The past few days had felt like a dream.

Or maybe nightmare would have been a more accurate word for it.

Sadly they had been very much real, Elsa realized as she awoke in a strange bed in a small room that was not her own.

The coronation and catastrophe that had followed had been real. Hans turning into that possessed lupine beast had been real. Sora and his unusual companions had been real. Heartless… shadows come to life with eerie glowing, empty, ravenous eyes… had been real. Were still very much real. They had actually attacked Arendelle. They had somehow transported her to a whole other world, and Arendelle was out there, somewhere in the heavens above. Finding it again seemed impossible. Like finding a needle in a haystack.

And Anna…

Kidnapped by those very same creatures of darkness. Possibly on this very planet Elsa found herself on, but doubtful. More likely lost out among the stars as well. Finding her would be like trying to find a flea on a needle in a haystack.

It all seemed so unreal. Impossible. Fantastical.

But no. This was her reality now… it would seem…

At first she had been too shocked to argue at the absurdity of it all. What with the odd way the strangers dressed, their peculiar manner of speaking, their mysterious devices, their capacity to conjure illusions, their ability to cut her off from her own powers… it had all been a bit overwhelming, to say the least.

As the daze had worn off, she had had half a mind to call their bluff and to make a break for it. A different planet? Lies and falsehoods. But the absence of her magic was no fabrication, and she doubted she would have gotten far without it. Even when her magic had been restored, this Merlin was a powerful sorcerer indeed and she suspected he could have just as easily taken it away again had she attempted to run.

But even if this all appeared to be some trick, even if their words sounded like some concoction of untruths and fairytales made to keep her complacent and do as she was told, even if believing it all would make her feel like the biggest fool to ever walk the face of the earth… a tiny voice inside of her rebelled against those ideas. She did not know these people, but still she sensed no wicked intent from them. They had shown her kindness. They hadn't locked her up, but rather provided her shelter that was not under guard. It honestly felt like they wanted to help her and that they… at least thought what they told her was the truth.

It hadn't completely banished her misgivings, but it had silenced them. For the time being anyway.

But what had convinced her more than anything else was looking up at the sky while Axel led the way to her new lodgings the night before. The stars were different here. Completely unrecognizable.

Even if it turned out she wasn't on a whole new world, she was still a long way from home. A very, very long way.

Yesterday morning, her biggest problem had been keeping her powers under control. To think that was now the least of her worries…

At least the people seemed nice, if not a bit bizarre. But then, if she truly was on another planet, she supposed that was to be expected. Aerith was the picture of grace and sweetness. Serenity personified. She practically exuded a calming aura and it was little wonder the rest had made sure she was the first person Elsa saw upon regaining consciousness. Cid was pleasant enough, despite seeming to be a bit of a cantankerous old grump. Leon had been quiet for the most part, but a reassuring presence all the same.

Yuffie was somewhat of an oddball. All bright and chipper and quite simply a fountain of energy. She actually reminded Elsa a lot of Anna, and would not have been surprised if her sister would have become fast friends with the girl, should they ever meet. It was because of the similarities that Elsa probably found Yuffie's company to be the most comforting of them all. Even if the woman's outfit was a bit… strange. If her scant garments were enough to even be called an outfit.

Definitely not to be forgotten was Merlin. The wise wizard more powerful than even herself. She had never dreamed that she would meet any people who, like her, wielded any sort of magic, much less one whose powers would exceed her own. And he seemed like such a sweet old man, even if he and that Cid fellow appeared to butt heads a bit from time to time. He also seemed to be a wealth of knowledge and willing to answer questions, which she fully intended to make use of today, now that she had had time to take in and fathom everything that had happened to her.

...then there was Axel.

Truthfully, she hardly knew what to make of that one. He made her… uncomfortable. Not that she had a bad feeling about him per se, but still, something about him gave her a sense of unease. Perhaps it was their less than friendly introduction. Maybe it was instinctual, her nature being ice and his apparently that of fire, putting them naturally at odds. Possibly it was his ability to summon up dark portals so like the one that had swallowed her sister whole. Mayhaps it was his attitude towards her, which was not necessarily rude, but could hardly be called friendly either.

...maybe it was the little shower incident.

Feeling her cheeks warm, she banished the memory swiftly. There were more important things to be thinking about. More important things to be doing. It was time to start her day.

Pulling herself out of the bed, she made her way to the bathroom, which she had familiarized herself with more last night after her shower. Using the mirror, she did some touch ups and tried her best to make herself look presentable. Next stop was the kitchen. Yuffie had indeed dropped by with some food for her late yesterday evening, which not only included supper, but extra provisions for breakfast today. Picking up a bag of what were called (if memory served) bagels, she sliced one in half and slipped it into the shiny little toaster device, as Yuffie had demonstrated for her the night before. She still flinched when they loudly popped back out a moment later, even though she was more prepared for it this time than she had been during Yuffie's lesson. After applying the accompanying spread, she consumed both halves swiftly to quiet her rumbling stomach.

Mmmmmm, delicious! When this whole mess was over and behind her, she'd have to see if she could get the cooks back at Arendelle to replicate the dish.

Dusting away any crumbs and running her hands down her gown to smooth the nonexistent wrinkles, she left the house and made her way back to Merlin's. There she found the wizard seated at his little table at the center of the room with Aerith, the two deep in discussion, while Cid was once again found tapping away at the… computer, was it? When she entered, that latter ignored her. The other two rose from their chairs, Aerith with that gentle smile of hers, Merlin with a low bow and a warm, "Good morning, your Majesty."

"Good morning. Please, no need for such formalities. Elsa is fine," she nodded, folding her hands in front of her waist. She recalled Axel's words very clearly in her mind about her titles bearing little significance here. He'd made a valid point. Glancing around, she asked, "Where are the others?"

Walking down the stairs to approach her, Aerith said, "Leon and Yuffie went out on patrol. The Heartless have been more active lately it seems and they're trying to figure out why. As for Lea, I suspect he has returned to his training." She glanced to Merlin, who nodded.

Her eyebrows knit together. "Lea? Who is Lea?"

"Oh, did he introduce himself to you as Axel?" Aerith asked.

A scoff erupted from one corner of the room, pulling their attention to Cid. "Axel, Lea... who can even keep track anymore, what with him changing it every two goddamn minutes! Kid needs to make up his goldarn mind!"

He had more than one name? How very peculiar. She couldn't help but wonder why. And training? Training for what? Perhaps it wasn't really her place to know the answers to these questions. Putting her roaming thoughts aside, Elsa cleared her throat and instead asked, "Has there been any word on my sister?"

A small frown bent her lips as she shook her head. "Unfortunately, she doesn't appear to be in Radiant Garden. Our security system is pretty good at picking up new arrivals, but scans only detected your appearance yesterday."

Elsa schooled her expression to hide her disappointment, merely nodding. Even though she knew it had been a long shot that Anna would be so near at hand, it hadn't stopped her from hoping. So… Anna was hidden in the big wide galaxy somewhere. "Have you heard anything from Sora?"

"Sadly, no. Probably wrapped up in another adventure on some other planet by now and still too busy to check his phone. So we haven't had the chance to talk to him yet about the whereabouts or state of your world. Cid's computer has yet to locate it either, but give it time. It is a vast universe to sort through, after all."

Taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly, she asked, "Okay. Then when do we leave?"

"Pardon?" Merlin said, one eyebrow quirked, at the same time Aerith asked, "Leave? Where…?"

She pointed a finger skyward. "Out there. To other worlds. I would like to begin the search for my sister immediately."

Lifting his chin, Merlin gave her a stern look. "You will do no such thing."

Her back stiffened. "You can hardly expect me to just sit here and do nothing while Anna is lost and possibly in danger or hurt or-"

"That is precisely what I expect you to do," he interrupted her with a scowl. "My dear, you have no business traveling to other planets. For that matter, barring the meddling of the Heartless, you have no business being on this or any other planet but your own. Given that you had little say in the events that brought you here however, we must make do with the circumstances and proceed with caution. That means you staying put and not doing anything reckless while we do what we can to get you home. Do I make myself clear?"

"But-"

"I said, do I make myself clear?" he repeated firmly.

Gone was the kindly old man, replaced by a very imposing figure indeed that brooked no argument. Elsa felt for all the world like a scolded child before a displeased parent.

She was silent for several seconds, returning his glare. Then finally, she ground out through her teeth, "Yes."

And just like that, the severity left his face, replaced with a cheery smile once more. "Very good."

She felt Aerith taking her hand and Elsa had to suppress the reflex to jerk it away from the woman. Human contact was still a thing she was getting used to, after going so many years of her life without. She still worried about her powers harming others, even if she had a better rein on them now.

Giving her fingers a light, comforting squeeze, Aerith said, "Don't worry. We'll find your sister and your home world. Just give us some time."

Feeling some of the tension leaving her body already, Elsa lowered her head in acceptance. "Thank you," she murmured. It didn't sit well with her, just twiddling her thumbs here while Anna was missing, possibly at the mercy of the Heartless. But maybe this would be better in the long run. These people knew what they were doing, unlike her, who wouldn't know the first thing about space travel. She could give them the time they asked for… for now, at least.

Turning her gaze back to Merlin, she said, "There is actually something else I was hoping to ask you."

"Ask away, my dear."

She hesitated, her fingers toying with her braid. A certain possibility had been flitting at the back of her mind ever since she had left Merlin's house the day before. One that she had barely acknowledged, but still persistently needled at her thoughts all the same. At last, wringing her hands together, she began, "Would you… Would it be… Ah, could it be possible for you to… nullify… my powers again? Permanently, that is?"

He seemed taken aback by the question. "Why in heaven's name would you ever want-"

"Could you do it or not?" she pressed, staring hard at the ground as to avoid his gaze. Just because she was gaining more control over her ice magic little by little, just because she had come to accept it as a part of herself… didn't necessarily mean she wanted it. Not if there was an opportunity to be rid of it altogether. Not if there was a chance she could be… normal…

Someone like Merlin, who seemed to relish and even take great pride in his own mastery over the mystical arts, could not possibly understand, so she did not see the point of even trying to explain herself to him.

She heard him let out a low, drawn out sigh. "No. I can only negate them for a little while, as sort of a stopgap. But abolishing them completely? Such a thing is beyond even my capabilities."

Elsa suppressed her grimace. She had suspected as much. But it had still been worth asking. She glanced up once more, meeting his gaze now. "Then… could you instead help me to better master them? I'm still learning and they're not yet completely under my control. I have improved, but they still have a mind of their own sometimes and have a tendency to run amok at the most inconvenient moments."

He stroked his beard, his eyes crinkling slightly. "Now that is something I could be of assistance with, my dear. We can start your training tomorrow."

A soft smile graced her lips and she bent her knees in a small curtsy. "Thank you."

"Elsa," Aerith broke in, now that that particular line of conversation seemed to be finished. "Can I ask you something?"

Her eyes went to the other woman. "Yes, of course."

Aerith put a hand on her shoulder and walked them a few steps away from the men. Giving her a quick look over, she tapped a finger to her own chin and asked in a lowered voice, "You didn't sleep in that, did you?"

She blinked in surprise, glancing down at the gown she had been wearing since Arendelle. "Why, yes. Yes, I did."

Her lips pursed. "That couldn't have been comfortable."

"It was actually. It's crafted from my ice magic, and can adjust and shift as needed, so it's reasonably comfortable in any situation."

Her green eyes widened a fraction. "Wow, that's woven from ice? Impressive. Still… you will need more clothes than just that. Despite our best efforts to locate your world, you might be with us for a while. Besides, you should be walking around dressed like a resident of our city, not like nobility running a country."

A crease formed between her eyebrows. "So what is it you suggest?"

Leaning forward, Aerith flashed her a sunny smile, closing her eyes and clapping her hands lightly together. "Shopping trip!"

Several hours later found Elsa wandering the streets of Radiant Garden alone. As she walked along, she found it difficult not to self-consciously fuss with her new and wholly unfamiliar attire. She supposed Aerith had been right, that her enchanted dress had made her stick out like a sore thumb, but this, she felt, might have been taking it a bit too far.

She now wore a light blue, long sleeved, off the shoulder tunic top cinched in at the waist with a belt. Black leggings hugged her legs, and her frozen slippers had been replaced by a pair of black heeled ankle boots. Having only ever worn dresses all her life, it was the pants that made her feel the most awkward. They… were just weird.

Aerith had also purchased her a few dresses as well. Though their style was different here from that of Arendelle, the idea of them still made her more comfortable. They, along with several more tops and pants now filled her wardrobe at the house she was staying in. Having considered it all a job well done, Aerith had some tasks to see to and had suggested Elsa explore the city on her own in order to get to know it better.

Her hands were bare. She had resisted the urge to pick up several pairs of gloves on her little excursion with Aerith, though her fingers practically itched to be encased in fabric once again where they could do no harm. However, she mercilessly squashed the yearning as she lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. She would not give in, she was stronger than that. She would just have to remember her sister and let the hope that they would soon be reunited fill her with warmth, ease her anxieties and banish her doubts.

No one would fall victim to her powers. No one. She wouldn't allow it.

Taking a deep, calming breath, she continued walking along, her curious eyes taking in every sight. The city was massive and maze-like, making it easy to lose oneself in. The thoroughfare was crowded, and she took care not to bump into anyone as she attempted to familiarize herself with the town - her new home, it would seem... for the time being, anyway.

She continued on for a few more minutes until something brought her footsteps to a stuttering halt. An aroma filled the air, and it smelled delicious. Her stomach sounded its agreement with a loud rumble. She supposed it was almost lunch time. Perhaps an investigation into what this strange city had to offer by way of cuisine was in order.

She let her nose guide her feet to the source of the mouthwatering scent and found herself standing in front of what appeared to be a small restaurant of sorts. A large, wide window stood open over a countertop, with a merchant standing just inside, a variety of mysterious foods on display behind him and a huge menu overhead.

As she eyed the menu, she mused how very odd this world still was to her. For starters, she was fairly certain she'd never get used to the idea that she was on a completely different planet. Everything seemed strange to her here, from the fashion the townsfolk wore, to the fact that magic abounded freely here, to even something so simple as food. Sure, she was able to read the menu, but damned if any of it made sense to her. Hamburger? Nachos? Now, the words 'hot' and 'dog' were ones she recognized, but she wasn't quite sure she wanted to find out what exactly that particular meal entailed.

Finally, she took an uncertain step towards the window. "Hello, could I please have a… a pie-zah?" she ventured awkwardly.

The man behind the counter raised an eyebrow at her. "You mean a pizza, lady?"

"Um…" Looking at the menu again, she supposed the word could be pronounced that way too. "…yes?"

"All we got left is pepperoni. Is that okay?"

What did that even mean? "Sure."

Elsa fiddled with her braid as she watched the man open what appeared to be a lit up display case on his left and use a napkin to pull something out. It was flat, triangular, and seemed to be covered in polka-dots. How very bizarre.

He handed it to her. It was delightfully warm in her hands as she smiled and nodded her head, "Thank you very much."

She began to walk away but hadn't taken more than a step before she heard him snap, "Hold it, lady, you still have to pay for that."

She glanced in his direction once more, blinking a couple times. "…pay?" It was not a term she was wholly unfamiliar with. Growing up in a palace, she knew the cooks, guards and other castle servants were paid a monthly wage for their services. However, having spent a good portion of her life locked away in her room so as not to hurt anyone, she was quite understandably not all that well acquainted with how street vendors worked.

He narrowed his eyes at her. "Yeah, you know… as in, munny?"

Elsa frowned and shook her head, "But I don't have any-"

"No munny?! What do you think I'm running here, some kind of charity?"

"No, that's not-" she stopped, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth, then decided to try a different tactic. Maybe Merlin or someone else from the committee would be able to help her get this whole mess sorted out. "How about I go get some munny to pay you with? I'll be right back." Once again, she turned to leave.

"Oh no you don't, you little thief," the man barked, seizing her wrist in his iron grasp. "Think I was born yesterday? I'm not falling for that old trick."

"Trick? What are you talking about, I wasn't trying to…" With a wince, she realized she had still been holding the pizza when she had tried to leave. No wonder he thought her a thief. "This is all just a misunderstanding. If you'll just let me explain-"

He gave a gruff snort and rolled his eyes. "You're not going to talk your way out of this, lady. You're in big trouble."

She felt panic slowly beginning to rise in her chest, her breathing becoming shallow. As her heart rate quickened, the temperature around her dropped and her eyes widened as she spotted a few snowflakes materialize and drift to the ground. This was bad. She eyed his fingers wrapped around her arm. His grip was slightly painful, but it wasn't her own safety she was worried about. "Let go," she said quietly. "Please…"

I don't want to hurt you.

"Ha!" the loud, unfriendly laugh exploded out of him, making her jump. Ice began to claw its way outward on the cobblestones beneath her feet. "Yeah right! No, you're not going anywhere. I'm gonna-"

"I believe this should more than adequately cover the bonnie lass's meal," a new voice with a strange accent interjected.

Both the food merchant and Elsa looked down at the countertop where a generous sum of munny had been placed. And standing before it was a duck. More specifically, a duck with a top hat, spectacles, walking cane, and wearing a rather dapper coat.

As if this place wasn't odd enough already.

True, this wasn't her first encounter with a bird that was more vocal than was usually to be expected. There'd been Sora's ally… Donald, she believed his name had been. But she'd thought him a rarity. One of a kind. Now faced with this second waterfowl decked in clothes, she had to wonder… was there a whole world out there populated with walking, talking, fashion-conscious ducks? This ever expanding universe she was learning more about bit by bit was truly filled with endless possibilities, it seemed. The mind boggled!

Scowling, the vendor released her wrist with a shove and began counting the munny. Elsa's heart was still racing, but it was beginning to slow with the situation now seemingly defused. Taking deep breaths, she concentrated on her bond with her sister, using it to melt away the last of the dread that had been building up inside her. The ice beneath her feet gradually receded and the air around her began to warm. After a moment, the man grudgingly nodded. "Mr. McDuck," was all he said in the way of gratitude. He then glared at Elsa and grumbled, "Please feel free to use any of the condiments on your left, miss."

Quirking an eyebrow, she eyed the colorful assortment of bottles and other small containers on the counter that he'd indicated. She wouldn't even know where to begin, but she feared refusing might only offend the already irate man even further, so she hastily picked one at random. She fumbled with it for a moment before realizing she needed to turn it upside down and squeeze. Some sort of yellow sauce came out. She applied it generously to her pizza.

"Don't mind him." With a start, she whipped her head around and found the duck seemed to be talking to her. Her eyes shifted from her feathered savior to the merchant, who no longer appeared to be paying attention, and back. If she didn't know any better, she'd almost guess her new friend was smiling at her. How was it even possible for a duck to smile? "He wouldn't have actually done anything, he's just quick to jump to conclusions and doesn't take too kindly to those he thinks are stealing from him."

"I… see," she muttered, looking back down at her food. It was now covered in the mystery yellow sauce. Was that enough? Maybe just a little more to be on the safe side. To the duck, she said, "Your help was most appreciated. You have my gratitude."

"My pleasure, don't even mention it! Name's Scrooge McDuck. And I'm guessing you're the ice-slinging lassie everyone's been talking about."

She felt a blush creeping into her face. "Ah, yes. I suppose that would be me. I'm Elsa," she bowed her head. She would have curtsied, but the idea of doing so in pants seemed absurd. Then she frowned. "People have been talking about me?"

"Aye, lassie. You caused quite a stir when you arrived after all," he nodded. "Why, word spread even so far as to reach my ears, and I was all the way over in Twilight Town!"

"Twilight…?"

"Never ye mind, lass. Suffice it to say my interest was peaked and I simply had to hitch a ride from Merlin to come meet ye for meself." He then turned, "Come, walk with me. I have a proposition for you."

"Oh? Er… alright." Putting the bottle back with the rest of the seasonings, she picked up her food and hurried to catch up to him. For a duck with a walking stick, he was a lot harder to keep pace with than one might expect. "What did you have in mind, ah… Mr. McDuck?"

"It would seem to me that you are in need of funds."

"I am?"

He chuckled. "Aye, unless you were planning on that being your last meal," he pointed the tip of his cane up at the slice she carried. "Food's not free, as our jolly friend back there made abundantly clear. You're going to be needing a means of keeping yourself fed."

"I suppose," she admitted slowly. Truth be told, she actually hadn't thought about it all that much. What with so many big (and quite honestly insane) changes in her life happening in the span of just a few short days, she hadn't really had the time to think about the more mundane things, such as not going hungry. Maybe she had been assuming her new acquaintances within the committee would take care of her. But that would just be inconsiderate! She would not allow herself to burden anyone. "You do make a point."

"That I do, lassie. Then there's the matter of your missing sister."

She blinked. How did he know about that? And why did he keep calling her lassie? That wasn't even close to her name. Her head canted to one side, "What about her?"

"I imagine you'll want to go looking for her?"

Merlin's reprimand from this morning about that very notion still rang in her ears. "W-well, yes, of course, but-"

"Then the way I see it, if you're going to be traipsing across the whole galaxy looking for her, you'll be needing munny. It could book you passage on a Gummi ship."

"A what?"

"Vessels that travel the stars, lassie, from one planet to the next. They're very rare indeed, with only a scant few left in existence today. I happen to be in possession of a wee ship meself, and may be willing to take on passengers in the future." He winked. "If ye have the munny, o' course." Raising his cane, he went on, "Then there's the moogles."

Elsa arched an eyebrow at him. "Moogles?"

"Traders. Munny grubbing brigands, more like," he scoffed. "They have a presence on every planet, and they'll swindle you for everything you have if you let them. But if you're going to survive out there, you'll have to deal with them. And if you're going to be dealing with them, you'll need munny."

"Alright, you've made your case." Despite Merlin's words, she still wanted to be out there, searching for her sister. Maybe the committee wasn't going to be helping her do that, but that didn't mean she couldn't take the help from elsewhere if offered… right? "So what are you proposing?" she asked distractedly as she eyed her pizza before giving it a sniff. It smelled peculiar. Perhaps it was the sauce?

The finely dressed duck adjusted his glasses with a grin. "A job. I'd like to hire you."

She stumbled a bit. "A job?" She'd never had a job before, at least not in the traditional sense of the word. She supposed being a queen could be considered a job, but not a typical one. Queen was more of a… a calling. Queens weren't hired to do jobs. The very idea was ludicrous. But then… she wasn't really a queen on this planet, was she? Axel had made that abundantly clear. "…what sort of job?"

"There are many businesses I run across the worlds far and wide. Restaurants, bistros, cafes… more locally, I have a wee establishment that caters to clientele seeking decadent frozen treats. I feel that with your particular gifts, you would be well suited for handling the day-to-day operations of the business."

Her brow furrowed. Decadent frozen treats? "…ice cream?" she blurted out in realization. "You want me to sell ice cream?"

He nodded and tipped his hat. "Aye, though I would have ye do more than just sell it. I'd love it if you could weave a bit o' your magic to keep the inventory cool and preserved as well."

"…you want me to sell ice cream," she repeated again slowly. Well… it sounded simple enough. Because really, after ruling a whole kingdom, how hard could one little ice cream shop be? And if it would get her the munny she needed to get by and get out there searching for Anna, then she really couldn't see a reason to turn it down. Still, she hesitated. "I appreciate the offer, Mr. McDuck, I truly do. But I have to wonder at why you are being so generous when we hardly know each other."

"Generous my tail feathers, lass. This is a mutually beneficial business arrangement. Why, the amount you'll save me on refrigeration costs alone will more than make up for your wages," he harrumphed, then came to a stop and faced her. "So, do we have a deal?" he asked, stretching out a hand towards her.

She stared uncertainly down at him for a few seconds. Then she took a deep breath and released it slowly, shifted her pizza slice to one hand to free the other and exchanged handshakes with the duck. "Yes, we do."

"Fantastic!" he gleefully rubbed his hands together. "Now, if you'll follow me, I can show you where my little shop is, give ye the tour and a rundown of all you'll need to know."

"Alright," she nodded and fell into step beside him once more. Her stomach softly gurgled again, and she supposed now she could finally eat her lunch. Without further ado, she bit down into the pizza.

…ew.

She must have been making quite the face, for she heard barely stifled sniggers coming from her companion.

Great. Now the duck in a top hat was laughing at her.

"Word to the wise, lass," he told her between guffaws. "Mustard doesn't go on pizza."

"Duly noted," she muttered with a sour face.

"Toss that rubbish and we'll find ye something edible to eat, then head to the shop."

Relieved, she dumped the ruined pizza into the nearest trash bin and followed closely behind her soon-to-be new boss.

A/N: There's a very obvious solution to how Elsa can start traveling to other worlds without going to all this trouble, perhaps you dear readers have already thought of it? If not, don't worry, I've thought of it for you and it'll become quite clear in a few more chapters! xD Slowed down the story quite a bit here, but hopefully I still made it fun! Have to fill up Elsa's downtime somehow, Axel can't be around all the time to keep her on her toes... not just yet, anyway xD I dunno, just really like playing with the idea of Elsa being confronted with a more modern civilization and technology than she is used to. Plus it's always fun to bring in other characters for a cameo, and you know Scrooge would capitalize on Elsa's powers in a heartbeat given half the chance! Next chapter, we peek in on Axel and what he's been up to during the time, and we reintroduce this foreign concept some people like to call actual plot xD

MUCH praise and MUCH worship to the majestic and resplendent Daughter of Kyne and ScarletEmperor for being awesome betas for this chapter! Also, special thanks to Mad Oni, SoraKairiRikuNamine, Spiderfan626, ScarletEmperor, and Daughter of Kyne for being so generous as to take some time to leave their reviews! Your support really means the world to me, seriously guys, I'm drowning in my tears of joy! You're all too kind, I'm not worthy!

Fun Fact: Actually, this was one of the few chapters that didn't need much revisions to make it fit with the KH3 story. Just a few small tweaks - having Scrooge say something about Twilight Town here (since I didn't know that's where he was gonna be before I played KH3 xD), adding a paragraph about Donald there (because in the original I wrote, she only met Sora, not his two oddball companions), and one last minute tweak about the name Lea. But what MIGHT be interesting to know is this is technically the first chapter I wrote for this story, tho when I originally wrote it, it wasn't for a full length story at all, but just some background for a KH play-by-post roleplay game I'd join. It wasn't until much later when I started plotting this story that I figured I could work this bit in - and trust me, it's not just filler, it's gonna factor in later to our two leading stars' ever blossoming little relationship xD

Anyway, thanks again for reading, I super duper appreciate it! See you at the next update, lovelies, which will be coming at you real soon! Much love, peace out, and catch ya'll on the flip side!