After a few inures out int eh cold, Kristoff gravely realized that he should probably have stayed behind, back at the castle, wight eh Guardians. Oh well, he thought, squinting through the wind, I need to do this! Sven was also having difficulty, trying his best not to slip on ice or suddenly collapse into a snowbank every time he took a step.
"Faster, Sven!" Kristoff yelled, voice hoarse as he plowed forward. The reindeer let out a howl of protest, and Kristoff could feel the animal's legs shaking as he sat atop him, the futile struggle to even stand still was beyond the poor reindeer. But Svenw as loyal to Kristoff, so he did his best. Kristoff patted his friend encouragingly.
"There you go, buddy! You can do it!" Kristoff cheered, when he suddenly found himself pressed against the ice, Sven collapsing to the ground. Before he could move, the mountain man found himself with a mouthful of fur as Sven decided it was time to use his buddy as a mattress.
"Arggh!" Kristoff shouted, voice muffled by the fur. Muscle straining, he tried to push Sven off him, get himself free, but it was no use. He was pinned to the ice like a butterfly on a board. He let his head drop, eyes widening when he heard a sharp crack.
"Please, please, don't be bleeding…" he muttered to himself as he pulled a gloved hand out from under the reindeer, reaching up tentatively. When he pulled his hand away, he sighed in relief, thankful that he had not cracked his skull open like a coconut. Returning to his friend, he once again tried pushing him away, gloved fingers digging into the fur.
"Stuck?" taunted a voice. Kristoff froze, eyes darting left and right.
"Who was that?!" he shouted, his void echoed on the wind.
"Why is that the first question any of you can think of?" the voice said, sounding as if the person were right next to the ice cutter, under the reindeer with him. Sven had started to panic, kicking at the ice with his hind legs, hooves sliding around uselessly. Kristoff tried getting a good grip on his fur, to stop his struggle.
"Anyway, mountain man," the voice said, "since it seems you won't need help, I'll be seeing you…." Kristoff let his eyes dart back and forth, but he couldn't pinpoint anyone besides himself in the snow.
"Hey!" he screamed, "whoever you are- don't leave me!" The person might be willing to help him, to get him back to Arendelle… to Anna…..
That's when he saw him. Rise from the darkness like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Kristoff glared at him- Pitch Black, smirking as he leered over him, arms at his side, clutching his robes tightly. Is he injured? Kristoff thought, then bared his teeth- why did he care if he was injured?!
"You're so adorable, trying to act brave," Pitch joked, golden eyes burning into Kristoff, trying to pick him apart. Pitch sent a trail of spit at the ice man, hitting him square int eh face. As the saliva landed on his skin, Kristoff felt….. "Sand?" Pitch chuckled.
"Stole it from the Sandman himself," Pitch bragged, "of course, it produces such lovely dreams, don't you think so?" Immediately, the blackened sand rose into the air, spinning in a blur. As soon as it came to a standstill, Kristoff gasped. What had been just mere and a few seconds ago was now taking the shape of two people- A woman and a man, he realized, the sand taking on slightly familiar silhouettes….
"Anna….?" Kristoff asked with bewilderment. Pitch nodded, opening his mouth to say something when there was a sudden bulge in his robes. Kristoff raised an eyebrow in question. A glint of panic flashed in Pitch's eyes as he push fit down, trying to punch it out with his bony fists. Inclining his head towards it, Kristoff thought he could hear grunting, but it could have just been the wind howling in the wind. Te ice cutter wriggled under Sven, the reindeer's body having become leaden, an anchor tying down a ship.
"I said get down, you useless imp!" Pitch growled at the lump of fabric. The sand figurines were still in place, silent in their viewing of the world around them. Before Pitch had time to firmly grasp the fabric, Kristoff nearly screeched as a head and pair of shoulders ripped through, nearly colliding with his forehead. In a blur of blue and white, Kristoff was able to determine that it was a woman- who was very frightened, to say the least.
"Kristoff!" she nearly screeched, "where…. where's Anna?!" Kristoff widened his eyes- her voice was familiar, as well as the blue dress she wore- well, what he could see of it. A white braid hung over her shouder, loose and frizzed. Her bangs were pushed back to look like flames were licked across her skull.
"E-Elsa….?" Kristoff gulped, jumping as Pitch pulled her back roughly. Elsa yanked her body away, and Kristoff could hear her gasp of joy as she flung her arms out, fingers digging into Sven's fur. Looking at he enow, he would never have guessed that she was the same regal queen of Arendelle he had met before. Her hair was disarrayed, eyes wild. Her dress was wrinkled, the fabric falling off her shoulder to reveal her pale skin.
"Anna!" she cried, tears streaming down her face, "where's my sister?!" Pitch glowered, baring his teeth like a wild dog.
"No one cares about your stupid! Little! Sister!" Pitch bellowed, pulling her braid until her head snapped backwards. Kristoff was silent, watching as the boogeyman pulled her into an embrace, the queen clawing and screaming to get away. A child throwing a tantrum. Elsa swiped at the air, trying to anchor herself to Sven. who was howling, nostrils flaring so hot air blew in Kristoff's face.
"No! No!" she shrieked, "Anna! Where's Anna?!"
The ice started to burn against his skin- he had found the queen, as he had set out to do, but he was glued under a reindeer, unable to move, unable to cry out- well, he could still talk, but what was the use? No one besides them was out there, no one was going to come to their aid. Unless…., he thought, gasping suddenly.
"The Guardians…" he mumbled, making Elsa stop in her tracks.
"What did you say?" she asked, hair plastered to her forehead with sweat. Pitch grinned, curling his hands around her arms, pulling them back sharply. The queen screamed, pain shooting up her arms, int her shoulders.
"The Guardians won't hep you!" Pitch shouted at Kristoff as he picked Elsa up, a tangled of kicking feet and gnashing teeth, nails scratching at his robes. As she attacked his clothes, Kristoff noticed black sand float to the ice, silent in their escape.
"The Guardians…" Kristoff repeated, louder than before, although it was still tough to hear him over the wind.
"The guardians don't care!" Pitch bellowed, although Kristoff noticed that he was aiming his words more at Elsa than him. Furrowing his brow, Kristoff wriggled under Sven, who grunted- he was truing once more to push Sven off him, to free himself. Pitch laughed.
"It's no use!" he cried triumphantly. Kristoff grunted, eyes meeting with Elsa's. The blue irises were wide, fear etched permanently into them. Tears streamed down her face once more, waterfalls of ice dripping off her chin.
"I-is Anna….?" Elsa asked, her voice small.
"Anna's waiting, Elsa!" Kristoff barked at her, making the boogeyman jump. Elsa felt a smile gig at the corners of her lips.
"She's alive?!" she cried with glee. Kristoff nodded, much to Pitch's annoyance.
"No!" Before Kristoff could say anymore, Pitch flicked his wrist, blackened sand rising, forming a sword, the tip sharpened to no end. Elsa gasped.
"You can't!" she cried, trying to break free from his grasp. It was no use.
"I can, and I will!" Pitch shrieked wildly, waving the makeshift sword in the air. Sven whimpered, cowering against his friend, who tried once more to get the reindeer off him.
"Come on, Sven!" Kristoff willed, "get off me! I need you to move!" Panting, he push done more, surprised when there was some give. He pushed again, herring Sven's surprised grunt as he slid off his owner, onto the ice.
"Now that I have that over with.." Kristoff breathe din deeply, revealing tin eh feel of his chest heaving, oxygen flowing through his veins once more, " I can take care of you." Pitch chuckled, clutching Elsa as if she were a security blanket. Joints protesting with agony, Kristoff stood up, dusting off the reindeer fur and ice.
"No, you won't," Pitch guffawed, "you're no match for me!" Elsa cringed as his nails dug into her side.
"Yes, I will," Kristoff said coldly. Don't worry, Elsa, he thought, I'll bring you home! Elsa shook her head, hair getting in her eyes, her mouth.
"Don't do it, Kristoff!" she wailed.
"Yes, Kristoff," Pitch mimicked her, "don't do it! Save yourself!"
"Jack promised Anna that Elsa would come home!" Kristoff yelled.
"What is it with you people and promises?!" Pitch groaned, "all are empty jokes that none of you expect to fulfill anyway!" Kristoff ignored him, taking a few sets toward him. Pitch suddenly raised the sword, arm stiff and rigid.
"Elsa-" Kristoff began, but was stopped as Pitch charged, slamming the blade into his stomach.
"Kristoff!" she shrieked, her throat scratchy and hoarse. The mountain man cried rout in surprise, knees slamming into the ice, stinging his skin. Pitch glared at Elsa, who cowered with a shriek. The boogeyman flung her aside, letting her crash into the ice. She felt it crack under her weight as she landed. Wrapping both hands around the handle, Pitch approached Kristoff as h lay on the ground, panting heavily. Blood pooled underneath him, dampening his wet clothes even further, painting the ice bright red.
"I'm going to finish you," Pitch hissed, "that way you never get to see your precious princess again!"
With a grunt, he raised the sword, poising it above the back of Kristoff's neck.