Fo: Hello everyone! I'm Fo ^^ This is my new fic 'A Season's Greeting'! My OC is the daughter of Mother Nature. My story takes place two years after the events from the movie. The romance between Jack Frost and Tessa will start out somewhat slow. I hate when fics have their peeps jump right into… 'Oh! I love you!' *gag*
Washu: I hate that too…
Navi: I know *bounce*! It makes me so mad!
Fo: Right!? It drives me nuts! Well! I do not own 'Rise Of The Guardians'! Enjoy everyone ^^ R&R! Oh! I almost forgot! A friend of mine requested me to write this fic! Lola, if you are reading this... HOPE YOU LIKE IT BABE!
A Season's Greeting
Chapter 1: Wake Me Up When September Ends
Fall has just begun with the leaves starting to turn gold. Jack Frost sighed as he lazed on a branch of a tree. His staff laid on his lap as he dangled his foot in the air. He was fiddling with a golden leaf that had fallen. He never really cared for fall.
Alternatively, any other season for that matter.
Winter was the only one he liked, because he was in his element.
Jack Frost could not wait until winter started again. Being a Guardian did not make things more fun. He just laid there on that branch thinking up ideas for winter. He was going to run by some of his ideas to Jamie his favorite mortal.
The quiet fall air was lulling him to sleep.
He could feel his eyelids becoming heavy as his breathing started to even out. Jack Frost was almost asleep when his ear caught something in the distance. He jerked his head up when he heard singing.
It was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard...
He floated down with ease to the ground with his staff in hand. He made his way through the forest without a care. He was a little shocked to a young girl that looked about his age. Her hair was a golden wheat color and her skin was sun kissed. She was wearing a gown; it was gold like the autumn leaves with red and yellow blending in. It had a fall motif with fall leaves. He could not really see her face. She was a bit away from him; he could only see her profile. From what he could see of her face, she was pretty. She seemed not to even notice him. She was singing as she caressed the green leaves on the tree that she stood under. He gasped when all the green leaves on the tree turned gold.
The girl must of heard him, she whipped her body around to face him.
She turned and gasped with wide eyes when she saw Jack standing there. Jack Frost saw that she was backing up a bit and she looked scared. He put his left hand in front up by his jaw to prove that he meant her no harm.
"Wait! I'm not gonna hurt you!" he finally spoke up.
His right hand was grasping his staff as he leaned on it a bit.
The girl froze as she gazed at him with eyes that looked like a deer caught in the headlights.
Her eyebrows soon scrunched up as she cocked her head to the side. Jack could see that she was studying him. Suddenly the sides of her lips started to turn upwards and then to wide grin. Her eyes lit up as her grin grew wider showing a bit of teeth.
"Ah! So you must be Jack Frost!" she chirped with excitement in her voice as her hands clasped together in front of her.
Jack chuckled a bit with his famous sly smirk on his face as he nodded his head. He noted that her grin grew even more with a nod of her head.
"Yea… That's me, and you are?" he asked in a small chuckle as he swung his staff up and rested it on his shoulder lazily.
"Tessa," she answered immediately with a chirp in her voice as she folded her hands together behind her back.
Jack Frost smirked and feeling confident made his way to her with his staff still resting on his shoulder. He stopped in front of her and smiled playfully looking down at her.
Tessa only came up to his chest, her eyes were a bright grassy green, she had freckles on her cheeks and the bridge of her nose, she had a heart shaped face with a thin chin, her golden cloak with a fall motif cuffed around her neck with a golden leaf brooch clasping it together, her collarbone was exposed, and her hair was long that passed her breast, her golden hair was pulled back by braids and leaves and was flowing down behind her like a waterfall with the ends curling, and on the top of her head was a small golden tiara that resembled branches and had a white gem in the middle in the shape of a tree.
She was very beautiful to look at. Jack couldn't help but stare at her with slightly widen eyes.
"Nice to meet you Tessa," Jack Frost said with a warm charming smile as he extended his hand to her.
Tessa looked at his hand and then back up at him with the same smile gracing her lips.
She was about to shake his hand when Jack's hand retreated to the top of his head to sooth a rising lump.
"Ow!" Jack Frost flinched as he rubbed the top of his skull.
"Keep your hands to yourself boya," came a heavy Irish voice.
Jack's dark eyebrows forward with his staff lowered to his hip pointing to the ground as he squinted his eyes to confront the culprit.
It was a young man that looked like he was in his 20's with messy red hair with a dark faded green tweed flat cap (Fo: The kind hats you see golfers wear sometimes. If you ever watch movies that took place back in the old days newspaper boys wore them too ^^) on his head with his red hair sticking out in every direction.
He wore a light colored beige button up shirt with the sleeves push up to his elbows, a green vest that matched his hat, a pair of dark tan slacks, black rider boots, and a green shamrock ring on his right ring finger. Jack Frost also noticed he had green shamrock tattoos covering both of his arms.
"Beagan (Fo: Beagan is an old Irish name that means small little lad. In addition, it is pronounced B'YAG awn. Just to let you all know ^^) that wasn't very nice, you know…" Tessa scolded the man as she crossed her arms over her chest as she gave him a stern look.
Jack looked at the man he was short about the same height as Tessa maybe a tiny bit taller than her, but not by much. Beagan shook his head at her as he uncrossed his arms dropping him to his sides.
"He was getting fresh with you lass," Beagan spoke justifying his actions with the same scowl on his face.
Tessa glared at Beagan in annoyance.
"You say that about everyone…" Tessa sneered as she rolled her bright green eyes at him.
Jack Frost saw what he hit him with it was a wooden can with shamrocks engraved all over it.
"I'm really sorry about that… This is Beagan or you might know him as the Leprechaun," Tessa said with a small smile on her lips as she motioned her hand towards Beagan.
Jack blinked his blue eyes at Beagan and then soon a mischievous smirk graced his face as he leaned the front of his body on his cane. Beagan squinted his hazel eyes at the winter spirit. Jack could tell that he was sizing him up.
"Leprechaun, huh? I imagined you a little bit more taller," Jack quipped as he laughed inwardly as he watched Beagan's face grow a crimson red and his lips turn into a snarl.
He couldn't help but tease the redhead.
"Don't get 'short' with me. Names Jack Frost," Jack teased him with a smirk on his pale features while holding back a chuckle.
"I know who you are," Beagan hissed as he crossed his arms again.
Beagan's demeanor changed as he brought his attention to Tessa. His expression became calm.
"Pitchy requested your audience again," Beagan told her as he rolled his eyes.
"Pitch?" Jack spoke up as he gripped his staff to the point his knuckles were snow white.
It has been two years since the defeat of the boogieman.
The thought of Pitch still made his adrenaline pump.
He knew Beagan was talking about Pitch Black. Beagan and Tessa looked over at Jack with curious eyes.
Tessa stood up straight, her sweet warm demeanor changed to a regal authority one.
"Yes, I know of what transpired between the Guardians and Pitch Black," she spoke with a serious tone in her voice.
Jack shook his head, as he looked Tessa in the eyes with determination.
"Then you know how dangerous he is," Jack retorted with a thin lip.
"I do… However, he is no danger to anyone as long as he is under the Council's watch," she explained as she laced her fingers together.
Jack Frost raised a brow. He did not know there was a Council. North and the other Guardians never mentioned them to him. He made himself a mental note to ask North later.
"Are they like the Guardians?" he asked Tessa as he shifted his weight to his hip with his arms crossed over his chest and his staff leaning against the crook of his neck.
Then there was a loud groan coming from Beagan.
Jack Frost jerked his head to the redhead and saw that he was pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger. Jack could tell that he looked annoyed at him not know about the Council. Hey, it was not his fault he didn't.
He's been anti-social for the past 300 years (give or take) and he's only been a Guardian for less than two years now.
The short redheaded spirit couldn't blame him for that.
"Don't tell me that Jolly- North didn't tell you about the Council when Manny made you a Guardian," Beagan sighed.
Jack mentally smiled at Beagan's nickname for the Guardian of Wonder.
"Must have slipped his mind…" Jack said sarcastically to the Leprechaun.
Tessa looked up at the sky as if she heard something.
Both Jack and Beagan noticed. Jack did not know what she was looking for, but he noted that Beagan knew. It was only for a couple of minutes; Jack realized she was staring at a crow that was circling over them and flew off when he saw Tessa nodding her head.
Tessa took her green eyes from the sky and brought her attention to Beagan.
He shifted a bit as he waited for Tessa to speak.
"He's not taking 'no' for an answer, he's at the palace…" Tessa spoke in a stern voice.
Her nervousness didn't go unnoticed though. Beagan nodded his head with a thin lip.
"Can't keep Pitchy waiting then... The sooner you hear what he has to say the better! That lad gives me the creeps!" Beagan quipped as he twirled his can in his right hand by next to his hip.
Tessa nodded with a goofy smile as she giggled at what Beagan had said and the turned and smiled as she looked at Jack.
Jack could tell her smile was forced. He had to bite his tongue from telling her not to go. He didn't trust Pitch. But, if Tessa said he wasn't a danger to anyone, then he had to bite his tongue and take her word for it.
"It was a pleasure meeting you Jack Frost," Tessa said sweetly as she bowed her head slightly.
Jack forced a grin to his lips as he stood up straight with his staff pointing to the ground.
Tessa extended her hand to him with a genuine smile on her face.
Jack smirked playfully at her hand and then looked up at her and his smirk turning to a grin. He lightly grasped her hand and shook it softly. Her hand was small and delicate in his hand.
That went unnoticed by the Guardian of Fun.
He felt a blush creeping up onto his cheeks, but quickly forced it away.
"Like wise," he said softly to her as he continued to shake her hand.
They made eye contact and it made Tessa giggle a bit.
Jack joined in with her giggling their eye contact was severed by Tessa looking to her side with her eyes closed, but still giggling.
Their hands were still together as their giggling came to a stop.
They were staring at each other now with nervous chuckles between the two of them.
They had stopped shaking each others hand when the giggle fits began.
Jack had to admit he liked Tessa.
He liked her laugh, her smile, her eyes, her hand touching his hand...
Wait, what?
Their hands were still connected to each other, Tessa seem not to notice.
Jack did though, he noticed alright and quickly released her hand.
"I… I, uh… I should be going, you know… Guardian stuff," Jack Frost fumbled out as he brought a fist to his mouth and let out a nervous cough.
"Smooth Frosty…" Beagan quipped with his arms across his chest as he squinted at Jack.
Beagan caught Jack off guard make him stumble backwards tripping over his own two feet and dropping his staff. He heard Tessa giggle and glanced up and saw that she was smiling at him. He had to say, she had a really pretty smile. He blushed again and let out an embarrassed chuckle as he fumbled for his staff.
"Seeya," he said smiling sheepishly at Tessa as he started to float up in the air.
Tessa smiled even more as she nodded her head and waved her hand at him.
"Goodbye, Jack Frost,"
Later on, in a large room with a crescent shaped table sat Tessa. She was not not wearing her cloak from earlier. Her gown did not cover her shoulders, the sleeves stopped after her wrist, and the ends were shaped like leaves and were a bright autumn red that blended with the shear orange gold of her outfit. Her hands were laced together as she sat straight. She was waiting patiently for Pitch Black to be escorted in.
Tessa was nervous, but not of Pitch.
She was nervous of coming to a decision without the Council.
They were busy cleaning up the damage dealt by Pitch.
"I can do this… I'll walk through the fire and I won't be burned, I'll walk through the fire and I won't be burned…" she muttered aloud to herself like it was a mantra.
"You seem nervous milady," came the voice of Pitch.
Tessa flinched up with a gasp at the sound of his voice.
There he was standing in front of the crescent table with his hands behind his back.
She straightened herself up as she raised her head up some. He was smiling at her as if he was the cat and she was the mouse. She didn't like the way he was staring at her.
"You do know that I cannot do much without the Council," she spoke trying to sound brave.
However, on the inside she was freaking the freak out. Pitch let out a short chuckle as he glided closer to Tessa. She flinched back into the back of her wooden chair from the closeness of Pitch Black. She was staring at him with wide green eyes. She felt her breathing start to quicken. Pitch started to laugh an evil laugh as his index finger grazed under her chin.
"Ahh... Such purity..." he purred out as his finger raised her face up a bit by her chin.
She jerked her head away from his touch with a 'scoff'.
Pitch Black smirked as he straightened his back.
"I do know this my dear. In the absence of the Council you make the decisions. As such, I do not have the luxury to wait for them," he said as returned his hands behind his back.
Tessa chewed on her bottom lip.
She knew he was correct, but even if that was so, she could not bring her self to make any decision without the Council. She took in a deep breath to calm her nerves. She looked at Pitch putting on her best game face.
"What is it that you want Pitch Black?" Tessa asked him.
Pitch Black gave her a shark like smile.
Tessa knew she wasn't going to like what he was about to request.
"I would like my powers returned to me…"
Jack Frost sat on North's desk with one leg up as he watched North bicker with Bunnymond. Honestly, he found it quite entertaining.
After all they been through together Bunnymond still held that grudge.
Though it was different now, their hate relationship evolved to a love/hate relationship.
He asked North about the Council and just when he thought North was about to tell him the rabbit intervened.
"He is Guardian now Bunny," North reminded him with a slight shake of his head.
Bunnymond let out a defeated sigh as he nodded his head.
"Alright, alright!" Bunnymond muttered as his long ears fell flat as he rubbed his paw down his face.
North let out a jolly loud laugh with his hands on his hips. Before, North could even open his mouth the doors of his study swung open by a gust of bitter wind. Bunnymond, North, and Jack Frost whipped their heads to the entrance.
There stood a woman clothed in gold with a fall motif.
Her hair was a dark brown with grassy green eyes.
"Mother Nature?" North spoke with shock.
"North," she spoke as she made her way to the three.
Jack saw that she walked with grace and had a royal air to her. Her long her was done in a long loose braid that hit her rear with a tiara that resembled Tessa's but much larger and had wheat woven into her braid along with fall leaves. Jack could not help but think she looked somewhat like Tessa. Mother Nature glanced at Bunnymond.
"Bunnymond," she spoke as she nodded her head.
Bunnymond fumbled with a bow. Jack raised his brow at this; he had never seen North and Bunnymond this nervous like this before. Mother Nature brought her attention to Jack Frost and he could see that she was studying him. He could feel himself tighten his grip on his staff as she stared at him with a judging eye.
"This must be the new Guardian?" she spoke with a stoic face.
Jack Frost saw that North took a big step towards the desk standing beside him.
"That's right! Jack this is Mother Nature! Queen Gaia she is member of Council!" North exclaimed happily as he slapped the boy on the back almost knocking him to the floor.
Jack straightened himself and then snapped his head to North. He couldn't believe it, he was in the presence of the strongest immortal and a member of the Council.
"Hey," Jack Frost greeted with a small grin.
"What brings you here Nature?" Bunnymond asked as his ears flop to one side.
"We thought Council be busy after what Pitch-" North started to speak, but was halted by Mother Nature putting a hand up to stop his talking.
Jack Frost could see that North and Bunnymond appear to be more nervous than before.
"Pitch Black is currently under the Council's watch…" she began to speak in a stern tone.
The three Guardians smiled in relief, but their smiles quickly fell when they saw the expression on Mother Nature's face.
She looked like a mother about to lecture her children. Jack did not like it one bit. He wanted to slink out of the room, he knew she was about to lecture them with the look she had. He knew he wasn't going to like what she was going to say. Even if Jack wanted to sneak away, he wasn't going to.
The last immortal he wanted to peeve off was Mother Nature.
"The actions of Pitch Black were and still are unacceptable… HOWEVER!" her voice boomed with anger.
The three Guardians flinched at the sound of her voice.
Jack Frost could have sworn that he felt a gust a wind from her sudden outburst. She squinted her eyes at Bunnymond and North. Mother Nature let out a sigh as she shook her head at the two.
"Painted eggs and candy canes, really?" she moaned with a hint of a giggle in her voice.
The Guardians smiled in relief as their bodies relaxed.
They knew she was refereeing to when they all helped Tooth.
Jack let out a small chuckle as he shook his head remembering that night.
"Discussing Pitch Black and the events from two years ago is not why I am here," she spoke again as she collected her composure.
Bunnymond and North also collected theirs; Jack just stand put leaning up against his staff.
"As you are aware the Council are still 'cleaning up Pitch Black's mess'," she continued to speak as she brought her hands up making quotations with her fingers.
Mother Nature's expression had changed to a look of fear and dread. North looked paler as he stared at Mother Nature. She let out a sigh as she glanced at all three of them.
"Spirits are disappearing over that time…" she spoke somberly as she paced around North's study cradling her elbows with her hands.
"Is it Pitch?" Bunnymond asked in a quick breath.
Mother Nature shook her head 'no' with closed eyes.
Jack was thinking the same thing as the Guardian of Hope; he was surprised that Nature did not see him as a suspect.
"It would be impossible for him to abduct the spirits without any power… And other nightmare spirits are vanishing as well," she continued to speak.
Jack Frost stared at her not like what he was listening to.
The more she told them the more he wished he were not here.
"Who could be doing this?" North asked as he stroked his bread.
"I do not know… I fear whoever is responsible happens to attain one of the Council members or worse my daughter; the children will not be the only ones that will suffer… All life will be affected," she said as she shook her head.
Jack Frost saw the fear in both of Bunnymond's and North's eyes at what she had just informed them.
This sounded very bad to Jack Frost.
Mother Nature's lips began to tremble as she fidgeted with her fingers. Jack cocked his head to the side he could tell she was bought to speak. He noted whatever she was about to say was not something she was use to.
"I personally need the services of the Guardians," Mother Nature said glancing over at the bookcase not wanting to look vulnerable to them, her voice sounded nervous and a bit shaky.
North snapped his head up to her as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"We Guardians will do anything to protect children!" North bellowed out with no hesitation in his deep mighty voice (Fo: LOLZ! I just thought of 'Nightmare Before Christmas' when Jack was telling the monsters about Santa. It made me giggle! I hope it made you giggle too!).
Bunnymond's ears perked up high as he puffed out his chest giving his head a quick nod his way of telling Nature that he was with North. Jack did not say anything; he really did not need to. He knew whatever North made a decision on the behalf of the Guardians, everyone was on board.
Willing or not.
Jack got somewhat use to it, even if it made him annoyed sometimes. He just learned to deal with it, he was a Guardian now.
Time to act like one.
"I would like to have my daughter placed in the Guardian's care," she asked as she folded her hands behind her back.
"I'm ready for action! Let me at the blimey buggers!… Wait, what?" Bunnymond was shocked, he thought they were going into battle not babysitting Mother Nature's daughter.
Jack had a good chuckle at Bunnymond's expense. North blinked his eyes at Nature; he figured that her daughter would be far safer with the Council.
"I'll do respect my Queen… Wouldn't the princess be safer with the Council?" Bunnymond asked her as he put his boomerangs away.
Then the giant rabbit crossed his arms of his furry chest and cocked his head to the side.
Mother Nature shook her head 'no'.
"The Council and I will be far too busy investigating the spirit's disappearances. We would not be able to protect her," she explained somberly.
North nodded his head understanding her.
"The Guardian's will protect princess!" North boomed as he smiled with determination at Mother Nature.
Mother Nature grinned as she nodded her head.
"Thank you, I am confident that you will," she thanked as she bowed her head to the side.
There was a groan from Bunnymond.
"What's the matter Bunny?" Jack finally spoke up as he gave Bunnymond a crooked smile.
There was a small giggle that came from Mother Nature.
"I'll make sure to inform my daughter not to put ribbons in your ears again," Nature smiled at Bunnymond who cringed at the thought of ribbons.
Jack could not help but chuckle at this.
The thought of ribbons on the Easter Bunny was hilarious to the winter spirit.
"Quit your laughing Frost! That princess is a bloody nightmare!" Bunnymond snapped at Jack shaking an angry fist at him.
Then realization hit Bunnymond like a ton of bricks, in the heat of his temper, he had forgotten the queen and one of the strongest out of all the immortals was standing in the same room as him.
He slowly turned his head to the queen with his ears flat.
"I-I'm… I…" Bunnymond could not even produce a sentence because he was so scared.
He was staring at Mother Nature with eyes wide as saucers.
"Do not fret Bunnymond, I know how my daughter is," she assured him with a grin as she chuckled a bit.
Bunnymond let out a sigh of relief.
"I shall return with my daughter, North," Mother Nature spoke in a serious tone in her voice.
North nodded his head with a smile on his face.
"I'll have Mrs. North make room ready," he beamed still smiling at her.
Mother Nature returned a smile to the Guardian of Wonder.
"I can't thank you enough," she said to North with relief.
Bunnymond could only sigh as he covered his face with a paw as he shook his head. Mother Nature saw this and sighed a bit as smiled at Bunnymond.
"She has matured some since the last time you saw her," she said to him with a smile still on her lips.
"I hope so…" Bunnymond mumbled as he forced a smile out.
"I shall take my leave then," she said as she started to make her way to the door.
Jack Frost leaped off of North's desk with his staff pointing to the floor.
"When should we be expecting her?" Jack Frost asked her.
Mother Nature turned her head to him. He felt nervous speaking to her.
This was the first time for Jack Frost meeting Mother Nature.
He heard about her power and most of all her temper. Jack heard that her fury showed no mercy. He knew that he did not want to cross her.
As he looked at her, he couldn't shake the feeling that her face of her's, he had seen somewhere before.
He couldn't place it. Jack was sure it had to be from his mortal life.
And he still is remembering bits and pieces from his mortal life.
He forced the thoughts out as he noticed that she was looking at him. Mother Nature made her mouth to a thin line. She looked concern and worried; Jack knew she was thinking about her daughter.
"Tonight,"
End of Chapter
Fo: End! I hoped you all like it!
Navi: I did! I really enjoyed it! I cannot wait *bounce* until the next chapter!
Fo: Haha! I am glad you liked it Navi! Now, I kinda modeled Mother Nature after that one elf with the blonde hair from 'Lord Of The Ring'… I forgot her name and I only watched the first one with one of my ex-boyfriends and I only watched it once. And Mother Nature is also modeled after the blonde sister from 'Frozen'… Also forgot her name…
Duncan: Maybe you should go by Dory.
Fo: LMFAO! Maybe I should! It would be fitting! I have the worse memory! I have to write crap on sticky notes and put them everywhere where I could see them just to remind me of crap what I need to get done! It's such a pain!
Bob: This chapter was named after the song by the band 'Greenday'.
Fo: Don't forget to review! I like them!
Taichi: We know Fo...
Fo: Shut up Tai...
