Author's Note: Mrs. North is of course based off of Mrs. Claus, as well as existing in the Guardians novels if I'm not mistaken. However, Chickie Peeps is a completely original character based of off the Easter Fox. Fun fact, the Easter Bunny actually apparently originated in Germany, but was not the only animal associated with Easter time. In some areas, it was the Easter Fox that brought goodies to boys and girls on Easter morning. I decided that Bunny's companion would be another animal associated with Easter - the fox. Plus, I couldn't resist adding a sexy fox character.
The Ice Sprites are also of my own creation.
Jack woke with a strange ache in his legs. He couldn't remember the last time he'd needed to sleep – being a Guardian Spirit had its uses – but apparently he'd fallen into slumber the night before. He sat up slowly, feeling as if he'd been pounded into the ground but Pitch's Black Sands.
"Good morning sir!"
The cheery female voice caused Jack to start as he turned his head to the side. He was lying on the floor of a child's wonderland. Toys and games littered the floor, balls and dolls strewn about the ankles of nine young ladies. Each was dressed in a style he vaguely remembered from over a hundred years ago – they call it Victorian now, he thought – and each one was just as pale as he. In fact, when one moved, her skin glinted like ice in the sun, and he realized that they were made of ice. The one who spoke had to be the one standing in the front, looking at him expectantly. "Uh, hi."
The leader clapped her hands together, snowflakes flying into the air from them. "We're so glad to see you! Please, let me introduce you to my sisters and I." She gestured to the others. "May I introduce Avalanche, Blizzard, Snowflake, Icicle, Snowdrift, Whiteout, Flurry, Icestorm, and I am Iceflow, but please, call me Flo."
"Hi, Flo." He got to his feet, and noticed that the ladies were obviously petite. "Where am I?"
"You're at the South Pole," Flo answered with a smile. "Man in the Moon told us to set up here. We figured you'd like it." She walked over to the window and opened it with a flourish. "Come see!"
He walked over to the large window, gingerly avoiding stepping on the toys. Outside was a winter paradise. Buildings made of ice stretched to the heavens with spires made in the myriad polygonal shapes of snowflakes. Each structure was connected by wires, and as Jack watched, a small figure slid down from one building to another using a stick as a hook. A very familiar stick. Jack looked down at his staff and then back at the nine ladies. Each held a gnarled staff with a crook at the end. The only difference was that his staff was wooden whereas theirs were made of ice. "What are you?"
"We're your Ice Sprites," Flo answered.
The girl dressed in a dress of the palest blue with her hair in braided pigtails piped up, "We are your retainers."
"You know," said the girl he thought was Avalanche, "Like Santa Claus's yetis and Toothania's fairies. We are the nine Ladies, but you have an entire army of lesser sprites at your disposal as well."
Jack shook his head. "Look, I'm more of a free spirit. I'm not sure I'm cut out to have a bunch of sprites running around with me. No offense."
The girl in soft green with short cut hair smiled. "We aren't meant to hold you down. We simply brought you here to wait out your growth spurt."
Another of the girls gave a snort. "As it is we've been doing just fine for years without some Guardian to –"
"Whiteout!" Flo snapped. "Have some respect!" She looked back to Jack. "I apologize. Whiteout hasn't taken our change of circumstances very well."
"But she is right," the girl with the long single braid said, "We've been on our own for years, working out of the Ice Palace. We are the ones that help you usher in winter and snow. It's what Ice Sprites do. The only reason that we answer to you now is because you're no longer a Folk Spirit. You're a Guardian now."
Jack blinked. "So, you aren't going to be hovering around me all day?"
"Nope," Whiteout said. "We are here if you need us, but we've got our jobs down pat."
The Guardian of Fun shook his head. "Alright, that's fine. I'll just be –"
He stopped, catching sight of something in the window. A young man stared at him with ice blue eyes and choppy white hair. The young man was lanky and tall, dressed in a style similar to the Ice Sprites with brown pants, white shirt, and blue vest. But the young man in the full length window was barefoot, with shin guards and gauntlets of ice encasing his arms and legs. Hexagons decorated the back of his hands, his knees, and top of his feet where cloth wrapped around his feet leaving the heel and ball of his feet bare. The young man raised his hand and touched a coronet of ice shards, done in a braided pattern around his head.
That was when Jack realized that he was staring at himself.
"What happened?!" he cried, looking down at his arms, now gauntleted and so different. The aches he'd had earlier suddenly made sense as he took his staff back from Flo.
"Pitch Black has risen again, and he's gotten a new toy." Flo nodded towards the window.
Jack looked back out, catching sight of the Man in the Moon. As he stared into the Moon's light, a picture seared into his mind. "No," he breathed. "Jamie."
Another picture came, one of Jamie happily playing at his sister's birthday party. Jack sighed in relief. "So that was just a premonition of yours?"
A smiley face appeared in his mind.
"And whatever that black stuff is, it only affects kids?"
A picture of a nod, and then a picture of what Jack used to look like.
"So you . . . made me older so that Pitch couldn't hurt me?"
Another nod, and then a picture of the Ice Sprites. Then, a picture of Jack as he was now leading the Sprites into battle against Night Mares.
Jack looked back at the Sprites. "You sure about that?"
Again a nod. But then another picture of a piece of paper saying "IOU" being handed to a strange little creature that looked like a rock.
"What? I don't understand."
The moon flared bright, almost blindingly so. Jack and the Sprites shielded their eyes until the radiance diminished. Slowly, Jack lowered his arm, staring at the white furred, female bunny who stood in the window. She was dressed in a kimono that was spangled with stars, and her face was elfin in character. "Good evening, Jack Frost. I don't believe we've ever had the pleasure. I am Tsuki no Usagi. I am Man in the Moon's companion." She bowed low.
Jack returned the gesture. He'd never met her, but he knew what it meant for her to be a companion rather than a retainer. He'd met Mrs. North and Chickie Peeps, Bunny's odd girlfriend. But no one had ever even hinted to him that Man in the Moon had a lady of the house. "It's nice to meet you."
"Likewise," she said with a smile. "Now, this is where Máni really needs your help. As he mentioned, in order to obtain what we will need to stop Pitch, he had to make a deal with a friendly troll. This particular troll has a young queen under his care that needs some fun in her life."
The young Ice Elf cocked his head. "How old is she?" he asked with disbelief.
Tsuki no Usagi smiled with a sigh. "She isn't a child, no, but all the same she does sorely need a couple of smiles. The troll asked for your help since he helped us. He has already given us the knowledge we need, but Man in the Moon feels that we should make the trade. The troll, Pabbie, showed him a bit of the young queen's life and Man in the Moon is soft-hearted. Man in the Moon asks that you go to the other world and work your particular magic on the young queen."
Jack nodded. "Okay. A couple of smiles to keep the kids safe, I can handle that." He looked down at himself. "But did I really need to be monkeyed with?"
The Moon Rabbit's eyes were gentle. "Jack, the entire reason we think Pitch tinkered with the Sands was to gain revenge on you. As an adolescent – even as a spirit – you were in danger."
He sighed. "I guess you're right." He looked at his hands. "But who picked out this outfit?"
Tsuki no Usagi leaned to the side and looked to the Sprites. He followed her gaze. It was prickly Whiteout that replied, "Hey, at least we didn't even think about giving you shoes!"
After Tsuki no Usagi left, Jack saw the alarm aurora, and he was almost out the window before Flo caught him. "Wait, Jack!" she cried.
He turned back to her. "I have to go! North is calling."
The Ice Sprite smiled. "I know, but we have a more direct route. Follow me."
Without comment he did as she bid, and soon found himself looking at a door. He opened it and promptly laughed in glee. "No way!"
"How do you think we have such awesome toys?" Flo stated with a smile. "This connects us directly to the North Pole."
"Thanks, Flo," he said. He stopped on the threshold and turned back to her. "Wanna come with me?"
Flo looked taken aback, and her icy cheeks turned slightly blue. "Sir?"
"Well, Tooth's probably going to have several fairies, and you'll be in Yeti central. I just figured since you'll be mustering the Ice Sprites you might want to be there." Jack smiled. "I may be the Guardian you answer to now, but you're their leader."
At that, Flo returned the smile and nodded. She swept through the door with all the haughtiness of a princess. Jack followed with a smile. As they made their way through the workshop, Jack greeted the Yetis by name. Flo looked everywhere, taking in the sights and sounds. "I've never been in this place before."
Jack smiled. "Yeah, it is an amazing place."
When they made it to the globe room, Jack found the other four Guardians already there. Sandy was floating on a manta watching as Toothania directed her fairies to various different addresses. Bunny was examining a piece of paper, while he bickered good-naturedly with North. "Hey guys," he said with a huge smile.
Four sets of eyes turned to him, and four sets of eyes went wide. He had completely forgotten his changed appearance, but Bunny rudely reminded him. "Hey, who're you?"
North reached for one of his swords. "And how did you get into –"
"Guys!" Toothania cried throwing out a hand. "It's Jack! I would recognize those pearly whites anywhere!"
Sandy nodded, his Dream Sands forming a snowflake above his head.
North lowered his sword, and looked closely. Then he let loose with a great, booming laugh. "Jack Frost! It is you!"
Bunny hopped up, and gave a little sniff. "So it is." He glanced over at Flo. "And who's this pretty Sheila?"
Flo blushed again, and Jack nodded to her. "Guys, this is Iceflow of the Ice Sprites."
"That is right!" North boomed. "You were to be given the Ice Sprites! Welcome! Welcome! Elves! Fetch cookies for the lady!"
Flo tried to protest, but Bunny shook his head. "Let the elves have something to do," he said, gesturing with his head to the little beings that perpetually wandered about the workshop getting into all sorts of trouble.
"Thank you," Flo said to the elves. The three that she smiled at turned as red as their hooded tunics and tried their best to run each other over for the pleasure of serving her cookies.
"So, what's wrong now?" Bunny asked.
"Pitch," was all North said and looked to Jack expectantly.
Jack nodded. "Yeah, I already talked to the Man in the Moon. He and his companion told me about what he's up to now. It's why he gave me a few years in age."
"So what has Pitch done?" Tooth asked, brow furrowed.
"He's managed to get into magic he's not supposed to know. The way that Tsuki no Usagi explained-"
"Wait, who now?" Bunny cut in.
Jack realized something. "None of you have ever met Tsuki no Usagi have you?"
Sandy raised his hand and nodded while forming a bunny above his head. Tooth also nodded. "She doesn't come out much, but yes, I've met her."
"Why's this news to me?" Bunny asked.
"It is about not to be," came a voice from the window.
The Guardians turned, finding a female bunny standing in the middle of the floor mosaic that illustrated the five Guardians and their chosen symbols. She smiled as she approached Bunny. "I am Tsuki no Usagi. I have not left the moon in many, many years, but it is a pleasure to meet you."
Bunny smiled and nodded. "Well, nice to meet you too."
Usagi turned back to the company. "I hope you do not mind, but I have asked Chickie Peeps and Mrs. North to join this gathering."
"Of course not!" North said just as a stately woman who appeared to be around his age arrived on the landing with a large platter of cookies. She was trailed by several elves, including the three who were Flo's servants for life.
"Mrs. North," came a chorus from the Guardians.
A moment later a hole opened in the floor admitting a fox. The fox was built like an old pin up model with bright blue eyes and red fur, holding a marshmallow treat in one hand. She hopped over and stood by Bunny. "Hello, Hase," she said with an obvious German accent while nuzzling his fluffy cheek.
Bunny smiled back at her. "There you are, dear."
Usagi nodded. "Now that we are all here, I will explain. The magic that Pitch has found to tinker with his Black Sands comes from a far off world."
"Another world?" Mrs. North asked, coming to stand beside her husband. Her Russian accent was just as thick.
She waved a hand and a map appeared in shimmering light before the Guardians. "Imagine that this world is an island," she began, "And that island was part of a chain." She gestured to the group of islands to the left. "That makes up one nation. That is how the different realms are organized. Máni, Man in the Moon, is the Watcher of the Dreaming Worlds – our island chain. He is like a Guardian for the greater worlds rather than just of children."
"Okay," Tooth said. "So the other world, it's like another island? Pitch went over here to find a new spell?" She pointed from one of the imaginary islands to another in the same chain.
Usagi nodded. "In effect yes, but he didn't go to this island," she explained pointing at the same island Tooth had. She pointed to one in the other island chain. "He went to one of those islands, in a different nation. We're dealing with power Man in the Moon has never seen before."
The Guardians absorbed that for a moment before Usagi continued. "Fortunately, Máni is friendly with the Watcher of that island chain. She was able to help him figure it out. According to the wise one they went to, both spells are woven of a woman's magic, so a woman can break the spell." She pointedly glanced up at Tooth, Mrs. North, and Chickie. "That's why I insisted you be here."
"So what are these spells we're to defend against?" Mrs. North asked.
"One is a sleeping spell first woven by an evil witch named Maleficent. The other is a protective spell meant to keep young rock trolls from rolling away in their sleep." Usagi looked up. "Pitch has combined them with his Black Sands to create a more powerful version that traps a child into sleep where they are also trapped in a nightmare, or at least that is what the Watcher and Elder Rock Troll of the other world believe. He apparently created it to gain revenge on Jack, so that is why Man in the Moon gave him several years so that he would no longer be vulnerable." No one asked how Man in the Moon knew.
"So, all the troll would say is that a woman's magic could break the spell?" Bunny asked.
"Yes. That's all we know right now. Máni has been trying to scry out more details, but he can't see what Pitch is doing right now."
North nodded. "We will keep watch. Sandy, we will start going out with you at bed time. That's when Pitch will strike."
"But what about Jack?" Tooth asked. She looked to him. "You may be too old for the spell now, but Pitch will still try to come after you."
Flo spoke up. "He has his Ice Sprites now. We may not be anywhere near as powerful as he, but we have numbers on our side."
Tooth gave her an apologetic smile. "I thought the same thing of my fairies, but he trapped them all quite easily the last time he tried."
Flo looked crestfallen, but Usagi shook her head. "For a few days Jack will be completely out of Pitch's reach. In exchange for his help, the troll elder that helped us requested a visit from the Guardian of Fun."
