Disclaimer: I do not own Frozen nor its characters, nor do I own any characters from other Disney works. Disney owns everything - including my heart, soul, and wallet.

Chapter 1 (Prologue) - Dr. Arendelle, PhD

"This latest data set is extremely promising," she spoke into the recording device. "Factor counts from all Group A subjects are within normal range eighteen months after initial treatment, with no signs of degradation projected for the next six months. Subjects report positively to all aspects on the quality of life questionnaire."

Knock, knock, knock.

"Enter," she said and turned off the recorder.

"Sorry to interrupt, Dr. Arendelle," her personal assistant, Gemma, said as she entered, arms laden with folders. She tipped them into the Inbox on the desk that was teetering dangerously due to the sheer amount of items needing the Chief Science Officer's attention. "The lupus nephritis research team has completed their budget proposal for the expansion to their QC lab. The approval meeting is not scheduled until next week, so you have quite some time to look through it."

"Thank you, Gemma," she said with a nod, not looking away from her computer.

"Also, your town car will pick you up in the lobby at five this afternoon."

That caught her attention. She looked up at her assistant with a single raised eyebrow.

"To take you to the Gala, ma'am," Gemma said gently.

Shit, she thought. Is that tonight?

"I picked up your dress from the tailors' yesterday. It's hanging in your coat closet," Gemma said quickly nodding to the small door in the corning. "Shoes and accessories are in there as well."

"As thoughtful as ever. Thank you," she responded gratefully. It was hard to find a personal assistant that could anticipate her every need. She learned that the hard way having gone through dozens of them before striking gold with this one. "Oh and Gemma?"

"Yes, ma'am?" The young woman said as she turned halfway around to look at her.

"Remind me to give you a raise."

"The paperwork has already been submitted, ma'am," Gemma said confidently.

"I hope I was generous."

"Too generous." Both women laughed heartily. Before leaving, Gemma gave her a small nod. "I'll remind you at four that you should start getting ready."

She sank low in her chair once the door closed, the usual perfect posture abandoned as she let out a sigh and wiped a hand down her face. She couldn't believe she'd completely forgotten about the Gala that night. She took a glance at her calendar and sure enough, in big red sharpie, it was marked in for tonight at seven. Opening up the middle drawer of her desk, she pulled out a large envelope with an embossed seal decorating the front. Inside was an invitation to the event and an accompanying letter.

To the esteemed Dr. Arendelle,

I would like to congratulate you on your many accomplishments and inform you that you have been chosen as the recipient of the American Pharmaceutical Research Association's McMurray Visionary Award. As you know, this most prestigious award in the field of pharmaceutical research and development is awarded to only one influencer every five years and is accompanied by a sizable grant to encourage and stipend their continued contributions to the medical field and the betterment of the world in which we live.

The Board unanimously agreed that your tireless dedication and incomparable achievements in the field, specifically the development of the gene therapy drug Cryonyx and its effective treatment of both endocryogenic lysophilia A and B, were most deserving of this reputable award.

We will be hosting a Gala in your honor, the invitation to which has been included in this package. Many of your industry's peers will be present and we have reached out to your father, Dr. Agnarr Arendelle, to give your introductory speech. It is customary for the Guest of Honor to also prepare a few words about their journey to get to where they are now.

Tell us what inspired you to conquer what was previously thought to be insurmountable. We look forward to hearing about the secrets behind your success.

Congratulations once more,

Dr. Bryan Westergaard, PhD

Chairman of the Board

American Pharmaceutical Research Association

Oh no.

A speech? I forgot to prepare a speech, she thought frantically. She was terribly out of practice with public speaking and didn't even know where to start giving a speech about herself. She couldn't even remember the last time she had to give a speech. Was it… her high school valedictorian speech?

Oh no, no, no.

She wiped a hand down her tired face again with a sigh and her eyes fell on a small picture frame on her desk. She smiled as she looked at the two little girls in the photo, one blonde and one red-head, with a lumpy headed snowman in between them. The memory of that day was so vivid in her mind she could practically hear the laughter in her head, the smell of fresh snow coming to her nose, and a chill ran up her spine as the cold from the past seeped into the present. She glanced back to the letter in front of her.

Tell us what inspired you to conquer what was previously thought to be insurmountable.

She nearly laughed at herself for being so thoughtless, as if she'd gotten ice in her brain. Pulling up a new word document on her computer, she took one more glance at the photo on her desk. It was so simple of course.

She'd just have to start at the beginning.

Author's Note: I have finally summoned enough courage to post something I've written. I've written a few stories in different fandoms, but this is the first time that I feel I have something worth sharing. I've also decided not to let fear keep me from the things that bring me joy. Elsa taught me that.

I will be doing my best to update at least every two weeks. I've already gotten the next two chapters written and it's only a matter of fine tuning them. So I feel like a little ahead of the game. Hopefully my available time will remain on our side.

The first chapter I actual wrote was the final one - the very end. I've also written many of what I believe will be many of the key scenes. So now it's just a matter of stringing everything together and earning that ending I've already finished.

Here's to the journey. Thanks for coming along with me on this ride.