Mary turned over under the covers. The blankets were warm and the mattress was soft, yet somehow they didn't feel as soothing as they ought to. Mary had spent the vast majority of the week lying in this bed, but now she felt too restless to stay still. Mary sat up, shook off some of the snowflakes accumulating from her personal flurry, and looked around her bedroom. The chessboard was still lying on the rug with stray pieces scattered about, Fritz's stuffed bear still sat in its place on the shelf, and the latest book Mary had been reading – Amorous in Atlantica – still lay on its spine on the bookcase. How on earth had she survived going an entire week without reading?
With a pang, Mary spotted the wastepaper basket. Her human anatomy book lay inside, or at least what was left of it. What on earth had been wrong with her? She'd adored that book!
Mary sighed and wiped some flakes of mud off her glasses with the bedsheet. After Mary's and Olaf's play session, Gerda had stopped them at the front door and made a big fuss. Olaf had been forced to wait in the courtyard until Elsa could magically clean him again, but Gerda had insisted on dragging Mary inside and bathing her, seeing as Mary wasn't made of snow and therefore wouldn't dissolve the instant she touched water.
Gerda was one of the precious few staff members who dared to act nice to Elsa's snowmen. This little hiccup with the snowman rebellion, Gerda had said, was nothing compared to the trouble Elsa's powers used to cause. A few years back, Elsa couldn't go two days without coating her entire room in ice, and that was before she could unfreeze it at will.
Mary glanced down at her body under the covers. Somehow, the lack of private parts had been more embarrassing. It had been the elephant in the room as Gerda scrubbed her hair, trying not to stare at Mary's smooth, featureless ice-skin. Ugh, things had been so much easier before Mary was self-conscious about that...
No. Mary forced herself out of that mindset. She didn't want to be blissfully happy like Olaf. Didn't want to be imaginary. Mary liked thinking. She wanted to live. Mary repeated it to herself, as if making sure it was still true.
I want to live. I want to live.
Funny how Mary hadn't realized it until moments before being erased. It was true what they said – You don't appreciate what you have until-
"Mary?"
Mary was shaken from her thoughts by the door swinging open. Her head shot towards the doorway to find Elsa standing there. Her creator. Her beloved, the one who'd given her life to save Mary.
"The council meeting's over," Elsa said. "Sorry I didn't come sooner. I had to clean up Olaf. Did you two have fun?"
Mary grunted in reply.
Elsa stood in the doorway for another moment before slowly moving to sit on Mary's bed across from her. "Are you ready to talk?"
Mary hugged her knees. "As ready as I'll ever be."
"Alright, then, let's talk."
There was a pronounced silence. Elsa stared at the wall. Mary stared at the floor.
Tick, tock, tick, tock, went the clock.
"Mary, your glasses!" On impulse, Elsa snatched the glasses from Mary's nose, conjured up an ice-cloth, wiped off a microscopic speck of mud, and then returned them.
"Thank you," said Mary dully.
It was as Mary sat up to adjust her glasses that Elsa caught sight of her exposed chest. "Where's your dress?"
"It got too muddy," said Mary. "I left it out in the sun to melt."
"Here." Elsa waved a hand, causing a fresh dress to sprout over Mary's body. "And what about your shoes?"
Mary shifted under the covers. "They were muddy, too." The words had hardly left her mouth before a new pair appeared on her feet beneath the covers. "Elsa, wait!"
Elsa frowned. "Is something wrong?"
"I..." Mary gave Elsa an apologetic look, as if she was trying to say something horribly insulting in the gentlest way possible. "I hate walking in heels."
"Oh." Mary hadn't known how Elsa would to react, but she hadn't expected laughter. "Why didn't you say something sooner?"
"I don't know," said Mary truthfully.
"Alright, then..." With another flick of her wrist, Elsa dissolved the ice-heels back into nothingness. "How about some regular slippers instead?"
"That would be fine." The next instant, a pair of shoes formed on Mary's feet with heels that weren't six inches off the ground.
"You'll look shorter, though," said Elsa.
"Is that why people wear those things?" scoffed Mary. "Why on earth would anyone care how tall they are?"
Elsa shrugged. "They just do."
"Women's fashion is stupid!"
A smirk wormed its way into Elsa's face. "I've seen men wear them, too."
"No." Mary's frustration was replaced with disbelief. "Who?"
"The Duke of Weaseltown."
The two of them shared some giggles. It was enough to make Mary lightheaded. When was the last time she and Elsa had laughed together?
As the laughter died down, Mary took Elsa's hands in her own. "I'm sorry, Mama. For... For everything. I should never have thrown that temper tantrum. It's just, when I heard you were sailing away, I..." Her voice trailed off.
"I know we haven't talked about it, but I take it you've learned why..." Elsa paused to choose her words. "...why my parents aren't around anymore?"
The question hung in the air.
"I'm sorry." The instant she outstretched her arms, Elsa trapped Mary in a tight hug.
"It's alright, it's alright." Elsa tired unsuccessfully to laugh. "I'm actually glad we're talking about this. To be honest, it's always bothered me how Olaf's never seemed too upset about it... about how he'll never get to meet them. Well, to be fair, he's never upset about anything."
Mary nodded and silently pressed her cheek against Elsa's.
"It happens to everyone, really," Elsa said. "It's part of life."
"When will I die?" asked Mary.
Elsa pondered this for a moment. "You and your siblings are born from my imagination. Maybe you'll go when I go. Maybe once I'm gone, everything – my dress, the Ice Palace, all my ice and snow – will just vanish." She let out a wry laugh. "I guess Hans was counting on that when he tried to decapitate me."
Mary managed to give a weak smile. "Then that means we'll always have each other. I'm glad. I never want to lose you. I never want to lose my mama." The smile was gone as quickly as it'd appeared. "Does it ever stop hurting?"
"It waxes and wanes." As she spoke, Elsa gently released Mary and edged towards the door. "Lately, I've... I've been thinking about my mother a lot. I miss her."
"I wish I could've met her."
Mary half-expected her to cry, but she surprised Mary by yawning.
"Tired, are we?" chuckled Mary.
"What a day... I need to get some rest. Goodnight, dear." With that, Elsa made for the door. "Love you."
"I love you, too."
"Mary?" But then Elsa paused and turned back. "I'm so glad you're happy again. I was really worried you... you were some sort of avatar of my depression."
"What?" Mary gave a start. "What do you mean?"
"I've felt..." Elsa turned away, shutting her eyes. "...all the things you've felt before. Lonely and useless and guilty... like your whole life, you've caused nothing but problems, and.. it would be so much better for everyone if you just... didn't exist anymore."
Mary felt a little like she was tumbling down a flight of stairs. "Elsa..."
For the umpteenth time, Mary was overcome with the urge to tell Elsa about the crippled man. There wouldn't be a more appropriate time than now. All she had to do was blurt it out. Mary opened her mouth... but no sound came out.
Oh well. Mary would tell her in the morning. Definitely.
"Phew!" Morten dropped the shovel so he could wipe the sweat from his brow. "All done."
Henrik placed the last few shards into the hole, then kicked the dirt back over it. "There we go. No one will look for magic amulet remains out here in the middle of nowhere, right?"
"Where'd the amulet thingy even come from, anyways?" asked Morten. "I mean, this High Priest guy just happens to have a weapon that perfectly counters the queen's magic? Seems a little overly convenient, doesn't it?"
"Yeah, well, the world's a crazy place," shrugged Henrik. "I mean, we've got a queen with magic ice powers, and there's all those rumors about trolls in the forest. I'd be surprised if some dude with a magic-stealing artifact didn't come after Queen Elsa."
"I guess so..." Morten grunted, then retrieved his shovel. The two guards began their march down the dirt road through the wilderness.
"You know, I heard about this one queen who got sick and, like, drank a flower, gave birth, and bam!" Henrik threw his hands out theatrically. "Her daughter has healing magic."
"That sounds dumb."
"It's true!"
"Why would the daughter get the healing magic? Why wouldn't the mom have it? What, does the magic flower juice go from her stomach to her uterus?"
Henrik rolled his eyes. "It's magic, Morten. Magic doesn't have to make sense."
"I guess not..."
"Besides, the stomach and uterus both lead to the same-"
"Okay, I think we've said enough on that particular subject."
"Sorry..."
For several minutes, the guards walked down the forest trail in silence.
"So... wanna go make out behind Oaken's Trading Post?"
"You have to ask?"
The Limited Edition Sparkle Snow Goddess doll sat on its place of honor atop the ceremonial altar in the center of the bedroom. Maybe it was just Fritz's imagination, but he could swear the doll was giving him a judgmental stare. Was the goddess displeased with him? That was impossible! Fritz had made plenty of ritual sacrifices!
"Fritz?" A tiny shriek escaped Fritz's mouth as the door swung open. He spun around, making sure the altar was hidden behind his back. Standing in the doorway was Mary. Fritz had to resist the urge to shriek again.
Mary sniffed the air. "Why does it smell like burnt chocolate in here?"
"No reason," Fritz said quickly.
"Listen, we need to talk." Mary didn't look scary, exactly – In fact, with her hair tied up and her high-heels traded for slippers, she looked prettier than ever – but Fritz couldn't help but cross his legs ever so slightly as she drew nearer. "I have an apology to make to you. A lot of apologies, actually. First of all... I'm sorry for... for what I tried to do."
The frostier Mary's cheeks grew, the redder Fritz's grew. "You don't have to apologize again. I mean, you stopped when I asked you to..."
"I just don't want you to be hurt because of me." As she spoke, Mary absently fiddled with her ice-glasses. "Please, if there's anything I can do to make it up to you-"
"No, no-" Fritz took a deep breath. "I'm the one who should apologize. You were right – If you were a human woman, I probably wouldn't have freaked out so much. Yeah, you didn't know what you were doing, but you only wanted to fit in with normal people. You were just trying to do what you thought I wanted."
"Fritz, no!" The distance between them grew smaller. "I had no right to accuse you like that! You were right, I was the one who forced myself on you. You never did anything to imply you expected that from me. The things I said when I was angry... they weren't true. I'm sorry." Mary shut her eyes. "I screwed up, Fritz. I understand if you don't trust me anymore, but I at least wanted to clear the air between us. I want to be your friend, if that's what you want."
"Friend?" Fritz found himself glancing back at the Limited Edition Sparkle Snow Goddess doll. It was still giving him that stare. "Yeah, um... if that's what we both want, then... yeah. Friendship it is."
Mary tried unsuccessfully to smile. "Good, good. Whatever makes you happy." There was a long silence. "Well. Guess I'll be going, then." She slowly turned around, then walked a step out the door. Then another step. And then another. And then-
"Mary wait please baby don't leave me I want you back I still love you breaking up was the biggest mistake of my life!" And then Fritz was hanging off her dress and blubbering like an infant.
It was hard to say if Mary looked shocked or delighted. "Fritz! You- You mean that?"
Fritz nodded pitifully. "I've been going crazy without you. It's like I'm regressing. I can't go back to obsessing over Elsa! I- I-" He pointed at the altar behind him. "I joined an Elsa-worshipping cult!"
"You still want me?" Mary started to grin for a second before the other shoe dropped. "Wait, a cult?"
There wasn't an inch of skin of Fritz's face that wasn't bright red. "Um, well, I went to Pagania with Elsa, and everyone there seemed so obsessed with her, and I felt, I don't know, comradery-"
"Fritzy." Mary looked like she was on the brink of melting. "You really want me back? You're not just saying that?"
"I- Uh- Err- Uh-" Fritz struggled to form a coherent sentence. "Yes. I mean it."
"And..." Mary brushed a strand of hair from her eyes and pushed her glasses up her nose. "...you don't mind that we can't...?""
"I don't want to have sex!" Fritz blurted out.
Mary cocked an eyebrow.
"I mean, I don't want to have sex with you."
"Wow, that makes me feel so much better."
"That's not what I meant to say!" Fritz required a couple deep breaths to compose himself. "What I mean is, it doesn't matter to me. It was never important." Slowly, gradually, his eyes met with Mary's. "When I'm with you, I don't feel like a wimpy little loser. If it wasn't for you, I'd probably still be pining after Elsa and- and visiting my momma in jail so she can push me around." He took Mary's hands in his. "I need you. I've missed you. That's what matters."
By this point, Mary's eyes were quivering. "You'd really be okay with... with never...?"
"Uh, to be perfectly honest, I'm terrified of sex, so your sexlessness is kind of a relief." Fritz gently released her hands so he could bring a palm to her cheek. "I'm sorry for how I acted. It doesn't matter if you look like a girl or a faceless ice-creature – You're beautiful either way. I love you."
"Oh, Fritz..." Now her eyes were watering, too. "Come here." Mary threw her arms around Fritz's waist and pulled him towards her.
"Mary..."
Their faces drew closer, and their eyes shut, and their lips parted...
And then they burst into a spontaneous musical number.
Elsa watched the ship bob up and down in the harbor, its flag fluttering in the breeze. The flag of Pagania was, predictably, an elaborate snowflake design resting between two sky blue stripes.
"I hope you don't feel unwelcome in Arendelle." Elsa turned to the Archbishop, who was kneeling at her side. "I understand the High Priest was acting alone."
"I'm afraid my responsibilities require me to return to Pagania as soon as possible," said the Archbishop. "With the High Priest behind bars, the church rests squarely on my shoulders. But I assure you, my lady, I have every intention of exposing my associate's crimes and ensuring he spends the rest of his life in our highest security prison. Of course, we'll also need to interrogate him to ensure he's not hiding any more magic trinkets up his sleeve."
"Sounds like a plan." Elsa found her eyes dwelling on the waves crashing over the horizon. "I wish you a safe voyage."
"Your blessing means the world to me, Snow Goddess."
Elsa frowned. "Your faith's not shaken, then? Not even after learning the truth about the priest?"
"Of course not," said the bishop with a smirk. "Protestant Elsianity is the religion that wants to sacrifice you to release your godhood. Orthodox Elsianity is fine with you the way you are."
Elsa raised an eyebrow, but she thought it best not to press the subject.
"I trust your snowmen have been under control after yesterday's little incident?" added the Archbishop.
"Under as much control as they've ever been." Elsa stared at her own hands. "If I'm being honest with myself, I'm still not at peace with the fact that I can create life. I don't think I'll ever be."
"Of course you can create life," the bishop said simply. "You're a goddess."
"I've never felt like a goddess." The slightest smile crossed Elsa's lips. "I've spent most of my life feeling more like a fragile little girl."
"With all due respect, my lady, after what I saw yesterday-" The Archbishop smiled back. "-that couldn't be further from the truth. Now if you'll excuse me..." He turned to the dock.
"Wait!" Elsa caught him a step away from his ship's ramp. "Before you go, I have something for you."
The bishop turned back, curious. Elsa waved her hand. For a moment, nothing happened. Then a flurry of white feathers descended from the sky and landed on her finger.
"I want you to have this." Elsa gently transferred the snowbird from her finger to the bishop's. The snowbird preened itself lazily.
"My lady." The Archbishop's eyes had gone the size of dinner plates. "I... I can't accept this."
"I insist." Elsa gave the snowbird one last kiss on the head before backing away. "This is one of my more intelligent snowmen. He's pretty quiet, but he can talk when he needs to. He can patrol Pagania from above. If the Clovisians try anything, you'll get an early warning and a way to contact me quickly."
The bishop was speechless. Elsa was starting to worry she'd given him a heart attack.
"I hope our nations can have a long and prosperous friendship," Elsa said, then added, "as equals," when the bishop bowed. "I'll be there for you if you ever need me."
"My lady- No. Queen Elsa." The Archbishop closed his eyes. "Never before have my people been blessed with a god as restrained and humble as you." He bowed once again. "You are truly one of a kind."
They traded another set of smiles. Then the bishop stepped onto the ship and watched his goddess walk off back to the castle.
"Mr. Bishop, wait!" The anchor had almost been completely raised when a scrawny boy finally reached the dock. "I need to talk to you!"
"Ah, I remember you," said the Archbishop. "You're that royal servant boy who was so eager to convert. What can I do for you, son?"
"I have a confession to make!" said Fritz, panting for air. "I... I can't keep worshiping Elsa like you guys do. I don't think I'm really faithful to her. I think I'm just..." His cheeks reddened. "...attracted to her."
"I see." The Archbishop bowed his head solemnly. "Well, son, your dilemma is, unfortunately, a common one among the Paganians. Incredibly common. Nigh universal, even."
"Really? What do you do about it?"
The bishop leaned over the edge of the ship to pat Fritz's shoulder. "Son, let me tell you a story. Once, many years ago, my cousin was a judge in Paris. He tried to act all self-righteous, but when he thought no one was looking, he had the absolute most perverse lust for women." His eyes narrowed. "It was sickening."
"And then he redeemed himself?" said Fritz.
"What? No, he's burning in hell as we speak."
"Oh."
"What I'm saying is, you might want to make peace with your inevitable damnation."
And with that, the Archbishop walked off below deck.
Fritz swallowed.
Not ten minutes later, Fritz was back in his bedroom, furiously shoving the sacrificial altar, all the chocolate he had yet to burn, the tattered remains of the informative pamphlet, and even the Limited Edition Sparkle Snow Goddess doll into his wastepaper basket. No more Elsa-worshipping for him! From now on, Fritz was one hundred percent completely devoted to Mary. This whole "Elsianity" thing was probably just a scam religion anyways. It's not like Fritz had ever bought into it in the first place.
Fritz placed the wastepaper basket out of sight in the corner of his room. That was better. Somehow, a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Fritz and his girlfriend had worked out their differences like rational adults – with a musical number – and he was completely over his freakish obsession with Elsa. Now Fritz could finally look himself in the mirror without cringing. With no small amount of pride, he marched out his bedroom and shut the door behind him...
...and a minute later, Fritz scurried back into the room, dug through the wastepaper basket for the Limited Edition Sparkle Snow Goddess doll, and hid it in the back corner of the closet where no one would find it.