Chapter Two : "Save Her"

Two drawstrings of a blue hoodie hit his face madly with the wind, but it was never something that bothered him. Jack whooped as the wind brought him lower to the ground. He extended his staff and let it trail lazily on the ground, leaving swirls of ice behind. Finally, he was a Guardian. It was never something he wanted, or something that he even really deserved, considering the damage he'd done… But it was a title with a code that he'd adhere to nonetheless. Protecting the fun in children was something he had even accomplished in his past life. Jack was haunted by it, sometimes. His past life, that is! Mainly the sister that he didn't even know the name of. Who was she? Was she smart, brave, creative? Did she miss him after he died?

Of course, Jack remembered, she'll be long gone by now. Mortals didn't just roam the Earth without an end. And even her descendants wouldn't know her well enough for Jack's satisfaction, assuming she even had descendants. If only he could go back, if only he could see her just once in real life, even from a distance. Landing softly, he strode over to a well. With a tug of the rope, he could tell that the water in the bucket was frozen solid. Just then, he noticed a glint out of the corner of his eye. A snowflake? No, a coin, falling from the sky as though another flying passerby had dropped it. The coin landed on the edge of the well. May as well, thought Jack, just moments before he flicked it in and smiled to himself. Wishes, what a childish endeavor. It's not like any of the wishes he'd ever made had come true, so why should this one be any different?

He held onto that thought as he wandered back into the woods by foot, the excitement of his powers forgotten.

"Don't do anything too crazy, okay?" Elsa smiled sadly at Anna as she hopped into Kristoff's sleigh, newly adorned with spring flowers.

"I'll be back in a week, Elsa. You need to stop worrying and just enjoy your break from having to look after me!" Anna laughed.

But it wasn't a break. It was the end of ever having someone to look after. Elsa had just gotten her sister back, and now someone else would be taking care of her. Not just for a week, for until death do they part.

"You know that's what Mother and Father kept saying before they left, right? It was always just, you know, a 'we'll be back soon' kind of thing. I don't even think they said I love you before they left for the last time," Elsa sighed with concern for her sister.

"Hey, we're not taking any boats here. And I have every intention of coming back," Anna said as she hugged Elsa.

"Alright, I love you," Elsa said when Anna let go of her embrace, "Be careful!"

"I will, and I love you too!" Anna shouted as Sven took off.

Elsa sighed as the sled was pulled out of sight. Isolation once again.

Jack woke up with a start. White flurries surrounded his field of view, tickling his nose and biting at his neck. He rose with hesitation, the unfamiliarity of the scenery suddenly registering in his brain. He wasn't in the woods anymore… He was standing on a frozen lake. It couldn't be, he thought, this couldn't be the lake near the little cabin he used to call home. He felt a burst of chilly air as someone walked through him. Maybe he should be used to people walking right through him like he didn't exist, but this? Something wasn't right. And then he saw it…

A tall, lean boy, maybe eighteen or so, tousling his messy brown hair while he laughed, hand in hand with a girl so identical to him they must be brother and sister. It was himself, he realized, this was his past. But unlike the last (and only) time he'd seen it, he felt as though he was really there. It was more than a vision; he could even smell the icy winter in the air. How could he be here? Was it the wish he'd made?

"Jack, I'm scared!" the young girl cried out with fear in her voice. Pitch was here, Jack thought. Sure enough, a ghastly figure cloaked in shadows was leering at his past self and his sister from the woods.

"Stop!" Jack yelled at Pitch. The dark figure turned around, startled. This must be the Pitch of the past, thought Jack, not used to people being able to see him. No trace of recognition crossed the Boogeyman's face, and Jack knew he was right. Pitch caught Jack's eye and smiled ominously, then vanished without a trace.

So Pitch had left. The young girl wouldn't be clouded by fear anymore! But why would Pitch leave? Could such an awful being really want a young girl to enjoy a moment of fun? Jack studied the scene before him, and he realized with a jolt that something was terribly wrong. His sister wasn't afraid anymore, she didn't know how dangerous it was! She took a leap forward and smiled, but it was all too late. Fun would be her undoing. The ice shattered under her jump, and she fell into the icy waters, smile still plastered on her face.

Both Jacks rushed over to her, but neither had anything in their power to stop her from sinking below. Jack watched while his past self fell in after her while he leaned over the cracks in the ice. He wanted to save her, but all he could do was keep things frozen.

She was gone. And it was entirely his fault.