It was cold. It was was windy, but it was beautiful outside. Just entirely beautiful. It was too bad about what was coming.
The sun was shining down on the frozen lake, two siblings played boisterously, laughing and squealing as they skated. The elder, a boy, at least, they thought the tall brunette was male. It was kind of hard to decipher humans, but, the figure continued watching, walking slowly down to the lake. Regretfully, they just continued walking, eyes falling on the smaller human. This one looked more female, but, children were hard to determine. And at the same time, it didn't really matter. Female, male, young, old. These were just titles that humans added to themselves. Why? Not sure, maybe it was something that needed more observations. Perhaps that would be the next research topic.
And then, the true fear crept into the humans' minds. A terrible sound of ice cracking and, whimpers of fear. That was probably one of the saddest sounds to hear. Fear of the inevitable pain. Heart hurting at the expressions on the humans, no matter how many times this happened, it was just as sad as the last. The smaller child whimpered as she looked down at her feet, the ice was too thin in the middle of the lake. And, both children were shaking. But, it was her time. Watching carefully, the dark figure slid out onto the ice with the humans, neither saw him.
"We're gonna play a game." His (?) smile was tight, pained, but, the human still tried to calm the young one down. Close enough to them, they looked to be related, perhaps siblings. Humming curiously, the spirit wandered closer to the pair, looking over the boy.
"Now, what are you planning?" Murmuring quietly, he watched the two interact as the boy tried to prevent the inevitable. And, in the blink of an eye, the boy Jackson Overland surprised all parties present as he switched places with his sister. "No." Voice caught, the figure tried to grab the boy's hand, and cringed as a chill passed through where contact should have been made. The boy fell into the icy waters, and his fate was sealed.
The cries of the smaller human broke the spirit from his state, as she cried at the lake's edge. Wanting to retrieve her brother, but not wanting the same fate either. So, not one for letting a soul suffer too long, the black hooded spirit sighed, and jumped into the water, not disturbing a single drop. Sinking to the bottom, the clothes made the trip quicker, until he was only a breathe away from the drowned boy. With a soft caress, the brunette boy's head fell back, the last of his air leaving his lungs. And, with that, his soul was revealed, a pale blue. Innocent and pure. Reaching out, the spirit was ready to take the human to where he belonged, somewhere safe and warm.
"Death. Will you allow me to grant this boy another life?" As if the Man in the Moon punched the spirit, Death swallowed back the shame bubbling up. Death. What an awful name. Looking over the gentle features of the drowned boy, a decision sparked deep within Death's chest, and, with reluctance, Death instead gave the soul something, instead of taking it away.
"Fine. But, he should be rewarded for his life. Do not make him insignificant." That was Death's only request at the time, and with that, the hooded spirit floated to the top, the chill leaving his body as the water no longer surrounded every inch of the skin. Instead, Death took a deep breath, and sat on the bank of the lake, waiting.
Night had fallen before any there was any movement within the lake. It was much colder, much sadder than the cheery sun of day time. But, Death's mood would have been the same as he watched the almost impossible happen. The ice cracked, revealing startling white hair, and Death almost gasped. Almost. The not-so-human, rose under the moon's power. Until he was gently placed on his feet. Hm, unless the moon changed his gender when Jackson was brought to life again.
"No. He is still a male child." The moon whispered, and Death sat back, the snow cushioning the spirit's body. The moon was Death's only companion, and companion was a big stretch. It was amazing to watch as the boy became aware of his surroundings. From finding his powers, as well as the familiar wooden staff. But, something was bugging the ancient spirit as he watched the boy fumble around. Why was he not sad? Why hadn't he begun searching for his family-… No.
"You made him forget." Death whispered, the truth creeping up in a cold chill. The white haired boy shot up in the air, discovering the wind capabilities of his powers. "You didn't let him remember who Jackson Overland was." It seemed like a cruel joke. All the others, the other spirits that Death let the Moon keep… they remembered who they were. They know, they remembered all the terrible things that happened to them. And the Moon didn't respond. At least, not to Death. Instead, the entity turned to the new spirit, as young as a small fawn, stumbling along like one too. And, Death heard him whisper the new name. The name that would be on Death's lips for a long time.
"Jack Frost. You, are Jack Frost." It was final. The words spoken like law. And, that was how most of the spirits thought of Manny anyways. Like a god. Their ruler, their leader. And Death could admit that yes, it is good to have someone telling you what to do. But, there comes a day when mindless following is absurd, and that was where Death found themselves. Death was there before Manny. Before any of the spirits, and would be here long after, at least that was what they expected. Because they were the one that breathed life onto this planet and all the others. And Death was the one that had too take it away too.
That, was why Death couldn't stand themselves, and that was why Death had zero qualms against not being seen. They hated themselves, and the endings they brought. So, with a sad sigh, Death walked up to the laughing boy, who was having the time of his new life, and smiled sadly at him. With a gentle kiss, he kissed his hand, and imagined all the happiness and fun that he wanted this boy to experience, and pushed through the spirit's body. Placing it at his center, cause this was his meaning, his truth. The boy seemed to calm for a moment, and Death could have sworn the boy made eye contact for a split second. And then, after the boy looked away, Death let themself be swept away, following wherever the world needed the spirit the most.