SitMK Chapter 6 - A Kingdom Quartet

Midday at the Magic Kingdom was always hectic, especially on a day as nice as this. So it was no surprise that the crowds filling every walkway were a bit overwhelming for Anna and Elsa. You could barely push your way through to the other side of the road, much less reach any of the rides…at least, that's what it felt like. Truthfully, their big fancy dresses had a lot to do with it, even as much as they were squished between people. Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea…

It wasn't long before they bumped into someone familiar. "Rapunzel!" Anna exclaimed.

The brunette waved. "Oh, hi, you guys! Long time no see, huh?" she said with a giggle.

"What, you mean like, since fifteen minutes ago?" Anna replied.

"Exactly!" They both shared a laugh. Elsa rolled her eyes at her sister's weird sense of humor. What was the punchline even supposed to be?

At the same time, Merida waltzed over, busy stuffing her face with a caramel apple. "Wll, fncy sehn' yu tuh hur!" she remarked, her mouth still full.

Both sisters gave her a puzzled look. Realizing they probably couldn't understand a word she was saying, she swallowed her food. "Um, pardon?" Elsa asked.

"Oh…" Realizing they couldn't understand a word she was saying, she swallowed her food. "What are yew two doin' walkin' around the park after all that? Especially in that garb," she said, indicating their gowns.

"Ehe…" Anna grinned sheepishly. Yeah, definitely a bad idea. She needed to make a note of that for next time. "We were just so excited to look around that we didn't have time to change," she explained.

"Really? I would think yer sister was smar'er than that," she smirked.

"Excuse me?" Elsa exclaimed, her defensive instinct boiling up feeling she and Anna had just been insulted. Anna looked away. "Okay, okay. So maybe that was just me…" she admitted.

"Merida…" Rapunzel sighed.

"Oh, come on! It was just a joke!"

"I know, but I don't think they took it that way."

"Really?" It was only now that she noticed their uncomfortable expressions. She'd done it again… "Oh…I-I'm sorry girls. I didn't mean ta offend ye. No hard feelin's?" she asked, holding out a hand to shake.

Anna shook without a second thought. "No, it's fine! I totally get what you're saying." Those words did hurt, but it was true that she could be a huge ditz sometimes. No reason to let that get in the way of a new friendship.

Elsa was a bit more reluctant to let that slide, but considering her own lackluster social skills, she did sympathize with Merida. She returned the handshake as well. "No hard feelings, Merida," she responded.

"Great!" she exclaimed with a grin. She looked around at the shops lining the streets. "So…since we're here, why don't we find ye somethin' more comfor'ble ta wear?" she proposed.

Anna thought. "Sure, we could do that! What do you think, sis?"

"I don't know, Anna. The food yesterday cost a lot…" She felt her way through her purse, checking out how much money she had left. True, it was technically only tipping, but this whole 'free meals' thing still felt horribly awkward. At this rate, they wouldn't have enough on the budget to last the next few days, much less the entire two weeks.

Rapunzel pulled out a bag of her own. "Don't worry! We can split the costs."

Elsa's expression grew increasingly worried. "A-Are you sure? You really don't have to do that just for us."

She laughed. "You need to get used to it. It's kinda just what people do here," she exclaimed.

Though she was still hesitant to accept, she had to admit it was getting frustrating going through these arguments every time the subject of money came up. Maybe now was the time to let it go…so to speak, she thought to herself. "Well, if you're that willing, I guess it's okay…" she said with slightly nervous smile.

Anna smiled. Everybody here was so nice! "What kinds of clothes do they have here?" she asked.

"All kinds! Come on, I'll show you!" She excitedly led them to a nearby souvenir shop, one that was decorated rather cutely. This part of the 'kingdom' seemed to have a Germanic feel to it, though with almost a carnival-esque atmosphere. It was so easy to get caught up in the excitement of it.

---

Once they got to the clothing section, however, it got a bit more uncomfortable. "These are their…clothes?" Anna wondered, examining a pair of very short shorts hanging from one of the racks. This was normal here? Showing anything from the knees up in Arendelle would get you dirty looks from the townspeople, nevermind something like this! Not to mention there were only baggy pants on sale – no skirts to speak of.

"I know it doesn't seem like much, but it's a lot easier ta move around in," Merida told them.

"I would figure as much," Elsa answered. Hence the way her dress had been designed. "Still, isn't it a little…"

"Embarrassing?" Anna continued, looking completely baffled.

"Not when everyone else is wearing the same thing," Rapunzel shrugged.

It was true, every pedestrian they came across was wearing something just as loose and casual. Even if wearing these felt odd, nobody besides themselves would notice the difference. If that was the case, there was no reason to let a bit of culture shock get the better of them. When in Rome, right?

"I guess it's worth a shot," Anna decided, and as soon as the purchase was made, the sisters went to the restrooms to change. The transition was easy for Elsa, since her gown could disappear in the blink of an eye. Anna, on the other hand… She had to admit, this outfit was very comfy. And there was no way a basic shirt, tiny shorts, and cheap sandals could absorb much heat. It was only at the last minute that she realized there was nothing she could do with her fancy dress now. But she couldn't drag it around all day! That'd be such a pain! Not to mention, well, it was a very nice dress and all.

Somehow she managed to fold it up and stuff it in their shopping bag, though there was nothing that could tone down the material's bulkiness. At least with something so heavy, she wouldn't absent-mindedly leave it somewhere and forget to pick it up again. Hopefully.

She stumbled out of the bathroom stall, nearly tripping over her sandals more than once, only to find that Elsa had already been waiting outside with the others for quite a while. "Whoops. Guess I took a teeny bit too long."

"Oh, don't worry about it," Rapunzel assured. "It looks like it fits well!"

"It does?" Was this what a good fit was here? Everything was on the baggy side. But then again, not everyone could have their clothes custom tailored, she reminded herself. "Oh, I guess it does," she realized, getting comfortable enough to show off the ensemble a bit.

"What are you now, a fashion model?" Elsa joked with a chuckle.

"They are really nice clothes. Once you get used to 'em," she remarked. Not having the tights and bloomers and petticoats to worry about…

"Oh, really?" There was a certain appeal to this kind of outfit. In a silly mood now, she started making flamboyant poses alongside her sister. Rapunzel laughed and joined in the fun.

Merida rolled her eyes. "The clothes aren't even that fancy! Yew could get the same thing anywhere!"

"But it's still fun," Anna countered.

The redhead could only huff and wait for them to get done with their weird little game, which only lasted about a minute longer. Then they finally went to do things that actually WERE 'fun.'

---

There were a lot of rides around the area; most of them seemed to be based on a lot of the movies, although there were a few unique ones among them. Rapunzel aned Merida were careful in showing the girls the best of the best. Anna especially liked the one about the Little Mermaid, althoug she wished it could be longer. There were so many good parts they had skipped. Elsa, on the other hand, preferred the one with the singing little children, although she couldn't quite decide why. It was very…childish, and cutesy, but maybe the sincerity of it was what she admired. Normally, with international relations, every party was hiding some sort of ulterior motive.

Then there were the other sections of the kingdom. One that was supposed to seem like the future (But weren't they already in the future? The more Anna tried to wrap her head around the concept, the more it confused her.), and two or three that were meant to replicate different time periods in America's history. They were both learning a lot, but it was all so much to take in.

Finally, the group decided to take a moment to rest. "Whew…that was amazing!" Anna exclaimed as she plopped down onto a bench.

"Which part?" Rapunzel asked.

She thought for a moment. "All of it," she concluded with a nod.

"Agreed." All four of them sat down and relaxed, taking in the sights, recalling the afternoon's events with one another. "What part was your favorite, Elsa?" Anna asked her sister.

"Hm…" That was a tough question. What was the best out of everything? There was a lot to consider. "I think I have to say…just the atmosphere of the place," she finally answered.

"Really?" She blinked. "You said you didn't like the crowds."

"That's…still true." There were so many things they had to skip because the length of the lines was so ridiculous, and that was a disappointment. But even the less popular offerings were worth checking out. "But everything else makes up for it."

"It's some adventure," Merida laughed.

Elsa smiled. "That sounds about right!"

Meanwhile, Rapunzel's eyes were turned to the castle not too far away. It looked like she was waiting for something – and so was everybody else, judging from the crowd that had started to form around the front. Anna noticed the commotion. "What's going on over there?"

"They have a show on the castle stage a few times a day," Rapunzel explained. "I think Aurora's gonna be in this one today!"

"Oh, really?" That certainly helped Anna regain her energy. She sprung back onto her feet. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's watch it!"

Elsa got up as well; this all sounded very interesting. Before any of them noticed it, Merida had taken the lead. "We better hurry! I know the best spot to watch the show," she ordered, rushing everyone to a spot right in front of the rest of the audience. For a while, the only sound was the chattering of passersby, and there was no sign of a show even being there…until the music abruptly started.

An unusual creature waltzed on the stage. Elsa had seen something like this before, hadn't she? Carved into the boat the other day. And on the lampposts, and the guideposts, and the dishes, and the food, and the floor paneling… Pretty much everywhere. Whatever it was, they sure held it in high regard. Though this one didn't seem to be the same as the other. From the dress and bow, it was pretty obvious it was meant to be a girl. And its name was…Minnie. Minnie? Such a bland name for something so significant. Then again, she could be named after the goddess Minerva.

Then came a bird creature – Donald - and a…dog? Goofy. It does look goofy, she thought, stifling a laugh. She felt bad immediately after, though; after all, she didn't want to disrespect this place's culture. But looking around, a lot of other people seemed to be laughing, too. So they were supposed to be funny, then. She couldn't help but feel relieved that she didn't have to worry about enjoying it the 'proper' way.

Finally, another creature arrived – and the audience cheered wildly. Mickey, was his name. That was even worse than Minnie…but then, if anyone else had an issue with the names, they certainly didn't show it. On with the show, then.

Apparently these four characters were having a party at the castle. Soon the subject of their conversation turned to dreams, and out of nowhere they turned to the audience and asked what 'their' dreams were. An interactive show? That was interesting. Getting caught up in the crowd's enthusiasm, Anna shouted out her answer along with them. Elsa giggled, but Merida burst out laughing like it was the funniest thing she'd ever seen. That made Anna a little embarrassed…but her sister was quick to send her a comforting smile.

The princesses made their appearances shortly after – Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora. Well, that was definitely Aurora, but the other two seemed to be actors. Rapunzel and Merida let out a loud cheer in support of their fellow princess; the blonde looked over and waved gracefully. A ballroom-esque dance sequence started. You could tell they'd went through the steps countless times before.

The thrill died down a bit after the princesses stepped out of the picture. There was a sword fight between a boy and some pirates; this was one of the movies they'd hadn't gone around to watching, so any knowledge they had of these people was taken from the very short ride they'd boarded earlier. It was still exciting, of course…just also confusing. But as the show reached its climax, a figure they did recognize appeared.

"I-It's Maleficent," Anna mumbled as the 'fairy' appeared in a burst of fire. The effects were magnificent; even Elsa impulsively drew back from the heat. Besides Maleficent just being there, nothing terrible was really happening on-stage. But in contrast to the posture of the other actresses, Aurora seemed to have a hint of genuine fear on her face. It made sense, what with all that had happened between them…

"Is she okay?" Anna whispered to the others, getting worried for her.

Merida's expression turned serious for a moment. "Maleficent really holds a grudge, I hear. Never really leaves 'er alone…"

"That's terrible…" The idea of constantly being followed by someone who hated your guts, and would probably kill you if the chance ever came, it was horrific. She realized how lucky she'd been than Hans was a regular person and not a fairy, or an evil sorcerer of some kind. She'd been through a lot, that was true, but every other princess seemed to top it.

The suddenly, she heard a yelp. She let herself turn away from the stage. "Elsa?!"

Somehow Elsa had fallen face first onto the pavement. But before she or the others could even make a move to help, something pulled her away! Anna was left speechless, until she noticed something clawing at her sister's leg…

"The shadows!" Rapunzel shouted, and she and Merida pushed their way through the crowd immediately. Not the shadows again…! Even though Anna got a slow start, in a few seconds she was running faster than either of them. Her sister looked horrible, her whole body scraped up from being dragged against the asphalt. To make things worse, somehow they'd gotten into an area where no other people were around to help…

Elsa had given up struggling at this point, since doing so only seemed to worsen her injuries. Besides, ice formed in a trail wherever she was pulled, and that didn't hurt her as much. Soon the group had caught up enough for her to notice, and she struggled to keep her head up. "Anna…"

"Elsa! Grab on!" she yelled, reaching her arm out to her as far as she could manage.

The older sister stretched her arm even further, if such a thing was even possible. Just when she felt like she'd dislocate her shoulder, she managed to latch onto Anna's grip. "I've got it!"

Anna grinned with relief, and immediately started tugging Elsa back to safety…only to feel something pull on her as well? "What? No! No!" Even as she pulled away from one shadow, another would grab somewhere else. Keeping her grasp on Elsa's hand was getting harder and harder.

The two others were left with no way to help, when Merida heard a faint noise. Acting on her gut, she fired an arrow in its direction. A low grunt was heard, and suddenly the shadows faded.

"Elsa!" Anna rushed to help her sister up, though she had to slow down because of her wounds. "Oh my gosh, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I think I'll be okay," she replied, though her knees and arms were scraped bloody. She didn't recognize where they were, but somehow they'd have to find a first aid center. There had to be one nearby.

But the fight was far from over. Merida's bow and arrow remained firmly aimed on a dark alleyway between two buildings. She was losing her patience. "Why don't ye come an' face us, ya coward?!"

Slow footsteps were heard. A tall, lanky figure emerged from the darkness…easily recognizable as Dr. Facilier. Even though the arrow had grazed his cheek, leaving a decent cut, he acted as calm as ever. "Now, now, princess. Why don't we talk this out like civilized folk?"

She held the arrow to his chest, startling him. She gave him a glare that could pierce through solid steel. "Yew do the talkin'. We'll see how it goes from there," she demanded.

They all waited for him to speak up, but for a long moment his mouth remained shut. "Well?!" Merida shouted, jabbing her arrow at him.

Just like that, his 'businessman' smile was on again. "Unfortunately, my lady, I am under an agreement of strict confidentiality," he said with a smirk. "You ain't gettin' anything out of me."

"Are you sure about that?" There was Rapunzel, standing close with her frying pan aimed for the man's skull. Even Elsa, despite her injuries, had grabbed tight at his arm, ready to freeze it solid if necessary.

The doctor's expression remained unchanged. "Sorry, girls, no can do…"

At that moment, Elsa grasped harder, and Facilier's wrist started turning blue. He cringed, pulling away. "All right, all right! Fine, if that's how you want to negotiate…" It was almost scary how easily he switched between moods. "The master wants to get rid of any major threats before the big events start. We got somethin' big planned…"

Rapunzel's eyes narrowed. "And who exactly is this 'master'?"

"My apologies, but that's all I can get away with tellin' you," he answered with a polite tip of his hat. "My lips are sealed."

They got the feeling he was telling the truth. After all, there were baddies a lot more powerful than him that could wipe him out in a heartbeat. Still, Merida refused to withdraw just yet. "We better not see ye around here again, Doctor. Else next time, it won't be just yer face that's hit."

"That seems reasonable enough," he replied deadpan, and soon he was walking back into the shadows like nothing had happened.

Anna had been speechless through this whole debacle. She had to say something… "Uh, wow. That was…pretty neat?" That felt like the wrong thing to say. They could've been killed!

But Rapunzel and Merida calmed down almost right away. "That was nothin', really!" Merida grinned. "I've faced worse than him before."

"Well, yeah. I guess that's true." Which was worse, creepy voodoo man or giant, hyper-muscled bear? To Anna, they both seemed about the same, but obviously Merida thought differently. At that moment, she noticed Elsa seemed a little on the gloomy side…

"Elsa?" she muttered as she approached. "Is everything okay?"

She nodded. "Yes, Anna…" Well, that wasn't entirely true. "I-I've never actually hurt someone with my powers on purpose. Until now."

"But look at what he did to you!" she exclaimed, gesturing to her scraped-up limbs and face. "He totally deserved it!"

"I know, I know, but…" She couldn't bring herself to believe anyone deserved to be injured by her hands, not even someone as despicable as Facilier. "I really wasn't thinking when I did it. I just wanted to help so bad…"

Anna laid a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about it. He's gone now anyway."

"That's true…" It didn't seem like she'd done any permanent damage, at least. That was something positive to think about. She sighed and leaned against a tree, trying to calm herself down.

Rapunzel expressed concern on her face. "Are you all right, Elsa?" she asked.

"I'll be okay," she reassured her friend. "I'm…exhausted! I think I'd like to just go back to our room."

Anna had wanted to have more fun today. This place was so big, they hadn't even got half of everything done! Still, she knew Elsa couldn't handle it right now. "Sure. Let's go back," she agreed, holding her hand.

"Do you need help getting back?" Rapunzel piped in.

"No, I think we'll be okay," Anna answered, turning back to wave to them as she walked with her sister to Main Street. "Hopefully it won't take too long to rest up. See you both later!"

"Okay! Bye!" they waved back.

Elsa managed a smile as they approached the monorail station. "Thanks for helping me back there, Anna," she told her.

"Help?" She raised an eyebrow. "Well, I guess I helped, up until there were more than the two shadows…"

"That's fine! That's enough for me," she replied with a smile.

"But…" She recalled watching the three of them fight Facilier together, and all she could do was stand on the sidelines and watch. She felt so useless. "I just wish I could've done more."

This time it was Elsa's turn to comfort her sister. "Anna, the fact that you're there at all means so much to me."

Anna smiled a bit. "I'm glad you're here for me too, sis," she said.

They boarded the train, taking comfort in one another's presence…and setting aside any remaining insecurities so they could enjoy the moment. Those could be addressed later, once things had winded down.