Chapter 36: Promise of Revenge

The annoying Guardian fluttered nervously around as they tried to stop the blizzard from spreading further. The entire mountain front that the Tooth Palace resided in was now covered in snow and ice. Sharp spikes of ice stuck out of the ground and mountainsides, covering every entryway with solid black ice. The fearsome looking ice and the below freezing cold front had already covered thirty or so miles, freezing several small tribes and villages, and killing thousands of adults and children.

Jarek had to hold back an eye roll when the Guardian began ranting again. "Can't you do anything to stop the blizzard?"

"I've already told you, Queen Toothiana," he said through gritted teeth. "This blizzard is far too strong for us. We can only hold it back."

And even that was very difficult with over sixty Summer, Spring, Winter Sprites trying to control the temperature, and with him and Pearl trying to melt the ice and hold back the harsh winds. Despite their best effects, the blizzard continued to spread. Many tribes and villages have been turned into an icebox, with several humans being impelled with ice shards. Many of deceased humans looked as if they were struck by a shattered mirror.

"BUT IT'S SPREADING!" Jarek's right eye twitched. He really didn't like the Guardians. Jarek normally got along with other spirits. But there were a few that he could not stand to be in the same space with. The Guardians just happened to be those he couldn't stand.

The Guardians, unlike the rest of the spirits in the Spirit World, lived in their own little world. The Guardians were spirits that didn't like change. They stayed in their palaces, unaware of the chaos and changes outside their little world. The Guardians were oblivious to the effects their little war was causing to the rest of them. The fact that they were trying to stop Pitch from doing his job was just plain ridiculous.

Jarek didn't blame the Groundhog for hating Aster. The Guardians thought that just because it's their holiday, they needed to have the perfect weather. No — they demanded it! Who did they think they were anyway? All they talked about was children this and children that and 'oh we must protect the children from things that go dark in the night' and 'Pitch Black is evil! He's a monster! We must stop him!' blah, blah, blah.

Jarek could not stand them!

"Oh, the poor children!"

The Guardians only seemed to care about the children, while there were thousands of mortals out there that were scared, or needed memories, or needed dreams and hope. It irritated him to no end on how narrowed minded they were. Did they really think they were that important just because they were MiM's Guardians? To attack anyone that didn't fit their perfect little image? To think they deserve special treatment just because they have the belief of the Humans?

"WE KNOW IT'S SPREADING!" Pearl snapped back. Pearl's tan face brightened as her light red hair engulfed into flames at her growing temper. "WE ARE DOING THE BEST WE CAN GUARDIAN!" Pearl's light brown-reddish orbs narrowed as she glared at the woman. Jarek could tell that she was tired. Pearl was very known to be a stubborn Summer Spirit, but she rarely snapped at others. She would talk back sarcastically, yes, but rarely allowed herself to get angered easily.

The Guardian fluttered nervously as the wind whipped around them. It was absolutely freezing. "I'm sorry…I didn't…"

"I DON'T WANT YOUR APOLOGY! I DON'T TELL YOU HOW TO DO YOUR JOB! DON'T TELL US HOW TO DO OURS!"

The Guardian didn't say anything as Pearl returned her attention to the blizzard. Jarek could only sigh tiredly. They all were using a lot of energy to push the blizzard back. It was exhausting and frustrating work.

Jarek looked at the Guardian of Memories. As much as the Guardian irritated him, he couldn't blame her for being worried. This was her home and her helpers that were in danger, along with the humans that got killed in the crossfire. However, he just wished the Guardians would just understand that not everything was as black and white as they believe.

"Queen Toothiana, we do not have the power to stop this blizzard. Only Mother Nature has that power."

The Guardian frowned nervously at the mention of Mother Nature. That didn't surprise him. The Guardians were not Mother Nature's favorite spirits. "Where is she then?"

Jarek didn't respond to the Guardian right away. He took a deep breath as he tried to sense where Mother Nature was. She would have left her palace several hours ago and should be here any minute now. Mother had already used her connection to the planet to inform them of her arrival.

Jarek blinked as he sensed that Mother Nature was almost directly above them.

"She's right above us." The Guardian looked startled when he suddenly looked up. He felt the rise of power before Mother Nature came into view. She hovered in the air as she stared at the damaged that the blizzard was caused.

Mother did not look happy, not in the slightest.

She never imagined that Susanna would cause this much damage. Snow and ice were spreading thousands of miles, engulfing the villages nearby. Many of the ice that engulfed several villages looked like shattered mirrors, maybe a reflection of Susanna's inner pain. Their powers were tied to their emotions, so it would make sense that Susanna's were going out of control because of her anger and pain. It was sad really.

Mother Nature knew Susanna was still within the Guardian's palace. She could feel it. She turned towards Jarek and Pearl and wasn't that surprised to see the Guardian of Memories. She didn't have time to deal with her right now.

She hovered down in front of the three with a grim expression on her face. "The blizzard is concentrated from within the palace. I would need to go in there and find the Winter Spirit to put a stop to this blizzard. I need you to keep up what you are doing out here. Once the blizzard is gone, we will proceed with clean up and restore spring to this area." Jarek and Pearl nodded. "I shall return."

Mother Nature turned around, not giving the Guardian a glance, as she returned her attention to the roaring blizzard. The Wind picked her up and prepared to send her to where she knew Susanna would be, but was halted when the female Guardian flew in front of her. "Wait! Let me go with you!"

Mother Nature frowned. The shiver that passed through the woman as the cold winds touched her did not go unnoticed. "Toothiana, you would not be able to tolerate the cold temperature without proper clothing. The temperature would be below zero and I doubt you would be able to withstand it with the way you are now. Believe me, it is far colder in there than it is out here."

The Guardian's shoulders drooped as she continued to shiver. The woman was worried for her fairies. Mother Nature knew that very well. "All right," she said softly. "But I will come in to help when the blizzard is cleared." She paused, her eyes shimmering with worry. "And save my fairies. I can feel them calling for me. Many have died already."

Mother Nature did not argue with the woman. "Do as you wish," she told the Guardian before the Wind took her to the center of the storm.

The storm was far worse inside than she had expected. The walls and platforms were covered in ice, several were broken and cracked by the ice shards that grew and grew. Mother Nature could understand why the Guardian was worried. Several of the Guardian's fairies were frozen solid. She could feel that many of the small lives had extinguished already, but there was a good amount that was still alive. One, in particular, had caught her attention.

Mother Nature had sensed this small fairy's stubbornness to live. She was fighting against something or someone to be more actuate. Mother Nature flew to the platform that she knew was the center of the storm. The winds were more violent in this part of the palace. The ice was thicker, deadly even. She could see black ice and spikes everywhere.

Mother Nature continued further and was shocked to see Susanna in her new form. She always knew she would be a beautiful Winter Spirit, but to be this harsh and angry and aiming to harm others was something she never expected. Next to Susanna was a Fearling Tooth Fairy, one her father changed no doubt. Several inches away from the platform, falling, was a tooth fairy, slightly covered in ice. She was the life she sensed earlier.

Mother Nature sprung forward to caught the fallen fairy. "What are you doing Susanna?!" The woman froze. The winds stop swirling violently for several seconds and the ice seemed to stop growing as well. This gave Mother Nature the time to catch the small fairy and to return to the platform.

Mother Nature's greenish-gray eyes bore into dark blue. Several emotions swirled in those eyes: anger, hatred, sadness, and pain.

"Emily," she said softly. "Why are you here?" she asked as she studied her with cold blue eyes. "Are you here to stop me, perhaps?"

"Susanna," Mother Nature said as her lip curved down into a concerned frown. "You can't be doing this. I know you are mad for what the Guardians did, but-"

"Why not?!" The winds picked up again and tried to push her back. Mother Nature blocked the cold air from the small fairy and made sure the air around them rose, just enough to melt the ice around the small fairy and to keep her alive. "Jackson is dead because of them! Pitch is completely heartbroken. He can't even stand to look at his picture without crying." Susanna's eyes glistened with tears.

"Susanna, please!" Mother Nature voice broke slightly as she tried to get Susanna to calm down. "You have to stop! Don't you realize what your lack of control on your emotions is doing to the villages outside these mountains?"

Susanna frowned as she studied her. "What do you mean?" Susanna spoke slowly as she looked at her, allowing the winds to calm just a bit.

Mother Nature sighed. "It's your powers dear."

"What about them?" Susanna asked with a frown now forming on her face.

"Like all Elementals," Mother Nature began. "Your powers are tied to your emotions."

Susanna's eyes widened at that. "You mean that…" Horror and sadness were reflected in her eyes as the realization of what Mother Nature was trying to tell her finally clicked.

"Your anger allowed your power to run out of control, I'm afraid," she said sadly. "The blizzard has grown bigger outside and traveled several miles down the mountains."

"No…" Susanna's voice was soft and filled with guilt. "You…mean…I…"

Mother Nature nodded. "Many villages have been encased in ice and snow, Susanna."

Susanna staggered back as a startled gasp left her lips. Her eyes widened in shock and horror. "I…killed…children…?" Her voice trembled as her eyes filled up with tears. Mother Nature nodded sadly, which just caused the tears to fall over. "No…no…no…no…"

Mother Nature's heart broke as Susanna fell to her knees and sobbed. The Fearling Fairy chirped in distress as she tried to comfort Susanna. Mother Nature glanced at the fairy in her hand and saw her chirping weakly at her. The fairy's eyes were filled with sadness. She obviously felt bad for the sobbing Winter Spirit.

Mother Nature sighed as she summoned some vines and made a nest of vines for the fairy. After she placed the fairy in the nest, she walked towards the sobbing Winter Spirit.

"It's okay," she told Susanna as she placed her hand on the woman's shoulder.

"But…I killed children," she sobbed.

"It wasn't your fault. You didn't know your powers would get this out of control."

Susanna's teary dark blue eyes looked up to hers. "What have I done, Emily?" Her bottom lip trembled slightly. "How can I kill children?" she sobbed. "Just like my little baby! He must be turning in his grave right now! Oh, Jackson…I'm so sorry!"

Mother Nature felt herself smiling slightly as she stared at the woman. Maybe she could still fix this mess. "Susanna, there's something I need to tell you." Susanna focused her teary eyes at her. "It's about Jackson."

"He's dead!" Susanna interrupted, wailing. "What more is there to tell?"

Mother Nature was about to tell her that Jackson was not dead anymore, that he was alive and healthy again. But, of course, the Guardians ruin everything.

"HOW DARE YOU HARM MY FAIRIES YOU MONSTER? GET HER GIRLS!" Mother Nature barely had a moment to realize what was going on before a small swarm of miniature Tooth Fairies, along with the stupid Guardian herself attacked. Mother Nature found herself knocked away from the Winter Spirit and towards the edge of the platform, while the fairies pushed Susanna off the platform.

"NO!"

She didn't move when the stupid Guardian landed next to her. "Are you all right?" Mother Nature didn't respond to the Guardian. She was too stun to say anything. The Guardians had once again messed everything up for the violent icy winds returned.

The miniature Tooth Fairies scattered as Susanna floated in the air with winds carrying ice and snow. Cold blue eyes stared at them in fury.

"You dare call me a monster, Guardian?" Susanna asked with a snare. "You and your friends with pay for your crimes against me and my lover!" Her eyes narrowed as the shadows and ice grow and surround her, shielding her from them. "I will destroy you for killing the child you swore to protect!" The Guardian flinched at the icy tone. The miniature fairies looked at their mother in horror and disbelief. They were chirping frantically, most likely asking if Susanna was telling the truth or not.

The Guardian did not say a word. And how could she? She was literally frozen in terror and guilt.

"Susanna!" Mother Nature got to her feet, ignoring the Guardian and her mini clones and tried to get closer to the distressed Winter Spirit. But it was near impossible. The winds kept pushing her back and she had to dodge ice spikes that were formed by the mini blizzard that surrounded the Winter Spirit. "Wait!"

"You will pay!" The mini-blizzard of ice, snow, and shadow swirled faster and faster around her. Mother Nature could barely see Susanna now with the blizzard surrounding the Winter Spirit, but her threat could be heard despite the roaring blizzard. "You all will pay!"

"Girls get to cover!"

Mother Nature ignored the Guardian as her and her fairies moved away from the blizzard. Ice once again resumed their traveling, attempting to destroy the platform and the rest of the palace. Mother Nature ignored the screams as she stared at the blizzard. Susanna was still in inside screaming and raging her anger and frustration and her pain.

She tried to get closer, but every time she moved an inch, she found herself thrust back several feet. Why was Susanna pushing her away? Susanna was in pain; she shouldn't be pushing her away like this. She should be pushing the Guardians away, but not her, so why?

And then she saw it.

A shadow.

Mother Nature's eyes widened as the shadow appeared from within the blizzard. She knew who this was.

"Father, wait!"

She managed to catch a glimpse of her father as he pulled Susanna into a hug. Mother Nature found her voice caught in her throat as her father looked at her. His golden-gray eyes seemed haunted and old beyond his eyes. He was devastated and very, very anger. He was completely heartbroken. Tears formed in her eyes. No, please don't tell her she lost her father too. Not like this. Her father was strong. He shouldn't be looking like this.

"I'm sorry, Emily." She fell to her knees as the Wind brought her father's tired voice to her before he and Susanna disappeared along with the blizzard.

Upon their departure, the ice and snow began to melt as her Spirits and Sprites rushed to clean up the area.

Mother Nature continued to stare at the spot she last saw her father and the Snow Queen before they retreated. "But father," her voice trembled as she spoke barely above a whisper. "Jackson is alive."