I think you all know what song comes next.

_____________________________

It seemed pretty clear to Padme that her husband needed some calming down, so she got him to go into an empty hall for a bit where she and Anakin could be alone.

Anakin was definitely a lot calmer when he held Padme in his arms, and even more so as they kissed. Since his parents introduced Padme to the family, Anakin was immediately smitten with Padme. Of course, they'd had to wait a while before they made it to the wedding day, and not just for the two to come of marriageable age, but for the couple to get properly acquainted. At first, Anakin was terrified of hurting Padme the way he had Carmine years ago, but Padme wasn't afraid. She was more concerned about helping Anakin than she was about her own safety; that only made her that much more astonishing of a woman. And the day they kissed for the very first time, Anakin would never forget it. Now, anytime he felt like he was going to lose control, Padme just needed to kiss him, and he settled down. Sadly, it wasn't enough to get Anakin comfortable around everyone else.

Padme stopped kissing Anakin for a moment and said, "You're doing great, Ani. You can make it through tonight."

"Tonight is one thing," said Anakin, frowning. "Kara deciding it's time to keep the gates open is another."

Anakin was definitely not in a good mood tonight. Earlier that day, Kara decided it was time to stop the isolation of the royal family; she told Anakin the night before that they needed to stop keeping secrets. But Anakin was adamant that they had to keep the gates closed because he still wasn't in total control of his powers.

"You have more control than you think. It's all in your head, Anakin." Kara had said.

"Your sister does have a point, Ani. We can't stay in hiding forever. What about when we have kids?"

Anakin hadn't thought that far ahead when he and Padme got married; he only sought companionship with her, and love. It hadn't occurred to him that sooner or later they'd be parents, no matter how close they got since before they shared a bedroom.

"Are you...?" Anakin looked at his wife's stomach.

"No," Padme shook her head. "But we've taken that chance many times, and next time it could happen. And that's something I want to happen. Isn't that something you want?"

Anakin looked away with uncertainty. He loved his wife, but fatherhood, that was something he felt totally unprepared for, even if it wasn't impending at the moment.

"Ani... talk to me."

"Maybe later. Let's just get this ball over with so I can go back to my room."

"You mean our room." Padme corrected as calmly as possible. As much as she loved Anakin, he could be very stubborn.

It was then a familiar silver and blue husky dog whimpered.

"I know what you mean, Artoo." Padme sighed.

_____________________________

Kara, meanwhile, was addressing guests, when she was approached by one of the twins. Carmine, to be precise, and he wasn't alone.

"Kara. I mean, Queen..." Carmine bowed, and he brought his lady friend in front. "May I present, Princess Caroline of Lakswana."

"Your Majesty." Caroline curtsied.

"Pleased to meet you." Kara said.

"We were-" Carmine and Caroline said at the same time, but froze and laughed a bit.

"Ladies first?" Carmine smiled.

"Queen Kara, I hope you are aware, your brother Carmine is a very charming man, and I feel very grateful to have met him tonight. He speaks very highly of you and Prince Anakin."

"And Caroline is a very charming woman. So, we were hoping you would give your blessing to..."

"Our courtship," said Carmine and Caroline at the same time.

"Courtship?" Kara was surprised. "Carmine, are you sure about this?"

"I know Caroline and I just met, but yes. We have a lot in common, and we'd like to get better acquainted. And we both agreed if this is gonna work..."

"I should get to know Carmine's family more." Caroline finished. "Taking it step by step is my kingdom's motto."

Kara still felt hesitant that Carmine already picked a girlfriend, but they seemed like they were taking it slow at least. And that was when Anakin entered the room.

"Oh, Anakin! Perfect timing." Carmine said, startling Anakin.

Anakin looked at his surroundings and sighed with relief when he saw no ice.

"Carmine, don't jump at me like that." Anakin said as calmly as possible.

"Sorry. To be fair, you used to do that to me all the time."

Anakin rolled his eyes and asked his brother what was so important.

"I'd like you to meet my new girlfriend, Princess Caroline."

Carmine happily presented his lady friend to his brother and sister-in-law.

"It's an honor, your highnesses," said Caroline.

Padme was happy to meet Caroline, but Anakin was frowning. Artoo looked at Caroline and started to sniff her.

"Carmine, can I talk to you... alone?"

Now Carmine was frowning.

"Whatever you need to say to me," Carmine took Caroline's arm into his. "You can say it to both of us."

"Fine. Carmine, you can't be with a girl you just met."

"Um... how long did you know Padme before you became a couple?"

"That's different."

"How exactly? You were head over heels the moment you saw her."

Anakin scoffed at that.

"I was experiencing... puberty." he whispered that last word. "We both were by then. I didn't know what I was feeling!"

"And what do you call our relationship now?" Padme said, sounding offended.

"I-I didn't mean it like that!" Anakin stammered.

"Anakin, will you relax? It's not like I'm marrying a girl I just met." Carmine looked at Caroline and blushed. "Not that I wouldn't like to get married someday. I mean, I don't know how far we'll go, but you're amazing and...What was I saying?"

If Carmine didn't feel awkward before, he definitely did now.

"That we like each other very much and want to court, with your family's blessing." Caroline reminded her boyfriend.

"Right! See, Anakin? Caroline understands me, and I love her for that."

"Carmine, what do you know about true love?"

Carmine looked disgruntled. "More than you, apparently. All you know how to do is shut people out."

Anakin's eyes went wide.

"You asked for my blessing, the answer is no." Anakin sighed. "Now, if you'll excuse me..."

"Your Highness, if I may ease your-" Caroline was interrupted by Anakin.

"No, you may not. And I think you should go."

"Anakin, let's talk about this." Padme said, following her husband.

But when Anakin didn't seem interested in listening to Padme, Kara stepped in.

"Anakin, what's wrong?" Kara asked.

"Are you really not concerned about Carmine and this new girl?" Anakin said quietly enough so guests wouldn't hear him. "If she moves in, what about our powers?"

"We can cross that bridge when we get there, but Carmine really likes her and-"

"He just met her! She could be a gold digger for all we know."

"We don't know that for sure. If you would just open up a little more, and once we open the gates again-"

"No! We can't open the gates again after this! You know why we can't!" Anakin said a little louder.

"Which of us is the new ruler?" Kara said. "I make the call now, Ani. You can't run away from the inevitable. It's time."

"Not for me, it's not." Anakin huffed. "As far as I'm concerned, the party is over. I'm going to my room."

"Wait, Anakin!" Carmine grabbed his brother's hand, only to slip off his glove.

Anakin gasped when he felt the cold air on his hand from his missing glove. He tried to take it back, but Carmine held it away.

"Give me my glove!"

"Anakin, please! Please." Carmine said, tears threatening to form in his eyes. "I can't live like this anymore!"

"Then leave."

Carmine gasped at his twin's response.

Anakin turned his back and started to walk to the doors again, but Carmine wasn't finished.

"What did I ever do to you?" He demanded.

"Enough, Carmine." Anakin barely looked over his shoulder.

"Carmine...." Kara began, hoping she could calm her brothers down. But Carmine continued with the questions.

"No, why? Why do you shut me out? Why do you shut the world out? What are you so afraid of?"

"I said, enough!" Anakin quickly turned around with an angry wave of his hand, and a semicircle of icy shards appeared, frightening everyone, and especially shocking Carmine.

"Sorcery." Count Dooku gasped. "I knew there was something dubious going on around here."

"Anakin." Carmine gasped.

Anakin breathed heavily, seeing the frightened looks on everyone's faces. Kara and Padme were the least frightened and though they tried to calm Anakin, he immediately took off out the door.

"Guards! Stop my brother!" Kara ordered.

_____________________________

Anakin rushed to a door into the palace courtyard, where there were citizens gathered and they all clapped when they caught a glimpse of the new crown prince.

"Crown Prince Anakin!" said one man.

"It is him," said another man.

"He's so handsome," sighed one woman.

"Anakin!" exclaimed a female voice, and out came Kara, the people cheering again to see their new queen.

Villagers greeted the queen, but only one woman with a baby noticed that Anakin seemed distressed.

"Your Highness? Are you alright?" asked the woman, her baby giggling and reaching for Anakin.

"Anakin," said Kara, approaching her brother.

But Anakin got frightened again and backed into a fountain, the edge freezing the moment his hand touched it, and the water froze in its shape, shocking everyone who saw it.

"There he is! Stop him!" Dooku exclaimed from the doorway.

"Don't be frightened," said Kara. "Everyone, don't be afraid."

"Please, just stay away from me. Stay away." Anakin begged, only for ice to shoot from his hand, barely missing Kara, who super sped to get another man out of the way of the ice, only for it to send Dooku and his servants slipping.

"Monsters. Monsters!" Dooku pointed accusingly at Anakin and Kara.

People became scared when they saw Kara had super speed, but even more scared of Anakin's ice powers.

Anakin took this as his cue to flee.

"Anakin, wait!" Kara said. She looked in the direction he was headed and started to super speed in that direction, only to slip on more ice Anakin conjured as he ran off, and landed on the stone hard ground with a pained cry.

Artoo barked as he ran after his master.

"Your Majesty!" exclaimed a guard, two of them rushing to her aid.

Meanwhile, Carmine rushed out the door, calling for his twin. Carmine spotted Anakin running and saw Kara was wincing in pain and holding her leg as the guards tended to her.

Carmine immediately ran after Anakin, Caroline accompanying him while Padme stayed to help Kara.

_____________________________

Anakin ran as fast as he could down the stairs toward the very back of the palace, where there was the ocean standing between him and escaping.

"Artoo, no! Stay!" Anakin begged.

Artoo whimpered in response.

"Anakin!" Carmine exclaimed.

Anakin looked up and saw his brother catching up to him, the former having nowhere left to run. However, he took a step back and ice began to form.

"Wait, please!" Carmine begged.

Anakin saw his chance to escape, and he stepped onto the water, causing more ice to form. WHen he realized he could run across it without slipping, he took off, trying to run faster than he'd ever run before.

"Anakin!" Carmine tripped and fell down, losing his glasses.

"Carmine!" Caroline exclaimed.

"My glasses!"

Caroline picked up Carmine's glasses and put them back on his face, and both he and his girlfriend saw Anakin get across the water to the land on the other side and disappear, more ice forming even as he vanished.

"The fjord." Caroline gasped.

The rest of the water froze like the lake during wintertime, but it wasn't just the water. Ships in the water froze, and so did the dicks, the gates surrounding the palace, and all the grounds of Coruscant.

Artoo tried to go after Anakin on the water, but the ice was too slippery for his paws.

"Artoo!" Carmine exclaimed, jumping in after the dog. That only led to a very slippery rescue mission.

_____________________________

People were gasping with astonishment and fear when they saw snow falling, and in the middle of summer no less. But it wasn't just snow falling. Frost flowers began to grow out of the ground and so did what appeared to be icy blue beanstalks.

"Are you alright?" Caroline asked Carmine.

"No." Carmine answered, hugging himself as it got colder.

It didn't help that he'd gotten wet from rescuing Artoo from the ice.

"Did you know? About either of them?"

"No."

Artoo sneezed as a snowflake landed on his nose.

Even Dooku was panicking now.

"Snow! It's snowing! The crown prince has cursed this land!"

"I knew something was chilling about that boy. Now I know it was literal." Ventress said, grunting in disgust when a snowflake hit her nose. "He must be stopped. Someone must go after him."

"But first get the queen!" Dooku said.

"Wait, no!" Carmine said.

"You!" Ventress said. "What kind of sorcery is there in you? Are you a monster too?"

"No, no. I'm completely ordinary."

"As far as I can tell, he is.... In the best way." Caroline said, taking Carmine's hand. "And my brother and sister aren't monsters."

"Your brother nearly killed me!" Dooku said angrily.

"You slipped on ice," said Caroline.

"His ice!"

"It was an accident. He was scared." Carmine then spotted Kara being helped up. "Kara, are you alright?"

"I will be." Kara said. "Once I see a doctor."
But Carmine got in front of his sister with a serious look on his face.

"Wait a minute! You've got some serious explaining to do, Missy! Since when are you a speed demon, and how long has Anakin been able to make snow? Why didn't either of you tell me?"

Kara sighed. She definitely couldn't hide it any longer.

_____________________________

Kara was placed in a wheelchair to rest while her left leg was in a cast, her fall having fractured her leg.

"It's true, Anakin and I both have powers. I don't know why. All we know is that it originated from Father's side of the family."

"Then, why don't I have magic?" Carmine asked.

"Well, Mother didn't have powers of her own, and that might be why. As for why we never told you... you know that white streak in your hair?"

Carmine self consciously held the white strand of hair on his head.

"I thought you said you were born with it." Caroline said.

"That was a cover story," said Kara. "It was really caused by Anakin hitting you with his magic. That's why he shut you out, Carmine. He was terrified of hurting you a second time, and our parents made us keep our powers secret from everyone, including you, to keep you safe."

Kara continued to explain as much as she could to Carmine, from the tutors to the locking of the gates and isolation from the rest of the kingdom. Even arranging for Anakin to fall in love with Padme. Carmine couldn't believe everything he was hearing. He felt horrible for how he shouted at Anakin tonight.

"This is all my fault." Carmine said.

"Carmine, it's not." Caroline reassured him.

"Yes, it is! I pushed him. He didn't mean any of this. So, I'm the one who needs to go after him."

"What?" Padme, Kara, and Caroline all gasped.

Carmine left the medic and got his horse Harmony.

"Carmine, wait!" Caroline said. "It's too dangerous."

"Anakin is not dangerous. I'll bring him back, and I'll make this right."

Caroline suddenly looked determined.

"Then I'm coming with you, and I'm not taking no for an answer."

Caroline got onto Sapphire after having one of her servants bring her a cloak to wear.

"Don't leave without me," said Padme, getting Ruby.

"Padme, I'm not sure-" Carmine said before Padme interrupted him.

"That's my husband out there. He needs both of us. Kara can take care of everyone."

Kara had one of the guards roll her out to talk to her brother before he left.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Carmine? I don't want to lose you too." Kara said.

"We haven't lost Anakin yet. He's my brother. He's our brother. He would never hurt me."

_____________________________

Anakin ran as far as he could, walking tiredly up a snow-covered mountain as the wind blew ice and snow through his hair. He looked around and saw not a footprint in sight besides his own.

Anakin:

The snow glows white on the mountain tonight

Not a footprint to be seen

A kingdom of isolation

And it looks like I'm the king

Anakin took in the fact that he was totally alone now; he'd left his brother, his sister, his wife, and his kingdom behind. He felt so much guilt inside for what happened and believed his parents would be so disappointed if they could see him now.

The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside

Couldn't keep it in, heaven knows I tried

And then he thought about what Obi-Wan had taught him when he tried to teach him to control his powers.

Don't let them in, don't let them see

Be the good boy you always have to be

Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know

Anakin looked at his singular glove with disgust, and threw it into the wind. He had no more use for it.

Well, now they know

And Anakin started to unleash his powers, this time being in control. He made some snowflakes blow in the wind, grew a few frosty daisies, and even made a snow pony with his magic

Let it go, let it go

Can't hold it back anymore

Let it go, let it go

Turn away and slam the door

Looking around, Anakin started to smile. There was no one around for him to hurt, or to judge him for his powers. So, why worry?

I don't care what they're going to say

Let the storm rage on

The cold never bothered me anyway

Anakin ran through the snow and began to laugh as he kicked it around and threw the snow in the air like a child playing in snow for the first time. And when he saw the empty mountain, he began to imagine all of the possibilities of what his power could do.

It's funny how some distance makes everything seem small

And the fears that once controlled me can't get to me at all

It's time to see what I can do

To test the limits and break through

Anakin looked up and saw a mountain slope that gave him an idea, but first he had to get past a crevasse in front of him. And Anakin saw a small ledge, on which he took a step.

No right, no wrong, no rules for me

I'm free

Anakin spread out his arms and ran, a staircase of ice and crystals forming until he reached the top of the icy slap.

Let it go, let it go

I am one with the wind and sky

Let it go, let it go

You'll never see me cry

With a hard stomp of his foot, a flower-like snowflake appeared on the ground beneath Anakin. But that was just the start of it

Here I stand and here I stay

Let the storm rage on

Anakin slowly raised his hands, and the snowflake beneath him grew a floor which rose with him on it, and his magic began to form walls of icy crystals. He made all kinds of things out of ice, crystals, and frosty plants. All the floors, walls, furniture and the roof were made of ice, and he topped it off with a beautiful crystal chandelier.

My power flurries through the air into the ground

My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around

And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast

Anakin thought about Coruscant and figured it was time he forgot about his old home. He removed his crown from his head to glance at it, then he threw it away, tossing his head back and letting his hair just let loose.

I'm never going back, the past is in the past

Let it go, let it go

And I'll rise like the break of dawn

Then Anakin's outfit began to change from the comparably bland blue suit he was wearing to an icy blue kingly outfit with a regal cape that shimmered with snowflakes and frost flowers, and he topped it off with a crown of snowflakes on his head.

Let it go, let it go

That perfect boy is gone

Here I stand in the light of day

Anakin stood on the balcony of his new ice palace and took in the sunlight of the new dawn. This was his new home now, and he was fine being all alone, so he led himself to believe.

Let the storm rage on

The cold never bothered me anyway

And once more, Anakin slammed the door, this time feeling confident doing it.