Jack didn't appreciate the bag. At all.

Tumbling out of the bag that the angry yeti and giant kangaroo had stuffed him in, Jack began examining his surroundings under the pretense of dusting himself off. He noticed that he was finally in North's workshop, for once unwillingly, and was surrounded by the legendary Guardians.

"Jack, so glad you could answer invitation on such short notice. I hope you weren't busy, da?"

"What's the point of asking me if you're just going to shove me in the bag anyway?' Ignoring North for the moment, Jack turned to glare at the smirking bunny. "And just so you know, being shoved in a bag, that stunk, and then thrown threw a portal, is a very unpleasant feeling I wouldn't suggest if you want cooperation."

North yanked Jack off his feet into a spine breaking hug, almost yelling into the poor teen's ear. "Jack, welcome to my workshop, officially."

"Hey North." Jack said as he perched upon his staff. "Is this about all the times I tried to sneak into the workshop to put myself on the nice list? Cause I never got past the door, your yetis always stopped me. Paul." nodding towards Paul the yeti who made the 'I'm watching you' gesture before grunting back.

"Nyet, though your various attempts were quite amusing, we have asked you here-"

"Learn to ask better!"

"-today to give you very exciting news!" exclaimed North loudly over Jack's interruption.

Jack looked at the Guardians warily.

"What?"

"You have been chosen to be newest Guardian!"

With a wheeze of trumpets, the elves began the ceremony; several elves began jangling the bells atop their heads in cacophonous harmony with the trumpets while even more circled around Jack and attempted to throw confetti over him (or maybe at him, Jack couldn't be sure). This entire scene made Jack cringe, watching as North was pretend tooting with the elves and trying to get a broody Bunnymund to join along. Sandy had started dozing off in the corner despite the noise surrounding him and the white-haired teen slightly envied his ability to escape into peaceful slumber.

Jack almost flew off his staff in surprise when Tooth and her helpers suddenly draped an elaborate cape over his shoulders and began herding him towards the center of the workshop floor, where a bunch of elves were already standing by, all working together to lift a giant leather-bound book above their heads.

"Whoa, whoa, now! Wait just a moment!" Jack's protests went unheard amidst the blaring trumpets and cheers.

North finally stopped fake trumpeting and quickly scooped the book from the elves. He flipped the book open to the middle, opened his mouth-

-and that's when Jack was done with everyone and slammed the butt of his staff to the ground, creating a blast of icy wind that pushed everyone back or in the case of the elves, toppled them over to the ground.

"Look, I appreciate the offer, as forceful as it was, but I'm not interested in being a Guardian. It's not really my thing." Jack told North.

North looked like he was about to reply, but an angry voice interrupted.

"Not really your thing?! North, I bloody told you we couldn't trust Frost to protect the children! He's not Guardian material." Bunnymund said angrily.

"Hey!" Jack interrupted, slightly offended. "I'll have you know I'm great with kids. I bring them snow days, sledding, snowball fights; all the winter fun times. When's the last time any of you actually played with children?"

"We're busy making joy and memories for the little ankle biters, we don't- it doesn't even matter!" spluttered Bunnymund, before calming down, smirk wide on his face. "At least people know who we are."

Shocked gasps filled the air as everyone turned to state at the frozen winter spirit whose face was filled with a painful longing, quickly wiped away and replaced a casual glare of indifference.

"Fuck you. I don't need to take this treatment from you guys, I don't need you." huffed Jack as he started gathering the winds beneath him.

"But we need you."

Tooth's voice broke through the silence, cautiously fluttering closer to Jack, not so subtly shoulder checking into Bunnymund as she passed.

"We need your help," she repeated, "and so do children all over the world, Jack. We're not strong enough to protect them against a threat like Pitch Black and if what we know is true, he's gotten stronger."

"Who even is this person that you're all so scared about, huh?" replied Jack as he crouched on top of his staff with mild curiosity.

North spoke up then, the most serious Jack had ever seen him.

"Pitch Black, also known as the Boogeyman, is a spirit bent on terrorizing the world and enshrouding it in darkness. He whispers fears into the minds of children and adults as well. At the peak of his power, his reach was so strong and devastating on the humans that they called it the Dark Ages. If he has broken free from wherever MiM has put him, then I worry for the rest of the world's safety."

Jack shifted nervously. "Well, if you already beat him once, you don't need me to help."

"We were heavily weakened after the last battle." grunted Bunnymund. "We never regained our full strength after that." He avoided looking at Jack and Jack coolly ignored him in return.

"But I'm just a winter spirit." argued Jack.

"Nyet, you are a very powerful spirit, not to be underestimated." North held up his hand when Jack opened his mouth to interrupt. "But you are more than just power. To be a Guardian, each one of us has a core, a center inside of us that drives us, makes us who we are. For me," he elaborated, arms sweeping around the workshop, "it is wonder. Finding interesting things and how they work, as well as making new creations to find joy and sharing that joy with the children of the world. That is my drive, my purpose. For you to be so fascinated by the children and of their wellbeing, I know you must have one as well."

"But-"

"WHAT!" screeched Tooth.

Snapping their attention to the panicking fairy, a barrage of questions was thrown in her direction.

"Pitch is attacking my palace!"

Everyone rushed into action as North began yelling at the yetis to prep his sled while elves clashed together in a jingly panic underfoot. In moments, Sandy, North, and Bunnymund (being forcefully dragged), were heading towards the sleigh room for departure. Tooth started heading out before she turned towards Jack, who had remained unmoved in the chaos.

"Will you help us?" Tooth said, almost pleadingly. Seeing the level of worry and fear in her eyes was the final influence Jack needed as he nodded and flew after her.