Ice Cubes
Summary: They will come, they will come. Jack knew they will come. Because Bunny promised him they would. They were friends, Bunny said. He was important, the pooka reminded him. And Jack believed in Bunny, believed in the guardians. They will come. They will. He just hoped that they wouldn't come too late.
Krampus 3
It was cold, cold, so so cold and so, so dark. And they just wanted to go home.
Back to their families, to be told off by their mothers, to be laughed at and lightly scolded by their fathers. They wanted to see the warm fire burning by their fire place, the blinking lights of their Christmas trees, the soft snow outside of their windows promising them to wake up to another white Christmas.
They wanted to go home. Home, where they were safe, where there were no flickering shadows or howling winds…
They didn't want to hear anymore of the strange cries and screams that sounded oddly human, nor did they want to hear the branches scratching against the caves, sounding strangely like a cackle from an age-old villain.
They wanted to go home. They were tired of covering their ears, of closing their eyes, of feeling so frightened, and so scared and so small which was strange and foreign since they were usually the big bullies, towering over small children, laughing, as big, strong adults fell for their pranks.
They were tired and hungry, and the wind was harsh and cold and nipping at their skins, and the dark black stuff on the ground… why, why? Why did it look so much like blood-?
No! No! They were going to cover their eyes, they're going to cover the ears!
The wind sounded like it was crying again and the branches scratching outside sounded more and more alive and it frightened them.
They didn't know how, they didn't know why they got here, but if it was because they laughed and teased their siblings, or because they lied and said they didn't eat the last cookie, or because they placed glue on their teacher's chair… then-then they will change! They swear they will change!
We will change! We will change!
We won't be naughty kids anymore! We'll say 'thank you' and 'please'!
Just please let the wind stop crying! Let the strange laughter stop echoing!
We won't be naughty anymore! We'll be good kids we swear!
Just please, please…
Save us! Help us!
And let us go home…
The sounds sliced at his heart, the whimpers were tearing him apart. The winds were around him, howling protectively but unable to do anything without his staff in check .But Jack appreciated it either way. He couldn't have lasted this long without the winds beside him, crying for him, comforting him with its weakened breeze and encouraging cries.
Behind him, the kids cried louder, while some huddled closer to the others around them. Their terror was like a hole in his heart. The lack of joy and happiness made him feel weak and he stumbled slightly, wanting to reach out, to comfort…
But then the kid nearest to him, flinched at the cold he brought, and Jack retracted as though he'd been slapped.
"I 'ave to admit, I'm impressed with yew little guardian." Jack flinched as he looked up, automatically taking a defensive stance. The dark-hooded myth he had been with for the last two weeks greeted him, rotted teeth and distorted face and all, raising a clawed hand as though looking at it with great interest. "No believers in any of 'em kids here, yet you still fight. "
"Look, old goat man…" Jack hissed, voice hoarse from two weeks of screaming, limbs numb and barely moving, lips cracked and slightly bleeding. "I don't know if you have a grudge against me or the guardians, but leave the kids out of this."
The old goat man snorted at the ridiculous statement as he raised his claws and whip.
Blue eyes widened as Jack's instinct shouted at him to move away, to jump to the other side, away from the painful sting that had already become too familiar… But-
"ARGH!" Another pained scream barely muffled by him escaped and the wind raged and roared and the kids' crying grew louder, feeling the coldness seeping into their clothes.
Jack couldn't move away, he couldn't. He wouldn't and he didn't even try.
Because if he did, the kids would get hurt instead.
And Jack, for the life of him, didn't even care if his body was littered with so many bruises that his skin looked more purple than pale, that his favorite hoodie and pants were torn and tainted by a hundred or more bloody scratches, that his legs were shaking, hands balling into painful fists, biting his lips trying hard not to let another grunt of pain escape him.
He was powerless.
He was in a place with nothing but darkness, no joy coming from the children, his few believers thousands and thousands of miles away.
His staff wasn't here, his powers weren't working right. The sadness and pain the children emanated was like a blow to him, it felt like a large black hole was forming in his heart threatening to engulf him, to crush his center of Fun and Joy.
He had tried. He had done everything he could to coax the children to play while the goat person before him was away. He had made a hopscotch court with his shaking fingers and a rock he found nearby. But the children got scared and tried to shrink away further from the strange markings made by an invisible hand.
Their fear hurt Jack. They feared him and rejected his presence and wished he was gone.
And Jack, so injured, Jack who was away from his element, away from his believers, his friends… All he could do was lie there and will the wind away from the already too cold children, who were trying to get away from the coldness. His coldness, his wind.
And Jack just lied there, his body trying to mend itself but not quite fixing the injuries. The guardian of Fun was lucky though, that he was able to recover shortly in those gratifying moments when the strange goat kidnapper would leave. But then when the Krampus would come back with new kids in his sack, Jack would curse himself for being weak.
If only he could put a stop to this man! If only he could fly out of there and beat him to a pulp like a guardian should!
But Jack couldn't leave the kids alone.
What if another danger was lurking unseen? And it's not like Jack could just leave whenever he liked. No staff in sight and a somewhat tired and worn body to boot. He could only do so much in his situation. He had to protect them! He could only rely on the other guardians in preventing the other kids from being kidnapped.
The guardians.
It has been a few weeks now. He wondered if they had noticed he was gone yet. North was busy no doubt. Christmas was around the corner. The preparations for the toys and the conflicted schedules were enough to keep the old man hectic for a month. And Tooth and Sandy were no better, having to work day and night delivering coins to the kids who lost their teeth and dreams to those who sleep. And Bunny was the only one in his off season, but the guardian of Hope had started helping Tooth and Sandy with their jobs recently. Hopping around the continent, delivering coins to the toothless little buggers and spreading sand to the hard to reach nooks in Asian countries.
Sometimes, when the pooka would go on an off day, he would travel the globe searching for new flowers or looking and naming colors that would one way or another help him in the future to create explicit designs for his googies.
And with that thought in mind, the guardians practically have no time to check up on him. Now that Jack thought about it, he wondered if the guardians would ever notice his absence.
For all they know, he could be busy spreading winter cheer throughout the globe, or else fooling around in Burgess with Jamie.
But surely, surely they would notice the worldwide kidnapping of little kids? If there was one thing Jack knew, it was that the guardians took their job seriously, and the fact that Jack would not show up when they spread the aurora across the skies would hopefully, hopefully alert them to his kidnapping.
" 'Ey, you've become a bit too quiet for me likin'." A grunt and that was all the warning Jack got as something sharp suddenly grabbed him by the face, forcing him upward as he struggled and let out hitched breaths. The movement jostled his injuries, burning and scalding his pain receptors.
Pale hands tried to grab, to scratch, to tear, but Krampus was strong as he held on tighter, claws digging on Jack's cheeks, drawing out fresh blood.
The guardian of Fun choked and stuttered, his groans and cries muffled by the claws as his struggles grew weak.
"Pretty little snowflake yew are. All fragile and small and easily crushed." A choked cry and Krampus chuckled at the three hundred and eighteen year-old spirit as he raised his whip and whipped it on the floor. Jack felt the kids behind him flinch and shiver and blue eyes got wide. "I don't think I've punished yew enough fer bein' in the naughty list for three hundred years, but yew have to wait yer turn. I still have several kids waitin' for their punishment and yewr slowin' me progress, eh?"
"NO!" Jack yelled and the wind whipped and screamed in reaction to the hoarse voice. The struggles grew with frustration and desperation as Jack managed to kick Krampus on the stomach, making him slacken his grip and let out a surprise cry.
Doing an impressive acrobatic move that would have put acrobats to shame, Jack hit the old goat on the chin before flipping backwards and landing ungracefully on the floor.
"I-I won't let you come near them." Jack hissed as he raised his hands in an attempt to block the other. "You'll have to go through me first."
Krampus straightened up and he sent a wide evil smile at Jack who flinched at the show of rotting mouth, gums, and teeth. The old man curled his whip as he neared Jack who stumbled back using his cold to make the children scramble closer to the wall and closer to each other for warmth.
"Go through yew, you say…" Krampus said with an evil cackle and Jack paled as the claws glinted menacingly even in the dark. "Now, that's something I don't mind doin'."
"Jamie?" Mrs. Bennett called out to her only son who she saw was kneeling in the middle of the yard, hands filled with snow, and in front of him was a crudely made snowman with sticks for arms and buttons for eyes. She smiled wistfully and fondly at the young believer as she walked towards him, groceries in hand. "Honey, isn't a bit too early to be making a snowman?"
"It's not." Jamie said stubbornly and the young woman noticed another missing gap in his teeth as he leaned forward to stuff more snow into the snowman's body.
"But the snow's barely just begun falling. Don't you want to wait for it to fall harder before you start making Frosty?" She said, gesturing to the snowman.
"I don't care. I want to make Frosty so I can ask him if Jack's okay." Jamie stated as he made sure the snow was packed together properly so the snowman won't collapse.
Mrs. Bennett raised an eyebrow at the name. He must be talking about Jack Frost again. "Okay, but don't stay out too long or you'll get a cold, dear."
Not waiting for an answer, the young mom went up the porch and into the warm house, leaving her son playing against a snow, making a snowman that would probably never answer his desperate questions.
But that was fine with Jamie. Sitting there, playing with a snowman that somehow represented Jack was better than lying on his bed looking at the window in worry.
Please, please… Jamie said as he closed his eyes tightly, a snowball crushed in his mitten-covered hand as he bowed his head in worried prayer. Please let Jack be alright.
Let the guardians make it to him in time.
"Why is he still on the naughty list?"
"Vhat?"
Bunny sighed, shaking slightly when the sleigh bumped lightly as the yetis made preparations. North was talking to Phil about the Christmas preparations when the old pooka intervened. "I asked, why is Frostbite still on the naughty list?" The guardian of Hope crossed his arms.
Tooth buzzed nervously, settling next to Bunny as she looked at North too. Amethyst eyes conflicted in worry and confusion. "I wonder that too! I mean you said you wiped the slate clean right?"
Sandy nodded as he flew over to Tooth's side and sat on the sleigh, looking at North with golden and curious eyes.
"Dah, I keep my word." North grunted as he jumped into the sleigh. He pulled at the reigns making the reindeers stomp their hooves in impatience. "But Jack go back to naughty list faster than oleney on bath day! Replaced yetis shampoos with paint! Had pink yetis complaining for weeks!"
"Reindeers." Tooth whispered when Sandy showed a question mark sign at the Russian word and the pooka grunted in confusion when North said 'oleney'.
"Tha' little troublemaker." Bunny huffed in annoyance but the three guardians were not fooled by the gruff tone, seeing as the green eyes tinted even more in worry.
"Dah, but that is what make him Jack, no? Would have him no other way, yes?" North winked as he pulled on the reigns and let out a startling cry for 'go'. The yetis scrambled back as the powerful reindeers began to ran forward and into the 'loop-the-loops'.
Bunny let out a startled yelp as he clenched unto the newly furnished sleigh, claws digging in. Tooth pursed her lips, her colorful feathers showing her distress. Sandy would have raised his hands at the ride but he was too worried, so instead he sent out his golden sand before him just as North took out the snow globe, not letting the loop-the-loops end before he smashed it in front of the sleigh.
"Krampus!" He roared in his thick Russian accented voice.
Bunny gritted his teeth as he tried to sit upright when the sleigh went through the powerful vortex. However it was not from the sickening lurch of the sleigh, no, rather it was the sudden assault of scents that made his nose twitch, his ears press to back of his skull, and a growl rumble out of his chest.
Tears, blood, sweat…
And the strong scent of ice and snow.
If Jack thought before that it was physically impossible for him to sweat… well the droplets falling from his forehead told him otherwise. He was always too cold, so Jack never really got to experience a good sweat or a good cry either.
But he seemed to be experiencing both as he fought with Krampus.
The goat man, despite looking so old and crippled, was a very very good fighter. And Jack's skills and knowledge in the martial arts he had honed for at least two hundred and something years seemed pitiful next to this thousand-year-old-looking creature who whipped and slashed as though he lived for it.
Jack stuttered back two steps as he fell and got grazed by sharp claws that had the color of blood in the dimply lit cave. He winced when a child's foot went through him and he felt a little hollow as he looked back and saw the unseeing and frightened eyes of the children.
The imaginary hole in his heart threatened to tear him apart.
"Interestin' right?" Krampus said in his hoarse and cruel voice. Jack scrambled up and his hands went into a defensive mode, feeling odd without the usual staff to hold up. "When 'em kids don't believe in yew, it feels like somethin' is trying to tear itself inside of yew."
Jack gritted his teeth as Krampus stretched his whip, flinching unconsciously at the sound it made and at the added whimpers behind him.
"Yew are so weak here Jack. A baby, really, compared to North and 'em guardians. It wouldn't take much to kill yew. I mean, look, already a few frightened children with no trace of joy nor belief fer yew makes yew grovel to yer knees."
And as though to prove his point, Krampus whipped the floor and the sound startled the children so much, and the fear and sadness and anger and frustration ate at Jack's center like vicious moths, as he gasped and fell to his knees.
"It ain't nice bein' a guardian ain't it? With your existence tied to 'em children. And how many believers yew got? Not more than ten, eh?" Krampus cackled evilly. "Ungrateful little rugrats they are. Yew do your job, can't even spare yew a small belief can 'ey? Strange that yew even bother protectin' these brats. I mean, they don't believe in yer sorry arse. Yer invisible to them and yet yew stand in front of them like-!" The strange goat man threw his hands in the air in an exasperated expression.
Jack let out huffs of breaths as he regained himself, stormy blue eyes looking at Krampus' red ones. "Y-You're invisible to them too. And even if they don't believe in me, I'll protect them because I want to." He gritted his teeth.
Krampus' eyes widened in temporary surprise. "Not because it's yer job as a guardian? Ha! Interestin' bloke yew are!" The old goat wheezed out a laugh. "And what did yew say? I'm invisible?" An evil smile lit up the contorted face.
Jack's eyes widened as he watch Krampus make his way to one of the shivering children. A girl with blonde hair, barely six, looked at Krampus' approach, eyes wide, her mouth trying to form a scream but it seemed like she was choking on it.
"Ah, my legend lives on." Krampus said as he reached out a claw and the poor girl looked like she was about to hyperventilate. "What pretty little eyes, maybe-"
But then the girl squawked when a rock suddenly flew past her and hit Krampus claws.
The anti-santa looked up annoyed as Jack panted with an angry expression on his face.
"Don't touch them!" Jack said tiredly his blue eyes drooping, his body feeling like cement, so stiff and numb and tired. "I told you, didn't I? You'll have to go through me before you get to them."
Krampus took back his claw, giving the youngest guardian an ugly scowl as Jack tried to stay up on his feet. "A guardian through and through. Good or bad, naughty or nice, we protect the children." Krampus said in a poor imitation, Jack realized, of North's voice. "Yer all full of the same nonsense really. You, North, that massive rabbit, that fairy, and that guy made of sand… Guardians, yeah right."
"You shouldn't mock what we do." Jack said as he limped towards Krampus, barely dodging as Krampus tried to whip him. The old goat jumped as Jack tried to knock down his legs. Krampus cackled as Jack tumbled and he tackled the young Sprite unto the floor, his claws around the pale neck.
Jack struggled helplessly as he kicked his legs desperately but the old villain barely felt the kicks Jack delivered. "I can mock 'em as much as I like, young guardian. Because yew know what I think? I think yer all talk! 'Em guardians don't care fer these naughty children, just like they don't care fer yew!"
"That's…" Jack panted as the claws tightened around his neck. "N-Not… t-true…"
"Ha! Are you deluded little snowflake?" Krampus said as he sat on Jack's legs and the boy let out a muted cry as his injured legs gave way at the weight. "It's been weeks, weeks! And I don't see any of yer precious guardians comin' to save 'em rugrats or yew!"
"T-They'll… come!" Jack choked out as he scratched at the claws on his throat helplessly. His eyes burned and he blinked back his pain and the tears threatening to spill.
"They won't." Krampus jeered as he leaned down to look at Jack in the face, reveling in the fear and uncertainty on his face.
"T-They will!" Jack said as he trashed harder and the old goat frowned at the tenacity of the youngest.
"What makes yew think they'll come for yew?" The old goat snorted. "Yew've been ignored by 'em for over three centuries! Why would they come now?"
Because he promised. Jack wanted to say, but to his horror he found he couldn't voice out anything. Instead he flailed restlessly, blue eyes narrowed and fighting back. Bunny promised me! He said- he said-!
"Nothing, is going to happen to ya'. We won't let anythin' happen to ya'."
"I-I believe in them…" Jack finally managed to gasp out. "I-I k-know they'll come… They w-will come…"
If not for me… Jack thought helplessly as his blue eyes looked at the huddled and frightened children. At least for the kids…
"Don't get yer hopes up." Krampus said, getting annoyed at every word that came out of Jack's lips, at the unrelenting belief in those blue eyes. "Yewr here to protect 'em kids, but who will protect yew from me? And when yewr gone, no one will protect these brats. No one will come for yew or them."
They will come. They will. Jack chided to himself as he opened his mouth to let out a frustrated cry as he struggled and struggled. The guardians will come, they'll save the kids, they'll save him.
"And we will protect ya', I swear on the Moon we will."
"No!" Jack roared as he finally, finally pushed Krampus off, the wind roaring in his ears helping him as best as it could even without the staff to connect them. The anti-santa was stunned at the sudden raw power that pushed him off. But then he smirked when he saw the effort it took the winter sprite.
The guardian of Fun was collapsed on the floor, barely able to move. He had exhausted the last of his will and his power. He looked up and watched helplessly as Krampus strolled towards him and picked him up by the scruff of his neck.
"Tha' was a good show, Frost." Krampus sneered. "And I admire yer bravery and yer belief on the guardians. But yew've begun to bore me… and I really need to get on with my job of punishin' these brats."
Jack opened his mouth, about to give the other a snarky reply but then his eyes widened and instead of words, blood came out of his mouth. Blue eyes looked down on himself and widened even more in horror when he saw Krampus' claw impaled onto his chest.
"Did yew know Jack?" Krampus cooed as Jack let out sputtered cries and tried to struggle. "When a guardian has less than ten believers he isn't exactly what you'd call an immortal. A guardian with so few believers like yew can easily…" His hand twisted and Jack felt that heart-stopping sensation like someone was grabbing at something fragile inside of him. "…be erased…" He twisted again and the sprite flinched as blue eyes looked at Krampus who flashed the winter sprite one of his rotten-teeth smile. "…by simply crushing their center." Krampus curled his claws and crushed whatever he was holding inside of Jack, as the guardian of fun-
"AAAAGGGHHHH!"
-collapsed onto the hard, unforgiving floor.
Notes: My exams are over! Yehey! But I might go disappearing again two weeks from now for more examinations and I just wanna sink on the sand and bury myself over.
So the Krampus 3 ended here. It was supposed to be longer but then I remembered I had to balance out this chapter and the fourth one so I cut it here. Well I guess I have all the time in the world to finally reply to your wonderful reviews!
Neellok: Uhm, but I'm sure I already placed on top of the chapters what arc they're from. I know I did. Thanks for the awesome review! And I'm happy your loved it!
dizappearinggirl: Haha, I was frustrated at Bunny too. But I'm not good with writing an overly emotional Bunny. Still trying my best to incorporate the perfect E. Aster Bunnymund without awkwardness. Thanks for the review! I read your review before as well and I loved it! Long reviews make my day! So thank you!
Raven: Thank you Raven but I doubt 'Krampus 3' was one of my most creative titles XD Thanks for the magnificent review!
Book girl fan: Do not worry, everything has its explanation and it will be shown in due time. Thank you for reviewing!
SpazzyLassy105: Thank you for the tempting review! Sorry I wasn't able to update faster. Exams take priority and precedence but the new chapter is up now! And the next one won't be too long a wait!
TheVictoryAngelofStrife: Such a wonderful title! You do not mind at all if I use it? Thanks for the wonderful review and may the guardians be with you as well!
So thank you for the wonderful reviews everyone. And also the people who answered my random question from the chapters before! Thank you also to those who wished me a happy birthday a few chapters back and also to those who wished me luck on my research paper! You guys are the greatest reviewers a writer could ask for!
So here is the Krampus 3 presented to you! We shall meet again on Krampus 4! Questions are welcome as always, naturally!
By the way on a side note, remember that idea I had about 'Hope being Jack'? Well no one took it up so I decided to write it for myself. It's entitled 'Iced Hope' and if you're interested you can go check it out.
If I missed any important review questions please feel free to remind me!
Thanks again for your wonderful reviews! Good luck in life to all of us! Happy reading and reviews are very much appreciated! :D