I watch the sun set, the sky painted with red, orange and yellow. It's been awhile since I've seen a sunset that's captivated me. I can't even recall the last time I've sat down and just watched the sun set in the distant horizon.

I think the last time was when I was sixteen and had locked myself up in my room to distance myself from anyone I could harm.

I was scared and as usual, I had felt alone. My eyes were red and puffy from a lot of crying. It seemed to be all I ever did. Panic. Make ice. Cry. It was an endless cycle. I just wanted it to end. I just wanted to be with my sister and my family. I longed to have fun with my sister. I wanted to do what girls my age did- I wanted to make friends, I wanted to giggle about cute boys, I wanted to have slumber parties.

But no, instead, I was trapped in my room. I was trapped because of something I had no control over. So, I decided to gaze out my window, and I watched the sunset. The sky was on fire. Much the opposite to me, and I loved it. It made me feel warm inside instead of cold. It made me feel normal, instead of the monster I was.

Now, I've learned I'm not the monster. Pitch Black is. Eugene is. Not me. I was never the monster. I was simply the misunderstood. I still am, sometimes. I still can't wrap my head around the fact that a man who I trusted for years allowed himself to succumb to Pitch's evil ways. Something doesn't sit right with that thought...

"Elsa, are you even listening to me?" a voice says, breaking me from my thoughts. My eyes wander from the sunset to a pair of icy blue eyes. I blink, surprised by his sudden appearance by my side. Jack's amused expression turns to concern and I scowl. I'm tired of him looking concerned for me- ever since I woke a few hours ago, now immortal, he's looked constantly worried.

Maybe he thinks this will be too much for me and I'll crack. I'm not some weak, pathetic girl who breaks under a little bit of pressure. No. For years I've built a hard shell around myself, blocking out lots of emotions. By the time I turned eighteen, crying was a rarity. My shell is hard to break. I'm stronger than anyone gives me credit for.

"Stop looking at me like that," I snap.

His eyes look away from me and he sits down next to me. "I'm sorry," he replies quietly. "I just don't want you to..."

"Crack?" I suggest scornfully.

"Hate this life," he corrects me. "I'm worried you'll just begin to hate all of this. I'm scared you'll end up hating me."

My expression softens and I gently place a hand on his shoulder. "Why would I hate you?"

His shoulders slump and he gives me a wry grin. "People get tired of me eventually. Or they can't stand me- take Mund for example. He hates my guts. None of the other immortals can stand to be around me for more than a few hours."

"I'm not as stupid as they are," I say lightly.

His expression brightens up, and as usual, Jack's grimness disappears as quickly as it came. "Anyway, let's get back to teaching you how to fly."

I let out a sigh which causes him to falter. He raises an eyebrow. "What?" he asks.

I bite my lip and avoid his eyes. This just causes him to look worried. "I don't want to sound rude," I tell him quietly. Now he just looks completely concerned with a fraction of looking insulted. I try to look him in the eye, but can't. Ever since thinking about monsters in the world, which aren't me, I just feel hopeless. It's been a year since we first encountered Pitch together, which is far too long for my liking if I'm being honest. He's already murdered me. The thought makes me feel weird because I'm alive. I stopped living for awhile.

I pinch my eyebrows together, feeling a headache coming on. Maybe this is a bit too much to handle straight away. Jack looks at me expectantly, so I decide to explain further. "As much as I'd love to learn to fly, I think that maybe it should wait," I say. He arches an eyebrow up. "I don't want anyone else to get hurt- I don't want... What if he gets to...?" I can't even finish my sentence because the subject repulses me so much.

Jack takes my hand and laces his fingers with mine. His other hand rests on my shoulder comfortingly. "I know," he replies softly. "I don't want anything to happen to Anna either. I agree with you, too. I don't want anyone to get hurt."

"I think we should find Pitch," I decide. "Don't you think it's creepy how he just disappears without a trace?"

I shudder at the thought- Pitch does that a lot. One second he's there, the next he's hidden in the shadows. Now he's got to Eugene, and to be honest, I have no idea where Eugene has gone to. Can he blend into the shadows too? Did he run off the second he pushed me over the edge of the tower? Perhaps Pitch disposed of him seeing as he served his purpose. Is Pitch that sick?

I purse my lips when I realise: yes, Pitch is that cruel. He had me murdered, for crying out loud.

"Pitch has always creeped me out," Jack admits with a wary smile. "I've also been thinking about it a lot, you know. I think that maybe we should get help from Nightlight. I haven't seen him in awhile, but he's usually cool. Plus, him and Pitch are basically rivals. Nightlight hates him."

"No," I say quickly. Jack looks at me surprised. "I don't want more people in this. I want to finish this before anyone else gets hurt."

"Elsa-"

"Jack, no. If you don't want to help me, fine, but I'll look for him on my own," I say more determinedly. "I'm not going to let anyone else get hurt. I'm going to finish this. I'm done sitting around waiting for something to happen. I'm sick of waiting for him to come to us. Pitch wants a war, and he's going to get worse than a war: he's going to get me."

Jack looks both shocked and very impressed. All I can feel is this new found energy inside of me, like a volcano ready to erupt. Adrenaline courses through my veins, making my heart race. I've never felt so ready for anything- but I'm ready to end this. I don't need Jack's help. I don't need anyone's help. Pitch doesn't scare me like he used to- ever since I woke up I have had nothing but the desire to find him.

Part of me still feels sorry for what happened to him- I still understand that this isn't entirely his fault. But he's gone beyond help at this stage- he's succumb to complete darkness. I realise now that there's no going back for either of us. I can't let my sympathy get in the way of what's happened. Pitch is evil. There's no light left inside of him for any of us to extract out of him.

"How can you be hot and scary at the same time?" Jack asks playfully. My cheeks grow warm and I narrow my eyes at him. He looks innocently to me with a grin plastered on his face. "Just kidding," he adds on before I have a chance to say anything. He grows serious. "Elsa, I'm going to help, you do know that, right?"

I smile and squeeze his hand. "Firstly, now is not the time," I say. "Secondly; of course I know you will."

He looks to our hands intertwined together and stares at them for a few minutes. "I'm glad you were the first person to believe in me," he whispers gently. "You're my best friend, El."

I pause for a second just to look at Jack- he's still staring at our hands. His best friend? It dawns on me that I never really thought about being Jack's first believer, and I feel a little selfish. I'm the first person who has listened to him, who has watched the dreams with him, the first person to genuinely care about him. The first person to love him for all that he is. I'm his first friend. It makes me feel special to be such an important person in Jack's life.

He means a lot to me too- he's the first person I truly opened up to and allowed myself to care about so quickly. Usually I turn away from people, but something made Jack apart of my life- fate? I roll my eyes at the thought. I'm not really into all of that fate and destiny stuff, but part of me secretly believes that Jack and I were meant to meet. We were meant to become friends. That I've been sure of for awhile now.

When he looks up and our eyes meet I feel nothing but warmness inside of me. "You're mine too, Jack. You'll always be my best friend no matter what," I reply truthfully. Because, who knows what will happen in the future? Maybe someday he'll decide that maybe he doesn't want forever with me- maybe he'll realise how long forever is. Maybe he'll decide to just want to be nothing more than friends. If that happens, then he should know that he'll always mean more to me than anyone (bar Anna, but that's different).

"Good," he says with a smile. "Because you'll be mine no matter what too."

"Good."

"Great."

Fantastic," I say.

"Mature," he comments.

"You started it," I retaliate.

"Did not," he rebukes sticking his tongue out.

I just grin and ruffle his hair. This causes him to laugh for a few seconds, all of our worries gone for the moment, until he stops laughing and looks seriously at me. I realise with a start that the sun has set completely now and we've been sitting in the moonlight for a while now. "I think we should rest," he says. "We can begin looking for Pitch first thing tomorrow."

My stomach twists as the adrenaline fades away. Now I'm glad Jack's going to be with me- that doesn't make me some weak pathetic girl who needs a guy with her to help. It means I'm not stupid and I'm not going to face off Pitch Black on my own. I've already died once; I know the pain it causes. I don't want to go through that again.

Rest before tomorrow sounds promising. "Okay," I reply. "We'll look for Pitch in the morning. We'll end this once and for all."

I hope we end it.


Oh look, what a lame filler kind of chapter- gah. Sorry for not updating for two weeks... I've had my irish orals D: I think it went okay- the examiner was really nice and the questions were so easy! He even said he wasn't going to ask us anything hard, but it's official: My Leaving Cert has officially begun! (Important exams in Ireland which you need to do to get into university). On Monday/Tuesday I have my music practical! I am so nervous! D: Then, after the easter midterm I have my art practical, then, on June 4th my exams start until June 19th! D: BUT THEN IM DONE SCHOOL FOREVER

AND GUESS WHATTTT? I GOT ACCEPTED INTO THE ANIMATION COURSE BECAUSE OF MY PORTFOLIO I AM SO BLOODY HAPPY! :D I'm going to get my results for my other animation and model making course i signed for in May :3 But I think imma go to my first choice! :) I'm super happy :D

Anyway.. Apologies for this lame chapter!

What I was trying to portray in this chapter: Elsa doesn't need Jack to save her. Elsa has always been pretty independent, which is why I love her in the movies as I'm independent too, and honestly, I have such bad anxiety and Elsa is the first character I can relate to in any Disney movie. I think it was important to show her strong willed side, which I hope i got across here.

She needs Jack in other ways, such as to be fun.

I just wanted to show she's strong and not in a physical way (which I imagine she is), but mentally. Ya know?

Anyway: Go raibh maith agat for the reviews! :) Whew, 49 comments! :O Seriously... on the last chapter expect a lot of shoutouts and thank yous! :) Love you all and stay happy and safe and smile because you're all beautiful (even if you're a guy). You rock and stay awesome!

Slán le grá :)