Firey trekked through the snow, the wind blaring in his face. He grit his teeth, as pushed through it. In the distance, he could see a familiar figure.

     His heart beat faster, as Leafy turned to look at him. Fear and tears were in her eyes as she stood there. The storm slowed, and Firey could see her clearer.

     The moonlight shone on her face, making the tears gleam. They rolled down her face, looking like shooting stars. He ran towards her, and she backed away slightly.

      "Why are you here?" She asked, as Firey came closer. He embraced her, twirling her for a moment. He stopped, cupping her face gently.

       "I'm so sorry." He started. "I should have just told you this when I had the chance." Leafy stared at him in confusion. "I don't want to be your friend."

       Leafy teared up, gasping. Firey smiled, brushing a stray tear away. "I want to be something more." Leafy smiled, pulling him into a hug.

        "I should have just said it right there in front of Pin, in front of everyone!" He said, hearing the team catch up with him. "You found her!" One of them said.

          Firey paid no mind, as he leaned closer to Leafy. She blushed, pushing him back slightly. "Don't! They'll see!" He chuckled. "Then let them see, it's love, not a crime!"

        Leafy stared up at him, blushing even more. "What are you afraid of?" He asked, laughing slightly. She smiled, shaking her head. "Nothing, not anymore."

They leaned closer to each other...

        Firey snapped awake, gasping for air. A huge blush rose to his face, as he covered his eyes with his hands. "W-We...We almost-" Loser stepped into the room, startling him.

       "Firey, get ready. We leave this morning for the mountain." He leaves, and Firey jumped out of bed. "That dream..." He mumbled, blush only growing worse.

"Why...did I like it...?"

        Four walked alongside the large snowflake that guarded his friend. "Lady Leafy will be happy to see you!" He said, looking down at Four.

       Four smiled, hands in his pockets. "I must say, the feeling will be mutual." He chuckled, as they ascended the steps. Frost-Fight pushes the castle doors open.

       Stepping inside, Four was surprised to see that Leafy wasn't sitting on her throne of ice. He looked up at Frost-Fight. "Where is she?" Frost-Fight stared at the empty throne.

      "Probably in the library with Snow-Light! She's been asking about our history quite a lot lately!" He answered, as Four walked towards the hallway.

       He stared at the ice walls, hearing his shoes click against the floor. Everything echoed slightly, bouncing in all directions. Two new voices emerge from another room.

       "So...this beast was made out of fire...?" Leafy asked, as Four peered into the room. She was okay, except for the light blue frost clinging to her body.

       "Yes! What a nasty creature!" Snow-Light answered, gagging in disgust. "Don't get us wrong, all of us were rooting for your alliance..." She admitted.

       She crossed her arms, glaring out the window. "But he just had to be a big bully! Our nations could have had a great alliance, but he just had to screw things up!"

       Leafy winced, quickly switching topics. "What did Frost-Fight need to find out on his patrol?" She asked, as Four entered the room. Leafy gasped, her back pressed up against the bookshelves.

      "Four?!" Snow-Light winced, slowly inching out of the room. "Oh would you look at that! The Royal Adviser is here!" She ran out of the room. "I hear Cold-Shoulder calling me!"

      Four smiled at Leafy, walking closer to her. "So...'Royal Adviser'?" He teased, chuckling. Leafy regained her composure. "It's great to see you again, but-"

     He put a hand on her shoulder, causing her to jump. "But nothing, Leafy." He said, pulling her into a hug. "We are here for you." She started to cry, unsure whether to hug back.

     "I'm dangerous!" She cried out, trying to push him away. "No, you're not." He said, lifting her over his shoulder. "Our friends will be here soon, let's head to the throne room."

     Leafy's eyes widened, and she struggled against him. "No! They're coming here?!" She nearly screamed. "Coiny...Taco! Four you can't bring them here!"

      Four continued down the hall, as Cold-Shoulder watched from a distance. "I know I have no power over you and the others...but I want you and the others to hide before Taco and Coiny get here."

     His eyes widened, but he scoffed, nodding. "Of course. Princess Taco is still unaware we exist...it would be quite the shock if she saw us."

      Cold-Shoulder walked off, going to tell his friends the news, leaving Four and Leafy alone. She had stopped trying to get away by this point, hanging limply over Four's shoulder.

Silence fell over the two. Leafy sighed. "Why are you here...?" She asked. They reached the Throne Room, and sat her down, hugging her. "I wouldn't be a good friend if I wasn't."

She started to cry again, as she gave in, hugging him back. Leafy buried her face into Four's chest, sobbing into his shirt. He smiled, wrapping his jacket around her figure.

It pushed them closer together. They stayed like that for what seemed like hours. Then, Coiny and Taco walked into the room. Leafy tensed, hearing their voices.

She accidentally froze a bit of Four's shirt. She spun around, staring at the two as they ran over. They hugged her, bombarding her with questions.

"Are you okay?!"

"Why do you have ice powers?!"

"What happened to your body?!"

"Did you make this entire castle yourself?!"

Four sighed. "Guys, you're overwhelming her." The two of them stopped, looking at Leafy apologetically. "Sorry Leafy." Taco said, taking her hand.

She gasped, feeling how cold it was. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?" She asked. Leafy looked away, tearing up in shame. "I...I didn't even know til that night..."

They all stared at her in shock. "You really didn't know til that night?" Coiny asked, shaking his head in confusion. Leafy nodded. "Well, technically it was that morning."

She looked at Four. "When he startled me, I felt my fingers frost over." Four put his hands in his pockets. "If it helps, I knew the whole time."

Everyone was now staring at Four in shock. "What?" He chuckled, taking a hand out of his pocket and patting Leafy on the head. "When I first saw you, I knew."

Taco raised an eyebrow. "You know, you promised us an explanation when you got here..." she started. Four smiled at her. "I know, and I will."

He took Leafy's hand. "Back in town?" Taco asked, causing Leafy to tense. "T-Town...?" She pulled her hand away from Four, backing away from the trio.

"Y-You can't take me back t-there!" Taco stepped closer to her, confused. "Leafy..." She smiled. "Look...you'll be okay, as long as we're there with you!"

She stepped closer, only for Leafy to step back. "We can go to the park! The gates are open...so..." Leafy shook her head, holding her arms.

"Taco, I'm trying to protect you from myself!" She looked at all of them, nearly crying. "I'm trying to protect all of you! Please just go back to the town..."

Taco frowned, staring at Leafy sadly.

"You don't have to protect me, I'm not afraid!"

Leafy climbed the stairs, Taco following behind.

"Please don't shut me out again! Please don't slam the door. You don't have to keep your distance anymore!"

Taco smiled, reaching the top of the stairs.

"Cause for the first time in forever,"

She casted a glance to Coiny and Four.

"We finally understand! For the first time in forever, we can fix this, hand-in-hand!"

Leafy turned to face her, and Taco couldn't help but stare.

"We can head down this mountain together! You don't have to live in fear!"

She tried to step closer to Leafy.

"Cause for the first time in forever...I will be right here!"

Leafy backed away from Taco, sighing.

"Taco..."

"Please go back home..."

Leafy glanced at the other two.

"Your lives await..."

"Go enjoy the sun, and open up those gates..."

She turned away from Taco.

"Without you? But-"

Leafy tensed, trying not to cry again.

"I know...You mean well..."

"But leave me be. Yes I'm alone, but I'm alone and free!"

Leafy turned back to face the three.

"Just stay away, and you'll be safe from me."

Taco tensed, slowly turning to look at the other two. Four shook his head. "Don't you dare tell her!" Taco took a deep breath, and turned to face Leafy.

"Actually, we're not."

Leafy looked at her, confused.

"What do you mean, you're not?"

Taco sheepishly smiled.

"I get the feeling you don't know..."

Leafy crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow.

"What do I not know?"

Taco winced.

"...Our town's in deep, deep, deep...deep...snow..."

Leafy flinched, covering her mouth.

"...What?"

"You kinda set off an eternal winter...everywhere..."

Taco tapped her fingers together.

Leafy's arms dropped to her sides.

"Everywhere?!"

Taco tried to calm her.

"It's okay! You can just unfreeze it!"

"No I can't! I...I don't know how!"

Taco tried to look on the bright side of things.

"Sure you can! I know you can!"

She stepped closer to Leafy, arms outstretched.

"Cause for the first time in forever:"

Leafy backed away slowly, clenching her head.

"Oh...I'm such a fool! I can't be free!"

Four stared in shock at the pair. Unable to move. As badly as he wanted to stop them, he couldn't.

"You don't have to be afraid!"
"No escape from the storm inside of me!"

They sang over each other, creating an odd duet.

"We can work this out together!"
"Can't control the curse!"

"We'll reverse the storm you've made!"

Four breaks out of his trance, glaring at Taco.

"Taco please, you'll only make it worse!"

Coiny stared at Four, shocked by his voice.

Taco ignored him.

"Don't panic."
"There's so much fear!"

"We'll make the sunshine bright!"
"You're not safe here!"

As Leafy continued to back away, she managed to back herself into a corner.

Taco continued, now getting closer.

"We can face this thing together!"
"Ohhhh..."

She moved closer to Leafy.

"We can change this winter weather!"
"Ahhhh...I-IIII..."

As Taco came closer, her hand brushed against Leafy's arm.

"And everything will be fine!"

"I...CAN'T!!"

Leafy accidentally sprayed Taco with her ice, sending her flying. She hit the wall, and Leafy gasped. She started to sob, turning away in shame.

"Oh my god..." she whispered under her breath. Four and Coiny ran to help Taco. She was a bit dazed. "L...Leafy...?" She asked, looking up towards her.

"This is all my fault! Why did you come here?!" Leafy sobbed, as frozen crystals hung in the air around her. Taco tried to approach her. "L...Leafy...I-" Leafy snapped her fingers.

Frost-Fight stepped into the room, his cheerful smile dropping when he saw Taco in pain. "L-Lady Leafy? What happened t-to Princess-"

She stared at him, tears in her eyes. "Take them to the village. Don't let them come back." She stormed off, her sobs growing quieter as she left the room.

Frost-Fight stared at them, tears in his own eyes. "I'm s-so sorry-" He picked the three up, running out of the castle. "I...I'll get Princess Taco to a healer immediately."

Coiny shook his head slightly. "Princess who?" Frost-Fight tan to the edge of the forest. "You must get the berries, they are the only way!" He said, placing them down on the ground.

He turned away from them. "My Lady is sorry! She never meant to hurt Princess Taco!" He shook his head, running back up the mountain, tears falling down.

Four almost ran after him, but was stopped by Coiny. "It's no use..." Four turned to look at him, and Coiny flinched in surprise. Four was crying, shaking in fear.

"This isn't good." Four sobbed, falling to his knees. "THIS ISN'T GOOD! SHE'S TOO FAR GONE!" Coiny pat him on the back. After a minute of crying, Four stopped, standing up.

The dark circles under his eyes had gotten worse. "...Let's just get Taco to someone." He said, lifting her into his arms. "After we help Taco, I'm going to go back...alone."

Taco grabbed his arm. "You...You can't...do that!" She spoke between gasps. Four began to head to the town. "I can, and I will." She sighed.

"Tell me...what's going on...?" She asked, and Four's breath hitched.

"..."

"Leafy has the same parasite that killed my fiancé."