Chapter 39

Happy 10th Anniversary of Frozen

We've been that long on this fandom and still are.

So, as a celebration here's a new chapter and for those interested in art I had added two new illustrated chapters on Deviant art and in AO3.

Leave your comments as they fuel this story.

The illustrations of this story can be found in Deviant and in AO3. Go check them out and share your comments.

I will upload the illustrations from time to time.

My Instagram is Starflame007 and my deviant art account is Starflame7

Disclaimer: Frozen and other Disney characters belong to Disney Co. This is merely a fanfiction and a bunch of fandom references and puns.

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Chapter 40. A royal mess

"A cat!" Kristoff yelled.

"A dog?" Derek asked.

"No... a mouse!"

The sound of a bell ringing made everyone in the room stop yelling.

"Sorry guys it was a squirrel."

"What? That was not a squirrel." Kristoff said. "It looked more like a mouse."

"Yes, it was." Olaf said as his "squirrel" teeth made of snow came back to normal and took a sit next to Sven. "You just haven't seen enough squirrels to tell the difference."

"Leave it mate. Now, is the turn of the girls." Prince Derek mentioned as he took note on a little piece of paper the count of guesses their team has scored. "And we are even now. Next round will define the winning team. Who is passing to the front this time?"

"Ohhh, that would be me." Anna said happily as she stood up from the couch.

"Alright Princess. Give us your best impressions." The Prince continued. "Let's see if you can beat us Your Majesty."

"Still thinking you can win Your Highness?" The other sister said.

Kristoff rolled his eyes. Anna just giggled.

The constant banter of those two had only increased ever since dinner. And just turned into a competition between the stubborn royals.

Still, Anna wouldn't deny their constant rivalry had caused Elsa to give her best on the game. Normally she struggled on this game, but she would clearly not admit defeat against her old rival, slash friend, slash whatever he was to her.

So far Elsa and Anna had worked great together. After all, being sisters did bring an advantage when playing charades.

Elsa had managed to guess all of Anna's impersonations so far. The winners' prize, a box of pastries was theirs. The boys had not guessed their last charade, a squirrel. If Elsa guessed this one that would mean they would be the final winners.

Anna smiled.

This is piece of cake.

Her hand reached the flask and took a small piece of paper and she read it.

Wait what?!

Who put that name here?! She wondered.

Kristoff for sure.

"Oh, not this one. Please can I change it?"

"I love you Anna but if you fail this one that means we will be crowned winners. So, no, you can't." Kristoff said with a playful smile.

"Sorry Princess. But rules are rules." Derek added as he agreed with the ice harvester.

Yep. It had definitely been her bulky boyfriend with a cheeky smile. Was he making her pay for that little something about mistletoe and some girls chasing him?

"Any problem Anna?" he asked.

Anna forced an innocent smile. He didn't buy her story about bringing cheer to the people. Kristoff suspected something.

Biscuits! She internally cursed.

"No. No problem at all. Kristoff." She replied. Making her vocals sound clear as she pronounced his name.

Kristoff cared for Elsa. They were similar. Outcasts, blond, rightful, obstinate and shared a passion for ice.

If Anna ever told Kristoff her recent discover about the thing going on between the other royals in the room, the iceman would never let her interfere.

"Just checking. This is fine. Everything is perfect." She added.

Not even her one true love would make her falter. No matter if it was a villainous threat or a romantic comedy drama. Her sister's happiness would always be Anna's number one priority.

"Unless you want to surrender. What do you say Your Majesty?"

"Keep dreaming Your Highness." Elsa replied to the Prince in the same teasing voice. Elsa seemed more than ready to win.

"Don't mind them Anna. We've got this." Her sister said with a supporting smile.

Elsa looked determined. Anna would never understand why those two competed on everything. No matter what, they would always try to outsmart the other one.

But Elsa's eyes seemed to be shining. Not sure if it was the reflection of the flames coming from the fireplace, or perhaps something else was causing it. Just like her own friend Joan of Arc in the paintings. The Queen looked determined.

"You are right. We've got this." she felt more assured. "Ready sis?"

"Ready." Elsa nodded as she arranged herself in her seat.

And the Princess began with her silent acting. She waved her hands in a crazy way.

"A peacock?" Elsa asked.

Anna denied with her head.

"A duck?"

Wrong again.

"No wait...is it a chicken?"

Anna denied again. This would need all of her to win.

Elsa frowned in deep thought. Could Anna blame her? This one was a hard one.

Thanks Kristoff.

"A monkey?"

"No wait… is it a man?" "A monkey-man?"

Close. But not quite right. Anna thought.

She would need to do the whole act.

So, putting aside the embarrassment, Anna began to scratch her head in a silly way just like a monkey would. Then she proceeded to hop around and dance ridiculously.

Kristoff was crossing his arms with a smug smile. Olaf and Sven were copying the dance. While Elsa and Derek just looked puzzled. Derek of course would never know the answer for obvious reasons. And Elsa…well, she might guess the answer. But she would need to rely on her good memory to get this one.

Come on Elsa. You know this one. Come on. Come on.

Elsa bit her lip in sign of confusion.

"A clown?"

Anna sighed. Wrong again.

"I think I've seen that dance before". The Queen admitted. "But where?"

Yes. Come on Elsa. You can do it.

"For the record I didn't teach her that." Olaf said causing Kristoff to laugh even harder. He clearly knew who she was supposed to be.

"This one is quite a challenge. "Elsa had to admit.

"Giving up so soon Your Majesty?" the Prince suddenly said. "I would expect more even from you."

"Not a chance Captain." She replied to him. "Challenges are fun after all."

"Time's almost over." Olaf announced. "And winners will get the last box of pastries."

"And losers will have to give Sven a bath." Kristoff suddenly added.

"What?!" Both Anna and Elsa exclaimed surprised.

"Scared your Majesty?"

Anna was about to say something but of course Elsa spoke first.

"Fine. But if WE win, you will be giving that pig on the stables also a bath."

"What?!" Kristoff exclaimed this time. The Prince didn't seem that much surprised.

"You mean when WE win."

"Do we have a deal or not?"

"You know the answer."

A bath to Sven? And a pig? On Christmas day? Elsa, have you lost your mind?

"Time's almost up." Olaf announced.

WHAT?! HECK NO!

Anna panicked and made the dance even harder. Making Kristoff lose it and laugh freely at her as he was clearly enjoying this.

"Oh, hello Kai what brings you here." the ice harvester suddenly said.

The Princess stopped abruptly as she stayed still like a statue with one foot on the ground and the other one levitating in the air. Arms raised as well and her hair all messy.

She turned around to see that the door was closed, and Kai wasn't there either.

"Good one mate."

Kristoff laughed as both men joined their fists.

"Hey!" Anna stood clearly not amused by her boyfriend's prank. "Not fair."

"Look who's talking Princess. If I remember you tricked me once too." Prince Derek shrugged with an innocent smile.

"That was totally different Derek. Besides, we still can beat your team." Anna insisted. "Right Elsa?"

"Right." Elsa replied. "Is it a weasel?"

Yes. No. Maybe. I don't know.

"Can you repeat the question?" Anna sighed.

"Wrong again." Kristoff added.

"Tick tock Your Majesty." the Prince chanted as he pointed at the hourglass with his candy cane.

"How thoughtful to remind me Your Highness." She replied not hiding the sarcasm in her voice.

"Anytime." He mentioned. "Cheers to you and your loss against a chicken with the face of a monkey." Derek mockingly raised his glass to her.

"What did you say?"

Oh.

Elsa opened her eyes in sign of surprise. Probably realizing she would be soon losing to the annoying Prince.

Kristoff and Anna looked from one side of the room to the other. This bantering was indeed a dangerous game.

The pair of infamous royals had been acting on the edge, even more than usual ever since dinner.

Anna had suggested a game and Kristoff has supported the idea. It was clear, the other pair of royals had just agreed once they learnt they would be able to compete in a game and beat the other.

But still, even in an innocent game on Christmas Eve their competitive side wouldn't disappear. In fact, it appeared the only time both spoke directly to the other was only for messing around with the other. It was like an unspoken quarrel. Not direct hits but still sharp enough to provoke each other.

These two, are too stubborn for their own good. Anna though.

And to worse it all. the Queen and the Princess, were about to lose.

Anna had tried everything, but the Queen would need telepathy to get the character she had gotten to win. And even though she was magical, last time she checked her sister didn't inherit divination powers.

Anna sighed even more disappointed. They had to admit they were about to lose. And give two smelly animals a bath tomorrow.

She turned to her sister. But Elsa seemed more focused on the floor. Her eyes narrowed as she seemed ready to accept defeat or maybe ready to send a bunch of snow to the Prince. Or perhaps both.

"Elsa?" Kristoff asked probably sensing the serious face on the Queen.

"The face of a monkey huh?" Elsa repeated, clearly not listening.

"Uh, what?" The ice harvester insisted.

"A chicken with the face of a monkey." Her eyes rose to meet once again the Prince's face.

"Your Majesty?" the young royal asked this time.

She smiled at him. A true smile. Not a forced one. A true, one-of-a-kind Elsa's rare smiles.

Kristoff's eyes moved left to right then back to left, looking at both sides of the living room. From royal to royal.

"Thank you." She replied with a hint of tease in her voice.

"Uh, your welcome?" Derek replied confused. "But for what?"

"For the hint." She answered gently.

"What do you mean?"

"You better get ready some soap and a brush Captain." The Queen added as she raised her glass to him.

"What? You can't be serious." The Rebel Prince got her message.

"Oh, but I am." She replied. "There is only one man that would fit the description you just casually said. And that would be the Duke of Weselton." The Queen said with a proud smile.

The bell suddenly rang marking the end of the game. Leaving the Princess even more confused than before. There didn't seem to be any evidence of true progress between those two. Just their normal weirdness only more, well, weird perhaps?

"So. We won didn't we?" Elsa asked confidently.

"Uh, what?" Anna didn't understand.

"The character you've got. It was the Duke, wasn't it?"

"For real? That creepy old guy?" Kristoff said pretending he didn't know the answer. "That was a hard one."

Anna blinked as she remembered the game.

"Oh. Yes. I was playing the Duke." She replied still trying to process what she saw. "Oh my gosh. We WON!"

Anna forgot about the royals and their weirdness as she realized Elsa had figured it out.

"Good job sis!"

"Yay! Elsa and Anna won!" Olaf said happily as he hopped around the Christmas tree.

"Why so happy buddy. You get to clean Sven and that pig with us tomorrow.". The ice harvester added.

"Oh, don't worry Olaf, you don't have to participate on that if you don't want to." Elsa said.

"It's okay. Bubbles are fun. Don't you think so too, Sven?" The snowman said. "Sven?"

A loud snore sounded in return.

"He already fell asleep?" Derek asked. "I thought reindeers had lots of energy."

"And they do. Although, this one, is just a lazy reindeer." Kristoff said. "Still, he did look tired today. Although he did wake up earlier than usual today." The blond man explained as he put a blanket over the sleeping reindeer.

"Why?" Olaf wondered.

"Perhaps he was eager for today's cheerful event. Wouldn't you agree Anna?"

"Hehe. Maybe." The Princess added. "We all woke incredibly early today and worked so hard. Maybe we should all get some rest too." Then she faked a yawn, until it became a real one.

It was then she came to realize, she was also tired.

"Anna is right. None of us has had a good rest in a while, after all that has happened. And tomorrow we have some royal appointments to attend even if it's Christmas."

"I'll take Sven to the stables then."

Kristoff stood up. Ready to wake the animal.

"Leave him." Elsa said. "He can stay. After all, the staff will be leaving tomorrow morning to be with their families."

"Thanks Elsa." Kristoff said gratefully.

"Besides the furry guy did an excellent job as Santa's reindeer today with all the children. Now, in regards of the butler… well, that's another story. His Santa was really something."

"Again, with that?"

"What?" The Prince excused himself with an innocent smile. "I'm just saying the truth, Elsa."

"Don't be ridiculous Derek."

"What? Are you going to tell me that his Shakespeare's Santa was just my imagination?"

"He might have taken it too seriously, but at least he agreed to put on the suit."

"Oh Rudolph, Rudolph wherefore art thou, Rudolph my reindeer?" Derek chanted making a great imitation of the royal Butler.

Anna giggled. She had to give some credit to Derek. That had sounded just like Kai.

"Easy Romeo." Elsa said failing miserably to hide the amusement in her voice. "Now you sound almost taken out of a play."

"And yet, thy smile persists, Juliet."

That last sentence had been enough to make Anna turn her head and then her full body in the speed of lightning to get a glimpse of her sister's reaction after being called Juliet.

Unfortunately, right at that moment, and quite conventionally to the Queen, a blast of ice had been shot towards the flames consuming them almost immediately. Leaving the room almost dark, except for the sim glow of some candles that were hanging in the wall.

The change of light had made it impossible to see her face clearly.

Oh, come on!

"That's it. Time for bed.' Elsa said.

"Nighty night Sven." Olaf suddenly said as he patted the reindeers' back.

The bell of the towers' clock echoed from afar. Causing the Queen and Prince jump a bit startled by the sound.

"Almost Christmas now." Kristoff said. "It's getting late."

"Oh, no. We need to go to bed, or Santa won't come." Olaf said worriedly.

"Oh right. The presents." Anna suddenly remembered. She and Elsa had prepared some gifts for everyone and hid them on the Queen's study.

She turned to her sister, but the older one, had already beat her to open the door that led to the main hallway.

"Olaf is right. It's time to rest." Elsa suddenly said. "Oh, how silly of me. Anna suddenly remembered. I forgot to show you some, uh… important paperwork. Do you mind accompanying me to the study. It'll be quick."

Good one sis.

"Yes. I mean… oh no. More paperwork. You better get ahead guys." Anna mumbled quickly.

"Need a hand Your Majesty?"

"No need Captain. You may go and get some rest."

Anna saw as the Prince looked at the Queen with a questioning look. The monarch replied with a silent nod. He had seemed to understand as he nodded back in agreement.

Just like that time on the wagon. They seemed to be able to communicate without words.

"Good night, everyone and happy Christmas." The Prince said as he was the first to walk towards the hallway, with a big candy cane as his support. "Come on Olaf let's get to the kitchen and leave some cookies for Santa."

"Really?"

"Aye. Let's find that treasure and steal some for us." The Prince who was resting his body on his candy cane offered his free hand to the snowman. "What do you say Counter master Olaf?"

"Aye, aye, Captain."

Olaf didn't need to be asked twice to jump and grab his hand.

"You too mate. The crew will need a carrot expert for this task." Derek added. "Besides, we need a tall person to reach the good stuff that the Butler hid on the upper shelves. And I can't afford breaking another chair. I had broken 2 already. My guts tell me the Butler will lose it if I break another thing."

"Derek, forget about the chairs, what if next time what you break is your leg?" Elsa then turned to the other man. "Can you keep him an eye please?" The Queen asked the man for his help.

"Don't worry Elsa. I'll make sure he doesn't break anything." And the ice harvester joined them. She thanked him.

"Enjoy the paperwork ladies." The Prince saluted as they left.

"Hey, we can get the reindeers some carrots too." Derek's voice sounded from the distance. "My… my mother. She used to do it. And now my sister continues to do it."

"Now that sounds like a good tradition." Kristoff added.

"We should do that!" Olaf sounded happy as the group disappeared in a corner's turn.

Anna who had approached her sister's side by that time was able to catch her sister's reaction this time.

The Queen let out a deep sigh as she kept staring at the empty hallway.

"Elsa?"

"Hmm?"

The Queen who had a longing stare blinked as her name was being called. She then turned to her younger sister.

"Are you okay?"

The monarch nodded.

"I'm fine. I guess, I was thinking of the irony of things. Mom used to leave carrots for the reindeers too." Her sister said with a soft smile. "I'm not sure if you remember."

"I have some images of carrots near the tree." Anna admitted. "But that's all. I wouldn't know it was mother is doing."

"You were so young. I am glad Olaf can inherit mom's old tradition." The Queen said proudly. "It was a good memory; I think I had forgotten. Until now."

Anna grabbed Elsa's hands and pressed them gently.

"We can create new memories with Olaf and the others now."

"I know Anna."

"Together." The Princess insisted.

"For survival purposes." Elsa muttered.

"Survival what?"

"Purposes." She said a bit distracted. "Never mind. It is just a silly thing I remembered. That is all."

The melancholy in Elsa's face was replaced with a soft gaze and a smile. Whatever she had remembered had done the trick to cheer her up.

"I am better now. I am just tired. It has been such a long day." Elsa yawned.

And your secret date from last night has nothing to do with you being tired?

Anna wished she had said that aloud to see the Queen's reaction. But of course, she did not. She preferred to act low profile. It was more fun that way, anyway.

"That's the spirit sis." Anna said instead, as her sister looked better now. "Come on. You need to rest too. Let's get the presents."

"You are right." The Queen said with more energy in her voice. "Let's go."

Anna pulled her sister's arm with tenderness and childish excitement until they reached the study to get the bag that was hidden behind a pile of books.

"Woah." Anna exclaimed as she saw lots of paperwork and books all spread around Elsa's desk and study. "Did your magic caused a storm in here or what?"

Elsa laughed innocently as she entered the room first.

"Derek and I were working on the Arendelle's reconstruction plans." Elsa explained as she went to the library shelves and opened a small door with a tiny key, she took form her desk.

"Don't you mean destruction plans?" Anna asked as she passed the room trying to avoid the books and parchment on the floor.

"Actaully, we were just looking for a book. And we ended up competing of whom be the first to end the paperwork, to make it more, well, entertaining." She explained. Then she looked around. "Perhaps we might have gotten too carried away." Elsa sighed as she realized the mess for the first time today. "We did, didn't we?"

Elsa passed Anna a bag with presents as she carried another one.

"Just a bit." Anna said amused. Who would have thought Elsa would prefer winning over order?

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Not much later the sisters arrived at the great hall where the big Christmas tree was.

A plate of cookies and some carrots had been left on a little table. In addition to that, two cups of hot cocoa had been left.

"Oh, this was Kristoff's idea." Anna said happily as she took one of the cups and took a sip of the hot beverage.

"I just hope the guys didn't break anything from the kitchen." Elsa said as she drank from the other cup. "Derek is already in Kai's blacklist for breaking one cup."

The sister's giggled.

"At least Kai didn't see your mess in your study."

Elsa shrugged. "Well…"

"He did?!"

The Queen nodded.

"He arrived earlier today, right the moment Derek had found the book. He did saw the mess and just casually asked about it."

"You let him enter?"

"I was … focused on finding the book."

Distracted she means. Anna thought.

"Then I asked him if he could be Santa."

"While he was still processing your mess?"

"I had to. The loser would have to convince Kai to play Santa. Besides Kai insisted to know right away."

"And he didn't faint?"

Elsa turned around carrying the bag. "No but he did stay on the chair for at least ten minutes not saying a single word. Derek handed him some water. Kai took the glass but didn't drink from it. His gaze seemed lost on the window for some reason. I thought he was thinking about the Christmas gathering. But now, I think he was probably thinking about the mistletoe, uh… thing."

"Hehe…Maybe." Anna laughed nervously. But her sister didn't seem to notice it as she continued.

"Anyway…" Elsa cleared her voice. "Then he stood up, acting normal as ever and said he would get himself prepared. Then he left."

Anna approached to help her sister with the weight.

"Well, he always takes everything seriously." Anna added seeing her opportunity to change the topic, she frat hall where the big tree was. "And playing Santa was no exception."

"Certainly, it wasn't." Elsa and Anna giggled.

"Derek was right. Kai's Santa did remind me a bit of a Shakespeare's character."

"Perhaps." Elsa casually said.

"That reminds me, remember the costumes Derek and I were wearing that night of the fire." Anna said casually as they placed the gifts under the tree.

"Trust me, I remember. That cow costume still appears in my nightmares." Elsa said as she crawled on her knees to arrange the gifts under the tree.

Anna for a second wondered if Elsa was only being sarcastic or in fact, she has dreamed with Derek in a cow suit.

"And you remember my suit?"

"Uh, I think it was a Prince or something wasn't it? You looked pretty." Elsa said as her head kept under the tree.

Anna smiled as her plan was working.

"Actually, it was for the play the Drama Club was preparing for New Years Eve." Anna mentioned studying her sister as she kept arranging some ribbons. "Derek almost took that suit, but it didn't fit him."

"Oh, I think he did mention something about it." The Queen said. "I was so tired that moment, that some things I don't remember too well."

"Don't worry sis. It's understandable." Anna smiled as Elsa seemed too distracted on the presents to notice what was coming. "Oh, and we are all invited to the play of course."

"Really. That's very considerate from them." Elsa said. "I should thank them also for helping you."

"Oh yes we should go and… thank them."

"What play are they doing anyway?"

"One of the classics."

"Oh, I prefer the classics."

"I think you'll like this one. It's Romeo and Juliet."

Suddenly, a cold luminous breeze suddenly came out from the low part of the Christmas tree.

Elsa had raised her body startled. As she did, the back of her head, had hit the lowest branches, making the tree tremble and some of the ornaments to fall.

In a chain reaction, the magic had moved to reach the top of the tree. The star had ended covered in ice, giving it a soft bright glow.

The once normal, yet enormous, Christmas Tree now was the still enormous, yet more Magical, Christmas Tree. Every single branch had a beautiful sparkling frost. From everywhere, the ornaments seemed more delicate and brighter. And the tree had been added frozen snowflakes. All shiny and of all sizes that glowed almost lively. Each shining all the colours of the rainbow as little stars or pocket size icy fireworks. Giving it the right Elsa's unique touch.

As soon as Elsa's head popped out of under the tree, the poor Queen gasped horrified and surprised.

Red ears and cheeks and lack of words were enough to show she was beyond embarrassed by her "little accident". As a small child who had been caught wetting the bed.

Anna on the contrary, was beyond pleased. And smiling mischievously.

The Princess had to cover her mouth to hide her pleased smile as she enjoyed her sister's exaggerated reaction.

Her little experiment had shown even better results than she had expected.

If there was any doubt before, now there was none.

"Sorry, I…uh… I don't know where that came from. She looked so cute in that way.

"It looks incredible." The Princess said as she admired her sister's work.

"Really?" her sister asked hesitant as she looked again at the tree not very convinced.

"Trust me. This was the best part of the night."

Anna smiled trying to hide her excitement. But internally she was cheering.

This was going to be fun.

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And that's all for this moment.

What do you think? I enjoyed the part with Elsa losing control in a funny way.