Hi everyone, I'm back. I am so sorry I have not updated in forever, life's been busy and very tiring with school and my skating, it really hasn't been fun:( I would have loved to write but I didn't have time. BTW: 'Can we get over 50 reviews?' More like 60! XD Thank you so much for your kind reviews, everyone! I'm so glad you like this story!:) It makes me so happy! But enough of my rambling, please enjoy this rather long chapter that you all deserve.
As I felt a cold blade being sliced into my neck, a sensitive ripple of pain making my body flinch, a small gust of wind blew through my hair and caressed around me in a protective way. It wasn't just any normal breeze, it was distinct and there for a reason. While it was comforting, it wasn't on my command. Who was it?
Red must have felt it too since the blade came right off of my cold skin. Too weak to open my eyelids, I heard Red just grunt with confusion. He must have been trying to decipher what just happened, because that was not normal!
That's when I felt Red's grip on my shoulder tighten immensely. I could also hear the sound of wind roaring in the distance. It sounded like a... tornado? Wanting to see what was happening, I opened my eyelids and indeed saw a massive tornado heading our way. Was this friend or foe?
It must have been foe for Red because I felt his arm wrap around me as he blasted off of the canyon in a desperate fly of escape. But the tornado's wind was too strong as Red and I were sucked into the whirl of the wind. The wind ripped Red's grasp from me as my body limply flew uncontrollably through the air.
I saw Red hover for a moment, contemplating whether if he had the strength and time to make an attempt to grab me and somehow make it out alive. Or if he should leave me there to fall to my death and save his own skin but without the glory of defeating me. Red chose the latter out of the two and flew as hard as he could to try to get out of the storm. In reality, if he didn't get out of the tornado now, there was no way he was going to get out of it alive.
But whilst I was still breathing, there was no way that he was going to escape.
With the aid of the wind, I flung my arm upwards towards him, the chain still wrapped around it unraveled and miraculously entwined itself around Red's ankle. Using the last of my Ultimate Form power out of desperation, I called upon the wind to drag me down to the ground along with Red. As I crashed onto the ground (on my feet), I flung my arms downward as hard as I could. Three seconds later, the end of the chain slammed into the ground with Red attached to it. The velocity immediately knocked Red out as his pumpkin shattered once more.
The last thing I saw was stone slabs trapping Red in a tight pyramid before I collapsed to the ground and blacked out.
~Spark~
The Guardians, Manny, Cupid, and Mother Nature (also carrying two passed-out spirits) rushed outside and saw the battle of the two brothers from afar. By the look of it, the pain was getting to Jack and he was loosing.
"I could call my sleigh and we could fly to him with Cupid and you, Mother Nature!" North suggested with haste.
"No." Cupid sternly stated. "They're too fast. Faster than us. We'd never be able to keep up."
"Or we could just fight 'em!" Bunny shouted in an alarmed voice. They had to do something, soon!
"If we ever reach them, some of us would get severely hurt.They're too powerful in this state, and Jack could die." Mother Nature reasoned.
Bunny bit his tongue. She was right. They could not interfere for Jack's sake.
"I have an idea." Mother Nature announced suddenly. "Get back, all of you!"
The others rushed back inside the cave but watched from behind the rocks.
Mother Nature stepped out further and held up her arms sideways at a ninety degree angle in an Egyptian style. She then began to walk around in a circle, her palms at the center of it. Magically, a small vortex of wind began to spiral around her palm and grow bigger by the second. In less than a minute, Mother Nature had created a monstrous tornado that was almost as big as the canyon itself. When she was unable to contain it in her own hands any longer, she released the storm and sent it off towards the two spirits.
There was nothing else she could do, other elements would be too dangerous. Besides, the wind was Jack's right hand companion. (Even more so than Wisp, but she was more of a slave to the Wind, the Wind controlled her.) It would try to help him, and that's hopefully all he needed. It would protect him until the end. It had to.
Jack had to live.
o.O.o
As soon as Red was brought to the earth, Mother Nature quickly captured him in a prison of stone. While that would seriously jar his already broken bones, she could care less. He deserved it. Manny and Cupid observed the destruction before them as the Guardians ran right past her and went straight towards Jack who lay on the ground unconscious.
Bunny cradled Jack as Sandy and Tooth leaned in, North hovering over them.
"Jack?" Bunny said, slightly shaking the boy. "Mate? It's us, the Guardians! Wake up-"
Jack suddenly coughed, much to the Guardians relief. But to their horror, a stream of blood trailed out of the corner of Jack's mouth and tears of pain leaked out of his eyes. Jack's eyes weakly opened as a small smile spread across his lips.
"Kangaroo? Guys?" Jack asked with hope, his voice cracked and faint. "You're alive!" He said with relief.
After all that and he was worried that we lived? The Guardians thought. Tooth covered her mouth to hide a sob as the men shared sorrowful looks.
"Of course we are, mate," Bunny said as for once he laughed lightly at being called a Kangaroo, he nodded a bunch of times to hide the tears welling in his eyes, "All thanks to you. Just hang on, we'll get ya fixed up."
Jack didn't respond. His eyes had closed once more but this time, he wasn't breathing and his body was completely limp.
Tooth gasped and leaned forward on Jack; to her utter horror, she heard no heartbeat and didn't feel his chest rise for breath.
"He's not breathing! His heart stopped! It's the poison!" Tooth shrieked as everyone jumped into action.
Manny and Cupid jumped in and shoved the Guardians out of the way, using their magic and supplies to try to heal the spirit. The two ancient spirits asked about the poison and struggled to find a cure. However, both Land Lords' healing powers and medicines only cured curses or certain illnesses. Nothing like this, it was useless on Jack.
They heard a sick, childish giggle behind them.
"It's too late!" Red hummed, barely awake. Without his pumpkin head, Red looked almost as bad as Jack did. "The poison has done it's work! We have won! Jack Frost is dead!"
This seemed to get Mother Nature's attention.
The Land Lord's had sensed trouble and had arrived on the scene once Jack and Red had taken the fight outside. They all just assumed Jack had been tortured, they didn't suspect anything like this. But she could help. Mercury was metal, and metal was an element. She had never done it before, but she could try to bend it. It was well worth a shot. She might be able to get it out of Jack and save him.
Mother Nature got everyone out of the way as she kneeled in front of the boy. She mystically circled her hands above his body. She could feel it; a warm tingling sensation on her fingertips as she located the poison throughout his body. Once she sucked up as much as she could, she swiftly thrusted her hands upward.
Jack's eyes snapped open as the poison was violently wrenched out of his body via his mouth. He hacked the substance out as Mother Nature controlled the poison and tossed it to the ground as it wasted and deteriorated into the soil and rock.
The Guardians cried with relief as Jack was alive again.
However, he didn't stay awake for long. But just as Jack was about to go faint once more, he saw Red's look of defeat warily stare him in the eyes.
~Spark~
I awoke to the itchy fabric of a healing room but to the comfort of lying on a bed. That was new. My head ached too much for my eyes to open so for a few moments I just lay in peace, listening to my surroundings.
I heard the Yeti's gibberish and the room smelled of medical products with a hint of peppermint. I was in North's Workshop Palace no doubt. (I remember coming across this healing room a long time ago, but I never guessed I would end up in it.) In the far distance, I could hear the Guardians talk about something along with what sounded like Mother Nature...
Mother Nature? What was Mother doing here!?
My eyes snapped open as I tried to jump out of bed, but my body screamed in pain as I flopped back down on the bed with a whimper. The heart monitor picked up rapidly as I was confused as to why I was here. My breathing began to shallow as pain began to flood back into my system. I must have cut off the drip IV sac in my sudden entanglement of movement.
Suddenly, a large brown yeti showed up and hastily taped my IV line back into my hand.
I studied the yeti to find out it was Phil.
I took off my oxygen mask to speak but Phil then frantically waved his hands in front of my face before trying to put the mask back on. But I refused and showed him I was capable of breathing just fine without it. With a sigh, Phil gave up. He then signaled me to not talk as he gave me a glass of water. I took it gratefully before he ran off down the hall to probably alert the Guardians I was awake.
I drank the water in one swig. For some odd reason, I was slightly afraid to meet the Guardians and for some reason I couldn't put the pieces together as to why I was in the healing room and my body hurt so bad.
"Jack?" A tender female voice came in from the hall; Tooth.
"Tooth?" I said, beckoning her and the others to enter.
"How are you?" Tooth said as she sat next to my bed, placing her small hand on mine. The rest of the Guardians filed in. Bunny leaned against the wall, North slumped into a large armchair, and Sandy floated on the other side of my bed.
"I hurt... a lot." I said flatly.
The Guardians simply nodded.
I licked my lips, "Um, what happened to me?"
This seemed to get their attention.
"Wait, mate. Are ya tellin' us that ya don't remember a thing what happened?" Bunny said with worry as he approached me slowly.
Gee, something really bad must have happened if Bunny was this worried. I looked over at Sandy who was flashing many sand-symbols in an attempt of explaining. All I saw was a pumpkin, chains, a flower and a sun... I couldn't make it out, but I felt something hammering in the back of my head.
As I was trying hard to decipher what Sandy meant, I heard Bunny whisper, "I knew Red gave him a bloody good fight, but nothing came up saying the damn kid would have amnesia!"
The pounding in my head grew more intense, like it was on the verge of bursting.
"Red?" I said lightly, trying to think of why Bunny would mention him. Bunny silenced, he didn't know that I had heard him. "Fight?" I questioned, trying desperately to remember.
Without any warning, the walls collapsed. A tsunami of memories came crashing down upon me and I remembered everything; Red, Glimmer, Flora, the other spirits, the fight, the Mercury poison, the pain... I shrieked with shock as the empty water class in my hand shattered as I brought my hands to the side of my head, trying to block out the unwelcoming memories. I felt someone embrace me as I began to uncontrollably sob into that person's should and fisted the bed sheets in my palms. I muttered frantic whispers to myself in an attempt to calm myself (a coping mechanism I learned over the years), but it didn't work.
Why did this have to happen?
After crying on someone's shoulder for ten minutes, I exhausted myself and fell right back into a deep sleep. Sandy gave me good dreams, but they simply canceled out with the nightmares that loomed inside my mind.
o.O.o
I woke up three hours later. It turned out that in total I was out for a total of three days. I had to stay in bed for another month. I didn't speak unless spoken to and had no real appetite. I really didn't even smile. I kept to myself and shut my feelings out and didn't try to reach out to anyone. The Guardians tried to cheer me up and visited me frequently, but it never worked. I enjoyed their company and was grateful for their concern, but to me, nothing mattered anymore. They constantly told me how sorry they were for not ever listening to me and were also baffled by how powerful I was, they also explained how Mother Nature, Manny, and Cupid helped save me and how they were sorting out the issues with the spirits. I respected them and loved them but at this time right now, I really didn't give a shit.
I felt completely abused, broken, and hurt. What they did was wrong. Threatening the Guardians and hurting me in such a way that now I can't walk for a month. I wasn't one for violence, but I wanted them to hurt right now. I wanted them to understand what they did to me. Even the other spirits, what did they have against me? Why didn't they stand up for me and say what's wrong, what did they have against me? Would I want them to suffer the way I did? Surprisingly, no, because that was the definition of torture. I just didn't want to have anything to do with them ever again.
According to the Yetis and Mother Nature, it was a spectacular miracle that I was still alive and in one piece. Well, technically, I did die for a few minutes, but I was alive now and healing. Many of the burns have healed thanks to my ice powers and the salves, but they would leave some scars. Such as my eye which was still squinting after Glimmer's iron plate attack. All of my gashes had been stitched and iced and were slowly healing. My broken bones were also slowly mending, but I was advised not to move until I was sentenced that I could leave. I had internal injuries that also needed tending to, but I could leave the healing room once my outer wounds had cleared up decently. Manny and Cupid came in once and presented me with my broken staff. Manny knew I could fix it but ordered me not to try until I was stronger. I also heard that Mother Nature had destroyed the Magneto gloves; that was good.
So, after almost one month, I was able to leave. It was a struggle to even stand and it made me humiliated and angry. Maybe I could never go back to the way I was thanks to them, I was now reduced to this... but, after some time, moving became normal to me again. I stayed at North's and walked around as much as I could and even flew around the Palace after I had enough strength to mend my staff again.
And also to my surprise, my mindset began to change. Like a whole new perspective has opened up to me now that I was able to move again. Instead of revenge, I felt forgiveness. Not exactly for Red and the others, but for the situation. Maybe I needed to give myself time and be patient. Let things unfold on their own.
Soon, I was requested to meet with Mother Nature. To my surprise, I wasn't all that nervous. I knew what she was going to say and I was ready to face it.
~Spark~
"Hello, Jack. How are you?" Mother Nature said as a greeting.
"Doing better, Mother. Thank you." Jack replied. Even though she wasn't his actual mother, he had to call her "Mother" since she was in charge of him, same went for his siblings.
"Sit with me." Mother Nature said as the two sat by a window. After a moment of silence, she spoke, "You know what I am about to discuss with you, Jack. Now you just need to hear it."
Jack nodded.
"It's about the punishments of your siblings."
Jack nodded again.
Mother Nature cocked her head to the side, "I thought you would be more into it than that." She wondered.
"I don't care about revenge. In the beginning I did. But now I'm just sad, that's all. But I'm getting better." Jack said softly.
"I see." Mother Nature hummed with awe. It took a very strong soul to be able to truly believe that. "Yet there will still be consequences."
"I understand." Jack said intently. "What are they?"
"Well, I interrogated them all and it seemed that Red was the head for this whole scheme. As for the other spirits, Red forced them to cooperate seemingly willingly or else he would hurt them. They had nothing against you, Jack. They were just scared. Sure, it would have been best if one of them spoke up but-"
"No." Jack interrupted. "It's fine. It wasn't their fault. Like you said, they were scared, they didn't want to get hurt. It's okay to feel that way. I might have done the same thing if I were in their situation..."
"I don't think you would have, Jack." Mother Nature countered honestly.
Jack simply shrugged.
"Anyways, regardless about that, even though Red was the head of the crime, your sisters are still equally charged. They willingly went along with the act and were major accomplices to the crime." Mother Nature said.
"What's their punishment?" Jack asked.
Mother Nature spoke, "They have their powers stripped from them for a year. Afterwards, they will help you Guardians in other matters until it seems deemed fitting for them to be released from their punishment duties."
Jack looked down. He didn't know what to say. Whether that was a good thing or a bad thing. Whether if he was happy with the decision or not. But it was final. However, Jack would have to cope with them for MiM knows how long.
Jack swallowed and spoke, "They won't hurt me or the Guardians, will they?"
Mother Nature scoffed, "Of course not. While they may have access to their powers once more after a year, I shall have a tight leash on them. I have the power to restrain their talents if needed. Once they learn how to respect you and behave, I shall release my restraints when they have proven worthy to all of us."
Jack blinked. "You want us to become friends."
"Not necessarily, more like allies. They just need to learn a lesson."
Jack didn't answer.
Mother Nature sighed, "I know what you're thinking, Jack."
Jack looked up.
"You're thinking that why wasn't I there when you needed me to deal with them."
Jack hesitantly nodded.
"I'm going to be honest, Jack. And I am truly sorry and I know that won't make a difference in the end but I want to let you know that I mean it but..." She took in a breath, "I wasn't looking out for you the way I should have. I foolishly turned a blind eye and didn't watch what was happening. I don't know how or why but I am ashamed and I sincerely apologize."
"You're forgiven." Jack said in a small voice.
"You surprise me, Jack. Why are you so open to forgiveness?" Mother Nature asked with shock.
"I'm not. I'm still not sure what to think about my siblings, but I know it wasn't your fault. My siblings made a choice and did what they did with their powers you granted each of them with. Not your fault." Jack said.
Mother Nature smiled warmly. "One more thing before you go, Jack."
"Yes?"
"You're not going to like this but you must confront them. All of them. Hear them out. They will be restrained but it's for your own good. I know you still fear them and that will go away with time but it's best if you face them now than later. As much as I hate to say it but, it's an order."
Jack stood up and took a hold of his staff. "I understand, Mother. I'll see them all tomorrow. Better now than later."
With that, Jack left Mother Nature's company. A new chapter unfolding in his life was about to begin.
Wow, that was long, and I wrote that fast. And a bit boring. Sorry if I bored you. However I'm impressed at how fast I did that, I think it turned out pretty good! But I hope you liked the chapter! Just a heads up: if you are confused on Jack's behavior, I took it from my own experience (no, I have not been tortured, but in a similar situation) and how someone would humanly act towards it. So that's why he seems out of character in this chapter, but don't worry, the real Jack Frost will be back! Please leave your marvelous reviews as it fuels my writing!:) Thanks for reading! Peace!
-SkatingDJ