Well above the snow-line, a small figure climbed the highest peak. It was Shoto. Finally, he stopped, looked around.
"I was so careful. I concealed my power. But now it's been set free."
Shoto took off his glove and threw it into the air. A hand reached out; caught it. It was Chaira.
"You're free, Shoto." Chaira said. She twirled her staff, and hit it on the ground. The forest erupted in beautiful frosted trees and icicles. "This Winter Wonderland belongs to you!"
"Chaira?" Shoto said in wonder. "You're just like me!"
"Yes I am," Chaira said. "I didn't wake up until you did; until you finally broke free!"
"I can be free and let my power out as much as I want; no one can stop me now!" Shoto created a snowman, just like the one he made with Fuyumi, Natsuo and Chaira when they were children.
Chaira twirled her staff and made flurries in the shapes of animals and people.
"I won't let anyone stop you or bring you down!" Chaira promised.
"The fire and the snow bring me power and strength!" Shoto set his cape on fire, but-.
Chaira caught it with her staff, put it out and on herself, suppressing a shiver, realizing her heart was starting to freeze, but not about to ruin Shoto's moment. "Th-the strength was always inside you!"
"I'm going to make a place just for us, a sanctuary where no one can bother us; no one can stop us!"
Shoto created ice steps and the two climbed them together.
"This ice palace is where I will rule, with you and free!"
"That freedom is your center, never lose it, never forget it!" Chaira encouraged, biting against the cold.
Shoto slammed his foot down and formed a giant snowflake. In a flurry of creative release, he raised the snowflake on ice beams, builds walls, archways, a glistening chandelier, and an intricate ceiling that left the sky visible.
"I don't have to be what they expect of me anymore!"
Standing firmly in his mighty ice palace, Shoto removed his crown and threw it.
"I'm finally free!"
The sun rose. Shoto strode onto out onto a balcony and into the light. He was free.
At that same moment, Chaira couldn't take it anymore; she fell to the ice palace floor.
Shoto turned and slammed his ice palace door; only to be greeted to the sight of his beloved Chaira freezing before him, victim to his power.
"No...NO!" Shoto screamed.
Fear consumed her, fire erupted on the walls, burning the blue palace red, the icicles melting into knives.
"Chaira!"
As the palace cracked and melted to pieces around his, his freedom and victory shattered and forgotten, not worth the cost; Shoto thought to take Chaira's staff and clutch her to his chest, flying the two out of the building before they were buried in ice.
"I know where we have to go." Shoto whispered to her. "This time I will save you. No more hiding. No more losing to fear. This isn't true freedom at all. IT'S NOT WORTH IT IF YOU AREN'T HERE BESIDE ME CHAIRA!"
His screams, echoing across the fjords, caught the ear of a small urn and All For One, standing beside it in a long-forgotten cave. It was time for the true plan to come to fruition.