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Sins of the Past

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Chapter Fifteen

I watched, amused, as Elsa set down the plate atop my bedside drawer, having licked it squeaky clean of chocolate sauce and pancake batter. She looked over at me and coughed sheepishly.

"Apologies for my lapse in self control. Chocolate's always been a favourite of mine, and it's been several decades since I've last had some. I admit that I've almost forgotten its flavour."

I laughed. "Don't worry it's fine. I think it's funny, if anything."

Elsa let loose a soft sigh. "I am glad that you do not think lesser of me for this outburst. I'll see to it that it does not happen again."

I waved her off.

"Actually, I'm kind of glad that you did... what you did, because Mom probably would've sent me to a psychiatrist in a heartbeat if she saw me act all 'calm' and 'poised' around chocolate pancakes. I usually go nutballs crazy at the sight of 'em."

"I see." Elsa raised an eyebrow. "My father, he had a different mindset pertaining to conduct. He believed firmly in ladylike grace, and would never have condoned such behaviour."

"Ladylike grace?" I repeated. "Is he the reason why you talk the way you do?"

"Whatever do you mean?" Elsa asked.

"Like, you never seem to trip over your words, and your vocabulary is so... fancy. Conduct? Condoned? You sound like an aristocrat. With the tea cup and the pinkie and the everything."

"Ah. You would be correct, then, in that he indeed is the cause for such speech patterns. It was yet another aspect he believed his 'perfect daughter' should embody."

I crossed my arms, or well, tried to at least. "He sounds like a jerk."

Elsa sat herself onto the bed, inspecting my nails and grimacing at the sight of them. "Perhaps, but he always set himself as an example to be followed, and never once held me to a standard he himself did not follow. His speech patterns were much the same as mine."

"Oh." I dropped myself onto the floor, wondering slightly why it would be solid to my quote on quote "ghostly" body. "Did you like him, then?"

Elsa looked away.

"I respected him."

A pregnant pause ensued.

"Err... okay." I stammered, searching for a way to change the subject. "So! Ladylike grace you said? Was dancing part of that as well?"

Elsa turned back towards me, smiling whimsically.

"Correct. I learned many different types of so-called 'elegant ballroom dances,' at his behest."

"Like that Lindy Hop thing you mentioned earlier?" I asked.

...Probably not, judging by that look of shock of Elsa's face. Did I say something wrong?

"No." She replied, after quickly recomposing herself. "My father did not approve of those particular dances in general. Deemed them too 'unsightly.' I learnt those dances without his approval or knowledge."

I moved to clasp my hands together, flailing slightly when my hands phased through each other. "Ooh! So you do have a rebellious side!" I squeed.

Elsa shook her head. "It is only natural to seek enjoyment during one's life, is it not?"

I shrugged, calming down. "Mm. Guess you're right. Your dad does sound like a really controlling guy, after all."

Just then, something suddenly occurred to me about the circumstances behind our current talk.

"Hey, wait a minute!" I blurted out. "You're in my body!"

"That is correct." Elsa snarkily noted, slightly taken aback by my outburst.

"Doesn't that mean you can dance again?" I asked.

I could practically see the lightbulb flicker on inside Elsa's mind as well.

"...It does indeed." She replied, sucking in a deep breath. "May I?"

"Of course!"

I was eager to see Elsa in action again, especially considering her superb performance back on the dance floor during the party.

"Excellent." Elsa rubbed her hands in anticipation, before coughing into a fist. "I mean not to offend, but please allow me an extended period of time to warm up and prepare. Your body for instance is incredibly stiff, and requires much exercise for it to be considered fit."

"Hey!" I shouted, indignantly. "I'll have you know that I used to be in great shape! I could've climbed a freaking mountain if I wanted to."

Elsa laughed, not unkindly, before beginning a set of stretches.

It seemed like almost an eternity later by the time Elsa finally finished up. For me, most of that time was spent lying down on the floor, wondering again why the floors and walls were solid to my ghostly form whereas my body parts would just phase through each other.

"Very well." Elsa began, having finally finished. "Let us see how much I can recall."

I gingerly sat up from my position on the floor and watched as Elsa sauntered over to my bed, which was pushed off to the side to make space, where my laptop lay in order to turn on some music. I listened as the sounds of various instruments filled the air, in a tune reminiscent of a classical waltz.

Elsa frowned.

"The sound quality pales in comparison to that of a live performance, but it will have to do."

She took position in the middle of the room, and held up her hands in front of her as if she had an imaginary partner with which to practice before taking a step back in tune with the music.

Now, I don't really know much about dancing so there probably was a lot of stuff about Elsa's dance that whizzed right over my head, but I can say for sure that her performance was absolutely breathtaking. Although she was barefoot, Elsa practically glid across the room as if she were wearing ice skates, twirling and dipping and spinning at will. She would, at times, suddenly stop herself in gravity-defying and/or uncomfortable looking positions, and demonstrate a remarkable amount of self-control and balance as she held said positions for extended periods of time before continuing the dance as if nothing had happened.

I managed to catch a glimpse of her face between twirls, and her facial expression was that of pure serenity, if anything. I could easily tell that was Elsa enjoying this just as much as her breakfast, if not more so, and if I could've I would definitely have applauded when the song and dance finally ended.

Which is why I was very surprised when someone did, all of a sudden.

"Bravo!" Exclaimed Mom, clapping from where she stood in the doorway.

Elsa turned around in confusion, before stumbling back in shock upon seeing Mom staring back at her.

"O-oh. Hello... ah, mother..." She gasped in surprise, as did Mom when they made eye contact. I saw Mom give herself a small shake before her eyes began to narrow in suspicion for some reason.

I glanced over at Elsa-in-my-body and saw the likely cause as to why—my physical body's eyes were currently a shiny ice blue due to Elsa's presence, instead of my normal teals. Mom might be about to get on my ass for "supposedly" purchasing some eye colour changing contacts.

I hadn't the time to think any further though as the next thing I knew my vision all of a sudden began to blur again, catching me by surprise. I was taken slightly off guard when I next opened my eyes to find myself back within my physical body, and ended up dropping to a knee as I felt the familiar throbbing of a minor headache pulse through my skull.

I listened to the sounds of Mom's footsteps as she rushed to my side.

"Anna, are you okay?" She asked as she knelt down beside me to glance upward at my face, her facial expression having transitioned from suspicion into worry.

"Yeah, Fine. Just caught by surprise." I said, quite truthfully, as I rose to my feet. "What brings you up here?"

The worried look upon Mom's face dissipated upon confirming that I was okay and she followed suit, standing as well.

"I just came to get your plate." She said simply, nodding toward the plate in question that sat on my bedside drawer. "But I certainly didn't expect to see such masterful dancing, Anna. When did you learn?"

"Uh..." I trailed off, scratching the back of my head before once again blurting out the first story that came to mind. "I took a dance class as one of my electives back in high school, and I'm touching up on my skills now because Arendelle University's got a pretty cool dance club that I'm thinking about joining."

Mom smiled softly, as though seemingly accepting the story. "I see, then I won't keep you any longer. Sorry for about the interruption."

She picked up the plate and made for the door, shaking her head slightly to herself as it closed behind her.

"So..." I began, once Mom was out of earshot. "What the hell was that all about?"

Elsa materialized a few metres in front of me, a single lock of her otherwise flawless hair slightly disheveled. "Apologies. I did not know of your mother's intentions as she approached, and believed it to be unwise for me to attempt further conversation with her, hence the abrupt return of control."

I crossed my arms, this time for real since I was back in my body. "Well, okay I get that. But I would've liked a warning of some sort at least."

"I understand. But I knew not a way to send you one without alerting your mother. I hope you're not too upset?"

I climbed back into bed, not bothering to move it back to its original position in my room as my body felt really freaking sore after the intense workout Elsa gave it.

"I'm not." I said simply, as I snuggled under the covers.

"Perhaps it would be best if we lay low until your mother deems you better?" Elsa suggested. "I would prefer not to worry her any further."

I shrugged. "Sure I guess? I think that's kind of excessive honestly, but if you think it's for the best then okay."

"Very well then, Anna. See you soon." She flashed me a wide smile, before slowly beginning to fade from view. I turned to bury my face into the pillow, and as I did I heard her wispy voice emanate out from the corners of the room.

"As the people of this generation say however... totally worth it."

I drew a bit of inspiration for Anna's spirit-like form from the protagonist of Gunnerkrigg Court's protagonist, Annie. I don't quite understand how Annie's powers work myself, but it seems as though she can project herself into another dimension of sorts (it isn't really like that, but it's how I would describe it) where the laws of physics and such don't necessarily apply. Normal laypeople cannot see or interact with Annie when she goes into the other dimension to mess around, though other people who share the ability can.

The parallel to Anna here is that, at Elsa's behest, Anna can also be projected out into a spirit-like form/another dimension, wherein she too can mess around without being constraint to the laws of the universe.

On another note. Slooowly piecing the parts together.