Author's Note: Hello everyone and welcome back to "The Winter Child!" =D I don't really have much to say other than that this chapter contains a pretty big book reference, so if you haven't read the Guardians of Childhood, you might not see the connection. X) It should still be enjoyable, though! =D

I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! ^u^


~ XXIV ~

Bedtime Story

He loved a good story

Whether fantastical or real

He found them intriguing

And enjoyed them a great deal

So tell him a tale

Or two or three

But out of all the one's he's heard

North's were the ones he preferred

...

It was time for bed, but Jack wasn't dreading preparing for sleep. In fact, he was the one who reminded North about it. Something that even the ex-Cossack was shocked to find coming from the boy!

No, Jack wasn't ill. And he wasn't plotting anything mischievous either. That same morning, North had promised to tell the winter child a special story—one that he knew he'd like very much. It was a tale, North said, full of adventure and mystery. Treasure-seeking and fun, magic and more. Jack requested for North to tell him the story right then and there, but the man in red chuckled, saying that it was a story best to be told at night. "It sets mood," he explained. "Trust me, you will enjoy it."

And Jack knew that he would. Any story of North's was one worth listening to. Though he deeply enjoyed the fantastical tales that Katherine read to him at school, Jack always preferred North's. There was something about his stories that Jack couldn't quite explain…they were creative, like Katherine's, but there was something…a special thing…that Jack couldn't name that added a certain spark to them.

The day dragged on like never before, and Jack found it difficult to focus on schoolwork or play with the promise of North's special story in mind. He wanted to hear it. Oh, so desperately wanted to what it. But he had to wait until the end of the day, which was (the boy glanced at the clock) eleven hours away!

Jack pouted, thinking that he'd never make it. But after going to school, completing his schoolwork, and playing with his toys for a while, his bedtime finally arrived. And, for the first time in forever, Jack actually felt rhapsodic that it had come around. Faster than lightning, Jack lept in the tub, bathed, brushed his teeth, and shoved on his pajamas. He had to take them off again upon realizing that he had put them on backwards.

Jack snatched Wawa from bed and tumbled down the stairs. He wandered into the study, surprised to find North still working inside.

"I'm done, North! Can we go upstairs now?" asked Jack.

"Just a few minutes, moy mal'chik. I have to finish this first," said North. He was in the middle of constructing a sculpture of a castle. North had a hobby of crafting things from ice. The man did many things, Jack remarked. He found North's ability to ice sculpt fascinating. As a snow sprite, Jack could shape ice how he wanted, although he was still learning, and not as skilled as North. And he had to use a pick and mallet!

To Jack, a few minutes sounded like a few years. He managed to wait for a little bit (a couple of seconds, really) when he couldn't take it anymore.

"Noooooorth! You're taking forever!" Jack whined. He grabbed North's hand and began to pull him out of the study. "You can finish this later. You promised me a story, and I waited all day!"

North laughed. "Alright, alright. I'm coming."

Jack grinned, and he ran up the stairs as North followed from behind. The winter child burst into his bedroom, lept into bed, and pulled up his covers, bouncing his feet as North settled beside him.

"You are all set?" North asked.

Jack nodded. "Yep! So, what's the story?"

North chuckled and he replied, "The story I'm about to tell you is about how a boy found greatest treasure he could ask for. And he didn't even expect it."

Jack scooched closer to North, eyes wide with anticipation. The ex-Cossack smiled and began his tale.

"A long time ago, there was a boy who had no parents. No mother or father to call his own. He didn't know his age, and he was as wild and reckless as any animal. He roamed forests and towns, stealing what little he could find. He was quite skilled in thievery, though he knew it was wrong. But it was his only way of surviving, although he took pleasure in successfully nabbing from others.

"During one of his escapades, he encountered a group of bandits. Real bandits. They were called the Cossacks. They took him in as their own, teaching him the ways of thievery and plundering. Pillaging and treasure hunting. He learned how to use real weapons; the sword being his favorite. And he joined this group on their adventures, traveling from country to country, stealing nearly half of the world's riches with this band of thieves."

"Whoa," said Jack. "That sounds fun."

North shook his head. "As fun as it was, the Cossacks were a cruel, ruthless group who didn't care about those they hurt. They didn't hesitate to extinguish those who got in their way. So, the boy left to start his own group of bandits. They thieved, but they didn't kill.

"And that was how it was for years. The boy—now a young man—and his new group of bandits quickly become the most dangerous people in many countries. They stole from many, using methods that not everyone would find plausible. But knowing that he wasn't physically hurting anyone, the man continued to steal. His team was rich within the hour, but they spent all the gold and coins they found as quickly as they had taken it. Still, they built a title for themselves, and the man thought he was content with this life. But he felt that there was something…missing. Something that couldn't be filled with treasures or money.

"He thought he had found the answer when he heard the tale of a place that was fabled to be filled with riches. A village, located in the farthest regions of Norsurbeian, where magic and treasure thrived. Many bandits had gone to this place, returning with warnings of dangerous beasts and creatures that tried to stop you. The young man, however, wasn't afraid. His troupe of bandits were no ordinary bandits. They'd be in and out with treasure faster than one could snap their fingers!

"They headed to the village, and its magical defenses made way for the bandits as they rode through on their horses. At first, the man thought that the village was already surrendering. But it wasn't until he and his men encountered an enigmatic spirit, who tempted them with coins of gold and jewels of emeralds and diamonds.

"At first, the man didn't suspect anything. He never turned away from treasure, not once in his life. Suddenly, he heard terrified screams coming from within the village. And, for the first time in his life, the man turned away from the riches, and when he turned around to see if his fellow bandits were following him, he watched, horrified as they turned into stone the instant they touched the offered treasures.

"The man rode into the village, finding a group of children inside of a tree being attacked by a dark phantom, who was slowly breaking through the bark, ready to seize them. The man acted quickly, and he lept off his horse's back and attacked with his sabers. The battle was a heated one, but in the end, the man managed to defend the children from the ghostly creature. However, the man was terribly wounded after the battle. An ancient wizard healed him, and the children were forever grateful for his help.

"The man then became the wizard's apprentice, and he left his thieving ways and grew up to be one of the best inventors known. And eventually, he was called to be leader of another group. But instead of stealing from others, this group protected. And that group was called…"

"The Guardians of Childhood," Jack whispered. His eyes widened and he stared at North in shock. "You used to be a thief?!"

North smiled. "I did."

"B-But…But why didn't you tell me this before?!" exclaimed Jack.

North tickled the winter child. "I did tell you just now, didn't I?"

Jack giggled, and he pushed North's hand away. "Well, yeah…And that was a great story. Especially since it actually happened, but…Why are you telling me this now?"

"Because I want you to know that you have the power to create your own path," said North. He shrugged. "I didn't think I was meant to be anything more than a thief, but I soon discovered, with the help of a few friends, that I could be more than I imagined. I'm here to guide you, Jack, but in the end, choice is yours. Just make sure it's the right one."

Jack hummed pensively, and he hugged his stuffed animal close to his chest. "I really liked your story," he said.

"And I enjoyed telling it to you," said North. He tucked the winter child in and ruffled his hair. "Now go to sleep, moy mal'chik. Rest well, you have school in the morning."

Jack nodded, and he watched North leave the room. The young snow sprite rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling, thinking about what North had just told him. He hadn't given any thought to what he wanted to do—or be—when he was older. Jack was content where he was; he wasn't planning on leaving.

Although…venturing out of Santoff Claussen did sound interesting. The boy wondered what else was out there, what lay outside of the protective borders of the quaint little village. Perhaps he could travel out there someday. But for now, he'd rather stay with North and the other Guardians. And Katherine, and Ombric, and all of his friends.

Yeah… Jack thought, rolling over and snuggling into his pillow. Someday…


Author's Note: Jackeh has big dreams. ='3

And that's all of got for a closer. XD I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and I'll see you all in the next one. =)

Until the next chapter!

~BeyondTheMoon1203