Alaia Skyhawk: Well here's the next chapter. There's only going to be one for this particular time-period, because there are four major conflicts that will be referenced in this fic, and I don't want them to take up too much page-time. So without further ado, here's the first one.

Also, I did an absolute crap ton of internet searching for ANY clues on where Burgess is supposed to be within Pennsylvania, so that I could get a historically accurate name and distance-away for another town near it, but came up with absolutely squat. So the town I reference in this fic as being the one within travelling distance, is entirely made up. (grumbles) I hate it when I can't get the info I was looking for. If there's anyone who HAS found something to say where Burgess is, please let me know, thanks.

Disclaimer: I don't own Rise of the Guardians, the Guardians of Childhood, or any related characters etc. This story is written purely for entertainment purposes.

~(-)~

Chapter 23: Revolution

The signs of it were everywhere, as wooden palisades and forts, as craters in earth and the shattered stumps of trees hit by cannon-fire. As men in red or blue uniforms, huddled in their separate camps around fires that gave off only a meagre amount of warmth. They were scars that not even a pristine layer of fresh snow could cover, and their presence edged at him like the ache of an open wound.

Jack flew overhead, his expression grim and unhappy. He understood the colonists' desire to be free, of the rules and restrictions that had rapidly become oppressive, but that didn't make the conflict sit any easier with him. He wanted to stop it somehow, to convince them they were being stupid to resort to slaughter, but he wasn't allowed to. Mother Nature had made that clear to him, very clear, when she'd come to him the day that war was declared. That had been three years ago, in 1775, yet now, in 1778, he was still bitter about what she'd told him.

Immortals were forbidden from seeking to change the course of wars among humans. Minor manipulation, within the bounds of their normal duties, they could get away with. But anything more than that and either she or the Man in the Moon would step in. She never said what the consequences would be if he did break the rules, but she did say that only once had they been broken, and since then no other immortal had dared even if the fate of the rule-breaker wasn't known beyond the fact they'd never been seen again.

And Jack, as unhappy and frustrated as he was, didn't want to put himself in the situation to find out.

And so he vented his frustrations by using the winter weather to hamper both armies, favouring neither side with better conditions than the other, and so no one could say his actions were a direct attempt to help one side win. He buried their military camps and much of the countryside with deep snow, raising the temperatures during the day to make the weather less harsh, but at the same time causing mud and slush to form under the white layer as the surface of it melted and the water drained through.

No soldier in either force, travelled anywhere unless they had to.

Jack's flight now took him over Kirktown, the large settlement that was two day's travel away from the village. The Revolutionaries had taken command of it, and stationed a small force in several of the buildings at the town's heart. Luckily this region was well away from the fighting, not so lucky was that the commander of the local force was a man with serious paranoia about the Loyalists. That they would come out here, or have spies out here, which meant Kirktown had become a very tense place to live.

It also meant the local Revolutionaries kept doing surprise searches of the nearest villages, but so far they'd decided that a certain nameless village two days trek away, wasn't worth the time. Searching a settlement that had only a dozen cabins, and who traded little but furs, wood-craft items, and a small amount of wool, was a 'waste of resources'.

The village had Cernunnos to thank for that sentiment. The stag, who in the past had lived in the North of the World all year round, could still do so without being harassed by the Spirits of Spring, Summer, and Autumn. His excuse for helping keep the soldiers away from the village, was that he was simply assisting Jack in keeping undesirables out of his territory. Which was, of course, within the rules.

And during winter, no one had a chance of reaching the village, not with the snow Jack laid down on the only road to reach it. And if anyone did try, he made sure the weather forced them to turn back. But therein lay a problem, because if people couldn't get into that valley, they couldn't get out of it either.

This winter was quite harsh, and the village needed to trade for supplies, and to do that they were going to need help.

Jack arrived at the village, landing in the central square and waving to the nearest child to get their attention. A few quick words, and that child was shouting out to everyone that Jack Frost wanted to speak to the villagers.

This was something very unusual, something he'd never done before, and he could feel the confused tension adding to their already considerable worries about supplies. Once the entire village had gathered, and Jack had picked Gavin out from among the children, he asked the boy to repeat his words to the rest of those here.

"I know this winter is harsh, and I know you need supplies. While blocking the road has kept the soldiers away from here, I've also stopped you from getting what you need. I understand that." He waited for Gavin to repeat it, and then continued. "So I'm going to help you. Prepare the wagon and someone to drive it, and I will see to it they get to Kirktown and back."

The response to that was immediate, as the villagers broke out into smiles amid a chorus of thanks as they hugged one another in relief. That was when James came forward and got their attention.

"I'll go. My son can come with me, to tell me Jack Frost's words just as he has done for us today. Everyone, let us pool together our funds and make a list of what we need, and I will bring back as much of it as our money can afford."

Everyone dashed away to do as he'd suggested, some going to the small barn where the village's wagon and their shared horse was kept. Jack followed James and Gavin back to their home, watching as they then began to don their warmest clothes.

It was once he had done so, that James at last turned to face Jack.

"This is a good thing you're doing for us... But, are you sure you're allowed to do this? You've already kept the soldiers away from us for three years."

Jack leaned against the wall, holding his staff close but otherwise completely unconcerned.

"This valley is my 'territory', and also of no military value to the war going on. That means if I want to keep the soldiers out, I can, because it won't cause any difference to the war's outcome." He smiled wryly. "Believe me when I say, I interrogated Mother Nature to learn every possible way I can bend the rules to keep the village safe. She doesn't like having to stand back and watch, either, even if she's also one of the ones who enforces those rules."

James let out a sigh of relief, and nodded.

"That's good to know. I'd hate to think we would cause you to get in trouble with her."

Jack shrugged.

"I'm probably the only Spirit of the Seasons who can count Mother Nature as an actual friend. She knows she has my help for something that means a lot to her, so I have her help for something that means a lot to me... this village. She's made sure all the Nature Immortals know that this valley is mine, and that any who come here do so only with my permission. That's why the deep snow blocking the road, only goes as far as the valley's edge. Inside the valley, it's my business, and no one can complain."

What Jack didn't say, was that Ariko, Achieng, and Oisin had been more than a bit upset when he officially got the valley as his territory. Besides their Sanctuaries, each of them only had claim to a very small area where they had become immortal. They'd screamed favouritism, and to be honest they were right... And if they'd bothered to become friends with Mother Nature, instead of treating her like dirt, then maybe they would have had big favour to call in like he had.

Jack went outside and sat on the back of the now waiting wagon, watching as the villagers got the horse into its harness and hitched it to the vehicle. Another hour later, with money and list of supplies in hand, he was still on the back of the wagon as James drove it out of the village and onto the road. The snow that covered it sweeping out to the sides as the wagon approached, and then sliding back into place behind it once it had passed.

~(-)~

"Thanks, Yuki. Just follow the winds, and they'll show you where the avalanches need to be triggered."

"No problem, Jack... Nice meeting you, James, Gavin. I'll make sure to stop by and visit sometime!"

The cart rattled along the last stretch of road to Kirktown, which was visible a mile-or-so ahead. Inside that cart, Jack and the others watched Yuki disappear up into the sky, to fill in for Jack on avalanche duties while he remained here. It had been a slightly awkward conversation at first, since James and Gavin hadn't been able to see or hear her, but a couple of special snowflakes had fixed that and resulted in a ridiculously happy Lieutenant of Winter with two new believers... Who had then hugged both of them, and then Jack, until Jack had been forced to firmly remind her he'd called her for something serious.

Once she was gone, the Spirit of Winter let out a sigh and slumped against the inside of the wagon, and James glanced back at him with eyebrows raised.

"I'm guessing she's a lot of work."

Jack returned the glance with a wry expression, and chuckled.

"Yes and no. Getting her to do her job isn't hard work, she's more than eager to do everything I need her to do. On the other hand, she was shunned and alone for so long, that every time I praise her for something or do something that makes her happy, she tends to go over-the-top with the hugging and gratitude. I'm hoping, given a couple more decades, she'll grow out of it or at least tone it down."

Both father and son laughed at Jack's expression, and James turned his attention back to the road.

"I'm sure she will, but until then I get the feeling you should get used to it."

A snowball connecting with the back of James' head was Jack's response to that, and besides some more laughing nothing more was said as they covered the last of the distance to the two.

It had been a hard two day's ride, even with Jack clearing the road for them as they went, and there was still the matter of finding somewhere to pitch camp on the edge of town for the rest of the and for tonight. Some might call the wild-lands villagers fools for doing so, that their horse, cart, and anything else they left there would be stolen, but then no one in Kirkwood would count on the Spirit in charge of shepherding winter, to be guarding those things.

Jack snorted in amusement to himself, as he scared away the fifth would-be thief to come along, and then he frowned when he saw a troop of four soldiers in blue uniforms heading his way... and they were following the cart that was bringing the village's supplies from the merchant out of the town.

James' expression was tense as he silently signalled Jack not to do anything, before he and Gavin began to transfer the goods between the two vehicles with the help of the merchant's assistant. The soldiers watched, waiting until the merchant's man led that wagon away, before they approached the father and son.

"And just where would you be going with all this? Seems to me that this is a lot of supplies for just one man and boy."

Gavin looked scared at the scornful and suspicious tone, while his father pointedly only glanced at the soldiers as he began to secure the tarp over the mound of sacks and barrels now inside the cart.

"Track off the south road, heading east for two days, small village in the valley over yonder. We've only got the one cart, so my son and I are here to get the supplies on behalf of the whole village. We probably won't get another chance before spring. The road's been blocked for weeks, and by looks of the weather it's not going to stay open for long." He finished securing the tarp, and turned to face the soldiers. "So we'd best be off."

He made a move to get the horse from where it had been picketed, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder as the leader of the troop frowned.

"And I think you need the Captain's permission first. In case you hadn't noticed, there's a war going on, and we need to make sure you're not some sympathiser who's here to get food for the enemy."

James didn't rise to the barb in those words, and instead nodded in calm acceptance.

"Very well then. Let us bring the cart with us, you can drive it so you know we can't try to run off, and that way I know the food for our village won't be stolen while I humour your needless suspicions."

The troop-leader scowled at that, but couldn't fault the reasoning. Of course, the real reason James wanted the cart moved, was so Jack could slip in with them to see the Captain without worrying about thieves.

The Spirit of Winter remained as a literal icy presence, perched on top of the mounded supplies where he spent the trip into the town directing little icy gusts to blow wet flakes of snow down the back of the troop-leader's neck. It was petty, but he was in no mood to be nice. He'd done his best to keep the village out of anything to do with the war, yet two members of his family were now caught up in this fringe part of it.

At the house in the centre of the settlement, which served as headquarters for the soldiers stationed in Kirktown, Jack had no trouble following James and Gavin inside. The fourteen-year-old boy still remained uncertain and frightened, but his father remained steadfast and confident.

James kept that confidence, even when they soon found themselves stood before the Captain.

The Captain glowered at them, his grey eyes holding a wild light of suspicion. He'd been pacing behind his desk when they entered, and now he stopped to face them in unnerving silence.

The troop-leader saluted him.

"These two have just bought a large wagon-load of supplies. As ordered in cases of strangers buying goods from the town merchants, we stopped and interrogated them. They claim they have come on behalf of their village."

The Captain scowled.

"And what is the name of the village?"

James answered calmly.

"It has no name. We are far out into the wild-lands, and never receive visitors. We've always just called it 'The Village', there was never any need for a name."

One of the soldiers who had escorted them here, raised his hand in request to speak, which he did as soon as the Captain gave him a sharp nod of permission.

"I know of the village, Sir. It has been there for near eighty years, and while it is small, many of the town's most talented workers hale from there."

James smiled at that.

"Ah yes, the youngsters. We have a fine tradition of teaching all our children to read and write, and do so to a very good standard. Enough of the children stay in the village when they grow up, to keep the place alive, but the rest have all moved here to Kirktown in search of work. Why there have been at least fifty youngsters that I know of, who came here. I believe one of them works in the bank, several others work for the town mayor, and I do believe I recognise the clerk you have sat in the corner there... It's been a while, Nathan."

The clerk, who admittedly winced when the Captain glared at him, stood and smiled at them.

"It has been a while, James Bennett. Last time I saw you, you were still single, and yet now you have a strapping son."

Jack, taking his cue from the fact that Nathan was a former villager, flicked a special snowflake at him. Only after he'd done so, did James take a steadying breath and start to stare down the Captain.

"And perhaps, if you can bring the memory back to mind, you can help me advice your superior just how unwise it is to prevent my son and I taking those supplies back to our home... You know the Spirit of Winter protects us, and he's here right now, and he's not happy about this."

Nathan went quiet for several moments, he then went a little pale, because while the snowflake couldn't help him see Jack, it did help him remember how real Jack was.

"Jack Frost is here?"

James nodded, and glanced at his son.

"In this very room. Isn't that right, Gavin? As the only child here, and as children are the only ones who can see Jack, tell us where he is."

Gavin turned his head, to look at the spirit stood beside him.

"He's right here, next to me, and if you don't believe me then he can prove it."

Jack, inwardly aware of how dangerously close he was to breaking several rules with this, smirked. After all, this wasn't about changing the course of the war, and indeed it never would be. It was only about protecting his believers, who believed he would protect them.

The fire in the nearby hearth was snuffed out by a burst of intense cold that froze the logs solid, the air in the room noticibly cooled, and spirals of frost began to snake out across the floor and up the walls from where he stood.

James watched it all completely unconcerned, even while the soldiers behind him all cowered against one another.

"The Spirit of Winter doesn't hold much patience for arrogant fools, who would interfere with the supplies our village desperately needs. Gavin, what does he say?"

Gavin, who was now fighting not to smile, answered.

"Jack Frost says that if the soldiers don't let us leave, right now, he's going to freeze this whole building over with six inches of ice... He also says that if the soldiers ever tell anyone about what happened in this room, he'll come back and freeze the buildings and tents, that hold every soldier in this area, solid... Every night until the end of winter, and every winter until the war ends."

The Captain stared at them, his eyes bulging.

"This is ludicrous. This can't be possible!"

Nathan looked around at the thickening ice on the walls, which was rapidly turning into a solid sheet quarter of an inch thick.

"I don't believe Jack Frost cares if you think it isn't possible, because he's proving quite visibly that it is." He faced his superior. "Sir, I highly suggest you let them leave. The village has no interest in getting involved with the war, or aiding the soldiers of either side. They wish only to return to be left alone, and that's all that Jack Frost wishes for then as well." He looked towards the space beside Gavin. "I may not be able to see you anymore, Jack, but I remember. Even if, until just now, I'd forgotten that you were real and thought you just a dream from my childhood."

Jack, bowed his head at that, and sighed as he spoke unheard by the one he spoke to.

"And you'll think that again, within a few days from now once we leave. That's the way it works, as much as I wish otherwise." He looked now at the Captain, and frowned. "But enough of this, I getting tired of this idiot."

He reached out and picked up the tin jug of water, that was on the desk in front of the Captain, and flung the contents of it at the wall and freezing them in the same gesture. The result was a jagged clump of ice that embedded itself in the wood less than a foot from the man's ear.

The Captain almost shrieked when it happened, before he started to shout at his men who had similarly blanched completely white.

"T-take them back to their cart and escort them to the road. They may leave... a-at once!"

The soldiers hastened to lead James and Gavin outside, back to the cart, and the two of them left the town. Once they were clear, and Jack was settled on top of the tarp, James glanced at him.

"You wouldn't really have frozen the shelters of all the soldiers, would you?"

Jack snorted, fiddling with his staff.

"No, but they didn't know that." He smiled wryly. "Remember, I'm allowed to intervene when it concerns you or the other people of the village, because the village is part of my home territory. But Immortals aren't allowed to do anything that would directly affect the course of wars, which for those of us who care about the suffering of humans, is a hard thing to accept. All we can do is watch and hope it doesn't go on for too long."

His smile faded and he sighed, before James then set a hand on his and smiled.

"Don't worry. I promise you that, no matter what, our family will do everything it can to avoid getting involved in any conflicts. But even if we can't avoid it, and the men of the family have to go fight, don't worry about us. Protect our children instead, for they are the future, and are the ones who will carry your story forward. Just as Nathan carried your story here to Kirktown, even if he forgot that it was more than just a story. Your name will spread among the people beyond our tiny village, and one day I believe that you will be believed in everywhere."

Jack's expression became wistful.

"You really think so? I mean, Mother Nature told me that I'm under restriction. Only people living in my territory can believe in me enough to see me. Even now, less than an hour after acknowledging me in that house, Nathan will be starting to forget I'm real. He can't help it, it just happens that way."

James raised his eyebrows.

"And didn't you tell our family, that belief is the most powerful magic of all? If we believe that one day you'll be seen by children everywhere, believed in everywhere, then it can happen. Never give up hope in that, because we won't."

Those words stayed with Jack, and helped him through the rest of the war. Past winters where he saw his season kill soldiers who lacked the proper shelter, through the years where he saw a smallpox epidemic ravage the colonies. But then, by 1783, peace was at last signed and independence won. The colonies were now their own nation, free from the rule of the King of England.

But for the villagers, this was mostly of little consequence, for their lives had remained unchanged by it. Their deep isolation sparing them the ravages of both the conflict and the epidemic. And so that winter, the first Festival of First Snow that took place after peace was declared, Jack got his largest pile of offered winterberries ever. The villagers thanking him for his protection, which they knew had helped keep them safe.

~(-)~

Alaia Skyhawk: Well, there we have it. I have to say, I like 'rule-bending Jack'. He's starting to really show the apparent total lack of respect for authority that he has in the film :D

Of course, he does respect the rules he has to, but that's not to say he'll willingly admit it hehehe!