Chapter 21, so I want to apologize if the next few chapters end up sad. A lot's been going on lately. I hope you all had a great Easter, and enjoy the story!

Jack's POV

Katrina looked so beautiful that I unknowingly grabbed her hand as I waited for her to wake up, when she finally did it was to pull her hand out of mine and back to the warmth of her blankets. I let go and backed away, Katrina almost froze to death, again, and I wasn't helping the situation. I can't hold her, I can't be with her, I can't continue loving her because she'll only end up getting hurt in the end.

All the Guardians were sitting here waiting for North to come back so we could make up a plan, but I just wanted to get away. I was about to leave when Katrina was carried into the room by North. Tooth was the first to pull her into a hug, Katrina was then passed around their small group. I tried getting my body to leave, but as soon as I saw her I froze. She looked at me, and she was smiling. I told myself to run, she wouldn't be safe with me here, but all I could do was watch as she came over to me and tripped. On instinct I grabbed her and helped her to her feet, then tried to pull away. She pulled me into a hug and I couldn't help but hug her back. Katrina was alive, and she was in my arms again. When she pulled away I was reminded of why I couldn't be with her. She was rubbing warmth back into her arms and shivering slightly. I stared at her, wanting to tell her to leave, wanting to tell her I didn't love her, but I couldn't form the words.

My eyes fell to her hands as she placed them on my chest, and then to her face as she moved closer to me and kissed my cheek. I barely heard Bunny's comment, but Katrina's soft blushing face and embarrassed laugh brought me back to reality. "Ay Sheila, I think ya broke poor Jack." Bunny teased. I shot him a glare that turned into a smirk. Just as I was about to cover him with snow, the door opened and two people walked in.

Katrina grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the new people, and only let go when we were close enough for her to hug them. "Mom, dad, I want you to meet all my friends." She turned back to us and started pointing us out to her parents. "That's North, but you already know him. Over there is Sandy, he saved me from the cold. That's Tooth, and next to her is Bunny." Katrina leaned close to her mom and whispered "I think they like each other." I tried not to laugh at that comment. Then Katrina looked at me, "That's Jack, he's… he's my best friend." her cheeks turned pinkish and she looked away briefly before taking my hand and smiling at me.

The man stepped forward "It is nice to finally meet you Guardians. I want to personally thank you all for watching over my little girl while my wife and I couldn't." Then it dawned on me, these were Katrina's real parents, The Man on The Moon and Mother Nature. "We have come to help you fight, though we had not known about our daughter coming back." Katrina laughed sheepishly. looking away from her father.

I squeezed her hand then let go because it was already getting cold. "I can explain everything, but um… Maybe later. You see I don't have a lot of time left before I lose control of my body again, and I'm afraid of what might happen when I lose it." I didn't understand completely, but I didn't push her. It was obvious that whatever was happening was hard for Katrina, and her parents seemed saddened by it too. Mother Nature looked like she was fighting back tears, and The Man in The Moon looked like he was going to explode from anger.

North was the first to speak up, "Man in Moon, Mother Nature, what is prophecy meaning?"

The tall pale man nodded in recognition to North's question. "You can all call me Manny, and as for the prophecy, I do not know. It was passed to me by the ancient ones before they perished, and now no one knows the meaning." I heard about the Ancient one's before from North. They were the first creators, they made this planet, and the humans on it. Maliki, one of the Ancient ones, created five beings to watch over the humans. The first was Time, the third was Mother Nature, and the last was a pair of twins Life and Death. Each controlled an important aspect, and without one the balance would be broken. Father time grew jealous over time because he felt unimportant. In a fit of anger he created an evil witch, after it happened he felt guilty and told The Man in The Moon, er Manny, about it. Manny then recruited two humans to help defeat the witch. They were the first spirits: Nicolas St. North and Pitch Black. The two spirits used their powers to banish the evil witch to a different plain.

Mother Nature spoke up, bringing me from my thoughts. "We left you all to protect this place, but it is now that you will need our help. Jinx is far stronger than any of you alone, and Katrina has no powers to help with." Mother nature looked at Katrina before continuing. "I fear Pitch will try and attack Katrina, so I ask you, Jack, to protect her." I stared at Mother Nature, surprise written all over my face. All I could do was nod in response.

Pitch's POV

That damn witch, she is ruining all my hard work. I'll have to take care of her if I want to succeed in my plan. "Jinx, I have a mission for you." My darling child appeared from the shadows, she had to be twelve by now, and she already mastered control of her powers. "Your wretched mother is causing trouble, and I need you to put an end to the one helping her."

Jinx looked at me, her face void of emotions. "Yes Father, who is the target?" I smiled and pulled up an image of Nexa, the evil witch. "I will go and complete the mission now, goodbye Father." I watched Jinx disappear into the shadows, such a good child. She just wants love, and as long as I give it to her she'll be the perfect evil tool.

That's it for now, hope you enjoyed.