The Wandering Flame

Disclaimer: I don't own ROTG

Chapter 6: Finding Your Center

Terms: ребёнок/rebenok=child

"He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how." -Friedrich Nietzsche

Recap: Jack started to follow North with Rose in tow, who glanced back at the other Guardians to see expressions of shock and unease. She bit her lip, ashamed of her actions.

"I just proved my own point; I have nothing to offer but destruction. Obviously the Man in the Moon got my destiny confused with someone else's. How could I ever bring joy to children when I'm capable of something so terrifying?"

Rose's POV

We entered an elevator that appeared a lot like a Christmas ornament, down to what I recalled was the factory floor.

"It's nothing personal, North. What you all do, it's just, it's not my thing." Jack explained.

"Man in Moon says it is your thing. And not just you, but Rose as well. We will see!"

Guilt hung over me like a dreary little rain cloud as I calmed down, realizing what I'd done. I punched the bunny. No, correct that: I punched the Easter Bunny, the Guardian of Hope.

I wanted to crawl under a rock and never come out. Oh dear, that was so improper of me! Perhaps it was because I awakened during a period of propriety-despite there being bouts of double-standards, racism, and very obvious sexism-where manners were everything that I spoke so...oddly.

And that I regretted my actions towards Bunnymund.

My glow dimmed as a reaction to my emotions, my hair turning to normal golden-red strands. I'd never seen my skin so close to a normal, healthy, human shade before. But I couldn't help it; my guilt consumed me.

Negative thoughts returned to me of how incapable I am of controlling my destructive powers, what good I could possibly do with such horrid abilities, what the Man in the Moon saw in me...I never felt so ashamed of myself before.

To distract myself, I let my eyes wander to a nearby yeti offering a clipboard for North to sign, who did so without batting an eye. I recognized his white fur instantly.

"Hello, Claude!" I smiled, earning some excited grunts and a wave.

It was then I realized I was getting left behind, with Jack beckoning me. I hastily jogged over as North continued storming through the place, leaving Jack and I to keep up.

"Slow down, wouldja? I've been trying to bust in here for years, I want a good look." The winter sprite grinned, looking around in wonder.

North halted for a moment, glaring at Jack suspiciously. "What do you mean, 'bust in'?"

"Oh, don't worry, I never got past the yetis."

A dark-colored yeti seemed to recognize him, since he pointed at my fellow loner spirit and pounded his fist into his palm threateningly.

"Oh, hey Phil."

I chuckled a little, waving to the enraged Phil. That trouble-maker didn't even have to try hard to amuse me.

"Hey, what's so funny?" he grinned, nimbly dodging the various yetis running about.

It was time to show I wasn't as much of what humans called a "downer" as the others perceived me to be. Especially Jack. We only met moments ago, but it was so refreshing to have someone relatable to speak to after the centuries I spent wandering alone. I did not want to disappoint him by failing to have a humorous, fun side.

"You, of course. And...it's amusing to see..." Jack stared at me quizzically, "...the yetis giving you the cold shoulder?"

He tried to keep a straight face but failed, snickering as I giggled at my own joke. "Wow, I didn't...pfffttt...know you made jokes. That was terrible, by the way."

I'm still laughing as I respond, "Ohhh, then you still do not know me very well, Frosted Tips. And that joke was...okay, it was bad, but you laughed."

"'Frosted Tips', eh? Okay, that was kinda clever, I'll give you some points for that," the winter spirit chuckled, "maybe you're not as serious as I thought, Sunshine."

I quirked a brow, fighting back a smile and failing. "'Sunshine'? You do not have anything more creative, Jack?"

"Hey, it's either that or something along the lines of 'Pyro' or 'Cinders'. It's not like 'Frosted Tips' is much better. Just saying."

"Actually, I think I prefer Pyro. And 'Frosted Tips' is the best I could come up with on the spot!"

He grinned devilishly, continuing to walk away from me teasingly. "Alright, Pyro it is. But don't think I won't be calling you Sunshine again. It kinda fits, actually."

"Jack, I have the powers of thaw and flame, not the sun."

"Isn't that basically what the sun does, though?"

"..."

He grinned cheekily, getting closer as his teasing increased. "C'mon, you know I'm right."

I pouted, puffing up my cheeks grumpily. My hair flared momentarily. The winter spirit stood unfazed.

"...yes, you're right."

I had pride and he knew it. Jack smiled triumphantly, sauntering away with his Shepard's staff behind his neck.

"See? Was that so hard?"

"Yes. It'll only swell up your ego further." I retorted, earning a disgruntled frown.

"Hey!"

I laughed-really laughed for what felt like the first time in decades-and kept following behind North.

"Keep up, Jack! Keep up! Rose, I expect you to be right behind me! Do not disappoint!"

"Yes, sir!" I called, playing along and picking up my pace. "On a different note, how come you have not been able to get into North's workshop before? I got in just fine."

Jack gaped at me with all laughs gone now, pointing at me with his staff. "You're seriously telling me you, the one who hates breaking major rules or getting into trouble on purpose, broke into North's workshop?"

I shrugged. "Well, I wouldn't phrase it as 'breaking in', but what can I say? I was lost, desperate, and completely insane. All it took was almost freezing to death to get in."

"Wait, you-"

"Yes, I almost froze to death. In all honesty, I did not particularly mind. Part of me wondered if I even could die. It wasn't very cool of me to think that way, but I was pretty lonely. I guess my thoughts wandered a little too much. Who knows what could've happened?"

Jack quirked a brow, resisting the urge to chuckle. "Did you seriously just make another pun?"

I paused a moment, giggling once I discovered I had indeed. "Oh. I suppose I did. But that one was unintentional!"

"I still can't believe that just happened."

"Hey! I'm not a complete stick in the mud!" I pouted, earning some light-hearted chuckles. "But anyways, that period of my life is all over and done with; you are going to love this place. It really tends to...lift your spirits." I grinned, using a finger to move his staff out of my face.

Jack groaned a bit but kept grinning widely, running a hand through his snow-white hair in disbelief. "Wow. Miss Proper actually broke into one of the most secure, awesome facilities before I could and can crack bad jokes. Gotta say, I'm impressed."

I flicked some hair off my shoulder with a playful smirk. "I try."

The factory was absolutely buzzing with activity: the Yetis were building toys and moving packages while the elves test piloted various flying toys. Sparkling glitter and confetti rained down from an unidentifiable source, and it reeked of mechanics with an odd mixture of warm cookies and hot chocolate. Jack ducked to avoid one of them as I swerved out of the path of another.

It was a beautiful, organized chaos.

"Whoa!" A beat passed until Jack had a question. "...I always thought the elves made the toys."

North leaned in to whisper, "We just let them believe that."

I glanced over to see a group of elves munching on Christmas ornaments and another electrocuting himself with Christmas lights. North put on a smile and called out to them.

"Very nice! Keep up good work!"

As we continued, North passed a yeti putting the finishing touches on a blue toy robot. Hundreds were already completed in neatly assorted rows.

"I don't like it. Paint it red."

The yeti made sounds of dismay, glancing from the nearly finished robot to the already completed ones and banged his head against his wooden work table.

"Step it up, everybody."

I beamed. It was always so warm and welcoming in the bustling home of North. He was like a father or grandfather to me, and the elves and yetis resembled something like family.

I almost felt like I belonged here.

Jack

He and Rose entered North's office, which he halted to marvel at. The walls were made of sheen ice, some flickering candles resting in holes carved right out of it.

More candles rested on the beams overhead his desk, which was full of sculptures, designs, blueprints, and toys. They were scattered everywhere on every shelf existing in the space.

The-admittedly eye-catching windows poured in natural light, causing the ice walls to sparkle.

Jack gaped. Man, North really had a sweet setup. He wished he'd met Rose sooner; maybe she could've helped him break in. Speaking of whom, when he glanced over at her, he noticed she was smiling in content. She emanated a soft glow, her long golden-red hair flickering at the tips. He'd never realized how amazing her powers were, or how it made her skin sparkle with the light of the sun. Her smile grew brighter with her glow.

He found himself tempted to smile with her, despite what just transpired and North's evidently serious mood. Jack hadn't seen a lot of her genuine smiles; mostly nervous ones or ones trying to offer comfort and so on. The only other time he caught a glimpse of it was when they first met, after she convinced him to talk and spend the day with her.

For a moment, he wondered why she didn't smile like that very often. It was an amazing one bound to light up whatever room she entered.

North grabbed a plate of fruitcake from a stumbling nearby elf, offering it to him abruptly.

"Fruitcake?"

He tore his eyes away from the content summer spirit to glance at it with little interest. "Uh, no, thanks."

Meanwhile Rose lit up-no pun intended-like a Christmas tree when her eyes met the food.

"Yes, please!"

'She actually likes fruitcake? Wow, never met someone who has. Wonder what else Sunshine likes?' he wondered.

He was genuinely curious about the summer spirit, especially since she was so much like him. She didn't even know her own name.

"Here you go, ребёнок (rebenok). Enjoy." North smiled warmly, in an almost fatherly manner as Rose eagerly accepted the fruitcake, proceeding to politely take a fork from an elf and munch quietly on her newly obtained snack.

"Спасибо (spasibo), North."

"Now when did you pick up my language, hm? Very impressed!" the jolly man beamed proudly.

"The last time I visited Russia, I stayed around a bit to pick up a few things. I am glad you're pleased by my attempt, though my accent is absolutely rubbish."

"Attempt is all that matters. I appreciate it, Rose."

Her skin glowed brightly from her elation, her hair turning into comforting waves of fire. Even her eyes glowed a bit, sparkling radiantly in the fragments of natural light as she smiled at North, then returned to her fruitcake.

What Jack found even more interesting was the fact that all of the candles in North's workshop seemed to react to her heightened state of joy, illuminating the room more than they were previously.

Rose was oblivious to both North's adoring parental gaze and the candles, to his disbelief. How could she not see how amazing her powers were?

A pang of envy hit him. It wasn't because of her powers, but because she had someone like North that cared about her in such a genuine fashion.

The warm gaze from the jolly man lasted a brief few more seconds before it completely vanished, replaced by a hardened expression. He cracked his knuckles, slowly approaching them in a menacing manner.

"Now we get down to tacks of brass."

Jack was taken aback. "Tacks of...?"

The door slammed shut, locking behind them on its own. Rose paused in the devouring of her fruitcake, chewing slowly on the portion already in her mouth. The candles returned to normal, as did the rest of the summer spirit.

He glanced at her. She was tensed, ready to protect herself if necessary. At least he didn't have to worry about protecting her. Judging from the mean, scorching right hook she gave the kangaroo ten minutes ago, she'd be fine.

North was suddenly up in his face, which he didn't appreciate. Rose stood at the side as Jack was cornered up against the locked door, at the mercy of the towering older man.

"Who are you, Jack Frost? What is your center?"

"My center?" he repeated in confusion.

"His center?" Rose echoed, equally puzzled.

"If Man in Moon chose you and Rose to be Guardians, you must have something very special inside. Hmmm..." The man known as Santa Claus stroked his beard thoughtfully, giving Jack his personal space back while he went over to pick up a Russian nesting doll resembling himself.

"Here, this is how you see me, no? Very big, intimidating...but if you get to know me a little...well, go on."

He handed it over to a hesitant Jack, folding his meaty arms across his chest.

Jack took off the first doll layer, revealing a rosy-cheeked, smiling one. "...you are downright jolly?"

"Ah! But not just jolly! I am also...mysterious, and fearless, and caring, and at my center..."

With each new layer the dolls got smaller, ending with a little baby with massive, bright blue eyes.

"There's a tiny wooden baby." Jack concluded dryly.

Rose rolled her eyes playfully. "Very observant, Frosted Tips."

Whatever sour mood North's extensive lecture created within him lightened at her sarcasm.

"Yeah? Well what else is there?"

The jolly man holding the tiny doll sighed. "Look closer. What do you see?"

"The eyes are big; filled with...wonder?" The summer spirit chimed, earning a delighted reaction from North.

"Yes! Exactly, Rose! Big eyes, very big, because they are full of wonder! That is my center. It is what I was born with: eyes that have only the wonder in everything!"

He passionately gestured to his office, with the magical little planes and other inventions whizzing about, full of his wonder and magic.

"Eyes that see lights in the trees, and magic in the air - this wonder is what I put into the world! And what I protect in children. It is what makes me Guardian. It is my center. What is yours?"

At this point, the trio had left North's office and Rose no longer had the fruitcake. She'd consumed whatever was left while he was giving his speech to Jack.

Jack sighed, appearing somber. "I don't know. Do you, Rose?"

Suddenly their eyes were on her, and she turned a redder shade of fire under their gazes. "I...have no idea. I have wandered for so long without purpose, merely existing and enjoying myself, that I never stopped to really think about it. I have dwelled on it a bit from time to time, but..."

Great. So neither of them knew what the heck their centers were.

North knowingly smiled a warm, reassuring smile, closing Jack's hand around the tiny baby doll and bringing Rose's hand around it.

The heat from her hand caused a jolt in the winter spirit's body as he tried not to appear nervous. He didn't know what the old man was up to, but it felt mischievous.

Out of their peripherals, Tooth flitted past the window in what seemed to be a hurry. Bunnymund popped up out of nowhere, his left cheek still heavily singed from Rose's angry punch.

The sight of him, his injury, and his unforgiving glare caused said spirit to tense. If he was reading her right, she looked apologetic and guilty for losing control earlier. He'd say she should just say sorry and get over it if he didn't think the kangaroo pretty much deserved it.

The over-sized rabbit completely ignored the fiery spirit, focusing solely on North. "We have a problem, mate. Trouble at the Tooth Palace."

Ah, fantastic. What now?

Jack only hoped he could either find his purpose in life or prove the Guardians wrong; that he wasn't meant to join them and return to his days of mischief.

When he stared at Rose, he saw the worry and apprehension reflected in her eyes. Oh, right, wasn't she kinda friends with Toothiana? Or at least one of her mini fairies?

Well, his purpose and rejecting the Guardians could wait. Right now, he just wanted to make the worry in the summer spirit vanish completely and help the nice - albeit eccentric - Guardian who apparently never took a break.

'Don't worry Sunshine; everything'll be okay.' he thought, sending her a reassuring smile.

She smiled back, the tension in her body relenting to some extent.

A/N: GEEZ! So sorry it took so long to finally update! I've been working at other stories and also dealing with life, which has gotten a bit busy as of late and will only continue to get busier! I'll try to update when I can! But please review, favorite, and follow! The encouragement really helps and I appreciate everyone who's done so thus far! Until next time!