The winds swirled in every direction, causing loose debris to be picked up and tossed about throughout Toothiana's palace. Even Nicholas St. North struggled to remain balanced on his feet against the force of the storm, stabbing his broadsword into the ground to attempt to use as stability against it. Against her better judgment, Amberlynn fought her way against the wind back to Pitch's direction and grabbed hold of one of the vines which held him captive.
Lighting a small fire in the hand that was holding the vine, the summer spirit disintegrated Pitch's entrapment. Immediately upon his release, he tumbled into her arms, knocking both of them to the ground. As perfect of an opportunity as it was for Amberlynn to tease Pitch about his less-than-dignified fall and current position, there was a slightly bigger problem at hand.
"What did ye do to piss off Mother Nature?" Amberlynn screamed against the howling of the wind. Ensuring that none of the other spirits could hear him, he brought his face close to Amberlynn's ear and replied, "There is definitely a shorter list of what I haven't done, but I can assure you I have no idea what I did to incur her wrath this time."
As the winds slowly started to calm down, Amberlynn knew they were nearing the eye of the storm-er, Mother Nature. Amberlynn and Pitch scrambled to their feet, with Pitch taking the young spirit's hand to help her up, just as the woman of the hour came down. Before Pitch could help Amberlynn completely to her feet, Mother Nature blew a force of wind between them, pushing Amberlynn further away and forcing Pitch against one of Tooth's gilded columns.
Mother Nature pinned Pitch against the column with one arm completely across his throat and the other arm holding some sort of small dagger. I've never seen Mother Nature act this way before, Amberlynn thought with genuine concern for both elder spirits. Pitch was, surprisingly, not fighting back save for attempting to push the nature spirit's arm back enough so that he could breathe. Mother Nature, on the other hand, was an entirely different animal all her own.
Her jet black hair remained strewn about from the storm she created and her golden eyes were nearly black from how dilated Mother Nature's pupils had become in her rage. The normally scarily calm, collected face which merely resorted to intense staring contests to scare her subordinates was contorted in fits of unimaginable rage and...hatred? I mean, I know Pitch has created many enemies, Amberlynn wondered, but why does she hate him?
It just didn't add up to Amberlynn. While she was grateful for the neutral rule in the Guardians-vs-Pitch battles (not that it was that difficult for Amberlynn to abide by), she couldn't imagine how someone could be so adamant in her own neutrality rule yet harbor such deep hatred and resentment for one of the parties involved. Sure, the Guardians piss her off-hence, the entire show she put on not too long ago-but she simply couldn't muster the energy to bear the amount of pure, unadulterated loathing that bears on her elder spirit's face right now. What confused her even more was the look on Pitch's face. It was a familiar look, one she knows she has seen, but couldn't quite pinpoint exactly where or when…
Finally getting to her feet, the summer spirit rushed toward Mother Nature and Pitch as Mother Nature growled, "Where...is...he?" Taking advantage of the older spirit's distraction, Amberlynn sent a small wave of fire towards her, forcing Mother Nature just far away enough to relieve Pitch of the constricted throat.
Upon her release of him, the Nightmare King fell to his knees, coughing and gasping for breath. Amberlynn rushed to his side as quickly as she could. Gently feeling his waist to ensure there were no popped stitches, she brought one arm over her shoulder and gently helped him back on his feet.
"What the bloody hell is wrong with you?" Amberlynn yelled at Mother Nature, not caring at this moment in time that she is her superior. Mother Nature's golden irises constricted as she squinted at the young, summer spirit. Upon seeing the perfectly golden orbs, a light bulb within Amberlynn's own head began to flicker, but she didn't quite yet know what the exact connection was.
Mother Nature warned, "You would do best to watch that tone, Sommers. I know not where you get such gall to speak so outright against me, or undo my own work without my permission, for that matter. But it will serve you well to hold that tongue."
"Forgive me, but as you are the one who taught me how to destroy living things, it came pretty second nature to see you and want to disintegrate something," Amberlynn retorted. Oh sweet celestial heavens, Sommers, shut up! she internally screamed at herself. Pitch said nothing, though his brows shot up in surprise as well as the Guardians'. The young summer spirit almost forgot they were even still here until she saw Bunny doubled over from trying to not laugh too loudly.
Mother Nature's golden eyes stared into the depths of Amberlynn's charcoal grey eyes as she muttered, "Very well. I have more important matters to attend to, Sommers, but this will not be forgotten."
Turning her attention back to Pitch, she asked yet again, "Where is he, Black? Where is Lynx?"
Lynx? This drew everyone's attention. The Guardians all gathered to one side of Mother Nature while Amberlynn and Pitch were on her other side. Raising just one brow in confusion, Pitch replied, "In his cage in Alaska...where he has remained for the last 11 thousand years. Where else would he be?"
Mother Nature opened up a side pocket in her forest green dress and threw some black sand at the Nightmare King. "Really?" she challenged, "Look familiar? Because when I went there just a few hours ago for my routine inspection, the side of his cavern completely crumbled, no Lynx anywhere in site, and a small pile of nightmare sand as a reminder that one way or another, you managed you get yourself involved in this. Of course, why does that not surprise me? You've just set a genocidal sociopath loose!"
"No, that's...that's impossible!" Pitch countered. Though it was subtle enough she's sure none of the other spirits noticed, Amberlynn felt Pitch tighten up ever so slightly from the physical pain he endured. This was a mistake. I never should have let Pitch come here in his condition. She gently squeezed her hand that still held Pitch's left arm which hung over her shoulder, silently letting him know that he could lean on her.
Readjusting his weight to put less of it on his right side, Pitch continued, "The last encounter I had with him resulted in me sending my Nightmares upon him to do their worst." A slight twinge of shame came over him-not for what he had done, but rather for what Amberlynn must think of him now-when he heard the redhead slightly gasp. "It would be a miracle if his head stays screwed on after an endeavor like that. There's no way his sanity remained for his own sake, let alone that he could come up with a plan to escape."
"Well congratulations, then," Mother Nature barked. "You've just set a genocidal, sociopathic madman-who was singulalry responsible for the Ice Age being as destructive as it was, shall I remind you-free! Now he is laying low and I don't know where he has run off to."
Mother Nature turned and stared down Amberlynn. It was for but a moment, but it was the longest, coldest moment of discomfort to ever course through the summer spirit's veins. Mother Nature then turned her head slightly to look at Pitch, sending an equally powerful silent message, but one Amberlynn couldn't quite pick up or understand. It wasn't until she looked back and forth between the two spirits did she finally realize.
The light bulb in her head finally turned on. Those golden eyes! she realized. I should've recognized them anywhere! And the hatred from Mother Nature to Pitch, it...it all makes sense! That look on Pitch's face...that's the pain of a parent who has lost his child if I ever saw a look!
Before Amberlynn has much more time to process her newfound epiphany, Bunny interjected and asked, "So did ya come all this way to yell at Pitch, sheila? Not that I'd stand in your way mind you. But was that the only purpose of making it here or would you like some help in finding this loony?"
Mother Nature hung her head low, letting her solid black hair fall in front of her pale, slightly rosy-cheeked face. Through clenched teeth, she muttered, "As much as I hate to ask for it, especially from you, I very nearly lost my life to him the first time around and I honestly don't know if I can do it on my own this time. And I most certainly can't have my seasonal spirits try to fight him off, so what is the plan?"
"Wait, what do you mean you can't have your seasonal spirits try to fight him off?" Amberlynn asked, slightly taken aback. Not that I even wanted any part in it, but I now have no say from either side? This is the second time today that she has heard she was expected to do something and she didn't like the way it sat with her.
"Hold up now, sheila," Bunny argued. "You literally barged in here with an actual, physical firewall to get our attention to let us know you want no part in this and now you want in? I'm not even gonna pretend to understand your mindset tonight."
"I don't like being told what I can and can't do," Amberlynn stiffly retorted. "I don't want to be told I have to sit on the sidelines, but I most certainly don't want to be forced to become a Guardian. Especially when that quid pro quo requires me to risk my life for some psycho!"
Mother Nature straightened her posture at the word "Guardian." She marched over to where North stood, pointed a stiff finger at the Guardian, who now had shed his fur coat (whether from heat or nerves, Amberlynn couldn't tell), and warned, "I thought I made it extremely clear to Tsar Lunar what he can do with that 'selection' process of his for his Guardians. I haven't made a personal trip up to visit him since shortly after you were chosen, Nicholas, but you damn well better believe I'll make an exception if he keeps violating our agreement. As much as I hate it, I will accept help from you Guardians, but Jack Frost is absolutely forbidden to be part of this. Do we understand each other?
"As for you," Mother Nature added, turning to address Pitch, "I couldn't care less whom you choose to bed. But so help me if Amberlynn is involved in anything to do with Lynx, I will make your life a living hell so long as I am alive."
Amberlynn's jaw dropped in utter shock while Pitch's jaws remained clenched, though she noticed he did that eye twitch again. The original four Guardians awkwardly stood off to the side, unsure of what to say or how to even begin to proceed with anything. Jack was too busy focusing on the fact that he had just been benched-for whatever is about to go down-to even pay attention to what snide comment just transpired moments ago.
As Mother Nature approached the edge of the cliff, she turned to the seven spirits behind her and ordered, "I will return again soon, but until then, protect my seasonal spirits," before she disappeared into the clouds above.