December 1776
The Evolutionary War was hard with Old Man winter wanting to assert control.
There was also the fact that Jack had to fight off the English fey that came with that rotten English man. Of course Jack would not let his home be invaded by fey who want to help the English and Old Man Winter who just wants it to snow.
He tried to help, honestly he did, but fighting off Old Man Winter and the English fey was taxing.
Jack felt bad that he help made the Valley Forge winter difficult with its bout of cold and warm days.
Sandy came by often. Both to see Jack, and to protect Jack when needed and on occasion, teach Jack a valuable lesson.
There was one memorable occasion…
Jack was floating be when he saw a British soldier and his platoon. Jack curiously spied on them and realized that the men was part of a British reconnaissance group. Jack smiled and set out to observe.
Jack was cautious as he followed the group. Even if they can not see him, they may be able to hear when he stir the branches and see the leave foot prints. Jack skim the top of trees and sent gust of winds to hid the sounds and muffle his presence.
Jack was growing bored with just watching for days and was planning on leaving when he was visited by The Sandman.
"Hey Uncle Sandy," acknowledge the eternal teen.
Sandy look at the red coats with a question mark above his head.
Jack shrugged, "I want to help but I am not really keen on freezing them".
Sandy looked and start to scold Jack at the thought of bluntly interfering on human matters.
Jack frowned, "Hey one of those 'humans' is my friend, and he see them as enemies."
Sandy rolled his eyes and signed that he meant blatant action, more subtle work is perfectly allowed.
Jack look with questioning eyes.
Sandy sighed at the ignorance of the younger generation. The Sandman immediately grabbed Jack and traveled to the nearby town. When they arrived to the town, Sandy lead him to a particular man.
Soon they are floating next to the man in the familiar marking of a 'rebel' and the man seem to thinking.
Sandy carefully called his dream sand and gestured Jack to dip his hands into the sand.
Jack looked skeptical.
Sandy rolled his eyes that seem to say, "Just do it."
Shrugging, Jack did as he was told and soon the sand change from its gold to a white color. Jack look in awe.
With gleaming eyes, the Sandman carefully doused the man in the sand. The man's behavior changed. With eyes gleaming Jack watch the show.
As the blue coats set an ambush, Sandy gave the men whispers of encouragement and Jack called the wind to push them at their heels. The ambush itself was short.
As the men bury the poor British man, Jack looked on in shame, knowing that he caused the man to die. It funny too, he was so eager to do something, now having done something, it fills Jack with shame.
Sandy floated by and carefully grabbed his chin. Looking into the ancient eyes of the Sandman, he seems to say with his mind, "Do not blame yourself in the flaws war. But be careful in how and why you choose to fight."
Jack sighed, "Your right Sandy."
Sandy gave an encouraging smile and pat as if to say, "You learned."
That was one lesson Jack appreciated.
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Head canon time! It will be fleshed out better in later chapters but the Sandman is the maternal Uncle of Mother Nature. Because of that, then all her 'children' (including Jack) would have been his family too. I am completely making up on familial relationship that Sandy have to Mother Nature although it could be like that. It would definitely explain why Jack knows the Sandman and why he was so devastated with the Sandman's death in the movie. The second head canon is that Sandy can inspire people like a muse. Jack just removed the fall sleep part. This is based on the fact that people get interesting ideas from their dreams.
Old Man Winter is in fact another name for General Winter.
Also the Ambush of Geary was a true event that took place on December 14, 1776. The man's name is Cornet Geary.
Revised and edited May 2019.