I'm not sure if anyone still reads. But i decided to continue this story if you guys want me to.

The Ice Behind Bars II: Redemption
Chapter V: Trouble

She banged her head repeatedly at a slow pace against one of her queen bed's pillars. Her eyes were deprived of emotions. The trail left on her cheek only told the story of the amount of tears she shed. Even so… an anger deep and strong boiled and lingered inside her, and turned her heart stone-cold.

"I'm not evil." Elsa said before she hit her forehead against the wood, her fingers digging into the pillar. She leaned slowly back before hitting her forehead again, not caring about the pain. After all, she had been through worse. "I'm not."

"Elsa?"

She froze. It was Aiden's voice, concerned yet hesitant. Muffled from behind the door. Had Anna already told him? She could also sense someone beside him, light and thin. Rapunzel? She did not want to know how she could tell without even looking. Her senses were on fire. She could detect everything. Feel, hear and smell everything. Their shaky breath, their quick heartbeat. Then the way their blood traveled around their veins. She winced, the eye behind her eye patch engulfed in pulsing pain.

"We're coming in."

Elsa's fists squeezed. She did not want anyone here. She did not want to see anyone. She hated everyone. Why couldn't they leave her alone? They should just go back to the ball and greet their lovely guests. The mere thought of this Ophilia made her teeth grit hard. They were simply mere humans. Weak and stupid. As for her… she just didn't know what she was.

The door clicked and creaked open, letting some light inside.

It didn't take long before she heard both of them gasp. Nevertheless, she did not turn. She didn't want to see the look on their faces. She didn't want to see their scorning, pitiful and fearful look.

"Elsa… what did you…" Rapunzel's voice trailed, her hand still on the door handle.

Aiden and Rapunzel looked around Elsa's thrashed room, wondering about the horrors that had happened here. Scratches and holes mangled the walls. Furniture were thrown off and broken. The covers on her bed laid wrinkled and shredded on the middle of floor. Her mirror was shattered, leaving bits of sharp glass stained with blood on the ground. Frost and spikes of ice spread around the room like an angry plague. Not to mention the extreme difference of temperature between inside here and out. In the middle of it? Elsa stood with her head against the queen bed's pillar, her finger tips covered in blood with some of her nails broken.

Rapunzel's hands involuntarily moved to cover her mouth. Just what in the world had happened here?

Without looking at them and eyes lowered, Elsa spoke. "Leave me alone." She mumbled, her voice cold and firm. Not the tone the Elsa they knew used. The Elsa they knew had a bit more of a high-pitched, excited and cheerful tone. This one was more mature, tired and filled with disdain.

"Elsa?..." Rapunzel took a careful step inside, "What's wrong, Elsa?" She skeptically asked, her eyes concerned, knowing this wasn't the loveable person she knew.

"What's wrong?" Elsa leaned back, making both Aiden and Rapunzel flinch, showing just how aware and on full guard they were.

Slowly she turned her head, her eye boring right into Rapunzel's, "What do you mean?"

Rapunzel and Aiden quickly jumped back, Aiden pulling his sword from his sheathe and Rapunzel a knife from under her dress, their stance different from before, all ready to fight.

"Elsa… please… Come back to us." Aiden who stood by the doorway pleaded. He didn't want to fight Elsa. He didn't want to hurt her. This was Elsa, for crying out loud.

Seeing the reaction of the two, something tugged hard at Elsa's heart. Pushing the feeling aside, she moved towards the door, wanting to leave this damn room and situation.

"Stay where you are! D-Don't move!" Rapunzel warned, her eyes wide, but Elsa didn't listen and kept closing in.

"Move away." Elsa ordered, not looking Rapunzel in the eye.

"No." Rapunzel denied her access. "We can't let you—"

A swipe from Elsa's hand, summoned a gust of wind that sent Rapunzel flying to the side. She yelped as she collided with the wall before falling to the ground.

"Rapunzel!" Aiden screamed but halted as Elsa neared him. He quickly pointed his shaking sword at her. His eyes unsure. He could never attack Elsa. He didn't know if it was because he loved her, or because he was terrified of her. He knew they were both.

Aiden gulped, not daring to look her in the eye. All he could sense was his heart beating fast and his legs shaking. To his surprise, Elsa just walked passed him, not giving him any heed, knowing he was paralyzed and frozen in place. Too petrified to attack her. Typical of a human.

"Leave me alone… stupid humans." Elsa warned one last time, before she disappeared down the hallways, never looking back.

Aiden let out the breath he was so strongly holding, looking down at his shaking hands. Did she scare him that much? What if Elsa had killed him? What if this side of her pierced his heart with a spike? Chopped his hand off? Tried to chock him? She had done it before with so many people. He would have just been another victim to add to her list. His paranoid thoughts broke as he heard Rapunzel groan and struggle to get up.

"Rapunzel! Are you okay?" He ran to her side.

Rapunzel slowly stood up with Aiden's help. "I-I'm fine."

They both looked at the doorway where Elsa had disappeared before exchanging concerned looks. "Anna was right. This really is a problem." Rapunzel started.

"What are we going to do?" Aiden asked.

"We should…" Rapunzel winced, a hand on the pain on her side caused by the impact. "We should just leave her alone like she said… for tonight. Maybe the Elsa we know will come back if she calms down."

"What about the ball?"

Rapunzel shook her head. "I doubt Elsa is interested in it. Since she wants to be left alone, she'll most likely stay away. She's not so fond of crowds." Rapunzel sighed. "Maybe bringing her to the ball was a mistake. We just… We thought she was ready."

"We'll figure something out. Tell Aphrodite about it. I'll let the others know to stay on guard."

Rapunzel nodded. "I'll inform the guards as well. We need everyone to be careful for this night to pass peacefully. We don't want to alarm the guests."

With that, the two headed to do their given tasks, hoping that this night would pass without any problems.

Elsa walked down the hallways her eyes cast down. In shame, sadness or anger? Probably all of them. She had never felt this before. Who cared what humans thought of her? Wait… Why did she even care? What changed her? They had always hated her. Nothing shocking or new. Then why was she excepting and hoping for something else? Even so… what was that something else. She remembered the look on Aiden's face. How he looked at her as if he was staring at his own death. Elsa grit her teeth, pushing the thoughts away. Her hand moved to her covered eye, wanting to just rip that damn annoying eyepatch off. She groaned in irritation, her demonic eye pulsing again. "Damn, Mad." She grumbled. "Damn, people. Damn, Anna. Damn, family. Damn, everyone!"

You're not welcome here.

"Shut up." Elsa snarled.

You've never even tried to change.

"I'm trying, you idiot…" She mumbled. "I'm trying." She continued repeatedly, her eyebrows furrowing sadly, her eye still staring at the ground. She sighed and looked at her hand. "Aren't you done with me? Just take over and let me go! I'm tired and not so fond of your stupid family!" If someone could see her now, they'd think she was a crazy woman talking to her hand. "Just let me go, you coward!" A thought suddenly crossed her mind. Just… Just who was the real Elsa here? What if she was not the alter. What if it was the other way around? Could the sister Anna wanted… the daughter Aphrodite wanted… be after all this, a vile woman such as herself? If she was the real Elsa, would everyone be disappointed? Would they cast her aside? Or worse…

Put her behind bars?

Her fearful thoughts were interrupted when a small muffled crash from a nearby room caught her off guard. Her eyes widened slightly seeing it was coming from her mother's room. "Aphrodite?" She wondered. Maybe her mother could understand. Maybe she could help her. So far she was the only one who hadn't scorned her. Yes. Maybe it could work. She could talk to her. She could try. Why not? Anna wanted her to change anyway. To her, the only human she acknowledged worthy of her time was her mother. Aphrodite understood more than anyone what she had went through. Her mother had lived with Jamie once. Maybe… just maybe. She could confide in her.

Nodding to herself, she headed to her mother's bedroom, hesitating, before knocking twice. "A—… Aphrodite?" She pushed the door gently open. "I just wanted to—" She halted in place, her eyes widely open, staring not at the slender form of her mother but at a man rampaging through her mother's drawers. She recognized that style of clothing instantly. This was one of Princess Ophilia's guards. "You…" She trailed off, the hysterical fury in her tone ceased the man in place.

Hearing her, he whipped around, his eyes wide realizing he had been caught. "O-Oh!... Your highness!" His eyes darted left and right, randomly.

He was cladded in yellow with the sun's emblem on his chest. This really was Ophilia's guard.

"I-I was just… I just got lost!" He stuttered, "The castle is pretty big here." He laughed nervously but stopped the moment he saw the unhuman look she was giving him.

"What are you doing here?" Her words almost shook. How dared he? How could someone dare trespass on her territory? Violate her mother's room. The amount of sheer hate, anger and addicting urge to kill that man made her hands shake.

"P-Princess Elsa… like I said I just got lost!" He could feel the room suddenly turn cold, her presence alone like an invisible force pushing him back as she neared him with unfriendly intent.

But Elsa didn't buy it. She did not wait for him to continue before her hands wrapped around his throat, lifting him off the ground.

The man's eyes shot wide in shock. How was she able to do this? She had lifted him off the ground as if he weighed nothing. Just what was she? Scared, he tried to yell for help but she squeezed harder to shut him up.

"You have five seconds to tell me why you're here. If I catch you lying, I will break your neck and send your head as a souvenir to your beloved Princess." Elsa said, before she shoved him against the wall, her hands still wrapped around his throat.

The man tried to struggle but all his efforts were gone in vain. "Please—"

"One…" Elsa started.

"I'm… just—"

"Two…" The higher the number went the harder her grip squeezed.

"I-I-I wanted money!" The man finally confessed. "I guessed… since every one of you damn royals and rich folk… were busy drowning yourselves in wine and food, I-I'd thought I'd take the chances and sneak inside the chambers to collect me some… valuable things to sell. M-Many rich idiots… would pay greatly for anything from the mysterious kingdom of Arendelle!" He struggled again, his teeth gritting.

Elsa stared straight into his eyes, her face stoic.

"T-That's all! I swear!" The man pleaded.

For a moment she stayed silent, reading his eyes for any sign of lie. "Stealing from a royal, are we?"

"I-I'll never do it again! I-I'm really sorry! I-I'm just doing this for my family!"

Elsa stayed silent for a moment before sighing, ever so slightly loosening her grip.

The man was able to let some air in, feeling a bit relieved before...

"You're lying." Her voice came flat and deadly.

He didn't have time to react before he yelped, her grip tightening again, slowly crushing the life out of him. His eyes bulged, his legs kicked and hands scratched at her arms, but she didn't budge, her grip firm as steel.

"And I hate liars." She informed him, waiting to see his eyes roll back into his head and his body go numb. A weird feeling made her clearly see that he was lying. Maybe this was her demonic eye's work.

You're not even trying to change. She sneered, remembering Anna's words and squeezing the man's throat harder.

I believe in you. Her eyes widened remembering Aiden's words. Then other memories came flooding in. She remembered the proud look, Aphrodite have given her. The pat on her shoulder from Brandon that told her how much he trusted her to be good. The excitement of Rapunzel's children every time they saw her. The way Catherine playfully teased her. It hurt her. It hurt her to remember all this. What would all of them think if she took this man's life?

Slowly, her grip loosened and she let the man go. He collapsed on the floor gasping for air, a hand over his throat.

"Get out of here." She commanded, her voice merciless.

The man shakily stood before he scurried out, stumbling on his feet. He sure regretted coming to this kingdom.

Elsa was left standing there in her mother's room, feeling something she had never felt before. Not this side of her at least.

Shame.

Why did her family believe so much in the other part of her but was so hard for them to trust her? She knew why of course. Her hands were too tainted in blood for them to ever hold them with love. Gulping a lump stuck in her throat, she killed her sorrow and accepted numbness.

Catherine hummed a song as she piled her plate with more dessert than she should. "I forgot how good royal food could be. I should praise Louise later." She grabbed a cake and stuffed it in her mouth in a not so elegant way, earning weird looks from the people who were near enough to see her.

"Your Highness."

She whipped around, the cake still in her mouth to see a man and an old woman, probably his mother, looking all too fancy with their exaggerated outfit. The two flinched when they saw the cake in her mouth.

Blushing, she pushed the cake further inside her mouth with her index, chewing before gulping it all down.

"Yes?" Catherine nervously said.

She almost laughed at their looks. These two decorated themselves with jewels and diamonds around their necks, fingers and wrists. Not to mention the huge obvious wig the old woman was wearing. Not even its color was natural: It was a bright red. They stood with their head slightly up as if the entire world was below them. Her son stood puffing his chest, too arrogant and proud while his mother held a fan, waving it gently.

The old woman lowered her fancy fan and started, "My name is Lady Delaney of Analia."

Catherine snorted at the name almost spitting what was in her mouth.

The woman shook it off and continued. It seemed it wasn't the first time she had seen such reaction. She coughed, regaining her posture, "And this is my son Lord Arlen Junior."

Catherine nodded in respect. "Very nice to meet you, your lord and ladyship."

The woman's son smiled, making Catherine almost wanting to punch him and erase that smug off his face.

"I have heard many stories regarding of the tragedy that happened to you, Princess Catherine."

"Yes. It seems so many people are fond of gossip nowadays." Catherine retorted.

"We wonder if it is all rumors additional to all the interesting stories regarding this kingdom."

"Uh…" Catherine lifted a finger before Rapunzel interrupted her.

"Catherine!" Rapunzel came running, concern on her face. "Have you seen the kids? I can't find them anywhere." She whispered urgently.

Catherine shook her head, her face mimicking Rapunzel's concern.

"Excuse us." Catherine said to the man and woman before pulling Rapunzel away.

Offended Princess Catherine excused her to talk to a common peasant, the woman scoffed and pulled her son aside. "How rude."

When they were far away, Catherine asked, "What's going on?" She looked behind her back once to make sure no one was hearing.

"I can't find Eugene and Emily." Rapunzel ran a hand through her hair. "I sent Aiden to look for them." She paused. "There's also Elsa."

Catherine's eyebrows rose.

"She's not… you know."

Catherine's face turned pale. "Did you tell Aphrodite?"

"I'm going to."

Catherine nodded. "I'll let Tyler know." She put the plate down on the table, almost wincing at letting all this food go. But oh, well…

Dessert could wait.

Aphrodite have been meeting and greeting people for the past three hours and she had started to feel overwhelmed with all this. She had always been comfortable in her little private room where she had once made medicines and helped heal and take care of the thieves and fort's people. Now look at her, she could never have this private moment again with her being Queen. She sat on her throne, fighting the urge to rub her temple, wishing for some peace and quiet.

"Already got enough, huh?" Brandon asked, smiling as he stood beside her, her trusted right hand and husband.

"Who wouldn't?" She turned her head towards her husband, "Have you seen Elsa?"

Brandon shook his head. "I saw Anna and her leave the ball a while back."

Aphrodite pursed her lips, wondering what these two daughters of hers were up to.

"Mum!"

Aphrodite turned her head left to see Anna approaching her with a not so happy look.

"Aphrodite!"

Then she turned her head right to see Rapunzel and Catherine mimicking Anna's look and it's when she knew they all had very bad news.

She shot up from her seat, "What's going on?" She looked around. "Where's Elsa?"

The fact that the three didn't instantly reply set her motherly instincts on fire. "Anna… Rapunzel… Catherine…" She looked at each one of them. "Where's… Elsa?" She said slowly, dreading their answer.

"She's not herself." Anna blurted, making Aphrodite and Brandon's eyes widen.

"And I can't find Eugene and Emily." Rapunzel said, still looking around the crowd trying to find her kids.

Aphrodite put a hand over her forehead. "Oh, God… not now…"

"Is something wrong, Your Majesties?" One guest, a woman, asked.

They all turned to look at her before Aphrodite shook her head, "No, no. We're totally fine. Please, continue enjoying the ball." She extended her hand towards the crowd, beckoning the woman to move on with her night.

Luckily, the woman smiled and bowed, before leaving.

"Now, what?" Catherine asked.

"Alright. Rapunzel. Brandon. You go look for the kids. I'll take care of Elsa." Aphrodite ordered before she moved to leave.

"What about us?" Anna asked, pointing at herself and Catherine.

"I need you two to keep the guests occupied."

"What if Elsa hurt you?" Anna asked, worried.

Aphrodite smiled gently and put a hand on her daughter's cheek. "She won't."

Trusting her judgement, Anna and Catherine went off to keep the guests busy and cause no alarm for the absence of the Queen of Arendelle.

As Aphrodite turned to leave, Brandon held her by her hand. "Aphrodite… are you sure about this? This could be dangerous. At least take some guards with you."

"That won't be necessary." Aphrodite assured.

"Can't you at least… wait for her to come through?"

"She's my daughter, Brandon." She squeezed his hand. "I can't leave her." She shook her head. "I can't." A pause. "Never again."

Eugene and Emily ran through the hallways, laughing as they chased each other. The ball had already gotten them bored and they didn't get along with those snobby rich kids at all. They just wanted to have fun so they decided to sneak out of the party. Skilled in hiding as their mother and father, they were able to pass by all the guards unseen.

Since most of the guards were occupied guarding the other side of the castle and keeping their Queen and royals safe, the chambers section of the castle was empty and the kids decided it was best to play here. "Come on, Eugene!" Emily called back to her brother.

Eugene panted as he struggled to run behind her. "How can you run so fast?"

Emily giggled, "You're just slow." She teased as she ran, her head turned so she could look at him.

"You're just cheating!" Eugene shouted, glaring.

"Catch me if you ca—" Emily collided with something that pushed her back, making her fall on her behind.

She looked up and saw none other than Aunt Elsa staring down at her from behind her shoulder with a not so gentle look.

"Aunty Elsa!" Both Emily and Eugene were more than happy to see her, not fazed by her cold stare.

"You shouldn't be here." Elsa started as she turned to face them, "You should be back at the ball with your mother." She said with a flat voice.

"Aww, but we hate it there!" Emily whined, getting up on her feet.

"Where's your mother?" Elsa asked, looking around.

"We don't know." Eugene started. "We just want to play. We don't like the people that came here, Aunt Elsa."

"Yeah! They are mean!" Emily continued.

"Make them go away, Aunty Elsa." Eugene suggested.

"Yeah! Make them go away!" Emily as always echoed.

"If I had a choice, trust me I would have gotten rid of those people a long time ago." Elsa replied. Little did the two kids know that what she meant was to actually murder these people in the most brutal way.

"Why won't you? You're the Princess of Arendelle." Emily asked.

"Our family wouldn't like that." Elsa said, the thought of the hate her family had for her made her sneer in annoyance.

"Then will you play with us, Aunty Elsa?" Emily asked, excitedly.

"Yeah! Will you play with us!?" Eugene was the one to echo his sister this time.

Elsa couldn't understand how these two kids functioned. Were they always repeating after each other?

"Play?" Elsa asked, her eyes narrowing as if not understanding the concept.

"Yeah! Come on!" Emily and Eugene ran passed her, beckoning her to follow.

Elsa stayed in her place, giving them a confused look.

"Come on, Aunty Elsa! This way!" Emily beckoned her again.

Maybe this wasn't a bad idea. It was better to accompany these two mini humans anyway. She'd at least keep them safe in case any other curious trespasser decided to show up.

Sighing to herself, she followed.

Elsa found herself standing in the private castle gardens with two kids hopping and running around her, shouting and chasing each other like fools. Rapunzel's children sure were loud and full of energy. Very annoying. Weren't they supposed to be sleeping at such a late time? Oh, well. It's not like she was going by the rules.

Elsa kept her guard up, her eye darting around, inspecting every inch and looking for any sign of another intruder. Emily interrupted her when she tugged at her dress.

"Come on, Aunty Elsa. Make a slide!"

Elsa looked down at the two. "Slide?" Elsa asked as if they were talking in a different language.

"You know…" Emily made a sliding motion with her hand. "So we can play on it!"

"Snow, Aunty Elsa! Use snow!" Eugene hinted. They knew Aunt Elsa had ice powers but they had never seen her use it. The family had always made them envision those powers as something beautiful, even though that in their hearts they knew Elsa's magic could be dangerous. They couldn't be blamed. They had only seen the vicious side of it.

"Use your power! Wssssshhhh!" Emily waved her hand, beckoning Elsa to do the same.

Elsa's eyebrows rose. They wanted her to use her power? Wasn't that… a sin? Forbidden? A catastrophe? The end of the world?

Shrugging, she waved her hand and sure enough, a line of angry hissing spikes of ice shot from the ground before elevating into a spiral.

Eugene gawked at it in awe.

"No, no, no!" Emily said, shaking her head and waving her hands. "This isn't a slide!"

"We can't play on this, Aunty Elsa." Eugene said, calmly climbing a few spikes as if it wasn't a dangerous pointy thing that could have taken his life. "We want a slide." He tried to show her what it looked like with his hand and arm.

Elsa waved her hand, the spikes melting, letting Eugene down. I can't believe my powers are a play thing for these two. She grumpily thought. How could her great, dangerously powerful and deadly magic be used for kids to play. Totally unacceptable. Yet for some reason she couldn't deny those two mini human their wish.

She sighed, "I can't believe I'm doing this…" She waved her hand again. Luckily this time a slide made of hard ice formed. It wasn't perfect, but it was good enough for Rapunzel's kids to play on.

"Yeay!" Eugene and Emily raced each other to the slide. As they neared it, Emily shivered. "It's so cold!"

"It's ice." Elsa deadpanned, crossing her arms. "If you don't like it then stop making me create these damn ridiculous things."

But the kids giggled and were already starting to play.

Ignoring its temperature, Emily squealed as she slid down first, before reaching the ground laughing, already sprinting back to climb up for another turn.

Eugene paused on top and turned at Elsa. "Come on, Aunty Elsa." He called, wanting her to join.

"No." Elsa firmly said, summoning an ice chair behind her before sitting.

"Why not?" Emily asked.

"I don't do… playing." Elsa informed.

Eugene and Emily shared a look before shrugging and continuing on with their fun.

Elsa watched them climbing up then sliding down, up then down for what seemed like forever. Rolling her eyes and shaking her head at them. She couldn't understand how this was fun. She rested her elbow on the chair's arm with her hand on her cheek, feeling bored.

She was so glad no one could see her now. Her. The Snow Queen playing with human kids. Yet again... they were her family. Weren't they? She wasn't The Snow Queen anymore. She was just… Aunty Elsa?

Emily and Eugene waved and gave her a wide toothy smile. A smile full of love. Not a hateful glare or a sneer. Not even a judging stare or fearfully pointing swords at her.

Hesitantly, Elsa raised her hand and nonchalantly waved back.

Maybe… Just maybe…

This wasn't so bad after all.

After such an awful night for her, Elsa was able to smile back.

If you find any spelling mistakes or errors that's because i couldn't reread it a lot and fix things cause i have to go to work xD

let's all play for Elsa.

Peace!