The sun is high in the sky as we crouch behind a cluster of trees right outside of where Arendelle used to be.

"Pitch?" I lower my voice.

He tosses me an annoyed look over his shoulder. "What is it, your highness?" His mood has become progressively darker the closer we got to Arendelle.

"Where is Arendelle? What did she do to my people? Are they still asleep?"

"You may not be able to see it, but of course everything is still there. Have you already forgotten that she is a witch? She knows more than one curse."

Gray clouds roll above us, adding to the general gloominess of our little group. The skeletal trees will not provide much protection if it begins to rain.

I tap Pitch on the shoulder again. "How will we find her?"

"Be patient and follow me." He walks away from the trees, approaching the strange, façade of an empty valley. As soon as his foot crosses into the clearing, he disappears.

I do not hesitate. I stand up to follow him.

"Queen Elsa, wait!" Jack runs after me.

I pause, my eyes not meeting his. "Yes?"

"Maybe I should go first, your highness." Jack runs his hand through his messy brown hair. His eyes are wide and brown and innocent.

I swallow and step away from him. "All right."

Jack straightens his shoulders. He steps forward, his scuffed boot tracing Pitch's large footprints in the dirt.

I watch him, fear tightening around my heart.

If something happens, I cannot save him and he cannot save me. We are both only human. But our powers weren't what made us strong before. We were strong and brave in spite of them, not because of them. We can still defeat this witch, if we trust each other and work together.

Jack vanishes into thin air, just like Pitch did.

Tooth flies to my side. "Together?" She asks. She places her small hand on my shoulder. The other guardians line up beside us.

Together, one step at a time, we cross over the invisible line that hides my kingdom from view.

The air ripples around me. My kingdom comes into view.

Jack and Pitch stand in the shadows next to one of the houses. Jack looks around, his careful eyes not missing anything. I wonder if he is looking for his family.

All the windows in the houses around us are closed and the doors are lcoked. My people must be hiding.

Above us, the clouds part and sunlight streams down on us. How are we supposed to find the Snow Queen without her finding us first? Should we hide in the shadows and work our way to the castle?

Pitch has the opposite idea.

He moves away from the shadows and strides into the middle of the street.

"Black! Get back here. What are you doing?" North demands loudly.

"We came to defeat the Snow Queen, correct?"

Panic strangles my words. "You said that you had a plan. A way for us to find her!"

"This is my plan." Pitch practically shouts. He lifts both of his hands. Dark clouds rises around him.

I have seen Tooth annoyed, but never angry until now. Her wings beat together furiously. Red pinches her cheeks. Her eyes narrow as she glares at Pitch. "I knew that you were working for her all along. You are a traitor and a liar!"

"He didn't lie to you this time." A soft, but fierce voice drifts through the street.

The Snow Queen has arrived.

**

The hem of her scarlet gown whispers against the cobblestone road.

Her long, dark curls shift frame her pale, beautiful face.

The Snow Queen holds out her gloved hands to us. "Welcome to my kingdom. You took longer than I expected, but I forgive your tardiness."

Jack steps to my side. He lowers his voice, "She is the witch?"

"A witch?" The Snow Queen tilts her head back and laughs. Her long eyelashes flutter over her sparkling eyes. She glides over to Jack. "Who told you that I was a witch?"

Jack swallows and points at Pitch Black.

The Snow Queen clucks her tongue disapprovingly. "And why you would believe the King of Nightmares but not believe me?"

"He's not the King of Nightmares." I snap.

My words work as I know they would, drawing the dreadful creature away from the only boy I will ever love.

She turns toward me. "Then who is he?" Her gloved hand sweeps toward Pitch.

I look at him.

His gray skin, his beady golden eyes, his dark hair and even darker cloak.

He looks like a nightmare. He is a nightmare. How could I have ever believe that he was on my side?

But then I remember our conversations. We were both trapped in a prison of dreams.

I trusted him because I had no other choice and he helped me.

I turn to the Snow Queen, my words loud enough for all to hear. "He isn't the King of Nightmares. He is the King of Night. He isn't the true villain. You are."