sparklehannah : I just can't decide on how to go about it, I want it to be revealed but for now I don't how to write a different way than what has been done already. The video game bit totally came out of nowhere, but I thought "Hey, why not ? That's something he could do" so I kept it. Thank you again 3

I had a hard time deciding wether or not to I should post this one as I'm not really satisfied with it. I promise, the better ones are coming soon.

Timeline : between 2013 and 2015
Characters : Guardians
Words : 1644

"I told ya North ! The kid learns nothin' !"

Bunny's shouts were the first things Tooth heard when she landed on the North Pole. Frowning, she went to the Globe Room where North and Bunny were facing each other. Sandy was hovering around them, making sand pictures to participate in the conversation but as usual none were giving him attention.

"Bunny ?" She asked hesitantly. "What's the problem ?"

At once, he furiously turned over and pointed a finger at the window where Jack was sitting by, without a care in the world.

"The problem ? He's the problem !"

For what felt like the millionth time, Jack let out a sigh.

"I already told you Bunny, the Groundhog-"

"I don't care about the Groundhog !" he then looked at Tooth, "This irresponsible, disrespectful, arrogant and stupid brat thought it would be a good idea to make snow on Easter Day !"

Tooth stared at Jack with wide eyes, begging to tell her it was a joke and he hadn't really done that, but he avoided her eyes.

"Bunny, Bunny, calm down my friend." North tried to temper, but Bunnymund sent him a glare so harsh he backed down instantly.

"I won't, not until he at least apologizes."

Finally having enough, Jack got up.

"It's April in the northern hemisphere Bunny ! What did you expect ?" he was totally exasperated now, "Look, I'm sorry, really. But I didn't have a choice ! The Groundhog kindly reminded me I should give some snow in Italy Sector 5, so I did. You know very well seasons don't end on the official dates !"

But it did nothing to calm him down, Jack was sure it even angered him more.

"Ya still could have done it another day !" Technically, he could have. It would have put him behind schedule, but it wouldn't have been impossible. And he realized now that maybe he should have.

His musing should have been seen on his face because Bunny flared up again.

"Crickey, after the whole fiasco last year I thought you'd be a little more serious ! Easter last for one day, is it too much to ask for or isn't it as important as Winter ?"

No one said anything for a while as Jack made a point to look everywhere but at them. Hearing Bunny talk about last Easter hurt way more than he thought it would.

Both parties had apologized, but there was still some tension in the air. It would certainly take time before either Jack or Bunny could talk about it freely. Especially if they kept clashing.

"Bunny, stop it now." Tooth's voice was harsh, and let no room for argument.

But Bunny still had his eyes fixed on Jack.

"Not until he answers."

Silence.

Sandy and North exchanged anxious looks.

"I don't."

Everyone was surprised when Jack's soft voice was heard.

"I don't think, Easter isn't important. I know very well what terrible consequences it could lead to if it was ruined. But you have to understand my job is important too, that sometimes I must do things that don't please you, but still do because a balance must be kept."

Bunny huffed but didn't say anything else, thankfully.

Sandy was frowning however and Jack could clearly see the way North and Tooth bit their lips to keep them from arguing. He gritted his teeth and looked outside the window.

The second time it happened had been on Christmas Day. For the past years, the Guardians had tried to see each other every few months. Even if they tried to not isolate themselves, their jobs tended to keep them busy all the year, leaving little room to spend time together.

When Jack flew to the North Pole, he was surprised to see he wasn't the last one arrived. It was hours past midday, and by now North should already have completed his trip.

As usual when Winter came around, Tooth and Bunny were sitting close to the fireplace. Jack however made a point to take the farthest couch from the flames.

Sandy joyfully tagged along and started to make a conversation with his sand pictures.

Slovakia, a child sleeping, sand that came out of her mind, a mini-jack.

"A girl in Slovakia… dreamt… of me ?" He asked unsure and trying to not get his hopes up.

But Sandy nodded forcefully.

Jack sent him a beaming smile and was going to thank him for telling him when they heard a commotion.

"Long time no see my friend !" Nicholas St North, still covered in snow, announced himself with a booming voice.

"North ! What happened !" Tooth screamed at once.

That was when Jack noticed the cuts lingering North's face and his ragged clothes. He could understand Tooth's shock, North being a spirit, his wounds should have already healed, unless it was caused by powerful magic.

"Do not worry Toothy, it will soon disappear."

"Who did that ?" By the way he took a fighting stance, Bunny also realized that these injuries weren't caused by a common occurrence.

Jack and Sandy came closer to take a better look at his wounds. Thankfully, some of them were already fading into scars, but there was still bloodied gashes on his arms that will certainly take a few hours to heal.

"Some sprites in Canada. The reindeers were thirsty, so we stopped at a lake. Little nasty things shot shard of ice at us." He waved a hand like it was nothing to him.

"How many were they ?" Bunny asked harshly, "Ya may be old, and don't look at me like that North ya know it's true, but yer a powerful spirit, they shouldn't have done so much damage." Jack looked at North curiously. Bunny had a point there, North was one of the most powerful Moon spirits, even if the sprites were strong stuff, they couldn't have hurt him like this in any normal circumstance.

North seemed really uncomfortable under their scrutinizing gazes.

"Well… You see… I came across my old friend Vladimir and… hum… He may have given me some liquor to, you know, hold on the night ?"

All of them sighed at once. Of course.

"What would people say if they knew Santa Claus was giving presents while drunk. Talk 'bout a Guardian." Bunny mumbled, and Jack could only snort in amusement.

"Oy Sandy ! It hurts !" North exclaimed while rubbing his head. By the cross look on Sandy face, no doubt he didn't agree with North's way of coping with his work.

"But it still doesn't sort out the problem North." Tooth's comment reminded everyone of the situation.

"I told you, do not worry. They will remember the taste of my babies for centuries !" He exclaimed by touching his faithful swords.

All the other Guardians laughed at the comment, but Jack had other things on his mind.

"You didn't hurt them too much, right ?"

Bunny turned on him at once.

"Hurt them ? Are ya serious ? They attacked North ! He's a Guardian ! Mother Nature signed the non-aggression pact with MiM ! They shouldn't have done that !" He took a pause for a second before looking at North. "I know ya fought them in the end, but they went too far this time. It wasn't self-defense. They should pay." He said in a firm tone.

To Jack's horror, North nodded and Tooth and Sandy agreed with him.

"No you can't !" Jack shouted, panicked.

"What's wrong with ya ? They broke the pact !" Bunny asked furiously.

"But they're sprites ! You know very well what that means Bunny !" He retorted strongly. "They're defined by their instincts ! Even if they respond to Mother Nature, they don't care about our laws ! North must have stepped on their territory, and they felt threatened. You can't blame them for protecting their tribe !"

For a moment, Jack thought Bunny was going to punch him. He could feel the anger radiating out off him.

"But Jack, they hurt North…" Tooth tried to reason him. "Why are you defending them ?"

Honestly, he didn't really know. Usually he didn't care much about the sprites' whereabouts, and he never prevented himself from using his powers the rare times they attacked him. But maybe because they were ice sprites, his sprites in a way, the idea of the Guardians hurting them didn't please him at all.

"I know Tooth" Jack closed his eyes. Indeed, he didn't like that statement at all, and he would be lying if he said a part of him didn't want revenge. "I'm not really defending them, but it wouldn't do us any good if we fight them. Mother Nature wouldn't like that." He said flatly.

"I don't care about Mother Nature !" Bunny shouted loudly.

"Yes you care, believe me." Jack replied without breaking eye contact.

He tried to form a solution quickly in his mind so each party wouldn't be in a bad posture in the end.

"Listen, I'll make them understand they shouldn't have attacked a Guardian, and believe me I can be pretty convincing when I want to be. If, and only if, it doesn't work, then I'll talk to Mother Nature."

They nodded reluctantly.

Jack let out a relieved sigh but didn't let his mind put itself to rest.

Jack knew from the start that one day or another his two alliegeances would clash. There wasn't any other way, his roles had different purpose and fulfilling one could led to a conflict with the other. He wished to protect children from the botton of his heart, but he knew very well that sometimes he couldn't prevent catastrophies. No matter how much he wanted to.

He just hoped he wouldn't screw up too much one day.

The end is left open on purpose, I have another idea, but as it conflicts more with the canon I still don't know if I'll ever write it.