On My Way

Seeing a princess, or any member of royalty, in the castle kitchens would be considered odd, or even downright scandalous in most places. That was not true in the case of Princess Anna. Very often she came into the castle kitchens to grab some snacks, or sneak some treats before dinner. It was pretty much expected by this point. Sometimes she would often like to talk with the chefs and they don't really mind her company.

Today she was not doing any of those things. Anna had spent a good portion after breakfast making and packing food into a picnic basket.

"Hello, Princess." A tall man in chef's attire approach Anna.

Anna gave a friendly smile. "Hi, Remy. How's your brother?"

"Emile is still his usual self. I see you're in for a busy day. Need any help with that?"

"I'm good, but thank you. Just prepping a picnic with Kristoff."

"I don't want to judge but that's a lot of food for just two people."

"I'm a growing girl...I need all the energy I can get."

Remy shrugged. "You're the princess. If you don't need anything, then I hope you have a good day."

"Thanks, Remy."

Anna put the final contents in the basket and left the kitchens. She practically ran through the hallways in an excited rush, with good reason. Her cold had gone away just a few days ago and she was happy to be out of bed. Her plan for the day was having a picnic with Kristoff, along with hopefully another certain of hers.

Today was the day she finally gets the chance to visit Elsa during the daytime instead sneaking out of the castle at night. Even better, Kristoff had even tagged along several times. Anna was super thrilled when Kristoff had told her that he and Elsa developed a friendship. During the time Kristoff was with Elsa, Anna had been worried about how they handle each other's presence. Hearing that the two bonded, including harvesting ice together, had made Anna really happy. Now today is the chance that all three of them could spend time together.

In her hurried rush, she had almost run into father. "Sorry, Papa."

"Where are you off to in such a rush?"

"Spending the day with Kristoff after spending an eternity stuck in my bed."

"You were only sick for a week."

"Which is an eternity in my world."

"Only you would think that."

Anna chucked. "Anyways, I'm heading out. Kristoff should be waiting for me in the courtyard. I'll see you later."

"Anna!" Agdar called out, Anna turned to face him. "I...I hope you have a good time."

"Thanks, Papa."

"And be back by-"

"...by sundown, I know,"

Anna resumed walking down the hall, giving a final goodbye to her father. She soon made it to the castle courtyard and head for the stables. Already there to greet her were Kristoff & Sven.

"Hey," Kristoff hugged her. "What took ya?"

"Had a little talk with papa. You ready?"

"Sure."

Anna got onto Kjekk, and Kristoff did the same with Sven. They rode alongside each other through the courtyard and through the gates. Agdar watches the pair from the balcony of his study that was right above the courtyard. Laughter from the pair echoed throughout the courtyard. A small smile grew across Agdar's face.

"You know it's only a matter of time."

"For what?" Agdar turns to see his wife.

Idun smiled playfully. "Don't act like you don't know there's something between them."

Agdar figure what Idun was going on about. Anna was at an age where she started showing interest in boys, no matter how hard Agdar tried to deny that.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they both do get together," Idun added. "I think they make such a lovely pair."

"Don't you think Anna is too young for that?"

"She'll be turning fifteen in two months, dear. Are you against her being with Kristoff?"

"Of course not. Anna can be with anyone she wants, prince or commoner, just as long they make her happy. Kristoff very much proved that he's capable of doing so. Should he and Anna ever start courting, they have my full blessing to do so. It's just...Anna's our baby girl. Our remaining child. I don't want to let her go."

"I know that, but you know Anna won't rely on us forever. Someday, she'll get married and have children of her own. But that doesn't mean we'll be out of her life. We'll be there when she needs us."

"I know..."

Idun smiled at her husband. "Seeing Anna and Kristoff together brings me memories what you and I were like we were young. You were always so bashful and shy around me. I remember you were so nervous we had our first kis-OH!" Idun felt a small pinch on her posterior. She looked over to see Agdar, who had a cheeky grin on his face.

"You forgot to mention playful, love."

Idun's grin went from flustered to...inviting. "Playful you say?" She inched closer to Agdar. "I think you and both know who's the playful one."

"Are you challenging me, dear?"

"Are you up for it?"

Agdar wrapped his arms around his wife. "I don't have anything important to do this afternoon...So yes, I am up for it."

A cheeky grin grew across the queen's face. Both monarchs went back inside the study, quite eagerly, and closed the balcony doors.

The cold wind blew against Anna and Kristoff as they rode up The North Mountain on their steeds. Thankfully, Kristoff had some spare warm clothes for both of them to wear, making walking through the mountain much more bearable. Kjekk let out a whine as another breeze was felt.

"I know, boy." Anna patted her horse's neck. "I know you don't like the cold, but we won't be here long. On the bright side, you get to meet Elsa. You'll love her."

"And this is why I stick with reindeers." Kristoff patted Sven's neck.

The sight of the Ice palace soon came into view. The two friends halted their animal companions and got off of them.

"Shouldn't you secure Kjekk first?" Kristoff suggested.

"I trained him better this time," Anna said.

"Fine, but if he runs off, I'm telling your parents it was your fault."

Anna playfully rolled her eyes.

They both walked up the icy staircase which leads to the massive doors. Giving a loud knock, the doors opening, revealing Marshmallow poking his head out. He looked around before he noticed the two people below him.

"Hey, Big guy!" Anna hugged the giant ice creature's leg. "You miss me? Cause I missed you."

Marshmallow gave a smile as he patted Anna with his huge hand. As soon she broke away, the snow creature noticed Kristoff, who gave a small smile. Kristoff now knows not to fear Marshmallow, but admittedly still feels a bit intimidated around him.

"Hi." Kristoff gave a wave.

Marshmallow responded by leaning down, giving a puff of his icy breath on Kristoff, leaving frost all over the ice harvester.

"AH, Cold!"

"That's just how Marshmallow shows that he likes you."

"I bet he does…"

Marshmallow chuckled at Kristoff's dry statement.

"What's going on here?"

Marshmallow moved over to the side revealing Elsa and Olaf right next to her. Her eyes lite up once she saw who was at the doorstep.

"Kristoff, Anna?"

"Hi, Elsa, how've you-" Elsa quickly went over to Anna, giving her a hug. A tight hug. "...been?"

"I'm so glad to see you."

"I'm happy to see you too, Elsa."

"I was worried."

"I had a small cold. Nothing to worry about," Anna assured. "Now...can you please let me go. I can't breathe."

"Oh! Sorry." Elsa released Anna from the hug.

"Wow, you're much stronger than you look. And I thought Kristoff gave big hugs."

"I heard that," Kristoff stated.

"What are you doing here, Anna? It's not nighttime."

"I had some free time today, so I decided to visit you. And I wanted to invite you to have a picnic with me and Kristoff."

"What's a picnic?"

"It's when we eat food outside."

"And you want me to come along?"

"Yeah. Figure it would be the best opportunity for all three of us to hang out in the daytime for once. Do you want to come? I brought chocolate."

"I...guess I would like to come with you both."

"Going where?" Olaf suddenly appeared at the doorway. His face brightens at the sight of Anna before running towards her and wrapped his stick arms around her legs. "I'm glad you're back, Anna. It's felt like forever since you been here!"

"Well, I'm here now."

The snowman removed himself from Anna. He then hugged Kristoff.

"Hey, little guy." Kristoff patted Olaf's head before he pulled away.

"Where're you going, Elsa?"

"Anna and Kristoff invited me to have a picnic with them."

"That sounds fun! Can I come?"

"Is that alright with you two?"

"Of course," Anna said.

"I don't mind," Kristoff added. "But wouldn't he…" Elsa flicked her hand and a small cloud appeared over the snowman's head. "I guess he can come then."

"Sweet!"

Unlike the snowman, Marshmallow gave a disapproving grunt.

"'I'll be fine, Marshmallow." Elsa patted his leg.

"Don't worry, Big Guy. Nothing will happen to Elsa. I promise." Anna assured.

The giant snowman gave a look that pretty much said 'you better'. He then gave an approving nod before closing the massive doors. The four members walk down the icy stairs and back to horse and reindeer.

At the bottom, Kristoff begins to prep Sven and Anna started to prep Kjekk. As she did, Anna noticed Elsa was several feet away and staring at the horse as if...she's never seen one. Knowing Elsa, Anna figure that was the case.

"He's a horse."

"What?"

"I was just letting you know what animal he is."

"Oh…" Elsa paused. "Can I...pet him?"

"Sure. Be a little careful, he can a bit…" Elsa had already started to pet the horse's snout. To Anna's surprise, Kjekk had remained calm. "...Skittish."

Elsa continued to stroke Kjekk's snout. "He's soft..." The white horse then nuzzled Elsa's face, giving out a happy neigh. "And a big sweetheart too."

"That's...odd. Kjekk is normally not this calm around people, except for me and my parents. It took him months for him to warm up to Kristoff."

"Maybe he just really likes me?" Elsa suggested.

Anna shrugged. "Eh, maybe."

"Where are having the picnic?"

"We some places in mind, but haven't decided yet."

"Can I suggest a spot?"

"What do you have in mind."

"There's a place not far from here that I think you both might like it."

"Woo! Roadtrip!" Olaf cheered. "I'll call Sven!"

Everyone proceeds to get on their rides. Anna & Elsa on Kjekk, and Olaf with Kristoff on Sven.

"How long will be till we get there?" Anna asked Elsa.

"Not too long."

"I know what we can do to pass the time!" Olaf stood on Sven's rear end, clearing his throat. He then proceeded to sing.

"Tell everybody I'm on my way!

New friends and new places to see!

With blue skies ahead yes

I'm on my way."

Kristoff was clearly discomforted by the snowman's singing voice."Is he going to be like this the whole way?"

"Once he starts, it's kinda hard for him to stop," Elsa stated.

A groan escaped from Kristoff as Olaf sang his next verse.

"And there's nowhere else

that I'd rather be!"

As the North Mountain was the only place that snows year round, the rest of the country follows the seasons as accordingly. Spending the past ten years living among the wild, Elsa had seen a lot of areas with beautiful landscapes. All of which would've been great spots for picnics. There was one spot she liked the most.

Elsa helped guide her friends to the spot she wanted to show them. Olaf had continued his singing and was about to start up his next song.

"Bees'll buzz,

Kids'll blow dandelion fuzz,

And I'll be doing whatever snow does

In summer!"

"Are we there yet?" Kristoff spoke up.

"Look ahead."

Both Kristoff and Anna did what Elsa suggested.

In front looked to be a huge glen that had a small lake. Surrounding the lake were pine trees, and trees with string like leaves. Also, there were three waterfalls. A huge one on top of a huge rock wall, and two small ones overlapping each other on the bottom.

"Woah."

"Would this place be good for the picnic?"

"Oh Elsa, it's perfect!" Anna exclaimed.

With that, everyone started to settle down for the picnic. They sat near the edge of the lake with the waterfalls in their view. Once everything was unpacked, everyone started to eat their food while Olaf wanders around the glen. Elsa munched down on the chocolates, along with the other foods Anna had brought.

At one point, Anna introduces Elsa to sandwiches. She hands over one that she made herself.

"My own recipe. I call it 'The Anna Surprise'."

"The surprising part is that you won't get sick from eating it."

Kristoff had earned himself a small punch on his arm from Anna.

Elsa gave a confused look. "Why would I get sick?"

"Let's just say I tried to make parents food once and...it didn't end well."

"You gave them food poisoning," Kristoff stated bluntly.

"You poisoned your parents?!"

"Not that kind of poisoning!" Anna assured Elsa. "It means they get really sick. They were better after a few days...And banned me from the kitchen for a few months. But I gotten better."

Elsa brought her attention back to the sandwich, giving a double glance both at Anna and the food before biting down on it. She gave several munches before her eyes lit up in joy and practically devoured the sandwich. The friends continue to have their picnic until all the food was completely gone, mostly eaten by Elsa. Kristoff was certainly surprised by the amount of food the ice wielder had consumed. He was half convinced at some point that Elsa's stomach is a bottomless pit.

With their bellies full, the trio laid down on the picnic blanket, looking at the clear blue sky, hearing sounds of Olaf's joyous laughter as he played with Sven. They all remain on that way for a good while, relaxing in silence. Until a small groan came from Elsa.

"Elsa?" Anna sat up. "Are you okay? It's isn't from my sandwich?"

"No, I've been having them all day. It's nothing."

"I don't think you would be clenching your stomach if it was nothing," Kristoff stated.

"It really isn't. I've...had them before." Elsa gave a small pause. "Every once in a while, since I was twleve, these cramps come and last for a few days. When it comes I...bleed."

Anna gave an interesting look. "Bleed? Where?"

"Just...Below. I also get really hungry, and angry easily. I don't know how and why I do bleed. When it first happened, I thought I was dying. After a while, I just assumed maybe my magic had something to do with it."

"Oh, Elsa...It isn't."

Elsa gazed at her friends in confusion, but she took notice of their expressions. Kristoff seems as if he was uncomfortable about something, as indicated by the small blush on his face and rubbing the back of his neck. Anna gently took Elsa's hand, a compassionate reassurance in the young girl's eyes, rubbing her hand.

"Elsa...What you get has nothing to do with magic. It's something completely natural. I get it too."

"You do?" Anna nodded. "Does Kristoff get it?"

Just the way Elsa had asked was enough to make Anna almost laugh. Anna had expected Kristoff to be flat out uncomfortable and try to stay out of the conversation. But she was surprised by what he said next, especially in a calm matter.

"Uh, no. It's only somethings women get."

"Why?"

Both Kristoff and Anna looked at each other, trying to figure how to explain so. Anna thought back to what her mother had told her when she first bled. Thinking about it carefully, Anna decides to use the same words her mother had told her and to keep it simple.

"Men & women bodies have their own ways of telling them that they're adults and can do adult things when they get older. For men, they grew hair on their face and other parts of their bodies. For women, we bleed down below. Does that make sense?"

"I think so…"

A new expression grew across Elsa's face. From what Anna could make out, it was a mix of relief & assure. The kind of expression one would make when the final got an explanation from something they've wondered about for a long time. It also served as another, painful reminder to Anna on just how isolated Elsa really is. When Anna had her first flow, she had her mother there to explain and help guide her through it. Elsa had to deal with it alone, without the guidance of a mother, or anyone for the matter, and she doubted that Elsa's snow creations knew what to do too.

It did make Anna wonder...If Elsa didn't know something important as her...monthly flow, what else did she know, or may not know about? Was she not aware of simple things that many people knew by the time they were old enough to properly interact with others, or at the very least when they first took their steps?

"What'ca you guys talking about?" Olaf came waddling towards them.

"Oh, nothing," Elsa answered. "Do you need something, Olaf?"

"Yes! I noticed it was getting windy and that got me the idea. Can we take Anna & Kristoff to the hill?"

Anna's expression grew to a curious one. "Hill?"

"Woah...this is a big hill."

Not too far away from the glen, Elsa had led her two friends to the top of a huge hill with a long steep incline hill down below them. The hill was slightly tall enough that the tops of the forest's treelines can be seen.

"I know," Elsa said to Anna.

"It really is," Kristoff glances down at the very long slope below them. "Why you bring us here?"

"I wanted to show you guys this. On this hill, the wind blows strong enough it can keep you suspended in the air for a bit."

"You're kidding, right?"

A sudden strong breeze had started. Elsa moved to the edge of the top got on her toes, her arms spread on her side and let the wind keep her in the wind.

"Cool," Anna state.

"Give it a try," Olaf said as he joined Elsa.

Both the princess and ice harvester decided to follow with the snowman's suggestion. They went by Elsa's side and copy the same posture she had made. They both let the wind push against them, feeling weightless among the breeze.

"Woah!" Anna shouted. "It's like I'm flying!"

"Ditto!" Kristoff agreed.

"You both might want to get down," Elsa, who was back on the ground, told them.

"No way! This is totally fu-"

What follows next were the small shouts of Anna and Kristoff as they started rolling down the hill the moment the wind stopped blowing. Elsa quickly went down Olaf not too far behind. She made it to the bottom and was relieved to see her friends fine. Unfortunately for them, they had land in a mud puddle, most likely made from the recent spring rainfalls. Mud covered nearly every part of their bodies. They were obviously not happy about this predicament they had landed in.

"Ah geez. Gerda's gonna field day." Anna then shakes the mud off of her.

"Don't get it on me!" Kristoff shielded himself from the onslaught of mud.

Before Anna could reply back, the sound of laughter emerge. It was the sound of Elsa who was laughing. "What's so funny, Elsa?"

"Your hair, it looks funny."

"And spiky," Olaf added.

Anna looks into the reflection of a small puddle of water in the midst of the mud pit. Surely enough, her hair had looked spiky, as Olaf had said, probably caused by shaking the mud off.

"It's a good look on you." Kristoff gave a chuckle.

Not amused by his statement, Anna quickly rubbed her hands in her friend's hair and gave him a spinet mohawk hairstyle. More laughter emerge from Elsa and Olaf.

"Nice hair, Kristoff," Anna said playfully, giving a satisfied smirk.

"Oh, real mature, feisty pants."

"That's what you get for being a little j-"

A small force was suddenly felt on the side of her head, more mud splattering on her face. Anna turned to see Kristoff giving a mischievous grin.

"Two can play at that game, Bjorgman!"

Anna quickly scooped up a mud ball and threw it towards Kristoff. He dodges out of the way, but the mud ball hit Elsa instead. They both sat petrified, worried about how Elsa would react. Elsa stood in place with a baffled look, wiping the mud off. Her expression grew with excitement as she threw the mud at them, laughing as she joined in the pit.

"MUD FIGHT!"

Olaf scopes up his own mud ball and threw it. There was nothing but mud being flung at each other and sounds of laughter. For that moment, Anna didn't care how much mud had covered her or how other would react to her covered in mud. All it mattered to her that she and her friends were simply having fun.

Oh boy, do I have some explaining to do...

To put it simply, my life has been hectic and crammed since I uploaded the last chapter. I've finishing up the last months of my state college, trying to pass my final classes, in the process of transferring to a university, started a rewrite of another fanfic I'm doing.

I managed to get some free time and decided to use it to write this chapter before the hecticness picks up again, which is why this chapter may not be much, and little messy. Yeah, I think this chapter maybe the very definition of filler but I didn't want to keep you guys waiting. I still hope you guys like this chapter of Anna, Kristoff, and Elsa hanging out. The next time they do...let's just say it may be not as happy as this chapter was.

And I've added a topic that maybe...uncomfortable for some of you, hehe...Sorry.

Anyways, I hope you guys had a good Thanksgiving. I sure did. I also saw 'Ralph Breaks the Internet' today, which I though was good. I've also put references to some Disney/Pixar movies (the title of the chapter should be a no brainer to one of them). And the glen is the same place where Anna & Kristoff first meet Olaf in the movie.

In other news, we're about a year away from 'Frozen 2' (huzzah!). And how 'bout that Lion King teaser?

Thanks for the favs, follows (reached 100. Woohoo!), and reviews. Happy Reading.