~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Author Notes~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was going to update sooner but I've been busy transferring to my new job. So things have been a little busy lately. Now that everything has settled down I am able to post again. There for I give you the long awaited chapter 3.
: P I am so glad everyone likes this story so far. Well, here you go
Disclaimer: Yeah I don't own RoTG and Jack may sound weird due to his conflict with trying to sound adult in his kiddy body.
Chapter 3: Frosty Doll
Jamie had to leave the room; no matter how badly he wanted to stay in that room and watch the madness unfold, he had to get some air. Walking down to the back porch his mind kept flipping back to the scene he had just left.
There kneeling in front of his bed was his 'sweet' little sister, a pile of doll size dresses neatly stacked upon on her lap. Across from her sat the Spirit of Winter, a cocky little smirk lit upon his now baby like features. Each one stuck in a rather unusual stale mate, one Jamie was at a loss of how it happened in the first place.
Now, Sophie had been trying to come up with the perfect way to get back at the Guardian of Fun ever since he dropped a ton of snow on her and Bunny during Easter two years ago. Bunny, on Sophie's behalf, had his revenge on Jack by filling the boy's hoodie with rotten eggs. Although it was funny, Sophie didn't feel that she had her revenge yet. Once she spotted the boy in the form of a child, everything just seemed to click into place.
Jack however had surprised both siblings with how he had decided to respond to the situation. Rather than flailing and scrambling to get away-which is what he had claimed he would do-he simply sat there and gave his opinion on each dress. At first Sophie was upset that he wasn't putting up a fight, but once he explained that it was high time she took a crack at causing mischief she all but flipped with glee.
When Jack had begun to explain how his complexion would clash with the first gaudy pink dress Jamie felt it was time to leave the room. How would Jack even know something like that unless…shaking his head to disburse the thought, Jamie sat down on the porch steps and looked about his yard.
Now that he was alone and had time to think his thoughts went to more important matters at hand, one such matter was Jacks shrunken state. His mind was racing with scientific possibilities, but he had to scratch everyone that came to mind. Jack was a magical being, so normal means of explanation were probably not likely.
Pitch was the next thought that came racing into his mind; sure no one has seen hide or hair from the Nightmare King in years but that didn't rule him out as a suspect. Jamie had no proof of course but that didn't stop him from thinking Pitch was some how involved.
What bugged him was that if this was true and Pitch was involved how on earth was he able to alter a person's physical form? Nightmares can affect a person subconscious mind by confusing dreams with reality; in some extremely rare cases a person's body can show physical signs. However no nightmare can cause a persons body to revert to the physical appearance of a child…could it?
Jack didn't seem to know why he was shrunk down, and if was Pitch then he would have known. Pitch was sort of a show off; if he had this capability then he would be there to gloat about what he had done. Unless he was off gloating to the guardians, this made Jamie cringe. If Pitch was back and had this capability then they had a major problem on their hand.
Laughter escaped his room window followed by a low and aggravated groan. Quirking and eyebrow Jamie stood up and made his way back to his bedroom. Upon his arrival he received a sight he was not prepared for.
There sitting in the center of the room wearing a little blue dress with tiny white flowers was Jack. Blue ribbons intertwined with his white hair giving him an even younger look than before. His bottom lip pursed out in frustration, tears clung to the corner of his eyes threatening to fall.
Glancing around the room Jamie saw his little sister jumping with joy holding a camera tightly in her grasp. Putting two and two together Jamie finally let his laughter belt out through the room.
"I'z not funny!" Jack retorted throwing up his arms in expressed aggravation.
"I thought you were fine with her dressing you up Jack?" Jamie chuckled while fully entering the room.
"Yah dwessing me up, not taking photos!"
"Relax Jack, maybe you'll get lucky and they won't process correctly. You are a spirit afterall, can cameras even capture you?" Jamie asked tilting his head in question. Sophie was more than happy to answer that question for him.
Rushing up to her brother she angled the camera so he could see and pressed the replay button. Picture after picture of candid baby Jack photos played out before him. Jamie found his whole body shaking with laughter, each new photo just made the fits worse.
"I guess you can capture a spirit on camera, what are you going to do with them?" Jamie asked honestly curios.
"What do you think? I'm going to have years of insurance knowing that Jack Frost won't dare to think of pranking me."
"Yeah, like this would stop him. If anything it's just going to make it worse."
"He's right you know?" Jack huffed from the corner.
"Oh really? You mean you will keep picking on me, even if I say slip these photos over to Bunny?" a twinkle of mischief in her eye.
Jacks eyes widened at the implication, "I cweated a monster!"
Each of them began laughing at the weirdness of the whole situation; this was certainly turning out to be a weird welcome home party.
"Sophie honey, I know you want to spend time with your brother but you really need to finish your homework now." Their mother hollered from the lower level of the house.
"But Mom!" Sophie wined, "Can't I just do it later, I want to spend time with Jamie!"
"Jamie lives here you goof, you will have plenty of time later to hang out. Now get down here."
Rolling her eyes Sophie looked at her brother with pleading eyes, "Can't you say something to change her mind?"
"Sorry Soph not this time, besides Jack and I have something we need to talk about."
Hanging her head in defeat Sophie trudged her way out the room but just before she left the sound of a cameras shutter echoed in the room.
"Soph!" the two boys holler.
Jamie shook his head in exasperation, she may have seemed like a little innocent girl who loves spring, but to him she was as sly as the spirit sitting on his floor.
Speaking of which, Jamie glanced down at his distraught guest. Jack eyes peeked up at the boy just waiting for him to say something. When he didn't he decided to break the ice, "Not a word to da wabbit."
"Wasn't going to."
Rolling over so he was on his hands and knees Jack began to crawl back towards the bed. Taking pity on the boy Jamie picked him up and placed him back on the fluffy surface. Picking up his blue hoodie he placed it over the spirit who gladly accepted the offer.
"So wha on yo mind?"
Jamie looked back to the Spirit, concern evident in his eyes, "Jack do you think Pitch is behind all of this?"
Jack scrunched his face up in a look of confusion, "uh…I don follow."
Jamie rolled his eyes, "need I remind you that you look two?"
"Oh yah dat, he may be able to do many dings but dis isn't one of 'em"
"Are you sure about that? I mean he could have gained a new ability. Kind of like the way he perfected Sandy's sand technique."
"Maybe…" Jack reached over for his staff and began to fiddle with it.
"Perhaps we should talk to the other Guardians about this."
Jack fell flat on his face and sighed, "I knew you'd say that."
"Well what was your plan? Hang around until you grew back up?"
"Well…"
"Don't tell me you seriously considered it?"
"I did but I can't, I am too small to use my staff and the wind won pick me up. It would get soooooo boring after a while."
"Ha-ha, glad that you thought this through." Jamie said sarcastically. Jack giggled into the blankets. "Well we can wait till it gets darker and try to get a hold of Sandy. Perhaps then we can get things moving."
"Dat may not work." Jack mumbled
"Why not?"
"Sandy stays above da clouds when he sends out his sand. Getting his attention would be hard. We could wait for one of tooth's fairies, but finding one will be just as hard."
"In other words we are screwed no matter what we decide to do?"
"Pwetty much."
Jamie though for a moment and then ran out of the room leaving Jack confused. After a few moments the boy returned even more deflated than before.
"What was dat all about?" Jack asked lifting his head slightly.
"I remembered that Bunnymund gave Sophie one of Santa's snow globes when she was eight."
"Huh? How did he get one?"
"Oh something about a bet that Santa lost, anyway the point is I thought she still had it. Apparently she used it about two years ago to visit him around Easter."
"Wow…I wonder what da bet was."
"That is what you took out of that?"
Jack nodded with glee while Jamie plopped down next to the shrunken teen. Closing his eyes his mind once again drifted to all the questions that he still had.
Jack looked at his exhausted friend; a pang of guilt filled his heart. This was not the home coming he wanted to give his friend. Jamie should be laughing and joking with his family downstairs. The boys mind should be on happier things, not worrying over him and his problems. Don't get him wrong he was happy that Jamie cared so much, but it still irked him that the boy was focusing on this so heavily. He may not be a child anymore, but Jack still watched over him all the same. After all, Jamie would always be a kid to Jack, whether he liked it or not.
"Jamie, you shouldn't worry too much. I'm all right."
"Of course I am going to worry, you're my friend and you're in a bind. I would feel like crap if I didn't."
Jack shook his head, and looked out the window. Night was taking its hold and Sandy was sure to be making his rounds anytime now. Jack was about to say something when a soft snore filled the air, looking back at his friend he found him fast asleep.
"Sleep well Jamie, we will worry bout dis tomaw."
When a ting of gold caught his eye his head snapped over to the window. Seeing the sands of his fellow guardian drifting across the sky gave him a ting of hope. Perhaps the golden man would fell something was off and investigate. Much to his disappointment the sands trailed off into nothingness; Sandy had left for the next town completely unaware of his friend's turmoil.
After a while Jamie's mom appeared in the door way an shut off the boys light. With the room now dark; and Jamie fast asleep Jack quickly realized how quite everything was.
"Dis is going to be a long night." It was times like these he wished he could sleep.
