Author's Note: Hello everyone and welcome back to "The Winter Child!" =D As I mentioned before in the last chapter, this chap dives into Jack's first flight!
Well...less of a flight and more like floating around and crashing into stuff but...still a flight nonetheless! XD I hope you guys enjoy it. =)
~ XIX ~
He Can Bloody Fly!
What a surprise it was to see
Jack flying around the house
As if he were a bee
...
Oh, how he loathed homework. And loathed wasn't even strong enough of an adjective to describe how much Jack disliked it.
The winter child sighed for about the hundredth time that day, loudly and dramatically so Sandy and Aster could blatantly see how discouraged he was. He didn't elicit a visible reaction out of the two, which only made Jack feel more contentious. The Sandman and Pooka were both watching him while North was out with Ombric. The old wizard was working on a new spell of some sort, and though Jack had listened in on the conversation, he couldn't grasp what the enchantment was supposed to do. Something about…flying chairs? Jack had been eavesdropping through his bedroom door, and the adults had been talking downstairs. Perhaps he had misheard something. He frankly didn't know.
Whatever this new enchantment was, it require a hefty amount of work. Ombric couldn't perform it on his own (and there had been quite a few hiccups during his attempts of perfecting int. One being Big Root shrinking to the size of a morsel, which was reversed minutes later). So, to help him in perfecting this new spell—and make sure Ombric didn't end up hurting himself in the process—North helpful offered to partner with the old man in the refining of this charm.
Jack wanted to come along to see Katherine. The two had become fast friends, and they always looked forward to seeing each other. Katherine had recently been writing a book, so she hadn't been available to play often. She still pushed time aside to join Jack and the other village children in their games, and Jack hoped she would be available to play. Unfortunately, he had schoolwork to do, which North reminded him about after he had requested to join him.
And so, here Jack was. sSuck. Trapped. Confined at the kitchen table with Sandy and Aster, who had had quite enough of Jack's incessant complaining. They were trying their best to assist him, but the little boy was adamant about not solving a single equation or simply not completing the assignment at all. "It's too hard!" Jack whined, shoving the papers away. "I'll never understand this!"
"Mate, ya haven't even solved a single question by yerself," Aster frowned, tipping his reading glasses. "Sandy and I have been doin' all the work. Ya need ta put in yer own share of effort too, ya know."
Jack scowled. "But it's so boooooring," he drawled, flopping on the table like a wet sock. "And besides, it isn't due until tomorrow. Can I go play?"
"Not until ya finish this," Aster said firmly. Jack sat up again, his blue eyes drilling into Aster's green ones, challenging him. In the end, the winter child lost, and he sighed, picking up his pencil again.
"Fineeeeee," said Jack. He huffed. "What's next?"
The given assignment was a list of math problems requiring different approaches that Jack had learned in class. Mathematics was the subject that Jack was having the most trouble in. Compared to the rest of his grades, it was rather low. Multiplication, division, fractions, and decimals all swirled around the boy's head like a chaotic hurricane. He didn't understand them, at least not yet. The Guardians knew that he'd eventually figure them out in time.
Despite his reluctance into completing the assignment, Jack followed along with Aster and Sandy as they guided him through it. They were patient with the boy, knowing that Jack was trying his hardest to comprehend the problems, even though he didn't act like it. He listened as they explained how each problem was structured and what steps he should take into solving them. Sandy even used his dreamland to illustrate some of the word problems. He and Aster would wait until Jack completed one, and they'd check it to see if he got it correct or not. If it was wrong, they'd walk through the equation again until Jack managed to get it right. And when Jack got an answer correct, he beamed as bright as the Moon. He soon began understanding the material, making Aster and Sandy feel proud.
After completing problem ten, Jack set down his pencil and asked, "Could I take a break? My brain is fried."
Sandy smiled in amusement and Aster shook his head. "Alright, but be back down here in fifteen minutes, okay?"
"Okay!" Jack leapt out of his chair and bolted upstairs, sending the homework sheets fluttering to the floor. He didn't turn around or look back. As Aster bent down to pick them up, he mumbled, "Crikey, that kid has energy."
Sandy nodded in solid agreement.
…
Upon entering his bedroom, Jack raced for his toys, pulling out his favorites and those he hadn't touched in a while. It felt like years since he had gotten to play with his trains, blocks, or even Wawa, but it had only been about an hour since he, Aster, and Sandy started the homework. Jack shook his head, shoving all thoughts on schoolwork aside, and allowed his six-year-old imagination to whisk him away onto another adventure. Suddenly, he was the driver of a flying train that specialized in carrying magical items for cargo. Gemstones. Magic wands. Potions. His bed was the engine, and his closet was the caboose. And but of course, Wawa was his helpful engineer.
After a few minutes of playing, Jack was drawn to the window. Winter had blanketed Santoff Claussen with her glory, and Jack couldn't have felt any more thrilled. He set Wawa down and walked to the window, fiddling with the latch until it flew open. The Wind swirled around him—her form of a hug, and Jack laughed, welcoming the snowflakes that she brought in her wake.
"Hi, Wind," greeted Jack. The spirit of air whistled a hello. "It looks really nice outside today!"
The Wind laced around the room and rolled back outside. She appeared again, this time brushing Jack's hand. He smiled.
"I'd love to come out and play but…" He pouted. "I have homework. And I can't go outside until it's done."
Wind moaned.
"Yeah," Jack frowned. "I wish I could come out now too. But I promise we'll play later, okay?"
The Wind was cheered and she wrapped around Jack, ruffling his hair as a mother would to her son. Jack giggled, but his laughter turned into a gasp when the Wind suddenly lifted him off the ground and plopped him onto his bed. Jack blinked, stunned. His hair was a tousled mess.
"H-How…How did I do that?" Jack asked himself. He looked around, wondering if what just had happened was nothing but a hallucination or a dream. "Did…Did I just fly?" Jack did remember Aster mentioning that some snow sprites shared a special connection with the Wind. Flying, however, was an ability that not all winter beings possessed. It was a rare gift, and Jack knew that he could understand and feel the Wind…But flying? Why he didn't think he could fly!
But not that he could…
Jack smiled. And then he began to laugh. "I can fly!" he proclaimed. The Wind pushed him lightly as if to say that he always could.
"Can you do it again?" the winter child asked. And so the Wind lifted him into the air. Jack felt as light as a feather and as free as a bird. The boy relished every moment she juggled him in the air and circled him around the room. Jack spread his hands out, soaring through his bedroom. "Weeee—!"
BAM!
Jack cried out when he crashed into the wall. He rubbed his nose, frowning. The Wind pulled him back, whispering an apology.
"It's okay, Wind," said Jack. The young snow sprite was smiling. He crashed into the walls a few more times after that, but he was so happy that he could fly! He could take Katherine out on that flight he had promised her, or accompany Tooth on her daily rounds! Jack grinned. "This is amazing!"
He crashed into the bookshelf. A few books toppled down from their places. Jack rubbed his forehead.
"Whoops," he said. The Wind fluted sheepishly.
…
Sandy and Aster were unaware of what was taking place in Jack's room. But when the sounds of laughing, crashing, and thudding began to ring through the house, Aster decided to head upstairs and investigate. Sandy stayed behind, preparing Jack's things so when Aster brought him down, they could return to his homework.
As Aster walked up the stairs, he wondered what crazy game Jack had come up wih that involved so much noise. When he reached the boy's bedroom and opened it, he found what he most definitely wasn't expecting.
Jack was flying—flying!—around the bedroom. The window was open, allowing the winter Wind to blow through the bedroom. It was this very Wind that was carrying Jack over his toys and around the ceiling. Jack bumped into the walls and furniture multiple times, but this didn't stop him from landing back on the ground. He laughed, overjoyed. Aster stared, wide-eyed with shock.
Jack turned, noticing the bewildered Pooka standing in the doorway. He grinned. "Bunny, Bunny, look at me!" He spread his arms out in the air, wobbling slightly. "I can fly!"
"He can fly…" Aster murmured, still in shock. The realization slammed into him like a brick. "He can bloody fly?!" he exclaimed.
Jack laughed, and he rolled midair. "Uh-huh! All thanks to Wind!"
Said breeze whistled cheerfully, and she carried Jack toward the door. The winter child slipped past Aster and out the door. The tall rabbit chased after him.
"Oi, get back here, mate!" Aster said. "Ya need ta get down before ya hurt yourself."
"I'm fine—Ow!" Jack bumped into the ceiling. As he rubbed his head, he said, "Wind'll catch me if I fall—Oof!"
Jack crashed into a framed painting that hung on the wall. It would've tumbled to the ground if Aster had not caught it. Jack flew downstairs and spun around Sandy. "Sandy, look! I can fly now!"
The Sandman was just as surprised as Aster had been, but he seemed proud of the winter child's new ability. Flying on the Wind was a rare ability…It had taken Mother Nature years to learn how to do so. And yet here Jack was, already riding on the Wind's gales at the age of six.
"Not yet ya can't," Aster butted in, tromping down the stairs. "Yer bumpin' into furniture, and ya nearly hurt yerself up there. Ya need ta get down Jack."
The young snow sprite was saddened, but he sighed. "Okay…Wind? You mind putting me down?"
Yes, the Wind did mind. She minded very much in fact. Her gales grew stronger and she whisked the winter child up the stairs so quickly, that Jack didn't have time to comprehend what was happening. The homework papers flew off the table, and the chairs toppled over. Jack yelped as he was carried up the stairs, being pushed toward his bedroom again.
Aster and Sandy raced up the stairs and stepped through the knocked-over tables and wall hanging's that lay on the ground when the Wind had ripped through.
"What the bloody heck was that?!" Aster exclaimed. Sandy shrugged, and he sped ahead. The door to Jack's bedroom was wide open, and inside, the winter child was being pulled toward the open window by the Wind. Papers and toys flew around the room. Jack's curtains flailed in the Wind's sharp currents.
"Help!" Jack cried. Aster pushed through the gales and caught Jack by the hand and Sandy slammed the window, shutting the Wind outside. Gravity took hold of Jack again, and he plummeted to the ground. Thankfully, Aster caught him and set him on the ground.
Jack's eyes were wide, his hair messy and wild. He let out a soft breath. "Whoa."
"Are ya okay, mate?" asked Aster at the same time Sandy produced a golden question mark over his head.
"I-I'm fine," said Jack. He smiled impishly. "I kinda wanna do it again."
Aster slapped his forehead and Sandy shook his head; a light smile crawled on his face.
"Ya do realize that ya were nearly dragged out to who knows where against yer will, right?" asked Aster.
"Well, yeah," said Jack. "But I still flew!"
"What are we gonna do with this kid…" Aster muttered.
Jack huffed. "Okay, fine. Maybe it was a little scary…" he admitted. "But Wind's my friend. I don't know why she tried to take me away."
Sandy thought for a moment, and with his dreamsand, he said, "The Wind is a lonely being. Perhaps she was just desperate for company. It's been years since another snow sprite's been sighted. She probably misses being able to fly with them."
"Oh…" said Jack.
"And she's just as ancient as the universe. She's bound ta act unpredictably," said Aster bluntly. From the window, a stone banged against glass. Aster frowned outside. "Hey, I'm just statin' facts!"
Jack smiled, and he walked over to the window. He pushed it open, and the Wind gently swirled around him. "I'll always be here, Wind. I'm not going anywhere. While I'd love to go with you, I have to stay here. Or else North will get worried."
The Wind understood, and she whistled apologetically. Jack giggled
"It's alright, I forgive you," he said. Aster and Sandy smiled.
"Well, now that's settled," said Aster, standing up. "Now ya can fly, yer going ta need ta practice. But don't go doin' so by yerself, mate. Someone needs ta monitor ya. Maybe Sandy and Tooth can give ya pointers."
Sandy nodded, and Jack grinned.
"I'll be careful, I promise!" Jack said. And the Wind promised so too. Jack was only a child, and he needed to be handled carefully. They could go on flights together once he was truly ready.
And as Jack went down to complete his homework with Aster and Sandy, he couldn't wait to tell North of his little flight once he got home.
Author's Note: So, so, so excited to writing a one-shot in which Sandy and Tooth help Jackie fly. =3
And...that's all I've got to say. XD Well, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and I'll see you in the next one! ^u^
Until the next chapter!
~BeyondTheMoon1203
