Disclaimer: "I do not own any of these characters. Pixar and Dreamworks do."
Kiome-Yasha: "Well, I guess I'm taking a break from Kingdom Hearts fics for awhile. I need a new fresh start, so this is my ticket in getting myself creative again. This is my first crossover fic for one of my newest otps Jack Frost/Merida, AKA Jarida. These two have taken over my mind and inspiration lately, causing me to support them like crazy. Besides fanart, I've also taken upon making a fic for them. It's a story, but I'm making each chapter short in order for everyone to absorb it all; also because of time jumps. I hope you guys will enjoy it and leave thoughtful reviews :3."
Chapter 1 Winter Falls
It was supposed to be an ordinary family outing like any other. Merida was six and was enjoying the first day of winter with her parents, along with other subordinates from the castle. They were all dressed warmly for the occasion since it was Merida's first time out during this time of year. Usually she was kept inside the castle, avoiding the chance in getting herself sick. Snowflakes fell from the sky, slowly covering the earth. Merida giggled happily and caught some on her tongue. Her face flushed from the taste of frost inside her mouth, savoring the flavor like it was the best thing she ever had.
"Merida, sweetheart," Elinor called out with concern, "Don't eat that."
"Why not?" she asked—clearly upset.
Her father came up and laughed. "Because your mother believes snowflakes are part of a legend of some winter spirit who travels across the warld tae brin' us snow."
"Really?" she asked with astonishment, "Like th' will ay th' wisp?"
Elinor swapped a hand to her husband's chest, silently commanding him to respect the legends.
"Yes, jist like th' will ay th' wisp. But insteid of leadin' ye tae yer fate," she explained warmly, "The winter spirit shaa keep ye safe."
"Keep me safe," she repeated fondly, "Ah like thes winter spirit an' his tale awreddy!"
"Ah knew that ye would," Elinor said, smiling gently at her daughter's strong belief in the spirits.
Just then a low and deep growl came from behind Merida. A large shadow towered over her, paralyzing her instantly with fear to even move.
"Mordu!" Fergus shouted angrily.
"Merida!" Elinor shouted and tried to reach for her.
Mordu roared and struck Elinor down with his colossus claws. Blood sprayed across Merida's vision, causing her to fall and stay hidden beneath the beast's monstrous size. Her mother's body laid lifeless on the snowy ground, showing no response towards her daughter's call.
"Mommy!" she shouted, tears falling fast from her eyes.
"Elinor!" Fergus screamed in horror over his wife's possible corpse, rage quickly consuming him, "I'll kill you, you monster!"
Merida squeaked in terror, alerting her father right away to come and save her.
"Merida!" he shouted.
He swung his sword, doing his best to reach her. All the other warriors came to his aid, their attacks proving futile against the demon bear that haunted their lands. Everything was happening so fast, Merida had little time to react before the bear took down her father and everyone else. She huffed hot air from her lungs and tried to escape, scrabbling quickly to survive the slaughter. Blood started to seep deeply into the snow, and she couldn't tell whom they were from. She looked back only for a second to watch Mordu strike a blow to her father's neck. His teeth sunk unto his skin, spilling buckets of blood in his wake.
Merida cried out, her eyes bulging horribly in shock, "Daddy!"
It wasn't long until Mordu delivered the final blow to all his victims before noticing her. Merida screamed when he started chasing after her, brushing through the snow with his massive weight like it was nothing. The hem to her dress was soon caught in his claws, and she found herself cornered by his unmerciful stare. Tears continued to fall onto her cheeks, clouding her vision as she prepared for her own demise. He sniffed her, letting out a vicious growl. Blood was splattered all across her gown and face, displaying the fate she was about to face. Mordu raised his body, and opened his jaw to feast on her young body. Blood dripped from his fangs, replaying the image of her parents' death once more inside her head.
"SAVE ME! Mommy! Daddy!" she cried out hopelessly, keeping her eyes shut for the darkness that was about to welcome her.
Suddenly, Mordu roared in pain, catching her attention right to open her eyes. She smiled, hoping it was one of her parents coming to her rescue-that they weren't dead after all. However, when the beast fell to the side after the unexpected assault, she was left speechless by a hooded figure holding a staff instead. He stood quietly amongst the clouded mist of snow, gripping his staff tightly in case he needed to attack again. Mordu groaned and whined, making no further threat as he ran off into the woods. Whatever her savior did, it was fatal enough to scare the demon off from killing her.
Merida wept quietly, gazing blankly at the bodies that were scattered before her. She crawled towards her parents, begging for a miracle-they just couldn't be dead. Where was she going to go now, back to the castle? What for? To be a princess she never wanted to be? All she ever cared about was being with her family, and now that path was gone. She completely ignored the stare of sympathy she was receiving from her savior. She touched her parents' bodies, hoping to catch the last bit of their warmth before it completely slipped away. Realizing they were actually gone, she cried. Fresh tears fell from her eyes, stinging her cheeks painfully from the cold. She sobbed loudly, clinging to her parents' corpses, remaining that way until her body was numb.
The stranger stood still only for a moment to grieve. He bit his lip beneath his hood, hiding his own sorrow for the girl's lost. He gripped his staff, and felt anger towards his lack of power in stopping it. With the realization that the girl probably couldn't see him, he already started to take his leave—having nothing else to offer. He sluggishly dragged his feet against the snow. A new weight covered over him that was deeper than the years he existed in being invisible.
"Wait!" Merida called out, chasing after him, "Please! Don't leave me!"
The stranger froze in shock at her voice—she could see him!
"Please," she said, whimpering softly, "Ah don't want tae be aloyn. Ah have nowhere tae go."
"You could see me?" he asked.
She blinked with confusion, not understanding what he meant. "Yoo're here, aren't ye?" she simply asked, "Ye saved me."
He was speechless by her reason, almost at the brink of tears himself. "How? I'm..."
"Yoo're the winter spirit, aren't ye? The one Mommy said that will keep me safe," she said.
"I can't be," he said, frowning deeply at the scenery around them, "I honestly didn't do anything."
"Yes ye did!" she shouted, begging for him to believe, "Ye saved me! Please, don't leave me! I don't want ye to leave!" She ran towards him, leaving him in shock when she touched him. "Everyone Ah love is gone! Ah have no home anymore!"
He clenched his eyes shut and contemplated deeply of what he should do. He knelt down and took off his hood, dropping his staff slightly to the floor. Merida gazed at his features like she was in a trance, her face still wet from her tears.
"You can actually see me?" he asked.
She nodded, hoping he would consider in letting her stay by his side.
He became overwhelmed by her answer, bringing forth emotions he never knew still existed inside him. Merida touched his face, spotting the tears that threatened to fall from the corner of his eyes. She didn't understand, only that he was here. Her eyes became steady, gulping silently for a way to make him stay.
"I see...you," she concluded firmly, hoping to shed light on both their hearts.
It wasn't long until her vision began to fade, gradually losing consciousness. Merida fell forward into his arms, resting against his unfamiliar warmth. Every nerve in his body told him to leave her there, but his heart argued differently. He cradled her close to his chest, hoping to keep her warm from the cold. His body was freezing though, causing her to tremble instead. When he tried to push her away, her little fists clung to his shirt even tighter. In the end, he had no choice. He kept her there and got up to continue his travel for the harsh winter ahead—but at least he won't be alone.
And with a whisper, his tells her his name that will be forever engraved inside her heart, "I'm Jack Frost."
End Chapter
Kiome-Yasha: "Like I said, leave thoughtful reviews :3."
