A swirling mass of blue and white mist shot down from the heavens like a blazing meteor, plummeting toward Arendelle at a speed far beyond human comprehension. Even King Agnarr, frozen in place, could do nothing but watch—his body unresponsive, his thoughts consumed by awe.
But…
Let us go back a little—back to before Elsa's birth, on the far side of the kingdom.
Deep within the forest, The wise old troll lay resting, his eyes gently closed. When at last they opened, they held the depth of oceans, and a gleam of quiet knowing as they gazed into the unseen.
He murmured to himself, "This day will not pass in peace… Why can I no longer see the threads of the future?"
He shut his eyes once more, as though seeking a frayed strand in the grand tapestry of fate.
A brief silence passed—then suddenly, he shouted with urgent clarity:
"Quickly, my children! It's time to move!"
Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!
At his call, the stones around him stirred to life. Small forms began to rumble and shift, taking shape as sprightly creatures—yes, the trolls had awakened.
"Heh! Is it a new adventure? I'm coming!"
"Or maybe it's midnight snacks—finally! I've been starving! Heh heh!"
"What are you two blabbering about? We're going to crush evil, obviously! This time I'll be the hero—and I'll get a royal medal for sure!"
Three trolls leapt forward in a flurry of excitement.
The wise old troll hummed beneath his breath, half amused, half exasperated.
"Mischievous little things…"
He raised his voice gently, "Settle down, you rascals. This time, I will do the choosing… hmm?"
He closed his eyes again, his face growing solemn with concentration. The stones stilled. Even the three excitable youngsters held their breath, knowing that in this moment, their elder saw what none of them could.
After a while, his eyes opened once more and fell directly upon the three.
"You three… You shall go. Caron, Harl, Sosi… will you accept this task?"
Caron had only wanted to play. Harl had been dreaming of food. Sosi longed for glory.
In unison, they cried out with shining eyes: "Yes! Of course! But… what's the task?"
One of the other trolls stepped forward, clearly about to protest, but the wise old troll calmed him with a gentle voice. "Do not worry. They will not face danger."
Turning back to the trio, he continued:
"All you must do is journey to a small cabin, just a few miles from here. Retrieve a child… and his belongings. But you must hurry—and do not get distracted. Be cautious."
"Got it, Grand Pabbie!" they chirped in chorus, practically bouncing in place.
The wise old troll nodded kindly. "Then go, my children. And let caution be your guide."
"Whoa! The adventure begins!" Caron shouted gleefully. His form collapsed into a compact rock, and he rolled off at once.
Not to be outdone, Sosi slammed the ground with excitement and transformed into a mobile boulder, yelling, "Wait for me! I'm the one who's going to rescue the kid and be a hero!"
Harl lingered for a moment, stuffing dried moss into his satchel. "Don't leave me behind! I'm just grabbing some food for the road—waiiiit!"
The wise old troll watched them go, a thoughtful smile on his face. Around him, more trolls began to gather, their expressions tinged with puzzlement.
"Ask your questions," he said with a soft laugh.
One of them stepped forward. "If I may… why did you send children on a task like this?"
Whispers followed. "Isn't it dangerous?"
The wise old troll turned slowly. "Because… this is their path. There's a hidden thread that ties them to that child. I can no longer see what lies ahead—but I see something different in these three. A light. Perhaps… the future of all trolls rests with them."
A sudden hush fell across the glade.
The wise old troll… can't see the future?
Such a thing had never happened before.
Then, as he turned away, the wise old troll said softly, "Return to your rest... perhaps they'll return with something wondrous."
* * *
Miles away, in a modest wooden cabin nestled at the forest's edge...
A frail woman clutched her newborn, her strength all but gone.
She whispered with trembling lips, "My little one… I can't go on. But you… you must live."
The infant cooed gently, giggling without understanding the world unraveling around him.
She placed the baby down amid thick grass, then turned quickly and ran toward the woods.
"There she is! Don't let her escape!" a soldier's voice rang out. He and his fellow riders surged after her—
Moments later, she was caught.
A man stepped forward, cold and imposing, draped in a rigid air of military command. His tone was cruelly amused:
"Running to Arendelle, dear sister-in-law? Do you think the new king will shield you?"
She growled in fury, "Don't you dare call me that! You murdered your own brother! Fate will never forgive you!"
He smiled with glacial calm. "I care little for my fate. And you won't live to see it, anyway. Just tell me—where did you hide my dear nephew? Your son… and his?"
She screamed back, "Charlic! Was ruling Erlis not enough? Will you kill your own blood too?"
He answered coolly, "Yes. He's a blemish that must be erased. A threat… always lingering."
A soldier leaned in and whispered into his ear. Charlic's eyes widened.
"Oh… how unfortunate. He's been found. Come now—say your goodbyes."
He turned, took the bundle containing the child from one of the men, and lifted it.
"No!" the mother cried, collapsing to her knees, sobbing, pleading, "Please… he's your brother's son!"
Charlic looked down, unmoved. "Kill her."
The sharp whisper of a blade slicing air—
As she fell, her voice faltered, "Please… spare my son… he's still your blood…"
But Charlic gave no sign of mercy. He raised the baby high, his intent clear as he stepped toward a nearby rock.
"Come now, little one… it's time to join your parents."
He brought the child down—
Thud!
He stumbled backward, stunned. "What—what just happened?!"
A mocking laugh rang out, followed by a triumphant cry:
"Ha! Didn't I tell you I'd be a hero someday? I saved the baby!"
It was Sosi, proudly cradling the child.
Behind him, Caron shouted accusingly, "This is your fault, Harl! If you hadn't been so hungry, we wouldn't have been late!"
Harl scowled. "You ate too, you know…"
Charlic stared around in disbelief, mouth agape as he took in the strange creatures before him.
"What are these monsters?! Soldiers! Protect your king!"
Caron, suddenly taking charge, barked out, "Enough! Run! We have to get the child out of here—no matter what it takes!"
* * *
[Ding! Fatal threat detected to host… Uploading host consciousness…]
[ Uploading…]
[Upload complete.]
'What is that voice? Where am I?'
Allen tried to open his eyes, but the world around him was shifting, warping faster than he could process.
'What's going on? Am I… riding on a rock?! Have I lost my mind?!'
A voice echoed within his mind:
[No, sir, you haven't gone mad. You've entered the world of Frozen—and one of the trolls is currently carrying you to safety.]
'Who are you?!'