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“My home…” Anna whimpered, downcast.

In a moment, she heard the tap of a boot on solid rock. She could scarcely believe her eyes when she looked up—a teenage Alex walked toward her in a fully intact uniform of the Exploration Corps. An aura of blue light radiated from him.

“Alex?” she expressed in bewilderment as she stared at him and ceased to sob. Alex dropped his backpack and knelt down before her. He wiped away the tears from her face and asked,

“What’s the matter, Anna?” His, or perhaps his memory’s familiar yet icy touch, caused her to shudder. Anna began to weep yet again.

“I don’t want to lose you too. Please don’t go, Alex.” Young Alex thought the hardest he could. But he couldn’t stand Anna’s sorrow.

“I won’t, Anna.”

She grew silent. Lifting her gaze, she looked at Alex with childish innocence.

“Promise?” she asked in awe as her big, blue eyes were filled with new hope, much like when she was little.

The Sergeant of the Exploration Corps got up, took two steps back, and came to attention. He took an about-turn and began to march toward the light. Desperate not to lose him, Anna got up and followed. As the light from the outside grew brighter, the marching memory of Alex became translucent. Anna watched in amazement as his body turned transparent, and only a blue aura moved in his place. When she followed it out of the mouth of the cave, it consolidated into a glowing ball. It streaked across the sky with blinding speed. Seconds later, it disappeared into the horizon, just above the dam—Anna knew what she had to do, and she was now ready to do it.

She slung her handbag firmly to her side and looked determined. Anna darted down from the hill that opening in the cave had led her to. Advancing swiftly through the forest, she arrived at the bank of the same river filled with Earth Giants. Getting it together, Anna shouted to them, “Wake up!” But the giants didn’t move an inch. Provoked by their indolence, she screamed at the top of her lungs, “WAKE UP!!”

This did the trick: one of the giants began to stir and get up. As the giant struggled to its feet, it stumbled over another and began to fall. The sleeping giant was infuriated—it kicked the other one hard, slamming it onto the wall of the river. The first giant rose again, squinting with anger at Anna.

“That’s it, come and get me. Come on!” She turned back and began to run. The giant pounded its arm into the ground, missing her by an inch. Three towering giants emerged from the lake and locked their target: Anna. Menacing as they were, they prepared to chase her. One of them let out an unearthly roar, pushing trees aside like grass and knocking Anna to the ground. Strong-willed, she got up and yelled,

“That’s right, keep coming. Keep coming.”

She corrected her course and continued to run toward the dam. A giant grew frustrated with its puny target and threw a large boulder, which flew right over Anna’s head and landed in front of her. “That’ll work.” decided Anna. Raising her hands, she waved to them,

“This way, guys!” Anna continued to run, and the giants pursued.

Kristoff and Sven were still at the Northuldra camp when they heard Anna’s cry and the pounding feet of towering giants.

“Anna…” He phrased, knowing she was in trouble. In a flash, he ran up to Ryder, and Sven followed. Kristoff grabbed several ropes that the reindeer herder was holding and slung them around his shoulder.

“What do you need these for?” asked a baffled Ryder.

“Wait and watch.” he returned as he mounted Sven.

“Wait, where are you going?!”

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Kristoff didn’t have the time to answer that but kept only a sly smile on his face. “Let’s go, buddy.” Kristoff directed Sven. They shot forward at top speed.

Lieutenant Mattias stood along with his soldiers at a mound near the dam. Alex, too, stood company to them. They watched the distant sight of Earth Giants racing toward the dam, Anna leading their charge. “What?” the lieutenant wondered briefly. The worst of his fears were confirmed—she was going to make them destroy the very thing they protected for so long. “No, no, no, no. She’s leading them to the dam!” He took off, running toward it, and the soldiers were ready to follow.

“STOP!” cried Alex, taking everyone by surprise and stopping the lieutenant. He instantly felt guilty for shouting a little too loudly. He had got the soldiers’ attention, but Mattias was not impressed. Pausing for a moment, Alex began, “I… I think it’s the right thing to do.” he started with a stammer. “Ever since this dam was built, things have gone from bad to worse in the Enchanted Forest. There’s something wrong with it, don’t you think? I--I think the dam must fall.”

The soldiers started to debate in hushed voices, turning the thought around in their minds.

“SILENCE!! NO! The last order King Runeard passed down was to ‘protect the dam at all costs’, and I will do precisely that, come what may!” the lieutenant made his agenda clear. Enraged at Alex’s opposition, he spoke to him with rebuke, “And, I do NOT need your help, color sergeant.” Turning to his troop, he commanded, “Soldiers, advance!”

The men and women did not dare to disobey the lieutenant and joined in as he rushed to the position. Alex didn’t move in the formation but worriedly tagged along behind them.

Anna sprinted as fast as she could but was no match to the Brobdingnagian feet that pursued her. Although their legs moved slower, they covered a significant distance and almost knocked Anna’s balance off with each pounding step. Eventually, Anna tripped and fell. A giant raised its foot, ready to crush her. Anna exclaimed as she desperately tried to crawl away, but it didn’t seem like she could—not until Kristoff came riding in with Sven and swept Anna off the ground and up into his arms, barely missing the giant’s foot.

“Kristoff!” called Anna, in his arms.

“I got you.” he sharply changed direction for the giants with a rope at the ready.

“What are you doing?” asked Anna, concerned. With a vengeful expression, Kristoff replied,

“These walking boulders think they can do anything to my fiancée. I’m gonna show them…” He prepared a noose at the end of the rope and spun it high above his head, waiting for a giant to raise its leg. “… They messed with the wrong guy.”

He threw the rope at a giant’s lifted leg from beneath and secured it tightly. With a firm grip on Anna, he directed Sven to run around the giants while he sturdily held onto the rope. After going around them a few times, Kristof broke the circuit and pulled the rope as hard as he could, while Sven tugged forward with all his might. With an unearthly rattle, the Earth Giants collapsed to the ground. They groaned and grunted, struggling to get up; the knot on their legs kept them from advancing. Anna embraced Kristoff with a smile.

“Any place you want to go, Anna?”

Her face fell again as she told him, “I need to get to the dam.”

Kristoff tapped his reindeer friend and replied, “You’ve got it.” Sven galloped toward the dam, and Anna sat up onto his back.

“Thank you.”

They arrived at a scarp face, beyond which was the entrance to the dam. Sven ground to a halt, and Anna jumped off to climb over. Kristoff passed down the ropes to Anna, “Here, you might need these.” Anna took them, slinging them around her shoulder.

“Thanks. Help me up!”

Kristoff gave her a boost, and her hands reached over to the top. “We’ll meet you around!” assured Kristoff, seeing that she didn’t need any more help. He trotted away, riding Sven.

With much effort, she climbed over the rock—only to be faced by an unwelcoming scene: Arendellian soldiers, led by Lieutenant Mattias, blocked her path, armed with swords and shields. Alex stood aside, not willing to draw out his weapon. He was ashamed that he could do nothing about what was happening, despite knowing what was right—he could neither face Anna nor the lieutenant. After what happened at the cave, Anna had many questions for Alex, but she had set her priority: the next right thing was to destroy the dam. “Lieutenant Mattias,” she called, with an unmistakable look of determination.

“Your Highness… What are you doing?” he asked with an amused yet reserved expression.

“The dam must fall.” started Anna. “It’s the only way to break the mist and free the forest.”

The lieutenant grew steadfast and declared, “We’ve sworn to protect Arendelle and this dam at all costs.” The soldiers behind Mattias looked unsettled: Alex had proclaimed it, and now Anna confirmed it—they wanted to differ in opinion. But what could they do? The lieutenant was in charge. Anna announced,

“Arendelle has no future until we make this right. King Runeard betrayed everyone!”

Mattias found the statement slanderous. His blood boiled.

“HOW DARE YOU?!!” he roared the loudest he could, sending a shiver down every soldier’s spine. Anna gasped in fear as her eyes turned watery—realizing that the very people for whom she risked her life now stood against her. Her spirit was starting to crack. Anna turned toward Alex to meet his gaze. Hearing her sob as she walked to the royal sergeant, Mattias felt guilty. For him, the next right thing had always been to protect the dam. Moreover, it was the late king’s final order. He believed it had to be honored. So, was he really to blame?

Making it to Alex, the rope slung around her shoulder fell to the ground. Burying her head in his chest, she began to cry.