Author's Note: Hi everyone! I'm back with the next chapter of "Autumn Magic." I can't help but feel like the fandom is somewhat dormant, but I suppose that makes sense; it has been over a decade since "Rise of the Guardians" and "How to Train Your Dragon" were released. As sad as that is, I still plan to complete this story and many others that are left unfinished, for my own sake, and if I happen to gain a few extra fans along the way, that's great! Anyways, please enjoy the new chapter. :)
Jack Frost blinked as his vision slowly cleared. The first thing he noticed was the crisp, cold air and the sensation of snow beneath him. It was a familiar feeling, one that he'd grown to cherish over the centuries. But something was off. He wasn't in the middle of a blizzard or a snowstorm. Instead, he was surrounded by a serene, autumn landscape. The golden leaves of the trees rustled in a gentle breeze, and the air held a hint of warmth.
Confusion crept over him as he sat up and took in his surroundings. The last thing he remembered was soaring through the skies over Burgess, spreading frost and snow as he went. He had been having a great time, feeling invigorated by the children's laughter below. But now, everything had changed.
As he tried to stand, a hand suddenly reached out to help him up. Jack's icy-blue eyes met Toothiana's warm, amethyst gaze. She wore a concerned expression as she helped him to his feet, and behind her were the other guardians—North, Bunny, and Sandy, all with expressions ranging from worry to confusion.
"Jack, are you okay?" Tooth asked, her tone laced with worry.
Jack shook his head, still trying to make sense of what was happening. "I... I think so. But how did I get here? What's going on?"
North cleared his throat, his arms crossed. "That is what we'd like to know, my friend. You just collapsed out of the blue."
Jack frowned, his memory hazy. He vaguely remembered the sensation of falling, but nothing else. It was as if a dream had enveloped him, and now he was waking from it. He tried to recall the last thing he remembered clearly, but it was slipping through his grasp like sand.
As he blinked, the guardians' expressions transformed from worry to exaggerated versions of their normal selves. North's laughter boomed like thunder, Bunny was thumping his foot with delight and even Toothiana's sparkling smile was blinding.
Jack's confusion deepened. "What's going on? Where am I?"
Toothiana took his hand and spun him around, her excitement contagious. "You're in Bunny's office, Jack. We were just having a meeting to celebrate the defeat of Pitch last year."
As Jack took in his surroundings, he recognized Bunnymund's cozy, earthy office. The table was filled with an assortment of sweet treats and snacks, and colourful streamers adorned the walls.
North chimed in, "And we decided this should be a yearly tradition—a celebration of hope, fun, and protecting the children."
Jack scratched his head, struggling to make sense of it all.
Toothiana handed him a piece of cake, her voice filled with mirth. "Don't worry, Jack. You're here now, and that's all that matters."
Jack took a moment to absorb the cheerful atmosphere around him. It felt so out of place, yet the warmth of his friends' joy was infectious. However, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Everything looked fine to him, but he had this sinking, almost sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach.
As he contemplated his unease, Jack said, "I think I need some fresh air," and made his way toward the office's exit. His hand reached for the doorknob, but as he turned it, the handle seemed to disappear into thin air. Jack blinked in astonishment, turning around to see his friends, the other guardians, melting into shadows. Those shadows swirled and formed together, merging into a dark, ethereal being with a porcelain mask for a face, forever frozen in a sad and sombre expression.
The creature's eyes gleamed with an eerie, ghostly light, and it began to recite a haunting rhyme: "Bright light, sweet dreams I bestow. Sleep tight, all night. Forever I will glow."
Jack's heart raced as he watched the creature intently. His voice trembled with uncertainty as he demanded, "Who are you, and what do you want with me?"
The creature tilted its head playfully, as if revelling in Jack's fear and confusion. "Ah, Jack, we are one and the same," it whispered in a voice that sent shivers down Jack's spine. "I am the darkness within you, the part you've tried to forget."
Jack's breath caught in his throat. "What do you mean?"
The creature continued, "I am your anger, your frustration, your deepest despair. You want Hiccup back, don't you? The world as you once knew it, the way you wish it to be."
Jack's heart ached at the mention of Hiccup. He had missed his fellow guardian so much, but he couldn't fathom the cost this creature might demand.
"What do you want from me?" Jack asked, his voice trembling.
The creature's mask-like face cracked into a sinister smile. "It's quite simple, really. Embrace me, Jack. Give in to your rage and frustration, and I'll take care of the rest. You can have your idealized world, a never-ending dream where you can live in bliss forever. All you have to do is accept me."
The porcelain-faced being watched him with anticipation, awaiting his decision, as Jack struggled to weigh the options and navigate the labyrinth of his own emotions.
Jack closed his eyes for a moment, allowing himself to imagine the allure of this dream-world where he and Hiccup could share a second chance. The idea of getting to know Hiccup all over again, free from the constant battles with Pitch or the interference of Sandy, was undeniably tempting. He envisioned evenings by a warm fire in a cozy sitting room, living an uneventful eternity together in sheer bliss. It was a tantalizing thought.
However, a sudden realization shook him from his reverie. It wouldn't be his Hiccup. It would only be a fictional version of the real one he'd yet to save, and he wasn't entirely convinced that this creature had his best intentions in mind. The too-good-to-be-true offer seemed tainted, and Jack couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that this was a trap.
Jack took a step back, his face hardening with resolve. "No, I won't do it," he said firmly.
The spectre's shoulders slumped down by its sides, and it tilted its head again in genuine confusion. "Why not? Don't you want this world? An eternity of bliss and happiness?"
Jack shook his head. "It's not real. It's just an illusion. I won't give in to my own darkness, not if it means losing my sense of reality and what's truly important."
The spectre seemed to sigh, and it began to melt into a shadow, its features fading away. As it disappeared, it repeated the haunting rhyme: "Bright light, sweet dreams I bestow. Sleep tight, all night. Forever I will glow." But this time, it added a new verse, its voice echoing in the air, "Sorrow you will know."
With a final whisper, the spectre vanished completely, leaving Jack alone in the room. Despite the tantalizing offer, he knew that he couldn't surrender to his own inner darkness. The real world, with its challenges, losses, and joys, was worth fighting for, even if it meant enduring sorrow and uncertainty, besides, he had people he couldn't simply leave behind for fakes, and he still had Hiccup to rescue.
Realizing that he was still in the dream-world, Jack turned back to the door and was greeted by the sight of the door handle once again. With a quick twist, he stepped through and found himself jolting upright. He blinked, his surroundings suddenly shifting. He was no longer in the ethereal autumn landscape or the mysterious dream-world but found himself in North's workshop.
Confusion washed over him. Hadn't he been in Bunnymund's office? His memories came flooding back to him slowly. That's right; he had collapsed in Bunny's domain. So how did he end up in the North Pole?
As Jack was coming to, North stepped into the room, his booming laugh filling the workshop, and he closed the door behind him. He held out a steaming cup of hot cocoa to Jack. "It's good to see you awake again, Jack."
Jack took the cup with a grateful smile, the warmth of the cocoa soothing his nerves. "Thanks, North. But I'm a bit disoriented. How did I end up here? I thought I was with the others in Bunny's office."
North let out a deep sigh and leaned back on the windowsill, looking at Jack with a mix of concern and affection. "Bunnymund informed me of what happened, and I came to collect you in my sleigh. Bunny was worried about you, but I wanted to make sure you were alright personally."
As Jack listened, he couldn't help but feel touched by North's genuine concern. In all his time as a guardian, he had always thought of most of those like him, his fellow guardians, as friends and allies, but North was different. North saw him as more than just a friend—he saw him as family.
North grinned, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "You know, Jack, I never thought I'd say this, but you're like a son to me. A very naughty and bigheaded son at times, but a son nonetheless." He playfully ruffled Jack's hair.
Jack chuckled at North's comment, a warmth spreading through him. "Well, I guess that makes you the grumpy, overprotective dad."
North's laughter boomed through the workshop, filling the room with cheer. "Perhaps, perhaps. But I wanted to make sure you were alright."
Jack's smile faded as North's expression turned more serious. "Bunny mentioned that you came to him with some concerning matters. What's going on, Jack?"