Frozen Beyond [gxg]

Reconnect

The waters and rough rocks were easy to navigate, especially for Nokk. Once they got to shore, Keahi leapt from Nokk and Elsa just rolled her eyes with a scowl. She slid from Nokk and tapped his nose, his body shivering as he became solid.

"Hey, I think he's starting to like me." Keahi went to tap Nokks hindquarters.

Nokk grunted and smacked Keahi with his tail. Leaving the woman with a half-lidded, annoyed expression. "Never mind."

"Are you okay?" Elsa was laughing as she pointed a finger chidingly at Nokk.

Keahi rubbed her now red cheek and grumbled at Nokk. The two shared a glower before glancing away from one another.

Elsa sighed, maybe one day they'd grow to like one another. Looking down the expanse of the beach, she tried to take in everything. It seemed normal, the sand a pearl white though a lot of driftwood scattered along the beach. Closer to the water, a lot of different colored shells washed ashore, making a raining noise as the water lapped back and forth over them. Among the colorful shells, a lot of old wood and pieces of ships washed ashore.

This was probably a graveyard for a lot of pirates and sailors.

"Now what?" Elsa whispered. She didn't have the best plan right now. Follow Crow, stop him. But stop him, how?

Keahi walked down the length of the beach, jumping onto one of the large pieces of skeletal trees that were knocked on their side. "Ah, think my brother is ahead of us."

Elsa stiffened, jogging over to where Keahi was. Nestled just out of sight of their ship, Crow's was anchored just beyond the rocky shore in front of an inlet.

They had followed Crows ship, but didn't expect him to disembark so quickly. There was already a rowboat pulled along the shore and smoke came from further in the forest.

Elsa hissed our air between her teeth and started down the beach. They needed to catch up to them, needed to get to them before they got to the giant. Where ever that was.

Keahi's steps fell in behind her as they started down the charred path that Crow burnt through. At least he made it easy for them to follow.

"So, ah, you were trying to help me with my fire powers back in Arendelle, was it?" Keahi asked behind her.

Elsa glanced over her shoulder, pushing a branch out of the way. It ended up swinging back and slapping Keahi in the cheek, which caused a shriek and a grumble.

Elsa grimaced in apology, "Yes. Once the curse broke, I guess the spirits rewarded you by keeping your powers." She pondered it. They had been trying to get her fire back to full power, but it was a difficult road. "I think the curse relied more on greed and fear but now that you aren't technically cursed anymore, it burns for something else."

"Which would be...?"

Elsa flushed at what she was about to say. "When mine relies on fear, it was strong but uncontrollable, because that's what fear is. Chaotic." She frowned, pulling back a branch and making sure it didn't thwack Keahi in the face again. "Your power needs to rely on something far greater than fear."

"And that would be?" Keahi asked, aloof.

"Love." Elsa finally admitted.

Keahi pursed her lips, "But if we were together back in Arendelle, I feel like I would have figured that out already."

"I think you may have been a little scared. Which is understandable. Your powers came from something out of your control and now that you have control, it can be intense." Elsa glanced up the long, winding path. An eerie mist settled heavy on everything and mingled with the tinge of gray smoke left behind from Crows fire. They still hadn't caught up to them. How far ahead were they?

Keahi pondered that and jogged to catch up to Elsa, walking beside her with her arms loosely behind her back. Elsa looked at her from her peripheral. "Yes?" She edged.

"Oh well, nothing..." she trailed off, scratching her chin shyly. "I just...you know, ever since Crow took my memories of everything from Arendelle I felt hollow," Keahi rapped her chest absently. "When I look at you, I don't feel that anymore."

Elsa flushed, focusing on the path in front of her. But a warm, tingling, pleasant feeling rolled through her body. Keahi had lost her memories, and yet, those feelings still lingered even if they confused Keahi. It was the same as back on the ship when they spoke last night. It was a huge relief. "I'm glad. I thought maybe it was a fluke that we fell in love the way we did." Elsa's brows furrowed and her fists tightened at her side. "Like maybe it was luck and fate was being cruel. And this time around, it wouldn't happen."

"I don't think that's how that works." Keahi smiled, "So, what made a prim and proper princess like you fall for someone chaotic like me?"

Elsa paused, not expecting the question, but continued. "Maybe you are the dark to my light? I still the chaos in your heart and you break me free of my silence." She shrugged, she had never really thought about what made them compatible, all she knew was that it worked. "Besides," Elsa grinned coyly and patted Keahi on the shoulder, "you aren't as chaotic as you make yourself out to be. You are just a big people pleaser." She finished with a smirk and pushed on ahead.

Keahi paused, mouth agape before shaking her head and running to catch up to her. "I hope I get my memories back." Keahi whispered, suddenly disheartened.

Elsa glanced over at her and quickly took her hand, her eyes determined when she met Keahi's sharp green eyes. "We will. I won't let them be stolen from you forever."

"You're amazing, you know that?"

Elsa flushed and looked away, "I'm not. I just refuse to let this happen. I swore I would protect you and I will."

For the first time since Keahi gave her the woven bracelet for her birthday, Keahi looked at a loss for words and blushed before looking away.

She wouldn't make the situation awkward, but Keahi was adorable when she was caught tongue tied. Elsa bit her lip to keep from saying anything and kept pushing foreword.

They walked silently for a while. Comfortable in the forest's silence. Until things got too silent. Nothing echoed, no birds or animals of the forest, and it was unnerving the further they traveled. Elsa had assumed that whatever they needed was likely at the heart of the island.

The sun dappled through the canopy, mist rolled through the sunlight, and Elsa tugged at the collar of her shirt.

It was getting uncomfortably hot. The humidity wafted upwards and was so heavy, she could nearly feel the moisture in her lungs with every inhale.

A light towards the end of the charred path finally opened in front of them. The once tropical forest opened into a dead tundra of rock and steam. A few yards ahead, a tall, nearly black rocked volcano steamed and bubbled. The molten hot lava spilling over the edge like a cup too full.

Elsas eyes narrowed, just at the base of the rocky 200 foot volcano, Crow and four other henchman stood.

Crow seemed to spot them the same time Elsa did.

Crow smirked, turning to face them as his hands ignited black. "I was wondering when you'd show, Siren." He yelled, glowering over at Keahi. "I went through all the trouble of using this new power to erase your memory and yet she still twists you with her?" He sneered, nose wrinkling in disgust. His hands twitched as he jerked unnaturally, his eyes turning crimson. "You can just die with her!"