The Child of Frost

A battle's end

Jack's P.O.V.

It wasn't hard to find Fear's hiding spot. While flying in the air, we looked for a place that held the most power. That, and the fact that Fear wasn't really hiding. The long, dark cave made entirely out of ice was also a dead give away.

"Jack, how are we going to take him down? Didn't he take some of your power?" Fawn asked as she met my eyes. I knew she was trying hard to be brave about her fear, but there wasn't really anything I could do to reassure her that I won't let go than by not letting her go.

"Don't worry about it. He may have taken some of my power, but I'm here to take it back. He's not qualified to hold the powers of winter." I gave her a little smile before saying, "hey, we're almost going to land, so try not to be afraid. He just might be able to sense your fear."

Just as I said this, the snow fall around us grew heavy, hitting us all with full force. I tried to stop the impact, but was hit hard on my back, causing me to let go of Fawn as we fell. One by one, our screams filled the air as we landed on the rough snow.

Clapping filled the air as I looked up to see Fear clapping with an amused smile on his face. "Very good show you planned here, Jack. Did you miss me this much that you were willing to return to me so soon?" Before I could even get to my knees, I was lifted into the air as nightmares began to surround me. "I can't have such an irresponsible child like you running around my domain, now can I?"

"Let me go!" I cried out as the nightmares began to suffocate me. I glanced at the others, hoping they were ready for the fight. "Give me back my power! Give me back my life! Give me back my father!"

"I see you finally know the truth. I assume Mother Nature has told you everything?" He asked, not even bothering to be on guard for the others. "It doesn't matter now. I have what I want."

Fawn got on her knees and looked over at us, seeing me struggling for air, she shouted, "let him go!" I didn't want her to gain his attention at all, hoping that would protect her from his power.

"Useless girl. I should have killed you in that storm." He lifted one hand and nightmares shot out to her. Those dark shadows raced for her at impressive speed, but what surprised me was the fact that Marcus jumped in front of her. We stared as the nightmares sank into his body, trapping him in his own fears.

Ron and Shard immediately got to their feet, aiming their weapons at him. Fear laughed as he said, "without Jack, those weapons will shatter. You two are not strong enough to face me."

I began to see the world through tunnel vision, wondering if they would be able to follow the plan. Just as I was closing my eyes, something happened that caused him to drop me. My lungs sucked in air as my vision began to return to normal. Looking around, I noticed we weren't with the others anymore. We were inside the cave.

"Fear, why did you want to kill me? Why did you hate me so much? What did I ever do to you?!" I shouted out, wondering why he started this in the first place. I knew as much as what Mother Nature and Father Time told me, but I need to hear his side.

"Does it matter now?" He asked, trapping me in a small cage of ice. "I have what I need."

I shook my head as I came closer to the bars. "Tell me. I want to understand."

He sighed before saying, "I'm doing this as revenge to your father. He stole someone from me, someone that I loved. I can never forgive him for that." Fear turned to me, showing me the anger in his eyes as he continued his story. "I used to love your mother, but she preferred Winter. I had loved her with all my heart, but when I heard she was pregnant, I felt my heart shatter into oblivion. She had loved Winter so much as to bear his child. Why? Because she valued his power more than my own."

"You used to love Mother Nature?" I asked.

"After you were born, I was pushed out of her life. I was unwelcomed everywhere I went, because no one wants Fear itself nearby. I hated you for that. I wanted to steal you away and raise you as my own. I would've hid you away only if it would hurt them. After I was forced to endure more cruelty, I decided the only way to hurt people like them was to kill the result of their love. I was exiled because of you. When I found out you were living as a human, I tried my best to kill you then. I almost succeeded multiple times, but you were always being protected by the wind or the snow. Eventually, I ended your life. I'm the one who got you lost in those woods. I'm the one who weakened the water to drop you. I'm the one who filled your young heart with fear as the cold ate away at you."

Finally understanding the situation, I stood up and used my power to melt the bars holding me back. "Fear, you can't stay in the past. If you want happiness, you need to let go of all the pain and focus on what you do have. Because of what you did, I was left feeling all alone. I always wondered what my purpose for being here was, and why it was so important that I had to endure the hate I got from everyone. Why was I alone? It's time to forgive everything that's happened, and move on. You never know who's going to come along."

Fear shook his head and fired more nightmares at me. An ice shield rose up, blocking my body from his attacks. With every step I took, ice began to cover the floor, leading towards him. My heart suddenly felt lighter as my powers began to return to me. Suddenly, a large staff appeared in my right hand, the same one that Father Winter used to carry around.

"There is no way you wield enough power to hold that staff! I made sure of it!" Fear began to step away from me, breaking into a run. "It's not possible. How can he hold so much power?"

With a wave of the staff, I began to freeze his body from the bottom up. "It's simple, really. The only reason why I can hold this much power is because I'm a real child of Frost. Because you are unable to forgive the past, I have no choice but to suspend you in this icy prison. Here you will stay, never dying, but never moving, for as long as the earth lives. The humans will never live in another age of fear, and the people of Frost will never have to worry about you again. The damage you have done to them will disappear along with your memory. The damage you have done to me will stay forever, reminding me of all the trouble you have caused for Father Winter, Fawn, and I. Hurting them is something I can never forgive."

"I will return, Jack. You can't kill me as long as there is fear in the world." He glared at me as the ice past his waist, freezing his arms along with it.

I shake my head no. "I don't want to kill you. That is why I'll come back every few years to check up on you. If this ice is ever in danger of being broken, I'll know. I won't allow anything to happen to you. Sleep now, Fear. Time will pass by before you know it."

It looked as if he was about to say something else, but the ice had frozen over his body completely, letting only a slight sound escape. I took one last look at him, hoping that the day when I am forced to return will never come. In order to protect humans, I can not let them find him. Humans sure are curious creatures, and therefore, might come across him. I can't let that happen.