"Well, well, well, it seems you had yourself a little fun, Jacky boy." The old wizard chuckled.

"It would have been a lot better had I known how ridiculous it was to actually get in here…" Jack groaned. He was lying in the bed Ombric lent him while he was asleep. He laid there with multiple tapes and bandages over his body. He was pretty beat up to say the least.

Simply leaving the sanctuary of Santoff Claussen was an easy task. All people brought into the wall were considered friends. However, those who attempted to enter unannounced were met with the multiple barriers of magic that defended the land. Fields of hedges and vines lined the perimeters of Santoff Claussen, thorns as long and sharp as spears. What did Jack in was not foliage, however, but a great black bear that stood guard at the entrance of the land.

"You're quite lucky Katherine was outside gathering vegetables. It would have been much more difficult to deal with you had you met with the Spirit of the Forest." Ombric smirked as if he'd enjoy the sight.

"Yeah, yeah, thanks you grumpy old— Ow!" Jack was interrupted by an all too familiar bonk on the head. "Okay! Great, we got that out of the way. I'm actually here for a reason!"

"You're a bit too cheeky for someone arriving unannounced not once, not twice, but three times. It's good to see you were disciplined this time. Third time's the charm I guess." The man smiled again. "Now, what is it you would like to know?"

"Time." Jack answered bluntly.

"Time? Why now? How about some 'time' in the future. Ohoho." Ombric was enjoying himself, teasing Jack.

"I want to know about the things that happen when time changes." Jack's eyes were determined for an explanation. Ombric looked at the winter spirit with curiosity.

"Hmm, this is quite sudden. Then again, it's been over 18 years since you landed yourself in my backyard. Alright, I'll do what I can to explain the basics of time travel. Before we begin, is there anything you'd like to ask first?" Ombric looked over to the winter guardian before walking to his bookshelf.

"If Arendelle isn't consumed by the storm that was written in the book will the storm keep coming back?" Jack questioned with a serious tone.

"Want a happy answer or the bad one?" the wizard asked while sorting through his books.

"Honest."

"Good answer. Honest answer… Maybe."

"What do you mean 'maybe'?" Jack raised his brow.

"Maybe means maybe. Here's the deal. Also, catch." Ombric alerted, tossing North's book to Jack. "You should stop leaving that around everywhere. Heaven knows what will happen if the past had its hands on the future."

"I'll keep that in mind. Now, what's this deal?"

"Turn the pages until you see text." Ombric commanded. Jack began to turn through the blank pages until he found the pages that were writing themselves. "The thing about time is that it doesn't like to deal with change. Like water, time will travel the path of least resistance. This is why books will rapidly write themselves once it determines time has synced up, regardless if it has to force itself to do so."

"So, you're saying that time will try to recreate the storm until Arendelle's gone?" Jack asked, slightly distraught.

"Yes and no. That's why I said maybe. I said that time will attempt to travel the path of least resistance; I didn't say that there is only one path. Before I go on, tell me why you came back in time." Ombric questioned, sitting at his rickety desk, facing the winter guardian.

"Um…Uh… Oh! North said tha—"

"One last thing, make sure not to tell North that you are Jack Frost. Actually, if you meet anyone else you know in the future, be sure not to tell them either. Trust me. Time will be more forgiving this way. For now, you are Overson Jacklyn. Got it?"

"Uh, sure. Anyways, North said that time was being messed with."

"You're the one messing with it." Ombric glared.

"Yes, no, well yes, but the first time! Apparently Arendelle was supposed to be destroyed by a big snowstorm when the first heir died. However, it wasn't."

"Right, 'you', and I'm emphasizing you here. You saved her, stopping the storm." The wizard interrupted again, giving him another quizzical glare.

"Yes, but that's not it though. She did die but the storm didn't come. The storm came when Anna died. There was also a never ending winter that appeared after Elsa was born which became the raging blizzard that appeared with Anna's death." Jack finally finished explaining.

"Hmm… interesting. Also, I was only teasing. Tsar wouldn't have sent you back if he didn't have his reasons." Ombric chuckled. He was fiddling with something on his desk.

"Wait, you know Manny?"

"Of course, we all do."

"I mean, you 'know' know him? You call him by his name."

"And you know his name too. That means you're pretty important, Jack." The old man smiled. "Now come over here. I think I've figured out what's going on." Jack flew over to Ombric's desk, looking at one strip of paper on the left and four on the right side.

"What's this mean? I'm not sure I'm—" Jack was interrupted with a hit on the head.

"Will you let me explain before you go asking questions? You see this strip of paper here? This is the timeline we are currently on." Ombric placed his finger on the piece of paper on the left. "These strips on the right represent the possible timeline outcomes. The first one being the 'original' line, the second one being the possibly altered timeline, and the third is the timeline you've created."

He proceeded to connect the left strip of paper to the top strip on the right. "This is how the first timeline was connected. However, due to something changing it, time started following this timeline." Ombric slid the left strip down, connecting the second paper strip on the right to the left one. "Now, because of what you've done, time is now currently following the third line." Ombric dragged the left strip down one more.

"So, I successfully stopped time from changing in a bad way? That's a good thing ri— Ow!" Jack was, once again, hit on the head.

"No you thick headed idiot. Are you not paying attention? Think for a second. If timeline one was changed by something and created timeline two. You came back in time just before timeline two could happen, thus creating timeline three. Which means…?" Ombric paused, looking over to Jack. The boy's face was blank. With a disgruntled look, he bonked Jack on the head and continued on. "This means that whatever changed timeline one into timeline two is still out there." Ombric sighed.

"Wait… Oh… Oh! So I stopped whatever it was that changed the past before but that doesn't mean he's gone. I got it! I got… No… That mean's Arendelle's not safe!" Jack jolted back. He ripped the bandages off of himself, grabbing his staff and flying out the window again. Ombric sat there and sighed.

"We have a door for a reason…" Ombric looked down the pieces of paper on the table. "I hope you're right about this Tsar. I hope he finds the line where he succeeds." Ombric put his finger on the forth strip of paper and connected it to the end of the third strip.

"Messing with time isn't your forte, Ombric. You and I both know the dangers." A voice spoke, walking up from behind. "It's our job to defend it, mate"

"I'm fully aware of that, Bunnymund. That's specifically why I'm helping him." Ombric turned around to face a large bunny in a green robe decorated in gold. The large rabbit took off his green spectacles and looked Ombric in the eyes.

"What is it you're keeping from Sandy and I, Ombric?" The large bunny looked at the wizard curiously. "I'd like to hear it from you and not a simple letter."

Ombric walked over to the shelf, grabbing a small bottle from the drawer. "He's returned, Bunnymund, and I think I know why." He tossed the bottle over to the large rabbit. Putting on his spectacles, he looked into the bottle to see black sand. The room went silent.

"Pitch…"

The moon rose over the horizon of the fjord. As Elsa watched the light fill her room, she got out of her bed and left into the hall. This was the only time she could freely move through the castle without the fear of being noticed. She would leave the sanctuary of her room during the sunset but Anna once caught a glimpse of her and charged her at astonishing speeds. Now she'd wait for when the sky was darkest.

One of her usual rituals was to search the kingdom for any sweets. She had a particularly strong craving for chocolate. Her mother use to spoil her with various pastries as a child and it carried over as she grew up. Her cravings had grown stronger when her parents passed away. The chocolate sweet became one of her last few sentimental bonds she had with her mother.

She paused for a moment. She could smell it, the sweet scent of the sugary confection. She started picking up the pace but kept her steps quiet in case someone might be awake in the castle. She found herself in the dining hall with several trays of various delicacies. Her eyes widened with a smirk on her face. She was now standing in front of a large tray of chocolate. It was almost as if she had returned from starvation.

"Thank you very much." she spoke softly, taking one piece of chocolate and walking away. The one piece was enough to satisfy her desire. Deep down, she had a heart of a child but she was still royalty. She couldn't go about stuffing her face as she pleased. It was time for the second part of her night, looking for new books in the library. In a world of isolation, books were her escape from her reality. Days felt better with each new novel she read.

*Tap, tap, tap*

Elsa's head jerked to the side. She heard footsteps down the hall and they were getting closer and closer. In a moment of panic, she hid herself behind the curtains of the window, hoping the veil of darkness would disguise her. It worked. She watched as one of the maids passed by her and up the stairs at the end of the hall. With a sigh of relief, she pressed on towards the library.

While walking to the library, she had a sense of longing for the novels upon novels that surrounded her. The library itself felt like an escape from reality. The magnificent universes that took shape with every page gave her a sense of peace that she rarely ever felt. She lit the fireplace of the library and a few candles surrounding her. She pressed on towards the bookshelves. Today felt like a day for fairytales. One particular fairytale she favored was the tale of Toothiana, the child of flight.

Elsa felt a strong connection with the character, Toothiana. Like herself, Toothiana was different from everyone else. She was gifted with the ability to fly but cursed by her appearance. When Toothiana was discovered, people hunted her for how she looked. Had it not been for her family protecting her, she may have been lost forever. Elsa felt that she was blessed to be gifted with such loving parents. She was afraid that, had her parents not hidden her powers from the world, the world might have tried to take her. Worst of all, she feared that if she were not hidden she may have hurt many more people. As she read further into the novel, her heart started to ache with the passing pages. She finally reached the page where Toothiana was forced to abandon her mother and father and return to safety.

"Mama… Papa…" Elsa whimpered, tears forming in her eyes. She clutched at the sapphire blue pendant around her neck. It was a gift her father had given her on her 18th birthday. It was also his last. Tears fell from her face as she recalled all her parents had done for her. It was almost four months ago since they passed away but the pain in her heart felt the same.

"Don't cry, princess." A voice spoke. Elsa jumped out of her seat. She frosted all the candles and the fireplace of the library. Her heart skipped a beat. She was unsure of who this person could be. "Come now, princess, don't be alarmed." The voice spoke comfortingly.

"Who are you?!" Elsa sneered, backing into the light of the moon for vision. "Show yourself!"

"Child, child, child, you must understand, I am not here to hurt you, quite the opposite really." The voice seemed closer. Elsa looked in all directions. She could only see darkness from all sides. The castle was darker than it had ever been.

"As Princess of Arendelle I demand that you show yourself!" Elsa yelled out. Frost was slowly spreading from under her feet.

"You must keep your emotions in check, you wouldn't want that 'curse' of yours running amuck now, would you?" the sinister voice chuckled.

"I demand that you show yourself at once!"

"Conceal, don't feel, don't let it show. You don't want the world to know." It was the sound of her father. A figure emerged from the light of the moon across the hall. Elsa shot a beam of frost towards the figure. However, he had already disappeared into the shadow.

"My, my, quite the nasty temper you have there, princess…" A face emerged beside her. "… you might hurt someone with those powers." The man chuckled. Elsa shot another wave of ice behind her but he had already fallen back into the darkness.

"Who are you and how did you infiltrate Arendelle castle?" She demanded an answer, turning her head left and right in search of the intruder.

"Again, I have no intention of hurting you. You, on the other hand, you seem to want to hurt the world. Don't you?" A figure emerged from the darkness. Elsa shot another bolt of ice. This time it hit its mark. The figure fell to the ground and froze in place. However, the figure looked familiar. She ran over to the frozen person and saw that it was the maid that ran past her moments ago.

"No! No, please, no." Elsa sobbed. Her powers had hurt someone else. She didn't know what to do or where to go. She sat there looking at the frozen being on the ground. This is my fault! Elsa kept saying in her head over and over again. The figure emerged from the shadows again. A large figure dressed in black. His skin grayer than stone and his hair stood up, perfectly pitch black.

"See what you've done, dear Elsa? Your power is a curse. No one would love you. No one has ever loved you!" the figure spoke, standing behind her.

"Get away from me!" she roared, firing a powerful blast at him. This time she saw him get hit. The figure was clutching his chest and fell to the ground. He slowly crawled away into the darkness.

"Elsa! Elsa it hurts!" the voice shouted. "Why Elsa, why?" the pitch of the voice became higher and softer. The voice was more feminine, more recognizable.

"Elsa… why?" the voice spoke softly. A frozen hand became visible in the light. She knew the voice, she knew the person. Her eyes began flooding with tears as she ran to the figure.

"No!" She ran over to the figure of her sister, Anna, frozen solid. Anna had a rogue tear running down her cheek and a chocolate in her hand. "No, no, no, no, no! Anna, no!" Elsa cried. She laid over her sister in a crying mess.

"This is what your powers are, Elsa. They are a curse. I told you I did not want to hurt you but you wouldn't listen! Now look at what you have done!" The figure emerged behind her and knelt down to Elsa's ears. "She is dead, and it's all your fault."

"Nooooo!" Elsa howled, gripping her sister's corpse for dear life.

"Remember this well, Elsa of Arendelle. You are fear personified. You are the curse of the world. You… you are the Nightmare Child!"

Elsa jumped from her chair. She found herself still in the library. All the lights were on but the library looked almost completely frozen over. Her legs felt weak, her eyes were watering. She fell to the ground and laid there crying for a several minutes. It felt like hours had passed by. She could hear Anna's voice and she could still picture her beloved sister's frozen body. With all the energy she had left, she put out the candle and the fire place and ran to her room, slamming the door behind her.

"Ha, ha, hah, this is far too easy." The figure from the nightmare emerged from the depths of the shadow. He made his way through the library and took the book on the ground. Picking it up and turning the pages, he spat in it and tossed it in the fireplace. "This time, my fear will reign supreme once more. Arendelle will be the heart of everlasting nightmare." The figure laughed maniacally, slowly backing away into the shadows. "Just a bit longer and the world will be mine once again."

Before disappearing into the darkness, he picked up a piece of ice unleashed from the princess. Clutching the ice in his hands, a devilish grin overcame his face as he faded into the shadow, only leaving a smile to be seen. "Winter is coming." A laugh rang through the halls and slowly echoed throughout the castle.