Chapter 33: Night
Today had been the most fun she had had since Christmas. It felt just like yesterday when she felt the bond between her and her master snap when he died in that lake. Night had felt so lost and empty in the last couple of days. All Night had done in those days of grief was stay in Master's room in Creator's lair. Night hadn't attended the small service Creator did for Master, nor did she leave when Flee returned to the land above, nor did she leave when the Nightmare Queen came to check up on her before she and Creator left to carry out their latest plans towards the Guardians. Night hoped those spirits suffered a slow and painful death. She wished she could have done it, but Night saw no point. Her pure, sweet, childish Master was gone, not those powerful, selfish spirits. It made her mad just thinking about them.
But then she felt the empty bond mend back together. Night had been startled when that happened. She had never felt anything like it before. Night wasn't sure how it happened, but she just knew that her Master was alive once again. Night had been alone in the lair at the time when she left Master's room. Creator and the Nightmare Queen had left the day before to enact one of their revenge plans towards the Guardians.
Night had ignored the fact that all her siblings were gone and were seeking vengeance as she shadowed out of the lair and arrived in the forest near the lake. Night hadn't known what Creator's daughter was doing when she stepped away from the lake. However, when she saw a moonbeam hit the lake, followed by the bond between her and her master intensifying, Night couldn't help but stagger back in surprise.
Night may have stepped on some branches on the ground. And may have alerted Mother Nature that she was there, but the end result was the best news she had heard in the past week. Master was alive again and that's all that mattered.
It did hurt that Master didn't remember anything, but she really didn't dwell on that fact. Master would soon have his memories back once Mother Nature found the right time to go get them. Apparently, there was a horrible blizzard going on in Southern Asia at the moment and there was said to be Nightmare Horses and other odd snowstorms around Australia and the North Pole. Well, Creator and the Nightmare Queen sure had been busy.
"Night?" Her ears flicked slightly as she watched her Master snuggle into the blue covers. They were currently in Master's room. The room was a pretty baby blue with white snowflakes decorating the walls. Master had a closet on one of the walls and a desk and dresser on another. The dresser had a mirror above it. The bed seemed to be made out of a tree but was somehow able to withstand the very cold temperate in the room. The bed was decorated with blue and white quilts, pillows and comforters; fitting for a winter child. Next to the bed was a big window that showed the winter wonderland outside. It was quite beautiful. "Why am I the only one that understands you?"
Night nuzzled Master's cheek as tired blue eyes stared at her curiously. "Because I was made for only you Master. We are bonded to each other. That is why only you can understand me."
Blue eyes blinked tiredly before he began to yawn. He had a long day. "Who…made you…for me?" Night nuzzled his cheek again as blue eyes began to close.
"Creator made me for you," Night said softly, noticing her master's breathing evening out as he fell into a deep sleep. "He misses you, Master," Night whispered softly after several minutes. "He's in so much pain now. I fear for him and the Nightmare Queen. They are so angry now and…I can't even sense where he is." She paused as Master snuggled into his covers a bit more with a small smile on his face. "He's far away now and…" Her ears flatten slightly as she thought about Creator. "Mother Nature will not allow you to go near Creator when he's like this. You would not be allowed to be near him when he is fighting the Guardians or scheming his revenge." Night sighed as she glanced at the blue heart necklace. The sides seemed to be rusted shut. It would be difficult to open it. "You will see him again." Night turned around and slowly walked towards a shadow. "I promise and hopefully you will remember what a wonderful spirit he is, despite what others say."
Night shadowed away and entered Mother Nature's Weather Room where she and the other Seasonals were. The room was quite impressive. The walls were engraved with various weather patterns and symbols that represented the four seasons. In the middle of the room was a huge glass-like table with a huge map of the planet on it; strange lines of different colors were moving across certain areas on the map. Near the table was a globe that looked similar to Creator's, but it had several different colored lights flashing on it.
Night's ears flicked slightly in curiosity when she noticed the frown on Mother Nature features as she studied the flashing lights on the continent of Asia.
"Mother, the blizzard is growing massive! The blizzard hadn't spread to the rest of the continent, but there's no telling how far it will get! At this rate, Jarek and Berilo won't be able to finish spring in that area." All the Seasonals looked nervous as they looked at the globe. However, Flora looked more so.
"I know Blaze. I fear this must be that new Winter Spirit's doing."
"It's odd, though," Flora spoke up as she looked at the globe. "It seems the blizzard is revolving around Punjam Hy Loo."
Autumn and Blaze's heads snapped up then before they regarded their sibling. "Are you sure?" Autumn asked her sibling as Mother Nature got up from her seat.
"Yes, the blizzard seems to be near the mountain range in South Asia. If I remember correctly that particular mountain range is where the Tooth Palace is."
"She's right." Flora, Blaze, and Autumn all turned to look at Mother Nature. Mother Nature was standing near the globe and staring at it with a grim expression on her face. "The blizzard is coming from Punjam Hy Loo."
"But why?" Flora asked as she gazed at the globe in concern. "All the Winter Sprites and animals are busy spreading winter right now. Why would a Winter Spirit be causing a blizzard in Southern Asia?"
Night watched as Blaze and Autumn looked at each other with deep frowns on their feature. Night had a feeling that they had an idea of who and why. "My father." The three Seasonal Spirits looked at Mother Nature as she spoke.
"You think this spirit is working with Mr. Man of Fear, don't you, Mother?" Blaze asked as he massaged his temple.
Mother Nature sighed. "I'm afraid so." Mother Nature turned to face her children. Night noticed that she looked slightly tired. "I'm afraid I know who this spirit might be."
The three Seasonals perked up at this. "Really? Who?"
Instead of answering, Mother Nature returned to her seat and looked at Night. "Thank you for joining us, Night. I'm assuming he is asleep now." Night nodded as she walked farther into the room and stopped next to Mother Nature. Mother Nature smiled at her. "That's good. He needs his rest."
"Yes he does," Night said as she nodded in agreement. She was aware that Mother Nature couldn't understand her, not without the spell anyway.
"Tell me, Night. Is this new spirit Susanna?"
Mother Nature's children looked taken aback by this. "Jack and Flee's mother?" Flora asked with wide violet eyes.
"How?" Blaze asked next. "She and Flee should still be alive. They didn't die too, did they?"
Mother Nature shook her head tiredly as she leaned into her chair. "No they didn't die, Blaze. However, one of them did drink the potion I helped my father create for them."
"What potion?" Autumn asked with furrowed brows.
Night's ears flicked. She guessed Mother Nature forgot to mention the vials. "I guess I forgot to mention that," Mother Nature murmured to herself before she started explaining to her children about the three vials. "You see a few months back my father wanted the Overlands to live with him when they were done with their human lives. He wanted to keep the family together. Father was creating a Spirit Potion and asked me to give him some Winter Magic so Susanna and Flee could become Winter Spirits along with my uncle."
The three spirits blinked for a moment as they processed what Mother Nature told. "So you believe Susanna Overland drank the vial then?" Autumn asked slowly.
Mother Nature nodded. "I do."
"But couldn't Flee have drunk it as well?" Blaze asked as he tapped his finger on the table. He was obviously still trying to process all the information together.
"Not possible," Flora spoke up, making Blaze and Autumn look at their sister questioningly.
"What you mean, Flora?" Blaze asked.
"I just finished talking to Wind a little while ago. She told me that this Winter Spirit is an adult and is calling herself the Snow Queen."
"It is Susanna," Mother Nature said with a grave expression. "She was just as heartbroken as my father. It is clear that she is helping him get his revenge."
"But Mother," Autumn spoke up as she looked at her mother with furrowed brows. "Susanna would be an Elemental then. Wouldn't she be forbidden by your rule to aid Pitch in his war against the Guardians?"
Mother Nature sighed tiredly again as he looked at her children. "I'm afraid that's where things get complicated." Autumn, Blaze, and Flora all looked confused at this. Night looked at Mother Nature in curiosity. She was actually wondering the same thing. By law, the Nightmare Queen should not be aiding in the war; yet she was helping Creator by creating harsh blizzards and snowstorms. "You see, the vials also have some of my father powers in it. Susanna might be a Winter Spirit (to be more accurate, Susanna has powers over the harsh and cruel side of winter), but she also has powers over the Shadows. Because of this, my authority over her is very limited. In other words, she is not bound to me like the rest of you are."
Night's ear perked up at this. If that was true then would Master not be bound to her as well. Would Master be able to willingly see Creator? "But what about Jack then?" Blaze asked. "Jack wouldn't be bounded to you either because of this?"
"That's the tricky part," Mother Nature replied. "Technically, he wouldn't be bounded to me because of his mixed origins. However, because of the nature of his rebirth and because of his powers over winter and because of the fact he is a Seasonal makes him bounded to my authority."
Night flicked her tail as she tried to understand what Mother Nature was saying. Master might have powers over Shadows and Winter, but because he is a Seasonal…he is therefore bounded to Mother Nature's will. So…would the law still apply to him?
"Wait so Jack is bounded to you just because he it tied to winter, like how were are tied to our seasons?" Blaze asked in confusion.
Mother Nature nodded in response. "It's because he directly connected to winter itself. Because of this, he is bound by my authority."
"That makes sense," Flora said. "But what are we going to do with Susanna then. We can't let her disturb the balance like this, just because she's not under your authority."
"I said my authority was limited," Mother Nature corrected the female spirit. "I might not be able to forbid her from helping my father in his war, but she does have a responsibility to keep nature in balance." Mother Nature stood up then as she continued. "I'm setting out to Punjam Hy Loo in an hour. Until then you four are to aid Jack in his training until I return." Flora, Autumn, and Blaze all nodded as they got up from their seats as well.
"We will, Mother," Autumn replied.
"We'll teach him everything we know," Blaze said with a smile. Night wasn't sure if that smile was a good thing or not.
"We'll do our best, Mother," Flora said with a small nod.
"I know you will." Mother Nature smiled at all of them. "I will see you all in a few days." And with that, Mother Nature ended the meeting. Night watched as the Seasonal Spirits left to go to their own rooms. Night stayed with Mother Nature a little longer, before taking her leave.
"Watch over him," Mother Nature told her with a concerned smile. "I know I don't have to tell you this, but as long as he is my Head of Winter, Jack cannot be near my father at this time. My father is very unstable and by law…Jack cannot be near any war involving non-elementals." She sighed softly. "My father deserves to know that Jackson is alive, but the balance must come first."
Night flicked her tail to the side as she listened to Mother Nature. She had a feeling that was the case. She didn't like it, but she understood. Besides, it would be hard to tell Creator that Master is alive if they can't find him. Night nodded to Mother Nature, making her smile in thanks.
"Thank you." Night nodded again before she shadowed back to Master's room. Night exited the shadow to see that Master was still sleeping peacefully. Night continued to watch him for a few more minutes before she decided to get some rest as well. Tomorrow was going to be a long day. She just knew it.