A/N: If you don't want to miss out on the times before MWoN then go subscribe to Tales Before Time, cause I will reference from them in here.

Chapter 26 – Uh, what?

3rd POV

When they finally arrived back at the workshop they were surprisingly alone, no yeti's or elves in sight as of yet; they were thankful for a minute of silence while they walked back to the workshop.

North had lifted the unconscious Jack in his arms while Tooth and Aster followed behind. Tooth watched her feet slide across the wood floor as her wings twitched, how was she going to explain to all her little fairies when she found them that the Sandman was no more?

Aster followed on auto pilot, his eyes locked onto the face of the winter spirit while his hand unconsciously rubbed the mating mark at his chest. Thousands of questions raced through his mind like a violent hurricane, where did he hear those words? What was it he just saw? Was my mate still alive? He shook his head at that, he knew they weren't, he couldn't hear the song and his mating mark was still the same.

The bang of the door into the workshop hitting the wall caused the guardians to jump. "Wahgatz…" the yeti yelled and froze when its eyes stopped on Jack in North's arms.

"Ve need a ro…" North began to order only stopping when George turned and left calling for Phil and telling him to stay there.

"What was that about?" Tooth asked as she came to a stop next to North who simply shrugged once he broke from his stunned silence. It wasn't very often where a Yeti ordered him to do something, which only happened when he got sick or hurt.

"Do not know. But Phil will explain." North told her as they waited.

George had pushed through the other Yeti's to his brother's home; he knew that he would be there as he was on break and spending time with Joy.

"Phil you need to come quick!" he yelled as he slammed the door open, his brother narrowing his eyes in anger.

"This better be important brother, I was just about to have lunch with Joy. Is very rare that I get it off long enough." Phil grumbled. Joy frowned as she took in George's worried eyes and twitching hands.

"What is wrong? What has happened?" She asked, something told her the reply wouldn't be something she wanted to hear.

"Guardians back, Jack hurt. In hallway from stables," George informed in a rush causing Phil and Joy to stand and rush out of the house.

"Jack is at pole? When has Jack met Guardians…? Phil?" Joy asked before locking her eyes on her now frozen mate. He had succeeded from his mate finding out that Jack was now to be a guardian and the means of his transport here.

"Jack chosen, to be another guardian. Phil and Joe kidnapped him, shoved him in sack and brought to Pole." George replied quickly before making his way back to the Guardians. Joy pinned her mate with a glare before following, she would deal with him later.

North blinked when Jack was suddenly and carefully yanked from his arms by a very angry looking female yeti. His hands went out as both Aster and Tooth went to grab Jack back; they didn't want him to get hurt. They had already lost Sandy.

"What happened? Come we take him home, he can rest there." She told the guardians and pinning Phil with a glare to tell him he was not to say a thing and follow.

"What did she say?" Tooth asked north as they followed behind them confused towards the village the Yeti had made on the far side of the Santoff.

"She asks what happened to Jack, we are to follow her home." North replied slightly confused, he knew the boy knew Phil but not many other Yetis.

"The bugger used too much magic and it drained him." Aster told the Yeti who was waiting for them in front of a weird looking home, but he couldn't judge, he lived in a burrow.

North and the others stood amazed as they took in the small home before gasping as the Yeti opened a door into what would be considered a winter elements dream.

"It is Jack's we made it for him when he stays, he stays not often. We can't have yeti baby and Jack took place." Phil said to North as he stopped by his boss and friend.

"How did I not know this?" North asked in surprise as he watched the Yeti woman he now remembers as Joy lay Jack down carefully on the snow bed.

"He did not want you to know. Many yetis don't like winter spirit due to mischief and trying to break into workshop. Come we will have food and discuss, Jack will sleep." Joy stated to the others while gesturing for them to follow.

"Uh, I'm going to stay with Frostbite." Aster mumbled out while gesturing to Jack. He was going to stay and make sure the show pony didn't fly off for one but for another and it was one he could not explain was because something at seeing Jack fall from the sky and the grief twisted on his face as he spoke of Sandy, twisted something in his chest. Seeing Jack – though unconscious- but relaxed and safe calmed him; his scent calmed him.

"Are you sure Aster?" Tooth asked softly fluttering to his side.

"Yeah, I know we just lost Sandy but… Frostbite was friends with him too; I just want someone here to be there when the show pony wakes up." He told her, not lying perse but not the whole truth either.

"Okay Bunny, we'll check on him later and tell you the plans on what we will do next." Tooth whispered before fluttering out the door, closing it behind her.

Aster shivered slightly at the chill of the room but pushed on; there was a large ledge next to the bed that allowed Jack to fly in and out. That and a trunk and some shelves were the only thing in the room, so with a sigh Aster moved and sat on the snow ledge; his eyes locked on Jack's face.

It was an hour later when the signs of Jack waking caused Aster's ears to twitch, his head turning to see the brows of the sprite pulled down and eyelids fluttering. Aster placed the googie he had in his bandolier down as he turned to face Jack, ignoring the fact that it was painted deep blue with flecks of silver and yellow; it looked suspiciously like Frost and Dream sand.

"Wake up Frostbite, ya bloody bludger." Aster chuckled out causing Jack's eyes to snap open.

"What? How did I get into Joy and Phil's home?" Jack grunted as he took in his surroundings.

"Ye passed out, you gave us a right scare Frostbite but shoulda seen North when that Sheila came and took you from him, ordering us to follow." Aster laughed causing Jack to stare gobsmacked at him, it wasn't because of what Aster said but because the big giant kangaroo laughed in his presence an honest to god laugh; no matter how small.

"Yeah, Joy is mothering like that…" Jack trailed off after clearing his throat.

"We're going to have a small ceremony here for Sandy; it will be in the globe room when you are ready." Aster told him frowning when Jack blanched.

Jack shook his head quickly, "no, you can go… I have my own way…" he finished. He did have his own way in mourning but he didn't want to do it surrounded with people he barely knew. It just didn't seem right, friends of Sandy or not.

Aster nodded in understanding, he knew Frostbite wouldn't be comfortable enough to join; how he knew he didn't know.

"Jack?" At the use of his name, his head shot up to look at Roo surprised. He held his tongue as he saw the rabbit's ears flat against his head and his eyes seemed distant.

"Do you rememba' the words you spoke when attacking Pitch after Sandy… after he…?" Aster asked unable to finish the full sentence but got his question out anyway.

Jack frowned for a few seconds, flashes of his attack on Pitch in his mind as he tried to remember so he could answer Cottontails question. "No, I remember screaming over wind's own cry as I saw Sandy get hurt."

Aster couldn't help but sigh before asking another question, "do you remember what you said after you got hit with the nightmare sand? Before you released your power?"

Another frown pulled at Jack's brows as he thought back to that moment, "I remember feeling suffocated, I remember screaming and being cold; afraid. I remember flashes of blacks, greens, whites and gold. Then I remembered Sandy's eyes before the sand destroyed him, after that there is nothing but blinding rage and then being in the sleigh. What did I say?"

He should have known the kid wouldn't remember but the hurt and confusion didn't lessen. "You said Scheyeta before you went to help Sandy and before you released your power you said S'motis as'he tra-ahr." He explained causing Jack to frown in confusion, Aster was starting to hate the expression on his face; it didn't sit right.

"What do they mean? What language is that and you okay there Cottontail? You look like someone ruined Easter again." Jack asked as he saw Bunny's face twist at the word S'motis.

"Scheyeta means charge, it was a cry called before battle and the other was calling Pitch a traitor." He grunted out before looking back down at his googie that lay by his side.

"You didn't answer the last two questions," Jack stated as he sat up and turned to face the Pooka.

"Jack, the words you spoke is Pookan. The native tongue of my race, hearing them being spoken in battle like that it brought back memories. Hearin' someone who isn't Pooka speak them shocked me, if you rememba'd speakin' them I'd ask where you learnt'em." He told him, causing Jack to cock his head to the side confused.

"I'm the last one of my kind Frostbite; Pitch slaughtered my species long before humans had evolved on earth. I hoped that I wasn't the last one and someone taught you." Aster told him softly, his ears pressed against his head as he blinked away the water in his eyes. When he meant someone, he meant his mate. He had hoped his mate had taught Jack when he was alive… But how could have they if they died the night Jack was born into this world with no memories but his name.

"I… I don't know what to say Cottontail, I don't remember saying them and if I did I would tell you." Jack rushed out; his chest ached to see the tough Easter Bunny so sad.

Shaking away the sadness Aster hopped up and stretched his legs. "I know Frostbite, I know. Common we need'ta tell the others your awake, be warned of Tooth. That Sheila's been fluttering about down the hall in worry, she'll probably yabber ya ear off and then check ya teeth." Aster chuckled before opening the door and walking down to where the others are.

Jack shook his head with a smile before leaping to his feet, stopping when something dark caught his eyes amongst the white. His eyes widening as he saw a deep blue Easter egg sitting on the ledge Bunny had just vacated, it was deep blue with a forest silhouette at the bottom with gold twining with frost.

The words 'Always have hope, for without hope we have nothing to hope for.' Twirled around the bottom in a silver script causing Jack to gasp at the images it brought forth of a rabbit like Aster only the fur was pale silver blue and the body feminine. She had a snowflake marking with a weird flower crown on her chest and Instead of green eyes like spring he saw Electric and periwinkle blue.

"What was that?" Jack breathed before shrugging, he would think about it later.

A/N: And some Jack and Aster bonding… *shakes head* oh Aster you silly silly Bunny.

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