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Fuck it.

 

It still amazed Anna how rapidly Elsa had mastered her powers. How long had it been since she'd unleashed a magical winter without meaning to? A few weeks? A month? And now when Anna opened the door to the ballroom and saw a cold fog seeping out, she didn't panic. She knew everything was under control.

 

"Conceal..."

 

Her sister's pleasing, sonorous mezzo-soprano whispered through the mist.

 

"Elsa?" Anna said, stepping into the fog. It immediately swallowed her. She could barely see in front of her nose. "Elsa, is that you?"

 

"Conceal. Don't Feel."

 

"Elsa?" Anna pushed into the fog, holding her hand in front of her.

 

"Isn't that what you always said? Don't let it show. When in the end showing was what I needed most."

 

Elsa's voice seemed to come from everywhere. Anna closed her eyes, feet crossing over each other as she tried to pinpoint the source of the sound. "Elsa, it's me!"

 

"All not feeling ever did was turn me into a monster! It nearly killed YOUR daughter! It nearly killed me! Do you understand? It nearly killed both of us!"

 

"Elsa!" Anna wasn't sure Elsa could hear her. The fog was a very muffling.

 

"You know what? I'm glad you're dead. I'm glad! What would have happened if you'd stayed alive? I'd still be locked up in that horrible room, afraid of everything and everyone!"

 

"Elsa!"

 

"Anna?"

 

And at last Anna pierced the fog.

 

Elsa was standing beside a snow sculpture artfully crafted. It had a regal face, slicked hair, and the medals and sash of royal military service.

 

In fact, it was someone Anna recognized all too well.

 

"Ah... did I scare you?" Elsa asked tentatively. "I'm sorry."

 

"Is this..." Anna stepped up to the sculpture. "Is this... dad?"

 

"Ah... well..." Elsa stammered, her eyes going narrow and panicked. But her shoulders slumped in resignation. "Yes." And a flash of anger roiled her features. She flicked her wrist and spikes of ice swirled out of the fog to annihilate the sculpture. "RAGH!" Elsa bellowed. "I hate him! I hate him so much!" She doubled over as tears streamed down her face. "I shouldn't! I shouldn't hate him! All he ever did was love me! But I do!"

 

"Elsa," Anna said, moving swift to her sister's side with an embrace. "It's all right. It's okay."

 

"I shouldn't hate him," Elsa repeated. "But I do. Deep down, I'm glad he's dead. And I hate it."