The four existing Guardians stood as the moonlight shone in the crystal covering the whole room in a blue light. They all stared at the crystal eyes wide with excitement, anxiety and worry... Finally, the four recognized the spirit.

"Jack Frost?" North stepped away blinking.

Tooth and Sandy looked at each other.

"What?! Not happening! That kid..." Bunny began then stopped, shaking his head "isn't a Guardian."

North hesitated, it definitely didn't sound right. He looked up at the image again then sighed. "If Man In Moon says he is, then he is."

Jack didn't know how long he had been locked up anymore. He lost track after only two weeks. He remembered those first two weeks, he had been scared, he had struggled and cried. He didn't do that anymore. He hadn't for a long time.

He remembered being brought to the prison very clearly. He had been playing around a waterfall at the time. He would touch the top layer and see how the ice flew down the waterfall cracking into thousands of pieces and floating on the water below. It reflected the sunlight making a rainbow in the water.

Jack remembered laughing and freezing more. He hadn't seen any color but black for far too long. He wished he could see that rainbow again, as more than a memory. He remembered how he was suddenly shot by behind. At first he wasn't sure what was going on, but then he hit the water and the ice floating in it.

He definitely searched for his staff as he failed to swim. He was dragged out of the lake and thrown to his knees, he coughed up water before looking up at his attackers. Five spirits all masked. They were wearing a uniform that Jack didn't recognize.

One of them grabbed him from behind and tied his hands together behind his back. "You're under arrest," he said as he forced Jack to his feet.

Jack blinked in surprise as the spirits made sure he was well secured. They had his staff kept far away from him, magic kept his hands tightly held behind his back. He was blindfolded before he had even processed what was going on.

"We have five immortal witnesses. You have been accused of murder. Do you deny the accusation?"

Jack remained silent for a second before shaking his head "I don't deny it."

"Good, we will accompany you to the prison, if you do not deny it then there will be no questioning needed. Is that understood?"

"Yes."

He remembered the questions they asked him, he remembered the tests they did to see his physical state and powers without his staff.

He was blindfolded the whole time, he still was. He wasn't completely sure if it was the same blindfold, he could never remember having it off, so it may well be. He had chains around his wrists. They weren't too tight. They had been at first, but they had been loosened since.

He coughed as door opened, blowing dust into his face. He let out a quiet moan, pulling his knees even closer to his chest as he waited for the usual sudden energy and electric like shock. He expected he would get used to it, but no matter how much he braced himself it still felt wrong.

Everyday someone would come in and using magic Jack didn't understand or completely want to, give him the energy he would usually get from food and drink, then they would leave and that would be the closest to human contact Jack would ever get. They never even said anything to him.

Today was different though: for the first time in what felt like forever he heard someone speak. "Tie his hands behind his back, hold him tightly on either side. Check the blindfold," a female voice ordered.

Jack flinched when he was forced to his feet. He felt two big hands, one holding each of his shoulders. The chains where undone and quickly replaced with manacles holding his hands behind his back. Jack was trembling, he had not moved from that position in so long it felt strange, painful. He was also scared, he had no idea what was going on and that scared him.

"Follow me," she said and the men dragged Jack along, Jack tried to walk but every time he stumbled until finally he gave in and just let himself be dragged.

Jack tried to ask what was going on, but he just ended up coughing. His throat hurt and he wondered how long it had been since he last spoke. He used to speak on his own, he'd say something simple like 'one, two, three' so that his voice wouldn't fade. He had heard about people's voice fading and never being able to speak again. Scared of that he had used his voice every day. But slowly he ended up doing less every day until he completely gave up.

He had doubted he would ever need his voice again so what the point in keeping it. Now, he slightly regretted it, but he may still be able to speak, if he got a glass of water and managed to cough up the dust. He was a spirit after all, it took much longer than it did for humans to lose their voice.

The Guardians where standing in the room where the woman had left them. It was dark, not too dark that they couldn't see, but it definitely felt uncomfortable. There was a chair in the center of the room with chains attached and other chains dotted around the room that were normal. The woman had told them to make themselves comfortable, but none of them could bring themselves to sit down.

"North?"

"Yes Tooth?"

"You said he used to be on the naughty list, even before... you know."

"Yes, why?"

"Did you ever see him?"

"When I went to deliver coal on Christmas Eve, yes."

"What is... was he like?"

"He was... small... for his age. Very white, white skin and hair..." North tried to remember, then shrugged "I don't really remember too well, I never paid him too much attention."

"I remember meeting him..." Bunny said, "back when he was a new spirit. He was very confused back then, I didn't really know what to make of him. He didn't seem bad so I left him be, I explained a bit about how things worked, how spirits could see him even if mortals couldn't... then I left. Didn't hear anything else of him 'till the incident."

Sandy made a picture of a snowflake and a bed above his head.

"You used to give him dreams?" Tooth asked.

Sandy nodded.

"Where they... dark or scary dreams?"

Sandy shook his head some dolphins and a snowball fight.

"Why do you think he did it?"

"Who knows? He never answered that question."

They stood in silence for a bit until the door opened. The woman from before came in followed by Jack who couldn't even stand without the support of the two guards. They sat the kid down in the chair and secured him, double-checking the chains were tight.

Seeing Jack was a shock to most of the Guardians. After what he had done, they hadn't expected him to look so... young. He looked like a child, a scared and confused one. They almost felt pitiful for the kid sitting chained to the chair, shaking like a leaf. He probably hadn't been out of his cell in so long so this was a very frightening experience.

"He should behave. If he so much as struggles, call the guards immediately."

Tooth nodded. "Thank you."

"Would you like the two guards here to stay with you?" the lady asked.

North shook his head. "No, they will only scare him more."

"Not sure if that is a completely bad thing, mate," Bunny whispered.

"Does he need the blindfold?" North asked.

"If you want him to see, you may remove it," the woman said.

"Thank you, now we will talk to him alone," North said. The woman nodded and left along with the two guards, closing the big metal door behind her.

North carefully began to untie the blindfold.

"North, leave it. It's too dark to see hardly in here anyway."

North just ignored Bunny and after a few frustrating minutes managed to remove the blindfold. He smiled proudly and looked at Jack. The kid hesitated before opening his eyes. He only managed to keep them open for a few seconds before flinching and closing them tightly, letting out a small moan.

"Told you to leave it. Kids not used to seeing anything anymore."

"Well it's time he got used to it!" North shouted at Bunny looking back to Jack as he tried to open his eyes once more. He kept them open this time, his eyes moved around the room looking at nothing in particular. His eyes weren't focusing properly and all he saw were blurred colors.

"Your eyes will get back to normal soon," Tooth said, trying to sound calm as she fluttered over to get a closer look at him.

Jack opened his mouth to ask who they were and what was going on but he just ended up coughing until he needed to gasp for breath.

"Are you okay?" Tooth asked.

Jack closed his eyes for a second taking in a few deep breaths then he gave a small nod and tried to speak again "I-I..." he began to cough again, his voice was no louder than a whisper and sounded very shaky and scratchy. But in the silent prison the Guardians heard and understood. "F-fine," Jack finished, coughing again.

The Guardians looked at each other, unsure what to say. They wondered if the kid could make out their expressions with his eyes so unfocused.

"W-what..." he began to ask, then went into a coughing fit.

"-Is going on?" Tooth finished for him. He gave a small nod.

"We... came to give offer, Jack" North started. "You see, we are Guardians, Easter Bunny, Sandman, Tooth Fairy and me, Santa. We protect children."

Jack gave a small nod to say he understood.

"Recently, an old enemy of ours has returned. Pitch Black... the Boogeyman. The moon seems to think we will need your help."

Jack tried to look at them properly, his eyes refusing to obey. He tried to take everything in and after he did, one thing stuck up among the rest. "Moon?" he managed to whisper without coughing nearly as much this time.

North nodded. "He chooses guardians..."

Jack looked confused for a second before nodding. "I think... I understand."

"So, will you help us? We will give you a few days after defeating Pitch to rest before coming back here..." North offered. Bunny shook his head not liking the idea.

Jack looked doubtful and he looked around. Everything was still blurry, but he was beginning to be able to make stuff out slightly. He knew Sandy because of the gold and North because he was so close. He imagined being able to go outside and see the world. The idea of fighting was kind of scary, but it couldn't be worse than what he experiences now.

"I'll do it on two conditions," he decided.

The Guardians looked doubtful, but decided to at least hear what his conditions where first.

"What are these conditions then?" North asked.

"F-food..." Jack whispered.

North looked confused. When nobody replied, Jack decided to explain "I-I don't g-get f-food here... t-they use magic to k-keep my energy but... it h-hurts and... I-I don't like it..." he whispered looking down to hide his expression.

"I didn't know that..." North said. It surprised him to be honest, all though it was a good idea, saved time and stuff. If it was hurting Jack, it probably wasn't worth it no matter what he had done. The kid was already locked away from the world, he didn't need to be in pain as well. "We can definitely make sure they give you proper food from now on. And the second?"

Jack hesitated before he spoke "I want to visit somewhere..." he whispered lower than before.

"Where is that then?"

"B-Burgess... it's where I was born... I want to see how it's doing..." he whispered, coughing a little at the end. He was getting better.

The Guardians looked at each other hesitantly, but then decided it could be no more dangerous than letting him fight. Besides, the kid had been locked up for over a hundred years. All he wanted was to visit one place, that wasn't too bad.

"We'll have to keep a close eye on you, but you can visit your home," North said.

"Thank you," Jack said.

North smiled. "Come on. Let us get you out of here, we will ride sleigh. You like sleigh Jack?"

Jack just blinked, confused and when North headed towards the doorway, he tried to stand up for a second, forgetting about the chains. The moment they stopped him, he blinked then simply tried to turn his head enough to see North, which hurt.

North was now talking to a lady at the door who Jack guessed was the one who had told the men to hold him tightly.

"Are you sure about this? He could be dangerous..."

"There is four of us and one of him. Besides, he never put up fight when coming here, why would he fight now?"

"Because he has been locked up here for 170 years, he wants freedom and I for one believe he will do anything to get it."

"If that is the case then this prison can't be very effective."

"His never escaped..."

"No, but if when let out he is more violent then when brought in, then something hasn't been done right in here," North pointed out.

The woman frowned, but nodded. "Fine, take him, keep him as long as you like, but I will not be held responsible for any of his actions during his absence."

"Good, unchain him, I will take him now. Have somebody go get his staff please."

"You're going to give him his staff?" The woman seemed horrified.

"He's going to help us fight, he will need it."

The woman shook her head, but did as she was told. North smiled and returned to Jack, helping the kid stand as a guard unchained him. "Are you okay?" he asked, seeing how Jack struggled to keep his balance.

"Yeah, fine. I'm just out of practice..." he said looking at his feet then grinning and throwing a hand though his hair. "Never imagined I'd be out of practice for walking," he said and laughed at the strange thought. "Out for practice of walking and talking..." he whispered quietly to himself.

North chuckled. "It sounds strange," North admitted as he helped the child forwards. "You can lean on your staff in a second," North said. Tooth and Sandy stood nearby, both now calm about the kid who seemed more curious then anything. He didn't act like they expected a murdere to act.

Bunny didn't trust him, not at all. He kept a close eye on the kid, his paws on his weapons ready for anything the kid may try.