The Guardians

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Little Prince not strong just yet,

had four worriors of light to have him guarded,

they fought the darkness of Pitch's fearling men,

North, Tooth, Sandy, and Bunny... The Guardians...

By: Me

"And you do thif... No! You do it wong!... No you don't do thaf, Daddy!"

Jasper sat on the blue carpet stair case, having Jack who was all normal and joyous, teach him some hand illusion tricks. It was a surprise that the child had so quickly recovered from what should have been a traumatizing experience that took place just a few hours ago. Thanks to Jasper regaining his son back to that cheerful calm stance, Jack was soon spending the special time with his daddy.

...

Mariah on the other hand, paced the floor, waiting for their guests to arrive; her brows were scrunched in worry, concern and impatient. They could have- they were just one minute away from possibly losing Jack to a great enemy they thought was dead. If Jasper had not broken down the door... MIM only knows what damage Pitch could have done to Jack. But the nightmare, that confused her greatly.

Why would Pitch come back at such a time- how in hell did he find out about Jack?! Fear was one thing that didn't belong in the Winter Kingdom. How long has Pitch known about this... Maybe the word of Mariah being impregnated that nearly every immortal has heard got out to Pitch...

God forbid Pitch has been watching them the whole time.

Just remembering the horrifying sight of their poor son screaming as he thrashed in his bed gave Mariah chills all over. She never wanted to see her baby boy in such position again. Thank MIM Jack was able to wake up or that the dream was not so vivid.

Sighing, the Winter Queen rubbed her aching temples. Hopefully the Guardians can be able to aid them, any risk was necessary to keep their son safe.

... Anything...

"Hey Mariah Dear, you would really expect this to be ridiculously silly... But once you try... It's... It's really difficult," Jasper said as he tried achieving what the toddler was trying to teach him. Mariah shook her head with a sigh. And clearly Jasper was too amused to notice the big picture. Well, at least he is keeping Jack's state of mind stable.

"Jasper, when are the Guardians arriving?," Mariah asked impatiently.

"Do not worry, love."

"How can I not when..." Mariah bowed her head and buried her face in her hands. Jasper, noticing his wife's distress, gently told Jack to keep settled- kissing the top of his son's hair- and walked over to the Wintress. There, he wrapped his muscular arms around her waist and pulled her back closely against his chest. As their bodies touched, a soft layer of frost blinded between them, revealing a sign of trust and comfort.

Slightly, Mariah went Latin her husband's arms. Jasper rested his chin on her frail shoulder. "Honey. Worrying won't help you at all. You need to think of the greater good. For our son," he whispered encouragingly. Mariah closed her eyes with a sigh.

"How can I... Jack could have been taken from us, Jasper- I would expect that you'd be concerned as well."

"I am concerned- greatly concerned... But not worried, because I made a promise that I- with all my rendering strength- would protect my family and my kingdom. I will not let anything happen to you or our son, even if I am... Wounded or ceased during the process."

Gently, Jasper gripped onto both of her shoulders and spun her around to face him. "Do you believe in me, Mariah."

Mariah tilted her head. "Of coarse I do, Jasper."

"Good. Because you and that miracle"- Jasper nodded his head towards Jack- "Is all I need to keep me going."

...

BANG! Clash! Shatter!

"Did I hear boogieman mess vith Winter King's son!?" a loud Russian voice boomed from the doors that had swung open. Both King and queen swerved their head towards the same direction where the big heavy footsteps were coming from. Jasper smiled in amusement while Mariah was frowning like a beast.

There goes her special ice vase that took her weeks to make.

Immediately, Jack jumped up from the steps and his big blue eyes lit in excitment. He knew that voice! A voice he has heard so many times before and that was the greatest wonderful voice that would get him wondering. Finally, after a series of heavy footsteps, the ice doors swung open and into the room, a bulky man with a large red coat, a white beard, and jolly in size with two sabers at his waist marched in with a fierce grin.

Puffing his chest out and standing straighter, the man crossed his arms, revealing two tattoos- 'Naughty and Nice'- on each arm as the sleeves from his coat slipped up.

"Now. Vhat does Pitch want vith nephew?," the man, or "North" demanded.

Before anyone answered, he felt a sudden tug on his pant legs and gazed down with a loud "Hm?". There, Jack was crawled up on his muscled leg, hanging onto him like a monkey as he giggled happily. The boy's eyes were bright and his smile that held tiny white teeth stretched widely as the boy giggled happily.

"Uncle Norf!," Jack gasped. North laughed joyfully. Such a great moment to see how much the boy had grown after long steady years. Booming with a laugh, he cupped the child in his meaty hands and lifted the Jack's frail body under the arms and threw him up then catches him. "Hello, malchik! You've grown!," North chuckled, spinning the child around. Jack squealed with delight and placed his small hands in both sides of North's face.

"Uncle! You pwomised me a pwesent!," Jack reminded with a pout. North nodded. How could he deny that adorable look? "Dat you are vright," he agreed, "But you have been on Naughty List, Jack."

Jack shook his head fiercely. "Nuh-uh!"

A sly twinkle lit in North's eyes as he gave Jack a fake disappointing sigh. "I guess I just cannot give present." Already, a river of tears made its way across the Winter Prince's eyes. Such a heartbreaking sight. Mariah crossed her arms, feeling a bit of that motherly aggravation and Jasper had a small amused smile in his eyes.

Jack stuck out his trembling bottom lip. "B-But... You pwomised," he whimpered.

"Aw, have some compassion, North!" Jasper hollered playfully.

"Nicholas, if you make my baby cry..." Mariah growled warningly.

Norton snorted a laughter and looked up thoughtfully. 'Hmmm... Vell I might have something even more special than toy."Then, he pulled out a small snowflake necklace from his pocket; the outlining of the snowflake was a brilliant silver mixed with gold and inside the snowflake held different mixtures of colored liquid, like the ones in an aurora. Jack gasped in amazement.

"Took a lot to ask MIM to give some of aurora light," North exclaimed brightly as he hooked it around Jack's small neck. Jack lifted the smal snowflake in his palm and watched as the bright aurora glowed in his touch. Everything so magical he has ever seen.

The tyke giggled and jumped up, wrapping his small arms partially across North's neck. North hugged back, engulfing the tiny form in his arms. He too, had been worried for Jack. The moment he heard that Pitch had unexpectedly visited his nephew with such a haunting greeting, he came immediately.

Just to see Jack still happy brought an immense happiness and relief to him.

"No'th! Ah told ya to hol' up, ya grumby!," an Australian voice echoed from the other side of the door, followed by a series of thumping feet. Jack, unfamiliar with the voices, quickly hid behind North, watching as three other spirits came through.

One was a rainbow feathered lady, with big pink eyes and long eyelashes. Around her was a small swarm of humming bird creatures with long beaks yet held her skin pink face. They looked like small hybrids Jack has heard in the stories that Jasper has read to him. Other than that, she looked awfully beautiful as she hovered above the ground using her lovely batting wings.

Next to her small golden man, and to Jack's astonishment, he looked to be made of... Sand? It glowed in a eerie way and some of the golden sand at the tip of his nubby nose had a small tint of red. He looked to be harmless, instead his kinder gold eyes have spotted Jack and he smiled, waving. On the side of this, he formed a golden bowler hat in his hand at tipped it over his head. Jack gasped in astonishment. That looked so amazing to the Winter child.

Finally a tall furry creature stood next to the sandyman in a tall stance. He stood like a man but was covered with blue and silver fur and two long ears at the top of his head. On each arm, were weird markings Jack has never seen before and hooked across his torso was a brown sash. In tiny compartments were colored eggs and two boomerangs.

All of them looked very familiar to Jack, like he has heard of them before. Perhaps one of the guards that enjoyed reading to Jack every now and then have read him a book of each of these persons.

North glanced down at his alerted nephew and pushed Jack gently in front of him with a small smile. "Jack, I am sure you've been told about Guardians right?"

Jack blinked up at North, then at the three newcomers who were now watching him with wide eyes. Jack pursed his lips. Guardians? Of coarse he has heard. Like his uncle, Guardians are those who protect children of the world. They are strong and powerful and can defeat anything that comes to harm. Jack admires their courage.

Jack nodded nervously.

"Vell, this are my comrads: Bunny. The Easter Bunny and Guardian of Hope," North pointed to the furry creature.

"Sandy. The Sandman and the Guardian of Dreams," he pointed to the golden man.

"And Tooth. The Toothfairy and Guardian of Memories..." He pointed to the bird lady.

Jack gasped as it finally hit him. He has heard of them before!

"This is your son, Mariah and Jasper?! So it is true, you have birth an immortal child?! Oh, he's adorable!," Tooth squealed, zipping towards Jack. Now that she was close, Jack gathered his courage and brushed his tiny finger down a feather. It was very soft and it glossed in the light. "Pretty," he cooed, smiling brightly.

"Oh my! Just look at those sparkles of teeth!," gasped Tooth as she opened Jack's mouth, looking over every snowy white incisor. "Like freshly fallen snow, especially for one his age, oh this is beyond amazing!" Jack was taken back but didn't fight back. It kinda tickled and felt weird. He knew the Toothfairy loved teeth, but he always thought it was right after the tooth was placed under the pillow that she became this happy.

"Toothina, do not inspect my child," Mariah chuckled. Tooth retracted her hands from Jack's mouth and blushed. "Sorry," she whispered and regained composure once more. The small fairies around her circled around Jack, overlooking him with amazement as if he were MIM himself. One of them came over and nudged her head lightly against the boy's cheek with a humming delight.

Jack giggled for it tickled and petted the small fairy's head with his small hand. Then, he walked from Tooth and up to Sandy. As he observed, he could see that this was really sand that littered the spirit's body. Just in case, Jack pinched a bit off Sandy's arms, inspecting it closely. "Mommy don't wike dusty," the child scolded, rubbing his small fingers against the captured sand. Sandy could not help but silently laugh at Jack's scolding and he lightly sprinkled a bit over Jack's nose, causing the Winter Prince to sneeze.

Rubbing his nose with a small giggle, Jack walked over to Bunny. But in his perspective, Buny didn't look like a... Bunny. The Easter Guardian smiled down at the boy. "'Ello mate," Bunny greeted. Jack quicker an eyebrow. And he didn't sound like what the Easter Bunny would sound like. So it couldn't be a bunny... Perhaps...

"I nevew thought a kangawoo could way eggs?," Jack said in confusion. Bunny furbrows bounced up by the statement. "Kangaroo?" Where did that come from? Chuckling, Bunny crouches a bit more down so he was nearly face-to-face with Jack, "Nah ankle bita, ahm a bunny. The Easta Bunny."

Jack shook his head with a giggle, poking his finger against Bunny nose.

"No! You a kangawoo! Daddy told me."

Everyone except Jack, glared at Jasper, who laughed innocently. "I ha-ave no idea what he's talking about." When he saw that no one was believing in his response, his laughter died away and he looked at Jack. "Jack, how about you go practice those hand illusions, okay son?"

Jack nodded.

"Otay, daddy!," he chirped before skipping away.

They all watched him skip away; the Guardians eyes were lit with pure amazement. Tooth sighed. "So that is the first Sprite that has ever been birthed... He is absolutely breathtaking."

Mariah glanced back at her child and smiled sadly. "You don't know the half of it..."

Now that they were alone, Bunny asked, "So... Pitch is back?"

Jasper pinched his nose bridge, groaning at the question. "Yes. He is."

The atmosphere grew slightly colder and the Guardians eyes glowed with sheer fright. North stepped up. "Vhy does he want Jack?" he demanded.

Jasper shook his head with a shrug. He had a good guess, but he just knew the exact idea. "I do not know... All I really know is that Jack is in danger and we need somewhere safe for him..." Jasper closed his eyes, knowing that what he was going to say would hurt. Badly. "... Until we get all this situated," he finished.

North nodded in understanding. He could already feel what Jasper was feeling. He knew exactly what the Winter King meant. Breathing out, North placed a comforting hand upon the shorter man's shoulder.

"vhat eez it you vant me to do, Jasper."

Jasper was quite for a moment, trying to hold back whatever sorrow that could escape his eyes. He inhaled and exhaled a shaky breath and looked down, trying to hide his pain. For anchor, he grasped tightly onto Mariah's hand; she squeezed his hand back reassuringly, ignoring the frost that crept up her icy skin.

"Just for now... I thought it'll be best if Jack... Stays with you. If there is anyone on this damned earth that could protect my son for the longest time... I know it is the Guardians, North," he gazed firmly at the other Guardians, understanding that he was putting his son's life in their hands, "all of you. Pleas don't fail us. Mariah and I."

A tear rolled down Mariah's cheek and it quickly turned to a layer of frost.

Jasper held her close. "Protect our child."

The four protectors nodded their heads with firm strong faces.

"We will," Bunny said bravely, standing taller.

"We all will," Tooth followed.

Sandy formed a image of a sword over his spiky hair and pounded his fist in the palm of his hand.

North stood in front of his comrades; his glass blue hues held a flame inside each orb... The flame of a Guardian...

"Vith our lives..."

"But I don't wanna go, Papa!" Jack whined, clutching his small fists onto his father's robes. His small face was a tinted violet as a few tears slipped from his big baby blues. Jasper held back his own tears and lowered down to meet Jack's gaze.

Gently, he grasped onto both of Jack's small hands together into his own larger hands. He looked deep into his child's eyes. Took one more look at his beautiful baby boy's face. A living and growing complexion of both he and Mariah...

The true beauty of what all can see to. So valuable and so genuine that Jack is beyond just a priceless treasure. He is his baby boy, his son... His everything. Jasper hated- hated to know the fact that Jack must not spend everyday- not even a sing one, in this palace until all is resolved. Jack won't be able to spend however long it is, in the arms of Jasper and Mariah.

Jasper wanted to see his baby boy grow, Mariah wanted to see her son become strong.

"Jack, son, look at me," Jasper said firmly, but his voice was awfully shaky. A bit tight Jack felt his father's hands squeeze onto his. The child obeyed and sniffled. Jasper cupped Jack's face in one hand, feeling lax when Jack leaned into it.

"It won't be too long, my son. At least I hope not."

"But I wanna stay."

"I know you do, I want yo to stay as well... But there are reasons you mustn't."

Jack's eyes lowered as well as his chin, but Jasper slipped two fingers under the boy's chin and lifted his son's head up. The Winter King gave the Winter Prince a small soft smile, "Hey... Don't be so sad. You must always smile and laugh... Believe it or not, you always laughed." Jack made a soft chuckle as his father softly knocked his finger against his chin.

Jasper's eyes lit up just a bit by the cherishing sound his child made. So innocent. It only encouraged the Winter King that to let go for now was the best thing to do. For Mariah. For their child. Jack's small hand grasped softly onto Jasper's robed writs.

"You pwomise?"

Jasper nodded and he kissed Jack softly on his forehead. A small layer of frost spread over the small area before disappearing into Jack's eyes.

"... I promise. Just be a strong, good boy for Uncle North and the Guardians, kay?"

Jack nodded. Jasper smiled and pulled his child in a tight embrace in which Jack easily melted into. Jasper reached up and pulled the silver band from Jack's head, but Jack hardly noticed nor minded.

"Just remember, Jack... Everything I will ever do is to protect you."

...

After a minute or so, Jack hesitantly pulled away and grabbed onto North's large offering hand, following him out the doors.

"Can I dwive dif time?," he asked. North could not help but burst into laughter along with Bunny, who's laughter soon died out. "Please don't, No'th," the Pooka warrior begged.

Tooth noticed the sad sight of the Winter King who stood still, staring down at silver band as if it were a fragile figure of ash. She bit the bottom of her lip. From were she hovered, she could easily see the heavy river of tears glistening over the Winter King's eyes and she knew he was just trying so hard to keep them from falling.

She couldn't understand his pain, but at the same time, could render half of it. Mariah had to run somewhere else in the kingdom before she could break down in front of everyone. Tooth could just feel their grief.

Jack is very precious.

The Fairy Queen sighed and hovered over to Jasper, placing a soft hand on Jasper's shoulder. To her touch, Jasper's shoulder tensed just a bit. "North would be proud of you Jasper, for holding it in, despite the agonizing pressure."

Jasper inhaled deeply and Tooth could see his fingers tense and shake around the rim of Jack's band. Frost crept over the silver. She hesitantly placed her hand over one of Jasper's. "Just let some loose, Jasper..."

Jasper released a rough gasp by her words and clenched his eyes shut. "I can't Toothina. I'll-"

Before he could finish, she pulled him close against her chest and held him there. "Don't speak, Blizzard. Don't speak. I know what you can do, believe me I know... Just let some pressure off. Okay? It's alright, I'll be fine. The kingdom will be fine... Jack will be fine," she cooed motherly. Inside, something screamed for her to beware and something more deeper- her instincts, told her to fly away as fast as possible. She understood what she was asking for, she knew well. She could just feel the man making a decision.

Jasper bit tightly on his lip, so rough it began to bleed. That single drop of crimson slipped down his chin like a slow stream, and it immediately froze into a single deep red hail stone. Finally, a single tear escaped from his eye. Like sap from a tree, it made it halfway down his cheek... And when it did, his skin turned a bit of an odd darkish pale color. His hair grew a darker silver and frost began to rapidly shoot from under his feet.

The Winter King made a low growl- low and and inhuman and he jolted- or at least tried to yank away from Tooth's arms, but she held him tighter, shivering by how icy cold he was becoming. Gibberish of low growls and whisper slipped at a quick pace from Jasper's lips and his body lightly thrashed in Tooth's hold. Tooth herself was surprised by her strength.

The wind howled around them.

Tooth began to shiver from the cold, but she never thought twice of letting go. Her beautiful pink glass eyes were squinted with a slight worry as she saw frost crawl onto the walls and beginning to come out as icy thorns. Her breath became more tremble like and she inhaled deeply to stop it from coming out so vague. To not focus on the fearing site and more on Jasper himself, she closed her eyes and held onto him tighter. Jasper seemed to be unaware of her existence. More black seeped into his eyes.

"It's okay, Jasper... You're strong enough..."

Yeah, I love the whole winter dark theme, so I guess I gave y'all more of a treat! Be sure to re-review this!