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Chapter 3

The Cold Wind

A man with long white beard started sculpturing in ice which Yetis had brought. He cut an ice cube with a chainsaw and worked on the details of his sculpture with little tools. Then he put an ice-train on the rails made by the same material. Satisfied with his work he rested on a chair eating a cookie which Elves had handed him and watched the train as it flew across his work-room, only to get smashed by a Yeti who had just stepped into the room. North groaned with disappointment and so did the Yeti, except he was scared rather than disappointed.

"How many times have I told you to knock?" North said irritated. The Yeti babbled something in his language. "What? The globe…?" North managed to understand his helper's jabber. He took his sword and headed to the lights globe. He made his way through the crowd of Elves towards two Yetis and saw the lights on the globe twinkling.

"What is this?" He whispered with his Russian accent and squinted his eyes.

"Have you checked the axis?" He asked the Yetis. Then the globe was slowly getting covered by a shadow, frightened Elves were running around and hiding where they could. After the shadow had taken over the whole globe it faded into the air. Something flew under their legs making them shiver and formed a shape which flew behind the globe laughing evilly.

"Can it be?" North said watching the shadow disappearing with his blue eyes widened. Then he turned to the Elves. "Make preparations! We're going to have company" He said pushing the lever which caused the globe to glow and send the northern lights around the world to call the Guardians.

It didn't take long for the Guardians to arrive. The first one to come was the Tooth Fairy Toothiana and her little fairies. Next there was E. Aster Bunnymund, of course he couldn't stop himself from complaining about the freezing weather. Finally Sandy showed up and they could start the meeting.

"I know, I know. But obviously I wouldn't call you all unless it was serious" North explained "The Boogeyman was here. At the Pole"

"Pitch? Pitch Black? Here?" Toothiana asked.

"Yes. There was black sand covering the globe" North said gesturing.

"Wait, what do you mean black sand?" Bunny, who has been warming his feet in front of a fireplace interrupted and hopped to them.

"And then a shadow…"

"Hold on, I though you said it was Pitch" The rabbit said confused, painting an Easter egg.

"Err, not exactly" North said rubbing the back of his head.

"Not exactly?" Bunny asked annoyed "Can you believe this guy?" he turned to Sandy, who showed a question mark above his head.

"Look, he's up to something really bad" North said, his voice serious. "I feel it. In my belly"

"Hang on, you called me three days before Easter because of you belly, mate? What if I did this to you before Christmas?!"

"Bunny. Easter is not Christmas" North teased patting Bunny on shoulder.

While Bunnymund and North were quarreling, Sandy did his best to bring their attention. He noticed the moon sending a moonbeam through the hole in the ceiling. He tried to whistle, waved his hands, nothing helped.

"Tooth, can't you see we're trying to argue?" North said as the tooth fairy interrupted them.

"Sorry, not all of us get to work one night a year. Am I right Sandy?" she said. Sandy tried to show them the moonlight but failed again. Then he got an idea. He flew to an Elf and shook him, so the bell on his head would bring the other Guardians' attention. It worked, the Guardians went into silence and looked at the Sandman, who showed the moon-sign above his head and pointed at the hole in the ceiling.

"Ah, Man in Moon!" North noticed the moonlight "Sandy, why didn't you say something?" then he turned back to the moon "It's been a long time, old friend. What's the big news?"

The moonbeams fell onto the floor and showed them a shape of their old enemy.

"It is Pitch" Bunny agreed.

"Manny, what must we do?" North asked. With that, from the floor drew out a crystal that was glowing in the moonlight.

"Guys, you know what it means?" Toothiana said excited.

"He's choosing a new guardian" North nodded.

"What?! Why?" Bunny asked, definitely not liking the idea.

"Must be big deal. Manny thinks we need help"

"Since when do we need help?" The rabbit argued.

"I wonder who it's gonna be!" Tooth said, her little fairies agreed. Sandy showed a clover formed by his golden sand "Maybe a leprechaun?"

"Please not groundhog" Bunny was repeating, praying silently.

"Jack Frost?" North said unbelievingly as the crystal revealed a statue that looked exactly like the mentioned frost sprite.

"I take it back, the groundhog's fine" Bunny said not believing his eyes. "Jack Frost!? He doesn't care about children! What he does is freeze water pipes and mess with my egg-hunts! Why this irresponsible, selfish…"

"Guardian" North kicked in.

"Jack Frost is many thing but he's not a guardian" Bunny crossed his arms. He still remembered that he once saw him with Pitch. What if the boy was helping their enemy?...

It's been a long time since Jack was out. Well, a moth to be exact, but still it was long for him. The whole month of being locked in the dark realm. The warm climate was what he hated the most and that year's April was very warm. He was already running out of ideas, doing the same things over and over made them not that funny anymore. Usually Pitch would have taken him to somewhere colder but the Nightmare King was really busy with some plans. Right now he was out doing no one knows what.

Jack walked through a corridor dragging his staff behind him, freezing the floor. When he didn't have any ideas for fun he would always ice-skate. He enjoyed it and it reminded him something, he just didn't know what. As if it was buried deep inside his memories and was connected to his life. He couldn't understand why he felt that way, maybe it was only because of his connection with ice and snow.

He looked at the now frozen floor, the fire of the torches was reflecting its light on the ice surface. He slid through the corridor and froze the floor to lengthen his ice-path. He got to the throne room and slid around the globe. He always did that little tour around the palace when he was bored. He only had to remember not to go too deep, in case he would get lost. Not really thinking where he was heading he realized that he was on his way toward the stairs. He raised his staff so it wouldn't freeze the floor further. Unfortunately it was too late and braking on ice is not simple, even for a frost sprite. Before Jack could gulp or do anything he was rolling on the stairs. Again. It appeared that the boy wasn't learning on his mistakes.

"Aw, again?" Jack said rubbing his head. New bruises for his collection. "I'd better keep away from the stairs"

"That would be wise" said Pitch who has just teleported back to the lair. "Jack, why do I always have to find you like that when I come back" he sighed and grabbed the boy by his hoodie as to help him to get onto his feet.

"C'mon it's not always" Jack defended himself "Often is not always" he added.

"I'll have to put pillows over the stairs" Pitch said rolling his eyes.

"That's a good idea" Jack laughed. He was expecting Pitch to be angry or lecture him again. Why didn't he? "So, why are you in such a good mood?"

"Ah, my boy, you see, I paid a visit to the precious Guardians and my plan for us to be believed in has just started" Pitch explained and ruffled Jack's hair.

"What's the plan? Can I help?" Jack said. Finally, he was going to be believed in! He waited for this day for about 300 years and finally his dream would come true and he was very desperate to help. Sure, he had Jamie and his younger sister Sophie, but having more people who believed in him would be also amazing.

"Actually, there's one thing you could do, but that's a later stage of my plan. Now, I have to plan my attack on the Tooth Palace" Pitch said. Yes, he had the plans for the boy.

"Can I come with you, please? I am ready, I can fight…"

"Jack, I don't think it's a good idea…"

"Pleasee?" Jack pleaded. Pitch couldn't deny him.

"Maybe. Now, I have a surprise for you"

"Surprise? What kind of surprise? Please tell me, you know I hate waiting. Wait, is that something to do with the plan? Or no, that must be something else... What's it? Please tell me now!" Jack said excited.

"Maybe if you stop talking for a second I will be able to tell you" Pitch said smiling at the boy's enthusiasm.

"Oh, right. Sorry" Jack laughed.

"The climate's finally colder, I think you can…"

"Go outside!" Jack exclaimed and threw himself into Pitch's arms nearly knocking him off his feet. "But it's spring, three days left before Easter, why is it colder?"

"Do I look like a meteorologist? Just use the chance. And remember the rules, Jack. As soon as it gets dark, come back, before The Sandman can see you" Pitch reminded him.

"I know, I know, no worry. Do I look like someone who would break the rules?" Jack asked making puppy-dog-eyes.

"Honestly?" The Nightmare King asked raising an eyebrow. Then he patted the boy's shoulder "Have fun"

"I will" Jack said grinning. Pitch had a bad feeling that this grin might not bring anything good.

…

Jack felt like the happiest person, well, sprite, in the world as he flew through the sky above Burgess. It was already late afternoon, so he didn't have so much time left, but it was enough to play with Jamie. He hasn't seen his best friend for so long time. What if he already forgot about him? He pushed that thought aside and enjoyed his flight as the cold north wind carried him. It was weird that it got so cold just before Easter, but, well, let's leave it to Mother Nature.

He landed on the road, in front of Jamie's house. He heard laughter coming from behind it, the kids were probably playing in the garden. He flew towards it and landed on a fence. He watched as Jamie said goodbye to his friends, they must have just ended playing. The boy raised a ball from the ground and sighed, still not noticing Jack's presence.

"I wish Jack was here" Jamie said to himself.

"Yeah, I wish that too" Jack said from behind him.

"Jack!" Jamie exclaimed and turned to face his best friend. "What are you doing here? It's spring, I thought it is too warm for you and that you've already left with your father to somewhere colder"

"Well, the weather is colder and I missed my best friend. And I don't think we're going to go anywhere this year, my father has some things to do here" Jack explained "Wanna get rid of me?"

"Of course not! I'm so happy to see you" Jamie said and hugged Jack. The sprite was like an older brother to him. "So what are we gonna do? Play football, computer games, basketball…"

"I have a better idea" Jack grinned. He raised his staff and sent a few snowflakes into the sky. At first nothing happened but then they blew up like fireworks making it snow above Jamie's garden. "Snow-ball battle! That never gets old"

They were playing and laughing for a long time until it got colder and Jamie was told to go home. So then they decided to play games. Finally, some real fun after that month spent inside the dark palace. He would have to show Jamie the slide he did few days ago. Of course if there wouldn't be any stairs nearby. He looked through the window and noticed it was already dark, he totally lost the track of time.

"I must go Jamie, see you tomorrow!" He told Jamie who was yawning and barely staying awake.

"Promise?"

"Of course!" Jack assured him and flew through the window. He looked up, it was full-moon. Than he saw a stream of golden sand and took few steps back. "Oh no, the Sandman, I've gotta go" He told himself and went across the road. It wasn't really the best idea to fly, Sandy would simply notice him.

Suddenly he heard a noise. He tightened the grip on his staff and raised it up. He slowly took a few steps forward and looked around nervously. Something was definitely not right. He walked through the alley making sure he made no sound. The he heard the noise again and turned on his heel towards its source.

"Been a long time, mate" He heard the creature leaning against the wall say "Blizzard '68 I believe? Easter Sunday, wasn't it?" From the shadow emerged an over-sized rabbit with a boomerang in his paw.

"Bunny! You're not still mad about that, are you?" Jack asked leaning against his staff and trying to act as if he didn't care about his rival's presence.

"Yes" Bunnymund said darkly and continued "But this is about somethin' else. Fellas"

Hey!" Jack jelled as he was grabbed by his hoodie out of a blue. The large Yetis said something in their language and threw a snow-globe which opened a portal to North Pole.

"Put me down! What the…" Jack never got to finish his sentence as he was tossed into a red bag. It was not going to be good. If only he had listened to Pitch and had returned before the night…

…

Meanwhile, the Nightmare King has just finished the last nightmares-spreading. The last before the battle. He smiled evilly and looked up at the moon. He was already tired of hiding in the shadows, everything was about to change and there was nothing that could stop him Not even the pathetic Man in Moon.

"My Nightmares and Jack are ready, are your Guardians?" he said to the moon with triumphal smile.

Wait… Where is Jack?...

Well, I tried to write the scene that was in the movie, when North calls the guardians and I hope it was good enough. Writing in English is not that hard to me anymore, but listening is a completely other thing. That's why I watch everything in English and I noticed that it sounds way better than it does in Polish XD. Not that I didn't know it before.

I had to skip some parts of their conversation that I didn't hear clearly and didn't want to make a mistake.

I hope you enjoyed it! Please leave me reviews and maybe, I can't promise it, I'll manage to post the next chapter tomorrow.