''I'm late, I'm late, I'm late! Nice start of your new job, 'Guardian'!'', Jack Frost was shouting in his mind as he was rushing on the North Pole. Sure, he hated the deadlines, but this was the thing he possibly couldn't be late for. After all, it's not every day that the King of the North and the son of the Christmas was getting a child.
Jack Frost was the son of winter, and soon-to-be child's personal protector, the Guardian. That was a big deal for him, and he swore he will do what ever it takes to keep young prince safe and sound. Upon arriving at the door of the palace, he put his silver helmet on his head, adjusted his silver armor and clenched his spear. That spear was one of the most powerful weapons in all the North Kingdom. Jack sighed and knocked on the door. The yeti Phil opened them and, recognizing Jack, stepped aside to let the young Guardian pass. Jack walked through the hallways, nodding to the servants passing by, earning giggles and even swoons from the ladies. He couldn't help the fact he was so handsome. And yeah, he was enjoying it, too. He stopped walking upon coming to the statue of The Man in the Moon, the kingdom's protector, God, and father. Jack turned, bowed his head and sent a silent prayer for the upcoming child. After that, he continue to walk toward the throne room, where child will be presented to the Guardians.
Guardians were the élite group of the immortal protectors of the North Kingdom, plagued on loyalty, bravery, and love towards the kingdom and it's rulers. The group was made out of the three, now four, members: Aster Bunnymund, the warrior and the personal Guardian of the King, also his best friend, Toothiana, the archer and the personal Guardian of the Queen, and Sandman, the general, leader of the Guardians and the protector of non the less but The Man in the Moon. Nobody knew why, but it was like that, and from today, Jack Frost, rookie soldier and the personal protector of the prince/princess, but most likely prince.
Jack stopped in front of the doors, taking a deep breath and opened the door. Inside, the three Guardians were already standing around the throne, talking among themselves. Aster was the first one who noticed him.
''Oh, finally decided to show up, ei mate?'', he asked. Jack took off his helmet and wiped a few drops of sweat that were collecting on his forehead.
''I apologize, sir, but it takes time to look this good.'', Jack answered. Oh, for how long he waited to become the Guardian so he could be an equal to him, so he could talk back to him with the same amount of sarcasm.
''Gettin' a little smugly already, dag?''.
''Who wouldn't when you look like this? Not that you would know.''.
''Suddenly you're a knocker, too?'', Bunny asked. Jack opened his mouth to say something, when the doors behind the thrones opened and they all hushed.
On the door was a large man, dressed in white furry shirt tacked in the black pants. He had a red cape that was dragging on the floor, completed with the golden crown on his white hair. He had something wrapped in pink in his arms. The King of the North, named Nicholas of North.
''Guardians, my dear friends, my trusted ones. This is a great day for the kingdom, and for me even more! My Queen has gifted me, and Man in the Moon blessed me with a child. Meet my daughter, the princess of the North!''.
They all gether around the King, looking at the small, sleeping baby. She was, even as a baby, the cutest thing they ever saw. Her skin was pale like her mother's, and she looked so fragile. Jack was afraid to even touch her. The blanket she was wrapped in was pink and woolen, very warm.
''What's the ankle-bitter's name, Nick?'', Bunnymund asked. King smiled and looked at Jack.
''That's on you to decide, Jack.''.
''I-I beg your pardon, your Highness?'', Jack asked. The King chuckled and approached to the young soldier.
''Jack, me and my wife want you to name her. After all, if there wasn't for you, me and her would never met in the first place. And did you know that Aster named me when I was born?'', he send a Bunny a smirk.
''Your Highness, I... don't know what to say, this is such an honor as it is. Thank you.'', Jack said. King smiled and tapped his shoulder, then giving him a baby in his arms. Jack took a deep breath as he took her, making sure that his cold skin is not touching the princess.
While he was holding her, he felt something blossoming inside him. He smiled, not believing how lucky he was. Jack suddenly felt her squirming, probably due to the temperature. Then she opened her eyes. Jack's heart sopped, waiting for her reaction. He sticked a smile to his face, and then the baby giggled, making the cutest noises any person could hear. Her eyes were hazel brown, full of shine, and fire, capturing Jack's heart in the instant. His breath caught in his lungs, looking at the little princess he was ment to protect. The princess continued to giggle, looking at him, not stopping. So full of fire, Jack thought.
''Ember. Her name is Ember of North, that is, if it's alright with you, my King.'', Jack said. Nicholas was thinking for a few seconds, then he smiled lovingly and took newly named Ember back into his arms, much on Jack's dismay.
''Ember of North it is! Guardians, remember this moment as the proudest moment of my life! Now, my daughter need her rest, and so do I! You shall see her tonight during her celebration and you Jack, shall be with her at all times. Remember Jack, she means the world to me. And to this Kingdom. Her life is in your hands.''.
''I swear my King, as long as I breath, she shall be safe.''.
5 years later...
Jack was roaming through the huge garden, sighing and muttering. He hated when the young princess would do this to him.
''Ember? Come on, Ember, it's not funny anymore, I give up, you won, as usual...'', he whispered the last part. He was a guy, after all. But there was no brown-haired girl jumping from the nowhere. His Guardian instincts were on the alarm now even more than usual.
''Ember! Come out or... I'll tell your father not to give you hot chocolate anymore. You know I could!''.
''NO! Anything but that!'', he suddenly heard a voice from the bushes on his left. It shaked and a small, pale hand raised from it. He sighed in relief and helped Ember get out. Her brand new pink and glittery dress was now thorn and her golden shoes were a disaster. Jack couldn't even look at her hair. He carefully wiped out some dirt from her cheeks, not believing how one princess can get that messy.
''Ember, your mother will have a fit if she sees you like this. I can't belive how one beautiful and angelic demon like you can get this messy in 15 minutes. Not that you stopped impressing me or anything.'', he said while picking branches out of her brown hair.
''I'm a princess, I can do whatever I want.'', Ember said, making Jack chuckle.
''Well, the princesses are suppose to be clean and neat, while in this moment, princess, you are... Well, not princess-like.''.
''Bunny told me that look doesn't make me who I am.''.
''Bunny also has fur all over him and kangaroo-like ears, so he is really not the best for that advice.'', Jack said while taking her for her hand and walking her back to the palace.
''Than who is it, Jack?'', she asked.
''Well, I don't mean to be smugly, but... I am the best looking Guardian.''. She giggled. Jack really liked her giggling it would make his heart soar from joy. that as the first noise he heard from her.
''Did you know my friend Sarah said that when she gets older, she will be your wife?''. Jack raised his eyebrows, trying to sound interested.
''Oh really? And what did you say on that?''.
''I said that she can forget about you, because I'm not giving you to any one. You are mine.'', she said as that was the most obvious thing in the world.
''Oh, did you?'', he asked her, while taking her into his arms.
''Yeah! You will never leave me, right, Jack? Never, ever?''.
''Never, ever, ever, Ember. I'm all yours, for eternity.'', Jack said. She giggled again and hugged him. If Jack loved anything on the kids, that was their innocence. They could make anything sound so tender and nice.
''Hey, Ember?'', he asked.
''Yes?''.
''Is there anything special you want for your birthday tomorrow? You know I can't get you something ordinary.''. She put her finger on her chin, so much like her father, and thought.
''Well,... I always wanted to learn how to skate, but my teacher is so boring. Can you teach me?''.
''But you never saw me skating.'', he pointed out, even though he was an excellent skater.
''You are son of the winter, Jack. You are suppose to be amazing, if I heard the servants correct, which I did.''. Jack smiled at her. Oh, how much he loved this little girl who was like a sister to him.
''Well, in that case how can I say no?''.
''Yay! I'm gonna be the skating princess!'', she was beaming while they were entering the palace.
While they were entering, they failed to notice a horse made of black sand, kneeling behind the trees in the garden, looking at them emotionlessly. It turned around and jumped in the nearest hole, through the black, dark and scary tunnels, all the way to the Nightmare Kingdom, ruled by the enemy of the Northern Kingdom, Pitch Black.
The horse run through the black gates and inside the huge dark throne room, where it's master, Pitch was sitting, playing with the doves, ripping their feathers while doing it. The doves were screeching, which was obviously making him pleased.
''Ah, the sweet pain...'', he was muttering. In that moment the horse run to him and kneeled. Pitch look at it with boredom in his yellow eyes.
''What is it?'', he asked. The horse let a few sounds only he could understand. His eyebrows raised and his mouth turned to a wicked smile.
''Oh, is that so? The great and powerful King of North has a DAUGHTER? So humiliating, my old friend... What is she like, my fearling?'', he asked. The fearling answered him. Pitch suddenly got up from his chair, angry.
''WHAT?! JACK FROST?! THAT LITTLE WINTER'S BRAT IS HER GUARDIAN?!'', he shouted in rage. If there was any one he hated, that was Jack Frost. Not just because he was the son of his second most hated enemy, but because he defeated him when he wanted to take over the Northern Kingdom by saving the King from the death. Pitch still couldn't belive how that child, of all people, had enough courage to go all the way in HIS kingdom to find the King. And survive, non the less. But then he smiled wickedly.
''If that's the case, then... That girl sounds even more interesting.''.