Disclaimer: I don't own any aspects to this story. All characters, scenes, events, and items belong to their own movies and stories already published and produced.

Chapter 13

The Refreezing

Jack had woken up the day after ice harvesting prepared for an excellent day. Today, Jack would be consulting with Elsa about ice powers. Granted, he didn't know how exactly the event would go, but he assumed that he and Elsa would figure something out and be able to fully regain their powers. After all, it wasn't a coincidence that Jack had wound up in a land with somebody else who had ice powers. Jack had a really good feeling that he was going to enjoy training today.

He couldn't have been more wrong. Once Jack arrived in the throne room, he saw Elsa waiting for him. Elsa was standing at the side of the throne room, reading a book. She looked up as Jack arrived. "I'm glad that you came, Jack."

"Happy to be here. So, how do we get started?"

Elsa stood up. "Well, I was actually hoping to learn a little bit about you."

Jack was confused. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I learned a year ago that the control of my powers are connected to my emotions. If I'm happy, then my powers flow easily. If I'm fearful, then I lose control quickly. Perhaps you're the same way? How do your powers work?"

Jack shrugged. "I would say that my powers are influenced by emotion, but in a different way. Once, when I was so mad at the loss of a friend, I just lashed out and my powers flew out, stronger than they had been before. So emotions do influence my powers."

"But are you in control of them?"

Jack frowned. "Come to think of it, I just followed my instincts. That seems to be how it mostly goes. I don't think about using my powers, they just come naturally, like breathing and walking."

Elsa nodded. "Well, I guess that's how it goes for you. But maybe losing your powers means that you need to learn a different way."

She formed a small snow column about shoulder height with a large hole at the top. "Try forming a snowball and see if you can throw it through. Imagine the love of your family and friends as you do it. Think of the happiest time of your life. That's always helped me."

Jack thought about it. It was worth a shot. He looked at the hole and closed his eyes. He pictured the snowball forming in his hands. Jack also pictured one of his happiest memories. The moment when he saved his sister. Not only had he saved her from falling in the ice, but it had also been the start of his new life as Jack Frost. He had become immortal, gotten his powers, and eventually become a Guardian, protecting children from evil. If any memory was the best one it was that event.

Jack smiled from the memory, and opened his eyes to see… nothing. Not a single snowflake or ice cube coming from his hand. Absolutely nothing at all.

Jack looked over at Elsa. "Did I do something wrong?"

Elsa shook her head. "The memory was obviously happy, based on your facial expression." She pondered for a second. "Maybe it's a different problem."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, your hand was curled up, like you're holding a ball. Maybe you should move your hands in a circle, like you're forming the snowball. It worked for me, after all."

Jack frowned. "That's not how I do it."

Elsa shrugged. "Well, it's the only idea we've got."

Jack shrugged. She had a point. So he tried imagining a good memory while spinning his hands. Nothing happened. Neither did standing with legs apart, stomping the ground, or using his stick. And Jack was certainly not going to sing about his feelings. Even Elsa knew that that was rediculous, given the current circumstances.

All in all, the session was going terribly. And it was made even harder with the way Elsa was looking at him. Whenever she thought Jack wasn't looking, she made a quick glance, her eyes examining, seeming to look for any inconsistencies with what he had said or did. Jack was starting to wonder if Elsa was actually teaching him or examining him for truthfulness.

"I hope I'm not interrupting here," said a voice.

Jack and Elsa turned to the door. In walked Olaf with a small tray of cookies. "I and Anna thought you all might be hungry, so Anna made up a plate of snacks to help. How is it going?"

Jack looked over at Elsa. "It could be going better."

Elsa looked back at Jack. "Well, perhaps if you tried this other posture…"

Jack turned away from Elsa, the frustration evident in his voice. "All due respect, but we've tried everything you can think of. It's clear your method isn't working, and mine aren't either. So I don't have any other ideas, and it's clear that yours aren't working. Maybe we should forget this whole thing."

Elsa's face turned cross, but before she could say anything, Olaf jumped in between the two. "Ok, let's all just take a deep breath here. This negativity is really cramping the style, as Sven sometimes says."

Elsa and Jack looked at Olaf and took a deep breath. Olaf was right, the time spent trying to figure this out was taking its toll. They needed to take a breath and reevaluate their techniques.

As Jack and Elsa took a breath, Olaf looked between the two. "I know you all will overcome this problem. I don't know if it's the same problem, but sometimes, my arm breaks or bends too far. Whenever that happens, I always talk to my arm to try and figure out how to fix it. It doesn't talk back, but it tells me in my mind what's wrong. I then tell Anna or Kristoff, they take it away, and they come back with my stick arm fixed. It always looks a little different in color or branch style, but it always works for me."

Jack looked over at Olaf. He was about to say something about arm replacements having nothing to do with this situation, but he saw Elsa shake her head. She seemed like she was forming an idea, and warning Jack not to enlighten Olaf about his stick hands being replaced. Jack nodded. Olaf was innocently naïve, and Jack didn't want to ruin it, now that he thought about it.

Elsa was nodding. "You have a good point, Olaf. Maybe there's something inside of us that's contributing to our powers being blocked. I was held back by my fear in the past. If we can figure out what's holding us back, then that could help."

She looked straight at Jack. "You should go first."

Right, the mistrusting lady asks the stranger to go first. No coincidence there. Jack returned the look. "How about you?"

Olaf held up one of his stick hands in the air with a gasp. "I have an idea. It's something I heard from a villager as he was counseling Anna and Kristoff during a fight. Granted it's for couples, but the principle could be applied here. This is called the 'speaking stick.' When one person takes the stick, only that person can talk and make his or her point. When the stick is passed to the other person, that person repeats what the first person said, then gives their argument. Usually makes communication easier. At least that's what the villager said."

Jack turned to Elsa. "I can work with that."

Elsa nodded. "But who goes first?"

"How about we spin it like a top? Whoever it's pointing to starts?"

"That sounds great, Jack. I'll spin," said Olaf.

Olaf spun his stick arm on the ground. It spun around and around until it stopped at Jack. Well, it was unavoidable, Jack was going first.

Olaf gave the stick to Jack, saying "Be fully frank with your information. Try to answer the question 'what is the problem, here.' This is a safe space, and I'll stay here to help."

Jack grabbed the stick and started thinking. What could he say? Wasn't Pitch's sand blocking his powers? How could he talk about that? It wasn't like a natural problem he could overcome. Pitch's sand was still in him, wasn't it?

No. Now that Jack thought about it, Pitch's sand had been getting smaller and smaller inside him, ever since the presence had joined Jack. He had barely felt the darkness yesterday, and didn't even feel it anymore, now that he thought about it.

So what was causing the blockage now? Elsa and Olaf seemed to think it was something emotional or mental. What could be causing Jack's trouble? He was free as the wind, having come to terms with his past and his new friends. Wait. There was one thing. It was relatively minor, but something that needed to be addressed.

Jack turned to Elsa. "Why do you doubt me?"

Elsa looked surprised. She was about to say something, but Olaf closed her mouth, motioning Jack to continue.

Jack took a breath. "I appreciate all the care you have shown, and the opportunities for me to see the mountains and the palace. However, I feel like you don't fully trust me. Every time I see you, you're asking me personal questions, like where I'm from or who I am. Before the letter, I would have understood that. Even going with Kristoff to test if I am good with ice, I can kinda understand. I'll admit, I should have been frank about my powers from the start. But Olaf, your sister, and everyone else still trust me. Even now, you're showing signs that you doubt me. You keep looking and checking to see if I'm hiding anything. There doesn't seem to be much trust for me from you. So I ask again, why do you doubt me?"

Jack passed the stick to Elsa. Elsa looked to Olaf, who nodded. Elsa took a deep breath. "I understand your thoughts that I don't trust you. I will admit that those thoughts are true, unfortunately. Ever since you arrived, my powers have been getting smaller and smaller. You seem to be the common cause. If it's not you, then who could it be?"

Elsa passed the stick to Jack. "I will admit that it's quite the coincidence. You losing your powers as the guy with ice powers arrives. I would be wondering about a potential connection myself. However, I haven't been stealing your powers. I haven't done anything out of the ordinary. I only want to get home, and that can only be done on Christmas. Can you understand that?"

The stick was passed back to Elsa, who had gotten teary. Olaf looked over. "If I may interject here, Elsa, it seems that there's more to your concerns. Jack's problem seems to be a feeling of mistrust coming from you. You seem to stay mistrustful of Jack, despite what I or anyone else thinks. What is the deeper issue here? Once again, it's a safe space. I pinky promise not to say anything."

Jack nodded. "So do I, Elsa. If there's anything deeper, you can tell me. I promise I won't say anything to anyone else."

Elsa nodded. She took a deep breath. "Ok. I guess it started at the coronation. Anna met this prince from a faraway land, named Hans. He seemed nice and helpful, saving my life when I was in danger, and seemingly loving Anna. It was only later that we found out that Hans was evil. He only wanted the throne and was willing to kill me to get it. Hans had only saved my life by accident, trying to kill me secretly. We were able to stop him, and I got control of my powers.

"The Hans incident has haunted me. Ruling a country is not easy. People are relying on you, to know what to do in times of peace and crisis. And beyond the borders are other kingdoms, with leaders who could be like Hans. They might be nice or they might try and take our kingdom. It's hard to know who to trust.

"I thought I had overcome my mistrust. My family and subjects were nice, and I had learned to control my powers. The other rulers were fair and mostly kept to themselves, aside from a few good well-wishers. Overall, I thought that I was past my trust issues and fears.

"Then you came along. A teen found falling from a mountain into the snow. No history, or familiarity about you. A complete stranger with a connection to ice.

"It was at that moment that my fears came rushing back. I didn't know who you were, but I didn't want to take the chance of you causing trouble for Arendelle. I limited the information given to you, to ensure that no risks were taken, you saw that. But my powers started to get smaller and smaller.

"I don't know what to do, or who to trust. Those who get close run the risk of trying to betray me for my powers"

Elsa had been getting more and more heated as the talk went on, her grip on the stick tight. She took a deep breath, tears starting to stream down. "I've already been betrayed once. I don't want myself or anyone I care about to be threatened," she shouted.

Elsa then put her hands in her face, the stick falling to the ground. Olaf looked over at Jack, a sad face forming. Jack took a deep breath. Elsa had a rather serious concern. How on earth could Jack address that?

Olaf picked up the stick and passed it to Jack. His eyes seemed to be giving Jack a kind, knowing look. A look that told Jack to talk to Elsa from the heart.

Jack took the stick and went to sit down beside Elsa. He took a deep breath. "You know, you're not the only one who felt he had to keep his wall up."

Elsa looked up, her tears slowing down. "What?"

"It's true. Shortly after my folks and I got… separated, I was completely alone in the world. Nobody seemed to reach out to me, and nobody seemed to notice me. It took a while before Uncle Nicholas found me and offered me a special job while living with him.

"Even when he did, I still felt separated. I wasn't fully devoted to my new job, and I didn't fully care about what Uncle Nicholas did. I didn't even really know what I wanted. What I didn't want was to get involved with other people, and especially Uncle's seemingly busy, impersonal life.

"But being with Uncle Nicholas' folks taught me a few things. There were several lessons, but one of them was about trust. There was one fellow in Uncle's group, a rather bushy character. He made it clear from the start that he wasn't my biggest fan. I didn't really like him either.

"Soon after working with this bushy fellow, though, I found that there was more to him than met the eye. As I got to know him, I found that I trusted him more, and that he was more noble than he appeared to be. If I had stayed closed off, then we wouldn't have become friends.

"Because of that, I've learned that there's more to people than what can be seen at first glance. Some might be mean on the outside or inside. You never know before you meet them, but you can always find out if they mean well or if they don't. You might be so focused on being betrayed that you forget to see the people around you. Like your family in Arendelle, who care about you and are always there for you."

Elsa looked over at Jack, tears brimming her eyes. Before Jack knew it, he found himself in a hug, Elsa crying over his shoulder. Jack hesitated a moment, but then hugged her back. It was a nice hug, a hug of friendship.

Olaf then took his stick back and brushed a small tear from his eyes. "That was very clear and very deep, you all. And you know what? I think that is just the kind of therapeutic talk you all needed. Maybe you both should try again, now that you've started to clear your troubles."

Elsa and Jack pushed away, looking back to the snow column. Jack grabbed his stick, and Elsa got into one of her poses. Jack started to take some deep breaths. He pictured the way he wanted to move the ice. He knew what he had to do here.

Jack pointed his stick, and an ice beam fired out. This was a real ice beam. One that Jack was controlling. Jack was ecstatic, feeling the power rushing back.

Jack started firing a few beams and waving his stick. The ice started to form into a particular shape. As Jack shaped and moved, the ice curved into rectangular and triangular shapes. When Jack finished, he looked down at his work. It was the snowflake that he had seen on several walls and banners in Arendelle. It was a very distinctive snowflake that Jack rather liked.

As he looked down, Jack noticed an actual snowflake fall. He looked up and saw hundreds of snowflakes falling from above. Small clouds had formed on the ceiling, and snowflakes were falling from them.

Then the ground started to feel slippery. When Jack looked down, he saw ice forming at a much faster rate than his own ice. It covered the whole ground, except for Jack's snowflake. He started to slip and slide a little. Snowpiles started to form as well.

Jack looked over to see Elsa finishing up her work. She looked over to Jack with a large smile on her face. She went over and gave him another hug, similar to the one before. "Thank you," Elsa whispered. "I needed that."

It was then that the dinner bell rang. Elsa broke away from the hug, clearing her throat. "Well, I guess we need to get over to dinner."

Jack nodded. "Sounds good to me. Last one there gets to sing while showcasing their powers?"

Elsa grinned. "You're on."

With that, she took off. It took Jack a few seconds to stop slipping, but he soon ran after her. Olaf followed along, smiling widely. The stick solution had worked. Olaf wasn't entirely sure about all of the emotions that had been displayed back there, but he was glad that things were finally looking up.

The stick technique Olaf uses is actually a good couples counseling technique. I've heard others talk about it, and it made good sense. Felt like it was a good way to help Jack and Elsa finally resolve their differences.

I'd like to take this time to point out a question people might have. Unfortunately, there will not be a romance angle in this story. I do think the idea of Jack and Elsa being a couple is a good idea (though I do lean a little more towards Tooth and Jack in that regard, personally). However, I don't think I could fully do romance scenes justice. Thus, the relationship between Jack and Elsa is purely platonic at this point. That's not to say that that could change in future, after this story, but for now, that is how things are going to be for the duration of the writing here.