I know! I'm sorry. I've been a very naughty writter. I just kept writing and writing...
It gets worse... this is still not the end. Sorry. I really don't want to let this story go.
This one is for Goldie, who requested it ;) hope it's what you expected.
"North!" Tooth screamed opening the office door without knocking. "he's gone. He tricked me and he's gone!" she said frantically. She looked both angry and worried.
"What... are you talking about?" asked the Russian man, startled.
"Jack! He said he needed medicine and I went to get it and when I came back he was gone! I looked everywhere! He's not at the workshop!" she said, flying around North as fast as she spoke.
North sighted. He understood that three hundred years of isolation didn't go away in a few months, that Jack's connection with the wind was beyond anything they could comprehend, that the hellion needed cold and fun. But it was an unpredictable world out there and his son was still recovering from his injuries. He knew the fairy was right to be worried.
"Should we go and get him?" asked Tooth.
"Let's give him an hour. I'll ask Gaia to keep an eye out for him. He must really need this if he sneaked out on you, no?" replied North.
Jack was having the time of his life. He was flying, twirling and zigzagging, letting the cool breeze tame his sore skin, happy to be reunited again with his oldest friend. The caress of the breeze on his face, its murmur in his ears, told him that the wind was more than happy to please its favorite master once more, its very best friend.
The moment would have been perfect if it wasn't for a tiny spec of guilt. Ever since Jack left his bed that morning, Tooth became an extension of his arm- not that he was complaining, not one bit- and he had to trick her to come on this little trip alone. He was moving as fast as he could, knowing it wouldn't take her long to realize he was gone or where he was going. He knew she would only be worried about his safety, he knew he probably shouldn't be flying such a long distance on his own,but it was very important that his beautiful fairy didn't listen to this particular conversation he wanted to have with Mandy. He was going to do it. Tonight. After all they had been through, he was not wasting one more day. Problem was, he had no idea how to go about it.
He found Mandy working outside. The humans were trying to clean up the roads in an attempt to rebuild their town.
"Mandy!" he called.
She turned around with a smile and ran behind a building where no one would hear her talking. She had been worrying sick about him, the memory of his injuries hunting her dreams, the pain in his eyes engraved in her heart. She loved Jack, he was her teenager, immortal son and after so many days not knowing about his condition, to see him standing there, smiling his adorable lopsided grin felt like a light in the darkness.
"Jack! I was so worried, sweetie!" she said, wrapping her arms around him, making him feel safe and at home once more.
KNOCK- KNOCK- KNOCK
Jack came back from his little trip exhausted and a little sore. He was resting in bed when he heard his favorite voice in the world.
"Jack? Are you there?" asked Tooth.
"Yes, come in, Toothie. I'm sorry about earlier I..." he started, sitting up, until he saw the person entering his bedroom behind his girlfriend. "Pitch Black" he rasped, trying to reach his staff that was lying against the wall.
"General Kozmotis Pitchiner, at your service. Of course you can just call me Kozmotis..." said the man smiling kindly.
Jack looked over at Tooth. He was trying to find answers in her eyes, trying to figure out whether they were in danger. She just smiled encouragingly.
"Jack... remember what happened? Remember the fearlings?" she asked hesitantly. She was glad she decided to come along with Kozmotis.
Jack's brain was working as fast as it could. Bunny had told him what happened to Pitch and the fearlings and he knew he was Gaia's father. So this man standing in front of him most have been the Golden Armies general.
"I... I wanted to talk to you, since we have both lived through something similar. I've heard a lot about you, Jack Frost, and I also would like to thank you for rescuing me from the fearlings..." said Kozmotis, trying to break the ice.
"You should not thank me. I was trying to kill you. I'm not even sure whether I wanted to do it or if I just lost control for a second." said Jack, his arm rubbing his eyes as his hands still hurt.
"Jack..." said Tooth "Kozmotis wanted to talk to you in private. I'll wait outside. Would that be OK?" she asked, her fingers hugging the door frame, her eyes searching his.
"Yes, that would be OK. Thank you, Toothie" he said smiling, hypnotized by the amethysts staring back at him, making him nervous and anxious at the same time. If only she knew...
She turned around and closed the door behind her, breaking the spell.
"She's quite something..." said the General, noticing Jack was still gazing at the door.
"Yes" said Jack simply.
"You don't have anything to apologize for. It went extremely well for me. In fact, considering everything I have done, I wish someone would have killed me earlier. Death would have been better than having to live knowing that I've killed so many innocents, knowing that I've caused that much pain." added Pitchiner, not meeting the boy's eyes.
"Do you... remember, being Pitch?" asked Jack. He was now curious about the man standing in front of him, and just like the General, he wanted to talk to someone who could really understand.
"No. The last thing I remember was being attacked by the fearlings" replied Kozmotis.
"Well that's a blessing! I remember everything. I remember myself stabbing North on the shoulder, laughing at his pain. I even remember the stupid, sick feeling as I dug the icicle deeper into his skin and enjoyed it. I remember Tooth's sad eyes as I prepared to kill her. And the nightmares. I still sometimes dream that I do kill her, only to come back a second too late and realize what I've done..." said the winter spirit.
"Remembering must be terrible..." offered the man "but at least you didn't get to do anything terrible. At least they stopped you before you did anything you would really regret. I... I now have to live knowing..."
"But you did nothing!" Interjected Jack. "You don't even remember being him, how can you blame yourself? You should stop feeling guilty and enjoy having your life back. At least you're free, which is more than I can say..."
"Are you afraid?" asked Kozmotis.
"That he will take over? Yes. I wasn't before, but now that I know he's still here somehow, I am. But MiM seems confident that Tooth can always bring me back." replied the boy, rubbing his eyes again.
"You shouldn't be afraid. You have good friends. I'm sure they'll find the answer soon." offered the man, noticing that Jack was exhausted. "I'll let you rest now, I can see you need it. I will see you at dinner tonight." added Kozmotis, walking to the door.
"Kozmotis!" called Jack. "I did learn to stop blaming myself for what he did. Perhaps you should do the same..."
The man smiled before he left the room, closing the door behind him.
Jack didn't realized he had fallen asleep until he felt the small hand running through his white hair.
"Wake up, Sunshine!" said his fairy.
"Sunshine! I'm the opposite of sunshine!" he said with a toothy smile as he opened his eyes and held the tiny hand in his.
"That's what you think..." Tooth replied, smiling back.
"Is it party time already?" asked the winter spirit.
"No. MiM wants to talk to you. Alone..." she informed him.
"What?!" asked Jack. MiM had never wanted to talk to him alone before. Actually, MiM never wanted to talk to him at all.
As they flew down the long corridor towards the Globe Room, Jack was very quiet. He knew what this was all about. There was no cure for him, he had lost control by trying to kill Pitch and Manny didn't think he was worth the risk any longer. He was going to be replaced. He would loose his place as a Guardian. The thought hurt him and scared him, perhaps more than it should. The boy knew that the Guardians were his family now and they would not abandon him just because he wasn't one of them anymore. But this wasn't about being alone. The winter hellion loved being a Guardian, he loved finally having believers, not being invisible anymore. And most of all, he loved feeling useful, he loved being able to protect the children.
Tooth sensed something was wrong and held his arm a little tighter.
"Maybe he just wants to thank you, you know?" she said with a tiny smile that her boyfriend didn't return.
Jack entered the empty Globe Room and waited. Nothing happened for a couple of minutes and then, the moonlight entered through the ceiling hatch, illuminating his face.
"You wanted to talk to me?" asked Jack. His tone was half fearful, half defiant.
The moonlight moved from his face to the floor tiles, where the shadows started to become words, written in the most beautiful handwriting Jack had never seen.
My dearest Jack,
I am sorry it has taken me so long to write this letter. I did not know how to start, I did not know how to put centuries into a few simple words. I want you to know that I hold you very dear in my heart and I suffered along with you every second of those three hundred years you spent alone. I am really sorry that you had to go through that. I need you to understand that it was never my intention to condemn you, I'm afraid that was your own doing, son. You were only invisible to humans, you could have always interact with other spirits. You, my dear boy, just managed to build quite a reputation for yourself in a very short time. I never intended for you to be alone, it was you who pushed everyone away, including me.
Jack wanted to protest, but he was speechless.
I did not choose you to be a Guardian the day you fell into the frozen lake. I had chosen you long before that, when you were only little. I could see what was inside your soul, Jackson Overland, I could see your centre, I could see the man you would become. But that fateful day forced me to turn you into a spirit prematurely. I was hoping to do it towards the end of your human life, both to allow you to live your life fully, and to give wisdom a chance to tame your centre.
It was all my fault. I had never transformed anyone under your circumstances before, and I did not know you would loose all of your memories, I did not know I would not be able to communicate with you after the transformation was over. I only managed to tell you your new name before our connection was forever lost.
I tried to communicate with you in any way I could, but as time went by you got more and more bitter and it was harder for me to get your attention. I wish I could have made this easier for you. I am sorry that I failed you.
I did not send the Guardians to look for you, because I thought this was a journey you had to complete on your own. I was so wrong. You needed to learn self control before you were ready to fulfill your destiny. But you never did. You needed the guidance and the love that I failed to give you. I regret my decisions everyday, my dear, dear Jack.
You were right, I only told the Guardians about you because I knew they would need all the help they could get, not because I thought you were ready. I never gave you enough credit, Jack and for that I'm sorry. Of course you surprised me and everyone else when you stepped up to your new role and joined your new family, as if you always belonged to the team, as if you had never been so alone...
We have another challenge ahead of us, but this time, I want to be there for you. Jack, you are fun personified. You are well natured, but mischievous by definition and you cannot be anything different- nor do we want you to be. Because of your prankster nature, your soul is not completely pure, not completely good. I'm afraid I do not believe we will ever find a cure for you.
'Here it comes...' thought the hellion.
I believe in you, Jack Frost. I made plenty of mistakes with you, but choosing you was not one of them. I know you can control this. And if you cannot, we always have Tooth -yes, that was a joke.
I just wanted to say that I love you and that I'm sorry. I know that you can overcome everything and I want to be there for you this time.
Sincerely,
Manny
P.S: Tonight's lighting is on me. Good luck, not that you need it.
Jack stayed frozen in place long after the words disappeared from the granite floor.
Don't worry. I won't take another week to post the next one (which hopefully is the end. I can't promise). Reviews? Requests?
