Really sorry about the mood whiplash in the previous one. I swear I'll write something fluffy at some point. This one is based on the short Learning to Fly comic. If you haven't seen it, you can find it on Dreamworks' tumblr or the RotG facebook page. And likely elsewhere. It's not actually necessary to see it before reading this.

The spring's warmth melted the ice of his lake. He could still walk on its surface, the water freezing beneath his feet, but the ice soon melted again when he left. The lake had remained frozen for a while even after all the snow disappeared, much to the puzzlement of the villagers, but even it had to thaw sooner or later. Spring had come and, as Bunnymund had so recently told him, he wasn't needed anymore. He slowly relinquished his hold on the lake.

With the thaw, a flight of ducks decided to call the lake their home. Jack didn't mind. He could share. He had learned early on that, unlike humans, animals could see him. But that didn't mean they wanted anything to do with him. They usually fled if he got near.

Jack watched the ducks from the trees. He admired how graceful they were in flight. None of his wild flailing. They glided on air currents as easily as his feet could slide on the ice. And he had been so proud of how much his flying had improved, too. Now he could see he was about as graceful riding the winds as the ducks were when they walked on land. He could manage, but that was it.

Jack resolved to learn. Now that his work as a winter sprite, whatever that was, was done for now, he had plenty of time. The duck first took flight when he walked on the water to the center of the lake. Jack kneeled there and waited. He observed them as they slowly returned to the lake, wary of him but still willing to share the water with him. As time passed and he remained immobile, the ducks came nearer, sometime swimming close enough for him to touch them. He did not try, afraid they would fly away again if he did.

Jack spent days watching the birds fly, only leaving his spot at night to go sleep in a tree. They did not pay attention to him anymore. He even, on a few occasion, brushed his icy cold fingers against a feathery back, getting nothing more than an indignant squawk in answer. He smiled widely after his first successful contact with the birds. He could touch them. To the ducks, he was real. That felt good.

When they had gotten accustomed enough to his presence, Jack rose from his little icy spot on the lake to fly with them. He tried to put his observations into practice, but it wasn't as easy as it looked. But the Wind helped him and he persevered. He rode the same current as the birds, gliding on the air with a bit more grace than he previously had.

Jack thanked the birds. They did not answer him, but he did not mind. He was grateful for their acceptance, their company and their teachings. He felt elation course through him as he sped through the air. The Wind carried him over the countryside and for once he could really look at the view instead of concentrating on trying not to fall or run into anything. He felt, for the first time, like he had accomplished something. He knew the Wind was proud.

I had some trouble ending that one. I always find it harder to think of a good ending than a good beginning. Mostly because I'm less picky about beginnings.

Also, thank you for the all the reviews for the past chapter (I wasn't expecting that many in less than three hours. I usually get only half that in a day.). It's one of those chapters I really wasn't sure if it was good or not, so now I'm relieved.