All background noises faded until her head was the loudest. Wind wasn't okay.
'Aura, come play with me! You've been away too long.'
Wind's breathing quickened and she turned around lightning fast but no one was there. She had thought this would be easy. Well, not easy, but less of the mountain it had turned out to be.
'Haha, that was so cool! How did you do that?'
The darkness between the gaps in the trees became an abyss and Wind stood transfixed. Her head pounded and her limbs felt heavy.
'Aura! You're coming back, aren't you? This place is so boring when you have to leave.'
The thick trunks thinned and the blackness gaped. The air stirred.
'Where do you go? What's out there? Can't you stay a little longer? Come ooon.'
Her breath hitched and it was almost like she was being sucked in, the blackness beginning to creep at the edge of her vision. The wind in the trees began to whistle, the branches shuddering under the violent force.
'Aura, I found this super cool pond! I'm gonna take Emily there when it freezes over!'
She couldn't… what was… how was she supposed to do this? Why…
Air rushed in her ears, whipping her skin and picking up leaves.
'Haha, Aura!'
Aura…
'Aura!'
Aura!
'Aura-'
AEOLUS!
Wind jumped at the screaming in her head and realized it belonged to Zephyrus, not the laughing voice that had been calling out to her. She blinked and the darkness was gone, seeing instead a thick wall of trees bathed in a green gloom cast by overhanging branches and dappled with escaped sunlight.
Wind rubbed at her eyes fiercely. She wasn't there anymore, that place didn't exist anymore.
Finally released from whatever had held her captive, she collapsed on the ground and curled in on herself as she wiped at the burning tears in her eyes. She had to move on. She'd accepted the guilt, accepted the responsibility and now she had to keep moving forward.
So why did it still hurt so much?
A shuffling behind Wind caught her attention and she glanced over her shoulder. Right, Jack was still resting. That's why they'd stopped in this reasonably secluded spot. The winter sprite had recently expelled a little too much of his magic in the name of playful experimentation and had exhausted them both. Being not technically living, Jack didn't need the sleep to function, her even less, but there were times when he needed time to recharge and a little rest never hurt anyone. Wind had been content to sit and keep lookout but it seemed to have only given the silence opportunity to catch up with her. She had gotten a little too used to Jack's antics monopolising her attention and distracting her mind from dangerous places.
"Sorry for worrying you, guys," Wind muttered as she sat down gingerly next to Jacks dozing form. Briefly checking on the status of her anemoi.
You need to be more careful, Notus reproached, shuddering. That could have been dangerous.
Yeah, that was spooky, Eurus agreed shakily.
It's okay to talk about it, you know? Zephyrus said softly and Wind smile wryly.
"I know, Zeph. It's a nice idea but there's not much point talking to you guys since you know already. I'm okay, though, I promise." She didn't fool anyone.
Just think about what would have happened if we hadn't been able to distract you, Notus added sourly. The destruction our powers could have caused if you had lost control-
Not that that would have been too bad, Eurus cut in cheekily, lessening the tension. Been a while since we've been able to fully let go. Might even be a good thing.
No, Zephyrus reprimanded tiredly. No that would not have been a good thing.
I wouldn't be opposed, actually, Notus commented mildly, opinion changed.
When Zephyrus only sighed, the Southern Wind continued with an audible smirk. But I understand the logic of control, unlike some.
…why do I get the feeling you're talking about me?
"Because we are, Eurie," Wind clarified, both amused at their bickering and grateful for the distraction. Boreas was being oddly silent, but when Wind reach out mentally, she just got pushed away coldly. It seemed the Northern Wind was just as shaken as she was.
It was then that Jack shifted once more in his sleep but this time his eyes fluttered open and Wind flinched at the cold blue they revealed. It still took her off-guard sometimes.
The boy stretched as he woke up, grunting as he surveyed his surroundings.
He looked exactly the same as the night Wind had first met Jack Frost, despite the time that had passed since then. It hadn't taken him too long to adapt to his new life, his powers now as natural to him as breathing. He'd always been one for thrills and exploring the unknown and he had taken delight in exploring his new limits. They had managed to perfect their cooperation as well, now able to soar seamlessly through the air as Jack guided and Wind carried him along. He still couldn't see her. It still pained her.
The one thing he still struggled with was what anyone like them struggled with; the immortality. Wind knew how hard it was to watch ages of man pass you by, the detachedness of no longer belonging, the loneliness of not being Seen. The only comfort any of them could take was that what they did had an impact on their world, that they could still do something.
Jack could bring winter, influencing the lives of people as it came and went. Causing mischief, mild inconveniences, and masterfully crafted pranks was how he coped. It wasn't the best coping mechanism but it was by far one of the healthier ones.
When Jack pulled himself up to stand, Wind was grateful when she didn't feel the familiar tug in her chest. She didn't trust herself up in the air right now, especially supporting them both. Luckily, Jack seemed content to stay grounded for now as he scooped up his staff and began meandering through the trees, following the faint sound of children's laughter that Wind only just noticed.
It's okay, I'll go, Zephyrus offered.
Ooh, me too! Eurus said enthusiastically.
'Thanks,' Wind breathed as she cupped her hands around her mouth and blew gently, the two wispy forms of her anemoi taking shape and appearing before her. Eurus grinned reassuringly and Zephyrus nodded in understanding of their task before ushering Eurus away and they followed the white-haired boy.
Wind just… needed a moment. To breath. To steady herself. To-
"Aeolus. Now this is a surprise. After all these years, I was almost convinced you had disappeared completely," a dark voice purred.
So much for taking a moment to breath.
Wind reached out mentally and confirmed that Zeph, Eurie and Jack were far enough away. Good. Whatever this would be about, she did not want Jack involved.
Wind turned around with a scowl and faced the bogeyman head on.
"Pitch," Wind spat, the name leaving a bad taste in her mouth. Pitch chuckled at her obvious lack of enthusiasm at the sight of him.
"Aeolus," he greeted with a wide grin that didn't match his dangerously glinting eyes, the snake. "It's a pleasure to see you too, as always."
Wind rolled her eyes, pausing to frown when she really looked at him.
It had been a while since Wind had seen him, at least several hundred years or so. Their parting on less than ideal terms had left a densely hostile air between them, conflicting with the history between them. Wind must have been getting soft because she couldn't help but look on him as an old friend, despite all that had happened.
"Sad, isn't it?" he said bitterly when he caught her stare. "What I've been left to. A mere shadow of my former self, my former power. I have you to thank for that, don't I? You and them."
Amongst the lengthening evening shadows that spilled across the forest's trees amongst the green gloom, Pitch's silhouette stood out stark, his frame crooked, the set of his shoulders not quite as proud as they once were. The faint lines of his face were hard to make out, but it was still unmistakably him.
Wind glared, feeling old arguments rise to the surface as they stared each other down and the air and shadows buzzed in anticipation.
"Don't you dare try and lay guilt on me, Pitch," she snapped, and maintained the intense eye-contact, refusing to break eye contact as silver met pale-gold. Pitch was the first to look away, remorse a brief flash on his face quickly covered up by one of his many masks.
Wind couldn't deny it made her heart clench to see her old friend in such a state, no doubt hurting despite the act he put on. But she wasn't willing to be fuel for one of his pity parties and she was not about to allow him to make her the bad guy, not after all they'd been through.
"As touching as this reunion is, I'm really not in the mood for whatever kind of heartfelt confessions and deep emotional angst this is headed towards," Wind sighed, drawing herself up defensively. "What do you want?"
Pitch frown was quickly smoothed over as he quirked an eyebrow at her. "My, my, impatient, aren't we? I might begin to think you actually have something to do other than wreck another city."
Wind's expression darkened at the jab but she brushed it off, digging through all his irritating indirect prodding for the underlying question that belied his true intentions. He hadn't changed at all, always manipulating and hiding underneath facades and lies. Wind just shook her head.
"Yeah, no. You don't get to ask questions like that. You can just leave me alone if that's all wanted," Wind stated bluntly.
Pitch scowled at her declaration but just shrugged, not moving an inch.
Careful, Aeolus. Don't let Pitch see Jack.
Wind fought the instinct to glance over her shoulder, instead keeping tabs on the location of her released anemoi to keep track of Jack.
The boy was out of sight for now, beyond the edge of the forest wandering distractedly past kids hunting for Easter eggs, according to Zeph's quick reports.
"You're still as stubborn as ever, I see," Pitch commented, not seeming all too displeased at the discovery.
Wind turned to go, done with the conversation and ready to return to Jack's side.
"I have plans, Aeolus. Big plans," Pitch finally said, pulling on a smirk that gave Wind a bad feeling as she stopped. Any plans of his no doubt meant trouble. "I need you to think about whether or not you'll be apart of those plans."
Wind bit her lip as her heart ached, taking her by surprise. After all that had happened, he still went to her when he needed help. After all that happened, she shouldn't want to still be apart of those plans.
"Pitch," she began quietly but he cut her off with a frustrated frown.
"No. You don't have to tell me now. They've obviously brainwashed you and it will be pointless. You have time, my plans aren't quite ready yet and we both know our old friend up in the sky won't be doing anything any time soon. Think it over."
Wind sighed. "Pitch, this isn't my fight anymore."
He stared at her in disbelief. "Oh, come on, they can't have addled your mind that-"
"I haven't seen them since I left!" Wind shouted and the air around her stirred a little. He went quiet immediately. "I haven't- this isn't about them, okay?"
Pitch's face twisted. "Then what? You've forgiven and forgotten, is that it?"
Wind looked away, unable to give a definite yes. That would never be the case and they both knew it.
"You see? You can't deny how you feel, the justice you deserve," Pitch said softly. "The power of the Wind is an unstoppable force and its time they feel its true wrath. It's time He feels it."
The silence settled between them, thick and full of years of anguish.
"It's been so long, Pitch. I've long swallowed my anger and maybe you should, too. I've got a new responsibility now," Wind said just as quietly.
She felt his gaze burn her skin as she avoided looking at him, unwilling to say more. She couldn't reveal any more.
"You can deny it all you want, but I know you're still angry. Don't you think we deserve to be seen? To be heard? What happened to the you who believed that no one deserved to be forgotten?"
Wind blinked furiously. She couldn't bring herself to respond. If she did, she knew she'd break and that was not how she had wanted this to go.
Pitch seemed to accept her silence as whatever slight victory he could.
"Think about it. The time will come and you will have to say yes," he paused with a frown, "Or no."
He was gone before she could say anything else, his words ringing in her head as she made her way slowly to where Jack and her anemoi were.
Pitch was up to something and she could make a good guess as to what he was thinking of. She hated how much she didn't hate the idea. Wind had no idea what to do. She'd thought she'd long left that endless fight but it seemed she wasn't quite done yet. Despite her words, she could still feel her rage burning in the pit of her stomach, only now it took a slightly different form than before. Different, but no less intense. All that He had done. She crouched beside Jack when she found them.
The winter sprite seemed just as lost in thought as she was, something obviously bugging him as he vacantly watched the giggling children dash through the trees. It was rare for him to hold back from joining in the fun. When Wind looked at his face, there seemed to be an echo of loneliness to it. She smiled sadly.
'What happened to the you who believed that no one deserved to be forgotten?'
Wind flinched, quickly pushing the unwanted voice out of her head. She had to stop getting so stuck in her head. It didn't help that she had few people to talk to and those few were basically in her head, Pitch not included.
Jack's eyes lit up suddenly and he snapped his fingers experimentally as he stood up, sending off a stray snowflake. Wind watched him curiously.
"You know what this Easter looks like it needs?" Jack asked himself animatedly as he paced, a thoughtfully mischievous grin spreading slowly on his face. Wind realised what he was thinking when he glanced at the easter egg hunt while tossing his staff experimentally.
She couldn't help the grin, not even able to bring herself to try and protest. Honestly, they deserved a little healthy stress relieving. And the look on Bunny's face would be so worth it.
'Don't you think we deserve to be seen? To be heard?'
"A little snow," Jack declared cheerfully in answer to his question.
Snow? In Spring? Notus snorted in amusement.
Oh, oh, yes! Finally! Eurus exclaimed, practically buzzing with excitement.
Here we go again, groaned Boreas, who was wearing just as big of a smirk.
Poor, Bunny, Zephyrus sighed.
With a wicked glint in his eye, Jack stepped forward, staff in hand and tugging Wind along with him. What would come next would long be remembered fondly by some, guiltily by others, and cursedly by one, as the blizzard of '68.
Sorry for the long wait, I've been struggling to find a good way to pull everything together in a satisfying way. I didn't really wanna just jump right into what's in the movie without some kind of transition. So here we are: Interlude (or alternatively, the Blizzard of '68).
I hope you guys appreciate it and let me know what you think!
Just some extra info for you guys to understand certain elements without having to look it up yourselves:
- Aeolus: in Greek mythology is the 'Master of the Winds' (I've been playing around with Jack Frost's origins in mythology)
-Aura: means 'breeze', in Greek and Roman mythology a minor deity
-Anemoi: 'Winds', Greek wind gods under control of Aeolus. In mythology and this fic they can take several forms like gusts of wind, horses, or winged 'men' (here they appear almost identical to Wind but with slight variations and don't have a definite gender despite appearances)
-Boreas 'Reas': the North wind and 'Bringer of Winter', known for strength and violent temper. Here has blue eyes as opposed to Wind's silver and hair is short short and spiky
-Eurus 'Eurie': the East wind (sometimes switched with Apeliotes), can be associated with farmers due to easy winds and bringing of rain. Here has amber eyes and short very curly hair.
-Notus 'Nota': the South wind and feared as 'Destroyer of Crops' due to dry hot winds and storms they bring. Here has dark brown eyes and long hair in a ponytail.
-Zephyrus 'Zeph': the West wind and the 'Messenger of Spring', the gentlest of the winds and known as the fructifying wind. Here has pale green eyes and wavy medium-length hair.
