Jack hurried back up the mountain; he worried that the woman would reveal him. No streams of frost were left behind him, thank heaven. He returned to his palace of ice. Even then, he couldn't stop thinking about Elsa; why would a woman be alone on a night as special as this? Especially when she looked so elegant... that wasn't the princess he'd stumbled upon, was it? It didn't matter; she'd probably forget his face by dawn, probably even at that moment.

That was unfortunate for Jack, he had another curse aside from frigokinesis; he had an excellent memory. He never forgot the faces of the horrified villagers that screamed out 'freak' when they saw his power, he never forgot the last glimpse of his father's heartbroken cries when he watched him sprint across the pond and away from home, he'd never forget the face of that beautiful young woman he'd seen.

But most of all... he'd never forget Sophie's face. His sister was white as paper thanks to him when he last saw her, frail and trembling. Jack couldn't believe it had already been three years since he last saw his family. He wondered if his mother still kept her hair short, and how his father probably still had his thinning gray hair. The years had gone by so quickly it seemed. If it hadn't been for his curse, there would be no ice castle on top of the northern mountains. The palace was centered on the hexagonal shape of a snowflake; Jack Frost truly lived up to his name. He walked up the staircase that lead to the large double doors. With a wave of his staff, they opened by themselves and closed behind him. Jack never knew why he made it so exquisite if it were a home just for one. He'd modeled it after Arendelle upon seeing the beautiful architecture of the castle down below.

It was when Pitch was helping Jack learn to control his powers and test his limits... there seemed to be none with his icy magic, as the castle still stood high and proud, no matter the weather. On an impulse, Jack flicked his hand and conjured a fountain of ice, the 'water' being suspended crystalline flakes. He smirked at his own work and walked up one of two curving staircases that joined together on a platform. Another curving staircase branched off the platform up to the small room Jack made for himself. It had a bed, supplied with sheets and a mattress Pitch had stolen for him, the base made completely of ice. Pitch had contributed much more than Jack gave him credit for; keeping him fed, and giving him a proper place to rest.

He couldn't help but feel twice as lonely in his dark room that night... He then did something he always did whenever he felt lonely. He began to create a gentle breeze of snowflakes fall around him. He twirled his staff, creating patterns of ice and snow until they formed the shape of a human face, three of them. Manipulating the frost to come alive with his powers, he created the faces of Sophie and his parents. They smiled, as if they'd missed him... They didn't care he had strange powers. Upon seeing them did Jack grow sadder; they weren't waiting for him to come home, but it was best.

He watched as the faces distorted into the gentle winds and fell with the rest of the snowflakes and looked up at the ceiling. He continued to consciously make snow fall around him as he lied, uncovered on his bed and waited to fall asleep.

Behind closed eyes, he had a memory, and then the memory became a dream.

His sister was still a baby, and Jack was going through a phase where he became so overly-concerned about her staying warm during the winter nights that he lied by her crib to ensure he could hear her breathing. He would often get in trouble for this, but what did it matter when he himself couldn't get cold? He didn't care, for Sophie had become his world. He still wasn't allowed to touch her at this point, and he could only feed her if one of his parents were watching, but for once, he just wanted to hold her...

One night, he'd gone in just to check on her, since it was storming rather aggressively and he didn't want her to be scared. The boy of then eight saw that Sophie was neither afraid nor asleep! She was gazing curiously around with her bright, round eyes, mainly drawn to the shadows of the snowflakes that were being cast from the window. It wasn't until another pair of honey-brown eyes grabbed her attention that she noticed she wasn't alone.

"Are you awake?" He whispered with a smile. "Mama and Papa wouldn't be happy about that. I guess we'd both be in trouble if you weren't just a baby." Even though he couldn't play with her, or even take her precious little hand, he could still speak to her so she knew his voice. Her infant fist balled up the blanket, which she'd pulled into her mouth, but Jack could tell she was listening. "Do you like the snow? I like it too... I wish I could show you, but I might hurt you. Maybe one day, when I'm older, we'll get to play for real and you'll see all the fun we can have." It was more of a prayer than a promise. Otherwise, could he ever truly be her big brother then?

Sophie released the blanket from her mouth and, to Jack's astonishment, she reached her arms to him, cooing like she was trying to speak. He almost reared back from the cradle in fear, but he knew, by some instinct, that she was calling for him. He left the cot briefly to see if his parents were sound asleep in their room before he gently pushed the door to the nursery closed.

With a soft squeal from Sophie, Jack, taking care so that she was still in her blanket, took her into his arms.

So small, so warm, her face all fresh and new under the white bonnet their mother had made for her, her eyes, clear and trusting, looking up at him.

Sister. Brother.

Brother. The word changed everything.

Jack leaned against the wooden frame as she lied against his chest. They both watched the snow fall out the window together... and Jack, knowing what to do just from watching his mother so often, began to rock and hum to her. Love filled the brown-haired, brown-eyed boy's soul...

...and in his sleep, Jack's face twitched slightly in a grimace. Though his eyes were closed, tears managed to squeeze their way out of the corners. His memories were his only companion now.

...

Pitch was in his caved sanctuary at the base of the mountain where he saw the dark trails of ash and sand across the walls slowly tearing and peeling off. His own worries were coming true, phobias and fears of people like him were decreasing.

"Damn it..." He pondered to himself, pacing back and forth, No one believes in dark magic anymore. It was his only source of life, and it was draining, I can't just reveal myself! They won't see me! He silently yelled, walking back and forth, driving himself mad. There has to be something to bring the fear of the unexplainable back, but what? The shadow had pointed out the painfully obvious, for reflecting off the full moon was Jack's ice palace. But the young boy—a young boy to him—he'd worked so hard to toughen him up and patch him back together. Jack Frost trusted him and had no fear of him... Pitch was growing more and more desperate by the hour, each waking moment growing closer to his last. Maybe he couldn't entice fear... but Jack could.

But all this time, Jack sought to isolate himself from hurting anyone; it was fear that kept him away. Jack's fear clearly wasn't enough; it had to grow stronger. If he could just get Jack to make one mistake, just one, and then isolate himself again, he'd have a chance of life again. And if the villagers came after Jack, Pitch could protect him. Jack Frost was powerful too; he knew how to defend himself fairly well thanks to his teachings. Nothing else went better together than cold and dark, right? Pitch had his doubts, how could he bring himself to betray the only companion he'd had?

But this was a life or death situation... And Pitch knew what he wanted.

...

Far down in Arendelle, the guests were leaving the castle, satisfied with the celebration and banquet. Agnarr watched his subjects leave, bidding them goodbye until the next kingdom ceremony. Iduna still wouldn't say a word to him, and he hadn't seen Elsa since he'd called her a...

How could he have done that to his own daughter? What father had the nerve? From outside the castle, he looked up and thought he saw her face at her bedroom window. But he was mistaken, her curtains were still drawn, like always. The memories of when he was close with his little girl were fading. He wished he'd had more time to spend with her when she was a child, to help prepare her to be the next ruler. Maybe then Elsa wouldn't be so hostile towards him. But Agnarr knew he was to blame—there was no point in getting angry with her.

Elsa was closed in her room, wiping her makeup off with a dry towel. Her eyes were still wet from her tears, so getting the mascara off proved to be easier than she anticipated. She let down her long, wavy blonde hair and it hung loose. Elsa had been standing in front of the window, conflicted about opening the curtains to look out at her peers or not. She wondered for a while if she'd see that young man who was sneaking around the garden, but at the same time, she didn't care.

He'd probably just call her a whiny princess—a girl with such a good life crying for 'no good reason.' There was a knock at her door.

"Who is it?" She moaned.

"It's Gerda, I just wanted to say good night."

"Good night." Elsa replied, not in the mood to see anyone. She just wanted to forget all about that night, maybe she could hide in her room for a few days and it would all pass over. Gerda huffed and pushed the door open.

"I don't get a hug?" She knew Elsa too well—that she needed one.

"Oh, Gerda." She opened her arms and let the elderly woman embrace her. Elsa held back more emotions, trying to suck it in and be a woman.

"Oh, honey. It's all right. I'll have a stern word with your father."

"No, don't." She pushed her away. "It doesn't matter who tells him what, it's always the same. The King has his word and I go back to being the 'perfect Princess of Arendelle.'" She took off the tight dress, her undergarments covering her. Elsa began to switch her purple nightgown, "Nothing changes."

Gerda grimaced, "But Elsa, if you don't tell him how you feel, he'll never know."

She scoffed. "He knows. It's that he doesn't care, all that's important is how he looks in front of everyone."

"Now Elsa, how you act doesn't reflect off him, it reflects off you." Elsa was ready for bed, exhausted, but this was still fresh in her mind, picking at her conscience.

"Nobody even knows who I really am. They never see me walk around the towns or get to know me. They only know the Princess Elsa." She emphasized, "Not just... Elsa." Sometimes Elsa felt like only she knew the Princess Elsa; she'd never had a chance to discover who she really was... and heaven forbid she did. Her father made it feel illegal to have that sort of epiphany. Gerda knew her point, but she had nothing more to say.

The gray-haired woman smiled. "Well, what matters is that you know Elsa in the end." Her words would be keeping Elsa up all night, in the end? She'd be lucky if she even figured out her true passion in the end.

When the woman bid her goodnight and closed the door behind her, Elsa sat awake on her bed, thinking heavily with a heavy heart. All night she'd be obsessing over the events of the day. Nothing went right. Nothing for her ever went right. She lied sleepless until Elsa decided it was time for her to figure out what it was really like out of the castle gates, what the people of Arendelle would treat her like if they got to know the true Elsa and not their Princess. She knew they'd recognize her instantly, but it was worth a try—it would be sneaking out the gates that would be difficult. Elsa was growing far too exhausted to plan her actions and drifted to sleep, an idea in mind, a resolution of some sort.

...

Jack stepped out of his palace only to be blinded by the dawn that was creeping over the horizon. Facing his castle east wasn't the best idea, but it occasionally gave him a grand morning view every day, if he were awake early enough. He looked down at the kingdom to see that no one was up and about yet, probably due to the late-night festivities. His fantasy (hardly) came true the night before, and now he could look on with satisfaction—at least he pretended. With his staff in hand, Jack created one, single snowflake large enough to cover his view of the sun. He decided to experiment and he slowly brought his hands together to a close, then spread them apart, creating a bursted flurry of multiple snowflakes.

Jack Frost chuckled to himself as the little droplets of snow gently floated down to the surface; his powers could be so beautiful. He felt something emerge behind him. "Playing with the snow, Jack?" He smirked and turned around.

"Hey, if you can lurk in the dark all day, I can play with snow." He delightedly told Pitch, who grinned.

"It's too bad no one else has gotten to enjoy it." The smile didn't leave his face.

Jack winced, not understanding his comment. "What?"

Pitch approached him and turned Jack's body towards Arendelle, still lifeless in the morning sun. "Think about it, Jack." He licked his lips, dry from the cold air, "Your powers provide great beauty." He alluded to the snowflakes he'd just created, as well as the extravagant castle the two had created, "All I can do is bring darkness." Jack was confused by his sudden praise, "It's a shame no one else gets to appreciate the beauty you bring, except for you and I."

"Wait a minute, Pitch, why are you–"

"Last night I got to thinking, why shouldn't you get to live freely with people? After all, come wintertime, no one will know the difference."

Did he know he snuck away? Why else would Pitch be so eager? "But Pitch, you know what could happen if something goes wrong!" He held out his hands. "I touch something and it turns to ice."

"Everyone is capable of tripping, falling, or hurting themselves." Pitch reminded him, "All they have to do is be careful." He smiled, almost eerily—but that was Pitch's casual look. Jack looked at his bare hands, a blizzard howled through his body... Maybe Pitch really did want him to get his chance to be a member of society again. Like everyone else, he just had to approach everything with caution, stay safe. But everyone knew everyone down there. Who would he be to come skipping in?

"Do you really think I'd fit in down there?"

"I can't imagine why you wouldn't."

Jack considered the idea for another moment. Surely many people wouldn't be out again today; everyone had been up all night before! Here he was getting another chance... why was he even questioning it?

"All right..." He looked down at Arendelle; a few people were beginning to enter the town square. This was his chance to feel human again, to fill that hole that had been there all his life. "Pitch, will you watch my staff?" He handed it to his trusted companion, who grabbed it with relish.

"Absolutely."

"But if something goes wrong..." He hesitated, "I..."

"Jack..." Pitch patted his shoulder, "You can always start over." He looked at Pitch with his striking blue eyes... He was right; only this time, rejoining society, that was his starting over.

"Okay..." He took a few steps down the steep mountain—he had a long path ahead of him, but the farther he got down the mountain, the lighter his steps got as he grew more and more excited. All this time he was capable of being a member of society again. But Jack reminded himself the golden rule of his family look-don't-touch and the golden rule of everyone else, be careful.

This was it, he thought, this was finally it!

...

Breakfast was uncomfortable in the castle's dining hall. Even the servants were silent as they brought the family their plates of food. Iduna's glares traded back and forth between Agnarr and Elsa, both too stubborn to admit fault, but also both too guilty to try and start over. Iduna sighed and quietly ate.

"Your Grace," said Kai, hurrying in the room. Agnarr looked at him but kept chewing. "I noticed the strangest thing in the garden. One of the juniper trees was dripping wet... and when I took a closer look at it, it almost looked like the leaves had been... frozen?" He knew it was as crazy as it sounded.

"One of our plants froze during the Midsummer festival?" Agnarr repeated just to phone in the ridiculousness.

Elsa's mind went elsewhere as the conversation went on. The young man she'd seen... he looked like winter incarnate! But surely Kai was exaggerating and someone had pulled a prank on him. Plus, it had been dark; no one was actually that fair-skinned!

"I'll take a look myself if that'll ease your worries."

"Yes, your Grace."

"Dismissed."

Kai hurdled off, always on the move. An idea suddenly struck Elsa. "I'll look for you, Father." She tried to sound generous.

"Elsa?" Iduna quirked a brow; she hated gardening. Anything that dirtied her hands annoyed her, even in childhood.

"It's just to check over the flowers, it won't take but a minute. I know you've got so much more to do, Father." It was true—the days following a festival were often full of negotiations and tax business. Slacking off was no longer an option once the party was over.

"It would save me the trouble." He replied awkwardly. "I don't see much need for it, though."

"Oh no, I'll do it." Really, would she miss this opportunity to perhaps sneak away and have a day out? Of course, if she got caught, she'd never be allowed in the garden again! Agnarr seemed indifferent, and so she took that as a yes.

Elsa was surprised by what she found. The juniper tree actually had been soaked with cold water! "What the...?" She said to herself. Had it rained overnight? That didn't make any sense; nothing else was wet, and their rainy days were over this time of year. In the midst of her contemplation, she saw the garden gate that led out to the courtyard, which then made for an easy exit into town. The blonde princess looked over her shoulders to see if any guards were around to spot her. The last thing she needed was to have an 'escort' following her around dictating her every move.

She approached the gate with caution. It wasn't hard for her to hop over, especially for how tall she was, but her dress didn't allow for anything athletic. She took her chance and pulled on it slightly—it was open! Elsa beamed and hurried to the other side, carefully pulling it back closed. That had been too easy.

...

When Jack reached the town's outskirts, he questioned himself again, as he had been the entire way down. What business did he have there? Was Pitch sure of what he was saying? He hadn't steered him wrong before, but Jack didn't know what he'd done for him to suddenly change his mind about him going to Arendelle.

What if he knows I snuck down? He thought to himself. Is this some kind of test? Test or no, he'd come too far to just turn right back around. As he'd concluded, there weren't many people out that day. Just a few stands open and children playing. He remembered watching kids run around just like they were now from his home window... now here he was doing the same thing from behind the city walls. Always observing, never participating.

Just being this close to other people... that was enough. But Jack felt greedy; he wanted someone, a real person, to speak to. Anyone to know he existed... even if it were just for today. The woman last night had... but what were the odds of— wait. There she was!

Elsa was strolling by the harbor, looking at the waters of the fjord. She really was beautiful! If she'd lived in the village he'd grown up in, the boys would've been begging to be betrothed to her. Jack couldn't believe his luck; the first person in years to see him was there yet again... but what would he say to her? Why would he even bother trying to talk to her? Certainly she was married or engaged; she looked to be at that age. What were all these strange feelings? It made his entire body tense... He noticed ice forming in his palms and he quickly balled his hands to fists. "No, no. Not now!" He grumbled to himself.

"Princess Elsa!" He heard a young boy's voice say and Jack shrunk back into hiding. She was so close now!

She knelt down to the boy's height. "Why, hello there. Were you at our Midsummer party last night?"

"No. Mom said it was too late for me to go."

She laughed. "Well guess what, tell your mother it's my royal decree that you be invited to every royal party in the kingdom."

"Everyone?" He gasped excitedly. Elsa nodded. "Yay!" He danced around and Elsa held back a laugh. Jack's chest felt heavy. "We're playing hide-and-seek, will you play with us?"

"I'm afraid I can't right now. Maybe next time."

"Ah, grown-ups never have any fun." His statement only made her laugh harder and he rushed off to his gaggle of friends. She turned her head... and her eyes met Jack's! He'd been so intrigued by the interaction that he forgot he was supposed to stay hidden! Elsa, a slave to her own curiosity, approached. Jack tensed up. He had no idea what to do!

"Are you playing hide-and-seek?"

Jack thought maybe she was talking to another child, but she stayed silent. When he looked at her, he couldn't believe how close she was standing. Was this real? God, he was so nervous! "Me?"

"Who else?" She smiled, "Am I about to blow your cover?"

"No, no! Me? No." He tried to stand up straight. Was that how he was supposed to act around a princess? Around anyone?

Elsa scanned him up and down. "I don't think I've ever seen you before... but why do you look so familiar?"

"Beats me. I don't get out much." Understatement, really.

"I do know you."

"You do?"

"Yes... you were at the party last night. In the garden." Jack was at a loss for words. "What were you doing out there, all by yourself?" She crossed her arms. Jack took it as an affront, when really she was just playfully inquisitive. He stammered away for a moment, but then Jack wondered something himself.

"What were you doing out there all by yourself?" That had caught her off guard. "You're the princess, I figured if anyone's gonna be enjoying the party, it's you."

Elsa's face sunk. "So you think just because I'm a princess that I ought to shut up and enjoy what's given to me?"

Where had that come from? "What? No."

"I suppose you think I should be in my castle and not wandering alone like a commoner."

"Whoa, whoa! I wasn't saying that!" He replied quickly. Elsa looked away. "I'm sorry if I said anything that offended you..." Really, Jack had no idea what he said at all to set her off!

Elsa sighed and unfolded her arms. "No, I'm sorry." Jack winced at her. "I'm just... not used to speaking this way with other people."

Jack's heart skipped a beat when she said that; had he heard her right? "What do you mean?"

She gave him another intrigued look. "You really must not get around much to know I never get to leave the castle."

"You don't?"

"No." They both looked at it. Elsa sighed lamentably. Jack had always thought whoever lived in the castle were the luckiest people alive; to never be lonely and never worry about having nothing to do or not having shelter. Had he been wrong?

"It's a beautiful piece of architecture."

"It is. Just like how birds are put in the prettiest cages." Jack looked at her in understanding—his ice palace was just as beautiful... but that didn't take away how he had nothing there. Nothing but his memories and secrets. He wanted to say something, but he couldn't. What would it matter to her? "Um, anyway." She quickly felt awkward, as if she'd said too much. "You probably don't want to listen to a princess ramble about her life."

But he did! "No, I do. Er, not like that, but... I like that you have so much to say."

Elsa's eyes widened in surprise. "Really...?" She tried not to act too touched. "I'm glad I have someone besides my maid who listens to me." There was a moment between them; obviously Jack wasn't going to say anything. He was quite new at this. "What's your name?"

He forgot he hadn't told her! "Oh, it's Jack."

"Jack?" He nodded. "Jack...?" She expected a last name.

"Frost." He answered like rote.

Elsa wrinkled her brow. "Frost?" Jack looked worried—that wasn't really his name. Should he have told her the truth? Did he even want to tell her anything? "Well, Jack Frost... I'm glad to meet you."

"Me too..." Jack said, feeling his heart speed up when she looked at him.

Elsa was waiting for him to say more. Perhaps he was also a man of a few words. She decided to give him an easy out. "My father's bound to notice if I'm missing for too long. I should go back."

"It was nice listening to you." Was that what he should've said? This was awkward.

"I hope maybe next time you'll have some things to say."

Definitely not. "Maybe." He waited for her to be the first to leave, since him turning around and walking into the woods might look a bit bizarre. Elsa wasted no time in pacing back towards the castle, but Jack stayed to watch a moment longer.

His heart was still racing when he trudged back up the mountain. His hands were shaking, but he wasn't scared like he normally was... it was a thrill he'd never felt before. At least not like this.