The Rift

Chapter 8

              "So, fire is weak to water, water is weak to plant, and plant is weak to fire?"

"They call it grass type, but yeah!" Marie jumped over a fallen log while replying. She, Elsa and a few guards were on their way to The Enchanted Forest. The sun peered at them from above the snow tipped mountains, its warm rays beginning to lose their touch. Elsa tapped her chin in thought. "The games are a lot simpler than the anime," Marie said.

Elsa conjured a few snowflakes at her fingertips. It was entertaining to her to listen to Marie try and explain her world. She could not help but giggle to herself in reaction to Marie's frustration.

"Make her jealous."

Marie paused in the middle of the grass trail when the royal stopped. "You okay?" Marie asked.

The Snow Queen shook her head vehemently. "Yes. Just lost in thought," she replied. Marie's gaze lingered but turned to the trail. Elsa sighed. Right before their departure, her sister had pulled her aside and whispered those words to her. She clasped her hands together. What does that even mean? she thought to herself.

"Do Honeymaren and Ryder exist?" Marie asked curiously. Elsa tripped over a pothole, letting out a startled gasp. Marie caught her. "Whoa, are you sure you're okay?" the foreigner asked, her voice rising in pitch. "I didn't mean to bring up a sore subject."

Elsa froze momentarily as Marie's breath sounded next to her ear. The other woman lifted Elsa to her feet. Their eyes met. Elsa tore her gaze away. "It's not a sore subject," she spat. Elsa flicked her dress and whipped around. One of the guards coughed. She walked ahead of Marie, her heart still beating quickly in her small chest. Why am I acting like this? she thought to herself.

"I won't pester you about it." Elsa grasped the sides of her dress tightly. Marie's voice, although respectful, was tinted with the perfect amount of pity to make the former queen stop in her tracks.

"Your Highness?" a guard ventured carefully.

"We'll make camp on the top of this hill," Elsa commanded. "Please go make preparations ahead of us." The guards looked among each other before trudging up the remainder of the hill, not daring to even murmur under their breath. The squealing of a carriage wheel surrounded the group as it passed.

Marie's eyes flicked between the royal and the carriage. It seemed to squeal a longer length of time to spite Elsa. "Uh..." A blast of snow shot at Marie. She shielded herself and conjured a dark shield. Elsa lowered her hands as she became slightly out of breath. Marie gritted her teeth while hissing, "Your eyes gave you away." The brunette's body was surrounded by a swarm of darkness. Her blue eyes were narrowed into slits. "That, or the way you stormed off like a child!" Marie's last word was enunciated as she threw her arms forward. The wave of dark hit Elsa, causing her to fly backward. She hit the ground with a thud!

"Your Majesty!" A guard ran toward Elsa but was stopped by a giant ice wall shooting up from the ground.

"It's just training!" the ice queen called, wiping some dirt off her face with the back of her hand.

Marie's darkness vanished. "Are you serious?!" she shouted. Elsa pointed her hand below Marie's feet and created an icy sheet. Marie slipped, slamming her face on the ground and beginning to slide down the hill. With a grunt, Marie formed a black blade and stabbed it into the ice to stop herself. Elsa walked towards her, the ice dissipating with each step.