The wind rushed through Jack's hair about as he flew toward the fleeing figure. His mind was in turmoil, the events of the past few minutes replaying themselves in his head. Having searched the whole room and found nothing significant, and getting a little tired of the festivities, Jack was about to leave when an altercation broke out between the newly-coronated queen and her sister. He had been too far away to distinctly make out any words, but it was obvious that the princess was angered as the young queen began walking away.

Jack clearly recalled his shock when the queen spun around, blue light streaming from her hand to create a sharp icy barrier. He had stood there, staring in astonishment at the line of magical ice; he had never heard anything, even rumours, of another person possessing the powers of ice or snow. Jack was even more astounded to see that the magic appeared to be possessed by a mortal. His mind raced, struggling to process this new discovery and its significance. By the time Jack was again aware of his surroundings, the queen had vanished. Following some shouts, he had exited the palace in time to see her running across the waters of the fjord, leaving ice in her wake.

Something in Jack had awakened: a desire to meet this individual who possessed ice magic, a need to know someone who could truly understand a unique aspect of his life-the tingle of power rushing through him to create a drifting snowfall, the thrill of accomplishment that arose at seeing beautiful icy designs appear on a surface. The minute feelings that no one else could ever know, unless they experienced it for themselves.

Jack's mind returned from its musings when he saw the new queen slow down and lean against a tree, a lone shaft of moonlight making its way through the branches to illuminate her figure. When he looked back in the direction of the palace, Jack was surprised to see how far they had come in only/just a few minutes. The castle was over a quarter mile away, and the queen had sprinted the whole time. Jack took a moment to study her, landing on a large rock. The young woman's head was bowed and she was breathing heavily; it was obvious that she wasn't used to running hard for extended periods of time.

What made her go so far into the woods without stopping? I can understand wanting to be alone after a family fight, but this seems kinda extreme.

Deciding that question would probably be answered if he stuck around long enough, Jack returned to his observation of the queen. She had pale blond hair—he had noticed that much earlier in the ballroom. Now, able to see her more clearly, Jack briefly wondered if she was the young lady from his vision. The blonde hair, the sense of familiarity—Jack's brow furrowed as he stared. When no moment of revelation occurred, however, he shrugged it aside.

Just focus on what you're here to do: find Pitch and stop him. Stop obsessing over random girls.

Despite Jack's renewed resolve, he found himself reluctant to leave. He had straightened up half a dozen times, ready to take flight, yet somehow he still remained, perched on the boulder. Finally Jack had to admit to himself the reason why he still lingered: his curiosity surrounding the young queen had not been satisfied.

Ok, I'll stay for five minutes longer, but that's it. After that, I leave. No matter what.

Jack repositioned himself so he was comfortably sitting on the rock, leaning forward on his staff. As soon as he had done so, the young woman's head snapped up, revealing striking blue eyes. And those eyes seemed to be focused on him. Jack held perfectly still, not daring to breathe. After a few seconds, the queen glanced nervously backward and hurried onward, passing a few feet away from Jack. The acute sting of disappointment hollowed a pit in his stomach; for a moment, Jack had thought she could see him, that he wasn't alone.

For the second time in Jack's life, he was stuck in that frightening world where no one knew he existed.

"Get over it. You lived with it for three-hundred years; you can survive until you find and stop Pitch," Jack muttered, but his assurances sounded empty, even to his own ears.

He was about to take off when he felt the nagging of his conscience. One of his father's mandates had been to always make sure that women, children, and the elderly arrived home safely. While Jack could argue that the queen's ice magic made her able to defend herself, he knew that no amount of persuasion would silence that little voice in his head.