Disclaimer: This work of fan fiction uses characters from Rise of the Guardians, The Guardians of Childhood, and Frozen which are trademarked by DreamWorks Animation, William Joyce, and the Walt Disney Company respectively. The author of this story claims no ownership over them. The story the author is telling is of her own invention and it is not purported or believed to be part of the canon storyline. This story is made for entertainment purposes only. The author is not profiting financially from the creation and publication of this story.

Author's Note: This is not part of the Nocturne-verse. This is complete short-story.

No later light has lightened up my heaven,

No second morn has ever shone for me;

All my life's bliss from thy dear life was given,

All my life's bliss is in the grave with thee.

– Emily Brontë, Remembrance

Soundtrack:

Morning Waltz – Jesse Chui

Postlude

It's like you're reading a story – a beautifully written tale. The wondrous events of the past are forgotten as the words underneath your eyes take flight in your mind, soaring with a beauty and love that is timed: set to end when you flip the page to discover what happens next. And when the story is over, the end is clear, the last page is turned, and the back-cover is all that remains: what then? What are you left with?

Memories.

And sure, you can always go back and read the story again. You can always go back and read it as many times as you desire. But everything that you read is nothing more than the past because you have read it before. You know what happens, there is nothing new about it, nothing that is going to move your heart like that first experience. That is a memory, and as beautiful and as pleasant as a memory can be, that is all that they are: fragments of the past.

I never stopped to wonder how quickly life goes by. And as cliché as that sounds, it certainly is true. What is the present but a fleeting and stunning glance? And the future is nothing more than a hasty search for something inevitable. The past always gets left behind and forgotten: forgotten until the pursuit is over and memories of the past are all that we have left.

The past is all I have left of the love between her and I. It's a story that I have read over and over and over again. And as much as I'll cherish it, as many times as I read it, as many times I wish that I can experience it once more – for the first time. It doesn't matter: it was still just a memory, a story of the past, a tale that had already ended.

Chapter One

A drift of soft white danced over my vision as I opened my eyes. A small smile crossed my lips as I lifted my hand to catch a falling snowflake. Snow never bothered me, it shouldn't: it is my element afterall. Jack Frost: the unknown spirit of winter, snow, and ice. But, is it all that I am? The moon isn't telling me anything else.

It was winter again. I leaned back against the tree, swinging my leg off the edge of the branch. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath of the cool morning air. It was a quiet little pond on the outskirts of the city of Arendelle. There wasn't much life around it this time of year. But, it certainly was scenic. One side of the pond was surrounded by the grey slate of a snow covered mountain; the other side lay open to a field of untouched white, leading into a serene forest.

"Hey, what are you doing up there?"

"Woah!" I cried, jumping in surprise and losing my balance. My staff tumbled off my lap towards the ground and I soon followed. However, my journey wasn't quite as pleasant as my staff's nonstop plunge into the snow. I had crashed through the tree, hitting several branches on the way down before landing with a dull thump.

I landed on my back, staring through the multitude of broken branches above me and into greying skies with a dazed look, wondering if I had hit my head too hard or if there really was a – yep. There a huge pile of snow that fell from the tree and straight onto me.

I groaned.

Silence for only a few seconds before I heard a loud exclamation.

"Oh my gosh!" cried a soprano voice before quick patters in the snow towards me. I was not in my right mind, for the fact that someone was running straight towards me should have rung alarm bells. I dug myself out, spluttering the snow out of my mouth as I sat up, turning around to see a pair of bright blue eyes staring directly at me.

Right at me.

"Are you alright?" she asked, kneeling on the ground beside me and helping me brush the snow out of my hair and clothes. I stared at her, my mouth a gape and a whirl of thoughts running through my pounding head. Most of them were incoherent fragments consisting of how badly my head hurt, where my staff was, how stupid I looked and most importantly: someone saw me.

Someone can actually see me.

She was a young child, no more than 5 years of age. She had platinum-blonde hair that was braided in a simple knot behind her and she was dressed in a cerulean blue gown. Bright blue eyes flickered from her task at hand to my face in concern, as if she was wondering why I wasn't responding to her question.

"You…you can see me?" I whispered. She stopped, meeting my eyes with confused look before a guilty wince appeared on her soft childish features.

"Yes." she replied, "I saw you fall from that tree. I'm sorry; I shouldn't have scared you like that."

She should see me…

She could see me.

Pure and utter happiness erupted from me, blooming like a flower and filling me to the brim with excitement and energy.

"You can see me!" I exclaimed again, jumping to my feet with ease. The girl's eyes followed me, now looking a little less guilty and a little more baffled.

"Yes, I can see you." She repeated, "But I don't get why that's so important."

I glanced around, looking for my staff before seeing its outline in the snow near the lake. I ran to it, beckoning the girl to come with an enthusiastic wave of my hand. She walked towards me with a little caution, she didn't look afraid. No, just a little concerned, as if she was wondering if I hit my head too hard.

"Watch." I said, as I knelt by the staff. She leaned closer to it on the other side of me, obviously curious. I lifted the staff with both hands and watched as a layer of intricate frost coated the surface of the dark wood. The girl gasped, her eyes shooting up to meet mine before quickly glancing down at the staff again wide eyes. A smile broke out on my face as did breathless laugh.

I've waited for this day.

"How-how did you do that?" she asked, reaching out to touch the staff with her fingers.

"Well – I am not too sure actually. I just can, I guess."

"You're a winter spirit, aren't you?" She stated, a brilliant smile lighting up her face. "I always wanted to meet someone like me."

"Someone like you?"

She nodded enthusiastically before raising her hand as a burst of snow erupted from her palm. My eyes grew wider and a breathless chuckle erupted from my throat.

"That's, that's amazing!" I whispered. An elated dizziness overcame me.

Then before I knew it.

Everything changed.

In a matter of seconds.

"I'm Elsa by the way. Princess Elsa of Arendelle." She announced proudly, pulling me out of my thoughts. "And you are?"

"… Jack. Jack Frost."

She beamed, the smile reaching her eyes.

"It's nice to meet you, Jack."

She offered me a hand up.

"Anna's sick today, so we can't play in the snow together. Do you want to play with me?"

And that was our first meeting.

Chapter Two

One hundred or so years drifted by without me really noticing, it was the same thing over and over again. Make snow, play with children who didn't see me, mess with adults because was there anything better to do.

It was winter again, and its wondrous beauty, winter can get fairly lonely, especially for an invisible spirit. What is there to do but play in the snow with the scarce amount of animals that haven't gone into hibernation? The children do come out to play and I've always joined them in their fun and games, but even then… I… sometimes wish for more.

I had no real purpose; the moon still hasn't said anything to me. I had nothing to drive me forward: until I met the young Princesses of Arendelle two years ago.

In those two years I made the effort to come and play with Elsa and Anna when it was winter in Arendelle. I made it my personal goal to see to it that the sisters are always smiling, that they are always happy, and are always having fun.

But I failed.

I didn't understand. It was only a year: one year since I left. I came to play with Elsa and Anna every day last winter, I didn't get it: what changed. What happened?

"Elsa, come out to play!" Anna cried when she let me in through the window on the first day of snow in their kingdom. The first thing I noticed was that their room was missing a bed. Elsa's to be exact. But, I didn't really pay any mind to it. Not yet, anyway. "Jack's here, please come out to play."

"Leave me alone, Anna." Came Elsa's voice from behind a closed door.

"What's going on?" I asked the little strawberry-blonde girl, "Why aren't you sharing a room with Elsa anymore?"

"I don't know." Anna replied a forlorn look in her eyes, "Everything was fine a week ago and then Elsa just got up and moved."

"Well that's odd…" I said, running a hand through my hair.

Anna tried again.

"Elsa, come on, Jack's here –"

"Jack Frost isn't real, Anna."

The breath was knocked out of me by a single sentence. I think I said something, I can't remember what. My eyes traveled around the room – just for the sake of remembering where I was as my mind tried to pull together my shattered heart. No, Elsa was just kidding around right? What kind of game are they playing? I walked up to the door and rapped it lightly, hesitantly even, with the staff.

"Elsa, what's wrong? Is everything alright?" I leaned my head against the door, my words growing weaker and quieter with each breath I took. "I'm right here for you."

Nothing.

No answer.

Did she hear me?

"Come on, Elsa. Of course he's real." Anna said, pressing her body against the door and yelling through the keyhole. He's standing right beside me!"

"Anna, just go away." The once cheerful blonde snapped. "He wasn't real; he was just a made-up person. Don't be stupid, who has powers like that?" Anna stepped back, looking as though she was physically struck. I let out a breathless and helpless chuckle. I was still pretending that this was just a game, when I knew for certain that it wasn't.

"What-what is she talking about?" I said, words tumbling out of my mouth in a blur of thoughtlessness, "doesn't Elsa have powers like mine?" Anna glanced up at me, tears pooling underneath a pair of confused baby-blue eyes.

"No she doesn't." the little girl mumbled.

"What?" I whispered. Anna loved her older sister's powers. She loved seeing Elsa create ice and snow out of nothing, and Elsa spoiled Anna rotten.

What happened?

Chapter Three

Once again, I am back where I started, watching as snowflakes drift from the heavens and land amongst the rest on the roofs, trees, and roads of Arendelle.

It was winter.

Again.

I still am unsure as to what happened that changed Anna and Elsa's relationship all those years ago. But when I sought Elsa out, I knew that she was hiding for a reason. And the devastation wore through me.

She wore gloves on her hands, wringing her fingers together as she paced around the room. Her lips moved at a furious pace, but it was always the same movement, as if she was repeating something over and over again. I heard it once through the window, when she yelled it to the world in frustration: conceal, don't feel, don't let it show.

She was hiding. Was she protecting herself from the world? Or was she… or was she protecting the world from herself?

I tried to talk to her sometimes, through images in the frost on her window. I wanted to know what happened, I wanted to know if I could make it better. But every time I tried, she pulled away from the glass with a pained expression and buried herself under the covers of her bed.

I stopped after a couple attempts: communication wasn't worth it if the thought hurt her that much.

Eventually, the years went by and as Anna grew older, she soon forgot about me as well. I no longer exist in her mind, Elsa's either.

I came to visit them every winter; I cared not if she saw me. I just wanted to be beside her, I needed to. I wanted to let her know that I was there.

Conceal, don't feel, don't let it show. She kept chanting.

It became early spring before I left again this year: early spring when the king and queen of Arendelle perished in an accident.

Now Elsa devastation and sorrow wore through her hard exterior. She just couldn't do it anymore. A storm brewed in her room: a dark, black cloud of frost and snow.

I wish I could comfort her, but the window was locked.

All I could offer her was my presence in the form of a frost window.

What good is that, if she hates everything to do with winter?

I wish I could comfort her, as I always wish every year.

Chapter Four

It was winter again. The 17th winter since I met Elsa beside that frozen pond. She turned 21 and was crowned Queen of Arendelle during the summer months – and I couldn't be there.

But when I came to visit her during the following winter… something changed. Something amazing happened. Elsa was so happy. Over the years, the young girl I remember playing with in the snow grew up to be a stunning, radiant, and confident young woman. From what I heard from the villagers, Elsa is a just and kind ruler who cares deeply for her people. She also learned to harness her powers of ice and snow.

She shined.

She was beautiful.

I watched as she played with Anna, Kristoff, Olaf, and Sven, listening to them scream and shout at each other while throwing snowballs. I was content just watching them play rather than joining the flurry for once. Perhaps it was because I was so happy seeing Elsa's smile.

I'll cherish this moment, even though she will never see me again. It doesn't matter, hearing her bright laughter was enough. I guess… I fell in love with her. Of course, I loved her back then, but it was all platonic. All I wanted was to see her happy and see her smile. But…now? I wanted her to smile for me. I wanted to be someone who could make her smile. I wanted her to see me. I wanted her love me.

But that is selfish thinking. My love for Elsa will forever remain unrequited. I am immortal and she is human. I am invisible and she takes the center-stage.

We were never met to be.

"Snowball fights with you always ended up with us losing every time, Sis." Anna panted, as she placed her hands on her knees to catch her breath.

"And I'm going to be sore the next day too." Kristoff put in, brushing the mountain of snow out of his hair, "Man, you have a strong arm there, Elsa."

Elsa laughed, dropping the ammunition she had gathered around her.

I missed hearing her laugh, and I'll miss it forevermore.

They all went to return to the castle after the end of their game. And I turned to leave too; for I had nothing left to do. I guess this is over: the end of my supposed 'guardianship' over Elsa. She'll have a happy life with her sister, perhaps get married one day, grow old with her husband, and…die.

But then, a soft gasp and my name – my name rolling off her tongue had me frozen in my steps.

"Jack?"

Chapter Five

"It's winter again." I commented as I watched her work from my place on the edge of her desk. She glanced at me through the corner of her eye. She gave me a subtle smile.

"You are turning 26 in several months." I continued, spinning a quill around my fingers. "Your advisors have been pushing you to get married soon."

She paused.

"I will not be wed someone who I don't love, Jack." She stated before returning to reading the documents on her desk.

"But what about an heir to the throne?" I asked. She stopped, putting the papers down and leaning back.

"Though it may be unconventional, I am certain that Arendelle will be in fine hands when I pass the throne to Anna and Kristoff's child. Besides," she continued, turning to me, "It would be wrong to marry someone else when it is obvious that my heart belongs to no one but you. And if I cannot marry you, I will not marry anyone."

We spent their days together, isolated in our unconventional romance. For how can the Queen of Arendelle tell the world that she was in love with a spirit – someone who really shouldn't exist?

We sat together on the soft sofa in her chambers – more like she sat reading a book while I lay in her lap with my eyes closed, drifting off sometimes. I heard her softly snap the book close and place it on the counter before something brushed strands of hair out of my face: her fingers. I didn't move, pretending to be asleep as I savoured the touch of her fingers across my face. I sensed her leaning down, her long, platinum-blonde braid brushing against the top of my head. Her cool breath fanned across my face and before I knew it, I felt her lips press against mine.

I remained still, only a second before I returned her gentle kiss, straining after her to fill the single, fleeting moment of intimacy with as much love and affection as I could muster. We broke away to catch our breaths, and I reached up to softly caress her cheek in my hand.

"I love you, Elsa." I whispered.

"And I, you, Jack."

Chapter Six

It's winter again.

And it came too soon.

I flew into her chambers one day, rapping on the balcony doors lightly. I saw her sitting at the vanity table, staring blankly at the mirror with one hand pressed against her face. It worried me, how unresponsive she was as she stared at her reflection.

I walked up to her, pressing a hand on her shoulder.

"Elsa, what's wrong?"

"Jack-" Elsa whispered, "I growing old."

We were never met to be.

I am invisible and she takes the center-stage.

I am immortal and she is human.

I saw it now.

I knew that this would be an inevitable part in our future – in her future. It was unavoidable, we both knew that much, but…but we both accepted it because it felt so far away. We – I, I never thought that it would come so soon though, so suddenly. I never had time to prepare my heart, and now…now it was all coming to an end too quickly.

Epilogue

What is it like to love someone who is immortal? What is it like to love someone who never ages a day from their appearance?

She should have been able to spend her years together with someone who would grow old with her. I knew this was wrong of me. I should have left all those years ago – before she saw me. I was selfish. She shushed me every time I apologized. She cared not that she was growing older and that I remained young. All she wanted was to have more time together. I wanted the same.

But, as always, it is impossible to escape the future as the present fades into the past. The seasons come and seasons go. And a story, no matter how beautiful, must end. And now, now all I am left with are memories of the love I shared with her.

I placed a bouquet of ice roses in front of the tombstone.

Here Lies

The Dominion of Snow and Ice
The Just and Kind

Queen Elsa of Arendelle

1843 - 1901

May She Rest In Peace

"It's winter again, Elsa."

Fin

Author's Note:

Under the midst of midterms and the flurry of on-going stories, it seemed that I haven't posted for an entire two weeks despite my unfaithful promise. I honestly hope that the extra time I put into writing Postlude will make up for it. In all technicalities, Postlude is a Valentine's Day themed piece, though it is untraditional due to its tragic nature and ending.

My inspiration for this piece comes from the amazing short film made by WongFu Productions titled When Five Fell. The dialogue was absolutely breathtaking and the song "Morning Waltz" by Jessie Chui was taken directly from its soundtrack. I honestly listened to the track on repeat for the entire time that I was writing this.

I hope you guys enjoyed this. I really wanted to explore a verse where Jack and Elsa's love was utterly doomed because of his immortally and her mortality (for lack of better words). I really hope that I made people cry... as an author, if my writing has moved someone to that extent, I find that to be one of my greatest accomplishments.

Thank you to:

I am Nikita Daughter of Apollo, AonoKenshi, Caustic Seraph, Tora19Kage, Hawky, Pianopanda12, JoPoGirlsKickAss, Hyesui, PrisciliaOrglene, Yuffa, Dragowolf, Ombre Rose, DeniseAgron, NightmareHeartx, JunnahBee36, Semeria25, JeanOlive, Guest FTG, Slake13, Guest, sakura-fai, Anonnynon, Jelsashippaftw, KuvCuteCouples136, LuannLu

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Cordially,

EireneHarmonia