Hello there! This is actually my first fic that I had in a google docs and had forgot about but then one day I decided to finish it and post it for all you lovely readers to hopefully enjoy.
Disclaimer: No, I don't own ROTG. Bummer, right?
Not needing to breath was something that Jack had just assumed natural for all spirits; nor having a heartbeat, or being able to feel pain like mortals- except heat, which should be expected since he was the master of the cold. After all, he was alone for 300 years. Who was there to tell him that all the others weren't a special case like him? But then again, being a special case wasn't all that bad for Jack, seeing as for some reason he managed to tick of almost every immortal without even trying. It wasn't his fault he was the Winter Spirit, he blamed that on the moon. Yet, he couldn't help but be thankful for the ability of not being able to feel his rival's sudden attacks on him.
After the whole Pitch catastrophe, life sort of calmed down for the winter bringer. I mean, who would try to go and try to mess with a newly named Guardian (besides Pitch)? That's just asking to be in a world of hurt. But Jack knew that his hater's would be back someday to try to get rid of him. At least he would get some time away from them, though. You'd think that after all the failed attack's that they'd give up, but he had to give them credit for being relentless, they even got people who he hadn't even bothered to get in on the so called torture. Jack was still cheerful as ever though; how could he be the Guardian of Fun if he wasn't? Sure he had his bad moments, but who didn't, right? Plus, his life should be getting easier now with his new, but very crazy, family.
As of now, said spirit was happily watching his believers engage in a dramatic snowball fight, that he may have started. Snow forts were pilled up as forms of cover from the incoming attacks that they threw at each other.
"Hey Jack! Come join us!" His first believer called out from behind his teams fortress.
"Alright, maybe in a minute!" Jack responded. He was perfectly happy with just observing for now, he was pretty tired from all the snow he had brought to the different parts of the world.
"Awh fine! But if you randomly get hit by a snowball, then don't blame it on me you party pooper!" Jamie taunted back.
Ah yes, Jack could definitely get used to finally being seen. His tranquil moment was suddenly ruined by bright colorful lights shooting across the sky. The Aurora Borealis? Hopefully it's nothing too serious, I'm seriously exhausted. Jack thought to himself.
Jack got up and grabbed his staff from beside him, "Sorry kids, gotta head out, North is summoning us." He told them.
"Whyyyy?" They all groaned, making Jack chuckle.
"No clue, but I promise to be back soon and then perhaps I'll join in on the fight next time, okay?" It was always sorrowful for him to leave his believers, but he'd be back soon, so no harm done!
He said his goodbyes and asked the wind to take him to the pole. The wind happily agreed since it loved flying with it's closest friend, and together they were taking to the skies passing the cities and countries until finally they saw the workshop in view. As he reached his designated window, he could already hear Bunny complaining about how "Frostbite could never be on time for just once." He hadn't taken that long to get to the pole, it was only just about 30 minutes. Well I guess I could've been a little faster. He thought.
Jack flew threw the window and retorted back at Bunny, "Jeez Cottontail keep your fur on, I'm here now."
"Jack!" Tooth squeaked before Bunny could argue back as Jack landed by them, "How are your teeth? Are you taking care of them? Open up! I need to make sure they're still white!" She forgot the idea of personal space and opened Jack's mouth.
"Ah-" Jack didn't get two steps in as the fairy started checking his teeth.
"Tooth, fingers out of mouth remember," North started as the fairy backed off whispering an apology, "Nice of you to join us, shall ve get started with mission now?"
"Uh- what mission? Anyone care to fill me in?" Jack asked.
As a result of his question, Sandy started to form his sand pictures over his head, but Jack couldn't really understand, "Not quite getting the idea of it, but thanks anyway little man."
"Manny has told us of Wendigo spotted in forest of Michigan, ve must stop it before it reaches town!" North yelled with enthusiasm, "To the sleigh!"
"Ahh I think I'll take the safe route with my tunnels, mate." Bunny said with a hint of fear.
"Nonsense! We take sleigh!" North carried on.
Once to the sleigh, they all piled in; Bunny needing a little more persuasion than the others.
"Is everything ready?" North asked the Yeti working on the panel of the sleigh, "Yes? Good!" He whipped the reindeer before the Yeti could even open his mouth or shake his head no for a response and the sleigh was soon flying through the frozen tunnels.
Yelling out a whoop of joy Jack positioned himself on the back of the sleigh and enjoyed watching the stalagmites and stalactites made from ice pass him by in a flash. They reached the end of the caves, much to Bunny's delight, and shot into the air while the sun's rays poured down on them. Bunny let out a sigh of relief as the sleigh finally calmed down from all the turbulence, making Jack smirk.
North pulled out a snow globe and whispered, "To Michigan." With a smile on his face.
Bunny's peacefulness was short-lived while he clenched his eyes shut as they flew through the portal, and popped out in Michigan. North guided the reindeer towards the ground and landed (not so easily) outside of a forest.
"Could ya be ANYMORE worse at landin', North!?" Bunny jumped out of the sleigh and onto the ground not caring about the cold snow now covering his fur.
"I did fine, no?" North looked for some backup from his fellow teammates.
"Sure North, just perfect." Jack responded with a little sarcasm as he and the rest of them got up from the rough landing.
"See? Jack says is fine!" North grinned not recognizing the sarcasm whatsoever.
"So where do we go from here? Is this the right place?" Tooth asked, looking around. They were next to a woodland area at least, but nobody knew if it was the correct one. It had tall and thick trees covered with snow and ice, and it was a fairly big forest.
"Only one way to find out!" Jack said as they started their search through the trees.
After about an hour of looking and an hour of listening to Jack complain about being bored, Bunny finally picked up a sound with his ears, "Wait." He paused in his steps, making the rest of them do the same.
Sandy threw up a question mark above his head.
"I think it's close." The Pooka said not too loudly.
"Well do you think or do you- AGH!" Jack was cut off as something big rammed into his side, flying him into a tree.
"Jack!" His friends, minus Sandy, all yelled to him.
Good thing I couldn't feel that. Jack groaned as he laid there waiting for the stars over his head to stop spinning so much.
"Jack! Are you okay, my boy?!" He could hear North yell out to him.
Jack dazedly gave them a weak thumbs up, "Just peachy!" He choked back. Not that it necessarily actually hurt, he just didn't like getting thrown into a tree by some unknown force. Who would?
Finally shaking off the dizziness he got a good look at his sentence stopper. There standing and growling was a 15 foot tall Wendigo, and it did not look happy at the sudden intruders.
"I found the Wendigo!" Jack stated the obvious as he got up from the nice tree that broke his fall and started walking towards the rest of the group.
"Jeez mate, are you alrigh'!?" Bunny asked him.
Yeah why wouldn't I be? Jack wanted to say but settled for a short, "I'm okay."
The others eyed him suspiciously but thought nothing of it as the Wendigo let out another growling noise. There was a moment of silence until the beast decided to make the first (technically second) move, lunging towards the Guardians forcing them to jump out of the way and so begun the fight.
Forty-five minutes of the battle and the Guardians were still at war with the cannibalistic creature. Who knew Wendigos could be more persistent than Pitch himself? Especially with Sandy's whips and Jack's ice trying to keep the thing secured so that they could take it down, it just wouldn't quit. North's arm managed to get a long-ish cut from the beasts claws, but it was thin and would heal quickly thanks to immortality. Bunnymund had also taken a hit to his leg, but yet again, it wouldn't be long before it would be restored to it's normal look. Tooth had managed to swerve from it's attacks, but that doesn't mean her wings weren't tired from flying so much and at such quick speeds. In fact, they were all getting at their limits, especially Jack; after spreading so much snow he was the most worn out, but he kept fighting no matter what.
Letting out a hideous screech, definitely piercing Bunny's unsuspecting ears, the Wendigo used all it's strength to break through the ice barriers frozen on it's feet, getting rid of the sand whips in the process.
"Crickey, mates! This thing won't stop!" Bunny yelped, dodging another swipe of the sharp claws.
"How are we supposed to defeat it?!" Tooth shouted back, worried.
As the others discussed new plans while they fought, Jack worked on re-icing the legs to keep the flesh-eater from getting anywhere, but it would keep breaking out. Alright then, Jack thought, maybe some permafrost will keep this thing from moving. It might drain me completely, but the others don't seem to have any other bright ideas. Gathering as much of his strength as he could, and ignoring the dizziness seeping in his head, he started on the monsters feet once more. This time, it let out another howl as the ice burned and then numbed it's feet and it realized moving had become more difficult.
Jack smirked as his much used magic was worth being applied in the situation. The other Guardians noticed the decreasing movement in their enemy as well and smiled at there youngest's job well done.
"About time, Frostbite! Thanks fer the help, finally!" Bunny grinned at his own joke.
"Ha-ha, yeah yeah. Maybe I just decided you were getting nowhere, Cottontail!" Jack laughed back. How he was even able to respond back was beyond him. He was tiring more quickly now, but the job wasn't yet done.
Moving up to the Wendigos leg's, it let out more anger and tried clawing at the ice trying to get it off, but nothing it did seemed to work. As if it was even possible, it got more infuriated and swiped vigorously at the Guardians, barely missing them. C'mon, c'mon... Almost to the stomach and then it'll be a cinch. Jack was having a hard time dodging it's angry attacks at him and focusing on his permafrost, and was almost certain that by the time he was done, he'd already be sleeping, but he wouldn't let anything happen to the ways away town.
"-TCH OUT!" Someone yelled pulling him out of his thoughts, "JACK WATCH OUT!"
Looking towards the sound of the unknown voice, he wasn't met with anything except a flash of something and a force that went down his torso, making him get pushed back a few feet. Not fully understanding the situation, he just yelled back, "What?!" as he flew away from the Wendigo's clawing attempts. He hadn't even realized he was that close to it, being too pre-occupied with his permanent icing.
"JACK! MY BOY! ARE YOU ALRIGHT!?" He heard North called to him.
Why wouldn't I be alright? Jack questioned in his head. "Um... Yes? Why?" He shouted back.
He wasn't feeling strange or anything, but now that he thought about it, his stomach did feel a little weird. Ignoring the confused looks from his friends that were still battling, he looked down, and azure eyes widened at what they saw. His favored blue hoodie was ripped in three diagonal yet parallel lines that began from the top left of his shoulder all the way down to the right of his hip. He loved his hoodie. Never took it off. Would this even be able to fix? He knew how to sew, but he'd never seen anything like this ever get repaired.
"Mate!? Jack!?" The Pooka warrior cried out to him.
He ignored his friends call. Not only was his hoodie completely ruined, but there was deep gashes to accompany the teared jumper; blood oozing out of the shredded skin. No wonder he didn't know what happened. He couldn't feel it, but he could feel the fury building up inside him.
"My- hoodie..." He managed to get out.
"Sandy get Jack out of here!" North told the dream-maker.
Sandy happily obliged and moved towards Jack in order to help his friend, only to be blown back from a strong wind that came from Jack's direction. Looking towards the Herald of Winter, the Guardians noticed as the wind started to pick up and the temperature dropped slowly but surely. A faint glow started to form from the young Guardians body as the situation finally became more clear to him. He just lost yet another thing that actually mattered to him. While the glowing increased and the temperature got colder, the Guardians, again minus Sandy, realized they've seen this happen before: at Sandy's death.
Bitterness and rage clouded Jack's vision as he disregarded his friends pleads for him to calm down. He was too far gone now, this monster would pay for ruining his beloved hoodie, and he didn't care if his family saw this unpleasant side of him. He was pissed. As the winds were still roaring with his anger, making it hard for the Guardians to stay in one place, the snow that had started to fall was getting more rough as well. Jack clenched his fists as the glowing started to reach it's brightest setting.
"DAMN IT!" He finally screamed as the newly formed blizzard was now established and began tearing at anything it could reach.
Forgetting the presence of the others, he brought his staff back in the way one would throw a baseball, and sent ice hurling towards the still growling Wendigo, giving the beast a new scar of it's own. But he didn't- and wouldn't- stop there.
"FUCKING- STUPID- DUMB- BITCH- CREATURE!" He shouted a new insult with every hit he landed, making sure that the arms were frozen so that it couldn't attack back while it's karma was being paid.
To say his fellow Guardians were shocked, would be an understatement. They knew Jack loved his hoodie, but nobody would expect him to get his mad.
"We need ta get out of 'ere before he destroys this whole forest!" Bunny shielded his eyes from the sharp snow that bit at his skin.
"We can't just leave him! He could get hurt!" Tooth yelled back through the storm.
"What are ve to do, zen?" North asked as if they had a plan.
Sandy gave them a light-bulb along with an exclamation mark above his head while he gathered his friends together and put up a sand forcefield around them, they could still see outside it clearly, but the blizzard could no longer whip at their bodies.
"Didn't know ya could do this kinda thing, mate" Bunny told him. Sandy just shrugged back with a smile in response .
Meanwhile, Jack was cursing away and cutting through the Wendigo's skin with his icicles. Giving one last whimper, the frozen beast grew still as the last bit of ice incased it. No longer a threat, Jack looked at the monster, which was now an iced statue; in a way it was sort of pretty. The glowing started to die down in addition to the storm that had also started decreasing. Jack panted heavily (not that he needed to breath, just an instinct) as he was lowered to the ground, stumbling a bit when he touched the forest floor, and then he dropped on his knees. The blizzard had turned to a light snowfall while silent tears made their way down Jack's cheeks, and the blood still flowed from his torso, but not as greatly as before.
Sandy undid his barricade and they all rushed towards their boy on the ground, except North who decided it would be best to get the sleigh. He couldn't bare to see the one he thought of as his son in such a state.
"Oh my goodness! Are you okay, Sweet tooth?" Tooth asked, kneeling down and cupping his face with one of her hands.
"I'm okay..." He said back quietly.
"Mate, there is no way ya're 'okay.'" Bunny told him as he came up behind Tooth. But Jack only raised his shoulders in a shrug and looked away.
"Come on hun, we'll get you cleaned up back at the workshop." Tooth helped him up and guided him towards the way North had went, but didn't get far as North had somehow already made it to the sleigh and was now landing nearby.
"How'd ya get 'ere so fast, North?" Bunny questioned him.
"I use snow globe!" The Russian responded, "Now come, ve must get Jack to ze Pole."
Tooth helped Jack into the sleigh while Bunny and Sandy got in after, and then North took off carefully thinking Jack would only be in more pain if it was rough. But Jack wasn't actually in any pain, maybe emotional, but he was overall extremely tired. He'd never used so much of his magic in a day before. Last time he went nearly that crazy was when one of the summer spirits had burnt his cloak, one of the only things he still had from when he rose from his lake. But even then he wasn't as tired as he was right now.
Minutes into the right he was already letting out soft snores (again, just an instinct) with his head in Tooth's lap as she stroked his hair.
"Poor little ankle bittah. Probably exhausted from all that action." Bunny commented.
"He'll be okay, right? I mean... his stomach took quite the hit..." Tooth said softly and sadly.
"Hey buck up, Sheila, he's a fighter. Always has been." But even Bunny had some doubt that Jack wouldn't make it. The sleigh ride seemed like the longest they've ever had since North refused to use snow globes in the event that it might hurt Jack, and the others agreed. So for now they could only hope he'd be okay as they endured the long way back.
Upon arrival at the North Pole's grand workshop, Bunny carried Jack out of the sleigh only to notice something strange. Jack had no heartbeat. This was what made the Pooka worry more and yell to North that they needed to get to the infirmary quickly.
"What happened, Bunny?" Tooth asked, worry growing in her voice.
"Frostbite's heartbeat stopped." Was all he said until he bounded off to the medical center.
Tooth gasped as she covered her hands over her mouth and zoomed after the rabbit with the others. After reaching said medical center, Bunnymund put Jack on the bed and alerted the med Yeti's that they needed help. Once the rest of the Guardians reached the room, it was soon chaos. Trying to get Jack back into the land of conscious in various ways like giving him an oxygen mask and trying to shake him awake, which wasn't working. So they decided to use their last resort: shocking him back to life.
Two med Yeti's garbled something to North and handed him a manual defibrillator, earning a quick thank you from the man in return. Bunny took off Jack's hoodie and gagged at the damage. The cuts were most definitely deep and big. Bunny plugged the machine in while North placed the pads and then the paddles on Jack's chest in places that weren't being occupied by a gash. Tooth and Sandy stood watching as the whole scene unfolded, tears streaming down both their faces.
"три, два, один." North counted down from three in Russian, "Clear!" he then yelled as he pressed down on the buttons and the device sent it's electricity through Jack's body, creating a very unpleasant feeling for him.
"FUCK!" Jack shrieked, jolting upwards very quickly in the hospital bed.
"Oh thank Man in Moon!" The Guardians all said together, sighing in relief and letting out a bit of happy laughter.
"What the hell was that for!?" Jack inquired fairly loudly, ruining the happy vibe.
"Whaddya mean 'what was it for'?!" Bunny began, "Mate, you were dying!"
"I wasn't dying! I was ASLEEP! Until you guys decided to shock me with some weird science thingy!" Jack gestured towards the instrument that North was still holding.
"Is called defibrillator..." North held up a finger breaking their conversation, pointing it out quietly.
"Fine. Difiby-thingy. Whatever." Jack gave up trying to pronounce it halfway through. He was still rather angry and confused on why they had to wake him up with an electric charged tool that literally sent the feeling of heat throughout his body instead of waking him a normal way. He was associated with the cold! Why would they want to warm him up?!
"Frostbite, ya weren't asleep! Ya had no heartbeat!" Bunny explained. Jeez, this kid's gonna be the death of us, Bunny thought.
"Uh yeah, and!? Thanks for pointing it out?" Jack didn't understand what Bunny was trying to interpret. Yeah, he had no heartbeat. Didn't they not have one either?
"Jack, you're acting like that's an obvious thing." Tooth spoke up from aside, her and Sandy both coming to the bedside.
"Um, because it is!" Honestly what's with these people, Jack rolled his eyes.
"Wait. What?" They all questioned him and exchanged questioning looks with each other.
"I... have no heartbeat?" Jack wondered if that's what they were asking.
"Vhat do you mean 'you don't have'?" North asked, putting his hand on Jack's bare chest, forgetting the boy's injuries, only to have his eyes in sudden realization that Jack indeed did not have a heartbeat.
"Wait, do you guys have one?" Jack queried as North pulled back his hand. In response, they all nodded their heads. Well that explains the fuss. Jack thought, yet he was astounded to find out that they had heartbeats, and he didn't. Unfair...
A Yeti came over and started on wrapping Jack's torso in bandages, ignoring the families weird conversation.
"Oh. Uh, well. Yeah I don't have one... meaning I also don't need to breath. Can't feel pain either." He told them.
This only made them more shocked and way more confused. But at least it cleared up how he was able to bounce right back from the Wendigo attacks.
"Well how does that work? How are you here then if you don't have a heartbeat or breath?" Tooth pondered out loud.
"Hey don't ask me! I've always been this way as a spirit," he said and then added a murmur of, "maybe it's because I died..." But he didn't really think anyone would hear it. Well, anyone without Bunny's ears wouldn't hear it, that is.
"YA DIED!? WHEN!?" The rabbit shouted.
Jack flinched and held his ears from the loud yell, "Jeez Cottontail I know YOU have sensitive ears, but that doesn't mean the rest of us are deaf!"
"Just answer the question, mate." Bunny interrogated, more calmly.
"Um yeah.. I kinda died before the moon resurrected me. Thought I told you..." He got more quiet at the end of his sentence.
"You never said anything about your memories Jack. We were going to ask but didn't want to bother you so we let it go." Tooth said softly.
"Oh well, I saved my sister from falling into the ice but took her place instead and I drowned." Jack shuddered at just the thought of it.
"Ve are sorry ve vere not there for you, my boy." North stated solemnly.
"Hey, it's okay! Everything's fine now, right?" Jack tried to cheer them up.
Sandy created sand pictures above his head consisting of the four guardians having their backs turned to a snowflake, and then he put a 300 next to the picture; which Jack interpreted as how they ignored him for 300 years.
"Well maybe I was upset about being alone before, but it all worked out for the best! We're family now..." He mumbled the last part.
"Darn right, snowflake, and ya're not gettin' rid of us tha' easy." Bunny ruffled his hair and he giggled.
Jack let out a yawn and rubbed his eyes with his palms.
"Alright ya gumby, I think we've enough excitement fer today. Get some shut eye now." The Pooka laughed.
"'M no' tired..." Jack slurred, exhaustion thick in his voice.
"Sure yer not." Bunny rolled his eyes and gestured at Jack to Sandy.
Gathering a sphere of dream sand, Sandy tossed the ball in his hand up and down and gave Jack a look.
"No! Wait Sandy! Let's just talk about this in a peaceful situation and-!" Jack didn't get to finish his beg as the sand was knocked in his face, "'M gonna ge' you fer that, S'ndy..." He said as the dream sand started to kick in.
"You can geet him later, first you must geet rest." North chuckled along with Sandy's silent laughter.
"Mk. Love y'guys..." Jack whispered as he finally gave in to unconsciousness.
"We love you too Jack." Tooth smiled as she fluttered up to him to stroke his hair.
"An we'll neva let ya forget it." Bunny added.
Up in the sky, the moon smiled at his chosen Guardians, happy that the Winter Spirit finally found somewhere to belong.
And a few weeks later, if Sandy found himself getting every jug of eggnog he found frozen, then he would only smile and not mention it. They were all happy to have their youngest family member, and Jack was happy to finally have a real place (technically multiple) to call home that actually had a roof. To the other Guardians, it was sort of strange that Jack didn't have the normal things, like a heartbeat, that they had. But that's what made him a special case, and they wouldn't have him any other way.
Sooooo I hope you liked it! If you did I would love it if you would want to leave a review! Of course you don't have to but you'll be my bestfriend if you did ;) I don't know how I feel about it but hopefully it wasn't too bad to read. *Disappears*