It's Jack's time to shine! I'm still getting into the swing of channeling my inner winter spirit so let me know what you think. Thanks!
Jack has seen a lot of crazy things, especially lately. In the last few months he fought off Pitch Black, met the Guardians, found out yetis make the toys for North, and a bunch of other insane things. North let him move in and Jack thought things would be all smooth sailing from then on out…and then today happened.
He was heading back to his old home town, Burgess, to visit Jamie to find him on a hilltop with his friends and some other kids he hadn't seen before. Once he landed, the welcoming he got was great, but not expected. They kept talking about some dancing snow tornado that made this Gary kid – who really needed to lay off the chips - and his friends to believe in him. What's the crazy part? He didn't do it. And last he checked, magic snow doesn't happen without him making it magical.
Not wanting to disappoint Jamie, Jack played it off and did what he did best; have fun! When they got back to Jamie's house later, Jack promised he'd hang around a little longer before leaving. This time, when Jamie came to his room, he was talking about a fairy in his living room making toys dance.
Fairies? They aren't real. In his three hundred years, he never once came across one. But Jamie was not giving up. Jack just laughed, it was Jamie's unwavering belief that saved the day against Pitch. Who knows? Maybe he was right.
After saying good night to Jamie, Jack hung around town for a bit longer. He visited all of his old favorite places and even the lake.
He stands there now at the edge and watches its frozen surface. How many times had he skated on that ice never knowing what meaning that place really had? More than he wanted to count. He stands there watching for a little longer until he can't stand it any longer. He flies up into the air and heads back into town.
Jack walks along the familiar wires concluding his thoughts on the day; it's almost show time. Right on time, as usual, gold sand bursts through the clouds and fills the air with its light. Jack watches the sand, thinking about Sandy. The sand holds a new meaning now than it did before his adventure. After a while, a splash of sand catches his eye. Is that a bird over there?
He looks back up at the sand as it starts to fade away. See ya later Sandy.
Not sure what to do next, he does what he does best; he makes it snow. He watches the clumps of snow fall and hops around from roof top to roof top feeling the wind blow all around him.
"You're welcome for the snow day kids," he chuckles. After looking around one more time, he decides it time to head back to the Pole. North said he had something important to tell him.
"Alright wind, let's head home." The wind picks him up and as he starts to head north. He looks down and a strange sight catches his eye. Through the snow he makes out what looks like a girl with long hair dancing in the storm. That's when he notices something even crazier; are those wings attached to her back?
His conversation with Jamie about fairies pops into his head. Can it be? Are they real?
On his mental command, the wind quickly lowers him to the girl's place. When he lands, he can't see anyone around. Snow blows in and around him messing with his vision, but he's used to that by now. He should be able to see her. "Hello?" He looks around, "Hello? Is there anyone there?"
Jack turns searching for the girl. She couldn't have gone that far. He steps forward, determined to find the person he saw. After a few more moments of looking, Jack scratches his head in confusion. He knows he saw someone. Where did they go?
He shouldn't keep North waiting, he doesn't want him sending the Yettis after him again. Air gathers around him and up and away he goes. Minutes later Jack drops in from the open window of the workshop and lands next to the globe.
"Jack!" North greets warmly, coming out from his office. "…You're late."
Jack laughs, "You can't rush the perfect storm."
North shakes his head, laughing warmly, "You can if I have big news -"
"Right," Jack says "Before you get to that I need to ask you something -"
"It's about fairies." They both conclude. They look at each other.
"Oh good. You have heard of them," North says.
Jack stares at him in confusion, "Are you saying they're real?"
North's throat roars a mighty laugh, "Are they real?! They are as real as you and me!"
"But I've never seen them before," Jack counters in a state of shock.
"Fairy magic coats them like blankets. No one can." North explains. "That's why tomorrow is so important!"
Jack looks up at North, his shock bouncing back to confusion. "Tomorrow?"
"Yes tomorrow," North repeats a little exasperated. Jack knows he has Christmas to prepare for, but he needs answers. "Tomorrow is big Fairy Celebration. For three nights and two days fairies can be seen by us and the children who believe. It's very big party and you're invited."
Jack doesn't remember anything about whatever this Celebration is. "How come I haven't heard about it before?"
"Last celebration happened just before you became Jack Frost. And only Guardians get to go." North shrugs.
Jack can do the math, "So it only happens every three hundred years?" They only get two days to be seen and then they can't for another three hundred years?! "That's not fair!"
North frowns, "But that is fairy magic. No one knows why it works that way." He claps Jack on the shoulder, "Don't worry. It will be fun. The fairies have been waiting long time for this. It will be huge event!"
North heads down to the workshop floor and Jack so badly wants to ask him more questions. His talk only leaves him more confused than before! If fairies can't be seen until tomorrow then who was that he saw in the snow back in Burgess?
"Hey North!" Jack calls down. North turns and looks back up at him, "Are there different kinds of fairies?"
"There is book on shelf," North replies, returning to his conversation with a Yetti.
Jack runs to North's office where he keeps all of his books. There is a massive amount of Christmas stories from all over the world and then there is a small section in the top right corner that don't look all Christmasy. After some searching, Jack finds a worn book bound in fading yellow leather. In black stitching it reads: The History of Nature Fairies. It's not very thick for a book on their history though.
Jack sits down on the floor and opens the book to the first chapter: History.
Nature Fairies have existed since the beginning of time and are believed to be as old the Man in the Moon and Pitch Black themselves. Their job is to keep children's belief in magic alive through the use of tiny miracles in nature. They are classified under Solar Fairies since they draw their powers from the Sun. However, there are a multitude of different types of fairies that are determined by their skills or talents. (Turn to page 10 to see Types)….
Jack's curiosity peaks and he turns to page ten to what the books means.
Solar Fairies can be put into any number of "types" of fairies. They are separated by their specialty in a certain type of magic. Most fairies only get separated into one category with very few ever being placed in multiple categories.
These types include: Water Fairy, Light Fairy, Plant Fairy, Animal Fairy, Wind Fairy, Fire Fairy, Collector Fairy, Teaching Fairy, Book Fairy, Speed Fairy, Wisdom Fairy…
Jack can't believe how many different types of fairies there can be! The following pages are filled with a page long descriptions of each different fairy. With each page Jack reads, the more disheartened he becomes. The fairy he saw could be any one of these fairies, how is he supposed to tell which one she was? The fairy Jamie described had long white hair and a silver dress, what kind could that be? This book wasn't the pop-up picture type.
His eyes light up as he came across a page that describes a Winter Fairy. Wow! A fairy exists that's just like him! Jamie did say he saw a fairy with white hair right? Maybe that's her! But this page doesn't mention anything about the fairy being able to make toys dance…
He closes the book and leans his head back against the wall. It's like the more answers he gets, the more questions he has.
He feels so bad for them all. He knows what it's like not to be seen for three hundred years, but at least he had the hope that he could be seen once someone believes. They can't be seen ever! Even by other magical people! It can't be easy to do what they do if they know they'll never get to be seen as a result.
On the other hand, the more Jack thinks about it, the more excited becomes to meet the fairies. A winter fairy! He jumps to his feet, the book sliding across the floor. That's it! Maybe there was more than one fairy he came across today. The winter one at the hill top could have been with the dancing toy fairy…is there such a fairy? Who cares! These fairies are like him in more ways than one and he can't wait to meet them!
So there was a little more explaining, but now you know all you need to know. Hooray! Next stop: Party Town! Review, Comment? Thanks!