I am aware that many people think leaving the snowpeople in charge was a not-so-good idea. Olaf and Olga were the most qualified people for the job that Elsa (and I) could think of. Action was necessary, and they were the first people who popped into Elsa's head. Plus, they can keep the crowd happy. Also , I'm being betaed by cder3! Yay! Please continue reviewing, and (last time I'll say this) I do not own Frozen!

The sled journey was passing quickly. Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff had all agreed that the best place to go for now would be the Valley of the Living Rocks - it was a relatively safe place to be, and maybe the trolls would know something about Hans's powers. And, perhaps, his weakness. As they traveled, Kristoff and Anna chatted about the trolls and their hopes for seeing them again, but Elsa was silent. Still worried about her public image, she was racking her mind for a way to make sure her people knew that she had only their best interests at heart.

"So," Anna asked Kristoff, "what's with the crystals?"

Kristoff replied, "The trolls can utilize magic of all kinds. When the kids first master a particular type of magic, they earn a special crystal that corresponds to that type. Eventually, they find their 'specialty', the type of magic they're best at, and all of their crystals turn that color. Bulda's crystals are pink because she specializes in love magic-", rolling his eyes, "-and Cliff has blue crystals for water. They've even been trying to teach me magic."

"And are they succeeding?" Anna asked curiously. Kristoff replied, "A bit. I'm starting to master earth magic - y'know, making plants grow, moving rocks around, and all that. But it takes the trolls centuries to master every type of magic, and I don't have that kind of time!" The two snickered, but Elsa remained silent.

Anna noticed her sister's mood and asked, "Elsa? What's going on with you?"

Elsa took a deep breath and let the story of her encounter the previous day and her worries about her public image spill out of her mouth. The speech was almost unintelligible, but Anna was able to understand every word. When Elsa was done, Anna inhaled and exhaled, then said, "First off, that guy is crazy. Believe me, I know him. He believes in every superstition in the book, so don't take it personally."

Elsa nodded, but didn't say anything. Anna continued, "And second off, you don't need to be so worried about your image. Did you see those kids' faces when you created the ice playground? They love you and your powers!"

"Maybe," responded Elsa, "but I still feel like most of the adults in Arendelle treat me with a cold shoulder..."

Anna said, "That's just because you and they started off on the wrong foot. The Eternal Winter wasn't your fault - we've been over that. But a lot of people still don't trust you for that. You need to show them that you can use your powers for good."

"I know," said Elsa, "but how?" Anna smiled at her sister. "You'll think of something, I know."

By this time, the group had reached the Valley. Kristoff, Elsa, and Anna got off the sled and advanced into the clearing. Immediately, the rocks began to rumble and roll toward the group, then unfurl into trolls. "Kristoff and the girls are here!" they cried.

After going through the take-off-your-clothes routine with Bulda, Kristoff told his adopted family, "We need to see Grand Pabbie now. Seriously, it's an emergency." While a few trolls went over to fetch their leader, the little ones, led by Pebble and Sandy, begged Kristoff to play Heave-It with them. Kristoff groaned, but Anna offered to try, too.

The game was simple. Kristoff (and now, Anna, too,) had to pick up a troll child, heave them around in a circle, and let go at a particular spot. From there, the kids could do anything they needed to to get as far as possible. The troll farthest away from the start won.

The young trolls were heavy, so Kristoff was grateful that Anna was heaving as well. After a few rounds, Pabbie arrived in the clearing. Elsa, who had been having a delightful chat with some of the female trolls, quickly explained everything she knew about Hans and his powers to the wise old troll. When she finished, all was quiet for a moment. Even the nonstop talkers fell dead silent.

Pabbie softly began to speak. "Magic is a curious concept. It can manifest itself in many different forms, usually when when the right factors come together at the right moment. You were born during a blizzard and a lunar eclipse, two very powerful forces. Thus, you were born with powers over ice and snow.

Elsa, are you familiar with the concept of yin and yang?" Elsa was. A Chinese military couple had visited a while back, and had explained this concept to her and Anna during their visit. Apparently, all things in nature existed in a delicate balance of opposite forces - dark and light, male and female, positive and negative. Elsa believed that this concept explained a lot about the world for her.

The troll continued, "It is the same with magic. One type of magic cannot exist without its polar opposite. Both types are necessary for a proper balance. Your powers and Hans's are a perfect example." He paused. "Neither can ever completely overcome the other. This is why neither you nor Hans were able to hurt the other."

Anna asked, "So is there a weakness of some sort in Hans? A soft spot we can use to our advantage?"

"Actually, yes," Pabbie continued. "Your personalities are also opposites - to each other and your respective powers. Elsa, Hans's heart is as cold as your ice, while yours is as warm as his fire. If you managed to freeze his heart, his powers could not overcome this ice, and he would freeze over."

Another pause. "Unfortunately," Pabbie continued, "this also applies to you. If Hans burnt your heart, you would not be able to overpower this magic, and you would turn to ashes."

All was quiet for a moment. Then Elsa said softly, "The ice palace. We can stay there until we know what to do with Hans."

Anna and Kristoff liked this idea, but before they could return to the sled, Pabbie said, "Wait a moment. I have something I'd like to give Elsa." He took from behind his back an icy blue crystal. "It's an ice crystal," he said. "I think you've earned it." Elsa smiled, quickly crafted a string from ice, and fashioned a pendant out of the crystal. She felt uplifted when she put on the necklace, like a missing piece of herself had been found.

Soon, the group on their way once more. But none of them knew that the person they were trying to get away from had followed them to the Valley and was lurking in the shadows.

As Hans turned to leave, he didn't notice a pair of leather-bound books, each with an autumn leaf on the cover, fall to the ground from a bag on his shoulder. But a female troll did notice. What's this?, she wondered as she picked up the books and began leafing through them. Suddenly, another troll called, "Hey, Lime! C'mon! Pebble is about to get his water crystal!" Lime rejoined the rest of the trolls, taking the books with her and still wondering what they could mean.

Next chapter: Back in Arendelle, Olga faces a conscience crisis...