3. Conflict and the Moon
Note: I don't know how to write accents. Forgive me.
North Pole
Tap tap tap. Nicholas St. North, better known as North or Santa Claus, looked up at the noise. Tap tap tap. Straightening from his work table, the Guardian of Wonder looked around the room. Tap tap tap…CRASH! North jumped, drawing out his twin swords as a window in the corner of his personal workshop shattered, sending in a gust of freezing wind. Eyes narrowed, the wind followed Jack, which meant…
"Jack!" The large Russian yelled, looking around for his mischievous comrade. "This is not funny! Could have ruined work!" There was no reply beyond the movement of air, pushing him towards the broken window. North felt a twinge of nervousness. It wasn't like Jack not to answer. For that matter, it wasn't like him to break another's possession on purpose. He allowed the wind to push him, leaving his treasured swords on the floor. "Jack?"
Reaching the window, North craned his neck, looking for the white haired boy. Down, the wind whispered, look down. The toy maker did so, eyes widening as he saw a familiar form curled on a snow pile hundreds of feet below.
"Jack!"
HSHSHSHS
July 8
Jack rolled over, nearly falling off the plush mattress. Blue eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the light. The winter spirit sat up, muscles protesting fiercely. He was in the Medical Ward of the North Pole. For a moment, he was lost. How had he gotten here? He remembered hanging out with the believers, sliding on the ice, then they left…and…this time, Jack did fall off the bed as memories of the glowing spirit assaulted him. Through the pain of remembrance, as well as hitting a marble floor, Jack heard a yeti growl before he was scooped up in furry arms.
"Hey Phil." The yeti, wearing a stethoscope for some reason, nodded, carrying him bridal style across the room and through double doors. Jack didn't bother asking where they were going. For one, he didn't actually speak yeti and, for another, he had a good idea of who they were going to see. No doubt North had called in the troops.
HSHSHSHS
In the official meeting room of the Guardians, tensions were high. As soon as Jack's injuries had been seen to, North had summoned the others. The news that their youngest had been harmed caused an uproar. Tooth had been near tears for hours, Sandy's dreamsand pictures had become increasingly chaotic and even Bunny, whose rivalry with the icy Guardian was near legendary, was nervous, snapping angrily at the others and pacing the room. North was the only one calm, though he was far from happy.
As the leader of the Guardians (yes, he was, there had been a vote two centuries back), North had taken the news of Jack's injuries the worst, instantly blaming himself for not having been there, for not having put more thought into the boy's training. But many hours had passed and North's self-criticism had worn down as anger seeped in. Despite rumors in the spirit community, North did not see Jack Frost as his son, but that didn't mean he didn't care. Jack was like a nephew, a treasured, if rebellious, protege. When he looked at the teenaged spirit, he saw much of himself. The boy had quickly become the heart of the Guardians and to see him in such a state sent white hot spikes of hatred through his heart. Whoever had done this would pay.
A knock on the door snapped the four out of their thoughts. "Come in." The door creaked open as a large yeti entered. Seeing the scowling bundle in his arms, the Guardians shot out of their seats, rushing to check on the teen. "Guys!" Jack protested, as he was lifted from Phil's hold by North and carried to a plush armchair, Sandy and Tooth fluttering nervously around him while Bunny poured a glass of eggnog from a pitcher, forcing it to the winter spirit's lips. "Seriously! I'm fine!"
After several minutes of confusion, the older Guardians settled down. "We're so glad you feel better, Jack" Tooth said earnestly. "What happened?" Looking at the expectant faces around him, Jack sighed. While he'd intended to tell the others about the attack, he was suddenly a bit nervous. There was no way this would end with his friends not tracking down the crazy redhead. But still…
"I was in Burgess, with Jamie and some of the others-
HSHSHSHS
Jack completed his story, instantly aware of an aura of doom surrounding the room. North's face was red, large fists tightly clenched. Tooth's wings flapped angrily, nearly sending her to the ceiling. Bunny was looking…wow, he hadn't seen that look since 68.
Hoping to diffuse the tension, Jack asked "so you know her?" North visibly struggled to collect himself. "Yes, we know her. Was Lady Midday, spirit of summer." Jack blinked in surprise. He'd thought she might be a fire sprite or something but summer spirit? Like how he was a winter spirit? "What's wrong with her?"
Bunny snarled, a paw gripping his boomerang, "She's crazy as fu-
"Bunnymond!" North cut in, glaring at the Guardian of Hope, "enough!" Turning back to Jack, North let his gaze soften. It wasn't that they had been hiding her existence, but the summer spirit was such a solitary creature, they hadn't thought to warn him. Besides, Midday avoided snow like the plague, so the two meeting had never crossed his mind. "Lady Midday is old spirit, servant of Mother Nature. She is…deeply disturbed, and hates cold very much. Likely saw you as threat." Jack frowned, thinking back. "I've heard of Mother Nature. She's like MiM right? Why would she let Midday hurt a human?"
Damn. North closed his eyes, searching for a way to explain Mother Nature. "Yes, she is very powerful and dedicated to Earth, but not to people. Likely doesn't care so long as Lady Midday keeps bringing summer." In the background, North saw Tooth and Bunny looking around nervously, as if Mother Nature was about to pop out of the ground and strangle them with vines. Shaking the image out of his head, North refocused on Jack. "Mother Nature is very dangerous woman and favors her spirits greatly. Very rarely makes them, you see."
Jack nodded. The gi- Lady Midday, he amended, had been incredibly powerful, more so than Pitch, if he was being honest. He had a feeling she could have easily killed him if she wanted, so why hadn't she? Bunny came up again, face serious. "So what are we gonna do about this, North. The crazy Sheila nearly killed Frosty!"
North's reply was cut off as beams of light began to swirl through the room. Looks like the Man in the Moon had arrived. The light met in the center of the room, forming a column. "Manny," North nodded to the light as the others walked forwards, "what should we do?" Swirls of moonlight drifted up from the column, forming a tiny, monochrome version of Lady Midday. Another image formed, the guardians, looking ready for battle. Just as instantly as it had arrived, the light dissipated, leaving the Guardians alone. North let out a large sigh, a hand caressing the hilt of his sword. "He has spoken. We defeat Lady Midday and he will deal with rest." Bunny and Tooth nodded, eyes lit with determination. Jack didn't feel so sure. Yes, Midday was clearly…unwell…but something about hurting her felt…wrong. His insides twisted unpleasantly as he thought back to her colorful hair and playful smirk. Something felt so…familiar about her. So right, almost.
Turning from the others, Jack noticed Sandy floating on the other side of the room, golden face filled with regret.
Note: No, I'm not putting Jack and Midday together in any romantic sense. That being said, there is a very important reason Jack feels connected to her.