Chapter 1 - Jack

I don't start freaking out until it's too late. After several weeks of my powers fading in and out, they've finally sputtered and disappeared altogether.

I clutch my staff like a lifeline and try to summon something, an ice block, an icicle, a chilly breeze! Anything would have been a relief, but nothing happened. I hear my staff's clunk as it hits the floor, but I'm numb and staring at my hands, willing them to conjure what they've been doing for this entire new lifetime of mine.

But, nothing happens.

Have they all stopped believing in me? My chest tightens and now I'm truly terrified.

That's ridiculous, it would take more than a couple of weeks for that to happen, I believe in Marsha and Stacy, and Thomas, and… Jamie. Jamie has never let me down, not since that first day when I was seen for the very first time.

I growl and kick the nearest tree, hurting myself in the process. Ugh! I pick up my staff and start pacing, snapping my fingers over and over again, trying to get a hint of frost on my fingertips.

After about an hour, I've almost lost all hope. I have my back against the tree, my staff in my left hand, and my right hand still snapping, but only half-heartedly. I've hung my head, defeated, but with one final snap of my fingers, I feel it. Frost.

Before my power decides to change its mind, I shoot the nearest tree, frosting it well over.

I take to the air and head north, hoping and praying that my power lasts long enough for me to reach North and that he has some answers.

Two hours later, I storm into North's office and his jaw drops.

"Jack! It's good to see you again!" He booms and almost squeezes whatever power I have left out of me.

"It's good to see you too North, but I-"

"How are the States these days? It's been a while since I've visited maybe I could make some time in the-"

"North! I came because I need you to-"

"-then again Christmas is only eleven months away so I couldn't possibly-"

"North!" I slam the end of my staff to the floor, my intention to cover the floor in ice like I've done here so many times before, but just as I suspected, the ice doesn't even reach the toes of North's big black boots. I feel tired and dizzy, as if the one burst of power was enough to take it out of me. Which apparently, it was. I slump forward, supporting as much weight as possible onto my staff.

"North I need your help. Something's wrong." North eyes widen as he stares at my pathetic excuse for an ice floor and then at my face until he calls for a couple of Yetis to pick me up and take me to the infirmary. I knock out before we get there.

"He's not going to go through with it, mate." I wake up to the sound of Bunny's voice.

"There's got to be something else he can do." That was Tooth. I slowly get up. I'm not in pain, but my joints are stiff, as if I've been sleeping for days instead of hours as my internal clock tells me.

"He has no choice." North says, and with that I pull back the curtain to find the whole gang looking shocked and uncomfortable, Sandy's noiseless whistling matching Tooth's sudden over-interest in the nearest elf's teeth.

"What choice don't I have?" I demand, waiting for my staff to come to my side, but I realize I've woken up without powers again; I retrieve it from beside the bed and return to find all of them gone, except for North who has this look like a child he loves will be getting a whole lot of coal for Christmas.

"Jack…um, the gang wishes you luck." He says, coughing before averting my gaze and motioning for me to follow him.

"Why would they wish me luck? What's going on, North? Tell me the truth." He's silent until we reach his office and he closes the door behind me.

Motioning for me to sit down, I take a seat and watch as he uses his new cocoa machine.

"Would you like some?" He smiles, offering me a cup.

"North, I would really like some answers right now. What do you know?"

"Well, let us begin with a few questions, yes?" It was probably best to be patient.

"Okay."

"How long have your powers been… fading?" He asks hesitantly.

"About three weeks, but it's getting worse." I say and snap my fingers, relieved to see that I made a small flurry.

"It's just as I'd feared." He sighs and stands, beginning to pace. I'm about to open my mouth, when he holds up a hand.

"The others were called here by Man on Moon, Jack." He says gravely. I slump in my seat, knowing this is far more serious than I had hoped it would be.

"He says your immortality is fading. Your heart, which has been frozen on the day he changed you, is thawing. Time is beginning to tick for you again Jack." I'm staring at my staff in my hands, willing it to not be true.

"But there is hope. Although I don't think you're going to like it." I stand up, my fears already melting faster than my immortality.

"Anything." I plead.

"'You will find your answers in the young ruler of Arendelle.' That is what Man on Moon said. Word for word."

"That's it? Nothing else? What exactly am I supposed to ask this guy?" Suddenly, my hope takes a sharp decline with the vague indication given to me by the being that made me a guardian.

"That is all he said. No questions, no assignments, no requirements. Just that your answer lies in him."

"Why him specifically?" I ask, confused.

"He is the only other living being that harnesses the same powers you do."

This hits me harder than the rest of what's going on. The fact that there is someone out there who can do everything I can. The difference between me and this guy though? EVERYONE can see him, and he doesn't even have to try. It's a little annoying, but if I wanted to get my power back, I was going to have to tamp down any irritation and rely on some spoiled ice king.

"Take the snowglobe." North and I both know that I have almost no magic left, yet he still makes it seem like he has to insist I use the snowglobe.

"Good luck, Jack." He reaches out, and we hug, and I realize that if I fail, this will probably be the last time I see him. I hug him tighter and he lets go first.

"Ahem, well, I'll be in touch with Jamie, let him know he needs to believe now more than ever."

I nod, and with that, I head for Arendelle.

I have to admit, I'm impressed.

The entire floor is covered in ice and even the water that once flowed from the fountains has been artistically frozen into intricate swirls in the air.

That's a nice touch. I think to myself.

I watch as families, couples, and kids who will eventually become couples and then families, skate hand in hand. This place is pretty awesome, but it could use a little more...

I'm just about to make it snow (completely disregarding proper use of my power), when the trumpets start blaring.

Everyone skids to a halt when the announcer starts to do his thing.

"Announcing, our reigning monarch-"

Here comes the king. I thought.

"Her Majesty-"

Her!?

"Queen Elsa of Arendelle. "

Queen!?

I nearly fell off the fountain I was sitting on, but I righted myself and watched as the enormous doors to the palace opened, and out came Queen Elsa. She was everything I wasn't expecting…

Author's Note:

Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated! The best is yet to come!

Please forgive me for any spelling errors or other mistakes... I'm a work in progress XD