#a lovely meadow my friend showed me when he was in a good mood yesterday lol

[barretts-hoe]

I didn't upload those.

I love shifting the focus on this kind of photos

[bigfrozenfan]

Frozen III plot / fanfic

I have read many opinions about Frozen II in the last half year, many of them very contradictory and almost dividing the Frozen fandom. So it took me a while to put everything together to form a personal overall picture. Many people know that I’m an F3 supporter and after a post from yesterday about Elsa’s humanity and how the makers of Frozen see her, an idea came to my mind. This idea would solve many problems and questions and finally bring Elsa back to Arendelle and to Anna. Furthermore, this idea holds a lot of fuel and possibilities for a full-length film with many flashbacks and plots for really every one of our beloved characters. Everyone would get their money’s worth without it getting boring at any time.

It’s been a long time since I tried writing and I’m not good at it. But the form of a ficlet seemed to me to be the most suitable to convey an F3 plot idea with much tension in it. Maybe one of my favourite writers or anyone who would like to dare to take up my idea and write a real fanfic with several chapters. I would be the first who would like to read it!

I hope you like my idea.

Big thanks to @fericita-s​ for beta reading and correcting my text and also for making me aware of a big logical problem that i had overseen! After one sleepy night i solved this issue and now my movie plot idea is even better than before :-)

The story takes place shortly after the events of the reunion and afterwards in the Enchanted Forest…

Of course it had taken a while until the people of Arendelle understood everything, until they accepted the new friends in the far north and the abdication of their queen. It has taken a while before Anna herself was ready to take on the mantle. 

In her new role as Fifth Spirit, accompanied by Gale and Nokk, Elsa was quickly accepted by the Arendellians. Most were grateful after witnessing the rescue of the castle. Some of them, however, were afraid of so much power in their midst. 

Elsa noticed this very quickly and decided to limit her future visits to what was necessary and to enter the castle without being seen.

The official coronation took place in the castle chapel, where all the kings and queens had been crowned. When the choir finished singing, the bishop carefully put the new crown on Anna and she received Arendelle’s insignia from the velvet cushion. Then she turned to her people with pride and dignity. 

Elsa was in exactly the same place where Anna had been during her own coronation. Anna was calm and composed during the whole ceremony. Fear had almost overwhelmed Elsa. She saw in her memory the ice that slowly formed on the scepter and orb as clearly as if it had been yesterday.

As the applause broke out she smiled at Anna. She was so proud of her little sister. Anna looked over at her for a moment and smiled back in relief. Then she carefully put the insignia back on the pillow. She had made it through. She was now Queen of Arendelle.

As they left the chapel in a royal recessional past an overjoyed looking Kristoff, the enthusiastically clapping people of Arendelle, the invited guests and dignitaries, Elsa involuntarily drew a comparison. There seemed to be far more people present than at her own coronation. Some representatives of the Northuldra were even present including Yelana and Honeymaren in their traditional colourful festive dress, now bowing to both of them. The people loved Anna. And Elsa was happy to have made the right decision for both of them and for the kingdom.  

The Coronation Ball in the evening was cheerful and exuberant. Every dignitary paid respects to the new queen. She was glad that the Duke of Weselton was not invited this time and that she did not have to dance with him. This time she could choose her own dance partner and she chose Kristoff. As a precaution she had arranged for Kristoff to get some dance lessons a few weeks before. She still remembered too well how Weselton stepped on her feet back then and Kristoff was a good deal bigger and heavier.

***

Anna, with Elsa’s help, had commissioned the royal sculptor to create a large bronze statue. She wanted to show her parents at a young age, as a monument and eternal symbol of the peace between Arendelle and the Northuldra. Elsa would not be able to be present in person, but she gave her promise to visit regularly. 

Anna’s second official act was to appoint Lt. Destin Mattias as General. He had been loyal to Arendelle all his life and was instrumental in helping her break the curse of the mist. Ultimately, it was Mattias who reached for her hand at the very last moment to save her from falling into the depths of the breaking dam, saving her life.  

Together with Kristoff, of course, and that brought Anna to her next thought. She had been overjoyed to accept Kristoff’s marriage proposal and that would be the next big event in Arendelle. Her own wedding. But first she wanted to unveil the monument. The sculptor had promised her that it would be finished very soon.

***

Peace had returned to the Enchanted Forest.  The Northuldra lived their lives as before, in harmony with the Spirits of Nature. The giants helped the inhabitants over abysses, Nokk helped a bit with fishing, Gale, playful as she was, helped to convert creative ideas into stone sculptures, and Bruni was content to help start cookfires and clear areas with fire as needed for growing food or reindeer herding. 

Elsa had her own kota in the village, but she spent most of her time in Ahtohallan to learn and find out more about the past and about herself and her magic. She even finds out more about Kristoff's past. The only thing she knew about him was that he has been raised by trolls and learned to be an ice harvester. But now she knows everything. About his parents and what happened to them, and also the circumstances around why Kristoff ended up among the trolls.

One balmy early summer evening she sat with Honeymaren and a few others around the campfire in the village and told them a little bit about Ahtohallan. Everyone was quite curious about it because not one of the Northuldra living today had ever seen it. 

At first she decided to reveal only a little of the deeper secrets there and limited herself to the description of the place itself. She wasn’t sure if this would anger the spirits but assumed that she would quickly notice when trouble was approaching. The Northuldra hung on her every word while she talked and now and then someone asked her for more details. But Elsa left out the pictures in the memory hall and the deeper levels of Ahtohallan with the living ice sculptures of her own past. That was a bit too private and perhaps risky. 

Now that she had accepted her ability and her new task as Fifth Spirit, she hardly thought back to her old life in Arendelle. In the beginning she was there every Friday and sometimes stayed over the weekend to be with Anna and help her with her new duties as Queen, but she had changed. Something had changed her. And it became rarer and rarer for Elsa to visit the castle.

Eventually it even became rare to find her in the forest.

The Spirits were appeased and there were no threats and no strangers in the forest. Everything was calm and in harmony. It was almost as if it had never been otherwise. Many peaceful weeks passed.

Until that one day in the early hours of the morning, when one of the Northuldra men was about to go fishing and he found a human lying at the beach motionless half in the water. The man ran back to the village to get help. 

A short time later he returned with Yelana, Honeymaren, and a healer.  They took in the sight before them and drew back in shock. In front of them lay Elsa, motionless and without any clothes. 

The healer was the first to kneel down next to her and check if she was still alive. She confirmed it to Yelena with a relieved nod and together they carried her back to the forest.

When they arrived in the village there was excitement and a small group discussed gesticulating and pointing towards the lichen meadows and other directions. The only thing they understood in the tangle of stories was, that the spirits had apparently all disappeared and were no longer helping anyone as they always did. 

Yelana immediately linked the two incidents and came up with the only possible explanation. Elsa was on her way back to them when all the Spirits suddenly disappeared, and so did Nokk. So Elsa must have swum almost all the way from Ahtohallan through the Dark Sea. A wonder she could survive that at all. If the magic disappeared, this could only mean one thing.

***

Meanwhile, Anna was seriously worried in Arendelle. It had been more than a month since Elsa’s last letter and since then Gale hadn’t shown up either. 

Even Olaf had been acting very strange lately, insisting they remove the ice embellishments from the castle and find more “Anna” decorations.  He was also uncharacteristically calm. He didn’t visit Sven as often anymore and his curiosity and jokes had become rare.  

Anna made a decision. If Elsa did not come to her, she would have to travel to the Enchanted Forest herself. She asked Kristoff to gather all the necessary material and asked General Mattias to accompany her. He agreed as long as he could bring Halima.

Anna agreed and the next day they all left very early in the morning for the north. Sven pulled the wagon, Kristoff sat in the front and Olaf sat in the back next to Anna. Mattias and Halima rode side by side on two of their own horses behind them. Since there was peace between the Northuldra and the Arendellians, they declined a retinue of guards. It was supposed to be a comfortable trip with a reunion of old friends in the Enchanted Forest.

Late in the evening they reached the four big monoliths at the edge of the forest and the sun was already setting. They got out of the wagon and Mattias helped Halima dismount. Everyone was in a good mood and grabbed the contents from the wagon. There were presents for the Northuldra and specialties from Arendelle for a small feast in the village. They had barely finished when a few Northuldra with serious expressions ran towards them and asked them to hurry. Something bad had happened. Anna held on to Kristoff in shock and said only one word. “Elsa!”

When they entered the village there was an oppressive silence and many lowered their eyes as they passed by. Honeymaren ran towards Anna, bowed briefly to the queen and took her hand.

Anna’s lips trembled as they looked into each other’s eyes for a brief moment. Finally Honeymaren pulled Anna gently behind her towards Elsa’s kota and said softly to her that Anna had to be strong now. They entered the low and gloomy dwelling. Then Anna saw her sister lying on a bed lined with furs, her eyes open. Anna rushed towards her, kneeled beside the bed and grabbed Elsa’s hand. She was unusually warm, but did not return her gentle grip. Elsa just looked up and did not react in the slightest. Anna laid both hands on Elsa’s cheeks and gently turned her head towards her. Their eyes met.

“Elsa! What has happened? What is the matter with you?”

Agonizing seconds went by.

Elsa blinked a few times and then tightened her eyebrows.

Her voice was weak and sounded fragile when she finally replied, “Who are you?”

*** 

—

Ok, there were or are some difficulties for me to bring some facts together and explain them conclusively. One of them is the loss of Elsa’s powers and what would happen to her creations. Olaf, the Snowgies and Marshmallow in particular. It was simple and easy to do with Elsa’s ice decorations at the castle (if it should be Elsa’s suggestion or Anna’s decision as new Queen i’m not sure about). Arendelle and especially Anna must not notice in the story too early that Elsa is now a “normal” person. But the other thing? That Ahtohallan is the reason should be clear, after all that was the source of Elsa’s power. But what happens when all the magic vanishes? Would Ahtohallan have a remaining residual magic to ensure the continued existence of Elsa’s living creations? Or would Elsa possess some kind of residual magic that she can no longer use willingly, but is still a deep part of herself? The other thing is how would it be possible to bring back the magic or to "heal" Ahtohallan? Would this be permanent? Would it be wanted? Questions over questions and this time Ahtohallan doesn't know (pun intended...LOL).

Well, the rest of the story remains to be determined…

[allonsysilvertongue]

Summer Nights

At six year old, Effie Trinket was convinced that the eight year old boy with dirty blonde hair who often jostled her roughly when her mother was not looking and made her run after him in the summer heat was the best friend she needed. The same could not be said for Haymitch Abernathy. Previously

Chapter 3 – Do You Like Her?

Effie: 13 years old

By next summer, Effie was slightly put off by Haymitch’s behaviour. He was more irritable and angry, and summer was a little tensed since she felt as if she always had to be cautious around him.

Effie tried to spend time with her father but apart from meal times, she couldn’t seem to get her father to want to be with her.

“Play with the boy, sweetlings,” Stephen Trinket said distractedly, gently pushing her between the shoulder blades out of the house. “I have to be at the mines.”

“He is nowhere to be found, Father,” she pouted. “Will you please just take me to the meadow today? We could have a picnic there.”

“Euphemia, your father is very busy,” Lysandra Trinket chided. “Wherever is your son, Isla?”

Isla Abernathy glanced surreptitiously in Effie’s direction, and she couldn’t understand it but it was the look in Haymitch’s mother’s eyes that made Effie felt a little uneasy, a little guilty, as if her very complaining to her father would get Isla in trouble.

“I – I sent him out on an errand,” Isla replied, carefully applying a coat of dark blue nail polish for Lysandra. “He should be back anytime soon. Why don’t you come sit by me, child? I will do your nails after this, if you like.”

Effie bit her lower lip, considering the choices in front of her. On one hand, her father was clearly not interested in spending time with her, more concern as he was with Lachlan Abernathy currently patiently waiting for his employer by the car. On the other hand, she liked Haymitch’s mother. She was always so nice and gentle with her, and treated her the way she would treat her sons. Effie always wished her own mother would dote on her that way.

“Will you put some shiny gem on each one?”

Isla smiled beckoning her to take a seat. “I wouldn’t recommend the gem. Not for summer, at least. The things you and Haymitch get up to… You will lose the gems and your nails will not be pretty anymore, will it?”

Recognising the truth in that, Effie laughed lightly and shook her head.

“What colour would you like, Effie?”

“Red,” she answered without missing a beat. “Haymitch told me it’s his favourite colour.”

Isla’s gaze shot up at her and then it softened. Effie was too young, only in her early adolescent, to have been able to read her expression but if she could have, she would have seen the gleam of sadness and pity in Isla Abernathy’s eyes.

“A very basic colour, Euphemia,” Lysandra remarked snidely. “Perhaps, something more vibrant… How about turquoise?”

“No, thank you, Mother. The red will do.”

Lysandra huffed and left the room to retire to the veranda.

“Haymitch usually takes me along whenever he has an errand to run for you,” Effie spoke quietly.

“He left very early in the morning. You were still asleep. It was my fault, child, I told him to let you have your sleep.”

Effie dropped her gaze to her fingers and watched as Isla applied fresh coat with careful precision. Deep within her heart, she felt something was amiss. Haymitch’s mother wouldn’t lie to her, would she?

She didn’t see him until later that night when he walked into her room and she swore, her heart skipped a beat.

“I didn’t hear you knock.”

“That’s ‘cause I didn’t,” he shrugged. He had grown taller and a little gangly. There was a pimple on his left cheek, something Effie had pointed out on the first day here. He had merely looked away in embarrassment. “Mama said you were looking for me.”

“I was but that moment has passed,” she told him coolly.

She was miffed and annoyed.

“What are you doing?” he asked, moving closer to her bed.

“Drawing,” she answered. Maybe if she were to give him one word answers and pretend she was not interested, he would leave her alone like he had the entire day.

“I didn’t know you could draw. Let me see it.”

He sat on the edge of her bed, looking at her with interest sparkling in his grey eyes and she sighed. It was so impossible to stay mad at him.

“Do not laugh,” she warned but handed him the sketchpad. “These are just drawing of clothes.”

He looked at her in confusion.

“I – “ she hesitated, wondering if this was something she wanted to share with him but they were best friends and they tell each other everything. “Mother brought me along during the fashion week where they were having their Fall/Winter collections. I love it a lot. Mother said she would take me along again next time. It was amazing, Haymitch! There were all the pretty shoes and clothes, and Mother introduced me to her acquaintance who is a stylist! So she told me all about designing clothes and that is what I want to do. I want to be a fashion designer.”

He blinked.

“So all you do is make clothes? Like a tailor?”

“No, no, no,” she shook her head. She was on her knees on the bed, looking at him excitedly. She had never spoken about this dream out loud and it was making her feel all sorts of things. “Tailor sews clothes. Designers design them. Oh, it is all so very exciting the more I think about it.”

“Do you have to go to school for that?”

“Of course,” Effie nodded. “People will love my designs and one day, I will be famous.”

“You will,” Haymitch chuckled. “Then you’ll forget all about spending your summer here. It’ll be boring.”

“Never,” her eyes widened. “I do not abandon my friends. I will invite you to the city for my show and you will get to see all of my designs.”

“Sure,” he indulged.

“Promise?”

He merely smiled but it was enough for her. Effie leaned forward and kissed his cheek. He froze and slowly, touched the spot where her lips had touched his skin.

“You won’t leave me alone tomorrow, will you?”

“You can’t survive a day without me?” he teased.

“Where were you today?”

She could tell that her question did not bode well with him. He stiffened next to her. Effie’s gaze was trained on him as he stood up and moved towards the door.

“I’ll tell you tomorrow, a’right? Goodnight, Effs.”

When morning broke across the horizon, Effie was woken up the crowing of roosters. She had spent several years of summer in this part of the country but she could never get used to all the crowing. Making her way down to the verandah, she broke into a grin when she spotted Haymitch there buttering his toast with the three top buttons of his shirt undone.

“Will you make sure Haymitch gets everything on this list?” Isla requested, pressing a small rolled up piece of paper into her hand.

“Of course, Mrs. Abernathy,” she promised and she was more than happy to because it meant she would be spending her day with Haymitch.

They kept glancing at each other over breakfast, grinning and smiling, and once Effie was done with her croissants, she leapt up from her seat which earned a disapproving look from her mother.

“See you later,” she waved to her parents.

Haymitch was right behind her and with his long strides he easily caught up with her. Once he was close enough, he placed both hands on her shoulders to guide her towards the back of the house.

“All aboard!” she laughed.

“To the shed, Trinket,” he hollered.

They picked up the bicycles leaning against the wall and made their way out of the village. They cycled next to each other leisurely and Effie figured this was a good time as any to talk about yesterday.

“You have something to tell me,” she reminded, “about where you were yesterday.”

He rubbed his forehead, squinting against the glare of the sun.

“I didn’t want to be at home a minute longer and I couldn’t wait for you ‘cause you were still sleeping so I took off,” he said simply which of course, raised several other questions in her mind.

“Did something happen?”

He let out a breath, and stopped cycling. He lifted his shirt and Effie gasped. The skin on his right hip was mottled blue and black. Without thinking too much, she reached out and touched it gingerly but still he sucked in a breath.

“I don’t think he meant it,” Haymitch lowered his voice as if wary that someone might overhear the conversation. He pulled the shirt down.

“Who?”

“My dad,” he admitted. “He’s been drinking again and he was in a mood. I – I asked him a question and he told me to go away but I – uh – I kept asking.”

Effie shook her head. Haymitch could be very stubborn and adamant.

“He lost control and hit me here, with his bottle. The bottle didn’t break. Otherwise, it would have been worst. All I got was this bruise,” he said. “Guess I got away alright.”

“Does he always… Has he hit you before?”

“Usual stuff you know when I don’t listen or I don’t behave. He’ll twist my ear or hit my palm with his belt, nothing weird. Aspen’s father does it to him too. Sometimes dad will shove me inside the house so mama could talk to me. But… nothing like this before.”

“What was it that you were asking him about?”

He looked away.

“I asked why he couldn’t just stop and find some other job,” Haymitch said.

Effie stared after him, not at all expecting that.

“I heard him tellin’ mama that the mines have been giving him trouble. He’s … I think he’s drinking to deal with whatever’s going on there. Do you know anything?” he rounded on her. “Did you father say anything to you?”

“No,” Effie answered. “You know he would never discuss something like that with me. Besides, I spent most of my time in school and with my friends.”

“Yeah? What do you do with your friends, anyway? Paint each other’s faces?” he mocked, taking the sight of her in.

Effie bristled. She had spent her morning ensuring that she looked pretty. It was just a little lip gloss and some eye shadow but she supposed if he could mock her about that, then he must have noticed. Suddenly, she didn’t feel so irritated anymore.

Besides, he could have mocked her about the drawings he saw yesterday but he didn’t.

“Amongst other things,” she replied over her shoulder.

She walked ahead in the aisle, picking up an apple to inspect before putting it in Haymitch’s basket.

“Weird hobby.”

“We do not have rivers and lakes to swim in after school, Haymitch. Or a meadow to catch spiders from,” she retorted. “If I were to tell my friends what you and your friends do for recreation, they might just think the same – weird, abnormal.”

He smirked.

“Learnt a new word back in school; feisty. I think that’s you.”

She preened.

“Speaking of lakes, you want to swim at the lake this afternoon?” he asked. “Everyone’s going to be there and the boys are asking after you.”

He wrinkled his nose when he said it and didn’t seem at all thrilled. She wondered the reason behind it.

“What other options do we have aside from swimming at the lake?”

“I dunno,” he shrugged. “If you want to do something else go ahead but I want to go. Myra’s going to be there.”

“Myra?” she asked sharply.

“Yeah, what’s your problem with her? You still don’t like her cause she’s different?”

“It’s not that,” Effie said and walked off.

She watched as he picked up onions and potatoes. She consulted the list and pointed him to the tomatoes.

“Do you like her?” she asked after a while, circling back to the topic that had quite frankly, unsettled her.

Haymitch looked at her. “As in like like?”

“Yes,” she hissed. “Do you have a crush on her?”

Haymitch gave a goofy smile, one she didn’t think he realised he was doing. “She’s pretty,” he admitted.

“Really? I won a beauty pageant twice in a row,” Effie couldn’t help but point out.

“How could I ever forget that when you’ve repeated it about a hundred times…” he taunted.

“Ugh, you never take things seriously. How horrible,” she spat.

“Don’t act like you don’t have a crush on someone in that school of yours. So, come on, which city boy got your attention?”

Effie thought of Marcus almost immediately. Marcus had always been sweet on her since the school year started and he always got her presents. There was also Theron, good-looking and rich, and someone whom her mother had pushed her to befriend for his family’s name.

“That is none of your business,” she huffed, turning on her heels to find the rest of the items on the list.

She heard him laugh two aisles over.

They cycled over to the lack with the groceries filling their individual baskets to the brim. Haymitch carefully set his bicycle against a big tree, careful not to disturb their shopping. Instead of running off to his friends, he helped Effie down and parked her bicycle next to his.

It was only after that he tossed her a grin, took off his shirt without much delay, leaving his white undershirt on to hide the bruise, and ran towards the lake, jumping into it with a big splash.

Effie was more hesitant as she leisurely made her way over.

“Come on, just take the dress off and get in,” Haymitch shouted.

That was such a ridiculous thing to do. She had been under the impression that they would first head back to his house to drop off their groceries which would give her the chance to change into something more appropriate. She had after all bought a new one piece swimsuit which she was eager to put on.

They had argued about this on the way over, naturally, but Haymitch was adamant that cycling back home would be a waste of time.

Behind him, Aspen was grinning. “Come on in! What are you waiting for?”

“Leave her alone,” Myra chimed in, treading water next to Haymitch. “She’ll come in when she’s ready.”

Effie gritted her teeth.

The last thing she would do is to sit around waiting for them to be done with their afternoon swim. She also refused to be a mere spectator to this frivolities so despite her better judgment and despite the fact that her mother would be appalled, Effie undid the button at the back of her dress and let it fall to her ankle. Immediately, the boys – Aspen and Toby – started whistling and egging her on. Haymitch grinned.

She waded into the lake. Haymitch met her halfway, just as the water started rising to her calf and held out his hand to help her in.

“Careful, might be slippery,” he warned.

He gripped her hand tightly and only let go when the water was above her waist. It was cooling in the lake and when she washed her face with the water, it was tasteless.

“Hey,” Haymitch whispered in her ear as he treaded water, “you look pretty, too.”

Effie blinked trying to figure out where that statement came from before she remembered the conversation they had the grocery store. She smiled at him.

Young Haymitch is more open and less guarded, adult Haymitch would never have admitted what his father did.

[aspen-arts]

Price of Freedom Ch 20 END

And here we go. The final chapter for this fanfic.

I am a huge bag of mixed emotions right now. On the one hand, I am very happy that I have managed to finish up a fanfic, but on the other hand I am very sad that it is over. I had never thought the fanfic was going to become so popular over a short period of time. I actually thought it was just going to be like my other fanfics where I post it up, one or two people will like it and then I would lose interest. But it didn’t happen and now I’ve reached the end and have gained so many new friends because of this fanfic. ^^

And I just want to thank you all for reading this fanfic and supporting it. I would also like to thank @suspicious-spirit for being an inspiration to do something Ghostblossom related and for sharing the first chapters I have uploaded so everyone else can see it. Thank you so much, Spirit! I am really grateful for your support! 

I would also like to thank everyone who drew fanart for the fic and those who sent many nice messages showing their love for the fic! All of this was what made me determined to continue on writing and not give up on the fanfic. I also want to thank everyone in the Ghostblossom Discord for all the encouragement, support and love! Thanks so much you guys!

It is sad that this will be the last chapter, but don’t worry! There will be more coming up relating to this fanfic and maybe even a potential sequel. Keep a sharp lookout!  Anyway, here we go. The final chapter.

Once again, thank you all so much! Love you guys! <3

Ch 20

The sun rose over Inkwell Isle but some residents of the isle was in the mood to appreciate the beauty of the morning dawn. All over Inkwell Isle, the debtors to the Devil were silently waiting for the dreaded moment when the Devil will come to take their souls. Some were trying their best to keep their panic at bay to no avail, others were preparing for one last final attempt to fight, while others were merely still and silent.

Cagney fell in with the latter. He remained small and meek curled up near the roots of the tree and keeping his eyes on the meadow horizon, awaiting the sight of the devil rising from the horizon. He began to wonder what the Devil will do to him since he had nearly beaten one of his employees to death and defied him by stealing not one but two soul contracts. Cagney could only shudder at what awaited him in hell.

“Cagney?”

Cagney yelped and whirled around, lashing out at the voice who spoke. Psycarrot jumped back just in time as Cagney’s leaf hand nearly grazed him. Cagney blinked at Psycarrot and sighed in relief.

“Oh…it’s just you. Er, sorry about that, Psy. I’ve been on edge ever since…” He trailed off and looked back at the horizon but Psycarrot knew exactly what he meant.

“I don’t blame ya’.” He rubbed the back of his head. “Listen Cagney…that’s what I’m here for.”

“Huh?”

“Haven’t you heard the news?”

“What news?”

“About everyone who sold their soul to the Devil need to gather here in this meadow.”

“What for?”

“Don’t know…some big huge announcement from the Cup brothers.”

This made Cagney shiver with dread. The Cup brothers were working for the Devil and whatever the announcement was going to be just can’t be good.

“Is it mandatory?” Cagney asked.

“I’m not sure. Weepy says he’s not going. He’s afraid of what’s going to happen. Moe and I will stay with him and if they try to take us away, we’ll fight if we have to.”

“But…” Cagney stared at him, “you’ve barely gotten your strength back after that fight.”

Psycarrot shrugged. “It’s the only way to protect Weepy.”

“Hmm…” Cagney bit his bottom lip. “I don’t know…maybe I’ll go because…well what else is there for me here?”

Psycarrot nodded. “Well, I wish you the best of luck then…”

“Thanks…you too.” Cagney nodded back as Psycarrot turned and headed back to the vegetable garden.

Footsteps caused Cagney to turn his attention towards the borders of Inkwell Isle Two and he was astonished to see a large group heading towards him. Was the meeting going to take place here? As the crowd gathered around Cagney realized he was smack dab in the middle of the crowd.

Here it was then.

Oh Cohl, Cagney thought as more and more debtors came, what will happen to us next?

 Meanwhile in Inkwell Isle Three, the Phantom Express was still in the same spot from yesterday. Due to the Head of the Train being beaten badly, they were unable to continue on. Specter had wandered over to the edge of a cliff that dropped down to the ocean and began to chuck rocks into the water, venting out his frustrations and fear.

“Get away from there, Specs.” T-bone called towards him. “You don’t want to accidentally hit someone or something and get us into deeper trouble.”

“I don’t care…” Specter snarled as he threw another rock. What he really cared about was what Cagney was doing at the moment. Had the Devil gotten to him already? If not, was he hiding somewhere or just waiting until the Devil would come to get his sharp claws in him?

Specter grabbed another rock from the ground and imagined the Devil standing before him, gloating and laughing about getting his contract. With a growl, Specter threw the rock which flew straight into the air before falling into the ocean. The ghost was about to look for more rocks when something caught his eyes.

A giant mermaid had broken through the surface of the water and was swimming away, heading towards the direction of Inkwell Isle One. An idea came to Specter and he jumped down from the edge of the cliff and glided over to the mermaid, ignoring T-bone’s calls for him to get back.

“Hey!” Specter called out. “You! Mermaid!”

The mermaid froze and turned around. Gliding in closer, Specter was able to get a good look at her. She had large aqua eyes, two scars across her left arm and her purple hair was actually a large purple octopus draped over her head.

“Hey!” Specter repeated himself. “Where are you going?”

“To Inkwell Isle One…” The mermaid answered as if it was obvious.

“I know, I know,” Specter waved a hand. “But…why?”

The mermaid looked down at the water with shame. “I…well, I made a stupid mistake that I couldn’t take back. The Devil…he convinced me to sell my soul to him, but I managed to escape. Well…I thought I was safe but—”

“Cup brothers managed to beat you?” Specter finished.

The mermaid nodded sadly.

“I know how you feel…” Specter sighed. “So you’re trying to get away from here before the Devil gets you?”

“No…” The mermaid shook her head. “Everyone who had sold their soul to the devil is summoned to go to Fleisher Fields for some sort of announcement.”

“Wait, what?!”

“That’s all I know though. I don’t know why we need to be there or what will happen to us. But…better to face your fate than hide like a coward.”

Specter didn’t reply as he was lost in thought. Finally he nodded. “Thank you…I appreciate the information. I guess I’ll be seeing you Ms…?”

“Cala.” The mermaid replied. “Cala Maria.” And with that she dove into the water and disappeared from view.

Specter immediately turned around and glided back towards T-bone and the Head of the Train.

“T-bone!” Specter cried out. “I received word! We have to get to Fleischer Fields immediately?’”

“Whatever for?” T-bone frowned.

“Everyone who had sold their soul to the Devil is required to go.” Specter explained. “Some sort of gathering…or something.”

The Head of the Train snorted. “Well, I’m not going. It’s obviously some sort of trap.”

“But even if we don’t go, they will still be able to find us,” T-bone pointed out.

“I’m not going,” The Head of the Train growled. “I refuse.”

Specter watched as both Head of Train and T-bone began to argue about whether to go or not. To go was no good, but not going was no good either. The ghost glared down at the ground as the bickering grew louder. He didn’t care what will happen to him if he went. All he cared about was a certain carnation flower that lived in the same area as the gathering place.

Finally he made his own decision.

Specter flew up into the sky and zoomed away from the Phantom Express, ignoring the calls from T-bone to get back. He had lost Cagney not once, but twice. No way will he lose him for the third time.

 Cagney could hardly believe the number of debtors gathered around. He spotted several familiar faces among the crowd. Baroness Von Bon Bon, the princess of sweets that lived across from him in Inkwell Isle Two. The rat who had come upon him and Nathan when Nathan was going through one of his abusive fits. And much to Cagney’s surprise, Rumor Honeybottoms, his old boss that he hadn’t seen in years.

What happened to them that caused them to sell their own souls to the Devil?

Cagney raised himself a little bit and searched through the crowd. Did the Phantom Express come? Or were they afraid of coming? Cagney searched desperately through the crowd but every new face only resulted in disappointment when he saw it was not the familiar ghost he had grown to love.

He slowly sank low to the ground and uttered a sigh of sadness. Well maybe it was best that Specter wasn’t here. If this meeting was called by the Devil himself, perhaps the Phantom Express could have a chance to run and escape. But Cagney wished he could have said one final good bye to Specter.

Suddenly the nervous chattering died down and Cagney looked up. The two Cup brothers were running down a hill towards the crowd and the air immediately grew tense. Everyone watched as the brothers climbed up a large bandstand and stood facing the crowd. Cuphead took a deep breath.

“You are all free of the Devil’s debt!”

“And that fiend won’t bother us again!” Mugman added.

There was a moment of silence as the crowd stared at the Cup brothers.

“We fought against the Devil,” Cuphead went on, “and he admitted defeat!”

“Then we took all of your soul contracts and burned them in the fires of hell,” Mugman said, “now you will never have to fear losing your souls!”

The crowd began to murmur in astonishment. The murmurs grew louder and there were small chuckles which turned into laughter which turned into cheering and also sobs. The tension in the air transformed into one of relief and joy. All around Cagney, many of the debtors were hugging each other and crying tears of joy, others were slapping each other on the back and roaring with laughter.

Cagney smiled at the sight of everyone celebrating the defeat of the Devil. He too was extremely relieved that he was no longer in danger of being a slave to the Devil, but still part of him was…unhappy. Why was he unhappy during a celebration?

Then he felt someone tap his shoulder. The carnation turned around and froze with shock. A blue ghost with an eye socket floated in front of him and on the palms of his hands were yellow eyeballs that where shining with unshed tears. The ghost smiled.

“Hi Cagney…”

Cagney merely stood frozen before he lunged forward and wrapped his vine arms around the ghost, burrowing his face into the ghost’s chest and releasing tears and sobs of joy. Specter wrapped his arms around Cagney and nuzzled his face into the petals. He then placed his hands on the sides of Cagney’s face and gently lifted Cagney’s face so that the carnation was looking straight at him.

“The Devil has been defeated…you know what that means, right?”

Tears were still streaming from Cagney’s eyes but he smiled and nodded. Their souls were no longer in possession of the Devil nor were they trapped.

Both ghost and flower remained in each other’s embrace as a daylong celebration began, marking a newfound freedom for the flower, the ghost, and everyone in all of Inkwell Isle.

  ONE YEAR LATER

  It was just so peaceful; Cagney contemplated as he laid on a grassy forest incline and watched the clouds pass over the large treetops that shaded the forest floor. A few feet away from him a small waterfall gently poured water into a stream which led downward into a grove of trees. Yes, Tyrus Gardens was very beautiful and peaceful indeed. However there was just one thing missing.

A blue arm reached over and pulled him in closer. Cagney smiled. That was it.

Both carnation and ghost laid on the incline and stared up at the blue sky filled with clouds, enjoying the sensation of being close to one another and listening to the sounds of Tyrus Gardens.

So many things have happened ever since their contracts were destroyed by the cup brothers. The crew members of the Phantom Express were able to leave the train and wander wherever they want, allowing Specter to visit Cagney every single time they pass by Inkwell Isle One during his breaks. This happened in the spring and summer and at the beginning of fall Cagney would move into the Phantom Express and live there throughout the colder months.

The casino was still in operation but after a lot of negotiation it was decreed that betting with souls will no longer occur and the casino owners will face severe punishment if that ever occurred again. The Cup brothers would make sure of that. Despite the casino no longer taking souls, Cagney refused to enter it. There were just too many bad memories and even the sounds, sight and smell of the place caused him to go into a panic attack. Luckily Specter was there to help him any way possible and comfort him during these moments.

Cagney couldn’t help but think on how lucky he was to have found Specter. If he hadn’t met the blind ghost, his life would have been a lot darker filled with pain and fear. With Specter around he no longer felt that fear and every morning he would wake up excited about what the day will bring instead of dreading it.

A finger gently stroked his petal making him shiver in delight.

“What are you thinking about?” Specter asked.

Cagney smiled. “Oh, just thinking about how lucky I am to have someone like you in my life.”

Specter chuckled. “Please…I’m the one who should be considered lucky. Lucky to have a gorgeous flower as my boyfriend…”

Cagney nuzzled in closer to the ghost and kissed him on the lips. “I love you, Specs.”

Specter smiled and kissed the flower back. “Love you too, Cag.”

Cagney settled his head on the ghost’s chest and closed his eyes, happiness flowing through him like a river.

After so long, they were finally free.

THE END

[bigfrozenfan]

Frozen III plot / fanfic - part 6

The Secret of the Northuldra

Here comes part six of my story. Part seven is already finished too and i’ll post it next weekend. 

Here’re the links to the previous parts: one, two, three, four and part five.

Also included here in the following story is a little elsamaren moment.

I hope you like this part of my fanfic. Enjoy.

Note: If you want to be informed when i post the next part of my fanfic i can mention you in the post. Just let me know in the comments.

Anna, Kristoff and Olaf had made their walkaround through the camp and were about to return to their kota. Not much had changed since their last visit a good three quarters of a year ago. Only one or two new kotas seemed to have been added to the dwellings scattered throughout the forest, because they still looked quite new. Anna had calmed down a bit in the meantime, but still looked very thoughtful and was silent in all this time. Kristoff watched her attentively while he walked by her side.

"What are you thinking right now, honey?" he asked, rubbing the back of his hand tenderly over her upper arm.

Anna looked over at him and put her hand on his, then she pulled him into a hug. "I'm so glad you're here."

Kristoff said nothing, he just pressed her a little closer to him. Anna sighed. Then she backed away a bit, raised her head and looked into his eyes.

"Tomorrow morning, if all goes well, Matthias and Halima will come back with the wagon. Then we can all return to Arendelle with Elsa, back home."

Kristoff nodded. "When she sees everything again, from the streets, houses to the palace; her home, she will surely remember everything soon enough. She used to know every room and all the servants of the castle. Believe me Anna she will be healed."

Anna looked at him doubtingly and bit her lip. "I hope so, but... but she has changed to much, Kristoff. I didn't even recognize her as my sister anymore. What if she doesn't remember and the doctors can't help her?" She hesitated and a tear runs down her cheek. "It's almost as if she died and I lost her forever."

Kristoff rubbed her tenderly over her back when he replied, "You said something like that last night when you fell asleep. But you ought not give up on hope, ever. I know very well you'll do anything for her, anything at all. She's gonna be okay, sweet heart. You can do this and you are not alone."

"I said that? Why did you..." Then she understood and wrapped her arms around him again. "Thank you so much, that you're here Kristoff."

"You don't have to thank me for that Anna, I love you. And don't worry about the doctors when they might be helpless in her condition. We could go see Grand Pabbie. Maybe he can help her." Kristoff felt how she clawed into his shoulders with her hands and her body trembled slightly.

"We must try everything, Kristoff. That's a good idea of you. He not only can help her, he might also have a clue of all of this."

They reached the centre of the camp shortly afterwards and were already sitting around the cold fireplace when Ryder slapped Kristoff on the shoulder from behind. "Hello, buddy!"

Kristoff flinched and gasped for breath, spinning around. "Ryder! You scared the hell out of me."

Ryder grinned. "I'm sorry. Do you have a minute?" He looked around and bowed somewhat awkwardly to Anna. "Queen Anna. Nice to see you again."

Anna smiled at him and Kristoff turned to her. "Mind if I go away for a while with Ryder, Anna?"

"Go ahead, I'm not alone. See you later," Anna said, turned and smiled at Olaf. Olaf moved a little closer to her and then looked up at Kristoff.

"I'll take care of Anna."

Kristoff smirked. "But don't tell so many of your book stories again, Olaf." He knew, of course, that Olaf had hardly spoken a word since yesterday, but maybe this would change his mood. He turned around, slapped Ryder on the shoulder and then they both disappeared between the trees a short time later.

Olaf fell into his silence again he had the whole morning, but grabbed Anna's arm with his little twig hand.

"I understand you so well, Olaf. You and I will get Elsa's memories back, together."

Olaf didn't go into it, instead he said, "You know what I don't understand? If Elsa has lost all her magic, why am I still alive?"

Anna looked at him in disbelief. "You mean...she could...," but before she could say what she thought she saw a movement between the trees, looked over and tore open her mouth and eyes. "Elsa?" she muttered incredulously, jumping to her feet and couldn't believe her eyes. Right there Elsa was walking with Honeymaren through the camp, deeply immersed in a conversation. Honeymaren giggled and Elsa grinned. Both of them seemed not to notice their surroundings and did not pay attention to Olaf and Anna. As if they were both not present at all, although they were only a few steps away; Anna thought to herself.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say there are two lovers wandering through the forest," Olaf suddenly said.

Anna's head was spinning. "Wait, what?"

Olaf nodded in the direction of the two and said, “Look at them. What does it look like to you?”

Anna looked closer this time and her jaw dropped. Honeymaren had her arm around Elsa's shoulders and her fingers were playing with one of Elsa's hair strands. Her other hand was holding Elsa's and both were so close that their noses almost touched, at least it looked that way from a distance.

Anna lacked the words and she sat down again on the log.

"What do you think...will Elsa ever want to live with us at home in Arendelle again?" Olaf asked sadly.

Anna stared at him, but said nothing on it. Then she looked back again and watched Honeymaren open the flap on Elsa's Kota and they both disappeared inside. Anna looked over at the kota for a long time and the twilight slowly fell. First cooking fires were lit all over the camp. Over at Elsa's Kota nothing was to be noticed and Honeymaren didn't come out either again.

Anna turned away finally, stood up and went wordlessly into her own Kota.

Olaf glanced after her and then he softly sighed, "Oh dear..."

***

"So you got the girl in the end after all," Ryder said laughing and pushed Kristoff into the side. "I heard about it... and with no flowers, no butterflies, no herd of reindeer and everything. Respect!" He made an impressed expression and nodded his head in appreciation.

Kristoff grinned up to his ears, "Yes, I got my girl and it wasn't that easy, I can tell you."

They walked leisurely among the birch trees and headed for a large clearing that could be seen in the distance.

"What should I call you now? Prince of Arendelle, Your Majesty or even King Kristoff?" Ryder took a step back and mimed a deep bow, while stretching one arm wide and hiding the other arm behind his back.

Kristoff giggled, "Nah, hey...we're not married yet, and besides, then I wouldn't be king, I'd be, um...Prince Consort, that's what they call it." Ryder made a surprised face.

"No? Ah...okey, wouldn't suit you anyway, I guess...would it?" Ryder smiled again.

"Yeah, you're kind of right about that. All this official posturing and especially the tight wardrobe is not really my cup of tea. I'm all about Anna, that's enough for me."

They passed the last trees and stepped out onto a large area where a large herd of reindeer was romping and grazing lichen. Ryder had led Kristoff to Lichen Meadows. Seconds later, one of the reindeer happily trotted towards Kristoff. It was Sven and the first thing he did was to nudge and sniff at him.

"No, Sven, I didn't bring any carrots. Sorry, buddy," Kristoff said and stroked Sven over the head. Sven made an exaggeratedly sad face and tilted his head as if to say to him, "But you promised me.

Kristoff smiled at him and said, "Next time Sven, for sure." Then he and Ryder went on and Sven returned to his new friends, but not without giving Kristoff one last admonishing look, as if he wanted to tell him, "Well, I hope so. Remember, a promise is a promise."

"How are things with you and your herd?" Kristoff asked.

"Fine! The reindeer are thriving beautifully since they can all enjoy the bright sunlight again. I still can't quite believe it. The sky is so wide and beautiful." Ryder looked up, a bright smile on his face.

They stood in the middle of the pasture in the light of the low sun and enjoyed together the sight of the many reindeer walking and grazing peacefully.

Ryder finally looked at Kristoff again, "And at your place in Arendelle? How are things there?"

"Fine. There are of course many things that are still new to me, but Anna is very patient with me and explains a lot and I now even have teachers who prepare me for the royal customs. You won't believe it, I even get dance lessons now!"

"Dancing lessons?" Ryder asked and looked at him without understanding.

"Um, yeah...that's something you do at a ball in the evenings. You move with your dance partner, in my case me with Anna, in certain steps to the music and have fun doing it. So at least when you master the whole thing at some point." Kristoff grinned a little crookedly. Ryder, on the other hand, just shook his head, because he obviously couldn’t imagine anything about it”.

"Could you maybe show me how to do that?"

Kristoff laughed at him and shook his head, "Better not, pal. It's not appropriate for two men to be like this."

Ryder dropped his jaw and raised his eyebrows. "Why...," but he was interrupted by Kristoff.

"Don't ask, it just is." What if the two of you started dancing together right now and someone happened to walk by and see you like this; Kristoff thought. He shook his head and then smiled. "Let's talk about something else instead."

Ryder nodded, "It's probably so dark in the forest now, that the first campfires being lit. I'm also getting a little hungry now. What do you say we go back and see if there's anything to eat already?"

"Good idea, Ryder. Anna's surely starting to wonder where I am too. I was only going to be gone for a little while." He sighed.

Ryder looked past Kristoff and bent over a little to one side when he saw someone coming towards them. Kristoff couldn't see it because he had his back to the woods. "Hey, look, here comes Olaf." Ryder waved at him.

Kristoff turned around and rised his eyebrows. "Hey, Olaf. Did Anna send you here to get me?"

Olaf shook his head and said, "No. I don't think Anna's feeling well right now." Then he told them what happened.

Kristoff didn't think twice and ran off, leaving the other two standing there. They looked after him. "It's good that Anna has Kristoff. He always cares for her so touchingly," Olaf said, bobbing his head and looking up at Ryder.

"Yes, he's a good guy," Ryder replied and looked down at him. He had probably gotten used to a snowman who could walk around and talk; he thought. He had to grin involuntarily.

***

"So... I'm curious. What was that on the beach earlier? Anything I should know?" Elsa sat on her bed and tapped with her hand beside her.

Honeymaren stood there a little indecisive at first, but then sat down next to her. She put her hands in her lap and pondered whether she should confess her feelings for Elsa or keep it hidden in her heart. She stared at the floor, but felt Elsa's gaze on her.

"Why don't you say something?" Elsa asked quietly.

"I..., " she lowered her shoulders and sighed. "I don't know how to tell you." She raised her eyes a little and looked at Elsa timidly from the side.

Elsa smiled, "Go ahead. Don't worry, it'll be just between us. I promise."

Honeymaren nodded. "Since you...I mean...after a while, since you and I got to know each other better, I have felt more than friendship with you. I felt that you belonged to us and it looked as if you wanted to stay and live among us, that you would not return to your home in Arendelle. I hoped that maybe sometime more would develop between us, but I never dared to say anything. I was afraid to, partly because of my feelings. You seemed to be alone and never showed any interest for the men here. So I thought... maybe... that with me..."

"Hey, you don't have to be ashamed of it. Thanks for being so honest with me." Elsa hesitated and deluded herself. "I can't remember anything, but I feel that at least I can rely on my feelings.  There is nothing, no feelings of that kind, only ...," Elsa raised her head as if she were hearing a distant sound, "There is a vague memory, or more a hunch, that someone in my life was once very important to me.

"Who?" asked Honeymaren. "Can you remember a face?"

Elsa lowered her gaze, shook her head and made a negative sound while pressing her lips together. Honeymaren wanted to comfort her by putting her hand on her shoulder, but pulled it back at the last moment and made a loose fist.

They sat silently next to each other for a while, each of them absorbed in their innermost thoughts.

"I would like to know more about you, Honeymaren. And also about your people."

She looked at Elsa in astonishment. "About me?"

"Yeah... I just want to get to know you better. Who you are, what you do, if you have a family. Everything about that... only if you want to, of course."

Honeymaren's mood suddenly improved. Elsa hadn't rejected her after her confession, quite the contrary. She was understanding and now she was interested in her, she thought.

She beamed, "Yes, very much Elsa, anything you want to know." Then she began to talk, and she talked half the night, interrupted only now and then by Elsa's inquisitive questions.

There was one thing Honeymaren left out, though. Magic, the spirits and that Elsa was much more than just a normal person not long ago. It was still too early for the unsparing truth and Honeymaren was also afraid to tell her.

***