Darkness swirls around me. I can't see, much less fight back.

I was falling apart long before I read that letter.

I remember that there was more in Rapunzel's letter than the prophecy. Her words break through the haze suffocating me.

"You are not a monster, Elsa. You are a queen. You are a hero. And you are a loving, selfless sister. Remember that. Please, Elsa, promise me you will not forget who you are."

I slip my hand into my pocket. My fingers enclose around a certain needle. There is still hope left in this world.

Hope may be easily forgotten, but it does not so easily die.

I open my eyes. Fear slips away from me. It is not replaced by anger. For anger is not bravery, anger is weakness and I have already given into it today.

Not fear, not anger-but hope pulls me to my feet. My story is not over yet. It's only just begun.

**

"Pitch Black." I stand alone in my half-destroyed castle of ice. He has disappeared again. Apparently I am not the only one who fears. "I may fear you, but that does not matter. You asked me what a nightmare was. I said it was a bad dream. But I forgot to mention that a nightmare is not real. The fear may be real, but the cause of that fear is not." I turn slowly, waiting for him to charge out of the shadows and attack me. "You are the King of Nightmares. But there is no such thing. You are a King of Nothing."

"Oh, really?" Pitch materializes in front of me.

I fall back a step.

"I know that you don't believe that." His eyes suddenly glaze over. Pitch jerks his head to the front door of the castle, like a wolf picking up a scent. A malicious grin curves his lips. "It turns out that you did keep your promise after all."

I sort through his words.

My promise...

My breath catches, my heart caught between agony and hope.

My eyes follow Pitch's gaze to the door.

I cannot see him yet, but I know that Jack Frost is here.

**

A dangerous glimmer lights his burning eyes as Pitch whispers, "Our guest has finally arrived."

I stand frozen in the middle of the mess I've made. Why is Jack here? He'll only get hurt. Pitch will get exactly what he wants and all my efforts will be in vain.

Why did Jack have to come after me? I know the answer, at least I think I do.

He said it himself only hours ago. "You can trust me. Even though I haven't been one for long, I am a guardian and that is what we do. We protect."

Jack has always tried to protect me. I trust him with my life, but I refuse to risk his.

As if in a dream, I watch Pitch march to the front door and throw it open. "Welcome, Spirit of-" A snowball slams into his face, effectively cutting off the rest of his words.

Against my will, a smile flickers across my face. I will never admit it, but I am glad that I no longer have to face the King of Nightmares alone. It is about time the knight in a blue cloak saves this former queen.

If only it were that easy.

Jack flies right over the tall dark figure. He lands in front of me, his hands clenched around his staff. "Come on, Elsa, we are getting out of here."

Pitch strides toward us.

Jack lifts his staff menacingly. "I don't know who you are, but I will not let you touch her." Jack steps in front of me, shielding me with his body.

Pitch cocks his head to one side. His grin reappears. He knocks snow off of his coat. "I've waited a long time for you, Jack Frost. And don't worry about Elsa. She came to me."

Jack grits his teeth. "I care not for the words of a liar."

Shame unfurls through me.

Pitch paces around us. Jack shifts to stay between the dark one and me.

"I am not the liar." Pitch points at me. "She is."

Jack stiffens. He lifts his staff again.

I touch his shoulder. I want him to destroy Pitch, but he cannot do it believing a lie. "Jack..."

Pitch turns his back on us. He taps his hand against his robe, as if he knows what is going to happen next.

"Why are you here, Elsa? What happened? What was in that letter?" His questions pierce the ice fortress around me heart. "Who is this creature? You cannot possibly know him."

I sink my teeth into my bottom lip. "I'm sorry, Jack." I lower my eyes, unable to face his confused blue eyes. "I've known him since the day I ran away."