A/N: I have a feeling 'silly' and 'typed up on a whim' are going to be...a 'thing' with this collection of one-shots. Also! Thank you to those who have reviewed/faved/followed! Always appreciated. :)

Disclaimer: Disney owns Frozen

- Velocipede -

It was shortly after the mid-day meal when Kai came for her, briskly announcing that she was wanted in her father's study. She nodded and followed after him, asking what, exactly, Papa wanted her for. (She was trying to recall if she'd done anything to warrant a punishment…there was that one thing with the tutor's tea—)

"I haven't the faintest notion, miss," Kai informed her. But he was sort-of-smiling, so Elsa was pretty sure he did know, and just wasn't telling her. (Kai was funny like that.)

The two arrived at the study and, after Kai announced Elsa (today she was the Pirate Queen of Skull Rock, and she giggled, because he used that one last time) they entered.

The Queen sat on the chaise by the fireplace, an opened book in her lap. The King, though, stood in front of his desk, and gestured grandly at a…at a…

Well, Elsa didn't really know what it was, actually.

"Ah, there you are, Elsa." Papa grinned. "Look what arrived this morning!"

Papa looked excited, so Elsa did her best to at least appear…interested…as he told her that it was a gift, sent by the Duke from a neighboring kingdom (who was also a distant relative…Mama's third cousin's brother's wife's step-niece's great uncle. Twice removed. Or maybe thrice. No one could remember.)

"Oh," Elsa said, once he'd finished. "That's…nice," Kai gave her a tiny nudge forward, and so she wandered closer, if only to get a better look at it.

"…What is it?" she asked. She was intrigued by the contraption, certainly, but she was having a rather hard time getting excited over it.

Papa picked up a card from his desk and, after clearing his throat in a dramatic fashion, read it aloud.

"'For her Royal Highness Princess Elsa,'" he began, "'My own daughters have found much enjoyment in this novel invention, which I've been told is a bicycle. I send one to you as well, in the hopes that you, too, may find hours of enjoyment in it. Your humble servant, sincerely, the Duke of Romsdal.'" He set the card aside and grinned. "Wasn't that thoughtful of him, Elsa?"

As Elsa nodded, Mama stood and joined Papa by his desk

"Hmmm, yes, quite thoughtful," she murmured quietly behind him, wearing a wry smile. "Curious how the gift coincides quite nicely with the upcoming trade agreement—"

"Darling—"

"A bicycle," Elsa said to herself, still eyeing it skeptically. She noted the two wheels, a…it looked like a handle of some sort? A seat. "You...ride it?"

"Yes dear," Mama said, draping an arm around the small girl's shoulders. "I imagine rather like a horse."

"Can you show me?" Elsa asked. Mama smiled, but shook her head.

"I'm afraid not, little one," she replied. "I've only seen pictures in The Post."

"Oh..." Elsa frowned, a bit crestfallen. But then, she turned to Papa. Papa knew everything. Certainly, he would know how to ride it.

"Mmmm," He hummed, after she asked him. "Of...course, Elsa. I will happily teach you...but not today. Unfortunately I…have some documents that need going over—"

"Oh, can't you put them off?" Elsa pleaded. But Mama, with a knowing grin, told Elsa to run along. Papa had work to do. "...Alright..." She muttered, before trotting off down the hall.

The Queen watched her daughter go, pretending not to notice the troubled expression on her husband's face.

"Well then," she said, "I suppose I shall leave you to your... work, hmm?"

"What? Oh yes, yes. Work."

XXX

The Queen returned to the study several hours later, in the hopes of discussing an upcoming diplomatic visit with her husband. She needed to know when, exactly, to expect the dignitaries from Corona. (They had been woefully unprepared for the last visit, which had, through a series of increasingly unfortunate mishaps, almost resulted in all-out war. She wanted to avoid any potential international incidents this time around, if she could.)

She opened the door, just a bit. If he was too busy, she would ask him about it tomorrow.

Books sat open on the desk, papers strewn this way and that. It was clear, from the chaotic heap of documents, that little work had been accomplished.

The Queen spotted her copy of The Post atop the piles, opened to the article discussing the 'dandy horse craze' that was sweeping the greater part of Europe.

The King sat hunched over the newspaper, raking a hand through his hair.

"Ugh." he grumbled to himself, glowering at the untouched bicycle. "Of all the useless—Why couldn't he have sent a pony?"

The Queen had to duck back into the hall to stifle her laughter.

XXX

Early the next morning, as Kai was making his usual tour of the castle, he stumbled across an unsightly collection of leaves, just beyond the castle walls, at the edge of the garden.

The groundskeepers have been slacking, he decided with an indignant sniff. He was going to have to have a word with them.

He turned sharply on his heel, ready to march off and give those lackadaisical gadabouts a piece of his mind, when he heard someone clear their throat.

Blinking, Kai turned. He hadn't seen anyone out here, but it was possible he missed—

"Kai,"

The chamberlain blinked again and looked towards the offending tree; the one that had so rudely shed its leaves all over the cobblestone walk. At first, he thought that someone was behind said tree, but after casting his gaze upwards…

"Good morning, sir. I…did not see you there. Forgive me." He inclined his head in apology.

"Of course, Kai." The King returned the nod.

"Did you need something, sir?"

"Ah, yes. Do you think...perhaps...you could fetch...?"

"A ladder, sir?"

"Yes, Kai, that would be most helpful. And if you could assist me in...getting down, I would owe you a great debt."

"Certainly, sir."

"One more thing, Kai."

"Yes?"

"If you could fish the bicycle out of the fjord...?"

"Consider it done."

XXX

With Kai's help, the King was able to stay out of trees…and the fjord…and in fact made progress with the bicycle. Early each morning, the two would (discreetly) take the infernal device to the far edge of the grounds and practice.

"You wobbled a great deal less this time, sir," Kai told him after a moderately successful session.

"Thank you," the King replied grimly, picking leaves from his hair. (Yes, he had avoided trees and bodies of water—but he was still having a hard time keeping away from shrubbery.)

A week passed before either felt he was ready to teach young Elsa. Even then, the King made Kai promise to stay close by and offer further advice. Particularly on the dodging of shrubs.

And so, he called his eldest daughter down to the main castle courtyard, the bicycle on his left, Kai standing resolutely at his right. At some point the Queen had wandered over as well, little Anna in tow.

"Are you kidding?" she teased him quietly, when he asked why she'd come down. She picked Anna up and settled her against her hip. "I wouldn't miss this for the world."

"Oh, ha ha." He rolled his eyes. He fought to keep the grin off his face, but his mustache twitched, giving him away.

At last Elsa came, clearly curious as to what all the fuss was about.

"I told you I would teach you to ride," he reminded her, nodding to the bicycle. "Shall we begin?"

The young girl gave him an odd look.

"Oh…" she started, and it was then that the King could name the expression. It was something akin to guilt. "Well I…I sort of already taught myself how to ride it a few days ago."

There was a pause, and then,

"You…taught…what?" he frowned as the Queen let out a rather unladylike snort. Kai snickered quietly, and even Anna giggled, oblivious to what was going on, but everyone else looked like they were having a good time, and so she was, too.

"I can't believe this," he said at last, shaking his head. Elsa hurried over and wrapped him in a hug, her small arms encircling his legs.

"Sorry Papa," she said. He sighed, and gave her head a small pat. He was…disappointed, yes. But Elsa could now ride the bicycle, and that had been the end goal, right?

He assured her that he was not upset—that in fact, he was very proud that she had taught herself to ride it.

"Maybe…maybe you could teach Anna, when she's bigger?" Elsa suggested, still feeling a little bad. It was clear Papa had wanted to help.

Before he could respond, the Queen stepped closer.

"That might be for the best, dear," She told him. Anna was waving her arms, clearly unsatisfied with her current position. She wanted Papa to hold her.

"Oh?" The King asked, raising an eyebrow. Elsa had already scurried off after Kai, who was saying something about a…Pirate Queen…? He accepted the toddler, only to find that she was more interested in playing with his epaulets than anything else. "Why is that?"

The Queen leaned over and gave him a quick kiss before answering with a mischievous gleam in her eye, "You could use a few more years of practice."

Familial fluff all over the place! XD Anyways, review or not, that's cool, but either way, hope you've enjoyed it!