#gosh i wanna write a whole what if au where iduna and agnarr are still alive because they made actual good choices after the accident

[justlookatthosesausages]

Inktober 2022 day 7 👩‍👧‍👧 "Trip"

"Are we there yet?" Asked Anna with a barely masked groan, and her mother smiled next to her.

"Not yet, darling. You have to be patient. Where's the enthusiasm I saw an hour ago?" Teased Iduna, and her youngest child drew a smile from her pout.

"I'm still happy!" Exclaimed the teen. "It's a family trip!"

Elsa, who was sitting next to her, however didn't smile. "Not really. Father didn't come."

The Queen's expression saddened when she saw the blonde keeping her eyes on the landscape, her fist against her cheek as she leaned on the edge of the wagon with her elbow. They were slightly rocked by the movements of the cart, yet she still was focused on sulking. Iduna sighed softly, turning her eyes back on the road as she drove. Raising two teens at a time and having one going through puberty was a hard task. Especially when said elder had ice and snow magic. Thankfully, Anna helped, directly and indirectly, and Elsa never lost control of her temper and powers.

"I told you, he's busy with King affairs."

"Hmm." Simply replied Elsa, and her azure blue eyes kept ignoring her.

Iduna wasn't vexed; she also knew that Elsa's behavior and mood would soon completely change when she would show what she had planned to do.

And indeed, when they arrived half a day later, her daughters both were widening their eyes in utter stupefaction at the sight of the giant curtain of Mist standing in front of them. They were so astonished that they moved out of the wagon slowly, so Iduna took that time to attach the horse and feed him before unloading their backpacks.

Once Anna and Elsa were done staring, she handed them their bags, and smiled. "I've been meaning to bring you here since the moment you opened your eyes. Both of you."

Elsa's attitude slightly shifted when she saw the tender look of her mother and the emotion in her eyes. Anna gasped in joy and ran forward, her backpack ruffling and bouncing in her back, and the two others followed. The redhead came to a stand right in front of the Mist, unable to resist touching it. It kept pushing her hand, and she giggled at the magic. "So the legends are real..."

Iduna nodded next to her, then looked sad. "I came back to this land two times in the past. When I was around your age, and after the accident happened, when you two found the solution."

Elsa and Anna looked at her, then exchanged a stare. Anna absentmindedly fidgeted with the end of one of her pigtails, remembering that night when Elsa had hit her at the head with her magic. The blonde had been distressed and anxious about it, but days of panic later, Anna showed her that she still loved her and that she should keep loving herself and her magic despite that accident, and when they eventually hugged warmly, her white streak disappeared.

The siblings smiled, and Iduna beamed at their mutual love. She walked forward, putting her hands on each of their shoulders. "It's time for you to be part of the tale too."

Her hand then squeezed Elsa's shoulder. "Dear, I think it's your task. Your destiny. Each time I come back to this Mist, it refuses to part, even though I used to live on the other side. Magic always has its reasons, so I suppose that it needs a magical being - someone blessed with magic," she added, reminding her daughter once again of how precious and beautiful she was, "to open it."

Anna smiled, proud of her elder. "You're the key."

Elsa looked unsure, and her timid expression was kilometers away from the pouting teenager one she showed before. Bashfully, she walked forward, and raised her hand to the wall of smoke, hesitant at first. Then she pushed. However, nothing happened. She frowned and tried once more, with no effect, then concentrated magic in her palm. It glowed bright blue, but once again there was no change. The Mist still pushed her, and calmly stood.

"I don't understand... I can feel magic in it, and a lot more on the other side." Muttered the blonde. "It should have worked..."

She turned to the women, who couldn't hide their disappointment. Elsa got sad and heartbroken at their expressions. "I- I'm sorry, I thought I could..."

Anna immediately walked to her, not letting the secretly insecure and doubtful teenager go through a spiral again. "No, no, it's okay. You did your best."

She held her hands in hers, and they were still cool from the magic and worry. Anna rubbed them gently with her thumbs, and smiled at her sister, who eventually curled her lips up.

Iduna, who until now was melting at the scene, turned her eyes to the Mist again when something happened. "...Girls..."

The sisters followed her gaze, and saw that the magical barrier seemed to become... Thinner? Sure, it wasn't parted at all, but they could almost see through. They distinguished trees, stones...

"What's happening?" Frowned Elsa, who could sense that something changed in the magic, yet the way wasn't complete.

Iduna gasped, and turned to them. "Remember what I told you, when I showed you my scarf? The Four Spirits are here to protect the Forest and help humans."

The siblings nodded.

"But legends say that there is a Fifth Spirit, meant to be a balance between humans and magic of Nature, and form a bridge between them..." Continued Iduna, and she smiled at her children.

Anna frowned, then gasped, twirling to her elder. "We are the Fifth Spirit!"

Elsa blinked in amazement and emotion. "Two sisters..."

"...One mind." Grinned the redhead.

Elsa smiled, and turned to the Mist again. With a smirk, she tugged gently on Anna's hand, and the younger sister followed her move with an excited giggle. They held hands firmly, and raised the others to the Mist.

Iduna took a steady breath, and her daughters applied their palms on the magical smoke. Instantly, it parted, and they all let out gasps.

The new path revealed the Elemental Stones that were familiar to the former Northuldra, and her eyes filled with tears.