A/N: Here's the next part - not exactly what I had originally planned for this chapter, but this is what came out when I started writing. :) Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Rise of the Guardians
~~RiseOfTheGuardians~~
The years passed quickly for Wind, for she had seen many years, but she knew it was not the same for Jack. There were dark days for Jack where he hid from the world, and days where he raged and the snow raged with him. There were days he met with friends and days he met those who considered themselves above Jack. There were days when Jack ran away, and days when he stood and fought.
And as Wind stayed with Jack through it all their friendship grew. Wind never tired of the wonder Jack experienced when he found something new. She loved every minute of Jack's laughter. She protected him in every way she could. And she was so proud of him when he did the right thing.
The first time Jack had stood up for himself, Wind wasn't sure what to think. It had been several years since the Sam Hain incident, and Jack had found himself once again face to face with the Halloween spirit.
Only this time, he wasn't afraid. This time, he stood up for himself. And despite his promise of dropping a blizzard onto Sam Hain's head, Jack did just the opposite.
He befriended the skeletal spirit.
To say Wind was surprised was an understatement, but it was nothing compared to how Sam Hain felt.
It started out with arguing, which really was no surprise at all. Sam Hain was angry that Jack had brought snow on his holiday once again. He couldn't believe the winter spirit's nerve. But when the winter spirit simply laughed it off, nonchalant, Sam Hain was impressed. Nobody laughed around him.
But Jack did, even though Wind could see how scared his truly was, right before he threw a snowball in his face. Sam Hain was nonplussed. He wanted to be angry, furious at the boy because this wasn't funny, it was Halloween night, a time for fear, but instead, Sam Hain found himself laughing. He couldn't help it.
And Jack smiled at him, all innocence, before pelting him with another snowball.
"So that's how it's going to be?" Sam asked, bending down and scooping up a handful of snow. "Well, two can play at that game."
And from then on, Jack and Sam were friends. And slowly, year by year, fear drained out of Halloween, replaced by fun, laughter, and pranks. And Jack and Sam were the biggest pranksters of all.
Wind was proud of her boy, proud because he had met his enemy, a man he had every right to hate, and forgave him, befriended him. It was not often Wind witnessed such a kindhearted spirit, or person for that matter.
And after befriending Sam Hain, Jack went to work on others. He started an annual snowball fight with Groundhog. He followed the end of the rainbow in the hopes Leprechaun would help him save a life. He followed Summer when the heat was too much, and though he didn't acknowledge her, he noticed her smile when he stopped the fire the heat had created and brought rain to the drought ridden land.
But despite his best efforts, Jack couldn't befriend everyone; he couldn't change everyone's heart.
It was one day when Wind was taking him flying over Britain, heading to his annual snowball fight with Groundhog, when he heard the cries.
"Down there," he called and Wind guided him down. Jack landed gently on the ground and looked around before spotting another spirit. It took Jack some time to realize what the spirit was doing, but when he did he was furious.
"What are you doing?" Jack asked, running towards the spirit and the children that were huddled against a wall.
The spirit turned to Jack and snarled. "Stay out of this." Blood dripped from the spirit's lips and fingernails.
Jack looked at the terrified faces of the children, saw the claw marks on their arms, they way they held each other and trembled in the shadow of the bloody spirit.
"No," Jack said, moving to position himself between the spirit and the children, staff held at the ready.
"You dare?" the spirit demanded.
"Yeah, I dare," Jack said, trying not to shudder as the spirit licked the blood from his lips. The kids whimpered, huddling further into the corner.
The spirit narrowed his eyes at Jack. "Do you know who I am?"
"No," Jack answered.
"T t t Tommy Rawhead," one of the kids stammered, not knowing that Tommy was no longer speaking to him.
"Tommy? Seriously?" Jack asked with a laugh, wondering what kind of name Tommy was for a boogey man. Wind swirled around Jack in warning. She knew how dangerous this spirit was.
"I don't go by that anymore," Tommy snarled.
"Oh, so what do you go by?" Jack asked. The kids whimpered, hiding their faces. "Tom Tom? Heady? Raws?"
"Silence!" Tommy shouted, causing the kids to whimper once more.
Be careful, Wind whispered to Jack.
"I will be," Jack whispered back.
Wind couldn't explain how she had learned to communicate with her boy, but her voice was becoming stronger to him as the years passed and Wind had learned that Jack listened to her and heeded her advice. Most of the time.
"I am known as Bloody Bones," Tommy said, a grin spreading across his bloodstained teeth.
"Wow," Jack said. "That's an awful name. I think I liked Tommy better."
Tommy growled and launched himself at Jack. Jack caught him on his staff as the children cried out. He turned to check on them and caught a blow to the stomach, followed by a hit to his cheek.
Pay attention, Wind said, swirling protectively around her boy. On your left.
Jack moved his staff in time to block the kick to his side before he swung it around and whacked Tommy on the head. Tommy stumbled back before shaking it off and advancing once more.
"Gotta get him away from the kids," Jack whispered to the Wind.
Right, Wind replied.
Jack gathered his strength and forced Tommy backwards. Wind wondered how it must look to the children, who could only see Tommy's movements. But before she could wonder too much Jack caught a blow to his ribs and Wind heard them crack. She watched as her boy stumbled back, stunned.
With a screech she threw herself at Tommy before he could follow that hit with another. Tommy was blown backwards, slamming into a wall with the force of Wind's rage. Jack scrambled to his feet and, gripping his staff, swung it around, sending a hail of ice straight at Tommy and freezing him where he stood.
Jack walked slowly over to the frozen boogey man and met his gaze. "Never lay a finger on these children, or any body ever again, do you understand me?" Jack asked.
"Or what?" Tommy spat, although Wind could see the fear in his eyes.
"Or you'll deal with me," Jack said. He gripped his staff like a baseball bat, and concentrating on his power, slammed it into the ice covering Tommy. The ice shattered, and gasping, weak, Tommy fell to the ground.
"This isn't the end," Tommy said, attempting to stand up but stumbling and falling.
"Go back to the dark hole you crawled out of," Jack said, watching as Tommy melted into the shadows.
"Did you see that?" one of the kids asked, the fear fading as quickly as Tommy had.
"I don't believe it, that was amazing!" the other kid said.
"Thanks," Jack said, turning and smiling at them.
"Wait till we tell the others," the first kid said, running off down the road, and right through Jack.
Jack stumbled back and gasped, tears springing to his eyes. Wind knew that no matter how often that happened to Jack, and unfortunately it happened rather often, he had never gotten used to it.
Are you okay? Wind asked, circling him and checking him over.
"Yeah," Jack rasped out, putting a hand to the side Tommy Rawhead had hit. "Let's get out of here, Groundhog'll be wondering where we are."
With that, Wind pulled Jack up into the air, cradling him gentler than she ever had as she carried him to Groundhog. She only hoped that Groundhog wouldn't throw the first snowball this year. Jack didn't look like he could handle being hit anymore today, even if it was by his element.