this one is LONG. and i cant decide if i love it or hate it.

P.S. in terms of some of the names.

Pasha is sort for Wapasha, meaning red leaf i think

Serafine means burning fire, also, dont shoot me if im wrong, i just googled them is all.

inviso-bella: im glad you;re intrigued, i might try and work in how he got hurt in later chapters of that arc, okay?

thejellyfish99: glad you enjoyed it!

EmotionalDreamer101: haha! so doing that! Thankyou so much, i LOVE that kind of prompt!

AndiPandi5: glad youre enjoying it!

SaiyanPrincess: YES YES YES it is so going on my list :D

PippaFrost: Better? WELCOME TO CHAPTER 2 OF DYING EMBERS

AyameKitsune: Thankyou so much :) More, you say? Your wish is my command, I shall begin work tonight!

Caithlinn13: an update for you, my ear, i hope you enjoy :D

Disuareenix: im so happy you liked it :D

"So you're tellin' me a bunch o' seasonal spirits attacked our frostbite? Mate, that ain't funny" Bunny scolded, sitting back on his haunches in the globe room. The guardians were gathered, all but one, summoned by the northern lights.

North sighed, running a hand through his long white beard. "Iz no joke, my friend. I wish that it were not so, but our little snezhinka is currently being held unconscious by Sandy, to help with pain. That iz why we gather. Something must be done about dis."

Tooth was close to tears at the idea that her Jack – and his brilliant teeth – had been injured by someone he was supposed to be able to call family. Everyone in the spirit world knew that the seasonal spirits considered Gaia their mother figure, and that, whilst they were very different seasons, they were supposed to be a family.

Just like us, she thought, wincing a little at the bitter route her thoughts were taking. How is he ever going to trust us if he can't even trust his own brothers and sisters?

"North-" She spoke, about to voice her concerns, when the creaking of the globe room door interrupted her. She turned in annoyance, ready to snap at a yeti for interrupting their private meeting.

Her mouth closed with a sharp click of her own pearly whites when she saw no yeti at the door.

"Sandy? What are you doing, mate? He shouldn't be out of bed yet!" Bunny yelped as the youngest member of their ragtag band of misfits entered the room. He walked slowly, leaning heavily on his staff, one hand permanently on the fluffy head of his shortest teammate. He was wearing fresh blue pyjamas, and had been cleaned up some, but those kindnesses did little to alleviate the concerns that arose at the sight of his many bandages, and the bruises littering his pale skin. There was also the horrifying sound of his breathing, a deep wheezing during which an unsettling rattle could be heard emanating from the almost emaciated looking torso. Bunny hopped forward, raising a paw to touch the young winter sprite, offer support if he needed.

He was stopped in his efforts by a stream of golden sand grasping his wrist, preventing his hands ascent towards the winter spirits face. He frowned, confused, as he looked at the Sandman. The former wishing star merely shook his head, looking almost like he was trying to warn Bunny off of his charge. His sand whirled above his head, forming first the shape of a snowflake, the way he often showed Jack, and then the symbols of the other guardians. A candy cane for North, an egg for Bunny, and a tooth for Tooth, and had them move backwards, away from the snowflake. He then showed a silhouette of Jack, staff and all, visibly relaxing at the retreat of the other guardians.

Ah, right. Trust issues. Bunny backed off, determined to let the smaller, golden guardian do things his way. As his rescuer, and as the least intrusive of the guardians, what with his silent nature, he was likely the one Jack would trust most at this point.

"G-guys, I'm fine, just a bit sore." Jack tried to reassure, although the slight tremors racking his frame were from more than just pain, Sandy knew, shooting him a frown as he rubbed comfortingly at the young boys knee. Sandy understood the power of betrayal. Sandy knew how Jack dreamed of family, had done so for all 319 years of existence, and now, someone he had assumed he could consider family had hurt him deeply.

Both physically and emotionally. But if Jack wanted to pretend nothing was wrong, so be it. They could let him have that.

Sandy quickly changed the subject, symbols above his head flashing to ask North how production was getting on whilst his eyes conveyed his intentions. The Cossack caught on quickly, and the meeting proceeded as usual, the only minor variant being the burning fire in the souls of four of the five guardians, ready to avenge their own. They found their opportunity, as the meeting drew to a close and Jack dozed lightly on a chair. Sandy was the first to rise, gently disentangling himself from the winter spirits tight grasp, sprinkling a heavy dose of sand over the colonial youngster to help him dream soundly and prevent his awakening whilst they were gone. He gesture to the other guardians, close on demanding a snow globe from North.

The other guardians were clearly shocked at the golden guardians behaviour. Sandy was usually reluctant to engage in any violence when no harm was being caused to the children. Was he really that protective of Jack? Of course, they knew Sandy and Jack had known each other briefly prior to their newest guardian being initiated, but did it really go that deep? Despite their confusion and questions, the others followed the smaller man through the portal to Gaia's domain, where they knew the summer spirit would be spending her off season.

It was time for words to be had, they felt, and justice to be served.

On emerging from the portal, the main thing the guardians noticed was the heat. That stifling, summer heat, filled with humidity that made it feel like you were drinking a glass of water every time you so much as took a breath. They proceeded toward the palace of the realm, where they knew they would find Mother Nature herself. That is, if she hadn't already been on her way to find them from the second they stepped foot in her domain.

"Ah, dear Guardians, it has been many years since any of you graced my lands with your presence. You have need of me, I sense. What can I do to help?" They turned at the ethereal voice breezing through the trees. The woman herself was every bit as beautiful and North and Bunny remembered Jacks snow version to be, but more so. She wore a dress made of green vines, flowers tangled in her chestnut hair. Her pale arms were patterned with symbols of the seasons, four standing out above the rest. Only Bunny knew that these four tattoo's were her connections to the seasonal spirits. Jack had told him that was how their 'mother' knew where they were, and if their connection to the earth had been cut off. Summer's symbol shone with a golden glow, being the season in bloom at the realm of Gaia, a bright golden sun almost glistening in the light filtering through the trees. Spring was represented by a swirl of leaves around the right wrist, as though caught up in a gentle breeze. Autumn was represented, also by leaves, but these leaves were red, and falling down the left arm, as they would fall from tree's. The Guardians eyes were lured to the last however, that of winter. A widespread frost across the collarbone of the beautiful spirit, tiny snowflakes, each as unique as Jacks were, swirling across her gentle skin. She smiled fondly at the distraction they had found.

"You are very fond of my son, I see."

The brought Sandy back to earth pretty damn quickly and he rose to meet the earthen beauty's gaze. Her eyes widened at his abrupt approach, but she settled quickly, knowing that if the sandman was confronting her about something, it must be serious. She watched, still stood in one of her stunning gardens with the guardians, as the sandman relayed the tale of her winter spirits attack via imagery. She had always been able to catch on to his meaning much faster than others, though no-one knew why. As he came to the end of his tale, Sandy was relieved to see a burning passion in the eyes of the other, a righteous anger for the discord in her family circle. When she spoke, there was steel in her tone.

"Come. We shall gather the seasons in the east court. They may be my children, but crimes against their own cannot go unpunished." She swept away, the wind urging her on. She allowed a tiny smile to form on her face at the protectiveness the wind had developed over her youngest. At least he would always have the wind. She led the Guardians into a vast room, a circular floor surrounded by stands made of twisting vines and knotted wood benches, all facing a large wooden throne at the centre of the room. Gaia sat delicately in the throne, laying her open palm flat against a green gemstone in the arm rest. Sandy waited in nervous anticipation, knowing the three remaining seasons had been summoned. He looked over questioningly, however, at Bunnymund's wince.

"Kids gonna feel that when he wakes up." He sighed, thinking of Jack back at Santoff Clausen. "Not answering the call? Yikes."

Sandy looked away guiltily. They knew so little of Jacks ties to Mother Nature. Why was it only Bunny who knew these things?

Suddenly, the air got much warmer than before, such that even Tooth, who was used to such heat, was fanning herself. Then came the spirits.

First came autumn, looking weary during her off-season. Sandy was reminded of how Jack looked last time they saw him uninjured. She wore an orange dress reminiscent of a Roman Toga, and a golden wreath of maple leaf patterns on her head.

Following her came spring, a young boy only slightly older looking than Jack, dressed all in green, his bright blonde hair glinting in the sun.

Lastly, of course, came summer, a young lady with fiery orange waves in her hair and wearing a dress of red and orange so vibrant it looked as though flames were licking her legs.

Bunny smirked as he noted none of them wore shoes either. The smirk fell as the spirits faced their creator. Whilst Jack had been brought back by the man in the moon, like the other spirits, his creation had had some input from Gaia. He was an elemental after all.

"Mother, why have you called us? Is something wrong? And where's Jack?" The spirit of spring questioned, and Sandy was struck by how innocent the boy sounded, and how concerned he seemed to not be able to spot his brother. The young ones eyes widened as they fell on the other guardians. "Mother, where's Jack?"

Well at least Jack had someone on his side.

Gaia pursed her lips, though her eyes shone with sympathy for her first son. The boys were really quite close, despite their differing seasons. She hated the thought of the hit he was about to take.

"I think maybe you should ask Serafine that, Pasha." She murmured. She rarely used their given names, it was just something they didn't do, preferring to give each other nicknames, but it could often be used to draw their attention to the seriousness of the situation. She watched, feeling her own heart break as her children faced off against each other, Pasha having clicked on what had happened moments after she spoke the reluctant sentence.

"Sera, what did you do?"