The door crashes open. Light streams in. The darkness breaks apart under its glare, but the nightmarish army ignore it.

"I told you not to knock." Tooth's high-pitched voice is the first thing that I hear.

Bunnymund grunts. "You have no sense of humor at all." He pokes his nose inside. "Hullo there-oh, good." His small eyes take in the strange scene. "You were expecting us. Nothing like a warm welcome to cheer the heart."

Pitch growls at him. Like one, his entire army shift their eyes toward the intruding-and annoying-bunny.

The other guardians push their way into my castle.

North's broad shoulders brush against the doorway as he walks in. "Frost." He ignores Pitch and his shadowy army. North folds his arms. His muscles flex under his tattoo that says 'naughty list'. "We are going to have a little talk later."

Jack groans as he pulls himself off the floor. "Aw, come on, North."

I lower my gloved hands. My heart is torn in half. I should stay and fight. They will need me. But I also need to get rid of my powers, before-

Anna peers around Kristoff. Her eyes catch on mine.

Almost against my own will, I whisper the last line of the prophecy, "Then all will perish in snow and ice unless you are freed with a sword of sacrifice."

All will perish.

All...

I rip my eyes away from Anna. I refuse to let that happened. I will not lose her too.

All hesitation disappears from Pitch's face. He unleashes his minions on us. The dragon immediately lumbers toward the door and spews black fire across the threshold. The castle knights throw their shields up to cover Anna and Kristoff.

I'm surprised that they let the only heir to the throne come, but I doubt Anna gave them a choice. She is just as stubborn as I am, if not more so.

The horses stampede toward Jack and I. Jack swings his staff in front of us. Snow shoots across the room and rips through the first row of beasts. But the dreadful creatures keep coming.

A griffin swoops toward us. I flick my hand toward the ceiling.

An arrow of ice embeds itself in the heart of the monster. The shadowy griffin vanishes. Black dust rains down on us.

An overgrown, gruesome bear bounds toward me. I lift my hands in retaliation.

"Elsa!" Anna cries my name.

I spin toward her voice. The bear collides with me, knocking me to the ground.

I lay pinned beneath its weight. I stare up at the soulless golden eyes. The bear opens its mouth and roars. His putrid smell overcomes my senses.

Suddenly, the bear chokes. Its eyes glaze over. It stiffens and falls forward, turning into black dust before it crushes me.

Jack lowers his staff and helps me to my feet. "Are you all right?" He asks. He looks down at me, his eyes forgetting the battle waging around us.

A ghoul slashes at his back. I thrust ice over Jack's shoulder. The creature staggers back a step before dissolving into dust.

I wipe my gloves on my dress. "Of course I am all right."

Jack nods. He turns away from me and surveys the crowded room. The guardians fight against the shadowy creatures.

They might look like ghosts, but they are real. There is blood on Sandy's arm. Bunnymund limps slightly as he fights off a growling black lion. A few of the armored guards lie motionless on the floor.

"Where is Pitch?" Jack asks the question the moment I realize that the dark one is missing.

I absentmindedly send my ice into the heart of a horse galloping toward us. Where is Pitch? Then I notice a door in the corner.

Wait-could it be?

The tower!

I swing my arm at a gigantic wolf. It vanishes mid-leap.

I pull away from Jack's side, my eyes fixed on the door in the secret tower.

"Elsa!" Anna's voice cries my name again. "Please, help me! Elsa!" She sobs.

Horror freezes me. How could I have forgotten my sister? I forgot why the bear was able to knock me down in the first place.

I immediately turn away from the door.

Jack grabs my arm. "Over there!" He points at the staircase.

Kristoff lies on the stairs, his arm cradled against his chest. His eyes are closed. He doesn't appear to be moving at all.

And in front of him, crouched on the stairs, Anna holds a small sword, trying to fight off the dragon.