Jack inched through the dark castle; his heart was beating wildly as he walked up the stairs. This place was disturbing him, driving him closer to fear. He wondered why he was feeling like that, it wasn't odd for him to be afraid. It was just odd that it would be here, in this cold, dead place. He glanced around, looking at the carved furniture of ice.

Everything was made of ice. He shook his head, what a lonely way to live, he thought. As he made his way higher into the castle, he began to hear something; someone singing. It was a strange tune. It wove through the castle like a snake.

Jack forced himself to continue despite the song. He looked into a room, having followed the voice, and with her back to him facing a window, sat a woman. Her shoulders were straight, her dark hair pulled into a bun with loose strands falling around her pale shoulders. A black dress made of lace and ice fell to the floor in a silken heap.

This was her, he knew it. In his heart he screamed, his stomach flipped over. The Black Queen.

"Hello, Jack."

He hadn't realized she had stopped singing, and jumped when her velvety voice spoke. She didn't turn around. Jack straightened, "how do you know me?" he asked.

Her laugh was like the tinkle of ice. "I am a Queen, Jack. Do you think I don't watch the world?"

Jack shrugged, "I've never heard of you."

"You wouldn't have. That filthy Man in the Moon protects all his precious children from me." She stood; her dress swishing was the only sound to be heard in the dark place. "But now you are here, right in the heart of my land." She turned to face him. Her eyes were blacker than the deepest parts of the sea, and her face paler than even his. Her lips were black as well, which made her look quite undead, and yet terrifyingly beautiful.

"What do you want?" Jack asked, finding his voice.

"Isn't that what you came to ask me about?" She quirked a fine brow, "your precious little princess?"

"Why did you take her soul?"

"Why not?" She shrugged her broad shoulders, "why not take what you can get. She is a feisty little girl. I'm sure I could find some use for her."

"What? You can't just use her for your sick games," Jack snarled.

"Can't I?" She stepped forward, "what will you do, Frost? Will you stop me?" She was close now, and she was not the small woman he assumed she was. She was tall, like the towers on the castle. She was almost as tall as North, and extremely intimidating this close up. Jack tightened his resolve.

"I will do what I have to."

She laughed again, "You are a funny one."

Jack resisted the urge to retort, "I don't have time to play games. What's your price?"

"Price?" The Queen drifted away from him, "price for what?"

"Merida's soul."

The Queen smiled gleefully and laughed, "you poor boy. There is no price. She's not for sale." The woman shrugged, "and if you think you can take her, well, I'm afraid the odds are not in your favor."

"I will take her back, no matter what I have to do," Jack stepped forward, brandishing his staff.

"Oh Jack. What are you going to do? You are in my domain. You have no power here."

Jack clenched his teeth and flung a jet of ice at the Queen, who blocked it with ease. "What a weak try." She sneered, "Don't you have anymore power?"

Jack rushed her, throwing his ice at her in rapid-fire shots, all of which she blocked. She was even laughing at his efforts.

"This is just pathetic!" She cried with a grin, "Child's play!"

She was right, Jack wasn't even making a dent in her defenses. He felt heavy with hate and anger, what could he do against her? His hand came to rest on a table that sat against the wall. He struggled to think, what could he do? He had defeated Pitch, but not alone. He remembered something North had told him, "You are far more powerful than you realize. You haven't even touched the depth of your potential. Do not doubt your ability to win any battle. All you have to do is believe."

He struggled for breath, and as he was about to attack again, a sharp pain sent him sprawling to the ground.

"Did you really think you could beat me, boy?" She stood next to him now; her black shoes kicked him in the side. "You are just like all the others - Weak, pathetic, and useless."

Jack coughed, struggling to sit up. His sides and head ached, "maybe I am." He wheezed, "but at least I'm not alone." He pressed his back against the wall, steadying himself. "At least I'm not hiding away in a castle, living all alone, waiting for someone to come that I can torment. To me, that is pretty pathetic." He wiped his mouth on his sleeve.

"Friendship makes you weak," The Black Queen said.

"You know, I'm not sure why people say that," Jack laughed, "what you don't seem to realize is that Friendship isn't a weakness. It's a power." As he spoke he was building up a blast of magic, waiting for the right time, "it keeps you strong even when you think you can't make it." He grinned, "That's what you and Pitch lack. Friendship."

The Black Queen threw her head back and laughed, "What a sad speech. Really, you think I'm so silly I would-" Her eyes widened, she lifted her hand to stop the attack, but it was too late. The magic slammed into her. A wave of frozen power, it kicked her into the wall and she hit the ground with a crunch. Jack winced, "It's what you lack." He murmured. Slowly, he crept toward her, his side still aching from the kick.

He saw around her neck the glinting silver key, and without thinking twice, he snatched it. Jack jumped up and almost cried out as the pain ripped his side. "Okay, being more careful in the future." He limped down the hall, feeling drained. The only thing that kept him moving was the thought of freeing Merida. He stumbled down the steps to the dungeon, and nearly fell on his face. "Merida! I got the key!" He shouted, slipping to a stop in front of her door.

"What?" She cried, "Jack! You're beautiful."

Jack blinked, startled by the compliment, "ah… thanks." He pushed the key into the lock and turned. The runes brightened and the lock clicked. The door swung open, and Jack stared. Merida was like a wisp. She was entirely transparent. Jack swallowed the lump in his throat, "Merida…"

"I know, not my best look." She shrugged, "we better get out of here."

Jack nodded, he held out his hand. Merida looked at it, and then at him, "I don't-"

"Just try."

Merida bit her lip, taking a step forward and reaching out her hand. But her hand passed through his, just like she thought it would, and sadness such as she had never felt rushed through her. She laughed mockingly, trying to blow it off, "So... this is what it feels like to be unable to touch anyone."

Jack closed his eyes, "you won't stay this way," he opened them again and gave her a hard look, "I won't let you stay this way." He amended. "Now let's go." He turned and ran for the stairs, ignoring the pain that shrieked through him as Merida's wisp-like form followed after him. He had a small ray of hope, they would make it.

A scream pierced the air, and Jack shuddered, the Queen was awake and she was furious.