Winter 6 - Let It Go

Elsa never came back to watch the wedding. She just sat and waited for the hours to tick by inside the restroom until she decided to come out and head to the chapel. But as soon as she got there, everyone was gone.

"They must be in the garden for the reception." Elsa told herself anf she walked back to the castle. Elsa headed to the garden at the back of the castle to find everyone there for the reception.

"Elsa, over here!" Anna called out and waved her hand in the air to catch her sister's attention. After seeing Anna, Elsa walked towards the table where she sat and sat beside her.

"Where have you been? Rapunzel and I got really worried when you and Jack didn't return." Anna immediately asked once Elsa was seated beside her "It's a good thing Jack left a note for Punzie. He said that he had to leave for personal business and that you were fine, you just needed time alone." Anna then added.

"Sorry. It's just... I had to let out some personal problems." Elsa told her.

"Personal problems?" Anna asked, worry visible in her tone and in her eyes as she looked at her sister "Elsa, why not tell me what's going on?" She asked.

"Huh? Oh, no, it's nothing. It's not sonething you should... worry about." Elsa refused, gripping her glove-covered hands.

"Yeah. And surely it's not sonething I can fix, but, atleast tell me what's wrong." Anna pleaded "I mean, I'm your sister. And I can't stand seeing you like this, taking the burden and keeping it all to yourself."

Elsa looked at Anna and she could see how desperate her sister was. She wanted to tell Anna about her powers but she fears that if Anna remembered what she had done, she might fear her sister or worse, the memory could trigger the magic in her head and it could cause to her death.

"Anna! Elsa! It's to throw the bouquet! Join in!" Rapunzel then said. Anna smiled and immediately got up grom het seat, this could be her chance for love.

"Come on, Elsa! Let's join them!" Anna insisted, pulling Elsa's arm.

"No, no. You go ahead. I don't feel like joining." Elsa declined.

"Why not?"

"I just don't want to be in... crowds. I feel a little uncomfortable." Elsa saif. Anna removed her hold of Elsa's arm and shrugged then she joined the crowd of girls.

"Everybody ready?" Rapunzel asked, turning to the crowd of people. She counted from 1 to 3 before throwing the bouquet. The girls raised their hands in the air, hoping to catch the bouquet.

Anna gave a huge leap in the air then landed, holding the bouquet of flowers in her hands "I got it. I-I got it! I got it!" Anna started shouting in joy while raising the bouquet in the air.

Rapunzel giggled "Good job, Anna!" She said.

Jack stood at the rooftop anf watched the ceremony and the throwing of the bouquet. He chuckled after seeing Anna catch the bouquet in her hands "Nice catch, Anna." He said then his eyes shifted to Elsa who was looking at her sister wirh a huge smile in her face.

Jack exhaled before flying off. Elsa looked up at the sky and there she saw the image of the boy flying away "Jack." Elsa called quietly before she lookef back at her happy sister.

=*=*=

A whole year had passed since Rapunzel's wedding and Jack never came back to her again. Rapunzel told her that Jack often visits Corona which disappoints Elsa even more.

Does he really hate me now? Why won't he come back?

These questions kept on repeating inside her head. With every day that Jack does not come back to her, the more she loses hope of seeing him again and the more she thinks he hates her now.

Elsa stared out of her window, watching the fjord while thinking about tomorrow. Tomorrow. Somehow, the word itself made her feel even more nervous. Why? It was her coronation day.

Yes, her coronation day. Meaning, the gates had to be open for the townsfolks and the attendees of the ceremony from other countries. She didn't fear the festivities or the visitors. She feared of the actual coronation.

During her coronation, she has to remove her gloves when holding the scepter and the orb. Using gloves were strictly forbidden.

Elsa sighed and leaned on the window still "Come on, Elsa. You can do it. You have to do it. For your people." She told herself, trying to encourage herself and to remove her fear.

She removed her gloves and stared down on her hands. What if everyone finds out about her powers? What if they fear her after they find out? What if they exile her or sentence her to death, thinking she's a sorceress or, worse, a monster?

"Stop it. You're only going to make it worse. Just... just control it. Conceal it." Elsa stared at the star-filled sky where the moon shone bright "Jack. Where are you? I wish you were here right now."

Face it, Elsa! He's never coming back! He's got Punzie now as a new friend. So why would he need to babysit someone who can't even control her own powers? He'd prefer to be with happy, optimistic Rapunzel than...

Elsa shook her head to clear her thoughts. She didn't want to believe it, but somehow, it was partially true "He's probably gone tired of you always complaining about your powers." She told herself. As she kept thinking of various reasons for Jack's absence, she hadn't realized her floor was already beginning to freeze from all the sadness she felt.

=*=*=

The next day after the coronation, Rapunzel sat in their room that night, quietly reading a book. She and Eugene had just come home from Arendelle after attending Elsa's coronation. They didn't stick around forr the party though 'cause Rapunzel suddenly felt dizzy and tired so they went home.

Her reading was disturbed after hearing a tap on her window. Rapunzel lookef at the window and there she saw Jack waving at her. She got up from the bed, walked to the window and opened it.

"Hey, Jack." She greeted him once he was inside.

"Hey, Punzie. You're back a little early." Jack said while leaning on the window still.

"Yeah. Eugene and I decided to head home after I felt a little dizzy and tired." Rapunzel explained.

"Oh. Okay." Jack nodded "So, how was the coronation?" He then asked, hoping that Elsa hadn't frozen the scepter and the orb since he knew well that gloves were forbidden during the coronation.

"Oh it went well. Should've seen Elsa! She was so beautiful! She had the beauty of a true queen." Rapunzel told him, Jack smirked.

"Yeah. I bet she was." He stated, thinking of what Elsa might've looked like in the coronation. He couldn't help but smile.

"Ooh, I know that smile. You must be thinking of her, aren't you?" Rapunzel then said, removing Jack from his thoughts.

"Huh? What? Who?" Jack asked, sounding confused thought he knew, clearly, who Rapunzel meant.

"Who else? Elsa." Rapunzel stated the obvious. Jack grinned then he stared out at the moon "I don't understand you, Jack." Rapunzel said, crossing her arms.

"What do you mean?" Jack asked looking back at Rapunzel.

"It's just, we both know that you like Elsa so much, yet you haven't visited her once after their parents' death." Rapunzel stated "Tell me, is something going on between you two or is the you-liking-Elsa thing just some story you made up?" she asked him, raising a brow.

"Well... it's nothing. I mean, it's true. I like Elsa, very much actually, but... I just don't want to face her right now." Jack said, a little awkwardly while he wrote Elsa's name with his finger on the window still.

"Why? Did you do something bad to her?"

"Well... you could say that. Something... very bad." Jack slowly said, looking down on his barefeet.

"What was it? Was it really that bad for her not to forgive you?" Rapunzel asked.

Jack looked at her and thought to himself; I guess it's okay to tell Punzie. He inhaled then exhaled "Truth is... it's about... their parents' death." He finally said.

"Their parents' death? Wait, don't tell me you caused the storm that sank their ship." Rapunzel asked quite shocked at what she heard.

"No. I didn't cause the storm. But... I made a promise to Elsa that I'd guard them and keep them safe. That I'd bring them home. But, I got a little careless and I think I may have caused the huge gust of wind from all my panicking to get the safe and the storm got stronger until... until I was... too late." Jack told her, and the memory of that day played in Jack's head. He saw them, struggling to save themselves as the huge waves tossed the boat back and forth, side to side.

"Oh." Was all Rapunzel could say. A moment of silence fell between them until Rapunzel decided to break it "Well, why not fly off to Arendelle and find out if Elsa does hate you? I mean, surely she doesn't especially after she basically cried in so much joy after seeing you at my wedding." Rapunzel concluded.

"But that was a year ago. Time's passed, Punzie. What if she hates me now? What if the moment she sees me she immediately locks me up in the dungeon, sentence me to death or ban me from Arendelle?" Jack started saying, thinking of even more worst-case scenarios.

"Okay, I may not have known Elsa for that long but I know perfectly well that she is not that cruel or mean. You are overreacting, Jack. What if the moment she sees you she starts crying and runs to you, giving you the tightest hug like she never wants to let go again?" Rapunzel then said.

"Hmm... but... I left her alone for 3 years. Surelt she hates me for doing that when I should've just came baxk to her when she need me the most."

Rapunzel heaved a sigh while rolling her eyes "Jack Frost, listen to me. If you think Elsa would put aside the 9 or 10 years you spent together and think of the 3 years of your absence more, then you are insane. Start thinking positive, bro. Surely, Elsa would forgive you if you apologize to her from the bottom of your frozen heart."

Jack was about to say something until Rapunzel cut him off "No more 'buts', Jack. Now, you go and fly to Arendelle at once and apologize to Elsa. I don't want you flying back here until you've done it and until you've confessed to Elsa that you love her." She ordered him.

"Wait, what? Where'd that confessing thing come from? And who told you I love her now?" Jack asked.

"Obviously you do. Now go. Shoo, shoo." And with that, Rapunzel pushed Jack off the window and immediately closed it.

"Hey! Punzie! Don't do this to me!" Jack hollered from outside. Rapunzel waved him 'good-bye' with a wide smile on her face before she closed the curtains.

Jack sighed, he knew how stubborn Rapunzel could be and she meant what she said, so what else can he do? Jack flew off to Arendelle and as he did, he's finally decided.

I'll go and apologize to Elsa and end all this once and for all. And if possible... perhaps I should confess to her as well. Tell her that I like her. No. I love her. Perhaps I do love her now. I don't know. Ugh! What on earth is the difference between like and love anyway? How can you tell that you love a person now?

=*=*=

Jack flew over the mountains where the cold wind got stronger, though it didn't bother him, he still wondered why the wind would be colder than usual. Although he was near the North Mountain where the temperature never rises, he would expect it to be a little bit hotter considering it wad the summer season.

His thinking was interrupted after hearing the most amazing voice he has ever heard his entire life.

Let it go! Let it go!
I am one with the wind and sky!

Jack landed nearby the scene from where the voice was heard and there he saw Elsa running up the stairs of ice she made.

Let it go! Let it go!
You'll never see me cry!
Here I stand and here I'll stay
Let the storm rage on...

And with the raise of her hands, an ice platform was raised from below her and followed more icicles for the walls of her ice castle.

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

Elsa threw her crown after she had finished her ice castle. She didn't want to go back to being the girl everyone expects her to be. She wanted to be who she was and this was where she knows she can do it without anyone judging her.

Let it go! Let it go!
And I'll rise like the break of dawn!
Let it go! Let it go!
That perfect girl is gone
Here I stand in the light of day!
Let the storm rage on!
The cold never bothered me anyway.

Elsa walked inside her ice castle, closing the doors behind her. She was the Snow Queen and this was where she was meant to be. Free from the fear of hurting anyone. Free from the fear of being judged by everyone. She was free. She was home.

To be continued...

=*=*=