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Elsa unfroze at once, and the ice below her broke down, causing her to break into a fall. Unconscious, she plunged into the icy waters below. The Water Nokk took notice and moved toward her.

The wave looked unstoppable to all appearances. It gushed and poured through the fjord and toward Arendelle. Kai, Grand Pabbie, Oaken, and a few guards stepped forward to witness this while all of Arendelle watched the vast amount of water pour out of the fjord and onto their beloved kingdom. But behold, from the waves emerged Elsa, riding on the Water Nokk. She found her way to the front of the water, braving the crashing waves. Soon, she overtook the wave and galloped at full speed toward the walls of Arendelle. Coming to rest a close distance from the wall, she turned around to face the incoming water.

Elsa raised both her hands and erected a colossal barrier of ice. The people stood in thrall on the nearby hill—would the wall hold up?

The water collided with the ice barrier with unbelievable force. However, it didn’t break and stopped the water in its place. As Elsa brought down her hands, the wall fragmented into billions of particles, and the water washed away, leaving behind a calm sea. The earth stopped rumbling, the lanterns were relit, and the waterfalls began to pour yet again in Arendelle. Oaken lifted a townsman and gave him a tight hug—that’s how he showed he was happy!

Grand Pabbie only smiled as he watched Elsa and the Water Nokk gallop back into the fjord. For the first time in forever, the mist in the Enchanted Forest began to lift. The Northuldra gazed endlessly at the sky. Anna buried her head under Kristoff’s arm, and both of them ambled, lost in thought. Anna was downcast, wondering if her sister was still alive. Ryder was nothing short of amazed.

“Wow… look at the sky.” he expressed as Honeymaren joined by his side, giving him a nudge. “I just didn’t realize there’s so much of it!”

Standing beside Yelena, Lieutenant Mattias started, “Thirty-four years…”

Yelena stared at the sky and went on, “Five months…”

Lieutenant Mattias completed, “And twenty-three days.”

The reindeer jolted out of the forest and started to run around in an enormous oval formation. Anna felt a cold breeze blow. At the brink of shedding a tear, she closed her eyes. Gale recreated a familiar symbol, suggesting her sister had returned. Anna broke into a run and followed the wind spirit to a rocky beach. Standing on a rock, Anna squinted and observed a moving figure in the distance—it was Elsa. Unable to believe her eyes, she hurried down onto the beach. Elsa dismounted the Water Nokk on arriving at the beach, who bowed to her and melted into the water. The sisters longingly looked at each other.

“Is it really you?” asked Anna, wondering if she was a memory like young Alex in the cave.

“Anna.” Elsa put out her hands to hug her. Anna eagerly sailed into her sister’s arms, and tears of joy streamed down her face.

“I thought I lost you.”

“Lost me? You saved me,” confessed Elsa. She wiped a tear off Anna’s face with a thumb, “Again.”

Anna asked, tears streaming down her face, “I did?”

Elsa reassured her, “And, Anna? Arendelle did not fall.”

Still crying, she wondered, “It didn’t?”

“And the spirits all agree: Arendelle deserves to stand. You did it!”

Anna accepted, “Well, actually, Alex helped me destroy the dam. I couldn’t have done it without him.”

Elsa wondered aloud, “Mmm… is that so?”

Anna agreed with a nod and questioned, “Did you find the Fifth Spirit?” Elsa only smiled at her sister. Anna realized and gasped, “You are the Fifth Spirit!”

Elsa confirmed, “We all did this together, and we will continue to do this together.”

Placing her forehead on her sister’s, Anna repeated, “Together.”

At once, both of them heard a familiar voice. “Elsa, you’re okay!” Kristoff ran up and hugged her briefly. As he stood away, Sven trotted in and joined him. Elsa gave the reindeer a gentle chin-rub. “You look different. Did you cut your hair or something?” guessed Kristoff.

Elsa smiled at her sister, “Or something.”

“Oh.”

As Gale whizzed past, Elsa’s face grew serious. “Anna, I need to ask you a question,” she asked with a touch of sadness.

“Okay.”

Unable to suppress a smile, she asked, “Do you want to build a snowman?”

An astounded Anna wondered, “What?”

Elsa closed her eyes and magically summoned the snow that made Olaf from beneath the waterfall. It drifted like a breeze through the forest as it was carried by Gale. Along with the snow, gale gyrated around the lot of them and laid the snow in a heap.

“Thank goodness, water has memory.” Elsa moved her hands and made Olaf one more time. Anna couldn’t contain her happiness: she hurried to kneel in front of him and placed the buttons on his torso, fixed the twigs on his head, and attached his hands to his body—all which she had kept safe in her bag. Lastly, she fitted his carrot nose onto his face.

With a petulant giggle, Olaf opened his eyes. “Anna.” he began, his mouth hung open with a smile. “Elsa! Kristoff and SVEN!!” All of them smiled at him, and he continued, “You all came back!” They hugged the snowman. “It’s so good to see you all aga--”

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His jolly voice was stopped by a dark shadow that engulfed everyone—Earth Giants. One of them was still drenched in water. “Woah!” exclaimed Olaf. But the giants were in no mood to fight; one of them bowed to Elsa, and Anna approached them. Together, the sisters touched the spirit’s giant, rocky nose. After a while, they turned away and left. Everyone watched until they disappeared behind the trees in the distance.

“So, as we’re all together now, I presume we’re done. Or is this ‘putting us in mortal danger’ situation gonna be a regular thing?” asked Olaf.

“No, we’re done, Olaf.” Anna clarified, holding his hand firmly.

But Elsa felt something or someone was missing; she looked away with discontent. Soon, she heard the crackle of boots she wanted to hear. Her eyes yearningly searched for its source. Not long after, her attention was caught by a navy-blue tunic—Alex. He moved toward her while Elsa, too, took a few paces toward him.

“Elsa…” he called, lost in her eyes.

“Alex…” she replied, locking her gaze with his. Alex reported smartly,

“My Queen, the mist has lifted, and the forest is free.”

Elsa added, “And Arendelle is safe.” Alex’s smile widened as he remarked,

“That’s good to know, isn’t it?”

Elsa restrained herself and declared, “My sister informed me of your actions at the dam. Royal sergeant, Arendelle is indebted to you. How may you be rewarded?”

Alex glanced at the rank above his elbow from the corner of his eye—he finally had reason enough to get promoted. “Do you really have to ask me that?” he inquired, looking back at her. Elsa drew nearer to him wearing a mischievous smile and admitted,

“I don’t think so…”

Then, she came even closer: a little too close for comfort—and gave him nothing less than a true love’s kiss!

Her newfound confidence caused him to shudder at first, but he gradually returned it to her. Olaf watched with dreamy eyes, “Ah…”

Kristoff was stupefied. “Wha…? I did not see that coming.” he accepted, while Sven let out a low, romantic moo. Anna chuckled quietly.

“I did.” she owned up with a furtive smile.

Later, Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Alex, Olaf, and Sven moved through the Enchanted Forest en route to meet the Northuldra and Arendellian soldiers. Both the sisters walked ahead and discussed something confidential in hushed voices. They giggled occasionally but ensured nobody overheard them. Both the men behind them wondered what they were talking about so secretly, puzzled.

Anna and Elsa suddenly stopped and turned around, looking at Alex. Both of them were bubbling with excitement. “Alex.” started Elsa.

“We hereby,” continued Anna.

“Declare you…” Elsa went on, looking at her sister—they decided to say this next one together.

“KING OF ARENDELLE!” they squealed together, eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. Alex took a while to process what he just heard.

“THE WHAT OF ARENDELLE?!” he cried in utter shock. “Ha, ha. You’re kidding me, right?” he said later with an amused smile. He thought that Elsa and Anna were just playing with him. Their smiles began to fade as Anna acknowledged,

“We’re serious.”

Alex’s smile dropped as his eyes widened in bewilderment—it was no joke. He protested firmly, “No, no, no! I can’t do that: not when Their Majesties’ daughters are more than capable of ruling!”

But Anna didn’t want to give up. “Aw, come on, Alex! You should have seen the way you convinced all the people to stay out of the kingdom!” she persuaded. Elsa supported her sister, “… And how you told the Northuldra that I wasn’t a sorcerer.”

Kristoff commented, “And you’re great at giving advice!”

Alex considered carefully and replied, “Alright. But I will accept only under three conditions.”

Elsa demanded, “Name them.”

Anna agreed, excited, “Okay.”

Taking a deep breath, he began, “First: Elsa, in winter, you may serve your duties as the Fifth Spirit. But from spring to autumn, I need you in Arendelle with me, as High Queen.”

Elsa thought for a while and said, “Agreed.”

Stating his second condition, Alex said, “Second: Anna, I want you to help your sister and share some of her royal duties.”

Anna proudly answered, “Most certainly, Alex.”

With much hesitation, Alex continued, “And third: Elsa…” Before he could pronounce another word, an adorable blush flooded his face. “I… I’d like to discuss this last one with you in person.” When he phrased that, it was clear that he was shaking with nervosity.

With a puckish smile, Anna asked, “Lemme guess, a ‘matter of state security’?”

“Oh no, my dear Anna: something far, far more important than that.” Grabbing Elsa’s arm and tugging her, he said confidently, “Come with me.” Elsa only gasped and smiled shyly as she allowed him to pull her along.

Soon, the others were out of sight. Elsa laughed with glee as Alex hurried, leading the way. “Where are you taking me?” she inquired, laughing incessantly.

“You’ll see.” Alex stopped at a thicket and released Elsa’s hand from his grip.

“Where are we?” wondered Elsa.

“Shh! In the count of ten, I want you to enter through these bushes.” Alex instructed happily and sprinted away in another direction. A few moments later, Elsa had just finished counting, “… Nine, ten.”

When she did enter, she was mesmerized by what she saw: Alex hit triggers that made butterflies soar into a dazzling dance through the air. He then jumped onto a large boulder, and looking skyward, he took a deep breath.

“Elsa, my sweetest, iciest little snow… I am in love with you, from the bottom of my heart,” he confessed, catching sight of her.

“Alex…?” she called back, struck dumb with wonder. Hopping off the boulder and landing before her, he got down on one knee. Offering her a majestic ring of an azure-shaded blue diamond, he proposed to her,

“Will you marry me?”

Elsa’s eyes enlarged in amazement; her face colored. Letting out a short gasp, she smiled—she had wanted to answer that question for the longest time!

“Yes!”

Elsa carefully took the ring out of its box and slipped it onto her finger. Thus and so, she had fulfilled his third and last condition. They passionately embraced each other.

“Oh, Elsa. I have always wanted to hold you like this.” divulged Alex.

“Me too.”

Unexpectedly, Olaf emerged out of the bushes and bawled, “AWW! I love love.”

Their faces flushed a crimson red as they quickly broke away from each other and looked at the snowman. “Shh! Olaf, don’t yell it out loud!” whispered Anna in a belated attempt to stay hidden.

“… Anna.” voiced Alex, realizing she had seen and heard everything. With a guilty smile, Anna came out of the bushes along with Kristoff. “You can’t help but spy on us, now, can you?” Alex asked with a sigh. Suppressing her musical laughter, Anna said,

“You know I can’t.”

After telling the soldiers that Arendelle did not fall and bidding farewell to the Northuldra, all of them headed home in the trusty wagon they arrived in, driven by Sven. It was evening, and the sisters were fast asleep after the tiring adventure they had. The horizon stretched out over the distant mountains as far the eye could see: a feeling of accomplishment induced slumber in the men sitting forward. Olaf wanted to help; he considered this an excellent opportunity to indulge in a little ‘man-talk’. “So,” he started, breaking the ice. “While I still don’t know what transformation means, I feel like this forest has really changed us all.” Both Alex and Kristoff at Sven’s reins carefully turned what he said in their minds.

“Strange as it may seem, I think you’re right, Olaf.” Kristoff concurred.

“I’ll vouch for that.” agreed Alex. Kristoff used the occasion to ask Alex,

“Hey, you’ve gotta tell me how you planned out that amazing proposal!”

Alex smiled, “Well, this is not the first time I met those people. And, wouldn’t it be a shame to say that I spent two weeks with the Northuldra and learned only their language?”

“Okay, okay. But I still don’t understand: just when did you think of the ring? It’s almost like… I dunno, like you were… ready?” Kristoff guessed, expecting an answer.

Alex chuckled to himself and answered, “You know what? I’ll let you in on a little secret—when I was in the Exploration Corps, my lieutenant would often tell me:

‘I don’t care about the junior ranks, and I don’t know about the officers and seniors, but a sergeant must always be ready for anything’.”