A/N: Okay, so I am going to branch off a little of the story here, this will be when the others are collecting teeth.
Chapter 24 – Gatherings of Young and Old
3rd POV
Tsar Lunar watched on with a fond smile as he watched his guardians collect teeth, though worry still churned in the pit of his stomach at the thought of Hellebores, the winter Pooka. Three hundred years of solitude and now to be thrust back into the danger because of his doing tore at his heart. It didn't help that he can witness when their magic weakened and a memory sprung forward.
"Nightlight, my old friend…" Lunar called softly knowing that his lifelong friend would hear.
Yes Tsar Luna… Lunar smiled softly at his boyish friend, watching as his whole frame flickered as his telepathy voice spoke.
"I need you to travel to earth once more and call in Seraphina, Ombric and Father Winter. Tell them it is of great importance that I speak to them all together at once; tell them it is about Hellebores." Nightlight bowed before flickering out and travelling down in the beams of the moon.
He would find Father Winter first, hidden on the other side of Antarctica where Jack Frost had claimed.
Father Winter… He called his body illuminating through the magic hidden structure of his home.
Frowning at the soft call of one of his names, Winter turned towards the direction and blinked. Before him stood Nightlight, Tsar Lunar's carer/messenger and friend smiling softly up at him. For Nightlight to be here it would mean that Manny had something very much of importance that he needed to tell.
"Nightlight, I am pleased to see you my old friend, does Tsar Lunar need me?" Winter asks while shrinking back down to human size.
Yes… Master Tsar has called upon you, it is of great importance. I am to summon Mother Nature and Father Time as well; it is to do with Hellebores…
Winters brows shot up as worry struck him, the last time he was summoned because of Hellebores Frost was the day he had died and they had saved him. Winter had tried to look out for the Pooka and had become fond of him since the day of his re-birth into the season of winter; seeing him as a son of sorts. He knew he could never replace the boys Da when the time came for him to remember.
"We must hurry then. You go straight to Seraphina and inform her, tell her to meet at the monastery, I will seek Ombric and will meet you there friend. May the light of the moon protect you." Winter stated while bowing slightly, the old phrase and speech of the Tsar's rolling off his tongue smoothly.
I will depart, may the light of the moon protect you as well…
With a blink Nightlight was gone, his boyish features shining brightly in memory as he departed. Closing his eyes he brought forth the image of Santoff Claussen, a humble village and a large giant tree in the centre before bursting into diamond dust.
Laughter and shouts of fright were the first things winter heard as he reappeared in Ombrics home.
"Father Winter! You frightened me!" Katherine scolded him, her hand raised and placed over her heart.
Ducking his head in apology Winter scanned the many faces before him, not surprised to see my children than before. "I do apologise Katherine but I need to find Ombric, it is of great importance."
Katherine raised her brows and hummed, she knew of the reason as to why he was here; she was the one writing the tale of Hellebores Jack Frost. "He is in the library. I do believe he is expecting you."
Winter thanked her and quickly made his way to the large library, pushing the doors open with all his might. He had found Ombric easily enough, placing away books in the right order.
"I was expecting you, for what I do not know." Ombric hummed, while pushing his half mooned glasses back into place and turning to face his old friend.
"Tsar Lunar has called us, he sent Nightlight." Ombric jerked at that, it had been almost five hundred years since he had sent the boyish night light. "It's about Hellebores. We must reach the monastery were by now Seraphina and Nightlight along with the Lunar Lamas."
"Then we must hurry," Ombric uttered quickly before moving to Winter's side. "Do not." He muttered sharply. Father Winter chuckled as he grasped Ombric's cloaked shoulder and imagined the Lunar Monastery before disappearing into diamond dust.
~XxX~
Seraphina paced in front of the large mirror as she waited on Winter and Ombric. Nightlight, Daffodil, Summer and Fallen stood by watching in worry. The seasons when hearing their brothers name spill from their mothers shocked lips did they demand to know the truth and to be brought with her.
"Seraphina, calm." Ombric soothed the woman as she came into view, his eyes scanning the other seasons quickly before looking at the Lunar Lamas. "You may call Tsar Lunar."
Two of the Lunar Lamas bowed before both hitting the large gong like mirror, the surface rippled before the normally cheery face came into view looking sombre.
"My friends, before we begin we must fill in the three season's for they do not know the truth of their brother." Manny spoke, his eyes locked on them.
"What do you mean we don't know the truth of Jack?" Daffodil asked loudly, stepping forward slightly in her anger.
"Relax daughter of Spring. Jack is not what he seems, have you all been told of the destruction of the Pooka's home world and race?"
"You mean of Bunnymund's race? Yes, I know of it. He is the last of their kind because of the Fearlings and Pitch." Daffodil replied quietly, she and Bunny were friends of sorts as they were both spirits of Spring. She and her brother and sister didn't miss the look shared between their elders.
"What are you not telling us?" Fall asked in her crackling leaves voice, her eyes narrowed.
"Before Earth began to form and species begin to evolve Aster had come here as an escape when the war ended and the Pooka warriors lost. We had been there, arriving much too late to see if we can help when we found another Pooka. He called himself Hellebores Jack Frost; he is the son of Tecomanthe and Pholx Frost. Tecomanthe – Jack's father – was the chief of the Winter clans." Seraphina told softly, her eyes downcast as she remembered the destruction her father had done.
"Hellebores had been fatally injured from the war, on the brink of death." Ombric told, taking off from Seraphina's explanation.
The season siblings inhaled sharply at the news. "If he is a Pooka then why is he human?"
Ombric sighed; he seemed to age before their very eyes. "I had seen his fate; he is E. Aster Bunnymund's mate. If he were to be brought forth to earth would he truly suffer the darkness's wrath, if he were to come disguised then he would be safe and alive." He told them, his natural speech leaking in.
"Then why not tell the Easter Bunny?" Summer asked sharply, "Jack should surly tell him and know that he is his mate."
"It is not that simple Summer. Jack had almost died once again three hundred years ago, he had not been safe and we could not save him unharmed. We had to strengthen him; to save him we gave him some of our powers. We had been too late and he had lost his memory, something we cannot help with." Winter explained the younger three.
"Then why not tell him?" Fallen asked.
"Because child; if Hellebores were to know what Pitch did and with his powers what would you suppose he'd do?" Tsar Lunar asked causing the three to sigh and nod in understanding. "Now you know, you musn't interfere till it is time and this brings us to why I had Nightlight summon you here."
Everyone stood silent as they waited for the news, many with different ranges of emotions. This caused Manny to laugh softly before explaining.
"Pitch has regained strength and waged war on the Guardians; I have made Jack one of them. They will need him, his strength even though he isn't believed in." Tsar started his explanation and finished sadly.
"What has he done?" Seraphina hissed as her hair caught on fire with her rage. "If my father has caus…"
"Calm Seraphina, Kozmotis hasn't done anything to him yet. But I have watched from here of the interaction and I have seen that Jack has begun to remember. It has begun and we must prepare for the fallout, Ombric what do you see?" Lunar asked as he saw his old friend's face slack and eyes glassy.
"I see many roads, three. One where the Guardians have shunned him, Aster shattering the boys hope; it leads into darkness and cold. Another is of death and Pitch Black's end, I see a Pooka dying before the image shifts to rage and ice; the world will live. The third is of joy and hope, many pains and long waits for the truth." Ombric voiced his visions automatically as he looked at each one, starting with the worst case scenario.
"What should we do old friend?" Winter asked, he was worried with the first two.
"We cannot interfere until the time of us is needed, all of us." Ombric stated as he turned to look at Daffodil. "If the second happens we will need you, Aster will need you and Jack will need you. Your debt will be repaid if that path happens." He informed before facing Tsar.
"Keep a watch old friend, bad times are upon us. Sanderson Mansnoozie's time will come." Ombric replied sombre, unfortunately there was nothing they could do to save the wishing star.
A/N: Well here you go! The season's gather with the eldest four! Hope you enjoyed it and two chapters in a row! AND NIGHTLIGHT!
OH also I'm writing for FAGE (Fandom Anon Gift Exchange), a group on facebook's (FanficAholics Anon ~ Where Obsession Never Sleeps) writing event. I have until October to write it till it's completed and ready to post for my Author who I am writing for; updates may be a little less frequent BUT I will make sure there is a chapter minimum a week uploaded. Again my tumblr has images for this story as well as my facebook, just search my penname.
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