Frozen, Rise of the Guardians 1. Chapter 1

Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Arendelle, our story begins. Arendelle was like your average kingdom, ruled by a king and queen that the bustling villages going about their everyday lives, trading, shopping for their next meal, loved and adored.

If one were to look at Arendelle from the outside, a busy village is exactly what they'd see. If it was at night, they'd see candle light coming through all the cottage windows and the many, many lit rooms of the castle where the king, his queen and their two beloved daughters sat eating a lovely warm meal prepared for them by their many servants. Or they'd see a dark village with no lights, depending on the time of night.

But even if there were no lights, the village was not as dead as it seemed. For on this very night, a stranger was in town.

Not that you'd be able to see him unless you believed in him, but he was flying around the castle of Arendelle with his magic staff in hand, stopping to look in a window to a room where the very reason for his journey resided.

There, just as the man in the moon had told him she would be, was a little girl fast asleep in her bed, the covers pulled up to her white blond head which was poking out the top.

The stranger knew that this girl was the one he'd been sent here to meet, the one with special powers. He could sense it. Powers that were not unlike his own in fact. And even though he didn't know her, he felt a certain sense of loyalty towards her. Like he needed to guide her, like they were bound, like they were meant to be. He knew this girl was capable of great things but she'd need guidance to do so.

The girl inside groaned and shifted in her sleep, turning over to the stranger saw her peaceful face. Fearing that she might wake and discover his presence, the stranger decided it was time for him to depart. He turned his face towards the moon, preparing to leave.

"You were right," he said. "I promise to watch over her closely and guide her in any way I can. I will protect her, man in moon and help her fulfil her destiny until the day her existence naturally ceases, you have my word."

The figure put his hand over his heart in gesture of respect for the man in the moon and stared at the sky for a few seconds as if expecting some response. None came, just like always, and he pulled the hood of his frost covered blue jumper over his head and flew away into the night, leaving no evidence of his presence.

Or so he thought. The little girl was staring at the window her eyes wide and mouth open as she tried to comprehend what she'd seen.


	2. Chapter 2

"I now pronounce you to be Prince Kristoff and Princess Anna. You may now kiss the bride," Elsa declared as the great hall of Arendelle castle erupted into cheers.

Kirstoff lifted the veil backwards over Anna's head, revealing his new wife's face and pulled her in to kiss her deeply. Anna all but threw her arms around Kristoff's neck and leaned into him in response.

Elsa stood in front of the happy couple at the altar of the room and, having just joined her sister and the man of her dreams together forever, turned away as her eyes filled with tears of happiness.

It had taken some time, and a numerous amount of long, tiring meetings, but finally Queen Elsa had managed to convince the people of Arendelle and the rulers of surrounding countries that her sister should be free to marry whoever she deemed worthy.

Behind Kristoff stood Sven the reindeer looking very smart with his fur combed, antlers polished and bowtie that hung around his neck for the occasion. Very early in the engagement, Kristoff had insisted that Sven was to be his best man. The reindeer had been his friends all his life and Kristoff couldn't imagine getting married without Sven standing beside him. Anna was only too happy not to object to this arrangement. This, however, made things all the more harder for her sister. Not only was she trying to get clearance of this union, now she had to make it okay for a reindeer to be the best man.

Olaf, however, when offered the chance to be another member of Kirstoff's party, had refused the position. Now the little snowman stood across from Sven and behind Anna wearing a little blue dress trimmed with white, to match Anna's white dress trimmed with blue, and holding a bouquet of flowers.

He had insisted on being Anna's bridesmaid and even though snowmen couldn't cry tears, or blow their noses for that matter, his sobs could be heard very clearly from the door at the other end of the room. Watching the little snowman, you would see him mimic the action of blowing his carrot into the hanky he'd acquired for the occasion and then dab his eyes with it even though there were no tears there.

Anna, dressed in the traditional white of a bride, pulled back from Kristoff, detaching her arms from his neck, and smiled. Taking his hand in hers, they walked down the red carpet covered aisle which was decorated with little tea light candles, followed by Sven and Olaf walking side by side, with Elsa bringing up the rear. Petals rained down over the party, thrown by Kristoff's family of trolls and citizens of the kingdom as they made their exit.

The nineteen piece orchestra played a beautiful, yet different, wedding piece that, mixed with the emotion in the room, brought tears to one's eye.

The happy couple went through the doors of the castle into the white and blue carriage that awaited them. Now seated, they looked back at all their friends and guests smiling and waving tearfully at them.

Elsa caught Anna's eye and they filled with fresh tears. This was the first time she was to be alone truly since their parents died. Even though Elsa had kept her distance from Anna, she was always there, never truly alone. Now she would be. Anna felt this understanding pass between them and hoped that one day Elsa would find someone to share her life with.

Just as the carriage was about to leave Anna shouted at the driver, a troll, to stop. Kristoff looked at Anna with concern as she raced from the carriage to her sister.

Anna embraced the sobbing Elsa. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes. She held them back for the sake of her sister.

'Elsa it will be alright,' Anna soothed her sister, stroking her hair.

Elsa broke free of Anna's embrace and looked in her sister's eyes. 'I'm sorry,' she said, 'I didn't mean to cry like this. I was trying so hard not to, to be happy, and believe me, I am. It's just you're leaving, even if it is only for two weeks, and I'll be truly alone for the first time in forever. I know this is really selfish of me to hold you up like this. Don't feel guilty, I'll be fine.'

'I'll be back before you know it,' Anna reassured Elsa. The sisters hugged again.

'Now go,' Elsa told Anna. 'Go and have fun. I'll see you in two weeks.'

Anna ran down the stairs and back to Kristoff. The carriage started and the newlyweds left the cheers of the citizens and their friends behind them. Anna turned and waved to her sister before turning her head to join lips with Kristoff as they disappeared from view.


	3. Chapter 3

Elsa stood at the window of the room she'd slept in since she was a child looking over her sleepy kingdom in her nightdress, her stomach full from dinner and her white hair loose and flowing in the soft breeze. She rested her elbows on the still, rested her chin in her palms and stared at the moon as if waiting for something. She had done this many times before as a way to clear her head of the conflicting thoughts flying around.

Tonight, like she had done most nights since that moment, she thought about that night years ago when she had seen someone at her window. She was only a little princess but she could remember clearly the frost covered blue hooded jumper the figure wore and the staff he carried as he flew from her window into the night.

Because of her young age, she sometimes second guessed herself but she was so sure he had been really there, that she hadn't imagined him. She couldn't explain it but, she felt like he was her friend.

The thoughts in her head turned into question as they whirled around, making her more and more confused by the minute. Who was this man? Why couldn't she forget him? Why had he been there and, most importantly, why hadn't he ever returned?

Elsa pulled her gaze from the moon and sighed. She stared at the moon while she thought about him because it was what she'd seen him doing before he disappeared. She hoped it would connect her to him or give her some answers.

Defeated, she turned away from the window, like all those other times ending in the same result, and slipped under her bed covers, pulling them up to her head so it stuck out, just like it had all those years ago, and thought of her sister as she waited for sleep to claim her from this lonely night.

'I know I was supposed to watch her. I have been but I can't be on her 24/7.'

Silence.

'What do you mean _"not effectively"_? I have a life of my own too you know!'

Silence. The wind whistled past the flying figure as he soared through the sky.

'Yes I know it's been a while but I'm pretty sure it hasn't been 16 years.'

The figure fell silent for while, appearing to listen to an invisible voice.

'Come one Man in Moon, you're so annoying. Jack do this, Jack do that. Jack go to the toilet. Jack fetch my hairbrush. I mean, come on. You don't even have hair!'

Silence.

'I am funny and you know it. You just can't admit that I'm right.' Jack listened for a few seconds. 'Fine, I'll go there now,' he grumbled and turned his body around, flying towards castle Arendelle.

To an outsider, Jack Frost would have been perceived as crazy, but he was just as sane as you or me. 16 years had passed since Jack Frost had first visited Elsa and Man in Moon wasn't too happy with him and now he flew through the ice cold night air, not that that bothered him, to castle Arendelle to pay a "little girl" another visit.

Jack Frost perked up as the castle came into sight. It looked, to him, just the same as it had 16 years ago. Flying up to one of the windows, he looked in, expecting to find a little girl. The room was empty. Puzzled, Jack entered the room and looked around for any sign of the little girl he was supposed to guard.

He went over to the double bed situated in the middle of the wall between the window and the door. Looking under the bed, he pulled out a mysterious brown sack. Opening it, he spilled its contents on to the bed. Carrots and a grappling hook? He was puzzled. Why would a little girl own these?

He heard voices in the hall outside and shoved the items back into the bag and dived under the bed with the bag in hand.

Hearing the door to the opposite room open, he breathed a sigh of relief. He crept out and pushed his ear against the door.

'Your majesty is there anything I can get you?' he heard someone, presumably a servant, ask.

'No, no it's fine,' a female voice replied. 'I was just going to retire for the evening. I'll see you in the morning.'

'Yes, yes. Very good. Well good night Queen Elsa,' the servant responded closing the door. Jack heard her footsteps fading as the servant walked away.

Elsa. The name stuck in his mind. She was the girl he was supposed to find. But the servant addressed her as "Queen". Jack flew out the window, cursing his stupidity to have flown into the wrong room.

Rounding the tower, he saw her. Staring at the moon, like he did sometimes, as if waiting for something. Could this girl have possibly already learnt how to control her powers? Could she commune with the man in moon too?

Hidden from her sight on the roof above her he watched as she sighed and moved away from the window and into bed.

Debating whether to speak to her now or later, he flew away, eventually deciding on the latter. Taking refuge in a hut on the mountains, Jack sat down and planned out what he was going to say to the girl when he planned to confront her the next evening.


	4. Chapter 4

A cool night breeze blew softly through Arendelle, just strong enough to push the crimson curtains of Elsa's room, through the open window.

Being day two of Anna's departure, Elsa's pain hadn't lessened. She now lay on her bed in the clothes she wore that day staring at the celling, wishing the pain would go away. She is not crying as there are no tears left. She just lay there, hoping something would come and distract her from the empty void that was her sister's presence.

She shook her head and rolled over, her back to the window. Anna hadn't died. She'd just gone away, for the first time in forever. Elsa silently cursed herself for being so selfish. Anna had her own life and Elsa had spent most of it pushing her away. Just because her sister had gone away to be happy, it didn't mean she wasn't going to return. Elsa knew she ought to be happy for her sister, and she was. There was just a bigger, stronger part of her that wished she hadn't married Kristoff. Deep in her thoughts, she shoved her face into her pillow.

A figure floated down from the roof and landed on her window still. Wearing the same clothes as he had the night before, he sat on the window ledge and carefully, and silently as to not alarm the girl, put his feet on the floor and stood inside her room.

The moon was high and cast light through the open curtains, illuminating the entire room so he could see her perfectly, lying on her side on top of the bed clothes in the dress she'd worn that day.

Elsa lifted her head from the pillow and turned it so she was staring at the normally plain wall which was now present with a dark shadow. She stiffened as she realised there was someone in her room.

The stranger saw her body stiffen and he knew she believed, that she could see him. He cleared his throat softly, as not to alarm her and spoke. Just one word as that was all it took to get her attention.

'Elsa,' he muttered softly.

Elsa felt her eyes widen as she recognised her name and she let out a soft gasp. Debating whether to turn to face the figure or keep her back to him, leaving her defenceless, she decided on the former and swung her legs off her bed and raised the top half of her body.

'How do you know my name?' she whispered, with a note of warning in her voice. She stood and turned slowly to face the figure. He was barefoot, dressed in brown pants and a familiar dark blue jumper covered in frost. The hood was pulled creating a shadow to conceal his face but she could make out strands of white poking out. In one hand, he held a brown staff. The other was tucked into his jacket pocket. For what reason, Elsa did not know but she stood on her guard, prepared for any weapon he might be concealing.

'Who are you?' she asked, her voice not conveying any of the fear she was feeling at finding a stranger in her room without any way of getting up here as silently as he did.

'Why are you here? What do you want?' she continued, trying to make her tone as threatening as possible. She balled her hands up into fists, ready to strike him with her powers if he advanced on her.

'I am here because the man in the moon asked me to be,' the figure replied. Elsa was overcome with confusion. Man in the moon, she thought. Why did that seem familiar to her? Is there really a man in the moon that talks to people?

'I am,' he continued and her attention snapped back to him, 'Jack Frost.'

The figure, Jack Frost, tipped back his hood as he said his name and his face was revealed to Elsa. What she saw, was not what she expected and she let out a gasp as she recognised the man standing before her.

She saw the whiteness of his hair and the green blue of his intense eyes. She felt a brief flicker of attraction to him but quickly dismissed it. Yes the man in her room could be considered attractive but he was a stranger to her.

She felt the blood rushing up into her cheeks as she thought of him in her room and quickly calmed her racing heart. She felt like she knew him, like she was connected to him, a feeling she'd only ever experienced with one person. Everything became clearer and time seemed to stop as realisation dawned on her.

'It was you,' she said and he looked at her mysteriously. 'You. You were here 16 years ago. You were the one I saw fly away from my window. You were watching me,' she accused, her heart racing with fear. 'You were watching me and I bet you've been here more than once. You're not here because of some man in the moon,' she continued, her voice rising in both volume and intensity. 'You're a crazy stalker. I'm going to have you locked up for this, you creep,' Elsa all but shouted the last words as she turned her powers on him in hope of freezing him long enough to yell for help.

Jack Frost flew into the air to avoid the blast and sent one in return back to her. Unable to fly, Elsa was hit, the impact sending her flying into the wall behind her. She stuck there, bound by ice cuffs around her hands and feet. She pulled her arms, trying to break free, only to realise her efforts were in vain. She opened her mouth to yell for help but before she could make even the first syllable, a hand clamped itself tightly over her mouth, silencing her.

Jack Frost hovered next her, his hand on her mouth.

'I'm not going to hurt you,' he whispered in to her ear. 'I want to help you. I know about your abilities and I can help you control them. Relax and I can help you.'

Still tense, Elsa regarded his words and he felt her relax slightly. It was something about the way he spoke, but Elsa felt as if she could trust Jack Frost. His words took over her body and she felt herself relax.

Jack Frost removed his hand from her mouth and sank to the floor. Elsa, still restrained to the wall, felt her ice cuffs begin to melt and her body began to fall. Her heart raced in panic as her body came away from the wall and she fell. She braced herself for impact to the floor only to open her eyes to find herself in Jack Frost's arms. Her heart rate raced and she felt herself growing flustered.

'Thank you,' she muttered, trying not to stare into his beautiful eyes as he set her on the ground. 'I thought I was going to fall.'

He chuckled, 'I'd never let you fall,' he said, his voice so low, making this moment seem extremely intimate.

She stared at him for a second, feeling the way his eyes bore into hers, until he broke their gaze and strode to the window.

'I can teach you many things,' he said. 'If you're willing to learn. I can teach you about your power and how to control it. I can show you all the amazing things you can do. The man in the moon has asked me to watch over you from a very young age,' and I didn't to that so well, he thought. 'Take my hand and we can begin.'

Jack Frost extended his hand to Elsa, palm flat. Elsa stood where he had left her, staring at his outstretched hand.

'I'd love for you to teach me,' she said. 'But if I take your hand, what will happen?'

'That's for me to know and you to find out,' he replied mysteriously. 'If you want to learn, you have to be willing to take risks, although I will promise you this,' he paused. 'I will allow no harm to come to you.'

With his promise made, Elsa hesitated before stepping forward, closing the distance between them. She took a deep breath, her heart pounding with nerves, and she placed her palm in his.

Two seconds after she did so, she gripped his hand tighter as she felt herself being lifted off the ground as he soared into the starry night sky.


	5. Chapter 5

Elsa felt the wind whipping through her hair as she clung tightly to Jack Frost's hand. The loose strands that had fallen from her braid floated around her face lining her eyes and entering her mouth briefly before being snatched away. She closed her eyes, partly because the wind stung them if they were open, and partly because she was afraid to fall.

Her bare feel flailed around below her as she tried to find solid ground. She could feel the material of the dark blue dress she'd worn that day billowing around her ankles, the hemline coming into contact with her skin occasionally.

The scream that had risen in her throat had been carried away in the wind when Jack Frost took off. If she was still screaming, she did not know. She felt the sound coming out her mouth and her vocal chords vibrating but no sound was entering her ears. Elsa was, in fact, screaming but the wind was so powerful, the sound was being carried away the second it entered the open air.

She didn't know any of this. All she knew was that she was high in the sky, holding for dear life onto the hand of a stranger who'd been watching her for who knows how long and that the slightest movement could result in her death.

She heard Jack Frost whoop out loud with enjoyment. He had done this lots of times before and every time he managed to feel the adrenalin pumping through his veins. The feeling of flying, he thought. It never got old.

Jack Frost looked down to his companion, ready and eager to see the look of thrill on her face and share the priceless feeling with her. But what he saw surprised him.

Elsa was gripping his hand, her nails digging into his flesh and she clung. Her eyes we squeezed shut and her head was turned into his arm. Her whole upper body was tense and her legs flailed around under her.

She looked scared, not like she was enjoying the experience.

Jack Frost became aware of the weight of her body and realised that he was carrying both of them, that she wasn't using any power that she might've had to fly herself. Elsa hadn't flown before, he realised. This was her first time. Whether that was because she couldn't or didn't know how he didn't know but he decided on the latter.

Little snowflakes started drifting around them. Jack felt a coolness spread through his hand. He looked down and saw a thin layer of ice covering it, beginning at Elsa's fingertips. She was freezing him and causing the snow. It was a cool night, but not cold enough for snow.

He mentally kicked himself for assuming she was just like him and knew the extent of her powers. He had rushed in, too eager to get his job over with. This was going to take more time and patience than he realised. If she had known, the Man in the Moon wouldn't have asked him to guide her, he concluded.

Jack halted in the air, hovering with Elsa dangling from his hand. Her legs stopped moving as much, her feet still moving in little circles. Her eyes remained closed and her body tense.

He started descending slowly as to not alarm his guest with sudden movement.

Elsa felt her body start moving again. Her tensed form relaxed as her feet came into contact with the gravelled surface of Arendelle docks. She let go of Jack's hand and sank gratefully to the ground.

She lay for a few seconds, her panting settling to regular breathing as her heart rate slowed. The smell of salt air filled her nose. The fear left her body gradually and she opened her eyes cautiously to make sure she wasn't feeling an illusion. She could hardly distinguish where the sea ended and the starry night sky began.

The light snow floury ceased as she became sure of the ground beneath her.

Jack knelt beside her and placed his now thawed hand on her shoulder. He felt her stiffen under his touch and heard her sharp intake of breath. Her heart started pumping again with fear. She didn't want him to touch her again in fear of him harming her.

'I'm sorry,' he apologised softly, bending down so his head hovered above her ear.

Elsa relaxed slightly at his words when she realised his touch was to comfort, not to harm. She could hear the regret and sympathy in his voice. He truly sounded sorry and his words sounded sincere.

'I thought you said you weren't going to hurt me,' Elsa replied softly but firmly. All feelings of infatuation, however small they may have been, were gone from her now. She could feel her fear turn to anger and bubble up inside her.

'You promised I would be alright.' Elsa sat up, keeping her back to Jack and enunciating her words clearly and firmly so her anger came through.

'But you are, aren't you?' Jack asked, confused. He was so sure she hadn't been wounded. He started towards her to check for any injuries.

'Maybe not physically,' Elsa replied. 'But internally I was scared out of my wits. You terrified me Jack!' Elsa's voice rose and she turned on him. 'You terrified me! You do this all the time but did you ever stop to think I haven't? Did you ever think that I'm not like you? That I'm different,' she shouted.

Jack Frost took a step back as Elsa rounded on him. He flinched when she began shouting at him. What if someone heard them? He moved forward to grab her flailing arms and pin them to her sides; to try and calm her before they were discovered. But Elsa slapped his hands away from her before they could even touch her.

'Don't you dare touch me,' she screamed. 'Don't come anywhere near me!'

'Elsa,' Jack began but she cut across him.

'Don't "Elsa" me. I am a queen. I tell you what to do, not the other way around. And you address me as _"Queen Elsa"_ or _"Your Highness"_, got that?'

Jack nodded. To tell the truth, he was actually quite scared of her at this point. She was powerful but had no idea how to control her power. One slip and she could explode and do something she'd regret.

'Sorry,' he apologised and cleared his throat. 'Queen Elsa,' he began, spreading his arms wide and throwing in a bow. Elsa crossed her arms and looked down at him, not impressed by his cheek. 'I am truly sorry to frighten you, your highness. I wasn't thinking. I had no idea of the extent of which you knew your powers and it was stupid of me to not have asked. I ask your forgiveness and ask that you listen to me as your friend and teacher.' Jack spoke slowly, taking care to choose formal sounding words to replace his regular, casual speech. 'Or just your teacher if you'd prefer,' he added when he saw the disapproving look on Elsa's face.

'You can teach me,' Elsa relented. 'But that's all you will ever be to me. Nothing will ever happen between us. You are not my friend, nor will you ever be. If the Man in the Moon asked you to be here with me, we must respect that. But that doesn't mean we have to be friends, Jack Frost,' Elsa spat his name out of her mouth. She had lain her terms and they were not up for negotiation.

Jack looked into her eyes to see fierce, cold hard determination. He knew she wouldn't chance her terms so he had no choice but to accept them, for now.

'Okay,' he agreed. 'I will come to you every night and attempt to guide you in the use of your powers until you no longer need me. But it is getting late. Perhaps I should escort her highness back to the palace?' Jack bowed deeply before her.

He thought her entire charade was quite ridiculous but he decided to play along tonight. In future he wouldn't be so easy to manipulate, he thought. He'd win her over eventually. Girls couldn't resist him.

Elsa looked down at him. 'Agreed,' she said. 'You may escort me back to my chambers. And you will come to me every night, unless I say otherwise.'

Jack nodded his head once and walked to stand behind her.

'With your permission, your highness?' he asked. Elsa nodded once, unsure what he was going to do but assumed he wouldn't harm her.

Jack bent down, attempting to scoop her into his arms. He straightened up almost immediately.

'Here, hold this,' he commanded, thrusting his staff into her hands without any sort of formality.

His staff now out of the way, he placed one hand hovering beside Elsa's back and used the other to knock her legs out from under her. Elsa gave a shriek of surprise and found herself lying in Jack's arms for the second time that night.

'That is not how you treat a queen,' she accused, whacking Jack over the head with his staff.

'Ow!' Jack exclaimed. 'Well, I guess I deserved that,' he said, a grin spreading onto his face.

Elsa smiled to herself, satisfied with her night's efforts, as she braced herself for Jack's ascent.

'Ready?' he asked her and, when she nodded, took off into the sky.

Minutes later, Elsa felt her feet touch the floor of her familiar bedroom.

'I'll take that,' Jack said, removing his staff from her hands. 'I'll be back for you tomorrow night.' Jack turned to the window.

'Jack,' Elsa said, causing him to stop. Her anger had faded and she was beginning to think she had been a bit unreasonable. She was still thoroughly annoyed with him but he didn't deserve the way she'd treated him.

'Thank you,' she said.

Jack nodded once and flew out the window, leaving Elsa standing in her dark room alone.


	6. Chapter 6

'You may already be aware of some of your powers, but from what you and the Man in the Moon have told me, I think you need to work on control,' Jack Frost explained as he paced left to right and left again across Elsa's bedroom floor with his staff in his hand. The door was closed giving the illusion that Elsa was asleep. The window was open, allowing moonlight and a soft breeze to circulate the room.

Elsa sat cross legged on her bed, watching him and was reminded of a similar scene from her childhood. Jack Frost had the air of a tutor about him and when Elsa was being educated as a child, she froze her tutor's teeth. She bit back a grin at the thought. She had made it clear to Jack that she was still angry at him and didn't want him to think otherwise.

Jack came to a stop and held his staff behind his back, turning to face Elsa.

'Show me what you can do,' he commanded.

Elsa rose from her bed and strode to the middle of the room. Jack flopped belly-down onto her mattress and stared at her in an intense way. He tried to make is interest in her purely professional but he couldn't help but notice the way the moonlight highlighted Elsa's profile and shone in her hair. He shook the thought from his mind, reminding himself that she was purely off limits to him.

Elsa stood in the centre of the room, facing Jack Frost, her hands clenched. She tried to suppress the nerves fluttering around in her stomach. What if she lost control? She's make herself look like a fool. The insides of her palms began to sweat and it took every ounce of self-control not to wipe them on her dress. She decided to play it safe for the moment and recreate the scene from her childhood, before Anna was hit with her ice.

Taking a deep breath and refusing to acknowledge Jack's eyes that seemed to burn into her soul with their stare, Elsa held her hands out before her. Her palms started to shake and her heart pumped faster. She waved her left hand in a small circular motion above her right and felt the thrill of using magic flow through her veins as she created a snow ball.

Little specks of blue magic fell from the snow ball and Elsa exhaled in relief and smiled. Jack Frost sat up, intrigued by her display. He could tell she was nervous, obviously anyone would be after what she went through. But he felt she was holding back. This girl had extraordinary power. If she was scared to craft a small snow ball, how was she ever going to reach her full potential?

'Impressive,' he commented, making sure his voice didn't sound too impressed. He wanted her to be a little annoyed with him. He had a plan stirring in his mind. 'Is that all you can do?'

Elsa's smile faded. Even though she knew she was capable of more, she was proud of herself. After she had thawed Arendelle, there was still a small part of her that was afraid of losing control again. She hadn't used her ice powers much since. Being able to craft a simple snow ball without losing control was a big deal for her.

Elsa shot Jack a look of annoyance and continued with her display. She summoned all the power within her, relishing the tingling high that came with using her powers, and shot streams of snow from her hands, covering the room and creating a white blanket.

Jack nodded, impressed and turned to Elsa to give her the next task but what he saw took the words from his mouth. Streams of snow were still flowing from Elsa's palms and didn't look like they were going to stop anytime soon. Elsa's face shifted from joy to fear in a matter of seconds and Jack knew she wasn't doing this on purpose.

The snow piled higher and higher around Elsa's feet, then her legs then her hips. She was standing waist deep in snow. Her heart pumped fearfully. She couldn't stop her power. Jack Frost flew into the air to avoid being buried. Elsa's breathing quickened and she tried to control her power. The snow was covering three quarters of her body now.

She screamed out in fear. 'Jack I can't control it. Help me,' she pleaded looking at him.

Jack looked down at Elsa. Any more time and she'd be buried alive. Jack heard footsteps in the hall, followed by the sounds of voices saying 'what's happened?' 'Is the Queen alright?' 'What was that scream?'

The door jiggled, trying to be opened. 'Your majesty, are you alright?' a voice asked from outside. Elsa's eyes widened in fear. 'I'm fine,' she replied. 'Just had a bad dream.' Elsa looked at Jack, her eyes practically begging. 'Jack,' she mouthed and Jack knew he had to save her. She truly couldn't control it.

Jack knew he'd pushed too far. He'd gotten her emotions too worked up. He now knew she couldn't control it if her emotions were spiralling out of control. He had to get her somewhere safe so she could calm down.

Jack plunged his hands into the snow and grabbed Elsa around the waist. He flew upwards and she let out a little scream which was accompanied by concerned voices coming from outside the door.

Jack flew out the window with Elsa's magic leaving a trail as snow fell down onto the city of Arendelle.

'Fly up the mountain,' Elsa told him. 'It's all covered in snow so we won't be noticed there.'

Jack changed direction and flew towards the mountains. Soon enough he could see their snow covered ground.

As Arendelle grew smaller and smaller, Elsa felt her heart rate lessening and her power calming. Elsa felt her feet sink into the mountain snow as the last of her magic faced away. She exhaled in relief and sank into the snow.

Jack dropped his staff and joined her, running a hand through his hair is exasperation as he exhaled.

They were silent for a moment, Elsa avoiding his gaze, embarrassed that she lost control. Jack sensed her mood and didn't know how to begin. He became all too aware of the short distance between them and turned his back to her, as if by doing so would create a wall.

'Sorry,' Elsa apologised softly, not looking at him. 'I guess I lost control.'

'It's okay,' Jack said. 'It wasn't your fault. I pushed you too much.'

An awkward silence fell between them, broken only briefly by the natural sounds of the wind howling in the mountain air. Elsa busied herself by drawing patterns in the snow with her finger.

'At least we know what you have to work on,' Jack joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Elsa laughed softly, a brief smile touching her face and a slight shake of her head.

Jack shook himself and focused on the task at hand. He jumped up, grabbing his staff and moving to stand directly in front of her.

'Okay,' he began. Elsa's head snapped up and she gave him her full attention, abandoning her drawing. 'You have control issues but that's okay. I can fix that. I've noticed that you lose control when you get scared or angry, when you get so worked up your emotions spiral out of control. When you are calm or happy, you can keep it in.'

'Love will thaw,' Elsa interjected recalling how she thawed Arendelle.

'Exactly,' Jack said, clicking his fingers and pointing at her in the classic movie type way that caused Elsa to smile and give a little laugh. Jack felt a small victory. His humour and charm wasn't lost on her yet. 'Controlling your powers takes intent. When you get emotional, you lose control on your intent. Intent controls magic. If you intend for something to happen, it will. That is the key to controlling your powers.'

'But that sounds too easy,' Elsa argued, standing up brushing snow off her dress. 'It can't be that simple. I wanted the snow to stop back in the castle but it didn't.'

'That's because you didn't truly intend for it to stop. You wanted it, yes, but you couldn't grasp your intent because you were mad, then scared. You lost your intention of making the snow stop. Does that make sense?' Jack Frost asked. He was having trouble explaining what he wanted to say.

Elsa nodded slowly, taking in his explanation and analysing it. Jack could practically see her brain working to process what he had said. 'I think so,' Elsa replied.

'That's all I need,' Jack said. Elsa allowed a small smile to show on her face before repressing it. She couldn't allow Jack to see that he made her laugh. She couldn't allow herself to fall for him. She knew his type, a funny guy that could have any girl he wanted. The type of guy who was a player. Using his charm to get what he wanted, only to leave you broken hearted once he did.

'Let's get you home,' Jack said, bringing Elsa back from her thoughts. 'After all, you have a room to thaw.'

He walked towards her, his arms encircling her waist and lifting her into the sky. Elsa clutched his staff and studied the scene below, trying to distract herself from the lack of distance between them. Trying not to notice how she could feel his heart beat against her back, the way he held her, pressing her body close to his.

They landed on her window still and Elsa surveyed the room before her. Almost the entire room was covered in white.

'Remember,' Jack whispered in her ear, taking his staff from her. 'Intent is everything.'

'Love will thaw,' Elsa whispered back.

'Exactly,' Jack replied.

Elsa breathed in deeply, calming her thoughts. Jack watched as she spread her hands out beside her, stretching her fingertips apart as far as they would go. She leaned back slightly and Jack flew behind her, pressing his hand to her back softly to prevent her from falling.

Filling herself with intent, Elsa imagined what the room would look like when she was done. Imagining the snow lifting and vanishing. When she was ready, Elsa raised her hands slowly, lifting the snow with her. She lifted her hands to above her head, joining them and therefore joining the snow into one big snow ball. With a quick flourish of her hands, spreading his fingers as wide as they could go, the snow disappeared, leaving tiny specks of blue magic floating around her room, disappearing just before they hit the ground.

A huge smile broke onto Elsa's face. She'd done it. She looked to Jack, seeing his stunned face. He couldn't believe how quickly she's mastered the intent. Well, maybe mastered is the wrong word. He'd have to test her more to make sure.

'I did it!' Elsa exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck, unable to contain her excitement. She felt her feet leave the ledge as she thrust her body towards his. Caught momentarily by surprise, Jack fumbled a little before wrapping his arms around her waist, returning her hug and keeping her from falling.

'You did,' Jack replied, smiling at her.

Elsa chuckled slightly, becoming silent as her gaze found his. She stared into his eyes for a moment. Jack stared back, taking in the beautiful woman floating in his arms, her body pressed so tightly against his, held there by her arms around his neck.

Elsa felt Jack's strong arms holding her against him. She stared into his gaze and the world felt like it was slowing down. She felt connected to Jack in ways she couldn't explain. She shook herself from and quickly averted her gaze, breaking the momentary spell that had fallen upon them.

Jack cleared his throat and set her down inside her room. 'Well done,' he said.

'Thank you,' Elsa replied, unable to look at him. She knew what she had felt, an undeniable attraction to him, but she was uncertain as to if he felt the same way. Awkwardness descended upon them.

Jack hovered in the air, unable to look at Elsa. He'd felt an amazing attraction towards her but was uncertain if she'd felt it too. He didn't know what to say 'See you tomorrow night,' he said.

'Yep,' Elsa replied softly, as he left.


	7. Chapter 7

Clip clop, clip clop. The sound of horse shoes sounded through the town of Arendelle and the white and blue carriage that departed two weeks earlier made its way over the cobble stoned streets, finally making a stop in front of castle Arendelle. Anna looked out of the window and sighed. They were home.

The driver opened the door and her new husband, Kristoff, stepped out, turning back to offer her his hand. She smiled and allowed him to help her out.

'You don't have to do that,' she playfully scolded him. 'We're married now. You're a prince. Other people should be doing that for you.'

Kristoff smiled and looked into the beautiful eyes of his wife. 'I know,' he told her. 'But just because I'm a prince now it doesn't mean I'm going to act all high and mighty like one.' He balled up his hands and rested them on his sides, sticking his nose in the air and waving it around.

Anna smiled and laughed softly. 'Yeah, you're right. Stuck up doesn't really suit you.'

Kristoff smiled and wrapped his arms around Anna's waist, pulling her to him and kissing her softly.

The carriage drove away, after the driver had unloaded their luggage, as the castle doors burst open and Sven the reindeer charged towards them. A scream caused Anna and Kristoff to turn in surprise. On Sven's back sat Olaf the snowman. Although he was hardly sitting. He was bouncing up and down off Sven as he moved, hanging on for dear life to Sven's antlers as the over excited reindeer ran to greet his long-time friend.

'Woah,' Olaf cried and Sven halted suddenly in front of Kristoff, sending the snowman and his magic snow cloud flying through the air before crashing to the ground.

'Olaf,' Anna cried racing towards him as Kristoff said 'Hey Sven, I missed you too buddy,' scratching Sven behind the ears causing Sven to twitch his leg wildly, much like a puppy.

'Olaf, are you okay?' Anna knelt down beside the snowman, taking his hand and helping him to stand.

'Yes,' the snowman replied. 'Why wouldn't I be?' he asked.

'Well yo-,' Anna began before Olaf cut her off. 'Am I melting?' His eyes widened in fright as he touched his face all over frantically before twisting his entire upper body around to make sure he was still aright.

'No, Olaf,' Anna laughed and Olaf heaved an exaggerated sigh of relief before rushing forward to throw both of his arms as far as he could around Anna.

'Anna, I missed you so much!' he exclaimed. 'I'm so glad you're back.'

'I'm glad to be back too Olaf,' Anna smiled.

'Kristoff,' Olaf exclaimed removing himself from Anna, ignoring her reply, and starting towards Kristoff. Anna sat on the ground, slightly puzzled, questioning once again the snowman's short attention span.

'Hey Olaf, it's good to see you,' Kristoff greeted, kneeling down and rubbing his hand on the top of Olaf's head. Olaf threw his arms around Kristoff's leg as he straightened.

Anna stood and joined them, looking around briefly in search of her sister, who was strangely absent.

'Olaf, where's Elsa?' Anna asked after greeting Sven by patting his head.

'Um…,' the snowman replied before shrugging his shoulders leaving Anna puzzled, worried and concerned. She was sure her sister would be there to greet her.

But she needn't have worried so much. Elsa was quite alright. She was, at that very moment, curled up in bed fast asleep, recovering from her many late nights training with Jack, completely oblivious to her sister's return.

Anna and Kristoff deposited their luggage in their room, with the help of some over pushy servants after they'd insisted they could manage on their own, and went to the dining room for lunch, accompanied by Olaf and Sven.

The servants were delighted by their return and set about immediately, preparing lunch for the couple. Anna and Kristoff tried to help, insisting that they didn't need to be waited on, but the servants politely refused their requests.

Anna and Kristoff were escorted to the table by, yet another, servant. Anna, having given up on her attempts to insist she could look after herself, turned her attention to Elsa's whereabouts instead.

'She's probably sleeping, your highness,' the servant told her. 'She's been sleeping late every morning since your departure. She probably doesn't know you're back.'

Anna looked at Kristoff, puzzled. It wasn't like Elsa to do anything out of the ordinary, and sleeping late wasn't like her.

'Queen Elsa has been, how would you say it, acting a little strange since you left, princess Anna,' the servant continued. 'But I'm sure she will return to normal now that you're back,' he assured her hurriedly when he saw the frightened look on Anna's face.

'Please, sir. What exactly has she been doing?' Kristoff asked the servant.

'Well, your highness,' the servant replied. 'Ever since you left, Queen Elsa has been going to bed early, rising late, often missing breakfast. She hasn't been eating much and she has been neglecting her royal duties by not attending meetings that were organised months ago. She mainly stays in her room, but when we do see her, she appears scattered and dazed. Distracted mainly.'

Anna's eyes widened and her heart pounded in fear. Elsa had changed, from what the servant had told her. She sat stunned, unable to speak. Was Elsa's condition her fault?

'Has anyone called a doctor?' Kristoff asked. He was worried about Elsa too. He knew that Anna would want to know as much information as possible and could see that she was currently incapable of asking herself.

Anna was grateful for Kristoff's presence. He knew exactly what she wanted and was very relieved to have him there.

'We did on the third day but Queen Elsa refused him entry into her room. We tried to convince her to change her mind as politely as we could but she still refused, reminding us that she was the Queen and we take orders from her and that questioning those orders was violation. She threatened to take us of our jobs if we didn't leave. We had no choice. Your highnesses, please forgive us, but many of us have families to provide for and we could not refuse her request,' the servant explained, bowing to Anna and Kristoff once he finished.

Anna sat silently, taking it all in. She had to see her sister now. She mentally shook her body out of shock and stood suddenly.

'I have to see my sister,' she stated. 'Now.' She turned her attention to the servant. 'You have nothing to be sorry for,' she told him. 'I understand why you did what you did and I could not have asked you to sacrifice your jobs. But I must go see her now.'

'Of course your majesty,' the servant replied and proceeded to escort her out. Kristoff rose from his chair to join Anna but she shook her head at both of them.

'Please don't come with me,' she addressed Kristoff but was speaking to both of them. 'I have to do this on my own.'

Kristoff nodded in understanding and the servant bowed deeply, allowing Anna to leave the room.

Anna raced through the halls, up the stairs to her sister's room. A closed door greeted her.

She tried the handle but it wouldn't budge and after knocking on the door like she used to when she was little and calling Elsa's name repeatedly with no reply, Anna conceded and returned to Kristoff.

'I'll just see her later,' she told him sadly.

Later came that evening when Elsa emerged from her room for what she had hoped to be a brief meal before her lesson with Jack Frost. When she entered the dining room she was nearly knocked over with the surprise as Anna barrelled into her, flinging her arms around her neck.

Momentarily in shock, Elsa shook herself as the tears began to flow.

'Anna,' she cried. 'Is it really you? Are you really back?' Elsa removed Anna's arms from her and held her sister at arm's length to get a good look at her.

Anna laughed. 'Don't cry Elsa. I'm back, there's nothing to be sad about,' Elsa smiled as Anna wiped Elsa's tears away with her thumb. 'Come and have dinner with us,' Anna gestured to Kristoff, Olaf and Sven who all sat patiently at the table. 'And let's catch up.' Anna took her sister's elbow and led her to the table. 'I have so much to tell you and I want to hear all about what's been going on here while I've been gone.'

Elsa sat at the head of the table, as she was queen, with Anna on one side with Olaf next to her and Kristoff across from her with Sven next to him. As they ate a delicious meal prepared for them by the kitchen staff, Anna and Kristoff told Elsa all they had done while they were away. Elsa listened with great interest to the tales of mountain climbing, swimming and walks along the beach that flowed from her sister's mouth. When Anna spoke about how the moonlight shone off the water as she and Kristoff walked along, Elsa felt a pang of loneliness. She thought briefly of Jack Frost but pushed him out of her mind immediately. She couldn't allow herself to fall for him, or his type.

'So tell me, what have you been doing?' Anna asked Elsa. 'I hear you haven't been doing too well. You don't look too well either.' Did my leaving impact you more than I thought? Anna wondered.

'Oh, you know. Nothing really happened here. Same old same old,' Elsa replied vaguely. She didn't tell Anna about Jack. She didn't want Anna to know about Jack in fear that she might get the wrong idea.

Speaking of Jack, Elsa snuck a glance at the time. Oh no, she thought. It was almost time for Jack to arrive. She'd stayed longer than she's planned.

'Well, this has been fun,' she announced, beginning to rise. 'It's been great to see you Anna but I'm sure you must be tired from your long journey. I think I'll leave you two to get settled then.' Elsa stood and moved away from the table, her heart fluttering with fear. She had to get out.

Anna rose with her sister, determined to not let her question go unanswered. Elsa was hiding something. 'Elsa, if it was my leaving that caused you not to eat and sleep late, just tell me. I didn't mean to harm you like this,' Anna began to say but Elsa held up her hand to stop her.

'No, no. It wasn't you. I just,' she began, not sure how to proceed. 'I have to go,' she said abruptly, turning and running out the door leaving Anna and Kristoff stunned in her wake.


	8. Chapter 8

'Are you ready?' Jack Frost asked Elsa. He stood on her window still, the moonlight magnifying his shadow around her room. A cool night breeze blew around him.

Elsa gazed up at Jack, her expression neutral. Not one of the many emotions she was feeling was surfacing. Anna had returned so suddenly, sending Elsa into shock. She could not do what she had planned. Elsa didn't want Anna to know about Jack. If Elsa suddenly disappeared for what could be days Anna would go insane with worry. Elsa couldn't do that to her sister.

On the other hand, Elsa and Jack had been planning this trip for almost two weeks. She really wanted to go and knew Jack wanted her to. He'd said the trip would be good for her and gaining a better hold over her powers. She was really excited, if not a little bit fearful, about meeting Jack's friends.

'I don't know Jack,' she confessed softly. Elsa sank to her knees and knelt in front of Jack, hanging her head.

Jack stepped down off Elsa's window, his attention turned fully to her. He couldn't believe what he heard. They'd been planning this for ages. Elsa seemed really excited about it. Jack couldn't wait to get her away from the castle life. Show her life can be fun. Introduce her to his friends. Loosen her up a little. But now she was backing out? No, he wouldn't have it.

'What do you mean "you don't know"?' Jack asked softly but sternly. He felt anger stirring inside him but was quick to supress it. It wouldn't help if he stated yelling at her.

'I mean, I don't know if I can go,' Elsa replied without looking up. A quiver made its way through her words. She didn't want to tell Jack. She knew he'd be angry with her. She rested her hands in her lap.

'Why not?' Jack responded firmly. 'We've been planning this for a while now, Elsa. You've known about this. I thought you wanted to come with me. If you didn't, why didn't you say something?' Jack couldn't believe what he was hearing. Elsa should've told him, not played him like this. He gripped his staff in an attempt to quench his anger. He would not yell at her.

'It's my sister, Anna,' Elsa explained. 'She's returned from her honeymoon with her husband, Kristoff. She came back today and I had no idea.' Elsa paused re-thinking her words. 'I mean, I did know she was only going for two weeks. So I guess I should've known she was coming back, but I just got so caught up in this trip, learning about my powers with you, that I must've forgotten,' Elsa admitted sheepishly. She had forgotten and was embarrassed to admit it.

Jack opened his mouth to speak but Elsa cut him off.

'Earlier this evening,' she continued. 'Anna told me that I'd changed. She said that I look like a mess, that the servants told her I wasn't eating and I've been neglecting my royal duties which, upon reflection, I guess I have,' Elsa realised. Shock flowed through her. She couldn't believe she'd allowed herself to act this way. 'If I just leave without any warning, Anna will worry. She'll worry so much, it might almost kill her. I can't put her through that,' Elsa finished, sneaking a look at Jack, willing him to understand.

Jack exhaled and ran a hand through his hair. Frustration filled him. He really wanted Elsa to come with him, for her to leave. But he could understand what she was saying.

'Why don't you tell her where you're going?' he suggested.

'I wish I could,' Elsa replied standing. She moved away from Jack, turning her back to him. 'But I don't want her to know about you. She'd want to come with us and she might get the wrong idea,' Elsa finished.

The wrong idea, Jack thought. The idea that he and Elsa were together. Jack felt a pang of loneliness. He knew now, after spending close to fourteen days with her, that he was in love with Elsa. But he felt conflicted because she'd lain her terms plain and clear. And that she didn't want her sister to know about him only added proof to how Elsa felt about him.

'Elsa,' Jack soothed closing the distance between them. He put a cautious hand on her arm and for once she didn't shrink away from his touch. Elsa turned to face Jack.

'Come with me,' he said staring into Elsa's eyes. 'It's only for a few days. I can teach you so much. I will be good for you.'

Elsa held his gaze unable to tear her eyes from his. She knew she should but she didn't want to. Elsa thought about his words. She took them seriously. All of them. She desperately wanted to leave with him. But would Anna be alright? She wouldn't know where Elsa had gone. Anna would be sick with worry. But it was only for a few days, Elsa reasoned. What was the harm?

Jack reluctantly tore his gaze from Elsa's. He moved back to the open window and turned to face Elsa. Jack held his hand out to her. 'Elsa, will you come with me?' he asked stepping up onto the still.

Elsa looked at the door standing slightly ajar behind her. She thought of Anna, sitting at the table at dinner where Elsa had left her. For a moment she considered running from Jack, back to her sister, someone she'd known for her whole life. Despite that she'd known Jack for two weeks, he was still a stranger to her. But he could teach her how to live, something Anna could never do, or even understand.

Elsa looked at Jack, his hand outstretched. She walked towards him and placed her hand in his. She looked into his eyes and whispered one word.

'Yes.'

Jack's face broke out into a grin and Elsa returned his smile with one of her own. Elsa stepped onto the still next to Jack, her hand clasped in his. Jack flew from the still, taking Elsa with him.

Outside Elsa's door Anna stood, frozen and in shock from what she'd just witnessed.


	9. Chapter 9

Elsa hung in the air, feeling the wind whip through her hair as she moved. The wind stung her eyes slightly, preventing her eyes from closing but she didn't care. Jack Frost's warm hand clasped hers ensuring she didn't fall.

She cried out in delight as Jack guided them through the air, swerving in between buildings and skimming the tops of trees. Elsa remembered the first time she'd flown and how she'd hated it. She smiled at the memory, recalling how naïve she'd been.

Elsa looked up at Jack, studying how the wind blew through his hair. Her eyes moved to study the rest of his face, moving over his eyes, skin, cheeks to finally resting on his mouth. As she stared, Elsa wondered, briefly, what his lips would feel like pressed up against hers. She squished the thought almost immediately and adverted her eyes when Jack caught her staring. Elsa turned her head away from him, trying to conceal the blush that was rising to her cheeks.

She snuck a look at Jack. He was studying her, intently. Elsa looked away but could feel his gaze burning into her. She wished he would look away. She didn't like the feeling of him staring at her. She ran her free hand through her hair, searching for something. Anything that might cause Jack to stare at her. Maybe she had a bug in her hair.

When it came out clean, she ran it through again. And again. And again. Each time the result was the same. Why was he looking at her? Was there something on her face, she wondered. Elsa touched her face, searching for a foreign substance. Nothing.

'What?' Elsa asked Jack, unable to take the insecurity anymore.

Jack quickly shook himself, embarrassed that he'd been caught staring.

'Well, uh,' he stammered, trying to come up with an excuse. Elsa wasn't attracted to him and Jack didn't want to admit to her that he was. 'I was just thinking,' he finished lamely.

'About what?' Elsa asked. Had he been thinking about her like she had been him? Hope rose in Elsa's heart.

'About your powers,' Jack replied and Elsa's heart sank. Of course he wasn't thinking about her in that way. She's made herself clear at the start, an action she was beginning to regret. She scolded herself for thinking otherwise. It was foolish to think that he'd ever think about her that way, especially after how she'd treated him.

'They appear to be different from mine, yet the same. I was just wondering how similar they really are,' Jack continued.

'Or how different,' Elsa added.

'Yes, or how different.' Jack was glad they were talking. He needed the distraction to keep his mind from wandering. 'I need a staff to use my powers. You can use yours by yourself. We both create frost and snow but your powers seemed to be more entwined with your emotions.'

'But maybe that's because I'm a girl,' Elsa cut in. 'Girls tend to be more emotional than guys.'

'Really? I thought that only happened because everyone thought it did. Isn't it a stereotype?' Jack didn't think that girls were any more emotional that guys, they just showed it because they thought it was expected of them.

'I don't know,' Elsa replied. She considered what he said. Were girls only adhering to the stereotype? 'I think they are more emotional, but maybe that's just because I am a girl.'

'You're not a girl,' Jack said. Elsa looked at him, startled. She opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind, and point out that she was indeed a girl, when Jack continued. 'You're a woman.' The words came out of his mouth before he could stop them. He immediately wished he hadn't said them. Wished he could take them back. It's not that he didn't mean them, he just didn't want her to know he thought about her like that.

Elsa was stunned. She closed her mouth, at loss for words. What did he mean? Is it possible that he thought of her as something more? She shook her head. She was reading too much into it. He was just being nice, that's all.

'So, do think that I might be able to fly?' Elsa asked trying to supress the awkwardness that had fallen between them.

'I think it's possible,' Jack replied. 'But I'm not entirely sure.'

'Why don't we try it?' Elsa asked. 'You take me up higher and let me go and I'll try to fly. If I fail, you can catch me.'

'I don't know,' Jack said. He thought about what Elsa was proposing. It sounded okay but he was sure something was going to go wrong. 'There's more to flying than just doing.'

'Okay, tell me what to do.'

Jack considered, trying to find words to express how he flew. 'Well,' he began. 'Uh… um… you have to…' he searched for words but failed to find any. Elsa looked at him expectantly. 'It's hard to explain,' Jack finished.

'Try,' Elsa encouraged soothingly.

Jack thought about how he flew. It just came naturally to him. He didn't need to learn at all.

'Um, this is just an idea,' he began. 'But when I fly, I clear my mind of all thoughts and feelings. Everything else comes down to intent. With every form of magic, you need to have strong intentions.'

'Okay, so clear head, strong intent. Got it,' Elsa replied. It didn't sound that complicated.

'That's what I think I do. I don't really know,' Jack said. 'It comes naturally to me. I don't have to think about it at all. It should be like that for you but this might work.' Jack didn't want Elsa to try and fail, then blame him. He didn't want her to get hurt. He couldn't live with the guilt if something happened to her.

'I want to try it,' Elsa said confidently. When Jack opened his mouth to argue, she cut him off. 'It's my decision. If I get hurt, it's my fault.'

Jack thought it over. He could always catch her. It was risky but he knew she'd have to try it eventually.

'Okay,' he relented.

Elsa smiled. She was finally going to learn to fly.

Jack changed direction, flying upwards into the sky. Higher and higher they climbed, the air getting colder and thinner. Jack stopped, Elsa dangling from his arm.

'Are you ready?' he asked her.

Elsa looked down. They'd flown out of Arendelle and now hovered above the ocean. The water was clear and blue with tiny waves flowing past. She gulped as the enormity of the task hit her. She was going to fall all the way down there? No, she consoled herself. She was going to fly.

'Yes' Elsa nodded determinedly.

Jack breathed in. He couldn't make himself let go. Gathering all his courage, Jack released Elsa's hand.

Elsa felt Jack tense. Her heart pounded in her chest. She felt Jack's hand slip from hers and suddenly she was falling.

Through the air she fell, her arms flailing, trying to grab onto something. Anything. Elsa screamed as the ocean rushed up to meet her. Intent, she reminded herself. It's all about intent. Clear your mind.

Elsa tried to calm herself but her efforts were futile. It was impossible to calm yourself while you were falling through the air to the ocean.

Fly, Elsa commanded herself. Her screams surrounded her. The ocean came closer to her. Elsa's screams sounded louder and louder. Where was Jack?

'Jack!' Elsa screamed. 'Help.'

The ocean rushed closer. Elsa tried to curl into a ball, and braced for impact. She was sure this was the end. She thought the impact would surely kill her. Tears flooded from her eyes. Anna, she thought. I love you and I'm so sorry. I wish I told you everything. I don't know how to express my feelings towards you.

10 meters. 5 meters.

'Jack!' Elsa screamed again. She closed her eyes and was suddenly jerked upwards. She felt arms envelop her and she stopped moving.

Hovering in the air, she took shaky breaths and pressed her face into Jack's chest, clinging onto his jumper. She sobbed, her chest heaving in loud, convulsing movements.

Jack held Elsa close, stroking her hair and murmuring soft words of comfort. He clutched her to his chest, his heart pounding. He'd almost lost her. He'd never let her go again.

'Elsa,' he whispered, placing his lips on top of her head. 'It's okay. You're safe now.'

Elsa sobbed, her tears staining Jack's jumper. Her breathing gradually slowed down, returning to its regular pattern.

They stayed like that for what seemed like hours. It probably was but as it was night, there was no way to tell.

'Jack,' Elsa murmured. She lifted her face from his chest. 'Thank you.'

'You're welcome,' Jack replied. 'Are you ready to go now?'

Elsa nodded, tears staining her cheeks. 'I guess I can't fly.'

'I didn't think you could,' Jack confessed. 'I could fly from the moment I was created. When you freaked out the first time I took you flying, I knew you weren't like me.'

'Then why did you let me go?'

'I thought there was a chance you were right. There is so much we haven't discovered about your powers. I couldn't pass up the chance.'

Elsa nodded in understanding. Jack kept her in his embrace and took off.

Elsa made him stop almost immediately. She didn't like flying on her back, not being able to see where she was going. She climbed onto Jack's back, wrapping her arms around his neck.

'Where are we going,' Elsa asked and Jack pulled a strange object from his jacket pocket.

Jack shook the object viciously. Fake snow swirled around inside. 'This is a snow globe,' Jack explained. 'When I throw it, it will create a portal to my land.'

Jack held the globe to his lips and whispered, 'North Pole.' He threw the snow globe and Elsa watched in amazement as it impacted with the air and burst, creating a portal made of light. Colours danced off the portal and an image formed in the centre. Elsa could see white. Everything was covered in snow.

A chill came from the portal, making Elsa's skin tingle. She shivered slightly and Jack flew into the portal.


	10. Chapter 10

Anna stared into Elsa's now empty room. The wind blew through the open window, billowing the curtains, creating ruffling sounds. The cold night air flowed through the castle, touching Anna's skin but she barely registered it. She was in shock, unable to move or think. Her mind had become an empty void. Anna felt disconnected from her body. Her mind screamed for her arms to move, for her legs to carry her to Kristoff and fall into his arms. But all she was able to do was keep her chest rising and falling, to keep on breathing.

Her numb body began to convulse. First her hands shook and her heart beat began to quicken. The shaking spread to her arms and then her chest, eventually taking over her whole being.

Footsteps sounded down the hallway followed by a sound. A voice. A man's voice but the words were all jumbled up to Anna.

The sound again and Anna felt two hands touch her arms. She was spun around and stared into the face of a man. His blonde hair twigged a memory in Anna's mind. She knew this man, yet at that moment he was a stranger to her. He spoke again. Only one word which Anna couldn't distinguish.

His voice sounded frantic and she could see the fear in his eyes. This man cared about her. Her feet left the ground as she was swept up by the stranger. She wanted to fight him but couldn't command her body to do so.

Anna felt the floor underneath her legs and her back hit the wall. A little hand touched her leg as its owner, a snowman with a reindeer behind him, spoke to the man. The snowman also sounded worried. Did she know him?

Wait. Snowman. Reindeer. Blonde haired man. Kristoff, her husband. Elsa, her sister, leaving. It was all coming back to her. Anna drew in a gasp of breath. Kristoff placed a hand on her shoulder.

'Anna, are you alright?' he asked, his eyes wide with fright.

'What happened?' Olaf asked and Sven nudged Anna's arm tenderly.

Swallowing, Anna looked into Kristoff's eyes. 'Elsa,' she whispered.

'No, that's Kristoff,' Olaf replied slowly, pronouncing each word clearly and slowly. 'I think she's lost it,' he whispered to Kristoff. 'Let's test.' He turned back to Anna. 'Who am I?' he asked.

'Elsa's gone,' Anna continued, ignoring Olaf.

'Yep, she's definitely lost it,' Olaf stated. 'I'll go find a doctor. Come on Sven,' Olaf grabbed the hem of Kristoff's shirt and began to walk away.

'No Olaf,' Kristoff said, taking hold of the little snowman and lifting him in front of him. 'We don't need a doctor, Anna's fine. And I'm Kristoff. That's Sven,' he pointed to the reindeer.

'Oh yeah,' Olaf replied. 'I forget sometimes,' he admitted.

'Kristoff,' Anna said. All eyes turned to her.

Kristoff moved to sit next to Anna. He took her hand in his. Kristoff looked into Anna's wide, haunted blue eyes. Fear stared back at him.

'Elsa's gone,' Anna repeated.

'What's wrong with her?' Olaf asked.

'She's in shock,' Kristoff told the snowman. 'Anna, what happened?'

Anna opened her mouth to tell Kristoff what she saw but the words wouldn't come out. Instead tears flowed from her eyes, her body convulsed in huge racking sobs.

Kristoff placed his arms around his sobbing wife and pulled her onto his lap. Anna melted into him, bunching up his shirt and soaking it with her tears. He stroked her head soothingly, muttering soft encouragements like 'it's okay' and 'let it go'.

They stayed like that for what felt like years to Anna.

'Anna, you're melting,' Olaf said, touching Anna's skin and puzzling over the fact that his hand came away dry.

Anna sniffed and whipped the tears away from her eyes. She looked at the concerned snowman and smiled sadly.

'Olaf, I'm not melting. I'm crying.' She gave a small laugh.

'Anna,' Kristoff said taking her head in his hands and kissing her forehead tenderly. Sven trotted over to Anna and licked her cheeks, taking away the salty tear stains that coated her skin.

'Thanks Sven.' Anna smiled and patted the reindeer's head.

'Anna, what happened?' Kristoff asked. 'When you didn't return I'd thought something awful had happened to you.'

'Elsa's gone,' Anna replied, that haunted look returning to her face.

'Where's she gone?' Olaf asked.

'I don't know.'

Anna explained tearfully what she'd witnessed. Coming up the stairs and finding Elsa talking to a stranger dressed in a blue hooded jacket before taking his hand and flying away. Re-telling the story, Anna thought it was ridiculous. Elsa couldn't fly, as far as she knew. But what had hurt Anna the most was that Elsa had lied to her again. Didn't she trust her?

'Maybe Elsa was kidnapped,' Kristoff suggested.

'No,' Anna replied. 'She went willingly. She gave him her hand.'

'Maybe Elsa never left,' Olaf suggested. 'Maybe you imagined it. Or maybe she is planning a surprise party for you guys with the stranger!' Olaf exclaimed excitedly.

Anna perked up at Olaf's suggestion. Maybe she had imagined it. After all, she was tired from her trip. Maybe it was her own mind playing tricks on her.

Anna jumped up and rushed into Elsa's room, full of hope, only to be deflated as soon as she set foot in the door. Elsa was gone. The room was left just like Anna remembered it.

'No,' she whispered unable to believe it. 'No, Elsa must be here. She can't be gone.'

Anna felt nothing. She was just an empty shell, void of all emotion. She wanted to cry but had no tears left.

'Maybe Elsa left a note,' Kristoff said, placing a hand cautiously on Anna's shoulder.

Anna pulled away from Kristoff and began rifling through Elsa's belongings, searching for something, anything, that could give her a clue as to where she had gone.

Kristoff shrugged and he, Olaf and Sven joined Anna with her search.

After searching for two hours, and finding nothing, Kristoff was ready to give up. Anna still searched frantically, checking places she'd checked many times before.

'Anna, there's nothing here,' he said trying to convince her to stop.

'No,' Anna replied refusing to give in. 'There must be something.'

'We've been searching for hours,' Kristoff reasoned. 'If there was anything, we'd have found it by now.'

Anna stood still as his words sunk in. She flopped to the floor in defeat. 'You're right,' Anna conceded. 'She's gone.'

Anna rested her head in her hands and Kristoff sat next to his wife. He placed a hand on her back, moving it back and forth comfortingly. Anna leaned into him and he embraced her.

'Hey guys,' Olaf shouted waddling over to the couple, a small piece of parchment clutched in his stick fingers. 'Look what I - ,' he stopped seeing Anna and Kristoff sitting on the ground. 'What happened?'

'Nothing happened,' Kristoff replied. 'There's nothing here.'

'Oh,' Olaf sighed. 'Well I had found this little piece of parchment I thought you should see but I didn't know we'd stopped looking so I'll just get rid of it.' The snowman grasped the note with both hands and ripped it in half.

'No,' Anna shouted just as Olaf tore the parchment. 'Olaf, if you found something, we want to see it.'

'Oh, sorry,' the snowman apologized, shrugging holding the torn parchment. 'It's no use now,' he said and started to throw it away.

Anna rushed forward and grabbed his shoulders.

'Can I see it?' she asked.

'Okay,' Olaf shrugged. 'But it's ruined now. Don't know how useful it will be.'

Anna took the two pieces and examined them. Something was written on them but they'd been scrunched up for so long, the writing had become faint.

Giving Kristoff one of the pieces, they straightened them out the best they could and joined them.

Anna looked at Kristoff as they read the name that was written in Elsa's neat handwriting.

'Jack Frost,' Anna whispered.


	11. Chapter 11

Elsa gasped as light flooded her eyes. She squinted and buried her face into Jack's body, shielding her eyes from the pain.

The world she was from was gone only to be replaced by white. There was nothing.

The cold air pressed against Elsa, trying to invade her body. She squirmed, trying to get away. Jack reached up and placed his hand on her back, calming her nerves. Elsa concentrated on the warmth from Jack, trying to counteract the cold.

'Welcome to the Pole,' Jack announced and Elsa lifted her head. The white was gone. Snow covered mountains surrounded them with a magnificent structure built into the mountain.

'Wow,' Elsa breathed, completely awestruck by the majestic scene. The snow glinted in the sunlight creating a magical aura that, combined with the majestic building, was enough to render anyone speechless.

This place feels magical, Elsa thought. I wonder who created such a place. Elsa could feel the magic woven into the fabric of this world. It felt like it was just a touch away.

'Jack,' Elsa breathed. 'What is this place?'

Jack grinned. 'You haven't seen anything yet.'

Jack landed on the snow covered ground. Elsa climbed off his back, detaching her arms from his neck. She glanced around in awe at this majestic place. A rusty looking sleigh stood in the courtyard, surrounded by Yetis who appeared to be fixing it.

Jack strutted over to one of the majestic beasts, greeting him by playfully slapping his fury shoulder. Elsa smiled and laughed when the Yeti jumped and wacked at Jack who flew backwards to avoid the blow.

Jack glanced at Elsa and caught her laughing. He grinned at her before returning his gaze to the Yeti. Taking the death glare staring back at him as his cue to leave, Jack took Elsa's hand and led her into the compound, excited to show her around.

He pushed the doors open and stopped suddenly. Jack stared incredulously at the sight before him. Elves ran around frantically, the bells on their hats jingling non-stop. Wrapping paper littered the ground among scattered ribbon. Broken toys covered every available surface. Elsa bent down and picked up a curious object. A wooden doll wearing a simple red dress, missing one eye, her left arm and her right leg, presumably painted to look like she had shoes on.

Elsa extended the doll to Jack. Sadness mixed with fear filled her. She was certain things weren't meant to look like this. Whatever, or whoever, did this must've been extremely powerful. At the thought, a small layer of frost began to cover the doll.

'Who did this?' she asked fearfully.

Jack turned to look at Elsa, at a loss for words. He took the frost covered doll from her, reading the fear that was clear in her eyes.

'Control it,' he whispered.

Elsa gulped and nodded. She tried to focus on something else. Anything else. Anna popped into her mind but Elsa quickly pushed her away. She couldn't think of Anna without being sad.

Love will thaw. That's what Anna had said. What did Elsa love? She turned her gaze to settle on Jack. He'd moved away from her, amongst the array of frantic elves. She did love Jack, she realised. But only like a friend, she told herself although her aching heart said otherwise. For now he'd have to do.

Elsa picked her way after him, careful not to tread on anything, or anyone. Elves skittered about, almost tripping her occasionally.

Jack reached the other side of the room. Who had done this? He needed to know. He needed to find North. Jack took off, flying all around, looking in every available room. There was no sign of him.

'North?' he called hoping for an answer.

'Jack?' came a muffled Russian accented reply.

Overcome with relief, Jack followed the sound to the globe. He stopped short at the horror that met him.

The glob was smashed to pieces, different continents lay at every corner of the room. Jack flew around, looking for North.

Soon enough he found him, pinned to the ground under Australia, his feet wiggling frantically as he tried to get free.

'Hold on,' Jack said, gripping an edge of the continent. He tried to lift it but he couldn't get it off the ground. Abandoning North for a few moments, he flew to Elsa.

'Come with me,' he said.

Elsa nodded and attached herself to his back. She was soon deposited on the ground in front of North.

'Help me lift it?' Jack asked.

'Of course,' Elsa replied. Sliding her hands under one side of the continent, Elsa helped Jack lift the piece off the strange man underneath. After a struggle, Elsa and Jack had freed the stranger.

The man stumbled to his feet. Elsa studied the stranger. He was dressed in red and had a plump, round belly. His face was trimmed with a white beard and his eyes seemed to have a twinkle in them.

Elsa gasped. Santa Claus. He was standing right in front of her. She almost couldn't believe it.

Jack rushed to Santa's side, asking him if he was alright, checking him for wounds. He replied in a thick Russian accent that Elsa thought suited his appearance perfectly.

'Oh, Jack,' Santa said. 'You came just in time. Any longer and I wouldn't have made it.'

'North,' Jack replied. 'Who did this?'

North glanced at Elsa, assessing if it was safe to trust the strange woman. She glanced at Jack, indicating that she knew him. North decided she was trustworthy. He faced Jack, looking him square in the eyes.

'Pitch is back.'


	12. Chapter 12

'Who's Jack Frost?' Kristoff asked. His eyebrows raised in confusion.

'No idea,' Anna replied vacantly. She stared at the paper in her hands, reading the name over and over but nothing clicked. No memory was triggered.

_Memory_, Anna thought. _My memory. _

'That's it!' Anna shouted, excitedly throwing her hands out. Her palm collided with Kristoff's face. 'Kristoff!' she turned to look at him. Kristoff was bent over, rubbing his nose where she had hit him. 'Sorry,' Anna apologised sheepishly bending over tenderly. She was so clumsy.

'Its fine,' Kristoff shrugged her off, straightening. 'What is it?'

'Oh, right!' Anna exclaimed. She turned to him, grabbing his wrists and pulling them to her. Kristoff grunted as his body un-expectantly lurched forward. His face was level with Anna's.

'Kristoff, I know where we have to go. The trolls, your family. They might be able to help.'

'The love experts?' Olaf asked, raising one eyebrow.

'Yes!' Anna laughed. 'The love experts!' Full of uncontainable excitement, Anna almost jumped up and down. She rambled on, hurrying to get her idea out. 'Elsa told me that when I was young she shot my head with her magic. Father took us to the trolls who modified my memory. Maybe there is something there–'

'That you've forgotten,' Kristoff finished.

'Exactly!' Anna shouted flinging her hands backwards and whacking Sven's nose. 'Sorry,' she apologised rubbing it.

'Anna. That's brilliant!' Kristoff cried. He, too, shared Anna's contagious excitement.

Anna squealed. 'Let's go!' she cried, grabbing Kristoff's arms and yanking him to Sven. Anna jumped onto Sven's back, Kristoff slowly climbing on behind her.

'Hurry up,' she scolded impatiently. 'Olaf, come on!'

'Yeah!' the snowman exclaimed. 'Let's go kiss Hans!'

'No Olaf,' Kristoff corrected. 'We're going to my family. To regain Anna's memories.'

'Oh, right,' Olaf recalled. 'Come one Sven!' he commanded the reindeer.

Sven turned his furry head, almost knocking Anna in the head with his antlers, to Kristoff.

'Sven,' Kristoff said. 'Let's go home.'


	13. Chapter 13

Silence fell over the room. Elsa scanned the two legendary figures in front of her. Jack's eyes were wide and unfocused. North met Elsa's eyes. She smiled sympathetically at him. The name "Pitch" meant nothing to her, but she could tell by Jack's out-of-character reaction that it wasn't good. She fidgeted nervously. Was Pitch really so bad that he could stun an almost un-surprise-able personality.

Overcome with the desire to comfort her friend and mentor, and bring him out of shock, Elsa reached out and took Jack's hand in hers, squeezing it gently. Jack blinked twice and looked down and their joined palms, then at Elsa who gave him a sympathetic smile before releasing his hand.

'Pitch is back?' Jack asked North.

North nodded gravely. 'I'm afraid so.'

'But…? How…? When…?' Jack stammered.

'What happened?' Elsa asked, giving Jack time to process.

'The nightmares returned,' North began. 'They came out of nowhere, attacking the pole. But it wasn't just them. Merlin, the Mermaid of Zennor. They were with them. And they destroyed everything.'

'But why would they do that?' Elsa asked. 'The Zennor Mermaid and Merlin, they're good people aren't they?'

'The Mermaid of Zennor is a seductress,' Jack explained. 'She seduced Mathew Trewella to come away with her and he was never seen again on land. But Merlin was a hero. It doesn't make sense. Why would he join forces with Pitch?'

'No-one knows. I've tried to contact the other Guardians but the Tooth Palace remains impenetrable and the Warren is still un-responsive. I'm at a loss Jack. I don't know what to do.' The Great Russian figure sank to the ground in defeat. Elsa moved behind the stranger and placed her hands on his shoulders comfortingly.

'What about Sandy?' Jack asked. 'Can you contact him?'

'Sandy,' the Russian murmured. 'No, I can't reach him either.'

'It will be alright,' Elsa reassured. Jack and North looked at her. 'This "Pitch" you talk about, he's not really _that_ bad, is he?'

'Yes, he is,' North explained. 'Pitch Black, or as he is commonly known: the Boogeyman, tried to engulf the world in blackness and fear last year. No-one believes in him, you see. They're not afraid. And that's because of us. Jack and myself, along with the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny and the Sandman, have been chosen as Guardians by the Man in the Moon to watch over children and protect them.'

'It is because of us,' Jack took over. 'That Pitch is not believed in. There was a period where everyone feared him. That period is known as the Dark Ages. What Pitch hoped to accomplish with his little endeavour last year is to plunge the world back into the darkness, eliminating all the light that is shone from us Guardians so everyone fears and believes in the Boogeyman.'

'How did you stop him?' Elsa asked, enraptured in the story that occurred in a world beyond hers, yet had the potential to doom the entire universe.

'There was this one kid, Jamie,' Jack explained. A fond, caring look crossed his face as he thought of Jamie. He must've been someone special, Elsa thought.

'He never stopped believing, even when every child in the entire world gave up. Even his friends thought he was mad. But he knew. Because he'd seen us.'

'That one child,' North continued. 'Is the reason we're here today.'

'What happened to Pitch?'

'He'd found a way to turn the Sandman's dreams into Nightmares. Literal horses made of corrupted dream sand,' North explained. 'His Nightmares live off fear. They detect it. We had him cornered. He was afraid and this fear eventually became his downfall.'

'We haven't seen him since,' Jack contributed. 'We assumed the Nightmares ended him.'

Elsa was stunned. This man. This "Pitch" really was that bad.

'Well then, we have to find a way to stop him,' she declared.

'Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,' Jack objected, rounding on Elsa. He stood directly in front of her and rose into the air to make himself seem more threatening. 'What do mean _"we"_?'

'I mean I'm going to help you,' Elsa fought back. 'I'm going to help you and you can't stop me.'

'This is not your fight,' Jack reasoned. 'I can't let you put yourself in danger for us.' I'd never forgive myself if you got hurt, Jack thought.

'I don't care about danger,' Elsa countered. She wanted to help. Let me help you, she thought determinedly. 'I want to help you.'

'No,' Jack said firmly.

'Yes,' Elsa replied sharply.

'No,' Jack insisted. He moved closer to Elsa, threateningly. Elsa, her hands on her hips, didn't so much as flinch. He stared into his eyes, looking for signs of weakness, something that she could use to get her way.

'Jack. Maybe we could let the young lass tag along,' North interjected. Elsa and Jack turned simultaneously to stare at him. North slinked away inside when he caught Jack's icy glare. 'Never mind,' he muttered. 'What's that Phil?' North called to no-one. 'You need help? I'll be right there.' He dashed off.

'I'm coming,' Elsa stated, walked away from Jack as if their argument was done.

'No you're not. Come on,' he flew towards her and grabbed her arm. 'I'll take you back to Arendelle.'

'No way!' Elsa exclaimed outraged. She turned on him, yanking her arm out of his grip. 'Wasn't it you who was pushing for me to come? To get away from my "stuck up life", as you call it.'

'I never called it "stuck up",' Jack replied, frustrated. 'And anyway, wasn't it you who was all like "I can't leave. What about Anna? She'll worry so much she'll die".'

Elsa stopped. Anna, she thought. Anna. Arendelle. A wave of worry washed over her. A sense of déjà vu. Something was wrong, she sensed. Arendelle, and Anna was in trouble.

'We have to go,' Elsa whispered. 'Jack,' she grabbed at his jacket, clenching it tight in her fists, pulling him down. 'We have to go back to Arendelle. Anna is in trouble.'

Jack regarded her in confusion. Elsa was crazy, wasn't she? He stared into her eyes. Truth shone behind them, but there was also something that was inhuman. Like she was possessed.

'What do you mean?' he asked. 'What's wrong?'

'I don't know. Arendelle is in trouble and we have to go now!' she exclaimed.

He could see the panic in her eyes. The urgency to help her, to protect her, overwhelmed him. He'd do anything for her. Jack knew she was unlike any girl he'd met before. But he could never tell her that, he knew. She would hate him.

'Okay,' Jack agreed. Elsa was overcome with relief. For a moment it seemed that he would refuse her. That he thought she was crazy. That's right Elsa, she thought. Make yourself look crazy in front of him.

'North we're returning to Arendelle,' Jack called as Elsa scrambled onto his back, accidentally yanking his hair as she did so. 'I'll be back soon.'

'Okay,' North's voice replied.

Jack took out another snow globe from his pocket.

'How many of those do you have?' Elsa asked.

'Enough,' Jack replied. He threw the globe and it exploded into a fountain of light, the castle of Arendelle at the heart.

Elsa's heart pounded with fear. What would she find? Arendelle looked peaceful through this window, but on the other side? She clenched her palms around his neck.

Jack felt her heart pounding against his back, squirming slightly when she accidentally strangled him. She released he grip slightly, but the urgency remained. Jack started forward into the portal.

Elsa closed her eyes in fright as the light engulfed them, closing immediately leaving no sign they'd ever existed.


	14. Chapter 14

Seconds later they arrived in Arendelle, tumbling ungracefully in a tangle of arms, legs and clothes as Elsa rushed to get free of Jack and find her sister. She stood in her room, the early morning air flowing faintly through the open window, and took in the mess before her. Her room was unrecognisable. Chairs were overturned, pillows tossed onto the floor. The bedclothes were ruffled and crinkled, resting in a tangle of sheets and duvet. Her closet was thrown wide open, her clothes on display for the whole world to see. Garments complimented the pillows, making a collage of all sorts of colours.

Nothing was as she's left it.

'What happened here?' Jack asked, standing beside her. His voice was clouded to Elsa's ears. All she could hear was the pounding of her heart.

Elsa shook her head, her mouth clamped shut even though she willed it open. She walked away from Jack, inspecting the chaos, needing to move, to do something – anything – to keep from collapsing from shock.

'Who could've done this?' Elsa whispered, retrieving an overturned golden frame that had fallen next to her bed. A drawing resided behind the cracked glass. Elsa's heart melted as she recognised Anna's gift to her when she turned seven years old; a picture of stick Anna and stick Elsa – only discernable by the scribble of colour upon their circular heads – playing in a crayon grass meadow with pink and blue butterflies scattered randomly between them. A yellow sun with black dots for eyes and a mouth resided in the top left corner of the page. Elsa scanned the all-too-familiar drawing, her eyes resting on the message written in the pale pink sky: _"Best sisters forever!"_

Elsa clutched the frame to her chest as the tears gathered in her eyes. She sank onto the mattress and squeezed them shut as the tears began to flow.

'Hey, it's alright,' Jack whispered, coming up behind her. He climbed onto the bed and placed his hand tenderly on Elsa's shoulder, attempting to comfort her.

'Anna,' Elsa sobbed refusing to look at him.

'We'll find Anna,' Jack reassured. 'I know we will.' He wrapped his arms around Elsa, pulling her close to him. She leaned backwards into his chest as she sobbed, her tears clouding her vision. Her heart ached with a longing so great it was unbearable.

Jack's heart ached too, but for a different reason. He too knew what it was like to lose a sister. He knew all too well. The memories of her flooded him, almost bringing tears to his eyes.

Elsa's sobs filled the room, melting Jack's heart and sent his walls crumbling down. He tightened his embrace, pulling her even closer to him as it trying to make her part of him, and lay on the mattress.

Elsa, clutching the frame, didn't even try to resist. Her grief and worry for Anna was too much to bear. She felt a tug on the frame as Jack tried to take it from her and clutched it even tighter before reluctantly releasing it from her grasp and allowed Jack to set it beside them.

Jack stroked Elsa's pale blond hair, murmuring as he did so. Elsa lay, frozen, numb and unable to move. She closed her eyes and tried to slow her breathing to match the rhythm of Jack's hand.

They lay together for what seemed - to Elsa - like days but was only minutes. Every time Anna's name crossed Elsa's mind, fresh tears came as feelings of regret, love, pain, grief and worry swirled in Elsa's heart.

Jack murmured and stroked her head comfortingly the whole time but eventually it became redundant. It wasn't enough. Elsa shifted in his embrace, twisting her body around so she was facing him. She sobbed into his chest, clenching the material of his jacked in her fists, her tears leaving stains.

Eventually the tears stopped and Elsa's breathing returned to normal. There were no more tears left. She's cried them all. Get it together, she told herself. Control it.

She stirred under Jack's arms and he loosened them, giving her room to move. Elsa propped herself up on her elbow and looked at Jack.

'Thank you,' she said. Heat flooded her cheeks with embarrassment. She's cried in front of him and felt weak because of it.

'You're welcome.'

Elsa sighed and pushed her hair off her face. 'I'm sorry,' she said. 'I'm such a mess.'

'Hey, don't be sorry,' Jack replied soothingly, propping himself up just as she'd done. 'It's alright.'

'No, it's not. I shouldn't have cried over something so stupid. Especially not in front of you, or anyone really. I had no right to do that to you. I'm so sorry.'

'You have nothing to be sorry for,' Jack reassured, taking Elsa's hand in his. 'It's okay to cry. If a queen must only cry in the company of her own, what's the use of crying at all?'

'But –,' Elsa began.

'Shh,' Jack released her hand, placing his fingertips lightly on her lips. 'It's okay. Really, it is. I understand how you feel. No really, I do,' he added when Elsa began to protest he didn't. 'Let me tell you a story, okay? Before I was Jack Frost, I was someone else. We all were: North, Tooth, Sandy, we were all someone before we were chosen.

'I had a nice little house, a family and, like you, a sister who I would do anything to protect. One winter we went ice skating on a frozen lake near our house. But the ice wasn't thick enough and began to crack under our weight. My sister was so afraid. So to take her mind off the ice I told her that we were going to have a little fun instead. I told her we were going to play hopscotch, like we did every day.

'I went first, showing her it was as easy as three simple steps. I encouraged her to try but as she moved, the ice cracked even more. I picked up my staff and swung it around her, saving her from falling onto the cracked ice but not myself. I stumbled onto the ice and before I could move the ice broke. I fell into the freezing cold water and drowned. But the Man in the Moon saved me. He chose me because of my sacrifice to protect other children around the world. He chose me to be a guardian.

'So you see, I understand what you're going through. I know what it's like to have someone you care so much about, it hurts.'

'I'd die for Anna,' Elsa said. She looked over the man in front of her with new respect and admiration in her eyes. 'I would do anything for her.'

'I know,' Jack said. 'And that's why I know we're going to find her. I know that she's alright. I know because I can feel it.' Jack raised Elsa's hand and pressed it to his chest. 'In here.'

Elsa stared at their joined hands. Jack's chest felt warm under her fingers. She moved her gaze upwards, settling on his eyes. 'Me too,' she whispered, smiling.

Jack stared into her eyes, becoming lost in the sea of blue. He became all too aware of the lack of distance between them. It became smaller, as Jack ever-so-slightly leaned towards her. Elsa moved too, closing her eyes. Her heart pounded within, demanding to be released. She waited excitedly for their lips to join. To feel his mouth upon hers.

The door flew open. Elsa, startled, threw her face into the mattress. Jack scrambled off the bed, flying up to the highest point of the room.

'Queen Elsa,' a servant hurried over to Elsa's side. His face was flushed with exhaustion. 'Are you alright?' he asked urgently.

Elsa rolled over to face him. 'Kai,' she sighed in relief. A familiar face. Finally, someone to tell her what happened. Elsa sat up. 'What happened? Where's Anna?'

'Oh, your majesty. It was horrible. Terrifying. I've never seen anything like it. Horses, made of sand as black as night, came out of the sky and attacked us. They destroyed everything. All the houses in the village are in ruins.

'There was a man. He was tall and thin. He came with the horses, threatening us. He said we would all fear "The Bogey Man". Then he vanished, the horses with him.'

'And Anna?'

'Princess Anna and Prince Kirstoff weren't here. They left about an hour beforehand, with the reindeer and snowman, to go see some trolls. I have no idea when they'll be back.'

Relief flooded into Elsa, causing her muscles to go limp. Anna was okay.

'Queen Elsa,' Kai said. 'What do you suggest we do?'

Elsa sat in silence as she considered. What can they do? She didn't know. A drop of cold fell onto her head. Elsa glanced up to see Jack making gestures to remove the servant.

'Gather everyone who has no shelter into the great hall,' Elsa said rising and leading Kai to the door. 'Offer them food and drink, blankets and pillows. Make sure they're comfortable. We will provide shelter for all those who seek it until the damage is repaired.

'Send out patrols throughout all of Arendelle. Assess the damage and check for survivors. I want a quote as to how much damage has been done.'

'Yes your majesty,' Kai bowed and scurried off.

Elsa shut the door behind him, leaned against it and sighed. Jack floated down from the roof, unsure when to speak. Silence fell awkwardly between them as the reminder of what almost happened sunk in. Elsa cursed herself. How could she have been so stupid? Jack and her could never be. She'd made that perfectly clear. He didn't have feelings for her and she certainly didn't have feelings for him. I was distraught, she told herself. I didn't know what I was thinking. That's all.

'What do we do?' she asked, breaking the silence.

'I don't know,' Jack replied from across the room. He stood, rooted to the spot. He refused to move any closer to her. He was stupid, he realised. He took advantage of a distraught girl. Not just a girl, but a queen. A queen who has made it perfectly clear that she doesn't like him like that. Jack was ashamed to have intruded on her boundaries. He promised himself that he'd never do it again.

'The only thing I can think of is to go back to the pole and tell North. It sounds as though Pitch has found a way to Arendelle. We'll go get North and bring him here. He may be the only one who can help us think of something.' Jack took out a snowglobe from his pocket and tossed it at the wall. It exploded into a swirling portal of light.

Elsa nodded. 'Okay, but you have to go alone. I have to find Anna. I know where she is and I have to get to her. She, and the trolls, can help us.' And if I'm with you, who knows what may happen, Elsa thought.

Jack nodded reluctantly. 'Okay. See you later.' He dived into the portal, leaving Elsa alone.

With no time to waste Elsa ran out the door. 'Kai,' she called, racing down the halls towards the great hall. 'Kai?'

She rounded the corner and smashed into him, sending piles of blankets and pillows tumbling to the ground.

'I'm so sorry,' Elsa apologised as he bent to retrieve the mess. 'Let me help you,' she joined him on the floor.

'No, no, your majesty. It's my fault. I should've been looking. You needn't help me.'

Elsa waved away his polite objections, and gathered the pillows into a neat pile.

'Kai, I need you to ready my horse. I must go and try and find my sister.'

'Of course my lady,' Kai stood with the blankets and pillows piled on his arms and began towards the stables.

'Kai?' Elsa called after him. 'Let me take those,'

'But, your majesty-,' Kai began.

'No buts about it. I will take those for you,' Elsa insisted.

Kai reluctantly handed over the comforts and proceeded to ready Elsa's horse. Elsa continued to the great hall. Anna, she thought. I will find you.


	15. Chapter 15

'North, North,' Jack called urgently, zooming out of the portal in front of the globe.

'Down here lad,' came the familiar Russian reply. Jack dived over the railing, down to the vacant floor below.

'North?' Jack tried again, listening for the reply that took him through corridors and deposited him in the sled bay. North sat atop his rickety sleigh, reigns in hand, as elves hurried about busily fastening harnesses, securing bells and trying to control the playful creatures.

'Jack,' North greeted, spreading one arm wide. In light of the recent situation, North was grinning widely. Trying to stay positive, thought Jack. That was always the way with him. 'Where is your pretty friend?'

'North something has happened,' Jack said, looking grave. The smile on the elder man's face evaporated immediately. 'Pitch found a way to cross dimensions and attacked Elsa's kingdom. He's not just contained to this realm anymore. If he can attack Arendelle, he can attack anyone, anywhere, in any dimension whenever he sees fit.'

Silence followed Jack's announcement. All noise ceased. There was no chatter of elves, no jingling of bells on impatient reindeers' harnesses. Everything was still. Silent. Dead.

It was North who spoke again. 'It seems he has grown more powerful than we could've ever imagined.' His voice was barely a whisper. 'No wonder we haven't heard anything from him, any sign of his activity. He's been a step ahead of us this whole time.'

Jack nodded solemnly. 'North, what do we do?'

North was silent for a moment as he considered. Then everything seemed to happen all at once. 'Hop up here, my boy,' North declared, patting the seat next to him. 'We're going to Arendelle. I need to see it for myself before I can decide anything.'

Jack flew onto the sled and sat next to North.

'Just as soon as these blasted elves get a handle on these feisty reindeer, of course,' North chuckled. Jack glanced at the man beside him. His face was lit up like a Christmas tree, all smiles and jolly good times, but his eyes, however, lacked the twinkle of stars. They remained as dull and lifeless as mud. Trying to put on a brave face, Jack thought.

Jack waited impatiently for the elves to ready the sleigh. He shoved his fidgeting hands between his legs in an attempt to calm them. It was no use. His knees began jiggling.

North turned to Jack. 'She seems like a good girl,' he commented, breaking Jack's thought process.

'Huh?' Jack stared at North.

'Your lady friend, she seems like a nice girl.'

'She's not my "lady friend",' Jack corrected hurriedly. 'She's just a friend. My student really.'

'Ah, I see. Your "student",' North repeated, emphasising "student". 'So,' he continued. 'You would do all this for any "student"?'

'Of course I would,' Jack answered nervously. Elsa, he thought. I hope she's alright. 'I'm a guardian. It's my job to protect children.'

'Ah, yes. But Elsa's hardly a child now, is she?'

Jack said nothing. Worry for Elsa consumed his thoughts. He tried to push them away but they resisted. Elsa doesn't love you the way you love her, he told himself. Stop worrying about her, she can take care of herself.

'Jack, let me tell you something. At the end of a man's existence, he regrets the things he didn't do more than the things he did. Man often suffers continually by keeping feelings locked away.'

'But I'm not going to die,' Jack replied.

'I know, but Elsa is. Don't you think that when she does, you won't regret not telling her how you felt?'

'I don't have feelings for Elsa, if that's what you mean,' Jack replied quickly. A little too quickly. 'And besides, even if I did – which I don't – she's made it quite clear to me that she has no interest in me.'

'If you say so,' North said. 'I just thought I'd share that life lesson with you. It can be implied to more than one situation. Ah, the elves are done. Ready Jack?' North retrieved a snowglobe from the floor of the sled. He threw it into the sky where is exploded, showing Arendelle, calm and content. 'Alright then,' he announced. 'Here we go,'

The sled sped off into the sky. The rocking and bumping of the sled became background noise to Jack. All he could think about was what North said. "At the end of a man's existence, he regrets the things he didn't do more than the things he did."


	16. Chapter 16

'Anna! Anna!' Elsa cried urgently as she galloped through the shaded forest. The early morning dawn peaked over the horizon painting the sky in colours of orange, yellow and pink. Her heart pounded as trees scratched at her face and arms, tangling in her hair, tearing her clothes. Where was Anna?

She slumped in the saddle. She'd been searching the forest for hours. Dirt mixed with sweat created an unpleasant grime that coated her skin. Thirst filled her mouth, its message constant, stubborn to move. Her stomach growled, reminding her repeatedly that she hadn't eaten in – she couldn't even remember.

Elsa brought her horse abruptly to a stop. She scanned the area slowly, searching for signs of life. Defeated, she turned her gaze downward tears prickling in the corners of her eyes. She was lost, she had to admit. She knew she shouldn't have gone racing off into the forest when she had no idea of where to go. No sense of where the trolls lived.

She thought she could remember from all those years ago. From when she visited with Anna on that horrifying childhood night. But she couldn't. And now, Elsa thought miserably, I've gotten myself lost, with no way of getting out of this forest. I'll never find Anna. I'll never see Jack again…

Elsa squashed that last thought. She could think of Jack when she was searching for Anna. She had to focus on her goal, not let anything interfere.

A sudden rustle caused Elsa to jerk wildly. Her horse reared up in startled fright. Elsa exclaimed and clung to the reins, tangling one hand in her horse's mane.

'Shh, shh. It's okay, it's okay,' Elsa soothed, stroking its soft, brown neck. 'There, there. There's nothing to be frightened of. It was just a noise.'

She turned her head around in as her racing heart slowed, searching for the source of the sound. She turned her gaze upwards and a flock of birds flew from the trees, towards the sun.

Calm down Elsa. It was just the birds. Nothing is going to hurt you, she reassured herself. She took deep breaths and closed her eyes to calm her racing heart. Now, she thought, how am I going to find my way back to Arendelle?

'How are we going to get out Seb?' she asked her horse. Seb snorted in reply, shaking his mane. 'No ideas, huh? Well I suppose we could keep going straight ahead, but we'd get lost. We could follow the birds and see if they can help,' she gestured to the horizon. She froze. The birds. They were flying to the sun. The sun could be used as a navigator, she remembered.

Elsa recalled one of the many tedious lessons she and Anna had been forced to take when they were children. She was sitting on the soft carpet of the library in Arendelle. Anna, four years old, sat next to Elsa, who was eight, picking at a loose thread of carpet. Elsa leaned on the low table in front of her as their tutor droned on about the sun and the stars and what not. Her elbow rested on the table, keeping her head from falling flat on the surface. Her eyes drooped with boredom.

What had her tutor been saying? The lesson, she remembered, had been on navigation and using the sun and stars to find your way.

'The sun is a mysterious instrument,' her tutor had said. 'Depending on the season, the sun rises in different locations. Mostly, the sun will rise in the east and set in the west. But in countries such as Denmark, Sweden and Norway-.'

'That's where we are!' Anna had exclaimed cutting the tutor off. She lay on her back, her feet and arms flailing about in the air.

'Yes, yes Princess Anna. We are in Norway. As I was saying, in countries such as Denmark, Sweden and Norway – or Scandinavia – the sun will rise in the north-east and set in the north-west. But this only happens in the months of summer. Princess Elsa, can you tell me which months make up summer.

Elsa had sighed and raised her head. 'June, July and August,' she had answered, boredom lacing her voice.

June, July and August, Elsa thought halting the memory. It was July now although you wouldn't know it from the cool night breezes. There was snow on the North Mountain. But there was always snow on the North Mountain.

Arendelle was located to the south of the North Mountain, Elsa reasoned. When she'd fled Arendelle, almost a year ago now, she'd headed north. So if I head towards the sun, she thought, I should be able to find my way to the North Mountain and from there I can see where Arendelle is and how to return to it! She knew it would be tedious and probably take most of the day but she didn't care. She was going home.

'Yes!' she exclaimed out loud, giving a triumphant jump of joy in the saddle. 'Seb, I know how we're getting out of here. We're going home.' She turned Seb towards the sun and set off.

'I'm sorry you couldn't find anything in your memories Anna,' Kistroff said solemnly as Sven plodded into Arendelle. Anna, Kristoff and Olaf rode on Sven's back, her hands circling his waist as he drove. Olaf was perched on Sven's antlers, navigating for Kristoff. The sun was setting in the north-west. Night was falling and an unnatural chill bit into the summer air.

Anna lifted her head from his back. 'It's okay,' she replied. 'I didn't expect to find anything,' she tried to keep the disappointment from her voice. 'And besides,' she went on. 'It was nice to see the family again.'

Kristoff smiled at Anna's bravery. 'Yes,' he agreed.

'I just wish I knew where Elsa went,' she said. 'I feel so lost not knowing. I can't help but worry. I mean, I know Elsa can take care of herself but she's so fragile sometimes. Her emotions can go spiralling out of control. And she still hasn't gotten a full grasp on her powers. What if something happened to her?'

'Anna, she'll be alright,' Kristoff comforted. 'Elsa will come back. She will always come back to you. Nothing – no one – can keep you two apart.'

Anna was silent as she considered his words. 'Do you think so?' she asked in a voice barely more than a whisper. Kristoff could hear the tears she was trying so hard to keep in.

'Yes,' he replied as they reached the castle.

'We're here!' Olaf announced, his little snow cloud moving wildly as he jumped. 'Please step cautiously as you exit the reindeer. Remember to take all personal items with you. Forgotten items will be discarded. We hope you enjoyed your journey and thank you for choosing to ride with reindeers. As the motto goes, reindeers are better than people. We'll see you next time.' He laughed as he jumped from Sven's head. The reindeer snorted and shook in head in amusement. The snowman fascinated him. He was so little and he moved a lot. He was always climbing over Sven and falling over this snowy limbs. And there was his nose…

Anna smiled as Kristoff helped her off Sven's back. 'Thank you Olaf for your delightful, attentive services. We couldn't have asked for a better guide.'

Olaf bowed.

'And let's not forget Sven,' Kristoff said, ruffling the reindeer's fur. 'He did an excellent job too.' Kristoff produced a carrot from inside his jacket and offered it to Sven. The tired and hungry reindeer munched it up in one gulp. 'Uh-uh-uh,' Kristoff scolded lightly. 'Share.' Sven stuck the end of the carrot out of his mouth. Kristoff broke it in half and took a bite out of his.

'Ew, yuck,' Anna exclaimed turning away.

'Want some,' Kristoff teased. He knew Anna hated the way he shared his food with Sven but Kristoff wasn't going to change it for anything, despite how much the girl he loved urged him to do so.

Anna stuck her tongue out and shook her head.

'You're loss,' Kristoff shrugged.

'Hey guys,' Olaf called from inside the castle. Anna looked around. She hadn't even realised Olaf had disappeared. I would be a terrible mother, she thought. She climbed the stairs, Kristoff and Sven behind her, to the castle door which hung slightly ajar. Darkness spilled out into the night air. Queasiness invaded Anna's stomach. The castle was dark but night was falling.

'Something's wrong,' she whispered.

Kristoff, sensing Anna's distress, circled his arm protectively around her waist. Together they entered the dark recesses of the castle walls.

Anna stopped short in the entrance way. A sight met her eyes. Curtains, ripped from their hooks, lay torn across the floor. Vase fragments decorated the halls, their pillars toppled over. Window glass dotted the floor like thousands of tiny stars.

'What happened here?' Anna whispered.

Through the front hall the party crept, dodging broken sculptures, avoiding broken glass.

'Anna,' Kristoff whispered, unable to hide the disbelief and shock of what lay in the next room. Nervously, preparing for the worst, Anna joined him. She froze immediately. Nothing could've prepared her for the sight that lay before her.

Bodies lay unmoving amongst black sand, broken glass and debris that made up the castle's possessions. Anna's legs gave away. Kristoff's strong arms encircled her, softening her fall.

Olaf stood next to the trio. Anna felt a wetness on her face. 'Who could've done this?' she whispered, her voice breaking grief.

'Anna,' a solemn voice broke the silence. Kristoff, Olaf and Sven turned to the speaker.

'I can explain,' Elsa said.


	17. Chapter 17

Anna stared at her sister. Elsa stood in the doorway. Her hair had fallen loose from its braid and was adorned with twigs. Her chest heaved rapidly as she caught her breath and tiny rips and tears decorated her priceless sky blue gown.

'Elsa,' Anna whispered disbelievingly. She took a cautious step towards the stranger wearing her sister's body.

'I can explain,' Elsa repeated.

She strode to Anna and took her hands, leading her deeper into the chamber. Careful not to tread on anything – or anyone – Elsa stopped at a less damaged table with two remaining chairs.

'It's a long story,' she said gesturing for Anna and Kristoff to sit.

Kristoff sat down and took Anna by the waist, placing her on his lap. Encircling her waist comfortingly he turned his attention to Elsa sitting across from them.

Elsa closed her eyes momentarily and drew in a breath. I never wanted to bring Anna into this, she thought. How am I going to tell her?

'Okay,' she began, opening her eyes. 'It's like this. It started the day after you guys left for your honeymoon…'

As Elsa explained her story, Kristoff and Anna listened intently. Anna's eyes widened as far as they could during Elsa's explanation of her trip to the North Pole. Oh man, Anna thought. This is bigger than I ever imagined.

'And that's what happened,' Elsa concluded.

Anna and Kristoff stared at her momentarily, both trying to absorb the news.

'S-so all those people out there… and the glass…' Anna stammered.

Elsa nodded solemly. 'Yes, that was Pitch.'

'Well, we've got to stop him!' Anna exclaimed jumping to her feet.

'Huh?' Elsa and Kristoff asked at the same time.

'What do you mean "huh?"? Pitch has destroyed our home and our kingdom. Does he expect us to do nothing? He have to stop him! C'mon,' Anna took Kristoff's hand and started leading him away. 'Let's find Jack and go save the world!'

'Yeah!' Olaf cried excitedly. The little snowman leapt onto Sven's back. 'Let's give that mean old bogeyman a piece of our mind. Or should that be pieces of our minds? I'm confused.'

'Wait,' Elsa said, standing and holding up her hands. 'Anna, you shouldn't get involved with this. I don't want you to be hurt –'

'Oh, come on Elsa. You can't do it alone.' Anna released Kristoff's hand and walked back to her sister. She took Elsa's hands in hers. 'Let me help you.'

'But Anna, this is not your fight -,' Elsa began.

'Then it's not your fight either. Okay, Pitch attacked _our _kingdom. As soon as that happened it became my problem. Just because you're the queen, it doesn't mean that I am nothing.' Anna paused for her sister's objection. None came. 'I am tired of coming second to you. I want to be more than just a spare. I want to do something.'

'Anna,' Elsa tried again.

'If what you've told me is true,' Anna continued, interrupting Elsa's protests. 'And Pitch is really that powerful, then you're not going to be able to defeat him on your own. You, Jack and North are going to need all the help you can get.'

Elsa was silent for a moment. She considered her sister's proposal. Anna was right. If Pitch really was that powerful, they'd be fools to think the three of them could defeat him.

'But I just don't want you to get hurt,' Elsa said.

'And I don't want _you_ to get hurt. If you're allowed to risk yourself, why aren't I? Do you think I'm going to be any less worried if I sit here and do nothing? I'd probably worry more. Let me help you and then it doesn't matter if we win or lose.' Anna paused as she considered what she'd just said. 'Well, it does,' she corrected. 'We want to win. But what I meant was this way if we go down, we go down fighting together.'

Elsa smiled. Her sister's passion was admirable. Elsa felt moved. Anna was right, again. Elsa imagined herself in Anna's shoes. How would she feel if Anna risked herself and she had to sit on the sidelines and watch it happen?

Elsa drew in a breath. 'Okay,' she relented. 'We'll do it together.'

'Oh, thank you Elsa,' Anna said and embraced her sister in a tight hug. She pulled away. 'So, where's Jack?'

Elsa opened her mouth to reply just as Jack and North burst into the room. Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven shielded their eyes at the piercing light. The portal closed leaving the new arrivals in battered old sled.

'I'll tell you North, I never get tired of the sled,' Jack commented stepping out.

'Ah, Jack,' North replied. 'People never do. Maybe someday I leave it to you.'

Jack gasped. The prospect of owning this magnificent sled was almost too much. It felt like Christmas, Easter and a birthday wrapped in a candy rainbow 'You mean it?'

North gave a jolly laugh, his belly moving up and down. 'We'll see Jack.' He patted Jack on the back and departed the sled. 'Ah, Elsa,' North went on. He walked over to Elsa and wrapped her in a massive hug. 'It's good to see you again.'

Elsa smiled at North. 'It's good to see you too,' she replied, returning the hug.

'And who are your friends?' North asked gesturing to Elsa's companions.

'This is my sister Anna, her husband Kristoff, his reindeer Sven and our friend Olaf.' Elsa gestured to each in turn. 'This is North,' she explained. 'Or Santa as he is more commonly known.'

Kristoff and Anna's eyes widened slightly at the sight of the legendary figure. They couldn't believe he was standing there, in front of them. Olaf gasped loudly. He ran to North and took his hand.

'It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance sir,' the snowman said, vigorously shaking North's hand. 'You know, I've always loved Christmas, and snow. But you know what I love more? Summer!' Olaf exclaimed brightly. He jumped into the air, flinging one of his arms right off his body. 'Uh oh,' he said as it collided with one of North's reindeer. The reindeer's attention turned to the mysterious little being in front of him. He was so strange. So small with brown arms, a white body and orange nose.

The reindeer's ears pricked up at the sight of Olaf's carrot nose. He jauntily lunged forward towards Olaf. Olaf's eyes widened in fear. He began to run towards the door.

Sven, seeing his small friend in trouble, raced forward between Olaf and the foreign reindeer. He stopped in the middle of the two and faced North's reindeer. _No one is allowed to eat his nose except me,_ he snorted firmly.

North's reindeer immediately shrank back in submission, his ears lay flat on his head. Sven continued to stare at the reindeer as he backed away to his original position. When satisfied, Sven straightened and nodded his head with a snort.

'Who's a good reindeer,' Olaf cooed approaching Sven. 'You are.' He rubbed Sven's nose with his remaining hand. 'Thank you Sven,' Olaf cooed. 'You're the best reindeer ever!' Olaf threw his remaining hand out so forcefully his other arm detached.

'Ow!' exclaimed Jack. Elsa and North turned to Jack and smiled. Jack was rubbing his nose with one hand and holding Olaf's arm with the other. 'That hurt.'

Elsa laughed. Anna stared at her sister. What was she laughing at? 'Elsa?' Anna asked. 'What's so funny?'

Elsa stopped laughing and looked at her sister. Anna couldn't see Jack? Elsa looked at Kristoff for support but his eyes were as blank and confused as Anna's.

'They can't see him,' Elsa said to North.

'Hm. Yes, it appears that way,' North responded.

'Hey, Elsa,' Anna said again. 'Why is Olaf's arm floating?'

Elsa looked at Jack, who was still holding Olaf's arm. It looks like I have some explaining to do, she thought.

'Anna, Kristoff. Do either of you believe in Jack Frost?'

Anna and Kristoff looked at each other quizzically. Had Elsa lost her mind? The shook their heads.

'Do you remember in my story I told you about Jack?' Elsa continued. 'Well, the Jack in my story is actually Jack Frost, and he's holding Olaf's arm right now.'

Anna stared at her sister. 'Elsa, you're crazy,' she said. 'Jack Frost, here in this room? That's impossible.'

'Is it?' Elsa countered. 'You can both see North. And he's Santa. Why should Jack Frost be any different?'

'Would you like me to prove it to them?' Jack offered.

Elsa glanced at him. 'Yes,' she agreed.

Jack nodded and flew over to the window. 'Tell them to look at this window,' he instructed. 'And find your gloves.'

Elsa relayed Jack's command and Anna and Kristoff moved closer to the window and the end of the room. The watched it, waiting for something to happen.

Jack closed his eyes in concentration. He pursed his lips and blew frost onto the window. Anna and Kristoff's eyes widened slightly. They glanced at Elsa. Was she the cause of this?

Elsa looked at Anna and Kristoff and smiled. She raised her hands and wiggled her glove-covered fingers. 'It's not me,' she stated.

Anna and Kristoff turned back to the window. Now that he hand their full attention, Jack began drawing on the frost. Like he had with Jaime, Jack drew a bunny.

Anna and Kristoff stared in amazement as the outline of a bunny materialised before them. Could it be that Elsa was right? Anna opened her mouth to speak when the bunny hopped off the window. As it began to hop around the room, Anna clutched Kristoff's arm in disbelief.

'That bunny,' she began.

'It's,' Kristoff began.

'Jack Frost,' they chorused and Elsa smiled.

As soon as the name departed their lips, Jack Frost materialised before their eyes. Anna and Kristoff's mouths opened into a wide 'o' and Jack knew they believed. He lowered his hands and the frosty rabbit vanished into the air.

'You're Jack Frost?' Anna asked approaching the man.

'Yes,' Jack responded. 'Hello Princess Anna, and Prince Kristoff. Elsa has told me a lot about you.'

Anna and Kristoff turned to Elsa, who shrugged.

'It's a pleasure to meet you sir,' Kristoff said to Jack, extending his hand. Jack grasped Kristoff's palm in his and they shook firmly.

Anna studied Elsa's teacher. His white hair and gorgeous body would be enough to make any girl fall for him. He's probably had lots of girlfriends, Anna thought. She glanced at her sister, who was looking at Jack. Anna thought she detected a hint of love and admiration in her eyes. Could it be that Elsa had feelings for this man? He'd be perfect for her, Anna thought.

'Jack,' Elsa said. He turned his attention to her and Anna saw Elsa's feelings mirrored in his eyes. She gasped softly. He felt the same way! There was definitely something there. But from the way they don't hold eye contact, Anna thought, they don't want to acknowledge their feelings.

'Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven have volunteered to help us stop Pitch,' Elsa told him.

'Excellent!' Jack and North exclaimed in unison. 'Where shall we start?' North asked.

'Well, all the bodies in this room, and those in the hall, are what Pitch did,' Anna piped up. 'Maybe if we take a closer search we'll find a clue that can point us in a direction.'

'Excellent idea miss Anna,' North praised. Anna felt her cheeks glow with pride.

The party split up and began examining Pitch's destruction. Anna and Kristoff took the end of the hallway closest to the front door of the castle. North took Olaf and Sven and searched the middle of the hall, leaving Elsa and Jack in the room together.

Elsa lowered her head, unable to look at Jack. She moved to the farthest corner of the room, trying to distance herself from him as much as possible. Jack mirrored her actions and the searched in silence.

The sun had set and the searched long into the night only interrupted by the servant Kai informing his queen with the damage toll of the town.

Elsa yawned widely. She closed her eyes briefly, struggling to open them again. Her body felt like collapsing on the spot. It took every fibre of her will power to stay awake. I have to stay awake, she told herself. I mustn't sleep.

Jack glanced at Elsa from across the room. Her movements had become slower and more lethargic. She was tired, he knew. Jack abandoned his search and flew over to her.

'Elsa,' he said softly, touching her shoulder.

She slowly turned her head to face him. 'Yeah?' she asked tiredly.

Jack said nothing. She looked so fragile. Love burned in Jack's heart, threatening to break free. His heart longed for her so much it hurt. Jack struggled inside to contain the impulse to reach out and hold her, to whisper soft words until she fell asleep.

'You're tired,' he stated.

'No I'm not,' Elsa argued in a childish voice. Her eyelids drooped but she blinked rapidly to keep herself awake.

Jack couldn't take it anymore. She needed to sleep. He took Elsa's hand in his and led her over to a wall. Jack rested his back against the wall and sat down. Elsa sank beside him.

'Lie down,' he commanded gently.

Elsa, too tired to argue, extended her legs. She leant against Jack, her head resting on his shoulder, and closed her eyes. She fell asleep immediately, overcome by exhaustion.

Jack wrapped an arm around her and held her close. He gazed at Elsa. There was no denying it, he realised. He was in love with her. Jack longed to press his lips into her soft hair, and stroke her head. But he just couldn't. Elsa didn't love him. She wasn't interested in him at all.

The door burst open causing Jack to jump in surprise and Elsa to wake. Her eyes flew open and she sat upright immediately. Anna, followed by Kristoff, North, Sven and Olaf rushed into the room.

'Elsa,' Anna called rushing over to her sister. 'We found something,' she panted.

Anna thrust a piece of paper into Elsa's hands. Elsa looked down and read the words scrawled on there.

'A receipt for boots, jars and a micky mouse plush toy?' Elsa read. 'Anna what is this?'

'Look at the bottom,' Anna urged pointing. Elsa peered at the receipt. 'Thank you for shopping at Wandering Oaken's Trading Post.'

'Yes!' Anna exclaimed.

'This receipt was pinned to a victim by this arrow,' Kristoff elaborated holding up a blood tipped arrow.

'And you think that the attackers came from this 'Wandering Oaken's Trading Post,' Jack surmised.

'Or they at least went there,' Anna said.

'And if they were there, then Oaken would probably remember them. He can't get much business up in the mountains,' Kristoff explained.

'So we should go to this 'Wandering Oaken's Trading Post?' North asked.

Anna and Kristoff nodded. 'It's a start,' Elsa agreed.

'Well then, what are we waiting for?' North laughed. 'Everyone into the sleigh.'

'Sven won't fit in the sleigh sir,' Kristoff pointed out as North, Jack and Elsa began to make for the sled. 'If it's alright with you, I'd like to ride Sven there myself.'

'I'll come with you,' Anna said standing beside her husband. 'I can get a horse from the stables and ride with you.'

'I'll come too,' Olaf piped up.

'Okay then,' North agreed. 'You guys can ride there and we'll follow you.'


	18. Chapter 18

The sleigh soared through the night sky towards the North Mountain. Elsa sat next to Jack at the back, apologising every time they collided as the sleigh moved. Elsa felt herself blush as Jack's arm bumped hers. She turned away so he wouldn't see her red cheeks.

The wind whistled past sending a chill down Elsa's spine. She shivered suddenly, wrapping her arms around herself.

'Are you cold?' Jack asked loudly but kindly. He had to shout to be heard above the roaring wind.

Elsa nodded. 'Little bit,' she admitted.

Jack spread his arms, gesturing for her to lean into them. Too cold to argue, Elsa scooted closer to Jack. It's only for warmth, she told herself. It's not like it means anything.

Jack felt Elsa's body press against his as she snuggled into him. She fits perfectly, he thought. It's like she was born to complete me. He gazed at the beautiful queen next to him. How he longed to tell her how he felt.

'You should try to sleep,' Jack suggested. Elsa raised her head and looked at him.

'But what about you?' she asked. 'You must be tired too.'

Jack was tired. But Elsa was more important to him. He shook his head. 'Not at all. But you definitely need sleep,' he added when Elsa yawned.

Elsa felt her eyelids become heavy. Jack was right. She needed to sleep. Elsa rested her head on Jack's shoulder and leant into him. She felt his arm tighten around her shoulders protectively. This is nice, she thought. But we can't be like this. I made it clear I wasn't interested. It would be unfair to Jack if I liked him. And I don't, she argued with herself. What I feel is just a passing phase. Nothing more.

With her conflicting thoughts swirling like the wind, Elsa closed her eyes and fell asleep.


	19. Chapter 19

'Oaken!' Anna shouted rapping her knuckles on the wooden door.

It had been just past dawn when they finally arrived. The sun was just rising. Anna and Kristoff had ridden up to the door of 'Wandering Oaken's Trading Post' when North and the sleigh had landed loudly startling the sleeping Elsa and Jack.

'Anna, it's too early to see him at the moment,' Elsa had yawned after recovering from the shock. She stretched her arms, relieving the cramps the long night had brought. 'He's probably still sleeping.'

'I don't care,' Anna had objected. 'The fate of the world is in danger. We need to see him now.'

The log cabin's door opened slowly. Oaken, in bright pink bunny pyjamas stood sleepily on the other side.

'Y-y-yoo-hoo,' he yawned sleepily, stepping slowly outside.

'Oaken!' Anna cried and rushed at the large man.

Oaken widened his eyes, shocked at the pretty, ginger young lady who charged at him. 'Wha? Who?' he asked, confused.

It didn't take Anna long to reach Oaken, but she didn't stop in front of him. Anna barrelled into his stomach, sending them both sprawling to the ground. At first it seemed that Anna's actions were ones of kindness. That she was happy to see him like he was an old friend. It didn't take long for Elsa and Jack to realise that the princess was, in fact, angry with Oaken.

Olaf ran over to them to join in. He too, thought he was angry with Oaken – but why he didn't know. Anna sat on Oaken, pinning him to the ground. She shook his clothes violently, occasionally slapping his cheek and screaming 'you traitor! How could you help them?' at him.

Olaf removed one of his arms and slapped Oaken's face repeatedly saying 'yeah' and 'uh-huh' in support of Anna's accusations.

However, Anna didn't get very far in releasing her anger. Kristoff ran over and dragged Anna off Oaken almost as soon as she'd knocked him to the ground.

'Let me go! Let me go!' Anna screamed kicking and flailing to be released from Kristoff's grip.

'Calm down Anna,' Kristoff said struggling to keep Anna in his grasp.

'No!' she screamed. 'He helped them! He's plotting to destroy the world!'

'Anna, calm down,' North soothed as Elsa and Jack helped Oaken to his feet and apologised for Anna's sudden behaviour. 'We don't know that.'

Anna stopped flailing and stared at North. 'But the receipt,' she began.

'Only tells us that they were here. Not that Oaken's in league with them.'

'We need to question him,' Kristoff said.

Anna was silent as she considered their proposal. 'Okay,' she relented. 'But he needs to be tied down.'

North nodded and went to inform Elsa and Jack of Anna's compromise. Kristoff slowly and tenderly set his wife on the ground. He slipped his hand in to hers and met her gaze. Anna blushed.

'I'm sorry,' she said. 'I shouldn't have crash-tackled him like that. I just,' she broke off, searching for the words. 'I just get so fired up about these things,' she confessed.

Kristoff smiled. A tiny laugh escaped his lips. 'Oh Anna,' he began. 'I know.' Kristoff wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him. 'But that's why I married you.'

Anna lifted her head to meet his eyes. Kristoff lowered his head and their lips met. 'Let's go talk to Oaken,' Kristoff said after they broke apart.


	20. Chapter 20

'So, Mr Oaken, is it?' Elsa asked glancing at the receipt in front of her. 'I'd like you to answer a few questions for me.'

The party had moved into 'Wandering Oaken's Trading Post' shortly after Anna had apologised for her rash behaviour towards the kind man. Now Oaken sat tied to a chair – as per Anna's request – at the end of a long table. Elsa stood opposite him and had been dubbed the "interrogator" by Anna.

Oaken's eyes were wide with fear and he nodded nervously although he no idea what any of them were talking about. To think, 5 hours before his rude awakening he had wished that something interesting happen. Now he'd be happy to sacrifice his current situation for his previously boring life.

With Elsa and Oaken in the centre of the cluttered shop, the rest of the party had positioned themselves in a makeshift circle spreading as far away from the centre as possible. It was at Anna's request they stood this way. She claimed it felt more like an interrogation, despite Kristoff's reminder they didn't want to scare Oaken.

Elsa placed one hand on the table and leaned forward, staring at Oaken. This is ridiculous, she thought. But Anna refused to co-operate unless Elsa played this part.

As she leaned, her hair fell over her shoulder. Jack's heart pumped rapidly. He longed to feel her silky hair through his fingers. But that could never be. He started to lean forward but quickly, unceremoniously and awkwardly, pushed himself back.

Anna stood across the room from Jack and noticed his movement. She smiled to herself before nudging Kristoff next to her.

'Jack has feelings for Elsa,' she whispered in an excited hush.

Kristoff gazed into his wife's eyes, seeing that she desperately wanted to jump up and down with excitement. 'How can you tell?' he asked.

'Jack totally wants to be with Elsa,' Anna continued. 'Just now he began to move towards her but clumsily restrained himself. And I should know what clumsy looks like.'

Kristoff opened his mouth to reason with Anna but she cut him off.

'And he has this painful longing in his eyes whenever he looks at her. Didn't you see the sled land? How his arm was wrapped around her?'

Kristoff looked thoughtfully at Jack and considered Anna's proposal. Now that she'd mentioned it, there was definitely loneliness in his eyes.

'Do you recognise this?' Elsa asked thrusting the receipt in Oaken's face. She stood behind him now, her gaze cold and menacing. Anna, she thought. I hope you're entertained. Even though Oaken had been told Elsa's actions and questions would be dramatized, the poor man must still be scared out of his shoes.

'Y-yes,' Oaken stammered. 'This sale went through a few days ago.'

'And who purchased these goods,' Elsa asked leaning so close to Oaken she felt his beard on her cheek.

'I-I-I don't know.'

'Describe them for us,' Elsa ordered.

'In as much detail as you can remember,' Anna insisted.

'H-he was a dark man, literally. His whole body was made up of a shadow. I'm terrified of him. He enters my dreams and makes me give him everything. At first he only visited my dreams, waking me in the middle of the night screaming. But over the past few days he's been visiting my store. I think he must live around here, though I don't know where. He always comes from up the mountain behind my shop.'

Oaken fell silent and the air became thick with thoughts. Everyone was thinking the same thing: a shadow man.

'It must be Pitch!' North exclaimed, voicing everyone's unanimous conclusion.

'Hm, yes,' Elsa mused. 'Oaken, did this stranger say anything to you?'

Oaken shook his head fearfully. 'He just comes in, dumps his purchase on the counter, pays and leaves. I've never spoken to him and I don't want to,' he added. 'He could hurt me.'

Elsa nodded, smiling sympathetically. 'Thank you Oaken,' she said. 'And I truly apologise for the terror these past few days have brought for you. Is there anything I can do for you to ease your comfort? Anything at all?'

Oaken considered her offer. He had heard rumours of the queen being generous and loved throughout the land. But he'd been sceptical of her generosity until now.

'Well, could you untie me?' he asked raising his bound hands.

Elsa smiled. 'Of course,' she said signalling for Kristoff to cut him loose.

As Kristoff – accompanied by Sven and Olaf - freed Oaken, Elsa gathered her companions in a circle. She made sure to stay as far from Jack as possible. Ever since the sled ride, she found it hard to look at him without a million butterflies fluttering in her stomach. The sled had been a one-time thing, she told herself. I'd been weak from tiredness and deceived Jack into thinking I was cold. I caved into my longing for him to hold me, she admitted to herself. But now that we've got a lead I must not be distracted. Especially since Anna saw the sled come down. She probably has many wild and crazy theories.

'What do we know?' she asked.

'Pitch has definitely found a way to cross over,' Jack said. 'Just how, we don't know.'

'Would it be possible for Pitch to cross into this world the way you guys do?' Anna asked.

'Yeah,' Elsa agreed. 'With the snow globes. Could Pitch have found some?' she asked Jack.

Jack screwed up his face in consideration. 'It's possible,' he shrugged. 'But North, you'd know if snow globes had been stolen right?'

North nodded in confirmation.

The group fell silent as each member pondered over the problem. Olaf ran from Kristoff to the circle. He grabbed Elsa's dress in his hand and yanked, hard. Elsa scoffed and shooed him away. Olaf yanked North's pants instead but received the same response. Frustrated, Olaf ran to Jack and tried again. He received a stomach poke from Jack's staff.

'Guys,' he said impatiently. The urgency of his message hadn't lessened.

Olaf turned to Anna and tugged urgently on her dress. Anna shoed him away. 'Not now Olaf,' she said. But she was his last hope. He tugged again, and again, and again.

'Anna,' he pleaded. 'Look.' The snowman pointed but Anna didn't look. 'Anna,' he repeated.

Anna rolled her eyes impatiently.' What is it Olaf?' she asked, clearly realising the snowman wouldn't go away.

'Sven's gone outside,' the snowman announced.

'So? What's outside?' Anna asked.

Oaken gasped sharply. 'My carrots!' he exclaimed clutching his face.

'Sven!' Kristoff shouted rushing for the open door. Anna, Elsa, Jack, North, Oaken and Olaf followed.

The party stumbled into the sunshine and raced to behind the shop where Oaken's carrot supply was. Sven was standing a rabbit length away from the carrot pile, leaning over it, his mouth open.

'No Sven,' Kristoff commanded sternly.

Sven glanced at Kristoff from the carrot pile. But why, his big eyes seemed to ask.

'You can't eat that,' Kristoff said warningly. Sven's tongue edged closed to the pile. 'No Sven,' Kristoff commanded again.

Sven's tongue touched the closest carrot and recoiled sharply, taking the carrot with him. The pile disappeared. The group stared in disbelief.

'Sven, what did you do!' Kristoff screamed. Sven had never disobeyed him before. Fury consumed him and he marched over to his companion. Sven hung his head in shame as his best friend scolded him.

Elsa was next to snap out of it. 'Oaken, I'm so sorry,' she apologised sincerely. 'I promise I'll send you new carrots to replenish your supplies.'

Oaken, too stunned to process anything, opened his mouth in an attempt to reply. Just before the first word was spoken, a deep rumbling shook the mountain.

'Look!' North shouted pointing to where the pile had been.

A fountain of light burst from the ground, the carrots erupting from it. They rained down over the party who tried to cover their heads with their hands. The shower cleared and a pool of light remained. Colours swirled magically.

The group stared in disbelief.

'What is it?' Anna asked.

Jack flew over the vortex cautiously, nodding as he inspected. 'Just like I thought,' he said. 'It's a portal.' He faced the group. 'Looks like we've found Pitch's portal.'


	21. Chapter 21

The group stared at the swirling portal in front of them. No-one knew what to say. Oaken fell to his knees in disbelief.

'I swear I didn't know,' he pleaded, although no-one was scolding him.

'All this time,' Elsa began. 'In my own kingdom… I never thought…' Elsa didn't know what to say. The shocking discovery was all too much. Feelings of failure pierced Elsa's heart. She had failed to protect her kingdom. Her ignorance to this portal had cost hundreds of lives.

Jack watched Elsa sink to the ground. His heart went out to her. It wasn't her fault. 'Elsa,' he began stepping forward.

But before he took another step Anna had already reached her sister. 'Elsa, it's not your fault,' she was saying with one arm around her sister. 'You couldn't have known.' She leaned into Elsa comfortingly.

'No-one knew it was here,' Kristoff said standing behind his wife.

'E-even me,' Oaken stammered, still in shock. 'And I live here.'

Jack opened his mouth to comfort his friend as North began. 'Elsa, honey. It's not your fault. This portal hasn't always been here. Pitch has just recently created it.'

Elsa fixed North a stare that was both sad and hopeful. 'You can tell that?' she asked.

'Well… no,' North admitted after a moments consideration. 'But I'm positive that it hasn't always existed –.'

'Only fools are positive,' Jack muttered to himself.

'– The Guardians would've found it before now if it had,' North continue, oblivious to Jack's comment. 'We know of every portal in existence.'

Elsa smiled meekly. 'Thank you guys,' she said glancing at everyone. Jack felt a pang on loneliness and regret. He hadn't done anything, even though he desperately wanted to.

'You alright Oaken,' Elsa asked the big man as she stood up. Oaken rose slowly and nodded. The shock had vanished and the queen didn't seem to blame him for the discovery. Oh, I wish this was over, he thought.

'Before we proceed,' North began. 'We need to make sure it is safe –.'

'Let's go after Pitch!' Olaf shouted suddenly. The little snowman bounded over to the portal and jumped in.

'Olaf wait!' Anna shouted and rushed after him. She caught his leg with her hand and struggled to pull the snowman out. 'Ah! Cold!' she shouted as Olaf's icy body stung her hand. She released her grip on him and pulled her icy hand out.

'WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!' Olaf's shouts rose from the portal as he fell.

'Or we could just do that,' North remarked, jumping in after Olaf.

As Kristoff and Sven prepared for their jump, Elsa pulled Oaken aside.

'Thank you for all your help,' she said sincerely. 'I'm very sorry to have intruded on your life so suddenly. You have been a huge help to us. If there's anything you need, anything at all, don't hesitate to ask.'

Oaken nodded, unable to find words to express his gratitude.

As the shop owner retreated to the safety of his home, Elsa turned to see Sven followed by Anna and Kristoff, vanish into the portal. Jack stood at the edge of the swirling vortex awkwardly. Elsa moved next to him and stared nervously into the colourful abyss.

'Are you nervous?' Elsa asked Jack when his fidgeting hands and refusal to look at her became too much.

Jack ran a shaky hand through his hair at her voice. He wasn't nervous. He just wanted to comfort Elsa in any way that wasn't awkward. He thought he detected a slight waver in her question. Was she scared?

Jack shook his head and forced himself to look at her. The guilt he felt about not being able to comfort her earlier still tore his mind.

'Are you?' he asked.

Elsa stared at the portal and gave a slight nod. 'A little bit,' she confessed.

They stood in silence, neither of them knowing what to say. I should take her hand, Jack thought. That's comforting, right?

Jack cleared his throat and offered her his hand. 'We'll jump together if you like,' he said.

Elsa placed her dainty hand in his and smiled warmly at him. 'Let's go,' she said.

The pair gazed at the portal. Elsa took a deep breath trying to calm her racing heart and not think about the way her hand fitted perfectly in Jack's.

'On three,' she said.

'One,' Jack began.

'Two.'

'Three,' they said in unison.

Elsa bent her legs and pushed off into the swirling light. The force of the portal claimed her immediately, trying to tear Jack from her. She clung to him as they fell into another dimension.


End file.

Frozen, Rise of the Guardians, Adventure, Fantasy