Snow swirls around me. The tiny, wet flakes stick to my hair and melt on my face. I shiver, cold for the first time in ages.

I stand at the edge of a clearing. It looks familiar, but I am not sure why. I was rarely allowed outside of the castle.

Snow covers the grass and mounds on the rocks. One of the rocks shakes slightly, almost as if it is shivering. But that is impossible, unless-

"You've been here before, haven't you?" A dark voice separates from the silence. Pitch walks out from between the trees. He stands next to me and folds his arms.

I stumble away from him and hold up my hands. I hate my powers. I hate them because they took my sister from me. But this dark figure is not Anna and I am glad that I at least have something to protect me.

"Your powers are useless here."

"Where are we?" I ask. The question pries from my lips. Every word tears at me, because even before Pitch says it, I know the answer.

"We are in your dreams."

I blink and pull away from him. "Then you are not here-not really."

"Ah, but I am. You see, I am the King of Nightmares. I gave you this dream."

"I don't understand." I want to wake up. I want this to be just a bad dream. But wait, that is exactly what it is and I don't know how to escape it.

"I want you to know the truth. I am showing you what is happening at this very moment."

Movement tears my attention away from him.

"Hello?" A girl steps into the clearing. A bright hood hides her face. The hem of her cape brushes over the snow-covered grass.

Two long braids peek out of her hood. I can barely make out the white stripe in one of them.

Anna!

I lurch forward. My heart shudders in my chest. Anna, my sister, she's here! I thought I would never see her again, but she's right here-

"Wait." Pitch's hand snaps around my wrist.

I try to yank my arm away from his cold, strong grip. "Let me go!"

"This is a dream, remember? You aren't really here." Pitch's other hand clamps onto my shoulder. "Be quiet, little queen. Be quiet and watch."

Anna folds her hands in front of her. She walks slowly between the rocks.

"Rapunzel, are you sure about this? There's no way these rocks are-what did you call them?"

"Trolls." A young woman trails after my sister. I haven't seen her before, but she looks familiar. She has the same brown hair and wide green eyes of my mother's sister. Several paintings of my aunt hung in our hall, but I never met her in person.

"Are you sure that they can help us?" Anna frowns. She stares dubiously at one of the mossy rocks.

"I think so. My mother told me that they helped you years ago."

"I still can't believe it." Anna turns in a circle and faces the girl, Rapunzel. "Why would they take away my memories?"

One of the rocks pitches forward and unrolls into a lumpy troll. "It was the only way to protect you."

I have seen this creature before. It has been over a decade since I stood here with my parents and my dear, sweet sister.

Pitch removes his hands from me, but I don't move forward. I am frozen, locked in place. I can only watch and wait to see what will happen next.

Anna crouches in front of him. She isn't alarmed at his strange appearance. I expected as much. This is Anna, the girl who loves everyone and believes in everything.

In so many ways, she is like an innocent child. But she is still wise beyond her years.

"Who were they trying to protect me from?" Anna asks.

The old troll lays a gentle, stone hand on her arm. "From your sister, Queen Elsa."

I step back into the shadows. I forget that I am only in a dream. I am almost afraid that Anna will turn around and see me.

What would she say? Would she run away or just stare at me? Now that she knows the truth, have I lost her forever?

"Elsa would never hurt me!" Anna jumps to her feet. Her braids swing with every word, her eyes ablaze with anger.

How can she defend me? She should hate me! I have already hurt her.

Rapunzel looks around the clearing. Her gaze skims right over Pitch and me. She whispers, "Anna, calm down."

"I am calm!" Anna folds her arms. "Mister Troll, sir, I am sorry, but I think that coming here was a mistake."

The troll's deep, slow voice echoes throughout the clearing. His calm words pacify Anna's fire. "Anna, I believe that Elsa would never willingly hurt you. But that doesn't change the fact that she is capable of doing so. You saw her powers. You saw the damage that was done in less than a second. She's out of control and we have to help her. Coming here was not a mistake. Coming here was wise. I can help you, like I helped your parents so many years ago. But first..." The troll holds out his hand. "I have something that belongs to you."

Anna slowly bends back down to his level. "I didn't mean to yell."

"I know. You are scared and confused and even angry. All of those emotions are expected in such a difficult circumstance. But perhaps it will help if I return your memories to you. Only then you will understand why your parents did what they did."

The ancient troll  presses his hand to her forehead.

Anna's eyes close and she slumps forward. Rapunzel quickly pulls her to her feet.

"Anna! Oh, dear cousin, are you all right?"

"Yes..." Anna blinks a few times and straightens her cape. "I-I understand now. Elsa did hurt me."

Pain slices through me. I wrap my arms around my waist. I forget the quiet, solemn man beside me. I only see my sister. I hear her words repeating through my mind.

"But not on purpose." The troll adds, his voice heavy with years.

"Take me away from here." I spin towards Pitch. "I don't want to see this."

Pitch folds his arms. "But why ever not? Everything they say is true."

"I never wanted to hurt anyone. I tried so hard to be strong and perfect and then I ruined everything."

I close my eyes and whisper, "Conceal, don't feel. Conceal, don't-"

The troll's voice cuts through my mantra. "You must find the guardians. They will help you. They are in Arendelle but not for long. The queen's storm created another guardian. Perhaps he will be able to aid your quest."

"Listen, Elsa." Pitch jerks me back towards the clearing.

"He has ice powers, as well. But he can control his. I know a man who will be able to help you find your way back to the castle." The troll calls out, "Kristoff! You can come out now."

A tall man strides right past me. His broad frame is hidden under layers of fur.

"That is all you needed to hear." Pitch reaches out his hand and brushes cold fingers over my forehead.

My eyes close against my will and when they open, all I see is ice and darkness.