I was flying over Burgess when I heard Bunny down below talking to someone, and he was more than a little agitated. "What are ya doin' here. This isn't your area." He stated with a serious expression.

"Is that any way to speak to a lady?" She crossed her arms as she stepped forward.

"I don't know, I'll let ya know when I see one." Bunny spat while he pulled out his boomerangs.

She staggered back a bit at my comment and shot him a pissed off look. "How dare you!?"

"Wolfina, the last time I saw you was a hundred and fifty years ago, and you were being cast out by Mother Nature because you had sent your wolves on children and somehow learned to control Wendigo. Why she let you live is beyond me, but I can't have ya here near children. You were supposed to stay in the rain forest where no one would be able to find you."

"I left, obviously. You see, I don't quite agree with Mother's punishment."

"And what do ya plan on doin' about it?" He challenged as he glared at her and her wolves, his boomerangs at the ready.

"Oh, nothing much, just going to dethrone her. The queen of Nature...Wolfina. Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?"

"Y-You...?" Bunny immediately doubled over, laughing at her words, and I couldn't blame him one bit. It was hilarious to think that she honestly thought she could overthrow my wife. "You think you can actually...! Ya really think ya can defeat Mother Nature!"

"Of course I do, I have my wolves and the Wendigo at my command."

"Oh my...!" He started laughing some more. "...and you're damn confident about it too! Well..." He started as he tried to calm himself down. "...not that it matters, but I know for a fact that you wouldn't be able to defeat her...and I still can't let ya near the little ankle-biters, so I'm only gonna ask once. Please leave and go back to the forest."

"I won't." She replied with pure agitation and defiance.

"Then, I guess I'm gonna have to make ya leave!" I growled out.

"Boys..." She started in a sing-song tone. "Lunch!"

'Um...how about NO!' I thought, and immediately started to make it snow.

"Snow?" I heard Wolfina question.

"Yeah! SNOW!"

"JACK FROST!?" She screeched with a look of fear on her face.

"You never learn!" I shouted as pure rage filled my heart at remembering what she had tried to do to Eira back in '68. "You bring these wolves, and you've given them a SPECIFIC taste for children! I know your tricks! Why are you here!?"

"That's none of your business!"

"I'm making it my business! I won't let you hurt children!" I growled out as I shot pure ice shards at her and, and I leapt onto her wolves, killing them with pure ice to their heads, before flying a little higher. "I've already taken out two of your pets...if you don't want to make it more, go back to the rain forest! You will not harm any children!"

"You monster!" She shouted in panic as she jumped onto one of her other wolves, and leapt into the sky towards me. She used one of her swords to slash at my side. I groaned in pain as I felt the blade cut deep into me.

"JACK!" I heard Bunny shout in concern, but soon it turned into shock as I used my ice magic to heal the wound. "Jack?" He whispered out, and I could tell he had questions, but I couldn't answer them at the moment.

"I am NOT a MONSTER!" I screamed as I spun my staff in the palm of my hand, changing the direction of the blizzard, and created a blizzard cyclone that lifted her up into the air. I dispelled it with pure fury in my chest, and I watched as she fell to the ground with a loud thump.

Once she was stable on her feet, she glared at me with daggers in her eyes. "How can you say that, when winter kills!?"

"LEAVE THIS AREA!" I warned her, hearing my own voice echo throughout the area, but then I saw a dangerous grin appear on her face, and she moved before I could do anything. The next thing I heard and saw was her slashing up Bunny on his legs, arms, and back.

"I'll leave for now! But I'm giving you a little gift! Have fun, Jack Frost!"

I ran towards, Bunny's body and saw blood pooling beneath him and seeping into the Earth. "Oh...Bunny..." I watched as his eyes closed, and knew he was unconscious. I picked him up with only the strength a Pooka could muster and I made a portal appear in front of us, thanks to Emily's gift to me two years ago, I could conjure them anywhere as long as there was ice, snow, or frost present. I carried him into the domain and gently laid him down on the ground. "Emily!"

"Father!?" Nimbus shouted in worried shock. "Why is the Easter Bunny...?"

"Nimbus! Go get Emily! Now!"

Without another word, Nimbus ran inside the castle and five minutes later, came out with Emily rushing towards us. "I'll tell you everything back at his burrow, but I don't know the way, and I can't teleport there. Please, take us to his burrow, Emily."

She nodded her head as she looked at his injuries, and conjured a portal over us, which ended up teleporting us to a place that looked exactly like Bunny's original burrow from when we lived together. "Okay, tell me what happened after I at least get the blood to stop safely. I took the liberty of teleporting some medical supplies in here for you." She moved over to him and hovered her hands over each wound, and for every wound she got to stop bleeding, her hands glowed a brilliant forest and emerald green. Once she was done she turned to me, and let out a heavy sigh as she looked at him lying on his bed. "The slashes on his back will give him some nerve damage...he won't be able to react, move, speak, or do anything, but possibly hear and smell until he opens his eyes. You should be the one to look after him for multiple reasons, but don't worry, he'll eventually get better. I casted a spell on his stomach so he won't have to worry about food or water until he can move his mouth I'll speak with the Snow Queen about taking over for you while you're here with him. Now, what happened?"

"It was Wolfina." I told her in an urgent manner.

"Wolfina? Are you sure?"

"Considering she slashed my side with her sword that I had to heal with ice magic?" Emily rolled her eyes and I nodded my head. "Yeah, she had her wolves with her."

"Do you know why she was there?" She asked me with a concerned expression and I let out a soft frustrated sigh.

"I think she wants to get back at you for her punishment."

"I see...I will look into it. I trust you'll take care of him?"

"I will."

"Good. I will be on my way then."

"I will see you later then, Emily."

"Farewell, Jack."

Once she walked through her portal I walked over towards Bunny for a moment, knowing that I was going to have to be more Jack than Snowdrop for the entire time I was going to be helping him. "Alright...now first things first...I'm going to have to clean your wounds. I don't know if you can hear me, but..." I grabbed one of the wash clothes and dipped it into the cleaning solution I recognized from the many times I needed to be healed. Then I wrung it out and continued, "...I'm going to clean the wound now, and it may sting...but you won't be able to react...because when she cut up your spine, she slashed it in two different places, and damaged some nerves in the process. Emily...er...Mother Nature says that I should look after you and that even though it may take a long time, that you would eventually be better and would eventually be back to your old self." As I started to clean his wounds I noticed just how severe they were. "You're wounds are pretty bad...I'm going to have to stitch them. Don't worry, I'll numb the areas before stitching them. After I'm done cleaning the wounds of course." I let out another sigh as I continued to clean the blood off his arm, and considering he doesn't know who I really am I shook my head while I carefully cleaned the blood off. "I'm willing to bet that if you knew it was me treating you...you would rather just bleed out, but I couldn't leave you like that. Wolfina is cruel." Once I was done with the gash on his arm I breathed out through my nose and nodded my head. "Alright...I think that gash is done...but I have to work on the others...I'm sorry this happened to you. I wish I would've been faster. If you only knew...anyway, it's not like I could just leave you there. No matter what you may think of me right now."

I continued cleaning his wounds until I finally got the ones on his back, and I laid him back against the bed. "There...I think I've cleaned the last wound. Your back was the most difficult, but I'm pretty sure I got all of the blood. Now, I just have to numb the areas I'm gonna try and stitch." I tapped his arm, freezing and numbing just the area I wanted to sew, and I immediately started sewing the wound closed. I did so for all of the wounds, and although it took a while, I eventually got all of his wounds done, even his back, but if I'm going to be honest, I don't think he noticed I lifted him up, but thankfully it was the last wound that needed stitches. "I'm going to have to bandage you. Trust me, it's not going to be a picnic for me either, but it's just a precaution."

I started wrapping the bandages carefully around his abdomen, and then I moved to scoot him back down on the bed so he was laying down again. He wasn't difficult to lift, but if he saw me doing this, he would think he was, because he doesn't know, and I wish I could tell him. After wallowing for a few milliseconds, I repeated the action on his legs and arms until he was finally all stitched and bandaged. "There!" He huffed out as I heard him flop back into a seat of some sort. "You're cleaned, stitched, and bandaged. Now...Mother Nature casted a spell on your stomach so that you wouldn't have to worry about being hungry any time soon, or at the very least, until you're able to swallow, and once you're able to swallow, I'm going to make you food. Now, what to do until then. Mother Nature wanted me to stay in your Warren and look after you. She said she would speak with the Snow Queen about taking over my duties for now. I don't think she'll mind." I chuckled out before letting out a sigh. "Now seriously...what am I going to do...?" I heard something enter the room, and noticed it was a Googie, and it reminded me that I had to be more Jack than Snowdrop. "Oh! Hello. I thought you guys didn't come out until spring..." I leaned down to pick it up and it happily jumped into my hand. "Well, do you happen to know if Ol' Cottontail has a library here?" The Googie jumped out of my hand and started walking away. "Lead the way, then." I laughed out, highly amused at Bunny's Googies.

Once it led me to the library I noticed how eerily similar the entire burrow was to our original one, and I couldn't help, but smile. Then, I walked into the library and not only was it similar, but somehow it had all of the same exact books. Even the furniture was the same. 'Thankfully I can read and write Pookan.' I thought to myself as I gathered some of my favorite books. I sat down in my favorite chair where I usually sat to read when we lived together, and I was reminded how much bigger my Pookan frame was compared to the one I have now. "I could sleep in this thing!" I laughed and started to read about the summer plants.

For the next two days, I spent my time cooking my meals in Bunny's kitchen, using the couch in the living room of the Burrow to sleep on, checking on Bunny, and reading. I was finishing up the second book I had started when a Googie ran into the Library, jumping up and down frantically. Once I saw it, it ran out of the room, and I followed it all the way to Aster's room. I opened the door, and noticed something was off. "Alright, well...you're library is freaking huge! I read about two books, and then one of your 'googies' came to get me. I think I can see why. I'll be right back." I left for a brief moment and I grabbed some rags, and gathered warm water into a bowl before making my way back into his Burrow.

"You sweated out a fever. I didn't even know rabbits could do that. I'm sorry you got into this situation. I feel like it's my fault. If I had gotten to you before she started cutting you up...It seems that all I'm good at is making a big mess...bigger." I let out a heavy sigh as I shook my head while guilt wormed it's way into my heart. "Mother Nature told me that you usually start painting eggs around this time...I'm hoping you wake up soon. North and Tooth have been worried about you, but I think Sandy is more worried than any of us. When I asked him about it, he said that the two of you had known each other for a long time. He was kind of mad that I didn't tell him about the fight that happened two days ago, but when I told him today, he was at least appreciative that I told him and that I've been taking care of you. You're wounds have gotten a lot better, but they're still pretty bad. The two on your back are the worst though." I put the cloth back into the water and got up. "I'll be right back. I'm going to make you something to eat. It won't be much...just broth, but it'll be something." I went to the kitchen and quickly made a meal I had made for my sister before in my mortal life, but it was also something Bunny made for me in my Pookan life.

Then, I started to adjust the pillows and lifted him up into a propped up sitting position. "I know it's probably not comfortable, but it's the best I can do." Once I was convinced that he was steady and not going to fall off of his nest, I sat back down briefly. "Now, I'm not going to promise this'll be any good, but...I...after looking in my memory box, I remembered a lot of stuff. This was one of them. My mother used to make it for my sister and I when we would get sick. Now...this'll be awkward for both of us...but if you can hear me...can you open your mouth?" I watched as he gently opened his mouth and relief flood in my chest. "That's great! So, you can hear me!" I picked up the bowl and carefully started to feed him. "It's just garlic, hot water, chicken broth, onions, and some melted butter."

For about fifteen minutes, I continued to carefully feed him until there was nothing left. "At least you have something in your belly now." I let out a slight sigh as I started messing with my hands. "Like I said, your wounds are looking better. Your arms are healing up nicely and I didn't have to replace any of the stitches, but on your legs and back...I had to redo them. I hope you were asleep for that, because even though I numbed you, it seemed painful. Sandy should be arriving any..." The door opened, and it revealed Sandy himself. "...minute now." I couldn't help the grin on my face as I watched Sandy come closer. "Hey, Sandy. Everything go well?"

"Yes, it did." He answered and then he immediately turned his gaze to Bunny, and his joyful expression faltered. "How is he?"

"He's...doing better at least. I had to restitch his legs and back...but I was able to ask him to open his mouth for food and he did. I think he's still awake..."

"He's awake, I can feel it."

"You can you feel it?" I blinked at him several times in shock.

"I'm the Sandman, Jack." Sandy chuckled warmly, and I returned it in kind.

"Hey, can I ask you something?"

"I don't see why not." He sighed out as he too sat down in a chair.

"Am I the only one that can hear your voice? You know...what you really sound like?"

"No, Bunny can as well. He has been able to since the day we met. The two of you are quite the mystery to me."

"Bunny can too? Wait...since the two of you met? How old are the two of you?"

"Old Jack." Sandy bellowed out in laughter. "Just...old."

"Like...a few thousand years?"

"Much much older than that." I could hear Sandy's grin.

"Okay...Trillions of years?"

The chair along with Sandy instantly toppled over followed by Sandy's melodic laughter. "No! Starshine! No! Not that old!"

"Hey, you're the one that didn't give me a range." I laughed out.

"We're both the same age, but the closest number I'll give you to our age is...we're around eight billion years old."

"You're how old!?"

"Hey, you're the one that asked." Sandy chuckled low.

"Wow...old old."

"Yes...old old." He hummed, and I could see the knowing amusement on his face that I was always so used to.

"So...the two of you are the same age?"

"Yes, and our birthdays aren't that far apart either. Now, because I know he's awake, I won't say anymore on the subject of our age or how we met. I'll let him decide that, but I can tell you a little bit about him if you like."

"Why would you tell me about what he was like?"

"Payback."

"Wow, didn't know you had it in you."

"There's a lot you don't know, Jack."

"I can tell...well...yeah, I'd like to hear about him."

"Okay, but you have to truly promise that you won't tell anyone. I mean it, Jack. I'm not joking, and I will feel severely betrayed if you do."

"I...this is very important to you isn't it?"

"Very. I need to know that I can trust you. That you won't use the information as a prank or to tease him with. I need to know that you won't tell the other children or spirits. I need to know that it will remain between the three of us. Not even the other Guardians know the things I'm about to tell you, and I'm sure Bunny would be hurt if any of this got out, but..." Sandy walked towards Bunny with a calculative glance at his wounds. "Bunny...do you think you can tap your finger against your thigh, just so that Jack knows you're awake?"

I watched in amazement as Bunny twitched his index finger, and I nearly laughed at the relief I felt, but settled on simply saying, "Wow, he really is awake."

"Yes, he is...now Bunny...you know the things I'm going to tell Jack. I need to know that I have your permission to tell him these things. If you don't want him to know, I won't tell him. Do you trust Jack to know as long as he swears not to speak of it to absolutely anyone? If he promises that it stays between the three of us?" Then, Sandy nodded his head with a guilty expression as he let out a sigh. "I know it's a lot to ask for, but I'm asking it anyway."

"Wait...can you hear his thoughts too?"

"Yes. It was a skill we gained when we were around thirty years old. Bunny...your answer?" Sandy's eyes went wide at whatever Bunny had said to him, and my mind was reeling. "Wow...you um...you don't mean..." His eyes became even wider as he looked back and forth between me and Bunny, and suddenly I was more confused than ever. "That's...that's a lot of trust, Bunny. Are you sure?" Another moment of silence and Sandy's expression went from shocked to thoughtful and kind. "Hmm...You're not wrong at all actually. He is one of those people to me...very much so."

"What is it? What did he say? What kind of person am I to you?"

"A trusted person...Okay...first off, Jack...I'm going to ask you a question, and when you answer it...I need you to be completely honest. I'm going to ask you to swear something, and the way I'm going to ask it...when you answer...I'll know immediately if you're lying...because if you lie, or if you will someday betray your promise...you will be in pain immediately after answering. Now...are you certain you want to know more about Bunny?"

"I..." I sighed and then chuckled lightly nodding my head at Sandy. "Yes. I want to know."

"Very well. First, I need to know your full mortal name. The name you had before you were a spirit."

"Oh, well...my name is Jackson Overland Frost."

"Truly?" He asked me with a risen brow and surprised eyes.

"Truly." I answered as I remembered that I had asked Manny the same thing, and although it was truly my name once, I had another name, and I hope it would be good enough consider it was technically ONE of my true names.

"Well, then...Jackson Overland Frost, do you swear to stay by our side as a best friend and brother to us no matter what? Do you swear that even if we SHOULD separate that you'll always think of us as your brothers? Do you swear to be trustworthy to us, no matter your emotion of us at the time? Do you swear to remain a true and faithful friend forever and always? Do you swear to take care of us in our time of need just as we will take care of you in your's? Do you swear that you'll protect our magic, our secrets, our words, our thoughts, and our friendship?"

"I swear."

I looked down at myself and I was glowing a brilliant golden and light blue color, but it was mostly gold, and then it disappeared almost as quickly as it came, and apparently that WAS good enough. "My word..." Sandy gasped with a smile on his face. "...well then..." He turned to face Bunny once more and placed a small hand on his forearm. "Bunny, do I have your permission to tell him things about your past before Earth?" We waited for a moment, and apparently Bunny gave him an answer because Sandy smiled wide. "Very well then. I won't tell him anything when you drift off to sleep which should be any moment now, but while you sleep, I'll tell Manny in private what I plan to do, and see if he doesn't mind watching over the children's dreams while you're awake, if I look after them while you sleep." Then, apparently Bunny asked if Sandy put dream sand over him, because the next thing Sandy said was, "Yes, I did." I could hear the mischievous smirk as I slipped into unconsciousness.