Winter Moon (Jelsa)

Chapter 31: Jack

Jack had fond memories of the North Pole. He always felt the most awed at the first glimpse.

It's like seeing flowers in the desert, Elsa whispered down the bond. Incredible.

Everyone was leaning over the railing, staring at the blinking lights of the civilization perched against the snowy mountainside.

But the best part is inside, Jack told Elsa. Inside was where his fondest memories were.

They were mostly of failed break-ins, but still.

It was night when the skyship descended on to the docking area and everyone gladly piled off. A host of elves was waiting for them. They all wore red uniforms with gold buttons and were making a great deal of fuss over the visitors.

"Where's North?" Elsa demanded, eyeing the elves slightly distrustfully.

"I think I have an answer," Jack told Elsa, watching the double doors swing open.

"This is the North Pole?" Rapunzel said, awed. 

"Please, come in!" North called from the entrance.

Obediently, they filed in, Hiccup marveling at the architecture, Astrid smirking at the elves, Rapunzel gazing at the stars, Flynn pondering what the most expensive item was, Merida watching North warily, Elsa staring at North as if he was a target, and Jack remembering the time he'd first entered.

The North Pole was whimsical, red wallpaper, wooden pillars, spiraling staircases. It was the place any little kid dreamed of. Jack always felt excited every time he entered, no matter how old he got.

North, however, looked different each time. Though a certain magical cheer always radiated from him, Jack noted the circles under his eyes and the slump in his posture. His usually easy smile was forced.

Pitch was taking his toll on everyone. Even Santa.

"We will have the skyship refueled and restocked within two days," North informed them.

"Good," Elsa replied. "In the mean time, we need some questions answered. Do you have a library?"

"Right this way." North eyed Elsa in a way that made Jack think he could be nervous. Elsa's gaze was flinty, her spine knife straight. Jack could understand why North was a bit intimidated.

Of course, Jack had never been to the library in the North Pole, but it certainly wasn't for lack of trying.

"Normally, I'd never let Jack in here." North laid his hands on the dark wood of the double doors to what Jack assumed was the library. "However, the circumstances are extenuating to say the least, and the elves don't have the time to gather the research you need. Please don't damage any of the books. Lastly, this library is magical. Ask for a book, or multiple books, and you'll get just that."

With that, North pushed open the doors, exposing the grandiose library of the North Pole.

It was as if they had stepped into the middle of an infinite spiral. The library was circular, railings directly ahead displayed glimpses of the many levels below and above. White staircases, spiraling and crisscrossing the length of the vast expanse could take Jack anywhere he wanted to go. And the books. Of all different sizes, shapes, and colors. They were flying back and forth, up and down, left and right, being pulled and placed in shelves by an invisible wind.

This place is beautiful, Elsa murmured.

Weird as that statement is, Jack replied, I can't argue with it.

Elsa elbowed him in the ribs as she strode past. "Thank you, North. We promise to be very careful with the books."

"Extremely," Rapunzel agreed, kicking Jack not-so-gently in the ankle.

"Ow—of course!" Jack yelped. 

Satisfied, North departed, leaving the group of teenagers to their own devices.

"I need a book on aegis daggers," Astrid decided. "But... how are we supposed to find anything in here?"

As soon as the words left her lips, there was the swirl of wind, and a stack of books floated over and presented themselves in front of Astrid.

"North did say this place was magic," Hiccup said, noting Astrid's shocked expression.

"Yup. I knew that," Astrid responded, plucking the books from the air.

"May I have something about the Hidden World? As well as the Last Sea seeing that we're going to be flying over it. And something about the Immortal Sword if you have that. I need a manual about skyship repair and maintenance. Oh, and get me something about the Magical Power Perception Fluctuation Theory," Elsa fired off requests for the library. "Everyone, grab a stack and a partner! We'll confer in a few hours. The Magical Power Perception Fluctuation Theory is mine."

Obediently, Jack grabbed the books about the Immortal Sword and joined Elsa at the table. "What is the Magical Power Perception Fluctuation Theory about?"

"I'm trying to find answers to why I was able to save Rapunzel. Trust me, I'm not purposefully torturing myself," Elsa answered as Hiccup stumbled past them, carrying a gigantic manual about skyships.

"Makes sense," Jack replied, settling in to his seat with his stack of books. "This is going to be a long few hours."

A/N: 

I'm so, so sorry about the short and boring chapter. I promise to have a more exciting one up soon!