Once Upon a Mountainside:
"Annnna, are we there yet?" an increasingly impatient Elsa bellowed from the passenger seat, tossing her head back for flair.
"What are you, five?" Anna chuckled in response. If there was one thing about Elsa, it was that she spoke her mind- for better or worse. Noted. Elsa does not like long car rides. "The GPS says we'll be there in about ten minutes." She cast her sister a smirk to accompany the following remark. "You knew when you agreed to this trip that it was a little over an hour away."
"Yeah, but I didn't expect the hour to take so long. Drive faster."
"I cannot drive faster! We're already going 80 in a 65."
"Come on. There's no one around." Elsa gestured to the empty road before them, her face still etched with determination.
"No. Elsa, it's ten minutes. You can make it ten more minutes, I promise."
"Okay… fine," Elsa crossed her arms as she pouted in defeat.
Now that Elsa was growing more comfortable in their ventures away from the apartment, Anna figured it was about time to get out of that stuffy complex and experience some of the wonders of nature. She was tired of being cooped up. Elsa may be perfectly content with staying in her room all day, but Anna was beginning to grow a little stir crazy from staring at the same old walls and outdated pieces of furniture. And heaven forbid you move anything to freshen things up a bit, lest Elsa have an aneurysm that everything wasn't in its proper place. Besides, the fresh air would do them both a world of good. With a state park only 80 miles away, setting aside time to go hiking was a reasonable idea for a day trip. It took some convincing, but Elsa reluctantly agreed. The fact that Anna had to bribe her with an ice-cream date was an unimportant detail.
If it weren't for the multi-colored leaves adorning the trees that spanned the roadway and dotted the surrounding mountains, Anna would be hard-pressed to believe that it was autumn. The high for the day was 85 degrees- one of the hottest on record. For today's attire, Anna opted for an old band t-shirt and a pair of deliberately-torn denim shorts, while Elsa sported a sky-blue tank and a pair of black capris. Each prepared a backpack containing emergency gear, bottles of water, and a ration of snacks.
Finally, they had arrived. Anna handed over the five dollar admission fee before scouting the most appropriate trail for their hike. While she was well aware that Elsa was not prepared for one of the more advanced trails, she certainly wasn't picking one of the easiest ones, either. Surely Elsa could handle a little bit of a challenge. The hiking trail determined, Anna found the closest lot for them to unload.
"Finally!" Elsa exclaimed as she stepped out of the car, lifting her arms over her head in a stretch before slinging her backpack over her shoulder.
"Oh! Before I forget, we need to put on bug spray," Anna remarked as she began rummaging through her bag. Following a minute of frantic digging, her brows furrowed in frustration. "Oh, are you kidding me? I forgot it?!" Great. Now they were going to be eaten alive.
"So… are we going home, then?" Elsa inquired, only half teasing.
"No, we are not going home," she quipped as she closed the zipper and tossed the bag onto her back. "It's fine. I mean, what's a few bugs, right?"
As the girls began to make their way down the trail- their sneakers kicking up plumes of dirt and the occasional stone as they stepped- Anna retrieved the park map from her pocket that detailed their route. Elsa peered down at the map as they walked side-by-side, cautiously curious as to what awaited them. "Okay, so it seems like this first bit starts off pretty level, but we have a bridge in about a half of a mile that we'll have to cross to get to the other side. Not long after the bridge, we should arrive at a creek. It looks like the incline is going to increase quite a bit from there, until the trail lets out at a scenic overlook of the mountains."
Elsa didn't know much about hiking, but she was pretty certain that she didn't much care for talk of 'bridges' and 'inclines'. Though the overlook sounded nice, she supposed. "How long do you think it'll take?"
Anna hummed as she swatted at the mosquito that was caught nibbling on her arm, "Mmm, if we keep up a good pace, I'd say about three hours round trip. And that's including a stop for lunch." The wince scrunching at her sister's face did not go undetected by Anna. "Oh, come on. It'll be fun."
Fun, she said, Elsa muttered internally as she eyed the rickety bridge hanging over the river. The bridge looked to be at least half a century old, with nothing old wooden planks- which, in Elsa's opinion, were far too spaced out from one another- and braided rope that held it all together. Comforting. And of course her fearless sister was already placing her first step over the swaying contraption, seemingly unaware of Elsa's unease.
It wasn't until Anna was half way across the bridge that she realized her sister wasn't trailing behind her. "Els? You coming?"
Elsa's eyes showcased her hesitation as she watched the bridge rocking in the autumn breeze. "No, no… I think I'm okay," she paused before adding, "What a fun hike. Can we go home now?"
Anna couldn't help but smile at Elsa's apprehension. Turning around, she made her way back to Elsa to offer some much-needed moral support. "I didn't know you were afraid of heights?"
Heights? She thinks this is about heights? "I'm not afraid of heights," she stated matter-of-factly. "It's more the fact that someone's 50-year-old handiwork is all that stands between us and our untimely demise." Elsa smirked, "And unlike you, I have a healthy sense of self preservation."
"What, that is not-" she stopped speaking at the raise of Elsa's eyebrow. She had a point. "It'll be fine, Elsa. Come on, I'll stay with you. We'll do it together."
Ugh. Why'd she have to say it like that? She didn't speak it, but a combination of her body language and a small sigh clearly conveyed her defeat. What was this power that Anna held over her, anyway? She was certain there was no one else on this planet that could convince her to undertake such risky endeavors. She chalked it up to Anna's annoyingly persistent charm. Damn it. With a shaky leg stretched out before her, she succeeded in taking her first step onto the wooden plank, her iron grip on the rope railing causing her knuckles to whiten and a thin layer of frost to form around the bristly fibers. It had been a while since she had a slip-up with her magic, but she supposed being suspended one hundred feet off the ground was plenty of justification. She inched forward, each additional step feeling heavier than the last.
"There you go! You're doing great!"
And she was, until a small gust of wind caused the bridge to pendulate, rattling the boards beneath them. Elsa wasted no time in lacing her arms through the ropes, grasping them for dear life. "Anna, you're crazy!" Her voice nearly echoed over the ravine. "I can't do this."
Anna allowed her hand to drift to Elsa's shoulder in an act of encouragement. "Sure you can. Look, we're halfway over the bridge. It's the same distance either way."
Yeah, but one of those options involved a return trip, and Elsa wasn't going to forget that for a moment. "Oh, just so I can cross this man-made marvel all over again?"
Good. At least her snark was making a come back. Anna crouched next to her in response, casting her a sympathetic glance- complete with that signature smile. She didn't stand a chance.
"You know," Elsa smirked, "one of these days, that smile isn't going to work on me."
Anna chuckled as she tapped Elsa on the shoulder, "Well, just be sure to let me know when that day comes."
Begrudgingly admitting defeat… again, partially urged by her determination to avoid the next gust of wind, Elsa relinquished her grip over the ropes as she demanded her feet to carry her to the other side. Once she returned to solid ground, a sigh of relief fled from her chest like a restless bird. "This better be worth it," her words teasingly communicated her intense dislike of the experience.
"Of course it is. Would I have brought you here if it wasn't going to be fun?"
"I'm starting to question that."
Anna merely rolled her eyes as she retrieved the map from her pocket once more. Her finger traced along the paper until it landed on their current location. "Okay, the creek isn't far away from here. I think we should get there in about 20 minutes," she said as she swatted yet another bug from her arm. In fact, there were now at least two dozen insects that buzzed within her vicinity. "Ugh! These bugs are driving me crazy."
"Funny. They're not bothering me."
"Wait, what? Not one?"
"Nope." Though… come to think of it, why weren't they after her? What was it about her that made her so undesirable? Apparently they couldn't get their fill of Anna. Elsa began to wonder if she should feel offended by her lack of appeal to the insect kingdom. Anna must have noticed her contemplation.
"Wait, you aren't about to tell me that you're upset that you haven't been bitten, are you?"
"It would just be nice to be acknowledged, is all." Elsa shrugged with as deadpan of an expression as she could muster.
"Oh my god, Els," she couldn't help but giggle. "It's probably your lower body temperature. They may not even recognize you as human."
Elsa winced. "Ouch, Anna. Can't you see I'm already hurting here?"
"Ooo, I know. Share some with me!"
Elsa raised a sole eyebrow in confusion. "Share some what?"
"Your magic. Please. Just a little bit? Enough to keep the bugs away?"
"Absolutely not, Anna! We don't know what that would do to you. Besides, trust me, if I could give it to you, I would."
Anna's eyes shifted, her brain clearly piecing together a response. "Well, at least cover me in some ice, then?"
"No."
"Hmph," Anna pouted, before recalling the way she's seen Elsa intricately weave ice into her own clothing like a magical seamstress. "Maybe just a little in my clothes, then? Please, Elsa. These bugs are driving me crazy!
Elsa took a moment to ponder Anna's request before reluctantly giving in. "Okay… I think that'll be fine." Her magic was itching at her fingertips anyway, begging for release following that oh so lovely rush of adrenaline. Couldn't hurt to use a little bit of it. "But," she added, "I will not do it with you wearing it." While her powers were finally within her control, allowing them to mingle millimeters from Anna's chest- or any part of her, really- was not within her current realm of confidence. She had expected some form of protest from her younger sibling, but instead was greeted by Anna's balled-up shirt to the head, which she had tossed from behind the cover of a nearby tree.
"Thanks, Elsa!"
Just as Anna predicted, it took the girls approximately 20 minutes to arrive at the creek. The journey was relatively uneventful, save for Anna tripping over a couple of rocks, and the ice-infused t-shirt seemed to be working well enough as an alternative bug deterrent. It worked so well, in fact, that Anna almost began shivering from the chill, but she wasn't about to let that be known to Elsa.
As they approached the rolling creek, Elsa experienced a surprising wave of peace wash over her; her senses springing to life as they soaked in their surroundings. The birds above them filled the air with a plush melody through their chorus of specialized songs, while the fallen autumn leaves painted the landscape in a vast palette of reds, oranges, and yellows. The trees- as noble as they were tall- cast long, majestic shadows that sprawled over the ground as the sun danced spectacularly between them. And the creek, despite its constant motion, had a certain calm about it; the gentle burbles of the water rushing over the bed of river rocks permeated the mountain air. Elsa closed her eyes as she took in the serene ambiance that enveloped her.
Well good, at least it seemed like Elsa was enjoying herself now. Anna couldn't help but smile at the sight of Elsa drinking it all in. Not wanting to disturb her, Anna decided to wander closer to the creek in the hopes of spotting some wildlife. Ever since she was a little girl, the temptation to flip over logs and stones to uncover the creatures who call these spaces home was a difficult one to ignore. And sure enough, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a plump little toad perched on a root by the water's edge. The joy swelled within her so rapidly that she was unable to contain the sudden shriek that scampered up from the confines of her chest.
"Anna, are you okay?!" Elsa's voice brimmed with concern as she rushed to Anna's aid. Except… Anna appeared to be perfectly fine?
"Oh, hey Elsa! Of course I'm okay," she stated as if she didn't just screech like a dying animal.
"Okay, well… someone who's okay doesn't sound like they've just stumbled into a bear trap. Why did you scream?"
"Oh, I saw a toad."
Elsa paused as a mixture of confusion and frustration ran over her. "And... it scared you?"
"No, it was just so stinkin' cute that I couldn't stand it," Anna stated with a confidence that suggested this was totally normal. Admittedly, for Anna, it probably was. "But I think I scared it because it jumped back into the water."
"Imagine that," Elsa giggled. Her eyes followed her sister as she turned and inched her way back over towards the water. It was only once she saw Anna step out onto the river rocks that she decided to speak up. "Anna, please don't tell me you're doing what I think you're doing."
"Well, depends," Anna responded without breaking her gaze with the water, "What do you think I'm doing?"
"Catching a toad?"
"Oh. Well then yes, you would be correct," Anna took another careful step onto a neighboring rock.
"Anna, that's gross,"
"What, are you afraid I'm going to get warts?"
"No, Anna, that's a myth," Elsa quipped in response, offended by the insinuation that she'd believed such a thing, "But they are gross, slimy, and are practically walking petri dishes."
"Yes, but they are also cute," Anna defended her stance as she continued to jump from rock to rock.
"Anna, you're going to fall."
"No I'm not," her voice beamed with confidence and a hint of arrogance. "Now let me concentrate."
"Okay..." Elsa shrugged as she leaned back on a nearby tree to watch the events unfold. This is going to end well. As if on cue, Anna's foot appeared to have landed upon a slick patch of rock, catapulting her with a splash into the cold water below. Elsa didn't need to say 'I told you so', her expression did that all on its own.
The water surged around Anna as she tried to right herself. Her clothes betrayed her as they clung uncomfortably to her body. And the water, it was so, so cold, despite the warm sunny day. "Elsa, aren't you going to help me?!"
"Anna, I told you you were going to fall in."
"Fine! You were right, okay? Now help? Please?"
"Okay, come on," Elsa relented with a chuckle, amusement still bouncing around in her tone as she hoisted a drenched Anna out of the pool of her poor decisions. A couple of feet away, she located a rock on which Anna could sit to dry.
At least now Anna didn't have to hide her shivering. "Heh, thanks Elsa."
"Of course. What kind of a sister would I be if I didn't help get you out of trouble?" Elsa's smile transitioned to a playful smirk. "Even if you do want me to die on a bridge."
"Oh, are you ever going to let that go?"
"Not any time soon," she snickered. She couldn't pinpoint why, but she just couldn't help giving her sister a hard time. But Anna knew it came from a place of love. Ugh. Her thoughts were momentarily interrupted upon the realization that the magic was still itching at her fingertips. If she didn't give it an outlet soon, she was positive it would start coming out against her will. "Hey, Anna, I'll be right back, okay?"
Confused, Anna responded, "Where are you going?"
"Just over here. I need to take care of something real quick." After seeking out a secluded spot, Elsa glanced over her shoulders to ensure no one else was around. With the coast clear, she lifted her palms away from the trail, allowing the tendrils of blue magic to be released at last. Piles of fresh powder took shape wherever her magic flowed. It didn't need to be fancy, she just needed it out.
Out of the corner of her eye, Anna observed Elsa as she cast her magic to what appeared to be indiscriminate locations off in the distance. Curiosity getting the best of her, she approached Elsa before asking the obvious. "What are you doing?"
"Um… letting out some of my magic." Elsa felt a hint of embarrassment flood over her, but she wasn't sure why. She knew Anna wouldn't judge her, but it always served as a reminder that she was undeniably different from her sister… and from most people for that matter.
"Letting it out? That's something you have to do?" She supposed there was still a lot she had to learn regarding Elsa's powers. In fact, now that she thought about it, it wasn't often that Elsa so freely used her magic around her.
"Well… yeah. If there's too much of it. Um, you know how when you have to sneeze, and it feels really good when you finally let it out? It's sort of like that." Elsa's hands returned to her side, satisfied with the reduction in pressure.
"Oh," Anna replied, not really certain what else to say. "Well, feel better?"
"I do," Elsa smiled in return, before redirecting her attention to Anna's still-dripping clothes. "Poor thing, you're still soaking wet."
"Eh, I'll be fine," Anna gestured with a wave of her hand. "Tell you what. Why don't we sit down and have a snack while I finish, erm… drying off, and then we'll continue up the mountain?"
"Sounds good to me," Elsa agreed, feeling much more at ease.
When Anna mentioned an incline, she wasn't kidding. The girls spent the last 40 minutes in a persistent state of breathlessness and fatigue as they continued to ascend the ever-steepening trail, taking care to sit down for numerous breaks along the way. Elsa complained periodically, but Anna couldn't much blame her- this last stretch of trail proving far more challenging than she anticipated. Finally, after much sweat and a few shed tears, the end was in sight.
As they passed over onto the plateau, their eyes fell onto the spectacular view that surrounded them. A sea of mountains rippled over the landscape as it dipped between light and shadow. Each of the rolling hills featured an array of colors, from the stark green of the conifers to the splashes of colors given off by its deciduous trees. It was as if someone had sprawled a painting like a tarp over the land, and the cloudless sky served as the perfect backdrop to its splendor. Their fatigue temporarily forgotten, they practically inhaled the beauty that lay before them.
Anna shifted her eyes to Elsa's, grinning at how totally relaxed her sister had become. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
Elsa looked to Anna, contentment clearly written in her eyes, "It is."
"So..." Anna prodded, "you admit you had fun, then?"
"Hah, I'm not saying that," Elsa resisted, not yet willing to admit that she was wrong. Sure, she was stubborn, but she wore that fact like a badge of honor.
"Oh, Elsa, just admit it. Admit that I had a good idea," she insisted as she pushed her shoulder against her sister's.
"Well… I did enjoy watching you fall into the creek. And I'll admit the view is pretty amazing." Elsa paused as the intensity of Anna's accusing stare was becoming more and more difficult to ignore, until finally caving under its pressure. "Okay, fine. I had fun," a genuine laugh radiated from her chest. "You had a good idea, Anna."
"Yes!" Anna shrieked as she threw her arms around her, mindful not to knock her down the mountainside. "We still have the walk back, you know."
"Haha, I know," Elsa responded with not nearly as much dread as Anna was anticipating. "But we should stay here a little bit longer."
And so they did.
A/N: Thank you so much for all of the wonderful reviews, guys! I had so much fun writing this chapter, so I hope you guys enjoyed it, too! ^^