Hello again. There's chapter 13! Love your reviews, by the way! You may now read.

Disclaimer: I do not own Rise of the Guardians and Frozen.

~ Snow Queen ~

Chapter 13: Acceptance

PurplishBlue Heiress

Jack?

He heard faintly.

Are you there?

He heard a voice again, but more loudly.

Hey...

He can clearly hear it now.

A warm sensation touched his cold face. It's very warm. He tried to open his eyes, and succeeded a fraction, yet the feeling of heaviness in his eyelids fights for the opposite.

Hey, It's me.

He knew. He knew that voice, but he can't quite remember.

It's the fancy snow princess.

Who is it, again?

Then he saw something. A blurry color... A blurry blue...

"B...B-blue..." He croaked, his hand reaching for something.

Blue eyes.

"B-blue... eyes..." He mumbled, brows twitching in realization.

Obviously. He heard her say.

Elsa.

"Elsa?" He said, taking the view of her now vividly-seen innocent face. Her face was calm and soft with her lips slightly twitched up into a genuine smile that obviously resemble a look of relief. It was very warm within him as he looked at her.

Elsa mockingly gasps. "Oh? It's quite a miracle that you didn't kick me out of my snowflake."

Jack managed to smirk despite of exhaust. He can see that the woman tries her best to sooth him. "I... I was a-about to." He joked.

"Oh, stop that." Elsa responded amusingly.

A thunder roar occurred. He saw Elsa's attention quickly diverts to Grim, who's currently floating with a dark cloud below him and an enormous number of banshees and specters hovering above him; it looks like they are ready to attack the both of them. "Snow Queen, you should learn not to get in my way." He snarled.

Jack gritted his teeth. As much as he doesn't want to admit, he's way too weak to fight him. Grim obviously wants to kill him and he doesn't know what to do since his staff is in the hands of his. Without his staff, without his source of power, he's useless. He cannot defend himself from him.

To Jack's surprise, Elsa placed his head softly onto the flat surface. He knew what that means. It's so clear. He knew Elsa much, and based on what he knows, she's going to defend him. It's the opposite of what he wants to happen. He doesn't want her to protect him! Not because he hates her, but rather because... Because...

He wants her to be safe.

She was about to stand up when Jack tightly took a grip around her wrist. "N-no... He'll just m-manipulate you!" Stay here!

"H-he'll just hurt you." Please just stay...

"H-he..." Stay.

"He-"

"Don't worry about me," She smiles warmly at him. His heart suddenly skipped a beat. Her smile... It's so... real.

She placed her hand over his. "I'll be fine. Just this time, let me protect you." She said as she squirm her hand out of his grip.

"Just this time, let me protect you."

Why?

Jack just watched as Elsa made another snowflake in front of her. She hoped onto it and faced him, flicking her wrist that made the snowflake, where Jack is currently sitting, flew away from her. Before that, Jack can see an apologetic smile plastered on her face.

"No! Elsa!" He shouted as the snowflake bolted away from her. He's too far now and all he could see is Elsa's tiny figure.

Jack felt his body tense up as he realized that he's too much far from Elsa. He's there, alone, watching as the other guardians fought with the ghosts. Luckily, the ghosts don't see him otherwise he'll be in trouble.

But that doesn't seem the concern to Jack. He felt useless. He can't fight now for his staff is nowhere but Grim's property now. How would he'll be able to get it back? He doesn't even know where Grim's lair is.

His attention turned to Elsa, who's currently, to Jack's conclusion, having a talk with the spirit of pain and sorrow. Suddenly, his heart felt heavy. She's trying to protect him, when he just failed to protect her awhile ago when she was in a bad state. The heavy feeling of guilt overwhelmed more in his body. If she can defend him, why can't he?

Out of a sudden, he squint his eyes to see that Elsa's form starts to glow. Her whole body glows. Jack raised a brow out of confusion. Why would she glow like that?

Then Jack's attention quickly diverted to the now attacking ghosts approaching her. It looks like the time goes into slow motion as he watched the ghosts surround Elsa's form in horror. He felt his heart sink as the group of black-coated ghosts devours her inside them. There's no response. There's no noise; Just the howling of specters and eerie screams of banshees.

Jack stares hopelessly. Elsa... no... He felt his lips tremble as well his whole body. His little stored amount of energy inside him starts to drain gradually, feeling his knees and elbows weaken as a result. His heart... It felt as if millions of needles just pricked it violently. It hurts too much.

Why such thing has happened to someone who doesn't deserve it? It should have been him. It must've been him. Just because of Elsa's undying kindness, which Jack doesn't approve of, her life has been thrown away as if it was just nothing but trash. All of the bad things he accused her that she possesses vanished like a blown-up bubble. Elsa is not a monster, but a pure-hearted soul. And now she's... It's all because of him... She's...

Could it be...? Then a loud bang echoes through the area. His thoughts where quite distracted because of it. Where did it come from?

Then in a blink of an eye, a blue light exploded inside the cobbled ghost. The ghosts had scattered everywhere, including Grim. His eyes widened in astonishment as hope starts to creep up to his nerves again. The temperature gradually goes down and it made Jack feel the relief he demands to feel awhile ago. He couldn't be much more relieved as he witnessed Elsa's floating form covered in blue light above the scattered ghosts.

Elsa released a wave of ice around her, freezing all the ghost but Grim. The frozen ghosts start to surround the Pain Spirit to create a ball of ice. He was trapped inside and in a second, the ball of ice exploded in much intensity, and all of them fell down including Grim.

Jack's lips formed a triumphant smile. He also noticed that the ghosts fighting the Guardians have vanished as well. It was a relief, until he saw Elsa.

To his worry, Elsa just floats there and is looking at nowhere. Jack froze in his position. Something's definitely wrong. Elsa should have been approaching for now with a smile on her face, saying "I did it, Frost!" but she didn't. She just stayed there as if she was... nothing.

The glowing light that covers her instantly fades and as it did, she quickly fell down. Jack's eyes widens in horror. "Elsa!" He said but right after that, the snowflake that supports his weight collapsed and he fell. It made sense since the owner of the snowflake has collapsed as well.

He tried to balance himself but he can't. He's way too panicked about it, and then he remembered Elsa, who's falling motionlessly down. He balanced himself and straightened his body diagonally, aiming to go towards Elsa.

After a moment, he finally caught her. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and supported her head with his hand. It was a quite relief, yet he realized that they were still falling. Because of this, since he doesn't have anything to do to prevent their fall, he just shut his eyes tight, wishing that his body will make contact with the ground first. It's the only way to protect Elsa.

But to his greater relief, it doesn't have to be the end result. Gold sands made its way below them, catching the both of them in a soft thud. Once landed, Jack softly opened his eyes, sitting up and placed Elsa's form onto the sands.

"E-Elsa?" His voice cracked, lightly tapping her cheek with his trembling fingers. There's no response. She's lying motionless onto the sand.

Tooth made its way to them. She checked Elsa's form and then sighs in relief. "She's fine. She just needs rest." She told Jack, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Jack nodded, smiling slightly. He felt somewhat light now. At least, Elsa's safe. It's all that matters to Jack, after all.

Tooth shouted at North that everything's fine. Right after that, North decided that they should head back to the workshop to sooth Elsa's case. The sands made its way by the sled. Jack hopped in with Elsa in his arms, and then laying her on the side wherein she could peacefully sleep.

After that, a portal emerges as North slumps the snow globe and enters inside.

Jack just sat there, taking several glances at the sleeping Elsa from afar. North had managed to discover that Elsa had critically drained her energy from the attack she made to cast Grim out awhile ago and will be fine. North assured that she will wake up soon.

Jack twitched his brows in guilt. Because of his recklessness, he put Elsa in danger. He put the Guardians in the risk of being forgotten again. He let his emotions drive him away from reality, and it leads them to this.

He also felt guilty at the fact that Elsa defended him while he had failed to do it for her moments before. Again, it's because of his emotions. He let it control him, and that strengthens Grim's abilities because pain is the dominant emotion present in him on that time. It looks like he just helped Grim complete his plan and luckily, Elsa has managed to prevent it.

Now, because of his recklessness, the consequences have devoured his luck. His staff, which is the source of his power, is gone. Well, he felt like he deserved it, though. It's much better that his staff is gone, at least Grim's plans has come to a failure.

But he's sure that Grim will come out with revenge, and certainly not for him, but for a certain Snow Queen. Now, how would he help her when that time comes?

"Jack?" He came out from his thoughts when the soft voice of Tooth entered his ears.

His eyes moved to where Tooth is. "Hmm?" He responded meekly.

"Is there something that bothers you?" She said.

"Nothing." Many things.

"I don't believe you." Tooth chuckled, sitting beside him. "You're worried about your staff, aren't you?"

You can include that. He thought. He didn't respond nor move. Yes, it was indeed true. He's very worried about his staff, yet there's something that he's much more worried.

He, then, saw Tooth smile. "But I think you're much more worried about her. You've been glancing at her in a number I can't count with my fingers." She said, chuckling lightly.

He flinched slightly, lips formed into a thin line with his cheeks red at the thought. He thought no one will notice. The Guardians have known him as a spirit that doesn't like the Snow Queen that much. He thought they knew that he doesn't hold any warm feelings for her. He thought. But it seems that a certain fairy broke that belief.

Tooth placed a hand on his shoulder. "Aren't I correct?" She asked.

Jack stares at those pinkish-violet eyes of hers, then to the ground beneath him. "Yeah... I guess."

"Of course, I am. It's really obvious, you know."

"What obvious?"

"That you like her."

Jack froze, definitely stunned. Could it be? It's impossible. She didn't even pass as an example of a 'friend' for Jack. How would he like her? And what particularly kind of 'like' does the tooth fairy mean? No... It's just...

"No..." He said quietly yet sternly. "No." He said again but quite louder than the last time. It's not possible.

Then his insights about Elsa struck his mind again. He doesn't like her. He doesn't consider her as his friend. She's a rival in winter. He hates her...

Does he really hate her?

"Ugh... my head..." His thoughts melted as he heard that particular voice. His heart skipped a beat. He suddenly stood up, looking somewhat longingly at the Snow Queen, who's currently struggling to sit up and was fighting North and Bunny, who's keeping her from doing so.

"Elsa, you must rest! You are too weak!" North bellowed.

"I-I can handle myself. Where's Jack?"

"He's fine, mate."

"Is he safe? Is he hurt? Where is he? I must know his condition." He heard her say, eyes widening.

All this time, where Elsa took the worse situation than him, she still thinks of him rather than herself. This made Jack feel guiltier. Had it been Jack who has a worse situation than her, it will be much more annoying for him than guilty. Well, he preferred annoyed than guilty, though. He just can't accept it. How could he think of him when she's in a much worse situation than him?

He felt North and Bunny's eyes turn to him. Because of this, the struggling Elsa caught the view of him as well. He can see the relief in her bright and wide eyes. "J-Jack!" She squeaked, standing abruptly and is attempting to approach her but North had stopped her. "Elsa, you must-"

"Let me talk to him! He should be safe. Please... even just for a minute." She begged, not turning her gaze from him.

Jack turned his attention away from her. His guilt growing more each second her eyes bore into his form.

He heard North sigh, letting his arm fall from his side. Elsa trotted her way towards him, obviously weak due to her several tripping of her toes.

Elsa finally made her way towards him, her hand holding the corner of the table, where Jack was sitting awhile ago, for support. "J-Jack, are you okay?" She said as she breathes heavily.

"I'm fine." Jack twitched his brows in frustration. She shouldn't be like this. She should worry about herself, not him.

"I'm sorry about your staff. If I just-"

"I said I'm fine! Stop worrying about me!" He yelled at her, and then suddenly regretted as he witnessed the astonishment in her features.

Elsa diverted her eyes from him to the side, eyes showing guilt. "I... I'm sorry. I-It's my fault. I'm not good enough." Dang it, no! His insides scream, regretting all of what he had said earlier that made Elsa look down herself.

Tooth gasped, approaching Elsa. "No, Elsa. Jack means-"

"I-I know. I... I will never disturb you again." Jack thought that she's referring to Tooth but discovered that she's talking to him. She will not disturb him again? Does that mean she'll avoid him now?

"I... I've been a failure all my life. I never thought that even I became a spirit, failure still dominates my character. I've risk Sandman's life, and now Jack's... I think failure will live forever within me. So now..." Wait... what does that mean? He thought with confusion clear in his features.

"I decline Man in Moon's request of Guardianship. I'm sorry." Then she said that earned surprised expressions from the Guardians, and this time, including Jack.

Jack's eyes widened as he witnessed Elsa stare deep into his azure orbs. He could clearly see glistening tears welling up her eyes. "I-I'm not asking for forgiveness, Jack, but I'm sorry." She croaked before running away and leaving the workshop despite of North's attempts of stopping her.

The room was devoured by silence. Everyone's still processing the events and occurrence that happened so fast. It was silent, yet tension is obviously built inside. After some moment, Bunnymund angrily broke it. "So now what, ratbag? You made our last hope run away!" He snarled, attempting to punch him.

Sandy took his wrist with his sands, shaking his head disapprovingly. Despite of the tensed situation, Jack doesn't seem to care about it.

Features of a white-blonde-haired woman with tears welling up her cerulean eyes are what Jack is currently thinking about. His chest felt heavy once again. He should be happy right? Because he hates her that much that he wanted her out of his life? Well, obviously not.

It hurts. She declined... because of him. She's also in pain right now because of him; all because of him. Everything that had happened is all because of him.

"Am I... wrong?" He croaked, lips trembling. This took the Guardians in astonishment.

North shook his head. "No, Jack. It is not your fault."

"It's me. It's because of me. Stop defending me!" He blasted, brows twitched together in frustration.

"Yes, it is you." Bunnymund muttered, pacing forward him. "Don't you see, mate? She's trying to help us, to help you, but all you ever did is pushing her away."

Jack turned his head away. He already knew it. He noticed it, yet he didn't neither reacted nor put attention to it, because of his insights of hatred towards her.

"Jack," Tooth said. Jack turned his attention at him with a pained expression. "You need to decide."

North nodded, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Between acceptance and hatred."

"But it's too late!" Jack yelled, feeling his heart sink in frustration. Elsa's gone and will never go back to them. Their hope of surviving, his hope of getting his powers back, is gone. He made her misunderstand that all the things that had happened is because of her.

He won't hesitate to choose acceptance; He badly wants to tell her that he'll accept her request of friendship or acquaintance; He wants to show her that she's somebody in the field of guardianship, but it's all too late. She already declined Moon's offer, and as well his acceptance. It hurts so much. There's something inside him that feels anguish, not because he felt abandoned, but rejected.

"She won't say no to you Jack." Tooth comforted, a genuine smile forming her lips. She held Jack at his back. "And I'm sure of it."

North placed a heavy hand on his shoulder. "Go; tell her that everything she thought are not true. If everything will be better by staying with her, stay with her for while. Everything is gonna be fine, and we assure you of it." North smiles as he held out a snow globe to him. Jack felt his body tense up, astonished at the great amount of hope they're giving him: North smiling at him; Tooth giving him her most genuine smile with her eyes bright and wide; Sandman gesturing two thumbs-up with a wide smile; and Bunny, although brows twitched together, stares at him with glistening hope in his eyes.

He felt somewhat relieved at the thought. The guardians believe in him. They all believe that he can change things from terrible to a better condition. If they all were hoping for a change, why shouldn't he believe in himself as well? "Can I do it?" Jack hesitated for a moment, his hand quite raised for the snow globe.

North chuckled, patting his shoulders in comfort. "Be positive, Jack. Because it is the thing we are expecting you to feel. You are Jack Frost! You are Guardian of Fun."

Jack felt fully relieved now, taking the snow globe completely with determination burning in his eyes. His hands were trembling, but it will not stop him to change everything. He'll bring everything back. He'll bring Elsa back. And no one's gonna stop him at doing so.

"I won't fail you." He gave them an assuring smile, slumps the globe hard on the ground, and entered into the portal.

He landed onto the smooth ice floors of the castle's balcony, where the portal led him. Clutching the snow globe at his hand, he slightly pushed the huge doors open. He purposely pushed it to open a fraction, but it opened wide as if the doors came into life to do it.

Jack was astonished for a while, but then shrugged it off and took an entrance. The castle is dark, only the moonlight from above the night sky has bathed the room to make it from complete darkness to dim-lighted. His eyes scanned the area, until it darted to a blurred figure sitting on the bed. He squints his eyes, only to find out that it's Elsa, sitting on the bed with her knees folded up, her arms wrapped around them with her face buried down. He also discovered that she's been crying, proven by the muffled sobs faintly echoing throughout the area. His eyes softened, expecting to encounter the same situation awhile ago.

He just stood there, staring at the Snow Queen in sympathy. She doesn't deserve any pain right now. Nothing is her fault, after all.

"Elsa." He mentioned her name, his low-pitched voice echoing around. As it did, Elsa stopped, her head abruptly jerked up to stare at the source of the voice. "Jack?" She said. She just sat there, but then looked away. "Go away. I... I don't want to hurt you." She meekly said.

"I know you won't." He said, taking a step forward. Elsa's attention turned back at him, eyes glistening in somewhat hope. "W-what?" She stuttered out, her mouth quite apart in disbelief.

It's there. It's time to tell her everything. He heaves out a slow yet loud sigh, looking straight-forwardly at Elsa's cerulean eyes, blending perfectly with the moonlight. Jack composed himself, looking confident despite his trembling fingers. "Everything that had happened was... not your fault. I-I've been careless, and I deserve what I am right now: powerless. But it's not your fault, Elsa. You kept telling us that it's all because of you, but there truth is... It's all me. Y-you've been incredible..." He stopped for a moment, quite embarrassed at his choice of words, but he continued. "You... You saved me. Although I lost my staff, I'm very thankful that you've saved me, despite my unfair treatment to you. I've realized that you're nothing but a kind-hearted spirit; that my accusations of you were nothing but the opposite. And because of that..." Jack stopped for a moment and took a breath out of him. "I'm very sorry. I'm sorry for all that I gave you." He said with his eyes focused at Elsa's.

He saw Elsa tense up and widen her eyes, staring shockingly at him. He stared back determined despite her melting gaze. "If you're forcing yourself to-"

"I'm telling the truth. If I were to feel the opposite, I shouldn't be here for this moment." He said, taking another step forward. "Elsa I'm getting you back to us. You don't need to decline the guardianship. If you're not ready, then we'll wait. Man in Moon chose you for a reason. Don't throw the opportunity of children's acceptance."

"But I can't, Jack!"

"Of course you can! We believe in you!"

"Even you?"

Jack flinched in response. He didn't expect that, but he just closed his eyes and sighed, opening it once again to look straight into her eyes. "Of course I, too, believe in you. You've done enough to prove yourself to us, including me. Just please, think of it." He pleaded.

Elsa stared blankly at him for a moment, and Jack's growing nervous about it. Will she accept? Or decline again? He's telling her everything about what he feel sincerely, and the thing Jack thinks is that she should consider it.

And to Jack's astonishment, Elsa finally decided. "Okay. For the children, I'll reconsider it." She finally answered, soothing Jack's fear.

"You may go now. You've done enough to convince me with your act of effort." Elsa meekly said, turning her back at him.

Jack stared incredulously at her. All this time, she still thinks that he's just doing an act? Especially to convince her? He shook his head, staying at where he was standing. Elsa stared back at him, perhaps still feeling his presence in consistency. "Why aren't you leaving? It's done."

"I'm not leaving unless you change your thoughts about me." He said with his eyes focused on hers. He saw Elsa's eyes widen, twitching her brows in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Look, I'm here on my free will; to tell you I'm sorry about everything that I've cost you; To personally take you back to us, the Guardians; that I've accepted everything about you." Jack tensed up, but his gaze never leaving Elsa.

"W-what?" Elsa stammered, her eyes welling with so much emotion.

"You were different. I was wrong." Jack said, flashing his rare genuine smile.

"J-Jack..." He saw Elsa clutch her chest, breathing heavily.

"We're friends, aren't we?" He smiled wider.

I accept you.

~ End of Chapter 13 ~

Thank you for reading chapter 13. Finally! He accepts her! How would Elsa handle this? It would probably overwhelm her (obviously though) please review!