It's been exactly two months since Easter and since the Guardians had destroyed Pitch Black. Since the summer months had never been Jack's forte, he and North have been staying at the North Pole. In all honesty Jack missed the excitement of oppressing doom and all that stuff, now he has to look forward to helping North. So far all he's really done is play a few pranks on the Yetis or visit Jamie when he can. But North says it's not good to make a habit of visiting children and allowing them to see you outside of your holiday or season.
"Jack!" The strong bellow caused Jack to fall off of his cold bed. Taking a hand he rubbed his snow crested head in an attempt to soothe the pain. Quickly he grabbed his staff and zipped down the stairs to North's workshop. He managed to avoid running into the working Yetis and underfoot Elves along the way. Only to run into North's LARGE belly and bounce slightly backwards nearly tripping over two elves playing with a discarded toy train.. A booming, holly laugh rang out, "Jack good morning! I trust you slept well."
Jack smiled softly as North's big blue eyes peered down at him, glittering with joy, "Yeah I slept fine, I was just about to go mess with Bunny since he's got the day off and everything." Another hearty laugh and Jack couldn't help but smile wider at the friendly giant. Seeing a snow globe resting on a nearby wooden table in the corner of his eye Jack reached for it, stowing it deep within his jacket pocket.
"Alright see ya Santa!" As he turned to leave a large hand picked him up by his hood.
"And where are you going Jack?"
Nervously he laughed, "Umm... well I was gonna go visit Bunny remember?"
"Oh yes, but wait Jack I have to tell you..." North released the small Winter Spirit and started again .
"Well, see you later!"
Before he could finish Jack was on his staff and zooming off, when he was far off from the workshop he shook the snow globe and whispered, "Jamie's house."
Tossing it forward, causing a small explosion of color, the blurred image of a house in sunshine made him smile to himself, and he sped off into the portal.
Within seconds he was outside, underneath the blazing sun, in front of the same house from the snow globe. Carefully with one foot in front of the other Jack balanced on his wooden staff and rose up with a blast of cold air to the bedroom window he knew to be Jamie's. As he peeked through, Jack was surprised to see Jamie's little sister instead, he lightly tapped on the window to receive a toothy grin.
"Jack! Jack Frost!"
"Shh, hey kiddo. Do you know where Jamie is?" Jack questioned the scruffy child.
"Jamie went to the park!" Sophie exclaimed with a happy giggle.
"Okay, thanks see ya later."
Jack zoomed off towards the park in search of Jamie, it took only two minutes to get to the park but the heat was going to drive him crazy. He's Jack FROST, he doesn't do heat. As he neared the park he could already see Jamie playing near the pond. He couldn't wait to see Jamie, pulling down into a steep, free fall he came dangerously close to the pool's surface. With a quick maneuver Jack let his staff come into contact with the pond's surface, instantly freezing the water.
"Jack Frost!" Cried a small boy with untidy brunette locks and big curious eyes. Jack smiled as he gracefully skated across the now frozen pond to Jamie.
"Hey Jamie, it's been a while." Jack greeted the young boy familiarly.
"I thought Santa didn't want you visiting me anymore." The small boy looked up at the older white haired boy sadly, Jack couldn't stand seeing anyone sad even when he was human. "No, he... Uh, just wanted me to help out around the workshop more." He replied hesitantly. It managed to reassure Jamie back to his smiling ways.
"Oh, well I'm glad you came anyway. Hey, wanna visit the Easter Bunny or maybe go to the North Pole or we could have a snowball fight! A snowball fight in June, that'd be so awesome!" Jack couldn't help but chuckle at Jamie's suggestions. Playfully he rubbed Jamie's head, but the cold that he always produced caused Jamie to shiver. Sheepishly he removed his hand, "Sorry Jamie, but I can only stay for a little bit I've got to get back to the North Pole soon."
"Oh." It was sad to see Jamie's happiness disappear so quickly.
"Don't worry I'll visit again but I've got something for you."Immediately he perked up as Jack reached into his pocket to bring out a red robot.
"Cool!" Jamie said excitedly. Jamie soon became absorbed in his new toy when a strange heat flare surrounded him. A long mane of fiery red hair slashed in front of him and with a blink it disappeared.
"Come on Jamie let's go do something." Said Jack, suspiciously he looked around to see who had walked by him.
He still felt a little on edge but dismissed the event entirely and focused his attention on the small boy's happiness. He and Jamie spent the rest of the day playing and causing mischief around the park, laughing as they went. In little time the sun was beginning to set, and Jack took Jamie back home. When Jamie was safely inside a large sled appeared out of nowhere in the front yard.
"Jack Frost!" The angry bellow of a familiar voice made Jack feel slightly skittish, his eyes never focusing on one thing for very long in an attempt to avoid the inevitable. As he made his way towards the sleigh he was greeted by a furious, practically red in the face, North sputtering angrily as he approached.
"I told-I warned you! Your place-you shouldn't- is not here! I-I cannot believe this! If you had met-!" North continued to sputter in rage at Jack.
"North, chill I-."
"No, NO! I told you! I specifically told you not to! You lied to me Jack Frost!" North managed to calm his shouts and climb on to his sleigh with a deep growl.
"Frost!" Reluctantly Jack followed the angry man into the sleigh and back through the portal to the North Pole.
They arrived shortly in the same hall where Jack was officially recognized as the Guardian of Fun. The Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy and Sandman already there waiting, standing above their respected symbol embedded within the floor, the carvings depicting both the man on the moon and the Guardians as ageless. Jack turned to catch North's eye but the large man's face was stony and uninviting. Tooth waved with a gentle smile and Jack half-heartedly returned her greeting before moving to stand beside Bunny's tall frame. Finally, North spoke, his authoritative tone masking his emotions, "The Man in the Moon has spoken once again... another threat approaches us in the future."
"You're kidding right? We just defeated Pitch two months ago! I think we deserve a vacation." Jack commented.
"Sorry to ruin your little fantasy but that's not in the job description, don't like it then quit!" Jack looked to see the annoyed and furry expression on Bunny's face.
"Bet you'd like that you little cotton-tailed-" Jack retorted but was cut off by the large Moon that had now revealed itself.
A beam of moonlight drifted into the center of the room displaying an eery event, blue moonlight swallowed the Guardians' full attention.
Jack watched as Pitch appeared behind some figure, his long spidery fingers resting on their shoulder in a guiding manner, like a master encouraging his apprentice. The person opened their mouth and black fire spewed from their lips, the fire continued to flood from the mouth without end. Obsidian flames wrapping around the world like a dark cloak.
Tooth gasped and Bunny looked skittish, Jack remained confused, who was that person?
"North, she couldn't-." Tooth spoke in a quavering voice. Sandy frowned slightly to himself. "We haven't seen her in two and a half centuries what if-." Tooth's words began to falter.
"Who are you talking about? Who was that in the vision? Do you know them?" No one responded.
But soon Bunny cautiously spoke, " The person you saw with Pitch was, we can only assume, Fira Blaze." He stopped and Tooth continued,
"I know you two have never met probably because-," North gave her a stern look and Tooth continued. "She is... Your polar opposite."
"I've never heard of Fira Blaze. Not ever." said Jack in a confused tone.
"She prefers it that way, she chooses to not let children see her. She only leaves her home during the summer months and then disappears for the rest of the year." As Tooth informed Jack the rest of the Guardians seemed to be holding silent conversations with their eyes, leaving Jack in the dark.
As Jack thought back he couldn't recall anyone ever mentioning a Fira Blaze, not even Cupid, who was a big gossip, had mentioned any Fira before.
"Why is she working with Pitch?", Jack looked around the room waiting for someone to answer.
"We don't know if she is, this is only a prophecy." Tooth began to nervously fiddle with her slim fingers .
"Then if she isn't working with Pitch we can just tell her about the prophecy. Let's go then." As he started to look around for a snow globe he gave an annoyed sigh realizing there was one still in his pocket.
"We can't use a snow globe to get there Jack." Bunny stated dryly.
"Why?" Asked Jack.
"Well ummm, you see no one actually knows where she lives." North replied uncomfortably even Bunny did a nervous (and annoying) foot tapping.
He couldn't believe this, these guys have been around for centuries and they didn't know where this Blaze person was? They must at least how she two and from her realm.
"How is it possible that you don't know where she lives?" Jack asked aloud, each of the guardians began to look at the ground sheepishly.
"Well she doesn't like other people... So uh-." An embarrassed Tooth replied softly.
"Plus when she first arrived she couldn't remember anything so someone sent her to Tooth and Tooth totally blew her off." Retorted Bunny in an accusatory way. Jack looked over at Tooth, astounded.
"It was a mistake I was so busy, teeth were coming in by the thousands!"
"Well, now Fira Blaze doesn't like us all very much!" Replied Bunny sarcastically.
"Karma at its best." North commented.
Then a blast of glittering sand swept in front of everyone's eyes. They all turned to look at Sandy who seemed to have been trying to get their attention for sometime. He pointed at the ground, and they watched as sand began to form moving pictures. A blazing haired girl was sitting by herself, the darkness slowly enclosing around her, suffocating a blazing fire. Then Sandy appeared next to her and she began to brighten up chasing away the darkness. Swirls of sand began to form, unveiling the next memory. Sandy was leaving and the girl gave him a small object. As the memory ended everyone looked at Sandy surprised. Fira Blaze didn't like anyone ESPECIALLY Guardians, she'd even cut off all ties with any other magical creatures. It was amazing Sandy even found Fira, but then again where can't dreams travel to?
"Sandy, you know her?" Tooth squeaked in disbelief.
Sandy nodded his head, smiling proudly. He pulled out his hand and sand swirled around it, as it cleared a small flower appeared. It was difficult to tell if it was an actual flower or some type of magic, seeing as the entire flower looked as if had been constructed out of fire.
"She gave you a flower?!" Cried Bunny, exasperatedly.
Sandy shook his head and plucked a flower petal, then he let it fall on to the ground. It sparked into flames ranging from every color, growing larger and brighter. At the roots of the fire, dark black and translucent white flames blended into a hypnotic blue. The blue faded into indigo, then to green, and blends of red, orange, and yellow emerged at the flame's crown. The growing fire was glorious, as bright as the sun and yet as beautiful and serene as moonlight.
Everyone was shocked, but Tooth was terrified! "Put it out! Hurry! By my cuspids! It's gonna burn down the whole North Pole!" She cried in a panic.
Jack prepared to put out the flames but Sandy just shook his head and reached out a hand to touch the fire. He pulled it back, untouched by the flames. Sandy waved his hand for everyone to follow him, then Sandy walked into the flames. North watched apprehensively as Sandy disappeared.
Tooth cried out for Sandy, and Bunny looked about ready to bolt (in the opposite direction). Jack breathed in and walked towards the flames, he was so nervous a thin layer of ice coated his whole skin. "See you in the afterlife!" Jack said jokingly. Then he stepped into the flames, eyes closed.