Jack's Wish
The night is young, yet the sky is black as coal and the air is bitter cold. But even so the stars in the sky shine as bright as diamonds, scattered across outer space making the empty blackness a wondrous mystery. And in the stars grasps they hold the giant, radiant moon that sits so still and powerful up in the universe. On that powerful moon is a powerful man, the man in moon, who watches over the little planet earth. A small world, filled with sorrow, pain, and emptiness. But one particular life, one certain story has caught the man in the moon's eye. And this story, was Jack Frost's.
As the pale boy swept through the snowy air, leaving a trail of frost behind him, Jack, who's usually getting into trouble -whether that's by freezing a whole town into a winter wonderland, or creating blizzards powerful enough to knock out all the power in a city, just to cancel school for the kids- is up to something else, or rather, nothing.
Reaching the end of the thick woods he has been flying over for a couple of hours, dusting their green pine leaves with layers of ice and powdered snow, Jack finally comes to a dead end, one that has arrived to soon, for he hasn't found what he's looking for. Gracefully he lands onto the grassy ground, bare feet embracing its soft texture that intertwines between his toes. With a sigh and heavy disappointed eyes, he walks with his staff hanging over his shoulder to the edge of the cliff, and takes a seat on the ledge letting his long thin legs dangle.
Boosh! The waves below echo, as they slam against the side of the seemingly endless cliff. As Jack slouches forward without a care in the world, he gazes at the never ending sea lying before him, shimmering from the moonlight radiating from the sky. It's so empty. Nothing but the roaring waves and the silent moon keep him company.
Memories of being alive replay in his mind as they often do. The warm touch of human skin and the adventurous stories he would once tell for hours. What it was like to get sick and have others care for him. He recalls the times he would go out with his younger sister on small quests in the woods, the cold air nipping at their noses, and the comfort of a warm fire after a snow storm. But the one that makes Jack's heart the most bitter is remembering all the people, all his friends and loved ones that looked up to him and loved him back, and knowing they're gone.
"No one" He speaks, his voice trailing off into the nothingness. "Absolutely no one…" Jacks fingers latch onto his staff, frustration finally releasing from within, and it comes to a point where he can't hold it in anymore.
"Why can't anyone see me?!" He roars, pressing his feet against the ledge wall and leaping into mid air. Then with all his strength he thrusts the staff towards the water, and at impact it freezes the waves clinging to the cliff and the rest of the ocean's surface for what seems like miles.
Panting from the rage flowing within him, Jack stares down at the mess he's now made, and brushes his fingers through his hair, then lets it fall back in his face. But knowing that letting his anger get the best of him will solve nothing, he takes a deep breath, lets out a cool sigh, and lowers down to the sea level.
Swiftly and smoothly he rides down the curvy frozen waves, feet skimming across the ice, until he reaches his staff which is lodged in the flat surface of the water. With little effort Jack is able to yank it out, but once he does, he remains still and frozen himself.
He is so alone. Ever since he died his life has been empty. Sure there's the joy in making children smile, getting a few laughs out people here and there. But when it really comes down to it, Jack is alone. No one believes in him, so no one can ever know him.
"Just one." He looks up to the moon and millions of stars looking back down at him. "Just one person. That's all I ask." Jack takes a step further out, hoping that it'll bring him closer to the sky that hangs so far away. "Is it so much to ask for someone who can see me, and actually understand. Understand what it's like to be alone, and want something more?" His legs subconsciously pull him out more and more. "Or am I meant to be forever alone? Tell me!" He screams.
Suddenly, bright enough to make Jack flinch, a star in the sky bursts, its glow intensifying by the hundreds. Then, with streams of light following behind it, the star falls across the sky, and Jack's crystal eyes reflect its dazzling magnificence. His breath taken away, he watches the shooting star, soaring through the lonely sky, and finds himself leaning against his staff, and words hanging on the tip of his tongue.
"I have just one wish. A wish to no longer be alone…to have someone worth living for." Jacks gaze stays locked on the shooting star. "Just one friend, to share forever with."
Bam! The explosion in the sky causes Jack to slip to the ground with a hard thud. But he quickly turns his line of sight back to the sky, and he doesn't believe what he sees. Breaking the atmospheres barrier and falling from the starry heavens, the shooting star heads straight for earth. Its radiance is unlike anything Jack has ever seen, and continues to grow more vibrant the further it plummets towards the surface. But lost in marvel of the sky rocketing star free falling at full speed, he doesn't notice that the star is headed straight for him until it's only about a mile away.
"Aw man." Pulling himself back together Jack hops to his feet and runs towards the cliff at full speed, as if he can out run the star chasing after him. But he can hear it whistling behind him, as its speed does not slow down but grows closer and with each passing moment. And before he knows it, the icy water is shimmering from the light radiating from the glowing star that is only seconds away. Not able to make it to the cliff in time, Jack comes to a halt and builds a wall of ice that stretches high into the sky, sharp shards spewing from all over, to shield him. And he does this just in time, because the moment his ice shield is complete, the star impacts the top, is shoved off course, and plunges up and over the cliff onto land.
Boom! The sound of the impact causes the ground to rumble and the ice beneath Jack's feet to crack. With his body still shaking from the adrenaline rush, Jack frantically jumps into the air and flies up to the sky to get a better view of the massive collision.
It shines, deep within the woods. A trail of light that leads to the shooting star reveals the damage that the star had caused as it rammed and destroyed all the trees in its path. But it also takes Jack straight to the source.
Not able to resist his curiosity he sores towards the still shining star, and when he's only a few hundred yards away, dives down into the tall trees and lands as quietly as possible. Jack's back pressed against a tree, he takes deep breath, tries to regain control of his racing pulse, clings to his staff, and carefully sticks his head out from behind the stump. He's forced to squint, for the star still shines bright, but after a few moments, the glow begins to dim down, and soon, all that's shining is a small round floating ball of light.
Jack -lost of words, but enticed by its foreign beauty- creeps closer, but with precaution and his staff pointed directly at the beaming light. Heart pounding uncontrollably he tries to keep steady, but he can't help his hands from shaking. Is it because of fear, shock, or simply complete amazement? Whatever the case is, he forces himself to draw in closer.
His feet walk through the warm fog that generates from the star and stretches across the ground. Jack can't ignore the eerie presence that the light radiates, but he remains calm and quiet, and soon finds himself standing only a few yards from it. Now he can feel the heat from the blazing star against his icy skin he's standing so close.
"Whoa…" Jack whispers, lost in the stars beauty. It hums softly, as the light consuming the star flickers, and what appears to be golden dust shimmers around it. It looks so soft, he thinks, practically going blind from staring at the light for so long. Jack, being careless, forgets his uncertainties, and reaches out his staff to touch it…
The moment the light starts to move Jack stumbles back and falls, but quickly recovers and hides behind the closest tree. Watching attentively from the sidelines, he observes as the star twitches and flashes, than start to take on a new shape. A body, a human body. Hovering above the ground like a glowing ghost, the bright, unrecognizable body remains in the air and shinning bright.
Then slowly, dropping to the ground and upon the soft grass, the light begins to fade. And when the light has completely gone out, all that remains is a young girl with a pure white dress draping over her pale, delicate body that lies motionless on the ground, and beautiful golden hair that still remains shining.
"What the…?" Jack whispers, his pounding heart coming to a stop.