A/N- I spent a long time researching the proper ways to fight. As I was reading this one article on punching right, they had this animated guy showing you the stances. His face was so stupid. Seriously. It looked like he had to crap.

Haha, anyway. I'm weird. Reviews!

daringwolf2000: Trust me. You do not wan to hear this. (although, if you are absolutely certain, I won't deprive a fellow psychopath. Just PM me! XD) Thanks!

I really have too much time right now. To the chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own RotG.

Jack was a bad student.

Well, that's not really true. He was trying, he just sucked with weapons, and hand-to-hand combat.

"Twist your whole body as you punch," I instructed, going through the motion slowly, and allowing Jack to watch my movements. "Make sure you have a steady stance, and keep your heel up. Stay on your toes. This will help your balance, as well as your speed. And trust me, you need both in order to fight."

"So, like this?" Jack attempted, but didn't quite get it.

I shook my head. "No, keep your arm straight. Relax your fist until just before the impact."

Jack tried again, but still couldn't get it. I guided his arm, showing him the specific motion. He tried a few more times, then was finally able to get it right. He jumped up, pumping his fist in the air. "Yes! I got it! And HOLY SHIT THAT EFFING HURTS!"

He shook his hand out, and I laughed. "You ready to learn how to throw knife?"

Jack groaned. "Do I have to?"

I laughed again, and shook my head at his whining voice. "Well, you should at least know how to throw one. It's a lot easier, trust me."

I walked over to a range that had six lanes, two of each at three different distances. We started at the shortest distance, ten yards away. I picked up one of the small knives, and turned to Jack. "Watch what I do. Once you see that, you can try, then I'll tell you step-by-step."

I threw the knife, and it stuck out neatly from the bullseye. I smiled, and turned to Jack, who had been watching my movements carefully. Stepping up, he picked up a knife identical to the one I threw, and threw his at the target next to mine. His landed hilt-first, and bounced off, hitting only a bit off-center from the bullseye. I turned to him, and raised an impressed eyebrow.

He shrugged self-consciously. "My aim's pretty good, being as I throw snowballs a lot. I guess I just need to work on the technique?"

I nodded, and went through the motions, slowly, explaining every step I took. Jack mimicked me, not throwing the knife until he had the motion down. This time, the knife stuck, only a centimeter off from bullseye. He smiled, and we practiced for a while longer, switching up the knives, and trying at different distances. Jack was a natural. I even tried him on a kitchen knife, which is absolutely horrible for throwing, due to its imbalance. I also taught him a bit about how to fight with a knife.

Hours later, we were sitting in one of the lounge rooms, still at CHQ, only having finished practicing a few minutes ago. Jack was exhausted, and I was a bit tired myself. We were laughing, and sipping out of bottles of water.

I looked over at the TV, which was hanging on the wall. "Hey, you wanna watch a movie? I think we've earned a treat."

Jack nodded, and we sat on the loveseat. (They only had loveseats. In all of the CHQ. Stupid cherubs.) I propped my feet up on the coffee table in front of me, and grabbed the remote, turning the TV on, and flipping through the movie choices. Jack and I finally chose one, and I pressed play.

I didn't even make it all the way through the movie, before I had fallen asleep against Jack's shoulder, passing out from the pure exhaustion the day had brought.

I woke up, and looked up at Jack, who had his head on mine, and his arm around my shoulder. I yawned, and looked out the window. The sun was just starting to rise.

This is too damn early, I thought, and closed my eyes to fall back asleep.

The second time I woke up, Jack was looking down at me, with an amused expression on his face, still in the same position as when I had woken up before. I stretched, but didn't get up, and raised an eyebrow at him. "Watching me sleep? Kinda creepy, Jack. Kinda creepy."

He smirked. "Yeah, well, asleep is pretty much the only time you don't look like you're about to murder someone."

I laughed, and punched his shoulder. I thought about standing up, but didn't actually make the movement to. Neither did Jack. I sighed, and looked at him. "We should probably get up now."

"Yeah, probably."

Still, neither of us stood up. Instead, I rolled onto my side, and tucked my feet up on the couch under me, and buried my head into Jack's side. "Mleh. I'm tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiired."

Jack laughed, and I poked his side. "No moving." I ordered. "Laughing feels weird."

Jack chuckled, and shook his head, but was careful not to disturb me.

For a few minutes, at least.

Just as I was starting to fall back asleep, Jack jumped up, and made me fall (un)gracefully to the floor.

I was about as graceful as a dying fish on dry land.

I stood up, and punched Jack- who was laughing hysterically- hard in the arm. "Not cool, Jack! I will murder you for that!"

Jack was laughing too hard to respond. His happiness was contagious, and soon, my murderous glare broke, and I was laughing just as hard as he was.

I was in the same Iraqi town as before, but this time I had Jack standing next to me, so the heat wasn't as unbearable. Jack, however, was suffering. Being as he was the winter spirit, he was abnormally sensitive to heat. I looked over, and saw him sweating profusely. I gave him a concerned look.

"Jack, you don't have to be here, you know." I said.

He shook his head, and kept walking, panting. "I'm… I'm f-fine. Let's just… keep… going."

I bit my lip, but didn't say anything, and just kept walking. Soon, we went around a bend, and there she was,

"Seraphina," I growled. My hand itched to grab my bow, which was magically concealed on my back, as well as my quiver. I refrained, though. I wanted to see how much information I could get out of her, first.

She giggled. "Oh, hello, Val. Jackie," Sera waved girlishly at him. "You're looking well."

He glared at her, and I stood just a tiny bit closer, so he could support himself on me. Sera's eyes narrowed just the slightest, but she waved it off. "I'm assuming you're here to tell me how much you love me, and how you're so beneath me."

I glared, and she sighed. "Guess not. How come no one ever just comes to say hi?" Sera brightened up a bit. "So, you must be here about my little present for North, then! Right?!"

My growls answered her question, and I allowed my hands to complete the task they were begging to do. I reached for my back, and within a split second, I had an arrow nocked, and aiming at her face. "You're going to leave them out of this. I don't know what you have against me, but this is my fight."

Sera giggled, and rolled her eyes. "Is that why you brought along your boyfriend, Jackie?" She walked up to me, and put a finger on my bow, nudging it just slightly lower. "Besides, this is a bit bigger than just you, hun."

I narrowed my eyes. "Then, what are we dealing with?"

Sera stepped away, spinning in a circle. The motion caused her dress to twirl, making it look like icks of flame were jumping up. "A phoenix. I will make the world burn, and rule over the bigger, better world of fire, that emerges from the ashes."

I laughed, the sharp sound bouncing off the few buildings around. "And what makes you so sure that you'll succeed in this quest?"

My sister gave me a sickly-sweet smile. "Oh, that was the reason for me giving dear ol' Santa a little visit! I plan on taking you all down, one by one." Suddenly, she was behind me, whispering in my ear. "And I plan on leaving you for last, to make you pay for what you did, by forcing you to watch those dear to you perish."

I clenched my fists, and Sera was suddenly ripped from behind me. I turned to see Jack in holding her shirt, and glaring in her face. "You will not touch her. Come near any of us again, and we will not hesitate to kill you. Am I clear?"

Seraphina gulped, and nodded. Jack let her go, and she left. I walked over to Jack, who was holding his hand in pain. I took it, making sure not to hurt him, and inspected the injury. I looked up at him, concern in my eyes. "You're burnt."

He tried for a weak smile. "Oh, it's nothing. I'm fine."

I shook my head. "No, you're not. The winter spirit isn't supposed to get burned. Come on, let's go back to Burgess. I'm sure Jamie has stuff to help me tend to it."

A/N- So, I'm thinking that I'll put in my super-awesome idea in the next chapter. Have fun with that.

Until next time, fave, follow, review, and PM me!