Endless plains of pure dazzling white stretched out before him, meeting the grey horizon, untarnished, calling him onwards with comforting promises of fun that urged him to hasten his speed on the wind. An icy chill tore through him, unbearable for most but soothing against the frost spirit's already cold skin. Anticipation tingled down his spine as his thoughts drifted to his destination.

It had been many years now since he had first started this personal mission but no matter how many times he failed, how many times he was thrown back and torn down, he would eventually get into Santa's workshop. If only the yetis weren't so vigilant.

This time he didn't have much of a plan so much as boredom that he wanted to eradicate and what better than antagonising yetis to alleviate that need. The wind whizzed past him, for once not carrying the heavy snowfall that wouldn't be uncommon in this area, not warning of his coming. He couldn't wait. He closed his eyes, relishing the icy air and the freedom that took over, letting him forget his troubles and the voices and angry faces of the other seasonals, subconsciously rubbing his forearm gingerly.

However, he had not had too much work recently. Yes, he was still head of winter and therefore had to oversee its cover and spread most of it himself, but he had been holding back for almost a year now. Something was happening in the mortal world. A darkness was spreading, creeping out across the land, fear growing like a skulking vine snaking along in the shadows, gradually braving the light only to pull it too into the dark. Whatever was going on, Jack wasn't entirely sure yet. War, there had been whispers of, but what scale, the sheer magnitude of fear that was spreading made Jack wonder what sort of war this was going to be. He still spread his season, soft snow that brought joy to children's eyes where it was most needed, so that they could grin and laugh and play and forget the morbid atmosphere that was descending across the globe. As a result though, he had been holding back any blizzards, not willing to cause something to increase the large death toll when lives were already being taken so savagely.

"Jack!" The call ripped him from his thoughts and made him jump at the fact there was another person here, let alone a spirit- which it must have been to be able to see him. He twisted to look beside him and was surprised to see the beaming face and bright brown eyes of an autumn spirit speeding along beside him.

"May," he exclaimed in surprise, almost stopping mid air to face her but at the speed they were both going opted to slow his pace slightly. She laughed at his expression- apparently he was more than surprised to see her. Who could blame him, though? He had rarely seen her since they had first met, so many years ago it seemed now, each interval between her appearances felt longer and more torturous, so desperate for some contact that for once did not involve harsh words and clenched fists.

That was strange. Since when had he begun to anticipate her visits? Expect them? Was he already putting any faith in this stranger?

"What are you doing?" she asked, the gleam in her eyes already anticipating the fun that always followed Jack like the blizzard follows the wind, and snapping Jack out of his confusing thoughts

"What am I doing?" Jack asked flabbergasted, staring at May as though she was a ghost, which in some cases she was. "What are you doing here?"

"I can go wherever I want in my off-season," She scoffed with a roll of her mahogany eyes, "I thought I could catch up to you for a visit." There was no way she had just 'stopped by' all the way out in the tundra. Her gaze turned wary and he narrowed his eyes as she hesitated.

"And I wanted to make sure you were alright," she admitted, biting her lip.

"Why wouldn't I be alright?" Jack asked lightly, trying to not make his tone defensive.

"I happened to overhear that some spirits had ran into you and I know how friendly they can be when it concerns you," she said plainly, "I wanted to make sure you were okay after the encounter." She obviously avoided stating exactly how the other spirits really treated him but he was grateful for it. He didn't need reminding or want anyone pitying him.

"So, are you?" She pressed.

"I'm fine," he answered truthfully. It honestly hadn't been that bad this time. He had managed to escape with only a minor burn on his arm. Maybe the dark atmosphere had slowed them down too. She raised a sceptical eyebrow but made no further comment and again he was grateful for her understanding.

"Anyway, where are we going?" she asked, voice turning light again.

He frowned at her, "We?"

She rolled her eyes again, as though it was ridiculous to think that she wasn't tagging along. The temperature was gradually dropping the further they travelled, icy wind buffeting around them, not hindering their racing speed. It only made concern spawn as he noticed the frigid air.

"May," he said slowly and deep brown eyes fixed on him, "You can't come with me." At her offended and hurt expression he hurriedly explained, "It's too cold." Already he was surprised that she had insisted on coming along this far. Why was she willing to tolerate this level of cold with him of all people when she could be with her own season, among the environment that she was comfortable in with her fellow autumn spirits, her family as Jack recalled her saying last time they had met. For some reason he felt that if anything were to happen to May, he would never be able to get over the guilt despite still barely knowing the girl. It was easier to keep distanced. Loss was hard but so was betrayal. This girl would get bored of him soon, like a child after Christmas, they may last a few weeks, months even, but eventually they grow uninterested and fix their sights on a newer model. Jack was already so obsolete he didn't hold any value at all.

She grinned roguishly at him, a playful glint in her eyes.

"I love the cold!" She yelled into the wind, twirling like a corkscrew in the air beside him, grin growing wider, mood not dampened at all by the chill in the air. He couldn't help but smile along with her. There was no getting rid of her so he consented to them both going together. He was growing used to the friendly company. Even if he knew it would end, that didn't mean he could appreciate it while it was here.

Unable to contain the small laugh that bubbled from him, he was swept up with her joyful actions and couldn't help himself joining in. Who was he to deny fun? Pressing his arms closer to his side, he increased his speed, rushing on and pulling ahead of May. She grinned and sped after him, keeping up. They raced beside each other, each drawing ahead by a few metres before the other would catch up once more.

"You never answered my question," she shouted over the roaring of the wind and they slowed back to their steady pace, "Where are we going?"

Jack shrugged, growing a bit embarrassed to admit his plans. He didn't know what she would think and was still cautious when dealing with his new- and only- friend. No, that still didn't exactly feel right after so many solitary years. He had a friend? The thought was so absurd he almost laughed out loud if not for the fear that his unusual behaviour could scare her off.

"The North Pole," he sighed resignedly. She had insisted on coming, she may as well find out where it actually was that they were heading. "We're…well, I, have been trying to enter there for a while but the yetis always seem to be one step ahead and I thought I may as well give it another go since I have a bit of free time."

"So this is a break in?" she asked sceptically.

"I see it more as a mission," he corrected, suddenly self-conscious on how it sounded. Was he just proving that he was exactly as the other spirits described him?

"A Heist," May offered, and then smirked with that same glint in her eyes, "The North Pole heist."

Jack smirked at the name and couldn't help joining in her jubilant spinning. More elated at the fact she hadn't mocked him or bullied him at the sound of his plans but that she was joining in, helping even. Was she just as crazy as he was?

"Come on then," she grinned, "What are we waiting for?"

She sped up once more and he unleashed more of the wind around them, urging her to carry him faster. She laughed as he overtook her once more, the ringing sound echoing against the empty glaciers. Then he felt a small pressure as suddenly she jumped upon his back, left foot between his shoulder blades, right pressed to the small of his back. He could hear her giggle even as the wind whipped around him and couldn't help as it reached him to swerve between the glaciers spontaneously, hearing the laugh magnify as it bounced off walls of ice, before soaring back up to the clear untouched sky, May surfing the wind on his back the whole way, light as the autumn leaves that he hardly felt her presence.

Jack turned his head to peek at her. She was standing tall, arms slightly out to the side to keep her balance, smiling into the wind, mahogany eyes full and bright with the freedom of the wind, hair flying out behind her, glinting between a copper red and a light brown, oblivious to his watching eyes which is what made the look all the more real.

He couldn't help but feel privileged and for once relaxed with another spirit, just two children having fun- for that is all they really were when they were allowed to be themselves- causing mischief and having fun like they were supposed to.

"Jack," she called his attention, the white sweeping past so far below them, nearly a blur of pure white that was not polluted yet by man and most untouched from unwelcome feet and prying eyes eager for exploits. They were so far from the first traces of humans that it, for once, did not matter that he was invisible to mortal eyes, there was no one there to see and that was so much better than being surrounded by people who didn't know he was even there. Being invisible on your own is better than being invisible amongst people.

"Jack," He shook out of his thoughts and finally turned to look at his back where May was waiting patiently, still skilfully balanced in her stance but expression curious.

"What's that down there?" She asked over the rushing of the wind, pointing down to the snowy landscape below them to something that lay a short way out of their path.

It wasn't hard for Jack to spot what she was indicating. A smudge of black obscured the before unblemished canvas like an ink stain on paper.

Jack shrugged feeling her foot shift with the movement of his shoulders, scanning the large mass with calculating cerulean eyes. Curiosity urged him onwards, enticing him to take a look and it was difficult to refuse.

"Hold on tight," he informed her over his shoulder, sight never leaving the black form that had grabbed their attention. Without warning he spun chaotically into a dive, the wind buffeting him as he twisted downwards. Bubbling laughter filled his ears once more by the ride and he felt May lean far back in her stance so that she was almost parallel to him to keep her balance, feet never shifting from their position. The land grew towards them, rushing up to them menacingly in a way that promised to break bones at the swiftness of their descent.

At the last second before they collided with the threatening expanse of white, Jack pulled out of the dive, the Wind catching them lightly in a cool grip before dumping them both onto the ground, the soft crunch of snow breaking the silence around them. The Wind's aim being as true as ever, they had been placed right in the centre of the black smudge that they had spotted from so high above.

"Penguins?" May frowned, squirming around at the numerous black and white animals that shuffled around them, squawking alarmingly at their sudden entrance. Small accusing eyes fixed on the two spirits as feathers were ruffled indignantly and a few irritated nips from sharp beaks greeted them. A few of the more curious, adventurous young edged closer to them, steadily growing in confidence the longer in their presence that they appeared to be no threat. Jack couldn't help the laugh that escaped him from the characteristic animals that surrounded them.

"You know what this means?" she asked him, her voice turning serious even as a few of the youngest that still sprouted tufts of soft grey feathers began clamber over them, screeching in their ears and pulling at their clothes.

"Um…"

"We're in the South Pole," she said exasperatedly, "Jack, you idiot, you directed us to the wrong Pole." Jack ducked his head sheepishly. He had been called an idiot many times but this time it didn't sound insulting and held no malice but a fond joking manner and he found it wasn't as offending as it was from another spirit.

"Oh…" he bit his lip at the mistake. He had forgotten that he had been around the southern hemisphere when he had decided to retry his many break in attempts and when May had arrived he had been too caught up and entranced by the liberty as they were both together playing in the air to realise his mistake or change his course. In his defence, May hadn't noticed either.

He leapt suddenly to his bare feet, displacing the few penguins that had ventured to his knees and been attempting to scale his shoulders. "North Pole heist take two!" he declared, not letting his mood be dampened when he knew he only had solitude once more when this was over.

"We can just see this as a detour," May suggested conspiringly, mischief lighting her pale feature as an idea formed, the light of the metaphorical light bulb almost visible in the glow of her hair in the pale wisps of light from the rising sun. "…to pick up reinforcements." She cast a thoughtful glance around their crowd and Jack's face brightened as the cunning blue eyes narrowed and a smirk crossed his lips.

"Yes!" he whispered, looking down at the beady eyes of the young that were still watching him curiously since they had been displaced. This was going to be the best scheme to enter the workshop in a long time; even if it didn't work the reactions would be far better than he had ever managed before.

The yetis never knew what hit them.

Jack's eyes shot open as he sprung upright, sight met with grey fur that had him leaping back with a yelp of shock, kicking out instinctively.

"Calm down Jack," Bunny's voice reached him and he finally linked the voice to the grey fur that had moved back to form the large anthropomorphic rabbit, calming his racing heart, that throbbed in time with his pounding head, and gasping shallowly as the adrenalin fuelled shock wore off. "Bloody hell, mate. Are you always this jumpy when you wake up?"

"I am when I wake up to people in my faces," Jack quipped, relaxing his tense muscles that had prepared for action that was not needed, hiding the wince as his ribs shifted out of their stiff posture. His eyes flicked behind Bunny, taking note of the Guardians once more gathered around him, watching with concern. He hated people looking at him like that, like he was weak. He was far from weak, how else would he have survived three hundred years? She never looked at him as though he were inferior, and with that thought he looked back down at his knees, not allowing the Guardians to see his eyes as though they would be able to see into his mind and read his emotions through them, eyes are windows to the soul, she had quoted one day. He eagerly searched for a distraction. "Do you always wake people like this?"

From Bunny's close proximity and the expectant worried look clouding the Guardians faces, Jack assumed that Bunny may have been trying to show them, or at least see for himself, his injuries. Tooth and North had the decency to look a bit sheepish at the lack of privacy they were showing him and backed away a few steps. Sandy's golden face was creased with worry still and Bunny seemed unperturbed at Jack's words. Jack shuffled under the attention, watching them warily, reading the tension in their stances and expressions for any indication as what they were thinking or planning, a habit that he had long since developed in his first few decades when dealing with unfamiliar spirits.

"Y'were muttering and twitching in yer sleep," Bunny told him emotionlessly and Jack suddenly forgot about the lack of personal space and stiffened.

"I-I didn't say anything, did I?" he asked hesitantly.

"Nothing we could make out," Bunny replied curiously, "Why? You weren't having a nightmare, Jack, were you?" There was the faintest trace of concern in his voice.

"No," Jack shot back quickly but Bunny ploughed on, ignoring his denial.

"-'cause if you are Sandy can always give you some dream sand," Bunny continued and Sandy willingly produced a sphere of golden dream sand. At the sight of the glowing sand, Jack's eyes widened, mind flashing back to the sphere that the winter spirit had held except icy blue instead of a burning gold. The miniscule reaction was all that indicated the raging thoughts hidden within his mind but the thought of the offer of golden dreams controlled by sand made him panic more.

"No!" he shouted before he could stop himself and immediately realised his mistake, and internally cursed himself at the taken aback expressions of the Guardians. He took a shallow breath and lowered his voice, "I mean, no," he kept his tone light and as close to normal as he could manage, "I-it's fine. Thanks but it's not nightmares or anything bad like that…it's good." He paused at what he had said; not registering that it was his own words. Was that what it was? He had no idea why these memories he had tried so hard to suppress were coming back to him so strongly now but there was no way that he wanted to let them go now. He was terrified of what they were leading to but he realised that what he said was true, it was heartening being wrapped in blissful times every time he closed his eyes and released from the horror of his life. He allowed a small reminiscent smile curl his lips. "Yeah, it's good," he confirmed.

Jack's eyes became misted and far away, staring blankly over the other side of the room, but focused entirely on the past. That had been one of his favourite memories and he was unable to prevent the wistful smile that covered his face. A small part of him wanted to tell the Guardians but they wouldn't understand, couldn't understand, and he wasn't ready for them to yet.

Once, he had brought it up with Phil, back when he had first been properly welcomed to the Guardians, after they had defeated Pitch (for good they had though at the time, now he could laugh at their naivety, when was life ever that easy?) and he found himself separated from the celebrating group with the large yeti standing nearby. He had only to mention one word to earn the reaction that his trouble maker self had yearned for, any attention, good or bad, as long as it was entertaining and broke him from the hold of his thoughts.

"Penguins," that's all he had to say, that one word and Phil had nearly dropped what he had been carrying, stiffening at the traumatic memory awoken at the simple word. As the memory surface of the flying bodies of black and white and the carnage that had ensued, two spirits laughing over head as the shrieking yetis were brought to hysterics as they frantically tried to control the chaotic birds that were too daring for their own good, Phil had let out a garbled yelp, and Jack was sure beneath the huge mass of fur the yeti had become a deep shade of red, muttering strange grunts that Jack could only assume were reprimands for that frightful day.

The amusement had not lasted long for Jack as memories of his own were stirred like a harmful animal that was awakening a slumber that he wrestled to lull back to sleep, postponing it until he could deal with it in private, could break down secretly. They had hastily agreed never to bring it up again.

"So?" Jack said loudly in an effort to shift the attention from himself, "Don't we need to discuss about last night?"

"Yes, we do," Bunny said testily, glaring down at Jack who squirmed uncomfortably under the look, "We need ta talk about bein' honest with our friends an' admit when we are hurt, especially when going out into a battle when that could have disastrous effects, not only on that person but the rest of the group too."

Jack flinched at the implication that he could have ended up hurting the rest of the Guardians had he not been able to fight back under the weight of his injuries. They were the closest he had to a family now and he couldn't bear to lose any of them- not even Bunny- or have anything bad happen to them because of him. He wouldn't be able to live with himself. Especially not after…

"That's great and all," Jack retorted with his usual cocky disarming smirk, forcing down the memories which he did not wish to remember yet, only delaying it before the blow finally came, "But I was more thinking about our Pitch problem."

Bunny scowled at Jack's apparent lack of care but North interrupted before he could start an argument which would unavoidably turn into a shouting match.

"He is right," North boomed in a voice that clearly told Bunny to leave it for now and warning Jack that he hadn't avoided anything, "We should find plan for Pitch and his nightmares and find out how he was able to come to power so quickly."

"Yeah, especially how we made a right fool of ourselves last night," The Pooka warrior grumbled, "Runnin' away like cowards."

"Bunny," Tooth chided, "We should just be grateful that no one was hurt."

"Yeah, any more hurt ya mean," he corrected coolly with a glance at Jack who was still huddled in his seat.

"Bunny," Tooth hissed with a nod towards the winter spirit who gave the decency of pretending he was unaware of their conversation. With muttered words under his breath that were too low for any of them to hear, Bunny turned away accepting the hints to drop the subject for now.

The Guardians shuffled around the room to stand in an informal circle around the fire. Jack stood from his seat but moved no further, not too comfortable with the heat of the flames, and watched the Guardians talking, adding an input where he had one.

"He could be back in his lair," Jack suggested.

"No, he would not be stupid enough to remain there when he already knows that we are looking for him," North brushed off immediately.

"Oh," Jack's face fell; disappointed he hadn't been able to help.

"Hang on," Bunny frowned, "How do you know about Pitch's lair?"

"Oh," Jack said again, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, wincing as he brushed the bruises around his throat. That didn't go unnoticed by Tooth who gazed sympathetically at him. "Well, I…er…just know, you know." Jack struggled. He was yet to tell them about the Easter circumstance and everything that really happened on that day. For some reason, today didn't seem like the right time, as he had told himself every other time that the conversation had led towards that. Bunny clearly didn't believe him if the sceptical look he was receiving was anything to go by but Sandy came to the rescue once again.

A small globe appeared above the golden man's head with crosses marked on numerous continents like the markings on a treasure map.

"Sandy's right," Tooth chimed in, "Pitch could have many lairs all over the world. There's no telling where he could be and it would take too long to find them."

Golden sand sparked the air once more as The Sandman again formed a globe in mid air but this time with glowing dots that covered nearly every land mass to represent the globe of belief. Then some of the light flickered noticeably.

"We can't just wait for Pitch to strike again," Bunny argued, "We don't know how long we could be waitin' or what he could manage in that time. I say we strike now an' strike hard. That'll take him by surprise."

"Yes but we don't know where he is," Tooth pointed out patiently. And so the discussion had turned a complete circle and they were back at the beginning.

Jack lulled into a sense of safety at the arguing and debating voices of the Guardians, smiling fondly when Bunny became too heated in his own opinion, Tooth's well placed words to calm the situation again, North's booming voice that was like thunder against the silence of the rest of the large room and Sandy's calm aura from the constant pulsing golden light he always emitted, just as content as Jack was to watch friends bickering and reasoning together.

A numb feeling filled Jack's mind as he watched, steadily soothing him in to blissful serenity that washed over him in waves of hollowness. He embraced it, taking comfort in the lack of pain and feeling, watching his family around the glowing embers of the fire. Then he shivered and Jack knew that something was horribly wrong.

He had allowed him to be numbed into a false sense of security like snake venom paralysing the prey, leaving them unaware and vulnerable to the inevitable attack. He focused on the cold feeling and realised it was emanating from somewhere. Instinctively, Jack's hand flew to his chest, checking that he was still there, alive, breathing, but his movements felt sluggish, his left arm weighted down by something.

He hesitantly raised the limb, examining it with a raw sickening interest before the reality hit him like an icy blast. He brushed the fingers of his right hand over his left and they curled back against the cold skin that it was met with.

"Er…guys?" Jack called quietly, too engrossed in the sight of his left hand to look at any of them or see if they had heard him. Evidently they hadn't.

"All I'm saying is we strike hard and take 'im down for good this time," Bunny fumed.

"That's all well and good," Tooth countered, trying to calm the raging Bunny with her soothing voice, "But sometimes the offence isn't always the way forward."

"I'll offence him off his high horse," Bunny muttered angrily under his breath, paws clenching into fists at his side.

"Guys?" Jack called again after realising that he had no response, only raising his voice a fraction above before. Sandy turned a concerned eye on the boy, frowning at the sight of him transfixed on his raised hand, a look of shock and terror in his innocent eyes.

"That doesn't even make any sense," Tooth groaned exasperatedly at Bunny, taking the violent Pooka's words with an eye roll.

A loud bang knocked the Guardians out of their argument and they turned to Sandy who had bashed one of the mugs that had been left out from last night heavily onto the hard wooden table.

"Sandy be careful with that, da?" North scolded, eyeing the mug for any cracks that were visible from the strike. Sandy only fumed, golden sand erupting from his ears as he thrust an angry hand in Jack's direction and the rest of the Guardians finally turned to their winter spirit who was still staring at his left hand before his face as though disbelieving what was attached to the end of his arm.

"Jack?" Tooth asked carefully, "What is it?"

The boy didn't look up or acknowledge her words in any way which only worried the Guardians more. They slowly edged closer as though approaching a spooked animal, eyes flicking around him to try to find a sign for what was causing the winter spirit's reaction.

Then Jack slowly held the hand he had been staring at out to them and they recoiled in shock.

His normally pale skin was almost ghostly white but that wasn't the main problem. From his fingertips to the base of his wrist was smooth and shiny, flashing the amber light of the fire as it was encased in a thin layer of clear ice, from his wrist it melted into frost that coated his skin with glistening white frost crystals burning into his flesh, reaching out to the still untouched skin just beyond.

"Did you do that, mate?" Bunny asked, trying to keep the panic out of his voice as he scanned the ice covering his left hand, hoping that this was some sick joke of the winter prankster's or at the very most something natural to seasonal spirits that could easily be fixed.

Jack just shook his head blankly, eyes never leaving the frozen appendage, face expressionless.

"Jack, sweetie," Tooth asked worriedly, eyes sparkling with tears, "What is it? What's happening?"

Jack spoke in a hoarse voice, so small that they unconsciously leaned in to hear him.

"I'm icing over."

That was Chapter 7! Hoped you enjoyed it and May's appearance again, hopefully she comes across okay but I wanted to put a bit of a light-hearted scene and had a funny idea of penguins in the North Pole. Sorry if it came across as a bit ridiculous but I hope you enjoyed it all the same. This memory is about 1915, hence the slight mention of the war at the beginning of the chapter memory.

Thanks again to all who read, reviewed, favourited and followed. Wow! 83 followers and 50 favourites, not to mention the reviews. It's amazing, I never would have though that many people would be interested so thank you! Please review, I love knowing what you guys think and really appreciate any words you may have or any advice or ideas. Hopefully will be able to complete this story soon so I can focus more on editing and update quicker. Hope this was okay.

Thanks.