A/N: Hey there everyone, here is yet another update to this story. Thank you so much for reading, and if you followed/favourited thank you even more. Also, I recently changed up my writing style and I'm curious on how it is, so please leave a comment on how it is. Thank you guys so much and I'll see you next time!
Tooth's breath caught in her throat as she stepped into Jack's dimly lit room, she had waited for what seemed like an eternity for this moment. The young winter spirit was propped up in his bed, his ice blue eyes scanning the room sharply. His gaze fell on Tooth and a smile spread across his pale face.
"You still breathing in here?" Bunnymund bellowed as he burst into the room, tearing apart the silence that had fallen over the two Guardians. A smile spread across Tooth's face as she gave the Pooka a sharp elbow to his stomach.
"Of course he is Aster, can't keep a good spirit down ," she teased winking at a clearly amused Jack. Bunnymund scowled at both the pain in his mid section and the usage of his first name. Suddenly a thought popped into the Pooka's head.
"How'd you get better all by yourself?" Bunnymund questioned, cocking his head in confusion.
"He didn't," a warm, friendly voice announced from the shadows of the dim room. Bunnymund's jaw dropped as a redhaired woman stepped into a view, her sweeping green dress sliding across the cobblestone floor.
"M-mother Earth," the Pooka stumbled in shock as he quickly dropped to one knee, Toothiana silently followed suit. An inviting smile split the woman's face as she gracefully stepped to Jack's side.
"Rise noble Guardians," Mother whispered, her sweet voice filling the gathered spirits with warmth. Something about the way she talked brought a summery feeling to even Jack's frigid body.
"We thought you were gone," Tooth gasped, her eyes welling up with tears as she stared in awe at the woman before her. Many, many years ago Mother Earth had disappeared, leaving the world in ruins. Many Guardians and spirits had tried for years to find her, but to no avail. Finally all hopes of finding Mother Earth were lost, and her legacy was lost.
"A flower leaves every winter, but it always returns. Life will always find a way, and we will always return to one another," Mother explained, her voice weaving her words together like a beautiful tapestry.
Suddenly Jack cried out in pain and clutched his left arm as a wave of pain ripped through his arm. All eyes turned to the silver haired spirit as he gasped in pain.
"What's wrong Jack?" Toothiana cried as she rushed to the winter spirit's side. Concern flashed across her features as she ran a hand across the black tattoo that snaked across his left arm. Jack's skin was hot to the touch, as if he had a fever.
"Your friend has suffered a very deep wound, one that will never truly heal from," Mother Earth whispered as she gently laid a hand on the winter spirit's forehead easing his pain instantly. A loving smile graced her lips as she watched the young teen drift into a peaceful sleep.
"Is he going to be alright?" Bunnymund questioned, finally entering the conversation. Mother Earth remained silent, as if pondering the question in her head,
"He will be, but only with time. This is a wound he will have to live with, and one day learn to master," Mother Earth marveled, her gaze drifting off to stare into nothingness. A grim silence fell over the gathered spirits as Mother's words hung over them like a storm cloud.
"What's everyone staring at?" Jack asked groggily as he weakly sat up in his bed. All signs of worry were lifted from the Guardians as Jack's signature smile lit up his features.
"You gave us a right start," Bunnymund grunted as he crossed his furry arms in a half hearted attempt to look annoyed. Jack grinned sheepishly and scratched at the nape of his neck in embarrassment.
"Sorry, I still haven't got used to this thing," the silver haired spirit apologized, his eyes scanning the tendrils of black that snaked across his forearm. A strange feeling was emanating from the pitch black marks, as if they contained some energy that was desperate to escape.
"Come Aster, I want to see the army you have raised for our cause," Mother ordered suddenly bringing everyone back to attention.
"Y-Yes ma'am," Bunnymund stammered as he jumped to attention, this brought an amused smile to the redhead.
"Don't be so tense, I'm not as ruthless as the legends state," Mother Earth laughed sweetly as she sweeped out of the room with Bunnymund in tow. A silence fell over the remaining Guardians as they averted their gaze from each other.
"I missed you Jack," Toothiana whispered, breaking the silence. The silver haired spirit froze as he felt the fairy's warm arms wrap around his slim frame. A single tear ran down Tooth's cheek as she buried her face in Jack's shoulder.
"I didn't think I'd ever get to see you again," she sobbed, her voice cracking. Jack sighed and wrapped his arms around the fairy in a tight embrace, pulling her close to his chest.
"For you I will always come back," he whispered planting a soft kiss on the guardian's forehead.
Jamie Bennett was buried on a Sunday, it was snowing. The attendance was sparse, just the assorted family and a few friends. There were no tears, that would be an insult to the young man, instead happy memories were shared and bittersweet smiles filled everyone's faces. Despite the pain they felt in their hearts, they smiled for Jamie.
Hours after the last mourner had left a final visitor arrived, casting a pale glow across the fresh tombstone. It was at this grave that the man in the moon stopped to remember, to honor a young man who never stopped believing.