Epilogue
Authors note: Hey guys! It's my birthday! Wooohoooo! (Eighteen years old and still going to the zoo instead of throwing a party ;-D) anyways, I really wanted to celebrate with you guys so here you go! A nice little epilogue of life after the story^^ ooh and I have a quick question at the end too. That's all for now guys, enjoy the story! BIRTHDAY CAKE FOR ALL OF YOU!
Music is an incredible thing. It's always been there for us. Throughout every high and low, its supported us- and, through its support, we've ended up here. Stood on the stage of the world finals; bowing. Representing the entire country- and trying to uphold the legendary legacy of Arendelle Academy, and Snow Queen Records.
I still can't believe we got a deal from a real life record company- let alone Snow Queen Records! And thanks to Elsa herself, no less! The founder and unofficial principal of Arendelle Academy- head of the biggest instrumental record company- possibly, in the world- personally chose me and Jack to ask if we wanted to make a deal with her. She'd heard about us from from Anna (yeah, my music teacher? That was Elsa Arendelle's sister), and stood in during one of our somewhat secret lunchtime playing sessions (I assume that, somehow, Anna found out about them).
We'd only known she was there when we were finished and she decided to announce herself. I'd known her on sight- Jack (simple boy pursuing a passion, that he was) didn't even recognise her. It took me weeks to get over that (how could he not know who Elsa Arendelle is?!), but regardless, she had us play privately for her in a massive palace I wouldn't have been surprised to find out was made from ice. This turned out to be her house.
A few songs in, and that was all she wanted to hear. The deal was sealed.
We had a record deal...with Snow Queen Records.
As far as the normal world goes, we're lucky if someone recognises a song- but, in our industry, the tracks went viral! People started calling us 'the next big thing'- 'the modern Mozart and Beethoven'- and the fact that we made everything up on the spot? Ridiculous! Impossible! No one believed us, until they saw it with their own eyes. But, of course, it is a small industry. Classical music isn't as well loved as it was, but we never wanted to be celebrities anyway. If we were called in for some big, fancy stage performance; great. But, we took whatever we could: small gigs, big gigs, playing on the street. We didn't care- we just loved playing. Where we were playing didn't matter.
We even entered competitions, just for fun. Any winnings from it, so much the better, but we never really played them seriously... Well, I didn't. Jack tended to get a little too competitive at those things- always insisting (loudly) that I was a better player than anyone going up against us. Never "I am" better- only "this guy" is better- or occasionally "we". For all the incredible skill he possessed, Jack still refused to take any of the limelight he deserved. Me? I still just considered myself lucky to be able to play with someone that amazing- not that I liked to belittle my own abilities, but I'll always look up to that violinist, no matter how good I get.
And now the competitions have led us to this. We weren't even going to enter at first- but when literally everyone we knew started pushing us for it, we decided to give it a shot- chances are we'd never make it to the finals, but we'd have a good time anyway. But here we are. At the finals. On stage. At the world championships.
I looked across at Jack... and I swore his white hair was glowing in the spotlights. I only had a few seconds to marvel his hair, before silver blue eyes turned to meet my own... Again, the moment only lasted a few seconds, before we went to take our positions with our instruments. The white hair was something he did in homage to night we met. I almost missed the chestnut brown sometimes, but I never cease to be amazed by the gesture- and brown eyes didn't work with white hair, apparently, so he wore blue contacts. That was his personal touch- although both of us knew it was to commemorate his family aswell. They'd named him Jackson Overland Frost, and so he decided to take on a resemblance to his mythological counterpart... in name of the family of Frost. The last of the family of Frost. I know he misses them dearly, and I know he's wondering if they're watching him right now- if they're proud of him. I know they will be... Just like my father will. I was also a family down now... We just had each other.
We looked up at each other once more. This is it. We knew were thinking. Lets do this...
Our eyes closed together.
Silence...
There was an expectant pause, and yet my hands stayed still... So the violin started playing for me.
This is how we normally start. Jack waits to see if there's something I want to play- but if there's silence, he start playing. Nothing incredible- nothing awe inspiring- just whatever happens to come to him, as we searched for a song to play.
"What do you want to play?" He asked me in that unique way only we knew: through the music, as it resonated with our beings. We could have entire conversations in this magical way now, if we so pleased... and so I set my fingers on the keys, to answer him. Playing, like he did, whatever tune happened to come to me... I searched for the words to explain, but I just couldn't think of a way to explain- I didn't know what was going through my mind, it was a feeling I couldn't quite make sense of... So I just played it all out in a heap of notes and emotions... and somehow, the words found themselves in the song, and resolved themselves into a question. The piano somehow understanding my tangled brain and emotions into a coherent message.
"Do you ever feel like your life has been building up to one moment?" The music translated.
I could sense the mood change in his music- almost like I could see the gentle smile that had spread across his face.
"I'd say that was a very good place to start." He told me.
Then, we had the foundations for our song. We wiped the whole thing afresh, like the introduction that we'd been playing up until then had never happened- and entered an entirely different realm of a song that spoke of the past.
The day we met... and years spent waiting. The day we reunited... and the day we played once more. We remembered it all. Our entire life story together, playing out through the song. It was so easy- we just let the memories move our hands, and a piece of music flowed out from it.
Music just had a way of letting us express ourselves- and we'd grown to the point that we didn't even have to think about what we were playing anymore; we just let our bodies roam with our feelings, and let the music do its thing. We'd close our eyes and play whatever was on our minds, or in our hearts. It was a unique way of playing, but it meant that no two songs we played were ever exactly the same. They changed and shifted with our moods and thoughts. One day, Jack might be playing the main tune, while I support the song- and yet, if we try to repeat it, he might end up being the one supporting. It was mad, but that was the way things were. We'd just find a way for our two seperate instruments to join together, and then nothing could stop us.
Whenever I was lost for what to play, Jack would give me something to play from- and because of that, our inspiration was almost endless. I remember, one time, he got overexcited about a bird in the garden (and, ironically, nature's singer then became the subject of our song). And I remember how we'd sometimes play something randomly depressing, after a particularly sad moment in a film or a tv show.
That's how big a part of our lives music is to us. It pops up at the most unlikely times, and it seems like we can never truly let it go completely- a tune will always be in our heads, even if we aren't playing it. We just couldn't get rid of it. To say that music was our life, though, was way too cheesy... Even if it was.
Even aside from our daily escapades of call and response at opposite ends of the house- to one of us initiating a song for no other reason than for the sake of a song- we actually managed to turn it into a career. It was surprisingly well paying- enough that we never struggled financially, but not to the point that we lived like kings. We never wanted to be rich, though- we were perfectly happy just being happy.
Life is basically a dream right now. I live well, with a smile on my face, music by my side, and an idiot violinist who never fails to brighten my day.
That's not to say that it's always been perfect, though- there's been plenty of downs as well as highs. Sure things have been happy most of the time- like the time, we decided to play a small concert in the park where we met.
I think it was some kind of aniversary thing- one year since I came across that silver ghost... or was it a month? It was too long ago now for me to remember straight. Looking back on it, we probably looked like a pair of homeless people, playing in the street for money, but neither of us cared. Because, when we played together, we cast a magic over everyone. Listeners, passers by- even (and, perhaps, especially), each other. It was like the whole park was spellbound by music. But the best part, by far, that always sticks to my memory, was when Jack started dancing.
He tried to keep still- I could tell he really did- but he just couldn't help himself. He'd twirled around the piano- even drifting out towards the small crowd that had gathered around us. Next thing we know, this little kid started dancing with him. Just a small, bold child jumping about after him, with flailing arms and clumsy feet. And just that one boy's courage was all it had took. By the end of the song, Jack had a whole line of kids following him around. I remember making some kind of joke about how he was like the pied piper of Berkess- but, secretly, I was privately amazed at the whole thing.
That was the kind of thing that always astonished me. How something as simple as two boys and a little music, could inspire complete strangers to get up and dance with each other. It always seemed like something out of a movie, and yet things like that just seemed to happen when I was around that crazy violinist. Pretty soon, things like that just became a normal part of our life... And we came to understand that we had something special. It wasn't just an occasional thing- together we really could do things which others might call extraordinary.
When we were happy, like that day in the park we could inspire people to create an unexpected dance... When we were sad, we could bring even full grown men to tears- or, if we were so moved, we could even bring about tears of sheer happiness and joy... and we've brought about a lot of tears over the years... and shed a lot of them too.
Jack lost both his sister and his mother to a car accident, when they hit a patch of black ice one night and never made it home... and he'd lost his father before he was even born, so he didn't even have him... He'd was all alone- and, soon after, he'd gone into a deep depression.
It had been a long road to recovery. I spent many, many, hours trying to help him out of the dark pit of nightmares and shadows of his grieving. I always felt so helpless when I comforted him, but I did my best to be there for him, and come up with the best words I could to get him through it... just as he did for me all those years ago. He looked after me following my mother's death; so I did my best to try and repay that favour. It was hard, but he finally got through it... and we grew stronger because of it.
But then, no sooner had he stopped leaning on me for support, had he suddenly needed to step up and look after me. My leg got taken over by a bright red infection that soon turned septic. Jack panicked that I'd got the bubonic plague- and we laughed about how I must've caught the black death's sinister, red cousin: the red death... But it had quickly become hard to make light of it when I ended up needing an amputation.
Recovering from surgery had been easy enough, but the rehabilitation, and having to teach myself how to walk again, was about as simple as talking Jack out from his depression. It took time, and a more than a few tantrums, but, like the depression, we got through that as well.
I now like to consider it my equivalent to Jack's impressive 'defying death' stunt all those years ago (if he could spend two hours as a comatose ghost and not bat an eye, I could do the same losing half a leg).
Having to look after me, whilst I got used to using prosthetics, was hard on both of us. He had to literally support me for everything- even something as simple as going to bed. Him being willing to do all that for me was the easy part- getting me to accept his help, or call on him when I needed it, was a whole different matter. I was as stubborn they came- and, more often than not, Jack ended up helping me whether I wanted it or not.
A few weeks into the rehabilitation process, we got a call about some kind of canine assistance program to see whether or not having a four legged friend actually helped people like me missing a limb. Less than a week later, we had a dog. Toothless, I named him- after one of my favourite characters from a children's book when I was little. Jack didn't take to the idea as much as I did, and pouted a little when the Labrador finally arrived. He insisted I didn't need a dog, with him around, but it turned out Toothless was a great little helper. I think Jack got a little jealous over that, and started racing the dog to follow my orders first. I maybe took a little bit too much advantage of that, but it was far too enjoyable to ignore.
With the addition of Toothless to our household, our little family seemed pretty much complete- Jack and Toothless never seemed to get along, but we could live with that. Everything had seemed perfect. I had a great housemate, an affectionate, furry friend and a father that supported me from afar... My world was complete... and so naturally, something had to gone wrong... And that something was the death of my father.
We were out on a massive, wild camping trip- somewhere far from civilisation, and snowy. I was taking Toothless out for a somewhat early morning walk. The black dog ran off ahead of me- and, with my fake leg slowing me down, I soon lost sight of him. So when I saw a black blur ahead of me, I assumed it was him... But it wasn't. It was a black bear that I'd just disturbed from its hibernation. I thought I was going to die. I would've done, if dad hadn't pushed me out the way and given me a chance to escape.
By the time emergency services got to us... It was too late. My dad was gone.
At the time, I blamed myself for abandoning him like a coward, but I eventually realised that it was his choice to save me- and I decided I wasn't going to let his sacrifice be in vain. I was going to live my life to the fullest... Although, at first, that thought did little to soften the blow. For a long time, I couldn't even look at Toothless without being reminded of the black beast that killed my father- I knew it wasn't his fault, but I just couldn't help myself. Jack had to look after him until I came to my senses. Now, looking back, I find it touching how the the two of them resolved their differences for my sake.
Yes, it had been a rough time- possibly one of the darkest moments of my life, but I got through it... He got me through it. My white haired guardian- once again, saving me from myself.
...As we played through each moment of our lives- the light and the dark, the joy and sorrow... I realised just how much that brilliant violinist had been there for me... and just how much I'd been there for him... We had something special, didn't we. The kind of something most people spent their whole lives searching for. I cracked my eyes open a little, to peek at my frosty haired angel... The way he smiled as he played. The sway of his body, and tap of his foot, as he resisted the urge to dance across the stage. The way the spotlights shone off his snowy white hair, and pale, smooth skin- like he was still made of that mysterious moonlight from when I first found him... I smiled to myself... I was a lucky guy.
The two of us fit together perfectly- like two halfs of a duet. Alone, the seperate instruments were good enough to deserve a modest applause- but bring them together, and you have an awe inspiring piece of music that redefines the world. Shifting it into focus, with beautiful array of light and colour.
Were we perfect for each other? Made to be together? Of course not- that was way too cliche... But true.
We're not perfect- we've had plenty of little spats over the years; falling out, and getting back together, just like any couple would. He'd get mad- I'd get mad- and it'd seem like the whole world was collapsing on us. But it never did. Most the things we argued about just seem stupid now. Like the time he thought I was favouring the dog over him- something that had been simmering in the violinist for years. He eventually snapped, and stormed off- but not before a massive, heartbreaking argument that had left both of us feeling like we'd been stabbed painfully in the chest. Although, I had no room to talk. I did the same with one of his friends (our neighbour, Tiana). She got a little too close to him for me to be comfortable with it, and paranoia took care of the rest. It actually turned out I was right about her making moves on him- but he carefully rebuffed her, and they managed to stay friends.
No matter what would happen between us, eventually we'd get back together. We'd say: that's it. It's over. I hate you, and I never want to see you again... And yet, we'd still kiss and make up in the end. We never stay mad at each other for long. How could we when we just kept serenading each other back into our lives? It's hard to storm away from each other, when you live next door- and we could easily hear each other play through the walls.
It had been a game at first- playing to each other through the houses to entertain ourselves- but it became a lifeline when we fell out with each other. It made making up- well, maybe not easy- but definitely not as hard as it might've been. Once, I had to play an apologetic piano song for three hours straight before he forgave me, when I broke his violin- and even then I had to agree to pay for a new one.
Yes, life has been a very rocky road so far, with more than its fair share of ups lots of downs- but, through it all... music has been there. Music was what had brought us together- and, what led us to get together.
No one really knows when we officially became a couple. Was it when we realised it was love? When we said those three immortal words? The first kiss? There never really was a defining point for us getting together. We hadn't instantly fallen for each other, like some fairytale, and we couldn't quite decide when it had become love.
But there was one day that just stuck to my mind: when an old lady complimented our music, and told us what a cute couple we were. It was before we really realised it was that kind of relationship, and we just kind of looked at each other, and realised: you know what? We are.
Needless to say the song we played after that was particularly joyful (and dare I say romantic?).
A part of that song subtly slipped into the one we were playing right now. I'm fact, all of them were. It seemed that a little piece of every song we'd ever played was coming together to form this. A culmination of two lifetimes of song, in a single, breathtaking duet... And it was starting to build up to its climax. To the present.
I started thinking, then, about everything that I'd been through... that we'd been through. Every heaven and hell the world had thrown at us... and, you know what? After losing my mother; meeting a ghost, which I lost, only to be reunited with him again four years later; signing a record deal with a world renowned company; losing a leg to brutal disease, and gaining a furry friend because of it; living with someone who battling with depression, and staying with them on the long, arduous journey back into the sunlight; breaking up and making up with them like I was inside a soap drama; losing my only family, and battling my way to the end of the world championships... Maybe it had been hard, sometimes- a lot of the time, even... But, you know what? I wouldn't change it for the world. I felt something powerful swelling up inside me, and I started hitting the piano keys with more and more strength.
It's been amazing.
I struck a strong, powerful chord that resonated throughout the hall with its grandeur- a mighty sound of a man that had faced his hardships and come out on top. Jack took his cue, pulling out an earth shattered sound, from of the violin, that lay open our hearts for all the audience to see. And it gave me strength like nothing I'd ever felt before.
I'd never felt so confident, and at peace, in my whole life. I was in perfect command of everything around me. I was in my place- where I belonged. Sat at the piano, with Jack by my side. This song didn't deserve merely trying my best- I was giving it everything. Jack gave me this incredible strength, and I'll be damned if I didn't take every single second of it for granted. There wasn't any force on Earth that could stop us now.
It was like the stars had aligned- everything falling into place, as foundations of our world opened up to sang a perfect harmony that erupted across the Earth. It stared down reality in the face, and said: you sent everything you could at us, and you still couldn't bring us down. Well, just look at us now.
We were more than just playing a song, in that moment: we were standing on top of the world. Shining brightly for all to see. We've been through worst of hell, and best of heaven- and we've conquered it all. Do you see our world now? See what we've become? Our world had grown into something so big and so bright- filled with a starburst of infinite colour you can only dream to imagine of. Stronger than the sun- more powerful than the moon, and more beautiful than the northern lights.
This is our world. This is who we are. Together. Indomitable. Unstoppable. Powerful.
We've fought the world, and we've won. Just two of us. Two beings. One soul.
And then, that one, underlying feeling that surrounded everything, rose up and took command of all our emotions. It took everything about the song and made bigger, stronger and heart wrenchingly powerful. But this time I recognised it like an old friend. I knew this feeling now. It suffused my life- and now, my song.
It was the one I devoted entirely to that violin player, in all his inner and outer beauty. Every flaw and perfection- the best and the worst of him. I cared for and accepted it all. Every piece of him.
I'd never felt it so clearly as in that moment. And suddenly three words arose that were just begging to be said. Words that I had never before committed to music, because they were already written in our hearts. They drifted through that all consuming emotion that surrounded us even now. Powerful, and unspoken. But now was the moment. Now was the right time to say it. Now, as everything came together.
But, just before I did, the world seemed to halt in a strange lull, as a realisation came over me. This song that we'd been playing. I was almost certain that it had gone over the time limit that had been set for the competition. Which meant we'd probably forfeited our chance at winning... But, I just didn't care. This song was worth every moment. We were letting it take its course, and play for as long as it needed to be played. To its fullest, and most beautiful extent. That way, maybe if we had blown the competition, we might at least have blown a few minds as well.
Besides... I got to play a song with the person I cared about most than the world, what more could I ask for?
The truth was that music didn't define our relationship. It was our relationship. It forever played in our hearts, in a way that only we will ever truly understand... and sat there, playing with that once upon a time spirit, in front of thousands of people; probably televised to millions more, with that beautiful, heartfelt feeling connecting us like we shared a single heart- about to commit himself to the biggest words I could offer up, from the bottommost depths of my heart... There wasn't anything, on this Earth, I'd rather be.
Life is a song that you play by yourself. You choose what you play, and how the symphony goes. Chances are that song will be full of highs and lows- but, if you find the right person to share a duet, you may just find a way to make it truly magical.
"I love you."
A/N: hope you liked it^^ quick question- if the wolf story was translated to Hijack, would you prefer that one or a combination of the two Angel ones? ^^ see you later!Enjoy the cake!