Sunset. One of the most beautiful times of the day. A time where the world starts to take a breath of relief as night draws near and the mundane chaos of daylight settles to rest before it starts again. Peaceful is the word. That is, unless you're a Guardian.

Jack sat, perched in the old oak tree near his beloved lake. Basking in the glow of the setting sun and weaving the last bits of winter magic for Burgess before moving further north as spring awakens for their shift.

"310 years and sunsets are still just as beautiful as always." Jack smiled as he thought of the day's events. The kid's of Burgess love when winter comes. The final day of winter for the year always is difficult now. He has a reason to stay. He can't though. His presence interferes with the other seasons. Even in his sleep his magic is active.

As a result Jack has to make each last day of Winter happy for his young believers in his hometown. It's bittersweet but always fun. Overall, today was a good day.

That is, until the aurora borealis spread across the sky. "yay... this better not be about the elves getting into his liquor stash again." Jack groaned as he stood up and jetted into the sky.

it didn't take long for Jack to arrive at the workshop. Going in through the window near the globe, Jack noticed two things.

The first being that North was moving frantically around the massive globe playing with various buttons and switches while the others simply stared with varying degrees of concern and annoyance.

The second being the mild alarm coming from the machine and the red light in the middle of a large section of believer lights in a mountainous area of Russia.

"Did the globe break or something?" Jack asked announcing his presence.

"Hello Jack. No globe tis not broken." North said as he focused on the orb like machine.

"High sweet tooth!" Tooth rushed over quickly hugging the frosty child before looking at one members of the teams of fairies she kept with her. "Sector 12, twin molars from the Johnson's house!"

"Hey Frosty, Globe is fine, just a nuisance we may have to take care of." Aster said with his eyes fixated on the globe of belief.

"Why then are we all here?" Jack asked with genuine curiosity.

Sandy came over to the boy images forming slowly above his head. "Depending on the type and size we may need only one or all of us. Sometimes it's difficult to know until we get there as well and back up may be requested."

"That makes sense. Any info on the situation yet?" Jack asked seriously as he too started staring at the globe.

"Azhdaya," North gasped.

"I thought those buggers went extinct!" Aster said in annoyance.

"Apparently not, what is it?" Jack asked. He could feel the growing tension in the air.

North rubbed a large hand down his face. His age showing prominently. "Demonic dragon with 3 heads. Likes to create hail and slaughter humans and cows."

"So... how do you get rid of it?"

"Can't. Ya have to trap it until the end of it's life span and ensure it has no food source." Aster pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Alright... how do we trap it?" Jack asked as he could see the look of annoyance on every Guardians face.

"The mountain center." Tooth said. "We have a special mountain used almost like a jail for dangerous mythical beasts. It's far away from humans, heavily guarded with magic, and certain creatures will guard the site as well."

"Then if it's that easy why do you all look like this is going to be a long night?"

"Tis not easy. Sounds easier than it is. Azhdaya put up a large fight. I have to bring special snow globes in large quantities due to it's vicious nature and size. Setting trap is easy. Getting creature to target... eh... not so much."

"Alright. Frost, this is your first mission as a Guardian that isn't a simple issue like the elves with a sugar high." Aster began.

"Not much is worse than that so if that is simple what do we need?" Jack asked with a mix of excitement and anxiety.

"Tooth! Sandy!" North announced as his leading skills came to the forefront. "Set the trap like I showed you last time we dealt with big monster."

"Sure thing!" Tooth said as Sandy gave a comical salute before both headed out to do the task.

"Jack! Bunny! you are with me. We lure creature to trap. But before we go I will let yeti know situation and to be on standby."

"Great..." Aster groaned.

"Alright." Jack said casually despite his excitment growing inside him. This is his first big mission as a guardian. The last few years were mostly peaceful besides some unfortunate events with him personally.

--

Soon everyone regrouped not far from the cave of the creature they are targeting.

"Trap is set 200 kilometers from here southwest of the cave. We will meet you here and lead you to it but if a situation arises where we can't go, follow the directions and avoid the trees." Tooth said in a whisper as she drew the plan in the snow.

"Once complete we regroup at North's home and tend to any injuries while a brief meeting is held. Sound good?" Aster added.

Everyone gave quick nods and headed to their places.

"Jack, keep on your toes mate. You're need to stay focused. He may go to ya before us." Aster said quietly.

"Why? I thought it was wrabbit season?" Jack joked lightly. Aster gave him a dirty look. "I'm serious kid."

"I know. Sorry. You guys ready?"

"Yeah, North are ya- " Aster looked behind him only see the old cossack not there.

"You warned me but not the senile old guy with a fighting complex?" Jack said as he hit his hand into his face as he saw North already rushing into battle.

"I'm replacing all his cookies with carrots." Aster deadpanned before following North with Jack floating near him.

"I'll help." Jack said in annoyance at their brash guardian of wonder.

Once they caught up with North they could already tell this creature wasn't easy. North was throw over their heads into the wall as the creature let out a deafening roar.

North went right back at the massive creature this time Jack and Aster in tow.

Blasts of ice mixed with egg bombs and furious sword slashes were what made up the current scene in the cave.The fight was slowly lead through the cave as they fought.

One of the three heads seemed almost fixated on the youngest guardian. the other two seemed more preoccupied with the fight as a whole but Aster wasn't wrong. The beast definitely wanted a Jack snack.

As the head lunged towards him for the umpteenth time, Jack flipped back away kicking it's head into cave ceiling as the creature realised another mighty roar.

"Hang in there mates! almost out of the cave!" Aster yelled as he tossed his boomerangs hitting each head before returning.

Finally out of the cave Tooth and Sandy came forward joining the battle. As they made their way through the snowy mountain tundra, the moon shown brightly despite only being half full.

Tooth zoomed around the beast with her wings slicing into it's flesh before buzzing in front taunting the creature to chase them more.

Sandy wrapped his golden whips around the creature's tail to annoy it further while leaving a minor trail of dream sand to snake it's way to the creatures head. Not enough for sleep but enough the creature would feel fatigued.

North somehow managed to be riding one of the heads because the creature wanted to eat one of his sabers. North was trying to free his weapon while the others continued to distract the other heads and leading the creature into the trap.

"Come on you over grown flytrap! I have better things to do than deal with hydra's ugly step sister!" Jack yelled as he joined Tooth in flying around their heads.

"Good one my boy!" North said with mirth.

This threw Jack off for a moment. "...my boy" rang through his mind. He saw North as a father figure and begun to over think the phrase. If only for a moment. A moment can be rather life changing especially in the heat of battle where its all the enemy needs.

The head that had been eyeing Jack from the beginning reached out and grabbed Jack's right arm within it massive jaws.

"Gahh!" Jack yelled as sharp teeth ripped into his arm without mercy.

"Jack!" Aster yelled. North was still on the head had just freed his saber slashed into the creatures face having it release the young guardian with a roaring growl as Jack let out a blood curdling scream.

Jack fell into the snow with a poof of flakes rising around him momentarily.

Blood was still dripping from the creatures mouth as it finally fell into the trap. A trip wire set a large net of snowglobes to crash into the ground as the creature fell into the portal. Destination already preset it vanished into the vortex of colors with a final cry as the Guardians watched before returning to their comrade.

Jack laid with his right side in the snow trying to alleviate some of the pain radiating from his shoulder. The snow beneath him slowly became red as unbidden tears rolled down his cheeks.

He could hear something or someone but he felt so sleepy. Someone flipped him over but the pain was numbing as the voice seemed to panic.

His vision had dark edges. "...not...good." he thought before his mind became hazy. Blurs of color seemed to rush around him but something kept telling him "stay awake". He couldn't though. He tried but his eyelids never gave him the choice.

--

The guardians ran over to Jack. The boy laid curled up on his side shaking with tears going down his face. Tooth and Aster arrived their first turning Jack on his back.

"Crikey..." Aster whispered as Tooth gasped.

North opened another portal and begun leading yeti through. Sandy crafted a stretcher of sand for the two tending to their youngest before ushering others through the portal.

The yeti tended to the wounds on each Guardian most of which were minor. Except Jack.

--

Slowly Jack was waking. He had definite headache but it was tame in comparison to his shoulder. Oh, that was still excruciating. He vaguely remembers the battle.

He regrets getting distracted but based on the soft fabric surrounding him along with the uncomfortable and sadly familiar feeling of plastic tubing he knew he was safe and no doubt in the infirmary again...

Jack moved his left hand to try and rub his aching shoulder when he noticed something was off.

Previously half asleep his eyes were now wide open as he sat straight up hyperventilating. A yeti rushed over pushed him against the bed as panic set in. He looked between the medical yeti and his shoulder with fast breaths as the creature tried to calm him down.

"Where's the others?! Are they okay?! Jack exclaimed, "Where's my arm?!" His arm was gone. bandages wrapped around where it should be.

--

Yay! I'm back! Evil cliffhangers are so fun.

Loveanimelove - Technically I have done a blind Jack already but I can expand upon it or come up with something different although expanding upon it seems interesting. I will let you decide. As to Fem Jack, I have an idea. I think I will keep this linked with the others.

*To those who like my stories so far. Please be aware, Jack will not be changed permanently in my stories. Injuries may leave a mild scars or issues. Belief is strong after all and magic, if done right, can be truly useful in this story. I expect this arc to be 3 chapter's long.*

Thank you for reading! If you want more or have a request please leave a review to let me know. It keeps me motivated.