Mean Seasons 38 Broken Spirit 8

Sandy was trying to get the others attention. It was nothing new, he was actually used to being ignored until he shook an elf to get the attention he needed. Right now was double the urgency, but right now, the other Guardians were preoccupied with watching Pippa lead her dead-eyed brother to the kitchen to force him to eat. Jack had refused anything but soup, and it was beginning to show. He was less skinny and more sickly, and getting more fragile every day. Tooth finally put her foot down and demanded the boy get some actual food in his belly. Unfortunately getting Jack to the kitchen was a task in itself, so Sandy couldn't really blame the others for being so focused.

So the little Man descided to act out on his own, and flew on his cloud towards Burgess.

Jack's first believer deserved an update, and maybe, just maybe, the ancient Guardian could convince the child that he was needed by the Winter Spirit.

ROTG

Pippa giggled as Jack sniffed the turkey leg suspiciously, then licked it and coughed. He tried to put it down, but she wouldn't let him.

So he threw it.

Pippa sighed. Jack had been throwing mini tantrums lately, and while this was somewhat encouraging, it was slightly discouraging as well. The little season slapped him, and he whimpered, cringing away from her and shaking his head, clacking his teeth pitifully in the gesture she had come to learn meant I'm Sorry. Don't hurt me.

She retrieved his turkey and said simply. "Eat it, Jackie."

Not wanting her to smack him again, Jack complied, forcing the food down until only the bone was left. Pippa giggled and pat his back. "Good job!"

"Pippa?" Tooth said from the next room "Pippa honey, bring Jack here, we have a suprize for him!"

Excited, the little season hurried her brother to the next room, and was delighted to see Jack's first believer sitting on the sofa next to the fire. Her brother didn't look at much, and sat down on the floor, curling into himself.

Jamie was saddened at this, but didn't let it show. Knealing, he forced Jack to look at him, and said forcibly.

"Jack. I see you."

At this small phrase, the eyes went wide. Jack shook himself, and focused on the boy's face. The Guardians and Pippa watched awestruck as a change overtook Jack Frost. He shuddered, closing his eyes. When they opened, the color hadn't changed, but there was a tiny bit of light in them again. He reached out and brushed his hands against Jamie's face, then his mouth turned into a small smile of recognition. Finally, he took a weak breath, opened his mouth, and uttered his first word in a month and three days.

"Jamie..."

The voice was hoarse. The tone soft. But it didn't matter to any of the onlookers. Overcome with happiness, Jamie threw his arms around the winter spirit, laghing in relief and joy.

"JACK!" he squealed, "I knew you were in there somewhere I just knew it! Oh Jack..."

"Is much improvement! Good boy, Jamie!" North bellowed. Tooth was so happy she joined the hug the boy had started, having to compete with Pippa for hugging room. Everyone seemed exstatic, even Bunny, who laughed heartily at the bewildered face of the piled-on winter spirit.

"Awe isn't this adorable!" A voice cut through the merth, sending Jack into threatened mode as he stood, gnashing his teeth and growling.

The speaker sent redhot vines out that wrapped Jamie in a tight embrace and threw him into the wall. The child growled, groaned, and stood, whirling around everywhere for the enemy. Jack jumped in front of the boy, looking a lot like a threatened wolf, his body crouched low, and his teeth bared, fingers curled like claws as his eyes searched the shadows. The rest of the Guardians were in attack mode as well.

No one was prepaired for what happened next.

The vines whipped out again, snaring Pippa this time, and burning her before throwing the little girl into the ceiling, then into the floor with a sickening thud. Suddenly, everything stopped as a scream filled the air. Everyone's attention was drawn to the winter spirit, and held there, watching. Jack was screaming, he was screaming as if his very soul was being ripped out of him. Suddenly, he fell to the ground, moaning, yelling, and crying out, hoilding his head tightly.

The whips continued their assault on the little season, and with each blow she received, Jack reacted. Suddenly the wielder seemed to get bord and just whipped the poor girl mercilessly.

Suddenly, cold fingers grabbed the whip, and everyone looked up in surprise, then horror, and for Jamie...fear.

Jack Frost stood there, glacier eyes sparkling with ice-cold, malicious intent and cruelty. His face was twisted in a sadistic grin, and an ice crown had formed on his head. His voice was that of the storm, and the tone was just as frigid.

North pulled Jamie close to him to protect the boy, who looked up for an explination. The burly man just stepped back and whispered hoarsely

"The Winter King...has returned."

The Wind blew in the window, bringing with it a light blizzard. Jack yanked on the vines, pulling Summer into the room and glaring with his merciless stare at the older season.

"You fool." He sneered, whipping her around with his icy wind, slamming her to the ground. "You like what you see?!" He yanked her to him and blew flurries in her mouth, nearly choking her with snow and cutting her cheek with the ice shards. He then formed a snow whip and beat her several times with it, enough to weaken herwith the cold. He used one of the whips to draw her face to face with him, then smiled wickedly before violently backhanding her twice, the impact throwing her to the ground several meters away. He whipped the Wind around her, then flung her once again into his icy grip.

Throwing her down again, he froze her limbs to the ground with permafrost shackles, then crafted a long ice dagger. Licking it with sadistic flare, he slowly walked towards her.

Summer panicked This was not what she wanted at all! "N...now Jack...can't we talk about this? Season to Season?"

"You have lost your chance to talk." Came the snarl that froze her blood. "It's time for an execution."

He dropped to his knees above her throat, his arm raised to end her for good.

"Stop my Winter!"

The dagger arm was suddenly grabbed, and he was hugged from behind, a voice murmuring in his ear soothingly "Hush now my Winter. Quell your storm. Sleep now, lonely Guardian...let your mind and body be restored."

He slumped in her arms, his breathing steady. The Wind and chill calmed themselves, and everyone, iincluding Summer, gave a sigh of relief. Mother Nature smiled at North, gesturing him to remove the slumbering boy.

"Take care of him North." She said sweetly, "Autumn as well. Do not worry about Summer." Her eyes grew hard. "She will no longer be a problem."

The Guardian smiled and gently removed the winter youth, thanking the woman profusely. Mother smiled at him as he left, then turned to her rebellious daughter.

"You will be releaved of your duties, Suzie." She said with regret and anger. You disobeyed my orders, you willingly nearly brought an imbalance, and you attacked Autumn, who since she is new, does not have the skills yet to defend herself!"

"But Mother!"

"NO!" Lightning struck the girl, causing her to yelp and fall silent "I will not listen to the whinings of a spirit who has no respect or love for either her siblings, nor the delicate balance I have set! You have gone too far, and nearly harmed a mortal on top of it! No more!"

Lightning struck the girl, stripping her of her powers.

"Now begone! I have much work to do. Go!"

Suzie turned and fled, crying and screaming in sorrow. She was then swallowed by a pit of black, and Mother Nature smiled to herself.

Her father was so reliable.

Now, she was hoping that Odin would agree with her and MiM's backup plan to keep the balance...