Chapter 19 New Things

Unknown POV

I walked down the hall and into the room, ignoring the protestors. I waved my hand and a wall blocked them from getting to me; an ice wall.

"North, must you always have your yetis guard the front door? Makes it hard for one to get through."

North looked surprised to see me there. "Selena! I haven't seen you in years! What are you doing here?"

"Dad said you needed assistance. Where's the stubborn Snow Queen?"

North pointed down a corridor. "Try her room."

I smiled and dipped my head. "See you later."

I went down the corridor until I reached its end and turned to my left to see a flowered white door. On it were the words: Elsa, the Snow Queen'.

I smirked and knocked on the door. There was a scuffle and the sound of heels on wood, and the door opened.

The blond young woman seemed surprised to see me there. "May I help you?" she asked.

"The better question is, may I help you? May I speak with you, Elsa? Without Jack?" I added.

Jack flew to the doorway. "How do you know my name?"

I let out a small laugh. "You can't be a Guardian and not know who Jack Frost is."

"You're a Guardian?" Jack inquired. "Then how come I've never seen you before?"

"I never let you see me," I replied simply. "There are plenty of Guardians you've never seen, and perhaps never will."

"But who are you?" Elsa demanded.

I dropped into a low curtsy. "I am Selena, Guardian of Imagination, and daughter of the moon."

"You're Mani's daughter?" Jack's eyes widened. "Well, now the long white hair and sea-blue eyes make sense."

"So does the white ball-gown," Elsa said. "What does it mean to be the guardian of imagination?"

"I imagine something, and it happens," I answered. "For example, if I imagined a certain thief turned prince here, he would appear. Like so."

No sooner had I spoken the words, did Eugene appear by my side. He glanced around in shock, then breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Elsa.

"Hey, Elsa. How ya doin'? Can I ask how in all Corona that I got here?"

"Calm down, Eugene," Elsa suggested. "It's okay, Punzie can explain. Go down the hall till you see her name on a door."

"Thanks, Els. Bye, people I do not know!" And with that, he was walking down the hall.

I sighed and shook my head. "So, may I come in now?"

"Alright," Elsa allowed.

"I'll go talk to North," Jack said before flying away.

Elsa held the door open and I stepped in. I looked around at the many bookshelves.

"You sure like books," I commented.

"I like the knowledge that's in the books," she responded.

"You're not the only one." I ran my fingers over the many spines. "I couldn't tell you how many times I stood behind a child writing a story, or a report, or an essay. Their many ideas and thoughts scattering everywhere, like seeds in a wind. A child's imagination can go anywhere, while most adults stick to the facts."

Elsa broke the small silence. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

I faced her, completely serious. "The nightmare you had last night."

Her already pale skin went paler. "You know about that?"

"How could I not? Every time someone has a dream or nightmare, something notifies me. yours really interested me last night."

Elsa sat down on her bed. "What do you make of it?"

"I think you should tell Sandy. He's the only one who can win against Pitch's Nightmares."

"Isa said she enjoyed being a monster. I'm her other self, does that mean I'm a monster?" Elsa fretted.

"Elsa, can I tell you something I've been wanting to tell you for three hundred years?" I questioned.

"Yes." She seemed afraid at what I was going to say.

"There are no such things as monsters."

"But what about –"

"They simply travelled down the wrong path. The Duke is wrong, those people are wrong. Monster's don't exist."

"Wait, how do you know about my past?" Elsa asked.

I smiled. "I know all about you, Elsa. I was there when you were born, when you were shut out, and when you let it go. I was there when you fell through the ice and saved Anna, becoming a Guardian. I was the one who suggested to my father that you should be a Guardian."

Elsa was quiet. I knew I had given her a lot to think about, so I just remained silent.

"I really am a Guardian," she murmured. She looked to me. "If I'm so important, why couldn't anyone see me for three hundred years?"

"It's not about who you are, but what you do," I responded. "You're not the only one not to be believed in. No one's ever believed in me. I don't exist for them. But that doesn't stop me from helping the children play games or write stories. I don't care about not being seen by the children, I care about being their Guardian. What about you?"

Elsa rose from her bed, her face full of confidence. "I want to protect the children, show them how to love. I will become a Guardian."

I stood up and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You always have been."

She smiled at me. "Selena, may I ask you a few questions?"

I smiled back. "Ask away."

"You said you were the Guardian of Imagination, right? Can't you just imagine Pitch defeated?"

I shook my head. "I could, but it doesn't work like that. It would be too easy, and we won't grow in life if things happen the way we want to."

"Okay, but why doesn't your dad just remove Pitch from the face of the Earth?"

I gave a short laugh. "For one, Pitch is my dad's brother, and he would never do that. Second, even if he wanted to, he couldn't."

"Why not?" Elsa inquired.

"The world cannot exist without fear. Fear shapes us into who we are and what we do, just as love does. Those are the core emotions, what the world is built on. If we didn't have fear, we would be a bunch of shapeless nobody's who have no personality. Besides, my dad can't defeat Pitch completely anyway, at least not now."

"What's so important about now?" Elsa wondered.

"He linked himself to you, and is fuelled by your fear. Whenever you feel afraid, he gets stronger," I explained.

Elsa set her jaw. "Then we're wasting time talking, let's get North to make me a guardian."

I smiled and nodded.

We walked through Elsa's open door and down the hallway where three open-mouthed Guardians and one grinning one waited; Jack was completely neutral.

North, who had his arms crossed, turned to look at Tooth, Bunny, and Sandy, who all still had their mouths open. "Told ya."

Tooth was the first to speak. "Selena! I haven't seen you in at least a century! Where have you been? Why are you here?"

"Dad sent me to talk to Elsa, and to tell all of you how to defeat Pitch," I replied.

"Just like that?" Bunny didn't look like he believed me as usual. "One small thing and, poof, he's gone?"

"Just like that," I confirmed. "But he won't be gone gone, but he'll be weak enough that we won't have to worry about him for a while."

"And what is this defeat-Pitch thing?" Tooth asked.

"She's a certain soon-to-be Guardian with ice powers." Cue the jaw drop. "Would you like to explain, or shall I?" I directed the question at Elsa.

"I can do it," she answered. She took a deep breath and began. "When North sent us home to have fun, Jack and I went to London, England. We met a boy who was Pitch in disguise. He introduced himself as Charles and shook our hands. When he shook mine, I felt dizzy, and he smirked when I said so, quickly changing his expression to concerned. He led us to a house which turned out to be his lair. I was scared and he thanked me for the strength; I was fuelling him with my fear. He gave me my memories and sent Jack and I to my room where we watched them."

Jack floated over to Elsa, standing beside her, and whispering into her ear. "It's okay, Snowflake. I'll take the rest."

It was then that I noticed that Elsa was shaking.

"Pitch made dark sides of us named James and Isa, who are able to talk to us through their thoughts and know out thoughts and feelings. Last night, Elsa had a dream in which Isa embraced her dark power and taunted Elsa that she couldn't do anything by herself."

"But thinking back, I realize I don't," Elsa murmured. "I wouldn't have been able to control my power without Anna's help and love. I could never have believed in myself again if Jack hadn't helped Jamie believe in me. I never would have believed myself to be a Guardian had Mani not sent Selena to talk to me. I need people around to help me, for it changes me and helps me grow."

"Well said, Elsa," I said. "Now, North? You have an important job to do."

North grinned. "I thought so." He grabbed his book and spoke the words of the ceremony, later proclaiming that Elsa was a Guardian. Everyone cheered and Elsa laughed as Jack spun her around.

"Okay, now in all seriousness, we need to talk." My face was grave and Jack immediately sat Elsa down.

"What's so important, Selena?" Tooth inquired.

"Since Pitch touched Elsa and uses her fear for strength, she is the only one who can defeat him," I told them.

"Elsa's not getting that close to him," Jack objected fiercely. "I don't even think I'm going to let her battle him at all. I just found her again, I can't lose her a second time."

Selena was the only guardian besides me who understood what Jack meant, but I knew Jack wasn't about to explain himself.

"Jack, I'm immortal, I can't die," I responded. "And if Selena's right, then I have to battle him, or who knows what will happen?"

"Elsa, can I talk to you in your room?" Jack asked.

I nodded. "Yes, but I have to talk to Sandy first."

"Alright," Jack replied. "I'll meet you there when you're done."

I looked around at the other Guardians. "I'd like to talk to him privately if you don't mind."

They nodded in understanding and went off to do whatever they had to do.

Sandy looked at me with an expectant expression.

"I've been having nightmares nearly every night," I explained to him. "Selena suggested I talk to you about them, and I wondered if you could stop them."

Sandy gave me a confident smile, and gestured for me to bend my head down. I did, and he placed a hand on my head. I suddenly felt calm, and relieved that I had finally told him. He nodded to me, indicating that everything was now fine. I smiled at him and walked to my room where I found Jack waiting for me. I closed the door, locked it, and faced him.

"Yes?" I prompted.

"Elsa, you can't fight him," Jack insisted.

"I have to, Jack."

"But he could kill you!"

"I can't die, Jack."

"You don't know that! And even if you can't die, he could still take you away from me!"

"I won't let that happen, I'm not powerless, Jack."

"But neither is Pitch! He could do anything!"

"Jackson, I was almost assassinated twice when I was mortal! The first against two guards with crossbows, the second by Anna's insane ex-fiancé! I am perfectly capable of defending myself against an immortal being with no fashion sense! Okay?"

The temperature had dropped and a small snowstorm was already starting to spin around her.

Amusement crawled over Jack's face. "An immortal being with no fashion sense?" he echoed, laughing. "Nice description."

I laughed as well, the temperature returning to normal, and the snowstorm vanishing. "Thanks."

"Elsa, I'm sorry," Jack apologized. "I know you can take care of yourself, I just don't want to lose you again."

"You won't lose me."

"Can you promise that?"

I smiled. "I promise. Do you?"

Jack smiled back. "In the light that falls at moonrise

In the rhythm of the rain

In the miracle of ordinary days

In the hush of night, I will be in the whispers of lovers everywhere

You will find me there

In the rustle of a curtain

In the bustle of the world

In a thousand little unexpected ways

When you lift your gaze, I will be like the shimmer of one small star

Out there

Shining everywhere

I will be there beside you through the lonely nights that fall

So close your eyes

Remember my embrace

I will be there

Like mercy, I will find you through it all

This do I swear

I will be there."

Elsa shook her head slowly at me, knowing what came next. "In a language never spoken

Leave the promises we made

In the endless love that owns me heart and soul

In the certainty, I will always be true and as near as my next prayer

You will find me there

In the echo of the ocean

In the haunting of the wind

In mysterious, extraordinary ways

Through the darkest sky I will be like the shimmer of one small star

Out there, shining everywhere

I will be there

Beside you

Through the lonely nights that fall

So close your eyes

Remember my embrace

I will be there

Like freedom, I will find you through it all

This do I swear

I will be there

In the harboured water."

"In the stone and mortar."

"In the star that we both share."

"In the sound of laughter."

"Now and ever after."

"Look for me

I will be there

I will be there

Beside you

Through the lonely nights that fall

So close your eyes."

"Remember my embrace."

"Remember my embrace."

"I will be there."

"Yes, I'll be there."

"Like justice, I will find you through it all."

"This do I swear."

"This do I swear."

"I will be there."

"This do I swear."

I will be there."

"This do I swear

I will be there."

Third Person

Pitch paced in the meeting room, seeming to be waiting for someone.

"I still do not understand why we are here." It was Isa who spoke, confusion on her face.

"We are here to talk about our strategy," a woman snapped at her. "But someone is making us wait. Who is it that we're waiting for, supposed King of Nightmares?"

"You will know when she gets here," Pitch retorted.

"Who are you to tell us what to do, anyway?" a large, burley man questioned.

"For once I agree to him," agreed a smaller man.

"I'm the one who brought you back, worthless man." Pitch was very annoyed in his 'allies'. "Now be quiet until she arrives!"

They did not have to wait long. The doors to the meeting room burst open, and the candles on the table went out. A cold, pale blue light filled the room, illuminating the newcomer. She was completely white; white hair, white skin, white dress. Her eyes, which were a pale blue, were the only contrast and she was extraordinarily beautiful. She took everybody in before settling her eyes straight ahead to the other person who was standing.

She smiled. "Hello, Pitch."

"Illana," Pitch breathed before smiling back. "Your entrance was impeccable."

Illana shrugged and sauntered over to stand before him. "I try. I hope I'm not late."

Pitch raised her hand to his lips. "You are never late. Not on my watch."

"I should hope not." Illana looked around the table again. "Ah, good. They're here."

"I'd never leave them out of this. They're everything we could have hoped for. Isa, James, come here," Pitch ordered.

They stood up and went over immediately.

"Yes, Father?" Isa asked. "What is it?"

"This is Illana," Pitch replied. "Your mother."

Isa and James exchanged a glance.

Isa dropped into a low curtsy. "I am pleased to make your acquaintance."

James gave a bow. "As am I."

Illana gave them a nod with a small smile. "Have we come to a decision of what we're going to do?"

The woman slammed a hand impatiently against the table. "No, because we were waiting for you! Now, can we finally figure out what we're doing?"

"Don't speak that way to her," Pitch snarled.

"She's not the only one who's wondering," the young man piped up. "I'm only here to get what I want. And I want a kingdom!"

"And I want that boy," spoke the burly man. "He's already taken too much from me."

"Well, at least I fought," muttered the smaller man.

"What was that?" the bigger man growled.

"I said at least I fought. You had to depend on others."

"At least I wasn't there only for my looks. If you didn't have those, you never would have gotten so far."

"Boys! We are not going through this again! Save the fighting until the real battle!" the woman repeated.

Both men growled, but didn't say anything otherwise. Isa and James had returned to their seats, and Illana sat next to Pitch.

"Where were we?" Illana inquired.

Okay, so the song was: 'I Will Be There' by... someone. I actually got the song off of a Greystripe and Silverstream video, and for those who don't know who those cats are, then you should go and read the series Warriors by Erin Hunter right now! It's an actual book series, and it is one of my favorites! Anyway, I should have my breakfast, so BYE!