The castle in Arendelle was alive in the early morning. The staff busied themselves with the placements of plates on the tables in the art room where the guests would dine. Then the cooks would bust out of the kitchens with a wide variety of foods with covers on top to keep them warm and fresh.

Elsa strolled through the hallways in her casual magenta gown and took a good look at the displays throughout the room. Greek statues stood tall and upright, Arendellian suits of armor were polished to look fine, and the windows would be opened above them. All of this was for her.

She entered the art room to find the servants busy themselves at Kai's commands. On the far side of the room, Anna and Gerda slowly removed a painting from a case to place it on a stand. Its style was rather different from the ones she was familiar with. Then she approached them with curiosity. "Where did you get this?"

Anna stole a quick glance from her. "A merchant sold it to me when we were back in the Metro. He said this was priceless and I liked it enough to bring it over. Besides, if we're introducing our Russian friends, what is a better way than having this start a conversation."

The crown princess had mixed feelings about the painting. It seemed a bit too war-like for her tastes. "I don't know, it seems out of place."

"We have a painting of Joan of Arc in the Hundred Years War," Her sister pointed to the painting above them, "It would be fine."

There was no time for arguing as she accepted Anna's reasoning. "Okay, you can showcase this one."

She hugged her tightly. "Thank you, Elsa. I am glad you're good with this."

Gerda voiced her concern given the apparel of the royalty. "Your highnesses, I think both of you should get dressed for the coronation. Kai and I will take it from here."

"Are you sure?" Anna wondered.

"Come now, both of you will want to look beautiful before your subjects and the other delegations. If both of you get started, I'll sneak some chocolates into your room."

"Gerda, how can you blackmail the future queen of Arendelle?" Joked Elsa before she turned to her sister with a smile. "Come on, Anna. Maybe we can do something in the meantime?"

Anna grabbed her by the hand. "Let's go. We can do each other's hair!"

Several months had passed since the princesses of Arendelle had departed from the Metro, leaving a lasting impression upon the various leaderships within the stations. Colonel Mel'nikov prepared his men for the occasion alongside their newfound alliance from Novosibirsk. The alliance between the Spartan Order and OSKOM was enough to convince the major powers - the Red Line, Fourth Reich, and Hansa - to adhere to the policies of the Council. Yet, Sviatoslav was not concerned about the stability of their political relationship or its reaction to the other world.

The largest thought on his mind was Artyom's background as Hunter's son. Why were those papers classified and why did one of his loyal comrades not tell him about his issues. If he asked, the colonel could have pulled some strings to help him and have someone accompany his daughter after the death of his wife. The suspense of knowing the history behind the mystery simply changed his perspective that Hunter was more than just a simple soldier.

Now he had an obligation to an old fallen friend. Hunter served the Order with distinction and pride, but those times were long gone. Sviatoslav had to return the favor and keep Artyom safe until the time came… until the truth was revealed.

The underground facility within in this world was surprisingly complex and the Order was glad that the generators were still in functional order. There were even garages, filled with a treasure troves of irreplaceable vehicles and tanks. If there was something the colonel was glad about the pre-war government, it was the fact that the Soviet Union had a tendency to make preparations for an eventual future conflict with enough material to make sure they won that conflict. The irony was not lost on them that they did not prepare for a global apocalypse.

The colonel entered a room as the doors slid open, announcing his arrival. Polis Rangers and OSKOM soldiers alike, getting their dress clothes together. It had been a long time since he had seen a company of soldiers dress up, but his heart was glad that the younger generation of soldiers would get to experience a time to act like gentlemen. Amongst the crowd of men changing into clean clothes, Artyom slipped past them in the uniform of a long-forgotten honor guard. Then he took the time to salute him. "Sir, we're getting ready as we speak."

He smiled. "It's quite obvious that I can see that, but relax with the protocols. Besides, I have to ask, where did you get that uniform."

Artyom stole a quick glance at his own apparel. "It was my stepfather's. Sukhoi actually retrieved this from Timiryazevskaya after the station fell to a swarm of rats. I asked him about it and he told me that there are some things of sentimental value that was just too important for him to lose."

"Your stepfather must have been amongst the honor guard before the war. They are usually exceptional enough to be handpicked by high command."

"Would it surprise you that Sukhoi told me that he was an officer?"

"No, I think it would be fitting that you were cared for by someone of that caliber." The station commander of Exhibition being a former honor guardsman? Now that was a story worth exploring should he ever meet him again.

Uhlman approached the colonel as he began to button his shirt. "Sir, we've managed to find some toothpaste to give our glorious comrades the smell of mint from here alongside good showers."

"That is good," He replied, "We can walk into Arendelle without embarrassing ourselves in the process."

Several hours were spent getting strands of hair into place, but Anna managed to make them as fine as possible. By the time they managed to fix their hair, Elsa could not help, but feel special. She opened her drawers to put away her comb; however, her heart stopped when she noticed the dog tags jingling. Then Elsa reached out to inspect them closely, knowing full-well that a friend was coming to visit her. She quickly slipped it over her neck as her sister rummaged through their closet like a dog digging in the dirt. "Anna, what are you looking for?"

When she turned around, the area around the closet was filled with dresses being tossed aside. It was funny that royalty sometimes could make a mess. Anna stepped out of the closet with a hanger holding a green dress and a box. "A good set of clothes."

"What did you do with your previous set?" Elsa asked.

Anna's head shifted from side-to-side. "Well, I accidentally got it covered in mud and got wet."

She could not help herself from laughing. "You should know that today was coming. What's the reason for that?"

"Anders' pig got stuck and I decided to help him out."

The crown princess smiled. "Okay, maybe it was a good reason."

Her sister tossed a box of shoes over to her. "Elsa, do you intend to wear this?"

She quickly opened the top and recognized the design from the moment she lay her eyes on it. "This was gifted by Artyom when his memory was still fuzzy. Where did you find this?"

"All the way in the back," She answered, "I almost forgot about them until now."

It was a kind gift, one Elsa did not want to ruin. Yet, her fear of destroying one of the few things he gave to her had subsided and reached for them. "Yes, I'm wearing them."

A stolen glance from her sister was enough to see a surprise on her face. "You're going to look beautiful today."

The blacksmith of Arendelle looked at himself in the mirror and he looked forward to seeing the royals in person. Martin looked to a window on his right to see his son playing with his pig. As any father should do, he opened it and peaked his head out. "Do not get your clothes dirty. Your mother would be furious with me if you show up to the castle."

Anders rolled his eyes. "Why do I have to go? It's just for a single day."

"Aye, it is for a single day, but you must understand that no one has ever entered the castle until today. You will not appreciate the moment until it is over and I would rather have you be there than miss it." He answered with graceful reasoning.

"I suppose I'll try, but it's not like we'll be talking with the royals in person."

He smiled at his boy. "Don't say that. Who knows what might happen today?"

Their heads turned as they heard the sounds of boots meeting the stone streets. As they began to get closer, a column of strangers was walking past them in clean uniforms. Most of them were armed with their weapons slung over their shoulders. Yet, there was a difference between various groups. Most remained in their cliques where they all had similar patches on their shoulders, but there were those who intermingled between various groups.

Martin quickly walked out of his house to get a closer look while Anders stood beside him with curiosity about these foreigners. These strangers passed by, some even waving to the blacksmith and his son.

The boy could not help the thought of commenting on them. "Father, who are these people?"

A familiar voice called out to them from amongst the various groups walking by. "Martin, Anders, how are you two doing?"

He could not believe his eyes, but Artyom was here as he stepped out. "It has been a while since we last met each other. Who are all these people?"

The young man glanced at his fellows. "They're delegations from my home, the Metro. Elsa has some affairs to attend to once the coronation is over."

"What are they here for?" Martin inquired, "It has to be important if you have more than a few people."

"I am not at liberty to say, but it is likely you'll see more of people come down here with merchants or those migrating here."

His eyes noticed the sheathed sword that was made for him. "How is the blade? Does it suit you well?"

Artyom reached for the handle of the sword and took a good look at the polished steel. "You know how to make a sword, sir. It is surprisingly handy at that."

"Is it?"

He nodded his head. "When I get into fights, I would always have a knife on me, but the sword makes things a little bit easier when I have the room."

The blacksmith felt proud that he enjoyed his handiwork. Then the tone changed with Anders throwing a question that all children asked from anyone from the castle. "There is a rumor that you rescued Princess Elsa and Anna. Is that true?"

Artyom put a hand behind his neck. "Yes, it's true. I didn't think that would somehow make a mention back here."

Martin took a good look at the young man's shoulder to find a patch. "What is that?"

"Oh, this? It's for rescuing the royals back in the tunnels. There is this group of soldiers called the Polis Rangers of the Spartan Order. They ended up incorporating me into their ranks and now I am one of them.'

"Really, now?" He was surprised at how much he was rising in the world given his situation.

"Yeah, I earned a medal and now take orders from a group of people I aspired to become."

"You dreamed of becoming this… ranger?"

His head nodded. "Yes. It means that if we come across a pack of wolves or if Anders loses his pig again, I'll be there to help out."

"Congratulations, I wish you the best."

Artyom took a look at a strange mechanical device on his wrist before he looked back to the castle. "I am sorry, but my comrades will need me before the gates open."

The blacksmith smiled. "Go, my wife is still getting ready and we'll meet you there."

Ships across Europe brought dignitaries from multiple backgrounds into this small kingdom. No matter how small they were, royalty deserved its respect. Lords and ladies of the highest or the lowest had the opportunity to meet with the new ruler of Arendelle. Sometimes, they were nobles who had fallen from grace in their kingdom's courts and became as ambassadors to avoid disapproving looks from their peers.

A prince from the Southern Isles felt pride in his endeavor as the sailors stepped aside to let him off their ship and guide him down the planks. He was glad to finally find himself on land after his voyage across the seas and spending time in the ship's passenger rooms. Traveling was never his forte, but the need to escape his brothers and his father's disapproving glare of him became the driving motivator to leave his kingdom in search of something new.

When his steed's shoes clattered against the wooden planks of the docks, he managed to earn a few smiles and bows from the locals and other arriving representatives. With coronation underway, the prince watched the Arendellians set up their celebratory festivities as hundreds slowly approached the bridge to the castle gates. The eyes of many were waiting for the anticipation that they would get to see what was inside after years of isolation.

A small old man had garnered his attention as he approached the prince with his two bodyguards. "I expected someone from the Southern Isles, but it is a surprise that Prince Hans himself would be here."

Hans smiled and nodded his head out of respect. "Duke of Weselton, it is an honor to meet you in person."

"Ah, so you have heard of me?" He replied as he adjusted his glasses, "It's wonderful that you acknowledge my existence, unlike the others."

"Yes, how can anyone forget about the duke who makes the best out of his trading partners?" The duke was one of those characters that had a history of trying to get an advantage over others. Especially, when it came to the prosperity of his kingdom.

"Just when I was having a good moment to myself," A man in a green military uniform strode past him as his breath was taken away, "Is that who I think it is?"

The prince was curious about what he was talking about. "Do you know him?"

The duke nodded his head. "That was Prince Vaska Dolokhov, he is one of the most prestigious nobles in the Russian Empire. What is he doing here?"

"He must be here for the coronation like everyone else."

"I do not believe that. Dignitary work is not something he likes to do. There has to be more to that."

From what the old man was saying, there was some kind of feeling of paranoia from his thoughts. "Then let us not spoil the time we have here."

A man from the crowd pointed out a change from behind. "Look, it's those otherworlders!"

Heads turned as representatives and locals alike saw a crowd of people walking from a street that leads up towards a mountain. Unlike the fine dresses of the ladies and gentlemen, the strangers wore military uniforms of simple designs. Some of them were armed, but they stepped aside as the foreign dignitaries quietly joined the crowd of people waiting for the gates to open.

"Now who are they?" Hans wondered, "They're so… different."

The Duke of Weselton made his remark. "I heard rumors that the Kingdom of Arendelle had new neighbors from another world. They didn't have a mark of credibility, but if true, we might be living in interesting times."

The waiting was killing him, but Artyom had to deal with it. No amount of glancing at his watch were going to help him as he looked around to see well-dressed people make an occasional whisper while looking at him. They are much as strange to him as he was to them. As his head looked around, he noticed a familiar young man standing beside his reindeer.

He walked up to the man while slipping past everyone else. "What brings an ice harvester to a coronation?"

Kristoff was kneeling over as he pulled out a carrot and bit into it before turning around. "I've been asked that same-Artyom? You're here!"

"Yes. I was invited to come alongside many other delegations."

"Neat," Sven walked up to the duo and snatched the carrot away from his hand as the conversation continued, "When there is a party, there is a demand for ice. So I got to work immediately and started handing it over to the castle servants. A warm drink makes for a poor evening from what I have heard."

Artyom smiled. "We'll soon find out. Will you be going into the castle with us?"

He shook his head. "No, I'm going to be staying in the courtyard like everyone else. It's not like I'm special enough like you to enter the castle."

A thought clicked into his head as he remembered a detail Princess Anna spoke a long time ago. He had to admit, it was something worth looking into. "Maybe you can?"

"And how are you going to do that? It's not like you can vouch for me."

It was time to talk to him about the other entrance to the castle. "Let's take the back door."

Kristoff was surprised at the suggestion. "The castle has a back door?"

"Yeah, I spent some time here and so I know a thing or two."

"You're actually going to let me into the castle."

"Follow me if you really want to get inside."

A young woman stood tall and upright before the mirror. Her dress tightly fitted with her figure as her hair was tied in a French braided twist bun. The blue and black dress elegantly showed Elsa a beauty she had never noticed before. It was odd to find out on what is perhaps the most important day of her life.

The door unlocked and she presumed it was her sister walking in. "You're right on the style. It does look nice."

When she turned around, it was not Anna that was standing there, but Artyom. He was clad in a clean bright blue dress uniform as his fresh-shaven face was stunned before her. Then he managed to get some words out. "Hi."

"Artyom?! How did you get in here? I thought you would be waiting outside like the others."

"I was," He admitted as he took off the peaked cap on his head, "Then I snuck in through a side entrance."

She walked up to him and hugged him. "Thank you for coming, you have no idea how much this means to me."

His arms were gently wrapped around her. "You're welcome, your majesty."

"You can call me that after the coronation," Then she took a good glance at his clothes, "Where was this when I was in the Metro?"

Artyom smiled as he stepped away from the royal. "My stepfather was part of the honor guard before the war. Now here I am, showing off to the future queen of Arendelle."

It was comforting that her friend had returned to see her at the castle. The time was almost upon her. "The gates are about to open. Please make it seem like you didn't sneak in."

"No guarantees. I'll see what I can do from my end." He nodded his head and made his way out of her room.

Elsa walked after him, watching him turn left as he navigated through the castle on his own before she proceeded to walk towards one of the balconies in the castle. They would talk when the time came.

Servants quickly marched towards her as Gerda spoke. "Your highness, I didn't know Artyom would be here. Is it okay for him to do that?"

"Yes, he's been close to the family to deserve that," She answered, "Tell the guards to open the gates."

The old woman smiled. "As you command, your highness."

Gerda's group immediately dispersed, issuing orders to those beneath her. The final touches were being made and it was bound to reveal the world about the lonely princesses who lived in the castle.

She opened up the doors to the balcony and slowly walked towards the edge of the stone railing. The princess was stoic in her elegance as she looked down into the courtyard to find the guards opening up the gates. Her heart was filled with anticipation when there were hundreds of people slowly pouring inside the walls.

Many entered with wonder in their gazes while others took notice of the crown princess and waved towards her. Yet, she noticed their surprised faces after she waved returned the gesture.

The chapel was full to the brim with all of the seats occupied by the foreigners both from Europe and the Metro. Silence filled the room as the bishop in front of them was presenting the strange artifacts on a pillow. Pavel cared very little for these royal procedures but maintained his opinions to himself. The last thing he wanted to do was flare-up issues he had with these royalists and their love for the monarchy. Despite his misgivings, they at least had some taste to brighten up the atmosphere.

He turned to his left to find a door open with a friend approaching him. "You went missing. Where were you?"

Artyom smiled as he stood beside him. "Passed through the kitchen. Decided to get my hands on some treats along the way."

Pavel was beginning to like him the more he was in his company. "So, what did you get?"

"Chocolates," A small pouch was retrieved from his side as he opened it up, "Elsa and Anna really like this stuff. Want to try it?"

"Sure," He took a piece and immediately threw it into his mouth. The first thing he tasted was the sweetness that no food in the Metro could ever match. Decades of being fed by pre-war rations or meals of mushroom sauce made his tongue bored of variety until now. It was this moment that made him realize the harsh reality that there was food in the pre-war days that he would never have the opportunity to eat. Now… that chance might be possible.

The chocolate continued to melt into his mouth while Artyom wondered about his opinion. "What do you think about it?"

When its last traces were nowhere to be found, he stole a quick glance from him. "Damn, this is quite good. Mind if I have another one?"

"Go ahead." His hand reached out to the pouch and took another.

The chapel doors opened as Princess Anna was the first to arrive into the room, making her stride to the front of the crowd. All eyes were on her as the bishop turned his attention on her. "Is her highness, coming?" She nodded her head as the old man continued to wait.

Elsa stepped into the room as everyone in the room stood up from their seats and quietly bowed in their direction. However, the representatives of the Moscow and Novosibirsk Metro refrained from the action. Her purple cape had a length that was beyond whatever Pavel had imagined for her dress.

When she had arrived at the front, the choir began to sing from the stands above everyone else. "What is that for?" He whispered to Artyom.

There was a moment of silence before he came up with a response. "Think of it as the secretary-general having his own announcement song when he arrives to make speeches and the like. It's to help make things… awe-inspiring."

Pavel couldn't help but agree with the analogy. "I suppose it can work, but part of me wonders if this coronation gig would be better if we played the Red Army is the Strongest."

An old man turned around in his seat and whispered back to them. "Will both of you be quiet?"

"Hey, they even have a grouchy old guy as well." He joked before the man turned around in his seat with a scowl on his face.

The bishop presented his pillow of artifacts for the royal. "Your highness, it is time."

Elsa pulled off her aqua gloves from her hands as she grabbed a hold of a scepter and a ball-like object. Then she turned around and held them in place for the time being.

"She is doing better than I expected." Artyom remarked.

"What do you mean by that?" The communist wondered.

He stole a quick glance from him. "When we first met, Elsa was incredibly shy, more so than myself. Back then, she would quite literally freeze up at being in the company of other people, including her own sister."

"So how did she end up being so… social? Elsa looks like she is not the type to be shy."

"I helped give her a few nudges into talking with her sister and the rest of the staff. Now we're here."

Pavel had to admit, she was doing well now that Artyom mentioned. "I got to say, you did a good job helping her. If that wasn't mentioned, I would have thought she would be a normal person like every other royal I've read about."

After the choir fell silent, the bishop planted a golden crown on the crown princess' head and spoke once more. This time, loud and clear for all to hear. "Sem hón heldr inum helgum eignum ok krýnd í þessum helga stað ek té fram fyrir yðr Queen Elsa of Arendelle."

All in the room had stood up and clapped their hands as the royals smiled and bowed towards their guests. Then Artyom walked to their right as he strolled closer to the main doors. "Where are you going?"

He looked over his shoulder. "Getting a closer look." Pavel followed after him as they stood right beside the exit.

Queen Elsa quickly put away the artifacts back to the pillow as she joined her sister back through the doors from whence they came from. As they slowly got closer, Elsa paused when she noticed them on the side. Then Artyom nodded his head in her direction. "Congratulations, your majesty."

"Thank you for coming, both of you." The queen said before proceeding to leave the room.

Pavel chuckled at the moment where a Russian gentleman from the Soviet Union addressed a royal from another world. "Smooth move."

"Eh, what?" Artyom asked, "It was just a complement."

"Definitely, but I will say that you might be on to something that may seem impossible. I'll keep this to myself until it happens."

"I am not telling you," The communist representative knew that it may have been a start of a very close relationship and he wondered if this man was willing to get that far.

The quiet throne room had now spurned to life with music in the air, ladies found themselves asked by noblemen to dance on the floor, and the rest found themselves talking to each other about the event. Elsa stepped out from the shadows and stood in front of the throne with her sister standing beside her as Kai stepped forward to announce her arrival. "Ladies and gentlemen, Queen Elsa and Princess Anna of Arendelle."

Everyone, save for the Metro representatives, stopped in the middle of their activities and bowed to the queen. Then proceeded to continue their sessions. She could not help, but feel happy in this moment. Once upon a time, Elsa feared the day she would be crowned queen, but Artyom's help had came up to this.

Gerda's voice came from the right. "Give this to her majesty, would you?"

"Of course," Anna replied, "Right away."

She turned her head to find her sister holding a plate of chocolates. "What a wonderful day to start the party, don't you agree?"

Her mouth seemed to be stuffed enough to muffle her voice.

"Don't do that," She said with a smile, "The last thing we need is you choking on chocolates."

An old man with glasses had approached them from the crowd as Kai introduced him. "The Duke of Weaseltown."

"It's Weselton." The stranger was quick to correct him, "As a partner to your kingdom, it would be suitable that I request this dance."

The duke bowed, but part of his pair was starting to peel, revealing his scalp. Both girls did their best to avoid laughter before Elsa took control of the situation. "I am sorry, but I don't dance."

"Oh? What a shame?"

A young man stepped out from the crowd of people and walked up to her. Elsa was charmed by his welcoming smile. "Perhaps I may teach her how to dance?"

"Prince Hans, shouldn't you know when not to involve yourself in other people's business?"

"Forgive me, I could not help, but join you in being enamored by the royals of Arendelle," He added, "After all, you are the first to talk her majesty herself."

The old man smiled at his comment. "Indeed, it is an honor. Such a shame that you cannot dance. It would have been a thrilling experience for you and I."

Elsa decided to change the situation with a slight glance at her sister. She may not have danced, but there was no doubt that Anna did. "Well, you can dance with Anna. She loves to dance."

"Truly?" Then he reached out and grabbed her hand, "Lucky you."

The princess was caught by surprise as she was brought out into the crowd to dance with the others. Only the queen and the prince were left alone in that part of the room.

The prince bowed before her. "Your majesty, it is an honor to meet you."

She smiled. "Likewise, Prince Hans."

"You may not know how to dance, but perhaps I could teach you how?" The redhead young man suggested.

"Really?" The queen was taken aback, "That is a quite ambitious for you."

"Yes, but when I am looking at someone beautiful as yourself, it is a noble endeavor."

His first impressions were enough to convince her. "I will try."

Hans' hand reached out. "Thank you, your majesty."

Elsa reached out and found herself being taught by the charming stranger. At first, it was just the first few steps before they began to rotate in a circle. The process was slow, but she did not mind that. Then he took the lead. His offer was enough to entertain her as they seemingly earned the attention of several nobles and representatives in the crowd. "They're looking at us."

"Who would blame them? After all, not everyone has the opportunity to dance with a queen. Especially, on her coronation day."

"Then let's introduce ourselves to each other."

"Of course."

"Where are you from, Hans?"

He chuckled. "From the Southern Isles. My father wanted someone to represent him while he was… busy with other affairs. Who better than his thirteenth son."

"What can you tell me about your home? It must be something else entirely."

"It is a very small kingdom on a very small island," He answered, "It's almost similar with Arendelle, but without the island part. Though, I think that the mountains are very beautiful here."

"Thank you," She liked his remark about her home, "It's not every day that someone outside of the kingdom gets their word in."

Hans surprised her with his next words. "This is perhaps a question on everyone's mind, but why has Arendelle closed its borders and its doors for more than a decade until now? Almost everyone in this room is quite curious about this mystery since no one has been able to know until now."

"Is that why my coronation has received such an audience? The mystery of its abrupt closing concerning everyone from Spain to Russia?" Elsa almost forgot about that time when she was such a shut in. It was a depressing life to have back then, but it was not the time to remember sadness. She stopped the dancing and took a few steps back with a thought to express it in a way that others could understand.

"Your majesty, is there something wrong?"

She took a quick glance at him before turning to the crowd until she found her sister walking back to her. The magic in her hands needed to be explained and what better way than an old family tradition with her sister. "Yes. Anna and I have something to show."

Princess Anna was excited beyond belief. Elsa was going to show her powers in a way that made her coronation feel special. They were going to build a snowman. All they needed was some materials to make it work. Gerda was already getting her hands on a carrot and some coal, but all she needed was some twigs from the gardens.

The halls were completely silent with everyone in the throne room or the dining hall. Only the servants were seen passing by, working around the clock to satisfy everyone throughout the coronation. Then she passed by her father's study with a door cracked open and she noticed Kai having a conversation in the room.

It was none other than Prince Vaska Dolokhov. "Tell me, what is so urgant of your message that you bring me all the way here to represent Russia on this fine coronation?"

Kai was quick to reply. "Sukhoi asked me to talk to you."

"He's alive?" Anna could hear the shock in his voice, "If he is alive, then that would mean that her highness-"

"The princess is dead."

"Princess Marya? How did she die?" He wondered.

"She sacrificed herself to save her son."

She almost forgot about the snowman for a moment, completely fascinated by the hushed talk behind closed doors.

"He is still alive."

Prince Vaska seemed hopeful at the mention. "Where is he? I must look for him. You have no idea how much this means to the tsar."

Kai strolled past the crack in the door as he shook his head. "You will not believe it, but I think you already met him. Artyom is the son of the princess."

"Artyom? I did not think he would be of royal blood. This changes everything and the tsar needs to know."

"What do you plan to do?"

"First, we're going to remain quiet about this whole subject matter. Everyone else in the party must not know."

Anna quietly walked away from the study, knowing full-well that she knew too much. As she continued down the hall on her way to the garden, she could not believe that Artyom was of royal blood. The idea alone felt very strange to hear in reality as if he was some kind of King Arthur figure out of the folktales.

A door swung open as she knocked into someone stepping out. "Hey, watch out!"

When she pushed herself off the stranger, the princess was surprised by his rather humble demeanor. A young man stumbled back as he scratched the back of his head. "Sorry, I'm not familiar around the castle."

"Wait, I've seen you before," She began, "Are you that Kristoff fella that Artyom knows?"

"I'm surprised you remembered me that day. How do you know who I am?"

"Faces are quite easy to remember," Then Anna realized that he was inside the castle, "Say, how did you get inside the castle? You don't look like a noble."

Kristoff shook his head. "No, I wasn't invited, but Artyom did let me in through a side entrance. Never thought I would be allowed into this place to be frankly honest. What are you doing walking around on your sister's coronation?"

"Elsa needs some twigs to make a snowman."

"In the summer?" He wondered with disbelief.

She nodded her head. "Of course, don't you remember the snowstorm she made back then."

"Oh… that snowstorm."

"Mind helping me out, I might not find some good twigs to make."

The drinks were a bit too high class for Artyom to continue drinking. Yet, he needed to act like he was enjoying it all the way. When he was finished with his glass he placed it on a platter being carried by a passing servant. It was odd that yesterday, he was just like them. Then he began to check his watch, only to find that it was nearly eight at night. "The longer this goes, I might crash here."

Colonel Miller walked past people, nodding and smiling with those amongst the crowd. "Are you enjoying everything?"

"Fine," The young man answered before focusing on the real reason his people were here, "Were you able to get a word in with the queen?"

The commander nodded his head. "Yes. Elsa will help us. The Metro will finally have a chance at salvation… for all of us."

"What will happen from now on?"

"Enjoy the party while it lasts. We'll have a lot of work to do in the future." Then he slipped back into the crowd to interact with the others.

Artyom took a moment to stand near a pillar as he began to wait for time to pass. Then two people walked up to him. The girl's arm was wrapped around her man's arm as she greeted him. "Hi there, it seemed like you're a bit alone for the time. Are you okay?"

He nodded his head. "Yeah, I'm just standing here to pass the time. Who are you?"

"I am Rapunzel from the Kingdom of Corona," The girl with the short hair bowed while her lover nodded his head in his direction, "And this is Eugine, my boyfriend. What's your name?"

"You can call me Artyom."

"It is nice to meet you. We were thinking about talking to the Russians from another world, but they are a bit…"

The young man knew what she was talking about. "Unwilling to open to outsiders?"

Eugene was surprised by the answer. "I am surprised you are willing to tell us upfront."

"That is because this is their first time in Arendelle," Artyom explained, "Our world is incredibly different from this place and I do not blame them. I am perhaps the only person from the Metro who has the longest time here."

"Wait a minute. If you spent the longest time here, would that mean that you were allowed into the castle long before the coronation."

He nodded his head. "Yes. I started off as a stableboy with some blacksmith before my amnesia faded and remembered I was a stalker."

Rapunzel was surprised by the reply. "A what? So your profession is to be a creeper to other people, including the current queen?"

The reaction was not one he was expecting. "No, no, no. I'm sorry I didn't explain the context to you, but stalker has a different meaning to my people in the Metro. It's an acronym for people who like to travel into high danger zones filled with various kinds of threats."

"Oh," She immediately caught on to what he was explaining to her, "And you are one of these people who travel through these danger zones? What's the full acronym?"

"Scavenger, tresspasser, adventurer, loner, killer, explorer, researcher. These are all people who travel through these zones for their own reasons."

"That is really neat. I never thought the words 'stalker' would actually be thrown around as a profession, but that is quite fascinating."

Eugene was quick to point out the turning of heads in the room. "Hey, I think the queen is going to say something."

Artyom focused his eyes to where the throne was, only to find Anna and Gerda holding twigs, coal, and a carrot. Then he noticed Kristoff about to join them before he immediately brushed back behind several pillars to stay away from the crowd's attention.

Elsa seemed pleased by the materials brought forward and looked to the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, I do have something to show for everyone. Those who are wondering why the castle doors have been closed for so long, I am aware of that question and it is time that I show you the reason why."

Rapunzel was in awe of the moment then she stole a glance from the Russian. "Do you know here secret?"

He knew what this demonstration was going to do. "Just watch."

The queen of Arendelle smiled at her sister. "Do you want to build a snowman?" She took off one of her gloves and used her fingertips to unleash the magic kept dormant until now. Elsa could not help admire the way she controlled her powers, a web-weaver with ice and snow. In a single moment, the snow appeared out of thin air to shape a being into place with a head and most of its body parts. Then everyone in the crowd were in awe about the twigs, coals, and carrots floating into the air and finding a place into the snowman.

A young man from the crowd could only echo words that seemed to leave everyone speechless. "You have magic."

It did not last long as the snowman began to animate itself to life with slight movements. Yet, Artyom sensed there was something else involved as he slowly reached for his holstered pistol. Then the eyes opened wide as everyone was taken aback by the act alone before it spoke. "Hi, I'm Olaf and I like warm hugs."

Anna giggled in delight. "Oh my goodness, it's just like what we did when were kids!"

Elsa seemed surprised as well. "Now that… that's new."

The snowman that was Olaf had waved its hand in the direction of the crowd before walking towards them. "Hi everyone, it's good to meet you."

A cry echoed from an old man as he stumbled back in fear. "Sorcery! The queen is an evil witch with dark powers!"

Artyom could not help himself, but come to her defense as he spoke up for her. "She is not an evil witch. I can attest to that."

The old man was helped up by his retinue before he turned his head towards him. "Who are you to talk to the Duke of Weselton in such a way?"

"Artyom Alekseyevich Chynoryj of the VDNK Commonwealth," He answered, "If I have anything to say, I suggest you apologize to her majesty on her coronation day."

"Young man, do you have any idea what this…" The duke was troubled by his next set of words, "...monster is capable of. Perhaps there was a good reason why the castle gates remained closed after all of this time."

He was spurred to call upon his experiences in the Metro. "I have fought monsters, duke, and I can assure you that Queen Elsa is not one. The only reason those gates were locked was because of people like yourself who would fear her."

The standoff between a representative of the Metro and the Duke of Weselton was the climax of the coronation. Tension between the two had died down for the time being, but there was enough time for the event to end on a good note. Queen Elsa officially retired from the throne room as the visitors would take one last moment to enjoy the fireworks. She stood in the tower where she could look upon the rest of her kingdom without the window to keep her back.

Footsteps creeked on the spiral stairs behind her as the queen turned her head to find Artyom arrive with his hands behind his back. "I apologize for that incident. Perhaps I was a bit hot-headed."

When she tood beside her beside the railing she had to admit it was good to have him around. "Maybe, but I appreciate the good gesture you brought to me. A knight in shining armor is well-appreciated, even if he doesn't come around with a sword against a dragon."

His cheeks were red as roses. Was he blushing? "You don't have to flatter me about it. I was just doing the right thing. It was wrong for him to declare you a monster outright."

"I know, but you got your point across. They seem a lot more open to a royal with ice magic than I expected." Elsa admitted.

"The snowman… did you and your sister make him when you were kids?"

"Yes," She answered, "In fact, it was always a tradition between both of us around that time of the year."

Then he spoke out his thoughts back there. "What did you mean by new?"

"Olaf was supposed to be a simple snowman, but somehow I brought him to life. I didn't expect that to happen."

"Well, we can both agree on that," He acknowledged, "How did you feel about your coronation?"

Elsa leaned against the railing and thought about that young man she tried to dance with. "It was fun and I think I made a new acquaintance."

He peeked his head up to see her. "Really? Who is it?"

"Prince Hans of the Southern Isles. He seemed nice enough to teach me to dance. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be able to consider that snowman."

"It's great that you're making friends along the way." Artyom replied.

Then the queen wondered about the future of everything else. "What do you intend to do when this is all over?"

"Colonel Miller has me in his ranks and now I'll be busy interacting with the Novosibirsk Metro. It's going to be a long time, but I'll try to visit Arendelle when possible."

She was surprised by the news. "You are going away? I thought you would still be close enough to keep the castle some company."

Artyom lowered his head. "There is still time for me to stay and chat, but when that time is up, I will have to part ways. I have my duty to the Order now."

"I see," The queen realized before she thought of a moment to spend more time with him, "Would you be able to stay for several days?"

"For you? Yes."

Needless to say, Queen Elsa found comfort in his assurance.