[IC] For the First time in Forever

[Nine]

Jack grinned widely as another bolt of lightning arced past him. He could feel the heat and the air sizzle in the wake of the storm. He gripped his staff tighter and wisely decided to descend, flying closer to the snow covered peaks of the mountains below him. A curving trail carved it's way through the slopes, leading the way to Glaceberg. The enormous city of snow and ice was nestled snugly in the midst of the mountains. Honestly, Jack felt pretty comfortable, swirling around amongst newly created snowflakes.

He dipped lower, blasting snow left and right as he shot through the mountains, trying desperately to outrace the storm hunting him. "Oh trickery," he cursed as a rocky overhang appeared out of nowhere, smack dab in the middle of his path. The sheer speed with which he flew at had created a dense screen of snow around him, but unfortunately blocked his vision. "Up up up up," he muttered to himself as he shot straight up, dodging the mountain. But his victory was short lived. Another arc of lightning raced down to meet him. Reflexively he brought his staff up to meet it and in a brilliant shower of sparks, struggled to force it back. With a resounding crack, he was sent streaking through the air. Groaning, he tumbled through the air, snow clustering around him protectively and with a sinking pit in his stomach, he realized his staff was broken, again.

[Ayesha]

"This is not the right way," Elsa said. She gave her sister a look that said so much more than she could express with words. She loved her sister dearly, but the girl could be a bit of a handful. Elsa walked over to her and gave her a fond pat on the back. "Don't worry, I'm sure we will figure out how to get there. Kristoff will wait for you, dear sister."

Anna pouted. She, Elsa and Olaf had set off to meet Kristoff for his and Anna's wedding. Kristoff had left days before because he had some business there with his ice harvesting. The kingdom they were going to was really cold and everywhere you looked, there was snow and ice. Elsa felt right at home. Anna was handling it quite well, too. She may have not had ice powers, but maybe she had absorbed some of Elsa's tolerance for the cold the two times Elsa had struck her with her power?

Currently, they were lost. Anna had been the one reading the map, which had been a huge mistake, Elsa realized. There looked to be some sort storm brewing and their horses had spooked and bolted. So now they were alone, walking toward their destination. Of course they had a snowman as protection. Small comforts. Elsa shook her head. She had her powers. She could use them to defend them if she needed to.

"I am so stupid, Anna." Elsa groaned at herself. "Why didn't I think of this before?" She drew up her hands and watched as snow swirled around them, slowly, but surely forming into an ice sculpture of a sled. "Hope in."

Once everyone was inside, Elsa used her powers to push the sled in the way she hoped was correct. They had not got far when she noticed something out in the distance. "What in the...." It was a person. She stopped the sled and jumped off, confusing Anna, because she could not see who Elsa was going after.

"Are you okay?" Elsa asked, looking down at a pale face of a young man.

[Nine]

Dazedly, Jack groaned. He felt like he had been flattened by an avalanche. Luckily for him, the snow had taken the brunt of the fall, but that was a small comfort. Slowly, he opened his eyes, his vision swimming. Someone was hovering over him. A face, big blue eyes, and platinum blonde hair, close to white. Groaning, he blinked a few times, trying to restore his vision. Nothing seemed to be broken he mused, wiggling his fingers and toes a couple times experimentally. Finally, his vision cleared and he found himself staring up into the brightest, bluest eyes he'd ever seen.

Wait. They were looking down at him. Directly at him. They could see him. She could see him, he realized once he tore his gaze away from those sapphire eyes. It had been a while since he had met someone who could see and believe in him. A life of solitude had grown on him over the past 300 years. Old habits were hard to break.

Unsure of what to do, he tried to rise into the air, to regain some composure. But he could only manage to levitate a couple centimetres, bumping his head on the one hovering above his. Cursing his weakened state, he managed to roll a few metres away and scrambled unsteadily into his hands and knees. Wow. Even that took a lot out of him.

That's when he realized he was missing his staff. Both halves of it. "My staff! Where is it?" He coughed

[Ayesha]

Anna climbed out of the sled and walked over to where her sister was looking off into space. She was bent down and suddenly acted like someone had hit her on the forehead, because now she was rubbing her head. Anna squinted and tried to figure out if her sister had gone off the deep end. But no, she must not be, because Olaf was giggling and talking about a boy like Elsa. A boy like Elsa? Anna felt more confused than ever.

"Your staff?" Elsa stepped away from the man. He was acting a little crazed, but it did seem like he had fallen and hurt himself, so maybe being a little crazed was understandable. She looked around, trying to find his staff, but figured the snow had covered it. Should she expose her power and move the snow around? She wasn't sure, but for some reason she felt this weird connection to this man. Almost like she could trust him not to freak out if she did use her power.

"Calm down, I'll help you find it." She stepped closer to the man and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder and looked deeply into his eyes. "Take a deep breath and calm down, it will be okay."

[Ayesha]

((Hey, I'm going to have to take a break for a day or so on role playing. I've got a migraine and they can really last for days. I also have a job interview tomorrow and if I get hired, I will be online less, so I wanted to give you a heads up!))

[Nine]

"You don't understand..." Jack trailed off as the girl placed a hand on his shoulder. Something within him tingled. His powers stirred within him. Confused, he stretched out a hand and placed it on her face. Using the other to brush a strand of hair out of her face. Realization dawned on him as his powers happily spun around the girl. "You do understand. You're like me!" Jack grinned and floated to his feet. His new discovery seemed to provide him with a newfound strength.

"That also explains the snowman. Hmm. Exquisitely crafted if I do say so myself," Jack floated to where Olaf beamed up at him. "Your creator must've been quite the master," he winked at Elsa as Olaf giggled below him. "Oh. And what's this? Your own personal little snowstorm? My my my, just full of surprises aren't you. Did you know. The North Pole has peppermint flavoured snowflakes?" Smirking, he waved his hand giving Olaf's personal snowflakes a pinkish tinge. "Mhmm delicious."

Another set of wracking coughs brought his attention to the more important matter. His staff. Suddenly he felt drained and collapsed into the snowdrifts once more. Creating peppermint snowflakes took a lot more out of him than he thought.

(That's totally fine. Take all the time you need. I need to get unpacked and caught up with assignments)

[Ayesha]

"I am like you?" Elsa murmured, pondering the thought. What could he mean? She felt her face heat up when this stranger suddenly placed his hand on her cheek, and moved her hair around. She didn't normally blush, considering her power usually kept her body temperature nice and cool, but with this man, it seemed different. She reached up and touched where his hand had been. Sure enough, her cheek felt very warm. She watched, her eyes wide as he went on, her eyes widening even more when snow started to swirl around him. A giggle escaped her lips when he made Olaf's flurries turn pink. The sound flustered her.

Elsa reached out and caught one of the snowflakes, amazed as she watched it melt in her hands. She couldn't turn the snow or ice different colors, at least she had never tried to. She titled her head to the side as she watched this man. North Pole? She had never heard of that place before. Christmas was not exactly an Arendelle tradition; had she known about the holiday, she would surely suggest her people celebrate it.

"I'm Olaf, and that's Elsa, the Snow Queen." Olaf pointed at Elsa. "I kike warm hugs!" He held his arms open for a hug, but everyone ignored him. He wasn't phased, though. "Mr, the confused one is Anna." He laughed in a high pitched giggle. "She can't see you."

Elsa tore her eyes away from him and looked at Anna, who was looking at her and Olaf with her mouth hanging open. "Anna?"

"Someone here is going crazy," Anna said, "I don't think it's me this time."

"Wait in the sled, I'll explain it later."

Elsa walked over to the man and knelt next to him. She once again, put her hand on his shoulder and set down. She looked at the snow around them and held up her free hand, ice and snow started to form around her hand and before everyone knew it, all the snow near them was swirling up in the air. Elsa could see two parts of his staff swirling around as well. She slowed the swirling snow and then with a burst of concentration, she froze it all. It looked like a small ice mountain. Olaf walked over to where the staff parts were, catching them in his snowman arms when Elsa melted the section they were frozen in.

Olaf waddled over to the man and Elsa and placed the parts between them.

[Nine]

Jack sighed and rolled over onto his back. "Not many around these parts can see me. Only those that believe in me, truly believe in me do," he stared wistfully into the sky. He was a long ways from home. It had been ages since he last encountered someone else who would play with him. But that was part of the job he surmised. Even the Guardian of Fun couldn't have fun all the time. "But forgive my rudeness. I have yet to introduce myself. My name is Jack Frost, the Official Guardian of Fun and the Manifestation of Winter. Although I do wish we would've met in more pleasant circumstances. I am pleased to meet both of you. And Anna, who can't see me," he grinned and gave them both a lazy half salute from his lying down position.

Entranced, he watched as the snow and ice started dancing around them at what seemed to be Elsa's signal. Despite being one with the snow and ice, it still took his breath away when he watched his own element in action. This time was especially fascinating though, mainly because he wasn't the one behind it all. He could feel each flake of snow spiral this way and that, each crystal of ice glitter in the sunlight. He could feel the sheer exhilaration and glee as the snowflakes and ice crystals twirled around each other in the air. But then they were changing, merging, growing larger, stronger, tougher. Jack could see his staff, in the middle of the ice. Still in two halves the blasted thing was of course.

Wincing, Jack sat up and waited patiently as Olaf and then Elsa transferred his staff over to him. Now if only he had the strength left. While he did repair it last time, he wasn't sure how it faired under the rage of the bolt of lightning. With a grimace, he lifted the two halves up and gently held the broken ends together. The ends fit perfectly together like two puzzle pieces. Closing his eyes, Jack drew up what was left of his power, not much at all, and pushed it into the staff, trying desperately to reconnect them. There was a weak flash of light and the snow swirled gently around him. But as quickly as the flash of light had come, it disappeared and the halves fell to the side, uselessly.

Jack fell backwards, "I can't do it." His voice cracked. This was the first time in a long time that he felt a sense of worry wash over him. He had no way of contacting the other Guardians and now he had no power left.

[Ayesha]

"He said, "Nice to meet you, Anna." Olaf waddled over to her and got on the sled. He knew this time was for Elsa and Jack Frost. Anna would probably believe in him soon, though, because she trusted her sister, no questions asked. He smiled his goofy snowman smile. "It's a young man. He looks Elsa's age, but he's a lot older." He just knew this fact. "He is the Official Guardian of Fun and the Manifestation of Winter. Did you know there were guardians?"

Anna just shook her head, looking dumbfounded.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Elsa asked as she watched Jack Frost try and put the pieces back together. She inwardly winced when nothing happened. She felt for him, she really did. It was almost like she could feel his suffering. Could it be because they both shared the elemental powers that controlled snow and ice? She wondered what the staff was used for? Did it help control his powers? She did not have anything like the staff to help control her powers, but part of her could relate. At one point, she had used gloves as a way to help suppress her power. It wasn't the same, of course.

"How can I help, Jack Frost? Is there something I can do with my power?" She slightly blushed, looking down at the snowbank beneath them. "But to be honest it has only been a month since I've really let my power be free. I hid it so many years out of fear of rejection, and because..." She trailed off.

"That's a story for another day," she said softly. She had a feeling she would be seeing a lot of this Jack Frost. Part of her really wished for it to be so.

[Nine]

"There's nothing. It's all my own reckless fault, too much fun can be a bad thing I guess," Jack chuckled weakly. "Remind me not go racing lightning bolts next time." He could hear the storm rumble noisily in the far off distance. It was moving away from them, which was a good thing. "You win this time! Next time I'll kick your electrified butt!" He yelled halfheartedly at the sky.

"As similar as our powers are, I'm afraid this is one challenge I must complete on my own. All I can do is wait for my power to return, however long that may take. I don't expect it to take too long though. I do feel right at home here," Jack tossed a handful of snow into the air and watched it sprinkle downwards with a smile.

"Only a month? Why you must be quite talented for you to have such control over your powers already. It took me nearly a decade to get mine under wraps. I nearly set off the second ice age within the first week of getting my powers," Jack rubbed the side of his nose sheepishly. "But why hide it? If I were you, I would've shown the world. There's so many people out there and none of them knew me, knew what I could do, and that maybe I was behind that snow day," he sighed, memories of his life, centuries spent in solitude and isolation, invisible to the world. It was all too fresh, all too familiar.

[Ayesha]

Elsa felt the sudden, overwhelming urge to give Jack Frost a hug. He did seem like he could use one, that was for sure. She could not imagine what it would be like to be like him, a Guardian who could only be seen by people who believed in him. She had never knew of Guardians, but because of her power, she automatically believed in him? That made sense, because even Olaf could see him. She wished Anna could as well. Jack Frost was really an interesting person and he sounded lovely. And playful. Elsa's life had lacked a lot of play. She still missed how she and Anna used to do so many fun things together as young kids.

Going with her gut feeling, Elsa leaned over and wrapped her arms around the snow Guardian. It felt natural, like she had been giving him hugs for all her life. Like she had always known him. Perhaps, in some way, she had, deep down in her heart. He talked as if he were immortal. The idea both fascinated her and scared her at the same time.

"I'm sorry, I just..." She pulled away and folded her hands into her lap. Her cheeks once again grew with unusual warmth. "I just wanted to comfort you. I promise that I don't normally hug people I've only just meet."

She pulled her knees up to her chest and leaned her chin on them. "It sounds painful, but at least you know I will always believe in you. I never thought there would be anyone else out there who could control snow and ice like I can. I hid so long because when I was a child my power... accidentally hurt someone I cared deeply for." She glanced over at her sister when she said this. Anna was sitting with her back facing them, sitting in exactly the same way Elsa was. Knees pulled up, and chin resting on them.

"We were traveling to go to a wedding, but we got lost on the way. Would you like to travel with us?"

[Nine]

How could someone be like him in so many ways but yet be so different at the same time? Jack looked at her with a sense of wonder and curiosity. Maybe the world was an amazing place after all, the other Guardians had pointed it out to him many a time, but he never really took them seriously. Better late than never right? He was so glad that old Nick wasn't around to see him, he'd never let Jack live it down that maybe the rest of those old coots were right after all. Elsa seemed to have everything that he didn't. Well, maybe not everything, but at least she had Anna. While he couldn't see his own sister grow up and go through life, he was glad that at least Elsa would. Nevertheless, he would sacrifice himself time and time again for his sister without any hesitation.

And though Jack was the Guardian of Fun, which meant that surprises were really his thing, he was most certainly surprised when Elsa leaned over to give him a hug. It was nice, different. Nothing like the bone crushing, rough housing, bruising hugs that always devolved into a brawl he received from his new guardian friends but a hug that reminded him of when he was a mere mortal boy again. It reminded him of home. Somewhere that he belonged.

"Its fine. I've just hadn't had much human contact. You just caught me off guard," Jack admitted truthfully.

"Hey," Jack gently held her chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting her face up to look at him. "Accidents will happen. If you're anything like me. And something tells me you are, you'll be fine. The power of ice and snow maybe chilling and cuts like a knife, but its a real force to be reckoned with, especially if you're protecting something near and dear to you. Having someone worth fighting for makes you stronger. And just as you believe in me, I believe that you were given these powers for a reason. Use them wisely and all will be well." He smiled at her, the snow and the ice were finicky elements not everybody could bend them to their will. It took him nearly a century to befriend them and even now, sometimes they liked to tease him.

"Well, it does sound better than waiting in this snowbank as my power returns. You'll have to help me over to the sled though. I think I've exhausted about every ounce of energy I've got."

[Nine]

((My phone posted something random and I can't delete it. So. Yeah. Just ignore this))

[Ayesha]

"I'm glad you did not mind me being so forward," Elsa said, her eyes widening when Jack Frost grasped her chin in his hands. She looked into his eyes, feeling herself nearly falling into them. There was so much depth there. Jack Frost had so many layers, that much was obvious. She smiled at him, feeling very shy all of the sudden. Why should she be so shy? She was a Queen. She had been trained all her life to be the center of attention, while doing her queenly duties, so she had never really been a shy person. A little awkward perhaps, because of her years in isolation, but not shy.

"Thank you, Jack Frost. I never looked at it that way, I guess." Her eyelids fluttered, and a nervous feeling swirled around in her stomach. "I have a whole kingdom to protect and the most important is my sister." She knew she had hurt Anna two times, but now she knew everything had happened for a reason. When she was a child, locked away in the castle, she had never imagined one day being on the outside and meeting people similar to her, or anyone at all for that matter. "I hope I will add more people dear to me that I want to protect."

There was Kristoff, she was fond of him, and of course she was fond of the odd little reindeer, and Olaf had a soft spot in her heart, but really she hoped one day, she could have what her mother and father had.

She stood up, and used a bit of her power to make the snow under Jack Frost raise up and gently guide him to his feet. When he was standing, Elsa wrapped her arm around his shoulders, holding him up with her strength. "I'll be happy to help you, just lean on me. I've got you." She turned her head and looked at him, their noses only a few inches apart.

"It's not far, and I've made a sled," she said with a smile.

((Lol No problem! ))

[Nine]

"Well I don't believe that its everyday that somebody gets to meet a queen, mind you one of ice and snow as well. So please, really. Be as forward as you like," Jack grinned at her cheekily, his playful nature getting the best of him. In all his years, he had never met someone quite like Elsa. Sure some would point out that maybe his judgement of character may not be the most experienced as he had an extremely limited amount of first hand contact. But that didn't mean he didn't spend a lot of time among others, simply observing, following, learning. And it was true, he'd been to the coldest urban sprawls, to the desolate villages in the scorching heat, but there was nothing that could have even began to prepare him for a wonder like Elsa.

"Don't worry, protecting people will come naturally. You're already so very well versed in that art," if Jack knew anything well, other than the snow and the ice of course, it was protection and self-sacrifice. It was how he earned his title after all. You kind of spend a lot of time dwelling on things like that when you're alone. And he had made his peace with his decisions, life was so much easier this way.

Jack felt the snow shift beneath him, easing him to his feet. Really, it was uncanny to see someone else with such mastery over his element. He would never grow tired of this. "Thanks. I'm usually not like this. I'm a pretty good Guardian when I'm not being reckless," he took a few hesitant steps, his pride not allowing him to be seen as completely powerless. At least the sled wasn't far, he'd be exhausted by the time he made it to the sled, but he'd make it nonetheless.

[Ayesha]

"Well this is the first time I've met anyone who had a similar power as mine, or any power for that matter. What else is out there? Can anyone control fire?" She smiled as she daydreamed about that. There was a lot more about the world that she did not know. She put her hand on Jack's back and helped him climb into the sled. Olaf settled in next to the boy and Anna set in the back, still giving her sister a look of disbelief. Elsa felt for sure that Anna would catch on and believe in Jack in no time. She was that kind of girl.

"Don't apologize. I'm sure you are a great guardian and a wonderful person as well." She set down in front of the sled, putting her hands on the front of it. She looked around them and took in the beauty of the white rolling hills of snow.

"Anna hand me the map."

Elsa took the map from Anna and gave it to Jack. "Do you have any idea where we are and how we get here?" She tapped the map where their destination was. "We're hopelessly lost. "

[Nine]

Jack clambered into the sled clumsily, and settled down in it. It took him a moment to get comfortable, his only real method of transportation had been flying for so long, it felt strange to be in a sled of all things again. But it was a sled, and a sled was meant for travelling through the snow and the snow was something he was comfortable with. And of course the curious white snowman beside him played a large part in his comfort factor. He sighed, leaning back. He really was more tired than I thought. "Well there's nobody to my knowledge so far that can control fire. But the Man in the Moon creates new guardians every so often, so it really wouldn't be a surprise if there is one. You should meet old Nick one day, he lives up in the North Pole and its always snowing peppermint snowflakes there," Jack grinned, he had been partially responsible for the flavoured snowflakes. It had been an experiment gone awry but Nick was so pleased with them that they just stayed put.

"Actually I'm still fairly new to this whole guardian thing. I've only joined the ranks of the guardians pretty recently. I've been a pain in the guardian necks for quite some time before joining them. It took them all quite some time to warm up to me," Jack chuckled sheepishly, recounting his past acts of micheviousness with ease. He hadn't lost his prankster side at all even as a guardian.

"Hmm? Glaceberg? Why yes, I love that place. A city simply immersed in all the snow and ice you could ever wish for. There's a castle with windows that perfect tint of blue,like the ice over a frozen lake. And walls so pure, so white, like they had been sculpted out of the snow that it sits in," Jack had been there four, maybe five times before. Each time was amazing and breathtaking. "There's a little path that winds up the mountain, it'll be faster that way."

[Ayesha]

"Oh, I'm so happy, I thought we were way off course." Elsa felt her cheeks start to flush for no reason whatsoever. She turned away from him and urged the sleigh toward the path Jack had indicated. It did not take her very long to find it, which was a real relief.

"What did he say?" Anna asked, starting to believe more and more that there was actually someone there that she could not see. It annoyed her. She wished she could see the boy that made Elsa blush so much. Why did he make her blush? She stared intensely at the back of her sisters blonde head. Elsa seemed to be purposely ignoring her. Olaf repeated everything Jack had said to Anna, adding a few of his own embellishments, talking so much that if he were living flesh and blood, he would be out of breath. Anna turned her attention from Elsa and stared at the little snowman, her mouth hanging open.

Was the place she was going to get married really this extravagant?

Elsa slowed the sled down to a stop when they were nearing the entrance to the city. She settled down next to Jack and turned to look at him. "Should I hide my power from the residents or are they used to this sort of thing?" She bit down on her lower lip and peered deeply into his eyes.

[Nine]

"I don't think you would've gotten lost. You've got a good sense of direction I think. Plus the snow and ice wouldn't have let you stray too far," Jack smiled at her. There were a multitude of times where he thought he was hopelessly lost but everything turned out alright in the end. He always had a sense of things. The wind blowing in a certain direction, bringing a welcomed chill to his bones. A chill which tingled and tugged him along in certain directions, where he was always needed. His entire left side tingled now, it was a pleasant tingle. Curiously warm. Jack tilted his head and furrowed his brow at Elsa, who had settled down to the left of him. Curious, he'd have to investigate this later, when he was recovered.

The looming gates come into view, they're a light shade of steel blue, a thin layer of frost decorate the tops of the gates and the walls around it. "I think you'll be fine here. I trust your judgement," Jack grins as they slide into the city. It was like being home again. A second home anyways. He had been recently declared the protector of this wonderful city, so he had spent a fair amount of time within these walls.

"Jack? Jack Frost is back!" a single child came scampering happily towards the sled, his cries rousing the rest of the people in the vicinity. And suddenly there was a crowd gathered around the sled, all smiling faces, excited to see him, asking him about his travels. "Woah there, Noah. Easy," Jack caught the child who had taken a flying leap at him. Noah grinned happily at him, his two front teeth missing, grey eyes glistening. Jack couldn't help but ruffle the boy's dark chocolate hair.

"Noah, mind your manners please," a girl around Elsa's age lifted the young boy from Jack's arms and set him on the ground gently. She too had that same chocolate hair and storm grey eyes, Noah's older sister. She was pretty, with a different sort of liveliness to her. She studied Jack's face for a moment, "you've gone and done it again haven't you."

"I uh, yeah. Sorry, Hailey," Jack grinned sheepishly, holding up the two halves of his staff. The last time he had been here, he had broken his staff as well. It seemed to be a regular occurrence. "I have your room ready. I thought you'd be back. Although I don't think your friends would be too comfortable at my place. I can set them up down at Fletcher's if they'd like," Hailey took the broken staff in her gloved hands.

"Actually, this is Queen Elsa of Arendale and Princess Anna. They have some official royal arrangements here. But this here will be my stop, Elsa. But maybe I'll see you at dinner? They always have a massive feast down at the castle when I'm back," Jack scrambles out of the sled, assisted by the crowd around him. "The castle's the massive building at the end of the street. You can't miss it!" he called over his shoulder as Noah took his hand, tugging him relentlessly down a side street.