Alaia Skyhawk: A quick update, which I doubt any of you will complain about :)

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 102: Immortality

Jack regarded Tsar Lunar for a long moment, unsure whether to be overjoyed that Sophie was alive or pained at the knowledge it was only because she was now a Legend Immortal. Yes, she'd been a self-sustained immortal already, but that was entirely different. Before she would have been able to still have a family of her own, yet that was now impossible. She was alive, but forever handicapped by the restrictions of being sustained by belief alone. In fact, that was one of his greatest concerns.

"But she's an immortal created without a purpose in mind. She could be left struggling to find her place in this world, stranded and unable to gain believers."

Tsar Lunar glanced at him, his expression one of reassurance.

"You and I both know that is not truly the case. She already intended to become Aster's assistant, and that will not be affected by her new circumstances. As for believers, it will be a simple thing for you to spread stories of her, and for the Sandman to spread dreams of her. She will gain believers, and quickly, with your help."

Jack frowned a little, but couldn't argue since Tsar Lunar made a good point. Sophie would never struggle, not with the Guardians there to help her. The Bennetts would all help out as well. The hardest thing she faced right now, was coming to terms with the fact her old life was irrevocably over.

"What about Jamie? His potential is obviously why you've been giving him those lessons. Does that mean Ombric might become a Constellation too?"

Tsar Lunar sighed at that, seeming somewhat disappointed.

"Ombric shares the same potential, but has never reached the point of fulfilling it. I have tried teaching both him and Jamie about Etheric Theory; the cornerstone of the abilities of a Constellation. Ombric understands it, yet cannot fully grasp it. Yet right from the start Jamie had a real instinct for it. I've seen almost two dozen potential Constellations develop here on Earth over the past three millennia or so, but Jamie is the first to succeed. When you consider that the Golden Age average was one Constellation out of every two-hundred possibles, your nephew has defeated the odds."

Jack noticed the odd tone to the Constellation's words, realising something.

"Does... Does this mean that when we finally get visitors from the Silver Allegiance, you'll leave Earth and go back with them?"

Tsar Lunar faced him, but did not deny it.

"Not right away, not until I'm sure Jamie has learnt all he needs to in order to take my place here. But eventually, yes. I need to go, if I am to teach the five Constellations of the Silver Allegiance where they are making mistakes when they try and fail to create immortals. I also need to appoint and create the key immortals for all those worlds. A Father or Mother Nature, Spirits of the Seasons... And most certainly a Steward of Natural Fear, and a Guardian of Fun. Both of whom will be taught the importance of Natural Fear, and their duties in maintaining the balance of it. With that foundation in place, I can begin looking for other possible new Constellations. The Silver Allegiance will become the Golden Allegiance once more, and with it the Golden Age will be reborn. I can do none of that if I remain here."

Jack came closer.

"And if Jamie hadn't ascended by the time the visitors arrived?"

"I'd have bid the most stalwart of the five post-fall Constellations to take my place here, after tutoring them in the methods of keeping the Fearlings safely weakened and contained on Earth." Tsar Lunar looked to the Earth once more. "This world will always be the prison for those creatures, so long as they continue to cling to existence. There must be a Constellation here to maintain watch."

He reached into a pocket, and then handed to Jack the item that had been within it. It was one of the spiral pendants worn by the leaders of each Constellation Family. The very same one used in the past at the Battle of the Moon. "Give this to him, and he will understand its meaning."

~(-)~

The first thing she was aware of was that she was warm and lying on something soft, covered over with what was probably a blanket. The air smelt of woodland, old books, with a hint of fresh-baked cookies and hot chocolate. It was something to make her feel at ease, as she opened her eyes in the knowledge of exactly where she was.

She was inside Big Root, at Santoff Claussen. Laid in the bed of the room she always used while staying here. But at the same time as feeling safe, she was confused. How had she gotten here, and what was going on?

That thought remained in place for only a moment, until her gaze lit upon a basin and basket near the door. Sophie's eyes widening when she saw the red-smeared rags in the top of the container, and the stained water in the bowl. She stumbled backwards and landed heavily on the bed, at once starting to shake when she remembered where she'd been before arriving here.

The graduation ceremony, the gunmen. Throwing her protection charm to Alicia to save her, and moments later the impact of being hit. The numbness in the instant afterwards as she was flung to the ground, her mind and body in shock before feeling returned and everything was agony. Gasping for breath and being unable to, her vision going grey at the edges until at last everything went black.

That was all she could recall, everything between then and now was a blank. She'd been shot, and badly, or had she just fainted in panic? Had it not been as bad as she'd thought? Jack would have responded to the charm activating, so had he brought her here for Ombric to heal with magic?

That made sense, and she did still feel a bit sore. Magical healing wasn't perfect, so that explained things nicely.

Sophie stood up again, swaying a little from light-headedness. She was dressed in a nightshirt, probably one of Katherine's, but there had to be another change of clothing here somewhere. The storyteller wasn't one to leave guests forced to walk around in nightwear when they woke up.

Sophie headed for the closet beside the door, trying to remember if any of her spare outfits were still here or if she'd taken them home after the last time she'd visited. Then again that wasn't likely, since her Santoff outfits were different than the normal ones for home.

She was in luck, they were still there. Her knee-length tunics, leggings, and her summer sandals with the laces that came up to the knees. She pulled out a green tunic and brown leggings, turning to return to the bedside and put them and the sandals on when she dropped the garments in shock.

From here she could see the basket by the door didn't just hold rags, there was something else beneath them. The black of her graduation robes, and the blue shirt she'd been wearing beneath it... Except there wasn't much of the shirt that was still blue.

She walked over to the basket and reached for the shirt, lifting it out with trembling hands before dropping it in horror at the five obvious bullet-holes in it. Sophie grabbed the other clothing she'd dropped, trying not to hyperventilate as she quickly put them on. Trying not to think how it was possible she'd survived, about how Ombric could have healed her. He was skilled, yes, but she knew now it couldn't have been him. She had to find out what was going on.

She was just stumbling out of her room when Katherine came into view on the stairs. The storyteller's eyes going wide as she rushed to Sophie's side to support her.

"You shouldn't be walking around yet. You need to rest!"

Sophie started shaking again, once more aware of how oddly weightless she felt.

"What's going on, Katherine? What happened after I was shot? I don't feel right. I don't feel like I'm completely here."

Katherine looked as though she might answer, but instead pulled Sophie's arm over her shoulder to help her down the stairs.

"Jack's here. He'll explain everything."

Katherine led her down the stairway to the main room, and then into one of the little chambers just off the side of there. Jack and Ombric were in there, the latter looking rather flustered when he saw who came in.

After Sophie was ushered to a seat, Ombric bustled Katherine out of the room and closed the door. Leaving Jack and his niece alone to talk.

Sophie, now even more confused and frightened by the way the pair had been acting, looked beseechingly to her uncle.

"What's going on, Uncle Jack? Why do I feel like something has happened to me? I saw... I saw my shirt. I should be dead, shouldn't I?"

Jack strode over to the little couch she was on and sat beside her, pulling her into a hug of reassurance. She clung to him, trembling as he braced himself to explain. It was several moments before he answered.

"You did die, Sophie, but then you were brought back the same way I once was... You've become a Legend Immortal."

She inhaled so sharply she choked, but that only brought her attention to the fact it didn't make her feel like she couldn't breathe. That she no longer needed the air around her to survive.

"I-I'm... How? Why?! If Tsar Lunar chose to save me, then why not Elizabeth or Uncle Tristan?! Why not any of the other relatives of immortals that have died?!"

She was still clinging to him, but now trembled with a pent-up mix of fright and anger. Causing Jack to ease her away a little so he could look her in the eye.

"To turn them into immortals wouldn't have be right, because they'd be immortals without a role. But you have a role waiting for you, Sophie, as Bunny's assistant. Tsar Lunar probably would have saved you even if Jamie hadn't done it himself."

That startled Sophie into stillness, her eyes widening at the mention of her brother.

"Jamie did it? But... But that would mean..."

Jack nodded.

"He doesn't know it yet. I came here to check on you first, after going to see Tsar Lunar. None of the other Guardians know what's going on, and none of them have been here yet. I'll drop you off at the Warren, so you can talk to Bunny, but then I'll go and find Jamie. There are things he needs to hear from Tsar Lunar, before we tell the rest of the Bennett Family about his change of circumstances. Bunny should go get your parents for you while I do that."

Sophie nodded silently, allowing Jack to pick her up and carry her from the room. He paused only for a moment to nod in thanks to Ombric and Katherine, before he created a mirror to the Warren and stepped through.

Bunny was there in the main entrance clearing, pacing back and forth in agitation. There was a snow-globe sat on a nearby rock, so it was likely North had been by and suggested the Pooka remain at the Warren. Since that was one of the two likeliest places Jack would send news about Sophie first. If that were the case, the Russian had been right, and the look of relief on Bunny's face when he saw Jack and Sophie went to show just how worried he'd been.

"Sophie! Jack, where the hell did you take her? It's been over an hour since those men shot-! And not a word from you to anyone!"

Jack set Sophie down on a rock, frowning a little at the accusations.

"As if I'd endanger her. I took her to Santoff Claussen, where Katherine cleaned her up before she and Ombric kept an eye on her while I talked to Tsar Lunar."

Bunny had now bounded over, still worked up to the point parts of his fur were standing on end.

"An hour to treat injuries like the ones Jamie described? Ombric is good, but not that good! And why go to Tsar Lunar?"

"Bunny, please stop shouting at my uncle." Sophie's quiet words cut through the tirade, her hand reaching out to touch Bunny's arm. "Ombric and Tsar Lunar didn't do anything, Jamie did."

The Pooka now stared at her, as Jack spoke solemnly.

"Look at her Bunny, really look. The answer's right there in front of you."

Bunny choked and dropped to his knees, paws reaching out to gently cup Sophie's face.

"No... Please not that. Your future-"

Tears welled up in Sophie's eyes as she took hold of one of his paws.

"My future was here as your assistant, and it still is. With my big furry adoptive uncle, who works far too hard and rushes about far too much during the run-up to Easter. I'll get used to this, don't worry, and it's better than being dead."

Bunny pulled her into a hug, holding her close.

"You silly fool. Why did you throw your charm away?"

Sophie buried her face in the fur of his shoulder.

"I couldn't let Alicia die. She's my best friend."

Jack retreated through a mirror to New Haven, setting off to find Jamie. Down below, the Old Campus Gardens were alight with the red-blue flash from several police cars. The area around the stage had been cordoned off, police were swarming everywhere. There was a ragged hole near the stage, where the three gunmen had been entombed in earth. And at the edge of the mass of tipped-over audience chairs beyond there, Jamie, Alicia, and Alicia's parents were sat in the company of what was probably a family liaison officer.

Jack flew down and landed near them, his arrival causing Jamie to lurch to his feet with a shout.

"Uncle Jack! Where is she? We've called all the nearby hospitals, even the one in Kirktown. Where did you take her?"

Jack, noting the fact the officer was gazing directly at him and so could clearly see him, answered.

"I took her to Santoff Claussen, and she's now in the Warren with Bunny."

Jamie spluttered in reaction to that. He was still wearing the clothes marked by her blood.

"But she was shot so many times! She needs medical attention! Magic wouldn't have been enough!"

Jack put a hand on Jamie's shoulder, silencing him with a stern look.

"She doesn't need medical attention, because she was already dead and gone. She's a bit sore, which is the usual for someone who suffered that sort of pre-change damage, but she'll be fine in a few hours." He took hold of Jamie's hand, and placed on it the spiral pendant Tsar Lunar had given him. "You saved her, Jamie, with the power of Belief. You brought her back. She's a Legend now."

Alicia came over, hands clasped around two paper scrolls. Her diploma, and Sophie's"

"Jamie? What does he mean?"

Jack stepped away from them a moment and went to the officer. The woman backing up a step before hastily reaching for her notepad.

"Inform your superiors that Sophie Bennett was murdered here, on this day, by those three men. Her body will not be available for post-mortem, due to the fact she has become a Legend Immortal and henceforth has no legal ties to Mortal Law. I'm not sure if she'll want to testify at the trial when the men are charged, but she probably will. There's no need to inform her family, I'll see to that myself. You can go."

The officer beat a hasty retreat, even as Alicia stood staring at Jack with wide eyes.

"She's become an immortal?"

Jack nodded.

"She has, but she'll need a bit of time to settle. You and your parents should head home, and Sophie will come see you when she's ready."

Alicia was crying now, but no longer in grief as her reddened face testified she'd been doing before he arrived. Now there was only relief, as she handed out one of the scrolls.

"Here, this is hers."

Jack accepted it with a smile.

"I'll make sure she gets it." He gestured to Jamie. "You need to speak to Tsar Lunar, about what you're going to do next. I'll let the family and the Guardians know what's going on, while you do that."

Jack conjured a mirror to the moon, allowing Jamie to step through it before changing the destination to the Winter Sanctuary. There were a lot of messages to send, and he needed his Lieutenants to get it done as quickly and securely as possible.

~(-)~

Sophie waited, seated on her rock while Bunny fussed about repeatedly asking her if she needed anything. It had been almost two hours since Jack had left to find Jamie. Bunny had brought her parents to the Warren to see her, but they too had fussed until after an hour she'd reminded them that there were things they needed to do to check on the rest of the Bennett Family members scattered about across the world. The relative quiet afterwards was a relief, as was the space so she no longer felt smothered by their perfectly understandable reactions. Their daughter had died and been brought back to life, that was bound to cause emotional turmoil, but she had enough of her own to deal with without being faced with theirs.

Figuring that out for himself, Bunny had practically shoved North back to the Workshop via a burrow when the Russian had shown up in wake of word from Jack. Tooth had also been asked to keep a distance, hyperactive and worked up as she tended to get. However Sandy had been asked to come as soon as possible, since a few good dreams and a nap probably wouldn't go amiss right now.

But Sophie didn't want to sleep. She wanted something else right now, for various reasons. One of which stemmed from her thoughts of the past hour.

"I want to see Jamie and Tsar Lunar."

Bunny paused in his pacing, regarding her with a frown.

"It's too soon. You need to rest."

"Bunny, I'm serious."

The Pooka shook his head firmly.

"I'm not taking you to the moon, you're too new for that and it's too far."

She stood up, much steadier on her feet now than before. With the belief from Jamie, Alicia, and the Bennett Family that she'd felt slipping into place, she felt strong enough now to be confident.

"If you won't take me, then I'll go on my own."

Bunny started towards her.

"Sophie, just sit d- What the?!"

He stumbled as his grab for her arm met only empty air, ending up sprawled over her rock while Sophie landed several yards to his left. Knowledgeable as she was about the Immortals, she knew their abilities were shaped by their own talents, personality, and will. She'd been bounding around the Warren for years, almost as agile as Bunny himself. Now that she was an immortal, she'd correctly guessed that particular skill-set would have been enhanced.

She didn't waste a moment, darting away to bound down the nearest portal tunnel at a speed that would have seemed insane before. The only hesitation she showed was when she reached one of the portals and knocked on it. She didn't have the bracer, but the Warren should know her well. Well enough perhaps to respond to her now she was an immortal herself.

The portal responded to the knock, changing to reveal a view outside Big Root. Sophie jumped up out of the burrow and dashed into the annexe. Sprinting through the mirror to the moon knowing full well Bunny couldn't be that far behind her.

When she emerged at the dome she stopped, daunted and awed by the size of it having never visited it before. Yet awe was replaced by concern when she staggered, aware of the sudden decrease in the power of belief she could feel as she cursed herself. How could she have forgotten the distance-limit of belief? The moon was right near the edge of it, and she had only a handful of believers right now.

"What brings you so far, Sophie Bennett, at a time when you should be resting?"

She raised her head and saw Tsar Lunar stood a short distance away. Jamie was with him, and her brother rushed to her side to support her.

"Sophie!" He hugged her tight. "Don't scare me like that ever again."

She returned the hug.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I just couldn't stand there and let Alicia die. She needed me, just as the world needs me."

Jamie released her, looking confused.

"You mean as Bunny's assistant?"

Sophie shook her head and looked past him to Tsar Lunar.

"I know I can't go back to being mortal, but... Can you add something to me? I already have a purpose as Aster's assistant, but there's something else the world really needs right now. So that no one else will die for the reasons I did."

Tsar Lunar came forward, stopping a few steps away. Behind her, he'd created a barrier across the mirror to keep Bunny on the other side. The Pooka pounding on it unheard for several seconds until he noticed the glance Tsar Lunar gave him and took the hint to back away.

"What is it you desire to be? What is the wish you would have me help make a reality?"

Sophie pulled herself up straight, determined and solemn.

"An immortal's powers can be shaped by their wishes and will, by their belief, but I don't know how and don't know how long it would take me to learn to. So if it's even possible... Could you make it so that I can sense hate, the way Kosmotis can sense fear?"

Jamie stiffened in reaction to that, but Tsar Lunar remained unfazed.

"Do you understand the implications of what you ask? Those who plotted to harm you, are not the only source of hate in the world. Its roots lie deep throughout it, from the mildest of disagreements between individuals, to the fierce discordances that cause people to harm one another. Once aware of them, you would never cease to be aware."

Sophie nodded, yet also wore a hopeful smile.

"Yet once the Golden Age is truly reborn, in years to come, humanity will grow beyond the need to hate so deeply. What little is left by then, will be outshone by the good things. I can live with that. Sometimes you need the dark to appreciate the light."

Tsar Lunar came the last of the way to her, taking hold of her hands with a wistful sigh.

"Would that you shared your brother's potential, you would have made a wonderful Constellation. But you are right, the world needs someone to help brush aside the hate and bring harmony. Your brother also needs you, if he is to succeed in his new plan to unite your world in peace."

When she glanced at him, Jamie explained.

"As a Constellation born here on Earth, I'm not restricted by circumstances the way Tsar Lunar is. So I'm going to create a new World Council, and put a stop to the petty squabbling between the various nations. A council where every country can know their representative will be there to speak for them, and be listened to." He chuckled. "It'll be a lot of work, but give me ten years and let's see if I can manage World Peace before the Silver Allegiance shows up. Full disarmament will take a lot longer, but peace would be a good start."

Tsar Lunar regarded the siblings with pride and joy.

"Then it is as well your sister wishes to bring harmony, by helping those full of hate to set it aside. She will be of great help in that goal. But as the one who made her immortal, only you can grant her desire."

Jamie stared at him, uncertain.

"Me? But I don't know how."

Tsar Lunar set Sophie's hands in her brother's grasp.

"Sense her wish within her, let it guide the power of Belief that you possess. It is the same method as is used to create a Legend Immortal, in response to the needs of the people that immortal will serve. Trust her heart, and yours."

Jamie's gaze met hers, still uncertain, but then he took a deep breath and closed his eyes in concentration. While he'd acted subconsciously before in changing her into an immortal, during the talk with Tsar Lunar the older Constellation had explained how to do it on purpose. Adding to a particular immortal, wasn't much different.

Moments passed in silence, Jamie unmoving, and she began to wonder if he could do it. But then Sophie's eyes widened and she glanced in the direction of Earth, something starting to intrude upon her awareness. The sense of the many threads of hateful emotion below, the thoughts they were rooted in, and of her own deep-seated desire to help the people set it aside.

She eased her hands from Jamie's grasp, smiling at him when he opened his eyes.

"Thank you, Big Brother. Now I can help you bring peace."

Tsar Lunar reached out to pat him on the shoulder, radiating pride once again.

"Indeed, Tsar Solus Bennett. This will likely be the turning point your family has hoped for. While not perhaps occurring in the way you would have wanted, it still remains that you are making the most of it." He looked at Sophie. "And so now I ask, what name will you give her? How will her Legend be known to the world?"

Jamie's gaze met hers, searching, and then he started to smile.

"How about 'Sophia, the Guardian of Harmony'?"

Sophie hugged him tightly him in response.

"That's fine by me."

~(-)~

Alaia Skyhawk: So much fluff! I'd wonder if I'd put too much in this chapter, except you can NEVER have too much fluff!

Note, for those that are wondering. Sophie isn't a Guardian of Childhood. She's an independent Guardian, in the way that Nightlight is :)