Author's Note: Hello everyone and welcome back to "The Winter Child!" =D I hope you all are having a wonderful afternoon/evening thus far. ^u^ In this chapter, there's a bit of a book reference, so if you haven't read "Guardians of Childhood," you may not understand the context. X)
But this chapter should still be enjoyable! =D With that, I hope you guys enjoy part three of "We Are Family!"
~ LXXXVII ~
We Are Family, Part Three
Far up North where the air is frigid
Colder than ice and cold winds nippin'
The place where snow sprites once thrived long ago
Was now barren and blank
With no civilization
...
Windskald was a four-day ride, but those days flew faster than the Wind rushing by.
Though Jack had been born in the coldest region of Lunslruna, the palace was completely unfamiliar to him when he and the others crossed the borders. The borders grew increasingly colder as they went further and further north, but Jack wasn't bothered by the dropping temperatures. The others, however, had layered their fur coats, cloaks, and hats so they could keep out the frigid winds and nipping snow that swirled around them.
The Wind was a wonderful guide to them through their journey. Jack often forgot that the Wind was an ancient being, as she was usually so playful and boisterous whenever they were together. But out here, the Wind assisted the Guardians and the Lunar army as if they were her own, guiding them to the right paths, helping defend everyone when danger was near, and even clearing the paths before sunrise so the Sunrise reach their destination quicker.
This was the Wind that snow sprites were connected to and grateful for. And watching Jack act in her element made him feel a little bad that he had limited her to simple tricks and games.
The Wind sensed his shame, and she brushed his cheek as a mother would to her child. It was as if she were saying, "Don't feel ashamed. I'm one in two worlds, but both are still me."
That made Jack feel a little better. And besides, if Wind had never been fond of him, she never would've listened to him, right?
As they trekked through the winter landscape, Jack felt completely in his element. Santoff Claussen's winters were cold, but this was nothing compared to them. He could feel the snowflakes whispering and the strength of the ice beneath them. The wind here was rough and wild. Powerful. Jack could flick his fingers, and cease everything as his own.
He restrained himself from experimenting with his powers, however. Though the Guardians were treated with respect, some of the soldiers hadn't taken much to him. Even Mercury, whom Jack liked the most out of the group, was somewhat cautious around him even if they were simply just having am just chatter.
Jack knew that people had grown to believe snow sprites as evil—so much to the point where they didn't even give a thought when their genocide of them had occurred. But he had posed no threat to them. He had done nothing that could've hurt or injured any one of them. So why did they think so differently of him?
Why couldn't things just be normal?
Why can't I just be normal?
He couldn't meet up to any of their standards apart from possessing winter magic. Other than that, he was a stranger to them. But even strangers shouldn't be judged so quickly.
Jack pulled himself away from his thoughts as everyone began to settle for camp again. This would be their last one until they'd set out to find Pitch, and many preparations had to be done. Jack did his best to help unpack and set up, ignoring a few of the glances that were sent his way.
Camp never took long to set up. Several people were working at once, so tents and stations were soon up and running. Everyone began to prepare for the final face-off with Pitch and his army. They all could feel that he was close…like an oncoming storm approaching the shore.
Jack joined the Guardians in a clearing near the came. They could still see the fires and activity from here. It had been some time since it had been just them, and Jack did miss the alone time they had together (not that he wanted to see clingy).
North and Aster noticed that Jack seemed troubled, so they started a sparring session feeling as if he were twelve years old again, sparring against the two of them and with Tooth and Sandy cheering from the sidelines. Jack was tempted to use some of the newfound power that he had entering Windskald, but he refrained from it knowing that this was just a small match and not an all-out battle. When they were done, North and ASter provided him with some tips, as usual, and the Guardians went straight to updating each other on how they felt about the journey.
It felt good, listening to them talk as if they were gathered in the living room, talking about the daily happenings of the day. Jack had grown used to hearing them chatter since he was young, and he quite enjoyed it whenever they had discussions like this. Only this time, they were talking about an upcoming battle with the Boogeyman, so Jack couldn't stop the crawling worry that eased into his stomach as they spoke about the potential dangers that lay ahead of them.
Upon noticing Jack's worried expression, Tooth said, "But we'll be fine, as usual. We've dealt with Pitch many times in the past, so this shouldn't be any different."
But it would. It would be different. Because this battle would determine the fate of Lusnlruna. This battle would determine whether or not its people would have to live in fear. This battle with either bring an end to Pitch's reign or ignite it.
This battle would only have one winner and one loser. And standing up against Pitch, the Lunar army could be on either side.
They were all thinking this, and Jack knew it, but no one spoke knowing that Tooth was only trying to lighten the mood. Jack fiddled with his cloak chains, and he turned to Aster, Tooth, and Sandy. "Tsar Lunar offered me Guardianship again."
"That's wonderful, Jack!" Tooth said happily. Jack couldn't help but smile at her voice. "You're childhood dream finally came true."
Jack laughed softly. "Yeah, I guess so…but now, I don't really think I'm Guardian material. I mean, it's a big job, isn't it? And then there's the whole center ordeal…"
"Ya'll get there eventually," said Aster. "We all did, and so will you."
Jack appreciated the support, but he still didn't see how he could be a Guardian. He was just a lowly orphaned boy who grew up in the village of Santoff Claussen. He didn't know anything about his background except that he was born a snow sprite, and his parents were either forced to give him up or simply did not want him.
Jack squeezed his staff, refusing that the latter could be possible. As for his offered Guardianship…Jack truly did not know if he wanted to take it. Or if he even could take it. He knew that he was supposedly the snow sprite destined to bring Pitch's end (according to Tsar Lunar at least), but what did he possibly possess that possesses a worthy threat to the Boogeyman? He couldn't even keep himself composure in front of him. Not like that Guardians, anyway.
Jack sighed. "I'm still thinking about it," he said. He topped his staff, frost crawling across his surface. "And we have more important things to worry about anyway. Like, why is Pitch doing all of this?"
"For power, obviously," Aster replied.
Jack shook his head. "No, no, there's more to the story, isn't there?" he asked, turning to the Guardians. "There's something you guys aren't telling me."
It was only an inkling—just an inkling, but Jack knew that there had to be more than just power that Pitch was after. The way he continuously targeted them targeted ermined him was to capture Jack and make him his. And even the attacks on Santoff Claussen. They all had to be connected somehow. There was a history behind it all.
And then there was Aster's comment that he hadn't understood, years ago when he was only an infant, which he had only recently "Tsar Lunar never chooses a wrong, mate. Well…there was that one time with Pitch…"
"Something happened," said Jack. The snow sprite narrowed his eyes. "And it involved Tsar Lunar."
The Guardians looked at each other nervously. Aster sighed, and he locked eyes with Jack.
"It's about time ya knew," he said. AAster looked around to make sure no one else was near, and he continued in a low voice. "Yes, something did happen. Tsar Lunar wasn't always the wise man he is today, and Pitch wasn't always evil."
"Pitch was good once?" asked Jack.
"Once," Tooth confirmed. She rubbed her gloved hands together to warm them up. "And you wouldn't believe that a man like him could ever turn evil."
"A long time ago, the Tsar Lunar did manage to seal away all the Fearlings that plagued the world," said Aster. "It took a long time and a lot of effort. But it was a remarkable feat for such a young man. But when you look at it, it was Pitch who did most of the work."
"Pitch sealed off his own creations?" asked Jack.
"No," said Sandy, dreamland flashing quickly over his head. "Fearlings have existed long before Pitch became corrupted. Nightmares are his invention, though hardly as ancient as Fearlings."
"Tsar Lunar thought Pitch was capable enough to guard the cell in which they were sealed," continued Aster. "He accepted the job, and no one expected what would've happened next."
"Some did, actually," said Tooth. She turned to Jack, the look in her eyes solemn. "Pitch had lost his wife and daughter to the Fearlings before the Lunars won the battle. And grief makes you dangerously vulnerable. It only takes a little bit to let evil in or out. Pitch was already in a weak state, and guarding that door made him slip even further."
"Tsar Lunar knew that Pitch had lostPitchfamily, but he still sent him to guard the doors," said Aster with a scowl.
"Pitch could've said no, but he didn't. And it was only three days of guarding the door that he couldn't take their tempting whispers anymore," North said quietly. "They consumed him quickly. He didn't even put up a fight."
"And now he's determined to take back what the world supposedly took from him," Sandy said sadly. "He wants revenge, especially against Tsar Lunar, who he blames for making him like this."
Jack stared, stunned. So Pitch had been a good person? Not just good in fact, but one of the Tsar's most revered soldiers?
Jack pursued his lips. Now that he knew about Pitch's past life, he couldn't help but feel a little…pitying for him. He lost everything to the Fearlings and they preyed on him. Tsar Lunar had to feel guilty for putting Pitc in that position. Though the man hadn't shown any remorse since they had arrived. Perhaps he was just hiding it?
But Jack couldn't help but feel a little upset with him either; the Tsar knew what he was putting Pitch into. And now he was out to conquer Lunslruna and everyone in it. He also knew what was happening to the snow sprites, but he didn't do anything to help. He may have had his reasons, but Jack thought he could at least do something. He was the Tsar after all.
"We should probably head back," Aster said, breaking the silence. He stood up from the log and brushed the snow off his coat. "We'll be going over battle plans soon, and they're going ta want all of us there."
The Guardians picked up their things and returned to camp. As they were placing their weapons away, a young soldier walked up to Jack and asked, "So what are you going to do once we face Pitch?"
Jack blinked, stunned by how brazen the man's question sounded. He answered politely as he could. "Um…I'm not sure yet."
"It shouldn't take you that long to figure out," the soldier said, frowning. "The entire kingdom of Lunslruna rests on your shoulders, and you respond with an 'I'm not sure yet?'"
Jack gripped his staff, the tips of his ears flushing blue. Thankfully, North stepped in before anything went too far.
"We should be focusing on one thing at a time," he said, placing a hand on Jack's shoulder. "The current situation is already stressful enough. Do not add more to it."
With North's sharp gaze and large stature, the man couldn't verbally reply out of fear. He nodded simply, hen walked away to the tents. Jack's felt his shoulders slackened, and he let out a sigh.
"Why are people so inconsiderate sometimes?" he asked.
North gave Jack a light squeeze. "I'm sorry you had to hear that, moy mal'chik."
"Yeah…Thanks for standing up for me," said Jack, looking at North. The ex-Cossack smiled softly, but Jack could bring himself to smile back.
The man had asked what he was going to do when they faced Pitch. He had no idea. And the look of disappointment in the soldier's eyes when he said that was gut-shattering.
Jack chewed his lip as he followed North and the other Guardians to the battle tent, clutching his staff tightly. What was he going to do when they reached the final battle?
No…What can I do?
