A/N: As promised, here's the final chapter. I hope everyone enjoyed this story. I meant to have tis out by late afternoon or early evening as this was to be a free day, but surprise, surprise, one of our family friends succeeded in convincing my parents to cut our vacation a day short:( So, I spent most of the day on the road.
This story will end in a small epilogue done in the style of Jack's voiceover.
Oh, something that I've been wanting to tell but kept forgetting, I have commenced work (actually I stared late February but stopped to concentrate on current and school works) on my next Jelsa story which will come out Summer 2015. It will replace Through The Storm which will be completed in the Spring. In Spring I'll wrap up Through The Storm and continue with Gathering Darkness; I have yet to decide if I'll make any new stories in the interim. I won't spoil anything, but it will be more or less family friendly, with romance (duh, it IS Jelsa), plenty of adventure some humor (not a comedy, but there will be some) and it will use a common plot concept (well it is now, but wasn't when I started writing), but with a twist that I think people will like (no, it's not a school AU). Expect it around early July.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters. They are owned by Disney and DreamWorks. I'm writing this purely for entertainment purposes.

The Journey

Chapter 10: Christmas

The elves guide the kids and Kristoff to an enormous balloon which took them and all the gifts to the square where there were placed upon a waiting red sleigh with a teem of eight magnificent reindeers. As the presents, now in side a giant red sack, were loaded onto the back of the sleigh, the group of friends slid down an inflatable slide from the balloon to the ground. Kristoff quickly vanished into the crowd of elves and children, vowing to be back. Soon, the crowd came alive as everyone began to talk and point.
"I can't see!" Said Carolyn, as she was much shorter, being younger than the others. Jack scooped her up and lifted her up on his shoulders.

"How's that?" He asked.

"Much better!" Carolyn grinned.

"Look, it's Kristoff!" Said Anna, pointing out Kristoff who was walking beside a reindeer decorated in Christmas lights and tinsel and with a Christmas wreath around its neck. Kristoff led the reindeer over to Jack and the others.

"Meet my buddy, Sven." He introduced. "He's not part of Santa's team, but he is a ceremonial reindeer." The reindeer's tongue was hanging out and its tail was wagging happily. It was just like a dog!

"He's really neat Kristoff!" Said Anna.

"Here. You can see much better on Sven's back." Said Kristoff. He helped Anna up so she was sitting on Sven's back like a horse rider. As they all tried to see what was going on, Carolyn abruptly remembered something.

"Hey Jack, I just realized something. Those bells you heard weren't just regular old bells. They were sleigh bells from Santa's reindeer!"

"But, how could it be? I heard them that far away?" He asked her.

"It's because you were starting to believe and they were guiding us on the right path." Jack thought about her words for a moment be fore replying.

"Maybe, I do believe now." The entire square fell silent and it took a moment for Jack to realize that.

"What was that you said?" A kind, gentle voice asked from behind him. Slowly, Jack, Elsa, Kristof and Sven turned around. The friends' eyes went wide, though Kristoff and Sven just looked happy.. Before them stood a tall, fat man in a fuzzy red suit with a red hat and black boots. The suit and hat were trimmed with white fur that matched the man's long beard.

"I- I said, I believe now." Jack stuttered.

"Indeed you do, Jack." Santa replied with a smile.

"Santa knows your name!" Carolyn gasped in surprise. The jolly old man turned to look at her kindly.

"And you must be Carolyn Frost." Carolyn beamed happily.

"Yes sir!"

"That's a pretty name you have, Carolyn. Carol. Like a Christmas Carol." This caused the young girl's smile to become even wider.

Santa regarded Hiccup, Merida and Rapunzel along with Jack, Elsa, Anna and Carolyn.

"I see here before me confidence and spirit. Christmas spirit. And an unbreakable friendship. There's no greater gift than friendship." The friends looked at one another, beaming. Santa turned to address the entire crowded square. "And speaking of gifts… now, for the first gift of Christmas." All the kids raised their hands, waving the in the air and begging for themselves to be picked. Santa turned to Jack instead. "Jack?"

"Actually sir, I think my sister should go first." Carolyn looked at her brother with immense gratitude then leaned towards Santa's ear as he crouched down to her and whispered her wish to him.

"Oh? Yes, well, yes, an excellent idea! I quite agree!" Said Santa. "So it will come to pass!"

"What did you wish for?" Jack asked. Carolyn looked at him and Elsa and grinned broadly.

"I asked for our little family to get bigger." Elsa blushed deeply while Jack laughed and placed an arm around the platinum blonde's shoulders. While they talked, Santa had explained the situation about his powers to everyone, leaving the children in stunned silence. Now he turned back to Jack.

"Jackson Frost… Faithful, friendly Jack Frost, would you be the next Santa Claus?" The whole square became even quieter. Jack looked around as if expecting to find someone else named Jack Frost behind him.

"Me?" Santa nodded. "But- but I'm the worst choice! I lied to my little sister! I hurt her, I betrayed her trust, I was… well, very naughty." Ash he spoke, Carolyn was vehemently shaking her head.

"But you set things right. And you did it to preserve your family." Santa explained. "You did it out of love for your sister. The two greatest gifts of Christmas are giving and family." Jack stared, mouth slightly agape. "So, do you accept, Jack Frost?"

"Say yes!" Carolyn hissed.

"Go for it!" Rapunzel added in a hushed voice. Jack looked at Elsa who smiled and nodded.

"Yes sir." Jack answered. "I accept." The square burst into booming cheers and thunderous applause. Santa shouted over the din.

"We have a new Santa! Christmas is saved!" And the cheering got impossibly louder.

"Excuse me, Santa?" Carolyn asked, a grin on her face. "Will Jack have to get a long beard?" Santa chuckled at that.

"No, no. No beard or belly." Santa chuckled. "That's my thing. Jack will be free to make his own appearance. He just has to keep the red coat and flying sleigh pulled by reindeer." As Jack took in what had just occurred, a thought struck him. He'd need a Mrs. Frost to help him and be by his side, and there was only one girl in the while world that could ever fill that role. The one he had befriended and fallen in love with.

"Elsa, would… would you and Anna like to stay here in the North Pole…with Carolyn and I?" Elsa's eyes lit up at his offer. She knew she liked Jack, but it was at this moment that she truly realized she had fallen in love with him during their time together on the Polar Express.

"I'd like nothing more, Jack." Anna gasped gleefully at Elsa's response and gave Kristoff a huge hug causing the Reindeer Keeper to blush bright red.

There were plenty of joy and festivities in the North Pole celebrating both Christmas, which was now saved, and the new Santa. The old Santa took off to deliver the presents one final time amid much fanfare and happiness. Now there was music paying, elves dancing and children laughing and socializing.
Almost too soon however, it was time for the Polar Express to head off, taking the children back to their homes. The Conductor guided the children to form a line to board the train. Jack, Elsa, Anna, Carolyn, Hiccup, Merida and Rapunzel stood away from the others. Kristoff had left to tend to Sven.

"I'm really going to miss you guys!" Said Rapunzel, crying freely.

"Take care of yourselves" Added Merida.

"And don't forget us come Christmas, Santa Frost." Joked Hiccup.
The seven friends hugged each other before the departing trio went to join the Polar Express line.

"Show your tickets. Have your tickets ready." The Conductor was saying as he took the ticket of the kids in line and punched more holes into them, before handing the ticket back so the kids could board. "Remember to eat the five basic food groups. Ticket, please. And please brush after every meal. Remember to duck and cover." He turned to Hiccup. "All right, you. Ticket, please." Hiccup handed him his ticket and the conductor rapidly and expertly got to work on it. When he handed it back to Hiccup, the boy saw four new letters had been added to the 'F'. The ticket now read FAITH.

"Always have faith in yourself young man."

"I will." Said Hiccup. With a final wave to Jack, Elsa, Anna and Carolyn, he boarded the Polar Express.

"Ticket." Next was Merida. By the time the Conductor was done with her ticket, it read COURAGE.

"It takes courage to accept the ideas and opinions of others."

"Thank you." She said, before waving to her friends and climbing aboard too. Finally it was Rapunzel's turn and she got LAUGH.

"Remember, laughter heals all."

"An excellent advice." Rapunzel agreed. She waved to her friends and followed Merida aboard. With all passengers on the Polar Express, the Conductor made his way over to Jack, Elsa, Anna and Carolyn.

"Ticket please."

"But we're not going." Said Jack, confused.

"Well, aren't you curious to what you got?" The four looked at one another and fished out their ticket. Anna went first. When she got it back, it read ENCOURAGE.

"Always encourage your sister and others to have fun."

"I will!" Anna promised. Elsa was next. The word the Conductor punched into her ticket was TRUST.

"Trust your friends, Elsa. They love you."

"Yes sir." Carolyn came next getting the word IMAGINE.

"Never stop imagining Carolyn; never."

"I won't." Finally it was Jack's turn. The Conductor took his ticket and hid it behind his back as he furiously punched away at it, before handing it back to Jack. Jack took the ticket and looked at it, LIVE. Jack flipped it over and was surprised the message changed. LOVE.

"How…?"

"That's a very special ticket young man." Jack looked at Elsa and the two exchanged a smile.

"Yes sir, it is." The Conductor bowed his head, tipping his cap then climbed up onto the steps leading onto the Polar Express. As soon as he did, the train began to move.

"Farewell!" He called. "Until later!" Hiccup, Merida and Rapunzel were all leaning out windows looking back at them and waving.

"Bye!" Said Elsa.

"Take care!" Called Jack.

"Be sure to visit!" Added Anna.

"Come back soon!" Said Carolyn. The four watched as the Polar Express departed.

(Jack V.O.)
Rapunzel returned to the Kingdom of Corona where she married, Eugene Fitzherbert. Eugene did indeed change for Rapunzel, giving up his 'certain ways' and she changed some of the things she didn't like about herself. They are now the rulers of Corona and their marriage is a happy one. Rapunzel does boss him around occasionally. Hiccup managed to convince not only his tribe, but also several others to befriend and train dragons, rather than fight them, bringing an end to the Viking-Dragon War. Merida returned to Castle Dunbroch where she helped unite the four families. They all get along fine now, with Dunbroch as the head. Despite Merida and Hiccup becoming friends during our time in the Polar Express, I was honestly still surprised to learn they married. We're all still friends, and we see each other from time to time. Elsa and I also got married and live here in the North Pole with Carolyn and Anna. We create winter, with Elsa handling the more intricate, prettier stuff, and I deliver the presents. Anna is dating Kristoff, the Reindeer Keeper and Carolyn helps us come up with new ideas for presents and decorations. As for the Polar Express, it still runs the globe each year around Christmas, bringing children from all over the world to the North Pole.

THE END

A/N2: And now the story is complete. Be sure to check out my one-shot titled Waiting for Christmas, which is my gift to all of you. And now, I bid you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!