It was a very beautiful day, so I decided it was the perfect time for gardening. Replanting all of the lost flowers from the storm two months ago. In many ways it felt like a lifetime. I had reunited with my sister and learned that I ruled over the entire ocean. And that had only been day one after the storm.
I looked over my lawn and sighed. I had wanted to fix it up since the storm, but I kept getting distracted by so many things. Thankfully, it was not as bad as it had seemed. After Kristoff, Rapunzel and Flynn had helped clear out any unwanted debris all that was really left was to work on the flower garden.
"Elsa?" Anna called out to me. "I think this type of flower would be better planted over there."
I turned around to face her. In Anna's hands is a seed bag.
"Why do you think that." I asked. I had always planted those flowers there so I had no idea why Anna would think it was not a good place as she has never grown flowers before.
"My magic is telling me." Anna said it like that was a natural thing to say.
I raised my eyebrow at her.
Anna stared at me for a while before her eyes lit up in understanding.
"Oh." Anna said and then gestured for me to come over. "It is like this." She pored some seeds into her left hand as I walked to her. When I was next to her, she grabbed my hand and had it hover over her left hand.
"The ocean is constantly moving." Anna began to explain. "All water around the world comes from the ocean and will always return to the sea in an endless cycle. The ocean and water have stories in them that have connected many things throughout its life. We Merfolk are deeply connected to the powers of the ocean, whether it be through our magic or nature, but the one thing that descendants of queens can do is read the life and feelings of others. Humans, Merfolk, animals, and even inanimate objects. This power can help a queen understand what needs to be done. It helps her connect with her people and allows her to protect them."
I stared at Anna mesmerized. A part of me already knew what she was telling me. I had known it after the first night we had met when my powers had awoken, and I was nearly lost to it. It had terrified me on how I felt so powerful and omnipotent, but it also felt like I had taken a back seat in my own mind, as though some other greater power was simply flowing through me. Time and time again I am reminded of how dangerous and unpredictable this power was. But despite that, I always felt deeply connected. The ancient power that coursed through me was supposed to be a part of me and I just needed to find a way to harness it.
"Close your eyes Elsa." Anna instructed and I obliged. "Now imagine the seeds that are in my hand. Do not pull the information out of them with your powers, be gentile and instead let them tell you what they need."
With my eyes closed I envisioned the seeds. They were small and in a pile in Anna's hand. I stayed still but tried to imagine myself touching them.
"Tell me." I whispered. I did not know why but it felt like the right thing to do. I was not asking Anna for more information, instead I was trying to will the seeds to allow me to help them. I suddenly felt my hand tingling. I looked down at my hand and I realized that I could see it despite my eyes being closed. Echo location was my first though but then I realized that that was only part of what was happening. The Echo location helped me see the basic shape and to be aware of my surrounding, but everything was glowing. It was like particles of light fully outlined everything around me, it was like looking at unbelievably detailed constellations. My hand glowed with a rich blue and the seeds were a pale yellow. I could see flakes of the dust from the seeds floating up, it touched my hand and my light absorbed it, as it did I felt power start to flow in me, no, not power, knowledge. I remembered what Anna said and made sure that I did not force it, instead I let the seeds tell me what they are and what they needed.
"Yes." I whispered. "This flower flourishes better when it only stays in the sun for half a day." The knowledge flowed through me. It was strange, I did not feel like I was being given this information, it felt like I always knew it and it was just now that I was remembering it. After I had gained the knowledge of what the seeds were, I reached out with my powers to search for a place to plant them. Anna was right, it would be if they were planted by the house, but…
"I think it would be even better if they where planted right over there next to the pool house, that place gets an equal amount of sun and shade throughout the day." I opened my eyes and pointed over to the pool shed.
Anna stared at it for a moment before she smiled.
"And that is why you are the Queen." She said as she started to walk briskly to the side of the shed with the seeds.
I smiled after her and then picked up the gardening tools so that I could help her create a patch.
Gardening was something that I had taken up a hobby for. I did not have many friends and to avoid my father with his suggestions of teaching me how to swim. Gardening also made me feel close to mother. I remember helping her water the plants before she returned to the sea, the image of her kneeling surrounded by flowers always stayed in my mind.
I had a specific way of gardening. I was incredibly careful and dainty with everything, almost as if I were afraid of disturbing the earth. It was sometimes slow work but, in the end, everything was nice and tidy, and I do not even get dirt on my clothing. Anna, I found out, did not care about getting dirty. The moment I had asked her to help me re garden my lawn she was practically rolling in the dirt. She did not mind digging her hands in the ground whereas I am wearing gloves and using tools. I sat there thinking about if I should show Anna the proper way to garden but then I noticed how she would spread her fingers as she cracked the dirt. At first, I thought Anna just did not know how to garden but now I realized that she was using her magic. By being directly in contact with the ground she could utterly understand it. I looked at my sister and then down at my gloved hands. Gently I took my gloves of and dug my fingers into the dirt. Instantly I felt connected, I could feel the earth telling me its stories. I smiled and glanced over to Anna. She was too preoccupied with her own gardening and did not even notice what I had done.
"Why are you smiling?" I asked her as she had a slightly goofy grin on her face.
Anna turned to me with an adorably exited face.
"You and mother used to plant flowers here." She said her voice quivered for a second, but joy overtook it.
I stared at her for a moment, my eyes going wide. I then snapped my attention back to the ground and dug my fingers deeply into it. I could not help the gasp that escaped from me when a memory emerged deep from inside me. It was when I was four. I could see mother and I as we knelt next to the shed digging our hands in the dirt and planting the seeds. Mother turned to me and smiled, she waved her hand and a stream of water emerged and coated the ground. I blinked a couple of times and I was back in the present. Both Anna and I sat back and simple cherished the memory.
I turned my head to Anna. I could just imaging mother leaning against the house staring at us with a smile on her face. I smiled because it really seemed like she was there. Then I realized that there really was someone there and I bolted straight up, panic coursing through me when I realized that it was only Raps.
"You gave me a heart attack Raps!" I yelled at my best friend as she laughed at my expression. She then jogged over to us and helped Anna stand.
"Sorry." She giggled. "But in my defense, I did call out to you both a couple times but you two just didn't hear me. By the way, you too look adorable."
Rapunzel stepped back and gestured to our mermaid dresses. I just shrugged
"They are surprisingly comfy." I said.
"The dresses are supposed to be something of a substitute for our scales, so it feels more natural than other clothing." Anna explained and then turned to Rapunzel. "Not that I am not exited to see you, but I am curious as to why you are her Rapunzel."
I brought my hand up to my mouth to stifle my giggles. Anna was always curious about everything, but she had a funny way of wording her questions. She desperately wants to know but she seemed shy asking it. She was now fidgeting and fiddling with her hands as Raps stared at her and then turned to me.
"You didn't tell her?"
Anna quickly spun on me.
"Tell me what?"
"Where having a sleep over!" Raps said as she hugged Anna and started to hop, bouncing her and Anna up and down.
Anna's eyes grew wide with understanding and excitement.
"A sleep over, really?!" She once again turned to me.
I smiled and spread my arms wide. "Surprise!" I said dramatically, really hoping no one would notice that I had completely forgotten the sleep over planes I had made with Raps to help adjust Anna to the land a bit more.
Anna smiled brightly at me, but then her face became worried and she looked at my collar bone.
"Elsa?" Anna said as she stepped toward me pointing to my chest. "What is that?"
I looked frantically down at my chest and as I did Anna's finger went up and flicked my nose. I stepped back in surprise, touching my face. I looked up at Anna who was grinning smugly.
"Surprise!"
I lowered my hand and frowned at her, upset that she had seen through me.
"This is going to be so much fun!" Rapunzel said as she grabbed Anna and my arms and started to skip us to the house. "I brought baking supplies for cookies and also board games and some nail polish. We can do a braid train! I will be at the end because obviously my hair is too short to braid. Oh! This is going to be so much fun!" She squeezed us close to her and we went into my home.
Anna and I washed our hands and then we proceeded to help make a big batch of chocolate cookies, then we played board games. First a fast round of The Game of Life, Anna had trouble with it but still ended up winning, much to Rapunzel's and my confusion. The second game was Karma, we played that one several times, I kept insisting we do one more game because I kept on losing, in the end I gave up and now we were on my bed. Rapunzel got us to do her braid train, she was braiding my hair and I was doing one side of Anna's, while she did her other side.
"So, we made cookies and played board games and brushed each other's hair, what do we do now?" Anna asked as she flipped her now braided hair behind her.
"How about we talk about love?!" Raps replied excitedly. She finished braiding my hair and I pulled it over my shoulder and turned so that we were all siting in a circle.
Anna matched Raps is enthusiasm and leaned forward excitedly.
"That sounds like fun! Why don't you tell us about your crush on Flynn?"
I covered my mouth to stifle my laughter. "Anna! Rapunzel does not have a crush on Flynn." I turned to Rapunzel so she could back me up on this, only to see her face scarlet red and her nervously trying to play with her short hair.
"No." Was all I could whisper.
Rapunzel seemed to snap out of her fluster from my reaction and quickly turned to Anna.
"How could you tell I have a crush on Flynn, I mean I treat him just like all my other friends." Rapunzel demanded.
Anna leaned back, clearly enjoying herself. "My dear friend Rapunzel. You are talking to a mermaid. We know so much about love and even have proof of soulmates. You might be able to fool many humans, but I have seen how Flynn treats you with care and how you, even though you try to hide it, reciprocate those actions."
"How does being a mermaid make you a love expert? Elsa had no idea!" Rapunzel demanded of Anna. I glared at Raps a little for using me as an example of ignorance.
Anna simple laughed. "Excuse me, I mean to say that you are talking to princess Anna, second daughter of Queen Iduna, raised and taught by her and the ocean itself. I of course can notice little things like you two walking with each other often and you blushing and how your heart races when he fell down the stairs last week. I also found a ship with a lot of books about love."
I was sputtering. How could Anna form that Raps was in love with Flynn with such basic knowledge. I did notice that Raps and Flynn spent more time with each other then with Kristoff or I but I just thought it was because they knew each other before we were all friends.
Rapunzel shifted before she looked Anna in the eyes. "Are mermaids really love experts?"
Anna shrugged at that. "Yes and no. Because of our longer life and the fact we do not believe in divorce we really think about who we will marry. Merfolk do in fact believe in true love and there have been many who have found it, sometimes you just must wait. It really is something that cannot be proven. I have lived my life being told about the love my mother has for my father and seeing how would be suitors tried to gain my mothers affection. There is also the fact of the queens and princess's ability to truly see the thoughts feelings and past of anyone. Which I did not do with you I promise!" Anna said the last part in a panic clearly worried Rapunzel would be offended if her privacy was questioned.
Rapunzel smiled at Anna. "It's true I have feelings for Flynn." She confessed. "He helped me escape from a really bad place so in a way I feel like I owe him, and I think that is where I keep faltering. Flynn has openly told me that he loves me and is often trying to improve his life to impress me. He plans to be a police officer after college, and I see how committed he is too doing it. He just seems to perfect, and I wonder if I can love him just as equal as he loves me."
"Flynn perfect!?" I could not help but say, it got me a glare from Anna and Rapunzel. "Sorry," I whispered.
"Well, I don't know how I can tell you on whether or not you love Flynn just as much as he loves you, I mean we could use Elsa and my magic to tap in your feelings and experience for ourselves, because most times we do not know our own feelings so if two more people experience those feelings we might have a more concrete grasp on what that feeling is, but we are not going to do that so I don't know why I even brought it up, you clearly love him if you are questioning if you love him enough so I think you should have more confidence in yourself." Anna finished rambling.
It occurred to me that Anna thinks a lot about love and that she views those feelings to be sacred to that person, which is why she was jumpy around the idea of just using her magic on Rapunzel and just confirming whether or not she was in love.
No, I realized, everyone's life and feelings are special. The power Anna and I have is almost unfair and cruel, we can easily just peer into someone's life and feelings, and in my case even change them. It was a great and dangerous power that I need to be very careful with.
"Do it." Rapunzel said.
"Wait what?" Anna and I said.
"Use your magic and confirm if I really love Flynn or just feel indebted to him or if I even love him as much as he loves me." Rapunzel clarified for us.
"That might not be a good idea even if you have given us permission." Anna started to explain. "If we do it then there might be backlash if we are not careful. The two most extreme cases would be that Elsa and I accidentally become to in sync with your feelings and end up falling in love with Flynn ourselves." I reeled back at that idea. "The other is that we might end up amplifying your love to the point that it is pretty much just obsession. I have heard stories of witches that increased peoples loves to the point they could not even stop thinking about their loved ones."
"Anna." Rapunzel began, her eyes holding determination. "All of my life I was constantly told that I was stupid and childish, I always had to doubt my own thoughts and beliefs because that was not what "Mother" said was right and just to do and believe what she says. I just want this one confirmation in my life. Please Anna."
Anna stared at Rapunzel before it seemed like she gave up and looked at me. I could tell she was asking if I was okay with doing this. I never pressed Rapunzel on her kidnapped life, but I knew that there were still things that haunted her. If I could help my best friend, then I would do it. I gave Anna a nod.
"All right." Anna held out her hands to us. We grabbed her hands and then with our remaining free hands grabbed each other, so that we formed a circle.
"I princess Anna, first in line to the crown and powers of the ocean, will see into the heart of Rapunzel Corona to witness her feelings, with her permission. I will be the one who will link us, Elsa, please help me with control, and Rapunzel, I want you to concentrate on the feelings you want to show us." Rapunzel and I nodded. Anna staid silent for a moment thinking. "Even though you have given us permission and insist that we are helping you, these feelings are yours. In exchange for us to see into your heart I offer that Elsa and I also allow you to see into ours. You my see the loves of our life just as we are about to see yours. Does that seem fair?"
Rapunzel and I looked at each other. I did not have anyone that I was in love with, so it did not matter to me. I shrugged my shoulders.
"I guess that sounds fair." Rapunzel answered.
"All right, I will begin." Anna said and then proceeded to close her eyes in concentration.
I closed my eyes and started to will myself to help Anna with the spell. The world started to have that stary look again behind my closed eyes. A warm feeling started to spread in me. The image in front of me started to gain color and become more detailed, at first it seemed like a dream and then it shifted into a foggy memory, then it seemed so real I could actually reach out and touch it. And I did. I touched the side of a window. I was in a room that was no longer my own. It was dark with only two light sources. The window in front of me and one that was on the ceiling. I looked back at where my hand was touching, I really could feel it. As I stared, I realized that the hand I held out in front of me was not my own. Looking down I also could not see my platinum blond hair that I knew was hanging over my shoulder. A mirror in the corner of the room caught my attention and I ran over. In front of me was not my reflection, instead it was Rapunzel's.
"Wow." I whispered.
"What is it Elsa?" I herd Rapunzel ask.
I turned toward her. She was the same and Anna stood next to her, also looking like herself.
"I look like you." I said out loud.
I got a confused look from Rapunzel. "You look the same to me."
I turned to Anna for an explanation.
"We are experiencing Rapunzel's feelings; it is natural to become her. I also look like Rapunzel in my eyes." Anna said.
"Weird." Rapunzel commented.
"Don't worry, you will also experience this when we take a look at Elsa and my love life." Anna said as she put a hand on Rapunzel's shoulder.
"So how do we do this?" I asked.
Suddenly I saw an image of Flynn in the room and I experienced something inside of me.
"Rapunzel, you need to have more confidence in your feelings." I told my friend.
She looked at me confused. "What do you mean?"
"If you think Flynn loves you more then you love him then he must be under a witch's spell like Anna told us of. Because you are head over heals in love with him, to the point I do not understand how you could have doubted." I explained.
"I also see that even though you deny it, you actually like his smolder." Anna commented.
I felt a blush appear on my face. It took me a moment to realize that it was actually Rapunzel who was blushing.
Rapunzel sighed and grabbed Anna and me by the arms.
"Thank you." She said it with so much gratitude in her voice.
Rapunzel's feelings of relief and then happiness spread inside of me. Rapunzel truly did love Flynn with all her heart. I could feel it.
"And now it is Elsa's turn!" Anna exclaimed.
The room and Flynn disappeared, and I was back to normal.
We were now going to see into my love life. I did not worry to much because I didn't have any boys I was in love with at the moment so I guessed we would just skip over me. Just as I thought that a deep memory emerged, and an image of a young man took form. An image of a young boy with white hair, icy blue eyes, and a blue hoodie emerged.
"No!" Rapunzel said in disbelief. "You had a crush on Jack Frost!?" She then started to laugh.
"Jack Frost?" Anna asked. "He looks cute, so I don't understand why you are feeling so conflicted Elsa."
I grimaced and waived my hands about flustered, not knowing how to explain it. Suddenly something appeared in my hands. I immediately recognized it and proceeded to throw it away. Rapunzel unfortunately caught it and showed it to Anna.
"Rise of the Guardians?" Anna read the title of the children's movie out loud.
Rapunzel nodded. "Jack Frost is a cartoon character."
Anna's eyes lit up in realization. She then smiled at me and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry Elsa, love is love."
I covered my face in embarrassment. Rapunzel was still laughing at my predicament.
"It's your turn Anna!" I said quickly. Pointing a finger at my sister.
The image of Jack Frost faded. Anna stood in a thinking position.
"Hmm. I never really had a crush on anyone, I guess if we are basing it on looks and the idea of enjoying each other's company then I guess my true love is…Sven!" Anna spread her arms dramatically.
Suddenly I was Anna in her mermaid form. Sven jumped in my arms and was liking my face as I helped hold him above water. Kristoff was also there smiling at me. I felt rather comfortable and happy.
"That is cheating!" Rapunzel said. "Sven is a dog."
"Sorry, that is the best I got at the moment." Anna replied.
Anna let go of our hands and I was jolted back into my room. Rapunzel started to attack Anna with a pillow, and I decided to tickle her.
"Wait! Please stop! I really do not have a crush on anyone! Mercy Please!" Anna screamed between her laughter.
Rapunzel and I relented, and Anna sat back up.
"Love talk is over now. What next?" Anna asked while rubbing her sides.
Rapunzel stood up and went over to the light switch, grabbing a flashlight on her way. Turning of the lights she flicked the flashlight on and had it positioned below her chin, giving her a creepy look.
"Now we tell ghost stories."
Rapunzel bounced back onto the bed and Anna and I scotched in closer to her.
"I will go first." Rapunzel said and after a quick and eager nod from Anna and I she started to tell her story. "There once was a young boy, he was in college so maybe not that young. He was studying science and over the summer he got an internship with a mysterious professor. Once he arrived at the professor's house, he was told exactly what they were studying. In the basement lying in a cage was a monster. It was big and harry with long tusks like fangs and human hands. The boy was given one rule. "Do not touch the creature". The boy and the professor studied the creature throughout the summer, and everything seemed to go well. The experiments were simple, and the creature was very responsive. One day the professor informed the boy that he was going on a trip, so he was entrusting the boy with taking care of the monster. The boy agreed, and after the professor reminded him of the one rule he left. The first couple of days nothing happened, he monitored the creature and made sure it was comfortable with lots of food and water. On the third day however, the boy walked into the basement and saw the creature leaning against the cage, its back turned to him. Temptation overcame the boy as he snuck up behind the creature and with just one finger, barely grazed a single hair on the creature's back. Suddenly the creature bolted up right and tore the cage to shreds! The boy ran but the monster was right behind him! The boy drove his car until it ran out of gas, he then road a bike until he came to a lake, then her rowed across the lake on a boat. All of the time the monster was right behind him chanting, "I'm going to get you! I'm going to get you!". Finally, the boy had no other option but to clime a tree. The monster grabbed the tree and shock it. The boy fell out of the tree onto the ground. The monster leaned forward and with an outstretched hand he tapped the boy and said." Rapunzel leaned forward toward Anna and tapped her on the shoulder. "Tag your it."
Anna looked confused and turned to me. I was laughing, the story actually was scaring me, so I was happy it had a funny twist ending.
"I don't get it." Anna said.
"The creature was just playing tag." Rapunzel tried to explain. "You think throughout the story that the boy is going to die but then it turns out to just be a game."
"But if the monster just plays tag when you touch it why didn't the professor just say?" Anna asked.
Rapunzel looked a little flabbergasted at that. "It is just a story, sometimes you have to ignore easy solutions."
Anna did not look like she really liked that explanation but decided to just shrug it off.
"Why don't you tell a story Anna?" I suggested.
Anna thought for a moment before a smile spread on her face.
"Okay, I got one." Rapunzel handed her the flashlight. "long ago, told centuries since it happened, there were two mermaid princesses. The eldest, who was destined to be Queen, was named Ursula. She was a very proud mermaid, she enjoyed parties and being the center of attention. Her younger sister Athena was the opposite, she was very quiet and gentle, preferring small company rather then a crowed. It became obvious to everyone that Athena was the more liked princess, much to Ursula's disdain. However, she did not let it get to her as she was the one who would be Queen. The day came when the powers of the ocean were to be passed onto Ursula, a day she had longed for so long. But the powers were awoken in Athena instead. That was the day that Ursula found out that she had been adopted, that Athena was the true heir and that she was just another princess. Hatred and jealousy overtook Ursula and she fled the palace. She traveled deep down into a cave and became a sea witch. Most sea witches start to use their newfound powers immediately, but Ursula had other plans. She did not want news of her transformation to get out. Instead, she watched and waited for a day when she could take her revenge. Years went by and Athena had seven daughters. The youngest was named Ariel. Ariel was adventures and curious. Everything fascinated her, especially that of the human world. One day Ariel fell in love with a human prince. He was handsome and kind, and did not mind Ariel's strange questions, instead he explained things to her calmly and without malice. He did find it strange that she would not leave the water though. Being a daughter of a Queen granted Ariel many abilities, but she had always had trouble with becoming human. Distraught over not being able to truly be with the man she loved she followed two talking eels that told her of a mermaid that could grant her wish. There they brought her to Ursula who had been watching Ariel for some time now. Ariel was first scared of making a deal with a sea witch, but Ursula quickly charmed her way into Ariel's trust. Ariel told Ursula of her grievance and Ursula gave her a solution. Ursula would transform Ariel into a human; however, Ariel would never be able to become a mermaid again. At first Ariel was not certain, becoming human meant she would leave her family behind, but Ariel new that Eric was her true love, and that her family could always come and visit her. So, she took the deal. Ariel became human and her and Eric wed. Everything seemed to be working out, Ariel was happy, and Ursula had offered to tell her family of where she had gone. Ursula did in fact tell her sisters, but she twisted it so that they believed that Ariel was forced to become human and that she was miserable and unloved on land. Ursula told them that she could not turn Ariel back into a mermaid, but she might be able to do it if the sisters lend her their powers. The sisters agreed. This is where Ursula's plans truly came together. You see there was never a catch in her deals. She gave Ariel what she wanted and even told her the draw backs. With the sisters, she also did what they asked. With her powers and theirs combined she cast a spell to turn Ariel back into a mermaid. But the first spell to make Ariel become human was one that Ursula made to be absolute, so the second spell to turn her back into a mermaid failed, just as Ursula knew it would. Ariel remained human and her sisters, after having all of their magic drained from them, shriveled up and shrank down to be seaweed creatures that Ursula used to decorate her home with, as she enjoyed to hear their wails. Years passed and Athena finally found Ursula's cave. She discovered what had happened to her daughters and wept. Her darling daughters had remained as those seaweed creatures for to long, and now they could no longer remember who they used to be and would never be mermaids again. Athena lost control of her powers for a moment and Ursula became sea-foam. Athena then went to where Ariel was. Ursula would not have been able to undo her own curse, but nothing ever beats the powers of the Queen of the ocean. Yet when she walked into the palace that her daughter now lived in, she was greeted by Ariel with so much love and happiness. Queen Athena could see how much Ariel loved her husband. Ariel told her that the one thing that she regretted was that she did not trust her mother, that she wished she had gone to her when she had fallen in love and that she could have gotten Athena's blessing, but she was afraid that Athena would only tell her what everyone else said, that loving a human is wrong. After hearing this Athena chose to not tell her youngest daughter the truth. She blessed Ariel and Eric and told Ariel that her sisters had also found true love and where living happily. Years past and Athena died, the power of the ocean passed down to her only surviving daughter Ariel. The spell that kept Ariel human broke and she returned to the sea, taking with her, her daughter Melody, our great, great, great, a couple more greats, grandmother."
Anna finished her story and Rapunzel and I stared at her with our mouths hanging open.
"Is that story really real?" I asked what I knew what we both were thinking.
Anna nodded and then looked quizzically at us. "Was Rapunzel's story not?"
"No!" We both said in unison.
"Oh." Anna said quietly, a little taken aback by our tone. "In that case, your story was really good Rapunzel."
We sat there quietly for a moment. We just fidgeted. I could no longer take the silence.
"Ariel is our great grandmother?" I asked for clarification.
Anna nodded. "She is more like a great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandmother, give or take a few greats."
"I take it all of your ghost stories will be real." Rapunzel said.
Anna once again gave a nod. "When you actually know of monsters of the night, it seems pointless to make something up."
"I think we should stop with the ghost stories." I said. It felt wrong to continue them.
"I am sorry." Anna said sadly. "The story of the witch Ursula is something parents tell there young to keep them from going to dark places. I did not think about the fact that it is our history and that it would upset you."
I grab Anna's hands so she would look up at me.
"It's all right Anna. We know you didn't mean to upset us." I said trying to cheer her up.
"Actually, if you think about it, your story did its job. We are completely creeped out because of it. As all good ghost stories should be." Rapunzel encouraged.
Anna smiled at us.
"Now let us talk about something really scary!" Rapunzel suddenly shouted. "The future! What are you going to be?"
I was taken aback from this question because lately it had become unimportant.
"I really never thought about what I was going to do." I said distractedly. "My father left me so much money. I really was just going to go to college and then practically have a job as a hobby, maybe become a businesswoman. But now I apparently am going to be Queen of the Ocean. Is there any sort of paperwork with being a mermaid Queen?" I asked turning to Anna.
"No, you just have to have good listening skills and the knowledge on who to wisely use your powers. And also take care of sea witches, but those are not common." Anna replied.
I nodded and then turned to Rapunzel for her answer.
"My parents are teaching me about their business, they want me to take over someday. But I am also taking classes in art. I really like to pant. I think I will end up taking over the company but also panting on the side." Rapunzel explained. "What about you Anna? Does a mermaid princess have to get a job at all?"
"I am going to write down our history." Anna said.
"What? What do you mean?" I asked. "Is our history not written down?"
Anna shook her head. "The thing is, we do sort of have a history, but it is more passed down from mouth. It was not until thirteen thousand years ago that we invented underwater paper and pen. We have so much history that is forgotten with time. The Queens have the ability to see into the past, but they have not rediscovered our history in fear that they may lose themselves. Princesses may have some of the Queens powers but not to a big extent. That is where I come in. Despite not being heir to the throne, I have been blessed with a tremendous amount of power, with the only downside being lack of control. With enough practice I can learn all there is to know about the sea, and because I am not a Queen and do not have the deep power of the sea residing in me, so I do not have to worry about becoming a sea witch, at least not more than usual."
"Wow." Rapunzel commented amazed. "And I thought I had problems with taking over a company and then feeling jealous because Elsa gets to be a Queen with no work attached.
Anna smiled bashfully.
I stared at Anna. There was another agenda to her learning about mermaids' pasts. I could see it in her eyes. I remembered what she had shown me in the garden. How we rediscovered a memory of our mother. My eyes widened in understanding.
"I think it is time for us to go to bed." I said as I scotched toward the front of the bed and buried myself under the covers.
"But we just got started." Rapunzel complained.
"We are just talking about life now. We are not doing anything fun, so we might as well call it a night." I said not bothering to even look at them.
Silence greeted me for a while, but I could feel Anna and Rapunzel staring at me.
"Fine." I heard Raps sigh. "But let's do one last thing."
I heard footsteps leave my room, a few moments past before the footsteps returned.
I peeked up out of the covers to see Rapunzel standing proudly with a huge grin on her face, holding The Rise of the Guardians movie.
I decided to resign myself to my fate. Although I made it quite clear of my displeasure, much to Anna and Rapunzel's amusement. We watched the movie, which Anna loved, and I regained my passion for it. We went to bed and got up late. After having brunch Rapunzel left. Anna and I continued with the day until late afternoon. Now I was floating on my back in the swimming pool, lazily looking up at the sky.
"Hey Anna?" I called out.
"Yes?"
I sighed. "Is there really nothing more to being Queen of the ocean?"
Anna swam over to me. "Is this what has been bugging you?"
I straightened up to face her.
"I know that mermaids live longer and because the Queen has full authority there is no disputes, but it feels like I am cheating at life." I tried to explain what I was feeling. "Rapunzel has all this pressure to take over her family's business and you want to regain our lost history. I feel like I don't have any goals or troubles because of my statis as a Queen."
"Being Queen is not as simple as you think it is Elsa." Anna said it sadly. "The thing is, despite our kingdom practically living in a utopia, where we have no wars and no one is left wanting, there is also dark feelings. I have told you that merfolk experience feelings more than humans and that if you let a negative feeling consume you, you will turn into a sea witch. The Queen is more than a powerful figure head. She is the mother of the ocean. The one that anyone can go to for help. She protects and guides, and if someone falls, she destroys."
"I feel like you would make a better Queen then me." I say genuinely.
Anna giggled at that. "You would be alone in that thought. The only person who has ever believed I would make a good Queen was mother."
"Why?" I asked. "You are kind, know so much more about this stuff then me, and have been there helping me when I feel lost and confused. That seems like great Queen quality to me."
"Yeah, but I am also awkward, clumsy, prong to rash action, and maybe a little overprotective." Anna listed off. "People find me a little much, even if they admit they know I mean well."
"Even so, you still seem more qualified than me."
Anna put a hand on my shoulder. "Give yourself more credit. First off you did not know about being the future Queen of the ocean and have been giving this duty much sooner than any Queen. You are also a natural at your magic and are excepting your responsibility with great understanding and respect. Neither of us have ever taken on the responsibility of the Queen, there really is no way we can compare. Also, you are the first born and have the power so it is pointless saying I would be better because I will never be Queen unless you die before you have a daughter of your own."
Anna said the last part very quickly making me smile.
"Thank you, Anna."
Anna put her hand on my cheek in a comforting way, and I could not help leaning into it.
"You will be a great Queen Elsa, just give yourself some time to understand it." Anna encouraged.
I smiled and then looked down at the water. I had started to really get the hang of swimming. After our trip in the ocean I had been in the pool more often. Swimming and being with Anna had been great and then going inside and hanging with Rapunzel, Flynn, and Kristoff was the icing on the cake. I wanted this to last forever. But I needed to take my life more serious and not to run away anymore.
"We will go at summers end." I say with conviction.
"What?" Anna asked confused.
I stared into her eyes to show my determination.
"I learned about being a mermaid several months ago, and even though I am scarred and worried, and that I love the life I have right now, I love my friends, Rapunzel, Flynn, and Kristoff, and I want things to just stay the same. I know I must go and live in the ocean; I just did not know when. I thought I could take one more year and finish college, but I am just avoiding my real responsibilities. Summer will last for a few more months, I can spend that time with my friends and learning more from you. So, at the end of summer we will leave and go live in the ocean."
Anna smiled at me so proudly.
"Most Queens return to the ocean because they are pulled by their magic, I think the fact that you are going because you know it is the right thing to do, is truly the mark of a great Queen."
I hug Anna at that.
"Shall we get you trained up in the ways of the merfolk?" Anna asked me as she broke away from the hug.
I nodded vigorously.
"Mhmm! What should we do?" I asked.
"Well, you have been in the ocean, can swim, and have a good idea of your magic. How about we have a sleep over?" Anna said.
I looked at her questioningly. We just had a sleep over, how was having one again supposed to help me become a mermaid Queen.
"I mean in the water." Anna quickly said. "You have yet to sleep in the water, so I thought if we just play and then go to sleep looking at the stars, then that would be a good first lesson on being a mermaid."
I could not argue with that. Truth be told, even though I know I can breathe underwater I still hesitate, and the thought of going unconscious was a bit of a suffocating thought.
"I guess that is a good idea. What should we do before then?"
Anna swam down and then came up holding the rock sponges.
"How about I show you what these things are for?" Anna had a bit of a twinkle in her eye as she said that. She reached out her hand and gave me one. I gently took it. Careful not to squeeze it just in case it did something weird. Anna then swam to the edge of the pool and hoisted herself up. I followed suit.
"So, what are these things?" I asked holding mine up to inspect it.
"A type of sponge." Anna said matter of fact. I gave her a look and she giggled. "You know how merfolk, specifically mermaids, are known for laying on rocks and brushing their long hair, right?"
"Yes?" I say with a bit of uncertainty.
"Well that is pretty much true."
"Really."
Anna nodded. "Yeah, in the ocean our hair gets easily tangled. That is why we have a special comb that easily gets through the tangles and keeps our hair nice and tidy." Anna then looked a little bashful. "But I forgot to pack one in my hurry to find you."
"I don't think you packed anything when you decided to come get me." I said remembering that Anna had no bag on her when she ended up in my pool. Anna scowled at me. "What does hair combs have to do with sponges anyway?" I ask, quickly changing the subject back to the sponges.
"Well." Anna huffed, showing me clearly that she was upset about my comment, but she quickly let it go. "If you use a comb to keep your hair tidy, then what do you use to keep the rest of your body dirt free?"
I thought about it.
"Mermaids bathe?" I asked in disbelief.
"What kind of question is that?!" Anna asked clearly offended.
"Well, it's just that you are already always submerged in water, so I don't see the point." I said hesitantly.
"The ocean is not as clean of dirt as your swimming pool is Elsa. Sometimes merfolk would like to get the shine back in their scales." Anna said haughtily. "And besides, it is fun."
"How is taking a bath fun?"
Anna smirked at me. She raised the sponge in her hand and squeezed it hard. A bunch of bubbles foamed out of it. My eyes go wide as I excitedly squeezed my sponge. Sure enough bubbles gushed out of it.
"Merfolk love bubble baths. "Anna said. "After getting cleaned up we always play and try and build things out of the bubbles. This sponge produces bubbles that are not easily popped, and when they are in water they sink down, but when they touch the surface they slowly rise up."
Anna and I got to scrubbing at our scales. It was a little weird feeling, because it was the first time I was putting pressure on my fins and scales. I scrubbed at my tail, my scales felt smooth to my fingers, but I also felt my fingers touching them, it was a little strange. I went to work on my fin, but I hesitate. Are mermaid fins fragile, are fish fins in general delicate? What if I tier my fin? Would that hurt? I reach down and stroked my fin. I immediately curl my fin and shake; a tickle coursing threw me. I turn to Anna for help and see her scrubbing her fin with out worry. I starred at her for a moment before getting back to work.
"Do mermaids have anything for their hair or do they just brush them?" I asked just to make conversation.
"Yes, but I also forgot to bring that." Anna said a little sheepishly. "It helps keep our hair from tangling."
"I see. By the way, why are we cleaning ourselves on the ledge instead of the water?" I ask.
Anna shrugged. "No reason, I just think it is more fun because after we get all this soup on us, we can jump in and be surrounded by a flurry of bubbles. Also, it is easier to angle yourself and clean your tail on land, in water you sort of end up floating away. Merfolk usually have a sticky mat to sit on."
"Don't you have a sticky mat?" I asked noticing the blue mat that Anna had brought back from our adventure in the sea.
"Yes, but like I said, it will be fun jumping in and immediately be surrounded by bubbles."
We finished up and I have to admit, I did feel nice and clean and my scales actually seemed to shine.
"On three?" Anna asked as she held her hand out to me. I took her hand.
"One." I said smiling.
"Two." Anna said.
"Three!" We both screamed and slid back into the pool.
Bubbles formed all around us to the point that I could not see anything.
"Blluble." I said out loud. I covered my mouth and smiled. "Anna this is amazing! The bubbles are so pretty." I projected my thoughts out to her.
"I know right! Let's build something." Anna said.
The bubbles fell to the bottom of the pool. Anna and I swam down and started pushing them together.
"How about we build a snowman?" I ask, already forming the base.
"Don't you mean a foam-man?" Anna teased.
I poked her and she giggled.
"There!" Anna said as we finished of the foam-man, we even gave it a nose that resembled a carrot.
"It's a little disproportionate." I say. "Its head is too big."
"Who cares, it is our first creation and I think we did good." Anna shrugged her shoulders. Anna started to look deeply at the foam-man. "Maybe we could give him a hat? Yeah! And also, a place to live, how about a castle!"
"We don't have enough bubbles to build a castle Anna." I giggled.
"Or do we?" Anna said as she grabbed the other sponges that she had brought with her.
We got to foaming up the swimming pool. There were so many bubbles that it started to overflow. We then started to create a palace for the foam-man. We made tunnels and rooms. We even made pillars at the corners of the pool.
"I can see why so many mermaids like this." I say as I was finishing up my tallest tower.
"Are you ready for the best part?" Anna asked excitedly.
"How is this not the best part?" I asked but still swam over to Anna in anticipation. The swim was a little hard because the bubbles slowed me down and I had to push them away.
"We are going to do something most humans and merfolk can only dream about. We are going to fly!" Anna spread her arms in a dramatic flair of excitement.
"Fly?! How are we going to do that?" I ask.
Anna looked around before her eyes landed on a bubble that was very white.
"All show you, gather as many bubbles towards me." Anna said and I did what she asked.
Anna gently brought the white bubble towards her. Holding it close she sunk down so that only her head was barely above the water, she brought the bubble to her lips and started to blow. The bubble started to be filled with air and expanded. Anna used one hand to keep the bubble steady and with her other she would scoop bubbles toward the bigger one, incorporating them in so the bubble would not run out and pop. I helped bush more bubbles into it. After a minute Anna stopped blowing and we looked at her creation. The bubble was big, it would easily hold a large horse in it. Anna pressed her hand agents the side. I went to pull Anna's arm away, afraid she would pop it, but her hand slid in. Anna proceeded to slide her entire body into the bubble. Anna reached her hand out to me and I took it. I jumped into the bubble with Anna pulling me. It was kind of weird. At first, I felt resistance like I was being pressed against a squishy wall, but then it just slid over me. I fell into the bubble and landed on Anna. We tried moving around into a better position, but the best we could do was tuck our tails and lean back.
"Now what?" I ask. I look around, the bubble was wobbling around us and it had developed a rainbow shine to it.
"Now we wait for it to lift off." Anna said. I looked outside and noticed that the bubbles on my tower were floating up into the sky.
We sat there in silence. I was mindlessly staring at the sky when I felt a shake. I turned to Anna who gave me a look. We both looked down and sure enough we were floating. The pool started to get farther below us. I looked around excitedly. I could not believe this. I was flying!
"This is amazing Anna!" I say as my face is pressed against the bubble, trying to see everything that I can. "Do you think we will go as high as the clouds?!"
"Maybe? It really is fun. Mom and I would do this now and again. We would go so high and then the bubble would pop, and we would dive back down into the sea, and…Uh oh." Anna said worriedly.
I turn to her. "What do you mean Uh Oh?
Anna started to wring her hands. "It's just that I always did this with a big ocean underneath me to fall back into, not a pool with a limited water capacity."
I looked down. We were getting pretty high up. If the bubble popped would we land in the pool? Does the pool have enough water for us to dive down in without hitting the bottom?
"What are we going to do?" I say panicked.
"don't worry." Anna said trying to calm me down, but I could see she was just as frightened. "Here I got this."
Anna stretched her arm down and concentrated. The water in the pool started to rise up until it reached us.
"There we can just swim down this." Anna said, but she sounded existed and her water tower was wobbly.
I touch Anna's arm to steady her and give her an encouraging smile.
"Here, let me help." I reach out my hand. The bubble suddenly popped. Anna and I fell into Anna's water tower that started to lose form. I panicked and shot out my hand. I felt myself land on something solid. I opened my eyes. I was surrounded by ice. Both Anna and I were in a bowl of ice. I looked over the edge. The water tower had been completely frozen into an ice pillar.
"Are we alive?" Anna said. Here eyes still closed in fear.
"Yeah, and I think I might have an idea of how to get down." I said. Anna opened her eyes and looked over the edge.
"Wow." Anna's eyes widened in amazement at my ice pillar, but then they grew sad. "I'm sorry, I should have thought this through better."
"I didn't really think this through either so don't beat yourself up over it." I said as I put a hand on Anna's shoulder. Anna looked up at me and smiled. A realization hit me at that moment. Anna had been helping me so much, she taught me about the mermaid world and encouraged me when I was doubtful, she was a pillar of support that I did not know what I would do without. But right now, in this moment I realized that I was the big sister. Anna really believed that I will be a great Queen. She looked at me in this moment with eyes filled with gratitude that I was trying to comforter and belief in me that I would get us down. I leaned in and hugged her. In this moment I truly felt like a big sister hugging my precious little sister.
"All right let's get down." I pull away from Anna and raise my hands. The pillar started to creak as some of it turned back into water. I made the water form a slide and then I froze it.
"We will slide down this. The pillar we are on right now I will turn back into water and we will land in it in the pool." I said trying to sound confident.
Anna nodded and positioned herself on the edge of the ice bowl next to the slide so that she was in position.
"All right I am ready." She said with determination.
I flopped next to her and grabbed her hand. I gave her a nod and we hoisted ourselves onto to the ramp and started to slide down. With a wave of my hand the pillar lost its form and crashed back down into the pool, for extra water I also made the part of the slide we were no longer on melt as well. We crashed into the pool and even tumbled over each other. We started to race toward the edge, and I moved the water up to create a wave. We slide up the wave and then slide back down into the pool finally losing our momentum. Anna and clung to each other as we looked around. We were both so stunned, and I was amazed we got out of that unscathed.
"Ha." I laughed. It was a small desperate laugh but then started to form into hysteria. Anna joined in after staring at me worriedly for a moment.
"Let's not do that again in the pool." Anna giggled out.
I nodded to busy laughing to form word.
We started to settle down. I looked up at the sky and noticed that the sun was setting.
"I think we should call it a night." I say tiredly.
"Yeah, I think your right." Anna replied. She swam down and laid on her mat, motioning for me to join her. I swam to her and gently laid myself down. The mat was the same as the first time I touched it, squishy and sticky, but with out all the seaweed on it. I settled down and stared up at the sky. Sleep started to take hold of me just as the stars were coming out, but there was one last thing I needed to do before I drifted off.
"Hey Anna?" I say quietly.
"Yes?"
I hesitate, not sure if I should ask this. "Is the reason you want to develop your skills to read the past and learn about the ocean's history, so you can learn about father?"
Anna turned away from me. "Go to sleep Elsa."
And I did.
Authors note:
I live! I am so sorry for the wait. This chapter was very difficult to write, at least the beginning part. Note to self, if you do not know how to start a chapter then just skip to the part you do want to write about. I was very sad that this took so long because this was the chapter I was most excited about.
What did you think of the ghost stories? I got the tag monster story from my father, have you ever heard it, and if you did, where? Also, what did you think of the version of the Little Mermaid I created? I have some issue with it, mainly that I keep thinking of other ideas I could have done with it, but I decided to just settle. I like to think that the story is a little lost to time, so some parts are false or over embellished. Ursula pretty much one in this version.
Speaking of Sea Witches. What do you think Elsa would become if she transformed? I have a really great idea for Anna but when it comes to Elsa, I am not really happy. They are not going to become Sea Witches, but I like to think about what they would be if they did. Maybe create a special chapter? Write in the comments what you think They should be.
The three things you have to answer is…What would their transformation look like, they can be anything just as long as it is a sea creature? Example, Ursula is half octopus.
Two, why did they transform?
Three what would their powers be? All sea witches still have their usual mermaid powers but there are always one or two powers that are strictly their own. Example, Ursula became a sea witch from jealousy and her powers were to turn merfolk into ugly seaweed. Most Sea Witches transform because of grief or some other negative emotion, so when you are sad you get lonely and so they transform other merfolk into familiars for themselves. Their other talent is some other magical property, like how Ursula could create potions.
whoever has the best idea I will say in the next author note. along with what I think Anna would be. If no one comments I will just go ahead with the idea that I have for Elsa. I am just going to tell you what it is next authors note. There really is no story plan for Anna and Elsa as sea witches.
School is right around the corner and I am not ready. Good luck and stay safe!
Also, what did you think of my version of Jelsa?