Darker Than Black – Part 2
The Whiter Than Snow Trilogy
Jack Frost slowly lowered himself onto the balcony of Arendelle's castle. Elsa landed shortly after him, taking care not to fall too hard. The two of them shared a glance and laughed to themselves. Everything seemed to be at peace again. Elsa brushed her pail white hair behind her ear, taking another glance at Jack who was leaning against the guardrail with his hands in his jacket pockets. His deep blue eyes were as sharp as frost bite, but pleasing to her gaze. She could almost lose herself in them.
"Thank you, for tonight. And apologizing," Elsa said quietly.
Jack smiled and shrugged, "Hey, don't mention it. I was in the wrong. I let my curiosity get the better of me."
The two of them remained silent for a while. The cold winter air blew over them like a refreshing peppermint chill. Elsa couldn't help but blush a little. She felt an odd sense of warmth with Jack, a feeling she thought she understood as a child. It was a feeling her mother told her when her parents first met.
"Elsa."
Elsa and Jack looked towards the doorway. Anna stood between the doors, a hand over her chest as she heaved, obviously exhausted. She walked onto the balcony towards Elsa and embraced her sister tightly.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine Anna. Thank you."
Anna let go and looked into her sister's eyes. They were reassuring, and the two of them smiled at each other.
"Ugh!"
Anna and Elsa quickly looked at Jack. He fell to his knees, holding his chest in what seemed to be pure agony. A bright neon blue glow emitted behind his hand as he collapsed to the ground, holding himself up with the only free hand he had left.
"Jack!" Elsa cried out, rushing to his side.
"No, it's okay!" he struggled to say. The glow slowly faded as Elsa placed a hand on his back.
"Jack."
"I'm alright, Elsa. It's gone now."
"What's gone?" she asked.
Jack shook his head, "I can't say."
"I'll have a doctor check you."
"Elsa, please," Jack stood up, looking at her sternly. She slowly rose to her feet, meeting his gaze as if she had betrayed him. "I think all I need is some rest now."
"We could all use some rest," Anna added, looking at Elsa.
Elsa returned her gaze. Taking a deep sigh, she put on a strong pose, "Guard!"
In an instant, a man dressed in green armor appeared at the edge of the doorway, "Yes, Your Highness."
"Prepare a room for our guest please."
"As you wish, madam," and with that, the guard disappeared.
Elsa turned to Jack, bowing and gesturing towards the door, "Your bed calls for you, sir."
Jack played along and returned the bow, "Thank you, m'lady," he said in the best British accent he could pull off.
Elsa blushed. He certainly was a charmer; she gave him that. The three of them made there way out of the room, and with a flick of her hand, Elsa blew the candles out with a chilling wind and closed the door.
Chapter 1
The sun met Arendelle's gates with a warm welcome as the rays of light slowly made their way down the cream colored wall of the kingdom. The village came alive with bustling activity as the people began their day anew, continuing with the work they had done the previous day, despite the unusual event of a newcomer waking up within their kingdom.
The sun made it's way through the main window of the castle, shining brightly onto its beautiful sleeping queen. She laid there, face first deep into her soft pillows, breathing quietly as she dreamed in her own world. Her arms lay sprawled out on either side, as if she had fallen onto the bed from skydiving off the bedframe. A foot stuck out from one side of the covers, her toes slightly twitching from the heat of the sun shining on them.
She moaned as the light change on her eyelids signaled the time for her to get up from her restful slumber. She curled her toes as she rose ever so slowly, trying to take in as much of the morning air as she could. But as she did so, a peculiar sound reached her ears. The sound of children, laughing and playing, came from the front of the castle. Elsa turned to look at the front window with curiosity. A smug, confused look appeared on her face. She made her way out of bed, removing the covers to reveal her loosely fitted nightgown colored in a beautiful turquoise. The right strap hung down to the side. She didn't bother fixing it. It was the morning after all.
She slipped on her Olaf slippers and made her way towards the window to see what all the commotion was. She shielded her eyes from the blaring sun as it shined over the hilltop. She peered outside at what looked to be a skating rink in her courtyard, similar to what she started as a festival during the wintertime. Kids were skating quickly back and forth, barking orders and playing with what looked to be sticks. Her curiosity tickled the back of her mind as she headed to her wardrobe to get dressed for the day.
Jack came around the fountain with breakneck speed, holding his staff in hand towards the ground. A few kids came sliding after him, each one holding their own two-by-fours as they chased him down. Jack pushed a solid flat cylinder of ice along the frozen ground, making his way towards a large box on the other end of the courtyard where another kid was waiting with outstretched hands.
Jack pushed through, making the child in front of the box more and more nervous as he made his approach. Almost in a flash, Jack shifted to the left and shot the slab of ice towards the child, barely missing him enough to get the ice into the goal behind him.
"Score one for Jack!" Jack yelled as he came around the goal post, pumping his fists as his team cheered him on. A group of kids crowded around him, high-fiving the Guardian with as much enthusiasm as a kid winning a race.
"What's going on here?"
Jack looked towards the front door to the castle. The Queen of Arendelle made her way outside towards them. Her presence captivated Jack in a surprising way, even for him. Either he was seeing things, or she prettied herself much more elegantly than the first time he saw her. He bee lined his way towards her gracefully.
"What, you've never seen a game of hockey before?" he asked.
"Hockey?"
"Yeah, hockey. It's a sport, done on the ice, kind of like soccer."
"Soccer?"
Jack was dumbfounded. 'You mean to tell me these people don't know what sports are?' he asked himself. He shook his hand towards her.
"Never mind, forget about it. It's just a game I thought of for the kids."
Elsa chuckled at him, "Sounds like fun. Maybe I'll join you when you play it again."
"You mean you can't now?"
Elsa smiled, "I'm a queen, remember? Things to do, people to see. That's royalty."
Jack shrugged, "Sounds more like slavery. All right, tell you what. Take another day off, and I'll let you ask as many questions as I can answer, as I'm sure you still have some left to ask from yesterday."
Elsa nodded, "You're right, I never really got a chance yesterday. How are you feeling? Sleep well?"
"No thanks to your guest room, yes. You didn't answer my previous question."
Elsa tilted her head, "What question?"
"You should take the day off. You know, live a little."
Elsa crossed her arms, "That's not a question."
"I know. I'm saying you should do it. You take more time off for yourself, and at the same time you end up feeling better about the world you live in."
"What's in it for you?"
Jack smiled, "Oh, me? Uh, I don't know. Fame, fortune, power, a date with the Queen of Arendelle maybe?"
A chorus of "Oohs" from the kids erupted as he said that, turning Elsa's face bright red.
Elsa grinned, "You did not just play that card."
"Oh, I believe I did."
"You're cocky."
"And you're stubborn."
This boy. Elsa shook her head. Charming as ever, and yet she barely knew this man. Though the fact he just asked her out means he shows interest in her, even if it's the slightest bit from her side.
"Alright shepherd boy, I'll throw you a bone. Sure, why not?"
The kids all cheered behind him as Jack smiled at her response. The two of them laughed when they heard an audible "You get her, Jack" from the crowd behind him. Elsa walked passed him and made her way towards the front gate.
"Come," she told him, "I have a guest visiting us later today, so this is your only chance."
Chapter 2
Anna leaned over the edge of the dock. She had her arms crossed over the guardrail while looking at her reflection in the water. Kristoff was out front loading his sled with trading materials for the next town over the mountains. The sun shined brightly over the snow-covered kingdom, giving the soft white solidified water a glistening look.
Two months after Elsa thawed the kingdom, Anna thought, and yet winter still came. She didn't mind. Ever since her adventure nearly froze her to death two months ago, she had grown accustomed to the chilly breeze. Plus, her work at the store kept her warm enough. That, and the glass of mead she drank this morning was warming the inside of her belly.
Anna did a lot of her thinking here, right by the docks. She watched ships come in and out of port to deliver their goods as usual. Nordic ships were the most common. They brought over a variety of goods from their homeland, a country Anna couldn't really pronounce. Their delicacy was the mead she drank earlier. It was oddly sweet with a minty aftertaste. Anna had improved it for the winter by heating it with milk and cinnamon, and from it she had gotten more Nord visitors than usual.
Viking ships were slightly less common. They came from the East of Arendelle, mostly trading in weapons and armor. Vikings were warriors to the bone. Even the women and children knew how to fight. Anna marveled them for that. She once saw a girl descend from their ships, one of the sailor's daughters, and watched as the girl challenged Arendelle's guards to a dual. They had a strong spirit to them, something Anna admired greatly. She hoped to have a daughter like that some day.
A horn sounded from the bay entrance as a ship came into view. Anna looked off in that direction, but suddenly felt an odd sensation in her lower abdomen. She hadn't been feeling well in the past few days, but she suspected it was just the result of a cold. Looking back at the ship, she noticed a difference in its design and color. A strong frigate vessel with white and navy blue; her sails a majestic white. Anna paid close attention to the flag flapping in the wind. A beautiful shade of purple made up most of it with a golden sun in the center. There was only one other time Anna had seen that flag.
"Rapunzel," Anna whispered.
"Ugh, gross! What is this?" Jack spat at the floor with random spurts of coughing and gagging.
"Coffee," Elsa calmed answered, taking a sip from her own cup. "It's a bit of an acquired taste."
"If acquired, you mean blasting my taste buds to bits, then yeah, sure," he coughed again.
"You didn't have to drink it."
Jack wiped his mouth, "If the queen was doing it, I figured I'd do the same. I like trying new things."
Elsa shook her head and placed her cup on the table, "Who are you, really?"
"Jack Frost," he reclined in his seat, wiping his mouth.
"I mean really, who are you? Jack Frost just sounds like an alias."
Jack laughed, "And yet he shoots ice winds and snow dust from his hands. You know, for dramatic effect."
"Are you mocking me?" Elsa leaned forward, perturbed.
Jack waved a hand at her, "Please. If I wanted to mock you, I would've done up my hair just like yours."
Elsa frowned at him, crossing her arms and stuck her tongue out at him. He continued to laugh in his seat. After a while, Elsa joined in with his humor. When Jack noticed she was laughing, he stopped and starred at her in awe. As she was laughing at him, her gaze met his eyes looking back at her with wonder.
"What?" she asked, stroking the braid at her side.
Jack noticed he was staring and looked away, "Uh, nothing."
"You were staring at me."
Jack looked at her with sarcastic shock, "Was I? Nah, I think you're imagining it."
"Jack."
Jack looked at her again. She was serious this time. He couldn't escape it. She was pouting, looking at him in earnest. She wanted a response, but Jack had none. He sighed deeply and looked at her again, their eyes meeting in suspended time.
"I can't tell you who I was because I myself don't know. I can only tell you what the moon told me long ago."
Elsa raised a brow, "The moon?"
Jack nodded, "I'm over 300 years old. Before Jack Frost, I was called Jackson Overland. The boy I used to be died in a frozen lake when he tried to save his sister."
"You're not the same Jack?"
Jack looked down, "How can I be? I've lost all my memories of who I was. Why try to rebuild what once was?"
Elsa looked at him. She pitied him. She could never understand what that was like. To wander for 300 years and never know how he came to be, it's a heavy burden for him to carry. She struggled to accept who she was, and he struggled to find out who he is. So why is he here? Why did they meet?
"Jack," Elsa scooted over and placed a hand on his shoulder, "the past doesn't define who you are. The present does. Remember yesterday, when we fought each other? You asked me how I could see you. If you didn't exist, I wouldn't have seen you in the forest unconscious. We wouldn't be here talking."
Jack smiled, "I appreciate your concern, Elsa. It's just…"
"What, Jack? I want to help."
"I don't think you can. You've been nice to me ever since we met, and honestly I've never felt so comfortable around someone before in such a short amount of time. But I need to figure it out myself. I don't want to burden you with it. You're too nice of a person."
"Jack, please."
Jack looked at her eyes again, "Gosh, you're beautiful."
Elsa blushed, "Don't change the subject."
"But it's true!"
"Jack!" she said sternly.
Jack sighed again deeply, "Okay, okay. 300 years ago, the moon called my name. I didn't know who I was or why I became who I am today. I'm a Guardian, like the Easter Bunny, Santa Clause, and the other mystical legends in children stories. I'm immortal, but I can still—arrrrgh!"
Jack's chest glowed brightly with the symbol of a snowflake. He stumbled out of his seat, forcing Elsa's hand away as she tried to help. He tried to walk away, holding onto his jacket as he limped.
"Jack!" Elsa cried out, "What's wrong? Jack!"
In an instant, Jack felt a pulse and froze in his tracks, looking up at the sky. He slowly fell to his knees, losing all control of his limbs as he fell forward. The world around him began to disappear as the floor approached him, ending in a suddenly view of darkness once he hit the ground. The faint sound of Elsa's voice filled his mind, gradually fading as the darkness took him.
"Elsa…" he whispered.
"Elsa…"
Chapter 3
Anna waited patiently by the edge of the dock, watching as the crew onboard the incoming ship threw the docking ropes over to the fishermen. The sails were hoisted up, and the flag on top lost all its life once the wind died down. A small bridge was pushed out on the right flank of the frigate, landing on the dock close enough for Anna to feel the vibration from the impact. She felt herself getting nauseous again, but tried holding it in.
"Make way for Queen Rapunzel!" the showman called from the deck.
Anna looked up to see Rapunzel in her usual pink dress walking towards the edge of the boat. Her golden crown, with five bright white diamonds embedded in a V shape, gleamed from atop her head. Her hazelnut brown hair appeared longer, resting just above her shoulders. She noticed Anna standing there on the dock.
"Anna!" Rapunzel yelled, throwing her arms into the air as she ran towards her.
Anna braced herself as Rapunzel threw herself onto her. Anna returned the hug, smelling the unfamiliar scent of Rapunzel's homeland. This level of affection was odd for her though. They hadn't seen each other since Elsa's coronation ceremony two months ago, and yet Rapunzel showed this much friendship towards them after Arendelle thawed.
"What brings you to Arendelle?" Anna asked.
Rapunzel let go of Anna, giving her some spacing and bowing respectfully. "I came to spend some time with the Queen, your sister Elsa. She deserves some time off after all."
Anna nodded, "Indeed she does. I'd say her hair was turning gray, but well…"
The two of them shared a laugh at Anna's silent joke. Rapunzel's guards waited patiently behind her, paying no heed to the two royal women casually bantering like a couple of schoolgirls. Rapunzel had a relatively high position as Queen, but stooping down to the level of a civilian made her popular among the people. It gave those under her a sense of equality even though she was their Queen.
"So, where's Elsa?" Rapunzel asked.
Anna chuckled and leaned in to whisper into the Queen's ear, "She's on a date."
"Oh really?" Rapunzel reacted enthusiastically, taking a step back with a bright smile on her face. "Is he a looker?"
"Eh, more or less."
"Well, where are they?"
Anna pointed towards the market, "There's a coffee shop just next to the bakery around the corner. They should be by the tables over there."
Rapunzel grabbed Anna's hand, "Let's go then! Come on!"
Jack was lying on the cold dark floor of never ending darkness. He seemed asleep, his eyes closed to the world around him. His staff lay next to his hand like a loving companion at his side. The world he laid in had a low, deep drone that seemed to echo all around him. His eyes fluttered open, slowly sitting up to look at his surroundings, or the lack there of anyway. His head slowly swiveled left and right, realizing where he was.
"Not this place again," he said, grabbing his staff and standing up.
His subconscious: the empty void of black space that made up his mind. He didn't need a doctor's report to tell him his heart problem was getting worse. He wondered why a Guardian would need a heart to begin with. Weren't they immortal?
"I really hope Elsa can wake me up from this one," Jack said quietly.
"This isn't you're subconscious, Jack."
Jack turned around behind him, holding his staff ready. He wasn't sure if his mind was playing tricks on him, or he was the one delusional. "Who's there?" he yelled out into the void. No response came to him. Everything was darker than black, barely visible to the naked eye. Even if the voice showed itself, would he even be able to see it enough to shoot it with ice?
A sound tickled his ears. It was gradual, constant, as if someone or something was walking towards him. Light thumps grew louder as the intruder of Jack's space got ever closer. A figure could be seen in the distance, barely visible from Jack's position, but ever present in front of him. Tall, slim, dark, spiky hair, he wasn't sure what he was seeing. And then he saw it. The familiar glint of eyes he had once seen before, the last frightening nightmare he wished he could forget.
"Pitch," Jack said deeply.
The shadow grew more familiar, turning into the entity known as Pitch Black, clothed in his most notable attire of a black cloak. "It's been too long."
Jack held his ground, staff ready, "Not long enough."
"Easy there, shepherd boy."
Jack tightened his grip on the staff, "What do you want?"
"To talk, Guardian. Fighting will get us nowhere here. You should know that by now," Pitch paced around Jack slowly, almost hovering over the invisible ground.
"What are you doing in my head?" Jack asked.
Pitch laughed, "Didn't you hear? This isn't your mind, Jack. This, my friend, is the plane of existence that borders between the land of the living and the realm of the dead."
"Then why are you here?"
Pitch chuckled, "Haha-I've been asking myself the same question. Why? What stopped me from disappearing outright? Why am my stuck here, never to return or be utterly destroyed?"
Jack pointed his staff, "I really don't care about your truth seeking and self reflection right now!"
"Ah, but you miss the point. See, my conclusion is this. I've been given a second chance. Choices, to either continue with my previous wrongdoings or correct them. My powers are gone here, or perhaps I should say they've magnified out of my control. There's a darker presence on the other side of this realm, and I'd much rather be here than face whatever is on the other side."
Jack watched him, "I really don't care."
"Then don't listen. Is as simple as that," Pitch retorted. "But what I can tell you might be the key to getting you out of here, and returning to her."
Jack tensed and raised his staff again, almost ready to strike the villain in front of him. Pitch laughed at him, "That's right Jack. I know all about her. I know all about you two. Star-crossed, quite literally in fact, and yet torn by what appears to be your own demise," he placed a hellish grin on himself.
Jack looked down at his chest, which glowed lightly, and placed a hand on it. "You know about this?"
"Know about it? I lived it. It's the darkness inside you, Jack. It's your true self wanting to reveal itself. The empty void inside your heart is proof of what you will become."
"YOU DON'T KNOW ME!" Jack yelled. The symbol on his chest grew larger and shined brightly.
"Hm," Pitch began thinking, "It seems the effects have already taken their toll."
Jack fell to his knees in pain, holding his chest, "What's wrong with me?"
Pitch walked in front of Jack, "If you really want out of here, and you want to fix this, then you'll have to listen to what I have to say."
Jack breathed heavily, "Fine."
Pitch kneeled down, "I made the wrong choice when the moon called me. If I wasn't so hell-bent on my own desires, I would've been a lot like you, using my power to make people happy. I wish I was given a second chance."
Jack snarled at him, "You were given a second chance. And you lost it just the same. That's why you're down here."
Pitch paced around him, "Perhaps. But my demise is not the focus of this endeavor."
"So what's your point?" Jack asked.
"I remain here because I realize now the gravity of my mistake, and now I'm here to prevent others from suffering the same fate. My point, Jack, is to find a replacement for the void in your heart. If you don't, then the void will consume you, and everything you know, everyone you ever loved will disappear from your mind forever. You will become a hallow shell of destruction and mayhem that will consume the very world you were created to protect."
"How do you know all this?" Jack asked.
Pitch shook his head, "Oh, it's only a theory. I don't know exactly what might happen, although it's not hard to guess given the amount of bad guys literature has created over the centuries. You just might be this world's apocalypse."
Jack tensed, "Quit joking around! You know something about this and I need to be informed."
Pitch looked at him sternly, one eyebrow raised. There was a sense of malice behind that gaze, something Jack did not trust. "Arendelle has a mountain not far from the kingdom you are staying in. At the top is a cave far more ancient than the Guardians themselves. It's called Heaven Seeker Cave. You need to get to its center chamber where the view of the Moon is brightest. You will find your answer there."
Jack shook his head, "How will I know?"
Pitch pointed to Jack's chest, "You'll know. But for now, you should be heading back." He looked up, and a beam of light shined brightly down on Jack. "Good luck, Jack Frost."
"Wait, Pitch!" Jack yelled before disappearing in an instant, leaving Pitch Black all by himself. The darkness surrounded the tall dark one. With a sleazy grin, he chuckled deeply to himself as he turned and walked away slowly, disappearing into the darkness.
"Good luck indeed, Jack Frost."
Chapter 4
"Jack! Jack, come on, wake up," Elsa desperately pleaded at the unconscious Guardian before her. Some of the townsfolk heard the commotion and started massing around her.
"My queen, is there anything we can do to help?" one of them asked.
Elsa walked around Jack and reached under his arms, "Here, lift him onto the table."
A group of men hoisted the boy onto two tables outside of the café. Elsa examined him all over. She placed her head on his chest, listening close for a heartbeat. It was there, but faint and very weak. She looked at him, saddened, and felt completely helpless. How long did this have to go on for?
"Elsa!" a voiced cried out from beyond the crowd.
The people parted like the Red Sea as the two young women came running around the corner. Elsa looked at them and recognized her sister, and soon after realized the visitor following her.
"Rapunzel!" Elsa said.
The two girls came up to the table and saw the boy laying on it. "Jack! What happened to him?" Anna asked, worried.
"He collapsed again, this time a lot worse. I think his condition is growing stronger," Elsa replied, looking back at the boy.
"Where did he come from?" Rapunzel asked.
Elsa shook her head, "We don't know. We found him up in the mountains two days ago."
Rapunzel leaned over him, "We should take him to the castle."
"I agree."
Anna placed a hand on his sister's shoulder, "I'll join you a little later. I need to finish some things back at the shop."
Elsa nodded, "Thank you Anna."
Anna nodded back and headed for her shop, hurrying as fast as she could. Elsa picked up Jack from one side while Rapunzel grabbed the other, followed by a few men helping the two of them. The slowly made their way towards the castle.
'Please,' Elsa thought to herself, 'please be okay.'
Anna ran behind her shop by the edge of the water. She held her stomach as a sick, queasy feeling came up faster than the rising tide. Anything she had in the morning fell to the water below. Relief came over her shortly after, but the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach still lingered since she woke up. It must've been a cold, or flu, or something she caught recently. It had to be. She couldn't convince herself otherwise.
"Anna?"
Anna spun around in fright, letting out a prominent hiccup from her endeavor. Kristoff was standing near the front of the shop looking at her with concern on his face. She figured he had heard her hurl over the railing, but she was really hoping he wouldn't ask about it. She felt embarrassed.
"Is everything alright?" he asked.
Another hiccup, "I'm fine Kristoff. I just needed some fresh air," she lied.
He scratched his head, "I could've sworn I heard someone throwing up a second ago." The fact that he said it brought the feeling inside her again, but she held it back, letting out a silent burp instead. "Did you see anyone else back here?"
Anna shook her head, "Not that I know of, no."
"Hm, must be just hearing things."
"Really Kristoff, I'm fine. You should probably get that shipment off to Solitude soon," she reminded him.
"I know, I know. I'll only be gone for a day, but I'll be back." He picked up a sack leaning against the guardrail and threw it over his shoulder before walking off towards the docks.
Anna let out a sigh of relief. If Kristoff saw her throwing up like that, he would've never left, and it probably would've interfered with his work. He had been working hard ever since the town got back to normal. She thought about going to the town doctor, but it wasn't that big of a deal in her mind. Shaking her head, she went around the corner and headed for the castle.
Elsa sat next to the loveseat where Jack was laying. Rapunzel sat in a chair nearby, watching silently. A tear slowly trickled down the side of Elsa's face. The droplet reflected light from the window, catching Rapunzel's eye.
"Where did he come from?" Rapunzel asked.
Elsa sniffled, "We found him on Frozen Peak, just off the main road to Alabaster. He had collapsed in the snow unconscious."
Rapunzel looked at the boy. His mouth was slightly open. He almost looked dead. "Do you think he travelled far? He might've come from the neighboring countries."
Elsa shook her head, "If he belonged to anyone, they would've sent word. But it's already been three days." She paused, "If he has the same magic that I do, I doubt anybody would be looking for him unless they wanted him dead."
Jack's chest began to glow lightly with the same symbol as before. Elsa gently placed her hand on it. She needed to know what this was. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on the symbol. Her eyebrow twitched. She felt a great deal of darkness flowing like a river from his chest. Elsa was walking through a black forest with shadowy trees that were slowly dying. The leaves fell off the branches like ashes from the aftermath of a fire. In the distance, she could hear the sound of children playing and laughing. She heard Jack's name being called. Her heart jumped and she began sprinting in the direction of the voices.
She came across a clearing with a frozen pond by a dock. Two figures were standing on the ice, one of them hold a staff. There was a young boy and a little girl, both facing each other. The ice beneath the little girl was cracking slowly.
"Jack, please help!" the little girl cried.
The boy was holding the staff towards her, "Grab the stick. You'll be fine, don't worry."
Elsa watched as the girl grabbed the stick, and in a swift motion the boy pulled the girl to the safe edge of the pond, replacing her position with his. And almost a few seconds later, Elsa watched in horror as the ice gave way and the boy fell straight through the ice.
"Jack!" the little girl yelled.
"No." Elsa whispered. She understood now. This was his past, his origin, and the darkness in his heart came from his beginning.
Elsa came to and took her hand away from his chest quickly. She held her wrist, twisting her hand nervously as she watched the glow slowly fade away.
"What?" Rapunzel asked, "What happened?"
Elsa didn't take her gaze off of him, "He's missing something in his heart. There's a darkness slowly consuming him from the inside." She looked at Rapunzel, "I saw his past. He sacrificed himself to save a little girl from a frozen lake."
"That's horrible," Rapunzel said.
Elsa looked at her, "Can you give us a few minutes?"
Rapunzel returned her gaze and nodded, "Certainly. Give me a call if you need anything," she said, standing up and leaving the room.
Elsa looked at the unconscious man again. Her heart was pounding like a drum. She could feel it, her heart was telling her to move. She knew what she had to do. She knew what she wanted to do. It was the solution to her problem long ago, and now she knew that her own heart yearned for the same thing. Elsa moved her chair closer to Jack's head. Rapunzel watched her curiously. Elsa leaned over slowly, her hair falling over her face and touching the boy's cheek gently.
She closed her eyes. Their lips met, and she kissed him gently. She couldn't take this feeling, and it didn't make sense in her mind before. But she didn't care anymore. Logic never played a part with the two of them. When did magic ever coexist with logic? He came here because of her.
The door to the room was cracked open slightly, just enough for Rapunzel to see Elsa leaning over the boy. She smiled and walked on, quietly chuckling to herself.
Elsa broke the kiss and sat up again. She wanted to help this man. She felt a deep connection to him, something she couldn't quite understand. Her heart seemed to skip a couple beats in the passed few seconds. Her emotions had her insides squirming in and out, as if a storm had brewed inside of her and demanded its release. The feeling grew worse when she noticed Jack shift on the couch. A wave of relief swept over her as he opened his eyes, gasping for air as if he had woken up from a bad dream.
Jack eyed the ceiling with wonder. He was a little confused about his location, but the chandelier and woodwork at the top of the room was all he really needed to let him know he was in the castle. He was in the same room that he first regained consciousness in this new world. A small, quiet sigh caught his attention as he looked towards the chair placed closely towards the couch he laid on. The beautiful gaze of the queen welcomed him back to reality. He smiled at her.
"I figured you would bring me back," he said.
Elsa brushed her hair behind her ear, "I always will." The two shared a moment of complete silence. But it was a silence filled with words of understanding and joy. Her heart was uncontrollably pounding within her chest, but in the midst of the moment she still felt at peace. Like the waves of the morning tide, her heart gradually changed its quick-paced tempo. She picked him up and held him close, holding him in a tight but gentle embrace. Her arms came up across his back as she hugged him.
Jack felt her heart pounding against his chest. He could feel the warmth around him. His gaze met a man standing in a photo next to a seated woman, with a red mustache and a serious demeanor on his face. Jack's feeling of warmth was soon replaced by pangs of guilt, as if he was standing in the shadow of the man in the photo and he was taking away what this man held most dear to him.
"What happened to me?" Jack asked.
Elsa held his shoulders and looked deeply into him, the wide-open windows to his soul looking directly back at her. Questions were the source of his gaze, a sign Elsa knew all too well of someone who was actively searching for a place he belonged. "You collapsed at the café. Your chest was glowing again and it looked like you were in incredible pain. I had you brought here in order to recover, but I thought it was getting worse, so-" she started to tear up a little.
"Hey," he placed a hand on her leg, "at least I'm back. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
"But what if it happens again, and you don't come back?"
Jack looked longingly into her eyes, the glass blue crystals he saw through the ice wall when they first laid eyes on each other. His body tingled, as if he was nervous about something. But the feeling was there, he knew it, and he thought he could never have it being a Guardian. He reached up slowly and moved the hair away from Elsa's face, caressing her cheek, and slowly moved forward. He moved with enough speed to catch her by surprise, but enough to not scare her. Their lips met, and Elsa squeaked. The shock of his touch shot through her like a chill up her spin, but almost immediately after she relaxed and returned the passionate sign of affection he displayed.
They remained like that, for seconds, minutes, it didn't matter. There was no time. There was simply them. Lovers, never meant to meet, but found nonetheless. Jack broke away and whispered closely to her, "I promise you that will never happen again." His confidence radiated in her heart, pulsing warmth and courage throughout her being. Tears were peaking out of the corners of her eyes, but she sniffed and gave him a confident nod. He wiped the tears away, "Please don't cry, Elsa. This isn't a play."
Elsa playfully pushed his shoulder, "You big dope."
Chapter 5
Rapunzel and Anna were sitting in the foyer of the castle; casually chatting about the usual activities of the two kingdoms they lived in. Anna had a plate of chocolate on her lap with all kinds of assorted flavors. The stack must've been at least two inches tall. She stuffed her face with the bite-sized ones as Rapunzel talked to her.
"Geez Anny, what's gotten into you?" Rapunzel asked curiously. "You've been eating sweets since I got here. Is everything okay?"
Anna popped a strawberry filled hazelnut ball into her mouth, "What? I've been hungry all day. Is that weird?" She quickly scarfed down a white chocolate macadamia nut seconds after the first one.
Rapunzel crossed her arms. She knew something was odd, but it didn't surprise her that Anna had no idea what was going on. This kind of unknown knowledge was described in one of Rapunzel's books when the witch was raising her. Of course, she could be wrong and Anna is just experiencing stress or anxiety of some sort and her body is telling her to inhale ungodly amounts of comfort food. But if Rapunzel followed what that book told her, things might be interesting for the kingdom of Arendelle.
"Have you been throwing up recently?" Rapunzel asked.
"Eeep!" Anna jumped. "How do you know that?"
Rapunzel laughed, "You just told me, you dunce."
Anna looked at the plate of chocolates on her lap. Only a few refugees of her ravenous belly were scattered all over the silver platter, as if they each had a plan to leap off the edge to the safety of the floor. Anna's stomach growled in protest and soon after she started getting the hiccups.
"Oh Rapunzel, I don't know what's going on," she hiccupped. "At first I thought I was just getting sick, but now I, I don't know."
"Anna," Rapunzel placed a hand on the young girl's shoulder, "I think you might be pregnant."
Anna's eyes lit up with shock, "W-What? That's not. How? It's only been two months!" She covered her mouth with tears slowly forming below her eyes.
Rapunzel rubbed her arm, "Hey, hey. That's not a bad thing, is it? You should be happy! Besides, I think it's too early to be certain."
Anna sniffed, "I am happy, and I wanted to be a mother some day. I'm just shocked. I never thought it would be this fast."
"We still don't know for sure yet. And you'd be surprised how fast it can happen," Rapunzel chuckled to herself.
"Anna?"
Rapunzel and Anna turned to an archway leading to the west wing of the castle. Elsa stood there looking at the two of them. The first thing Elsa noticed was the plate of chocolates still sitting on Anna's lap. Next were the tears in Anna's face. "Are you all right?" she asked.
Anna wiped her eyes to look at her sister, "I'm fine, Elsa. I'll tell you about it later."
"Are you sure?"
Anna nodded. She hiccupped into her hand with another low moan from her stomach. She rubbed her belly gently to dull the pain. It seemed the less fortunate chocolates were now retaliating from within, giving her an uncomfortable stomachache.
"What? What's going on?" a voice from the hallway echoed into the foyer where the three girls were talking.
Jack stumbled into the room with curiosity. The three girls eyed him. Elsa questioned him with her gaze as to why he walked in without her ushering him. Anna's was of surprise to see the boy up and about so suddenly. Rapunzel smiled, hiding the little secret see witnessed just after leaving the living room Elsa and Jack were in.
"Jack!" Anna got up, "I'm glad you're all right."
"Me too, " Jack said, which Elsa responded by hitting him in the arm. "Ow!"
Rapunzel came close to him and analyzed him carefully. The snowflake glowing in his chest gave off a faint shine, but it was only visible to anyone who paid attention long enough to notice.
"Jack, this is Rapunzel. She is also the queen of our neighboring country," Elsa said.
Rapunzel looked at the symbol and pointed, "How long has that been happening?" she asked Elsa.
Jack responded before Elsa could reply, "It's been that way ever since I got here."
Rapunzel crossed her arms. It seemed similar to the symbol of the flower that gave her powers when she was born, but oddly enough it had a different origin than the flower. Rapunzel wasn't quite sure if the flower and the snowflake symbol came from the same place. A low growl from Anna's stomach distracted Rapunzel from her concentration. Anna smiled apologetically, waving to Rapunzel. Elsa sighed and shook her head at her sister.
"Well, the snowflake means it has to have come from a really cold place. Elsa, where did you say you found him again?" Rapunzel asked.
Elsa pointed out the window overlooking the pathway up the mountainside. "We found him halfway up Frozen Peak in the middle of the snow."
"That's it!"
Everyone looked at Jack. He took the staff in his hands and walked towards the center of the foyer. With one click of the end, he sent a flurry of frost spreading across the floor, forming what looked like a map of Arendelle. A rounded square served as the castle walls and gate, with an island connected near it. Jack added snow layers to the surrounding mountain ranges as the map filled up more of the floor. Frozen Peak came shooting up near the chandelier, connecting itself to part of the wall near a mirror. A hole formed near the top of the Frozen Peak representation.
"There's a cave at the top of the mountain. That is where I need to go," Jack said.
Elsa looked closely at the cave, "I remember that. I went through it when I ran away from the kingdom. It's called Lovers' Cave."
Rapunzel tilted her head, "What's so special about this cave?"
Elsa began to explain that before Arendelle, Frozen Peak was a volcano that erupted near the beginning of time. Ever since, the mountain has been inactive and completely frozen over as the years went by. A cave deep within the mountain was the only clue to the origins of Frozen Peak. The cave walls are outlined with diamonds and ice. At the far end of the cave, a large chamber houses a natural rock formation in the shape of an altar. A large hole allows the full moon to shine upon the altar. Newlyweds from Arendelle made it a tradition to travel to this cave and watch as the moon blessed them overnight.
"The full moon is tomorrow night," Elsa said.
"I need to talk to her," Jack said.
"Her?!" Elsa almost snapped. "Who's her?"
Jack held his hands out in front of him, "The moon. She's the one who brought me here. I thought maybe she could tell me what I need for this."
Elsa walked up to him, "How long have you known her?"
"I thought she was a guy!"
"Listen, both of you."
The two ice beings looked at Anna. "What matters now is getting Jack back to normal, and possibly back to where he came from," Elsa looked down when Anna mentioned him going back. Anna caught on and looked at Jack, "You do want to go back, don't you?"
Jack looked away, "I honestly don't think I can at this point."
A moment of silence filled the room. "Well, regardless, we just need to fix you. So let's focus on the matter at hand," Anna said.
Elsa and Jack looked at each other and smiled, "Okay," they both said.
That night, the moon shined brightly over the kingdom of Arendelle. The bright white sphere hung over the ocean in the distance, emitting a blue halo around it lighting up the night sky. Elsa was in her room, pacing on the carpeted floor in her nightgown. The lightly transparent fabric seemed to flow like the wind as she walked towards the balcony overlooking the courtyard. Outside was a little warmer than usual, meaning spring was just around the corner. Elsa crossed her arms under her chest, cupping her breasts gently as she made her way to the railing. She took pleasure in looking over her kingdom, but a deep sadness took her when she wished her father and mother were there to give her guidance. She looked back at the moon, bathing herself in its light.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?"
Elsa chuckled, "I should've figured you'd wait for me to go outside." She turned around to look at Jack leaning against the steeple above the doorway to Elsa's room.
"Actually, I wasn't expecting anyone to come out here. It's past your bedtime."
"Oh, stop," Elsa waved her hand at Jack.
Jack lowered himself onto the balcony to stand in front of Elsa. He noticed her nightgown gave off a faint glow. It borrowed the light from the moon to illuminate the person who wore it. "Wow," he said.
Elsa figured out quickly that he was in awe at her appearance. If this were the first time they met, she would've punched him in the face. But her own feelings towards him grew inside of her. He walked closer to her.
"Elsa, you know, I never thought I could, but I, I lo-" Elsa placing a finger on his lips, cutting him off.
"Don't say it," Elsa's heart skipped a beat. Time stood still as she looked into his eyes. The words he almost said came pouring out from the windows of his soul, like a fountain of life with everlasting water. She placed her hand upon his chest and came closer to him. "I know."
"Elsa," Jack whispered.
"Stay here. Tonight. With me," she told him. "Tomorrow I don't know what will happen to you, but tonight I want you to relax, and tonight I want you to stay with me."
Jack smiled at her, "Your Highness, is that an order?"
Elsa grabbed his hands, "Come on," and pulled him into the room, closing the door behind her. Tonight was special, and Elsa wanted it to be even more so.
Jack's hoodie was thrown to the side on a love seat armrest. Elsa walked up to him and placed her hands on his bare chest. Cold to the touch, but to beings of winter, warmth in togetherness. She felt nervous. What was she doing? Her body was reacting through sheer emotion. Not a trace of logic coursed through her mind. Ice began to form around her hands, spreading throughout Jack's chest. Jack reached up and placed his hands on hers.
"Hey, it's okay. It's okay," he said softly.
She smiled and breathed slowly. Gently, she pushed him onto her bed. He landed gracefully and bounced a couple times. Elsa climbed on top of him and moved her head close to his. She arched her back as she came in for a kiss. Jack returned it and reached up to slowly remove the gown from her shoulders. She helped him out of his tethered pants as they continued to passionately kiss each other.
Elsa breathed softly, rocking forward and back in a rhythm only the two of them could understand. The stress and responsibility of a kingdom ruled by her seemed to wash away with each motion as they culminated their bond through the crafting of love. She wanted this for a long time. He had his gentle hands on her hips, gazing deeply into her eyes. Their souls resonated together. A short gasp escaped from Elsa. It was an incredible feeling. She felt more alive, filled with purpose; pleasing herself as well as the man she shared herself with. Their movement quickened, and Elsa breathed heavily as the intensity increased. Through the act of love, they shared the night as one. Elsa released a final, much louder gasp, and relaxed on top of Jack's chest. They were both exhausted. Sweat covered their faces like frozen glass beads. Elsa breathed, catching her breath and rubbing her hand along Jack's chest slowly. Jack stroked her hair softly. They fell asleep shortly after.
Chapter 6
Elsa woke to the sun shining through her window again. The bed sheets were still a little damp from her previous activities the night before. She wondered if she'd have to explain to the servants before they tend to her room. But she was queen. She didn't have to answer for her actions. Jack was her one and only. She could've shared her night with anyone, but the man she shared her love with showed up at her doorstep, unexpectedly.
Elsa curled her body, reaching around to hold onto the man she loved. She thought about rewarding him this morning for their actions last night. But all she felt was a pillow and sheets. No flesh, no man, no Jack. Her eyes shot open. She quickly got up and looked at the empty spot where Jack was suppose to be. His shape was there, but he was gone. A rush of panic flowed through her. Thoughts of his death sat on her emotions in the back of her mind. She looked around the room. His hoodie and pants were gone.
And then, she noticed a lone piece of paper standing by itself on the coffee table not far from the bed. On the front read 'Elsa.' "Classic," she said, getting off the bed. She should've guessed he'd wake up early to start the day and leave her sleeping peacefully, alone. Classic guy behavior. She slipped into her blue-laced panties and nightgown and made her way to the note.
Elsa, I woke up earlier than usual this morning. I decided to go on ahead to Frozen Peak. Don't follow me. I don't want to burden you with my problems. You have enough on your plate already. I promise I'll come back, and things will be right again. I love you.
Elsa's heart skipped a beat. A tear fell onto the page and her fingers crinkled the paper. A mixture of anger and anxiety welled up inside of her. 'Why did he go by himself?' she thought. They had a plan to go together. If he goes by himself, he could collapse in the snow again. He won't make it back like he promised. All the possibilities whirled around in her head, repeating like an old record in her thoughts. She placed the paper down on the table and headed for her wardrobe.
She put on her digital blue dress and walked out into the hallway of the castle. A butler noticed her and asked if she needed assistance, but she excused him and continued on. She didn't want to wake Anna or Rapunzel. It would take too much time. Jack taught her how to fly, but flying by her standards would take too long as well. She couldn't 'ride the wind' like he did. He was a magnificent man. Different, but oh so similar to her.
During their intimate moment together, Elsa felt something only she could understand. He was afraid. His fear transferred to her when he looked at her, when he felt her. She knew how to coop with fear by loving Jack, but Jack had nothing. He told her about the hole, the missing piece of his heart. His frozen heart. She needed to hurry.
Out into the cold open air she ran through the courtyard. Her shoes clicked underneath her as she ran her fastest towards the gate. "Make way for the Queen!" the guards shouted from atop the wall of the castle. The doors opened as she ran through, making her way to the shore. Frozen Peak was a long journey. She hoped she wasn't too late.
Jack flew through the air, contemplating about the note he left behind for Elsa. His heart ached. Everything in his being told him he should've stayed, especially after their expression of love last night. He wanted to stay, but time was running out. He wasn't sure how long the journey would be, but he wanted to get a glimpse of the area before he proceeded. He couldn't bring himself to drag her into this. He was dropped here. Anger welled up inside of him. Maybe Pitch was right. The neutral party that joined the Guardians should've made his own path. The moon, since day one, chooses him to be something. But the moon never told him his true purpose.
Jack wanted answers. He was dropped in a new world, an unfamiliar place that wasn't the world he grew to know and love. He wished Elsa could see it. The cars, the cities, the children, it was a world Elsa would love to experience.
Jack lowered himself onto the snowy ground, staff in hand. The forest around him was quiet, peaceful. Not even the wind whistled through the trees. He noticed a picket sign saying "Lovers' Cave" with an arrow pointing straight. He followed the path up and kept his ears tuned to the silence of the forest. It seemed too quiet, as if something was watching, waiting. Perhaps the trees were analyzing him. Perhaps the forest knew he was an outsider.
He ran through the snow, gliding across the white frozen water along the path. He heard a low growl from his right and he stopped. He listened closely. Another growl followed, and up on a cliff four wolves looked down at him, barring their teeth. Jack's nerves tensed. The wolves jumped down and quickly surrounded him.
"Don't you guys have something better to hunt? An elk maybe?" he yelled at them.
A wolf barked at him in response to the human's nonsense. One lunged at Jack, but he sidestepped out of the way and whacked it in the head with his staff. Another coasted around him looking for an opening. One jumped behind him, but Jack ducked backwards and dodged it. He didn't have time to waste on these animals. He swung his staff around to create a wall of snow between him and the wolves before proceeding onward. The wolves ran around the wall, but Jack was gone before they could catch him.
Jack continued gliding along the snow towards the cave. In the distance he could see a sign with the cave's name written on it. Not long after he passed the sign, the mouth of the cave was visible in front of him. His destination had finally been reached. The mouth almost seemed to whisper to him as the wind blew passed it. The tunnel had a mix of darkness and glass blue from the walls of ice formed inside.
Jack was too impatient to wait for nighttime. He didn't want to waste another minute fooling around with Elsa while his life was in danger. What good was it to feel happiness with Elsa if he didn't live to tell about it?
He took a deep breath and stepped into the cave. The walls glistened with light reflecting off the surface. Stalagmites were scattered in various places like jagged teeth in the jaws of a frozen beast. Sounds of dripping water echoed throughout the chambers as Jack made his way towards the final room.
Crystal blue walls twinkled as he walked around the room. The wind that howled from the front of the cave could not be heard. It was as if time had stopped for the weary traveler that stumbled into the cave, a portal or nexus of eons lost in history engraved into the walls. A hole on the far end of the room seemed to be right over a glass table or altar with the symbol of a crescent moon. Jack guessed this is where he had to go. The floor looked a lot like the layout at Santa Claus' workshop.
The moon could be seen barely in the sky from the hole in the cave. Jack figured he wouldn't be able to communicate with the moon until night, but as he thought about it, the floor underneath him lit up and traced various patterns and swirls around his feet. The cave came alive with writings he couldn't understand written on the walls and murals of a man being lifted off the ground to gaze at the moon. Then he noticed something odd. The picture of the man had a snowflake symbol on his chest, and there was a girl with Elsa's hair standing below him.
Elsa ran as fast as she could towards Lover's Cave. She checked left and right to make sure she didn't miss any holes or ditches or signs of Jack collapsing in the snow. She felt a mixed bag of emotions. Anger because he rushed off by himself without considering his health problem beforehand. Fear and concern because deep down, she felt this unnatural pull towards him when she first saw him, and if it was love, she wanted nothing more than to be with him.
As she ran, she noticed a trail of footprints beginning in the snow and heading in the same direction she was headed. She figured he must've landed there and started the rest of the way on foot. She just hoped she wasn't too late.
Elsa walked through the cave, mesmerized by the crystal ice that had preserved the foundation for a long time. A part of her wondered if she had contributed to some of it when she locked herself away in her castle upon the mountain. A low hum could be heard deeper into the cave and Elsa wondered if Jack was waiting for her there.
As she turned right around the corner, she entered the final chamber of the cave. Jack was suspended in midair with his back towards the moon. His eyes were closed, and it seemed like he was concentrated on something.
"Jack?" Elsa asked. She got no response.
She noticed the symbols on the floor and walls. As she scanned the room, she noticed a particular collection of runes that she understood somewhere behind Jack. The writing talked about the Guardians, their physical and spiritual attachment to the world, and how easy it was for a Guardian to be consumed by the darkness. It warned of having a Guardian leave its physical form for a brief moment because it allowed the entry of dark thoughts and feelings to replace the good in them.
Elsa backed up from Jack and looked at him. He didn't move at all.
Inside Jack's mind, Jack stood on the familiar ground that reflected the sky above him. The woman he talked to before was standing with her back turned to him.
"Hey!" he called out to her.
She turned to him with a solemn look on her face. She seemed timid or sad, he wasn't sure which. "Why have you come here?" she asked.
"I was hoping you could tell me more about this, this pain I've been having," Jack said.
"You are not supposed to be here."
Jack was taken aback, "What?!"
"The solution is not here."
"You mean the gap in my heart you told me to fill?" Jack asked.
The woman sounded almost cold, "The woman you were with, the one you call Elsa. She was the Catalyst, a conduit to you becoming human. She was the reason I brought you here."
When Jack thought about it, it made sense because of their feelings towards each other. "Then send me back. I need to talk to her."
The woman looked away from him, giving him the harsh response of silence. From Jack's perspective, she seemed almost scared, frightened. "I can't," she replied.
"Wha-Why not?"
The woman looked at him hard in the face, her eyes digging deep into his soul with everything she had. He knew she was serious.
"Pitch Black has taken over your body."
"Jack?" Elsa's voice echoed through the cave. Jack hovered motionless in the air, his arms outstretched. A dark aura surrounded the bottom half of him.
Elsa thought about what she did last time. When she kissed him, he seemed to come back on his own. She was confident it would work a second time. She needed to bring him back. As she walked closer to him, frozen steps began to form in front of her, leading up to Jack Frost. She took each step closer, lifting herself towards him. She wanted to fly again. She needed him back.
Up close, he seemed almost at peace, as if he was in a trance. She reached her hand out and placed it on his left cheek. Cold. But something felt different. It wasn't the same feeling she felt last night. He felt darker, like his soul was missing.
Rex Tremendae - watch?v=dZBoiW460nU
His eyes shot open, scaring Elsa causing her to shoot her hand back. His iris's glowed a bright blue, but the whites of his eyes were now black as night. He looked at her with a sinister smile and chuckled deeply.
"Jack is dead."
In a strong gust of wind, he blew Elsa off the ice steps and onto her back. She landed hard, almost having the wind knocked out of her. The voice she grew to know and love wasn't there anymore. Instead, it was a deep, charming and manipulative voice that came from the Guardian. He lowered himself onto the steps and slowly made his way down to the Ice Queen lying on the ground.
Elsa backed up as much as she could and got back onto her feet. "Jack, wait! It's me, Elsa! What are you doing?" she yelled.
The Jack figure laughed a little louder this time, "Didn't you hear? Jack is gone. The life you once knew is over."
"What are you talking about?" Elsa questioned, standing her ground.
"I embody all fear. I am chaos and mayhem made real. I know all your fears. The Boogy Man is back!"
Elsa didn't move, "I'm not afraid of you!"
Pitch laughed again and stopped abruptly, "You should be."
He threw his hands forward, blowing another gust of wind at Elsa, causing her to fly towards the entrance to the cave. Elsa hits the wall just before the mouth of the cave and lands on the snow outside. Her bones ache and every inch of her body hurts from the impact. She tries to lift herself off the ground, but her arms give and she falls back down. Her vision blurred, but she willed herself to hold on.
The evil Jack, now Pitch, walked around the corner, inching his way closer to her. She saw him coming and lifted herself up enough to sit up, almost lying in her side.
"Give me back my shepherd boy," she said softly. Two icicles her size lifted from the snow behind her and aimed themselves towards Pitch. Pitch Black stopped and smiled in the darkness of the cave.
He lifted his arms, "Come and take him from me."
Elsa flung her hand forward, sending the two icicles at him in full force. Pitch didn't even flinch and held his arms in front of him, stopping the icicles with his palms. In a swift motion, he stretched his arms out and sent each icicle to opposite ends of the cave walls, impaling them into the frozen structure.
"Come now, Elsa," Pitch said with a sly attitude, "You're smarter than this. You can't fight ice, with ice." He blew another gust of wind at her, rolling her over a few times. "I thought you loved him. What's the matter? Don't you love him even more now?" he chuckled again.
Elsa coughed a bit, "You're sick."
"No love. I'm menacing!" He formed a ball of snow in his hand and hardened it before throwing it strongly at the queen. Elsa screamed from the pain and fell onto the snow again. "I think I've had enough fun from you," Pitch told her. "It's time I showed this world the true meaning of fear."
Elsa looked at him, "I won't let you."
"Oh, you won't let me? Is that a royal order? I know your deepest fears Elsa. You think the people still fear you for what you are. Some of them don't even think you're human. You're parents thought of death as a kindness. Reality check, sweetheart. You will never find love in this world."
Pitch pulled his hands back and focused everything into his palms. In one quick motion, he threw his hands forward with a strong blast. Elsa felt herself lift off the ground in a sudden motion and she flew through the air towards Arendelle. She looked back at the dark Jack by the cave.
"Jack!" she yelled out one last time, before she disappeared through the clouds, the wind drowning out her voice.
Pitch looked at the hands of Jack and clenched them into fists. "It's good to be back, Jack Frost." He chuckled to himself and walked off into the forest.
