Anna stared at her sister. Elsa stood in the doorway. Her hair had fallen loose from its braid and was adorned with twigs. Her chest heaved rapidly as she caught her breath and tiny rips and tears decorated her priceless sky blue gown.

'Elsa,' Anna whispered disbelievingly. She took a cautious step towards the stranger wearing her sister's body.

'I can explain,' Elsa repeated.

She strode to Anna and took her hands, leading her deeper into the chamber. Careful not to tread on anything – or anyone – Elsa stopped at a less damaged table with two remaining chairs.

'It's a long story,' she said gesturing for Anna and Kristoff to sit.

Kristoff sat down and took Anna by the waist, placing her on his lap. Encircling her waist comfortingly he turned his attention to Elsa sitting across from them.

Elsa closed her eyes momentarily and drew in a breath. I never wanted to bring Anna into this, she thought. How am I going to tell her?

'Okay,' she began, opening her eyes. 'It's like this. It started the day after you guys left for your honeymoon…'

As Elsa explained her story, Kristoff and Anna listened intently. Anna's eyes widened as far as they could during Elsa's explanation of her trip to the North Pole. Oh man, Anna thought. This is bigger than I ever imagined.

'And that's what happened,' Elsa concluded.

Anna and Kristoff stared at her momentarily, both trying to absorb the news.

'S-so all those people out there… and the glass…' Anna stammered.

Elsa nodded solemly. 'Yes, that was Pitch.'

'Well, we've got to stop him!' Anna exclaimed jumping to her feet.

'Huh?' Elsa and Kristoff asked at the same time.

'What do you mean "huh?"? Pitch has destroyed our home and our kingdom. Does he expect us to do nothing? He have to stop him! C'mon,' Anna took Kristoff's hand and started leading him away. 'Let's find Jack and go save the world!'

'Yeah!' Olaf cried excitedly. The little snowman leapt onto Sven's back. 'Let's give that mean old bogeyman a piece of our mind. Or should that be pieces of our minds? I'm confused.'

'Wait,' Elsa said, standing and holding up her hands. 'Anna, you shouldn't get involved with this. I don't want you to be hurt –'

'Oh, come on Elsa. You can't do it alone.' Anna released Kristoff's hand and walked back to her sister. She took Elsa's hands in hers. 'Let me help you.'

'But Anna, this is not your fight -,' Elsa began.

'Then it's not your fight either. Okay, Pitch attacked our kingdom. As soon as that happened it became my problem. Just because you're the queen, it doesn't mean that I am nothing.' Anna paused for her sister's objection. None came. 'I am tired of coming second to you. I want to be more than just a spare. I want to do something.'

'Anna,' Elsa tried again.

'If what you've told me is true,' Anna continued, interrupting Elsa's protests. 'And Pitch is really that powerful, then you're not going to be able to defeat him on your own. You, Jack and North are going to need all the help you can get.'

Elsa was silent for a moment. She considered her sister's proposal. Anna was right. If Pitch really was that powerful, they'd be fools to think the three of them could defeat him.

'But I just don't want you to get hurt,' Elsa said.

'And I don't want you to get hurt. If you're allowed to risk yourself, why aren't I? Do you think I'm going to be any less worried if I sit here and do nothing? I'd probably worry more. Let me help you and then it doesn't matter if we win or lose.' Anna paused as she considered what she'd just said. 'Well, it does,' she corrected. 'We want to win. But what I meant was this way if we go down, we go down fighting together.'

Elsa smiled. Her sister's passion was admirable. Elsa felt moved. Anna was right, again. Elsa imagined herself in Anna's shoes. How would she feel if Anna risked herself and she had to sit on the sidelines and watch it happen?

Elsa drew in a breath. 'Okay,' she relented. 'We'll do it together.'

'Oh, thank you Elsa,' Anna said and embraced her sister in a tight hug. She pulled away. 'So, where's Jack?'

Elsa opened her mouth to reply just as Jack and North burst into the room. Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven shielded their eyes at the piercing light. The portal closed leaving the new arrivals in battered old sled.

'I'll tell you North, I never get tired of the sled,' Jack commented stepping out.

'Ah, Jack,' North replied. 'People never do. Maybe someday I leave it to you.'

Jack gasped. The prospect of owning this magnificent sled was almost too much. It felt like Christmas, Easter and a birthday wrapped in a candy rainbow 'You mean it?'

North gave a jolly laugh, his belly moving up and down. 'We'll see Jack.' He patted Jack on the back and departed the sled. 'Ah, Elsa,' North went on. He walked over to Elsa and wrapped her in a massive hug. 'It's good to see you again.'

Elsa smiled at North. 'It's good to see you too,' she replied, returning the hug.

'And who are your friends?' North asked gesturing to Elsa's companions.

'This is my sister Anna, her husband Kristoff, his reindeer Sven and our friend Olaf.' Elsa gestured to each in turn. 'This is North,' she explained. 'Or Santa as he is more commonly known.'

Kristoff and Anna's eyes widened slightly at the sight of the legendary figure. They couldn't believe he was standing there, in front of them. Olaf gasped loudly. He ran to North and took his hand.

'It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance sir,' the snowman said, vigorously shaking North's hand. 'You know, I've always loved Christmas, and snow. But you know what I love more? Summer!' Olaf exclaimed brightly. He jumped into the air, flinging one of his arms right off his body. 'Uh oh,' he said as it collided with one of North's reindeer. The reindeer's attention turned to the mysterious little being in front of him. He was so strange. So small with brown arms, a white body and orange nose.

The reindeer's ears pricked up at the sight of Olaf's carrot nose. He jauntily lunged forward towards Olaf. Olaf's eyes widened in fear. He began to run towards the door.

Sven, seeing his small friend in trouble, raced forward between Olaf and the foreign reindeer. He stopped in the middle of the two and faced North's reindeer. No one is allowed to eat his nose except me, he snorted firmly.

North's reindeer immediately shrank back in submission, his ears lay flat on his head. Sven continued to stare at the reindeer as he backed away to his original position. When satisfied, Sven straightened and nodded his head with a snort.

'Who's a good reindeer,' Olaf cooed approaching Sven. 'You are.' He rubbed Sven's nose with his remaining hand. 'Thank you Sven,' Olaf cooed. 'You're the best reindeer ever!' Olaf threw his remaining hand out so forcefully his other arm detached.

'Ow!' exclaimed Jack. Elsa and North turned to Jack and smiled. Jack was rubbing his nose with one hand and holding Olaf's arm with the other. 'That hurt.'

Elsa laughed. Anna stared at her sister. What was she laughing at? 'Elsa?' Anna asked. 'What's so funny?'

Elsa stopped laughing and looked at her sister. Anna couldn't see Jack? Elsa looked at Kristoff for support but his eyes were as blank and confused as Anna's.

'They can't see him,' Elsa said to North.

'Hm. Yes, it appears that way,' North responded.

'Hey, Elsa,' Anna said again. 'Why is Olaf's arm floating?'

Elsa looked at Jack, who was still holding Olaf's arm. It looks like I have some explaining to do, she thought.

'Anna, Kristoff. Do either of you believe in Jack Frost?'

Anna and Kristoff looked at each other quizzically. Had Elsa lost her mind? The shook their heads.

'Do you remember in my story I told you about Jack?' Elsa continued. 'Well, the Jack in my story is actually Jack Frost, and he's holding Olaf's arm right now.'

Anna stared at her sister. 'Elsa, you're crazy,' she said. 'Jack Frost, here in this room? That's impossible.'

'Is it?' Elsa countered. 'You can both see North. And he's Santa. Why should Jack Frost be any different?'

'Would you like me to prove it to them?' Jack offered.

Elsa glanced at him. 'Yes,' she agreed.

Jack nodded and flew over to the window. 'Tell them to look at this window,' he instructed. 'And find your gloves.'

Elsa relayed Jack's command and Anna and Kristoff moved closer to the window and the end of the room. The watched it, waiting for something to happen.

Jack closed his eyes in concentration. He pursed his lips and blew frost onto the window. Anna and Kristoff's eyes widened slightly. They glanced at Elsa. Was she the cause of this?

Elsa looked at Anna and Kristoff and smiled. She raised her hands and wiggled her glove-covered fingers. 'It's not me,' she stated.

Anna and Kristoff turned back to the window. Now that he hand their full attention, Jack began drawing on the frost. Like he had with Jaime, Jack drew a bunny.

Anna and Kristoff stared in amazement as the outline of a bunny materialised before them. Could it be that Elsa was right? Anna opened her mouth to speak when the bunny hopped off the window. As it began to hop around the room, Anna clutched Kristoff's arm in disbelief.

'That bunny,' she began.

'It's,' Kristoff began.

'Jack Frost,' they chorused and Elsa smiled.

As soon as the name departed their lips, Jack Frost materialised before their eyes. Anna and Kristoff's mouths opened into a wide 'o' and Jack knew they believed. He lowered his hands and the frosty rabbit vanished into the air.

'You're Jack Frost?' Anna asked approaching the man.

'Yes,' Jack responded. 'Hello Princess Anna, and Prince Kristoff. Elsa has told me a lot about you.'

Anna and Kristoff turned to Elsa, who shrugged.

'It's a pleasure to meet you sir,' Kristoff said to Jack, extending his hand. Jack grasped Kristoff's palm in his and they shook firmly.

Anna studied Elsa's teacher. His white hair and gorgeous body would be enough to make any girl fall for him. He's probably had lots of girlfriends, Anna thought. She glanced at her sister, who was looking at Jack. Anna thought she detected a hint of love and admiration in her eyes. Could it be that Elsa had feelings for this man? He'd be perfect for her, Anna thought.

'Jack,' Elsa said. He turned his attention to her and Anna saw Elsa's feelings mirrored in his eyes. She gasped softly. He felt the same way! There was definitely something there. But from the way they don't hold eye contact, Anna thought, they don't want to acknowledge their feelings.

'Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven have volunteered to help us stop Pitch,' Elsa told him.

'Excellent!' Jack and North exclaimed in unison. 'Where shall we start?' North asked.

'Well, all the bodies in this room, and those in the hall, are what Pitch did,' Anna piped up. 'Maybe if we take a closer search we'll find a clue that can point us in a direction.'

'Excellent idea miss Anna,' North praised. Anna felt her cheeks glow with pride.

The party split up and began examining Pitch's destruction. Anna and Kristoff took the end of the hallway closest to the front door of the castle. North took Olaf and Sven and searched the middle of the hall, leaving Elsa and Jack in the room together.

Elsa lowered her head, unable to look at Jack. She moved to the farthest corner of the room, trying to distance herself from him as much as possible. Jack mirrored her actions and the searched in silence.

The sun had set and the searched long into the night only interrupted by the servant Kai informing his queen with the damage toll of the town.

Elsa yawned widely. She closed her eyes briefly, struggling to open them again. Her body felt like collapsing on the spot. It took every fibre of her will power to stay awake. I have to stay awake, she told herself. I mustn't sleep.

Jack glanced at Elsa from across the room. Her movements had become slower and more lethargic. She was tired, he knew. Jack abandoned his search and flew over to her.

'Elsa,' he said softly, touching her shoulder.

She slowly turned her head to face him. 'Yeah?' she asked tiredly.

Jack said nothing. She looked so fragile. Love burned in Jack's heart, threatening to break free. His heart longed for her so much it hurt. Jack struggled inside to contain the impulse to reach out and hold her, to whisper soft words until she fell asleep.

'You're tired,' he stated.

'No I'm not,' Elsa argued in a childish voice. Her eyelids drooped but she blinked rapidly to keep herself awake.

Jack couldn't take it anymore. She needed to sleep. He took Elsa's hand in his and led her over to a wall. Jack rested his back against the wall and sat down. Elsa sank beside him.

'Lie down,' he commanded gently.

Elsa, too tired to argue, extended her legs. She leant against Jack, her head resting on his shoulder, and closed her eyes. She fell asleep immediately, overcome by exhaustion.

Jack wrapped an arm around her and held her close. He gazed at Elsa. There was no denying it, he realised. He was in love with her. Jack longed to press his lips into her soft hair, and stroke her head. But he just couldn't. Elsa didn't love him. She wasn't interested in him at all.

The door burst open causing Jack to jump in surprise and Elsa to wake. Her eyes flew open and she sat upright immediately. Anna, followed by Kristoff, North, Sven and Olaf rushed into the room.

'Elsa,' Anna called rushing over to her sister. 'We found something,' she panted.

Anna thrust a piece of paper into Elsa's hands. Elsa looked down and read the words scrawled on there.

'A receipt for boots, jars and a micky mouse plush toy?' Elsa read. 'Anna what is this?'

'Look at the bottom,' Anna urged pointing. Elsa peered at the receipt. 'Thank you for shopping at Wandering Oaken's Trading Post.'

'Yes!' Anna exclaimed.

'This receipt was pinned to a victim by this arrow,' Kristoff elaborated holding up a blood tipped arrow.

'And you think that the attackers came from this 'Wandering Oaken's Trading Post,' Jack surmised.

'Or they at least went there,' Anna said.

'And if they were there, then Oaken would probably remember them. He can't get much business up in the mountains,' Kristoff explained.

'So we should go to this 'Wandering Oaken's Trading Post?' North asked.

Anna and Kristoff nodded. 'It's a start,' Elsa agreed.

'Well then, what are we waiting for?' North laughed. 'Everyone into the sleigh.'

'Sven won't fit in the sleigh sir,' Kristoff pointed out as North, Jack and Elsa began to make for the sled. 'If it's alright with you, I'd like to ride Sven there myself.'

'I'll come with you,' Anna said standing beside her husband. 'I can get a horse from the stables and ride with you.'

'I'll come too,' Olaf piped up.

'Okay then,' North agreed. 'You guys can ride there and we'll follow you.'