Author's note: In this chapter you'll see Jack as a human, and the Jack Frost who came before Jack. Jack Frost essentially kills Jack and turns him into the newest Jack Frost, so the names may be confusing.

Piecing Them Together

Chapter 1: Jack and Frost

Ice skating really was the best part of winter, Especially for Jack and his little sister, Jessi. Something about sliding across frozen water made it feel as though you had powers, like you were a magical being of sorts. Of course, Jack knew these things were just fairy tales. He did try to keep them alive for Jessi though. Each day, he made sure that Jessi was bundled up and warm, for it was forever winter where they lived. He liked to make jokes about 'Jack Frost' nipping at her nose, and when she lost a tooth, he reminded her to put it under her pillow for the tooth fairy. And then of course, there was Christmas, and Jack showered her with stories and tales of Santa Clause.

"Jack, you promised you would take me skating on the big lake today!" Jessi ran up to him with two pairs of skates and a huge smile plastered on her face.

"Alright, alright I'm coming," he laughed, and ruffled her hair as he stood. At least once a week, they went skating on the small pond at the center of the village, where all the kids went for a day of fun. Every so often, Jack went to the lake about a mile out of town by himself. It was a great place to think, and a lot less crowded then the pond.

"Jack," their mother, Clarisse stopped them, "I don't know if that's a good idea. The ice may be too thin. I'd rather you went to check first, and bring Jessi tomorrow. Besides, she needs to help me cook dinner."

"But mum! You said I could!" Jessi complained. She had really been looking forward to this trip, and had already gotten ready.

"She's probably right, Jess. Don't worry, I'll just go check the ice and I'll be back later. There's always tomorrow!" Jack smiled again hugged her before taking his skates and putting on his winter cloak. He knew how disappointed she would be, but it really was for her own good.

"Be careful! I love you," his mother called, but he was already out the door.

000

"The boy should be coming soon," the moon whispered.

"I sure hope so. We really don't have much time, I could be gone any minute now," Jack Frost replied almost as silently. He was growing weaker by the minute, and could barely lift his staff anymore.

Every magical being, even Guardians, come to a time when they must pass on to the realm of the moon, and be with the stars. The cycle takes a very long time, but the end comes nonetheless. So when it does, they will pass their powers on to a worthy mortal, erasing their lives and creating for them a new one. It would be painful not only for the being, but for the mortal as well, and that was the most regrettable part of the process. But it must be done.

"Don't make it last too long. I don't want him to suffer." The moon said.

"I'll do what I can."

000

"Gosh, it's freezing out here." Jack's teeth were chattering, and he had goose bumps all over his arms and legs despite the heavy cloak. It was already dark, so he had to move quickly.

As Jack sat down and removed his boots and started on his skates, he heard a whisper. It was ever so soft, he wasn't sure he had even heard it. He then felt a tug on his cloak, pulling him towards the lake.

"Huh?" he murmured as he was lightly dragged to the edge of the ice. He decided to ignore it and went back to his skates. Jeez, I'll get frostbite if I'm not careful, he thought to himself.

Once more, his cloak was tugged, more forceful this time. With a yelp, he landed on the smooth icy surface, which slowly began to crack under the weight.

Something is definitely not right.

He noticed suddenly that it had begun to snow. The flakes glistened in the moonlight, creating a surreal, white wonderland around him. Slowly standing up so as not to crack the ice further, Jack began walking along the ice to test it. More small cracks appeared here and there, but it seemed stable enough. This would be one of the last times Jack would be able to skate here until next year, for winter was coming to a close. It was almost spring, and therefore the ice would completely melt, however the weather would stay cool and chilly.

Again, Jack's cloak was tugged, and this time roughly dragging him along. It had brought him to the center of the lake, where he stood unsure of what to do or where to go. He knew that if he moved then he would just be dragged here again, so what was the point?

"Hello, Jack."

Whipping his head around to see where the sound was coming from and who had spoken, Jack came face to face with a strange man who had definitely not been present before. He quickly began backing away, however he didn't get very far after tripping over his own feet and falling over.

"Easy there, there's no need to be afraid. I'd like to introduce myself to you. I am Jack Frost, the spirit of winter, however, you can call me Frost." Frost held out his hand to help up Jack, and that's when Jack noticed that the man wasn't really standing on the ice; he was hovering above it.

Getting a better look, Jack also noticed that the stranger had very, very white hair, like snow. His eyes were bright and a silvery liquid color that shown in the darkness. And then there was the staff, a large stick that curved on the end like a hook.

"Spirit of Winter?" Jack said with an accusing look on his face. "I'm sorry, this just… this isn't possible. Jack Frost, that's just a tale, he doesn't-"

"Exist." Frost said simply. He knew that this was the reaction he might receive. He had come prepared though. "I'd like to show you something Jack. Grab my hand."

Once more, Frost held his hand out to Jack, and after some contemplation, he grabbed it. As soon as he did, Frost flew into the air, taking Jack along with him.

"No, NO let me down, okay I believe you just let me DOWN!" Jack shouted. He tried wiggling out of Frost's grasp to get back to the ground, but Frost held tight. "PLEASE Frost put me down!"

Smiling in victory, Frost touched back to the ice, making sure that Jack didn't slip as he did so.

"Very good, you're first flying lesson. However I doubt that you'll remember it after I change you." Frost rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"Change? What do you mean change me? What are you going to do?" Jack was scared again, not liking the idea of someone 'changing' him.

"I must be honest Jack. I am growing weak as the days go by. My magic is becoming less reliable, and it will soon be time for me to go to the stars. I won't be the spirit of Winter for much longer." The spirit looked down in sadness, but knew it was for the best, and that he must move on.

"What does this have to do with me? I can't help you," Jack said to Frost, unsure of what else to say.

"Oh, but it has everything to do with you, Jack. You will be the next spirit, and maybe a Guardian one day, if you're lucky."

"Guardian? I have no clue what you're talking about! I'm just a normal, 16 year old kid. I have no business with this kind of- of magic or whatever you're talking about." Jack was about to walk away, but as soon as he turned around, the ice beneath him shattered. Jack fell through into the stinging cold below.

"FROST! HELP ME!" he screamed when he realized that he for some reason couldn't swim. Jack raced to the edge of the hole in a panic, but he couldn't get out. As he began sinking into the dark water, he saw Frost peering into the hole and sealing it shut.

He was trapped, and he was going to die.

Oh god, oh god no, please help me, please! I need to get out, I need to get home, I need Jess please get me OUT OF HERE!

He was panicking, and he was going to die.

"Good luck, friend." Frost dropped the staff and disappeared into the night, hoping that Jack would be okay once this was over.

He was alone, and he was going to die.

As Jack's last breath and his life slipped away, only one thought crossed his mind, over and over.

I'm going to die.

000

"Mum, Jack isn't home yet. Should we go looking for him?" Jessi was getting ready for bed, but refused to go to sleep until Jack came home.

"Oh, you know how your brother is. He probably got distracted on the way back. Don't worry, he'll be home soon." But Clarisse actually was worried. In weather like this, she knew that her son would be smart enough to come straight home. "Besides, you need to get to bed. He'll be home by morning, don't you worry." Clarisse kissed Jessi on the forehead and went to tuck her into bed.

"Okay, goodnight mum."

Clarisse stayed up almost all night waiting for Jack. As the hours went by, she grew more and more worried. Knowing that sleep deprivation would do her no good, she finally went to bed after hours and hours of waiting.

In the morning, Jessi rose earlier than usual, hoping to surprise Jack and bring him breakfast in bed. She went into the kitchen and began preparing it. She flipped the eggs, warmed the bread and cut the fruit. Once it was ready, she created a smiley face by using the two fried eggs as eyes and making the mouth out of pieces of dices fruit. She used two small pieces of bread to make the nose, and then went as fast as she could into Jack's room, making sure to be as loud as possible to startle him.

When the door banged open, the smile on her face fell, and the happiness in her eyes died. Jack's bed was empty, and he was nowhere to be seen. His blanket was still messy from the other day, his book still in the same spot on his nightstand, and his clothes still half in and half out of the dresser. Jessi set the plate down and went over to the hook where he kept his ice skates. The old brown ones that he grew out of still hung there, but the new ones that he loved were still missing, meaning that he hadn't returned from the night before.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she ran out of the room in disbelief. He had to be here, he just had to.

"Jack!" she called as she ran from room to room. "Jack, where are you!"

Jessi's yelling caused Clarisse to wake up. Her head was hurting from staying up all night, and her daughter's shouting didn't help. "Jess, keep it down. What's the matter?"

"Jack is still gone! He hasn't come home and you said he would!" She was in tears, and she sat on the ground with her hands covering her face.

"Don't worry darling, we'll look for him. Come on, get your coat and your boots." Both of them raced to grab their coats and were out of the house in no time. Clarisse went to neighbor's houses and began knocking on doors.

"Hello, Mrs. Thorten, is your husband home? We need his help, Jack is missing."

They knocked on several doors and after a while they had a pretty large search party.

"Hello everyone. Thank you for coming out on such short notice. My son Jack is missing, and I haven't seen him since last night. He went to go ice skating at the lake and hasn't returned. Please, help us look for him."

The party split up into three groups of three. They all went to different places, Clarisse, Jessi and Mr. Thorten going to the lake first.

"Look everywhere."