Author's Note! So this is a follow up story to Dreams and Nightmares, but it also stands as it's own story (so those who don't read M stories, don't worry you don't have to read D&N first). But if there are any questions on what happened before this, feel free to ask me in a PM. Simply put, Jack is kicked out of the Guardians by MiM for being with Pitch and replaced by Audra Tempest. But the Guardians like Jack more than Audra and it hurts Audra's feelings. BTW, her name means 'Storm'. Anyway, I hope you like it.
I can't seem to stop sobbing as I run quickly through the woods. The torrential downpour around me hardly phases me as I go, in fact I'm the cause of it. If it weren't for my compromised emotional state, it would not be storming so bad. Not that anyone cares, or knows, about me. No one keeps the spirit of the rain in their mind. No one even has a clue who I am. So that's why I'm so confused as to why the Man in the Moon made me the new Guardian. It doesn't make any sense! After the whole Jack Frost fiasco you'd think MiM would chose someone awesome and special and useful to be the new Guardian. But no. He chose me to take Jack's place.
And while I've dreamed of being a Guardians nearly all my life, it's not what I thought it would be like. I'm not welcome with them. I can feel it. I mean they would all rather visit Jack in the Boogeyman's lair than spend time with me! They all hate me for taking Jack's place, but it wasn't my choice! MiM makes those decisions. But recently I've been wondering if I should just do something to upset MiM and get kicked off just like Jack.
"Audra?" I stop instantly and look towards the seductive voice. A writhing circle of shadows has appeared near me and from it steps Pitch Black, the Nightmare King and Jack Frost's life Partner. I try to wipe away the evidence that I was crying, but his analytical golden eyes see right past it. He can tell the difference between rain and tears on my cheeks. "This is surprising. Audra Tempest, newest Guardian of childhood and all powerful spirit of the rain... crying like a little girl?" He smirks ever so slightly and I narrow my eyes.
"What are you doing here Pitch?" I hiss. His smirk widens to an evil smile.
"Just because I'm screwing an ex-Guardian doesn't mean I like the company of his "friends". I prefer avoiding the whole mess when they...visit Jack. And these woods have always been a favorite of mine. I did not expect to find you running around and water-logging the place though." He points out, gesturing to the mud I'm ankle deep in. I hadn't even noticed, mostly because it rains where ever I go so mud is a way of life. This particular storm is kinda pushing it though. I try to think of something to take my mind off it.
"I heard Jack is expecting." I state. Pitch almost smiles genuinely before remembering himself.
"You heard correct. Who told you, if I may know."
"MiM. He's been talking to me a lot lately." Although usually I'm to angry with him to talk back. Honestly, I'm angry that he made me a Guardian. He knew the others wouldn't accept me in especially so soon after Jack. Be he still inducted me anyways.
"Ah yes, now that you're a part of the in-crowd." He sneers. I look down, away from his all knowing golden eyes. "What is this I sense? Are you bitter about your calling to the Guardians?" His smirk is utterly soul crushing. I turn to walk away from the entire subject but by the time I take a step he's in front of me again. "You don't want to be a Guardian. And I admit I'm extremely curious as to why." He grins eagerly, blocking my path with a Nightmare. The stallion beasts circle around the two of us with Pitch waiting for my explanation. But I'm really not in the mood for this bullshit right now.
"Leave me alone Pitch." I growl, getting annoyed when one of the stallions block my escape route again. However, Pitch is rather persistent.
"I don't think you understand Audra. I may tolerate the Guardians because Jack wants them around, but if I have a chance to bring them down, I will. And I warn you that I am not the only one willing to destroy your little gathering. You should be very careful who you see or speak to, but especially me. Because if I get the chance again, I will turn your fear against you and make you my puppet." His pure evil grin sends a shudder up my spine and anger pulses in my head. I flex my fingers and a crushing amount of water suddenly thunders down on Pitch. While he's sputtering and curing I run as fast as I can away from the Boogeyman and his present company of Nightmares. But I'm also running further away from my feeling regarding the Guardians. It's all I can do to not start crying again.
OOOOO I was gonna stop here but that would be really short so here's more OOOOO
Jack jumped slightly at the crash that sounded from out in the hall. His boyfriend, Pitch Black, stormed into the room, sending a glare at the four Guardians who sat around Jack. They all looked curious, but none more so than Jack, who tilted his head with a big question mark in his eyes. Not that this was unusual behavior for Pitch when the Guardians were around, but he seemed extra pissed off for some reason.
"You okay Pitch?" Jack finally asked when Pitch angrily sat on his Sand throne that materialized in the room. He motioned for Jack to approach him and collected the boy onto his lap once Jack got close enough. Jack couldn't help but notice that Pitch was soaking wet, but he didn't mind as long as he could help Pitch calm down a little. And Pitch always said there was nothing like a Frost Spirit on ones lap to feel better. Jack was just magic that way. Finally when Pitch felt calmer he heaved a heavy sigh and addressed North.
"I spoke with the new Guardian. She's a charmer." Pitch snapped, nuzzling against Jack's neck as he cursed little Audra Tempest in his head. He would probably never dry off from that cold plunge she gave him. Jack tensed at Pitch's words. New Guardian?
"Someone was chosen already?"
"Jack she was chosen months ago." Pitch scoffed, earning a few guilty and angry looks from the Guardians. Especially North, who had promised to keep Jack appraised on the situations. But when Manny called Audra barely a week after dismissing Jack, North hadn't had it in him to tell Jack. Neither had the other Guardians. From the cringe they all exhibited, Pitch could easily conclude they'd been trying to avoid the subject. Oh well.
"Why didn't you guys tell me?" I've been waiting to hear who it is!" Jack frowned.
"Well we thought you'd be a little...upset. Just barely bein' dismissed an all..." Bunny explained guiltily. Again Pitch snorted a scoff at the insinuation that Jack couldn't handle such news. Apparently Jack felt the same because his frown deepened.
"Jack is many things, but not petty, rabbit. Her name is Audra Tempest, spirit of the rain. She was chosen nearly 5 months ago. But I found out the strangest thing today. She doesn't like being a Guardian. She feels...let me think, how can I accurately describe it...ostracized by you four. Hated even. Her feelings were oh so deep and rich that I could practically taste them." All four Guardians looked very guilty at that and Jack's frown deepened yet again. He just couldn't believe his friends would be so mean!
"Is that true?" He demanded of the Guardians. No one really wanted to answer, but Jack's gaze was unrelenting.
"Jack we're all upset that we lost you! It's gonna take us time before we can really accept Audra as your replacement!" Tooth exclaimed. Jack shook his head and gracefully jumped off of Pitch's lap. Said Nightmare King looked annoyed at the loss but waited for him to speak.
"Pitch please take me to Audra Tempest." He pleaded, batting his eyes at the Boogeyman in the way he knew Pitch wouldn't be able to refuse. Pitch blinked a few times before glowing. But none the less, he help out his hand to his young lover. Jack grinned victoriously.
"Jack wait, we have the situation under control, we'll fix this!" Bunny said pleadingly. He didn't want Jack upset or stressed. Especially in Jack's current...condition. Jack simply looked at the Easter Bunny with a disappointed frown and took Pitch's hand. Shadows swarmed the two and consumed them, taking them out of the dark room to find Audra.
OOOOO I was gonna stop here too but what the hell OOOOO
I sniffle slightly as my feet swing over the edge of a bridge. After a while of running, I decided to sit. Lucky me a bridge happened to be available. And here I've been for nearly an hour just sitting. Cussing the Guardians in my head. I mean I get it that they're pissed over the Jack situation. But why do they hate me so much? Just because MiM decided I should take up his position I'm instantly on the top of the I Hate You list? Screw that, this job isn't even that good. I'm getting ragged on just for doing what I'm told!
I mutter a string of unmentionables as I toss a rock in the stream that runs under the bridge. It's calming me down significantly to see the ripples on the water. But I'm still pissed the hell off. I can't honestly decide if this is worth my emotional turmoil. Is being a Guardian worth being looked at like I'm an imposter? Around me the rain kicks up a notch as my thoughts get darker.
"You should have brought a coat." I jump at the calm teenage voice I hear. A kid with a heavy jacket and secondary leather coat sits down next to me. He doesn't look at me, only out at the river from our vantage point. But this is weird. People have seen me before, but they usually find it weird that a young woman is wearing a tank top, jeans, and no shoes while running in the rain and they'll give me a second glance before dismissing me. This kid looks absolutely comfortable sitting there, like it's nothing. "I'm Jamie." He says finally, noticing the curious look I'm giving him.
"Um...I'm Audra." I say hesitantly. I wonder if this kid, Jamie, knows he's talking to an immortal spirit of the rain.
"Cool name. Means 'Storm' doesn't it?" Okay this is just really weird. What kind of teenager is this? He laughs at my thoughts that are apparently displayed on my face. "Bunny told me about you while he was visiting last month. I wondered if I would see you around."
"I don't understand, you know the Easter Bunny?" I demand. He nods.
"I know all the Guardians. And the ex-guardian. And I just kinda put two and two together, seeing you sit alone on a bridge in the pouring rain, looking just like Bunny described you. I only look dumb." He gives me a warm full smile, one that I can't help but return. "You're prettier though. He said you're always broody, but you have a nice smile." Instantly I'm blushing and look over my shoulder to grab some more rocks, as a distraction.
"So are you excited for Jack?" He chuckles shortly at that. "What?"
"I don't quite understand it. How a guy can get pregnant. They've tried explaining it to me, but most of it just goes right over my head."
"I don't quite have a good grip on it either, but I'm glad for him. I bet it softened the blow of being kicked out of the Guardians." He shrugs. "This is weird for me. I haven't had a real conversation with a mortal in hundreds of years, so if I say something weird or wrong, let me know. It's probably an immortal inside joke." His eyes widen at this.
"Hundreds of years?" I nod. "But that's just with mortals. Cuz you talk to the Guardians."
"Well yeah. But the longest conversation I've had with one of them was with North. And he did all the talking while I stared at him like a deer in headlights." I explain. And frankly that's exactly how my induction went down. Tooth appeared, tossed me in a portal, and then North went into auto-drive. Telling me that MiM chose me to be a Guardian and then began reading the oath. Afterward I was promptly sent on my way because there was no need for me at the moment. They'd call me if they did need me.
That's the worst part of it. That they can call me and dismiss me as they please. Once a week they call for a little meeting, but they never ask me to stay after to chat. Or ask how I am. Today's meeting went really bad when I dared to ask what they were going to be doing for the rest of the day. As soon as the subject of visiting Jack came up, they all gave me this look that said, 'You're no Jack Frost and don't you forget it. You'll never be as good as Jack'.
"So you don't talk to mortals?" Jamie knocks me out of my reverie with the question. I shake my head slowly.
"Well I don't have many believers. The last girl who saw me was like ten and had just seen Tinker Bell so she was thinking in terms of little fairies who bring individual water droplets. Instead she saw me sitting in a tree catching rain in my mouth." He laughs before taking one of my collected rocks. He tosses it up a few times before down into the river. "Do you see all immortals?" I decide to ask the question this time.
"I dunno about all of them. But I certainly see a lot. After I knew for sure the Guardians were real, it got easier for me to imagine the reality of others. Like Lady Luck. She's fun. And the Leprechaun. Oh, and Father Time!" He smiles wide, and there's obviously a story there. But I'm really curious about one in particular.
"Ever seen Johnny Appleseed?" I ask coyly.
"Johnny Appleseed? No, I never even thought of him. Haven't heard of him since I was six." He remarks. I nod slowly, my mind full of the last encounter I had with Johnny. It seems like so long ago, though it was less than a year. I remember his apple-red hair and the beautiful green of his eyes. Like leaves on a tree. Jamie arches an eyebrow at the look on my face. "He someone special to you?" He asks slyly. The blush returns to my cheek but I adamantly shake my head.
"No. He's a good friend is all. The only one besides the Guardians I talk to on a regular basis. And the Guardians is just recent. Johnny has talked to me since I was made immortal." I explain, tossing a rock. He looks like he's about to say something, but then yelps and jumps up. It surprises me, but apparently not as much as it surprised him. He looks absolutely unsettled. A laugh like bells splits the wet air and Jack Frost walks onto the bridge. Then I see what made Jamie scream. Residue of a snowball is still sliding down his back.
"That wasn't funny Jack!" Jamie yells, but he's smiling. I wish I could disappear. Like right now. I knew I'd run into Jack eventually, but I was hoping for a few more years. I stand to slip away, but I run right into Pitch.
"Nuh uh, he wants to meet you." He snarls, pushing me back towards the two boys who have been talking about some sort of snowball fight later in the week. They say bye, doing some sort of overly complicated handshake before Jamie says bye to me and walks away with his hands stuffed in his pockets. Odd that he didn't acknowledge Pitch. The Boogeyman rolls his eyes as I look at him with a look that could be akin to snarky. So Jamie doesn't believe in Pitch despite the fact that Jack is pregnant by the Nightmare King.
"Hi, I'm Jack." He holds out his hand with that smile I've heard so much about. Mostly from the female immortals I've met through the years. Who knew Jack would be into Pitch rather than the many eligible girls out there. Including Tooth.
"Audra." I return, shaking his hand.
"I know. From what I can tell, we have a lot to talk about." That smile suddenly seems like a death sentence. But between his fast grip and the Boogeyman standing not far away, I get the feeling that I am not getting out of this. Great. Just how I wanted to end the day.