~3rd Person POV~

Ronin watched as the young Queen-to-be frantically ran through the portal, desperate to get away. He wanted to run after her, to calm her down, and to figure out what it was that had her disturbed, but he knew better. If he followed her, he would only stress her out even more. It's not safe to provoke a scared creature.

So run after her he did not, but stare and wonder he did. Her nervousness was clear to see, but she still seemed to have been enjoying herself. Ronin knew her nerves were on high alert in this new environment, but to run away out of the blue like she did? Something must have triggered her, but what? He tried to remember everything that it was that he said, because surely it must have been something that came out of his mouth, but none of it made sense. Not even the mention of Jack, who seems to be the only logical reason. Surely Jack is why Elsa suddenly decided to run off, but she was fine when he was first brought up. So what was it?

When the portal closes, Ronin notices the bystanders who had saw it all, bystanders that Elsa must have known were watching. Or perhaps she didn't notice them at all because she was too focused on getting away. Too focused on giving Ronin the envelope that he's looking at now, addressed to his Queen.

His love.

But that is a story for another time.

Without a second thought, Ronin ignores the bystanders and their stares, and swiftly turns around to continue his travel towards his Queen's Garden, which is where she spends most of her free time and where he was going to take Elsa. He may not know the young heir personally, but he has watched over her from time to time throughout the years, and knows that she would have favored Tara's garden more than anything else in Moonhaven. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't fond of her, and he pities her like he does with his adopted son, Nod.

They both have great potential to be such great leaders, but they hold themselves back.

It's a shame.

The only difference now between Nod and Elsa is that Nod has someone he's trying to improve himself for. Someone who gives him a competition and the attitude to keep him in line.

And her name is Mary Katherine. Or MK for short. She was a former Stomper who ran away from home, from a loving but neglective father who cared more for his work than for her. She almost died when she ran away at 17, barely surviving the natural elements of the world, and when Ronin and his soldiers had found her enormous body, on the brink of death, they fetched for their Queen, who shrunk the girl, and who had personally tended to her wounds and sickness.

MK, like any Stomper would be, was shocked at her discovery and current shrunken state, not believing any of it at all. She was denial for about a week, and when nothing changed, when she finally realized that it was all real, she came around rather quickly, falling love with the world around her.

She fell so hard in love with Moonhaven that when she was given the choice to go back, she refused.

And all the while, Nod was at her side, falling more and more in love with her. They knew each other for about a month until they finally decided to court each other, and now, a year later, they're still going strong. Ronin had thought their relationship had moved too fast, but he kept his mouth shut. He was never was one to get into someone's romantical affairs. Hell, he could barely get into his own with Tara.

Speaking of which, she was indeed in her garden, like Ronin knew she would be, but to his surprise, she wasn't alone. With her was a small, orange, and furry creature. One Ronin knew all too well. One who annoys the hell out of him.

The Lorax. A Forest Guardian. He's called the Guardian of the Forest, but it's only for one forest in particular. He's not a legitimate Guardian like Queen Tara and the others are, and he's also not like the Elementals were with the Northuldra. He's just a short fluffball with one hell of an attitude.

Towards him at least.

Ronin stayed under the entrance to the garden, politely waiting his turn, and while he waited, he listened in on their conversation, one that the Lorax knew he was listening to since the orange creature is facing him. Queen Tara, on the other hand, has her back facing him, so she's unaware of his presence.

"You've grown fond of him, yes? The Once-ler you speak of?" Ronin hears Queen Tara say to the Lorax, who he sees nod his head.

"Yes, my Queen," the Lorax replies. "We've developed a friendship of sorts. However, he's not been himself these last few days. I fear that his greed is building and that it will soon blind him to what's really important. I don't know what to do."

Tara is silent for a moment as she takes in his words. "You do what you must," she answers honestly, "Friendship is important, but your friendship will not last if there are no trees to keep you both alive. If he truly is your friend, he will listen to you."

The orange creature nods his head and says, "Yes, my Queen. The forest must come first. I shall see to it immediately." And with that he bows to Queen Tara and gives Ronin a curt nod, disappearing a second later in a flash of lightning.

When he was no longer in her presence, Queen Tara is quick to address Ronin. "Feeling nosy, Ronin?" She says to her General (and love) as she turns around to face him. "Or did you come to keep me company?"

A smirk was on her face and it made Ronin mirror it. "As much as I love basking in your presence, your Majesty," Ronin says, wanting to be flirty like his Queen but knowing duty comes first, "I am here for a different reason."

"Oh?" Queen Tara inquires with a raise of an eyebrow, her smirk still on her face, believing that Ronin is playing with her. "And what reason is that, General?" She hates it when he uses formal titles on her, so she always says them back knowing he hates it just as much.

"This." Ronin says as he extends his hand out, the envelope quickly catching the eyes of Mother Nature, and her playful demeanor changed to one of confusion.

"And what," she starts as she makes her way to him, "is this exactly?" She takes the envelope from him and gasps when she sees the Arendellian crest on the waxed seal. A crocus. "Ronin, what-"

"She gave it to me," Ronin interrupts, getting straight to the point. "Elsa. She came to Moonhaven on her own, using North's teleportation snow-globes. Originally, she was going to talk to you, but out of nowhere she got spooked. Perhaps her nerves got the better of her at the thought of finally seeing you, face to face. Or perhaps it was something else entirely. Whatever the reason, I know not of it. If it's any consolation, she held herself together pretty well."

Tara knew he was referring to Elsa's powers, but she was unable to be impressed when all she could feel is disbelief. "She...she was here?" She knows Ronin had just said that she was a moment before, but still the fact could not wrap itself around her head.

Tara has never made herself known to Elsa. They have never seen each other or have spoken to each other or have even written to each other. And here Elsa was, doing all three. But why? Why visit now when she had the chance before to do so? Tara knows this fully well. There have been many times where she's caught the girl looking at the globes with curiosity and temptation.

To escape.

If Tara had visited more than once a month, perhaps she would have known of Elsa's plan to visit her. Perhaps Tara would have saved her the trouble. Perhaps she would have gone against her vow again and shown herself. Or perhaps she would have ignored the girl completely. Let her explore Moonhaven all she wanted, but to not grant her permission to see the one and only Mother Nature.

Tara knows Elsa has wondered about her before, both through Jack and actually being in Elsa's presence (invisible of course) whenever she would ask about her, but to actually go out of her way to come to her, especially when she is so fearful of her powers? It makes Mother Nature's heart ache.

"Yes," Ronin answers, "I was just as surprised as you." When she doesn't answer, too busy staring at the waxed seal, he continues. "Would you like me to open and read it for you?"

"No," she answers, though deep down her nerves really did want him to. "She wrote it for me, therefore I shall read it. But," she looks up at him with hopeful eyes, "you can stay. If you'd like."

And of course he wasn't going to refuse. Not because she's his Queen, but because she's something way more special to him. "As you wish." He says with a nod, and Tara took that as her cue to be done with it.

"Here we go," she says then takes in a deep breath before breaking the seal and digging out the written material inside.

Her eyes scanned over Elsa's words, the words of a proper invitation followed by the words of a personal favor. She reread Elsa's letter and invitation multiple times, while Ronin patiently waited by her side, reading over Tara's shoulder, and while he only read it once, he waited until his Queen was ready to speak first before voicing his opinion.

"This..." but that was all Tara was able to speak out.

Ronin, however, had a lot to say. "Is something I think you should really consider about doing instead of immediately declining. Aligning ourselves with Arendelle could be beneficial for both of us, and this is coming from someone who's always cautious, always on alert, always-"

"Paranoid?" Tara offered, teasingly to distract herself.

Her General smirks. "Exactly. Either way, Moonhaven will endure. We're fine with or without Arendelle. Whatever you decide will happen accordingly. All I ask is that you think about it."

"But it would mean revealing myself and-"

"And being happy with Iduna's daughters."

Those last words shut Tara up completely and her heart swelled with joy and ache, all mixed into a longing she is no stranger to. It's something her fellow Guardians have felt too. Jack most of all.

"I know that you're persistent on following the ancient rules, but Tara," she looks him in the eyes when he says her name, no title included, which means he's serious. It genuinely makes her heart flutter. "Jack and the others broke that rule many times and nothing bad happened. Everything that has lead us to where we are is because of Pitch. I know you've heard this all before, but Elsa really needs you right now. More so than ever. She is about to become Queen and needs guidance. Real guidance from a real Queen. Who better to guide her than you? Though the situations are entirely different, you did help Iduna before. Why not her daughter? She would want you to. Elsa and Anna are all that's left of Iduna. Do not waste your time watching from the sidelines as they grow and die. Make memories with them and be happy. That's all I want for you. Happiness."

He stops at that, knowing it all must be too much for her, and when he sees her eyes tear up, he's ready to wipe them away when they fall. However, Tara doesn't let that happen. She closes her eyes with a sigh, straightens her posture, and takes a deep breath in. "Your words are wise, Ronin," she finally says as she opens her eyes back up. When their eyes connect, she smiles. "I suppose it'd do me right to listen."

Ronin smiles, glad to have finally gotten to his Queen when others could not. "I've waited a long time to hear those words."

Tara giggles at this, the sound music to Ronin's ears. "Very funny."

"If you don't mind me asking," Ronin starts as he carefully thought of the right words to form for his question. "What made you agree with me? You've been told similar words before, but have not been one to listen with an open mind. I feel that I succeeded too easily and that you're up to something."

Tara smiles sadly at him and says, "Oh my. You really are paranoid." Ronin rolls his eyes at this. "But to answer your question..." her sad smile turns into a full frown. "I am...haunted with many regrets. I always thought that it was too late to fix them somehow, but now..." hope flashes in her eyes and she smiles wide. "Now I think this is a sign of hope. Bunny would agree I think. Actually, I think I better meet up with him and the others. They need to hear about this, especially Jack."

But knowing Jack, he most likely already knows. Even though he and Elsa had a falling out last year, he never stopped watching over her and Anna and the rest of Arendelle. Just like Tara's Leafmen soldiers, they watched in secret, unbeknownst by Elsa and everyone else.

Tara quickly passes Ronin, who is even quicker to stay glued to her side, and heads for the Garden's doorway, her bedroom chambers and the teleporting globes pictured perfectly in the center of her mind, as well as the destination.

The North Pole.

"Also when we get back," she says to Ronin without slowing down her walking, "you're going to help me pick out a new dress."

Because for the first time in a long time, Mother Nature is going to a mortal party.

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A.N: Sorry it's kinda short. Next chapter should be longer. I hope. Also if I don't post on or near Christmas I just want to let you guys know that I wish you a happy holiday and that I hope to update soon! Stay tuned for more ^_^