Grey Sands
Chapter 1
He doesn't quite understand the feeling welling up in him, or even how the children can see him, but he can't bring himself to care. All that matters is the moment. The children laugh and he chases them, makes snowmen with them, applaud their snow angels. And they have snowball wars, running around, cheeks dark from the cold, hurling balls of snow at each other. At first it is everyone against Jack, but soon it turns into everyone against everyone as the children miss Jack and hit each other.
'What were you thinking? Brining him here? You have any idea what jeopardy you might have put us in?!'Jack pause at the sound of the voice, it doesn't belong, shouldn't be here. Yet it is and it sounds faintly familiar…
'Now, Bunny…' another voice, again faintly familiar, begins before it's cut off.
'Don't you Bunny me Nor…'
A snowball hits Jack square in the face and is accompanied by a chorus of laughter from the children. For a moment all he can do is blink stupidly before his lips spread in a wide grin and he bends down to make another snowball. At the sight of him the children shriek in exhilarated fear and start running. Jack chases and soon the memory of the voices is drowned by laughter and snow.
'He asked you to take him?' the first voice returns and Jack drops his newest snowball on the ground. 'If that doesn't smell of a trap I don't know what does! This is definitely another one of Pitch's schemes!'
The world shatters
There is no snow covered world, no laughing children, no fun. Just the darkness behind closed eyelids. He bites back frustrated tears at this new nightmare. Disguised as a dream it has left him aching for all the things he don't have, will never have.
'…under lock and key.' He recognizes the voice now. The Easter Bunny and the other one was Santa Claus. But what are the two Guardians doing in the lai…
They're not in the lair. Jack is not in the lair. The Sandman, he did what Jack asked. The knowledge rest on his mind light with relief.
The seals flare. No. He knew they would, but he'd hoped. Hoped the Sandman would understand. Hoped to wake up and find them gone.
His eyes flare open, taking in his surroundings, searching. He's on a couch in what appears to be a sitting room. If he were to hazard a guess, he's likely at the pole (the elf scouring across the floor on the other side of the room is a pretty good indicator). The room's too many windows are thankfully closed, though they wont be too much off a hindrance. Glass is so easily broken after all. The four Guardians are standing in front of what appears to be the only door leading out of the room and his staff is nowhere to be seen. Good. The Sandman might not have understood, but he'd listened anyway.
'We're well aware of your opinion on the matter Bunny. So I suggest you close your mouth and let us speak as well,' the Tooth Fairy chides. The Easter Bunny only sputters in reply. 'Thank you. Now I think we should listen to what the boy has to say.
'I don't know about you, but to me it has always seemed like the boy's heart hasn't been into it, the way he flies, the way he fights, it feels too rigid. I believe there is something in the equation we're not aware of, something important, and this might be our only chance to find out what.'
Jack smiles. The Tooth Fairy had always seemed so distracted when he'd encountered her in the past, but now he wonders if she's the most observant of them all.
That's when his body decides to act.
He's well aware that the Easter Bunny is the fastest of the four, on land. In the air it's the Tooth Fairy. Once he finds his staff she'll be the only one capable of keeping up with him, she'll have to go first. That might keep the others occupied long enough for him to find his staff. The Sandman didn't understand the importance of keeping the staff away from him so there is a chance it's kept close by, unguarded. He hopes he's wrong. He doesn't stand a chance at getting away, at returning to Pitch without it.
Jack does not want to return to Pitch.
He's up and running in one fluid motion, arm outstretched, frost fizzling in his palm, and fingers searching for delicate wings. Just as two fingers reaches their goal something grabs him around the waist and yanks him back.
Two fingers are enough and he watches in horror as frost patterns race down one of the Tooth Fairy's wings. Then their eyes meet. Eyes wide with hurt and disbelief stare into his own orbs.
To the side the Easter Bunny is ranting, but Jack can't move his gaze. It's as if she has cast a spell on him and all he can focus on is her. The rabbit's words reach his ears as if filtered through water. 'His heart isn't in it?! You defended him and still he attacks you, trying to freeze of your wings!'
'Shut it Bunny,' she says, voice too calm. Then she closes her eyes, breaking the spell, and takes a deep breath. Opening her eyes she turns toward the rabbit. 'Can't you see?! The boy is horrified by his own actions!'
The Easter Bunny huffs. 'Horrified that he was caught I bet.'
'Bunny!' Before the fairy can say any more Santa breaks in.
'Tooth is right, Bunny. There is something going on we do not see,' he says calmly. 'Sandy?'
From the corner of his eyes, Jack can see the Sandman nod, and some of the Dream sand around his waist lifts up and throws itself in his face.
Jack Frost succumbs to the darkness of sleep and dreams.
I completely forgot that I'd posted Grey Sands here (oops). So have Chapter 1 months after I posted it on AO3. Yes chapter one, because what was previously the whole story is now just the prologue.
