When the newly crowned Queen Jisoo, born with the power of ice and snow, accidentally curses the Kingdom of Arendelle in an eternal winter and flees to the north, the spirits of nature awaken from their deep slumber to reclaim her power and restore...
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Oɴᴄᴇ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ᴀ ᴛɪᴍᴇ on the coldest winter night in the Kingdom of Arendelle, arrived a lone traveller wrapped in a dark cloak. He had come from the northern mountains where snow fell all year long and at the foot of which was nestled the kingdom's capital. The guards shivering in their armor at the kingdom gates let the hooded man through without so much as a glance, as though they saw him not. The traveller pulled back his hood so the silver moonlight shone upon hair as white as snow. His icy blue eyes peered curiously at the deserted streets ahead. His youthful face belied the past centuries he had walked the earth.
It was no mortal man who had passed through the gates. To the common folk, he was feared as Jack Frost, the painter of leaves in autumn and the bringer of frosty weather in winter. To those of his kind, he was Taehyung, the spirit of winter.
“A pleasant evening to you, good sirs,” said the winter spirit with a boyish grin, turning around and waving jovially at the shuddering guards. Despite his sprightly nature, one might say that the winter spirit sported more of a ghostly pallor than the faerie glow typical of other spirits. He was met with chattering teeth in reply.
“I can’t wait for this winter to end,” said a guard to the other one.
“Reel in that tongue when the ice harvesters return. We’d be deprived of shaved ice come summer.”
Taehyung’s hand dropped defeatedly at his side. He had watched the harvesters break apart his creations into ice blocks which were then hauled all the way to this town. Once they were gone at sunset, the winter spirit would freeze over the lakes and rivers again … only for the ice harvesters to repeat the process on the next day. He was intrigued by what happened to all this ice. With keen interest, he listened to the townguards; his ice was used for desserts and storing food for long periods of time. Its main purpose was for trade with other kingdoms.
"Beware of humans," had warned the spirits of nature a long time ago. "Stay away from humans. They only think of themselves."
The spirits now slumbered indefinitely in the Enchanted Forest, after having observed for millennia that the elements of nature coexisted in harmony. Today, Taehyung had at last made up his mind to join them. Yet, here he was, disobeying their ultimate warning to satisfy his one and only wish.
The winter spirit was fascinated by humans, of the way they adapted to their surroundings and worked together in overcoming adversity. He wanted to know more about them, about the bonds they shared — the way they reached out to each other, helped each other and cared for each other.
He had tried to form a bond with the water spirit — making a friend, as the humans would say. The other spirits could not comprehend his sincere sentiments, for human emotions were foreign to them. Unable to feel joy or grief, anger or fear, they existed to preserve the balance of the world.
"Human emotions are a weakness," said the fire spirit. "If I could feel them, the forests would end in flames."
"Human emotions cannot be trusted," said the air spirit. "If I could feel them, storms would ravage the land."
"Human emotions push you to madness," said the earth spirit. "If I could feel them, the earth would shake and break."
"Human emotions are unpredictable," said the water spirit. "If I could feel them … the rivers would flood, the oceans rise, and the rain fall forever."
The winter spirit disagreed fervently.
"And if you could feel them," added the water spirit, "an eternal winter would spread across the world."
Taehyung shook his head, shrugging off those thoughts. Heeding the spirits' warnings he had always watched humans from afar and never dared draw close until this day.
“When’s His and Her Majesty’s child expected?” one guard was now asking the other.
“My wife said it could be any time now. She overheard the head maid …”
“During the coldest time of winter? Such bad luck for their firstborn —”
“Shhh … Hold your tongue. Someone might hear you.”
A low sigh escaped the winter spirit’s pale lips. He went on down the main street. The guards’ voices resounded faintly in the distance.
Taehyung could spot the spires of Arendelle Castle over the tiled roofs. As he neared the first few houses, he approached the closed windows and knocked lightly on the frosted glass. No one answered.
No one ever answered him. Whenever the winter spirit had chanced upon a group of men climbing the northern mountains where he dwelled, he had tried calling out to them in vain.
He longed for the day when humans would finally see him and talk to him. Animals could feel his presence, yet they cowered from his touch. Their instinctive fear saddened him. Some slept throughout the winter, hidden deep in burrows far from his cold embrace. Flowers drooped and shrivelled at a brush of his finger. Leaves yellowed and dried up at the sound of his laughter.
Taehyung bounded down the cobblestone path, snow dust flurrying around him. Flickering candles sat in lampposts bordering the street; with a flick of his slender fingers, the frigid kiss of frost spread over the glass cases. The fern-like patterns formed on the road beneath each of his footsteps. High above, the bright full moon was his only witness.
The main street led to a wide square overlooking the fjord. A long, wide stone bridge stretched from the square to the gates of Arendelle Castle. Built in the middle of the water, the castle guarded the fjord like a solitary sentinel between the sea and shore.
He let the winter wind, created from his own magic, carry him over to the castle. It dropped him on one of the many balconies, from where he sat and watched the people inside.
Alone.
He wished to join them and ask about the commotion.
"Everything must be ready for the child," said a woman to the others. "Hurry up, hurry up."
They talked animatedly, laughed together, and moved about frenetically. But he remained still, observing silently. He wished that at least one among them would look his way, would smile at him, and would invite him in. They walked past, oblivious to his presence — oblivious to his existence.
At that moment, a single, distinct sound rose from the castle.
It was a baby's cry.
The long-awaited child of the King and Queen of Arendelle was born. It would be a child who, as he had already witnessed, would be loved by all.
I don't belong among them. Never have I, and never shall I.
The spirits were right. There was no point in this vain wish of his.
Join us in eternal slumber, they had told him. Never meddle with humans. Never be swayed as they are by emotions.
Taehyung looked up at the starry sky, an unfathomable look in his eyes. He had grown weary of wandering the world. He was doomed to solitude.
Alone, always.
My eyes feel warm.
A single tear rolled down his cheek. The tear glowed and crystallized. From the round drop sprouted symmetrical branches and sharp edges, taking on the shape of a snowflake. Within this flower made of ice and snow was born a wish.
The winter spirit's one and only wish.
Silently, it was whisked away by the wind.
"The time has come," his voice murmured, "... for eternal sleep."
The spirit of winter turned around towards the northern mountains. With a leap, he vanished into the night.
