Author's Note: Yes, the title is a reference to Frozen. There's a reason for this. And I know, another interlude. I looked at the last update date and felt super guilty. I do have almost 1000 words done for the next actual chapter, but I needed a break from it and decided to focus more on the captured Sprites. I wanted to delve more into the Winter Sprites, so here is a look at a couple of them and their determination. This interlude helps out the plot a little too! The Winter Sprites' names in this actually both mean Winter and I believe are.. latin? Or something. It came from a baby name site. I still imagine that the sprites speak in cute tinkly voices (while the male ones are not quite so high pitched, but still cute) and in a language that no human could understand.. But the Seasonals can understand them perfectly fine.
Now.. reviews!
CrossoverJunkie reminded me that Pitch could think he had a hand in the recent weather disasters, as he doesn't really remember much of what he's done as Pitch Black. Oh, the angst! She also pointed out that Pitch has a good alibi so that the Guardians (hopefully) shouldn't blame him for things.
Cupcake wants me to update, so.. I updated! (Sort of.) Hope you like it.
Ayumu Hai pointed out that she hates cliffhangers, and I'm sorry to say this Interlude won't make you feel any better. It's a teensy bit cliffhangery. I can't help it. I'm seriously not a jerk. I promise. Plus that really was a good ending place.
Brenne hopes that Pitch doesn't get blamed for things, but everyone does not know he's good now. Sure, the Guardians do, but not everyone. The spirits are all wrapped up in their own powers and holidays and while gossip travels fast, not everyone knows what actually happened in Burgess. They knew Pitch caused a lot of problems and the Guardians stopped him somehow, but no one really knows the full story.. So actually, a large part of the spirit world still thinks Pitch is pretty evil. Since Pitch never gets house guests besides Jack and Lillian (and maybe a poor Jasper), the other spirits haven't realized that Pitch has changed. This is why the dark spirit still thinks he can pin things on Pitch. He hasn't realized Pitch is nice now. Dun dun duuun.
Now.. on with the Interlude!
Interlude 5: Let it Go
While the trapped spirits and sprites were worried about what this dark spirit was going to do now, a few were conspiring. Namely, a few of the Winter Sprites. They were the ones who had been there the longest of all, hundreds of years in fact. Jack Frost and Lillian were the only Seasonal spirits who didn't have any sprites or spirits (as far as they knew) and had to deal with all the bringing of their season on their own.
One of the winter sprites had shoulder length hair, that was white just like Jack's. She wore a blue dress decorated in white snowflakes and had a blue snowflake in her hair. She had on matching gloves and blue boots. Her cheeks were rosy and while her outfit looked to be in good condition for being so old, she herself looked exhausted. The lair they were in wasn't at all like Mother Nature's, which was just neutral enough to house any Seasonal Spirit or Sprite comfortably. No, this place was not ideal. The girl sprite, whose name was Neva, was conversing quietly with another winter sprite, who was male. He had on an outfit that was antiquated and was wearing a light, long sleeve blue shirt that had a v-neck and loose sleeves. He had on a white belt with brown pants (that looked similar to Jack's brown pants, oddly enough) with brown boots. His hair was also white and short. At his waist he had what appeared to be a sheathed sword of some sort and his silvery eyes looked serious as he regarded Neva. His name was Neve, although he didn't share any relation with Neva outside of the fact that they were both winter sprites.
Many of the other sprites were gaping at the dark spirit in fear or slumped over in their cages, looking defeated. Neva spoke quietly with Neve in a high tinkling voice that the sprites had. Her voice sounded almost like the tinkling of icicles if they were being tapped. Neve nodded at Neva in agreement. The time had come.. The world was in serious danger and they had to get out. Even if only a few of them could escape, it would be enough. They could warn their Seasonals and get bigger and more powerful spirits involved.
Neva suggested that a Winter Spirit could break out of its cage more easily than they could (they were small sprites and could almost be mistaken for fairies of some sort) and would be better equipped to avoid trouble, as they were more powerful than the sprites.
Neve sighed and looked over at his fellow sprites and spirits. There were so few of the Winter ones left. Only the most powerful of sprites and spirits were able to survive for so long out of their element, but it was taking its toll. Even Neva looked to be on her last legs. If they didn't get out, soon there wouldn't be any of them left.
He turned back to Neva and spoke in a voice that was crisp and cool, but not unfriendly. He explained that if they used their powers all together, they might be able to summon enough of Winter to break the bars of the cave. Their task as sprites was mainly dealing with the small things of Winter, such as frost, and the bigger things like snowfall, was up to the main Winter Spirit.
Neva looked at the bars doubtfully. She had tried on her own to do something about the bars a few years ago, but hadn't been successful. The most she had done was make the bars cooler. Manipulating the temperatures was more of the Winter Spirit's thing, not theirs. She bit her lip. She was so tired.. She didn't think she could go on much longer. So many of her fellow sprites had given up and simply faded away, ceasing to exist. Not being human or born out of anything other than pure magic, they didn't die, they just.. stopped. Forever.
She remembered so long ago, being excited at the prospect of meeting the new Winter Spirit. Mistral had been a poor master, not understanding the need for balance of Winter with the other Seasons and had been cruel to his poor Winter Sprites and Spirits, working them constantly and barking out harsh orders. She couldn't remember the joy of the Season of Winter anymore. She couldn't remember the last time she had been happy, or a day that went by when she didn't live in fear of what the dark spirit would do..
She realized that she desperately needed to make certain that the new Winter Spirit would be alright. He had looked ill in that enchanted mirror, and so young for a spirit. She worried about the other spirit as well, but the Winter Spirit was her spirit. Even if she gave her life to free another Winter Sprite, it would be worth it.
That was what sprites did, they lived to serve their Seasonal and felt obligated to do what they said. She needed to fulfill her duty. She needed to live.
As soon as the dark spirit finished gloating and left the cave, the Winter Sprites put their plan into action.
The other seasonal sprites watched the Winter Sprites' efforts with mild interest, but most were too caught up in their own misery to care much. So only a few of them took notice at the sound of breaking metal and the tired cries of victory of Neve and Neva, the only winter Sprites with enough energy to fly with their delicate snowflake-like wings.
Neve, the stronger of the two reassured the others that they would fetch help as soon as they could.
The dark spirit's plans had to be stopped.
Author's Note: What did you guys think? Do you like hearing more about the sprites? I'll be working more on the next chapter on the weekend, but I won't say when it will be out. I was happily writing about Jack and Lillian but Bunny had to pop up and stomp around and my urge to write for him kinda flew out the window, so I switched gears and went back to do another Interlude. I know the interludes were supposed to be about Lillian's book, but she has to be well or at least well enough to sit up to write in it! The next chapter will skip around points of view again. I kinda like the jumping all over to different characters thing, so if this style bothers you let me know. And if you guys are tired of hearing about the sprites and other Seasonals, I'll find something else to do for the interludes. I just thought it would be a way of introducing more aspects of the Seasonals/sprites etc. on the side without it being super major plot.
Anyway! Let me know your thoughts etc. And thanks for all the reviews.
Last Minute Disclaimer (and probably the last one): I own NOTHING, except for: Lillian, Lillian's parents, any Seasonal and Sprite except for Jack. I do not own Death, he's borrowed from Discworld. I do own the dark spirit. That is all.
I think I covered everything.. Since everyone knows pretty much what characters I do and do not own, that's the very last disclaimer and I don't care if I have 100 chapters, that's it. There.
