Marry Christmas everyone!

Have a lovely and safe holiday!

Here's some fanfiction for those who might get a bit bored between the festivities.

This is the second to last chapter.

On with the show.

Chapter 10: Freedom in its purest form

Elsa waved away those looking her over for injuries. She had a few scrapes and bruises, but was otherwise fine. "I told you, I'm okay. Where's the werewolf?"

"It took off into the woods," Bjorn pointed, "but my queen you should—my queen!" Elsa was already headed towards the forest.

"Whoa, Whoa, Whoa," Anna ran after her, "you just survived a house falling on you, take it easy."

Elsa spun around, icy fire burning in her irises that stopped her sister in her tracks. "I'll take it easy when my people are safe and when Gerda is cured." Anna was taken aback, having never heard such conviction from her sister before.

"Then someone is going to need this." Kristoff appeared behind them, holding Drake's silver dagger in his hands. "Found it in the rubble."

Elsa took the blade, having never handled a sword before, much less a dagger. The weight was unnatural, pulling her hand to the ground.

"Wait what? What are you supposed to do with that?" Anna asked.

She shook her head. "We need to get this to Drake and Cynthia." Before she could lead the charge into the woods, something had caught her attention coming from the castle.

"What is it?" Kristoff asked. Everyone followed her line of sight and soon began shaking in horror. A pack of enormous, bear sized wolves quickly speeding towards them.

"The alpha wolf must have changed the others ones too." Elsa surmised.

Bjorn took his men and formed a straight line. "You go after the alpha, we'll hold them off."

Elsa stood by her captain. "I have a better idea." She stomped her foot on the ground forming five pillars of ice that began to take the form of living snow in the shape of large wolves with icicle teeth, claws and spikes.

She pointed. "Hold off those werewolves, but do not kill them." Her snow wolves pounced, meeting the park of werewolves head on.

"Go," Bjorn stepped in front of Elsa, "We'll handle this."

Her grip tightened on the dagger as she turned to her sister, Kristoff and Sven. "Let's go."

—:0:—

The phrase, "silent as the grave", took on a whole new meaning as Cynthia maneuvered her way through the forest. Besides her own heart pounding in her ears she wasn't able to decipher any other sounds around her. No birds, deer, squirrels, nothing.

That's not unnerving at all.

With her lever action rifle snuggly against her shoulder she kept her ears and eyes sharp for the slightest bit of movement or sound….

She spun around at the sudden sound of a twig snapping behind her and unloaded her weapon into the trees and didn't stop until all she heard her gun clicking. She fought as hard as she could to keep her breathing even, but was unable to stop the tiny tremors hitching in her breath. Here she was, alone and unsure, but moving forward because it was what she was taught.

She moved as silently as her boots would allow, and slowly made her way to the trees that she had just blown a hole through, searching through ground for blood, fur, something. As she rounded the tree she, unfortunately, found nothing. She released the breath she was holding, lowering her weapon as relief washed over her.

She couldn't enjoy it long though.

In the silence, she could barely make out the sound of claws scraping against tree bark, pulling her attention upwards and at the wolf coming towards her.

She turned around in time for a black shape to slam into the wolf, the resulting shockwave pushing her back and slamming her against the tree. She shook her head to clear her vision, but even through the blur she could see the dragon and wolf stalking around each other.

"Well it's about time," she groaned. Her comment earned her a playful tap by the dragon's tail before the beasts charged each other.

—:0:—

It was easy for Elsa and her companions to find the wolf, considering the sounds of battle happening just ahead.

"Guess we found them." Olaf commented. "And hey Cynthia's waiting for us!"

Elsa and Anna hurried to her side at the trunk of a tree. "Cynthia!? Are you hurt?" Anna asked.

Cynthia struggled to her feet, her left hand holding on to her right arm as she grimaced in pain. "I'll live. Drake needs our help."

"Where is he—" from the trees above them they could hear snarling, clawing, and roaring.

Cynthia maneuvered her hunting rifle to hand it to Anna. "Here, I need you to reload that."

She took the gun into her hands with eyes wide. "I'm sorry, you want me to what?"

"Put more bullets in it." Cynthia reached into one of her pouches and removed a case of bullets. "I'll walk you through it."

Anna looked at the gun as if Cynthia had handed her an infant and told her to take care of it. Kristoff knelt beside her. "Here I'll help you."

"Oh you've handled a gun before?"

"Well...no, but how hard can it be?"

"Oh god." Cynthia rolled her eyes.

"Okay, you guys do that." Elsa followed the animalistic sounds from the trees until she could decide where they were. "I'll be back." Once again she ignored her sister calling out for her as she built an icy staircase into the canopy of trees. "DRAKE! WHERE—"

Drake the Dragon slammed into a nearby tree branch, the wolf leaping around the branches until it was on top of him. Before it could bare its fangs into his neck, Drake wrapped his tail around it's ankle and threw him into another tree.

Elsa created another bridge to Drake. "Please tell me your winning."

He rolled his reptilian eyes. "What do you think?"

She chuckled. "Can't you just light it on fire?"

Drake got to his feet on the branch. "And risk burning your forest down?"

She shrugged. "Well I—look out!" Drake didn't bother looking behind him at the wolf that had leapt towards him once again. This time he grabbed her, pushing her out of harm's way as the wolf sailed over them.

Drake dug his claws into the tree to keep them from falling. "Why are you here?" He growled.

Still in his arm She raised the silver dagger. "Thought you might need this."

Strange. Even though he was a dragon now, she could still discern human like features on his reptilian face.

The wolf roared, drawing their attention as it got ready to pounce.

"Hey you!" They looked below at Anna holding Cynthia's rifle ...the wrong way.

Cynthia called out. "Anna don't hold it—"

BANG!

With her poor grip, even if the barrel was aimed correctly, the gun flew right out of her hands as soon as she pulled the trigger. "Oops." Amazingly they still heard whimpering when the bullet hit the wolf. "I HIT IT!" She jumped and clapped.

The wolf hit the ground, landing on its hind legs, one of its paws holding its shoulder with blood oozing.

"More like grazed it," Cynthia motioned to a long scratch on the side of its arm.

"What do you want from me, it was my first time with a gun?" The roaring wolf brought their attention back to the situation at hand. Before it could lunge at them, Drake and Elsa fell from the tree landing between them. Drake's belly scales started to glow a soft blue, emitting a heat that, strangely, didn't bother Elsa in the slightest.

She raised her hands, already glowing with blue white snow.

"You got me?" Drake asked.

"Yup!"

The wolf pounced again, just as Drake released a breath of light blue fire, hitting the werewolf in the chest and sending him flying backwards further into the forest. Elsa in turn, quickly iced over the blue flames that had gotten out of control.

Elsa turned her head when she heard Olaf screaming. "Wolves!"

Bjorn and a couple of his men were running towards them, the werewolves having gotten through the snow wolves, and was now coming towards them. Elsa quickly used her icy magic to erect a wall, cutting off their attack, her soldiers collapsing in a bloody mess at their feet.

"What happened?" Anna asked.

Bjorn struggled to catch his breath. "As soon as my men were bitten they turned into wolves and then turned on us. Please tell me, you're close to killing that thing."

They looked around for Drake, but couldn't seem to find them anywhere. Yes they were doubting, but they hoped he would finish the job.

—:0:—

It had been a while since Drake had changed to his dragon form, and even then it was only for training purposes, but now he could remember what all the fuss was about.

The power. The fire. The strength all pulsing through his veins. It was both intoxicating and absolutely terrifying.

But he needed to focus, He had a mission to complete. To kill this werewolf, this monster, and save the innocent lives of Arendelle. They were counting on him, the queen and princess was counting on him, but none of that made this any easier. This would be his first kill.

He wrapped his wings around his body, acting like a cloak, and searched for the wolf. Following the trail Of blood at his feet, it didn't take long for Drake to find him. It's body had been burned clear to the bones, but was in the process of healing itself. Just not as fast as it may have liked.

It spat blood, before letting out a gurgling chuckle. "If this were nightfall, this would have been a more one sided fight." He looked at the sky, seeing the afternoon sun just barely giving way to the evening. "Shame. I was almost there."

Drake snorted smoke from his nose. "Get up. I refuse to kill anyone on their back."

It chuckled again. "Noble." It used its claws on a nearby tree to get to its feet. "Do you think this will change anything? Do you know how many brothers and sisters I have, and how many children we have each? Do you think killing me will make any difference at all?"

Drake narrowed his eyes grabbing the wolf by its throat and pinning it against a tree. "I'm making a difference to THIS kingdom, to THESE people, and that's good enough for me."

Gathering as much courage as he could, he brought the blade up and put it into the wolf's heart. "And you won't harm anyone ever again."

—:0:—

"Elsa," Anna whispered, "look."

The snow queen watched as the wolves clawing and slashing at the ice wall suddenly stopped, slowing their movements before tumbling to the ground.

"What's happening?" Olaf gasped.

Kristoff watched in awe. "They're changing back?" Sure enough, each wolf was shedding its fur, talons and teeth and being replaced with familiar human features.

"Holy crap," Cynthia, chuckled, "he did it."

Seeing that the danger was vanishing, Elsa removed the ice wall and began tending to the victims, one of which was Gerda. The elderly woman had fallen to the ground in a crumpled heap as the wolf hair seemed to melt off of her.

Overcome with emotion the sisters ran to her side, calling her name and asking if she was okay.

Fear and worry were laced in her eyes looking up at the sisters. "Oh ...gods…. did… I—"

"No!" Elsa said quickly. "You didn't hurt anyone. We didn't give you the chance too." Elsa, who had been wearing her traveling outfit, removed her coat and wrapped it around Gerda. "Your safe now. All of you." Kristoff, Sven, Bjorn, Olaf and the rest of her soldiers were already tending to the victims that had now reverted back into human form.

Scanning the forest she noticed that Drake had finally returned. Human again and a bloody dagger in his hand.

"I'll be right back." Elsa ran to the siblings, noticing that Drake was looking at the ground with a haunted and disturbed expression. It seemed as if he had seen something unsettling, and if Elsa was correct in her assumptions, he just might have.

"You did it right?" Elsa asked him. "It's done?"

Drake placed the dagger onto a nearby rock, showing the blood that completely covered the silver blade.

"Yeah." He responded solemnly. "It's dead."

She put her hands over her mouth with both happiness and gratitude. "Thank you." She extended her arms, but only halfway before retracting them, then awkwardly reached out again, then pulled her arms close to her body. Drake raised a brow in confusion, before suddenly being tackled by Anna with a hug around his neck.

They fell backwards with Anna practically yelling in his ear, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" She leaned up to look him in the face. "You saved Gerda, you've saved everyone."

Elsa suppressed a giggle, but even she couldn't deny she was feeling the same level of thankfulness.

"Hey what about me?!"

Anna picked herself off of Drake and placed her arms around Cynthia. "Thank you too."

"Alright Anna," Elsa took her sister by the arm, "let's check on everyone and get back to the castle."

—:0:—

Cynthia helped Drake to his feet, noticing that he still appeared unsettled. "You okay?" She asked.

Drake watched as the Arendelle sisters helped their newly changed citizens back to the castle. Human and alive.

He took a deep breath to help relax himself before releasing it with a tiny smile.

"Yeah. I think I'm okay."

—:0:—

Arendelle was bursting with joy as soon as it's families were reunited with the werewolf's victims. Hugs, laughter, tears, and "thank you's" were given and exchanged to Elsa, Anna and especially the Knights of Kuarlong. Apparently once the wolf howled, those he had bitten changed instantly, but didn't attack. Instead they had gone right into the forest where the alpha was calling them. Luckily no one in the castle had been hurt.

Once all the families had been gathered, discussions were in the works for a celebration the next day. Elsa unfortunately discouraged it, opting instead for everyone to simply celebrate on their own. The citizens finally dispersed to their homes, but just as a precaution Drake and Cynthia patrolled the city through the night and the next night, and the third night of the full moon. To everyone's relief each night was uneventful. The curse had officially been lifted.

Two weeks after arriving in Arendelle, and completing their mission, Drake and Cynthia had one more thing to do before leaving.

"Ugh ... paperwork." Of course it was left for the "newbie" to do. Drake.

Elsa laughed. "As queen, paperwork is just a part of the job. You get used to it."

"Well then I do not envy you in the slightest." Drake and Elsa continued to write down the events that had transpired over the last couple of weeks, making sure not to spare any details. "Details were key", Drake said.

Once Elsa had finished, she began fiddling with her pen. She hadn't had a chance to speak to Drake since he had killed the werewolf. Since he and Cynthia had been up at all hours of the night, they spent most of the day asleep or busy with other things.

Now that they were alone she finally had a chance to ask, "So, how are you doing?"

He looked up at her, as if making sure he heard her right, before looking back down. "I'm good."

She nodded, biting her lip before speaking again. "You sure? I mean, I haven't seen you much, and the last time I did you seemed a bit overwhelmed after killing me here werewolf?"

He stopped writing for a moment, but hadn't didn't meet her eyes. "You know, you train, and prepare, and train and prepare for so long and so hard, but no matter what your never quite ready for your first kill." He paused, suddenly finding the pen in his hand interesting. "I just don't want it to define me, ya know? I don't want to be just a killer."

Elsa looked at her own pen, willing the tiny writing instrument to tell her what to say. In the end, she simply said what came to mind. "I'm not sure how it all works, being a knight, or dragon knight or anything, but I do know one thing." She looked in his direction, hoping he'd meet her eyes. "Your a good person. A good person that helped us in our time of need." She paused until his eyes made contact with hers. "And I'll forever be thankful to you for that."

He watched her for a moment, not finding any sign of lying, or trying to make him feel better. Her words had been genuine. He smiled. "Thanks. I'm just glad I was able to help."

She returned a smile of her own. "Cynthia too. Can't forget about her."

He laughed. "How can you forget about Cynthia?" He went back to finish writing before handing the papers to her. "Go ahead and read that over, then sign and seal it."

She started to read what he had written. "I have another question for you." She bit on her tongue, not nervously but with a sense of excitement. "What was it like? Being a dragon?"

He let out a short laugh, opened his mouth, but then slowly shut it before getting thoughtful. "Actually To be honest, I haven't thought much about it. I've always been half dragon, so going full dragon just felt, I don't know, right." He scrunched his brows together as he thought. "Well it feels, uh, well, it's hard to explain."

He leaned on the table, moving his hands as if it would help him put his thoughts into words.

"It's like heat, pulsing through your veins, amping your senses up to a hundred. The world suddenly becomes bigger you feel this fire in your belly that makes you want to run and jump and roar and break stuff and fly." He looked out the window talking to the sky. "You want to explore every inch of this new world and try everything that it has to offer."

Elsa hadn't noticed that the papers she had been holding had slipped from her fingers, hearing a sense of familiarity to his words. "Wow. That…" she cleared her throat and quickly grabbed the papers and started signing them. "Interesting."

Once she had finished signing them, then sealing it with the royal Arendelle seal, she glanced at him just as he hid a smirk.

"Come with me." She followed him with her eyes, raising a brow when he got to the window. "You showed me what happened when you let your potential go," he extended his hand to her, "now I want to show you."

It took her a moment, but she finally stood from her chair, folded her arms, and with a bemused smirk, joined him by the window.

He wiggled his fingers. "This only works if you take my hand."

She glanced down at his hand. "What will happen when I do?" She said with a hint of tease to her tone.

He snickered, "That's not how surprises work."

She narrowed her eyes, their little game coming to a head as she hesitantly reached out and took his open hand.

The next thing she knew, she was in his arms, out of the now open window, and sailing through open air. She screamed, her fingers clutching at his tunic in pure terror.

"Are you crazy!" She screamed over the roaring wind.

Over his own laughter, he shouted. "I guess so!"

His necklace began to shine, enveloping him in its glow as it changed him from human to Dragon. He threw open his wings and soon began to glide along the winds. Elsa threw her arms around his neck, ignoring the uncomfortable sensation of his scales poking into her skin. It wasn't enough to draw blood, just uncomfortable.

"You might want to see this."

She hadn't realized that she had buried her face Into his neck. She shook her head. "I'm good! Can you put me down now!"

"If that's what you want." She felt him tilt sideways, but with her eyes closed and head buried, she was unsure of where she was.

Reluctantly she cracked open one of her eyes, seeing her kingdom beneath them.

"Don't look down." He said. "Look forward."

Curiosity overshadowing her fear, she lifted her head, now seeing the endless sky surrounding them. He was circling the highest tower of the castle, trying as gently as he could to land carefully and safely.

Seeing the unending ocean and sky surrounding them She patted his scaly chest. "We-we don't need to land just yet." He laughed and and angled himself toward the ocean. He folded his wings, lowering them downwards, but once they came to the sea he opened his wings again to skim the top of the water.

"This is freedom in its purest form." They flew around the fjord, feeling the ocean mist splash against them. Elsa removed one of her hands from his neck and placed her fingertips into the ocean creating streaks of ice along the water.

"So this is what it's like to be a dragon?"

"Part of it." He smiled. "Might want to cover your ears." He took a deep breath and roared, roared as loud as he could without hurting Elsa. Thankfully she quickly covered her ears before he let it out. She couldn't be sure, but she could swear the mountains shook around them. "Now that's what it feels like."

She laughed, looked around, making sure they were completely alone in the middle of the fjord, and as loudly as she could,

"RAAAAAAAAR!"

Now this was freedom.

One more chapter and "Hungry moon" is finished.

If anyone is interested I am planning a sequel, if your interested there's a poll on my page, go vote for which one you want, review and we'll see ya next time.