Alaia Skyhawk: I expect a great many "HOLY SHIT" comments by the time you guys get to the end of this chapter (Evil grin) :D

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.

And a shout-out to VanRah on Deviantart, for letting me use their awesome picture of Jack Frost as the new cover for this story! Seriously, go check out their page!

~(-)~

Chapter 32: Summons and Secrets

It became something of a habit after that day, for Sandy to arrive before sundown in the region around Burgess, whenever there was snow on the ground and Jack sure to be nearby. The Spirit of Winter had made good on his decision to spread his new 'game', and by the end of the two-year war any child above a certain degree of confidence, radiated such a lack of fear of darkness that the Fearlings never bothered them. Only the more timid children, the unhappiest ones, drew the creatures in now, and a good dose of dreamsand each night kept the Fearlings at bay in those cases.

That wasn't to say Sandy found all the needy children, every night. He could try, but no method was perfect, not even his. But the 'Fun' that Jack was spreading, seemed to fill a part of that gap. Almost as though the Sandman were one half of a puzzle, and Jack was the other. And yet that knowledge, instead of helping Sandy, only made him grow more and more frustrated.

Frustrated by the limitations and flaws of his own powers, frustrated that he knew Jack had abilities that negated all of them. Why if the two of them worked together, there was every chance that Fearlings wouldn't be able to touch any children at all, anywhere in the world. Pitch would lose his greatest source of power, never to regain it. He'd be crippled for eternity, never to trouble anyone ever again.

There came a point when Sandy couldn't bear that frustration anymore, and he began to spend hours every night beseeching the Man in the Moon to make Jack a Guardian. And then came a time when the constant silence and lack of response, sent him back to his Dreamsand Isle and the little 'sandcastle' that was his home there.

Sandy didn't leave his island after that, except for the annual meetings with the other Guardians. He didn't fly around the world, following the edge of night and enjoying the sights. He simply sent his dreamsand out at range and sulked in his home. The sad thing was that his fellow Guardians wouldn't even know he was sulking, so long as dreams were still being distributed. They were all too busy with their own work and priorities to be aware of it.

But another sad thing was that, unknowing of how he'd been dismissed by them, Jack had continued to tell stories about the Guardians to the children of Burgess. Belief in them flourished in that town, creating lights on North's globe so bright that made the town stand out like a beacon amid the other lights around it. But North seemed oblivious to that fact, as did the others, as they took it for granted that those children held such unwavering belief. Not even once did the three of them think to ask why those children had such faith.

Would they have believed it if he'd told them? Probably not.

Years passed, and still Sandy refused to leave his island but for that one day each year. And even then, at the meetings, he 'said' no more than was necessary and barely listened to anything the others discussed. He was fading into the background and they hadn't noticed. He was retreating away from them and they were blinded to it. Just as they took the belief of the Burgess children for granted, so they were taking his presence as a Guardian for granted as well.

And still, every so often, Sandy would sit on the top of his sand-castle and beg the Man in the Moon to listen to him. And still, every time, there would be no answer and he would return inside to sit and frown and do little else.

It was the middle of Northern Winter 1825, thirteen frustrating years after he first began asking those questions, when the silence was finally broken...

Sandy was in his little tower-room, sleeping, when the moonbeam entered through the window and began to dance across his hair. It took several moments for him to wake, to become aware of the sliver of silvery light, and several moments more before he could make sense of what it was saying to him.

'Follow me! Follow me! Giver of Dreams, follow me!'

Sandy blinked the sleep from eyes, puzzled at the eagerness of the moonbeam and yet also wary. Was the Man in the Moon summoning him to scold him? Did he wish to reprimand his oldest Guardian, for shutting himself off from the others?

Sandy followed the moonbeam outside and up into the sky, but the glimmer of light made no attempt to turn towards the direction of the Moon. Instead it flew south, straight as an arrow, never slowing save for the occasional pause to be sure he was still there behind it. And as time and distance passed, the air grew colder, and then the shores of Antarctica came into view.

The moonbeam urged Sandy onwards, seeming to become more excited the further south it led him. But then it came to a sudden stop above a crevasse in the glacial ice, and flew downwards into it.

'Follow me! Follow me!'

Sandy followed, and was shown to a tunnel that opened up into the crevasse a considerable distance below the surface. The moonbeam darted from wall-to-wall within that passage, still urging him onwards, until then as inexplicably as it had come, it turned around and disappeared out the way it had come.

He remained where he was, close to the now visible end of the tunnel which was up ahead, and frowned. Apparently he was expected to go the remainder of the way, on his own.

Sandy inched cautiously out of the tunnel when he reached the end, his eyes widening in wonder at what he saw. It had been so long since that first and only time he'd visited here, that he wasn't sure this was the place until this moment. It was the Winter Sanctuary, and it had changed a great deal since that distant past.

Walls of rippled, sculpted ice glowed blue with light seeping down from above, and from the floor and ceilings reached stalagmites and stalactites of ice that had been twisted into flowing spirals and loops that held sculptures of snowflakes made from clear ice. Glittering like crystals. There was also a cluster of ice-houses, next to one of Jack's Ice Mirrors, where several Selkies waved at Sandman in greeting before resuming whatever it was they were doing.

The Ice Palace had also grown considerably, although it remained modest by human standards of opulence. Another residence had been built off to one side, probably for Jack's Lieutenants, but Sandy wasn't about to pry. He'd strayed into the Summer Sanctuary by mistake once, and been driven out by Achieng's rather fiery-tempered associates. He didn't want to chance that Jack's two subordinates would react badly to an intrusion of privacy.

Sandy proceeded across the cavern towards the plaza in front of the palace, pausing upon the snowflake symbol before the peace and quiet in the cavern was shattered. Namely by the Winter Sprite that had just come into view, spotted Sandy, and then run towards the palace entrance yelling its little head off.

Moments later a head with white hair poked out of an upper window, and Jack smiled down at his visitor apparently unsurprised to see him.

"Oh, you're here."

He disappeared from view, and a minute later came out of the palace entrance with a rectangular bundle under his arm. And when Sandy frowned and drew a question-mark, Jack smiled.

"The Man in the Moon told me you'd be coming... So maybe you can tell me why he had me steal this from North's Workshop?" He held out the bundle, and then waved his hand in emphasis after Sandy took hold of it. "Do you have any idea how hard it was to get in there undetected? The yetis were everywhere, I'm just lucky none of them were watching the windows. Although I admit, the challenge was fun."

Sandy, still completely baffled, took hold of the cloth that wrapped the bundle and pulled it off. He then almost dropped what he was holding, when it was revealed to be a large leather-bound book, with golden decorations on the corners and an ornate golden 'G' on both front and back covers. It was the Tome of the Guardians!

Sandy gaped at the book, then at Jack, before chaotic series of symbols flashed above his head. Jack, unable to make any sense of what they said, interpreted them to mean the Guardian of Dreams was worried about something else entirely.

"Oh, don't worry, he didn't see me. None of them did, there wasn't anyone guarding the library. North doesn't even know this book is gone." Jack leaned on his staff, tilting his head. "So, can you tell me why that thing is so important that the Man in the Moon wanted me to bring it here?"

Sandy stared for a few moments more, before setting the book on a little cloud of sand and beginning to mime rapidly, but in such an agitated way that again he was impossible to understand. But then the Moon came into view through the hole above the plaza, and silver light shone down to cast a glowing circle over the snowflake symbol and the plaza where the two immortals stood. And then, in the heart of that ring, a shadow formed and shaped itself into the same ornate 'G' that was on the book, before a brighter ray of moonlight then focused on and highlighted Jack.

Sandy's jaw dropped, as he looked between the Moon and Jack in shock before miming quickly. Drawing a mother holding a baby, flowing into becoming trees and flowers, before pointing to Jack. But it wasn't the Man in the Moon that answered, but Mother Nature herself.

She came out from behind a stalagmite, walking forward to stand at the edge of the circle of moonlight.

"You are partly right, Sandman. Jack is the Spirit of Winter, and he does serve me in that role, but the authority to whom he truly belongs is the Man in the Moon, not me... For it was he who chose Jack to be the Spirit of Winter, after he asked me a long time ago to be given the right to choose who would take on that role."

Jack glanced at her and inclined his head respectfully, before speaking with a slightly confused frown.

"So what does that have to do with this book and the 'G' symbol on my floor?"

Mother Nature smiled, clearly finding amusement in their confusion.

"The first century of your life as Jack Frost, the Spirit of Winter, you lived that role and only partly used your potential when interacting with and bringing joy to children. Yet this past handful of years, in facing the Fearlings and teaching children how to stand up to their fears and those Nightmares, you have discovered and truly embraced the thing that the Man in the Moon chose you for." She came closer to the middle of the circle, and looked up at the Moon. "He always intended for you to become one of the Guardians, Jack, and now he thinks you are ready for it."

"What?!"

Jack was gaping now, utterly speechless, yet that announcement seemed to jolt Sandy from his stunned state.

The little golden man jumped up and down in the air to get her attention, waving his arms and then pointing to himself in query.

She nodded in confirmation.

"Yes, that is why you are here, Sandman. You were the first Guardian the Man in the Moon chose, and it was you who swore in Toothiana, who then swore in Bunnymund, who swore in North." She brought a finger to her lips. "But, you see, there is another reason why the Man in the Moon wants Jack as a Guardian... You know the Guardian's weakness, Sandman, and especially your own limitations. You've realised them both while watching Jack the past few years. If Jack agrees to become a Guardian, he is to remain a secret among us three and the Man in the Moon. To the rest of the Immortals, he will just be the Spirit of Winter. But he will be ready, and waiting, for when Pitch makes his move."

Jack faced her, frowning at that.

"Wait, you mean he'll just see me as a minor annoyance? A Nature Immortal who just happens to like teaching kids to make fun of him and his nightmares?"

Mother Nature nodded once more.

"He wouldn't dare try to crush you, for fear of angering me, not to mention that destroying you is impossible for him. Winter cannot be destroyed by fear; a force born of man cannot erase a force born of nature... I don't intervene in the conflicts among the Immortals, unless they affect the balance that I work so hard to maintain. Pitch will be inconvenienced by you, but won't think to threaten or act against you from wherever it is he hides at this moment. It will be the perfect disguise, and that is what has always been the Man in the Moon's plan. It is the reason he asked to chose the Spirit of Winter. So that the one chosen would have the qualities needed to become a Guardian."

Sandy, utterly ecstatic, grabbed the Tome of the Guardians and opened it to the correct page. He then held it towards Mother Nature, so she could read the oath aloud... but she shook her head.

"No no, this is not something for me to take part in. I only came to explain the circumstances and the need for secrecy." Sandman pointed to his mouth and shook his head, and she smiled. "Come now, I know you choose not to speak so you can never accidentally wake someone, but you made the exception when you swore in Toothiana. You've made clear so much your support of him, to the Man in the Moon. Are you saying you cannot not make the exception again, for Jack?"

Sandy's expression became thoughtful, before he faced and looked at Jack. And then he smiled, hesitated a moment more, and spoke.

"Yes, I can do that."

He was still quiet and his voice was soft-edged, as if every word were uttered to form a lullaby. He then raised his eyebrows to Jack, who understood the unspoken question and answered it. Even as he glanced at Mother Nature, in wordless reminder that he remembered the promise he'd made to her.

"Yes, I'd like to be a Guardian. I may never have met Pitch, but anyone who commands those Fearlings is someone I'll always protect children against. You have my word on that, Sandy."

Sandy smiled wryly, and turned the book round the right way in his hands before beginning to read the oath.

"Will you, Jack Frost, vow to watch over the children of the world? To guard them with your life; their hopes, their wishes, and their dreams. For they are all that we have, all that we are, and all that we will ever be."

A smile formed on Jack's face, and it widened into a grin as he nodded.

"I will."

Sandy returned the smile, as years of frustration were banished by this moment.

"Congratulations, Jack Frost. For you are now, and forever more, a Guardian."

Sandy snapped the book closed, set it back on the little cloud of sand, and immediately resumed his sand-drawing and miming. He gave Jack a hug, which the Spirit of Winter returned with a hint of embarrassment before he chuckled.

"Our secret, eh, Sandy?"

Mother Nature cleared her throat to get their attention, and placed a hand on Jack's shoulder. Her expression was now solemn.

"I know this makes you both happy, but there's one more thing I must tell you. In order to preserve this secret, Jack, your 'range of belief' will remain at its present limit. Only when the times comes that you can openly join the other Guardians, will I lift that restriction and allow belief in you to spread to all children in the world."

Jack frowned, now wondering one main thing.

"Why do I have to remain a secret? I mean, I could make such a difference if I'm allowed to work openly."

"Pitch is notorious for lurking in the shadows, making his plans, and then acting on them when an opportune moment comes." Her expression remained grim and serious. "With your ability to banish the Fearlings Touch from children, should you combine that with Sandman's dreamsand, you have it in your power to cripple Pitch forever... But." She sighed. "Right now we don't know how much power Pitch has regained since his last battle with the Guardians. If you come into the open now, then be you the Spirit of Winter or not, he will recognise the threat you are and seek to cripple you at the very least. You are not ready for that kind of confrontation, not yet."

Sandy drew several symbols, to which Mother Nature nodded.

"That's right, Sandman. By the time Jack has perfected wielding his ability to gift joy and banish fear, on the scale of an entire world, Pitch may be ready to make his move." She turned to Jack. "By then, it would be wiser to let him strike and have you catch him by surprise. Rather than reveal you to him, and give him the chance to change his plan to counter you."

Jack remained silent and unmoving, before a long sigh of acceptance left him.

"So, in gambling parlance, I'm the 'Ace' up the Man in the Moon's sleeve." He then smiled wryly. "I'll just have to make sure I have lots of fun with the children in Burgess."

Mother Nature lifted her hand from his shoulder, a new concern shadowing her eyes.

"Also, Jack, never let keeping this secret become a deep fear. Pitch may not know what frightens all people all of the time, but when he focuses on someone, he always knows their greatest fear."

Jack visibly flinched, but his expression remained wry.

"You needn't worry about that... My greatest fear is, and always will be, that I might lose all my family and that they'd forget me... Besides, even if he did find out, how would it be different from the other times he's gone against the Guardians and they've found a way to best him even when it seemed impossible? What's to be afraid of, when a bit a faith and belief in yourself, can turn the tides of battle even when it seems all hope is lost?"

Both Sandy and Mother Nature regarded Jack with pride at that, and it was she who spoke.

"Tsar Luna made a very good choice when he chose you, Jack. You've matured into your powers and role, very well." She turned to glance towards the smaller residence to the side of the palace. "You may tell you Lieutenants, as hiding this from them would be nigh to impossible, but no more than the fact you are a Guardian and that no one else must know. Your secrets will always be theirs, and they will have no trouble keeping them, for the loyalty of Lieutenants is unwavering. I suggest you see about recruiting at least a couple more. You've yet to make an offer to Marzanna, and there's a Nature Immortal by the name of Qui Hu, that Oisin can direct you to. If Oisin tries to object, tell him I said he has enough Lieutenants already, and that you need the support more."

Jack grinned.

"I'll do that, but first I need to go back to Burgess... The mayor has commissioned a statue of me to replace the wooden pole. One of my family is a stonemason, and he's offered to carve it. I need to get back so I can pose for it!" He floated up into the air, and glanced at his new peer. "Sandy, sneak that book back to North's place, will you?"

Jack flew out through the tunnel in a flurry of snow, leaving Sandy and Mother Nature stood there watching the newest Guardian disappear from view. They both looked at each other, shrugged, and went their separate ways... Sandy with the book-in-hand, and a very wide smile on his face.

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Alaia Skyhawk: So how many of you were expecting that? MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Yes, I've made Jack a Guardian a full 187 years earlier in the time-line, but North, Tooth, and Bunny won't find out about that until after Jack has been "shoved in a sack and flung through a magic portal" hee hee. Sandy's really going to get some kicks out of that moment lol.

This plot-twist also gives me a new reason for Jack to be angsting and brooding on the roof of Jamie's house, pre-sack toss. Because by the time the film events roll around, Jack will have been waiting for the "right day to reveal he is a Guardian" for a very long time. Poor guy :S