Chapter 17

"No," Jack repeated. "No, she told me her sister was dead. She told me that my storm made it impossible for her sister to be saved." He was shaking his head not sure what to believe now. "The way she acted there was no way she was lying." He thought of her hands around his neck, how she had almost killed him right there for what he… well, apparently, what she thought he did.

Bunny sat next to the winter spirit and helped stop Tooth's bleeding, but he answered, "We saw the memories in the teeth. Can't lie about that either." The two Guardians just looked at each other, and Bunny could see the time with Pitch, albeit short, had an effect on the younger spirit. There were dark rings under his eyes, and he looked barely able to stand. Bunny wished there was something he could do for the winter spirit, but right now, Pitch and Ember were the bigger issues.

"Where… where are the memories?" Jack asked. "I need to see them." He stood rather abruptly glancing around as if he was a caged animal again. "Better yet, what are the chances her sister's memories are here?"

"Jack," North said moving to touch the spirit, but he pulled away. Sandy looked at each Guardian, worry evident in his gaze. The winter spirit was usually all over the place, but this wasn't the winter spirit they were used to. He was more frazzled than anything, and the Guardians could see before their eyes that the young Guardian they thought of as family was shattering apart.

"No," he repeated. "She told me I was responsible. She made me believe that I helped to kill her sister and turn her into that… that thing." He took to the air to look through one of the few columns of teeth still standing. He was praying that Melanie's teeth were there; he needed to see the truth. More so, he needed to understand why Ember would say all of those things. To torture him? To make him want to die? It seemed plausible, but her anger, her hatred was so real.

"This ain't good," Bunny said while Jack hunted through the teeth. "He doesn't look good."

"No," North agreed. "But what do we do?" He shrugged knowing there wasn't much they could do for the younger spirit; the fact the Ember had told him it was his fault bugged the Guardian of wonder. It was obviously hurting the winter spirit, but he wasn't sure how to fix this. They could show Jack the memories, but at this point, North wasn't sure if he'd believe seeing it. Ember had done a good job instilling that small sliver of guilt into the spirit.

"Jack!" Tooth called. "I know all my teeth, I'm pretty sure Melanie Lane's were destroyed." She searched herself for Amber's two teeth and held them up. "I still have hers if you want."

"I need," Jack said coming down. "I need to see the truth. I need to see that Melanie didn't die in that fire." He looked at the Russian Guardian, eyes broken, and spirit slowly being crushed by guilt. "Please… I need to know I didn't do it."

North pursed his lips and sighed. "I can find her if she still alive." Jack looked at the Guardian hopeful while he seemed to be thinking hard.

"How can he..?" Jack whispered to Bunny.

"That whole he sees you when you're sleeping," Bunny replied. "Yeah that's not a joke."

"Officially creeped out," the younger Guardian said nodding his head trying not to think about all the things the other Guardian might see if he wasn't careful.

"There is a Melanie Schmidt nee Lane living in a Hartland, Michigan," North finally said looking at Jack. "We won't have much time before Pitch strikes again."

"I won't be long," Jack said lifting his feet from the ground. He thought about Jamie and how he needed to find him, so he quickly told the others about Jamie's kidnapping. He would deal with it himself, but he had a feeling that was what Ember wanted. North told him not to worry, and that they would take care of it.

"Jack what are you going to do?" Tooth asked. "It's not like she can tell you her story. She is in her thirties, she won't be able to see you."

"I just need to at least go," he responded. "I'll meet you guys as soon as I can."

"Be careful frostbite," Bunny said.

Sandy gave Jack thumbs up and a small frown. Even he was worried about the white haired spirit. He seemed more frantic than usual, but the Guardians understood the panic. Ember had told him that she blamed him for her sister, for the storm, for all of it, and he had been with Pitch for a few days. That was more than enough time for doubt to be placed. Hopefully, he would find what he needed to get back into the fight in full as all the Guardians knew Pitch was far from down.

…

Ember flew gracefully to Hawaii which was one of the few spots on this Earth she didn't mind so much. She was always one for the equator, but it wasn't always as gorgeous as a few of the forests and beaches she had had while wandering on the island. She had even found an abandoned shack once, and that was where she stashed Jamie with food and water. She didn't want the teen to die from exposure.

She landed gracefully on the beach, her toes digging into the sand. Her eyes gazed out over the ocean as her thoughts drifted back to the fight. She knew she hadn't been at the top of her game, but she really hadn't expect Jack to just show up. That and Sandy had her off her top form, but she knew by the next fight, Pitch would expect her to be back. The next fight she knew would be the last. The Guardians were almost powerless insects, and he was just savoring the moment. As it was, she probably shouldn't have stopped here, but she wanted to check on the teen.

Was Ember willing to crush Jack every way possible for what had happened to her sister? Easily. She wanted the winter spirit to fall to his knees and pray that it would all be over. He needed to suffer for his part in her sister's death. That did not mean she was willing to kill some teenager as annoying as he was. She just planned on keeping the kid here until the fighting was over then she'd take him home, and she could return to her spot at the equator. All of this fighting reminded her how much more time she needed in isolation for what happened to her sister.

Wandering up to the small beach house, she saw that Jamie was sitting on the couch, staring at the ceiling. She did, however, forget that teens could get bored quite easily. Stepping inside, she waved at Jamie who immediately sat up and stared at the fire spirit.

"Sorry about that," she shrugged shutting the door behind her. "Didn't mean to startle you."

"Can I go home?" he asked. "My parents have to be freaking out."

"Probably," she said taking a seat near the teenager, but purposely kept enough space. She didn't want to overheat him. "But better for them to be worried about a teen running off than them freaking out from you in a coma."

"Could he do that?" Jamie asked, his eyes wide in panic.

"No idea," Ember chuckled. "But I wouldn't put it past him." The two fell into silence, and both seemed unsure of what to talk about.

"So how'd you become a spirit?" he questioned.

"Let's not talk about that," she said through gritted teeth. They fell back into an awkward stillness. Finally, Ember asked, "Why do you believe in the Guardians?"

It was an odd question to say the least, but she was genuinely curious about the answer. Growing up in her household, she learned quickly that there couldn't be anything special out there like Santa. If there was, you'd think they would have saved her. However, she never took that belief from her sister; she remembered Melanie's smile every time she read about the Easter Bunny. It was bright, and it made everyone else want to join in.

"Because," Jamie said as if that was the answer to everything. Ember cocked an eyebrow at him. "Well they saved me when I was a kid, and I can't forget them. They've given me hope, dreams, wonder, and all the fun a kid deserves."

"Deserves?"

"You're only a kid once," Jamie laughed. "We deserve to have an amazing life that's filled with things adults never will see again. Every day when I think of what the Guardians have done for me, I smile. I know that this world is safe from things that would make it a frightful place."

"Like Pitch?" To which, Jamie nodded. "But he only gives you bad dreams. That's not as bad as it could be."

"No probably not," he admitted. "Doesn't make it right to do that. Kids are innocent and we love life. It's simple as a kid, there is nothing life or death until you get older and get a driver's license."

Ember rolled her eyes, but she didn't get the chance to say anything when she was hit behind by dream sand. She didn't have much time to think before she slunk out of the chair and fell asleep. Jamie jumped up, shocked to see the Guardians standing in the doorway minus Jack. Sandy was looking rather proud of his shot.

"We better tie 'er up this time mate," Bunny said to which Tooth held up wire.

"Got it from braces," she giggled fluttering over to the dreaming Ember. "Metal should take her longer to melt than any rope."

"What are you guys doing here?" Jamie asked.

"Rescuing you of course," Bunny replied, and the teen just looked more confused.

"From what?" he laughed. "She hid me here away from Pitch. I haven't had a single bad dream since I came here."

The Guardians all exchanged a glance before North stepped forward. "We should get you home."

"And what about her?" he asked gesturing to Ember.

"Don't worry," North continued, and while Jamie wanted to question it further, he just nodded. He walked over to the sleigh which still looked like crap. He gave the Santa a look. "It safe."

"It looks like its ready to fall apart," he argued noticing one of the doors was hanging on by one nail. "Yep gonna die." With that, he jumped in while Bunny tapped open a hole.

"I'm taking my way back," he explained tossing Ember over his shoulder. "See you there."

…

Jack sat in a tree staring out into the yard. He hadn't seen much activity yet, but he had seen a bus arrive a few minutes ago. It was a school bus, and it had dropped someone off. He strained to see who it was, but they hadn't come around to the backyard.

He fidgeted in the tree waiting for Melanie; he had to see her. If he saw her, then he knew that Ember had lied. That was the only explanation; she must have lied to him to get to him. Yet even in his head, that didn't seem right. The lies she was telling, she obviously believed.

The winter spirit perked up at the sight of a little girl running into the backyard laughing. She was only ten years old with long blonde hair and dazzling green eyes. She was carrying a living rabbit with her, but she was an experienced ten years old. He watched in fascination as she took good care of the bunny, holding it close as she sat on the swing.

"Amber," a voice scolded, and that was when Jack saw her. Stepping outside was a woman in a black v-neck and blue jeans. She had a round face and long wavy brown hair, but that wasn't what caught his attention. It was the burn on her face that trailed from the middle of her cheek down to her neck. "What did I tell you about taking the bunny outside?"

Jack's mind immediately clicked- Melanie. She was alive… but what did this all mean. He continued to watch the exchange as the young girl groaned and started to say, "Mom."

A smile lit up on his face as the Mom retrieved the bunny and patted the young girl on her head. "You can play with him inside."

"Oh fine," the young girl huffed before heading back towards the house.

"She has a daughter too," Jack said more to himself, but he realized he had said it too loud when he heard the girl gasp. He looked up to see Amber just staring at him with wide eyes.

"Jack Frost," the little girl said with a smile. "You're Jack Frost!" She started to jump up and down in excitement.

"What was that honey?" Melanie called from in the house.

"Mom! Mom!" Amber squealed running up the back door. "Jack Frost is here!"

Chapter 18: Ember wakes to find herself captured… but maybe that's what she had intended all along. She plays as the boogeyman's watch out from the inside while Pitch rallies his nightmares for the final confrontation… and Jack is left trying to figure out the whole story behind Melanie and Ember.

OOC: So this story is coming to a close. As I said- 20 chapters give or take. I hope you guys are ready for the final fight and the finale. I admit it took me a long while to figure out what to do with Ember in terms of an end: happy, neutral, dark. I sat and mulled over it for the last few days, and I think I thought of one I like.