Author's Note: Hello everyone and welcome back to "The Winter Child!" Not much to say today (sadly), so I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! =D


~ LXXX ~

To the Capitol and Back, Part Three

The day had arrived

Jack was terrified

But his nerves soon eased upon entering

But things would quickly go from bad to worse

The gathering was done

Pitch really was as crafty as they come

It was the day of the gala, and Jack was terrified. Not only that, but he couldn't tie his…tie.

Jack grunted in frustration as the fabric slipped down from his nck once again. The snow sprite frowned. His nerves had been affecting all day. Jack spent most of his time huddled in his bedroom. He didn't eat much that day, as his worries for the upcoming gala already had his stomach full.

Jack wished that he could go out on a quick flight on thew ind. Whenever he was feeling nervous, a few laps around the village with his airy friend always eased his nerves. But he couldn't risk revealing his identity as as now sprite, so a quick walk around the block was all he could squeeze in.

He did meet up with Katherine at her bookshop. She had been hoping to see him when he came to the Capitol, and Jack was more than delighted to see her. Katherine had changed since Jack had last seen ehr; she was a lot more open and talkative. She had also began to wear her hair loose again.

The two talked for a while, and Jack confided to Katherine about his anxiety of the upcoming event. Katherine reassured him that he had nothing to worry about.

"What's the worst that could happen? Tsar Lunar already knows who you are, and Pitch would have to be ridiculous to think of attacking now."

Jack sighed. "I know..it's just…I can't get the feeling that something going to go wrong off of my mind. I don't know what's wrong with me."

Katherine softed and she placed a had on Jack's shoulder. "It's been a hectic few months. But just relax Jack. Everything will be fine. The Guardians are going to be doing most of the talking anyway."

Jack smiled lightly. "Then I wonder why the Tsar wants me there…if it's a meeting for the Guardians."

Kahterine shrugged. "Perhaps he wants your perspective of the current situation."

"Or just to see that the last snow sprite alive."

"Maybe he wants to meet you personally."

"Maybe he wants to see me make a snow shower."

"Or maybe he wants to offer you Guardianship."

Jack laughed and Katherine smiled. "This really isn't going anywhere," the winter teen said.

"No," agreed Katherine. She tilted her head. "But with you Jack, anything goes anywhere."

Katherine had to leave to help around the bookstore again, and Jack had to return to the inn to start getting ready. He and North had gone into the markets and bought him a tuxedo, but Jack was still struggling with the blue tie, and he was just about to give up on it.

And it wasn't just the tie he was bothered by. The entire outfit was far too formal for his likely. Normally, Jack just settled on comfortable pants and a loose shirt—nothing too fancy. The nicest piece of clothing he owned was a pair of dress pants and a button-up shirt (which he had worn only a few times).

The tuxedo wasn't comfortable, and definitely wasn't made for strenuous movement. Jack huffed, and he fingered the tie in his fingers.

"Stupid…how do people even wear these things?"

"Eh, they have their ways."

Jack whirled around, and standing in the doorway was Aster. He was wearing a vest, tie, and dress pants. Something that Jack probably would've preferred over the suit he was wearing.

"I don't suppose you know how to tie a tie, do you?" Jack asked.

Aster smirked. "Is that a plea for help? From Jack 'I-can-do-anything-by-myself' Frost?"

Jack rolled his eyes, smiling faintly. When he was little, he wanted to do anything and everything on his own. He wanted to be independent (not much of a difference from now). One day, Aster noticed him struggling to carry a box filled with toys North wanted him to test. The Pooka had offered his help, but little four-year-old Jack had stubbornly replied, "I can do anything by myself. And carrying this box is one of them!"

"It's less of a plea and more of a request," Jack said. He shrugged. "I could always go without the tie, but North's making me wear it."

Aster took the tie out of Jack's hands and kneeled down so he could tie it around the snow sprite's neck. "Well, of course he wants ya ta wear it. Yer meetin' the bloody Tsar for the first time. Ya want ta make a good impression."

"I always make good impressions," Jack said.

"Says the kit who bit me when I first met him."

"I was a baby!"

"A very rude baby," Aster added. Jack frowned, and the Pooka finished tying the blue fabric. "Ya know, these things aren't so hard to tie once ya practice."

"Huh. Then I should start taking lessons," Jack jested. He sat down on his bed and sighed. Aster studied him.

"How are ya feelin'?" he asked.

"Bloody nervous," Jack said. Aster couldn't help but snort. "I don't know, it's just…I really have to make a good impression, right? I'm a terribly steryotyped race, so whatever I do at the palace is definately going to be remembered. I have to be on my best behavior and…I just don't want to ruin anything for you guys."

Aster sat next to Jack. "Well, ya aren't alone, kit. This is the first gala I've been to in years as myself, and I'm not feeling too confident about it either."

Jack turned to Aster and tilted his head. "You don't look at it."

"I've mastered hiding my emotions a long time ago," Aster said nonchalantly.

"Except for irritation, anger, frustration, and annoyance," Jack smirked.

Aster sighed heavily. "First he bit me with teeth, now he's bitin' me with words."

Jack chuckled. "Sorry, I couldn't help it."

"Of course ya couldn't," Aster said, shoving the snow sprite lightly. "Anyway, what I'm tryin' ta say is don't worry. You're going ta be with us twenty-four seven, so if anything goes wrong, we'l be there to protect ya."

Jack rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, I know…" He looked up at Aster and smiled. "Thanks, Bunny."

Aster patted the teen's back. "Anytime, mate." He stood up and made his way to the door. "Now get yer arse out here before we're late."

Jack smiled. "Coming!"

The ride to the palace was so swift that Jack didn't have time to comprehend anything until they finally reached the gates.

Since the Guardians (plus Jack) were invited guests, they were escorted to the palace on one of Tsar Lunar's carriages. The inside was scrumptious and so comfortable that Jack nearly fell asleep on his cushioned seat before Aster poked him out of his daze.

Jack peeked out the window and saw the many carts, carrigies, and people filling into the courtyard of the palace. It was as big as a prairie with marble roads with decorations of gold and silver embellishing the front of the palace. In the center was a statue of the moon above, and people took turns going up to entrance with their invitations.

It was a chilly evening, which gave Jack the excuse to wear earmuffs and a hat as he and the Guardians headed inside. Jack could hear the sounds of the party coming from the ballroom of the palace. The snow sprite gulped nervously. Hopefully, their stay here would be brief.

The dropped off their coats and Jack quickly replaced his earmuffs and wool hat with a scarf that wrapped around his ears and a top hat. All that remained of his white hair were a few tufts, which he hoped most people wouldn't noticed as they entered the ballroom.

Their stay in the actual gala would be brief, but Tsar Lunar wanted to introduce them to the people as they had never really seen the Guardians before. Jack stayed close to the stage as an official introduced the Guardians of Childhood, and allowed them to briefly speak about themselves. People were glad to see them, and Jack was happy for the attention that they received.

As for himself, however, Jack couldn't see himself every becoming as welcomed as the Guardians. He was a snow sprite. Snow sprites were hated across Lunslruna. He couldn't even come to this gala without having to hide his ears and hair.

Jack pursued his lips. No, he'd never be accepted—at least not truly—by society. To everyone else, he was a monster. And if he tried to prove otherwise, he'd only appear as a threat.

The Guardians reunited with Jack and the snow sprite congratulated them on their entrance. They were quickly whisked away by the same official who had introduced them, and he led them to Tsar Lunar's study. Jack tried to looked around the palace was they hurried through the halls, but he didn't have the time to properly look at anything as they were hurried to the Tsar's office.

The doors to Tsar Lunar's study were large and wide. Carved illustrations of the Battle on the Moon were engraved into the large, wooden doors. Jack stared at the pictures in awe. He had learned about the fateful event in history with Ombric. Each illustration perfectly depicted what had occurred on the moon that night. There was the moon clipper, Tsar and Tsarina Lunanoff. The baby Man in the Moon, and his old protector, Nightlight, sealing Pitch's darkness away with his diamond dagger.

Nightlight had fallen in battle when Pitch had been freed, but it was said that his dagger was still kept somewhere in the palace vault.

Jack stared at the picture of Nightlight once again—he was only twelve when he had become a soldier. The snow sprite suddenly felt jealous. Nightlight was an intergalactic being that everyone had loved, but he—a snow sprite—was hated for absolutely no reason at all.

Jack shook his head and shoved these thoughts aside. He needed to focus on the here and now. The doors to the study were opened and the Guardians trickled inside. Jack's eyes widened.

"This is a study?!" he said a little too loudly. Aster looked at him disapprovingly, but Jack ignored him. This study was of no means a "study." It was like a library, office, and meeting hall all in one. Bookshelves ran round on the walls, and at the very front of the study was a large desk sitting in front of te window. On the ceiling was a map of the heavens, and a round table with several chairs near where the Guardians stood.

"Yes, it's a study," Tooth replied quietly. "A very big and very pleasant study."

Jack shook his head. "If this is a study, then North's at home must be a closet."

North chuckled and Aster groaned. "Really, mate?"

"He does have a point," Sandy commented helpful

"He sure does, Sanderson."

The Guardians looked to the front of the room. The chair at the desk turned around. Sitting there was a round faced man with bright blue eyes and a warm smile.

Jack's jaw dropped.

"Welcome to Lusnlruna Capitol, Guardians," Tsar Lunar greeted. He slipped out of his chair and gestured to the meeting table. "Shall we begin?"