"I have an idea! We collect teeth!", said North loudly. He smiled, proud of his idea.
'This sounds like something that could work.', agreed Jack, but only for Sandy audible. 'Maybe we can ask other spirits for that?'
'I doubt Bunny and North agree.', argued Sandy. 'Toothiana would, unless we ask any sweets related spirit. And the Deathlings.'
'Great guardian. His pride makes the children suffer.', signed Jack angrily. Even spring spirits put their pride by side to do their job properly, and they are the peacocks of the spirits!
'Not necessarily that.', disagreed Sandy.
'He won't ask non-guardians for help.', pointed Jack out.
'Can't argue that.'
The group decided this will be their plan and they got moving. At first Jack and Sandy worked together, but then they split, to cover more ground. The little fairy – now dubbed Baby Tooth by Jack – decided to stay with Jack. Even if it meant that she attacked an European Tooth mouse. Jack wondered what the other continent's departments were? Budgies for Australia?
Near Burgess, they met up again. Toothiana was asking if he was sure he can't remember his past life. It appeared to be a foreign concept for her that Jack has none. Before Jack could answer, they flew into Moisoi. He gave Toothiana a good scare with his misty plague doctor costume and bone-like mask. Or that big ass scythe he carries. It would put Pitch's to shame, if Pitch couldn't modify the size according to Sandy. But it doesn't come close to Mortis' scythe.
"Ah! The spirit of plagues!", yelled Toothiana, seeing Moisoi. His diseases kill. Kill animals, kill children. They can rot memories like they can rot teeth.
'Not nice, Tooth.', scolded Jack. He flew to Moisoi, 'Nice to see you, Moisoi.'
"You too. So, you're with the guardians now? Aurelie told me so, when I met her while looking for you.", said Moisoi, "I didn't think she'll take over for you. Isn't she the right hand to Queen Aurore?"
'She is. This is just a temporary arrangement. I'm not joining them.', explained Jack. 'I just help them against Pitch Black. We collect teeth, so that the children don't stop believing in her.'
"Right, guardians need to be believed in to have power. I don't get why Katherine wants to join them.", replied Moisoi, while rolling his eyes. "Well, go continue with your help. I need to go to Afghanistan. I can sense people rejected the vaccines. See you, Jack Frost."
'Wait, do you know if Aurelie was accompanied by someone? If yes, who?'
"Aurelie was accompanied by Aurora and Athena-I mean Sapphire. Queen Aurore's Grade A team?"
'Kinda? I actually asked for them specifically to take over for me while I can't.', said Jack. 'Need to go, have a nice day, Moisoi.'
Jack turned around and Tooth looked at him as if she saw a ghost.
"You're friends with Moisoi, the spirit of plagues?", she asked in disbelief. "And he understands you? I assume he understands Sandy as well?"
He used the chalk board, 'Yes, but only because he learned to decipher me. Yes, we're friends. Winter and ailments go hand in hand, so I have to get along with him. The same goes for Mortis and his deathlings. Moisoi isn't bad. Just odd sometimes.'
Toothiana didn't know what to say. "If you say so..."
One reason why many spirits think of the guardians as arrogant, is that the guardians see some spirits as potential new Boogeymen. Moisoi, as the spirit of plagues and other illnesses, has to be bad in their eyes. This results in many spirits disliking Man in the Moon's elites. From the summer spirits – due to the loud minority that are the pyromaniacs – to the unofficial death bringers like Moisoi, the guardians aren't very popular. Jack even heard some spring spirits rant about Bunny on one of the season meetings.
They continued though Burgess, until they reunited with the other guardians in the room of a boy who apparently lost his tooth in a sleigh accident. One Jack may or may not have caused. Not that he is telling anyone that.
Toothiana let North and Bunny argue who gets the tooth (why did they decide to make it a competition, knowing full well these two will use it as a reason to argue) while Sandy and Jack talked about something. She was still shook from seeing Moisoi. Would it be mean if Jack introduces her to a Deathling? Maybe even Mortis himself? Oh, it would.
'What is wrong with Tooth?', asked Sandy his friend.
'Why do you ask me as if I would know it?', replied Jack. 'We flew into Moisoi, he gave her a scare.'
'Moisoi, you say? Oh well.'
Jack wanted to mention that Tooth was rude to Moisoi, but he felt something, as if a shadow was coming close to them. But that shadow was pushed away by light. The boy whose tooth North and Bunny were arguing about woke up and shining his flashlight to them.
Jack noted that the guardians acted awkward now that they are seen. This proves Jack's theory, they don't interact much with children AND other spirits. Oh boy, the Deathlings will love to hear this. Especially Mortis, he hates the guardians. Mortis says all guardians are as arrogant as Bunny. Albeit, due to Jack, he warmed up to Sandy. Doesn't mean much, though. Mortis is always ready to take a dig at Sandy as he is to take a dig on Bunny.
The boy was very excited to see them all. Well, all but Jack. He doesn't believe in him, so Jack is invisible for him. Turns out dogs can see them either way, something Bunny just discovered. The boy's Greyhound was growling at Bunny, directly into his face. Jack rolls his eyes, didn't they know animals can see spirits? Moisoi would have a hard time of his rats won't see him. And the fleas. Especially the fleas. Oh, and the ticks and mosquitoes.
Jack just had to. He triggered the boy's alarm clock with his shepherd's staff, which in turn triggered the hound, who simply attacked Bunny, the big rabbit he growled at. Which probably woke up the kid, if Jack thinks about it. Or because he heard North and Bunny, as he is a believer.
Sandy was conjuring some sand to make the dog fall asleep. The canine was hunting Bunny, not only creating chaos in Jamie's – the boy – room, but he made aiming hard for Sandy. In fact, the dog was the last thing to be hit. North, Bunny, Tooth, Jamie and Sandy fell asleep. Unbeknownst to them, this knocked out a portal globe out of North's coat.
That Sandy knocked out himself isn't the first time, so Jack conjured ice to wake his old friend. A cold prick at the shoulder blades and Sandy was awake. Albeit annoyed. He hates it when Jack (and Moisoi as well as other friends) do that. Yes, it is a regular occurrence that Sandy knocks himself out. Not that the Sandman would ever admit that.
After Sandy complained, Sandy snatched the ice prick and woke up Bunny. He also hated the ice prick, but Sandy told him to just accept it. Sandy was in the process of waking up Tooth – Bunny was giving Jack a nasty side eye – when Jack sensed a shadow again. He left the room, when he saw it.
Like a spindle horse, a Nightmare was watching him. It ran and Jack followed it. While flying after the Nightmare, he conjured a messenger bird. It flew to Bunny.
'Bunny! I'm chasing a Nightmare!', was the message Bunny received from the ice sparrow.
Bunny wanted to help is involuntary ally, but Sandy gave him the prick and pushed him away, leaving out of the window. Sandy was now following Jack and the Nightmare. Bunny was looking at the ice prick. Of course, he knows what Sandy silently demanded, wake North and Toothiana, then help us. But he doesn't get it. How in the world did Jack sense that these was a Nightmare? He doubts Jack heard it. Even Bunny was unable to hear him.
Bunny pricked North and Toothiana, both asking where Sandy and Jack are. Well, North asked for Sandy and Tooth for Jack. She added, "Did Jack see one of his friends again?"
"The frostbite has friends?", asked Bunny in disbelief.
"Apparently yes. On our way there, Jack and I flew into Moisoi-" "The Plague Doctor?" "Yes, that one. Apparently he and Jack are friends. Something about his season brings illnesses so he is close to Moisoi and similar spirits." After his friends explanation, Bunny was thinking again.
Maybe the frostbite sensed it due to his season's nature?
"Now, where are they?", asked North.
"They are chasing a Nightmare Jack found.", explained Bunny. With that, the three Guardians left Jamie's room and searched for their friends. Bunny was already smelling Sandy. Or was it Jack? Hard to tell for Bunny. "Never realized how similar they smell.", he thought.
Jack was flying though Burgess. He and Sandy split to search though double as much area than when they are together. While Sandy was flying in the night sky, Jack got a feeling to stay on the ground.
It was weird for Jack to walk. No flying, not even skating or jumping around, just walking. It was weird for Jack to move like this. And slow. As the only one – most of the time – to guide the season, he needs to move fast from area to area. Walking isn't fast. It is slow.
Jack sensed a Nightmare. He is sure he can sense them at this point. He has no idea why, how or if this is good – he just knows it is useful, at least right now. Walking around a corner, he saw a Nightmare. Is it the same? He has no idea.
'Nightmare, can you sense me like I can sense you?', he asked. Could Nightmares read his signs? If their creator can, maybe they can as well. He felt stupid doing so, but oh well. He can sense his enemy-by-proxy's creation, so why not feeling stupid doing so?
"Oh, this is interesting.", said a voice. Pitch's voice. Of course. "You can sense my nightmares. While I doubt they can sense you, I am sure they feel your fear. I feel your fear, it is so intense."
Jack spun around and pointed his staff onto Pitch. He conjured an ice bird, a messenger and send it to Sandy.
"What a lovely trick, a little birdie.", said Pitch to Jack. "Not something that scares me."
'Maybe if I made a bird of prey, fish face.' relied Jack. 'Maybe a bold eagle? They eat fish, right?' He needs to make time for Sandy to come. He feels very unsure that he can fight Pitch on his own.
"Fish face?!", yelled Pitch annoyed by the name.
'Hey, it is not my fault your face looks like that of a fish.', mocked him Jack.
"Oh, you!" Pitch conjured his scythe and attacked Jack, who jumped into the air. He conjured an ice bow and arrows in a blink, shooting three at Pitch. The Nightmare King twirled his scythe, the arrows shattering as they hit the moving scythe. Pitch didn't look impressed with Jack's archery. "You stagnated, Frost."
'What the heck do you talk about?', asked Jack with his signs, while silently summoning an ice dagger in his hoodies pouch.
"I watched you from the shadows. Including your archery, years ago.", said Pitch, "But apparently I missed your closeness to Sandman."
'Creep.' He then signed, 'If you think my arrows are weak, maybe this is more to your liking, 'Great King of Nightmares'.' Jack threw the dagger, which Pitch dodged with a smooth step to the left, only to be grabbed by an ice cold whip. Jack had a tight grip on Pitch.
"What in Aurore's name is going on here?!", yelled Aurelie, descending from the night sky. Her ice wings reflecting the bit of light produced by the lamps of the street. "Frost, is that Pitch Black?" Sapphire and Aurora followed her down, their wings lesser shinning.
Jack confirmed with a nod. He knows they struggle with his signs. Aurelie barely gets basic sentences while Sapphire and Aurora get nothing.
"Needing help?", asked Sapphire. Jack nod enthusiastically. Help would be appreciated. Especially of three of the strongest winter spirits (that isn't the queen herself) he knows of. Especially Sapphire, a warrior of ancient times. "Ladies!" Sapphire clapped her hands, shards of ice manifesting, forming the sharpest of spears. She spread her wings, showcasing the sharpest edges.
Aurora opted for icy hand fans (not that her wings are enough). Jack semi-regularly borrows her the North Stream, as Aurora assists him a lot. So often, she is often overlooked, hence everyone thinking he works alone all the time. When she isn't helping Jack, she controls the winter weather in the Arctic.
Aurelie has an odd weapon choice. She isn't exactly familiar with fighting as Queen Aurore's right hand woman, so Aurelie opts for a golf club and her balls being iced snow balls. If available with stones in them. Golf is something the princess is familiar with. Made of ice and snow, of course.
The three ladies of winter rushed into action, ice wings carrying them. Sapphire shot from the sky to Pitch, going for a prick by her spear. Pitch dodged, but fell. He stumbled in the ice whips.
"Keep him tight, Frost!", said Sapphire.
"Fore!", yelled Aurelie, smacking an ice ball with her golf club. It hit Pitch in the abdomen, making him kneel in pain. Aurelie flicked her hair, "Right, kneel to the princess, you excuse of a king!" Her wings flickered with excitement.
"I don't get why anyone would be afraid of you, Pitch.", said Aurora, using her fans to guide the winds. A very small but strong tornado forming around Pitch, keeping him better in place than the whips. Jack let go of Pitch, to not be ripped away himself, by Aurora's magic. "King of Fear, nah. King of cheap tricks."
"Why are you interfering?!", yelled Bunny, jumping out of his tunnel, "Leave you winter menaces!"
"What did you call us, Kangaroo?!", yelled Sapphire. Glaring daggers at Bunny. He is a spring spirit by proxy, so Sapphire dislikes him by proxy. Not to mention the general Guardian dislike the winters foster.
"I'm not a kangaroo, Athena!"
"Sapphire to you!", she corrected him, sending a striking gale of air his way. As well as a feather, sharp as a knife. This gale pushed Bunny to the ground, he barely managed to dodge the feather. Jack flew up to Sapphire.
'Sapphire, focus.', he plead, 'Ignore the egg sucker. Let your anger out on Pitch.'
She nod. She may not like Jack, but he is right about this. "Bunnymund, we saw Pitch and Frost fighting, we just helped our herald."
"But you aren't guardians!", countered Bunny.
"And? So is Jack.", replied Aurora annoyed. Jack nod, agreeing with the dame. "Are you seriously complaining about help when you're unable to do your job, cottontail?" Cottontail being one of the many insults seasonals use for the elusive, all mighty and all arrogant guardian critter.
"Cottontail?!"
"Oh-oh, the rabbit sees red.", mocked him Aurelie in a sing-sang voice, before smacking another snow ball at Pitch.
Jack manifested a few signs in front of Bunny, 'Bunny, focus on Pitch! Swallow your pride and fight your enemy!'
"Don't tell me what to do, Frost.", he muttered darkly.
Tooth appeared. "Bunny! Why aren't you handling Pitch!", she yelled at him. She had her feather swords ready. She then saw Aurora, Aurelie and Sapphire. "Oh, why are you here?"
"We saw Jack being swept by the king of bad thoughts and decided to help.", explained Aurelie while framing Jack as incompetent.
"Hey! Fear me!", complained Pitch.
"No! Fore!" Another one of Aurelie's snow balls hit him, this time his face. "Fish face." The seasonals may not like the guardians, but the king of nightmares isn't exactly popular either. If anything, he is far more hated.
North and Sandy appeared. North said, "We are thankful for your help, but we take from here."
Aurelie rolled her eyes. "I doubt you can handle this alone, but we have better to do anyway. Come, ladies!"
"Puh! What would be more important than protecting the children of this world?", asked Bunny insulted.
"Seasons of this world.", said Sapphire, turning to Bunny. "You may not like it, but we elementals are more important." She threw her spear to Jack. Her way of saying, 'Do it yourself, Frost.'
"The world may run with children being afraid of the dark, the dark ages were a thing after all, but the world can't run without the seasons.", said Aurelie. "Ergo, we are what matters, you are just extra." With that, the three mistresses of ice left and feeling great doing it. They just told the Guardians of Childhood what so many seasonals wanted to do since the Guardians first emerged.
The guardians may not like it, but seasonals are higher in the spirit hierarchy. The world can't exist without them, but she can without the guardians. It would be a miserable existence, but it would be possible. A harsh truth.
Started: 1st July 2023
Edited: 2nd September 2023
Finished: 5th July 2023
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