Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognise; the elements taken from Frozen are obvious, and while this version of Zorro is taken mainly from Mask and Legend, I've incorporated elements of his history from other adaptations. Even the original idea for this fic was inspired by the artwork of shishyoukai on DeviantArt, although I have created my own narrative for it; the artwork only inspired the idea of a certain sister becoming Zorro.

Feedback: Always appreciated

The Frozen Fox

Sitting on the platform on the edge of the Lair of the Fox, Anna fought down the urge to squeal for joy at what she was about to see. Maybe it wasn't as obviously amazing as actually seeing Zorro in action in the city, but how many people could honestly say that they had witnessed Zorro training in his home? Watching as Alejandro and Joacquin stood in the centre of the circle on the floor of the room, blades in their hands as Alejandro carefully paced around his son's position, Anna wondered if they even knew how big a deal this was to someone who had spent so long just watching and hearing about Zorro from afar…

"This is the training circle, also known as the master's wheel," Alejandro explained, indicating the patterns on the floor around him. Anna didn't know if he was explaining this for Joacquin's benefit or her own, but either way she hunt on his every word, fascinated to listen to the lessons that Alejandro was now sharing with his son. "For the duration of each training session, this circle will be your world until I tell you that there is something outside it."

"To keep me focused?" Joachim asked, even as he gave the sword a couple of practice thrusts and twists. Anna guessed that he was testing the weight or getting the feel of the blade somehow, whatever term was the right one for this kind of thing…

"And give yourself a proper taste of fighting in certain conditions," Alejandro affirmed. "As you progress from one circle to the next, your skill has increased to a corresponding level, allowing you to face more foes with less opportunities to manoeuvre."

"What about everything else?"

It was only when the two men turned in her direction with amused smiles on their faces that Anna realised she'd spoken that last question out loud.

"I mean, there's those ropes over there, and you obviously need to know how to ride Tornado, and then there's-"

"Everything here has its place, Anna," Alejandro smiled at the young girl, his warm grin making it clear that he wasn't angry at her interruption. "All of these constructs are intended to aid in the training of Zorro. Swordsmanship is the most straightforward skill to learn, but each part of this cave offers opportunities to prepare for the challenges of the outside world, teaching how to use the environment to become more than a man to friend and foe alike. To be Zorro is to be constantly adaptable, willing to face any challenge and fight using every tool at our disposal-"

"Then why do we still use these?"

"These?" Alejandro repeated, looking back as his son held up a distinctive sword and whip in his hands. The teasing smile on both their faces was enough to assure Anna that father and son were partly doing this for her benefit, but she had to admit that she was genuinely interested to hear the answer herself.

"I respect that there is a tradition attached to the legacy of Zorro, but… does it truly make sense to keep using swords and whips when our enemies have more advanced weapons?" Joachim asked. "When guns were single-shot weapons that took time to reload, I could see the sense in sticking to something reliable, but when we face many guns with many bullets-"

"That is one of the strengths of our strategy against such men, Joachim," Alejandro explained, his expression solemn and his tone firm as he spoke. "When facing superior numbers, the single fighter often has the advantage, as those opposing you will hold back either through fear of hitting their allies instead of you or general laziness."

"Laziness?" Anna asked.

"Why should any one of those theoretical men risk their lives fighting Zorro directly when there are so many other people around to do it for them?" Alejandro grinned up at her before his face became more solemn. "And when you do face a single skilled opponent, or opponents armed with advanced weapons, that is where the tricks become more important."

"Tricks?" Anna repeated eagerly.

"The cape is the most obvious," Alejandro explained, walking over to a nearby chair to pick up the familiar cloak and swing it over his shoulders. "When you are in motion, the cape serves the purpose of confusing your foes; they cannot clearly shoot you because the cape makes it hard for them to be sure when they are aiming at Zorro or mere cloth. As guns become more common, I have also… adapted the rest of the costume to include extra layers of padding, serving as protection against most small firearms."

"Most?" Joachim repeated.

"Obviously you should still act as though being shot will be dangerous, but the costume should be able to withstand most standard weapons for a few shots at a time."

"And you're good enough to beat most people in a swordfight, right?" Anna grinned.

"Most," Alejandro nodded at her, a slight smile on his face the only sign that he felt he was downplaying that particular detail as he stepped back and brandished his sword once again. "Shall we demonstrate?"

As Joachim drew his own blade and took up a combat position, Alejandro mimicked his son's stance as his grin shifted to a more subtle expression. "Remember; sword-fighting is never as simple as just stabbing the other man before he can stab you."

"Who would ever think that?" Anna grinned.

"And you," Alejandro shot her a firm glare that was tempered by a slight smile, "need to stay there and watch us in silence."

Anna clapped her hands over her mouth to hide a squeal of glee and nodded eagerly at the two men. The de la Vegas nodded at her in acknowledgement one last time before they began to exchange blows with their weapons, blades clashing and parting as father and son moved around the circle in an elegant, vicious dance.

Anna wasn't even aware when she picked up a loose bit of wood lying on the ground and began to try and imitate what the de la Vegas were doing, but for the first time in her life, it felt as though her old clumsiness had faded away as she copied the de la Vegas' movements. All that she had to do was follow the steps of the father and son who had been her family's closest friends for so long, watch how they held their blades and moved against each other, copy how they just knew when to strike and when to pull back…

I need this.

She didn't even know if it would be allowed, and she wasn't even ready to do more than think about it in private rather than share it with others, but she suddenly knew what she wanted to work towards as her final goal.

Sitting in the hall, Iduna stared in thought at the fireplace that led to the Lair of the Fox, Elena in the opposite chair looking at her in quiet understanding. Iduna had been feeling a bit tired and short of breath over the last couple of weeks, but she put it down to the hard work she was putting in helping to build the new houses on the edge of town. Obviously nobody expected a wealthy woman to do much physical labour even when assisting with such a project, but Iduna liked to put in the effort of at least doing something while she was down there, so people didn't think she just showed up to watch and lord her wealth over the rest of the town.

Once again, she was grateful that the de la Vegas were so willing to take care of her and Anna; she wasn't sure how she could have managed to keep up with her daughter on her own even before her current state. She recognised that living with a family as notorious as the de la Vegas brought its share of challenges even without the obvious issues of Alejandro's activities as Zorro, but compared to what could have happened if she had stayed in Arendelle…

"Do you ever… worry about him?"

"Alejandro?" Elena looked at Iduna with a cautious smile.

"When he's Zorro," Iduna elaborated, uncertain why she had asked that question now even as she felt a need to hear the answer.

"Many times, especially since Joachim was born," Elena responded, with a casual tone that seemed at odds with the scale of what she was talking about. "I have always admired what Alejandro does as Zorro, but for much of Joachim's early childhood, Alejandro was so focused on keeping him safe that he neglected to actually be there for him. He was always determined to help others, but it took… a very complicated and dangerous set of events for him to accept that our son deserved to be brought into this life. Even then, we all agreed that he had to wait a few more years for Joachim to be old enough to receive training-"

"I appreciate that, but I wasn't-"

"Really?" Elena looked at Iduna with a teasing smile. "Do you truly believe that?"

"…No," Iduna conceded, before she looked at the fireplace once again. "But I wonder… I left Arendelle to keep Anna safe, but I never really thought… was I putting you in danger when I did so?"

"It is hardly a greater danger than what we face due to our family's work," Elena smiled. "We have faced dangerous men before, and from the history that my father left us… let us say that he had some encounters that even you might not believe completely. In any case, the greatest threat you face lives on the other side of the world, and has no reason to even believe you are here; we gave you our protection, and we have in turn greatly enjoyed your company."

"Even if-?"

"There is no point worrying about that at this time," Elena looked reassuringly at Iduna. "Until you are ready to face that threat, you are safe here… and we shall do all that we can to prepare Anna for that moment as well."

"I… I know," Iduna nodded back at Elena, giving her friend a thankful smile at that reaffirmation of their old vow. "I know it will have to be done eventually, and I have faith in her strength, but… I worry about her."

"As I worry about Joachim even when I know his strength," Elena nodded at her. "I have long ago accepted that we live in a world of wondrous and terrible things, and sometimes those things require exceptional people to protect us from them. As their wife and mother, I will always worry about what Alejandro and Joachim must face out there, but I have long since accepted that this is who we are. My father once stated that Zorro is a servant of the people who does what is needed… and as long as the world faces threats that the law cannot confront, Zorro and those like him will be there to fight them."

"And inspire others to take up that duty…" Iduna reflected, her gaze wistfully turning towards the fireplace.

"You truly believe she will-?"

"Inevitably," Iduna said, not wanting the words said even as she acknowledged what her friend was about to say. "Don't you?"

"…Anna reminds me much of who I wanted to be at that age," Elena said at last, returning Iduna's soft smile with her own. "She has been allowed the freedom I lacked when I was growing up, and she is growing into a strong young woman who I am sure will not let a little thing like inconvenient rules stop her from doing what she feels she must."

"And Alejandro approves?"

"Do you believe he would allow her down there if he did not already feel as I do?"

"Quite," Iduna smiled, only to turn away when she was overcome by a brief coughing fit. She was able to nod her assurances to Elena that the offered water would be appreciated, but it was only after the lady of the house had walked off to the kitchen that Iduna opened her handkerchief to confirm what she had already suspected. The faint traces of red on the white cloth were still small, but their mere presence raised some worrying possibilities. She had spent enough time in the mansion since she started to feel ill to be satisfied that this was a problem that only affected her, but if she truly was unwell… if things became worse than feeling tired and having the occasional serious cough…

That is why I made those arrangements in the first place.

There was still time to watch Anna grow and learn from the de la Vegas, but Iduna already knew that Anna would face her eventual destiny alone…

AN: To confirm in advance, I've determined what Iduna is suffering from, but for now all you need to know is that it's not contagious; the exact nature of her illness will be revealed over the next few chapters.