Okay, it might be a day late, but here I am with Chapter 29!

...Chapter 29, wow. You know fun fact: Five days from now, it'll be the one year anniversary of the Google Doc I created to hold this story! Of course, I didn't post it until a few months after that, but still...it's hard to believe I've been working on this story for almost a full year!

Anyway, review time! Huge thanks go out to Brenne (Heh, the Guardians wouldn't know much about snow sprite magic, so it looks like Jackie Boy's all on his own!), rwbygirl, BooksAreMedicine (Not quite yet, but they will talk about it soon!), Serami Nefera (Very true), Fewwordssam, NopeNotTelling (Aw, thank you!), WinterCrystal1009 (...then maybe you don't have much room to be talking XD Ah, I'm just kidding, don't worry! And sorry! I just had a project for Spanish class to do that took up a lot of time in which I would have rather been writing, heh heh.), and themagicplok!

Now, without further ado, on with the chapter!

Chapter 29: Conflicted and Confused

Over the next few days, Jack was able to greatly increase his hand-to-hand combat skills. Gradually, his body grew used to the new kinds of physical exertion, and, while his frame was just as small as before, he noticed that his muscles had become a bit stronger, if only by a small amount.

I'm not getting as tired as I did when first starting out… Jack realized as he blocked a kick from Aster that otherwise would have collided with the side of his head. Only a few days have passed, but they've worked me so hard that I've been forced to improve. Of course, the 'natural ability' they claim I possess has certainly helped...perhaps I was underestimating myself before. It seems that I can fight after all… He frowned. Still, I need to be able to use my magic to its full capacity if I'm to be of any use...but can the Guardians really help me with that?

His thoughts were cut off as a fur-covered fist suddenly came rushing towards him, aiming for the space right between his eyes. The boy gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes, then brought his hand up to catch Aster's paw. As expected, he felt the Pooka twist his arm to try and shake him off, and Jack was more than prepared.

Jack allowed himself to be flipped, keeping his grip on Aster's paw tight. At the last moment before he hit the ground, he twisted his body around, landing on his feet like a cat, and grabbed Aster's arm with his other hand. Though he normally wouldn't have been able to support the Guardian's weight with his own thin frame, momentum was on his side. Using it, he was able to pull with all his might and flip Aster forward over his shoulder, the Pooka landing hard on his back on the ground.

At first, Aster didn't move, remaining in his prone position for a while, appearing defeated. However, Jack wasn't fooled. When the Guardian of Hope jumped to his feet and tried to take the boy out with a swift kick to the chest, Jack was already in the air. Never hovering in one place for too long, Jack dodged each of Aster's attacks mid-flight, until he finally found an opening to make a move himself.

The young sprite swung his staff, the hooked part catching the rabbit around the waist and flinging him to the side. Before Aster knew it, Jack was standing over him, one foot planted on his furry back. A dagger made of ice formed in his hand, and he plunged it into the ground next to his fallen opponent's head, pretending to have slain him once and for all. He had won.

Jack smirked, keeping a calm exterior while he mentally celebrated his first victory against one of the Guardians. "Checkmate," he said smugly.

Aster snorted as Jack allowed him to stand, saying, "Not bad, mate. 'Course I was goin' easy on ya, but all things considered...not bad."

"Going easy on me?" Jack asked skeptically. "Please, you're simply too proud to admit that I beat you while you were giving it your all."

"And yer gettin' awfully cocky, kid," the rabbit growled, rolling his emerald eyes. "One victory in a sparrin' match where I ain't really tryin' ta hurt ya can't compare ta the real deal. Ya know that, right?"

Jack pouted, then instantly regretted it, hating the childish expression. Instead, his facial features shifted into a far more dignified scowl. "Of course I know that," he deadpanned. "Still, can't you allow me to at least be somewhat happy I was able to take you down?"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever helps ya sleep at night," Aster grumbled, giving another roll of his eyes. "I said 'not bad', not 'perfect'. Ya've still got a little ways ta go. Though that flyin' trick seems ta be helpin' ya out." He raised his eyebrows. "Never seen a sprite that could fly before."

The winter boy found himself scoffing at Aster's comment. "Then you must have never seen a sprite before at all. That might make sense if you were any old regular Pooka living in Motoraus, but you're one of the Guardians of Childhood; you must've seen more snow sprites than just me, right?"

Aster cocked his head slightly. "A long time ago, yeah, but none of them could fly. What the bloody hell are ya talkin' about?"

"I'm 'talkin' about' the fact that all snow sprites can fly, genius," Jack replied. "We just don't show it off very often. 'Tis more of an...ace up our sleeves, if you will." He laughed and smirked at the surprised Guardian. "Looks like my entire race managed to keep something hidden from even the great immortal Guardians...what's wrong, are you frustrated that you're not no omniscient after all?"

Aster scoffed. "Whatever, mate, it was just a question." He nodded at him. "Now get outta here and find one of the others ta keep helpin' ya train; I'm sick of ya for the time bein'."

That being said, he walked off.

Jack couldn't stop the chuckle that escaped his lips, but clamped his mouth shut tightly as soon as he realized what he was doing. He stood like that, completely silent, for what felt like an eternity, but could only have been a few minutes. Then, he sat down where he was, sighing and drawing his cloak around him with a frown.

'Tis happening… he thought. What I feared from the start…'tis really happening. Ugh, I'm...I'm getting attached to these four. The longer I stay, the less I want to leave...but once this is over, I have to leave...I can't stay with them, I just...I can't.

He frowned. But...why can't I…?

Jack could have slapped himself in the face, but didn't, only rubbing his forehead, eyes closed. Because they don't really want me around...they're just using me as a tool to stop the Nightmare King. I have the Tsar's protection on me, of course they would want me on their side. And maybe they're telling the truth, maybe they really are sorry for what they've done to me, but...I can't forgive that, can I…? Even if it was something of a mistake on their part…

Now, he was more uncertain than ever. He wanted to hate the Guardians for ignoring him, turning a blind eye to the suffering of his kind simply because they believed the rumors spread about them, and to an extent, he did...but he was beginning to find it difficult to decide if he should really place every last ounce of the blame on them or not.

After all...this was manipulation set up by Pitch Black, the embodiment of Fear itself...can I really blame the Guardians? Or humans, for that matter? He pulled his cloak tighter around his slender body. Can I ever really forgive them…? Am I just being petty…? Am I right to hold a grudge…? What...what is 'right' anyway…? How can I decide how to feel…? I don't...I don't understand...I don't understand anything anymore…

Thoughts still swirling around in his mind, Jack stood, making his way over to where Zephyr was tethered. He knew that he should listen to Aster and go off to find another Guardian to train with, but wanted to compose himself first. He found it calming to run his fingers through the mane of his equine companion, murmuring softly into the horse's ear.

"I don't know what to think anymore, Zephyr…" he said quietly. "I don't want to get attached to them because I know I'll end up getting kicked out sooner or later...I'll never really be a Guardian, not only because I don't want to, but also because I'm not cut out for it. On the other hand...what am I supposed to do should I leave? Keep running…? I don't have anywhere to go or anyone to turn to...what do you think…?"

Of course, Zephyr couldn't answer him with words. Instead, the stallion, seeming to sense his master's distress, nuzzled the boy gently, nickering softly. Jack rested his forehead against Zephyr's neck, eyes closed. "I wish I could go back, Zeph…" he mumbled in a small, childish voice. "I wish I could go back to before any of this happened, and then stop it somehow...I wish I could go home, but to how it was before, not...not the charred rubble it probably is now…I want to go home...I want to be okay again...I want my old life back…"

And for the first time in years, Jack Frost allowed a single tear to roll down his face.

()()()()

It wasn't easy to compose himself, but once he was able to, Jack had gone off to find Sandy to spar with. The Sand-Spinner was easily the most powerful of the Guardians, and he wasn't at all confident in his ability to best him, but Jack still found Sandy the easiest of the four to be around. Besides, he wasn't up for much conversation anymore.

The two were now locked in wordless combat, the only sounds being the swooping of Sandy's sand as it flew everywhere and Jack's grunts and yelps as he was forced to constantly dodge the strikes. It was sometimes stressful trying to predict which way Sandy would attack next, but Jack didn't mind in the slightest. If anything, he welcomed the distraction, as, with his full attention on the battle, his mind wasn't able to wander.

Though he had certainly gotten better at fighting over the past few days of training, Jack was still no match for Sandy, especially without full use of his magic. He wished the Guardians could help him with that, but knew that it was impossible. The winter magic of snow sprites was very unique, and couldn't be taught or used by anyone who didn't inherently know it. If he wanted to be able to use his magic in combat, he would need to figure it out himself.

Keeping this in mind, he decided to test it out. After backflipping to avoid one of the Guardian of Dreams' whips, Jack summoned as much magic as he knew how to and swung his staff, hoping to shoot out a blast of ice. Unfortunately, all that he was able to do was send a relatively strong gust of wind in Sandy's direction, which, while it did serve to briefly unbalance the little golden man, wasn't what Jack was looking for.

"Damn it…" he mumbled bitterly, though he shouldn't have stopped to speak. Because of his distraction, Sandy was able to catch him at last, looping a golden whip around his ankle and throwing him a few feet.

Jack yelped as he hit the ground face-first, his staff flying out of his hand and landing out of his reach a few feet away. He tried to push himself to his feet, but wasn't quick enough, and the Sand-Spinner wrapped his whip around the boy's waist, flipping him over onto his back. Sandy gave a silent chuckle and formed a small ball of dreamsand in his hand. With a knowing smile, he nodded at his beaten opponent and lightly tossed the ball of sand onto Jack. It hit him right in the face, and, as the sand fell into his blue eyes, Jack found his alertness and overall consciousness slipping.

"Not...fair…" he slurred, sounding almost drunk as the effects of the sand washed over him. He was able to keep his eyes open just long enough to see a few images flash over Sandy's head.

Sleep for now, the golden pictures told him. You seem like you need it. When you wake up, we'll tell you our plan for going up against the Nightmare King.

Though outwardly, Jack tried to fight the sleep that threatened to take him, he was actually grateful for the little man's efforts. Somehow he could tell that I needed a break… Jack thought vaguely, allowing his heavy eyelids to fall shut. ...thank you, Sandy…

A slight smile on his face, he allowed himself to fall asleep, grateful for the temporary release from the troubling thoughts that seemed to eternally plague his mind.

Huh, seems like I end these chapters with Jack falling asleep pretty often...does that make it a motif?

...I don't know I'd have to ask my English teacher.

ANYway, I hope you guys enjoyed, and I'll see you guys next week for Chapter 30, where the plans to fight Pitch will be revealed!

'Til then, Sapphire316, out.