———————
𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐔𝐃𝐄 𝐈: 𝐀 𝐆𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐒𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓
———————

18 | THE MEETING OF TWO LONELY SOULS

———————

25 YEARS BEFORE THE PRESENT DAY

FOR Jack Frost, it was like any other day. He may have been considered the King of Winter, but he was a free-spirit. When he was not stuck delivering winter or cold around the world, then he simply went where the wind took him.

And right now, the wind was taking him over the vast ocean. He howled as he soared above the oceans, spinning his large staff as he went.

Jack Frost was a tall and slender man, easy for the wind to pick up. As he flew, he stuck one of his bare feet into the water, watching the ripples take form as he rocketed. The ocean felt nice against his cold foot, small shards of ice appearing in the waters where he touched.

The large staff in his grasp was wooden: it was crook-like at the very top and frozen toward the bottom, nevertheless, it was his trusty tool. The staff was often used to help Jack when he chose to release powerful blasts of ice and winter.

However, rather than call it staff, Jack referred to it as Twintender. He could not exactly remember when he named it that, he just knew that he had been calling it that for a long while.

Jack was very old, so old that he could not even remember his own origins. All he knew was that he had been around for a very long time, and in that time—he constantly delivered and ruled over winter.

Other than that, well... Jack was not sure of his purpose. He didn't really have any hobbies outside of freezing things, playing mischievous lighthearted tricks, or sleeping.

Yes, Jack Frost slept a lot in his spare time.

It was not that he needed to sleep either, because he knew well enough that he could stay awake for centuries if he so wished. However, it was more about the fact that he got bored and there was nothing else to do, so he just slept.

And slept.

And slept.

And slept.

Usually, he slept during the spring and summer but awoke at the end of autumn.

He supposed outside of sleeping, playing pranks, and freezing things—he rather enjoyed having fun with children. He liked the way he could make kids laugh and have... fun. Jack was childish like that, he was similar Peter Pan in the sense that he never grew up.

It was because of this that he and Peter Pan were friends. Both were immortal—well Peter was as long as he stayed on Neverland—and they both loved acting childish and causing mischief. However, seeing as Peter did not leave Neverland often, it was always Jack who had to visit—and even then Jack only visited about every few years or so.

Jack may have been centuries old, but he did not look a day over nineteen. As far as he was concerned, he had always been like that, his appearance never changed. Other than when he chose to change his clothing that was, but even when he did change his clothes—he still never wore shoes.

God did he hate shoes, they were just so suffocating!

Re-approaching the fact that Jack preferred children over adults, it was not that Jack disliked adults—it was rather that children beheld so much wonder and hope and fun.

Children could see the things adults were unable to, the first years of human life was always when a person was the most lively.

It was this lively nature that drew Jack in because he loved anything to do with adventure... and that was why his curiosity was taken when the ocean which he was crossing started getting darker and stormier.

He frowned catching sight of some of the gargantuan waves, he easily avoided them—instead choosing to look to where the ocean was getting worse. On one side of him was where he knew the dark sea to be, the place where the ocean hits its worse. On the other side, it appeared that the ocean calmed down as it had been before.

Two directions, which shall he choose?

Jack frowned, tilting his head at the dark sea. He had been around it many times before but the spirit realized he had never actually traveled to see what was beyond it. He always assumed it was simply a rougher part of the ocean that would eventually circle back to a calmer part—so he never bothered to travel through it.

However, this time, Jack felt as though something was calling him toward the dark sea. There was a pull that came deep within and if Jack listened hard enough, he swore he heard a sort of singing howl traveling by wind.

It was like a siren's ringing tone, as though it were physically tugging Jack in its direction.

"Hmm? What does this mean, wind?" The young-looking spirit chuckled, his icy eyes flaring with adventure.

The wind responded by blowing him in the direction of the siren call. Jack's messy white hair blew with the wind causing Jack to let out a loud laugh.

"Haha, okay, you sold me! Across the dark sea I go!" Jack hollered, before changing the course and racing to the insanity of the dark sea.

It truly did not take a lot to convince Jack Frost. After so many years of the same, even the thought of a mystery was enough to excite him.

The dark sea was nothing to be messed with and had Jack been any normal man, he would have long since been drowned. However, Jack was smart and simply flew above the wild waters, his eyes sharp as he followed the sound.

Jack came to halt when he was met with a sight that he himself almost could not believe. In all of his thousands of years, Jack was truly unsure how he had ever missed the small island—this small island that was made entirely of snow and ice.

A glacier? But no, it was something in between an island and a glacier. A glacier-Isle, and it stank of magic.

Protected by the dark sea was a place that Jack could only describe as his paradise. A frozen island—something that was a surprise to come across. His eyes glimmered while staring at the island, the tug in his chest becoming stronger.

The wind blew harshly on his back forcing him forward. Jack chuckled, waving at the wind while shaking his head.

"Alright, alright, I'm going," the spirit laughed, flying forward until his bare feet landed on the soft snow of the island.

Trees covered in white, bushes and frozen berries, frozen lakes, ice upon ice upon ice—it was a pure winter wonderland. A dream come true.

As Jack walked forward, taking in everything around him, he wondered why had never decided to make himself a place such as this. He was surely capable of it, so what had stopped him?

Perhaps he would live here then.

Jack nodded at that, finding that the idea of this place being his home-base brought a rare warm sensation to his chest. He whistled, throwing Twintender over his shoulder while walking through the frozen forest.

It was snowing, and for once it was not Jack's doing. He frowned at the sense of magic, the magic being unfamiliar and yet oh so warm. It was not his own winter magic, he knew that, but it was beautiful magic.

The siren's howling caught his attention once more, the tug in his chest forcing Jack further ahead. As much as he wanted to explore the rest of the island, Jack decided to follow his instincts to see where it led him.

He furrowed his brows as he came across a light fog, the winter spirit not afraid—simply confused. Jack could see through it well-enough as he was the winter spirit after all, and with a simple flick of his wrist, the fog parted for him.

With a few more steps, Jack once again stopped, his jaw-dropping at the sight in front of him. Standing tall and mighty was a palace made of ice and stone. It was beautifully crafted with the ice weaving throughout the stone, and the pure magic wafting off it made it feel as though it were alive.

The magic tickled at Jack's senses, luring the winter spirit closer. He wanted to stare and admire it for days; however, the wind had other plans and once again blew harshly across his back.

Jack grunted being forced to take a few steps forward. The siren's singing got louder, the tug in his chest feeling as though it were a rubber band ready to snap. Whatever was pulling him was coming from inside this castle, and Jack had the strangest feeling that it was also the cause of this unfamiliar but gentle magic.

The castle was guarded by large ice gates, that though they looked delicate—Jack knew was possibly one of the strongest gates anyone would ever come across. He tilted his head when the gates opened seemingly on their own accord for him, Jack shrugging while waltzing through them as if he owned the place.

In all honesty, Jack certainly wanted this castle and this island, so depending on who was inside, by the end of today he may just take it.

Jack is a kind spirit for the most part, but Jack is also not blind to his own importance. He has been around for centuries and while he may not want many things—when something that he does want comes around, then he definitely is not opposed to taking it.

The already snowy ground frosted over Jack stepped, the spirit practically floating up the large staircase leading to the grand doors. Jack tilted his head and shrugged, flicking his wrist causing the doors to blast open.

Jack has never been one for chivalry... or manners at all really. He kind of just did what he wants when he wants.

He smiled largely at the inside foyer, the smooth ground polished and the walls made up of ice and stone like the outside. Many statues sculpted entirely of ice sat around, the same gentle magic which was heavily attracting Jack like a bee to honey drifting from the sculptures in waves.

Jack admired the statues, the one in the center clearly meant to be the most favored.

Two young teenagers—no older than thirteen if Jack had to guess, were holding hands as though uniting themselves. The girl was dressed in what Jack often saw natives to the forests wear while the boy wore something akin to royalty.

At the bottom, carved into the ice were two names.

𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘼𝙜𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙌𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙄𝙙𝙪𝙣𝙖 𝙤𝙛 𝘼𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙉𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙖

Even with their young age, the love the two shared was apparent—and it sent a strong message. Jack smiled at the statue before ripping his gaze away from it and looking around.

A small squeak of the floorboards had Jack snapping his head to the left and clutching onto Twintender harder. He narrowed his eyes as the tug in his chest became tighter and yet the call of the siren had finally come to a close.

And suddenly, Jack heard the most alluring voice he had ever been exposed to.

"Who are you and how did you get in?" The most breathtaking woman walked into the room, her eyes just that same color of ice as Jack's.

Platinum hair the slightest bit darker than Jack's sat in long waves falling down the woman's shoulders. Skin equally as pale as his, and in age she may have physically been a little older—but Jack knew she was way younger than him.

It was then that he realized the sense of the gentle magic was coming off of her. She was the source of the magic.

Everything about her drew Jack in, he was enamored by this mysterious woman.

——————

Elsa had just been settling into her own schedule of normality. Anna was thriving as the Queen of Arendelle, plans were in way of her and Kristoff's wedding which was to take place in the next year or so, and Elsa had finally finished her beautiful castle.

It had taken nearly three months to completely finish with all of her magic, far longer than her ice castle in the northern mountains took. But then again, this new castle of hers was over twenty times the size of the ice castle.

It had been just under six months since the events of Elsa and Anna taking down the dam. At first, Elsa lived in the Enchanted Forest with the Northuldra, but now she lived in her castle on Ahtohallan. She still visited the Northuldra every day, as getting across the dark sea was not too difficult for her, especially with the water nokk to help her.

The water nokk was her ride everywhere, her and the water elemental had a special bond—it was as though they were partners in crime.

Today, when Elsa woke up, she smiled. She intended to make herself a small breakfast before leaving for the Northuldra. Usually, she spent the week with Northuldra and on the weekends she would visit Arendelle.

Elsa hummed at breakfast, her dress shimmering and hair positively glowing. She found that her magic exceeded what she ever thought capable, her ice powers expanded far beyond just ice and snow.

For some reason that Elsa could not put a finger on, she was in a very good mood. She felt as though something big was on the brink of happening. It was feeling in her chest—a tug if you will that was getting tighter by the second.

It was an odd feeling because rather than pull Elsa anywhere, it was as though it were telling her to stay right where she was because something was coming to her. She shrugged it off and labeled it as one of the many oddities of Ahtohallan. It was a strange magical little ice island indeed, but it truly felt like home to Elsa.

She finished her chocolate pancakes with a large grin, the Snow Queen's love for chocolate coming out. Back in Arendelle, Elsa was the one people looked at for an example—especially her little sister. Therefore, it was harder to do things like this when she was Queen because she always had to be the example.

So while she wanted chocolate pancakes, Elsa would often be stuck eating fruit or something else that was more traditional. But here, she was free to do whatever she pleased. Yes, she may technically live alone, but she really did not consider herself alone.

She had the water nokk, she visited the Enchanted Forest nearly every day where she interacted with Bruni (the fire spirit) and the Northuldra who were as much of family to her as those of Arendelle, and she visited Arendelle every weekend. So no, Elsa was not truly alone.

After breakfast, Elsa made her way back to her room and slid her feet into white boots. She still had a profound love for her snow dresses, but she also realized that wearing soft breeches and a tunic was more ideal for her trips to the Northuldra.

Tying her white tunic around her waist with a belt, Elsa smiled at herself. Yes, this was more like it. She did not bother to do her hair, enjoying the freedom she felt when it was left down.

As Elsa made her way back to her door which she did not bother to close as no one else lived here, she caught sight of a certain silk pair of gloves. She glared at the gloves before scoffing. With a single movement, Elsa had grabbed the gloves and tossed them as far back in her drawers as possible.

She hated those silk gloves with a burning passion for they reminded her of years where she hid out of fear.

So much fear.

She shuddered at the thought, shaking her head. Elsa could not believe how much she feared her own gifts, how much she feared the thought of hurting other people. She now realized that the only one she would hurt with her powers was herself by trying to conceal them. She learned the hard way that her powers were not something to hide or ignore, they were a gift that she had to embrace.

Smirking at the gloves which were far away, Elsa turned back out of the door of her room. It was not until made her way down the South Wing staircase that she heard it.

She paused, her eyes widening at the sound of the front doors slamming open. At first, Elsa thought must have been hearing things, but then she heard the whistle of someone who was impressed and the tight feeling in her chest made her feel about ready to explode.

Like there was some sort of rubberband within her that was about to snap.

In a defensive and silent manner, Elsa snuck the rest of the way downstairs before quietly making her way around the corner to the frontmost foyer.

Who the hell was in her home?

Who the hell was even capable of getting to Ahtohallan without her guidance?

Even further than that, how were they not misdirected by the fog?

Elsa was not sure, but she intended to get an answer. Peering around the corner, Elsa's eye widened at the sight of someone standing and admiring the statue she created of her parents.

It was a smaller replica of the one in Arendelle, the statue that stood for a symbolization of the union between the Northuldra and Arendelle.

Elsa tilted her head, curiosity weaving its way throughout her inner being. The person standing there looked around eighteen to twenty, and he had the most peculiar clothes. No shoes were the first she noticed because how had he gotten all the way to her home without his toes freezing off.

The next was the casual jeans and blue hoodie (and the sleeves oddly enough had some frost marks over them). Once again, Elsa was wondering how this man had not died from hypothermia already, as far as she was concerned, she was the only one capable of dealing with these cold temperatures.

She swallowed at the sight of his white hair which she actually believed was lighter than hers (something that had never happened before) and the pale skin that was the same shade as hers. Elsa had never seen anybody like this, anybody who rivals her in terms of being the palest of more fair-headed.

His side was facing her so Elsa was unable to see his eye color, but she had an odd hunch that his eyes would either end up being the same shade or lighter than her own. Another thing which had never happened.

She frowned the huge hooked staff in his grasp, her curiosity tipping even more at the sight of the frost-covered bottom. The frost markings were strange, they were a pattern she had never seen before, she was not even able to made frost which looked like that.

The tug in her chest was so tight now that it was uncomfortable. She had never felt anything like this. Elsa leaned forward to try and get a better look at the man who she deemed was the most entrancing person whom she had set her sights on.

Sure, Elsa thought that some men and women were attractive, but she never considered herself to be one for love. While she may have been lonely at times, the idea of opening her soul up to someone other than her sister was almost appalling.

And more than anything, it scared Elsa.

But for some m twisted reason, as though the world were playing a joke on her—here she was admiring someone and actually feeling something in her cold heart. A tug, a pull, she wanted to know who this perfect person was. Possibly the only man or woman who had managed to truly capture Queen Elsa's attention like this.

As Elsa moved, the floorboards below her gave a hefty squeak which had Elsa cursing and the person snapping to face her at record-breaking speed. How he had even heard such a quiet noise, Elsa did not know.

However, Elsa had to remain strong, for she refused to be taken lightly.

"Who are you and how did you get in?" Elsa demanded in an even tone, squaring her shoulders.

She nearly crumbled when he revealed his eyes to be just as bright and icy as her own, both of them having a stare-off.

Time stood still.

The connection between them was earth-shattering, it was as though they already knew each other.

The energy which came from both of them was almost too much to bear.

Shaking herself out of it, Elsa pushed the odd feeling away.

"How did you get into my home?" Elsa repeated causing Jack to snap out of whatever trance he had fallen into.

Jack's normal cocky demeanor took play and rather than answer her question, he swung Twintender around and wandered around the foyer.

"So, I'm assuming you live here then?"

"Yes," Elsa growled, as Jack came closer. "Now, I will repeat myself, who are you?"

Jack turned to the beautiful woman with a mischievous twinkling smile. "Why, I am..." Jack spun around dramatically, creating a crown of ice that sat on his white hair in a lopsided manner, "Jack Frost, King of Winter!" He introduced in a tone dripping with something akin to arrogance.

Elsa's eyes widened in astonishment at the show of his powers, the ground beneath her beginning to ice up with her shock. Jack furrowed his brows, looking to where the ground was icing beneath the gorgeous woman.

"You have powers?" Jack rose a questioning brow, pushing himself into Elsa's personal space excitedly.

Elsa shifted uncomfortably but held out her hand for a handshake. "Elsa, Queen of Snow," the title felt odd on her lips as she was so used to introducing herself as Queen of Arendelle.

Jack's eyes lit up, the feeling in both of their chests tightening as it reached its climax. Rather than shake Elsa's hand, Jack grabbed it hand and held it up to his own.

Elsa and Jack held their pale hands against each other, both their eyes widening at the feeling which engulfed them. The rubber band in both their chests finally snapped and they were left with a warm feeling as they gazed into the eyes of each other.

In a flurry of a vortex, the wind blew around the two bringing with it frost and ice. Slowly, Jack clamped his hand around Elsa's, their fingers intertwining. Not that either of them noticed, but ice and frost in the pattern of snowflakes spread across the entirety of the foyer.

Ice and magic blasted everywhere, small frost markings crawling up to where their hands were intertwined. Elsa's long hair flew around from the gusts of wind, Twintender dropping out of Jack's grasp.

And in that moment—despite neither Jack nor Elsa having ever met the other—they both knew that the individual standing there was the only one for them.

——————
CONCLUSION OF INTERLUDE I
——————