When I opened my eyes, that I hadn't realized I had closed, I realized almost immediately that it wasn't a normal dream. "Alright...now why am I on the moon?"
"Ah, good of you to make it Aster!" I whipped my head around and saw Manny walkin' towards me.
"M-Manny!?"
"Yes?" He asked me with a patient smile.
"This isn't a dream!?" I asked him as I quickly looked around, feelin' off about the whole thing.
"Oh...it is...of a sort. I understand you may have questions regarding Jack Frost."
"Uh...I do, but I...wasn't expectin'..."
"I understand, but this is a discussion I had to make with you in person."
"Alright...I'm listenin'. How did you bring Jack back to life?"
"He wasn't completely dead yet. His heart had stopped and he had stopped breathing, but only a portion of his soul had slipped away, while the rest was holding on desperately. Now...I know I'm not supposed to meddle in the afairs of time, but..."
"You went back in time!? Wait...his soul?"
"Yes...it's very very old magic, even old from when I did it...but I..."
"Manny...what did you do?" I questioned with a sinkin' feelin' in my belly.
"Let me show you a memory..." Without warnin' he immediately placed his right hand on the side of my head, and everythin went red.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
I looked around and immediately tears were brought to my eyes, and my heart practically disappeared with how broken it became at the sight. 'Dammit, Manny! Why are we here!?' I mentally asked as I looked around and there was fire everywhere. Pooka and young kits screamin' and runnin' for a safety they would never find.
'Go to your burrow, Aster. This is when you were among the stars fighting.'
Without havin' to be told twice, I took off through the fires and screams and dashed for my burrow. Once I was inside, I heard talkin' and it was comin' from Snow's room. I walked in and my eyes went wide while my jaw dropped immediately. "You're name is Snowdrop?"
"Yes...and...you look familiar, but not. I'm scared..." Snow said as he held tight to his ears like a kit would when they were extremely frightened.
"I know...and to my understanding...Elliston Aster Bunnymund is your older brother?"
"Yes...he's in the stars trying to protect us...but they're everywhere...I want to help, I want to be there for him, but I can't."
"No...perhaps not now, but...Snowdrop...I am from the future..."
"You...YOU'RE TIME TRAVELING!? That's forbidden! You're never supposed to mess with time!"
"I know...but you see...when I'm from...your brother...he's a good Pooka...but..."
"He's...he'll be the last...won't he?"
"How did you...?"
"With the way the battle is going...the only one out of all of us that could ever have any hope of surviving would be my brother."
"Hope...funny you should say that. He's the Guardian of it, and he protects children of Earth...but he isn't quite whole...He loves the children and his friends...but...he's still not quite whole."
"And I'm guessing you didn't just TIME TRAVEL to tell me that my older brother is only half of a Pooka..."
"No...I did not. You see...you're right...he's the last...and the battle will be lost. As much as I wish I could change it...I can't. Someday...I will show him this memory and it will be painful for him, but there is...it's not an easy offer, and it's a very ancient magic...even ancient in your time now and is often frowned upon, but I believe...it'll help him."
"You...wait...are you..."
"Do you know why I'm speaking with you?"
"It...it sounds as if you're trying to ask me to do soul magic...that's the only reason why you would be talking to me, and how it would make him better...and whole. It's...the only logical conclusion."
"You are very correct."
"Y-You know soul magic!?"
"I do...but like I said...it's often frowned upon."
"Yes, even more than Time Travel."
"Tell me quick, what do you know of soul magic."
"I know that as long as half of a soul remains another can be placed alongside it, but the only way that can happen is if it's an absolute perfect match. For example...for what you're asking of me...there would have to be someone that would've already basically been another version of me...a..."
"It would have to be you reincarnated. That's the only way I would be able to place your soul along his."
"So...you know of such a person?"
"Yes, I do. He is a good person, and he IS your reincarnation. He is passionate, loving, kind, caring, mischievous, eager, intelligent, patient, and as much as he loves spring...has a deep connection to winter."
"I...I won't know Aster when I see him...neither will my reincarnation..."
"Eventually you might. It's difficult to say. I've heard of it happening...but I believe it'll give Aster what he severely needs. He needs you. His brother, and unfortunately I also know the fate of your reincarnation. He is to die young...at the human age of fourteen, but I can help him...if you let me." Manny breathed out and tears were spillin' from his eyes. "I know this...is a lot to ask, and I wouldn't do this if I didn't..."
"YES!" Snow said without hesitation and with a proud look on his face.
"So...you..."
"I will do it for Aster...and the child that is my reincarnation. He will likely not be happy with either of us...but I love my brother. He's always been there. I feel like this would be the ultimate way to repay him."
"I..." Manny breathed out a sigh of relief. "Thank you!"
"You are very welcome...and you said someday you'll show Aster this memory?"
"Yes."
Snow smiled and looked to the floor. "I don't know which direction to look towards, Aster...but when you see this...know that I love you, and I miss you, and that I'm so very proud of you. I'm proud that you're my brother, and have no regrets doing this, because I love you that much. You've been there for me through all of the difficult times and even when I would lash out...you were always there. Please...don't be angry with me...or whoever shares my soul...We're your brother, and we love you. If he is anything like me...he's likely to be trouble, but he'll love you like I do, and you're my precious big brother. Now...I will forever be that...even when the battle is lost...my soul will live on." He then looked up to Manny and my vision was gettin' cloudy from all the tears that were spillin' from my eyes. I held a paw up to my face and a soft smile grew on my face. "I'm ready."
"Very well..." Manny nodded with tears still spillin' from his eyes. "...lay down."
My vision went grey and I no longer saw my brother and Manny.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
When I opened my eyes I immediately fell on my ass and looked up at Manny who was cryin' large wet tears, and if I didn't know any better, I would say he was afraid. "I-I'm sorry, Aster. I understand if you..."
I wasn't gonna let him finish that sentence. I leapt up and wrapped my arms around him. 'To hell with propriety! I don't care that he's a prince!' "Thank you!" I whispered out as my own tears started to fall from my eyes.
"Th-Thank you!? Y-You're thanking me!?" He questioned with a shakin' and unsure voice. He then wrapped his arms around me as well. "I thought...I thought you would be mad at me for what I did to your brother...and for the time traveling...but I..."
"I'm not mad! I swear that I'm not mad..." I released him from my hug and I crouched low on my haunches as I began to sob happy tears. "M-My brother...he's alive! He may not remember me and he may not be a Pooka anymore...but he's alive and he..." I placed a paw over my eyes as I continued to sob, and I shakily added, "...he has a daughter! I have a niece!"
"Y-You're truly not angry with me." It wasn't a question, but a realization and it took everythin' I had to not wrap him up into another hug.
"You g-gave me my b-brother back! H-How could I b-be mad!? I know about soul magic...I...I know what it involves...and he was willin'...and he...he lives. My little brother...oh...I had wondered why he and Jack were so similar, and it was startin' to be concernin'...but now that I know...it makes so much more sense! They're the same person and I..." My heart suddenly twisted horribly and painfully and I collapsed once more. "I...I called him a monster..." I quickly looked up at Manny who was also cryin' tears of happiness while he held a look of sympathy. "Wait...does Jack know? Does he know who he is?"
"I honestly don't know. Like I told Snowdrop...I've heard of it happening, but something drastic would've had to trigger it. I don't know if he knows, or rather...remembers...but even if he does..."
"It wouldn't change who he is. I understand. He would still be Jack, but he would be Jack...with the memories of Snow. They're the same person after all. I also understand that if he does remember, then he would essentially become both." I then let out a giddy laugh as I realized even further, "That's why his eyes look like Snow's..."
"The eyes ARE the windows to the soul."
"I...yes they are." I breathed out with an overjoyed expression.
"So...you're truly not angry with me?"
"No. I am more grateful than words can say. I could never...honestly, Manny, I could never hope to repay you."
"You've done enough by not being angry with me for the soul magic and for time traveling." He beamed at me. "I...I hope you understand...that's why I couldn't speak to Jack for three hundred years."
"Oh...that makes sense now..."
"I hope so..." He chuckled out through wet tears. "Now...I think you should wake up now." With a bright smile from Manny, my surroundin's quickly faded into a bright green glow.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
"...ster! Aster, wake up!" I heard Jack's voice callin' to me desperately. My eyes shot wide open as I looked up at him. "Are...are you okay? You were crying. I thought you were having a bad dream."
My heart clenched violently and the Hope I felt sang throughout my entire body as I leapt up and wrapped my arms around Jack. "No...I had a very very good dream. The best one ever in fact."
"I...that's good..." He spluttered out as he wrapped his arms around me. I left the hug and slid back into the bed, and noticed the still worried look on Jack's face. "Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine. It was..." I swallowed thickly, thinkin', 'Surely there's nothin' wrong in just tellin' him I was dreamin' about my brother.' I cleared my throat and looked up at him with a carefully guarded expression while still holdin' onto the smile that I couldn't help but wear. "It was a good dream about my brother." I then noticed a worried look on Sandy's face as he sat in one of the chairs in the room.
"Huh, you should tell me about him sometime. Must've been a good dream too, because you were out for another three days. We thought you weren't going to wake up for a moment, but I thought perhaps your body need a rest."
"It...it did. Thank you." I smiled up at him.
"You're welcome. Well...I'm off to help Emily with Wolfina. She still hasn't found her, and there's no telling what she's up to. Sandy said he'll keep you comapany for the moment...is that okay?"
"Y-Yes. I should tell him about the dream anyway."
"Alright. I'll see you tomorrow, Aster. That is...if you don't conk out for another day or two."
"See ya tomorrow, Frostbite." Once I could tell that Jack was well and truly out of ear shot, even Pooka ear shot, I immediately turned to Sandy and started bawlin' my eyes out.
"Aster! What's wrong!?"
"I...When I fell asleep...Manny summoned me..."
"He...he summoned you into a dream?"
"Yes." I answered with a short laugh as I looked at him through the tears. "And you're not gonna believe what he told me...it um...it involves Jack."
"Wait...but you told Jack that you had a dream about your brother..." He trailed off as a skeptical look crossed his features and his eyes shone with confusion.
"It did! That's the thing! Sandy...Manny knows soul magic. He...I'm not even mad...but he went back in time...while we were all here on Earth...and he knew Jack's fate...and...he talked with Snow..."
"Wait...soul magic!? That's only possible if..."
"If the main soul giver is willin', and if the soul given is the willin' soul giver's reincarnation. Jack...he...he's Snowdrop's reincarnation. When he was dyin'...half of his soul was still holdin' on...then Manny brought him back to life by usin' Snow's soul and he gave it to Jack."
"Jack...he's Snow?"
"YES! They are the same person! Jack is Snow reincarnate and has been from the day is was born in 1698! Then...when Manny gave him Snow's soul...he..."
"He brought Jack back to life...and gave Jack...Snow's powers...as well as immortality." Sandy's eyes widened and tears slowly started to fall from his face. "Y-Your brother...he's alive!"
"I know!" I shouted with a giddy laugh. "Manny thought I would be so mad at him..." I breathed out once I managed to stop my giddy laughter.
"Does he know if Jack knows?"
"No...he doesn't. I..." I let out a heavy sigh, but continued to smile. "I don't even know how I would approach that..."
"I'd say don't. You don't want to confuse Jack, and you don't want to force the memory or realization. That is...if it hasn't happened yet."
"Do you think..." I swallowed down a lump in my throat before lettin' out a shaky sigh. "Do YOU think he knows?"
"It's hard to say...but I think you should try treating him as you always have."
"I...you're right...but how can I do that now that I know who he is and...Sandy...I called him a monster..."
"And that is in the past. Jack practically begged you to leave it there, so just leave it there. Focus on the now, alright?"
"Alright. I'll try my best."
"Good!" He laughed out. "And Aster?"
"Yes?"
"You have a niece."
"I...I have a niece." I confirmed just like I did in the dream, but somehow, sayin' it in the real world made it more...real. "I have a niece and she's beautiful."
"Yes, she is, and Aster..."
"What is it?"
"You know...if he were to realize or remember...'
"Somethin' drastic would've had to happen. I know...and if that's already happened...I don't know if I want to know what happened to cause his rememberin', but at the same time I do."
"I'll be there for you."
"Thank you, Sandy." I sighed out, and then giggled slightly. "Ya know...this just makes the family even bigger and stranger."
"Yeah, it does, doesn't it?" He chuckled low.
As I looked at him I noticed that he was still in his more human like form. The one with the armor. "How long have you stayed in that form?"
"Ah...well...I said I figured out how to do it...I never said I tested it."
"You...it's permanent isn't it?"
"Apparently. I can't shift back."
"Have North or Tooth seen you?"
"No, and to my knowledge...no one else but you, Jack, Eira, or Emily."
"When I'm better...this is all gonna be very interestin'."
"Which...judging by how your wounds are closing...will be in a few minutes." He let out a soft laugh as he looked down at my body.
I looked down at my arms and legs. "Huh...must've been Manny's doin'."
"Must've." Sandy confirmed as his eyes widened slightly. "He's the only one I know that would be capable of that. Perhaps this is his form of a thank you for you not getting mad at him."
"Has to be. I wasn't able to heal while I was down." I swung my newly healed legs over the bed and took off the bandages. "Yeah, I'm completely healed." I told him as I started to take off the rest. Once I took off the last bandage, Jack came through the door once again. "Jack?"
"Oh! Good! You're healed! I don't know how you did it, but I'm not gonna complain! Emily found Wolfina, and she's creating more wolves."
"How does she create the wolves?" I asked as I hopped out of bed and put on the holster for my egg bombs and boomerangs.
"She gives normal wolves her blood to drink. It's...weird. Anyway, She's going to start going after children! We found out why too! She's trying to create an ARMY of WEREWOLVES!"
"Well, we can't let that happen..." I chuckled low. "...won't the others be surprised to see Sandy like this."
"You mean...he can't change back?"
"Nope!" Sandy stated with an all too large and mischievous grin. "It'll be so good to see North's reaction, and I believe this is one of those times when the lights need to be activated."
"I agree." I told the both of them. "We may also need Eira and Emily's help."
"Ah...so I guess...this is the time when I tell North and Tooth that I have a daughter and that I'm married to Mother Nature."
"Yeah, seems so, Jacky. Can't have any secrets in this battle."
"Fine..." He groaned out and held out a hand, and one of his sprites appeared. "Keelo?"
"Yes, Jack?"
"Tell Mother Nature and Eira to meet us at the North Pole. Just outside of it. Tell them not to go in until Bunny and I are there. Understand?"
"Yes, of course!" The sprite giggled before disappearin' into his hand.
"Um..."
"They can teleport." He stated as if it was the most normal thing in the world. "C'mon we should go."
"Right behind ya, Frostbite."
