few decades. That was why she had a room of her own in my workshop. I wonder how long it will take for her to shift back this time? Maybe Jack could help her? I look towards Jack and find him to be absent-mindedly staring at Elsa's tails. That's right, in her Kitsune form Elsa has ears and nine white fox tails. She's like the human version of Kiva except with more tails.
"So Elsa, what are we going to do with Pitch now?" Asks Bunny. It seems he's the only one other than me able to talk to her after everything that happened. I'm sure the Big 4 are full of distrust towards Elsa because of her relationship with Pitch. If only I was allowed to tell them the truth. That Elsa is the Man in Moon's daughter. Elsa doesn't respond but instead points towards the ground. She probably just needs time to think. I direct the reindeers downward and they bring the sleigh to a halt in the middle of a small clearing at the mouth of a cave. Without a word Elsa climbs out of the sleigh and enters the cave. Jack and bunny both stand to follow her but Sandy shakes his head and a clock of golden sand appears above his head. Sandy is right. Elsa needs some time by herself.
Elsa's P.O.V
I can't believe it. The Nokk is dead. It feels like some part of me is missing. It's been 20 minutes since I entered the cave, none of the others have come in after me yet so I'm guessing Sandy or North stopped them. Good. My magic has gotten a lot stronger and I need to take the edge of my power a bit and I don't want to hurt anyone. I exhale and a blizzard forms and ices over the walls of the cave. My red love sand crawls over the ice and cracks form in the air around me. Through the cracks I can see the night sky and the stars start to glow brighter and bigger. It all stops and I fall to my knees gasping. The cave had returned to normal. I should probably head back to the others before they come to investigate.
Jack's P.O.V
Elsa had been in the cave for a long time and I was just about to head in after her when she emerged from the mouth of the cave tails and all. I examine her closely, she looks completely fine except that she appears to be more withdrawn than before. What was she doing in there? One moment it was all normal, the next the temperature had dropped drastically then it was all back to normal. Elsa walked back to the sleigh and hopped not into the front with North but next to Bunny. She was practically tucked into his side. I was so jealous but if that is what she needed I would respect her feelings. Bunny rubbed his furry paws up and down her arm as if trying to warm her up. If she is anything like me she probably runs colder than normal humans. Elsa closed her eyes, slumped her posture and rested her head on his shoulder. Kiva left her post at the front of the sleigh and went to sit on Elsa's lap.
"Hey Els, where do you want us to take him?" Bunny carefully worded his question so as to not mention Pitch's name. Without moving Elsa whispered something so only the Kangaroo and Kiva could hear. Bunny exchanged a quick glance with Kiva and the Arctic fox jumped off Elsa's lap and trotted over to North.
"She said that she wants to hand him over to some old friends that live in Valehuela.''Says Kiva looking over her shoulder at Elsa. Elsa nods her head almost imperceptibly. She's probably just tired but Elsa really doesn't look too good and she's still in that weird form.
"I'm what you call a Kitsune. This is my true form." Said Elsa quietly, still not opening her eyes. Is she talking to me? How did she know what I was thinking?
"Elsa can read minds. If she knows the person really well it becomes harder for her to tell if you're talking out loud or thinking to yourself." Says Bunny looking at Elsa with pity in his eyes.
"But we've only just met. How can she know me that well?" I say confused.
"She feels very strongly for you Jack." Says North flicking the reins. "She's been having headaches since she met you, to her you're yelling your thoughts at her. She has no choice but to hear them."
"Yet another reason we can't trust her." Merida mumbles under her breath before turning to watch Hiccup and Toothless. I can't believe her! Why is she so mean to Elsa? She can't help who her family is! Elsa cringes and presses her hand to her temple and shrinks further into Bunny's side. Elsa!
"What's wrong? Are you alright?" I ask Elsa frantically. Bunny scowls at me. What's Kangaroo's problem?
"Jack. Remember what North said about your thoughts?" Asked Tooth quietly from beside me. I looked over to Sandy and a golden shhh appeared above his head. Oh right. Loud thoughts. I mouth the word sorry and look back at Elsa. She looks like she needs a long sleep.
Bunny's P.O.V
After Sandy told him off Jack didn't talk again for the rest of the flight. Elsa's breathing had deepened and evened out. She had fallen asleep against my shoulder. Now I'm scared to move, I don't want to accidentally wake her up.
"Okay. Here we are. The City of Valehuela." Said North just loud enough for us to hear him over the sound of the bustling city. I tap Elsa on the shoulder but she doesn't wake up so I gently yank on one of her tails. She awakens with a frightened squeak. I quietly chuckle and she elbows me in the side.
"We've arrived, sleeping beauty." I joke standing up.
Elsa follows me off of the sleigh then bends down and picks up a large rock. She turns it over in her hand then clenches her fingers around the stone. Elsa's fist turns a bright blue and when the light fades where the rock used to be a beautiful and fierce mask sat in her hand. She lifts the mask up to her face and fastens it to her face with invisible binding magic to ensure it doesn't fall off.
The mask was white with ears, it had two slits for eyes and three blue horizontal curved lines on her cheeks, four blue dots over the slits, a blue line down the centre with a circle in the middle of the forehead. Two bells hung from each side of the mask with feathers and tassels hanging from the mask and draping over her shoulders.
"Wow, that's a pretty mask Elsa." Rapunzel said, sounding a bit strained.
"While we're here please call me General. I don't want people knowing my name." Commands Elsa politely but firmly.
"Alright." Agrees Punzie, Hiccup, Tooth, Jack and North. Sandy also nods his agreement.
"I'm not calling you that." Says Merida in disgust and defiance. Elsa turned fully towards Merida. Her decades of commanding hundreds of men could be seen in the way she stood and addressed Merida.
"You can Either call me General or you can call me My Lady." Said Elsa. She looked every bit the fierce warrior with centuries of experience she was.
"Fine general." Grumbled Merida. Elsa turned her back on the fuming red head and confidently walked into the crowded marketplace.
"Aren't people surprised to see us? I mean we do look very weird." Asks hiccup watching the people walking around Toothless.
"No. This city is made up entirely of people resurrected by Manny." Explained North as he followed after Elsa.
"So General, where are we going to meet this friend of yours?" Asked Jack half jogging to catch up to her side.
"We'll be there soon. And Frost, if you want to walk near me, take up my right flank." Elsa suggests. "Fur Ball, you take up my left flank." She commands. I move into position.
"Copy that," I say. We continued walking for a few more minutes.
Elsa stopped in front of a restaurant called the Ice Kitty. I couldn't help the smirk that bloomed across my face and Elsa flicked a small piece of hail at me.
"So your friend is in the restaurant?" Hiccup says, stepping closer to the entrance.
"My friend owns the restaurant." Elsa replies walking into the restaurant.
"Hiccup, Merrida, Punzie and Tooth you guys wait out here." I order the others. There was no way Jack was going to be left behind and I'm really not in the mood to argue with him. North follows after Elsa, he had Pitch slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Jack goes in after him, sandy hot on his heels. I take up the rear, shutting the door behind me.
When I walked inside Elsa was already talking to a short and scruffy looking boy with brown hair and green eyes. Elsa, who is this guy? I think. She looks towards me then whispers something to the boy that makes him laugh. The boy got up and walked through a door in the back of the restaurant. Elsa signalled for us to follow him before walking after the boy herself. Is this boy the friend she was talking about?