Author's Note: Ok, so. Tuesday sort of counts as the weekend now. But hey, I'm updating somewhat soonish, so that counts for something, right?
As to my reviewers:
Capricon Aquarius FOZ: Thanks for your review! Although I don't enjoy being threatened by temporal manipulators.
CrossoverJunkie: Thanks for understanding why Pitch was being so clingy. I also explained it a bit in this chapter.
Anonymous: This guest reviewer reminded me that apparently in some author's note forever ago, I mentioned doing an HP crossover with this story or else a one-shot or something. I don't remember what I said precisely, but this guest feels I should definitely write it. I have to admit, I'm really bad at writing short stories. They always turn into giant monstrosities (If this fic is any indication..! It already looks so big when I look at the chapter list). I'll give it a go though. This is going to be put on the way back burner though since my fic priorities are thus: Child of Spring, then Jamie's UFO/Ghost Hunting, then any other fics I'm writing but haven't actually published yet. So I'll work on this a little and see what I come up with. I need to figure out how I'm going to mesh the two and what time period Child of Spring will be in. If I stick strictly to the CoS timeline, then we'd be in the days where Pitch was acting strange and before Jack moved in with them.. And this would be when the Guardians were giving them Christmas gifts and such, but still being distant.. If I wanted them to be in the timeline when Harry Potter was in Hogwarts. If I want this to take place later after Rise of the Guardians, then I'd have to look up when Harry's kids would be in school, etc..
Or I can turn this into a total heart wrenching experience. I dunno. I'll think about it!
Anyway, thanks to the reviewers, follows and faves! I have to tell you that this chapter looks at what just about all the Spirits/Sprites are up to, so I hope you enjoy!
Chapter Fourty-Eight: Winter's Rescue
"I'll get snow globe!" North declared earnestly, ignoring Pitch's suddenly intense glare in his direction as he hurried off.
Jack saw that Pitch was very unhappy about all of this, and sighed.
"Pitch, I have to go," he said plaintively. "If I can help them.. I have to. I have to at least try."
Pitch turned to Jack, his dark look lessening. It had been four days since he had gotten his children back, but he knew that he would never get the image of them alone and trapped in that cave out of his mind.
The same question kept haunting him hour after hour: What if he hadn't found them?
Perhaps he was being a little selfish in holding them so close and forcing them to days of bed rest, when they most likely only needed a day or two to recover, but he couldn't help it. He hadn't had time to go back to their cave home and thoroughly go through it, and it was still too warm for Jack. There wasn't much they needed to do seasonally, and with the weather getting more strange by the day, who would notice if there was a lapse in their duties for a few days anyway?
He studied the earnest look on Jack's face, and noticed the sadness in his eyes that anything connected to Winter might be dying.. or already dead.
With a sigh, and a feeling like he just knew he was going to regret this, he caved.
"Very well.. But I want you to come right back and so help me, if something comes up and I don't hear about it.." he trailed off as he speared Jack with his 'I'll make you do pushups until your arms fall off' look.
Jack nodded, his eyes lighting up and a smile tugging at his lips.
"I'll let you know if something comes up, don't worry." he tried to reassure Pitch, but he couldn't keep the grin off his face.
"Me t -t.. ACHOO!" Lillian sneezed, and August suddenly found himself decorated in spring flowers.
He gave a sound of disgust as he brushed the flowers off and gave Lillian a less than amused look.
"Sorry," she said sheepishly. "At least it didn't rain on you."
Pitch looked down at Lillian with a frown.
"You still have more than just the sniffles young lady, so you will have to stay here."
"What?!" Lillian exclaimed, with a look of deep disappointment. "But I wanna see the Winter Sprites and Jasper's place!"
August looked a little startled, but then shrugged. He found her childishness annoying, like he found Frost's pranks annoying. He didn't care why she wanted to see Jasper's, and as for the Winter Sprites? If they got there in time, there wouldn't be any problem. She'd see them soon enough.
"You'll see the Sprites soon enough," Pitch said, unknowingly mirroring August's thoughts.
He went to say more, but North came hurrying back.
"Here, I have snow globe!" he declared, thrusting it into Jack's hands. "Have safe trip!"
Not wanting to hold things up, Jack tossed the snow globe, firmly declaring their destination.
"Jasper's Forest!"
There was a bright flash as the portal formed and soon August and Jack and disappeared into it.
Lillian watched the portal disappear as she crossed her arms. It just wasn't fair that she couldn't go too! Lillian sighed as she was picked up by Pitch and held in his arms.
"Jack will be right back, right?" she asked as she rested her head down on Pitch's shoulder.
She would never admit it, since she felt she was too old for such comforts, but she really liked it when Pitch held her like a child.
"If he knows what's good for him, he will be," Pitch said rather ominously as he carried Lillian back off to her room.
In a bright flash, August and Jack appeared at the edge of Jasper's forest. August looked around impatiently, and grabbed Jack by the arm, tugging him along. He made sure he was careful about keeping his powers at bay so he didn't burn Jack, but Jack winced all the same. August was pretty warm anyway.
August hurried Jack along a familiar path he knew, and soon they reached the heart of the forest, where Jasper's tree house-type buildings were.
August pointed up at their destination.
"You need to get up there," he said a second before he released Jack and disappeared in a flash of fire.
Jack yelped and jumped away from the flame, barely avoiding getting singed. He would have stopped to grumble about it, but he knew that they didn't have any time. He called upon the Wind and soon was whisked up to one of Jasper's buildings. He landed just outside the doorway and peered inside. There were paintings everywhere and August was already inside looking around in confusion.
"This is where I left - " he started, but the sound of one of the Sprites caught his attention. August didn't know it, but it was the one that loved Jasper's painting so much. Once Jasper had shooed them away, she had gone back to guard Jasper's paints from the others. She was standing on the table by Jasper's paints and she looked excited as she saw Jack. She made several excited sounds and frantically waved at them to follow her, before she flew off with her wings that looked like Fall leaves fluttering.
August grabbed hold of Jack and hauled him off after her.
"I can walk you know!" Jack said exasperatedly, as August was almost dragging him after the Sprite.
A short distance away, the Sprite stopped outside of a door and pointed inside emphatically. Taking the hint, August barged in with Jack.
August gasped at the cold and released Jack's arm in shock once they entered. Jack saw Jasper looking worriedly at something on a small table, so he hurried over.
"That's a Winter Sprite?" he asked, as he took in the form of Neve, sitting all alone on the table.
Tears as cold as ice water were trailing down his cheeks as he looked down dejectedly.
..She's gone.. he said quietly, his voice sounding crisp and cool, and full of despair.
Jasper sighed sadly as he nodded.
"You better hurry and help him," Jasper said to Jack. "The other one already seems to have faded away."
Jack leaned down by the Sprite at that and blew on him gently, infusing his winter magic into it. A light breeze that would have frozen anything else blew gently on Neve, and he took on a healthier glow at that. Where he had been turning transparent himself, he suddenly became fully visible.
More tears fell down Neve's cheeks, but his eyes opened wide as a small hand wiped his tears away. He looked down in shock to see Neva had reappeared. She must have been hardly visible at all, but still there.
She was smiling sadly at Neve, sad that she made her friend cry.
Neve.. she started to say, but was cut off as she was suddenly engulfed in a huge hug.
Don't ever do that again..! Neve scolded her as he hugged the life out of her. Don't ever..
Jack smiled down at the pair, glad he could help them out. He used his staff to ensure that the air around them was cold, and helped it snow a little on the table.
Neva laughed suddenly at the snow, looking more alive than she had in years. Neve pulled away and smiled at Jack with warmth and respect.
You saved her, he said happily to Jack.
Jack was suprised that he could understand the Sprites perfectly. He could never understand Sprites before. But he had never seen any Winter Sprites before either.
"So, uh.. Where were you guys?" Jack asked his sprites awkwardly.
He never even knew they existed! Why had no one ever told him he was supposed to have sprites?
Neva's smile faded and she exchanged a look with Neve. Would their Seasonal believe them? Would he help?
Neve cleared his throat and spoke up.
We were captured, back when Mistral was our Winter Spirit, he explained.
"Captured?" Jack echoed, looking confused.
"They were captured?" Jasper asked in surprise.
Jack looked over at him, confused.
"Uh yeah, he just said that."
Jasper shook his head.
"Only you can understand them. Just as only I can understand my own Sprites. And only August can understand his. They speak their own language of the season, which is why only their Seasonal or other Sprites can understand them."
We were captured by a dark spirit, Neve continued. He's captured other Sprites throughout the years. Some of Summer and Fall.
And all of the Spring Sprites and Spirits, Neva interjected, her eyes sad. He's the reason Leif went away.
Jack furrowed his brow.
"What do you mean 'went away?'"
Jasper exchanged a look with August. What in the world were they talking about?
Mother Nature chose a new Spring Spirit, Neve said with a sigh that was like the winter wind. When she did so, Leif lost all his magic and faded away. The other Spring Sprites and Spirits have lost heart and a lot of them have faded away. There are only a few left.
There aren't a lot of the Winter Sprites left either, Neva added on. That's why you have to go save them! We escaped from there and we can show you how to get there.
Jack looked stunned, but then shook his head.
"You guys aren't going anywhere for now. You need to recuperate."
We don't have time! Neva said as her lip trembled. We have to go.
Jack gently scooped both of them up in his hand.
"You two almost didn't make it here," Jack said to them. "I know you want to rush right off, but we have to get you to the North Pole. After you're all better, then we can go rescue the others."
Neve nodded his understanding and wrapped a protective arm around Neva. He didn't want to risk losing her again.
"Great!" Jack said with a smile. "Now we can get going."
He looked up at August and Jasper.
"Hey, uh.. Thanks for helping them out," he said a little awkwardly. He wasn't used to having normal conversations with the Summer and Fall Spirit.
Jasper nodded, taking it all in stride. August quirked a brow at Jack.
"Do you have a snow globe to get back?" he asked with the air of someone who knew the answer anyway. They had all been in such a hurry, that even North hadn't thought of how Jack was going to get back.
"Ah.." Jack said sheepishly.
Whoops.
Jasper shook his head.
"You'll have to stay here until your Sprites are stronger. They shouldn't go out into the heat just now."
"I'm stuck here?" Jack asked, looking down at his poor Sprites.
"Looks like it," Jasper said with a shiver.
It was cold in the room now, feeling more like Winter. August had his arms crossed to try and keep himself warm.
Jack sighed, thinking about what Pitch would say when he didn't have any way of contacting Pitch and letting him know he might be gone for a day or two..
He looked around the room in consternation and then his eyes lit up when they fell on August.
"Hey!" Jack said with a smile. "You can go back to the North Pole and pick up a snow globe for me, August. Then my Sprites and I can get back fast without anyone worrying."
"Gee, while I just love being your messenger boy," August said in a tone dripping with sarcasm, "I have things to do. You know, Spring coming to a close and Summer starting soon."
Jack's face fell at August's less than friendly tone. He thought they were getting past their differences. August had even argued against Pitch so he could go save his Sprites! Wasn't this a bonding moment?
Jasper frowned at August. Jack and his Sprites would have to stay in this little room, and Jack would have to try and contain his winter magic here or else it would seep into the rest of his forest and ruin the perpetual Fall.
Not to mention the havoc that would cause with his Sprites if it got out.
August must have noticed the annoyed look on Jasper's face since he flashed a 'sorry!' smile in his direction (that didn't make him look very sorry at all) and disappeared in a flash of flame.
August reappeared back on the same beach in California he had been in days go. He had forgotten to ask about his missing Summer Sprites, but he could always check back in with Jasper, after giving him a few days to cool off.
Despite the high temperatures, August shivered. That room had been far too cold for him, and he wasn't sure how much longer he could have stood it. He knew if he explained that to Jasper, all might be forgiven.
And true, it wouldn't have been difficult for him to flame over to the North Pole and request a snow globe for Jack Frost, but he detested the way Jack had asked. In fact, Jack hadn't even asked! He just assumed that August was at his beck and call, and August didn't take orders from anyone. Especially not Jack Frost. The little teenage brat.
August huffed as he let the suns rays warm him as he basked in the sun for a moment, tilting his face up to the sky and enjoying the heat. After allowing himself a few luxurious moments, he straightened up and looked around.
If he could find Marin, he might not even need any information from the Winter Sprites. He could question Marin himself and hopefully get to the bottom of things. And so, dodging around the many beachgoers, August began to search.
In a dark corner of the world just after Neve and Neva had made their escape, a certain dark spirit was throwing a fit. He couldn't believe that two of the Winter Sprites had escaped! He seethed for a moment, before an evil grin crossed his face.
All the Sprites and Spirits he had were pretty ragged, since his lair wasn't an ideal place for any of the poor seasonal beings. With that thought in mind, he released one of the Summer Spirits, clutching her by the arm.
He shook her harshly before directing her gaze back to the cages, where her fellow Sprites and Spirits were located.
"Obey me or I'll make certain that they fade," he hissed in a tone worthy of an evil Pitch.
Tears pricked the Spirit's eyes as she wiped her orangish blond hair out of her face.
"..P..please.." she whimpered. "Don't hurt them.."
The dark spirit tightened his grip on her arm and she winced.
"Then listen very carefully, you worthless Spirit," the dark spirit said in a dangerous tone as he began to outline his wishes.
The Summer Spirit's eyes widened.
"I can't change the climate - " she began, but the dark spirit cut her off.
"DO IT!" he roared as he shoved the Spirit away from him.
She tripped and fell to the ground with a cry. She sat up trembling, as she looked over to see the Summer Sprites all looking at her with despair. The dark spirit had already captured dozens of the Summer Sprites, and a couple of the Summer Spirits, including herself.
As she got to her feet shakily, she could hear the Summer Sprites crying out to her.
Marin, don't listen to him! they called out. We only listen to our Seasonal!
Marin looked over at them, her ocean blue eyes reflecting her sadness. Unlike August, her attire was more modern as she wore a light summer dress with sandals, perfect for walking along the beach on. Like most of the other Summer Sprites and Spirits, her outfit reflected Summer. However, instead of red, orange and gold, her outfit matched her eyes in shades of oceany blue.
"Don't you see?" she said to them, her voice low and tinged with defeat. "I have to."
As she disappeared in a flash, she tried to ignore the calls of the Sprites and the feeling that she was betraying August.
He would understand, she told herself. She didn't have any choice.
The dark spirit watched her vanish with satisfaction. Those little Winter Sprites didn't stand a chance. They'd both fade away before they could reach that pesky Jack Frost.
He turned his attention back to his mirror as he studied his next target. In the mirror Lillian was surrounded by a small mound of tissues as she sat up in bed with her lap desk on her lap, working on something.
The spirit grinned as he saw that she was still miserable with a cold. Good! But then his grin faded as he realized she'd be bedridden and difficult to reach. He could always wait for her to completely recover, but waiting was such a bore.
If he wanted to lure her away from whatever little hidey hole she was in, he'd need a plan.
Back at the Pole, Pitch had tucked Lillian back into bed and proceeded to pace back and forth in the globe room, glancing at Jack's blue light on the globe every once in awhile as if to reassure himself that Jack was safe.
Bunny wanted to point out that the blue light only meant that Jack believed and it wouldn't indicate if Jack was in any danger, but restrained himself. The last thing he really wanted to do was make an anxious Pitch even more anxious.
He had expected that Jack might be gone for an hour or two, but it wouldn't take him very long at all. Now it was nearing hour three and he was starting to get a little worried.
Actually, he'd started worrying after half an hour, but who was counting?
Jack should have been back by now! What was taking him so long? North had given Jack a snow globe -
Pitch suddenly stopped dead in his tracks and whirled to face North, who was still standing with Bunny and had been watching Pitch pace around as if watching a reality show. They were worried about Jack too, but Pitch was doing enough worrying for all of them.
"You forgot to give him another snow globe to get back!" Pitch snarled at North. "The world is turning into one big melting pot and now Jack will have to fly in it!"
North patted his pockets and felt the extra snow globe as he looked sheepishly at Pitch.
"Oops!" he said, trying not to sound too guilty. "We were in such a rush, I forgot."
Pitch glared at North as he gave one of those nonsensical parental threats.
"I'll forget you in a minute!"
Bunny blinked at Pitch.
What?
Author's Note: Ok, as to the end: Remember when you were a kid and you'd be all like "But Mooom..!" and your mom would be like "You clean your room right now or I'll (insert threat) you in a minute!"
But sometimes those threats wouldn't make any sense. Pitch kinda did that to North there. Sorry, he has a permanent case of being a worried parent now. :) So do you think August will have a guilt attack and help Jack out after all? Or will Jasper devise a way to get word to North's so they can come get Jack and the Winter Sprites out of his precious forest?
As always, let me know what you think and of any ideas and things you have!
Edit: I wanted to add on that I hope you weren't confused by the part with the dark spirit. I backtracked a little with him. In case you forgot, Marin first appeared when Jack and Lillian were tossed into the cave by Mother Nature (in the interlude Summer's Ire & Trapped), and I wanted to give you guys another glimpse of her and explain why she had disappeared but was spotted by August that day.
