A/N: Hiya Everyone! So happy that I was finally able to finish this chapter. I hope you all like it. As always everyone is welcome to leave comments or ideas for future chapters in the comments section or when I am live writing on twitch (virtualdigigirl). Enjoy!

Chapter 41: A Lesson in Balance

The sun rested high in the cloudless sky, gracing their presence with its beautiful, warm, loving rays of another beautiful morning. The gentle rays glided across the swaying water, making them sparkle like the finest jewels to be ever crafted. Blaze smiled in silent appreciation as the silent sea turtles nestled with their young and as the majestic dolphins danced gracefully across the gentle waves.

It was truly a wonderful day.

The Summer Seasonal closed his eyes, relaxing in the sun's warmth. It was moments like these that reminded him why he accepted Mother Nature's offer all those years ago.

He had been born during an unmemorable time. War had been plaguing the land for countless decades. Children, at a very young age, were taught to fight. They were expected to fight, to sacrifice themselves for their king. They were expected not to feel, not to question their king's actions and orders for their lives were his to use.

Blaze had thrown his entire life away for a heartless king, an uncaring king, that it was almost comical. He despised war. He had hated the way his king had treated them over the decades. He hated all the lives that had been taken so soon.

Lives were a very precious thing. It was why he valued it so much. No one should suffer at the hands of another. Yet his jokes and calm smile could not bring a smile to the parents' faces as they sold their children for money, nor his little sister as she died in his arms.

He truly was a hypocrite.

He valued life, yet he killed and took it away in the name of his king. His pranks and jokes didn't bring smiles, but annoyance among his loved ones and fellow soldiers. It was no surprise that those he thought he could trust after thrusting himself headfirst into battle had murdered him. He had expected it. Jealousy and hatred were very strong emotions. It could taint a person's perspective and could it could change them if one was not careful.

If Mother Nature had not found him when she did, shortly after his death, he was sure he would have ended up as a lost soul, like La Llorona, like the Banshee. Blaze shivered slightly as wind's essence swirled around him briefly before an invisible hand rested on his shoulder. La Llorona and the Banshee were among the few that were considered "Lost Souls." They were neither dead nor alive. They were not evil, nor were they good. Instead, their minds, their sanity, had been all but stripped from them as they live in an endless loop of their own making, unable to smile, unable to laugh, unable to feel joy.

And he could have ended up like them.

"Heat-sama, are you okay?" Blaze pushed the unwanted memories and feelings that accompanied it aside and returned his attention to the three spirits he was training. He had come across the three sisters when he visited Japan three years ago. Each one was about two years apart, with the oldest being twenty-five years old.

"I'm fine, Kaho." The eldest sister regarded him with piercing emerald eyes. A delicate hand rested on her hip, while a permanent frown graced her soft features. "You know, if you keep frowning like that, it just might become permanent?" The auburn-haired woman scoffed at him, while her sisters snicked behind her.

"You don't look fine," she said, ignoring his comment. "Is it about the rumors?" While that wasn't exactly what he had been thinking about moments ago, the rumors that had been spreading lately were concerning. Dark Spirits and demons, who normally stayed in their little sections of the global or underworld, were taking notices of the lack of Pitch's Nightmare Horses recently.

While it wasn't unusual for no one to see the Boogieman for a few decades at a time, he was a very busy spirit, after all. But it was odd not to see at least one of his sand horses somewhere across the globe within a given night. While many spirits (mainly the Guardians and some holiday spirits) wouldn't care about the Boogieman's lack of presence, Pitch is a valuable asset to preserving the balance, making this rumor very concerning. There were many spirits and demons out there that were cruel and just plain evil, contrary to what the Guardians believed.

These bad spirits and demons would drive the world into complete chaos if given a chance. They would be able to turn mankind against themselves. Wives would abuse their children. Husbands would beat their wives. And friends—strangers—would kill just because they could, just because they felt the urge to do so. Pitch, Death, Krampus, and other members of the Dark Order kept them at bay.

It wasn't easy keeping them in line during the month of Halloween. At one point, the veil between the realms of spirits and humans was often the weakest during this time. However, with more and more spirits being seen outside this general timeframe, no thanks to the Guardians and their belief, this statement was no longer valid.

The thin veil that minimized interaction between spirits, mystical creatures, and humans were blurred and often overlapping. It was a delicate balance that most spirits try not to overstep, not even the Gods dare to cross, considering what happened the last time so many adults believed.

Despite the Guardians' constant reliance on belief, to not only stay alive but to keep the belief of children alive so that they can continue to protect them. Belief was a dangerous thing. Humans — especially children — would believe in anything. There are many spirits out there, and with each new religion that comes into existence, a new spirit or sprite is born.

It would only be a matter of time before something evil is born from this belief.

"The rumors are rather troubling, aren't they?" he asked seriously. "It's not unusual for Pitch to disappear for weeks, months at a time. But it's odd to not see a single horse or shadow in place of his absence."

The two youngest gazed at each other, uncertainty in their eyes, while Kaho continued to frown at him. "We must be prepared for the worst. Pitch kept the majority of them at bay. But, with him currently missing and the nightmare not causing fear, the balance could possibly be at risk."

"And the mission?" Kaho asked, always to the point, as per usual.

"As you know, my hands are tied, being a Head Seasonal and all." They nodded at him, soaking in his every word, wondering what he was tasking them with. "I can not go looking for him, even if I wanted to. There are some rules that must never be broken. But…" He smiled at them as the wind swirled around them, bringing three innocent-looking purple bags. "Whoever said I couldn't send you three out on a secret training mission with an old friend of mine."

"Blaze!" The Seasonal blinked, glancing up with a quizzical brow as his sisters fluttered in front of him. The three winds suddenly swirled around them rapidly as they chanted: "He's here! He's here! He's here!"

There was just something about Mother Nature's castle that always felt magical and surreal. From the tall walls down to furniture that decorated the various living spaces brought a sense of peace and safety, of home. And Jack so did love his home.

While his siblings were busy training new spirits, preparing for the vernal equinox and summer solace, or pranking in Blaze's case, after their daily training sessions, Jack was often left to his own devices to explore his home with Night. Over the course of the week, Jack, with Night at his side, would spend hours exploring every corner of the castle. Surprisingly, the castle was a lot bigger inside than what he initially thought. Based on some blueprints he had found the other day, the castle had hundreds of thousands of rooms, just waiting to be discovered and explored.

Jack didn't spend all his time inside, of course. He spent a good amount of his time exploring the other seasonal regions of Mother's vast property, interacting with all sorts of Sprites, Seasonal, and Nature Spirits that either lived on the property or worked there. He had yet to explore the beach Blaze was always talking about, and he had promised Flora he would help replant new flowers for her garden when he and Blaze's prank went a bit too far, burning and freezing half of her garden in the processes.

Jack winced. He never wanted to see the normally bubbly and happy spirit in tears ever, ever again. It wasn't worth it.

Then again, it was only after that incident when he began hearing the odd child-like voices within the forest behind Flora's garden.

Jack hadn't had a chance to follow those voices, to figure out where they were coming from, nor what they were, for that matter. No one, not even the Winter Sprites that were the oldest of the seasonal sprites, could hear them. In fact, they had no idea what he was talking about. It was truly odd. What could they be, if not even the oldest beings on earth could hear them? Were they even friendly? Or was he really just tired from his latest training sessions, causing him to hear things?

Unfortunately, Jack didn't have time to ponder on those questions for very long for magic, one he had not felt before, slammed into him as soon as wind guided him through one of the immense windows near the south wing.

This magic was nothing like his siblings, nor Mother Nature, nor the Sprites. This magic felt ancient and powerful, stronger than Mother Nature's magic, stronger than anything he had ever felt before.

As soon as his feet touched the delicate wooden floor, Jack found himself losing his footing and tumbling back, landing butt first on the ground as about a dozen winter sprites, three spring sprites, and four spring sprites rammed right into him in their frantic haste to get… somewhere.

"Master Frost!"

"I'm so sorry!"

"We didn't mean to run into you!"

"Are you okay?"

"Are you hurt?"

"Ladies, ladies," Jack said with a small smile and a slight chuckle. "I'm fine. Really. I was just caught off guard, that's all."

The winter sprites didn't seem convinced, but didn't dare question their Head Seasonal. The other seasonal sprites simply shrugged, taking the Winter Seasonal's word that he was indeed alright.

"Is there something special happening today? You all seem to be in a rush to be somewhere."

The sprite all seemed to be confused by his question. Thankfully, it was Chrystal who spoke up for the group. "It is no surprise you don't know. Not many spirits know of the All-Father." The group parted to allow Old Man Winter's original and oldest sprites to flutter to their new master.

"The All-Father is the creator of all worlds, all universes. He is the one that gifted Master Winter and Father Time their powers and abilities," Eira added before Jack could form a question.

"The Creator goes by many names, Master Frost, depending on what culture you are referring to," said Neva as the two girls helped him to his feet.

Meanwhile, Chrystal was talking to the other sprites, reminding them of the meeting place they had been heading to before the incident. "Continue heading to the castle gardens. We will meet you there shortly."

"Alright, Chrystal," a plump spring sprite with curly brown hair said. "But don't take too long. The prince is already unhappy with his brother's unplanned visit."

"We won't take long," Chrystal reassured. They watched as the other sprite nodded with a smile before she and the other seasonal sprites fluttered away to the meeting place. As they were leaving, Jack realized they were singing an unfamiliar song in their own tongue.

The song left goosebumps on his arms, almost as if he was cold, and the hair on the back of his neck stuck up as they sang in unison. The song seemed to fill the space with the same ancient magic he had felt just moments ago. The magic that was surrounding him once more, seemed to take on a faint tangible form as the elements painted a picture of swirls and small humanoid figures with wings, dancing to the sound of what he could only describe as instruments.

But as fast as the magical images came, it faded away as the ground moved away from him and the three winter sprites. The Winter Seasonal watched the group make his way down the hall until they disappeared beyond his view. However, that did not stop the magic that lingered around him, beckoning him to follow.

"This magic," he started but was unsure how to form the question.

"Father is near," North Wind said as her invisible hands landed on his shoulder. Jack looked over his shoulder, but only saw the currents that made up her form. "Father doesn't stay on one planet for very long. The galaxy is vast, filled with dead worlds and empty universes that need life." Despite how carefree and motherly the North Wind always acted around him when they played, Jack hadn't relieved until now how ancient and mature she sounded. "You should be honored. Father rarely takes special interest in the living. He is a very busy Fae. "

"Father?" Jack turned his full attention to his friend as the currents danced around him. For a brief moment, he faintly saw an adult with snowflake-shaped wings standing next to Night before it dissolved into the currents he was used to seeing. "Weren't you always like this?"

"Yes," she said. "Although, I wasn't always like this. Long ago, before Father even thought about creating this universe, I was once a powerful young fae. I was the oldest of my sibling and the closest to my father." The currents around him trembled and echoed as she giggled softly. "We used to dance with the baby Frost Dragons every morning before Father began his morning rounds."

"Dragons?" Jack's eyes grew wide, and they sparkled like the frost he enjoyed creating. Autumn and Flora had explained to him that all the dragons had begun disappearing sometime during the end of the Golden Age. No one has seen a single dragon in centuries; not even the Gods know where they are.

"I heard they were extinct?" Night said, her ear flicking in the ancient beings' direction.

The North Wind smiled at them. "Nothing ever fades or goes extinct." Jack blinked. Wait, did she understand Night? "They just change and transform into… something else, something new. But that is a story for another time."

Jack's face fell. "Seriously," he whined. He really wanted to know about the dragons. They sounded so cool!

"We can't keep, Father, waiting," she said, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Princess Eira is right," Crystal said before retrieving his staff and offering it to him. "The King is waiting."

How long has it been since Jackson's death? A week? A month? Several months, maybe?

She couldn't remember, not since the day she felt his spirit leave this plane. It had been difficult waking up every morning to help her fellow tribe members with the chores. The villagers were killing more animals than they needed. They were expanding onto land that was not there's, using resources that were not supposed to be touched by outsiders. The elders of the tribe and even other neighboring tribes feared what the settles would do.

There had been talk that the settlers wanted to expand their colonies onto sacred land. Some of the other tribes had already begun to place traps and barriers around their ancestors, hoping to drive these settlers away from their ancestors' resting place. Tension was high, and it was only a matter of time before the settlers retaliated against their peaceful warning.

However, despite the knowledge of this tension between the two groups, she was still caught off guard when the settlers began accusing them of Jackson's death and Mrs. Overland's disappearance.

All of Jackson's close friends, Flee, and Jamie were currently taking refuge within their humble tribe. Her friends had seemed lost after Jackson's death. None of them smiled anymore, nor did they laugh. It was like the joy had been sucked out of them, and Jamie's father's obvious declaration of war could be seen for miles.

Jamie had taken up the role that Jackson used to fill. He managed to maintain hope within their small group, but the son of the monster, who was seeking their demise, was not Jackson.

Jackson was the glue that kept them all together. He brought joy and fun wherever he walked. He inspired hope and wonder when one of them felt down or when he spun a tale out of nowhere. His compassion, his love for his family and friends, his drive to help others without a thought, and his selflessness was what made her fall for him over and over again.

This was why the days after his death were nothing sort of a nightmare. The hours had blurred together into days and days into weeks. She couldn't tell when it was day or night anymore. She barely slept, barely ate. She hadn't even left the hut she shared with her father, Jamie, and Flee for weeks now.

Everything just reminded her of the boy that had captured her heart. A sorrowful sob left her lips as she gazed at the snow that still coated the ground. How could she move on without him? She had wanted to spend the rest of her life with him! Why was Mother Earth so cruel?

"I sense great sadness from you, daughter." Much like all other Ancient Spirits that had faded away at some point in their long lives, Mother Earth was among the few who still interacted with the living despite being invisible to all. Ali was the exception, however.

For as far as she could remember, she had always been about to see the unseeable. Spirits that had long since faded from the land of the spirits — and thus invisible to their own kind — were visible only to her.

Why? Ali did not know. All she knew was that she had a gift, a very special gift — the ability to talk to Mother Earth and Old Man Winters freely.

Ali turned her gaze to see the two ancient spirits standing to her far right. Mother Earth was a tall, slender woman with long, rich black hair, tan skin, emerald-colored eyes, and high cheekbones that were dusted with freckles. She wore a brown sleeveless knee-high dress that depicted sceneries of the different seasons, and on her head was a crown made of flowers and vines.

Unlike Mother Earth, who looked young and beautiful, Old Man Winters looked like an old man who had lost his way. He was slightly taller than Mother Earth, but not by much. He had sunken eyes the color of the sea, a long white beard that could out-beat Santa Claus, and wore a robe that was a dark shade of blue. The frost that had spread across the garment made him look just as regal as his wife.

The old man looked at her with concern in his blue eye. Father Frost was not the cruel, cold spirit that he had once been in the past before his fading. In fact, he was probably the kindest old man she had ever met once Mother Earth melted his cold exterior. He was happier now than he had been in centuries.

"Father Frost, Mother, what are you doing here?" She made sure to keep her voice low, not wanting to awaken her guest. Jamie and her father had left the hut about an hour ago to attend the weeklong fallen warrior ceremony with the rest of the tribe. Flee had been unwell for the past few days; Ali couldn't really blame her.

The poor girl had lost her entire family. She would break into a cold sweat every night and would look almost lifeless every morning. For the first time in weeks, Flee was still and dreaming, buried under several layers of blankets as sweet sage filled the hut.

No one had the heart to wake her.

"The balance between Light and Darkness has shifted once again," said Father Frost, a deep layer of concern entering his voice. "The death of a child and the sudden appearance of the Fearlings had caused quite a bit of activity lately."

Ali frowned just a bit. "Activity?"

"Yes," said Mother Earth. "There has been quite a bit of death and various cases of children and teens suddenly going missing at the other villages we have visited. We were merely passing by when we felt your sorrow, little one." Mother Earth bent down next to her, a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Tell me, daughter. What is making you weep?"

"Jackson… he's gone… and now the settlers are blaming us…" The spirits didn't look that surprised.

"The end of a life, especially one so carefree and wild, is always difficult to bear. But, as difficult as it may seem, it was his time," Father Frost's words cut through her like butter, causing tears to flow quickly down her cheeks.

"Young Jackson Pitchiner-Overland died a warrior, a brother, a son. However, he was gifted a warrior's rebirth by the creator," Mother Earth interjected with a soft smile.

"Winter is a very harsh and cruel season. It is very easy for a Winter Spirit to lose their way." He grimaced as he silently recounted his time as the Bringer of Winter. "It's a very lonely existence. After my time, there had been many Winter Spirits, and all have fallen ill to the Frozen Heart."

The frozen heart. Ali wasn't an expert on spirit diseases. However, from what she understood, a Winter Spirit's heart literally freezes over — blocks all positive emotions, making them uncaring and cruel and eventually fade away — because of isolation and hatred.

"There hasn't been a Head Seasonal of Winter in centuries… until now."

Ali was frozen in place as she gazed at the ancient spirits with eyes that were slightly misted.

"I have no doubt in young Jackson's ability to restore balance to the world," Mother Earth said. "However, he can not do this alone. The world is a big place for just a single winter spirit, a grieving mother, and the Nightmare King."

Mother Earth didn't need to finish the thought to get her point across, but Ali was unable to respond to the ancient being's apparent request. All she ever wanted was to spend the rest of her life with her soulmate. Her soul ached for him, moaned for him. She didn't want to move on without him by her side, but was she willing to leave her friends, her tribe, and her father behind? Was following Jackson into the land of the spirits worth the pain that would befall those who were living?

If she didn't, Jackson would face the same fate that befell all winter spirits. Her heart ached at the thought of Jackson being cold and distant and eventually fading away. But if she ended her human life to be with Jackson, wouldn't she be hurting her loved ones and friends? Her friends were already in a dark place as they grieved the loss of a brother, a son, a friend. They didn't need any more heartache.

And her father…

Ali's thoughts stilled for a moment. Despite the chieftain's cheerful and proud exterior, he was still grieving the loss of his wife. He still cried at night when he thought Ali was not awake. He would still talk to her as if she was there in front of him. Ali was all he had left. Was she really so selfish to leave her father behind… just to follow the boy she had fallen for?

"You do not have to decide now," Old Man Winters' said. "The settlers will not attack for some time now, but you must be prepared for the worst. The settlers are preparing for war, a war that could very well claim many lives."

So they are planning to kill us. Ali hated thinking ill will against others, but for the first in years, she hated Jamie's father, the settlers that followed him, and everything he stood for. She knew the coward was encouraging war from behind the scenes. If it hadn't been for Jackson and several other children from high-ranking families within the village, they wouldn't be here today. Why couldn't that vile man be five feet under icy cold water?

"That is true," Mother Earth spoke, a tinge of sadness in her voice. "You must prepare for what is to come. But I am not asking for you to leave your kind. I am giving you the option to inform your friends, your father, your tribe to continue your lives as Winter Spirits." Ali was silent as she took that information in. "As my husband said, you have some time, but don't wait too long for time is very unpredictable and can change at a moment's notice."

"How long do I have?" She asked, fearing the answer.

Instead of answering, the two spirits looked outside as they felt a sudden shift in the air.

"Well, you don't see that every day," Father Winters said as his eyes gazed into the blue sky.

The Earth Mother frown slightly. Her brows were raised as worried eyes gazed into the sky. "Hmmm… the King never stays in one place for very long. I hope he is not hurt."

"What do you mean?" Ali gazed at the two spirits, eyes wide. Did they just say "the King" as in the King of the Faes? But that didn't make any sense. The King rarely stayed in one place, let alone one planet, for very long. What was so different about today? Other than…

"Jackson…" her voice barely went above a whisper, but the two spirits nodded, their gazes never leaving the window.

Old Man Winters lifted up his staff towards the window. The crystal jewel began to glow, creating a magical aura around him. All was silent until the spirit spoke up again. "It seems Mother Nature has requested his aid."

"He will not interfere," Mother Earth said, "but maybe there is a certain spirit he wishes to see." They returned their gazes to her, resuming their previous conversation. "Young Jackson cannot restore balance on his own daughter, but it is your choice. Do not take too long, though. You only have until the day Jack Frost throws the first ball of laughter to decide."

Jack silently followed the sprites as they made their way to Mother Nature's meadows. The meadows consisted of a lush field of flowers that had a perfect harmony of all seasons, lush green grass, and tall, healthy trees of all ages.

Jack loved how the flower could go from the most beautiful Viola and Camellia—which were often only seen in the wintertime—to the fiery Gerbera Daisies and Heirloom Roses of summer. It brought a smile to his face that these flowers, which are not supposed to coexist in the same space and season, did. It gave him hope that one day when he was ready to face the outside world head-on, he would be able to find the other Winter Spirits and hopefully help them.

He knew from Blaze and Autumn that no one had seen other Winter Spirits in the centuries during and after Old Man Winters' fading. Many of the spirits, from what he had been told, had gone into hiding when a spirit name Yuki-onna or Blaze's calls her, the Lady of Snow, felt she had to take charge and become the new Head Seasonal in order to survive.

Jack, despite not knowing her, felt bad for her. Her sincere deed, her want to preserve the life of the Winter Spirits, and sprites only resulted in a war among her own kind. And that was even before the attack of other cruel spirits.

Jack mentally prayed she and the others were okay. He wanted to help them. He wanted to guide them. Winter was not a season of death. It was fun, joyful, and a time of rebirth.

He will not — no — he will not allow them to suffer anymore. He will find the spirits that had gone into hiding ever shortly before and after the war. He will find the spirits that were now lost, angry, and afraid about the changing world they currently live in. He wanted to find and embrace the spirits who had not been so lucky to find someone to give them the guidance he had been so fortunate enough to have from the start.

Jack smiled as the North Wind caressed his face in reassurance and as Night gently brushed her long, sandy mane against his arm.

"We will find them," said Night. "Don't you worry about that."

"She right. The few that still remain may seem so far right now, but I promise you they have been waiting their whole lives for you. I know you will lead them with fun smiles and honor."

Jack nodded, not wanting to disturb the sprites and their song. Ancient magic that was practically tangible now could be felt from all over. Jack almost felt overwhelmed by the amount of magic he felt. He swallowed nervously, hoping that the sudden appearance of Eira's father and uncle wasn't a bad thing.

In the distance, Jack was able to see a large cluster of Mother Nature's sprites gathering around the vast meadow, but they weren't the only ones. Blaze, Flora, Autumn, and even his own sprites were hand in hand, singing in a language he could not understand. Beyond, the clusters of sprites that were there and the many that were still coming were beings he had never met before.

The beings were humanoid in appearance, with impressive-looking wings. Jack studied the being for a moment. Every pair of wings wasn't precisely the same. On some of the male beings, Jack noticed their wings were slightly larger than their female counterparts. The wings on the males had extensive designs that were both breathtaking and awe-inspiring, but they weren't nearly as impressive as their female counterparts. While smaller and not heavy in design, their wings were filled with so much color and decorated with tiny jewels on the edge of each wing that shined in the sunlight, making them look majestic and untouchable.

Amazing. Who are they?

"Looks like uncle and the other Royal Guards are already here." Jack blinked at the North Wind's comment. Realizing that the beings were wearing golden armor laced with red. Behind the guards, wearing a similar armor that seemed to be more fit for a king, was who Eira addressed as her uncle.

"He doesn't look very nice," Night commented, noticing the man's frown as he glared at the sky, mumbling something he could not make out.

"Father doesn't normally make surprise visits," the North Wind said with a small laugh that was bubbling in her throat. "Father was supposed to be going to Asgard to check on the tree and the surrounding plants he planted three months ago. I guess he changed his mind."

Jack tilted his head a bit, more than a little curious about Eira's father. He opened his mouth, ready to ask his invisible friend about her father, when his siblings suddenly came into his view. Each one was frantic as they flew towards him with two of Blaze's trainees.

"Jack!" Jack and Night came to a stop as Blaze, Flora, and Autumn skidded to a halt in front of them. They were all pale and a tad nervous about something.

The corner of his lips twitched down just a bit and his brows furrowed in concern.

"You guys alright?" He asked, noticing their pale complexation. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

His siblings looked at each other, concern and worry evident on their features.

"Jack," Flora asked, "do you know who that is?"

"Eira's uncle?" Jack wasn't quite sure what they were getting at. Were they afraid of Eira's uncle or something? He didn't look that scary.

"Jack," Blaze spoke up, "that's Agamemnon, prince of the Faes, leader of the Royal Guards."

"Okay…" Jack said, still a bit unsure of what they were trying to tell him.

"If he's here, then his brother is not far behind."

"Is that a bad thing?" Jack asked. "He's Eira's father."

"That depends…" Autumn began but was cut off when the music grew louder, and the magic became so tangible that they froze in place. Just like before, Jack could see faint instruments and tiny humanoid, winged beings dancing across the meadow. As he watched the faint beings dancing around a tall and foreign-looking tree, it became clear that these were memories of the ancient past.

Suddenly, Jack Frost and the other Head Seasonals felt an overwhelming pull to sing and dance along to the ancient tune of the old. The four siblings soon felt the winds leave their side as they joined the gathering of dancing and singing sprites.

As the music grew louder, the magic becoming more tangible, Jack was able to see the winds take on a less transparent form. While still transparent and unseeable to the outside world. Jack and his siblings were able to see the winds take on humanoid forms. The forms they took on were awfully similar to the Faes that were guarding the area.

As Eira joined her brother and two sisters, Jack, Blaze, Flora, and Autumn, for the first time, were able to understand the ancient song that every sprite across the four seasons was singing in complete unison.

Oh, Father

Oh, Creator

Oh, King of Faes

We beseech you on this day

Hear our calls, hear our cries

We bow to you all night and day

All Mighty King of Faes

Jack was taken aback as the sky above them began to turn dark. The sky rumbled as gray clouds moved in place to cover the sun's bright afternoon rays.

Jack lifted his eyes from the crowd to his sister, puzzled. "I thought you said it wasn't scheduled to rain today." Both Flora and Autumn frowned.

"That wasn't us, Jack," Flora answered.

"Mother and His Majesty are almost here," Autumn observed as her eyes studied the Summer Sprites.

We your children of Sun and Flames

Welcome you with open arms

Grace us with your warm rays

Grace us with your light

As we dance with your son

Hefin: The Brave

Hefin, the South Wind, kicked his legs out in front of him, alternating between high and low kicks. Eira and her sisters danced fluidly around him in a huge, as they echoed the singing crowned.

Hear our calls, hear our cries

We bow to you all night and day

All Mighty King of Faes

"I didn't know Hefin could dance the Russia squat." Blaze gazed at his companion, mentor, and prankster extraordinaire in utter dumbfoundment.

"Are you serious?" Flora asked, her eyes wide in shock. "How can you not know him by now? It's been well over five centuries!"

"Well, I…"

"Idiot," Autumn mumbled to herself with a sigh, only to perk up as the smell of an evening harvest reached her nose. She lifted her gaze to her sprites just as they began to sing.

We your children of Leaves and Harvest

Welcome you will open arms

Grace us with your wisdom

Of the great beyond

As we paint with your daughter

Fiona: The Wise

Fiona, the West Wind, took a small step in front of her before moving her arms in front of as she performed an elegant twirl. Fiona's back leg lifted up before twirling once more as she completed the twirl. Autumn glanced at Fiona's sisters, realizing each one was dancing a different form of ballet dancing.

It wasn't long before Eira, the North Wind, began dancing in the center as her younger siblings danced around her. She moved much more gracefully than her siblings. It was almost as if she was in a class all on her own. It was breathtaking, surreal even.

And a bright light broke the heavens, parting the dark clouds that had been covering the sky. The siblings covered their eyes from the blinding light.

"What's going on?" Jack asked as he and Night tried to see past the blinding light.

"He's here!" Flora yelled moments before the lights died down.

A soft collective gasp escaped past their lips as they say His Majesty carrying Mother Nature in arms. On his shoulder was a bird creature, and flying in front of him were two other Faes.

Agamemnon had a deep frown on his feature as his brother landed in front of him. "Don't be so down, Agamemnon," the King said as he placed Mother Nature on the ground. "Visiting my children and giving some advice to new spirits won't slow us down. Creating a new planet can always wait."

Agamemnon didn't seem too thrilled with his brother's response. But before he could answer, the four winds rushed to their father.

"Father!"

"You're here!" The King laughed as he hugged his children.

Jack's eyes widened. When the King hugged his children, their forms were no longer transparent. Instead, they were as solid as the ground they walked on. Jack Frost realized that this must have been their actual forms before they had lost their physical bodies during this war. Jack frowned for a moment, trying to remember the history book Autumn had been helping him read the week prior.

The book had talked about a war between something called the Fearlings and the Fae. Jack wasn't sure what these Fearlings were, but they sounded like something he didn't want to mess with.

"You seem a bit lost, my child." The Head Seasonal of Winter jerked out of thoughts, not realizing the King of the Faes had left his children's side to speak to him.

Jack rubbed the back of his head, a blush slowly creeping on his cheeks. "I… a… sorry. I'm fine. I've never met a Fae before."

The King nodded, understanding his confusion. "I don't typically allow others to know of my presence. I've had quite a few unpleasant experiences, if you know what I mean." Jack nodded before he could stop himself. In the back of his mind, he could hear the yell of a young girl and a woman he could not remember.

He closed his eyes, trying to push the voices away. However, the action only caused pain, an excruciating pain that went from his temples to the back of his head.

"Jack! Jack!" Eira and Night sounded so far away as the darkness tried to pull him under the water. He tried to move his arms, but they felt stiff, unmovable. He tried to open his mouth, but all he tasted was water. The water was in his lungs. It hurt. He couldn't breathe. Flee…

Jack gasped, his eyes shot open. Tears slowly began to well up as he gazed into kind, understanding violet orbs. The King held him gently in his arms as Eira rested a finger against his temple. He shifted his gaze to his friend, unsure of what was going on.

What was that? His mind felt so sluggish and worn down. Was that a memory? No. It couldn't be. It had to be just another mind trick. There was no way he… Flee. The name sounded so familiar. Was this Flee someone he knew? Had something happened to her? Wait… Had I see seen someone drown and just forgotten about it?

His mind shifted to the village girl. She had been so upset, so distraught about her brother. Had… had he seen his death?

"My Child, are you alright?" The North Wind asked. Her eyes that were identical to her father's studied him intently, worriedly. Her long silver hair hung loosely down the base of her back. On the base of her back were beautiful butterfly-shaped wings. Upon closer inspection, he realized the wings shimmered like ice, with its white and blue hues.

"Does your head still hurt?"

Jack was silent for a moment, waiting for the majority of the pain to disappear before responding to his dear friend. "A little," he said, grimacing as he did so.

Eira frowned at him. Her violet eyes shifted to her father, who seemed deep in thought. "Father? Is there something wrong?" While the question was pretty vague, Jack knew what Eira was asking her father.

"Your memories are fragmented," he said, earning a quizzical look from the Head Seasonal of Winter. "You're is trying to restore the memories that you have lost. However, without your tooth box, that will be impossible."

Tooth box? "Is that why my head keeps hurting?"

The King shrug. "Yes and no. The tooth box has the ability to hold the most precious memories of childhood. However, most spirits don't typically require their human memories once they leave the human realm," he said as he slowly shifted Jack into a sitting position. "But you are the first to wake up without your memories. Your subconscious is trying to remedy that, but without your tooth box to return what is lost, that is proving to be difficult."

"What do we do then?" Jack had not noticed Mother Nature walking towards him with a strange bird on her shoulder. The bird fluttered over to him, chirping something he could not understand. The bird with multicolored eyes landed on his shoulder, nuzzling his cheek in reassurance.

"I can not restore his memories without leaving lasting damage, but I can help with the pain. If you will let me."

"Damage?" What did he mean by that?

"You've been fainting and having panic attacks, have you not?" He asked, gaining a nod in response. "And the episode you had earlier will only get worse if I try to return your memories with my magic."

His throat felt tight as he absorbed the King's words. It was scary not remembering who he was and the people he may have known before waking up in that lake. The little girl and the shadow man from his dreams had felt so real. He had known them, had seen them, interacted with them. Yet, he couldn't remember them. He couldn't remember their faces. He couldn't remember what their likes and dislikes, and what they meant to him.

Jack wanted to remember, but not at the cost of harming himself and his family. "Where do I find this tooth box?"

The small bird bristled, chirping something angrily at him.

Eira gently ran a single finger down the creature's back. "It is alright, Little Tooth Fairy; we will find his tooth box. But the world is vast and dangerous. It could be years before we find it, especially with the Guardians still causing unnecessary fights."

Jack should have been disappointed that he wouldn't be able to get his tooth box, that he wouldn't be able to regain his memories anytime soon. "It's okay, Baby Tooth. I'll be fine."

Baby Tooth blinked as she gazed up at the spirit. She seemed surprised to be given a name. Her mother never took the time to name any of her daughters. They were merely clones of the original, after all.

"Baby Tooth," the King said. "That is a lovely name, my dear."

A dusting of pink traveled up the fairy's cheek as she chirped something. Jack tilted his head towards the King, hoping for a translation.

"She is thankful. In the years she'd been around, she had been given a name, not even from the legendary Tooth Fairy."

"Well, you're welcome then, Baby Tooth." The fairy nuzzled his cheek once more before taking up residence on top of his head, which is where she remained as the group of spirits and faes relocated inside Mother Nature's majestic castle.

"Here, this should prevent any lingering side effect you may be feeling." Jack gazed at the mug of clear liquid that Eira's father handed to him. It was rather surprising how all the colorful ingredients the King had put into the pot ended up clear and colorless. The smell that whiffed off of the steaming contents of the mug reminded him of a big cinnamon apple pie.

Jack glanced at the King once more as he took a seat across from the dining room table. Sitting at the table next to him were Eira and Night. Night walked over to him and nuzzled his cheek.

"It's okay, Master. The potion will help."

He sighed, sipping the hot liquid, as he turned his attention to Mother Nature, who was on the other side of the massive dining room, talking to Baby Tooth and the rest of her Head Seasonals.

"Susanna, attack the Tooth Palace?" Blaze's voice was filled with sarcasm and annoyance. "I'm really not that surprised."

"I knew she was devastated, but I didn't think she would leave her daughter so soon." A small frown crossed Autumn's mature features as she straightened out the leaves on her dress.

Jack's heart ached. Something about that name sounded familiar. But, before he could ponder on the name, the King asked him a question.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. What did you say?"

The King merely smiled at him, his fingers gently drumming the table. "I asked how you are holding up."

Jack took a moment to ponder the question. "Alright, I guess. Me and Wind still need to work on our flight, but the others are saying we are doing pretty well. I'm struggling a little with my powers, but the sprites are saying I'm catching on rather quickly."

The King nodded. "That is excellent to hear. It is essential for any spirit to be well balanced before taking on their duties."

"Father's right," Eira said as she poured him a cup of water. "Being balanced is very important. As the Head Seasonal of Winter, you must not allow others to sway you easily you. Doing so can lead to imbalance, and with imbalance, there will be chaos."

"Eira is right. There is too much imbalance right now. Any more could be catastrophic."

Jack's heart sank as fear settled in. What if he messes up? What if others get hurt because of him? It would be all his fault, wouldn't it?

"I wouldn't worry too much about that, though," the King said. The Head Seasonal looked at him.

"Why's that?" he asked.

"With every action, there is its right and opposite reaction. With the correct knowledge and skills, you will be able to handle anything that will be thrown at you."

Jack placed his mug down on the table, not realizing when he had finished it until it was wrong. "Now," said the King, "I will need to be heading out soon, but before I go, I would like to show you something."

Jack Frost was silent as he followed the King. Mother had been a bit reluctant to allow him to leave the safety of the castle, but she had not protested as they thought she would. Instead, she had allowed Baby Tooth and his siblings to accompany them.

"What is this place?" They had stopped in front of a small cabin-like house that had to be big enough for at least three people. Jack inspected the room as curiosity took over.

"This is the home of the Overlands. The father died long ago, trying to protect his son," the King said. "The mother no longer lives here, and the daughter is currently taking shelter with a friend."

Jack frowned as he walked around the small home. The home was in a rather poor state. The furniture and kitchenware were torn and cracked. The bedrooms looked ransacked. And it looked like someone had been tearing up photographs and clothing before he or she left in a hurry.

He entered the master bedroom and noticed black sand and sharp, jagged ice piercing the walls. On the floor was a small empty vial.

His soul felt heavy and tired as he inspected the rest of the room, but just like the rest of the home, someone had torn everything apart, almost in an angry rage.

"What happened here?"

"An angry spirit had lost everything she held dear," Autumn said, not bothering to inspect the room.

"This is what happens if you are not careful," the King said, his violet eyes filled with unwavering sadness and sympathy. "She has done quite a bit of damage in her quest for revenge against those who had taken her children away. She is lost, confused, angry, and uncontrollable right now. She is imbalanced. She does not know of the danger she is putting herself and others."

He felt for the mother spirit. It hurt knowing that after something so tragic, she had lost herself. He couldn't imagine the thousands of humans and spirits getting injured because of her inability to control her powers and sadness.

Jack closed his eyes.

Jack closed his eyes. I promise. If we ever meet in the future, I will do all I can to help you. I will not stop until I see a smile on your face. I will not stop until you laugh, have tears of happiness in your eyes. I promise you, no matter how long it takes, you will feel joy once again.