8 - Promise of the Moon
You stood in front of the mirror in the room while Jack leaned against the wall near the door, lazily watching you look at yourself. You had changed since the moon had brought you back, your hair color was mostly the same, but now you noticed it was dusted with the same white that was Jack's hair. Your eyes had mostly stayed the same as well, but now there were hints of silver in your (color) eyes. You couldn't help but smile, feeling a little shy though you turned to the wardrobe that was in the room as you opened it you found there were all sorts of clothes inside, a handful of dresses and some shirts and pants. You picked out a dress that was (2nd fav. color) with silver embroidery along its collar and the cuffs. It was a shoulderless dress, but you liked it and you had little doubt Jack would too once he saw you in it. Speaking of which, you glanced over at Jack who was still watching you. You raised an eyebrow at him and he blinked, confused at what you were trying to hint at.
"Ah... if you don't mind... I promise I won't take too long changing." He stared a moment then you couldn't help the smile when you saw his face heat up with the snow that indicated his blush.
"Yeah... of course." He beat a hasty retreat out the door, your chuckle following behind him as the door clicked shut. You were good on your promise and the dress fit like a glove, gently hugging your curves, but leaving your shoulders bear, the sleeves barely attached to the dress itself at the top of your chest. It was a daring look for you and you brushed your hair before standing before the mirror. A satisfied smile playing along your lips as you imagined Jack's reaction. Eager to find out if your imagination was on the mark, you turned from the mirror and opened the door, to your disappointment though Jack wasn't anywhere to be found. You glanced around before slowly walking along the ... well you couldn't call the path a hallway really, but that was sort of what it was if you didn't take into account that the only walls it had were those that led to more rooms while the other side was open for the center of what was the workshop. You paused at a set of long winding stairs when you saw Jack hovering near North who was talking to him and Tooth. Bunny seemed content to hunker down near the console near the globe of belief. You weren't sure you should interrupt, but Bunny glanced up and saw you.
"Uh..." It was all the Pooka managed to say.
"Oh..." Tooth breathed as her eyes flickered to you, she smiled reassuringly and you knew your dress would be a hit. North glanced up then, his eyes seemed to gleam with appreciative wonder and Sandy, who'd just joined them, paused before a smile split the golden Guardian's face. You held your breath as Jack finally turned to see what the others were staring at. His eyes met yours for a split moment before he seemed to simply drink in your appearance. You could see his blush from there, you couldn't help but smile as you slowly descended the steps. Jack was oblivious to the stares of his fellow Guardians, he only had eyes for you as you approached.
"Well, well looks like you're sunk, hook line and sinker frostbite." Bunny teased when he realized Jack was still staring at you as you neared the last steps.
"Bunny, leave him be." Tooth said, Jack didn't even look at Bunny, but his staff swung about, sending ice beneath the rabbit.
"Crickey!" Bunny exclaimed as he slipped, landing on his rump rather hard. He didn't move otherwise, he couldn't seem to. The free spirited, unchained winter spirit was rooted to the spot. The thought made you giggle quietly. You moved towards the group, though you were not quite as glued to the floor as Jack was, you still couldn't help staring at him for a while before glancing away quickly towards the others to gather yourself.
"You're probably wondering what happened." You began, you seemed a little uncertain about how to explain all of this, fortunately you found you didn't have to as the Guardians seemed to shift their gaze to the skylit beyond.
"Man in Moon!" North said happily.
"Been a long time old friend, what is news?" You said nothing as you watched the moon, as it seemed to get brighter, but as it did and a beam slowly feel on all of you, you heard the voice you'd only heard a couple times.
Long ago, a Dreamer from one of the fading worlds sent out their light. Seeking to find someone who could be compatible and would carry on the gift of the Dreamers. It found _, when she was a young child and it passed on what it could do, to her. Even as a child she had a strong will that was needed to fight off the Nightmares, it was then that she gained the ability to decide what happened in her dreams.
Well, that explained why you hadn't had any nightmares since you were nine.
"Why is she alive now though? I don't get it, I saw with my own eyes that Pitch... he..." Jack fumbled, he couldn't get out the words.
He did. I made a promise to her when she was younger and I have kept it. Do you remember, _, what you asked of me?
You slowly nod as the memory came to mind, the other Guardians looked at you, but you were staring up at the moon now.
"I asked you to give me the ability to protect others, that if this was to be my destiny that I should be able to fight on even after my body died." The others just stared.
Yes. I promised that you would be able to fight on.
"So... _ 's immortal now?" Jack asked, not quite daring to hope.
"I am." You reply, knowing deep in your heart that this was true. Pitch had destroyed you, as a mortal human, but in doing so had brought forth the immortal spirit that had lay within. No one seemed to know what to say for the moment before North looked back to the moon.
"Manny, what do we do about Pitch?" There wasn't a reply, well, at least not a verbal one as the moon's beams narrowed so that they touched only you.
"Are ya serious?" Bunny asked incredulously, obviously not quite ready to believe that you could hold your own. Well the stubborn Pooka would come around sooner or later. You just smiled at the moon. This was your destiny, you knew it as you looked to the Guardians before turning back to Jack who was just staring at you in something of awe and joy. The tender smile that crossed your face was only for the frost spirit. You could now have forever together and you would fight against Pitch side by side with him. The future had never seemed brighter. A look of alarm crossed your face when you recalled you had a life back in Burgess... or well... you had begun to have one.
"Oh dear... I forgot about Jamie... and my family." Jack smiled reassuringly.
"Come on, we can go see Jamie, though about your family..." He seemed hesitant, not sure what to say on that stand and you had a feeling that it wouldn't be good, but you shrugged and took the hand he held out to you. You felt laughter bubbling in you as you soared through the sky, your fear of falling no longer an issue because you knew you couldn't be killed by the fall anymore. In no time you arrived where Jamie was, it was dusk and he was locking up the store, he seemed troubled but when he saw Jack his eyes lit up.
"Jack!"
"Hey Jamie!"
"Jack... I'm worried about _." Jack smiled a little.
"Don't worry kiddo, she's fine." Jamie seemed to relax before a look of puzzlement crossed his face.
"Where do you think she is then? I haven't seen her in weeks..." You felt a weird sensation go through you when you realized that Jamie couldn't see you. That you were as invisible as a ghost.
"Jamie." Jack said quietly, the man met his gaze.
"Do you believe in _ ? Believe that she is real?" Jamie blinked in surprise.
"Of course I do, I saw... wait... do you mean..." Jamie trailed off as his eyes went wide. Suddenly you saw realization begin to dawn on him, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, letting it out and then taking another. When he opened his eyes again his gaze landed squarely on you.
"There you are." He said quietly with a soft smile and a warm sensation ran up your arms, through your torso, over your head and down to your toes. You weren't sure what that was about, but you couldn't help smiling back.
"Hi Jamie."
"I guess you've had a rough few weeks? I mean... obviously things have changed." You gave him a sad smile as you nod.
"What can I do about my family? They're going to be worried sick about me if I don't contact them soon." Jamie shared a glance with Jack before nodding.
"I'll take care of it. I promise, but you know... unless they believe in you... they won't be able to see you." The reality of that hits you like a bucket of ice water. You knew none of them would see you ever again, because they hadn't believed in you when you were alive... why would they now?
"I understand." You said sadly, but it fades quickly enough and you smile.
"It's okay though, I have new friends... and I have Jack. I'll be fine."
"You'll have to let me know when you find your center. I want to write a book about you." You flush a little.
"I... um..." You hadn't considered that at all.
"Didn't you consider it?" Jack asked and you shook your head. You didn't really know this was going to happen until a short while before it had. Why would you have contemplated something like that while locked up? You supposed you could have, but you'd been too distracted trying to hang on to your belief and will. Then it clicked. Of course, what else would it be? It had been right there in front of you the whole time and you smiled at Jack.
"I know what it is." Jack just smiled even while Jamie waited patiently to hear.
"It's Belief. My center is Belief." Jamie shot Jack a quick glance, but the Guardian just nodded to confirm it. You felt your heart soar as you realized you had a new purpose now, your center filling you with light and Jack couldn't help staring as you seemed to glow softly. Jamie noticed and his smile became a smirk that you were so used to seeing at Jack.
"Oh you've got it bad." He teased, shoving at the winter Guardian playfully. Jack flushed.
"Hey!" Jamie didn't have a chance to tease further as he was hit in the face by a snowball. Jamie laughed as he shook the snow off before scooping some up and throwing it back at Jack. For a moment you watched with a smile, until one accidently hit you. The boys froze then, looking so guilty, but you grinned as you gathered snow into your hands.
"Oh you are so going to regret that!" Hours later you were all drenched in snow, but happy though there had been no real winner of the snowball fight.
Jamie bid the both of you goodbye before heading off towards his vehicle. You watched him go. You wondered if he had a life, beyond the store. He obviously had the Guardians looking after him, but you couldn't help but wonder if he had someone special to share his life with, like you had Jack. You turned to Jack once Jamie was far out of sight.
"Shall we?" Jack asked, his usual grin on his face as he held out his hand. You felt your heart do a flip and not for the first time you smiled tenderly at Jack. This just made him grin wider.
"Let's." You reply, taking the hand he offered to you. His cool palm beneath your warm one, you gently squeezed his hand and he squeezed back before launching into the air with you in tow. You didn't know what power you had, now that you weren't mortal anymore, but it didn't bother you. Your laughter ringing out into the night alongside Jack's. Years later you would come to be known to children everywhere as Faith, keeper of Belief, a gentle and compassionate soul to all who knew you with a bit of mischievous streak when the notion took you. The book about you, that Jamie had promised to write, was a hit and it had also become to be known that where you were... Jack Frost wasn't far behind. The reverse was inevitably true as well. Some called you the Trickster Two, but that is for another story...