"Father..." I heard Eira whisper in my ear.
"Father..." I then heard Nimbus trail off with a hint of mischief.
"Wake up, Father." I heard Bram sigh out in an impatient tone.
I groaned as I felt a throbbing headache. "What is it, children?"
"Wait...do you have another hangover?"
"Another?" I heard Eira ask. "I've seen Father drink before, but I don't think he's ever had a hangover before."
"Oh, he's had them. It was before you were born."
"Yes..." I groaned out. "...I have a hangover."
"Father, can I try something?" I heard Eira question carefully.
"Have at it." I told her with a slow wave of my hand. I felt her hands on the sides of my head, and there was a brief warmth, and then it disappeared along with the headache. When she got off of my bed, I leapt up and stared at her with an astounded expression. "How did you do that?"
"Honestly, I'm not sure. I just knew I could...somehow."
"It seems Eira is still growing." Nimbus commented with a proud smile. Then, he turned towards me and crossed his arms. "Now, it's time for you to get up Father. The date is January 1st, 1912. You still have your special guest to invite."
"Wait, who are you all talking about? On any of Father's birthdays I have never heard about him inviting someone."
"Every one hundred years we're allowed to invite one spirit for our birthday. It can be any spirit." Bram answered with a wide smile.
"Why has no one told me that!"
Bram let out a soft chuckle as he smirked at her. "We were going to wait until Father turned two hundred years old. Now, come on, let's go and let him get dressed. He'll probably invite his guest while we're gone."
"But I've met almost every spirit...even the ocean spirits...although, they weren't very nice, and you still refuse to tell me why you despise them so much, Nimbus."
"I'll probably tell you at lunch once Father's guest arrives. Oh, and remember, we all call him Jack." Nimbus answered with a saddened expression, and I can't really blame him.
Eira crossed her arms and furrowed her brow together. "That's my point! I have met almost every spirit! How is it someone I haven't met!?"
"You'll see." Nimbus chuckled. "Now c'mon. Stop acting like a child, and let's go downstairs."
"Fine!" She pouted as Bram led her out of my room.
"We'll see you downstairs, Father."
"We'll meet you there." I told them with a wide smile, and watched them leave. Once the door was closed, I got up from my bed, and went to my dresser, pulled out my clothes, and got dressed. Once I was dressed I looked in the mirror and was proud of my selection. I was wearing a light blue dress shirt that had sleeves that stopped at my wrists, and were buttoned. I was also wearing a dark blue vest that had a light blue trim around the edges, and light blue embroidered frost patterns. I decided to wear black Dark blue pants to match the vest, and as per Flora's request, I put on my crown she made for me all those years ago. Once I was satisfied that I was dressed for the occasion, I turned to face my bed, and I smiled at the empty space. "I, Jack Frost, invite you, Sandman, to my Two hundredth birthday in Mother Nature's domain."
It took about five minutes, but soon there was a brilliant golden glow in my room, and once it was gone, it revealed Sandy. "Jack! Happy Birthday!" He shouted and immediately floated up to me and wrapped his arms around me. "How have you been?" He asked me as he floated back down to the ground.
"I've been great. We got a new spirit back in 1833, I'm not sure if you've heard of her, but she goes by the name Snow Queen. However, we all just call her Eira."
"Ah, I've heard of her, but have yet to meet her."
"Well, you'll get your chance, oh...and fair warning...she sometimes clings to me more than Flora does. She's sweet, feisty, stubborn, funny, mischievous, and very intelligent...but she doesn't know that I've invited you. The others are keeping it a secret from her."
"Oh..." He trailed off with a mischievous grin, causing me to grin as well. "...won't she be surprised that you've invited a Guardian to your birthday."
"Or that a Guardian accepted my request, considering we've told her that the Tooth Fairy only knows me by name, I've been kicked out of North's shop, because...because of trying to bust in, and I've told her how much the Easter Bunny dislikes me."
"What have you told her of me?"
"That you're kind, and we've met a few times, even sparred a couple times."
"But you didn't tell her I'm your friend?"
"No, I wanted to wait for my birthday."
"How are the other spirits in Mother Nature's domain treating you?"
"Oh, well...they treat me like family, I suppose." I told him, silently hoping and praying he doesn't ask how.
"That's good."
'THANK YOU!' I nodded my head and walked towards my door. "Shall we?"
"After you, birthday boy."
I snorted out a laugh and rolled my eyes. "I'm two hundred years old, Sandy."
"And compared to how old I am? You're a toddler." He grinned with a smirk in his eyes as he started to push me towards the door. "Come on! Come on!"
"Alright alright!" I laughed out as I left my room with him closing the door behind us.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Once we made it down here I smirked at him as we finally approached the dining hall doors, and I motioned for him to wait, but before I opened the door I whispered to him, "You know you're my best friend right?"
"What!? I thought Nimbus was!"
"It's...a bit different. Either way...you're my best friend...is that okay?"
"I-I'm honored!" There was pure honesty in his eyes and he had the widest smile I had ever seen on him.
"Good. I don't have many friends." I told him honestly and motioned for him to wait again until I said he was here, and I walked through the doors. I noticed the looks The Nine were giving me, plus my wife and daughter, and they seemed a bit confused.
"Where's your guest, Jack?" Eira asked carefully.
"I'm sorry everyone...he couldn't make it."
"AWE!" Everyone but Eira pouted, while Eira just looked confused at their disappointment.
"NAH!" I laughed out as I waved a hand at them. "I'm just kidding. Of course he's here! He's my best friend! Come on in!" I told him, and when he did, I watched Eira's reaction closely.
"SANDY!" The Nine shouted, and Emily got up from her seat, shaking her head with a small smile.
Once she made it to Sandy, she gave him a quick hug. "It's so good to see you, Sandy."
"Um..." Eira spoke up and we all looked at her. The Nine smiled at her with knowing grins as they still sat at the dining table filled with all kinds of food.
Sandy let out a slight chuckle that only Mother Nature and I could hear, and he floated over to Eira, holding up symbols. "I'm known as the Sandman, but everyone calls me Sandy. I'm the Guardian of Dreams."
"Y-You're a Guardian!? But I thought they all hated Jack!"
Sandy blinked in surprise, and I did too. I looked at Eira with widened eyes, and she looked back. "Can you understand him?" I cautiously asked.
"What like...hear him? No...it's...it's strange...It's like I understand what the symbols are saying, and their translating full sentences in my head, but there's no voice...I just know."
"Well...that is interesting." I told her. "Either way...no, they don't ALL hate me. Sandy and I have been friends for a very long time. He was there for my one hundredth birthday too. Now, come on...he introduced himself." I told her, hoping I didn't sound too much like a father, but it was hard not to when I was so used to it.
"Right!" She exclaimed and looked at Sandy with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Sandy. My name is Eira. I'm also known as the Snow Queen, but you can call me Eira. I'm a Winter spirit."
"Another one?" Sandy smirked with widened eyes and looked back at Emily. "Really, Mother Nature?"
"Yes, well...Eira, Sandy is also the only one that knows that Jack is the General of Winter, and that information is not to leave this room, understood?"
"Yes, Mother." She nodded her head and looked back to Sandy who's eyes widened. "What? Everyone else calls her Mother." I breathed out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, and silently congratulated her for the nice save. "Anyway, I can do some of the things Jack can, and some different stuff...and he can do almost all of the same stuff I can, except vine conjuring...but mine aren't like Mother's...they're ice vines. I can also communicate with Nature."
"Huh..." Sandy blinked at her with a surprised smile. "So...you're both a Winter and a Nature spirit."
"Yes she is, but she prefers to spend time with Jack rather than me." Emily answered quickly before Eira could say anything. "She was born with the talent...and she only grew from there."
'Um...Emily? That's a bit much for information...don't you think?'
'No, not really, just watch.'
"Huh...fascinating, well, it's nice to meet you." Sandy told her and held out his small hand.
She smiled and nodded her head. "It's nice to meet you too, Sandy. I'm glad you're nice to Jack."
"Me too." I chuckled and made my way to my seat next to Eira, and Sandy sat on the other side of me.
"So, what have I missed since I was here last?"
"Oh! I finally got ahead of Jack in sparring matches!" Emily grinned victoriously, and I noticed a knowing smirk grow on Sandy's face.
"Oh really? By how much?"
"By...one point..." She pouted, but then she smiled. "No fair!" She chuckled.
"You're only ahead by one point, Mother Nature, and you act like you're ahead by thirty!" Sandy laughed out, and I immediately heard Eira start busting out laughing.
"He's got you there, Mother! Oh! Jack! You should invite him more often! He sasses Mother more than you do!"
"No, trust me, I've seen him sass her. I could never hope to compare." Sandy told her with a smirk.
"HA! I'm the Sass KING!"
Sandy then turned at me with narrowed eyes, a sideways glance, and a mischievous smirk. "Well, you have the crown...and you certainly have a big enough ego for it."
At that, everyone started laughing except me, but I was smiling and nodding my head. "Very funny, Sandy."
"I certainly thought so!" Nimbus shouted.
"Oh, and since when have you all been able to understand his symbols?"
"Since he would teach us whenever he saw us." Adara answered. "He figured out that we were closest to you, and he decided to teach us little by little whenever he saw us."
"Yes...but that also begs the question..." Sandy trailed off as he furrowed his brow to Eira. "If you're so glued to Jack's hip...how come I haven't seen you?"
"Oh! That's easy!" She giggled, and snapped her fingers, turning herself invisible. "I can become invisible, and I typically do this while I'm out with him. Oddly enough, he's the only one that can see me. There's also other reasons for that. I haven't met or seen you before either. Sometimes, well, since he's my General, he sends me to certain areas to help him spread Winter, and I do so invisibly."
"Truly?" Sandy questioned with astonishment lacing his tone. "And he's the only one that can see you?"
She made herself reappear and nodded her head. "Truly."
"Yes and yes. We're not entirely sure why he can, but we think it has something to do with him being as powerful as he is and the fact that he is also a winter spirit." Emily explained.
"Yes, well, he's no mere winter spirit, is he?" Sandy questioned with a proud smile. "He's the spirit of Winter...the Embodiment of winter."
"Very true, Sandy." Emily commented.
"What else has happened?" He asked as he looked back and forth at me and Emily.
"Oh, nothing much. We've spent time with each other, cooked, cleaned, done our jobs, kept each other company, sparred, and pretty much annoy Mother Nature to no end."
"Well, if that's not the truth, I don't know what is!" Emily laughed out joyfully.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
We all talked, drank, and ate until we couldn't do so anymore, and although I nor Sandy were drunk, we both decided, along with Mother Nature, to just leave those that were clearly drunk and passed out, be. Meanwhile, Sandy and I went up to my room, and Emily went to help Flora with dishes since they were the only other two who hadn't gotten drunk, and I sat on my bed with a heavy sigh. "Oh, that was a good birthday!"
"I'd say!" Sandy shouted as he sat himself on my bed next to me. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, Sandy."
"Have you dreamed about that Pooka again?"
"I have...off and on." I admitted and slightly gripped my blankets.
"Has he told you anything?"
"Nothing useful, but I did learn a little more about Bunny..." I looked up to my sky light and the etchings and pointed at them. "...and apparently I can read Pookan now."
When I looked back at him to see his reaction his eyes went wide and he actually feel off of my bed. "YOU CAN WHAT!?"
"Yeah...and those markings...they weren't there before my dream that I saw him in, and if you notice...the grass is a different color."
"Jack...I'm going to make symbols appear, and I want you to tell me what they say...I'll do it for ten words..."
"Alright." I told him, understanding how upsetting this must be for him. The first set of symbols appeared and I smiled. "Blue." I told him.
"Correct." He whispered out in his mind, but I heard it due to the strange connection we had.
Another set of symbols. "Sky."
"Correct."
Another set. "Bird."
"Correct."
And he just kept going with the symbols. "Library."
"Correct."
"Fruit."
"Correct. Now let's see if I can make it a little harder for you...I'm going to form sentences...just to test if you can TRULY read the language, and it wasn't just something you picked up. The next sentences I'm going to form...the symbols will be similar to what's on your ceiling, and they will be more complex."
"I understand."
"Good..."
The symbols appeared above his head, and it was lengthy, but I understood it. "That one says, 'I enjoy the snow, but I like to be out and about with Nature.' Huh...that's true for me."
"C-Correct."
The next one popped up, and I couldn't help but smile at it. "This one says, 'My name is Jack Frost, and I'm the Spirit of Winter.' Interesting that you would choose that."
"Correct. Let's keep going...but this time...just one more."
The next set of symbols appeared and for some reason they looked rather familiar, but I couldn't read the middle part. "Uh...Sandy...why did you blur out the middle of it?"
"I...I haven't." He made the symbols float down into his hand and shook his head. "It's there as clear as day."
"Wait...the first portion says...'My name is...' Then it blurs, but then the part after that says, '...and I used to be the Easter Bunny's youngest brother.' Sandy...I don't think I'm allowed to know the name...as in...something's preventing me from knowing it. I asked him in a dream once what his name was, and although he moved his mouth to say his name...and did so twice...I never actually heard any sound come out. It's the name of the Pooka in my dream right?"
"Y-Yes...and this is all very strange."
"Hey, can I write something to you in that language?"
"S-Sure."
I moved over to my nightstand and pulled out a notebook and pen, and started writing. Once I handed it to him, I started nervously clutching my staff that laid across my lap. "What does it say, or is it only scribbles?"
"It...It's not scribbles...you truly do know the language..."
"Can you tell me what it says?"
"First, tell me where this came from?"
"It...It was something that the Pooka in my dreams said to me. I think I'm going crazy Sandy...but it's what my skylight says. Look! It appeared after my dream with him."
Sandy did, and he properly looked up this time. Last time he didn't look up, he just stared at me. After his eyes widened even further he stared at me with an astonished and confused look in his eyes. "He told you what that said!? Are you sure!? And that appeared after your dream!?"
"Yes, yes, and yes...so, you can read it?"
"Yes, of course I can read it! I was Bunny's best friend after all."
"Oh...I didn't mean to be rude about the best friend thing. I..."
"You didn't upset me. Like I said, I feel honored. I know how trust is a big thing to you. You've told me so once. So, the fact that you consider me your best friend...means quite a great deal to me, and as far as this goes...I don't think you're crazy. If he gives you advice of any kind I think you should listen to him."
"Yeah...that's what Mother Nature told me too, well not exactly, but around the same thing."
"D-Does she know of your dreams? Does she know you can read the language?"
"Yes. I told her when I woke up."
"Whoa...back up a second..."
"Hmm?"
"Explain something to me...did you go to her when you woke up, or was she by your side when you woke up?"
"She was by my side. She seemed worried and mentioned the changes to my room while I was asleep."
"My goodness...I never thought I'd hear the day that she'd be worried about someone and be by their bedside."
"She's done it for the others before." I shrugged my shoulders.
"Really? Did anyone tell you when that started picking up? Because as far as I know, she was caring of her children, sure, but not as much as she has been since you arrived."
"Well, I don't really consider myself her child."
"Why not?"
"I just don't." I smirked. "I really can't see myself like that with her, and don't ask me why. I just can't. So, can you tell me what it says so that I know we're on the same page?"
"It says, 'Though the stars above me shine brightly, I shall close my eyes and tonight I shall dream sweetly and lightly. Though I am of ice and snow, I hold the knowledge that all Pooka know. I know of bravery, fear, love, hate, life, death, the other seasons that I am not born of such as Spring, Summer, and Fall, yes, I know them all. However, as I look up to the stars tonight I know another more beautiful thing, and I know it down to my every bone. What I know is...that I am never alone.' It's a protection spell. Bunny put it..."
"Bunny placed it in the other Pooka's burrow to protect him from nightmares, the dark, and his own self doubt."
"By the stars! You really have been talking to him!"
"That's what I've been trying to tell you...and HEY! If you didn't think I had been talking to him, why would you advise me to listen to his advice!?"
"Well, I thought it was just a kindred spirit thing, but it's apparently more than that...I'm not sure what it could possibly be, but it's something more than simply kindred spirits. It still holds true obviously..." He let out a wry laugh as he gestured to the room. "But it's somehow more than that too. You've really been talking to him...not just his reincarnations deep subconscious of him, but he's searching you out to speak with you...this is all so strange! I can't believe it..."
"Yeah, well...believe it, because it's real. So real that when I'm there, I can feel the air, smell the grass, hear the wind through the oak and maple trees, taste the sweet but bitter air on my tongue, and I can see as clearly as I'm seeing you now. Do you have any idea why this is all happening?"
"I haven't a clue, Jack, and believe me, I wish I did."
"Well, I guess I'll have to trust him..."
"Trust him with what?"
"He said that someday I would know."
"He did?"
"Yeah..."
"This is all so strange...can you promise me something?"
"What is it?"
"Tell me if he pops up in anymore dreams, and I'll come to help."
"And how am I supposed to do that?"
"Hmm...Since it's your birthday, you can consider this my birthday present to you..." Sandy floated over to my dresser where the bag of dream sand still sat and he smiled at it. "I see you've used it sparingly."
"I didn't want to waste it."
"I'm proud of you, and it only strengthens my resolve to give this to you." He opened the bag and pulled out dream sand. "Unbutton your sleeve and roll it up."
"Uh..." My eyes went wide and I quickly covered my left wrist, quickly remembering that my wedding band shows on my left wrist in the domain. "...Is it okay if it's my right wrist?"
He gave me a skeptical and worried look as he pursed his lips together. "It shouldn't really matter what wrist it is..."
"Okay, then the right it is. I um...I just don't like anything on my left wrist."
"Alright..." I unbuttoned the sleeve around my right wrist and did as he asked. I pulled it up to my elbow and gave him a questioning look, which earned me a soft smile for some reason. I watched as he then made the dream sand come closer to my wrist. He hadn't turned it into anything, and soon, the sand was going into my wrist. Once he was done, and the rest of the sand entered my wrist, which was surprisingly warm and relaxing, he put the pouch back on the dresser and came back to me with a wide smile. He then took my wrist and closed his eyes. I looked down at my wrist, and it started glowing a brilliant gold. Once he took his hands away the glow vanished and was replaced with a golden tattoo that had stars, moons, and what looked to be tribal markings of some kind, and it was similar to my wedding band, but not. It wrapped around my whole wrist, and it felt warm. "There. If you should dream of him again, simply press your hand to the tattoo and I'll appear in the dream with you, and then we can all talk together."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"Have you given anyone one of these before?"
"Hmm...once...a very long time ago."
"Was it Bunny?"
"No. I did it for Mother Nature."
"How long is a very long time ago?"
"When she was a child. She's much older than you think she is."
"She told me once that she was older than the Earth itself."
"My goodness she trusts you with a lot of information." Sandy scoffed out in surprise with a wide smile on her face. "I'm glad she found someone she can trust...but yes, she's older than the Earth, and I'm older than her. I did it for her to ease some of the bad dreams she would have, and sometimes just to speak with her when her father and I were out helping others."
"Oh, that makes sense."
"Does it now?"
"Yeah, it's kind of how Mother Nature tells us telepathically what she wants us to do, what time we need to be back by, asks us yes or no questions that are enchanted so that we can answer her back telepathically, and she let's us know if anything is wrong."
"Very similar, but somewhat different." Sandy smirked. "Anyway, who knows...maybe you'll see him tonight."
"I think I might. I don't know how I know, but I think I might."
"Well, it's getting rather late, so I'll let you sleep and I'll go deliver dreams, oh and, Jack?"
"Hmm?" I asked him as I set my staff against the wall while I walked over to my dresser to pick out a pair of pajama pants.
"That Eira spirit...the Snow Queen?"
"What about her?" I asked carefully, feeling worried that he may have caught on to the secret.
"Nothing, I just wanted to ask you something that I didn't want to ask in front of the others."
"Okay...?" I drawled out with a tilt of my head as I faked a smirk while I was growing even more worried on the inside.
"Well, she truly is attached to you, I can tell that much from how much she talked about you more than Mother Nature, and I was wondering...because I know that Adara had a great deal to do with getting Mesi to become a spirit, because..."
"Because in their old lives they were born twin sisters, it's just they aged slightly differently as spirits."
"Th-They told you?"
"Uh huh. So...what's your question?"
"I was wondering..." His eyes blinked wide and I couldn't help but let a real smirk shine through. He was almost speechless. Almost. "...if...you um...did you have something to do with her being here?"
'And he had to phrase it like that!?' I bellowed out a laugh in my mind, but let out a soft amused chuckle for him to hear instead. "You could say that." I answered.
"How?"
'Oh by the MOON! Why did ya have to ask that!?' I ran a hand through my hair and pursed my lips to the side. "Well, it was...it was a decision that both Mother Nature and I made together. We both thought it was a good idea at the time, and still is to this day. Neither of regret the decision." I looked up at him silently begging, 'Please let that be enough of an explanation!'
"Did either of you decide on her powers?"
"No, she um...she had a natural talent for her powers. They just came to her naturally, kind of like mine did."
"Interesting. Well, I'm glad you found someone you love."
"Excuse me?" I chuckled out in disbelief.
"You do love her, do you not? As in...romantically?"
"NO! BY THE MOON NO! I could never!"
"Whoa! That's a bit harsh don't you think!?"
"I'm sorry, but no, and I promise you, she would say the same thing! Just...no! We don't see each other like that! We get along great, and we spend time with each other, but no! No romantic feelings towards her! Besides, I already have someone that I..." I quickly clamped my hands over my mouth, but that didn't stop the extremely amused look I was getting from Sandy at that moment as he crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow at me.
"You already have someone that you...what, Jack?"
"That I..." I felt the blush creep onto my face and Sandy's eyes widened with pure amusement.
"Oh my...You have someone you like romantically, don't you!?"
"N-Not like...I...I love her."
"Y-You...oh my goodness, that is quite something. Does she know?"
"Yes." I answered simply.
"And does she return your feelings?"
"Yes."
"Are the two of you together?"
"Yes." I answered and then I looked at my wrist and I realized that it was the tattoo causing me to tell him the truth. "Sandy, why is the tattoo causing me to tell you the truth?"
"Oh, it um...it's like when you're really dreaming...you can't lie in your dreams. The truth is always revealed at one point or another...this just reveals it by questions...well...questions that I ask anyway. In time you'll learn how to avoid my questions, I'm sure, but until then...if I ask you something...you'll tell me the truth."
"Okay...can I ask you to promise me something then?"
"Yes, of course."
"Please don't mention to Mother Nature or the others that I have someone I love. It um...was supposed to be a secret until we were BOTH ready to tell others, and please, don't ask anymore about her."
"Okay. I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to be rude." Guilt appeared on his features, and it didn't belong there.
"You weren't. I would've told you if you were..."
"That's what it kind of felt like." He rolled his eyes with a smirk returning to his face.
"Well, I say you weren't. You were just curious as a good best friend would be, and though you have more information than other spirits, I trust you not to say anything about it."
"I promise I won't say anything until I either ACCIDENTALLY figure it out or until you tell me."
"Thank you, and at least now you know that I'm not romantically involved with Eira. I'm sorry, but the idea...it's a bit laughable where I stand."
"After your explanations, I can see why." He nodded his head, and made his way towards the door. "Goodnight, Jack, and happy birthday."
"Thank you, Sandy...for both the gift and being here. I know how busy you are."
"I'm never too busy for you, Jack."
"Thank you." I nodded gently with an appreciative smile. "Goodnight." Once I put a change of pants on, took off my shirt, and vest, I immediately went to my nest, and fell asleep quicker than I had expected as I relaxed into the layers of covers.
oOoOoOoOoOo
When I opened my eyes I looked up and knew where I was, and I made my way up the hill. "Well, funny seeing you here. Sandy I were just talking about you."
"So I heard." The Pooka grinned as he leaned against the large tree with amusement in his eyes. "How about you call him here. I'd like to talk to him too. It's been far too long...well...for him I'm sure."
"O-Okay..." I told him and I touched my wrist, doing what Sandy told me, and soon, in front of both of us, there was a brief glow, and Sandy appeared, but he didn't look like Sandy. "Uh...Sandy!?"
He looked down in shock at his form and then back and forth at us. "I...wow...I never thought I would look like this again."
"You looked like this once?" I questioned as I was completely dumbfounded by his appearance. He wore what looked to be a uniform, and although his last form looked human enough, this one looked even more human, and except for the eyes and hair color, he looked completely different. He was taller for one, and for another, he seemed younger almost, but yet...he was still the same.
"Oh yes." The Pooka answered. "This was his original form, Jack." Sandy shot his gaze towards the Pooka and his jaw dropped. "Hey there, Sandy." He waved with a smirk.
"I...Jack...you weren't lying."
"Well, now that's just rude." I commented as I crossed my arms with an amused smirk of my own.
"Oh come now, Jack, you have to give him SOME credit. To him I've been dead for what...how long have I been dead to you?"
"I...we...that is...Aster, Emily, and I...we thought...we thought that you've been dead for millions of years...billions in fact."
"Ah, yes...I believe the year is 1912 right now isn't it? Happy Birthday by the way, Jack."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." He nodded his head once towards me before he turned his gaze back to Sandy. "Surprised to see me?"
"Considering I thought you were dead...yeah. So...do you know who your reincarnation is?"
"Of course I do."
"Is he mortal or immortal?"
"He was mortal once, but he's been immortal for quite some time."
"Can you tell me his name so that I may find him?"
"I cannot."
"Why not?"
"Because, then he won't figure out what he needs to figure out."
"Is it not frustrating to you that he doesn't know you!?"
"You have know fucking clue how frustrating it is, but I am content in waiting." We both blinked at him in surprise at his vulgarity, but he simply let out a sigh as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Sorry...yes, it's frustrating, but it is something that requires time...didn't the two of you have this conversation a hundred years ago? Or at least something similar to it?"
"You were there?"
"In a way. I'm a part of him, and as odd as it may seem...what he senses, I do too."
"Wait wait wait!" I butted in shaking my hands wildly with a flushed expression. "So...the one that you know I'm in love with...you..."
"Oh yes...I love her too. More than you know...and I've felt everything the two of you have done."
"Y-You what!?" I shouted as my blush increased down my neck and chest.
"I'm somewhat lost...Jack, I know that you didn't want me to ask any further...but um...h-how far have the two of you gone?"
"You almost sound like you don't want to know." The Pooka smirked mischievously.
"I don't! It's the dream I swear. If I want to know something I ask it...it's like you telling the truth. You can't help it...but can you answer me anyway?"
"We..."
"They..." The Pooka answered with an amused glint in his eyes as he sent a sideways glance at me. "...have gone all the way."
"WH-WHAT!?" Sandy shouted in disbelief and shock, but there was no anger, which I suppose was a good thing.
"I...we...yeah...we um...we had..."
"Sex, Jack." The Pooka grinned mischievously. "The word you're looking for is sex. Actually from where I stood, the two of you made love more than just had sex. It was romantic in a way."
"OKAY! This is SO awkward! Can we PLEASE get off the subject!?" I begged, and Sandy nodded as a blush crept onto his face as well.
The Pooka bellowed out a laugh, but nodded his head. "As you wish, Jack. So...any other questions for me, Sandy?"
"Yeah, only about a thousand."
"Well, let's see how many you can get in before Jack's...family come to wake him up."
"Oh yeah...all the others are kind of like a family huh." Sandy hummed as if it was something he just remembered.
"I'd say." The Pooka grinned, and I elbowed him in the side, causing him to let out a loud "Oof." Which was then followed by a laugh. "Alright, alright."
"I'm not even gonna ask." He waved a hand at our antics and continued onto his question. "Can you tell me just how you're a part of Jack?"
"No."
"Is there anything you CAN tell me!? I mean...are you really really here, or are you some sort of consciousness from your reincarnation that has very real and important conversations with Jack? I mean...I can tell you're real, but are you really here?"
"Ah, now that's a question I can answer. Yes, I'm here. I'm here as physically as I am able. However, I can only be here when my reincarnation and Jack are asleep. When Jack is awake...I feel both Jack and my reincarnations human side at the same time. Let me tell you, it's a bit strange, but not too difficult to handle."
"When you say your reincarnation...are you meaning the mortal version of him?"
"Yes. Oh, you should come more often. You're asking more correct questions than Jack does!"
"Hey! I try! It's not my fault you're so damn cryptic!"
"Actually, it kind of is. If you would ask the right questions I would be able to answer you more."
"Fine!"
"Wow...the two of you are truly alike. You used to talk to Aster in the same way."
"Aster being my brother has a small amount to do with this...I'll admit that, considering it won't make sense until...oh...I suspect...at least another hundred years."
"Wait, you think I'll figure everything out in one hundred years!?"
"Give or take, but yeah, that's what I suspect."
"But I thought you couldn't answer that question before." I scratched my head in confusion.
"I can now. You see, some of the questions you ask...I can't answer at that point in time, but as time moves on, so does my inability to answer the question."
"So, I basically have to repeat myself?"
"Basically." He shrugged, but gave me a look of sympathy at the same time. "Sorry, Jack."
"No, it's alright. Just um...when I find out what I'm meant to find out...will I know your name THEN?"
"AH! At last! Another correct question! Yes, you will definitely know it then."
"May I ask a question?" Sandy asked carefully.
"You've asked a few already, so I don't see why not."
"Why haven't you told Jack to tell Bunny that the two of you speak in his dreams?"
"Sandy, of all the foolish questions you could've asked..." He sighed and shook his head. "...do you have any idea how painful that would be for Aster?"
"Wait! You're calling him Aster now? Not Bunny!?"
"Yes...we're getting closer to when you'll find everything out...and with that, the more you're allowed to know, but you can never use it unless he says, understand me?"
"Yes...I understand."
"Good...now where was I...oh yeah...it would be extremely painful for him, Sandy, and it would only increase his strong dislike for Jack."
I gave Sandy a guilty look, and he gazed at me with a concerned stare. "I...I saw...well, I was shown, and I'm sorry Sandy, but I can't tell you, or rather...I don't want you to ask why or how I was shown, but two people worked together to show me a bit of my future and in it...well...first off...when the day comes for that future to be a reality, I won't remember ever being shown it...so for now...you'll know...anyway...in the future...Bunny and I are apparently friends."
"Y-You're what!?"
"Yeah. He's standing at my side...at the North Pole."
"I...he...you...the North Pole...are you certain!?"
"Yeah...we were there to speak with the other Guardians...you were with us...and North...he treated me like a son, and Tooth treated me the same. It...It's still strange to think about..."
"It's strange to hear about! I...are you certain!?"
"Absolutely. I was told of one of the things I was shown, because I forgot it, and they wanted me to know it was something they showed me...and it happened. So, I really don't have any reason to believe that it won't happen...I just don't know when or how...I know the why, but I don't want to talk about that."
"..." I watched Sandy's mouth move as he looked at the Pooka, but nothing came out, so I assumed he called him by name. "...is he telling the truth? I mean...will it happen?"
"It was an absolute future, so yeah...it will someday. Now, if you don't mind, someone has walked into Jack's room, and they're about to wake him up...which means you need to go, Sandy."
"Right. Well, this was fascinating and left me with a lot to think about...and I promise not to tell Bunny anything."
"Good, and I highly thank you...Captain."
Sandy jumped a little at the title and he gave him the brightest smile I had ever seen and he nodded his head before vanishing. Once he was gone, everything faded to a brilliant green and white, and I knew I was waking up.
oOoOoOoOoOo
"Father!" I not only heard, but felt Eira jump onto me. "Wake up, Father!"
"Okay, I'm up!" I laughed out as I petted her hair. "What is it, sweetie?"
"You said you'd take me to Europe with you today. You told me so yesterday."
"Then Europe it is. Let me get dressed, and we'll go."
"Okay!" She ran out of the room with pure joy in her eyes, and closed the door behind her.
"Oh..." I groaned as I sat up and placed a hand on my head. "...How is it I got more answers than ever, but I'm still just as lost and with many more questions!?"