It had been done, the source of the spirits' rage had been destroyed. They took back their curse and freed the forest from a lifetime of agony. But Elsa's eye was not dim and she faced her sister, having called her over to speak to her in private and explain to her that she made the decision not to return with the others, as it was their sisterhood that formed the bridge. While she knew that Anna would not like it, having had to stare at a locked door for 13 years and then have three years of normalcy, this had to be done in Elsa's eyes, because the Spirits wanted to prevent what had happened 34 years ago with Runeard from happening again and to them, Elsa's ice powers and Anna's compassion and empathy would not lead her down the path that Runeard took, having had first hand experience with it and having a sister who lived in the forests would also aide there as well in that department. It was after Kristoff's proposal that the caravan was preparing to transport Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Sven, Olaf and the trapped Arendellian Soldiers back home. Upon seeing Elsa's signal, Anna told the caravan to hold on and bounded over to her sister. "You wanted to talk to me about something? The caravan is preparing to leave and you're not on it. I told them you would be on soon", she said. Elsa sighed. She had considered going back with Anna and the others, but the journey had opened her eyes to her true calling and it was more than just Arendelle's queen, a position that, per the spirits, she was never met to have. It was Anna.

"I'm needed here," Elsa said. Anna's eyes widened at the implication of that statement.

"But, your place is," she started to protest, but Elsa put a finger to Anna's lips.

"My place was never in Arendelle. I was always supposed to be here. Arendelle is in your hands now. You will make a fine queen, better than I was, `` Elsa said, remaining firm.

"Aside from that rough start, you were an excellent queen. Don't you ever say those things about yourself," Anna said. But then she had another thought: How would their relationship now be since Elsa was now a Forest Guardian and Anna was still, just Anna?

"But, are we still?" Again, Elsa put a finger to Anna's lips.

"You are still my baby sister. That will NEVER, EVER change", Elsa affirmed. The statement made Anna feel a little bit better, as she doubled back to give Elsa one last hug, but once Elsa was out of earshot, Anna returned to the caravan and her demeanor suddenly changed, she was remembering all those times Elsa pushed her away and this is what it felt like, not only was she pushing Anna away again, she was pushing all of Arendelle away, all because of some unspoken prophecy that was coming to pass just now? Anna climbed into the wagon with Kristoff and Olaf.

"Just go," she said. The driver was dumbfounded.

"Where's the queen?"

"She's not coming with us", she said. At that statement, the caravan took off, leaving the Enchanted Forest and Elsa behind.

Elsa kept her vow. Even after they went their separate ways, Elsa coronated her own sister as queen of Arendelle and was maid-of-honor when she and Kristoff tied the knot. Not a day passed by without a letter exchange. She and Anna bridged the gap between Arendelle and The Enchanted Forest, but eventually, something started nagging at her head: Did she make the right decision to leave Anna? Could Anna have stayed with her? Suddenly, she felt guilty for having sent Anna away during their journey. Anna kept Elsa's room prepped for her whenever she visited the castle, but Elsa never seemed to stay very long, a few hours at most, never a whole day, almost as if she was afraid she would get attached and not return to her post as Guardian of the Enchanted Forest. She decided to have a talk with Yelena about this.

"Elsa, your sister had her own destiny separate from yours. You found your place now, `` the tribal leader had said.

Back in Arendelle, Anna was having the exact same experience, wondering if this was the right choice for them. "After everything we've gone through, everything we did, she just leaves me again?" Anna vented to Kristoff.

"Anna, there's a different variation of leaving. There's "Leave the Kingdom" and "Leave the Country". Elsa didn't 'leave the Country'. She left the kingdom. You still see her occasionally", Kristoff tried to comfort his wife.

"Kristoff, you need to remember that I told you. We were isolated 13 years because of her powers. I got her back after the crisis, but we had only 3 years together. Sisters are supposed to live together, breath together, even grow old together!" Anna said.

"Anna", Kristoff put his hands on her shoulders, calming her. "I'm sorry you felt your time with Elsa was cut short, but deep down, you knew full well that this was coming. People eventually realize that they need to forge their own destinies away from the ones they love. Did I like my life in the orphanage? No! No one does but I still loved the maidens that cared for me but I felt my destiny was away from there so that's why I kept trying to escape the orphanage. Besides, I had a nagging feeling I wasn't getting adopted anyway. Besides, we still see Elsa", he stopped himself when he realized the truth: It wasn't feeling abandonment, Anna wanted to see Elsa daily, hear her voice, the sounds of her heels clacking as they ran around the palace. He had seen Anna visit Elsa's room and start to knock on the door but catch herself, reminding herself that Elsa didn't live with them anymore. "You wish she was still with us," he said. Anna nodded. "Let's see my family. Maybe they can explain," he said.

Back in the Enchanted Forest, Yelena was still talking with Elsa. "Elsa, the spirits made you the magical half of the fifth spirit to reward your mother for her kindness in saving your father. You belong here, `` she tried to reason.

"Yes, but I grew up in Arendelle. I had Anna, my friends, my brother-in-law. Everyone I knew was there. I feel like I abandoned them. Yelena, I never said this, but you need to know my history with my sister. We have a beautiful bond, I write to her every single day, I see her whenever possible, but it wasn't like this initially. You see, Anna knew about my gift, and we spent countless hours playing with my gift, until one night, I accidentally hurt her in her head with my magic. She was healed, but Papa thought it was best if I was kept away from her, which led to me isolating myself. I thought I was doing the right thing, but Anna helped me realize how wrong I was for treating her the way I did. I had 13 years to make it up to her and I did but I feel like I abandoned her again to follow my fate, a fate I wish Anna could have shared with me. I betrayed my sister again when I sent her away, `` she lamented.

"She IS sharing it with you. She is with her people, you are with yours. Why do you think you were chosen to bear the powers and not Anna? As much as you like to, Anna can't be with you because she needs to be with her own kind ,`` Yelena said.

"Are you saying my sister is ordinary?" Elsa was not amused.

"No, what I'm saying is that, Anna was met to keep you in check until you were ready to find out the truth,'' the leader responded.

Back in Arendelle, Anna and Kristoff were talking with Pabbie about the situation, with pretty much the exact same response: Anna and Elsa were meant to be a bridge between the two sides of Arendelle: Elsa represented the magical side while Anna had to be among the ordinary side and whether Anna liked it or not, Elsa, although raised as an Arendellian, was not meant to be one and trying to bring her back would possibly result in severe punishment and retribution from the spirits, Elsa included.

"So, it's best to let the status quo be, then?" Anna asked.

"Yes. Live your life, Anna and let your sister live hers", Pabbie said.

"She's family!"

"And she will always be family! Leave well enough alone, Anna! You're meddling with things you don't understand!"

"Then HELP me understand! Why don't I remember Elsa's powers?! Why was I kept away from her for 13 years?!" Finally, Pabbie snapped.

"BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO KNOW THE TRUTH!" This shocked everyone, Anna included. Pabbie sighed in an effort to calm himself down from his outburst and decided to come clean about everything.

"The prophecy was that the queen would bare two daughters, the oldest one would have magical powers of ice and snow, the youngest one would be ordinary. If The Enchanted Forests of Arendelle hadn't been cursed and the queen had been more open about her past and connection to that land, she would have raised Elsa in the forests and you would have been raised a king's daughter, ignorant of magic and unassuming, except for one thing: You have a sister. That's why I wiped your memories of your sister's magical abilities. I was merely trying to salvage the original destiny, but the forests were cursed and Elsa grew up a king's daughter and successor anyway, a life she wasn't met to lead and you were. But, fate works in mysterious ways, so your job was to keep Elsa in check until they were ready to explain their past and, I'm assuming, split you two apart, but the forests were cursed, you got hit so that changed the natural course", Pabbie explained, more calmly this time. Anna's lip quivered at this. She realized something.

"Then the prophecy, in spite of everything that happened, still came true anyway?" Pabbie nodded.

"Can I change our fates?"

"You can't fight fate, Anna. This was always your destiny. Like I said, leave the natural course alone. Do NOT make the same mistake your ancestors did. The spirits will not be forgiving this time around if an outsider meddles and I must warn you, if you meddle, your sister WILL side with them, family ties be darned", the troll said.

"She's my sister, she would NEVER hurt me,'' Anna said. Kristoff coughed. "Both times, they were accidents,'' she said, knowing what he was going to say.

"I was going to say, knowing Anna, she'll find a way to rewrite fate, especially if it considers family ties,'' he said. He then turned to Pabbie. "This is more the fact she's not used to having Elsa around as frequently as before. Try and look at it through Anna's eyes. This is the sister she loves greatly. She tries to knock on her door but stops herself. She even keeps her sister's chambers prepped tidy in case she decides to extend her visits, which, foregone conclusion, she doesn't. This separation is clearly hurting Anna, especially since that's all she's ever known in her childhood. She told me everything and I told her about my past as an orphan, `` he said. Pabbie smirked.

"Ah, but did we ever tell you about how you found us?" Kristoff went silenced.

"You were walking along the path about the same time the royals were coming to see us to heal Anna. You followed the ice trial Elsa was leaking out because of her fear. That is how you found us", Pabbie finished. Kristoff looked at Anna.

"That little girl was you?" Anna nodded. Kristoff stood, shock still.

"So, wait, did I have a role in this as well?"

"If things progressed as they should have been, you would have eventually met and married Anna, yes", Pabbie confirmed.

"What about Hans?" Anna asked.

"If things progressed as they should have been, Hans would only had a minor role, he came blundering into a story he ultimately had no place in," Pabbie stated. Anna and Kristoff looked at each other. In the Enchanted Forest, Elsa was having the same conversation with Yelena, with pretty much the same result: Everything was righted and trying to disrupt the natural course again would result in punishment. By raising Elsa in Arendelle, their parents meddled and paid the price for it: Their own lives.

"But what if we moved down to Arendelle?"

"IDIOT GIRL!" Yelena snapped. Realizing what she said, she calmed down. "I'm sorry, but we're just not met to meddle in the lives of the ordinary."

"It's my sister and family down there!"

"That's THEIR place! Your sister and family played their parts!"

"Did you ever see how distraught my sister looks at the end of our visits? I do and it's KILLING me inside! That's what happens when you are raised alongside someone you love dearly!"

"AND YOU WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE!" Elsa was shocked. Yelena explained to Elsa what would have happened had the forests not been cursed and their mother came clean about her past: Iduna would have brought Elsa to the forests to train and hone her skills in her powers, Adgar and Anna would have stayed in Arendelle and Anna would have succeeded her father as queen, Anna would have only known Elsa's existence, not her powers. Elsa realized that's why the trolls wiped Anna's memories and why their parents kept silent about their past: Their father was afraid if it came out he fell in love and married a Northuldaian, he would have been branded a traitor and excommunicated from the kingdom and the kingdom calling for his resignation.

Anna and Elsa ran Pabbie and Yelena's words through their head. Anna wasn't supposed to know the truth about Elsa and be kept away from her all that time? Elsa was supposed to raised apart from Anna? It felt like a punch in the gut. As Anna laid in her bed in Arendelle Castle and Elsa in her ice tent, they both came to a decision: They would try to find a way to be together without restrictions.

AN: Well, here is the first chapter of a new story. It follows the ending of Frozen II, even though I haven't seen the film yet, I contribute to the Disney Wiki, which had the characters' articles updated to reflect the events of Frozen II and the resolution and when I saw what the resolution was going to be, I didn't like it. Frozen, to me, was always more about the sisters' relationship and I know they were trying to do the moral about "You need to forge your own path independent of your loved ones" and all, but in light of what they went through in the first film, it didn't feel warranted. So, I decided to explore the ramifications of what would have happened and if it was ultimately better in the long run. Frozen & Frozen II are Disney.

AN 2: I did see Frozen II on DVD and I liked it. But I still stand by what I said about the ending. It just didn't feel warranted to me in light of what the sisters went through in the first film, the Aesop it taught and the fact it appeared to Retcon the sisters' personalities in order to match the conflict they wanted for the sequel, since they weren't really writing towards a sequel at the time of the first film. I get the implications of it (ie: trying to prevent what happened 34 years ago from happening again) and I get that the sequel was more through Elsa's eyes like the first film and the two shorts were more through Anna's eyes, but it really felt like the team who changed the game board with the first film choked and defaulted to the template set by Ralph Breaks the Internet (ie: Time passes, one character feels restless with their place, they go explore a new world and the character who feels restless gradually comes to resonate with the new world and chooses to stay in it upon journey's end. There's even the contrived 'split up'). It was good, but it could have been better. I rewrote the beginning of this story to bring it more in line with the film and set the conflict more clearly.