Elsa's heart raced as her anxiety rose, she gripped the reins tight, the frozen horse galloping across the forest nearing their destination at great speed. The smoke from the fireplace was just beyond the treeline, but seeing this only increased her stress, and the air became colder.
"Watch out" Mulan gasped, suddenly pointing ahead of them.
Elsa, so focused on the house in the distance, failed to see the thin rope, tied between the two tresses in front of them. Too late to stop the rope struck the ice horse and they flew backwards, Elsa landing on top of Mulan, while the horse dissipated into snowflakes that fluttered to the ground. The impact knocking the wind out of them, they looked to each other heaving in pain.
"What the hell was that?" Elsa was frustrated.
"A trap" Mulan got up quickly, her eyes scanning the darkness, from the shadows knights appeared, surrounded the girls, their faces angered, and their armour coated in dried blood.
"She's one of them, don't let her get away this time" A Knight pointed at Elsa, his body tense, his fingers black from the frostbite.
"They know you" Mulan changed her stance ready to fight again, there was fear in her eyes knowing they were outnumbered.
"We will get our revenge, for what you've done" A stocking looking man approached holding a mace.
"What we've done, you tried to kill us, twice" Elsa gasped frustrated.
"You're the ones who snuck in, under the cover of darkness and slaughtered, the true Prince" Another stated bitterly as he stepped forward.
"What?" Elsa gasped bewildered.
The larger man charged towards them with a mace practically frothing at the mouth, the spikes at the end of it already coated in dried blood. Mulan dodged out of the way, and he ran straight into the tree behind her, while the others began to advance.
"Please stop, we didn't kill anyone" Elsa laid her hands out and the ground beneath their attackers feet quickly became ice, the icicles crawling up their legs holding them in place.
"Then it was your friend, the other blonde girl; she must have killed James" One accused glaring as he struggled against the ice securing him in place.
"No, Emma said he was alive when she left" Elsa stumbled on her words confused.
"Lies!" One knight shouted as he grabbed his bow, shooting an arrow towards another knight's feet, setting him free from the ice and surged forward holding his sword up to Mulan's neck.
"Let us go 'witch', or your friend won't live to see tomorrow" The man threatened, drawing the blade closer.
Suddenly the temperature dropped but Elsa didn't move, except to free the men from the ice, not taking her eyes off Mulan.
"Good girl, now tell us where the rest of your friends are?" the knight smirked, his grip on Mulan only tightening.
"Don't Elsa..." Mulan begged.
Now the blade drew closer to her throat and a small drop of blood fell to the ground as he just grazed her skin.
Elsa frowned before she gasped, as it all became clear as she stared at the blood-stained crest on the knight's chest.
"It wasn't us; it was… Snow White" Elsa gasped as she said the words aloud, before Elsa could even finish her sentence, Snow White appeared. Standing behind the knight, looking around she made a quick assessment of the scene.
"Let the girls go" Snow commanded, looking at the knights with disdain, although seemingly unbothered by this altercation.
"Who are you?" the knight snickered.
"I recognise this one, she came to our camp" The statement came from a place of fear as the knights realised they were dealing with a powerful foe, still they stood their ground, not moving the blade from Mulan's throat.
"I warned you" Snow moved forwards, a cold distant expression she reached her hand into the knight's chest, causing him to cry out in pain crumbling to the ground. Freeing Mulan who ran forwards to Elsa, looking back in horror, as Snow White held the knight's heart in her hand, crushing it into dust.
"That thing, it killed James" Another knight stepped forwards yelling, anger overwhelming him he drew his sword, slicing across Snow White's chest, but she smiled in response. There was no pain, no fear in her eyes or even blood. In fact she smiled, causing the knight to step backwards terrified.
"Demon" Another knight said with a whimper.
"King George's knights" she smiled with sadistic glee "You tore us apart again and again" her jaw clenched while stepping closer.
Dropping their weapons they backed away and still she advanced with hate in her eyes, everything that happened in the past fresh on the surface. The darkness twisting inside her heart, like she was a puppet on strings, pulling at every heartache.
"David is here, Mulan saw him". Elsa stuttered out desperate to get her attention.
At the mention of his name, Snow White stopped turning to Elsa, she looked at her as if she had only now realised she was there. The knights took this opportunity running off into the night drooping their weapons in fear. Snow White stepped closer to Elsa and Mulan; her expression immediately changed, much lighter.
"Elsa" Her tone was disapproving before she smiled "Are you alright?"
Silent for a moment her heart racing, the tonal shift too much for her as the body of the man Snow had killed lay just a metre from them.
"They didn't hurt us" Elsa stammered out "but are you…?"
"Where did you see him, my husband?" Snow stepped closer ignoring Elsa's attempt to discuss what had just occurred, her expression remaining composed.
"East of here, by the troll bridge, but the Wicked Witch took him". Mulan explained rather blunt
Snow's eyes went wide as a sense of dread washed over her at this news, but she quickly moved on from this revelation.
"Get back to the house, I'll find David". Snow said, beginning to walk away.
"Do you know where she would take him?" Elsa stepped forward while Mulan's confused eyes watched closely, wondering how she could be so comfortable around a cold-blooded killer.
"I'll find him" she stated firmly.
"Let's all go together; we can go back for Emma and Killian" Elsa tried to remain calm, but anxiety caused her to stammer.
Snow didn't react to this notion, from her expression it was clear, she was not intending to involve anyone else in her plan.
"Emma will want to help" Elsa reiterated her eyes, darting around as her concern grew.
"You will leave her out of this". Snow White's tone was almost threatening, as her expression stayed neutral.
"Ok" Mulan said, backing away from this stranger, her hand grabbing Elsa's arm trying to get her to back away as well.
Elsa no longer seeing anyone she recognised either was silent, as Snow White gestured for them to head back before disappearing in a cloud of magic, not even offering a goodbye.
Elsa clutched her stomach feeling nauseated by their encounter with the knights and the Dark One, unwillingly to conjure another horse, they slowly and silently trekked back to the house.
"Maybe we shouldn't tell her". Elsa sighed anxious, turning to face Mulan.
"Who?" Mulan frowned, confused that deciding on what secrets to keep was at the forefront of Elsa's mind.
Elsa's pace was rushed, the warrior barely able to keep up as they walked along the path, dodging between trees and branches that hung over them.
"Emma, we can let her rest," Elsa stammered out "her mother can explain everything later". But she already had an uneasy expression knowing this was not the right choice.
"Yeah, she seemed like a real open honest person". Mulan scoffed sarcastically.
"You don't know her like I do". Elsa shook her head in a defensive tone.
"I don't, but you don't either" Her tone was blunt she changed it seeing Elsa's distress becoming softer "not anymore, you need to be careful". Mulan reached out grabbing Elsa wrist stopping her in her tracks.
"Worried about me?" Elsa couldn't help but smile as she looked into Mulan's eyes longing.
The answer was yes of course but she didn't say it, she didn't have to, it was obvious from her expression, Mulan was concerned for Elsa. The Dark one wasn't all that scared her, it was having such strong feelings so quickly, for a girl she just met. Mulan's heart raced, but with every step she edged closer to danger, she didn't stop, didn't hesitate to follow Elsa. Reaching the valley they could see the porch, to their surprise Emma was awake, standing out the front with an anxious expression as the sun rose.
"Elsa, your back I was worried" Emma expression relieved as she ran towards them "You found Mulan".
Relieved for a moment just a split-second, things seemed hopeful, but when she saw no recognition in Mulan's eyes it faded. In fact, she looked at Emma with scrutiny, frowning as they approached the house, her hand on her sword.
"I'm sorry, I had to go," Elsa stated plainly.
Emma ran into her arms and Elsa hugged her tight, Emma's head resting on her shoulder for a moment, as she held back tears. Upon seeing this display, Mulan smiled as the two friends reunited but stayed back averting her gaze.
"It's ok, I understand" Emma shrugged her relief, quashing any anger for the moment.
Elsa's expression became guilty as she stepped back, hesitating before she abbreviated further on her little adventure.
"I thought... my mom might be with you" Emma stuttered looking around the field as the rising sun illuminated it "she just disappeared" Emma tone became hopeless her eyes distant.
"Umm about that, let's go inside". Elsa stammered, placing her hand on Emma's shoulder farriering her in.
"Ok" Emma stated, frustrated and confused, her heart began to race, recognising that Elsa was tense, while Mulan followed them inside. She stood back by the window, facing the horizon as the sun rose, pretending to be interested in the nearby fauna. Elsa paced inside the kitchen as Emma poured the three of them some cocoa, while Killian and the dwarf slept, light snoring was the only sound, through the house.
"What's wrong, is it Mulan... or Anna did you find her?". Emma questioned with an anxious tone.
"No no it's… Snow, she was out there with us, we ran into trouble, with those knights again". Elsa blurted out quickly.
"Is she ok? "Emma's tone was blunt; she surged towards Elsa, annoyed "why didn't she come back with you?"
"I don't think she's ok Emma, something is very wrong". Elsa turned to face her with a pitying expression.
"What do you mean, did she get hurt?" Emma's voice went high suddenly, and she placed her mug of cocoa down on the table so abruptly that half of it spilt.
"She did the hurting," Mulan scoffed.
Emma turned to Mulan with a glare put off by her obvious disdain towards her mother, before turning back to Elsa eyebrows raised, waiting for her to explain.
"One of the knights held a knife to Mulan's throat" Elsa paused, turning away from her friend "the Dark One took his heart... she crushed it". Elsa stammered out locking eyes with Emma.
Emma gasped her hand gripped onto the table, as if she needed it to stop herself from crumbling to the ground.
"Elsa… no I don't believe it, she's fine… she was just here". Emma gasped out exasperated feeling a revulsion overwhelmed her.
Elsa let out a deep breath, nodding at Emma finding it hard to find the words, knowing she had to be honest with her friend.
"Snow didn't come back with us, because she went to find your father... alone" Elsa expression pained knowing the truth would hurt Emma, but she couldn't conceal it.
Emma's body tensed a sudden determination in her eyes, letting her desperation to be reunited with her father, her love take over.
"Where is he?" her voice was tense and forceful.
"The Wicked Witch, Mulan saw her take him" Elsa explained while shaking her head, her expression still pitying her friend.
Emma didn't have any more questions for Elsa, grabbing her jacket, she made her way outside, squinting as the sun peered over the mountains. Mulan breathed out her eyes watching them closely, but she stayed by the house.
"Emma don't" Elsa scoffed rolling her eyes "You don't even know where you're going?"
Elsa's anger was rising, watching as Emma made another rash decision without thinking it through, one that could only lead to more trouble.
"I have to find them" Emma shouted back frowning as if it were obvious, as if it was a crazy notion that she would do anything else.
"You'll just get lost or killed" Elsa could barely keep up with Emma as she stormed off towards the forest.
"I'm the saviour, I can find my parents". Emma shouted back.
Storming off with little to no thought in where she was headed, just as she reached the forest edge, the ground beneath her feet growled and roots burst out of the grass, wrapping around her feet and ankles. This barrier was around the whole clearing, preventing them from leaving, or anyone unwanted from entering.
"Oh, how's your little adventure going, their saviour". Elsa teased folding her arms as she watched Emma struggle.
"It's just a barrier spell, I was expecting it, mom must have cast it after you ran off" Emma stated through frustrated grunts.
"Emma, what's going on?" Killian yelled out, running out of the house with only his pants on, before realizing Mulan and Elsa were also present. Hair squished from the Hammack he slept in, he rubbed his eyes confused and a little embarrassed.
"We have to go Killian, to find my parents" Emma called out beckoning him to follow.
Elsa rolled her eyes as Emma continued to fight, her annoyance growing not even sure why she was so angry with her friend, but as her eyes darted back to Mulan it became clear.
"Emma, she doesn't want you there". Elsa's tone became pitying again as she sighed watching Emma continue to struggle.
"She's just scared" Emma yelled out grabbing the roots with her hands she tried to pull them off, but this was a fruitless effort.
"Yeah, of losing you and so am I, what's with you lately…" Elsa paused, watching as Emma relentlessly fought against the unbreakable vines "Do you think you have something to prove?"
Emma finally stopped before turning to face her friend, tears welled in her eyes, acknowledging that Elsa had been upset with her.
"I don't know, do I?" Emma retorted, becoming increasingly frustrated that she couldn't break free.
Elsa sighed, unable to answer her question verbally, but it was clear the answer was yes, there was silence as Elsa no longer hid her resentment towards Emma.
Emma turned away her eyes back on the vines, blasting it with a bolt of white light, the vine crumbled away, and she smiled. But as soon as she took a step, another sprung from the ground wrapping around her once more. Growing frustrated Emma pushed back with her shield, as Elsa moved closer, knocking her to the ground.
"Elsa I...' Emma fumbled as a sinking guilt overcame her.
Getting up quickly Elsa reinforced the barrier spell, freezing the roots and their grip became tighter, around Emma's feet.
"You can't leave Emma" Elsa yelled frustrated.
Emma finally stopped fighting tears now streaming down her cheeks with a fierce anger in her, as she looked back at Elsa.
"Why not... you did… she did". Emma wept out.
Elsa sighed, feeling guilt wash over her as Emma's fears finally revealed themselves to her, feeling abandoned and her instinct to run took over.
"I made a mistake, we almost" Elsa paused realising how she had just made things worse "Things are rough out there".
"So, my best friend almost got herself killed, my mom had to save her, in turn took another life, that's just great" Emma's hands began to glow, not that she even seemed to notice her eyes distant, while she was still restrained by the vines.
"I know you're upset... please Emma... just calm down" Elsa was tense, but this was the wrong thing to say, and Emma turned to her with a look of utter disdain, lifting her hands up before thrashing them back down.
"I'm calm!" Emma screamed out slamming her fist into the dirt, the force that erupted was huge, the white light cascading out.
This caused the ground to shake, as well as the entire house, glassware and crockery fell from the shelves in the kitchen, smashing to the floor. While the spell protecting the homestead broke with a load pop, and the vines holding Emma in place dissipated. Elsa fell back to the ground, this time with a more residing thud, she groaned in pain. Immediately Emma's anger faded away, seeing the destruction she had unintentionally caused around her.
"Elsa, no are you ok?" Emma leaped over grabbing Elsa's shoulder and pulling her close, to see her friends' face red grunting pain, but she was just winded.
"Just another casualty of your heroism" Elsa groaned.
Emma whimpered out an agonised croak like sound seeing the look of discontent in her friend's eyes, towards her.
"The time loop, Elsa I didn't know..." Emma stammered looking across the field towards Mulan knowing she altered their lives dramatically.
"There's always a price" Elsa stated, shaking her head disappointed.
"I knew it, you are upset with me" Emma gasped a truth she didn't was in denial of.
Elsa was silent as she began to cry, a deep sadness enveloping her she simply shrugged.
"Of course, I am… but where does that leave us" Elsa's voice whimpered out knowing she would always want Emma in her life.
There was silence for a moment as the two friends stood still, fists clenched with no resolution in sight, but the truth was now clear.
"You can't just force yourself to forgive me, that's not how it works" Emma's voice was solemn.
Grumpy ran over from the house across the field, his eyes wide in anger before becoming fearful, upon realising Emma had broken the protection spell cast by Snow White.
"What have you done!" Grumpy barked even while angry, he had a guilty expression as he approached.
Emma sighed, closing her eyes tight and leaning her head back, she breathed in and out slowly before ashamedly walking towards her disgruntled uncles.
"We have to warn Snow, she'll want to know" Grumpy stated firmly.
"If she wanted to be here, she would be" Emma voice bitter and angry as she walked past them.
"Emma are you…?" Killian breathed out as she approached, the answer to his question plain in her expression.
Gently he wrapped his arms around her leaning his head on hers, before he pulled her into his chest and rubbed her back. After a minute she stepped back, looking up to him with adoring eyes, but she had no words, paralysed by her doubts and fears, she gave Killian a small smile.
"I just need to be alone" Emma stated, stepping back from him.
Killians jaw clenched his eyes longing, but he nodded watching Emma walk inside, beginning to clean some of the mess her little magical outburst had caused, while Elsa lingered in the meadow.
–
Gripping her sword Mulan stood tensely from the front of the house, wondering where she stood amongst these strangers. Killian, still brooding by the door that Emma had just entered, she could see the longing in his eyes, and wondered why he didn;t follow the blonde girl.
"What was all that about?" Mulan turned towards Killian, just as he returned with a shirt and a small amount of concern, while Emma and Elsa continued to squabble.
"Long story, at least the barrier is down we can leave" Killian gestured towards them calmly, he smiled at Mulan "Killian by the way".
"Do you have somewhere to be?" Mulan questions somewhat suspiciously.
"For what's ahead we need powerful magic, good magic" Killian eyes went over to the dwarfs as they repaired some of the damage to the out wall of the barn.
He offered his hook to Mulan which she shook, albeit a little confused she frowned, but this scene felt familiar like déjà vu.
"Ugh, I'm Mulan" she stated with a bewildered tone.
"Killian" He stated, before walking off towards the Dwarfs with a fierce determination in his eyes.
Mulan watched the others work together closely, she felt out of place, looking away from them she turned away suddenly, heading towards the forest.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Elsa breathed out exasperated, having only just turned Emma around.
"Leaving" Mulan sighed solemnly.
"Where will you go?" Elsa began to follow her away from the house, an anxious tone.
"No idea... can't stay here, the Dark One will return and your friend seems" Mulan fumbled her words upon seeing Elsa warning glare.
"She's going through a lot," Elsa said, a little too defensive.
Mulan nodded before turning away sheepishly but before she even took a step, Elsa's hand was on her shoulder.
"Please just wait..." Elsa pleaded, causing Mulan to stop in her tracks, before she turned to face Elsa, a small smile on her face.
"Come with me?" Mulan said the words aloud without thought it was instinct, she wanted to leave, but the idea of leaving Elsa, turned her stomach to knots.
"What?" Elsa blurted out bewildered.
"Before I lied..." Elsa's eyes went wide as Mulan spoke but the recognition she was looking for was still absent "I don't remember you, but I feel something deep... "Pausing she frowned "It's just, that doesn't make sense".
"Right, like our heads forgot, but our hearts remember". Elsa breathed out a little overwhelmed herself.
"But that's completely irrational". Mulan raised her hands exasperated.
Elsa laughed a little at the conflicted, frustrated expression on Mulan's face as she struggled to see reason in her emotions. Before her cheeks shone red and she turned away from her, longing to touch Mulan, to hold her tight.
"Is this funny?" Mulan scoffed with a smirk.
"I'm sorry I don't mean to insult your feelings, it's just this," She paused letting out a relieved breath "talking with you it's like something has been missing… and I didn't even notice how important it was, now that, I'm just" Elsa stammered losing her train of thought as she looked longingly into Mulan's eyes.
"Happy" Mulan stated with a small smile.
"Yes" Elsa nodded but her expression was apologetic "I can't go with you, I can't leave Emma or Killian, we must stick together, despite everything" She shrugged.
Mulan nodded and Elsa handed her some supplies, before waving goodbye as she headed off into the forest alone.