Okay, First of all, Sorry for the delay. Like, I'm really, really sorry for the delay. And the worst bit is, I can't give you an absolute time for the next update either. I can only promise I will try my utmost to get it up as soon as is humanely possible for me to do so.
Second of all, in order to get this, and the last few chapters, up faster, I have decided to acknowledge all of the new favers and followers on the last chapter, meaning I can get all of the ones before that up just that tiny bit faster. But I still appreciate the support of each and every one of you!
Anyways, to be perfectly honest, I don't really like how this chapter turned out. Though that might just be me... Nah, I just don't think it's as good as most other chapters. But, as I didn't want to leave you guys waiting any longer than was strictly necessary, I decided to upload and let you guys be the judge.
Hope you all enjoy, and sorry again for the wait!

Warning/Disclaimer- I take no responsibility for trauma caused by the events of this chapter. Most specifically, the things that happen to... *gulp* Jacks hair.
*dives behind impenetrable shied before that can fully sink in.* VADER! START THE CHAPTER AND RUN!
Vader: *having just come out of the shower, hears my voice over the intercom and face-palms, before flipping the switch he always has with him* I don't get paid enough for this... Enjoy, Younglings.

Phil's face was determined, as he picked up his snow blaster to finish arming himself. Being drafted to be Head of Security for the 'Recipe Auction', which was, in his eyes, nothing more than a 'Recipe for Disaster' (he was often annoyed at the fact that next to no-one could understand the sheer quality of awesomeness that were some of the puns he made), was something he had taken as a high honour, seeing as Jack picked him from a huge number of volunteers… Then again, North would have cried as they were sold, Tooth would have looked on and been disapproving-whilst secretly be itching to steal them all back- Bunny was now prepping for his Easter run, and had just started painting the eggs, and Sandy was… well, he couldn't really call out or shout or anything.
But yeah. He was the Yeti in charge, and he was taking the responsibility very seriously.
Only those with Tickets could enter-There had actually been a black market section devoted to selling and getting hold of these for the last couple of months, as desperate people clamoured to get them- and the various recipes were stored in a vault, guarded by Yeti's, who were all armed with Snow-guns and paint blasters, who were, in turn, guarded by several dozen elves with air horns, who were, themselves, being guarded by Jack, who had left the actual auctioning to North, with Shady and Sandy to step in if he got too emotional.
Which was likely.

The recipes up for auction were a variety of both sweet and savoury. Cookies and cakes of all kinds, recipe's for soups and other starters, main courses… 67 Recipe's in all.
Jack had grinned as he finished sorted them. That was 67 more Prank Crusades sorted…
Hey! Loads of other spirits had their own businesses! Why couldn't he?
Tooth had given him a look, stating that she knew full well that at least most of the money raised would be going into his ''For Various Charities' fund. The Spirit Banks had even started offering a 'Spirit to Human' Money transfer scheme. Jack found it exceedingly helpful. And the conversion rates were great!
His top seven 'Ultra, Protected-To-the-Death, Result-of-Hours-of-Experimentation, As-Close-To-Perfect-As-He-Could Get' Recipes, including the one for his 'Chocolatey, Heavenly Delight' cookies, and the 'quadruple sugar rush' brownies-he honestly had not had the heart to say no when North was naming them- were all still safe, in a safe, back at the Pole-which had more defences- though copies were in another safe at his own home. Because you never could be too careful about these things.

So… It was now 9 in the morning, and the auction was due to begin at ten (At which point Mother Nature would open the gates to the Summer home they were borrowing-paying her a mere two recipes for the privilege-, silently wishing the Guardians luck with the crowds.)

9:55…
Jack exchanged nods with Phil- Who, by the way, was forgiven for making it so difficult for Jack to track down the inner core of the Jack Fan club-, and the Yeti quickly double checked… Okay, so it was more like the twentieth time in as many minutes that he had checked everything over, but still, he checked everything once more, before giving the A-Okay signal to Jack, who nimbly leapt up into the rafters and sat himself, very comfortably if he had to say so, on one of the beams where he could keep an eye on everything.
Seriously? People honestly wanted to buy his recipe's?
The spirit world must be really starved for entertainment, that's all he could say… Oh dear, maybe he should just not try to make puns. That one was terrible…
Honestly. Next thing you know, he'd be giving in to North's demands to start letting the Russian Guardian sell Jack's art… Under another name of course. Because, no matter what people might think, he was honestly rather modest about things like that.

9:59…
Phil was nervously twiddling with his blaster when he got a snowball to the face, and a hushed, yet laughter filled, order to relax.
He took a deep breath and did so, straightening his shoulders as the minutes hand on the clock sped around towards the 12…

10:00…
Jack blinked.
Holy Explosion of the Moon, Really?

10:05…
Everyone was seated, patiently waiting, the hall completely full, as North finally took to the stand.
"Okay… We are all here to day for the Auctioning of various recipe's, at the general demand of anyone who has tasted the result of said recipe's. Yes, they will soon be leaving their erstwhile home at the Pole and *sniffle* flying free…"
A jab of dreamsand and North blinked, before nodding.
"Apologies, I am rather emotional about letting them all go…"
Another Jab.
"Alright Sandy! Honest to Moon, But in a moment, I will be starting…"
"Its 'In But a moment, North…'
"Ah, Thank you Shady. Now then, let us begin, hmm? Item one, Brownie Muffins… Ahh, Brownie Muffins, now let me tell you, I think these are much-"
Jab.
"Okay! Okay! Ahem, So, Brownie Muffins… Lets start the bidding at 500 Spry."

Jack nearly choked at the amount, then almost fell off the beam backwards when someone actually accepted. Then the amount kept rising.
Holy MiM… Yeah, the Spirit world was definitely starved for entertainment… And, it appeared, decent food.

The brownies sold for a faint-worthy, in Jack's opinion, 4600 spry. Either the richest had brought these tickets or the spirit world was desperate.
He did not realise that these recipes would be on the black market for years to come...
Hmm... He should invent more, and make a cookbook. The spirit world would eat it up- Yeah, he had to stop the puns. But cookbook, okay. Idea filed away for future contemplation.
Jack turned back to the auction...
"Hot chilli cake recipe. Going once... Twice... SOLD! 2500 spry to the sprite in the back."
Jack had another shocked silence fit.
_

It was four hours before the auction was concluded, and Jack had stopped being so shocked at the huge amount of money that was slowly being stockpiled. Well, he and everyone else wouldn't be wanting for anything in the near future, that was for sure...
North had had to be replaced twice, once for ten minutes as he calmed down, and once for almost half an hour, as he froze, unable to sell one of his favourites. The only thing that calmed him down was the fact that the 'Ultra, Protected-To-the-Death, Result-of-Hours-of-Experimentation, As-Close-To-Perfect-As-He-Could Get' recipe's were still safe and in his- err, that is to say, Jack's possession.
It took a few more hours for the transactions to be completed, and for everyone to hurry away to hide their new treasures- Jack was starting to realise that the spirit world would be in trouble if he wasn't so bloody modest-. At which point, a very paranoid and over-emotional Russian, with a lot of issues, literally dived through a portal back to the Pole in order to double, triple and quadruple check that the Holy Core of Recipe... ness was still safe.
And Jack began to form an idea. A brilliant, yet evil idea. A beyond-cruel-to-the-point-of-being-Dark-Lord-Worthy idea... A prank, but evil none-the-less.
As the idea finally started to shape and finish forming in his mind, his 'this is gonna be fun' eye glint switched on, and moved to threatening-to-destroy-life-as-we-know-it position.
Oh yes. He had an idea...
But he would not carry this plan through without reason. He was not that evil... yet. He would wait. He had no doubt that his target would give him reason soon enough...
And the fall-out would be Epic. Glorious. Legendary.
Oh yes, the Prank Prince persona was coming out to play for the first time in a long time...
_

Four Months Later...

"NORTH! YOU CRAZY, SENILE SACK OF RUSSIAN WITH DADDY ISSUES! GET YOUR RED, FUR COATED, EVIL, DOOMED TO THE POINT OF PITIFUL SELF OUT HERE!"
The other Guardians flinched.
Bunny instinctively sank back into the sofa he was currently sat on. Jack never, never ever... Like in the history of forever... Ever discussed the daddy issues. What had the older Guardian done to warrant this...?
He fervently hoped Jack would not enter this room... No such luck, and... Oh Holy Mother of Moon and Beyond...
"Jack...?" Tooth was a brave one, he'd give her that... "What... What happened...?"
Jack froze at her voice, and turned, voice carefully controlled.
"I was too busy to make cookies. North was hyper and feeling vengeful."
Vengeful clearly didn't begin to cover it. North had... Had...
Jack's hair was not only baby pink, with glittery streaks but... But he'd... Well, Bunny had no idea how, but Jack's hair was now waist length and intricately braided with sparkly clips and ribbons.
Elves were also going to pay for this.
Bunny was too terrified to laugh, as was Sandy, but Tooth couldn't help but let out a small giggle.
Which she immediately tried to stifle with her hand, before she leapt behind the sofa shouting apologies and saying she would never laugh again.
Luckily for her, a small elf ran in at that moment.
Unfortunately for the elf, it was holding identical ribbons to those in Jack's hair.
The elf caught sight of Jack, and it was almost comical the way it's face fell. One careful step back... Another... TURN AND RUN! Not fast enough.
Jack had hoisted it up by it's hat, and glared at it.
"Can this be fixed?"
Jibber-Jabber...
"How soon will it wear off?"
Jibber-Jabber...
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I HAVE TO CUT IT!?"
Jibber-Jabber... Jibber...
"... If there is even one hair out of place..."
Jabber-Jibber...
"If the dye doesn't wear off, I know who I will be looking for..."
Jibber... Jabber?
"Poffle did this!?"
Jibber...
"Just the dye? So who grew it out...?"
Jibber. Jibber Jabber.
"So, North did that bit himself... I see. Very well, no more cookies for a month. For any of you. And go and fetch North."

The elf scurried away so fast he ended up rolling through the door, after tripping over his own hat, and half rolled, half waddled down the hallway.
"... Frostbite...? Can they fix... It?"
"The dye will wear out. My hair will have to be cut."
Tooth gasped, horrified at the thought that Jack's hair might never be the same again. Sandy gulped, pitying the one who would have to do it. Bunny simply grimaced.
"How bad is this going to be."
Jack looked him straight in the eye.
"Bunny, the prank wars? Mere childsplay. Pranking Fool? Walk in the park. Fooling the spirit world? Nothing to it. But my vengeance for this? It will be a work of art."
Sandy sank into a puddle of sand, under the sofa, and Tooth slowly floated back down behind said sofa, both to panicked and centered on self-preservation to wonder what Jack meant by fooling the entire spirit world
Bunny was stunned.
"Childsplay? Nothing? All of that was worthy of legend!"
"It was beginner level stuff. Fun stuff. But this? Oh no... No, this. This requires something else. Something more." His eyes took on an evil glint. "This will be a masterpiece. And I will break him."

A few minutes later, North entered the room, and blinked at Jack, before scanning the reactions of the others guardians.
Then he went with gulping and trembling. Moon, he would never have sugar again if this was the fallout.
"Jack...?"
"My hair. You. Messed. With. My. Hair. I would set Clover and Flow on you, but it would not be vengeance enough."
North stared. Not vengeance enough? It was the worst torture imaginable!
Jack continued.
"No... Not vengeance enough. You have unleashed the Prank Prince, and he will have his vengeance. And it will be glorious."
Then he blinked.
"Hold on... How did I stay asleep through all that? I'm a notoriously light sleeper- Unless..." He faced Sandy-Puddle, face a mixture of betrayal and disbelief.
"Sanderson...?"
Sandy reformed, giving North a look of sheer horror, before he started gesturing wildly to Jack, simultaneously shielding himself inside a dream-sand bubble.
Jack finally held a hand up, relieved.
"Okay, I get it. You did not know what it would be used for. Good, you are free of guilt. I was worried for a moment there..."
Sandy sank into another puddle, this time a relieved one, and Jack turned back to North.
"Yes. This will indeed be Glorious..."
With that, he walked out-managing to look terrifying even with the hair, which totally impressed all of them- and left North to gulp.

Word spread rather quickly of the event, and wild speculation flared as to what on Moon Jack could have planned.
Jack was amused by an awful lot of the various ideas, and actually vowed to keep a few for future point-proving purposes.
But none of them even came close to what he actually had planned...
_

Three days later...

A horrified scream rent the air at the Pole, and all of the guardians present, which was all of them aside from Jack, ran to see what on earth could have happened to North.
The first thing they saw was North, rocking backwards and forwards, horrified. Without a beard.
The second thing they saw was an open vault door...
The third thing that registered was the thing that was missing.
Or rather, the things. Plural.
Yes... Jack's recipe's were gone.

It had to have been Jack. No-one else could have broken in there without anyone realizing... It was the most terrible fate any of them could imagine. Not to mention the fact that, apparently, Jack had dyed all of North's suits pink. Just as a finishing touch, most likely.
And now, only a few hours later, North was already suffering withdrawal symptoms.
Which amounted to him polishing his swords over and over, whilst being extremely jumpy, and-from what they could gather- was seeing invisible cookies everywhere.
In fact, when he eventually jumped up and started chasing an invisible elf hollering about 'GIVE ME THE COOKIES', they all decided to just steer clear.
To be fair, it was rather amusing to see North apparently getting things tangled in his non-existent beard.
Oh dear... He would have to grow it again... Without magical help.
If ever there was a time when they realized that they should never annoy Jack Frost, this was it.

It took several hours, but, finally, North started, sat up, and got a determined gleam in his eye.
"Is no other way."
The other three shared glances, then gave him a worried look.
"What's that, mate?"
"Is no other way, Bunny. We must get them back."
"Mate, ya can't get ya beard back-"
"NOT BEARD! Beard is not important in the grander scheme of the things! I mean cookies! We must get back the cookies! THE RECIPES!"
Tooth blinked.
"... The recipe's? They will be in Jack's vault, North..."
"And we shall not be able to break in. Da, is problem. But I have solved it! We will track down Shadow and get him to do it for us!"
Tooth and Sandy telling him what a terrible plan that was, for several reasons, managed to mask Bunny's half choking, half laughing fit.
North eventually held up a hand to stop the noise.
"Enough! We will find him. Will use Spirit-Gossip vine! Is Genius! Genius, Genius, Genius I tell you!"
They didn't have the heart to argue.

Jack blinked, a couple of days later, when he heard the gossip.
Oh... Oh moon, this was wonderful! This was perfect!
_

A few minutes later...

"Bunny!"
Bunny blinked, and cursed the fact that he wasn't able to hide behind a carrot. Didn't stop him from trying though.
"Bunny-! Oh, there you are... Why are you hiding behind a carrot?"
"Hiding? Mate, I was just... checking it's... growth. Yeah, that sounds reasonable enough. What ya doin 'ere, Frostbite?"
"North wants Shadow to steal back his own recipe's. It is truly Ironic. Irene, spirit of Irony? She was almost in tears of the beauty of irony, though she had no idea why it was ironic. She just sensed it. Was rather scary, to be honest..."
"Yeah, I heard about it... Don't destroy the warren?"
"Why would I do that?"
"... Mate, you pretty much broke North..."
"Right... And? That's over and done with. Now, I need advice!"
"... What about?"
"Do I show up in all my Shadow Gear? Just to mess with everyone a bit more? Or do I just let North enter a spiral of despair?"
Bunny gulped.
"Erm... Messing around a bit seems more fun... Right Frostbite?"
"Hmm... Yes, I guess your right. I did manage to get my hair cut back the way it used to be, so I suppose a spiral of despair would be taking things a bit too far. The again... There is still a pink tint to it..."
Knowing that his friends sanity rested on him calming Jack's over-active mind, Bunny cleared his throat for attention.
"Why not make him more confused as to why Shadow isn't at the top of the naughty list?"
"... That's genius!"
Jack gave an insane grin, before he went back into musing pose.
"Now... How to cause more chaos... I did retire from all that you know, this would have to be rather spectacular. What's that Sandy?"
Sandy signed a little.
"Oh! Explosions? Smoke? Could be good I supp- SANDY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?"
Sandy shrugged, tapping his foot in mid air, and crossed his arms, demanding answers.
Jack gave him a suspicious look.
"How much did you hear...?"
Sandy signed, with another shrug.
"What do you mean you heard all of it!? Oh... Buggeration."
Bunny rolled his eyes.
"Jeez, Frostbite, Cool it. Sandy's like ya biggest fan."
"I know that! But how on Moon did he manage to sneak up on me!?"
Sandy shrugged, and Jack blinked.
"Oh... Silent. Right. Sorry, all my musing has got me a little... Out of sorts."
Bunny snorted.
"Damn right it has. Anyway, what' the plan Snowcone?"
"Don't call me snowcone... And It's really rather simple. I go into the Pole as Shadow, appear behind North, and carry through whatever scheme he's come up with. "
"... That's it?"
"Yep... Oh, and then, when 'Jack' is still at the top of the naughty list, I'll complain about it. Just to mess with him a little."
"What about Tooth? She's not blind mate. She might figure out who you are... And I know several of ya friends are kinda suspicious..."
"Meaning Iceman and Shady are back on their 'Track the Shadow' campaign. Joy... Ah well, if they find out, they find out. They can keep a secret. Hey! You guys can just keep them off track until I'm done. Plus, I can just wear a cape. Or a cloak. Floor-length, with a hood. They will never know it's me. "
Before they could get over their coughing fits in order to tell Jack that they really didn't want to get involved, he was already flying away, to get his plan into motion. They didn't have the heart to chase after him and tell him they didn't want to. He would be upset.
Self preservation instinct meant they never made Jack upset...
_

The spirit world held it's collective breath to see if the Shadow would respond to North's request. Not only would it be the first time anyone had actually caught sight of more than a shadow, but it meant they might even be able to find out who he was!
But with this in mind, would he go to Santoff Claussen at the specified time?
They could only wait and see...

Jack had decided that, what with him retiring, and the only ones that might find out being the other guardians and his friends, the risk really was not that large. Even if it was, he was going to go for it. Because no-one dyed his hair and got away with it. After all, he had a reputation to uphold.
The fact that the disappearance of the cookie's had driven North practically insane, what with withdrawal symptoms, was simply not enough.
Oh no... He had to drive him even further by completely messing with everything he had ever known.
Time to get cooking- Damn it! Bloody Puns...

Tooth was hovering above the sofa, humming to herself in a nervous manner, Bunny and Sandy were sharing knowing smirks, and the Yeti's and elves were busy trying to look busy when, as a matter of fact, all they wanted to do was get a glimpse of Shadow if he turned up. And North? North was pacing. A lot.
After all, what was there not to pace about?
They were only waiting for one of the most famous and legendary figures in the spirit world to show up, so they would be the first ones to ever see him as more than a shadow on a camera. Then they only had to convince him to come out of retirement and do a job for North. Whilst trying to keep Aspen and Shady out of the way, as they were back on their 'Track the Shadow' campaign, and were constantly attempting to break into the Meeting room to stake it out.
So yeah. Pacing. Because, if he was going to arrive, it would be on time. And they only had 60 seconds to go.
Tick.
Tock.
Tick.
Tock.
TRIIILLLLLLIIIIIINNNGGGGGG-
"SANDY! Shut that bloody sand clock up!"
"Why, is it winding you up, Tooth?"
"... Bunnymund, that was one of the most terrible puns you have ever come up with."
"Oh yeah? What about las' decade's pun war, eh?"
"You got Lucky."
"Oh yeah? Well. One...?" Bunny raised an eyebrow, as if daring Tooth to continue the comment.
"Two." Tooth said, with a determined glint in her eyes.
"Three." North cut in, absently, this particular ritual etched into all of their subconsciousness'.
"Four." This was Sandy, with a sand-formed number four in the air.
"I hereby declare a pun war-" Bunny was about to finish the introduction to a war, when a whispered, deep and echoing voice interrupted him.
"You may wish to postpone that..."
_

Jack was ready. His official Shadow outfit, with all his weapons and additional stuff was all prepped, and he had, after hours of experimentation, found a coating/balm-with a hefty dose of brownie magic- which enabled him to shrink his staff when he covered it with the stuff.
Heck, it was now the length of his fore-arm, and much thinner, and he simply slotted it into an arm holster. He should have done that years ago.
Now, for the finishing touch.
He ceremoniously picked up a cloak he had just finished adding his own embellishments to, and gave it final once over. Floor length, and black, the thin but flowing fabric was almost silky. Two small magnets attached a small area of the cloak to the arms of his suit, meaning it would always conceal most of his figure, and the hood, when he put it on, fell over the upper half of his face, leaving his eyes and the rest of his face shadowed.
Even Bunnymund and Sandy would have a hard time making out that it was him, even though they already knew. He barely recognized himself. And with a bit of warming up, he could throw his voice, and make it whispery, very much unlike his normal voice.
He grinned, as he finally left. It was fun to dress up once in a while.

He landed softly on the window to Santoff Claussen, and looked in, only to see Tooth and Bunny arguing about puns.
Perfect, they were all there. Now to wait for the perfect moment to make his entrance...
"I declare a Pun War-" There!
"You may wish to Postpone that..."
All eyes immediately flickered to the window, but Jack had already moved, and landed, nimbly and almost silently, behind North. A quick check had him assured that his cloak was still concealing him, and from the blinks and subtle thumbs up from Bunny and Sandy, he could assume he looked okay.
"You called? After a fashion, of course..."
North span, almost comically, but before he could speak, he was interrupted by several camera flashes as the Yeti's and elves all snapped photos and legged it.
Another few clicks sounded later than the rest, and even Jack was startled to see Shady and Aspen hanging upside down from the roof, out of a shadow.
Moon, those two were bloody persistent.
Well, he couldn't have photos getting out now, could he?
A couple of leaps, and he had tugged them both out of the shadows before they could escape back, and they landed in a grumbling heap on the sofa, as Jack landed back where he was stood, a small grin just about visible beneath the hood-though he made sure to keep his teeth covered. Wouldn't want to make it easy for Tooth now, would he?-
"Ah. You two finally caught up with me, then? I am impressed."
And they still had no idea who he was! This was priceless!

Whilst Aspen was mumbling about the unfairness of it all, Shady was wondering where he had heard that voice before. Oh sure, it was whispery and echoed, but he got that a lot in the tunnels where he lived. He just had to figure out why the distorted voice was so familiar...

Everyone turned to North, once it had settled down, and he cleared his throat before launching into an explanation.
Jack nodded, but that was the only movement he gave, the rest of his body still stood in the same position, to minimise the risk of being recognized.
Or rather, knelt in the same position, meaning no-one could recognize him from his height. As it was, he was comfortably crouched with bent knees, his gloved hands resting lightly on them as he pretended to be interested in North's 'Tragic Tale of De-Cookienisation'.
But he couldn't help it. When North started going on about how he was suffering from withdrawal symptoms-at the same time as pacing and wringing his hands- he had to let out a smile.
A quick gasp from Tooth-which was promptly stifled by Bunny, who leapt on her and dragged her from the room, had him guessing that she had recognized his teeth. Damn, he had hoped he would have lasted longer than that.
Didn't help that Shady and Aspen were both now suspicious. Ah well, as long as North didn't find out for now, it was fine.

North continued onto his need to get the recipe's back, even as Shady seemed to come to a realisation. Blinking at the cloaked figure, the Shadow Sprite cocked his head, and interrupted North.
"You used the Serpentine manoeuvre in 1996, in the Bank job. Did you not?"
Jack, despite himself, was impressed. His old friend hadn't even given away his suspicions.
"... I did. I did the same in 33, though I had not gotten it perfected. Enough of a hint for you?"
Shady was almost bouncing with glee as he nodded.
"Yep. Its much appreciated." They had first come up with the Serpentine manoeuvre in 1929. They did not perfect it until the next time they met properly, in 1935. It appeared that Shady had a good memory. So... Of the six people in the room-now that Tooth and Bunny had come back in- four of them now knew who he was.
Now then, lets see how long it took for Aspen to do the same.
North had simply blinked and shaken off the interruption, before continuing with his explanation for how 'exceedingly important and crucial' it was that they got the recipe's back.
After a few more minutes, Jack simply held a hand up, rolling his eyes.
"I get it. Fate of the world in the balance. I accept the job."
"Ah... Well... Good. Da, right. So, the safe is located in-"
"Third floor. Halfway down the training ropes. Behind the old auctioned portrait of the samurai-"
"Hang on, how did you know it was brought at auction- WOAH!"
This was Aspen, who was promptly cut off as Shady threw a hand across his mouth, glaring him into silence.
In response to North's befuddled look, Shady shrugged, mind whirring and coming up with a cover.
"No-one should disrespect the Shadow. Or question him. Methods are secret, remember?"
During those few moments, Aspen had worn expression ranging from disbelief, to shock, to confusion, to understanding, to awe, to annoyance. His face was now stuck in a, pouting, 'You'd better explain this later, Jacko...' expression, as he glared at the Shadow.
In response, Jack shot Bunny a quick questioning look, and Bunny sighed before dragging the spirit out to explain as much as he could.
Jack, meanwhile, distracted North, by accepting the job. And informing him he would be back before nightfall.
Well, he had to make out he couldn't just tunnel there as soon as he landed in the snow outside. Even North would realise that was slightly suspicious. Plus, this way? He could cover himself and give himself an alibi at the same time! … And, coincidentally, he could edit the recipe copies so that sugar was replaced with spice. And all things nice... As well as making a few other changes. Because honestly, his Hair!?

North was left blinking as the cloaked figure made a few leaps, before vanishing from the window.
When he leapt on top of a yeti to look out of the same window, he was gone.
"What?" was his response to the sighs and shaking heads that met him when he finally tumbled back down, and he left the room grumbling.
Leaving the rest of them to wait until his footsteps were out of earshot before suddenly bursting into speech about Jack being the Shadow, and North being oblivious-they decided this was either due to the fact that he was on Sugar withdrawal, or the fact that he really was that oblivious. After all, he had never realised what it meant, when Jack's name was constantly at he top of the naughty list as opposed to Shadow's.-
_

Jack casually hopped from the tunnel and collected the recipe's, before editing the copies slightly, and rolling them up. He then made a quick change of clothes and tunnelled to the Pole as Jack, simply to avoid any suspicion from North.
He managed to escape the various forced explanations-under threat of/torture by tickling- a few hours later, by saying he had to go and change again, and quickly tunnelled back to his home, changing back into Shadow, cloak and all, grabbing the roll of recipes, and tunnelling back outside the Pole.
He was only waiting a few minutes for North to enter and sit down with the others, so he casually swung himself inside, and leapt down, casually-and silently-landing next to the spare sofa and lounging on it, quite comfortably.
It took several seconds for someone to notice him.
It took several more seconds for the giggling to inform North that he was there.
And it took several more minutes before he could escape from North's ravings about 'Cookies' and 'Awesomeness'.
Another quick trip back to his place to change, and he was back at the Pole as Jack Frost, grinning slyly as the elves finished baking the first batch of cookies.
Only for North to take one, and immediately leg it from the room, yelling, with his mouth on fire.
When he left the room, Jack pursed his lips, and turned to the others.
"Should I tell him? Otherwise he'll only start wondering why I'm still at the top of the naughty list when 'Shadow' defaced the equivalent of his holy grail."
The others shared looks, then Bunny spoke up, thoughtfully.
"Can we wait to see that first?"
Jack gave him a look.
"Wasn't that a given?"
"... You are an evil child. A very evil child."
"Why thank you! No-one's ever said anything so nice to me before!" Jack pretended to wipe away a tear of joy, and Bunny rolled his eyes as the others all snorted or chuckled.

It only took ten minutes for North to return, ranting about how Jack's name was still at the top of the list.
"Why!? How!? It never leaves the top spot... But I just don't understand! This is inconceivable!"
"Err... North? I'm not sure that word means what you think it means-"
"INCONCEIVABLE TOOTH!"
"... Okay then, inconceivable it is." But North wasn't listening, and was instead moaning to a very amused Jack.
"Why are you at the top! Shadow should be at the top!"
"What if he is?" Jack asked the question very innocently, and North blinked, before scoffing.
"I would know if it was! I can fully read the names. For Shadow to be at the top, he would have to be you and... and..." Everyone paused and held their breath, then blinked as North finished. "And that is inconceivable!"
Jack glanced towards Tooth, "Yeah, I don't think he knows what inconceivable means ether..." he muttered under his breath, and Shady snorted.
"That's what you're questioning?"
"Well, I could question the pure insanity I'm afraid that our Guardian of Wonder is displaying, but I would have thought it was evident."
Bunny decided to take pity on the Russian.
"Okay North, let's try and figure out who Shadow is. Let's look at all the clues. He is a ninja. Who else do we know that's a ninja?"
"... Ah, Jack!"
"Right, and everyone has fun where the Shadow is concerned. Does that sound like anyone else we know?"
"... Spectrum?"
"... No." Bunny blinked, shaking his head. Honestly...
"Jack?" North tried again, and Bunny nodded.
"There we go. Now then, who do we know who would enjoy pranking the entire spirit world?"
"Jack."
"And who is at he top of the naughty list?"
"Jack! Always Jack!"
"Very good, North. Now then, put them all together and what does it tell you?"
North thought for a few moments... And a few more moments, then he blinked. And blinked again. Then turned to Jack, shocked.
"You!"
The entire room rolled there eyes as he seemed to finally get it.
"Jack!? You are covering for the Shadow!? You are in league with him!?"
And they promptly sighed again at the ridiculous conclusion. Tooth finally seemed to have had enough and tugged Jack to his feet, jabbing a finger into his face and glaring at North.
"Honestly, Jack is the Shadow! Jack. Is. The. Shadow!"
North blinked, stroking his non-existent beard, looking confused.
"But how could that be? Tooth, that is preposteroustic."
Now it was Jack's turn to blink, in utter disbelief.
"North? The term is preposterous. Not preposteroustic." Then he got over the bad vocabulary his fellow guardian seemed to have with regards to the English language and frowned, responding indignantly. "And hey! Why is that so hard to believe!?"
"I... It just is."
It took a further hour for North to finally believe it, including Jack fetching his outfit and showing him. Then North finally turned to his arm and blinked.
"This explains so much... Can I have the proper recipe's now?"
"No. Knead to know basis and all that." Bloody Puns! Ah well, at least North didn't seem to get it and, subsequently how terrible it was.
"Sorry North."
"Damning it all."
_

The following day, Jack idly knocked on the door to North's study, and, hearing no answer except for a depressed wail, hastily let himself in.
North was spinning idly on his new, unique, custom made and decorated spinny chair-that Jack and Bunny got him for his last birthday- and looking very upset.
"North? What's up?"
"You kept such a thing a huge secret! I didn't even figure it out! I'm a terrible figure father!"
Jack was so shocked, he didn't even correct North's vocabulary, and awkwardly ran a hand through his hair.
"Err... North? I kinda kept it a secret from everyone. They only figured it out first because they recognised some signature things about me. Plus... You were not in best shape, to be perfectly honest..."
From North's shrug and continued spinning, Jack assumed that that explanation wasn't going to cut it, and he cursed as he realised he would have to get all sappy and feely. Even after so long as a guardian, he did not do well with feelings and feely stuff. Especially expressing it.
"Err... North? I can't... well, I... Err... I'm not really good with this stuff... But you're the best father figure I could ever have... Like, really, the best. I don't want that ruined... I didn't mean to make you feel bad... And there's really nothing to feel bad about..."
"Really? The best?"
"Yeah. As good as Tooth is at being a Mother Hen... Fairy... hybrid... person."
One hug later and North was looking decidedly happier, as he continued with his new designs, and Jack decided to just leave the new, unaltered recipe copies on the table.
After all, he couldn't very well hold a grudge for too long against his own dad, could he now?

As he left, off to spread snow over in France, he grinned. So, all his closest friends and family knew he was Shadow, and had promised to keep it quiet.
Everything was also good with all of said friends and family.
So, really, he honestly had nothing to complain about in this moment of time.
Everything was all well and good with him. So he figured he might as well make it the same for the kids in Europe for the next few days.
It was the yeast he could do.
Jack sighed in relief. Finally, he had used up pretty much all of his food puns. Shame... He had been on a roll that day.

Me: Okay, yes. I know. Worst ending I have ever done.
Vader: *Simply stood, nodding his head to show his agreement.* Not even Punny.
Me: Okay, now that was terrible.
Vader: I know. Hey! Does this mean you'll do the pun war next chapter? You could put loads in, like 'Pitch slap' and Not 'Undersanding' and 'Having bad Rabbits' and-
Me: Vader shut up.
Vader: *Shuts up*
Me: Anyway, I might do that. To be fair, I was planning on a new skill of Jack being revealed next chapter, but I could slot the pun war in around it. Like a daily/throw a pun in passing kind of war thing. Thoughts on that, guys?
Porky Pig: *Nods*
Bugs: *shrugs, eating a carrot, as if to say not a bad idea*
Tony Stark: If I say yes, Can I stay here to escape from Pepper?
Me: Why are you here to escape from Pepper?
Tony Stark: I got her flowers for her birthday. It wasn't her birthday. I managed to pass it off as a random thing. Problem is, the next day, or rather, Today, is her birthday. I got her a lovely gift of more paperwork.
Me: You forgot your wife's birthday? *gives him a very judging and disappointed look* Honestly. Look, I don't like you. But I like Pepper. So we are going to pretend that you only pretended to forget, and panned a party here. How long till she comes along looking for you?
Tony Stark: Jarvis?
Jarvis: About half an hour... Oops, my bad, Make that half a minute.
Me: *blinks, then gets a determined look* TOONS! I WANT THE BEST PARTY PREPPED UP AND IN MOTION IN TWENTY SECONDS. TOON POWERS! ACTIVATE!

Twenty one seconds later...

Me: *Gives a low whistle* I am impressed. Balloons, streamers, food, music... Aww, thanks Daffy! You even kidnapped her friends! Vader?
Vader: *gives them a five second explanation of what is going on, and they all nod and start to pretend they've been here for at least ten minutes*
Tony Stark: *blinks in disbelief, then whips out his checkbook, writing a quick check and handing it to me as Pepper walks into the room*
Me: I don't want- *notices the amount* On the other hand, I could accept it. Vader! Cash it, please... Thankyou.
Pepper: *walked into the room looking very unimpressed. Now looks very impressed, and also extremely happy.* Aww, Tony! This is so sweet!
Tony: I'm glad you like it Honey. Lets have some fun!
*Party really starts getting into the swing of things*
Me: Well, this was decidedly an interesting AN. Anyway guys, before I go join everyone else, just a few things to say.
First, thanks to all the guest reviews! I have read the all, and have taken them all into account-both the suggestions, requests and compliments- So thanks to all guest reviewers!
Second of all, to the reviewer who asked me to use less of the stronger language- Sorry kiddo, But this fic is marked T for a reason, and the explanation given for the rating is that there was a risk of stronger language and violence.
Third of all, thanks to all my regular readers and reviewers! I always love to hear what you think of the chapters, and I'm just sorry that I can't update on a regular schedule any more. I am trying to get these chapters out as fast as I can! Thanks to all of you for sticking with me!Its really appreciated :D

Till Next Time , Guys! (Whenever that may be, though I will try to make it as soon as possible)

*Hugs* to Everyone!

Raven xx