You know that one chapter you're not too proud of? Well, this one was it, but I hope you guys enjoy it anyway!

Thank you to Lunarheart01, The Dark Lady55, Tumblr Fandom Girl, Roseflame Crystalheart, , and krazylizzy12 for the favorites!

For following: Lunarheart01, Prue162, Terra1298, Anie Celebrindal, Dragon-Wolf-Mustang Rider, Lady Canela, Roseflame Crystalheart, Tyoro Dwin'tlithar, Witch by Midnight, , and lusians.

To my lovely reviewers: Dreamer558750, guardianofdragonlore, Ern Estine 13624, White Hunter, Random Reader, and Roseflame Crystalheart.

Reader Responses:

guardianofdragonlore: I knooooow! I wanted to scream as I was typing that, because I knew what would happen next. "Nice going, kangaroo."

White Hunter: Lots and lots of angst, that's for sure. Trust is such a fragile thing . . . at least the trust between her and the Guardians is.

Random Reader: I really liked that chapter, too. I hope I can satisfy you enough with the upcoming ones as well!

A Bit of Randomness:

Well, there's this guy on YouTube, and he has done phenomenal piano covers of some of the RoTG soundtracks. His name? Alex Sheen. He's done some of the main scores to the movie, such as "Still Dream," "Alone in the World," "Wind Take Me Home," and "Jamie Believes." (I'm learning the last three, because he gives free sheet music, except for "Still Dream," which you have to pay for. Ughhhhh, and I wanted to learn that one too . . .)

And to the people part of the HtTYD fandom, he's covered the whole soundtrack to the first movie and some of the second movie (and has provided sheet music for them as well!) Sebastian Wolff has done some pretty great covers for HtTYD, too. I've already learned his covers of "Romantic Flight" and "Where's Hiccup?".

So now that I'm done fangirling over their amazing piano skillz, on with the reading!

"I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape. Something waits beneath it; the whole story doesn't show."
– Andrew Wyeth

Interlude II: Introductions

Jackie was about a day old when she first saw the golden sand. She had flown around the surrounding lands, practicing her flight (while exploring all the way, of course), before asking Wind to take her back to the pond when the sun began to set. Jackie didn't know why she suddenly veered back in the direction of home (her lake) when night began to fall, but she brushed it off, like the automatic curtsy she made to the woman the day before. When Jackie alighted on the smooth surface of the ice, the sky was already an inky black.

And then – she saw it. The gold sand. It shone so brightly against the dark night sky. Jackie stood on the frozen pond, her staff hanging limply at her side. In an effort to see it better, she hopped up on a tree branch with some assistance from Wind. She was curious about the strange (though beautiful) spectacle – who wouldn't be? – but she was still slightly fearful because the sand floated over the town that walked through her. Curiosity flattened her anxiety immediately, though, as she instinctively knew that the strands were safe.

Jackie shakily flew toward the small village, the moon bathing her in its brilliance. She had practiced all day today, but she was still a bit unsteady in the air. Her flight was a lot better than it had been the day before, though.

The winter child cautiously landed around the outskirts of Burgess, which was what the tiny village was named. It was very late at night, all of the residents sound asleep in their beds. Jackie walked deeper in the town, using her frost-covered staff as a kind of crutch. Her brown cloak fluttered around her as Wind swirled through Burgess, asking if she wanted to play.

Well, Wind didn't really have a voice, as the Language consisted more of feelings than words. For most spirits, the Language was a hard one to learn (even Toothiana couldn't understand it – and she knew all the dialects in the world!), but Jackie somehow already knew the Language of the Breeze the day she was born.

Jacqueline Frost never realized that she was one of the very few chosen to bond with one of the four winds. But in another time, that story might be told.

"Not now, Wind," Jackie murmured, craning her neck to see where the source of the gold sand was coming from. "I wanna find out what that is."

The breeze around the winter sprite chilled slightly, as Wind "voiced" her irritation.

Jackie sighed and stared pointedly at the space where the cold was strongest. "Tomorrow, I promise," she said, running her free hand through her hair exasperatedly.

Wind seemed happier at her response, and eagerly blew Jackie up to the rooftops. A little bit too eagerly in fact, as the frost child landed on her stomach instead of her feet, her limbs splayed in different directions. During Jackie's mini-adventure, though, she had miraculously kept a tight grip on her staff despite the less-than-perfect landing.

Jackie groaned as she unsteadily stood up, her knees and elbows stinging. "Wiiind . . ." she complained, leaning on her staff for support. The cool breeze whirled gently around Jackie, a clear apology. Jackie sighed resignedly, still cradling her throbbing elbow, but jumped up back in the sky. A little obstacle like this wouldn't deter her from her "mission."

Jackie drifted over the village square; finally spotting what caused the shimmering strands in the sky. Actually, it was more like who. A small, golden man stood atop a huge cloud of equally golden sand, shooting magic in different directions.

Now that she found the source, Jackie wasn't really sure what to do. She hadn't exactly planned this far into the future. So in the end, she went with her instincts.

"Hello!" she called out, feeling shy. When the man didn't even so much as look in her direction, her hope dimmed a little. Another person to ignore her . . .

But against her better judgment, she called out again, slightly louder this time. "Hello?" Jackie braced herself for another person who couldn't see her, but the golden man seemed to jump, almost imperceptibly. Had she imagined it?

So when he turned around and gave the stunned girl a wave, her responding smile was as bright was the moon above them.

"You can see me!" she crowed joyfully, doing a cheerful twirl in the air. She then floated down to better meet the man's eyes. His gaze was warm and gentle as he smiled back at her.

Remembering her manners (though, once again, she had no idea where those thoughts came from), Jackie cleared her throat and stuck out her hand. "Hi," she said politely. "I'm Jack Frost. What's your name?"

Jackie knew that Jack was a boy's name. But she had seen her reflection in the frozen pond, and was astounded to see that her face barely passed as female. Her boyish looks were even more pronounced with her hair. It was shorter than a typical girl's (her hair just reached her shoulders, and the girls that she'd seen had much longer hair than she), but it was at an acceptable length for a boy. The only thing on her face that looked even remotely feminine was her eyes. They just had a girlish look to them.

Or that could just be Jackie's hope that she didn't look entirely like a guy.

But before the words "Jack Frost" left her lips, something deep inside her said to use her "boyish looks" to her advantage. And besides, Jack could be a nickname for Jacqueline . . . just let the others assume what they will.

The golden man grasped her hand in his own, giving it a strong shake for such a small stature. After, he held out a swirl of sand out to her, then made something that resembled a person above his head.

Jackie became thoughtful. "Ummm, sand. Sand? And, uh, you're a man, so . . . Sandman," she tried, mashing the two clues together.

"Sandman" nodded, grinning.

"I'll just call you Sandy, 'cause your name's kind of a mouthful," Jackie decided shyly, still unused to talking to anyone.

He shrugged and waved again to Jackie, before turning back to his work – whatever it was. It was somewhat of an abrupt dismissal, but she tried to not let it bother her too much, since Sandy clearly couldn't talk if he made those sand pictures above his head.

"Okay," Jackie said, now feeling a bit awkward. "I'll, uh, see you later, I guess." She turned away from the Sandman and flew back in the direction of her pond, where slumber awaited her.

Jackie curled up on a branch later that night, her eyelids fluttering as sleep began to overtake her body. Before drifting off, she glimpsed a vague outline of a golden, shimmering figure in front of her. Then the person sprinkled something on her face, and Jacqueline Frost knew no more – dreaming about snow, a home, and a family.

When you were a part of the spiritual realm, there were no secrets. One way or another, news would travel, and truths, lies, and everything in between would be revealed.

Especially when it came to the Guardians of Childhood. They were known as the "Big Four," or simply even the "Guardians" to other spirits and legends, and they dedicated their lives to protect the children of the world. They were truly a force to be reckoned with – rumor had it that they were chosen by the Man in the Moon himself! – and no one messed with their duties.

. . . Except for Jackie Frost.

Jackie didn't bother the Guardians intentionally, but she happened to stumble across them every once in a while. She learned that Sandy's job was to give dreams to children, and he was the one she saw most often. They never really "talked" again after their first meeting, but they would wave to each other in passing. Sometimes, he would even stop by and give her a dream with his dreamsand.

Eleven years had passed, and Jackie managed to catch a glimpse of the Tooth Fairy. Well, not the real one, but her helpers. She had seen them – small, hummingbird-like creatures flitting about, clutching a tooth each to their chests. Jackie flew up to one of them to say hello, and the fairy chirped excitedly and stared at her in adoration. She wasn't exactly sure why, though.

Jackie had always thought that the Tooth Fairy collected all the teeth herself, but it was really her helpers that did. It made sense, at least. How could she fly around the globe continuously and not be tired?

But still, no matter who collected the teeth, the children of the world believed in the Tooth Fairy.

And who was Jack Frost? He was just an expression – a boy who was really a girl.

To the rest of the world, Jackie was a fairly young spirit, only about sixty-five years old. As far as she could tell, other spirits were far older than she – some even around before the Earth existed. So she was still pretty new with the supernatural business . . . in addition to being a seasonal.

Jackie automatically knew that winter was right between fall and spring, so she did her best to keep her season at just the right length. But at times, she was forced to start early, or end late, depending on Mother Nature's requests.

Unfortunately, some didn't exactly approve of Jackie's duties . . . in addition to her occasional off-season snow showers.

Jackie had only met the three other seasonal beings once, during her first meeting. Mother Nature had thought it was a good idea for her "children" to get to know each other, but Jackie knew that the gathering was really for the other three to meet her.

It was March, and Jackie was flying around the British colonies in North America, spreading some light flurries. They were a bit late for winter, but Mother Nature had sent word through Wind that she required snow showers in that particular area. Jackie didn't really want to follow her orders, but she had to anyway.

Jackie knew that her season brought about death, and she blamed herself for every person lost to the cold weather. And the war going on at this moment made people even more vulnerable. It was the year 1777; two years after the beginning of what would be known to history as the American Revolutionary War.

After she completed her duties, Jackie called Wind to take her home. She was still saddened by Emma's death, only a decade prior. Something in the woman's eyes reminded her of a long-forgotten feeling inside, but there was no memory to go along with it.

Jackie settled by the lakebed. She took a few steps until she was in the middle of the pond, and then began the dance she did the night she was born. Jackie twirled around, swiping her staff in various directions to shoot another thick layer of frost over the lake. She never forgot to keep it frozen, even in the warmth of spring, and the blistering heat of summer. Jackie would have to infuse magic in her ice during those seasons.

Maybe she never forgot because she wanted at least one constant in her lonely life. Something that would never change, like her.

Jackie stepped off the ice and flew up to perch on a tree that overlooked her lake. Admiring her handiwork, she murmured to herself, "Good job, Frost."

"I thought I might find you here. Do you really live in this dump?"

Jackie almost toppled off of the tree at the sudden voice, but Wind caught her and gently lowered her to the ground. "Hello?" she said cautiously. "Who's there?"

"Why, I'm hurt! Does Jackie Frost not recognize her own sister?"

Jackie whirled around, pointing her staff defensively. A tall, pretty girl stood at the opposite side of the pond, holding a small white flower. Jackie glared icily. She knew who this girl was.

"Jasmine," Jackie acknowledged curtly, straightening. She leaned on her staff and gave her a mock salute. "I should've known it was you. I could smell the stink of manure from way over here." Jackie didn't really like her all that much, ever since Jasmine acted like that she was so much better than her. She was so mean and – and rude.

Jasmine scowled, her anger marring her pretty face. "How dare you?" she shrieked, stabbing the flower in Jackie's direction. "I am your elder – your superior! How dare you not give me the respect I deserve? And look at me when I am talking to you!"

Jackie had been examining her fingernails, a bored expression on her face. Looking up, she said, pretending to be surprised, "Oh, you're finished? I wanted to hear you blather on some more!" Then she became serious as she said her next words. "And if you want respect from me, you'll have to earn it. Because respect isn't something I give as freely as my snowballs."

She turned her back on Jasmine, about to take off into the air. "Anyway, I have some more snow to spread, so . . ."

But then a vice-like grip seized her arm. "And here comes the topic I wished to talk to you about, Jacqueline," Jasmine sneered, somehow appearing right next to her.

Jackie's eyes widened. She tried to pull her arm away, panic now breaking through her flippant façade. "Jasmine, let go! I don't want any trouble –"

The spring spirit smiled coldly, and her grip became even tighter. "'Don't want any trouble'? You've been giving me trouble ever since you were born! You make it snow during my season – my season! – and kill off everything. You've killed so many people with your 'snowballs and fun times.' But most of all, you're Jackie Frost, harbinger of winter and death. You're a murderer."

Jackie continued to struggle, but her small, skinny form was no match for the physically stronger spirit of spring. Your words don't hurt me, your words don't hurt me, your words don't hurt me, Jackie chanted in her head, though the tears were already beginning to well in her eyes.

"No!" she shouted. "I'm not. I don't like killing people – it's just that stuff happens in winter! It's not my fault!"

"Of course it is!" Jasmine quickly countered. "You're the only one who brings winter to Earth, aren't you, Jacqueline?" Her green eyes hardened. "And don't ever spread snow in my season again, you hear?"

And then she was gone, only leaving a small, blooming white flower as any evidence that she was ever there.

Jackie breathed heavily, still stunned from Jasmine's hurtful words. Her arm was already beginning to show some signs of a bruise. She took an unconscious step back, her body already attempting to flee. But Jackie simply froze the flower and crushed it angrily under the butt of her staff. "Stupid Jasmine and her stupid words . . ." she mumbled, collapsing under a tree. "It's not true – none of it is. I'm not a killer."

The winter child lay down and closed her eyes, wrapping her cloak around her small frame. She slipped into a fitful slumber, not even aware of the cold tears sliding down her cheeks.

Twenty years went by, and Jackie started to form sort of friendship with Jacob, the autumn seasonal. True, he did get annoyed when there were a few early snowfalls, but he seemed to like her well enough. He wasn't insane like Jasmine.

"Hey, Jake – heads up!" Jackie crowed as she chucked a snowball at him.

The snow hit him in the back, and though Jackie couldn't see it, she knew that her magic was already going into effect. Jacob turned around, a welcoming smile on his face. His scythe hung limply at his side. "Jackie! I thought I'd be seeing you soon!" His grin became sly. "Is this snow because of Mother's orders?"

She scuffed her bare toes in the snow sheepishly. "No . . . I just wanted to say hi, and have some fun."

Jacob sheathed his weapon in the holder on his back. Scooping up a handful of his own snow, he replied, "Well, you've got me. Get ready!" He threw his snowball at Jackie, and she ducked, forming snowballs with her staff.

"Hey, gotta have ammo, right?" she asked with a mischievous grin at Jacob's outraged look. "It's not cheating if I can do it!"

"Unfair advantage," Jacob shouted, ducking from another snowball that Jackie threw. "You're a winter sprite!"

"But you're older," Jackie countered, sidestepping. "You should have better aim than this!" She threw a special kind of snowball at Jacob – a wet and slushy one. It hit his face with a satisfying splat! and it slid down his cheek and onto the ground. "Ha!" she cheered, flying up a few inches in her excitement. "I got you!"

But he did nothing. He didn't move. "Jake?" Jackie asked, slowly sinking back down to the ground. "You okay?" She stepped closer, walking until she was right in front of him. "Jake!"

But then Jacob grinned wickedly and flashed out his scythe, fallen leaves swirling around the two seasonals. "Payback," he said. He twirled his weapon, and the leafnado became stronger.

Jackie flew quickly backwards, breaking through the wall of autumn leaves. "Oh, yeah. Now the game is finally beginning." She stood her ground about ten feet away, holding her staff.

"Get ready, Jackie!" Jacob yelled, slicing his scythe downwards. His brown eyes were determined, as he used his power to the fullest.

Jackie smiled and gripped her weapon tighter as the leaves blasted in her direction. Jackie sliced her staff in a deadly arc, Wind deflecting Jacob's attack. "Can't you do better than that?" she taunted, sending a volley of ice shards in his direction.

Jacob blocked smoothly, the ice bouncing off the blade of his scythe. But one sliver pierced his leg, and he stumbled, the leaves now fluttering harmlessly around the two of them.

Jackie gasped, quickly flying to his side. "Oh, Moon, I'm so sorry, Jake! Are you okay?" She viewed the autumn spirit as a big brother of some sort, and she really cared for him.

Jacob grunted, pulling the ice out of his thigh. "Yeah, I'm fine. It wasn't deep."

She sighed in relief. "That's good." Then she looked at him, blue eyes meeting brown. "I'm so sorry," she said again, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I can't do anything but hurt people."

"No, Jackie, that's not true –" Jacob protested, but she interrupted.

"Yes, it is!" she shouted, her staff being coated with more frost in her agitation. "All of the other seasons are beautiful, but mine just brings suffering. No one likes winter, or me!" Jackie breathed heavily, her vision blurring.

She heard a clink, then felt a pair of warm arms wrap around her. "I like you," Jacob said simply. "You're like the little sister I never had."

Jackie hiccupped, leaning her forehead on his chest. "I always thought that too," she chuckled softly, her heart feeling warmed at his words. "You being my big brother."

Jacob laughed along with her. "You're still so young, Jackie." He held her at arm's length, smiling. "But I think you won our battle today. You're really strong for such a new spirit. You must have something very special inside."

"Thanks," she said, hugging him tightly.

"No prob," he said easily. After Jackie let go, he asked, "So, you wanna help me paint some leaves later? Fall's only halfway through!"

"Sure!" she readily agreed. "As long as we can have another snowball fight someday."

Jacob looped his arm through Jackie's. "Then come on! Let's go."

There was only one other Guardian that Jackie hadn't seen yet. He visited the children once a year, like the Easter Bunny, so there were fewer chances to see him.

Jackie had seen the bunny running around during Easter a couple times, spreading hand-painted eggs for the children to find. When he left, she would send down a light snowfall (just enough to dust the grass – she didn't want another Jasmine incident again) almost every year as a fun challenge for the kids. As far as she could tell, the children of Burgess loved it, and would have a snowball fight after egg hunting – courtesy of Jackie Frost and her magically-infused snow.

And when December rolled around, the kids would write letters to Santa Claus (or North, as the spirits called him), asking him for different presents. The winter sprite had sent letters after she heard about him for ten straight years, hoping that he would come visit her. After that decade passed, though, she gave up trying to contact him.

Instead, she decided to visit him at the North Pole.

Jackie never really got that far inside North's workshop, because the yetis would somehow know when she broke in. And then she was kicked out.

Jackie never gave up trying to catch a glimpse of North and toys that he made. Though she never saw him, she would hear his loud, booming voice shouting things in what she thought was Russian. Jackie would pop in randomly, never leaving any patterns to her "visits," hoping to catch the North's helpers by surprise. Obviously, she was always caught.

As Jackie came over more and more often, she began to get more familiar with the yetis. She now knew all of them by sight, and almost as much by name. But it was the yeti in charge – Phil – that she really developed a sort of friendship with, as the others didn't really approve of her. After she was caught the first fifteen times or so, Phil started giving her small gifts (like cookies or so) as he gently pushed her out the door.

But today was a bit different.

Jasmine had cornered her again, blathering on about how she was annoying Jacob with her little snowball fights. Jackie suspected that the spring spirit had a not-so-secret crush on the autumn seasonal, and thought that Jackie was a threat to what could be their possible "relationship." Jackie knew that Jacob was head-over-heels for someone else, though, but he would never tell her who.

Jackie had denied that she even liked Jacob that way, since he was like her brother, but Jasmine got all crazy again and attacked.

Jasmine shot whips of water at the winter sprite, leaving stinging welts on her body. Jackie tried freezing the liquid, but she was too slow for the spring seasonal's much faster reflexes. In the end, there was a huge storm of sleet as rain and snow mixed during the fight.

As for the people in Burgess – well, they were used to strange weather, so paid the odd phenomena no mind.

Jackie blocked whip after whip with her staff, her cloak already shredded from earlier attacks. Her body ached. "Jasmine!" she shouted, countering with a weak stream of frost. "I don't like Jacob in that way! Lay off, will ya?"

The manic glow in her green eyes only became stronger. "Jacob? This isn't just about Jacob. Maybe I just don't like you, Jacqueline! Have you ever thought of that? This world doesn't even need winter!"

Jackie cried out in pain as she failed to block another attack from Jasmine. The whip of water struck her cheek hard, and she collapsed on the ground, breathing heavily. Her white hair hung in front of her eyes, but Jackie didn't care.

"Sweet dreams, Jacqueline," she heard Jasmine whisper before her eyes closed.

-oOoOoOo-

It was dark when Jackie awoke. Her head was still slightly fuzzy as bits and pieces of her fight with Jasmine came back to her. "Oh, Moon," she mumbled as she stood up, remembering her shredded cloak. Jackie sadly touched the fringe, rubbing it between her fingers. It was one of the few things that she owned, and she'd worn that for years!

Jackie gingerly raised her staff and summoned Wind, asking her to bring her north. Phil, she thought woozily. I need to find Phil. Her body screamed in protest as Wind gently lifted her into the air and took her to a place where she could rest and recover.

Santoff Claussen.

-oOoOoOo-

When Jackie arrived, Phil nearly died of a heart attack as he took in her bedraggled appearance – ripped clothing, red welts and dried blood covering her body, and an overall posture of brokenness. He immediately grabbed her skinny arm (choosing to ignore the flinch) and dragged her to the infirmary, instructing the child to stay in the bed as he made her new clothes. But Jackie merely blinked those big blue eyes at him, not understanding.

Phil sighed and ran a paw through the fur on his head, wondering how to tell her to stay still. In the end, he just tucked her under the white sheets, shocked at how small the girl seemed as she meekly lay in the bed, her lids already drooping.

Someday he would get the story out of her. But right now, he felt touched that Jackie went straight to him after being beaten down like that. She trusted him. And Phil knew that she didn't trust just anyone.

He walked down the hall and quietly informed the nearest yeti that Jackie Frost was in the infirmary, asleep and injured, and that she needed medical help straight away. Phil smiled as the yeti immediately nodded and rushed off in the direction of her room. Jackie didn't know it, but everyone looked forward to when she dropped by. She made the monotonous days in the workshop more enjoyable, creating mass "panic" as they worked.

Phil shoved open the doors of the sewing room, glancing around for materials. He wondered what a winter spirit would even like wearing, and if she'd even want something new. Jackie had been wearing the same clothes for a hundred and fifty years. It was possible that she was attached to the clothing. But he decided to make her something durable, something that could last for twice as long as her cloak and tunic.

It was the year 1862, and the design that Phil had in his head wasn't even something that humans had even thought of yet. But they were a bit advanced here in Santoff Claussen.

Phil sat down at the nearest table and stitched pieces of thick blue fabric together. It was something similar to what humans would wear in the cold to keep them warm (which he thought was kind of funny, since Jackie was a winter seasonal). He added a hood for design, and tacked on a pocket in front for fun. When he held it up in front of him for inspection, he thought that it was a bit too large for Jackie's skinny frame, but it would do. Phil even made her a tank top to put underneath – light blue.

Phil made his way back to the infirmary and quietly opened the door. Jackie was still asleep in the bed, her silvery hair almost blending in with the pillow. The yeti he had sent in earlier clearly did his job, as strips of white cloths were wrapped around her injuries. A Band-Aid was on her cheek, where a deep cut was before.

He smiled gently at the sleeping girl. Jackie had a good soul. She still held a childish innocence, but a strong power resting deep inside.

Phil stepped next to her and set down the clothes at the foot of the bed. As he walked away, Jackie called out weakly, "Phil?"

He turned. She was attempting to sit up, clutching her staff, which he had left beside her. "You okay?" he asked.

She didn't answer, but instead glanced at the clothes he had left at her feet. Her blue eyes grew wider as she drank in the sight. "Are . . . are these for me?" Jackie said it like she'd never been given a real present before. For the first time, Phil became irritated with the Guardians. Jackie was a child, too. Her light was on the Globe to prove it. Where were they for her?

Swallowing down his anger, Phil nodded.

Jackie seemed to glow at his answer. "Thank you so much!" she said happily, her energy apparently returning to her battered body. She slowly removed her cloak and (after gesturing mock-angrily for him to turn around) he heard her remove her tunic as well.

"Well?" Jackie said. "How do I look?"

Phil shifted to face the girl, and he grinned proudly. Yes, the hoodie – which was the name he decided to give the article of clothing – was a bit large on her, but it made her look less scrawny than before. He gave her a thumbs-up, and she twirled around cheerfully. Frost designs were already decorating patches of the blue fabric.

"You're amazing!" she sang, happiness clearly showing in her blue eyes. Jackie then carefully hopped over to the window, glancing back at him as she unlatched it.

He nodded, getting what she was asking. Can I leave?

Jackie's smile returning, she waved at him and flung herself out the window.

Jackie's one special girl, Phil thought, watching her form get smaller and smaller as she flew away. It's a shame that no one tried to get to know her.

"NOOOOO!"

Jackie bolted upright, cold rivulets of sweat running down her face. She clutched her staff close, calming back down as its familiar weight registered with her.

"It was just a nightmare," she whispered. But it had seemed so real. It was probably because it was so similar to her real life. Yes, she did have Jacob and Phil, but they were the only people who liked her.

Jackie shuddered as she recalled her dream. It was just like the night she was born. But this time, more and more people kept walking through her, and she didn't know why. It was awful.

But sadly, nightmares were a part of her daily life. Occasionally, she would sleep dreamlessly or be gifted with a beautiful golden dream by the Sandman, but the realm of unconsciousness was a place she definitely feared. Jackie would sometimes go days without sleeping to avoid the terrible dreams, but when exhaustion took over her body – the nightmares would become worse, as if they were trying to punish her from even trying to get rid of them.

Her other dreams consisted of darkness, with a cold, cruel laugh echoing around her. And she dreamed of dying. Jackie wasn't afraid of death itself, but the fact that she would fade without a single human person seeing her.

But her list of fears was only added on to, when she came face-to-face with the Guardians of Childhood and asked to become one of them . . . one-hundred-sixty years later.

Well, here's the end of Interlude II. A bit of warning: updates might slow down a lot after the next chapter, 'cause of . . . y'know, school. I'm gonna be a freshman! I feel so oooooold. :)

Until next time!