Legion Prologue

The first time I saw her was the first time I felt this chill crawling down my spine.

I first saw her on the ice where I was supposedly born. She was standing on the frozen lake, sliding and laughing to her heart's content. She wore no shoes, much like me, making her susceptible to the cold. But she didn't seem cold. She didn't even look cold. She just looked happy. I admired her spirit, her happy-go-lucky spirit, and as much as I wanted to join her, I knew it would be pointless. I had just walked through a village of people who literally passed through me like a mist. Instead, I took pleasure in just watching her do what I love.

Day by day I came back to that same frozen lake just to watch her glide on the ice, and everyday I craved to jump out of my hiding spot and join her. I'd never seen anyone as beautiful as her. Her hair was as white as snow. Her skin glowed flawlessly. Her eyes were the most magnificent dove gray. As she danced on the ice, her dress spun buoyantly like a flower. And despite the cold, her lips were pink like a cherry blossom. Everything about her was just so perfect.

Then I saw the crack. A familiar dread permeated through every inch of my body as it spread from under her feet. She didn't seem to notice. Without thinking I reached out my hand and a stream of frost flew out of my fingertips, sealing the cracks. The girl stopped dancing and turned. Her curious gray eyes were looking straight at me. I pulled back when I realized what I'd done.

I would've hid. I would've just ran like a coward, but then I saw the expression on her face. She could see me. She was looking straight at me. She was the first person to actually see me in the light since I emerged from my perpetual rest in the frozen ice. Now that I'd finally been noticed, I had no idea how to react.

"It's about time you came out," she said. Her voice was light and sweet and welcoming. It told me I had nothing to fear.

"Y-You…" I stopped and coughed. My voice was hoarse for some reason. "You knew I was there?"

"The whole time," she said proudly.

"Why didn't you say anything before?"

"Because I was waiting for you to come out." She jumped off the ice and on to the clean snow. "I thought you were afraid of me," she teased.

"I-I didn't… I didn't know what to say."

"A simple 'hello' is usually a good start."

I opened my mouth to respond but nothing came out. How was I supposed to know I wasn't invisible to her? I didn't even know who I was let alone what I was capable of. I could've froze her. Wasn't she the least bit scared?

"I know you wouldn't hurt me," she suddenly said. She gently sat on the snow, not bothered by the wetness. "It's okay. If I was you, I would be hesitant to talk to me, too. And I wouldn't want to waste my time."

"Why is that?"

"Because in a few days, I'm going to disappear."

I joined her in the snow. "You mean you're leaving?"

"Something like that," she replied nonchalantly. "I can't stay in the same place forever, not when I'm so alone. I thought I'd enjoy my last few days here enjoying this nice weather. I wanted a companion, but my only potential friends are the animals, and they're not very apt to playing." She looked up to a tree where two squirrels were watching them. As soon as she looked at them they scurried away. "When I noticed you hiding behind those trees, I thought of approaching you, but you seemed too nervous for some reason, yet you kept coming back everyday. You must like me otherwise you wouldn't have returned."

I laughed a little. "Yeah, I guess you could say I'm shy. I'm very… different from other people. I don't even know what I am—I mean who I am," I quickly corrected myself.

By the smirk on her face, I knew she had caught my error but it didn't seem to bother her. "I guess we have a lot in common."

I looked at her, mesmerized. She smiled at me as if I was her best friend. I liked it. "I guess we do."

She suddenly looked up at the sky. It was a full moon. "I need to go." She stood, brushing off the snow like dust. Her dress wasn't even wet. "It was nice meeting you." She turned to leave.

"Wait!" I jumped up with a start. This was our first conversation; I didn't want it to end so soon knowing her time was limited. If I were never to see her again, who would I call a friend? "What's your name?" I asked.

"They call me… Wynter."

"I'm… Jack. Jack Frost. Or at least, that was what the moon told me. I don't remember who I am."

She smiled sympathetically. "That's okay. I don't remember much of my life, either. Maybe we can make some new memories."

"Yeah… I'd like that. Will I see you again?"

She nodded reassuringly. "Same place tomorrow."

Gracefully, Wynter walked behind a tree and disappeared. I quickly ran up to see my friend off but she was already gone. The next moment, I saw a light flying off towards the moon. That was Wynter, my Wynter, the only friend I had, and the only light I could rely on in this dark time.

For the next month, it was the same routine. I would return to the lake where I was born and saw her there dancing and laughing to her heart's desire, just as before. But this time I joined her own the ice, showed off my new powers, and she would simply laugh at our frivolous merrymaking. I took her through the skies, we danced through the trees, we even had a few snowball fights, which usually ended in a draw. I had never had so much fun. I didn't want it to end, but knowing it would end some day, I relished every moment I had with Wynter.

The next night I knew would be her last. She was on the lake just as she always was, but she wasn't dancing. She wasn't laughing. She wasn't even smiling. That was when I realized she was leaving me.

"Jack, I want you to have something," she said.

Nothing brought more pain in my heart than hearing those words; this was her goodbye. I knew she was just trying to make it as painless as possible, but it was still unbearable.

"Here." She took my hand and tenderly set down a small, round object before tightening my fingers.

I opened my hand. It was hard and smooth like a pearl. It was laced with a gold band and attached to a frail string. Under the light of the moon, it was shiny and white—pure white, like her flawless skin. "What is it?"

"It's something that is very dear to me. It holds my most precious memories. I want you to have it."

I shook my hand. "No, Wynter. Let's skate. Let's have a snowball fight. Just, please, don't end it like this. You're the only friend I've got."

"It's not the end." She took my hand again. "I will come back, but not for a while." She looked at the sky. It was a full moon. "I have to go."

"No."

"Promise me—"

"Wynter, no—!"

"Promise me," she said more firmly. I kept my mouth shut. "Keep this with you at all times so you'll remember and I will come back."

I nodded. "I will never forget you, Wynter."

A sad smile graced her pink lips. "And I will never forget you, Jack Frost."

She took me in her embrace. I reluctantly put my arms around her knowing I was going to have to let go. Once we let go of each other, I saw her dove gray eyes were glassy. No doubt mine were the same. "And you'll come back right here, right?" I asked. My voice was already quivering.

"Of course." She began to step away, but not before she gave me a kiss on the check. "And remember, Jack," she whispered. "When the moon is calling you, listen."

She backed up until she was at the center of the frozen lake. What I saw next was something I remember perfectly to this day. She was a glowing vision. The light from the moon shone over her until the last bit of her I saw was her radiant smile. She was a pure light. She spun around several times before shooting straight up to the sky, more directly towards the moon. I tightened my grasp on the pearly orb in my hand and clenched it to my chest. When the light dissipated, I never felt so cold. "Goodbye, Wynter."

The next day I didn't see Wynter. Though a part of me anticipated her daily appearance, I knew I shouldn't have been surprised she would not show up. The only friend I had and she was already gone. She had flown off to the moon, the ringleader of my troubles. He still hadn't answered my pleas, my questions—Who was I? Where did I come from? Why was I here? Why was I given this gift?—but those queries were forgotten when I thought of Wynter. Where had Wynter gone? Why was she taken from me? Surely the moon would know. I was yet to receive an answer.

Every year, for the last 295 years, I have come back to the place where I was born, where we first met, in the hope that she would return to me. It had been so long I was starting to give up. I spent most of my days germinating frost, making snow days around the holidays, and spreading anonymous joy to the children who silently appreciated it. I lived by no rules or responsibilities.

I have spent 300 years doing what I love the most in memory of her.

But then one day, on that day, my forgotten search had been revived. Just when spring was about to arrive, Wynter had returned.

-X-

"Alba! Don't go outside without your hat!"

"Sure, Mom!"

Alba Bennett slung her ice skates over her shoulders and grabbed her hat before racing out the door. Winter had always been her favorite time of year, especially near the peak of spring. The temperature was perfect (at least for her) and the ice was always clear, perfect for skating.

She cut through the neighborhood, entering her cousin's yard. She saw her little cousin Jamie playing with his new grey hound puppy. When he spotted his favorite older cousin, he waved happily. "Hi, Alba!"

"Hey, Jamie. See ya, Jamie!"

"Wait, where are you going?"

"The lake! I'll be back later!"

"Can I come?"

Alba regretted looking at him after he asked. He had that puppy-dog look in his eyes. "Um… maybe tomorrow, Jamie. I promise I'll teach you how to skate some other time, okay?"

He sighed in disappointment. "Okay."

She ruffled his hair. "Don't be so down. I'll see ya later."

She ran off to the lake where the smooth ice was waiting for her. She quickly pulled off her boots and put on her skates. Once they were on, Alba glided on the surface. There was something about ice skating, and the winter in general, that made her feel like a free spirit. Her mind was aloof, and she was unaware of all the danger that surrounded her.

After a pirouette, Alba suddenly heard a crack beneath her feet. Looking down, she gasped at the fissure forming in the ice. She was abruptly pulled off the ice and fell back into the snow. She turned and saw a boy with white hair. He was pale and his frosty eyes held fear and shock.

"Who are you?"

He stepped back a bit, as if she were some kind of disease. "Y-You can see me?"

"Of course I can. You saved my life, didn't you?" She stood up carefully. "Wait, are you trying to prank me?"

"No! It's just that…" He gazed into her gray eyes. "Nobody is usually able to see me."

"Really?" She looked at him warily. "Why not? Are you a ghost or something?"

"No. But I can do this." He blow into his hand, creating a snowball.

"Whoa… I don't know any ghost that can do that…" She gasped. "You're Jack Frost!"

He smiled brightly. "Yeah, that's right! How'd you know?"

"Well, you're magic, kind of like Santa Claus."

His smile dropped. "You still believe in Santa Claus?"

"Yeah, so what?"

Jack Frost looked over her. "You seem a little old to believe in that kind of stuff."

She frowned at him. "You sound like my parents. I'm thirteen, smart guy. And you're never to old to believe." She noticed he was still staring at her, as if it was too good to be true. "You keep giving me this look. Has it really been that long since anyone's talked to you?"

"Not really. Sometimes I mess with the Guardians."

"The Guardians?"

"You know, Santa, Tooth Fairy, Sandman, and that dumb rabbit."

"So they're real?" she asked in excitement.

He shrugged indifferently. "As real as you and me, except kids can see the other guys. No one believes in me, so they can't see me."

"Well… I can see you." Jack smiled again. Alba also grinned. She didn't like it when he frowned; he looked better with that smile, and more handsome. "Aren't you cold in those rags?"

He shrugged again. "I don't mind the cold. I'm Jack Frost, remember?"

"Well, you still shouldn't be walking around in that, even if other people can't see you." She took off her blue hoody. "Here."

"Hey, you don't have to do that."

"I want to. It's too big for me, anyway. Take it."

Jack took off his dirty shawl and put on the hoody. "Hey, it fits. Thanks…"

"Alba. Alba Bennett."

A subtle breeze passed, making Alba shiver a little. "I should go. My mom will kill me if she sees me without a jacket." Alba quickly changed out of her skates and began running home. "It was nice meeting you, Jack!"

"Wait! Will I see you again?"

"Of course! Same place tomorrow."