At first, it felt as if her guts were being twisted, squeezed and pulled. As she tumbled throughout eh vortex of the portal, it felt as if someone- or something- were trying to pull her insides, well, out. But as soon s the sensation had begun, it stopped. With some unseen force she flipped out of the portal and found herself waist deep in freshly fallen snow. Besides her were the Guardians and Olaf, who was pawing the snow frantically with his wooden stick limbs.

"Anna!" he cried, "I can't feel my legs! I can't feel my legs!" The snowman was tugging at a pair of shoes that stuck up out of the snow. The Guardians, as they sat up, tried stifling their laughter as Kristoff suddenly pulled himself up, snow covering every inch of his body. He looks almost like yeti, North thought with a grin.

"Those re my legs," he said pointedly, and there was a shout as Olaf's body started to run by.

"Is that yours, Olaf?!" Tooth pointed at it as it started running in circles. Rolling his eyes, Kristoff grabbed the body and plopped Olaf's head on it, Olaf sighing with relief.

"That's better," he sighed with a drunken smile on his face. As soon as everyone had pulled themselves out of the snow- and for Jack it was easy, considering snow was his element- they started their long trek up the North mountain, Elsa's new castle at the tippy top.

"That looks gorgeous even from here," Tooth said, hugging herself as the wind blew past them, ruffling hair, fur and feathers alike.

"Are you okay?" Kristoff asked as she shivered violently. She shook her head.

"I-I'm just n-n-not used to this…. w-weather," she said through chattering teeth. Unclipping his shawl, he draped it over the fairy, tying it on for her as she protested, "Krstoff, no! Won't you be cold too?!"

"I've lived in climates like this before," he said, "so Sven and I are used to it." A sadness crossed his eyes when he mentioned Sven- where could he be now?

"But-"

"Listen, Fairy Lady," Kristoff cut her off, "really, it's fine. And besides, you need kids to believe in you. I don't." Tooth faltered a bit- what could she say to that? He did have a point: he wasn't some magical creature, he was just human.

"Um, Kristoff?" Anna said as they began walking again. Sandman was leaving a trail of golden dream sand in their wake, Olaf running after it happily.

"Yeah, Anna?" Kritoff shrugged. Anna kept her eyes on the shawl Kristoff had given Tooth. The fairy now did look a lot better then before, no longer a shivering mess.

"That was sweet, what you did for the fairy," Anna complimented. She giggled as Kristoff blushed, his face as red as North's coat.

"It was just a generosity," Kristoff brushed the compliment away. Anna smiled, her eyes somewhat saddened. Kristoff really is a nice guy, she thought, and he's doing so mud for me already….

"Um, Kritoff?" Anna said, "can i tell you something?"

"Already did," he said sarcastically.

"Stop joking, really!" she scowled at him, "I just wanted to say that when we get back to Arendelle and elsa restores summer, I'll buy you and Sven a new sleigh and supplies. Freshly polished with that maple leaf smell if you want."

"That's nice of you, Anna, but it's alright," Kristoff said.

"But you said back at North's workshop that i owed you a new one," Anna said.

"Yeah, but that shouldn't be the first thing on your mind at the moment," Kristoff reminded her.

"You're right," Anna agreed, "but I just also wanted to say thanks. Thanks for finding Elsa with me and dealing with all my issues." The Guardians had stopped at the base of the mountain, staring up at Elsa's castle with wonder- Jack especially, his face going paler then it already was with what the others could only describe as jealousy.

"So, this is your sister's castle?" North asked, gesturing to the high towers and elaborate designs on the outside walls. Anna nodded.

"Yup," Anna said, "this is Elsa's castle." Although it was gorgeous, it was definitely intimidating, with the pointed tiers on the towers, the coldness if she touched the nearest wall. Pulling her hand away, she shivered. It was beautiful, but cold. As they approached the staircase, Bunny jabbed Jack with his elbow, grinning.

"You've got competition, eh, mate?" he laughed. Jack rolled his eyes, although it was true- this castle was better then anything he would ever be able to do. And the best thing he'd ever done was make animals kids had drawn in the snow come to life.

"Oh shut up," he said with embarrassment. They were about to go up when they heard something like a whinny, echoing on the wind.

"What was that?" Tooth asked nervously, wings flapping at such a fast rate they looked non-existent. Kristoff bent to the side, cupping an ear until he heard it again, although this time it sounded louder, as if it were coming toward them.

"Please don't let it be a wolf," Anna mumbled to herself, playing with her braids nervously. Bunny jumped at her statement, ears flat against his head.

"There are wolves?!" he said with hushed terror. Anna nodded, remembering how she and Kristoff had almost run into them before crashing into North's yetis. Kristoff shushed them, leaning more towards the noise, which sounded as if it were now a few feet away… He squinted into the distance as a cloud of fresh snow barreled at them.

"Is that….?" he said to himself, eyes widened as he nodded, "it is!"

"Who is?" Jack asked in a panic, waving his staff. A flash of ice flew towards Bunny, landing a few inches from his feet. He smiled sheepishly at the rabbit who glared, saying, "My apologies, Bunny." Kristoff shook his head, a wide grin on his face as he was suddenly nocked over, receiving shouts from the group. Anna suddenly broke out into a grin- it was Sven!

The reindeer was standing over his owner and best friend, long pink tongue slathering the ice cutter's face affectionately. Sandman clapped excitedly, an exclamation point forming above his head.

"Whoa, whoa!" Kristoff pushed the reindeer's face away, patting him happily, "that's enough, buddy!" Sven blew clouds of cold air at him, ears twitching. As the animal cocked its head, the antlers sticking out nearly hit Jack, who swerved out of the way just in time.

"How did he find you?" Anna asked, running her fingers through Sven's brown fur. In return, Sven nuzzled his nose into Anna's stomach.

"Sven's always had a keen sense of direction," Kristoff explained, standing up, "it probably wasn't that hard either, considering we've been up the North Mountain before."

"Wait," Jack interrupted, "this is Sven?" Kristoff nodded.

"Yeah, why?"

"I thought Sven was a human," Jack said. Kristoff shook his head, saying, "I never really had time t meet people, always being out on the ice, so Sven's been my best friend since childhood."

"Does he want to pull sleigh?" North said hopefully- he needed more reindeer to help pull his sleigh at Christmas time, but he could never seem to get enough volunteers.

"Sorry, but he's already pulling my sleigh," Kristoff said.

"This is so nice," came a voice, making them ll freeze in their tracks. It sounded familiar somehow, with darkness and teasing….

"Pitch Black is here," North announced, his voice grave as he narrowed his thick eyebrows.

"How smart you are," Pitch's voice rang through the air, "if only you were smart enough to avoid this place., go protect your people while you can…." A black fog emerged from either side of eh castle, sluggishly crawling around them.

"Wh-what did you do with my sister?" Anna demanded, her voice faltering as she yelled.

"Dear Anna," Pitch cooed, "sweet, defenseless, naive Anna…." Anna gritted her teeth, eyes focused on teh doors of her sisters creation.

"What did you do with my sister?!" Anna repeated, trying her best to be heard over the howls and moans of the wind. They heard a low chuckle, although they couldn't see its source- Where is he? Jack thought, eyes searching for any sign of a body, a face to match the voice.

"Why don't you come in and see?" Pitch suggested, and the doors of the castle swung open, snowflakes flying gently in and out of the frame. Anna gulped.

"Fine," she said defiantly, "I will!" Carefully, she made her way up the stairs, which were cold and slippery. North and Bunny went to follow, but Kristoff pulled them back, shaking his head. There were certain things that they couldn't help Anna with, and Elsa was one of those things. Anna was just about to step foot inside, when Pitch suddenly ordered, "Wait!"

"I want to see my sister!" Anna screamed at no one, curling her hands into fists.

"I want Jack Frost to come as well," Pitch commanded. Jack pointed to himself, "M-me?"

"No, Olaf," Anna said grumpily, "yes you! Are you deaf?" Jack narrowed his eyes at the pricess- girls could be such a pain at times! Then again, she just wants to see her sister, he thought as he walked up the stairs, coating each step in a second sheet of ice as he went.

"Okay, okay, he muttered, "no need to get snippy!" Sighing, Anna placed her hands on her hips, demanding, "Now I want to see my sister!"

"Whose saying you can't?" Pitch's voice tickled her ears, breath hot on her neck. She turned, but saw no one, only the Guardians and Kristoff waiting nervously at the base of the stairs. I could have sworn there was someone behind me, she thought, Jack and herself striding in, the door slamming behind them.