Bernard and Jack, Chapter 10
"Jack your father and I have grave news. We have decided to send you to the North Pole immediately. It seems that young Bernard has begun to experience a backlash caused by the blockage of his powers. You need to be ready for transport in thirty minutes."
Scene 1:
Jack Frost paced in front of his Mother's throne. His five trunks was placed neatly to one side. Disturbing thoughts entered his mind as he waited. 'What do I tell him. How is he going to react to my being there. Will he ever learn to trust me like he does Santa.' Despite of the recent change to his heart, he still found that he was jealous of Santa's popularity.
Two large oak dryads came into the throne room. They bowed to him and picked up his luggage. They loaded behind Mother Nature on her cloud carriage.
Jack took a calming breath before joining her.
"Isn't Father Time coming with us?"
"No Jack. I'm afraid that your Father had pressing matters with the change of seasons. Spring came too early this year in parts of the world while your winter frost fairies are still trying to hold winter over the other parts. He is now trying to juggle a new schedule so that all of the parties can have be satisfied happy. "
Jack nodded. He understood how difficult his Father's job could be. He remembered back to the times when his own winter handy work would be spoilt when the summer winds decided blow a season too early.
"Mom. Do you think my teaching will do the boy any good. I could just denounce him as my son and take back any of the powers that he inherited from myself."
"Jack you can't run away from your duty to Bernard because it is painful to you. Besides your Father has read a great destiny for him foretold in the stars. You must help him on his journey."
Scene 2:
Curtis gasped when he saw a red glowing meteorite land softly in front of the chalet. He ran over to take a closer look and saw that it wasn't made of rock but feathers and a beak. The phoenix held up its one of its legs toward the elf.
"Hello Fella. I don't know what phoenix's like to eat." He approached the bird and untied the letter making sure to be careful not to get burned.
Judy came up behind him carrying a bucket of coal. "They like to eat coal. Did you know that our coal mine feeds most of Mother Nature's phoenix's. She probably heard that Bernard took a turn for the worse."
"You're right, Judy. This is her handwriting. It's addressed to the boss." He turned away from the other elf and was going up the front steps to the chalet.
"Curtis. Wait. How is Bernard really. I heard the rumor that Doctor Lazarus had to come out and give him medicine."
Frowning at this Curtis answered her. "I don't like to spread rumors Judy. And I don't like that you are listening to rumors."
"I'm Sorry Curtis. Its that I'm just worried about him. Please tell Bernard that I hope he's feeling better. Also tell him that I will come to visit him whenever Santa says its okay."
"Knowing that you want to visit him may just help to cheer the guy up. I'm sorry I bit your head off. Let me inform you that most of the rumors that he turned a hideous ice creature is unfounded. But it is true that he did have an emotional breakdown on Monday night. Santa, Charlie, and Mrs. Claus have been taking turns watching him. He seems to be improving somewhat. I'll ask Santa when would be a good time for your visit."
Judy watched as Curtis continued on his way with the letter in his hands.
Once inside the chalet, Curtis went to Santa's study and knocked. "Come in Curtis." Came the muffled reply.
The elf opened the door and saw Neil sitting with Santa at the conference table.
"Santa how did you know it was me? You keep amazing me with your Santa magic."
Scott just smiled at the elf. "It had nothing to do with my magic. Your knock is very distinctive. Can I help you with anything."
"Oh yeah. It's a letter from Mother Nature for you. It was delivered by a phoenix."
Scott took the letter and opened it. "Oh goodness. Mother Nature heard about Bernard's collapse the other night. She on her way with Jack as we speak. She thinks that Jack needs to start his lessons right away."
Curtis was surprised when he saw his boss start to pace back and forth on the rug by the fire.
"Santa isn't that a good thing. It could mean that Bernard's bands could be coming off quicker." The small elf found himself asking.
"It could be good news than again it may be terrible news. Bernard is still in a fragile state right now. Seeing Jack may just set him off. I hope Mother Nature is right about this."
Neil rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Scott, I've talked with Doctor Lazarus. I think it would of help to Bernard that Mother Nature is coming. She may relax the wrist band bonds so that the teaching can occur."
"Does that mean that we might have another episode like the time Bernard blasted a hole in my chalet."
"I said relax the bands. He won't have full access to his powers until he can show that he can maintain control. It also means something else as his guardian that you may not like."
Scott's brow furrowed. "What do you mean Neil."
A pale Curtis gasped. "Oh no."
Scott looked over at him and than back toward's Neil. "Okay Guys. Tell me what is going on."
Curtis fidgeted. "Sir part of being a guardian for a bonded elf means handling any discipline. Bernard may fight Jack's teachings. If he loses control because he is not following the teaching, you or Mrs. Claus would be called in to punish him."
"Punish him in what way." He asked with a heavy heart.
Neil began slowly. "It is a lot like grounding a child. If you find that a boy is not being a responsible driver you would take away his car and drivers license. If you find the bonded elf is not properly learning the control he needs, you would have to sap his powers again using the wrist bonds."
"In other words, I would have to ground Bernard from his magic. I would have to punish him."
"I told you how cousin Abby had to be bonded." Curtis asked.
"Yes, I remember, Curtis. You said that she used to turn elves into cats."
"Yes sir. Well Abby has a great transformation power now that she knows how to use it properly. Her ability to transform an elf into anything has helped our data elf collectors. They can go out in the world unnoticed by the mortal populace. At first she used to transform elves into cats by accident, but later she would delight in turning them into cats. She loved cats and wanted to have many around her. She had been bonded at the time to my Dad, Timis. I can't tell you the number of times he had to ground her power. Finally she outgrew the need to turn us into cats and was finally released from the bonds." Curtis looked over at Neil.
"I think what Curtis is trying to say is that we all know how stubborn Bernard could be regarding what he thinks is proper use of his magic. You do remember how he used to think that teleporting himself to my house and stealing my food was okay."
Scott laughed. "Yeah I remember. I finally told him if he kept it up, he would end up on the naughty list. He just couldn't quite understand that stealing by magical means was still stealing."
"My point exactly. What if he and Jack had an argument about freezing a town. For example, Bernard wants to freeze a town in the deep south because a little boy down there wants it to snow for Christmas. Jack refuses because he knows that the southern town is not equipped to handle it."
"Bernard would do the right thing. Neil. And you been watching too many Christmas cartoons with Luce." Scott said with a chuckle.
Neil shrugged. "Actually I got the idea when I was talking to Bernard last night. He told me that once he learns to control his frost making ability, he would like to visit the south."
Scott paled. "Because we get a lot of letters from kids every year who writes us that they no longer believe in us because we don't bring them the snow that they wanted. Bernard hates the fact that those kids think that we let them down. "
Neil nodded. "Do you think you could punish your elf given that circumstance?"
"Yes, I would have to punish him in that case. Man I never knew adopting an elf could be so much problems." Santa steepled his hands together.
"I only hope that when Mother Nature gets here, she could offer me some sort of comfort."