They were almost to the inn when it happened. They turned down an older, more abandoned street, and at the end was a stallion. Rosy froze in fear. Ed looked much hazier then he'd been when they last saw him. His eyes were bleary and delirious.
Frozen's expression grew grave, as he stepped between them. A cold gust of wind kicked up around him and his milky white eyes turned paler.
"Save the theatrics, Mr. Heart." said Ed, as he strode forward, his speech slightly slurred. "I'm here for Rosalind. She's coming back with me."
"You really don't want to do this, and I really don't want to have to kick your flank, but I will if you don't step off. You really don't want to know what I am capable of." The day had been warm, but suddenly it was as cold as a fall evening.
"Please, Ed, please don't. Just let us be." Rosy pleaded. "No can do, Ro. You see, I know exactly what kind of creature your 'companion' is, and if you do not come back with me, I will go straight to the princesses."
"There won't be anything left of you to tell them!" he shouted, "go ahead, run, tell! Your threats mean nothing to me. I would gladly bear any punishment they inflicted upon me if it meant I was protecting her from you." Frozen seemed to grow as his anger did, towering over Ed as he glared down at him, "Begone from my sight mortal. Return to your home and you just might live to see the morning sun. But should you ever threaten Rosy again, hell will seem a paradise compared to what I will do to you!"
"Frozen.." murmured Rosy, holding his hoof. Ed laughed, shaking his head. "You wouldn't kill me, for two reasons. One, is she," he said, pointing at Rosy, "would not let you. Two, killing me would be giving yourself away. Besides, do you think she'd be happy? Continually running from the law? When will it end, Mr. Heart? You're dangerous. Look at you now. You're out of control, and one day, it will prove to be too much. You'll hurt her, or even worse, kill her."
"Of course I am dangerous," Frozen said, "but I am perfectly in control of myself. I care more about her safety than I do my own. If they cannot accept me for what I am, and do not condone defending a loved one, then they are false and I have nothing to fear from them."
"Frozen," Rosy mumbled again. "If you care about her safety, you'd let her go! Don't you realize what you are dooming her to? If the princesses find out, both of you will be killed. Is that what you are forsaking her to?" Ed growled.
She pressed her forehead against his. "Let me be your raft. Let me help you stay afloat for as long as I can," she whispered, swallowing the sob in her throat.
Frozen closed his eyes, a frozen tear slipping down his cheek, "Then I must try a different way," he said. Frozen released Rosy from his arms and began to walk towards sugar cube corner, and what he felt was his only salvation. He wasn't going to run any more..
Ed walked up to Rosy, who was still watching Frozen leave, a tear going down her face. "Come on, Rosy. Let's go." Rosy hung her head in defeat, and watched as the tears dripped to the ground. A sob forced its way through her throat, and she placed a hoof to her mouth to cover it. She turned, and Ed and her walked away.
