So sorry if it seemed like I cheated you all out of a final chapter of "The snow Queens champion", how about I make up for it by started the sequel story, "The Reason" right now?!

Not a lot to say, just that I am so grateful and humbled by everyone who reviews, favorites, reads, or sends good thoughts. You all are amazing and I thank you so much.

As a reminder this is a sequel to "the snow queens champion" which is a sequel to "Hungry moon". You have to read those before reading this one, but I highly recommend it.

So sit back, relax and enjoy, the first chapter of "the Reason".

On with the show.

Chapter 1: Lost in the woods

Ever since Anna and Elsa we're children their father would tell them stories of the Dragon warriors and the mountains where they lived. Mountains so high you couldn't see the top, trees a deep green, and rivers as clear as crystal, all unspoiled by man. What would it be like? What would it look like? The young princesses would often daydream of what such a land would offer for a couple of adventurous young ladies like themselves. Over time, these fantasies were all that they would become. Fantasies.

Until now.

Letting out a few coughs, she rolled into a seated position with her back against a tree. She kept her eyes closed since every time she opened them she was met with the world spinning and a sense of nausea.

She held her stomach. "I don't ever… want to do that again…". To her dismay, no one responded to her groans.

Once her vertigo had subsided, she opened her eyes to discover herself alone, surrounded by a vast and dense forest. She struggled to her feet, leaves and twigs snapping beneath her heeled boots. Examining her new surroundings further greenery so lush that she could barely make out the sun above her. All around she heard the sounds of scurrying, chirping and insects,

"Good news, we're not on Dirgelaff's island anymore. Bad news… I am talking to myself." She turned herself in a slow circle, searching for hair, snow or scale of her friends and fortunately was able to hear subtle, man-like groans of agony from a nearby tree. Quickly, but cautiously she followed the sounds until she found Kristoff, standing against a tree and rubbing his head.

"Elsa?" He blinked a few times to make sure it was really her. "You're okay?"

"In a manner of speaking," her fingers were already examining his head noticing a long trail of blood against blonde locks, "you've got quite the gash here."

He chuckled as she created a block of ice for his head. "Thick skull, remember? Oh wait that was Anna."

He took the ice and placed it on his head. "Speaking of which, is she with you?"

He looked around. "She's not with you? She's not with me."

She shook her head. "I don't see Drake or Olaf either." She cupped her hands around her mouth, getting ready to shout for their companions, but he quickly grabbed her arm to stop her.

"Hold on. Yelling in an unfamiliar forest could attract the wrong kind of attention."

"Elsa! Anna! Kristoff! Mister-dragon-boy-who's-name-I-keep-forgetting!" The two grimaced, both now running in the direction of their snowy companion. "Elsa! Anna! Kris—oh hey—". Kristoff slid beside him, slapping his hands over his mouth to shush him. "Don't shush me, that's rude."

"Shhh! Olaf you need to be quiet. We don't want any wild animals finding us."

A shudder traveled down the snow queens spine. "If Kuarlong is where the Dragon Knights live, who knows what else lives around here. Drake mentioned once that Actual Dragons live here."

Kristoff got to his feet and started looking around. "I'd feel better if he was with us if we run into one of those."

"Why?" Olaf asked.

Puzzlee, Kristoff responded, "Cuz he can turn into a dragon."

He gasped. "HE CAN?!... what's a dragon?"

If their shouting wouldn't call attention to themselves, their combined facepalming sure would.

"So how do we find Anna and Drake without yelling for them?"

"We head for water. A river, lake, something like that." He stood to the side trying to get his bearings. "We find out which way is downhill and hopefully from there we'll find a water supply, since water only goes downhill."

"But how does that help us find Anna and Drake?" Elsa worried.

"Well for one, I taught Anna some basic camping skills, so she should know to look for water, and two if she's with Drake she should be fine. Assuming we're actually in Kuarlong."

Her eyes went wide. How had she not thought of that? "You think Landon may have sent us to the middle of nowhere?"

He shrugged. "I wouldn't put it past him."

"Well that's too bad," Olaf waddled around not looking at or doing anything, "If he wanted us to set him free, it would be kind of silly to send us somewhere else."

Kristoff and Elsa exchanged looks, both realizing that he had a point. "If he had sent us somewhere else Drake could die and then the deal is off. Doesn't strike me as something Landon would do." Her hands drifted to her arms to hold herself. His mortality wasn't something she wanted to think about.

"In that case, we should get moving," he pointed towards the east. "That way is downhill. I'm not sure if it will take us to water, but it's a start." He started walking in that direction. "This would be a lot easier if Sven was with us though."

Walking beside him, Elsa fought the urge to touch his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him. "I'm sure he's okay."

He nodded. "Yeah, I bet he is."

"Good call, Elsa. Stay positive even though we're lost in a thick forest without Anna and the-dragon-boy-who's-name-I-keep-forgetting."

"Drake, Olaf," she corrected as her eyes rolled into her head, "His name is Drake." Elsa and Olaf followed closely behind Kristoff as he led them through the forest.

—:0:—

Anna let out a small giggle as she tried to swat away the muzzle that was sniffing all over her. "Kristoff, stop it." As requested, the sniffing stopped. "Awe, Why'd you stop?" Her aqua blue eyes fluttered open and unfortunately it wasn't Kristoff in her face. She squealed in fright, getting into a seated position and shuffling backwards. It was shocking at first, but once she had adjusted, the creature was actually kinda cute. It was small, with thick shaggy brown hair, with a dark muzzle almost like a dog, but much larger. Its brown eyes watched her curiously, it's nostrils twitching as it took a few more sniffs of the stranger.

"Awe," she "coo'd", "aren't you a cutie?" Anna reached out a hand to touch it, but was interrupted by another voice.

"Hey! Get outta here! Go!" Drake emerged from the brush, waving his arms around to shoo away the creature. The creature took a few sniffs of the new comer before scurrying off into the forest.

Anna pouted again. "Awe, but I wanted to pet it."

Drake rolled his eyes while helping her to her feet. "Just be glad it was a cub, and not it's mother." A loud roar echoed against the trees. "Run, run, run. Go!"

He took her by the hand and they ran as far away from the roaring as possible. Once they had gotten far enough away, they stopped to catch their breath. Anna took a moment to take in their surroundings. "Um, where are we?"

"The forests on top of the mountains of my home." He answered.

She stood straight and looked around the forest of greenery. "Wait why didn't Landon just send us to your actual house?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I was afraid this might happen. My home, which is a castle by the way, is protected from dark magic." He motioned with his arms to the forest around them. "This was probably the closest he could get us."

Anna sighed. "Well as long as you know where you're going. Where's Elsa and Kristoff?"

He looked at her with surprise. "Wait, they're not with you?"

"No, cuz they're with you. Right?"

Drake shook his head, groaning to the sky. "The least that demon coulda done is teleport us all together." He lifted his nose into the air and took a few sniffs.

Anna watched him like he had gone insane. "Now what are you doing?"

"Thought I'd take in the sights and smells of the forest, then, if I have time, I was gonna try to sniff out our friends."

He had already started walking when she smacked her forehead. "Right! Dragon Knight, so you have a super smeller."

"Don't ever say that again. Ever."

"Yes sir!" She skipped up beside him and asked, "Wait? You know what they smell like?"

"Technically I know what all of you smell like, but right now I'm following Elsa's scent."

"Oh I see." She cleared her throat. "Wouldn't it be easier to, I don't know, smell Kristoff? I love him, but, come on."

"As pungent as your boyfriend is, I've sort of, erm, committed her scent to memory."

She swooned. "That's either really romantic or super creepy." He glared over his shoulder at her, but continued to follow his nose.

—:0:—

"See? What did I tell ya?" To her delight they had finally come to a river, about thirteen feet across. Kristoff fell to his knees, cupped some water with his hands, and took a generous slurp.

"Wait! Is the water okay to drink?"

Kristoff nodded his head, wiping the leftover water off of his lips. "Mountain water usually is." Olaf "oo'd", before throwing his face into the water for a drink. Elsa on the other hand conjured a cup made of ice, before dipping it into the river for a drink. "Even lost in the woods, you're still so proper."

She smirked in his direction. "Not yet," with a wink she extended her pinky before drinking. "Oh wow, that's good water." Olaf waddled beside her, "can I get a cup?" With a flourish she created one for him and Kristoff. As they dipped into the river they were drawn to the trees when they heard odd chirping noises moving from tree to tree.

"Huh. Birds?" Elsa wondered aloud.

"Probably indigenous to this area." The chirping continued as the three took a seat at the river's edge.

"Are you sure Anna will know to come to the river?"

He shrugged. "Here's hoping she was paying attention to my impromptu lessons."

"Welp, Anna's lost forever." Olaf set his cup down and started wandering along the river bank, his eyes upward looking for the birds causing the chirping.

Kristoff ignored him, clearly trying to believe in the better part of his girlfriend's impulsive, and slightly airheaded, nature. "She'll be fine. We'll stay here for a bit while we wait for them."

"How long should we wait?"

He thought for a moment. "Half hour maybe. If they don't show up we will have to follow this river downstream and hope we find something at the end before it gets too dark."

"Hey guys!?" Olaf cried. "Trees don't blink right?!"

The two exchanged confused glances before turning their attention to the snowman. "Not… usually." Elsa responded.

"Oh okay." He waved his stick hand, "high tree!" Before Elsa and Kristoff couldn't even shake their heads at his silliness, the tree he was talking to slowly started to come to life.

In a manner of speaking.

Bark, moss, branches and leaves slowly shifted and took on a different shape. A reptilian shape with large spread wings and a fan of flesh stretching from its neck. Hissing and baring snake-like fangs Olaf screeched before running back to his friends. The winged creature hopped from the tree, giving them a better look, but it wasn't clear as to what they were looking at.

Scaled Feathers lining its back shined and shimmered in the sunlight, colors shifting and blending with the environment as it stalked on all fours towards them. While the back of its body was blessed with color, it's underside stayed a tree brown.

Elsa pushed Olaf behind her, raising her ice covered hands at the dragon, ready to blast a moment's notice. "Uh, Elsa?" She followed Kristoff's pointing to two more of the same types of dragons sliding off the trees and now advancing towards them.

A shot sounded from the treetops, followed by a metallic cable wrapping around Elsa's wrists to pin them together. The thick wire then wound itself around her arms, torso, legs and between her teeth until she was completely encased in the coil and gagged. With her legs bound, she lost her balance and collapsed onto the ground.

"Elsa!" Kristoff and Olaf tried to pull the wire off of her, but it began to squeeze her as soon as they touched it. She screamed into the metal until both of them realized they needed to release it. Once they had, it began to loosen.

"Get back!" One of the Dragons hissed. It's diamond shaped head sniffed at Kristoff and Olaf then moved to the others. "The smelly one doesn't have magic, but the kid does."

"Hey!" Kristoff's indignation would have to Wait when the dragon hissed at him to be quiet.

Elsa tried to call on her icy powers, but for whatever reason they remained dormant inside of her. In fact she couldn't feel her magic at all. With wide eyes she began to panic. After opening the gates to her kingdom, she didn't like being contained, but now she was trapped and unable to summon her magic to help her. For the first time that she could remember, She was completely helpless.

Before she could start hyperventilating, A large winged, reptilian creature landed beside them with a squawk. It looked like an ostrich, but one that could actually fly with its large bat like wings. On its back, sat a rider clad in auburn leather with some sort of gun in his hand. Around his face was a metal mask, but from body language alone, he seemed annoyed. He holstered the gun into a holster on the saddle of the bird creature and hopped off, making sure to give it a few generous pats on its neck.

He turned his attention to the dragons. "What did I say about holding your positions?" He spoke with a metallic echo, most likely from the mask.

One of the dragons that was holding its tail against Kristoff's chest, spoke up. "We had to. The kid saw me." He gestured to Olaf who gasped in offense.

"I'll have you know I am two and a half years old!"

The rider shook his head ignoring the snowman. "You're a Newid Dragon and he SAW you?! Someone needs to work on their camouflaging skills." The two bantered back and forth, giving Elsa a chance to examine the dragons further until she noticed a golden band around one of their arms with an emerald jewel.

Dragon Knights.

She flinched when she felt the rider grab her, lift her off the ground and lean her against a tree. Not concerning himself with being gentle.

"That one has magic," another of the knights said. "I saw her make a cup out of thin air."

The rider slowly turned towards the knight, his voice now laced with sarcasm. "A cup? Welp, better call in the heavy hitters, we have a cutlery conjurer on our hands." If she could see his eyes, he'd be rolling them as his attention went back to her. "Here's how this is gonna work, sweetheart. That metal coil stops you from using your magic, so no use in trying anything. I'm gonna ask you some questions and all I want are short and simple answers. Understood?"

Elsa glared, her teeth grinding against the metal gag in anger and her anxiety all but forgotten. There was a time that she may have cowered under these circumstances, it was only recently that she learned to become more angry than afraid. Dirgelaff's grubby hands on her saw to that. Still, remembering her lessons in dealing in foreign affairs, this was their land and they were just being cautious. She didn't do anything wrong, she just needed to make sure to let them know that.

Calmly, She nodded her head. "Good." He lifted his right arm and started spinning some sort of mechanical dial. Her eyes widened, not at the coil releasing her mouth, but at his arm. It was made of metal. "Who are you?"

She moved her aching jaw to loosen it before answering. "I'm QUEEN Elsa, of Arendelle."

The dragons and the rider started chuckling. "Nice try, but Arendelle's queen doesn't have magic."

Anger gave way to confusion. "Where did you hear that?"

"Doesn't matter," the rider spoke. "Care to try again? Who are you?"

"She's the queen of Arendelle." Kristoff called. The dragons moved their tails closer to his neck to quiet him.

The rider rolled his head again with a sigh of aggravation. "Two of our knights had a mission in Arendelle and when they returned they said the queen was as human as I was. So no, the queen of Arendelle doesn't have magic."

It all started coming back to her and she blurted out, "You're Magnus aren't you? You're Drake and Cynthia's brother, right?"

The rider tilted his head, quiet for a few seconds, before lifting his robotic hand and tapped something on the side of his head. The metal plates of his mask shifted off of his face revealing chiseled handsome features, and a buzzed military style cut that traveled down his jawline. Brown eyes examined her closely, almost asking her to continue.

"You and Drake were horsing around when you were kids, then you were attacked by, um, something poisonous, snakes I think? Anyways you were bitten, and he didn't know how to help you." She pointed to his metal arm. "He cut off your arm with a rock to save your life."

The fingers on his metal arms started twitching, almost unconsciously. "Drake would never tell anyone that story. Least of all someone with dark magic."

"Seriously?" One of the dragons scoffed. "She easily could have read your mind."

"Not with those coils."

"Speaking of which," Elsa lifted her bound hands. "Would you mind getting this off?"

He started pacing as if he hadn't heard her. "This doesn't make any sense. Why would Drake and Cynthia lie about this?"

"Well I'd be happy to clarify, as soon as you get this thing off me."

He stopped pacing to glare at her. "Sorry, but dark magic was still used on our lands, and until I figure out how and why, you'll have to be powerless."

Olaf shuffled past the dragons to stand in front of him. "I believe I can help shed some light." He cleared his throat and took a deep breath.

"Magnus?!" Everyone looked over to the tree line, Elsa, releasing a sigh of relief seeing that Anna and Drake had finally made it to the river. Safe and sound. Drake looked from Elsa, to Kristoff, to Olaf, to Magnus. "What's going on here?"

Magnus put his hands on his hips, staring down his brother. "You tell me."

—:0:—

The brothers stood off to the side, speaking in hushed tones, but it was clear that Magnus was getting more and more aggravated judging from his body language. The three dragons stood guard around the Arendellians, but unfortunately hadn't released Elsa from the PCC, or Power Canceling Coil as Magnus called it. At least Anna was able to help her to sit against the tree now.

"This is stupid." Anna snarled. "They should let you out of this, whatever it is." Anna reached to touch it, but Elsa pulled away.

"Don't. It gets tighter when you try to get it off. It was probably made for someone that would actually give them trouble." Anna quickly pulled back. "And it's okay. Drake is gonna clear this up with his brother. We just have to be patient."

"But you're a queen!" Anna shouted hysterically, "They can't treat you like this."

"I agree." Kristoff spoke in a low, but angry tone. "You shouldn't just take this. None of us should."

Elsa did her best to speak calmly, more for them than herself. "I also have magic, and demon magic brought us here. They're just being cautious."

Anna folded her arms with a huff. "How can you be so calm about this?"

"It's better than lashing out and making the situation worse. We just need to keep our heads. We did nothing wrong."

Anna glared at Magnus. "You should freeze him solid for this."

Elsa followed her line of sight. "Who says I won't."

—:0:—

Magnus couldn't believe his ears. This was his younger brother, whom he loved and trusted, telling him that he had essentially lied to him, their father, their uncle, everyone. All so he could compete in Dirgelaff's tournament? One of many things his father forbade them from doing?

Magnus began pacing as Drake finished his story of events. "You're out of your mind. That's the only rational explanation, you're certifiably insane. Here comes a rubber room for you."

Drake rolled his eyes making waving motions with his hands as Magnus muttered to himself. "Yeah, yeah yeah, and Your mumbling again."

"I mumble when I'm anxious, flustered or pissed and right now I'm all of them, but mostly pissed." He stopped for a second. "What were you thinking? That's an easy one, you weren't thinking!—"

"—dude can you stop for a second?!" Drake held his brother back from his pacing. "Just ask a question?"

"Okay," he brushed Drake's hands off of his arms, "why did you and Cynthia tell dad the queen of Arendelle didn't have magic?"

"Come on you know how dad is. He finds out she has magic, and he'll want to recruit her, or monitor or track her, or worse, cage her."

Magnus scoffed. "So the stories were true? She twitched her nose and froze her whole kingdom in ice?"

"It wasn't like that. Elsa had no control of her magic and it just lashed out. Even experienced spellcasters have that happen at least once in their lifetime." For some reason he started blinking rapidly. "And besides, Elsa didn't ask for her powers, she was born with them."

Magnus shook her head. "Still we should have known about—" He paused. "Wait? Did you just call her 'Elsa'?"

Drake swallowed. "Well… yeah. We're friends and that's her name."

Magnus looked back, noticing for the first time that, even though she was a spell caster, and possibly a witch, she was quite beautiful. "Right, friends."

Drake rolled his head. "Ugh, It wasn't like that—"

"—'wasn't'? Which is it Drake?" Magnus stepped closer, both now whispering. "Please don't tell me you did all this for some girl?"

Drake spoke seriously, and honestly. "It. Wasn't. Like. That." His face fell, "it just sort of happened."

Magnus rubbed his eyes with his normal hand. "Son of a bitch Drake. Is that why you lied to us?"

Drake started rubbing the side of his head with his fingers, as if to rub away a headache. "Dad wanted to know if she was dangerous, and she's not." He reaches for his head with both hands, now started to breathe a bit heavier. Noticing this, Magnus began to grow concerned.

"You alright?"

He shook his head. "It's the other…. the other… the other—ARGH!" Drake folded over, growling in agony until he had collapsed to the ground.

"Drake? Drake what's wrong? Drake?!" Magnus got beside his brother when he started seizing. "Talk to me man! What's happening!?"

"Is it happening again?!" Magnus was shoved aside so the redhead could take his place at Drake's side. "No, not again." They were joined by the three Newid Dragons, the snowman, and the guy, who had carried The queen in his arms.

"Everyone back!" He got into The queen's face. "What did you do!?"

She shouted with offense. "Nothing! He was poisoned!"

"Magnus!" The red head pulled him back to Drake, just as streams of blue magic sunk into his eyes. Magnus pushed her out of the way and got beside his brother when he sat up straight.

"You okay? What was that?"

Drake blinked a few times to clear his head. "The other news I was gonna tell you about. Dirgelaff did something to me, and I need help."

One of the dragon knights slithered beside them. This one a woman. "Magnus, the magic inside him," she motioned to Drake's necklace, "it's fading."

Magnus helped Drake to his feet and whistled for his winged creature. "I'll be pissed at you later."

"Wait!" The queen yelled. "What happens to him when his magic is gone?"

Magnus shook his head. "I don't know, and I don't wanna think about it." His creature nuzzled beside him. "Yes Betsy you love me."

"That's Betsy?" Drake patted it on its feathered neck, making it turn its head to lick him. "I see she remembers me."

"Wingettes never forget." Magnus made a series of clicks and whistles to Betsy who in turn started squawking to the open air. Magnus then went to the Newid dragons. "Back to your posts. We're going to continue on as normal unless told otherwise." They accepted their assignments and disappeared back into the trees.

"Magnus. Get this thing off of her." Drake motioned to the coil wrapped around the queen. He sort of glared at his brother, but moved the dial attached to his arm, winding down the coil until it was only wrapping around her wrists. "Magnus—"

"—it's protocol you know that."

"—she's not dangerous!—"

"Drake!" She wriggled from guys arms to get to her feet. She stood tall with her chin high as she addressed Magnus. "I will abide by the laws of your land."

Magnus couldn't help but be somewhat impressed by her. "See? She's fine." From the air, two Wingettes touched down beside them. Each fitted with saddles and helmets for riders. "These guys will take you down to the castle."

"Wait, what? You want us to get on those?" The red head pointed to the nearest wingette with some apprehension.

Magnus hoisted himself onto Betsy. "They're trained to specifically go back to the castle from no matter where they are. All you have to do is saddle up, put your helmets on, and enjoy the ride."

Magnus settled himself atop of Betsy, but was watching the others out of the corner of his eyes. The ginger one, he remembered her name was Anna, and the guy went to one of the wingettes. Christopher, or something like that, seemed to have some skill with animals as he gingerly approached the wingette, whispered some sweet nothings before helping Anna onto its saddle.

The kid, the—holy shit! Living snowman!? Of course she can create life, why wouldn't she?

He watched his brother Drake pat and hush the remaining wingette, While the queen, Elsa apparently, was staring with curiosity and wonder. "I've never seen one of these before. Not even in books."

"Their only native to these mountains. As far as I know." The wingettes head swiveled towards Elsa, taking a few sniffs of her hair and face. "He likes you. If he didn't he'd bite your head off." It's head dipped to her wrists sniffing and licking at the metal that bound them. "They're also not huge fans of metal, or anything human related." Magnus ignored the small glare Drake passed over his shoulder at him.

She chuckled. "I know the feeling." Drake took one of the helmets and put it on her head, and let out a small laugh. "Let me guess, I look ridiculous."

He grabbed her by the waist and lifted her into the saddle. "It takes a lot to make you look ridiculous, but I think that helmet does the trick just fine." He lifted himself onto the saddle and wrapped his arms around her waist.

Magnus could see her cheeks visibly color, but was trying her best to play it cool. "Are you holding me because it would be safe for you to do so, or do you have other intentions."

He snorted. "I'll have you know I only have your safety in mind." He pulled her a bit closer, bringing them nose to nose. "Being this close to you is a huge plus."

Magnus couldn't believe what he was seeing. Wow. They actually care about each other? Huh? Maybe she's not a soul stealing witch after all.

"Alright are we all set!?" Magnus touched a button on the side of his face, replacing the metal plates that formed a mask onto his face. He was met with mixed responses, but he had already grabbed Betsy by her reins. "Let's fly!" He wasn't surprised to hear the various screams of the Arendellians as they took to the skies. "Pfft. Tourists."