mewsbawks | post-DRRP shenanigans masterpost for loveisanopendoor

[Spoilers indeed! After finally managing to meet up with the rescue party from the Future Foundation, in addition to the legendary Pokemon Xerneas who managed to bring back all of her fallen companions...it looks like Anna was able to come out of that atrocious school and all of the horrors it brought with hopes of a happy ending before her. Though she still doesn't quite have all of her memories back just yet of joining up with the group and volunteering for Hope's Army, the second she discovered that the Future Foundation had a way to return her back to Arendelle, she practically jumps at the opportunity. It's been far too long since she last saw her sister, Elsa, who she imagines must be...well, worried sick would be a major understatement, after three months with no word...

With the promise that she'd see her fellow students again soon, she immediately headed back to Arendelle. After everything she went through...she can't imagine how this meeting is going to go, but she can already feel herself tearing up at the thought as she wonders just how much has changed in the three months since she left...]

[A few things have changed, and not really for the better.

The moment Anna sets foot in Arendelle once more, she'll notice how cold things are. Though the time of year means it should be the tail-end of summer and the direct opposite of cold, it feels more like a bitter winter day. There's snow on the ground - not quite the same amount as the last time it snowed in summer, but it's still noticeable - and the sky is obscured by overcast, dreary-looking clouds. Like it could snow again any minute.

The other thing that changed, which Anna will only notice once she makes her way through the town (and alarms quite a few of the villagers out braving the chill, no doubt) is that the gates to the castle are shut tight and guarded heavily. Gone is all the lovely, icy flair Elsa had added to the walls and towers of the castle upon her return. Looking at the castle now, it's like a trip back in time.

If those aren't hints enough as to how Elsa and their kingdom have been handling things in Anna's absence.... well. Just how quiet the town is should be another big tip-off.]

Edited 2014-08-04 17:34 (UTC)

[That doesn't come as too much of a shock. After everything that happened, Anna isn't surprised at all when she sees the snow covering the ground of her kingdom, and notices right away just how freezing it is; not quite as cold as the frigid air of the ninth floor of the tower she was stuck in, where she was forced to brave the events of their final trial with her eight remaining classmates, but still quite cold nonetheless. She can't help but give a sullen expression as she looks up at the heavy clouds covering Arendelle, clouds that look like they might just start breaking and covering the kingdom in snow...to be honest, she's actually surprised that it's not storming already when she gets there.

Not even five minutes back, and she's already feeling a ton of different emotions at once, but most of all, she's proud of her sister, for being so strong after such a huge absence...so full of hope...

She won't keep her waiting much longer.

Naturally, it'll come as a pretty huge shock to the townspeople braving the winter (not to mention the gate guards) when they see that their lost princess has finally returned; unfortunately, though she knows they probably have many questions for her, she seems to be in quite the hurry to get back to Elsa; she'll bust the gate down if she has to (and Heaven knows she'll actually do it). She understands why the gates are closed, sure, but that's going to have to change right away. Not important now, though.

Having walked through the hallowed halls of the castle for as long as she can remember, she knows the inside of the palace like the back of her hand even after so much time away from it, and her first stop is obvious; after all, it's the same first stop she made pretty much every morning for years upon years. If Elsa is anywhere in the palace, she knows, she's probably here...she doesn't even have to try the doorknob to know that it's shut and locked tight. Just like it was for so many years before...

There's absolutely no time to waste. She can practically feel her arm shaking rapidly as she brings her hand up to Elsa's door...and knocks, the same way used to knock so frequently so long ago. This time, though, she knows right away that she's going to get an answer. There was no doubt of that.]

Elsa..?

[Perhaps surprisingly, there isn't an immediate reaction when Anna knocks and calls out to her sister. In fact, judging by the lack of sound coming from inside the room, it doesn't even sound like there was a reaction at all.

After all, Elsa has been through her own hell as well. The nightmares, the hallucinations brought on by her inability to sleep for nights at a time... those were the things that haunted Elsa as fiercely as the threat of death haunted Anna these past few months. When things had started getting really bad, when Elsa had started hearing and seeing things that weren't there during her waking hours... she had run to her door, flinging it open and hoping that her sister was there. But often times it was only a maid, or Kai or Gerda, or even her own imagination.

And each time it hurt. It cut deeper into Elsa's already wounded heart. So when she hears that familiar knock, and that familiar voice... she's fully convinced that this is just another figment of her imagination. She knew she would only be hurting herself if she reacted again, and so... she didn't.

Luckily for Anna, though, should she try to open the door, she will find it unlocked.]

[...Wait, what? No answer? That's...pretty weird...

Anna tries knocking and calling for her again, but when there's no answer...]

Elsa, it's me, Anna...are you in there? I...

[Her voice catches in her throat...where does she even begin..?]

I'm sorry for being gone for so long...I...I really missed, you, Elsa...

[When there's still no response, though, she can't help but get scared...what if something terrible happened with her gone? She tries to open the door...and the fact that it's unlocked both relieves her and scares her a bit, but before she even has time to process any of those feelings, she's headed straight inside...]

Elsa?

[Congratulations Anna, at least one fear can be cast out! Elsa is inside, sitting at her desk (which is currently cluttered with paperwork), and she looks perfectly okay!

... Well. "Okay" in that it doesn't look like she's been through any kind of attack. If we're talking overall? Elsa... really does not look okay. She looks paler, if that was somehow possible, and it's clear that she's lost some weight. There are also dark circles under her eyes - eyes that are wide, unable to hide a mix of confusion and... fear? It looks like she's seen a ghost.]

An... Anna....?

[This.... this can't be right. Anna's gone. She left, promising that she'd only be gone a short time, but it's been so long, too long... it was just like when mama and papa left...]

[That's not true, though, is it, Elsa? Even after so many months...you never gave up hope that she'd be back for you. She promised she would be, after all.

You know she takes her promises very seriously.

And that's why she's throwing herself at you, wrapping her arms around you with so much force that she might just knock you over, so tightly that she's afraid that if she holds you any closer she might accidentally break you in half. She runs her hand through your hair, slowly letting those blonde strands slip between her fingers...and she's almost in tears, so happy to see you, after three months of hell, after going week after week thinking that she might never get to see you again...

She's in your arms now. She's home. Her eyes are stinging from how hard she wants to cry as she looks at you, and she looks like a complete and utter mess herself...but she's home. A dream come true.]

Elsa...oh, Elsa, Elsa...

[... She's warm. Anna is warm, and solid, and oh god this is real and not another one of her nightmares where Anna slips away before she can reach out to her and Elsa wakes up screaming or crying or both.]

An... An....

[She can't even manage to choke her sister's name out, because the tears are coming hard and fast, and her breathing is shaking so bad it feels like she's going to have some sort of panic attack, but the feelings are actually welcomed, because this is all out of happiness, instead of sadness.

So she lets it all out. Elsa practically wails as she wraps her arms tightly around her sister in a hug that's nearly as crushing as Anna's. She buries her face in her shoulder and just sobs, her tears quickly soaking through the fabric of Anna's dress.

She's trying desperately to say something, but between her shaky breathing and her sobs, all that's really coming out of her mouth are a few strangled hiccuping noises.]

[Anna can't help but cry herself once she hears her sister's sobs; these three months have been especially hard on the both of them, and Anna knows that better than anyone. So Anna will just keep Elsa's head held to her shoulder, letting her cry as much as she possibly needs to as the tears pour down Anna's face as well...she's been holding them in for far too long, and it's finally time to just let them go...]

I'm here, Elsa, I'm here...

[It takes a few minutes for Elsa's sobbing to subside even a tiny bit, but after a while, she does manage to slow down enough to talk, at the very least.]

I thought... I-I...

[She pulls back slightly. Not enough to pull out of Anna's hug, but just enough so that she could see her face. She reaches up, placing her hands on either side of Anna's face, looking like she's still surprised that Anna's here in front of her.]

I wanted to hope... I did, but... [The brief pause in her tears is over now, and they're falling fast again.] It's been so long without any word, I was .... s-so scared...

[And those words alone show just how badly all of this has been hurting Elsa, because when does Elsa ever openly admit to being scared?]

Elsa...

[Anna knows just how Elsa feels...it was awful that the Future Foundation didn't send word back about what happened, but then again, she's pretty sure the last thing Elsa would have wanted to hear was "your sister's gone missing and is being held hostage in a murder game". That...probably wouldn't end well.]

I know...I didn't think I was ever going to see you again, on some days, but...

I'm here now, Elsa. You're here with me, and I...I'm not going to leave you again...

[She's still holding onto Elsa tightly as her voice cracks, as though she were afraid that she'll lose her if she lets go even a tiny bit...]

And I'll make sure you're never taken away again.

[Gently pressing her forehead against Anna's, Elsa smiles. For the first time in months, Elsa smiles a real smile, not some fake one she tried to put on for her people and her staff before giving up entirely. She's happy now, and she's not going to bother hiding it at all.]

I don't care what those people who asked for your help say. I know it may seem selfish, but... you don't belong in some army. Your place is here, with me and all of the people we look out for.

[Thank goodness; Elsa smiling just makes it that much easier for her to relax...]

After what I went through, I'm...pretty sure I couldn't agree more. I still want to do what I can to help the people who need me, but...I think I've had my fill of going off to faraway places and being away from you...

I missed you so much, Elsa...

[There's a pause, and Elsa's smile fades a bit. That familiar pang in her chest is back; the sharp pain that would stab through her every time she thought about Anna in trouble, hurt, or worse...

... Her fears... this isn't confirming them, is it...?]

... What you went through?

It's okay, Elsa. I'm not hurt or anything...you don't have to worry about me or anything, but, those three months, well...

I wanted to get back to you as soon as I could, but...I was stuck...

[Another moment of hesitation. She knows it's probably inappropriate to ask, so soon after Anna returned, but... she's worried.]

What happened, Anna?

I'll tell you all about it. Just...promise me you'll be calm, alright? It's all over now, I'm safe.

... I'll try.

[She may have gotten a much better control over her emotions, but when it comes to Anna's safety... she really can't make any promises when it comes to staying calm.]

Would you like to rest first, before you tell me? Or I could get you something from the kitchens, if you'd like...

...You know, some chocolate sounds like it'd be really good right about now.

That does sound like a good idea. Just... get comfortable however you like, okay? I'll be right back.

[What, you thought Elsa was going to order one of the maids to fetch what her sister wants? Nope. She wants to do whatever she can for her sister right now, so she'll be getting it herself!]

Please don't take too long...

I'll only be gone a few minutes, I promise.

[Because she doesn't want to be away from her sister longer than she has to, either.]

...Okay.

[She trusts her..]

...I'm so glad to see you again, Elsa...

... Me too, Anna. God, I can't even begin to express how happy I am...

[And with that, she's off! True to her word, Elsa's only gone a few minutes before returning with a plate piled high with a various assortment of delicious-looking chocolates.]

I didn't really indulge in my sweet tooth for the past few months.... [It, like many other things, reminded her too much of Anna.] So we're well-stocked with a very good assortment. I hope this is good enough, for now.

...You always were way too good to me, Elsa...

[She says as she starts to pretty much stuff her face...after everything that happened in Kalos, she didn't exactly have much time to eat, but now she's utterly starved and chocolate is pretty much her devotion...]

Of course it's good enough..!

post-DRRP shenanigans masterpost for loveisanopendoor

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