How long had it been? Seconds? Minutes? Maybe hours? Ironically, and technically, all of them if one were to consider the measurements of time and its passage through every day. Yet, for Elsa, it had become redundant, irrelevant, an unnecessary way of calculating their time spent in this underground mountain. Her mind focused on the wave of images she had seen, the horror she witnessed at the fall of a civilisation, and, most horrific of all, the destruction wrought by the one Titan she thought would never intentionally do such a thing.
She sat near the edge of the stone platform, feeling the heat from the lava bubbling away below her wash over her body as if she were on one of Arendelle's beaches in the summer, face locked in an expression one could easily associate with trauma. Her eyes were locked on the wall ahead as if she was hoping something would change, a way out of this dilemma, a way out of this cage, this nightmare. She ignored any and all attempts by the others to talk to her, almost like they were not even there. Anyone who would happen upon this scene would think something was dearly wrong with her. Kristoff had commented to Anna moments after Elsa had come back down from above that she "Looked like she'd seen a ghost."
Behind her, Anna knelt down, comfortingly rubbing her back and shoulders – something she had been doing since Cthulhu had lowered them from the blackness high above and set a shell-shocked Elsa on the ground. Kristoff sat with Sven behind them, keeping an anxious eye on the Arendelle queen, fearing that she might suddenly pass out or become emotional. The younger Mu sisters were talking with Cthulhu, hoping to gain some clarity from him on what he had revealed to her. Belvera had left moments after Elsa returned to the others.
Silence passed, save for the talking of Cthulhu, Moll and Lora in the background near the centre of the platform. Their voices were kept low, though when Anna and Kristoff would glance in their direction, they could see fierce gestures and, once or twice, a dangerous glare in the eyes of the huge 'Father' figure standing before them. Part of them wanted to go and hear what they were talking about, to demand to know what she had seen, as Elsa was clearly not giving them any kind of input. Yet, they also hesitated, not wanting to interfere because of the dangerous look of Cthulhu, one that sent a chill down their spines akin to whenever they saw Godzilla.
Footsteps echoed out across the chamber again. Anna, Kristoff and Sven looked over to see the purple haired woman coming back into the chamber, holding something in her hands. The couple glanced at each other uneasily.
As she approached, Anna stood up and held out her hand. "Stop! What have you got there?!" she asked firmly, indicating to the green ball-like thing Belvera held in her hand.
Belvera paused and held it up to her. "Coconut, fresh from the tree. Something for her to drink." She nodded at Elsa.
Anna glanced at the thing and then at Elsa, then back at Belvera. "I know it's a coconut. I mean, what's inside there?"
Belvera rolled her eyes. "I had a feeling you'd ask about this." She replied and offered it to the Arendelle princess. "Try it and see if you die of poison."
Anna shot her a nasty look and took it from Belvera and looked at the hole cut into the opening. It was white around the edges and she could see around the insides, and there was a liquid sloshing around inside the coconut. It did look delicious (she and the others had tried it in the few days they had been here) but she was still worried about what Belvera could have done to it. She could have put poison in there! Or maybe some kind of insect! Or maybe she even just scooped out seawater and just put in there just to make her sister sick! Oh, if she did that, then she was going to give her what for. A right hook just like she did to Hans before would put her down.
Giving Belvera another dark look, she took a sip from the coconut, the familiar sweet feeling of the liquid rushing through her, startling her that it was actually … well, coconut juice. Nothing tasted off or weird about it, it tasted normal.
Belvera must have seen Anna's brief surprised look because she spoke up. "Feeling different?" she asked.
Anna did not reply as she stared skeptically at the purple haired woman, admittedly grateful that Belvera had not tried to do anything so devious to try and poison them. Maybe she was not so bad after all.
She turned, paused and muttered a low "thanks," before walking back over to her sister, kneeling down next to her, offering the coconut.
"Elsa," she spoke softly. "Belvera got this for you."
The queen's eyes did not even register her response or presence, did not even blink.
"Elsa!" Anna urged, her voice a little more demanding now. "Elsa, please. You need to drink!"
Still nothing, just a blank stare, lost, empty.
"Elsa!" Anna exclaimed angrily.
"Anna," Kristoff intervened, walking over to them. "Stop. She needs to recover."
The red-haired princess sighed heavily in frustration and put the cup down in front of her sister. Irritation coursed through her. What had she seen that made her so … so … like this?! Had Cthulhu done something to her?! No, Elsa would have frozen the place solid if he tried to do anything. Was it Godzilla? They were in this part of the world because of him after all, maybe this 'Father' god of the Mu sisters knew something that the Arendellians did not.
"Wait here, Kristoff," Anna said to him.
Ignoring his questioning of what she was doing, she strode over to the girls, just about catching the end of Moll begging her father about something. Anna did not hear it, but she did not care. She wanted to get to the bottom of this, right now. However, there was a feeling of anxiety building up within her, worrying about what Cthulhu was going to tell her when she asked about what happened.
"Uh, excuse me?" she inquired nervously, bringing the conversation between the three to a halt.
Cthulhu's hard eyes softened a little, though he still held a firmness within them. "Yes, Anna?" he asked, his voice softer, less intimidating, the aura his voice she had come to know absent here.
"Hi," she gave a little wave and tittered, hoping to break the ice, but the nervousness still hung palpably in the air. So much for small talk. "I'd like to ask something," she said, trying to keep it on the thin line between demanding and politely asking, lest she get on the bad side of this beast before her.
She winced a little in response, pessimistically awaiting him to smite her or attack or something, and she doubted the girls would be enough to stop him if he tried to do so. Part of her wondered if Elsa would even be able to stop him if he did turn violent.
She hoped that would not happen.
"Of course, my dear," his soft voice spoke to her (Anna internally breathed a sigh of relief at this). He took a step towards her "But it will not be easy to accept."
She paused and looked anxiously at the girls for any clarification of what he meant, but they tried not to look at her directly, the conversation they had with their 'Father' having stunned them. They knew what he would reveal to her, and it had worried them to say the least.
Anna looked back over at Belvera, who was kneeling next to Elsa, trying to talk to her with Kristoff, but was so far getting the same response as she had gotten moments before. Anger surged through her, fists clenching as she glared dangerously at Belvera. How dare she go near her sister? The one who murdered her! Who knows what she could be whispering to her now! She wanted to go over there and sort her out.
"Anna!" Cthulhu's voice, now firmer and more assertive, snapped her out of her angry thoughts, sending a chill down her spine as if she had stepped into a pool of freezing cold water. She looked back at him. "She will be fine." he reassured her, the assertiveness gone, but the air of power palpable.
The princess swallowed and nodded lightly, eyes falling to the floor momentarily. She wanted to protest, but something inside her dared her not to. That innate, instinctive feeling to preserve her own life. She glanced again at Moll and Lora, both of whom silently begged her to not argue back or question him.
"Anyway," he spoke again, glancing past her at Elsa, then down at the human sister before him. "What your sister saw was the truth of Godzilla. The devastation he has caused, and could continue to cause if left unchecked."
Anna stared back at him, disbelief swirling in her face. "W-what!"
Godzilla could, no would never do such a thing, right? Sure, he was a gigantic creature that was capable of great devastation and unrivalled power, but he had never been aggressive beforehand – well, except for when dealing with Hans that is. But still, he had never threatened them, and no one else has reported such a thing happening to them.
"I know you do not believe me, but what I say is true. He has committed a grave act, and it will no doubt not be the last." Cthulhu continued, every word firm and to the point. "He must be dealt with, Anna."
"W-what do you mean … 'dealt with'?" she asked tentatively, afraid of the answer.
Cthulhu inhaled and exhaled, not out of frustration at her lack of understanding, but in quiet acceptance, knowing that what he would say next would change everything.
"He must die,"
"WHAT?!" The exclamation startled everyone, but it did not come from Anna.
All eyes turned to Elsa, who was standing up and looking at them, her face a mixture of fury and being completely flabbergasted. Her deep blue eyes bore into Cthulhu, who stared back unwavering. Kristoff and Belvera stepped back a few paces, fearing that she was going to lash out at the 'Father' for even saying such a thing.
"I'm sorry, Elsa," Cthulhu told her. "But you saw what he did to the island and its people. You saw the suffering he inflicted upon them, and from much more from what you and Belvera have told and shown me." He paused to let his words sink in, Elsa glancing angrily at said Mu woman. "You know as well as I do that a creature like him cannot be allowed to endure in this world."
Elsa walked over to the 'Father', eyes full of anger and pleading. "No! You can't just decide that he needs to die! Not him!"
A sigh. "Elsa, I know you wish to protect him or that you have strong feelings for him, but you cannot let your emotions or recklessness get in the way. This is the world we are talking about; he is too dangerous!"
"I'm not being reckless!" Elsa insisted, trying to maintain her calmness, but those with her noticed the temperature had begun to drop a little. She sighed. "Cthulhu," she spoke, much calmer, but Anna could hear she was on the verge of becoming vehement once again. "Godzilla is far from safe, yes. But he's not evil. He wouldn't just attack some random village or ship or whatever out of spite or malice."
The beast shook his head. "This is not the first time he has attacked humans. And if left unchecked, it won't be the last. Would you deny the world the sanctity and safety it deserves by allowing a beast to run amok, one with the potential to unleash chaos and destruction? You yourself have seen what he is capable of."
"You don't know that!" she shot back, her tone desperate. "You don't even know why he attacked that ship and that village!"
"Ah, so you have accepted that he at the very least has a malevolent streak?"
Elsa paused, mentally cursing herself, but she knew deep down she could not deny what her eyes had witnessed in the vision. Fragments of the dream she had from days before in Arendelle flashed through her mind, replaying itself over and over as if warning her, trying to prove to her that he had done something dangerous. Not in Arendelle obviously, but somewhere else. Where she did not know, but … but it had happened.
No! He could not have done it like that. Not aggressively.
"You see now, Elsa?" Cthulhu's voice came back to her, his tone somewhat hopeful.
She looked back up at him, determined not to give up. "Done or not, it does not mean he did so evilly! He-he couldn't have!"
"What does it matter why he destroyed a village!" Cthulhu's voice was beginning to rise a little, but he kept it under control. "The fact is he attacked and many are dead because of him."
Elsa raised her arms and let them fall against her sides, letting out a frustrated sound. "So, we just assume that he's turned into a monster, like the Kraken, or like Megaguirus?" She paused, looking to the others for support, but they were too nervous to intervene. "What about when he saved Arendelle?" Elsa countered. She looked to her family and Moll and Lora. "Guys, tell him! Did he not save Arendelle? Twice? A-and the Southern Isles, and possibly the whole world?!"
This time Kristoff spoke up. "She's right," he said confidently. "The Big Guy is dangerous, but it's like he's only attacking when provoked, like as if he's trying to prevent a bigger danger. I can't say anything about what Elsa saw, or why he did it, but tragic as it is he wouldn't just go there to destroy and kill."
Another sigh from Cthulhu, though this one was deeper, more akin to an irritated growl. "Blind. All you humans!" he said frustratingly, pinching the brim of his nose – or whatever the equivalent was among his face of tentacles. He looked to the Mu sisters nearby. "My children, is there a way you can convince queen Elsa to see some sense?! Surely, she must be pragmatic enough to deal with this dilemma."
All eyes now fell on Moll and Lora. Anna and Kristoff's anxious gazes, Cthulhu's intimidating look and Elsa's fierce stare, all bore away at them, making Lora visibly bury her head into her shoulders, such pressure being unfamiliar, and nerve-racking, for her. Moll saw her sister's uncomfortable demeanour and quickly spoke up.
"Father," she said nervously, looking up at him. "From what we have seen, Godzilla has not behaved entirely as a malevolent force. His behaviour on the Southern Isles was more to protect Elsa here." She explained. "And as Kristoff has also pointed out, he only does so if provoked, or if there is a threat to this balance – one that an old contemporary of Elsa mentioned to us once."
Elsa felt a twinge of elation. Yes! See? She was right! Moll and Lora had vouched for her and given their own proof about Godzilla.
But she did say 'entirely'. She looked dumbfounded at the Mu woman, who's guilty gaze met her own.
Cthulhu saw it right away. "But you agree that this recent behaviour of his is malevolent, yes?" he pressed.
Moll said nothing, nor did Lora. Both girls wanted to be anywhere but here.
"Just as the Arendellians have themselves admitted, you have helped prove," the 'Father' said, his voice grim and resigned to fate. His gaze turned back to Elsa. "It is too risky, balance or not, provoked or unprovoked, to keep him alive." Another pause hung in the air, though those around knew what would be said next. "It must be done, Elsa."
"No!" she growled, feeling a surge of power rage through her, ice and crackling lacing her fingertips.
"Elsa, no!" Anna urged, rushing up to her and gripping her arm, begging her not to do what she wanted to do; Moll and Lora ducked behind Cthulhu.
Anna pleaded with her elder sibling again, but the queen ignored her, her blue eyes glowing, glaring at Cthulhu, who merely stared back at her disappointedly. Moll and Lora looked back at her, begging her not to attack.
"I am deeply sorry, Elsa," Cthulhu said sadly. "But there is no other way,"
Elsa wanted to reply, to angrily retort, to tell him. No, to tell them that they were wrong. How could they just decide on this! Godzilla was not evil! Something had to have been done to provoke him, something they were not seeing. It was bad enough with Cthulhu and Belvera, but Moll and Lora?! How could they just turn their backs on her like that?!
She felt a hand grasp her own and, looking down and following the hand up its owner's arm, she saw it was Anna. Her sister squeezed it tightly, trying to meet her sister's gaze with a calming expression. Stop, before you lose control!
Elsa took in her sister's expression, then closed her eyes for a moment, calming the building storm within her. The electricity that pulsed at her fingertips dissipated, but she could still feel its presence in her hands, ready to lash out if need be. She massaged her temple with her free hand, hoping to stem the growing storm within.
No! Conceal, don't feel. Don't let it out! Don't lose control!
Her demeanour relaxed, she looked back up at Cthulhu once again.
"Why?" she asked. "Why have you decided that he should die?! Really?! Why?!" she begged them, feeling her eyes grow moist.
Cthulhu walked over to her, his huge form casting a shadow over her body, his piercing golden eyes looking down at her, firm, but comfortingly so, without any hint of malice or aggression. Anna trembled next to Elsa; her elder sister now gripping her hand tighter to calm her down.
"I understand this is difficult for you to accept Elsa, and I am truly sorry." He said, kneeling down in front of the girls. Though he was less intimidating, he still had a good foot or so in height over them. "I have witnessed the unbridled, unmatched power of Titans, the end of civilisation at the hands of a dangerous Titan; death, destruction, legacies ended, memories and lives vanquished. And I fear it will happen again, but on a scale unimaginable. I cannot let it happen again, Elsa, and neither should you. We can stop this if we act now."
Elsa interrupted him before he could continue. "You're scared." She said laconically
If Cthulhu was caught off guard by her words, however true they were, he did not show it, or at least the Arendelle queen did not pick up on it.
"Who would not be?" he replied as if it were common knowledge. "His kind have focused on balance, but for them it means power over all others, Titan or not. Any attempt to challenge this is met with a violent fate." He stood up, his golden eyes now looking a little sadder once more as he gazed down at the girls, glowing in the shadow his huge body created. "He must be destroyed. In all essence and feeling, it must be purged if the world is to be safe."
Elsa's face fell once more, but she did not become angry or furious. This time, nothing but fear ran through her own body, that past feeling she had locked away for so long, desperate to keep it under control, was starting to break loose again. The air around her turned cold, making Anna withdraw and gasp out at how cold it was becoming. Those around her eyed her nervously, imagining that she was going to turn the place into an icy tomb for them all. Her chest began to heave a little, face contorting into a look of anxiety, fear, panic. Terror.
She looked at the others, looking for some kind of comfort or reassurance, any kind, even the most minute. However, they were too concerned for her well-being. Kristoff and Anna spoke, but she could not hear them, their words lost in her world.
"It must be done, Elsa. You may even have to kill him."
She shook her head, backing away. No! No!
"I-I won't do it!" she said, her voice turning into a cry. "I-I won't do it! I won't let you!"
Snow began to swirl around her form, blocking the view of the lower part of her body, wind kicking up in the chamber. Anna cried out to her sister over the noise of the wind, but Elsa did not register if, or ignored it if she did. They could not do this! Not kill him! No!
Without another word, she turned and ran back towards the chamber entrance, the wind continuing to swirl behind her. Anna went to rush after her sister, but Kristoff grabbed hold of her and turned her sideways, shielding her with his body from the wind and snow being tossed about. Cold laced their faces, hands and other exposed parts of their bodies. A huge form approached, grabbed them and turned them away from the entrance, covering them, along with Moll, Lora, Sven and Belvera, with its huge size. Anna cried out again, but her voice was drowned out by the sound of the wind, its own call deafening to all other noise around it.
Then it stopped, gone like someone had snapped their fingers had made it completely disappear.
Cthulhu rose up and looked over at the now empty entrance and shook his head in a low, resigned manner.
"Belvera, keep everyone here," he ordered her, his voice noticeably having resorted back to its powerful manner once more as he walked past them; Moll and Lora shook and held each other; Sven nuzzled against them comfortingly.
After checking to make sure the others were alright, Belvera looked up at Cthulhu, who had reached the centre of the platform and began to rise again, straight towards the blackness.
"What are you going to do, Father?" she asked, her voice quivering a little in anxiety.
He looked back down at her. "To ensure Elsa and I stop Godzilla forever."
Anna gasped and looked at Kristoff, who stared back wide-eyed. Behind them, Moll and Lora grabbed each other's arms, hugging Sven like frightened children clinging to their parents after being awakened from a horrific nightmare.
But as Cthulhu disappeared into the blackness above, those below on the platform knew that a new nightmare, whatever it may be, was about to begin.