Bernard and Jack Chapter 2:
"Jack froze his heart when he was young when he felt that Mother and I had rejected him. We think that Jack may again freeze his heart if he finds out that his son is also rejecting him."
Carol leaned forward. "I don't know how we can help you with this problem. Have you tried to talk to his son."
Mother Nature answered them. "We were hoping that you can talk to him for us. You know the son better than we do. He is son of Princess Maripola of the Trivoly elf clan. "
Santa stood up with shock on his face. "You mean that Bernard is Jack Frost's son."
Scene 1:
Mother Nature nodded. "Yes Bernard is Jack's son. Father Time told him about his father when he rescued him from the ice cave. We feel that its important to Jack's rehabilitation that he have somebody that he can care for. Bernard is also a son of an elemental spirit. Its only a matter of time before his elemental powers start to awaken in him. Normally it's the parent's job to teach the elemental powers to their children. Jack is the only one who can teach Bernard the control that he will need. "
Santa just stood there shaking his head. "Bernard, just came back to the pole. I can't send him back out again. He is comfortable here. What to you suggest that I do?"
Father Time sighed. "We don't want to remove Bernard from pole. We know how important it is for him. He has his friends. The only solution would be to send Jack to be on hand here. That we he can start training Bernard that control that he will need in the near future. Also Santa and Mrs. Claus can be teaching Jack how to love. It would be killing two birds with one stone. "
Scott blew out a breath. "You said Bernard will need this training for the near future. How near is near Father?"
"Bernard's powers should start manifesting themselves any minute now. He will be at his maximum powers by September 18, 2012. " Father Time looked back over to his wife.
"Most of my elemental's have had thousand's of years of training with their parents. Father put a time delay on Bernard's power when he discovered Bernard in the cave. We did not insist that Bernard be trained by when he was a boy as we didn't want him influenced by the old cold hearted Jack's attitude. However the new warm hearted Jack would be the ideal teacher." Mother Nature summed up.
Scott chewed on her words. "What if Bernard refuses? He is not a fan of Jack's as he knows that Jack was responsible for his mother's death. He has had a lot of other issues with him."
Mother Nature nodded. "Bernard will have to put his anger aside. I know of his past issues with Jack. I had the same issues with the old Jack. I have been keeping tabs on Bernard since he was a little elfling. He is after all my grandson. My grandson who unfortunately inherited my famous temper. Just think what could happen if Bernard became angry and lost control of his powers during the Christmas Rush. You could find that he has frozen the elves in your workshop. I am going to try to work on a temporary binding device that should stop Bernard from having any magical accidents when he gets mad."
"That certainly wouldn't be good for morale at the factory. We had a taste of Bernard's temper during the Human Clause and it wasn't a pretty picture." Carol agreed. "Dear we need to talk to him tomorrow night. I think maybe we should call Neil in to help us."
"Yes you're right Carol. That's exactly what we need to do."
Scene 2:
The next evening found Bernard standing the chalet's door door nervously. He mind wandered back to an earlier conversation he had with Curtis that morning.
'There is something going on around here and I don't like it.'
Begin Flash Back.
"Why did they have you get Neil to the north pole and not me. Santa is keeping me out of the loop. I'm his head elf I should have been informed. " Bernard complained bitterly. "If something is going on around here I should know about it."
"Take it easy Bernard. Santa probably wanted me to get him because I know him from his trip here to visit when the baby was born. Santa probably feels that Neil trusts me. He doesn't know you Bernard as well as he does me."
"Where'd you get an idea like that. I spent a few weeks with Neil and Laura in the mortal world. You remember that. And believe me he got to know me pretty well. I had sessions with him every morning discussing some of my past."
"Must not have been very fun for Neil to find out about ancient history. That must be why Santa had me transport him than you. Face it Bernard. You're an boring elf. I'm the fun elf."
"Curtis."
"Yes Bernard."
"You can get out of my office now."
Curtis made a face and started to the door. He paused and said. "I try to help a guy and this is the thanks I get. Oh yeah before I forget. Santa wants you to come for dinner. I overheard Santa talking to Neil that they need to talk to you about something. "
"Are you sure that they wanted me to talk to them and Neil?" Asked the elf.
"I think that was said. I mean I may have heard the conversation wrong. It really wasn't directed to me. Maybe its nothing. "
Bernard thought to himself. 'But maybe its something.'
End flashback.
He knocked on the door and Carol came to the door. He gazed up at her and noticed that her smile was grim. She reached out and hugged him before she invited him into the chalet. 'Okay now I know something is wrong.'
"Hello Bernard." Said Neil who was sitting down in one the easy chairs.
"Hi. Doc." He said uneasily. He then turned to his boss and studied his somber expression. "Hey Boss. I appreciate you and the misses inviting me to eat but I would like to beg off for tonight. I'm not feeling well."
Santa studied his elf and decided to confront the matter head on. "Bernard. We didn't invite you here just for the dinner. There's a crisis in the Legendary Figure guild. It also involves you. To be specific its about certain aspects of your past life."
"I've told you about my past. I told you about my mother." He exclaimed.
"I'm talking about your past with your father. I know that Jack is your father."
Bernard sat down on the sofa with an angry look on his face. "I don't know my father. All I know he abandoned me. I know that Father Time believes that I am Jack's son but I don't believe it. I've never had any of the frost power."
"Bernard. Mother Nature and Father Time both confirmed that Jack is your father. Further more, Father Time had put a temporary freeze on your powers until it was feasible for Jack to train you in how to control them. You powers are now starting to manifest themselves and if unchecked it could prove disastrous for everybody. Jack himself knows the problem with losing control. "
Santa paused for a breath then continued. "He had a loving heart when he was young. A young wood nymph that he had a crush on spurned him and wounded his heart. He lost control of his powers and froze his heart so that he would not feel the pain of his broken heart. Now that his heart has been defrosted, he can feel love and is living with regrets that his past actions caused the world."
Bernard jumped to his feet. "I don't want to have anything to do with Jack."
Santa stood up and pointed back to the sofa. "Please sit down Bernard. You must calm yourself."
The angry elf shook his head and stalked over to stand at the chalet's bay window. "You can't possibly be thinking of handing me over to Jack."
"No Jack will be coming here so that he can train you. You will still be among your friends." Carol added gently.
"NO! I don't want to be anywhere near him." He shook his hands toward the window exasperated. Suddenly a thick layer of frost covered the window and it shattered as if a bomb had gone off. It knocked both Bernard and Mrs. Claus off their feet. Glass fragments fell back into the room.
"CAROL." Scott yelled as he ran over to his wife. He saw Neil running over to Bernard.
Carol sat up stunned and examined herself. "I'm fine dear. I was far enough from the blast. Bernard wasn't however."
Scott looked over at Neil who was examining the elf. "He is in an obvious state of shock. A few pieces of glass hit his left cheek. He'll need stitches. You better call the doctor to make a house call."
The elf began to stir. He looked out at the shattered window and thought. 'Its true. I am Jack Frost's son.' He slumped against Neil.
"Santa, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He said through his tears.
Suddenly a flash of golden light lit up the room. It was Mother Nature. She saw the damaged window and sighed. 'So it begins.'
She waved her arms at the elf and his wounds were healed. She waved her arms again. A band of black metal appeared around his neck, while two silver bracelets appeared around each wrists. Mother Nature began to sing the ancient elf magic binding ritual.
Bernard squirmed in Neil's arms when he felt the power coursing into the three bands. He scratched at them in a frantic attempt to remove them before the ritual song ended. Once the song ended he laid down exhausted.
Carol watched the scene with pity shining in her eyes. She turned to her husband. "We need to do something. He's hurting."
Mother Nature looked at them with tears in her eyes. "In ages pasts, some elves had extreme magical power such as the Trivoly did. Sometimes their young ones could not handle such power. They had to become bound to trusted members of their families or friends until the day when they had learned the control that was needed. I bound him to the two of you as you are the closest thing he has to family. I will send Jack to the two at the end of the month. He will be to help you teach him this control."