A/N: Hi all! So, I hinted at a new story for Rise of the Guardians, and I may have been slightly misleading. Yes, this is a new story, and yes, it is for Rise of the Guardians, but it's not one long story, nor does the story carry from chapter to chapter. In writing my stories I have had a couple of story requests by my lovely and wonderful readers. So, I decided to write them out :) I hope I can do them justice because I feel extremely honored that you all would trust me with requests of stories you would like to see me write.

So, here's how it's going to work. You can PM me or review this story with an idea and I'll write out my interpretation of it. I can't promise your idea will go up right away, but I'll try to get to everyone's. I'll do any genre, any scenario, any character, and some pairings (I will not do boy/boy or girl/girl pairings. I'm sorry about that. I don't mean to offend anyone, that is just how I am. I ask that you please respect that, thank you.) I will also not do explicit content - this fic will remain rated T at MOST, so anything that could be considered M is out.

So, send me your requests and I'll see what I can do :) I hope you're happy with this idea! And I hope you like this.

Disclaimer: I don't own Rise of the Guardians.

Okay, so this request comes from samuraistar who asked for a story where Old Man Winter takes Jack under his wing. Hope I did your idea justice, samuraistar!

I would consider this story hurt/comfort with maybe a little angst and some family/fluff added in. Tissues may be warranted.

Characters: Jack Frost, Wind, Old Man Winter

~RiseOfTheGuardians~

Old Man Winter had been around since the beginning of time and had brought the snows around the world on his own for just as long. It was exhausting without help and no matter how much he asked, he received none. To be the Spirit of Winter was to be alone in your duties. So it was of great surprise to Winter when he learned Man in Moon had created another winter spirit.

A great surprise, but it was also a great relief, because Winter was very old and very tired, and the only reason he was still around was the mere fact that there simply was no one else to do his job, and it must be done.

So Winter set out to find this new spirit named Jack Frost.

He didn't mean to startle the spirit when he found him. He had merely approached the brown clad, white haired figure and cleared his throat. But apparently that was enough to startle the man.

No, not man, Old Man Winter thought as the figure turned towards him. Boy.

And Old Man Winter was instantly furious. Not at the boy, but at MiM. How could he have placed such a great burden on one so young? How could he have given so much power to one who didn't even know how to control it, didn't even know what he possessed? It didn't make any sense.

"You, you can see me," the boy, Jack Frost, said, voice hoarse and eyes wide in surprise.

"I can," Winter replied.

"But, but how?" Jack Frost stammered. "No one has, I mean, I thought that…"

"How long have you been alone?" Winter asked, keeping his face blank. His heart hurt for this young boy who had been dumped in this harsh world and given such great responsibility, but something told him the boy would not take kindly to seeing such compassion. At least, not yet.

"Um," Jack Frost thought back. "Maybe five months? Or six?"

And once more Winter had to push aside the anger that built up. He had only learned of the boy's existence the day before. For no one to approach him for five or six months, well, Winter was not happy about that.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be here for you," Winter said.

"No offense, but who are you?" Jack Frost asked.

"I am known as Old Man Winter," Winter said.

"Got the old right," Jack Frost said, eying the other winter spirit closely. Winter sighed. It was true. He was old, and he was showing his years. With his long, white hair, blue eyes set into a wrinkled old face, and boney old hands, there was no doubting he deserved his full title. Looking at Jack Frost, Winter felt he could be the boy's great, great, great, great, great grandfather.

Winter pushed the comment aside. "You may call me Winter," he continued.

"Jack Frost, or just Jack," Jack said, extending his hand. "So, you do snow too?"

"I do," Winter said, accepting the hand.

"How do you know where to go?" Jack asked, eyes bright, eager.

Winter decided he liked the boy. He was young, it was true, but he held a true curiosity and longing to learn, which was more than could be said about a lot of spirits, especially the seasonal ones.

"That is what I am here to teach you," Winter said. He understood now why MiM had created a new winter spirit, and it wasn't to give Winter less work. "If you will accept the knowledge."

Jack looked around at the lake he was standing on, as if debating something. "Can Wind come too?"

"Wind?" Winter was surprised. Most spirits had no knowledge of those beings with no physical form, such as Wind; her brothers North, South, East, and West; the fire beings; those of the earth; and those that ruled the sea. Most spirits just thought the elements were there to be controlled. Winter, of course, knew better. He had been born about the same time as the others, had held strong friendships with them all, even if they were a little distant and uncaring of the world.

Hello Winter, Wind spoke, swirling through the air.

Wind, Winter replied with a nod of his head.

"Yeah, she's my friend," Jack said, oblivious to the silent greetings. "And she's real." He said the last part as if Winter would not believe him.

"I know Wind," Winter assured the boy. "And of course she can come."

Jack looked rather relieved and Winter could hear a soft chuckle come from Wind.

Like I'd leave you, you silly boy, she whispered. Jack tilted his head as she spoke, but didn't seem to quite understand her.

He will in time, Winter thought, surprised at how attached Wind seemed to the boy. He wondered how long they had been together and decided he would ask Wind later.

"So, Jack," Winter said, turning his back on the frozen lake. "Let me tell you a few things about winter."

Jack slid into place next to Winter as they trekked into the forest, Wind following close around them.

~RotG~

For five years Old Man Winter travelled with Jack Frost and Wind and taught them everything he knew about bringing winter and what it meant to be a spirit of winter. He taught Jack that heat made them sick, the changing of the seasons, and how to tell when a place was due for the cold. For five years Old Man Winter spent time with Jack Frost, got to know him, and grew to love him. Grew to love his fun loving personality, laughed at the pranks the boy played, and offered comfort when children ran through him and caused him emotional pain.

But Old Man Winter knew his time was coming to an end. He had lived a long time and he was tired, so tired.

He watched Jack chase a rabbit through the snow with a smile on his face, settled against the tree.

He won't understand, you know, Wind said softly, her breezes settling around Winter.

I know, Winter sighed. He wished there was something more he could do for the boy, wished he could stay with him, mentor him a bit longer. But the curse of the winter spirits was loneliness. To be a winter spirit was to be alone.

No, Wind said fiercely. He will never be alone.

Winter smiled at that. It truly amazed him how much Wind cared for the boy. The relationship was a strange one, one he'd never heard of before in all the time he'd walked the earth. But he was grateful for it. It seemed, from the first time Wind saw Jack, had pulled him into her arms, she had found family. Which, Winter knew, was what she always wanted, and her brothers certainly didn't care about things like that.

Jack laughed as he raced back towards them, skating on the ice of the lake in circles before coming to a stop. Beautiful frost patterns adorned the ice where his feet touched, and Jack's eyes sparkled with life.

Winter wondered why none of the other spirits even cared to come meet Jack Frost. In his five years with the boy he had not run into any of the others, which was strange, for he was normally on good terms with everyone. They weren't friends, per se, they didn't spend time together, but he would run abreast of others and they would speak to each other about current events. So it was strange that none had come to meet the newest spirit, even if winter spirits were generally left alone.

And it worried Winter, because he knew he was not long for the world and he worried that Jack would be as alone as the first day they met.

"Have I told you about the other spirits?" Winter asked. His voice was worn and cracking, but Jack's eyes lit with new curiosity, settling at Winter's feet like he had every time Winter had something new to teach him.

"There are others?" Jack asked.

"Yes, Jack," Winter said. "There are many others. Let me tell you about them, for at some point, I believe you will meet them."

Winter smiled as Jack watched him like a little kid, waiting for a bedtime story. He could hold off a little longer, if it gave him the chance to teach the boy more.

~RotG~

Winter knew his time had come at last, standing atop the tallest mountain as snow light fell around him.

Seven years had passed since he met Jack. Seven years of imparting all he had to offer the boy. But now he had no more to teach. He had nothing left to offer the young spirit who had slowly become like a son to him. It was time.

"Winter, Winter, look," Jack said, rushing over to the old man. "I did it. It took practice, like you said, but I did it."

Jack held up a small figure in his hands: a sparrow made entirely of frost. The sparrow flittered away to fly around their heads before bursting into a fresh dusting of snow.

"Very well done," Winter said, smiling at his boy.

Jack grinned over at him, face flushing at the praise. But the pleased look slowly melted from his face as he took Winter's appearance in.

"Are you okay?" Jack asked, suddenly feeling very frightened.

"Did you know that I was born atop this very mountain?" Winter asked, looking out at the world beyond. His voice was quiet, eyes distant.

"No," Jack said, looking around and taking in his surroundings a little better. "It's different from where I came from," he said.

Winter smiled. "Yes, it is."

"Winter, what's going on?" Jack asked. "What aren't you telling me?"

Oh Jack, Wind whispered, wrapping cool breezes around the boy.

Winter sighed. He knew this day would come, and yet he did not know how to tell Jack. Did not know how to tell the boy that he had to go. Seven years ago he had gone in search of the spirit who would take his place. He hadn't expected to grow so fond of that spirit, hadn't expected to grow attached enough he didn't want to leave.

But leave he must.

"Jack, do you remember when I first met you?" Winter asked.

"Yes," Jack replied slowly.

"Of course you do," Winter said, smiling. "You're a smart boy. Well, I went in search of you when I learned who you were."

"You wanted a partner, right? Someone to make the snows with you."

"No, Jack," Winter said. He met the boy's eyes, blue to blue. "I wasn't searching for a partner. I was searching for a replacement."

"What do you mean?" Jack asked. He didn't like where this conversation was going. He didn't like it one bit.

"I'm old, Jack," Winter said, sighing. "So old and tired. I've been alive for longer than most."

"Don't say that," Jack said, stumbling away slightly, eyes wide and pleading. "You can be around a bit longer. You have to."

Winter shook his head. "I've taught you everything you need to know."

"No."

"Yes, Jack," Winter held the boy's eyes. "Everyone has his time and place. This, here, now, where I was born. This is mine."

"No," Jack cried. Tears gathered in his eyes, freezing as they fell. "Please."

Winter heaved himself to his feet with a groan and shuffled his way to Jack. Jack held his steady, pleading gaze on Winter, wanting to run away, to believe none of this was happening, but he couldn't.

Winter pulled Jack into a hug.

"I'm so proud of you, my boy," he whispered.

Jack curled his hands into Winter's cloak, buried his face into the old man's chest, and sobbed.

"Never forget who you are," Winter said quietly. "And never forget how to have fun. You will need it, when the time comes."

Jack tightened his grip on the cloak. "Don't go."

"Be brave, my son," Winter said. Take care of him, Wind.

I will.

With a nod, Old Man Winter passed away, holding the boy he loved like a son, a peaceful smile on his face. His power dissolved into the air, breaking apart into millions of bright blue lights that fell with the snow.

Jack fell to the snow, tears still rolling down his cheeks, and Wind wrapped him in her embrace. He cried himself to sleep that night, safe on the top of the tallest mountain in the world, as a storm raged around him.

That night, spirits around the world looked up, sensing the passing of one of their own, sensing the growth of another.

"Jack Frost," North whispered from far away, staring into his fire. Tooth, Sandy, and Bunny stood beside him, watching the flames dance. "Now the true Spirit of Winter."