Winter Moon (Jelsa)

Chapter 10: Elsa

After the tour, Rapunzel decided to drag me on a tour of the city. Although I didn't have much of a choice, I agreed.

"That's the Tower," Rapunzel pointed to a tall spiraling structures towards the center of the city. According to her, Skyara had been split into four sections. Day, Dawn, Dusk, and Night. The city was circular, with impenetrable walls ringing the outside. In the middle was the Tower. It was was where the Elites spent all their time. The Elite's Headquarters, as Rapunzel had called it. 

Rapunzel grinned at me. She was so bubbly and carefree. Like she had an endless amount of cheer. Her seventy-foot-long mass of golden hair had been braided back so it didn't trail on the ground. 

"You know, Ella sounds an awful lot like Elsa. She's the Crown Princess of Arendelle. Are you from there? You could be Elsa, you know? Same color hair and eyes," Rapunzel chattered on, oblivious to the fact that she was dangerously close to discovering who I really was. 

I winced internally. Rapunzel could joke and laugh all she wanted, but she was definitely observant. I would have to be careful around her. "In truth, I'm from Arendelle. I was born a few months after the princess. My parents wanted a name that sounded like the princess's."

"Makes sense," Rapunzel replied, steering us down another street. I was hopelessly lost. This city was simply too enormous. "How old are you?"

"Thirteen. I turn fourteen in February," it was half the truth and half a lie. I was thirteen, but my real birthday was December 21st.

"I'm fourteen already. My birthday's May 12th. That's when I'll turn fifteen. All of my friends, the one you met earlier, are already fifteen. They turn sixteen this year, like regular students in our grade. Well, except for Eugene. He's twenty-three."

I nodded. Their ages stretched all across the board. I was the youngest, at thirteen, and Eugene (or Flynn, I still wasn't sure what to call him) was twenty-three.

"Eugene's great," Rapunzel said his name with affection. If I had to guess, she probably had a tad of a crush on him.

"Do you like Skyara?" Rapunzel asked suddenly, her tone took on a more serious note.

"It's... different," I admitted. "I never saw a skyship until today."

"Really?" Rapunzel asked, shocked.

"The king and queen of Arendelle never liked technology and magic," I explained. Skyships and groundships were fairly new breakthroughs in terms of transportation, but most kingdoms had quickly adopted the trend. Arendelle, however, had not. The king and queen seemed to have something against change, both socially and technologically.

"Does Arendelle even have jeans?" Rapunzel queried, with a pointed glance at my dress.

"Shops do carry them, but my mother think they're scandalous and that I should always wear dresses."

"Are you kidding? How do you stand it?"

"I honestly have no idea."

"I'll go shopping with you. We can buy some new clothes, the gods know you need them."

"That's very kind of you to offer, but I wouldn't want to trouble you."

"I insist."

"I..." I desperately wanted to say yes. Rapunzel was so cheerful and friendly. I couldn't make friends though. It was too risky. I didn't want to hurt anyone.

"Tomorrow. After lunch. Meet here."

Before I could object, she steered us down an alleyway, explaining to me that it was a shortcut to the best restaurants in the Dawn Sector. I watched the ground, carefully avoiding a puddle of rainwater. 

I slammed right into a person.

Instinctively, I jerked back as fast as I could. So fast, that I lost my balance. I was going to fall right into the rain puddle. 

I braced myself.

An arm looped around my waist and hauled me back to standing.

"Sorry about that, Ella, was it?" the person I had bumped into said. I took me a moment to place him. Jack Frost.

"Apologies," I stepped away from him, brushing at my dress.

"Jack? Hiccup? Eugene? What's going on?" Rapunzel was studying them carefully. I noticed their pained expressions. Was something wrong?

"It's..." Hiccup trailed off, looking like he was about to burst into tears.

"Why are you guys in this alley?" Rapunzel demanded, a worried expression crossing her face.

"It's Merida," Jack said tightly. "She's gone."