46

Marie yawned and stretched out under the covers of the warm, snug bed she was laying in. She was 15 and staying at her friend, Grace's house. She looked out of the window of her friend's family's guest bedroom, being welcomed by the moon's rays. She sighed happily and leaned down by the side of the bed to reach into her backpack. It had been a fun day for the two friends. They had played out by a gravel pit with a clear pond all day that Grace's family owned on their land. Marie enjoyed grilled burgers with the family and had a wonderful day. Grace was taking a shower upstairs, and the rest of the family was getting ready for bed. Marie took out a bible and some homework she had for confirmation. She had just started the program through her church and figured she might as well get some of the homework done before bed. She cracked open the holy text and began reading.

A slight click sounded near the door, interrupting her thoughts. Marie looked up to see her friend soundlessly closing the bedroom door, her back turned. Marie opened her mouth to greet her friend but was silenced by her own racing heart. Grace was dressed in a small tank top and very short shorts, each accentuating her athletic figure in a way that made Marie blush. Grace turned to her, her blue eyes washing over Marie in a way she had never seen before. Marie swallowed a lump in her throat. "Hey," she greeted.

Grace made her way over to Marie slowly. Marie felt her heart race even harder when Grace began to crawl onto the bed. "Hey," her friend greeted back, her voice smooth and silky. Marie was frozen under the covers as her friend crawled across the bed towards her. She pulled the book close to her face as Grace crawled on top of her, her eyes never leaving Marie. "What are you reading?" Grace asked, her breath cascading over Marie.

"Th-the Bible," Marie stammered. She slunk into the bed even further. What was happening? Why was Grace acting like this? And why was Marie's heart racing within her chest the way it was? Every time Grace was close to her, her heart skipped a beat, but this was different. Marie knew her face was a dark shade of red, and she looked at her friend with shaky eyes as Grace hovered over her.

Suddenly the bedroom door opened. Grace quickly moved to the side, but not before her mother caught sight of them. "Grace, come here. NOW," her mother said in a low tone. Marie felt a sliver of panic as she watched her friend climb off the bed and leave the bedroom. She had never heard her friend's mother sound that angry before. Marie sat up, her hands shaking. She could hear their voices arguing quietly from the other side of the door, and she climbed out of bed and tip-toed to the door to listen quietly.

"…supposed to be in separate bedrooms for a reason!" she heard Grace's mom say in a hushed but furious tone. "What do you think you were doing, dressed like that? Acting like that?" The last word was so full of hatred that it made Marie take a few steps back. She gripped her shirt as she felt her chest tighten painfully. "You didn't listen to your father and I. Now, you'll suffer the consequences."

Tears threatened to escape from Marie's eyes. "Can I at least say goodnight?" Grace asked. Marie managed to get back to bed as the door opened. "Goodnight," Grace said quickly and emotionlessly. Marie barely returned the sentiment before the door was shut loudly. She took a few steps towards the door again.

"No more sleepovers with her," Grace's mother said in a low, venomous tone. Marie covered her mouth with her hands to hide her shock. She moved over to the telephone to call her mother, but stopped, her hand hovering over it. What would she say? Her mother would be sleeping and would be irritable if asked to come get her, but more importantly, Marie did not want to make a scene, so she decided against calling. She sat down on the bed, her bible resting in her hands. She squeezed it as one question kept burning within her mind: did she do something wrong?

"Marie?"

The young woman groaned lightly, the previous memory pounding across her head like a migraine. The rest of her body began waking, and soon she felt the cold seep into her legs, back and arms.

"Marie?" the same voice repeated. Marie felt her heart rate increase upon hearing that voice. She opened her eyes slowly. Brilliant, teary blue eyes met her gaze. The other woman gasped and pulled Marie in close. "Oh, thank God! You're alright! You're okay!" Marie turned a deep red as she embraced Marie tightly. It was a passionate embrace, the kind that is only shared between those who are extremely close. The woman wrapped her arms around Marie's upper body and held her there. Marie was still regaining movement in her cold limbs as a bitter wind blew over them. She looked around. They were still outside near the sight where Marie had traveled to, where she saw the ice and the wolf and…

Marie shoved the other woman away from her and scurried onto her feet when she caught sight of the magical bird. "Wh-whoa!" She instinctively grabbed a nearby branch and held it in front of her. The bird rubbed its head on its chest and simply looked at her. Marie gripped the branch tightly, looking between the other woman and the dark phoenix. "U-um…What's going on here?" she asked.

The woman rose and went over to the magical bird. Marie's heart raced in fear as she approached it, but the woman simply pet the magical creature. "It's okay. He won't hurt you," she said. Something stirred within Marie when the woman spoke, prompting her to lower the branch but she kept it at her side as she knelt in the snow. The woman ruffled the top of the phoenix's head. "In fact, you actually created him."

"What?"

Elsa looked at Marie with intense eyes. "Do you remember what happened?"

"Um…" Marie rubbed her head. "There was the wolf, and then I-…" She stopped, trying to decide whether to say what came next. She closed her eyes and shook her head. "Something came out of me…something like darkness, and then I fainted."

The other woman nodded. "Do you remember saying my name?"

Marie looked down at the river at the flawless ice. "Elsa," she replied.

Elsa let out a laugh of relief and smiled. "Yes," she said with teary eyes. Marie swallowed a lump in her throat. Something within her wanted to reach out and wipe away a tear, but she immediately chastised herself for thinking that way. She felt as though she knew Elsa somehow, but how?

Another cold, bitter wind blasted through the trees, causing Marie to shiver. She looked at Elsa, but she did seem to be bothered by the cold, despite wearing nothing but a worn out light blue dress and boots. She did not have any winter clothing on, only a small leather backpack. Marie scratched her head, her eyes never leaving Elsa and the dark phoenix. "Aren't you cold?" she asked.

Elsa gave her a small smile. "Not really," she replied as she stroked the magical bird. She winced slightly, and Marie caught sight of dark red on the shoulder of her dress.

"You're bleeding," Marie said, taking a step closer.

Elsa faced her and attempted to square her shoulders but failed. "It's nothing. Just landed on it wrong the other day." She placed a hand on her wound and winced once more. "I'll be alright."

Marie crossed her arms and frowned. "I have a first aid kit in my car. We should get out of the cold anyway," she remarked, motioning with her head at the setting sun. "Temps are supposed to be low tonight." Before Elsa could reply, Marie turned to face the direction of where her car was parked. "It's the least I can do after you saved me. Come on." She glanced behind her to make sure Elsa was following her and began walking up the riverbank.

Elsa smiled. "You're still so kind." Suddenly the dark bird flew at Marie, attempting to land on her head, but she dodged as it changed shape into the size of a sparrow. Marie blushed slightly when Elsa laughed. "Come here, Twamley. She's not ready for that."

"Twamley?" Marie repeated. The bird flew back to Elsa and perched on her shoulder. Marie instinctively reached for her coat pocket but found nothing. "That was written on a piece of paper in the coat that I wore to the forest," she mumbled to herself.

"That's where I got the name from," Elsa said with a warm smile.

"How?"

They climbed the riverbank and began walking along a golf course trail. "I promise I'll explain everything," Elsa said. "But I agree; we should get out of the cold first." They walked in silence while Marie's mind swirled with thoughts. A part of her was extremely apprehensive about the entire situation. Nothing made sense, and she wondered if it was some elaborate prank. She glanced at Elsa, who met her gaze with an intensity that Marie almost feared. She swallowed a lump in her throat and kept walking, her gaze fixed on the ground ahead of her feet.

After a few minutes, Marie's black Pontiac G6 came into view as they climbed the dam. Marie kept an eye on Elsa to make sure she made the climb, and she could not help but notice that the other woman's steps were shaky and light. Marie scratched her head over her pink beanie. "When was the last time you ate?" Marie asked as she dug through her coat pocket for her car keys.

Elsa laughed quietly, prompting Marie to look at her. "This morning at the hotel."

"Oh, you have a room somewhere?"

"Not currently." Elsa approached Marie's car with a fascinated look on her face. "I sold some of my mother's jewelry when I came here, but I don't have much left."

"Oh." Marie looked at the ground. "Sorry to hear that."

Elsa smiled at her. "It's okay. I'll make do." Marie watched as Elsa walked around the car, her hand running over the surface of the metal. "I've never ridden in a carriage like this." She looked at Marie with hopeful eyes. "That is, if you're okay with giving me a ride. May I? May we?"

Twamley flew off Elsa's shoulders and dove for the windshield. Marie rushed forward to catch him, but to her surprise, he flew through the glass and perched on top of a small stuffed Chibi styled leopard that Marie kept taped to her dash. The little creature began preening himself proudly within the car. Marie blinked. "That's a neat trick." She unlocked her car. "Yes, I can give you a ride to wherever you need." As she opened the driver's side door, Elsa opened the back passenger door. "You should sit in the front so I can look at your wound," she said. She felt her ears go pink when Elsa gave her a look with a slightly raised eyebrow. "P-please," she added softly.

Elsa obeyed and Marie joined her, shutting the door and starting up her cold car. Marie and Elsa's breath collided as they looked at each other. Marie tore her gaze to the side. "I just need to grab the first aid really quick," she said sheepishly as she leaned over closer to Elsa. She tried to ignore her own beating heart and Elsa's breath on her skin. She could feel Elsa's body heat radiating off her. Marie noticed that Elsa started to raise a hand to touch Marie but pulled away. Marie accidentally brushed Elsa's upper arm with her cheek as she rummaged below the passenger seat for the first aid kit. "Sorry," Marie mumbled. It felt like hours before Marie finally managed to grab the kit.

"It's okay," Elsa chuckled quietly.

There was something about Elsa's voice that begged to pierce through Marie's walls, to break them down ever so softly. Marie pulled away, kit in her hands. "We…know each other, don't we?" Marie asked quietly, her gaze slowly rising to meet Elsa's.

Elsa met her gaze softly. "Yes," she replied. They looked at each other for a few more seconds before Marie leaned back and looked down at the kit.

"U-um, so there isn't disinfectant in here besides iodine and there's barely any gauze." Marie peered at Elsa's shoulder. The blood was caked and dried to her skin and clothing, making disinfecting it impossible with the supplies Marie had. She sighed. "You'll need to change and probably shower to get this off your wound. Do you have anywhere you can go to do this?" When Elsa shook her head, Marie nodded. "My apartment it is." She reached down to the car's shifting stick but hesitated. "Please put your seatbelt on." Elsa only looked at her in confusion. Marie pointed to the seatbelt on Elsa's right side. "It keeps you safe in case we crash or hit something. Plus, it's the law…"

Elsa poked the metal buckle. "This? How?"

Marie held back a chuckle and reached across Elsa's body. "You pull it across yourself like-" She stopped when their faces came within inches of each other. "…this…" Marie and Elsa stared at each other, each of their breaths stopping short upon making eye contact. A warm, nervous rush swarmed within Marie, and her eyes widened as Elsa placed a hand on her cheek.

"I thought I'd never see you again," Elsa breathed.

For a second, Marie softened underneath her touch and stayed close to Elsa. There was something about her touch that felt familiar, that felt safe. It was intoxicating yet welcoming and warm. Suddenly Marie leaned backwards, her face a beet red. She gripped her steering wheel tightly. "S-sorry, I d-don't, uh…"

"No, I'm sorry," Elsa said, her face also red but not as much as Marie's. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." They sat in uncomfortable silence for a few seconds as Twamley pecked the fuzzy fur on the leopard doll. Elsa cleared her throat and grabbed the metal buckle of her seatbelt. "So, I grab it and then what do I do?" Marie perked up and nodded, her heart racing. She demonstrated buckling her seatbelt. Elsa mirrored her. Marie watched as Elsa tilted her head curiously and pressed the red button, sending the belt sailing back across her body. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "That's what it does!" Her attention turned to the dashboard. She pressed the radio button and jumped when music blared within the car. Marie turned the radio down, trying desperately not to laugh. Elsa began pressing other buttons in the car. She gasped when her window rolled down, when the door locked and unlocked, when the radio changed stations, when the volume went up and down, and when the hazard lights went off. She continued to press every button in the car until she noticed Marie's shoulders bouncing up and down. Elsa frowned slightly, her ears turning pink. "What is it?" Elsa asked sheepishly.

Marie covered her face with her hand but continued laughing. "You've seriously never been in a car before, have you?"

Elsa's shoulders dropped, and she smiled. "Is it that obvious?"

Marie smiled in a way that she had not in nearly two years. "Wait until we're moving," she said mischievously, shifting the car into reverse. Elsa flinched and looked around in wonder as the car began to move. Marie smiled. "It's okay. We're safe. Just keep your seat belt on."

It only took a few minutes to get back to Marie's apartment. Marie fumbled with her keys, nearly dropping them as she tried to unlock her door. Her apartment building was nothing fancy. In fact, it was rather worn down and unkept. It was housing, and unfortunately fit the run-down stereotype. "It's really small inside," she warned Elsa, who merely shook her head with a smile. Marie opened her door and gestured for Elsa to go in ahead of her. She watched as Elsa stepped inside and began looking around. Marie swallowed a huge lump in her throat as she watched Elsa. "It's not much, but it's home."

Elsa looked around, her eyes moving over every painting and picture on the walls and across every book on Marie's shelf. Marie continued to watch her nervously until her parakeets interrupted her thoughts. She quickly introduced them as Twamley flew off Elsa's shoulder to their cage. The magical creature cocked his head to the side as he listened to Marie's parakeets. To both women's surprise, Marie's budgies were not afraid of Twamley, rather, they seemed comfortable around each other. Elsa chuckled. "In a way, it makes sense that they get along." When Marie titled her head to the side in confusion, Elsa continued, "He's your creation. And Marie, your home is lovely." She bowed slightly. "Thank you for inviting me in." Marie caught sight of a few tears that threatened to escape Elsa's eyes, but she quickly turned her head to hide them. "Sorry," she said quietly, wiping her tears. Her injury came into view as she turned, prompting Marie to take off her winter gear and head to her bathroom.

"Let's look at that shoulder," Marie said, trying to ignore her racing heart. She grabbed her supplies and gestured for Elsa to sit down on her computer chair. Elsa obeyed and Marie settled behind her, inspecting the wound. "How did this happen?" Marie asked.

Elsa winced when Marie tried to peel Elsa's dress from the wound. "It was when I saved those kids the other day," she explained. Elsa turned her head to gaze at Marie as she readied some disinfectant. "I was thrown onto a frozen log on the river."

"Ouch," Marie replied. She peered at the wound. "It's caked on there pretty bad…"

"May I bathe?" Elsa asked.

Marie stood rather clumsily. "U-um, sure!" she stammered. She chastised herself for her beating heart and her causality with a person she had just met that day. She scratched her chin. "Everything's in the bathroom."

Marie stared at Elsa's bare shoulder harder than she was aware. "So, to summarize, you came through a portal called The Rift, we nearly died, got pulled to…" She paused and looked at the floor. Elsa had showered and was now bravely bearing the disinfectant that Marie had just put on her wound. Marie cleared her throat, trying to grasp what came out of her mouth next. "I got pulled to Arendelle, I got magical powers because you and I were tasked to rebalance the dark and light, and-"

"We fell in love," Elsa said softly. Marie's mouth fell open, but nothing came out. Elsa stirred. "I know you don't remember anything, and I don't mean to make you uncomfortable, but…" Her gaze dropped to the floor for a moment before turning to Marie again. "I feel that it's important for you to know."

"Love me."

Marie accidentally pressed too hard with the cotton swab full of disinfectant, causing Elsa to wince. "S-sorry." She tried not to stare at Elsa's bare shoulder in front of her. Marie had lent Elsa some clothes, but Elsa had not put on a shirt yet due to where her wound was placed. Her bath towel was the only thing covering her upper body, and Marie knew she was looking a little too hard at Elsa's smooth, bare skin. The towel was draped loosely over Elsa's back, causing Marie to blush slightly. Marie shook her head. "Forgive me, but…" She sighed and leaned back, her shoulders slouched. "I don't know you." As soon as she spoke those words, Marie felt her chest tighten as though she had told a lie. She sighed again and briefly gripped her head.

"I know," Elsa said quietly, her voice cracking slightly. She looked at Marie. "Do you remember anything? Anything at all?"

Marie looked away, her face twisted in thought. "I remember what happened in the forest. I always have. It never made sense." She briefly explained what had happened over the last couple years. Marie readied some gauze and antibiotic cream. "I couldn't say anything, otherwise I might end up like Layla."

"That's awful," Elsa responded. She briefly touched Marie's hand with her own. "I'm sorry you had to go through all of that. It sounds lonely."

"It is." They sat in silence for a few moments while Marie covered the wound with antibiotic cream. Her hand slid down Elsa's back once she finished. "I knew you were real. I just didn't know who you were." Elsa shivered underneath her touch, which caused Marie to withdraw and stand. She went to pace in the kitchen. She crossed her arms, anxiety spiraling within her chest. "So, my grandfather was also pulled to your world, and he failed and was pulled back and forgot everything." Marie squeezed her arms tightly. "Did I fail?"

"No! Not at all!" Elsa turned to face her, her towel still draped over her body loosely. "You were a natural. No one knows why the rift pulled you back. That is…" Elsa furrowed her eyebrows. "I think I know why now."

"Why?"

"Because of the threat that permeates this world. The person who wields the light."

"My father," Marie said.

Elsa picked up the fear that etched through Marie's voice. "We don't know that for sure," she replied.

Marie shook her head and whipped around, squeezing her arms even tighter. "Who else could it be? You said my grandfather could wield magic, and so can I apparently, so who else could it be?"

"That's something we can find out together," Elsa said.

"No."

Elsa froze. "What?"

"I'm sorry, but no," Marie said sharply. She turned to face Elsa. "Other worlds, magic powers, portals, and now family members who have said magical powers? This is all too much. I don't want any part of it."

Elsa stood, gripping the towel tightly. "Marie, you don't have to be alone in all of this. I'm here and-"

"No." Marie started for her coat. "I can bring you to wherever you want, but this is as far as it goes."

Marie gripped her steering wheel until her skin made a rubbing sound against it. She was parked in front of a hotel, the lights from the sign above the building blinking off and on distractingly. She avoided looking at Elsa, who was still in her passenger seat. She pulled a pen from her center console along with a napkin. "Here," she said as she scribbled. "This is my cellphone number. If you need anything, let me know." She could not help but feel as though her words were hollow, and she fiddled with a loose strand of string on her coat.

"Okay," Elsa said, her voice on the verge of cracking. Marie looked away, desperate not to notice. Elsa opened the passenger door. "Goodbye, Marie." She hesitated. "If you change your mind, I'll be here." With that, Elsa stepped out and closed the door. Marie drove off, and Elsa watched, tears beginning to stream down her face.

Marie drove back to her apartment and unlocked her front door. She closed it behind her and leaned against it, closing her eyes. She could still smell the shampoo Elsa had used in her apartment, and she let herself soak in the scent for a moment. Snapping out of it, she shook her head. What had just happened? Was it all some prank? Did everything Elsa had told her really happen? And why was there such a strong connection between them? Why did Marie feel things she had never felt around Elsa? Marie glanced down at her phone, half hoping that there was a missed call, but there were no notifications on her screen. She tilted her head and let out a huge groan. "What the actual fuck," she muttered. "I need sleep. I just need to go to sleep." Begrudgingly, she readied herself for bed and plopped down on her mattress. She pulled the covers over her and closed her eyes, her mind swirling with thoughts. Slowly, she drifted to sleep.

A roar filled the air as the ethereal passed right through its body, stripping it of the darkness. Marie's blade hurled a dark mass out of the wolf and onto the sand. "NOW!" she screamed. Marie raised her blade into the air and Elsa grabbed the hilt. In an instant, the two lunged forward and swung the now dark ice blade down on the dark mass. It pulsated demonically before erupting and dissipating into the air, leaving no trace of its existence.

Marie rolled over in her sleep, her dream continuing to play out.

"The two of you broke the rules of reality and met when you were never supposed to know that the other existed. You are the manifestation of inequity, and only inequity can fight this new inequity," Grand Pabbie said.

"Wait." Anna leaned down and looked at them. "The figure said Marie has strength of human spirit, and Elsa has the power that connects humans and spirits." Her forefingers that were pointed at Elsa and Marie drew closer to each other. "Based on the two fights we all saw, if Marie can understand the darkness's spirit or will, and Elsa can fight it, then…" Her fingers touched. "That's why it's here. You two are the only ones that can fight it."

She rolled over in her sleep.

"Can I ask you something?" asked Anna.

"Yeah, sure."

"Do you like women?"

Marie's face twitched.

"I don't want you to leave." Marie opened her mouth, but the former queen took a step forward. "I know what you're going to say. You're going to apologize for holding me last night, but I don't want you to." Elsa clasped her hands in front of her and nervously took a few more steps toward Marie. "Please say something."

Marie nearly woke as her dream played on.

"Listen." Elsa rested her hands on Marie's wet cheeks and gently raised her face until they made eye contact. "We'll find a way to change that. We don't even understand everything that is going on." Elsa wiped her tears. "We're in this together."

"I've always dealt with things alone." Marie's voice sounded so wounded, so vulnerable.

"Not anymore," Elsa whispered deeply.

Tears began to form in Marie's eyes, the memories continuing.

"Is it too cold?" Elsa breathed, pulling away.

"N-no. It's fine." Marie pressed her face into Elsa's, her hot breath sending shivers throughout the royal's body. They pressed into each other, and Elsa gasped lightly when Marie's hands wrapped gently around her forearms. Elsa withdrew and they stared at each other for several moments, each breathless, each very aware of how their bodies were positioned.

"I'm done," Elsa whispered.

Marie woke with a jolt, her breath ragged. To her shock, her room was filled with darkness. It swirled around her like a gentle breeze. At first, she was frightened, but she thought of her dream and held out a hand. With her left hand, she made a straight line, forming a dark sword. "Holy shit," Marie said aloud. Without another word, she flew out of bed and threw on some clothes. Within minutes, she was driving towards the hotel where Elsa was. Barely remembering to lock her car, she burst out of it and ran to the hotel, the morning sun lighting up the disheveled parking lot. To her surprise, Elsa was in the lobby, sitting in a chair while staring out of a window. Marie stopped to catch her breath before saying her name.

Elsa stood immediately. "M-Marie," she stammered in shock, her eyes heavy with dark circles.

Marie swallowed a lump in her throat. "Did you sleep?"

"No, not really," Elsa said while hugging her arms.

Marie nodded in response, twiddling with the string on her jacket again. "Your room. Where is it?" Marie asked. Without another word, Elsa led her down the tan hallway of the hotel. She opened the door to her room. The two women entered, Marie being the first. She walked over to the window and shut the blinds. Elsa shut the door behind her. Marie faced her with wide eyes. "It's real," she blurted out. "It's all real!" She held out her hands and took a deep breath before forming a dark blade.

Elsa visibly shook in relief. She smiled at Marie. "Yes," she replied.

"Then everything between us-"

"Really happened," Elsa finished.

Marie clenched her fists, her heart racing. "I want to bring you somewhere."