The Way Water Remembers (JELSA)

19 - Rickety Old

POV Jack

"-- am falling for you."

Everything around me became hazy and my voice sounded like I was in the middle of some turbulence, high in the sky. I couldn't hear her voice anymore and then I began to see other things around me.

The snowy forest was fading away and I saw glimpses of figure's moving around me.

"What on earth," I hum and rub my eyes.

When I moved my hand away and flickered my eyes open, I saw the yetis running around in a hurry. I turn around slowly and I see two glowing sticks which Phil is waving in the air. Then Phil steps aside and my mouth hangs open.

"WATCH OUUUUUT!" I heard a heavy, deep russian accent yelling.

That rickety old sleigh is coming right towards me.

I was almost stomped over by the reindeers but I managed to dodge. I am laying on the ice floor and breathing in and out, still trembling. Slowly I turn around and sit up. I heard a gentle tinkle and I saw the tiny ice figures still hanging from my staff. I check them out quickly and none of them had broken.

"Jack! What a timing!" Mr. North cheers as he gets off from his sleigh.

"Mm..." I mumble as I slowly realize that I was sent back to the time where I came from.

"Listen, people are losing their faith in you - and in me as well if you don't go out and bring snow days and fun times to everyone right now!" Mr North says and pulls me up from my hood.

"Hey!" I groan and slap his hand away.

"Oh, did something happen?" Mr North asks and grabs a cookie from a plate which an elf brought.

"Send me back. There's something that I couldn't--" I tell him but he hushes me.

"That's impossible. A journey like that is done just once. Anyway...now since you're here you need to hurry up. Everyone has been trying to do your share here but it's not going well," North sighs.

I am still shocked over what he said. I can't go back? I can't meet them ever again?

I glance at the ice charm which Elsa made for me from everyone.

"Jack?" North hums.

"I want to check something," I say and try to get past him. Yes, I need to check if she's still in Enchanted Forest.

"No,remember what happened last time when you left us," North sighs and sounds truly sorry. His big hand was resting on my shoulder.

I glance at the sky one more time before the yetis closed the doors to outside the chamber where they kept the sleigh. I remember it too well, how Pitch tricked me to come by offering my memories. I can't be so selfish again.

A sigh escaped from me and I turn towards North again.

"What do you mean by you can't do my share?"

"Well... everyone has been trying to bring snow from North Pole to around the world but how to say it...well, it keeps melting away without real winter," North explains and I rub my temples.

"Alright, I'll see what I can do. What day is it?" I hum.

"Christmas day. I just did the gift run and you have no idea how many people are upset of not having a white Christmas," North mutters.

"Wait. I was gone for so long?" I gasp. The time was passing by here as well while I was in the past.

"Yes, everyone was waiting here for your return for some time," North says and places his hand on my shoulder. He guides me towards his office.