Chapter One: Burning Star

The fire batons spun behind the back of the fire-dancer known as the Burning Star. There was no hesitation in handling the wild element and no fear that the audience could see. In fact the fire-dancer's face, covered by a black half-mask with golden flame designs, was completely devoid of emotion. The sun-kissed shoulder-length brown hair was pulled back into a long red ribbon that brushed the fire-dancer's shoulders as she spun. The loose fitting maroon pants had golden embroidered flames and a matching vest was opened to reveal the toned stomach. A light grey almost silver wolf participated in the performance as well, catching thrown batons without so much as a word of instruction from its master. The audience was enraptured by their quick and graceful movements and many would later admit to wishing the performance had lasted just a little longer.

The fire almost seeming to take on a life of its own as the fire-dancer spun the batons skillfully. Trails of fire flowed through the air often weaving close to the fire-dancer's skin. The art of fire-dancing was known to be very dangerous and the dancer could hurt themselves and possible their audience if they were not careful. It took tons of discipline and practice to handle the fire and this dancer seemed to have years of experience. There was never a misplacing of hands or movement, despite the rapid pace. The Burning Star finished by throwing the batons and catching them, shifting the movement into a bow in which the flames of the batons promptly went out. The wolf dipped into its own bow as the audience applauded. None of them would have ever thought that a girl would have been able to put on such a performance.

Sasha collected the tin laden with coins as soon as her audience had dispersed and headed back for the troupe's ship. That was her last performance of the day and she was feeling a little overheated, not to mention uncomfortable in the vest that showed off her black bindings as well as her toned stomach. The captain of the ship took the money from her without so much as a thank you and sent her off below deck. Once there she changed out of her fire-dancer uniform and into a simpler outfit.

Most of the troupe had remained on board the ship, their specific talents not suited for street performances. Some were sleeping, others were taking, and one group of four was playing cards. Sasha joined the card players, waving away the offer of being dealt in.

"Where's Steel?" She asked, looking around for the strong man.

"He's helping the crew load supplies," An acrobat named Alyx answered, folding her hand. "What's the town like?"

"Busy, dignitaries are still arriving for tomorrow's coronation."

"It's Princess Anna that's getting crowned isn't it?" Alyx's twin sister, Filli, asked.

Sasha shook her head. "No, Princess Elsa is."

"Oh, I always get those two confused."

"It feels like a storm is coming," Zane suddenly said, tossing his cards - a winning hand - down.

"I agree," Tanya, another acrobat, said. "You feel it too don't you, Sasha."

"How could I not? The magic in this place is overwhelming; I really wouldn't be surprised if something were to happen tomorrow because of it."

"Why is there so much magic here?"

Sasha shrugged. "I don't know. Arendelle had always been home trolls, but it's never had very much magic."

"There's no point in worrying about it now," Alyx suddenly said. "I may not have magic like the rest of you, but I know that it's pointless to worry when you can't do anything about it."

Sasha glanced over at the silver wolf at her side. If only they could know why she did worry. . . The wolf, Sol, blinked at her before resting his head on his paws. Alyx was right though; there was nothing they could do. The storm Zane had predicted would not happen until tomorrow, of that she was sure.

Tomorrow night was more precise. Sasha had been sleeping along with the rest of the troupe when it had happened. A wave of magic woke her up immediately. She jolted into a sitting position. Zane and Tanya had also been awakened, their type of magic allowing them to sense magic. The three, after exchanging glances, stood and walked towards each other as not to wake the others.

"What was -" Tanya started before a stronger wave of magic caused all three to stumble.

That second wave was enough to cake over half of the troupe, more specifically those blessed with magic. The rest of the troupe was awakened a few seconds later by the loud creaking and cracking that began to rise up around the ship from the fjord. The temperature dropped quickly.

"Everyone stay calm," Sasha ordered over the top of panicked voices.

"What's going on?" Someone demanded.

"I'm not sure," She answered honestly.

"There's frost on the walls," Someone else shouted.

Soon everyone was on their feet and backing away from the spreading frost. An acrobat named Mason suddenly panicked and ran, slamming into the log door at the top of the stairs. His panic began to influence the others

"Everyone hold," She called out above the clamor, pushing her way through the crowd to reach the edge of the creeping frost.

She crouched down and ran her fingertips over it. It melted instantly at the touch of her skin, but not before she managed to get a read on the magic. She raised her hand and stared at the beads of water in awe. Clenching her hand, she stood up and turned to Zane.

"Take a reading on this."

"How am I supposed to do that? I'm not a contractor like you."

"I want you to tell me what emotion it has."

"It's frost."

"So?"

He shook his head and copied what she had done seconds before, only this time the frost did not melt. His eyes widened and he jerked his hand back.

"Fear, this ice is fearful."

"How is that possible?" Alyx asked.

"A Temp-" Sasha started when the door open with the sound of cracking ice.

"Up on your feet, slaves. We've been granted safe haven in the castle until this storm has blown over. And I better not see any funny business from any of you either."

Sasha hesitated for a moment before standing and sweeping past the other slaves with feral grace. Slaves, yes that was what they were and what they would remain for as long as they remained a group of cowards. Every last one of them was powerful, more powerful than these pirates that held them captive and yet they were all too afraid of death to fight for their freedom. Sol trailed at her heel as they left the ship. He had knew his companion as well as he knew himself, but even he could not see through the mask of neutrality she wore beneath her fire mask.

As they walked, Sasha kept her ears open to the whispers of the townspeople. Many had different accounts of how this storm had started, but they all had one thing in common. It was magic casted by the new Queen as she fled from the castle and Princess Anna had gone after her. One woman's story interested Sasha more than the others. The woman, cradling her baby to her chest, had spoke of the fear and desperation she had seen from the Queen. It lined up with the fear Zane had sensed in the ice and led Sasha to believe that the Queen had no control of her magic. If that was true then Arendelle definitely had a problem. Uncontrolled magic was the most dangerous magic of all. Sasha knew this better than anyone.

She slowed and fell back to speak with one of the other slaves, who went by the name of Derek. Murmuring quietly to him, she explained her request. He listened intently before nodding and casting the requested spell. No one besides him and Sol saw the black wolf that shot off into a nearby alley a second later.

The wolf's eyes gleamed bright amber as it darted through back streets and alleys. Muscles rippled under its silky coat and it seemed unaffected by the continually declining temperature. On reaching the town limits it sped up, angling towards the North Mountain and racing over a section of the frozen fjord.

The wolf slowed to a trot, ears flickering. The magic was strong in this area and had changed. It was wilder and uncontrolled, almost malicious even. It was if something had twisted the Queen's magic to serve some other purpose. Cursing at the dark color of its fur that stood out against the pale snow, it slowed even further. Something suddenly slammed into the dark wolf, sending it skidding onto its side. Growling, the black wolf rolled onto its feet and came face to face with another wolf. Only it wasn't just a wolf. It was built like a wolf and could easily be mistaken as such by those that did not know much about magic and the creatures that wielded it.

This was a wraith, a spirit of fear. It had twisted the Queen's magic; magic created from fear, and created a physical form for itself out of ice and snow. The black wolf snarled and leapt at its magical white counterpart. It stomped and tore into despite its attempt to fight back, reducing it into a pile of wet slushy snow. The wraith, freed from the confines of the snowy body, shot skyward away from the fiery wolf only to run straight into a light glyph that mirrored the one the wolf had drawn clumsily into the snow with the tip of its tail. Writhing and shrieking, the wraith dissolved under the magical light. Leaving the light glyph hanging above, the black wolf turned to give the same fate to the rest of the wraith/wolf pack, who had hoped to remain unnoticed and were unable to flee the circle of the light glyph. The only reason they were not dissolved by the light was because of their physical shells that the black wolf would take no time in destroying.

The black wolf fought like a devil, tearing into the snowy wolfs. The wolf radiated heat far stronger than any ordinary wolf and it was as much of a woman as her teeth and claws. One wolf made out of more ice than snow sank its icy teeth into her paw, holding on tightly as the black wolf clawed at it. It didn't release until the black wolf had completely destroyed it. The rest of the wraiths soon followed. Panting heavily, the wolf wiped away the light glyph and continued walking up the mountain with a slight limp.

Blood stained the snow behind it at it pressed on. Eventually the wound became too painful to walk on and it slowly sank to its belly. The still falling snow and the snow beneath began to melt, soaking its fur. Huffing once, the wolf stood, taking on its hybrid form.

Sasha brushed her uninjured hand through her hair, flattening her ears. She hoped Derek would be able to keep his illusion up until she returned, if he didn't, they would both be in big trouble. Shaking her head, she at her injured hand. The bleeding had not slowed at all and she had nothing besides the clothes she wore to bind it with. She brushed snow to the side, digging to the frozen ground beneath. Working quickly, she used her naturally high temperature to melt the snow and create a thick mud that she used to coat the injury. Doing so introduced the risk of infection, but it was the only way she had at the moment to stop the bleeding. Once she was sure that the mud had worked, she started running again.

She was still in her hybrid form when she came in sight of the ice palace. It was impressive, but the sharp angles and edges gave it a cold disposition. It contrasted against the light and graceful staircase that led up to it. Hesitating a moment, she reached out towards the magic that hovered around the magic. The tip of her tail flicked and her ears angled back. Fear was definitely controlling the magic and Sasha was reminded of one other time she had witnessed magic becoming uncontrolled. Her back twinged with a phantom pain at the memory and she shivered reflexively.

Exhaling a quiet sigh, she shifted into her full wolf form and started forward. The palace guardian stood with a bellow at her approach. She did not flinch having already senses the desperate urge to protect and defend that had been woven into his being. The guardian seemed confused when he saw that she was just an injured wolf. She was not human as he was ordered to defend against and yet he could sense her magic as easily as she could sense his. She halted a few feet away from the snow monster.

"Go away."

Ability to move without being directed as well as the ability of speech meant that this was a familiar and hosted a small piece of the Queen's soul. Familiars were the most complex magic to decipher and yet the easiest to make. Sasha moved closer the snowy familiar, more than a little curious. He seemed to take that as a threat as he lunged at her with a bellow. Taken off guard, her dodge was clumsy and she staggered before regaining her balance. She was ready for the next lunge and after dancing to the side she began to quickly draw a rune in the snow.

"Stop!"

Both of them froze at the call, Sasha in the process of drawing the last line. She lowered herself closer to the ground, ears flattening as the guardian sidestepped and turned to look at the Queen. She was beautiful. Her platinum blonde hair fell over her left shoulder in a single plait and she wore a dress made out of blue ice. An almost clear cape dragged on the ground behind her. She was also scared, stressed, and had absolutely no control over her magic.

Sasha tilted her head and carefully eased around the snow monster to the staircase. The first step melted slightly on contact and she stepped back with a quiet irritated whimper. Shuffling her paws, she let out a wolfish sigh and reduced her magic output, returning her body temperature to normal levels. She immediately fluffed her coat up, having not realized just how cold it actually was. This time the stairs didn't melt as she limped up them.

The Queen, Else, descended a few steps to meet her. She kept her frost coated hands close to her chest and was extremely careful to not brush against the wolf.

"You're injured."

Sasha tucked her paw back out of sight and leaned forwards to bump Elsa's knee with her nose. Elsa stepped back with a quiet fearful gasp. Sasha barked and sat down, tail curling over her paws. With every idea of what she was doing, she manipulated her own magic energy to brush against Elsa's. The intimate act caused the Queen to freeze (Pun was not intended), gasping softly at the foreign sensation. Her magic energy was controlled, but held a wild side that crackled and sparked like fire. There was more to it than just that, but Elsa with her lack of magical knowledge had no way of deciphering it. It did convey its message though; Elsa's magic would not harm her. Elsa hesitatingly lowered her hand towards the black wolf's head. She flinched as a warm pink tongue lapped at their tips. She held still as Sasha let out a soft rumble and pressed her head full into Elsa's hand.

Sasha sank her teeth into the crossbow arm of one of the Wesselton men that had chased Elsa into the big central room. A growl rumbled in her chest and her grip tightened as the men tried to shake her off. Blood filled her mouth, reminding her once again why she did not like fighting in wolf form. Finally the man managed to shake her off and delivered a kick for good measure. She yelped as the blow landed solidly on her ribs, driving her breath from her body.

Elsa, who had engaged with the second man, saw the kick and reacted instantly and created a wall of ice that slid towards him. Ice spikes rose up to trap her opponent against the wall, one spike stopping a hairsbreadth away from his throat. The bitten man braced his shoulder against the ice wall, trying to stop its advance. Unfortunately his boots could not find much traction on the ice and the wall forced him to slide back into the balcony doors. The doors buckled under the pressure as the ice wall slid out onto the balcony itself.

Sasha struggled to get back on her paws, but her earlier injury had reopened and she slipped. A man - Sasha had heard him called Prince Hans earlier- burst into the room. After taking in the scene, he slowly lowered his sword and spoke calmly to Elsa. Something about the prince set Sasha's teeth on edge and she once more tried to stand. Perhaps it was the false sincerity with which he spoke, something that would not have been noticed by most. Elsa did not hear the falseness and her guard lowered.

Seeing this, the Wesselton man trapped by spikes, raised his crossbow. Sasha barked in alarm and finally regained her feet as Han's yanked the man's arm up. The bolt struck the ice chandelier above Elsa and the large razor sharp object fell. Sasha lunged and slammed into Elsa, shoving her out of the way. The Shove caused Elsa to slip and her head bounced off the ice, knocking her unconscious. The chandelier crashed down on top of the black wolf and shatters sending ice shards, spinning every which way. The main body of the chandelier is mostly whole and beneath it lays the bloody body of the wolf.

The men left the wolf for dead at an order from Hans, and taking Elsa with them, they left her and the ice palace behind. If they had taken a closer look they would have seen that Sasha was not dead. Injured yes, but not dead. Pitch black armor covered her from head to tail and besides were a sharp side of the chandelier had torn through her armor, she had been protected from the full blow.

Sasha hissed and gritted her teeth as Alyx poured the alcohol over her injured hand. It stung and she shifted uncomfortably. A hand landed on her shoulder, holding her in place.

"Hold still."

She turned her head to glare at the female juggler that had spoken. Her name was Gertrude and despite her serious expression, mirth shown in her green eyes. She was quite obviously amused by the fact that the injuries she had occurred had been caused by ice. Gertrude prodded a cut on her back that was deeper than the rest. Sasha whimpered in response.

"Are you sure that you summoned your armor?"

"If I hadn't we wouldn't be having this conversation."

"Alright, no need to get snappy."

Filli joined them with a roll of bandages that she passed to her sister. 'Derek's exhausted."

Sasha looked towards the illusionist where he lay flat on his back. Derek had kept his illusion of her up the entire time she had been gone and after she had made the laborious trip back, he'd cast an illusion over her to hide her beat up sate from the pirates that had enslaved her. Convincing illusion magic took a lot of effort and power, and he had done so for a longer time period than he was used to.

"Let him be then."

Gertrude and Alyx finished bandaging her wounds and she slid forward to pull her shirt back on. Tomorrow's performance was going to be brutal and Derek was going to need to use an illusion to hide her wounds again.

"It's getting late and we were all up late last night as well. Everyone with a performance tomorrow needs to get some rest tonight."

"Aye, aye Cap'n," One of the slaves replied teasingly.

Sasha rolled her eyes before crossing over to where her blanket lay, farthest from the door. Despite what she had said, she was unable to find sleep. The youngest of their troupe, a five-year old named Lilly, had cuddled into her side and Gertrude lay behind her with an arm wrapped around her waist and their legs entwined. Sasha was kept awake by the knowledge that while the unnatural winter was over the trouble was not. Their enslavers were without a doubt interested in the magic of the Queen and as with all pirates they would find themselves compelled by their greed. Sighing, she closed her eyes. They would have to end this cycle, she decided before allowing sleep to claim her.

Unknown to her, she had not been the only one awake. Lilly shifted carefully and touched the edge of Sasha's mask. After a brief hesitation she dropped her hand to rest over the young's woman heart. White haloed her hand and the fire-dancer's wounds slowly began to heal, leaving behind only two silvery scars, one on her wrist and the other on her back. Lilly curled even closer to Sasha and allowed herself to return to sleep with a contented smile.

"Lilly healed you again," Alyx said, removing the now useless bandages.

"I thought so." Sasha replied with a soft quiet sigh. "I really wish she wouldn't."

"That girl love you like an older sister. You should try to be more grateful about that.

The two women looked up to see Gertrude and her mother, Fae. It was Fae that had spoken and her eyes shined with disapproval and concern. Fae acted as a mother to all of the young members of the troupe. She had no magic powers of her own and had only ended up on this ship because the pirates had wanted her daughter for her magic. She was one of the few people that completely understood Sasha's and Gertrude's more than friends but less then lovers relationship.

"I am grateful. I just don't want to take advantage of her abilities like those pirates do."

"Is it really taking advantage though when she chooses to do it willingly?"

"Alright, scum. Get up and get a move on before I have to come down there with my whip!"

Sasha's eyes hardened at the pirates shout. She sighed and stood to go get her uniform. Gertrude followed her and the two got dressed together. She hung the batons off her belt before hustling the rest of the day's performers up on deck to get their tins. She was consequently the last to get hers. As she turned to leave one of the pirates leaned forward to whisper suggestions into her ear that caused the other pirates that overheard to laugh and whistle. She gave the man a blank look before leaving.

Sasha had an even better turnout rate today than she had last performance. Everyone seemed to be craving a little extra warmth after the events of the Great Thaw as it had became known as. There was a crowd surrounding her before she'd even lit the batons. Holding the batons in one hand, she struck a match to light them. Once she began moving, she focused less on the crowd and more on what she was doing. Each move had to be perfectly timed or she'd end up burning herself or her partner. Sol was happy to bounce off her knee or back or jump over her to catch batons. He never complained about the heat that singed his nose and she never complained about his saliva that made handling the batons all the more dangerous.

A disturbance in the crowd caught her attention and she missed her baton. She'd done more than just miss it though; she hadn't even reached out to catch it. Sol covered for her mistake. He jumped off her knee and twisted to catch the baton, flipping it back to her. She recovered quickly and her audience wasn't even aware that a mistake had been made. The fire-dancer and wolf were lucky, a mistake like that could have resulted in one of them getting burned. She spun the batons even faster. The speed at which they moved seemed to weave a web of fire around her. She finished with her signature bow and held it a few second longer than she normally would before straightening.

Princess Anna was clapping excitedly along with the rest of the crowd while Queen Elsa watched Sasha curiously. The Burning Star had seemed so absorbed in her dance that Elsa had been surprised when the girl had bowed directly to her. She hadn't thought the girl had noticed her or her sister. The fact that she had, impressed her almost as much as the fire dance had. She was even more impressed when the girl did not show any emotion to Olaf walking up and announcing he liked warm hugs.

"I think my hugs would be a little too warm for you, little snowman," She stated, causing the cheerful snowman to laugh.

Elsa was surprised by the fierceness in Sasha's brown eyes when she looked back up at her. A faint frown flashed across her face, so quick that Elsa almost thought she'd imagined it.

Sasha took a deep breath before relighting the baton and starting a new dance. This cycle must end before another innocent soul was taken and it was her duty to end it. Fire traced a hidden glyph in the air with her movements and only a bird would have been able to see what the glyph was. This glyph was more powerful than the other glyphs she had used. It was glyph of strength, order, protection, love, commitment, and honor.

Okay, here's the reedit of this chapter. There's a lot of changes, so I suggest you read the entire thing again. It's also longer than the first version. I'll also be deleting the previous chapters I have in order to start over. Unfortunately I'm really busy with school, so I won't be on fanfiction to update this story with any regularity. I do however plan on finishing this story.