The Importance of Not Giving Up - Tadelsa Story
So, this was requested by @thearendork. It’s a bit of a work in progress right now, but that’s more because everything I’m working on has kinda stalled. But I feel bad about keeping this in my drafts box for so long, so I figured I’d post the first “chapter” and see what you guys think.
The premise for this is Tadashi arriving in movie!Arendelle, meaning it is set in Frozen’s time period and location. As a result, some things about his character had to change slightly in order for this to happen. I’ve tried to keep his desire to help out wherever he can, which is going to be the driving force behind a lot of the plot. I’m still trying to figure out the main story, though. So bear with me.
Chunks of residual pack ice floated past the ship as it sailed into the harbour. It was reasonably warm for a spring day, but the water was still cold, hence the shrinking boulders of white ice. They were no longer an issue for ships, as they could no longer do damage to the wooden hulls. Instead, they were more ornamentation in the deep blue water, bouncing around in the waves with flashes of turquoise as the ice dipped in and out of the swells.
Tadashi Hamada watched them in awe from the side of the ship. He had seen ice before, several times, in fact. He saw it both at home in Japan, but also in his travels. But for whatever reason, the ice here seemed far more intriguing. It was probably naturally-formed ice, but here it was: welcoming people into the Kingdom of Arendelle, home of the Queen of Snow.
Tadashi liked to call himself a researcher. But he begrudgingly accepted the term “adventurer” as his actual title because that was what everyone he ever met called him. He travelled the world, searching for things that might help others. He was most successful in medicine, as many different cultures had many different ailments and treatments that he has since documented and collected. It was fascinating, really. Sometimes a nation on one side of the planet would have a different name for a sickness a nation on the other side could not cure, but because of a jungle nearby, the one nation actually had a cure. Tadashi was also sure to return to other lands with some of these cures, of course. He wanted to help, however he could. And if that meant traipsing through miles of muggy jungles to find leaves from a single plant, and then bringing a specimen of that plant across the ocean to help another community fight an illness then that’s what he was going to do.
But the main thing that he looked for was “magic”. He often rolled his eyes at the concept. Most often than not, “magic” was not magic at all, but rather a savvy human pulling the right strings to make it look like something enchanted. But he would go in search of it anyway, secretly hoping that perhaps this time it would truly be something fantastic. After all, magic offered the best cures if they can be proven true, next to science, of course.
Hence his presence in Arendelle. He had heard of the Queen’s ability almost a year ago, now, from a friend back in Japan. Apparently the story was so incredible that word had managed to spread all the way across the continent. And of course he had to see it for himself.
He gazed fondly at the royal castle. He had never seen architecture quite like it before. He was familiar with the stave church, and the roof formation echoed that nicely. But it was the odd, shiny parts that had him slightly baffled. He shrugged it off, focusing now on a more pressing issue: how on earth was he even going to meet the Queen?
“How long do I need to keep this in for?”
“Not much longer, your Majesty.”
“Ok, new question: why do I need to have my temperature checked, again?”
The short, balding man sighed a little. “We need to see what your core body temperature sits at, your Majesty,” he told her in a thick, German accent, “It is very important to my research.”
Elsa shot him an unimpressed glare when his back was turned. She readjusted the glass thermometer sticking out of her mouth with a grimace. It reminded her far too much of all the times she had doctor’s visits when she was little. Thankfully, they had stopped when she began refusing other people’s touch. Now, she was back to being examined, but not for her own health.
Since the world had found out about her powers, scientists and doctors had been flooding to Arendelle to see her and study her. She had humoured a few at first, but after a couple months it was getting quite tiring.
“Ok, you may take the thermometer out, now,” her most recent examiner told her.
She gladly removed the device and handed it to him. “Hmm, interesting. Much lower than normal people,” he muttered.
“So I’ve been told,” she said coolly, “Several times.”
The hint that she wished to be left alone flew right over his shiny head. “Now, tell me about your living snow creatures,” he said as he jotted something down in a journal.
“They’re sentient beings, indestructible with the exception of melting,” Elsa replied flatly, reciting a line she had said many times before.
“Fascinating,” he muttered, continuing to scribble something down and not looking at all excited about the matter, “And, can they be manipulated?”
“How so?”
“By yourself. Either form or temperament?”
“No,” Elsa told him firmly, “I could do so, but I won’t.”
“Then, perhaps, could you potentially make more? An army, perhaps?”
Though he tried to be subtle about that suggestion, Elsa clearly knew where this was going. “No,” she replied, maintaining a calm facade but keeping her voice clear and strong, “I have no intention of creating an army of snow golems, neither for Arendelle nor for any other nation I have an alliance with.”
“But surely if they are in need of one...”
“Is your nation in need of one?”
“Erm...that will be something King Franz will need to discuss with you,” he said hurriedly, “I...I am merely here for my own research.”
“Did you not come to Arendelle on a royal ship?”
“King Franz is a strong supporter of scientific research, your Majesty.”
Elsa raised an eyebrow sceptically. “Are there any more questions, Doctor Bernat?” she asked bluntly.
“I...I believe I have enough information, your Majesty,” he stammered nervously, knowing that she saw through him.
“Then am I free to go?”
“Yes, your Majesty,” he said with his head bowed in defeat, “Thank you.”
“You are welcome,” she said as she rose to her feet. Despite her average height, she was still taller than him, “I hope whatever you collected was helpful.”
And with that, she dismissed herself, allowing him to find his own way out of the castle.
“Sooo...how’d it go?”
Anna leaned against the doorframe to her sister’s room, watching as Elsa paced back and forth, muttering in frustration. She could tell from the trail of frost at her sister’s feet that Elsa wasn’t exactly happy at this moment.
Elsa paused upon hearing Anna’s words before heaving a heavy sigh and flopping down on her bed, forgoing any Queenly elegance for the time being. “Why did I ever agree to do that sort of thing?” she groaned.
“Because the first guy was really good at convincing you that it would be great for science to understand magic?” Anna tried as she headed into the room to sit down on the bed beside Elsa.
“He was the only one who did what he promised,” Elsa reminded her, “Everyone else has been sent from different countries to find out what I could do. Or to find out about any weaknesses. Or to try and swindle some magic item for themselves. And that’s not even including how much of a waste of my time it is.”
“It’s not that much of a waste...”
“They all ask the same questions. I’m pretty sure that if they were really doing this for science, they would have collaborated a bit better by now.”
“Right...ok. So, what are you going to do?”
“I’m tired of being a lab rat, Anna. I’m not going to let anyone else study me or my magic,” Elsa stated.
“Like...at all?” Anna demanded, “But...but what if someone comes along who needs it? What if they know of a way that your powers could help, or-”
“Then if such a person comes along I’ll reconsider,” Elsa told her. She sighed again, and admitted quietly, “Anna, I don’t even know if my powers can be useful. Sure, they’re entertaining, I suppose. And controlling the weather has its perks, but... What good can the cold really do?”
“Lots of things,” Anna answered immediately.
“Name three.”
“Uh... It’s nice in the summer. And...if you burn yourself. And...um...keeping meat from rotting?”
Elsa raised her eyebrow pointedly.
“Ok, ok,” Anna begrudgingly agreed, “But that’s just because I’m bad at examples. I’m sure there are more important things your powers can do than just making ice rinks and snowmen. And I bet there’s someone out there who knows what.”
Elsa rolled her eyes. “Well, I’m not going to hold my breath,” she said with a tired expression, “Even if there was someone who could give me an answer, I doubt they’re trying to knock down the gates to tell me.”
Tadashi stared up at the intimidating wooden gates to the royal castle. Large, gilded crocuses decorated each door, and he swore one of them was about the same height as he was and probably weighed ten times as much. The castle didn’t seem anywhere near as massive as it did now that he was standing at its entrance.
Court was not being held today, and there was to be a small gathering for dignitaries and trade partners later that evening, so the castle was temporarily closed to the public. He had found this information out from a rather large gentleman with a thick, Scandinavian accent. He seemed friendly enough, but for whatever reason, he also seemed like the kind of guy who could easily heave Tadashi over his head and into the fjord if he said the wrong thing.
The man - Oaken, maybe? - did tell him that two days from now Queen Elsa will hold open court, so perhaps then he might be able to talk with her. But he wasn’t too sure about asking her regarding something that he believed to be somewhat personal in front of half the kingdom.
He then remembered that he should probably go find an inn to stay at. But before he could turn around, an happy, familiar voice interrupted his thoughts: “No way! Tadashi Hamada? What’s up?”
Tadashi turned around to see a friend he had made while in America. “Fred?” he gasped in surprise.
“Didn’t expect to see me here, huh?” Fred asked with a large grin, “Turns out, Dad decided to give me a chance with a business deal. You know, ‘cause I’m so good with the ladies.”
Tadashi rolled his eyes. “So you’re here in Arendelle for business?” he asked sceptically, “Your dad has more hope for you than I thought.”
Fred leaned closer and pretended to secretively reveal, “Well, between you and me, I mostly wanted to come here for the skiing. There are no mountains like the ones around here anywhere else. The business part...not as fun.”
“See: that’s more believable,” Tadashi said with a laugh.
“So, what are you doing here?” Fred questioned, “I thought you were going to spend some more time with your brother back in Japan.”
“Yeah...I was, but... Then I heard about-”
“Queen Elsa?” Fred interrupted excitedly, “Man, she is something. You’ll love her!”
“Wait...you’ve met her?” Tadashi demanded in shock. Sure, Fred might have been the son of a wealthy American businessman, but he never seemed like the kind of person who would meet royalty.
“Well, no. Not exactly,” Fred admitted, “I’ve seen her work her magic, and I was there when she addressed the court the other day. Seriously though: she’d be right up your alley. She’s smart, and stoic, and serious, but kinda funny when she wants to be.”
“Do you even know me?” Tadashi sighed in exasperation.
“I’m telling you man. You’ll like her. I kinda think she’s got this thing where she acts super serious most of the time, but I bet behind those doors right now she’s nothing like that,” Fred insisted.
“Well, I’m never going to know that for sure until I meet her,” Tadashi told him, “Now if I could just figure out how.”
Fred gasped before his smile grew even larger. “I have an idea. You got a suit?”
“Uh...yeah?”
“Is it formal? Like, formal formal?”
“Um...it’s the best I can do...”
“No problem. We’ve got time and there are shops all over this place,” Fred said as he headed off, gesturing for Tadashi to follow him.
“Wait, what are you talking about?” he said as he quickly heaved his duffle over his shoulder and ran after his friend.
“You’re coming with me tonight. I’ve got an extra invitation for a guest. Dad suggested I bring an advisor or something, but get stuck with a boring old guy for three weeks? Forget it!”
“Wait, as in that thing for dignitaries?” Tadashi questioned in alarm, “But... I...I can’t go to that!”
“Sure you can! Just do what Queen Elsa likely does: act super serious and calm, always say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’, and walk around like someone tied a broomstick to your back.”
“I...I have a feeling that she was taught how to do that stuff, Fred!”
“Relax, man! I can teach you! We’ve got a few hours,” Fred said with a casual wave of his hand.
“I’m doomed,” Tadashi groaned.
