Song: Little Jack Frost
By: Kate Rusby
Start song at (1)
This is a really long one in comparison to the others because I am really working the merging of the book with the movie plus filling in the blanks of Jack's 300 years alone with ideas inspired from various works other fanfiction writers have come up with.
I do not claim any of these works to be of my own. They all solely belong to their respective writers! I will tell what parts of this chapter were inspired by which works and writers at the end, please read that AN so you can check out these amazing writers and see their work for yourselves.
Thank you to all the writers for your amazing work and the inspiration they bring to so many people!
I hope you enjoy
Jack clutched his chest then hugged himself tightly. Next he covered his head followed by finally uncurling and looking at his hands. Unlike before he now saw only his hands not the green gloved ones of Nightlight, a look around the room revealed that everything else had stopped being doubled vision as well.
"Jack?" Katherine asked.
"I'm ok, I promise." Jack replied.
"What did you see at the end that caused you such surprise?" Mr. Quirky asked.
"It's hard to explain."
Katherine and Mr. Quirky shared a silent look. Mother Goose set the book moth down and walked to the sitting room door. A few whispered words to a Raconturk nearby and a few minutes later Kalish, Katherine's Himalayan snow Goose, and several of the Ganderly's helpers came in. Kalish came over and sat next to Jack while trays of sweet treats, tea, and coco were laid out.
"Let's take a snake break!" Katherine suggested.
Jack looked up at a nug by Kalish's wing and smiled. He took a sweet bun and a mug of coco gratefully. Kalish played mother hen for a bit, comforting Jack with her presence, as Katherine knew she would. It wasn't long till the Guardian of fun was back to his regular self.
Once he was comfortable Katherine whispered to her head Raconturk who produced a bag of books with a very familiar binding. Jack looked at them in shock. Katherine smiled and cast a spell on the books to connect them to the others in the Guardian series and another to the charcoal pencil so that what she wrote in one would be written in the others at the same time.
"Are you up for telling your story?" Katherine asked.
Jack thought for a moment. Am I? What I saw, does that make me still me? Or am I someone else? Those memories from the tooth box were me, or at least who I was as a human but what about after I fell through the ice? Are the memories hearing Katherine's tale unlocked proof I'm not that person? His human sister, mother, and father all came to mind. NO! I know that I am the Jack that saved my sister, Nightlight was/is someone else. He looked at the books waiting to be written with his story, Jackson Overland/Jack Frost's story. So I'll tell it, and maybe telling will help me sort out where the two of us begin and end.
"Yeah, I am!" Jack smiled.
With a much bigger audience, and Katherine writing away, Jack told his story from the beginning.
"My family were colonials, my parents worked on the farm that my fathers father started from a small cabin that his parents first built when they came from their old country. The cabin was simple but homey and so full of love. I was the oldest son and as was family tradition was named Jackson, though everyone called me Jack. I had a little sister, Ann, who was like my best friend. We would play every chance we got; running, climbing trees, and telling silly stories that we acted out, both by ourselves and with the other kids of the village. I was getting close to coming of age, when I was to find my own Job and start thinking about a family of my own, but truthfully I was more interested in just finding new ways to make sure everyone was having a good time!"
He described the jokes he played and the activities/adventures he orchestrated for all the villagers. How some adults thought him an immature troublemaker, but most saw him as a great big brother persona to everyone he met. He was always trustworthy when it came to keeping the kids safe and entertained so that, most of the time, they all stayed out of trouble.
"That is until one late winter/early spring day. Everything was still coated in snow and the ice on the nearby pond had been safely frozen for months. In fact I had taken the older kids skating there just a few days ago. My sister Ann was still learning and had asked me to take her just the two of us so I could help her practice. So after chores we headed out with our skates over our shoulders. We skated off the shore then started shrinking our circles as we made our way closer to the center. Then back to the shore to do it again, I started showing her some tricks and even leapt into the nearby trees a few times, shaking free the loose branches which clattered to the ice. Ann mimicked me out further from shore, not trusting herself to try for the tree line, but that was when she landed and instead of a solid thick of skates hitting thick ice we heard a deep 'crack' instead."
Jack's voice dipped in volume as he told of calming his sister with encouraging words and taking off his skates as he slid his bare feet along the ice trying to get close without causing his weight to finish breaking the ice apart. How he had made the situation into a game as he hopscotched over to one of the branches that had fallen on the safe ice and used it to hook his sister flinging her away from the dangerous ice. He told them that what neither he or his sister realized was Jack had unintentionally switched places with Ann and when he stood back up the ice gave way.
Suddenly the double vision was back but instead of the room swimming it was the memories in his head that did. He saw the look of panic on Ann's face as dropped past the ice and into the frigid water, at the same time as a boy falling through the ice above him.
He saw his hands desperately paddling in front of him as he struggled to get back to the surface, at the same time as he saw the boy flail around just out of reach of the hole he fell through.
He saw the moon shining above him get brighter as his vision grew darker, at the same time as he saw the boy's movements slow then stop as he sank closer.
Then the two versions of the same event merged. "It's ok, you were a good brother." His darkening vision-that held the gaze of the moon-faded completely as he closed his eyes just catching what looked like arms wrapping around from behind him in a hug like manner, at the same time the below version drew to encompass the boy as he wrap his arms around the brown haired kid in a hug. "Don't be scared."
Suddenly it was like he was no longer in either point of view but, like the last part of his human memories when he had watched outside his body as his hair turned white under the ice, outside of both watching as a spectator would.
"What is it Jack?" Katherine's concerned voice asked. "You fell through the braking ice and… what happened next?"
"I tried to swim but sank then…" Jack watched as the memories played out in slow motion. "I sank and Nightlight, or his spirit maybe, came up to wrap me in a hug from where he had been sleeping in the depths of the pond. He said, "You're not alone." Then under Mim's moonbeam Nightlight merged with me and along with him the ice and cold power of winter from the water of the pond. My hair turned from brown to pure white and as the sun set I started to rise from the pond. I heard him say "I am here.""
Jack stopped as the double vision feeling fell away. Tears began to fall, the doubts back in full force. Katherine, bookmarking her spot with her pencil, came over and took his hand.
Jack looked at her and said "I'm sorry! I don't know who I am. Am I Nightlight or am I Jackson? I have two pasts that converge on the day that Nightlight merged with Jackson's body. And when I woke I remembered neither of them!"
"Nightlight" Katherine said.
With a rush Jack's eyes changed from blue to green. "Hello Katherine! It's good to see you again."
Katherine's eyes welled with tears. "You're back!"
Nightlight shrugged, "In a way. Jack is a descendant of Jacklovich, my brother from the family that took me in. On the day he sacrificed his life to save his sister, similar to my own act of saving Jacklovich and Ana, and used Twiner, who had dropped from the tree he'd hid in for all those years sensing that he may be needed, Jack woke me from my sleep. I had become like my brother Nightlights in a way, a being of belief but not quite a star. As I realized what had happened I decided to save Jack at the same time Mim did and our combined belief caused me to merge my spirit with his. Jack gained his powers from the environment around him and my spirit allowed him to inherit the talents that I had gained from my travels.
A being of two souls has never existed before, especially not one of one ancient and one young soul. Subconsciously I knew that Jack would be torn apart by the conflicting pasts so I decided to fall away. I knew I would be there for him when the inevitable battle with Pitch came but it was better for Jack if he lived as though I wasn't there. Unfortunately his memories were wiped as well and Mim, not wanting to cause the conflicting pasts to surface at the same time decided to let Jack find his memories through Toothiena. Of course he didn't anticipate such a long span of time to happen before that would come to pass but his attempts to be heard by her failed as her work got more and more busy."
"So does that mean you aren't coming back?" Katherine asked.
"My time is almost here, when the final battle with Pitch takes place I will come and do my part but this is Jack's life and Jack's body, it would be wrong for me to take it from him! He is protecting me while I wait for that time. And when it happens there will be no need for me to take Jack's body to accomplish it." Nightlight confided. "But I wanted you all to know my story, about what happened after the battle on the dark side of the moon. So I came closer to the surface so my memories could be shared."
Jack's eyes changed to blue again, "So you've been here this whole time? I wasn't alone after all!"
Green eyes returned. "That's right Jack! And you are not me, you are you and always have been!"
Blue again. "Thank you, not just for that confirmation but for saving me that day! I've had an amazing adventure of a life as Jack Frost, the good and the bad!"
Green color came back. "You are welcome!" He was quiet for a moment then turned back to Mother Goose. "Jack says that he wants us to have some alone time so he's given me persimmon to 'drive' so to speak. But I won't stay long. Katherine, you and I are connected and always will be! Our kiss meant the world to me and I hope it meant the same to you. When my time comes I will keep my promise, we will see each other again!"
"I believe, I believe, I believe that too Nightlight." Katherine said.
"I want our next kiss to be on the day my time to defeat Pitch comes, but for now." Nightlight hugged Katherine tight and she did the same.
Nightlight went back inside Jack and Jack's eyes became blue once more.
Wiping happy tears from her eyes, the writer returned to her previous spot and picked up the book and pencil once again. "So Jack, it seems that our tales of the Guardians books are far from finished. We better get yours down so that they can be recorded before things get busy again."
(1)Jack laughed at that statement and nodded his agreement. He told them how he had played with his newly found powers, after rising on the wind from the pond, and the staff that had been just waiting for him on the ice. Going to the village and discovering no one could see or hear him.
How he learned that animals could however and though he wasn't sure how they seemed to understand him. He told them of the time the Canadian Geese taught him to better fly on the wind. And how on his saddest/loneliest days dogs, or squirrels, or deer would come by to keep him company and play with him.
He told of the many ancient spirits of the planes, like Old Hills, that he spoke to and learned of the weather and way of things from. And how they eventually went silent as settlers from the east started traveling west.
He explained the joy and fun he brought with snowball fights and snowmen that he made appear out of seemingly nowhere. The skating parties that happened on his pond, which he always kept safely thick enough when the season was right and discouraged play on when it wasn't with the winds help, and the sledding rides he made more fun with jumps and just the right amount of slick ice.
He told of the ballets, operas, and art exhibits he visited over the years. The things he learned from watching magicians, jugglers, acrobats, and clowns. And how sometimes he was able to help inspire Novelists, poets, composers, actors, and playwrights.
He told of the time he instigated a snowball war between seasoned generals and street kids that they had passed by like they were not even there, all starting with three well aimed snowballs that sent the men's hats to the ground. How it didn't take long for the store owners and passers by, both young and old/ poor and well off/ weak and strong all joined in all their worries and pains forgotten in the simple fun of the all out free for all! And that when everyone was exhausted the generals declared the fight a tie and hosted everyone present to a meal and a warm up at the local club, street kids included.
"Not to mention the times I was in the right place at just the right time to lend a hand when someone needed my help, even if I was invisible. Like when I was sleeping in a tree and a kid ran beneath with a stray dog hot on his trail. I leapt down and gave the pooch a swat on the nose, that delayed the k9 long enough for the boy to get to a river but from there he was stuck. So I froze a little ice bridge for him and he ran on it, it was obvious he couldn't figure out where the bridge could possibly have come from but he wasn't complaining, and he made it to the other side just as the dog caught up. When the stray came after him on the bridge I broke it under the dogs feet. The pooch swam back to shore and after a while, just to be sure the k9 was gone, I repared the bridge to let him cross back over. He couldn't see me but he did say "thank you" and that meant alot. I followed him till he made it back to the winter scout camp he was staying at and then spent the night in the trees nearby."
This is when Jack got to the part about the day he took Jamie Bennet to an epic sled ride on an ice path through town. He told of being 'kidnapped' by North's Yetis, and the Guardians springing his swearing in ceremony on him out of the blue. Learning about centers and riding the slay to Tooth Palace. The first encounter with Pitch's nightmares and learning about the power of the teeth. The rush to keep the teeth being collected and battling Pitch above Burgess.
Sandy's death/absorption by Pitch still hurt so that part was difficult to tell. As was the funeral back at the pole. But his joy returned as he told of the painting fest they had in the warren with Sophie.
Jack became frustrated and uncomfortable as he described his being lured into Pitch's trap not once but twice. Both into Pitch's own lar and in Antarctica when Baby Tooth's life had been on the line. The escape from the crevasse was a short elation before the actual battle had commenced.
"As the belief fell all over the world I felt helpless till I realized Jamie had hung on. I knew it had to be him, as in all my 300 years I had never seen a boy with more belief."
He described the first believers he had ever had with such care, and the realization of his center of fun with such passion. The fight was a flurry of activity but Jack forced himself to talk slowly so he could relay not only his experience but the experiences of the other Guardians sense they had all shared them with each other after they had returned to the Pole.
Katherine actually broke down laughing as she heard of Pitch's Nightmares being turned into dreams and the pounding he received from the big 5. Not to mention the loss of his tooth thanks to Toothina's punch.
"After reassuring Jamie that we would always be there for him and Jamie giving me the 1st hug I had received since becoming a spirit I boarded the slay and we took off into the sky!"
As Jack finished his tale Katherine asked him to pose for a drawing. A few hours later and she showed him the finished product. He blushed at how she had depicted him in such a heroic light.
"What happens now?" Jack asked.
"The books are written and as soon as I draw the rest of the illustrations I will send them off so the others can have their copies for their collections. I also need to make copies of the rest of the set for you." Katherine explained.
"But I don't have a place to keep them. I travel all the time."
"Yes, I have heard that and I gathered as much from your story. But if you are interested." She walked over to the wall and touched the wood. "A clipping from this tree will sprout another of Big Root's children. You could plant it wherever you felt was right and that could be where you kept the books for safekeeping or in case a certain believer were to ever ask to hear the stories."
Jack could barely believe he was being offered to have a Big Root of his very own. "You sure?! I don't have any experience with plants."
"I'm sure, it will grow all on you belief in it to grow and will never be chopped down as it has its own magic to it."
Jack had no words, so he just nodded. Katherine spoke to the tree that made up the wall and then took a small clipping of it's living twig. She handed it to Jack and told him "Place it in the soil you want the tree to grow and say the 1st spell. When it reaches its full height your books will be ready."
Jack thanked her and after taking one more sweet bun, flue on the wind back to his pond. There he planted the twig on the bank of his pond. In no time at all it was a beautiful tree and when Jack came with a bag full of books it opened of its own accord and created bookshelves for him. Jack proudly displayed his new collection already looking forward to reading the Tales of the Guardians to the children of Burgess.
The part about Jack's time as a colonial boy was inspired by the memorie scene in Rise of the Guardians movie.
The part about Nightlight merging with Jack when he fell through the ice was inspired by 'Frost Reflects the light' drawn by NezuNeutral on DeviantArt.
The part about Nightlight returning when it was his time was inspired by The Guardians of Childhood book 5.
The part about the Canadian Geese was inspired by 'Learning to Fly' drawn by WoonYung Jung from Dreamworks Animation.
The part about the dog coming to comfort Jack was inspired by 'First Friend' drawn by DolphyDolphiana on DeviantArt.
The part about spirits like Old Hills was inspired by 'Old Hills' drawn by rufftoon on DeviantArt.
The part about making snowmen appear out of nowhere was inspired by 'Winter Spirit' drawn by WoonYung Jung from Dreamworks Animation.
The part about ballets, operas, art exhibits, magicians, jugglers, acrobats, clowns, Novelists, poets, composers, actors, and playwrights, as well as the snowball fight between the Generals and street kids was inspired by The Guardians of Childhood book 5.
The part about saving a kid from a stray dog was inspired by 'Hidden Truth and Other Stories the graphic Novel.
The part from Jamie's sled ride through the end of the battle with Pich is inspired by the Rise of the Guardian movie.
I claim no ownership of any of these works. I want to thank all of the writers for the inspiration.
The votes are in. Right now this will be the last chapter. However if I ever get a desire or find the right song for the final battle with the Nightmare king from the 5th book, I will come back to write it. But for now, thank you to all the readers!