"Is your shoulder okay?" Anna asked as they dismounted Snow in front of the ice palace. She had noticed that Elsa winced slightly when she helped the redhead down from the horse.
The taller girl forced a smile. "I will be fine, Anna. No need to worry."
"Oh, c'mon Elsa, it's no use putting on a brave face for me," Anna chastised affectionately, "I can tell it hurts just by the look on your face."
The blonde sighed helplessly, allowing herself to be guided into a comfy white chair. She knew when Anna set her mind to something that there was no stopping her. It was one of the many qualities she loved about the girl.
"Okay, just wait right there while I go get the first aid stuff. Is it still in the same spot as last time?" She asked, to which Elsa nodded with a chuckle. The 'last time' was when Anna had scraped her knee in a cliff climbing contest with Kristoff. Elsa could look back on it now and laugh, but back when it happened she'd nearly had a heart attack. She always was a worrier.
Anna returned moments later with the first aid kit. A light blush spread across her freckled cheeks. "Um, Elsa? Would you mind pulling your sleeve down a little bit so I can see the wound better?"
The blonde, oblivious to the other girl's embarrassed tone, nodded and immediately dissolved the shoulder piece of her ice dress. An angry red slash marred her shoulder.
Anna's eyes widened and she gulped at the sight of the smooth pale skin. "O-okay, uh, let me just," she fumbled with the disinfectant, almost spilling it all over herself, "R-right, so disinfectant…" Elsa winced slightly as Anna applied it to the injury, "Sorry, love. Next is bandages. The wound is already closed and doesn't seem that deep, so it shouldn't need sutures or anything like that..."
Elsa giggled at how nervous Anna seemed. "Thank you, Dr. Anna." She murmured with a playful smirk.
Anna blushed. "S-Someone has to take care of you, you know!" she sputtered defensively, her demeanor completely flustered.
Elsa decided to take pity on the poor girl, so she quit teasing her. "I'm glad that it's you, then. I wouldn't want anyone else." She said seriously, "And I'll always take care of you too, Anna."
The redhead smiled and pecked the taller girl on the lips. "You're too sweet." She giggled as she finished securing the bandage. "There! Good as new! Well, kind of."
Elsa smiled as she rematerialized the missing part of her dress. "Thank you."
Anna returned the smile and nodded. Then she remembered their ride back through the chasm on Snow. She's seen deformed piles and debris of snow and ice everywhere, as if there had been an army of scary ice monsters.
"Hey, Elsa?"
"Yes, my love?"
"What was in that chasm before?" Anna asked carefully, "How did you get injured like that?"
A shadow fell over Elsa's face, and several moments passed before she spoke. "Right after I had frozen everyone in Erigisen, I was not in full control of my powers, nor was I in the correct state of mind." She paused, giving time for her words to sink in, "I was six, and all I could think and feel and see were the images of war, of foreign soldiers, of people screaming. It had all blended together in my little mind, turning into nightmarish monsters the likes of which no one should ever have to see."
Anna's brow furrowed. "So, you accidently filled the chasm with your ice creatures?"
Elsa nodded. "Except they were bad, born of my worst fears and my darkest emotions at the time. I couldn't stop myself, my powers were out of control…" the blonde shook her head, "But now they can't hurt anyone else anymore."
Anna took Elsa's hands in hers. "How did you escape the chasm the first time if your powers were messed up?" Anna dreaded the answer, her mind conjuring up all sorts of awful scenarios involving a frightened six year old Elsa and bunch of gruesome ice monsters.
The taller girl actually smiled, a fond look in her eyes. "Marshmallow. Somehow he wasn't evil like the others, and he protected me."
Anna smiled and squeezed her hand. That big lug may look scary, but he's really a big softie! "Remind me to thank him later."
Elsa rested her head on Anna's shoulder. "Remember that snowmen like warm hugs." She joked softly.
"Merida! Over here!"
The tomboy looked over to see Eugene and Rapunzel walking down the gangway, the latter waving excitedly. The petite brunette then proceeded to perkily skip over to her, practically dragging her husband along, who didn't seem to mind in the slightest.
"How've yeh two been?" the huntress asked when they got closer.
Eugene smiled at his cheery wife. "Never been better." Rapunzel giggled at this, nudging him playfully before returning her attention to her wild haired friend.
"Actually, we both have some great news to share with everyone and-" she stopped and squinted at something behind Merida's shoulder. Her face brightened even more. "Mulan! Aurora! Hi!"
The two women looked up from their conversation when they heard their names. Aurora smiled and waved while Mulan gave a happy nod of greeting.
Belle joined their little group soon after, and they all proceeded to make their way to Arendelle castle in a royal carriage. Everyone was very excited to have this little reunion, so the conversation was nonstop. They chatted about recent events in their kingdoms and what everyone was up to.
Merida was still single and proud of it. She was beginning to act more responsible for her kingdom, taking on various royal duties to help her mother. The huntress also considered taking on an apprentice to train in her various combat skills.
Belle had made a few discoveries in the fields of science and medicine, thanks to her love of academia. She also had a mysterious pen pal, Adam, whom she liked quite a bit.
Mulan had actually been visiting Aurora quite frequently, due to some recent trade agreements between their two kingdoms. It was obvious that the two had grown close over that time. The foreign beauty would always blush whenever the blonde would smile at her.
"So what is the good news you wish to share?" Mulan finally asked Rapunzel. Everyone leaned in with piqued interest, eager to hear what the answer was.
Eugene grinned at his wife, who blushed and looked down. "Do you want me to tell them, dear?" he asked, taking her hand in one of his.
Now everyone was extremely interested. After all, it wasn't everyday one saw Rapunzel actually become shy.
She nodded. "You tell them."
He just chuckled lightly. "Alright." He gave everyone his signature charming smile. "Well then, thank you all for coming to this officially unofficial newsflash of our news, that I will now share with you all, and let me first say that-"
"Oh just get on with it!" Merida shouted in frustration. Everyone was chomping at the bit at this point, even Rapunzel sent him a look that said 'just tell them already'.
Eugene just grinned, he placed his free hand gently over Rapunzel's lower stomach. Everyone's eyes widened in understanding at the gesture.
"Rapunzel and I are having a baby." He said, his eyes shining with happiness.
The whole group burst into excited squeals and whistles. "Congratulations!" they all chorused.
"Do you know if it's a boy or girl?" Belle asked.
Rapunzel smiled, placing her hand over Eugene's on her stomach. "It's too early to tell yet, but I have a hunch it's a girl."
This earned another round of excited squeals.
Merida grinned and punched Eugene in the arm. "Yeh going teh have a real lively home if she's anythin' like 'er mother, eh laddie?"
Eugene just smiled sheepishly and rubbed his shoulder. "I'm going to need lots of coffee to keep up with them." He replied, somewhat wearily.
They all laughed at that.
As they got closer to the castle, everyone seemed to brighten.
Rapunzel looked excited to spread the good news. "I can't wait to tell Anna and Kristoff!"
Hi everyone! I'm really sorry it took me so long to get this chapter up, and that it's a short one, but work and preparing for exams has kept me pretty busy. I'll make sure the next chapter comes out sooner. After all, things are about to get real action-y soon!