Aster felt his hear pound as he dashed up the stair case to the first of the palace's five towers, eyes open for anything that could be a key. Mother Nature was in hot pursuit, the group having split into teams. He, Mother Nature and Sandy were on the first search team, Mrs Clause, Tooth and North on the second, each going opposite directions and promising to meet up at the last key. The circular build made it easier to navigate, but the clear ice was a breeding ground for optical illusions, spaces that looked like openings solid ice walls, reflective glares blinding Aster with flashes of light.
"...This is going to take a while..." said Mother Nature, looking at the clutter in the circular room.
"We just need the find the bloody key." He said, searching through drawers. "Where would the bloody jackass hide the blasted thing?!"
"Somewhere only he could get it." Said Mother Nature. "Or, somewhere extremely difficult to get to. Maybe a safe? Winter has always had a good memory, so anything with a combination isn't far out there." Sandy tapped them and pointed up. A shimmering key was embedded in the ice roof, a tag hanging from the ceiling.
"Get it out without breaking to roof." read Mother Nature, ivy tendrils dragging the note down.
"And now the fun begins." Sighed Aster, looking up while scratching his head. Sandy seemed to get an idea, because soon he was rubbing his dream sand over the ice, furiously burrowing through the ice.
"Brilliant ya dux!" exclaimed Aster, ice shavings drifting to the floor. Sandy gave him a silent thumbs up, Aster grinning ear to ear."
"I wonder how the others are doing..." Said Mother Nature, Sandy floating up to examine the trapped key closer.
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"Room upside down." Groaned North, bumping his head on an ice lamp hanging from the ceiling. Tooth fluttered about, peeking into the drawers of upside down side tables.
"Keys...keys..." muttered Mrs. Clause, looking up at the ice furniture, examining every space she could see, directing Tooth to every nook and cranny. For some reason, she felt eyes boring into her back, the cold gaze unsettling even to her.
"Are we alone in here?" wondered Tooth, fluttering back down with a look of fear and defeat on her face. All three froze at the sound of a growl, something scratching the ice. Slowly all three turned, glowing blue eyes staring at them from the skull of the ice beast. Clear shingles made up it's armoured shell, razor sharp icicles it's teeth.
What in name of Moon-" began North, when Tooth spotted something gold tied around the creatures neck.
"The key!" she yelped, pointing. The beast growled, and lunged at the fairy. North quickly slammed it into the wall, cracking a bit of the ice ribs on the left side. It's spiked, frozen tail lashed menacingly as it crept around the three.
"One of the bastard's ice minions." Huffed Mrs. Clause.
"My swords can't seem to peirce-" Mrs. Clause rolled her eyes and threw her coat at her husband, marching forward determinedly. As the thing lunged again, she raised her fist.
"DIBS!" Tooth flinched as Mrs. Clause jumped at the beast, fist driving home down the thing's throat. She felt her stomach roll as she tore off the thing's head, and tossed North the key. Ignoring the cuts in her arm from the thing's teeth, she smiled warmly.
"Does a lady have to do all the work around here?" she sighed, taking her coat and walking calmly down the stairs. "Come along dear. The sooner we get the other keys, the sooner we can get home to a nice dinner and hot cocoa!"
"Ah, Anya." Sighed North, a dopey grin on his face. "Reminds me of the day we met. Tooth stared awkwardly at the couple, taking the key while the spouses engaged in lovey-dovey banter, mildly disturbed by how easily Mrs. Clause dispatched the ice beast, and what she was sure she didn't want to know as they flirted in Russian. Wordlessly she followed, securing the key to her wrist.
"I wonder how Aster and the others are doing..." she mused, covering her ears as she caught a string of Russian she COULD understand.
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At first Jack just thought Joy was nervous, the shake barely detectable. He held her closer, taking off his hoodie and wrapping her in the fabric for the little warmth he could offer. But, it soon became apparent that it wasn't Joy who was shaking, the noise of heavy chain moving filling the room as slowly, ever so slowly, the cage began to move down.
"What the-" Began Jack, peeking through the bars. All remaining color in his pale skin left, making him look almost blue. Below, though they were far from it for now, was an opening in the ice, a pool of cold arctic water gaping at them like a wide open mouth, ready to swallow them as they got close enough.
"Are you insane?!" yelled Jack, glaring at the elderly winter spirit sitting on his spiked throne of ice, watching both the cage and the doors. "She'll freeze! She can't survive that kind of cold!"
"Then the rodent better hurry up." Snorted Old Man Winter, drumming his fingers. "Though, I am surprised they found the first two so easily..."With a snap of his icy fingers, three large creatures made of thick ice crawled into the room, fangs of razor sharp icicles and about three times as large as North. Jack subconsciously hugged Joy closer, fear running up his spine.
"Go guard the keys." Commanded Old Man Winter, scratching them behind the ears. Jack shivered at their unearthly howls, not even the chilling call of wolves as terrifying as the clipped screeches like nails on a chalk board. "And make sure the rodent can't get them."
"Keys?" asked Jack, a sour feeling growing in the pit of his stomach.
"Oh, didn't I tell you?" mused Winter. "Your precious rodent did find us."
"Knew he would." Snorted Jack. "Prepare to have your ass thumped by a pissed Aussie Bunny, Frosty." Winter laughed.
"Oh really?" said Winter, flying up. "I'll have you know that he BET you, and the little ice puff."
"Bet?" wondered Jack.
"He bet against me with you and Joy as the prize." He said. "He bet that he could find five keys hidden in my castle. If he couldn't, he'd abandon you forever."
"There has to be a reason." Said Jack shakily, fears bubbling up. The old man was just as good as Pitch when it came to fears, and just as cold and ruthless in using them against you. "He'd never do something like that unless there was good reason."
"He was too chicken to fight me." Smirked Old Man Winter. "So, he bartered you. If he fails, you'll never see him again, outside of the business of a Guardian. The fur ball won't see him either. You will spend the rest of eternity here."
"Over my dead body." Hissed Jack. "You can try, but you cannot keep me here. I am the bringer of winter, and you are nothing but an out-dated old tyrant. Man in the Moon will not let this happen, and if you think I'm going to just sit here and let you keep us prisoner-"
"We both know you are almost powerless without your staff." Chuckled Winter. "What are you going to do to me? Nip my nose, eh Jack Frost?" Winter didn't have time to react as Jack's fist connected with his jaw, a satisfied grin on the frost spirit's face as a dark blue bruise was already forming over Old Man Winter's icy left eye.
"Burn in Hell." Growled Jack, Old Man Winter holding his face while swearing. "Or should I say 'melt' in Hell?" Old Man Winter bristled, icicles forming over the cage.
"You're lucky I'm bound to keep winter spirits from harm." He said. "but that doesn't apply to your snivelling bundle of fur. YOU will survive arctic waters, but I don't know about her..." Jack Held Joy close to his chest.
"If you so much lay a slimy finger on Joy I will rip out every organ in your body and force feed you the contents of your rib cage." Around him little shards of ice began to swirl, his eyes narrowed in rage at the old spirit.
"I'd like to see you try."
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"Almost got it Sandy?" Mother Nature and Aster were pulling on Sandy's legs, trying to help him dislodge the key. Suddenly they heard a snap, and all three tumbled back in a cloud of dream sand and broken furniture. From inside the castle they heard a blood chilling howl, making Aster's fur stand on end.
"What the Hell was that?!" asked Aster.
"Winter's ice minions." Growled Mother Nature. "Winter is guarding the keys!" Aster looked at the key and secured it in his harness. He drew his boomerangs and grinned.
"Ice minions?" he snorted. "Obviously he hasn't met a determined Aussie with ace aim." Mother Nature grinned, Sandy already heading down the stairs.
"Winter doesn't stand a chance." She said. "He's going to have tricks up his sleeve."
"I can handle Jack, can't I?" snorted Aster. "I can take whatever he can dish out."
"I hope so." She said. "Because Tooth and I need both of you for our little Christmas present." Aster gave her a look.
"Do I want to know?"
"No hints!" she chirped, gliding off after Sandy. Aster gripped the key and smiled.
One step closer to Jack.