Chapter four
This week Katherine was learning her basic studies that Bunnymund had put together for her. This week's lesson was the power of the phrase "I believe, I believe, I believe." This phrase had a stronger power than anyone realized, it had the power to make someone fly, the power to bring dreams into reality, anything you could imagine it could do. That is why Ombric the wizard, North's old tutor, had taught this as his first lesson. It was the key to everything magic, and opened multiple doors. So she practiced all week repeating the phrase and watching magical things happen. Katherine even used the phrase once saying she believed a book could sprout wings and fly to her hands. It of course happened and she was exhilarated.
North laughed as he watched Katherine learn the meaning of the phrase. It reminded him of old times with Ombric and the children of Santoff Clausen. One day Katherine played a trick on North and made his beard grow ten times it's normal length. It made North trip over his own feet, and he laughed until his rib's hurt. He had the yetis trim it back to it's normal length, and Katherine joined his laughter.
But when Katherine wasn't practicing her study's she was reading. North had an entire sector of his workshop dedicated to books left behind from Ombric. Mr. Qwerty was still his librarian and helped Katherine find books that she could understand for her reading level, but Katherine read so much her reading level was above average. So Katherine could read practically any book she wished to, but North had instructed Mr. Qwerty to keep Katherine away from the books that had anything to do with Pitch.
So Mr. Qwerty hid the books that mentioned anything about Pitch. Though Katherine searched without anyone knowing, but failed every time. She thought it was a bit odd that North had books over every single subject you could think of, including the anatomy of grass, but nothing about Pitch. So she gave up for the time being and went to read in the secret room behind the book cases. She curled up in one of the hanging chairs that crowded the room and began to read the tales of Atlantis by Ombric who was the last surviving member of Atlantis.
The book didn't truly interest Katherine, but she had made a promise to herself that she would read every book in North's library. So she went ahead and got one book out of the way at a time. She enjoyed every single one she read, but some of them were not truly interesting like the anatomy of grass. However some of the most interesting to Katherine where the ones about different languages. Ombric had known almost every language known to animal and man, and wrote books on learning the different languages.
For the moment she was only able to learn insect dialect, but grew more advanced as she learned each different language. She was currently learning fire fly dialect, and went outside almost every night to practice. The fire fly's were very nice, and gratefully helped her practice. By the end of the week she was able to speak fluent fire fly.
The Guardians were surprised when they found out she could speak the dialect of insects, they thought she would only be able to learn that at at least ten years of age. But at the age of six was almost outstanding! Bunnymund was especially proud and went back to advance all her courses.
One day after finishing up this weeks study, Katherine decided to go read again. She grabbed the first book she saw and plopped down on the couch in front of Norths fire. This time the book was about the stars and the history behind each constellation. Katherine wasn't completely disappointed, she really loved the stars and had always found them interesting.
Katherine was only a quarter through the book when Jack Frost flew into the room and snatched the book out of Katherine's hands, careful not to loose her page. Jack looked at the book like it was something foreign to him.
"The stars and there history? How are you not bored to death reading this?" Jack asked lifting an eyebrow at Katherine. Katherine rolled her eyes.
"Unlike you, I like to read. Besides if you get the right book it can be fun to read." Katherine laughed as she stood up and tried to snatch the book back. But Jack just held it above her head and grinned.
"A book? Fun? Ha! As if."Jack teased as he held the book higher above his head, snickering as he did.
"Yes!... For example... fairy tales... are... fun!" Katherine explained in between hops as she tried to grab the book back. "Ugh! I will climb you if I have to."
Jack laughed as Katherine grabbed onto him. She wrapped her arms around Jacks mid section and tried to pull him down to the ground. They both laughed as they toppled to the ground, Katherine wrestling Jack for the book. After a couple moments of struggling Jack finally put the book back in Katherine's reach and she snatched it up.
Katherine found her place again and marked it with her favorite leather bookmark North gave to her a couple Christmas's ago. It had the word 'Magic' inscribed into it in silver with the elves language.
"Ha ha, I guess fairy tales can be fun sometimes." Jack laughed as he hoped up from the ground, pulling Katherine with him. "But how about we go have some real fun!" Jacks eyes light up and a devilish smile creeps across his face. Katherine puts her book down and returns the devilish smile. If there was anything she loved more than reading it was going on adventures with Jack.
Jack took her smile as a yes and threw her onto his back. Katherine clung onto Jack as he flew out of north's workshop and into the chill air of the North Pole. Katherine laughed as they flew into the clouds. They passed clouds shaped like animals and kingdoms. They surprised birds as they past, leaving an icy breeze behind them.
Jack flew low to the sea, freezing some of the waves as he passed them. Katherine stretched out her hand and let it skim the surface of the waves.
"When your old enough i'll teach you how to fly, and then you'll be able to fly by my side with me." Jack shouted over the sound of the wind. Katherine imagined flying by Jacks side, not having to ride on his back. Being able to travel on her own. Katherine couldn't wait to learn how to travel on her own!
Soon they where flying over city's, freezing power lines, water fountains, roads, and windows. They watched kids get their tongue stuck to poles and people slip on ice. It was very amusing to both Katherine and Jack, in fact it was soo funny Katherine nearly fell off Jacks back. It only made her laugh harder as she struggled to keep from falling off.
Jack let Katherine hop off his back by a frozen lake by his home village of Burgess. Katherine doubled over, still laughing. She didn't get to see the outside world very much, so it was amusing to her how the kids played. It took Katherine a moment to stop laughing, she had never laughed so much in her entire life. Well, she had, but not over such a silly thing.
Jack was very amused at Katherine. He saw the magic of childhood fresh and alive in her eyes. He chuckled and shook his head.
"Ready to learn something new?" Jack asked as Katherine had completely calmed herself. Her eyes light up, though she was on a break from learning she couldn't surpass such an offer.
"Haha, Jack do you not know me yet?" Katherine joked. Jack grinned and rolled his eyes.
"I don't know. Maybe I do, maybe I don't." Jack shrugged, sneaking a quick smirk at Katherine.
"So what am I learning?" Katherine asked as she returned the quick smirk.
"I guess I don't need to teach you how to have fun considering you almost killed yourself laughing. Hmm, I was thinking a beginner lesson on how to manipulate the ice. Sound good?" Jack knew it sounded good to Katherine by the way she almost exploded with anticipation. Katherine had always dreamed of learning how to use Jack's powers. She never expected Jack to teach her so early though.
"Does it sound good? No. It sounds exquisite!" Katherine couldn't help but giggle at Jack's face when she said "no". He looked like he had been slapped, but he just playfully glared at Katherine when she finished her sentence. He shook his head and went to grab something from behind a tree.
It was a staff, a bit smaller than Jack's. It had almost the same design and everything. "You will start off with this. It helps you focus the energy, and how to manipulate it. As you advance, which I'm sure shouldn't take too long, you will be able to use the powers without a staff." Jack handed Katherine the staff.
Katherine twirled it in her hands, testing its features. She looked carefully at the designs and found an in scripture. Written up the side of the staff in elvish was the phrase "I believe."
"I'm guessing you had a little help making the staff?" Katherine shot Jack a side ways glance.
"Ha, yea. North is the best at creating stuff though. So I asked for a little favor." Jack brushed his hand through his hair remembering how much trouble it was trying to get North to cooperate. North said Katherine was to young to start learning, but somehow Jack convinced him.
"I absolutely love it!" Katherine exclaimed as she hugged Jack tight around the middle. Katherine only came up to about Jack's chest, so it was so simple to just bear hug Jack. Jack bent down and hugged Katherine back, picking her up and twirling her in the air. Katherine laughed as Jack gently set her down.
"So, you ready for a little lesson?" Jack asked, nudging Katherine's shoulder. Katherine rolled her eyes and smirked at Jack.
"I'm always ready." Katherine remarked, sneaking a sly smile.
"Good! Lets begin shall we? First you will have to learn to find the energy and focus it. Once you get the hang of it, it comes naturally." Jack explained as he gently tapped his staff on the bank of the lake, creating multiple designs one the ice.
Katherine thought to how each individual thing had it's own magic to it. She could feel the magic behind the snow and ice. She tried to center that feeling into her body and out through her hands and into the staff. A tiny bit of frost appeared on the staff from where Katherine was holding it. Katherine touched the staff to the edge of the lake and tiny designs formed around it.
The frost that Katherine created was only half the size and quality of Jack's, but it was still impressive for someones first time. Jack was really impressed with Katherine. He laughed as he pumped his fists into the air.
"There you go! Try again!" Jack encouraged.
Katherine let the feelings consume her again, and focused it once more into herself letting it run through her into the staff. This time Katherine almost matched Jack's design. They both whooped and punched the air.
"Ha! And to think North said you where to young to learn. We'll show him." Jack laughed. He stopped for a moment, thinking about something that would be great fun. "Hey, do you want to go do something fun?"
"When would I ever not?" Katherine asked giving Jack a pointed look. Jack shrugged and tossed Katherine back onto his back.
Katherine laughed as she struggled to hold onto Jack as he flew fast through the late evening sky. The sun was starting to set on the horizon, which made where Jack was heading even better. Jack landed on a beach in the middle of nowhere, it was just Jack and Katherine.
"Freezing the crashing waves is probably one of my most favorite things to do. Plus it would be great practice for you." Jack pointed out.
So Katherine and Jack walked on the beach until the sun had fully set, freezing waves and telling story's together. It was probably the most relaxing,fun thing that she had ever done. She was never able to be so relaxed around the Guardians, only with Jack and sometimes Sandy. They always expected so much from her, and it was a bit much sometimes. It was nice to just hang out.
North was a bit angry at how late Katherine was returned home, but shrugged it off. Katherine had a renewed light in her eyes that he had never seen before. Katherine was truly happy that night. She was even happy in her dreams, dreaming of flying by Jack's side and freezing the crashing waves. It was a fun day Katherine had to admit, she looked forward to playing with Jack again the next day.