Again, a few weeks time skip... So it must be quite late in the year now :D
As usual, thanks to all readers and reviewers! You guys are all awesome! *Huge hugs...*
And welcome to Qwerty124, AnaEI92, ieatlorriesforbreakfast,chrisfanatic3, treehugger13, Hippopotamus Hypothesis, sakuradancer3 and Alice Nightray, who have all faved and/or followed since the last chapter!

This is gonna be part one in a possible two or three(maybe four at a stretch), because I think it's time Jack let his prankster side out :D
Oh, but there is a bit of angst and a bit more about Jack's past in this one!

Anyway's, Enjoy!

Jack yawned as he settled down on the snowy slopes. He was too tired to fly off to the pole, or to the warren to sleep, and here was as good as anywhere. If he was honest, he missed sleeping on the lower slopes of the mountains. It was cool, quiet, aside from the wind, and there was always the chance of an avalanche... If he was lucky. Lately, it had either been the pole, the warren or near the pool that he had been sleeping, and it was refreshing to get a change of scene.
He let himself drift off, unaware of the nightmare that was waiting for him...

Sandy smiled as he felt the happy dreams of the children, as Pitch's latest attempts at nightmares fell under his golden sand... Then he frowned as he felt fear in someone's dreams... Honing in on it, he froze as he recognised it as Jack's mind, and flew towards the younger guardian as fast as he could.
He landed next to the shivering boy, and poured golden sand into the nightmare. It was a bad one. It seemed to combine the winter spirit's human life, his death, his loneliness, his fears, the wars, the pain... It was clearly something Pitch had put a lot of effort into.
But slowly and surely, he managed to limit the effects of the black sand, and Jack started waking up.
Before he could finish however, a familiar laugh sounded behind him and he scowled at Pitch.
"Nice show, Sandman. That nightmare took a lot of effort to make... I have to say, the fear was delicious... But that was not all. No, it finally managed to drag you within my grasp..."
Sandy conjured several golden whips from the air, and gave Pitch a 'come get me then' gesture.
He managed to fend off the first wave of nightmares, trying to protect Jack at the same time, as the other guardian fought to throw off the rest of the nightmare that gripped him.
Pitch laughed as the last of the nightmares vanished, and whistled, calling dozens more to the scene.
A cry of attack had them all racing towards Sandy, but before they could get close, a bright blue light burst from behind him, knocking them all back.
Sandy shielded his eyes with a golden pair of sunglasses as he watched Jack freeze and destroy the nightmares. He tried to find Pitch, but the Nightmare King had vanished, clearly sensing he had lost, and he scowled.
The last of the nightmares vanished, and Jack seemed to finally get his bearings.
"Sandy...?"
The younger guardian fell to the ground, huddling against the wall, shaking.

Sandy flew over and settled next to him, holding a load of sand with a question mark.
Jack shook his head.
"No... No thanks Sandy. I'm not in the mood for sleeping tonight..."
Sandy, not for the first time, wished he could speak, and, frustrated, started signing what he couldn't say.
Jack, however, looked at him startled, and started signing himself.
You sign?
Sandy looked astonished. None of the other guardians could sign...
Yes... you?
Apparently...
The Sandman smiled. Even signing, the boy could be sarcastic and jokey.
You never said.
Jack grinned, shrugging.
Charades is much too fun. None of the others can sign?
No. Makes a nice change.
Glad to help... wait, what are you doing here? What about...
Jack gave up on signing Pitch, and reverted to speaking.
"Why was Pitch here?"
Made a nightmare specifically focused for you. He attacked before I could finish destroying it. It was bad?
Jack nodded, shuddering again.
"Yeah... I think it may have taken the top spot..."
Are you okay?
"I- I don't think so. But I will be... Just give it a few hours and I'll be fine."
Do you want to go to the pole?
"Nah... It's nearly morning anyway. I'll head up there in a few hours."
Then I'll stay here.
Jack blinked,
"But you need to head out and do your dreams..."
Done enough for tonight. You need me more.
"I- Thanks Sandy..."
No problem. You've been alone too long. Shouldn't have had to deal with nightmares alone.
"I'm used to it... Anyway, your dream sand kept most of them away..."
You slept near dream sand?
"Nope. Just ran my hand through a stream of it, whenever I could, before I slept. It helped make the nightmares better..."

Sandy couldn't believe it. How had he not noticed the young spirit's nightmares before? True, the dream sand would have helped with them, but surely he should have sensed...
"Sandy? If you're feeling guilty, don't. Please... It's hard enough making the others believe I'm okay..."
And you are okay?
Jack rolled his eyes, with a grin.
"Yeah. Better than I've been in a long time thanks to you guys... Why look at the past when you can focus on the present?"
Sandy paused, then smiled.
You are smarter then we give you credit for.
"Thanks. Coming from a guy who's older than anything, that means a lot..."
Sandy held up a ball of dream sand in warning, and Jack laughed, holding his hands up.
"Fine, Fine. Shutting up."
Then he grinned and started signing again.
This is gonna be great. We can talk and the others will have no idea what we are saying.
Sandy had to laugh. Trust the guardian of fun to think of something so... Fun.
Yes. I'm thinking pranks will be easier?
Jack's face lit up.
Oh yes! This is going to be great!
_

The following morning, they both arrived at Santoff Claussen, grinning like idiots, and North looked between them, bemused.
"What is so funny?"
Jack grinned.
"Oh nothing. Pitch attacked last night, we fought him off. We discovered we can both do sign language, and life is great!"
Sandy likewise grinned, then made a series of hand gestures to Jack, which had him rolling his eyes and signing back. North knew it was sign language, but he had never been able to pick up on it.
They signed for a few more moments, before Jack nodded, gave the other guardian a hug, before flying off.
"He is going to sleep?"
A nod.
"Is he okay?"
Another nod, with a sad smile.
"... Good. And he can sign!"
A very happy nod, followed by a devious smile as Sandy flew out the window.
North froze. That smile...
Turning, he ran to the globe and activated the lights.

A few minutes later, Tooth and Bunnymund arrived, scowling at the lack of imminent danger. The North spoke, face white,.
"We have problem. Forget Pitch, this is big, big problem. Jack can do sign language with Sandy, and he is guardian of fun da?"
The other two nodded, not sure they liked where this was going.
"And he plays lots of pranks and such da?"
They nodded again.
North sighed.
"Before Sandy left, he gave mischief smile. After speaking with Jack in sign language."
The other two gasped, and North nodded.
"Da. They must have teamed up in prank crusade. Comrades... Friends. It has been honour knowing you. Now, I say each guardian for themselves..."
Bunny nodded, gasping hands with North and Tooth, before literally diving into a tunnel, thinking about which of the small tunnels was the best hiding place, and the best defence formation and weapons for his eggs.
Tooth hugged North, then made her own escape, planning what kind of defences she should give her palace, and debating whether or not to arm her fairies... then again, with the love they held for Jack Frost, maybe she would be safer alone.
North blinked, as he realised he was alone, then legged it to the workshop, no doubt to suit up and get a yeti bodyguard.
From the window, the guardian of fun and the guardian of dreams watched.
Before giving identical, maniacal grins.
This was going to be brilliant...

Next... Prank Crusade! It will definately take up another one or two chapters, for what I have planned, and it's also got a lot of focus on Sandy! (Which comes with the worry that he might be OOC, so please let me know what you think?)

And yes, Jack can do sign language... Not sure why, but I figured he might as well have gotten something else out of his 300 year solitude and it I think it adds something to his character that he was patient enough to learn it (I gave up part way through my course... *sigh* Life gets in the way of so much sometimes)... What do you guys think of it?

Anyway, Next chapter will be up soon, and hopefully, Sandy won't be too OOC!
Please let me know in a review?!

Raven xx