Anna bounded down the final staircase, two steps at a time. The dread at the back of her mind was steadily increasing. All her instincts were screaming that something was terribly wrong. Why would Elsa have been led down here? Few of the explanations were good. She opened the door, stepping into the hallway-

"Hello, milady." Kayla was standing in the middle of the hallway, having just been headed for the staircase herself.

"Have you seen Elsa?" the Knight asked immediately.

The young maid nodded. "She was down here, looking for you. One of her guards said that he thought he had seen you come down here, and she was worried that you would accidentally injure Frye. Her Majesty told me to search for you down here, while she went to go search the upper rooms. I imagine she is still up there."

Anna sighed with relief. "I was just up there...must have missed her on the way down," she mused. "I'm going to go find her. Gods, sometimes it's as if she has no faith in me. I'm not stupid enough to hurt Eldora's prized champion."

"Of course not, milady," Kayla smiled.

The Knight nodded. "Thanks. Well, I'd better go track her down. See you later, Kayla." Allowing her relief to sweep through her, the Knight turned around and began to walk up the staircase. Sometimes, it seemed, paranoia wasn't warranted. For once, something had turned out not to be a crisis.

\

Elsa twisted in her bonds, desperately trying to avoid the white smoke converging upon her. It began to fill the Queen's mouth. She coughed it out desperately, but the haze was undettered; it continued to eagerly travel towards the monarch's lungs. For a few terrifying moments, Elsa could not breathe.

Maybe that was a good thing. The horror that she was capable of unleashing on the world...it was too awful to think about. Anna might never recover from the sight of seeing Elsa's body, but it might be even worse for the Knight if Evangeline had her way. Would her past self simply kill Anna outright, or would her fate be even worse than death?

She shut her lips tightly, desperately trying to keep out the smoke. Then, a strange sensation in her arms made her look down. The mist was lingering around her flesh...slowly seeping into her skin through the infinitesimal pores that dotted her arms. No!

Raising her head, she fixed Evangeline with a deadly glare. "You are going to regret this," she promised. "Even if the Goddess possesses me...even if you find yourself rewarded today, you are going to die for this. If I don't kill you, Anna will. She's stopped you before, and she will do it again. Whether that means saving me or avenging me...it doesn't matter."

The spymaster smiled. "You will not be possessed. You will simply remember," she said firmly. "And as for Anna, I have no doubt that she would try. Fortunately, Your Worship, I shall have you protecting me. Anna has proven capable of defeating the mages of both Drell's order and the Faithful, but that is only because she's had access to a portion of your power. All she has ever been is a nuisance, propelled to petty victories by luck and stolen magic. Against a true Goddess, she will prove to be nothing."

Elsa opened her mouth to respond, but the mist was making it impossible to concentrate. Flashes of the past began to appear in her mind, even as darkness started to take over the edges of her vision. Gritting her teeth, the Queen tried to focus her mind on Anna. If nothing else, the Knight's warm smile was a good thought to go out on.

Anna, I...

\

The magical binds vanished. The last of the white mist disappeared. Evangeline found herself staring at the woman now standing in the center of the room. Elsa smiled, stretching out her arms slightly as if getting a feel for them. Any doubts the spymaster might have had vanished as the Goddess fixed her with an approving stare.

All around her, the Faithful dropped to their knees before their mistress. Evangeline, still stunned that they had finally succeeded, was one of the last to bow. Her eyes fell to the floor, staring at the Goddess's feet.

For a moment, the room was utterly silent.

"Well done," Elsa intoned. "It appears that not all of my trust was misplaced; some of my lieutenants were worthy of their gifts. Worry not. Your faith will be rewarded in the new world that we shall build together. You may rise," she continued, lightly gesturing with one hand. "With the return of my memories has come renewed clarity. I do not fault any of you for any of your actions. This, I promise."

Evangeline's heart was pounding. She had been waiting this moment for her entire life, and now that it had finally arrived, she could scarcely believe it. Almost giddy with joy, the spymaster rose to her feet and awaited her first divine command.

"For now," the Goddess frowned, "We must bide our time. There is nothing to gain by causing a commotion here...surrounded by many so-called world leaders. Once we arrive back in Arendelle, our plans will begin to move forward."

Brow furrowing in confusion, Evangeline rose her eyes to meet the icy pupils of the Goddess. "Forgive me, Your Worship, but is now not the perfect time to strike? With so many powerful individuals within easy reach...capturing or killing the lot of them would make your pending conquest far easier."

"Conquest?" Elsa asked with a raise of her eyebrows.

A flicker of nervousness returned in the spymaster's chest. Had the Goddess been changed by her years as a mortal? Did she no longer desire to return the world to its natural order? "Yes, Your Worship. The prophecy clearly states that your domain must cover the entire earth to return to your full strength. Is that not what you wish?"

Elsa took a step towards Evangeline, and the spymaster reflexively flinched back.

"Fear not. My goals and desires have not changed. Yes, I intend to regain my divinity by any means necessary. But such crude methods..." she chuckled, raising a hand to her lips to hide her amusement, "Are not needed. My domain does not refer to Arendelle. It refers to this." She raised her hand, creating a small swirl of snow above her palm. "Military conquest is not what the prophecy entails. After my strength is returned, of course, I shall indeed take my place as Empress of the planet. But the struggle will be over so quickly that it will scarcely be referred to as a war."

Evangeline sighed with relief. "Of course, Your Worship."

"For the moment, I am still mortal...and thus vulnerable. In my weakened state, it shall take several months to accumulate enough power for the spell I need. There is no need to cause commotion during that time; it would gain us nothing," Elsa explained.

A spell? Elsa's magic, even diminished as it was, had no limits that Evangeline had ever discerned. Whatever this magic was, it would entail more than a simple global winter. "And what of Anna, Your Worship?" she questioned.

For the first time, the Goddess sneered. "She is the exception. As moronic as she is, it is likely she would eventually realize something was different. Anna knew me, the fake me, too well. We cannot take the chance that she will interfere again. I will not move against her here, what with my scatterbrained cousin and that swindler she calls a husband so near. Once we return to Arendelle, I shall deal with her. And she will be punished for her transgressions."

\

After breaking up the gathering of the Faithful, Elsa reluctantly went in search of Anna. If there was anything that could derail her plans, it would be creating an episode of some kind in front of all these mortal 'leaders'. It was best to make them think that nothing of any sort was wrong. By the time they realized what was happening, it would already be too late.

Elsa. If there was one thing her pathetic so called parents had gotten right, it was her name. The Goddess had not possessed such a moniker before; there had been no need. Still, she could not deny that the name had a nice ring to it. It suited the Goddess of Winter. Perhaps, in today's modern world with its evolved social customs, it would be prudent to keep it even after she returned to power.

Goddess had devolved into an abstract term from the distant past. If her subjects only knew her by that title, it might serve to downplay her importance in their minds...make her rule seem more distant than it really was. Elsa was real. It was a name of both power and beauty, and would serve to remind her subjects how they existed only to serve her whims.

And so that is how she would be known. Elsa, Goddess of Winter. Empress of the Earth.

"There you are!"

She rounded a corner to find a certain redhead running to her. "You had me worried!" Anna exclaimed, embracing the Queen in a tight hug. "I've been looking for you for hours. Marisol said you were looking for me and I-"

"I'm fine, Anna," Elsa replied, putting on her best smile. How had she ever been attracted to this...pitiful mortal? Someone so weak and helpless that they barely deserved to exist, let alone share a bed with a Goddess. Simply thinking about the...intimacy they had shared made Elsa want to vomit.

I gave her everything. And she has the gall to expect my love? Defile me with her touch? She was never even worthy to stand in my presence. She was tempted to simply kill the girl now and be done with it. But then Rapunzel would doubtlessly move against her, and the rest of the world would be horrified. No; she would have to wait. Regardless, death was probably too good for Anna. Why give her an easy end when she could lock the 'Knight' in her dungeons for the remainder of her life?

It's a shame Jocasta had to be killed. Hopefully Evangeline knows some of her tricks.

From a strategic standpoint, it would be even better to wait until the spell was prepared. Anna's stolen powers posed a small threat to her, and it would be preferable to not have to oppose her until Elsa's full strength returned. But the Goddess couldn't pretend that she still loved the girl for long, and Anna would likely start asking difficult questions. Not to mention...

I have to move against her as soon as we return. It would be easiest to simply stab her in the back and be done with it, but then people would become very suspicious. Word would spread to Corona and other nations that my consort was assassinated, and if word leaked out that I was responsible, it would jeopardize everything. Better to proclaim her a traitor and have her imprisoned. People would still be surprised, but it would create much less of a reaction. And I can make her suffer in the dungeons with no one on the outside any the wiser. I'll still have to keep Rapunzel placated, of course, but it would be much easier than if I outright killed Anna or claimed she mysteriously disappeared.

Her dim-witted 'cousin' might prove to be a nuisance, but nothing that Elsa couldn't handle. Besides, the Princess would be distracted by her pregnancy. What Rapunzel did not know is that her child would not undergo a normal term. The Princess had gained her magic from a golden flower...the last one on earth. In a previous age, the Goddess of Healing had used such plants as a vehicle to reward her chosen followers with a portion of her magic.

Now imbued with that magic, Rapunzel was certain to pass it on to her child. What Elsa and the Faithful knew, and Rapunzel did not, was that pregnancies involving magic took significantly longer than average. The transfer of magic took time, and caused a delay in the baby's growth. The end result would be a healthy child wielding his or her mother's magic, but it would take a few extra months.

Should I warn her? On one hand, she would likely panic when the stomach failed to grow quickly enough, and that would distract her from Anna's situation. However, if she panics significantly, she might come to Arendelle and seek my help. No, better to inform her now.

\

"Anna, it's only been a month. I doubt you can hear anything," Rapunzel smiled.

The Knight lifted her ear from Rapunzel's stomach to look the Princess in the eyes. "Just because the baby is really small doesn't mean I can't hear it. And I think I heard it saying something," Anna pouted.

Rapunzel suppressed a giggle. No doubt due to her less than stellar education, Anna had no idea how pregnancy actually worked. Apparently, the Knight believed that the baby was already fully formed...just incredibly small. Attempting to listen to the baby appeared to make Anna happy, and the Princess had no intention of informing her that the child was little more than a small speck months away from developing a mouth.

"What are you going to name it? Do you think it's a boy or a girl?" Anna questioned rapidly.

With a frown, the Princess sighed. "Honestly, I'm not entirely sure. Whether it's a boy or a girl, Eugene and I haven't decided on any names yet. For a girl, I actually wouldn't have minded using your name; I might have if it wasn't already taken."

"My name?" Anna asked.

Rapunzel nodded. "It's short and simple, but it has a nice ring to it. It's a shame that people always mispronounce it," she noted.

The Knight smiled in agreement. "You don't know how many times I've been called An-a. Seriously? Is Ah-na that hard to remember? It's only two syllables!" she joked. Rapunzel couldn't help but agree; she really did like how Anna's name sounded. Unfortunately, having more than one Anna running around would probably get confusing, so even if her child was a girl, Rapunzel would probably have to pick something else.

"I still can't believe you named me surrogate. I mean...me?"

Rapunzel wrapped her arm around the Knight. "You've risked your life to save mine more than once without even thinking. Your duty was to protect Elsa; you've never had an obligation to protect me. You've proven to be the best friend I could ask for, and there's no one else I would trust more with my child. "

Anna nodded. "Thanks. Still, it's just...ten months ago to this day, I was a thief trying to rob Elsa. Now I'm being trusted as a potential guardian to the possible heir to the Coronan throne."

"You're also about to become Queen of Arendelle, remember? Pretty soon, you are going to outrank me. I hope you don't make me address you as Your Majesty," Rapunzel replied with a playful tone.

Anna giggled. "I'm actually going to try making everyone call me by my first name. Or at least ask them to stick to Lady Anna. I want to help the people of Arendelle, not stand above them. Elsa has to do that...someone must be presented as a symbol of authority. But I want to be seen as a patron, not a ruler."

"You know, a lot of people in your situation...swept up into riches and luxury, and now also royalty, would have let it go to their heads. I think you're going to make an excellent Queen, Anna."

"I-"

With a low groan, the door to Rapunzel's chambers opened. Elsa stood in the doorway with a purposeful look in her eyes. Eugene, standing next to her, appeared thoroughly bewildered. "We need to talk," Elsa said shortly. "I've told Eugene already, and it's time that you know as well."

"What's going on?" the Princess questioned.

"I'll get right to the heart of it. The last time I talked with the trolls of Arendelle, their leader gave me some interesting information about pregnancies. When either the mother or the father possesses magic, the odds are extremely likely that the child will possess those powers as well," the Queen revealed.

Rapunzel's heart leapt. The question of her child inheriting her magic was one that the Princess had been pondering for some time, and Elsa's words delighted her. It would always be useful to have another Healer walking around, and it meant that her precious baby would be able to heal itself even if it's mother was not nearby. Unfortunately, however, Elsa did not appear finished.

"But there is a cost. The transfer of magic takes time, and distracts the body's resources from other aspects of the pregnancy. In short, the time it takes for the child to come to full term is significantly longer than average. It will be as healthy and developed as any other child upon its birth, but the time it takes to get to that point will be longer," the Queen warned.

What? Rapunzel had been looking forward to the journey of pregnancy, even while dreading the pain she would go through at the end of it. But for longer than nine months? "How long?" she asked suddenly.

"Pabbie was very clear. A year at the least. Probably closer to a year and two months. He said the record was around sixteen months, but his documentation isn't always clear, and instances of magic among humans have declined in recent centuries," Elsa explained.

Sixteen months?!

"You've never told me this before," an equally shocked Anna breathed.

Elsa shrugged. "It never really came up. I thought my dear cousin would like to know before she started wondering why her child's development was several months behind. Anyway, Rapunzel, you shouldn't worry. These pregnancies, according to Pabbie, almost never suffer from any complications. The only difference is the amount of time involved. In the end, your child is more likely to be healthy than a regular baby."

That was good. But still...a year or more of pregnancy?

\

Leaving her stunned relatives behind, Elsa left to organize the details of the return to Arendelle. She understood why the Faithful had brought her to Eldora, but it was a nation she never wanted to visit again. Here was where she had fallen...betrayed by both her followers and her own self-confidence. Once her strength had returned, the Goddess would see this Castle wiped off the face of the Earth.

The people of this land would be punished for their transgressions. They had not been the ones to betray her, no, but they had reaped the benefits of her fall. No one could explain the scientific rationale behind Eldora's strange weather because it was not a matter of science. The act of destroying the Goddess of Winter had released magic so powerful that its effects would linger forever. The essence of winter had been destroyed here, but not without first changing the land forever. The divine essence of cold had worked its magic on the desert country, transforming much of it into a temperate land.

The people who had benefited from this fortuitous phenomenon would see their sins punished. Once at full strength, Elsa would amplify the magic that lingered in Eldora's air and change it into a land of eternal winter. Its people who survived would be forced to continue to eke out a living in the harsh new environment even as they were commanded to build temples in Elsa's name.

But she was thinking too far ahead. There were many who would suffer for their actions before the Eldorans. The first of those people was standing right beside Elsa, smiling and holding her hand as they boarded the ship.

A/N: Here we go, the final arc! The darkest, longest, and most intense of them all. I know some of it will be difficult to read, but it will all be exciting! I did promise in the past that something would happen that dwarfs the feels caused by Sven's death, and now I think it's apparent what that is. I always keep my promises!

I give you the true BigBad of this story, and one no one had ever predicted. Elsa, Goddess of Winter! I'm not asking questions about what precisely happened to her, but you're all welcome to speculate!

Responses:

YuriLover24: Thank you!

DimmensionalLover: Evangeline had to, so the new Elsa would know that the Faithful were her servants and had done what they had in her name. Otherwise, she might have lashed out and killed them before they could explain.

WinterWolfDragon: Nope!

: Still killing you?

PandaCornForever: I'm doing my best to be original!

Frost108: Oops!

3Gs: This is where it goes.

Sedryn: Doesn't seem like she wants to protect Anna.

Lionheart: About liking Evangeline…

SonFan1978: Looks like Anna screwed up.

CoolNickNack: Not well.

Strab: Yay!

Superbabe4343: Are you sure?

Techniclaities: Still excited?

Guest 1: Doesn't seem like her personality is the same…

Veoving: Yeah, it would.

RAM00: Haha.

Gwiley16199: Still hopeful?

Kyoko-nyaa: Too late!

Arekanderu: I'm not sure what Heavan is.

Nictofo5: Not exactly.

ClaireCooper: Even I'm having trouble enjoying this.

Flame: I'm busy this time of year.

Guest 2: Thanks? What original story?

Drokkeli: Nope!

Cas3MaHat: Loophole?

Guest 3: You sure?

Guest 4: Now we have our true BIGBAD.

Spikesaggata: Thanks!

TaniaHylian: Don't worry, she won't.

SummerStormWar: Doesn't look like she's remembering.

MasterBlackKnight: Nothing good…

RR: Or Anna might believe that her Elsa never really existed.

Superjoshe: Thank you!

Moosedrool: For what?

RareID: I don't pull punches.

Jascmaster: Neither, I'm afraid.

Syrathia: Talk to me about what?

Shalifi: Fixed, thanks!

Darthcadesus58: You've got your wish.

MilandaAnza: Plenty of surprises still in store. It's not going to be as easy as Anna kissing her to bring her back.

Coincidences: Be careful what you wish for.

Guest 5: This is not a good conspiracy.

Shtoops: Nope!

Serciam: Anna is not a Goddess. She was a completely normal girl who got swept up in events.

Henderson94: Not going to be that simple…

DVINM: Anna is too late…

BreeBear98: Not exactly!

ObsessiveImaginings: There are certinaly a lot of people who want her dead or worse.

Motojo: Going as fast as I can!

Dracobro: Thanks! Where did you find that quote?

Dragonslayer94: That would be nice, but no.

Eppiicc: Here it is!

Some Kid: Usually once a week, but finals are keeping me busy.

Ruki: Glad to see you like it!

Mahmed: The chains are only a product of Elsa stepping into exactly where her past self was destroyed. It wouldn't happen to anyone else. They didn't send any magic users because the two guards who betrayed Elsa refused to meet with more than one person at a time, out of fear they'd be betrayed and lose their cut. If they had gotten to Hammerfest with Elsa, a lot of magic users would have been waiting…