Chapter 26: Whiteout

"That's it? No hi, how are you, how's it been, oh brother of mine?" Pyros asked, starting forward. "I mean, I don't know what I expected. You always were so rude."

Blaise huffed, steam coming out of his nose as he stalked towards his brother.

"Is this Kringle's base?" Pyros chuckled, elves cowering as he glanced around at the small, colourful buildings. "Can't say I love what he's done with the place. Kind of ugly, actually. Very ah, kitschy," he decided, stopping right in front of Blaise.

"Cut the crap, Pyros. What did you do to my daughter?"

"Ah, right to business I see! Very well. I've done to her what Mother did to us. I've shown her power. True power. Power that you failed to accept. How does it feel to see your child do what you never could? What you failed at?"

"That wasn't power! That was control. THIS is control! You're controlling her, Pyros! That's what Mother did! She controlled us!" Blaise said, jabbing his brother's chest.

"No!" Pyros smacked his hand away. "She showed us our true potential! And had you given in," he jabbed his finger furiously at Blaise, "you'd be as powerful as I am now! And not as pudgy," he said, poking his twin right in the gut for good measure.

Rolling his eyes, Blaise smacked his brother's hand away.

"Ow!"

"You see pudge, I see strength. That's why I kept up with the sprite training. Keeps me in shape. And you're. Goddess above. You look frail. And old. A weak breeze could blow you away! See, this is what happens when you go forget the fire! And you know, the kitchen was always magically fully stocked. Always! I have no idea why you're so skinny."

"I was BUSY! I didn't have time to feast. That comes later."

"What the hell even is this," Blaise spluttered, gesturing at his brother. "Why are you even HERE. You've been imprisoned! You should still be there!"

"A minor drawback, really," Pyros sniffed, carelessly waving his hand. "Slightest of inconveniences if you will. Besides, we have a score to settle!"

Blaise hmm'd. He ha'd. He sucked his teeth. "That doesn't sound right. See, if I recall correctly, I beat you fair and square. Hence the IMPRISONMENT."

"Fair?!" Pyros's hair lit up ferociously. "Fair and SQUARE?! YOU roped those damn Kringles into working with you! That's the ONLY reason you beat me! How is that FAIR?!"

Blaise threw his head back and laughed. "Oh, please! They volunteered! You got sloppy Pyros!" He smirked at his Twin. "You got too big for your britches! And that's something I never was. Sloppy. I clean up well! Unlike your scraggily ass, what is GROWING on your face?!"

"Scraggily? I—it's my beard! I'm quite fond of it, actually. Looks very regal. Very kingly," he grinned, giving it a little stroke.

Blaise let out a long-suffering sigh. "So that's what this is about."

"Always has been," Pyros replied through gritted teeth.

"Jacqueline! NO!"

Jack had no idea who the scream came from. He shut his eyes tight and spread his palms, protecting his face and hunkering down, not looking forward to the feeling of being squashed by four to eight old-fashioned inpatient beds.

But the feeling never came.

He cracked open an eye. In front of him, Elle's green jacket billowed out behind her. Her hands were outstretched, the pile of beds suspended in the air in front of her. She moved her hands down, the beds collapsing onto one another. Metal clattered against metal, wheels squeaking, springs groaning.

"Nice work," Jack said, relieved, rushing to her side as she exhaled.

"Thanks," she sprung back up. "You okay?"

"For the most part." Pressing himself up against the beds, he peeked through the gap closest to him.

Jacqueline stood stock-still, absolutely horrified. Her hands were pressed up in front of her mouth, eyes staring unblinkingly at the pile of beds in front of her. A huge swath of frost began to gather around her, spilling over itself as the frosty clouds grew.

"Elle?" she asked, quietly.

"I'm okay!" Elle shouted back. "We both are."

Jack looked back through the wire headboards, peering out at Jacqueline.

She looked relieved, sinking down for a second before being thrown back. Jack felt himself twitch; it took every modicum of restraint he had to not throw himself over the barricade and rush to her. She hugged her midsection tightly, screamed, and the frost around her went flying.

It coated the walls, the floors, the ceiling, even! It hit the beds with a sharp crunch, wisps of frost floating up and curling over the barricade.

"Jacqueline!" Jack called, properly looking over the beds now.

Still holding her midsection, she looked up at Jack.

I'm here for you, he tried to think her way.

But once more he was met with nothing on the other end.

She straightened up suddenly, hands glowing as she conjured a swath of snow. She kept going, more and more snow appearing until a decent pile spread around her.

Her eyes flicked up at Jack; angry. Hard.

He gulped. "You really don't need to do whatever it is you're about to do."

Tilting her head, she glared. "I do what I want," she said coldly, breaking into a run.

The snow trailed behind her, twirling together and sliding right under her boots. It stretched out in front of her, every footfall landing on a snowy step until she stood above the pile of beds. She launched herself forward, the snow carrying her right over them and dropping her just behind Jack. He whipped around, backing up, only to hit the beds once more.

Her hands shot forward. The snow followed, clumping together and heading right for him.

Instinct kicked in. Jack reached out, the snow stopping suddenly and readjusting its trajectory. He waved his hand to the side; the snow followed, turning sharply and just missing him, pins and needles exploding in his arms.

"I was using that," Jacqueline snapped, reaching out once more. The snow made a sharp turn, doubling back and aiming for Jack yet again.

"I don't think so," Jack said, shoving his hand up. The snow shot up, high above their heads, falling over itself as Jack glanced around, trying to keep it under his control.

Which was hard to do when your equally as powerful sister was tying to do much the same.

"Jacqueline, you don't need to do this!" Elle pleaded, stepping forward. "I mean, you can if you want to, but maybe not inside? I'll happily join you in throwing things around outside, if it helps! Whatever you need, I got you." Elle pressed forward, her arms low, palms spread.

Jacqueline's hand wavered. She winced, briefly.

Jack tightened his hold on the snow. The pinpricks of pain worsened; he gritted his teeth, trying to focus on the task at hand.

"Keep fighting! I know it's hard; I know you feel hopeless, but you're not alone! We're here for you! Both of us," Elle said, gesturing over her shoulder at Jack.

Jacqueline looked over at Elle. Her gaze slid behind her, to Jack. She softened, her hold on the snow loosening.

Jack sighed quietly, relieved. He relaxed his hold, his shoulders dropping as some of the tension left them. His eyes scanned the ground, looking for a safe space to drop the snow. He stepped towards Jacqueline.

She scowled and, with a frustrated growl, swung about.

The snow was nearly yanked completely out of his control. It bulged, Jack nearly thrown back as Jacqueline seized it. It bubbled briefly, looking very funnel like before it shot down rapidly, beelining for Elle.

Jack was in front of her in seconds.

Before Elle could even call up the appropriate telekinetic energy to avoid being crushed, Jack's hand was up in the universal stop motion. The snow exploded above them before it could so much as land anywhere near Elle's flyaway hairs. Several quick flicks of his hand later, the snow clumped together again, fully under Jack's control.

Aiming for the weak point in the middle, where he had been able to peer over to the other side, Jack sent the snow right towards the barricade. It hit its mark, nailing it with enough force that the beds split, opening a path to the other side of the ward. The snow dropped to the floor, the pellets hitting the ground with loud tinks, nearly coating the back half of the infirmary.

The pins and needles that had been dancing along his arm had gone.

"You okay?" Jack asked, looking over his shoulder at Elle.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," she said and, without even thanking Jack, turned Jacqueline. "What the heck, dude! I'm your bestest bud!"

"Best bud," Jack corrected.

"That too!"

Jacqueline faltered and stepped back, a look of consternation on her face.

"You almost hurt Elle!" Jack said, more worried than anything. "You'd never!"

"How would you know!?" she snapped, jabbing an accusatory finger at him. Magic coated her hands, arcing up her arms. "You certainly haven't been around long enough to know anything I'd—NO, I—" she shut her eyes tightly, and with a sudden shout, thrust both arms forward.

Above her arms, snow materialized from thin air. Squeaking the way good packing snow does, it clumped together and shot forward. It spun through the air, gaining speed and snow as it rushed towards Jack.

He threw up an arm. The blast hit it, sliding right off him and hitting the ground.

Behind him, Elle hopped through the gap in the furniture, rushing towards the snow covered ward.

Jack's other arm shot up, blocking Jacqueline's second snowy blast. He glanced under his arm, spotting Elle across the way helping what looked to be a few stragglers make their way out of the Elfirmary.

That's what she was doing, he realized, blocking another one of Jacqueline's blasts, the second one hitting him a little forcefully in the chest.

Well, better he get snowed on than them, Jack decided.

Shifting so that he stood between Jacqueline and the gap, keeping the bystanders behind him, Jack stood his ground. Jacqueline's snowy blasts kept coming, faster and faster and faster. Jack kept throwing his arms up, the snow stopping in midair just before his forearms. With a wave, they were sent off, splattering on the beds, on the floor; a few hit the front desk, papers crinkling, pens toppling onto the ground.

Finally, as the last few elves were ushered out the door by Elle, Jacqueline's attacks slowed to a stop, the sprite catching her breath. Hands on her knees, she panted, her forehead glistening with sweat.

"Jacqueline!" Elle shouted, rushing back in and right into Jack's outstretched arm. "Hey!"

"Don't get too close," Jack said. "If she's trying to fight it off, trust me, we do not want to be in her area of effect."

"Right." With a resolute nod, Elle turned her attention back to her friend. "Jacqueline," she said again, gently. "It's okay; we're okay. You can do this."

"Everyone's out of the way," Jack added. "You won't hurt anyone."

Her face fell. "I can't. I don't. There's just so much," she said, her eyes glistening.

"Yeah, we can see that," Jack said. The corner of her lip twitched. "You know, you're stronger than you think, Jacqueline."

"Yeah! We've got you! We're here to help you!" Gently pushing Jack's arm down, Elle took a step towards her.

The magic was still gathering around her, in substantial amounts. "No! I don't want to hurt them—GAH!"

She twitched, standing up straight before staggering back and holding her head, eyes shut tight.

"Jacquie?" Jack asked, taking his own cautious step forward.

She shot up suddenly, looking very, very angry. "YOU don't get to call me that. Not after EVERYTHING you've put me through!"

She lunged, magic trailing behind her.

Jack hopped out of the way just in time, sliding through the snow on the floor. A quick wave sent Elle out of the room, snow seeing her safely deposited in the hall. Relieved, Jack turned just in time to see Jacqueline shoot past him. She pivoted, reaching high above her head and driving her arms forward.

The wind came from nowhere and was everywhere all at once. It flung his jacket back, growing stronger and stronger. Hands in front of his face, he tried to press forward; but the snow was being pushed back in the wind, and taking him with it. It kept going, faster and stronger pushing the snow out, pushing him out, until Jack found himself staring at the swinging doors of the Elfirmary, snow pooling around him in the hallway.

The snow below him froze. He slid back, stopping when the balcony railing gently pressed into his back. Dropping his arms, he exhaled, taking a moment to breath.

The hallway was busy. Elle stood at the top of the steps, directing the evacuated Elfirmary staff and elves that were in the area down the stairs to the main floor. Pushing against the crowd, Bernard worked his way up, helping elves down the stairs and doing his best to reassure as he made it to the landing.

"Elle!"

"B!"

"What's going on?"

"It's Jacqueline," Elle said, the last few elves rushing down the steps. "So, we've got good news and bad news."

Bernard watched the elves rush away. Looked at the pile of snow in the hallway. Saw Jack pulling himself up off the banister with assistance from the wall beside it.

"Hmm. Okay. What's the good news?"

"The good news is, she's up!"

"The bad news?"

The Elfirmary doors slammed open, snow billowing out, carrying Jacqueline with it. She looked furious, wind rustling her skirt, hair whipping back.

"That. That's the bad news," Elle said.

"Oh," Bernard replied, his voice cracking.

Briefly glaring at her surroundings, Jacqueline lifted her hand. The snow on the floor shot up, packing together. Jacqueline pointed at Jack. The snow raced at her command, heading right for him.

Jack stuck out his own hand, redirecting the snow before it could come near him. He turned on the spot, the snow stacking up in front of him, filling the hallway wall to wall until it touched the ceiling. Jack curled his fingers into his palm. The snow crunched. It stiffened, going from icy to packing in an instant as Jack backed up, stopping in front of the head elves.

"Was that everyone?"

"Yep," Elle said.

"Great! That's not going to hold her for long," Jack gestured over his shoulder to the snowy wall behind him as something hit it forcefully with a muffled thump. It squeaked. "I can get her out of the Workshop, at least. Prime real estate is that-away, isn't it?" Jack asked, pointing towards the other end of the hallway. It branched off by a round window, curving down one direction, heading up the other.

"In both directions," Bernard said. "Middle balcony is to the left. Upper balcony is, well. Up. You're gonna lead her out?"

"Unless you'd rather risk the Workshop. Personally I don't mind either way, but—"

"Hmm, yeah, I'd rather you didn't," Bernard said. "But just so you know, there's trouble outside too."

"Trouble?" both Elle and Jack asked, the muffled thumps increasing behind them. The snow squeaked louder, tiny trails falling off the edges and sliding to the floor.

"Take a look for yourself." Bernard lifted his chin towards the window at the end of the hall.

Snow cracking behind him, Jack rushed to the end of the hall and peered out the window. He squinted in surprise, recoiling in shock.

"Well that's probably not good."

"What?" Elle asked.

"I'm seeing double."

Elle made to step up and head to the window. Her foot had barely lifted off the stairs when there was a rumble. Bernard pulled Elle back gently; Jack twirled, facing the snowy wall.

With a deep thrum, the snow fell.

Bits stuck to the walls, splattering against the mouldings. Chunks shot forward, drifting down between the rails of the banister, landing on the floor below with wet plunks. Jacqueline stood on the other side with one arm outstretched, breathing heavily. The other arm was bent at the elbow, her hand tightly clasped around her wrist.

"Go!" Jack shouted at the elves. "I've got this."

Wordlessly, the head elves ran down the stairs, shooing onlookers away from the base.

Jack watched Jacqueline carefully. The snow was rumbling around her, her outstretched hand glowing.

"Jacquie?"

"Did I stutter?" she snapped, the snow whipping up around her. She let go of her wrist, the winds picking up again. "You. Don't. Get to…get to…no—GAH! STOP—"

She staggered back a bit, her grip tightening. Jack moved closer, keeping the packing snow safely between him and Jacqueline as she fought for control.

"Deep breaths! It's going to be okay," Jack said, a hint of desperation in his voice. "We can fix this, Jacqueline!"

"We?" she asked, eyebrow shooting up. She dropped her hands, straightening and facing him with an incredulous look. "We?! Since WHEN do YOU want to fix anything EVER?" Ice spiralled out from below her boot as she stomped her foot, arms stiff at her sides. "My GOD. HOW many times have YOU messed up a cold front or a storm system or a perfectly nice summer day and just left it? Lady of the SPRINGS, dude. You froze volcanoes! You know how bad that could've been? And the STORM in the AMAZON," she stomped forward, the snow below her shaking. "And FROSTMAS?!"

Jack started walking backwards. "You know, Jacqueline, I'm thinking that maybe Frostmas isn't the best event to compare and contrast with the Deliquesce." He didn't look at her; his eyes were trained on the floor.

"Isn't it?!" Jacqueline demanded, matching his steps back with her own steps forward.

Perfect, Jack thought, shifting to the right and looking back up at her. "It really isn't. I mean, for starters, that timeline doesn't even exist anymore! And I, for one, think things were running perfectly smoothly then."

"SMOOTHLY?" Jacqueline shouted, shrill, flushing in anger. "The Workshop was FULL of ordibeings! The people were awful. You could barely MOVE down there! It was KILLING the MAGIC, JACK! Snow was barely falling and every year it was a green Christmas in the northern hemisphere and—"

Jack went in for the kill. "That sounds like a you problem."

Jacqueline gasped, looking aghast. "You take that back!"

Jack smirked. Got her, he thought. "You know, I don't think I will." Turning on his heel, he shot down the hall.

"HEY! GET BACK HERE!"

Jacqueline shot after him, the snow on the floor springing to life and rushing alongside her. She shoved her hands in front of her, the snow pushing her up, propelling her closer to Jack.

The snow licked at his heels. Reaching down on either side, his fingertips grazed the snow that pooled around him. It shifted, twirling underneath him as he took control of it. Taking a page out of Jacqueline's book, he surfed it, using her own speed against her to pull ahead.

The door outside was in his sights. The corridor was filling with snow. It sounded like a busy day on the slopes as Jacqueline wasted no time conjuring more snow that Jack managed to snatch control of surprisingly easily.

But he didn't have time to think about the semantics of that as the door drew closer and closer in front of him, Jacqueline doing the same behind him. He waved his hand. The door shot open, hitting the brickwork outside. Jack burst through it, spinning on top of the snow and stopping himself right before the end of the bridge, the snow pouring down the sides of it with a hiss reminiscent of sand.

The rest of the snow from the hallway blasted through the door, heading right for him. The drift was a hair's breadth away from him when he threw his hand up.

The snow stilled on the spot, piling high in front of Jack as more and more of the snow packed onto itself. Snapping his palm closed, the snow stopped.

"Enough," he said to the snow, moving his hand in the slightest, sharpest, forty-five-degree angle to the side.

The snow rumbled before throwing itself right off the balcony, landing on the ground with a big soft poof. Powdered snow lifted into the air, drifting around below the balcony as Jacqueline stepped through the doorway, looking furious.

"The only way I can fix this…" The words came out slowly. Deliberately. One might say she was choosing them carefully; but Jack, scrutinizing her face and glancing quickly at her fists and her posture, knew better.

She was trying so hard to keep the words in.

She closed her eyes, fists tightening. "The only way…I can…fix this…is if I…if I…"

A growl. A heavy exhale. A step back.

"If you what? Sit down for a moment? Collect yourself? Maybe give your old brother a breather?"

Her lips twitched briefly. "Yes. NO!" Her eyes snapped open, her fists springing up. "The only way I can fix this is if I get you out of the way!"

Jack glanced below him. Above him. Glanced behind himself at the closed door. Turned back to look at her incredulously. "Really? That's your plan?"

"YES! NO. I don't knOw, I—ARGH."

Pulling a face he shrugged, nonchalant. "All right then, Jacqueline. You do you." Turning away from her, he hopped up on the railing. Balancing on it expertly, he turned ever so slightly to face Jacqueline.

She looked confused. She stepped forward; she stepped back. She scrunched up her face, equal parts angry and…fearful.

"What are you doing?!"

"You want to get me out of the way?" he walked the railing, stopping dead centre. He turned, crossing his arms and looking down at her. "Then come and get me."

Hi tipped back ever so slowly for the briefest of moments before falling right off the rail.

Jacqueline gasped, rushing towards the rail and hanging over it, hands aglow. A wave of snow sprung up above her, hovering behind her as she watched Jack fall right into his own tidal wave of snow. It rushed up from the ground, meeting him halfway and gently supporting his back.

Jacqueline slumped. She sighed, relieved, letting her guard down for just a second.

That was all it took.

In that fleeting second, allowing herself to exhale and drop some tension, the slight measure of control she had managed to wrestle back was gone. She gasped; croaked out a strangled no as her head went down, hair obscuring her face. Her right arm went up slowly; unnaturally. She flung her hand forward, and the tidal wave of snow behind her rushed over her, plummeting off the balcony.

Jack blanched as the snow fell faster and faster, smacking right on top of him as his own pile of snow hit the ground with a satisfying crunch, his world going white seconds after impact.

Jacqueline smirked. "Got you," she taunted, jumping down and hitting the ground with a crunch, nailing the superhero landing. She got up, making her way towards the huge pile of snow when—

"Jacqueline!"

She stopped. She straightened up, confused. Blinking, she whipped around, her face immediately softening.

"Dad?"

"Ah-ah-ah, I don't think so!" Pyros stepped forward as Blaise watched Jacqueline closely. She gasped suddenly, crumpling into herself.

"Leave her alone!" Blaise snapped, whirling on Pyros now. "This is between us, Pyros. Leave my kids out of it."

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Blaise," he said smartly, waggling a finger as though he were giving a lecture.

Which, Blaise gathered, he was about to do. It took everything in his power to not groan out loud as Pyros opened his mouth to speak.

"You took everything from me! Everything! It's only fair I return the favour in kind, don't you think?"

Blaise blinked, eyebrow raised. "And how does setting Jacqueline on Jack help you with that?"

"I'm so glad you asked! I could've been King, Blaise. I could've ruled! And you. You took that away from me!"

"You had no idea who they'd pick! Neither of us did! For all we know, it could've been you all along! Or both of us! Or neither of us! YOU COULDN'T HAVE KNOWN!"

"I DID WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE," Pyros yelled back, arms out above his head. His fists glowed, fire shooting out behind him. Nostrils flaring, he took a deep breath in, smoothing back an out of place hair. He chuckled, giving Blaise what he thought was his most charming grin.

It wasn't charming in the slightest on him.

Blaise straightened as well. "And you failed," he said, levelling Pyros with the exact same grin, that was somehow less conniving and proper charming on him.

"No. I did what I had to do to ensure that the crown would be mine. And then you took that away from me," he hissed.

"Look, Pyros," Blaise said, his hands out in front of him in surrender. His lip curled angrily. "This is between us. Whatever it is you want, we can work it out. Leave the kids out of it. Let Jacqueline go."

"I'm afraid I can't do that. See, you took everything from me. And now I'm going to take everything from you. Starting with them," he pointed with his thumb over at Jacqueline and the snow pile that, presumably, hid Jack. "Payback, Blaise. I'm going to make you pay. And this is one of MANY fun ways I've devised!" His face lit up; he looked absolutely delighted. "It'll be fun to watch as the son you just got back is destroyed by the daughter who missed him so." He chuckled behind closed lips, looking smugly at his brother.

Blaise smirked, letting out a chuckle of his own. "You underestimate how far those two will go for each other."

"Ah, but I'm in her mind, Blaise! I can see all her thoughts. Even the ones she keeps buried away. How do you think I'm managing this?" He gestured towards them, Jack still underneath the snow, Jacqueline doubled over, struggling for control. "You underestimate how angry she is. But I? I know. And I'm giving her the power to act on it! And the encouragement, which is just as important, of course. Watch."

Blaise watched as Pyros zeroed in on Jacqueline. She sat in the snow, magic cracking and snapping around her, breathing heavily. Her fists were clenched, snow oozing out between her fingers, her knuckles just as white as the snow in her palms. In front of her, the giant pile of snow that Jack had been encased in seemed to be moving.

Farther out, elves were shuffling towards the Workshop, giving them all a wide berth. They ducked behind the buildings, looping around them and behind them to get away from the very scary sprites in the square. Santa himself appeared from behind the pillars holding up the bridges. Helping an elf up and gesturing them towards the back of the Shop, he made his way towards the snow pile, sinking his hands into it.

Jacqueline hadn't noticed.

Nor had Pyros, Blaise noted.

Eyes flicking back and forth between the two, Blaise took a chance and sought out the connection in his head that he had buried away for thousands of years. Inhaling quietly, he mumbled under his breath (a quick little incantation), taking care to hide his presence as he slid down the line and into Pyros's mind.

There's movement, Blaise heard his brother think. He's still okay, even after everything you've done…everything he's done to you. You know what you want to do…what you need to do to fix this; to end this.

Over by the snow pile, Jacqueline perked up.

It was slow work, but Jack didn't want to rush it. He couldn't sense where Jacqueline was and he didn't want to agitate her OR be caught off guard just yet. He needed a moment to think; to breath. Lady above, this was exhausting, he thought to himself, as he carefully tunnelled his way to the other end of the snow pile.

His hands hit something fleshy.

Somethings.

Jack drew back, watching as two hands thrust themselves deeper into the snow. They felt about, grabbing onto the cuffs of his jacket and latching onto his wrists.

"Oh no," Jack realized, as the familiar warm, calloused hands tightened around his wrists and YANKED him out of the snow pile.

"OW! Do you mind, Claus? I just fell down two storeys!" Jack said, using Santa's momentum to straighten himself up and look around.

"Oh, sorry! I ah, missed that part."

"You shouldn't be out here!" Jack snapped, taking stock of the scene. Jacqueline was not paying attention. Magic crackled all around her as she glared into the snow, focusing on something else entirely. Fighting, Jack hopped, as he led Santa just under the bridge, the pillars barely obscuring them.

"Everyone keeps telling me that, but nobody is telling me why! This is my home, Jack, our home, and I'll be damned if I just sit by while my friend gets wailed on by his not-herself sister, and my friend's DAD faces up with another person who is ALSO on fire! There's TWO of them!"

"Two?" Jack said, glancing over to the square.

Sure enough, a second fiery figure had appeared. Just as tall as Blaise, his unlit hair slightly darker; huge beard to match the whole fairy-tale king vibe he seemed to have going for him. His back was half turned towards him; he seemed to be taunting Blaise while gesturing towards Jacqueline.

Blaise looked furious. More so than Jack had ever seen him, and he had gotten the man very, very, very mad at times in his youth.

What was he missing?

Jack looked down, thinking back to their conversation about the potion in the Elfirmary. The story he told them. Blaise's insistence that Jack stay put and keep his sister safe. The rush outside, the command to keep everyone inside…

I can't let him hurt her anymore. And I won't let him hurt you again.

Again...

It clicked, then. He hadn't been seeing double.

He had seen double.

"Ah," Jack said, deflating.

"What? What is it?"

"Good news, Santa! I'm related to both of the on-fire men."

Santa paled. "What? Seriously? You gotta be kidding me!"

"I wish I was. I am very certain that that's my uncle."

"Your uncle?"

"Yeah, you know. Dad's twin? Went a little loco with power, started a war, defeated by my parents, imprisoned, cursed me? Didn't I mention that? I-I'm pretty sure I mentioned that."

"You did NOT! CURSED you?"

"Yeah, you know. The reason why everyone was like ah! Jack can't thaw!" he waved his hands weakly above his head, pretending to panic briefly before letting them fall back down. "A curse? The curse, if you will."

"And he," Santa said, jabbing his finger towards the presumed uncle. "Did that?!"

"Yeah."

"And now he's in my HOUSE?!"

"Your Courtyard, actually."

Santa's mouth was agape, no words coming out.

"Look, Santa. It's best you leave this to Blaise. If that is Pyros, whatever happens next is going to be WAY above your paygrade. Mine too, if I'm being completely honest. Plus side: if I survive this, maybe I'll get a raise! Anyway, you need to get inside before—"

Jack was cut off when a blanket of snow rammed right into his back, knocking him down. Santa stepped towards him to help, when suddenly the ground below him froze.

"Uh-oh," Santa voiced, feeling his soles lose traction and a wind hit him from behind, sliding him right out from cover. He spun around and met Jacqueline's gaze.

"Lay off, Santa," she said coldly, her hand glowing. "Jack and I have some unfinished business to attend to." Her eyes narrowed angrily. Santa gulped.

"As do I with you!" a voice said behind Santa.

Spinning back around to face the fiery brothers, Santa found his jaw once again dropping as the newcomer spoke to him, gleeful.

"If it isn't the current Kris Kringle himself!"

"Leave him alone, Pyros!" Blaise shouted, sticking his arm out to stop his brother's pursuit. "He's not the original Kris Kringle."

"Yeah. That guy goes WAY back! He's old news! There's been countless ones since that guy!" Santa frowned, struggling to get up. "Look, I have no beef with you, alright?" he continued, finally standing upright after much slipping and sliding. "Who even are you? Why are you here? Why are you attacking my home?!"

"Lady above, don't get him started, Santa," Blaise said.

"You know, I've had just about enough of you." Raising his free hand, the tip of Pyros's staff began to glow. A dark red light blossomed, shooting right off and landing on Blaise's mouth. He tried to speak; but whatever he was saying came out muffled.

Pyros chuckled. "That's better! Now then," he whipped about, stepping closer to Santa. "Kringle!"

"It's Calvin, actually. Scott Calvin."

"You're not the one known as Santa Claus, then? You certainly look like it to me."

"No, no. I am Santa! I just. I'm not Kris Kringle. I mean, that's ONE of the names I'm known by but that's not my name."

"But he is the one that your title comes from," Pyros pointed out, hands clasped behind his back.

"No, that's St. Nicholas."

"Partially," Pyros replied. "This is really embarrassing for you, you know that? You don't even know your own history." He glanced over at Blaise. His twin was still struggling to get the enchantment off his mouth, looking angrier and angrier with each passing second. Pyros chuckled. "Since he's a bit preoccupied right now, allow me to enlighten you! Hold still."

Behind his back, the tip of his staff lit up. A ball of deep red magic shot out, splitting into four and flying across the square. One headed right towards Santa.

He tried to run. He really, really, did. But the red ball of magic hit his feet before he could move, and suddenly, Scott found himself very much stuck in place.

Beside him, the snow rumbled. It flew to the side, Jack bursting out of it, hand glowing. He stood up, tense, rushing towards Santa—only to find himself stuck in place too. He glanced at Santa, shaking his head and mouthing be careful.

Santa gulped, glancing over at Jacqueline. She was unable to move too, her dress swishing as she tried fruitlessly to move forward. He glanced back at Jack. The Legend saw, too; his eyes were trained on his sister. He frowned.

Santa looked forward, the other man—Pyros, Jack had said—now right in front of him.

"Whoa! Haven't you ever heard of personal space? Geez," Scott said, sounding tougher than he felt.

Pyros chuckled, taking a half step back. "Nicholas wasn't the only first. Before him, there was Kris. Kris Kringle. A human. Abandoned at birth and found by the Kringle Elves. Your elves that are employed here to this day, believe it or not. Kris was very annoying; exceedingly friendly and much too nice. The Kringles eventually turned him fully from human to elf, and he was the first of many to become like this. He sought to use their magic and talents to help his old world. The human world. The ordibeing world. That's when he met with one Nicholas of Myra, and with him, they planned the operation that you see here today. But do you know what happened between that—sorry. Scott, was it?"

"Yeah."

"Blegh."

"Hey! Scott is a perfectly fine name!"

"You keep telling yourself that," Pyros sniffed. "Now," he turned away from Santa, surveying his other marks. "You were asking me who I was." He stopped a few paces off, hands clutched together behind his back. In front of him, Blaise pulled a face, rolling his eyes.

"That can't be good," Santa said to himself.

Pyros turned suddenly, sticking his staff into the ground. His fur cape furled out. The crown on his head glinted. "I am Pyros Frost! One of the Twin Princes of Crystal Springs, AND rightful King of the magibeans. I had it all, Kringle. I had power. I had droves of magibeans in my ranks! I had the fear of the ordibeing world. I had captured the seasons themselves and had foiled the plots of Tara and the Castors to free the girls. Victory was in my grasp! But then Kringle convinced the elves to ally with Blaise."

"That was actually all on you, brother."

Pyros whipped around, glaring at Blaise. He smirked, waving his left hand and pointing to the broken enchantment in his right one. He crushed it in his palm, the magical residue drifting down into the snow. With another flourish, the magical glow around his feet snapped, Blaise stepping out of Pyros's confinement effortlessly.

He cast his hand behind him, gently bringing it up. The residue from Pyros's second spell lifted off of the ground, drifting into Blaise's palm. He looked at it carefully, walking over to his brother's side way too nonchalantly for Santa's liking.

"Strong stuff," Blaise said, impressed.

Swallowing a sassy remark, Pyros glowered. "On me? HOW was their involvement on me?! You know, I tried to recruit them! They refused to get involved, choosing instead to stay neutral. A new age was dawning and they refused it! Refused me! But you, of course. You were able to convince them. You always were the more charismatic of the two of us."

"Nah," Blaise said, his hand in front of his face. The remnants of the enchantment glowed dim on his fingertips as he pressed them together, then released them repeatedly, magical residue sticking to his fingers like syrup. "I was more charismatic, yes. Still am. But I had nothing to do with the decision the Kringles made. They chose to help me the moment you revealed us to the ordibeings and kidnapped the seasons, throwing the entire world out of balance. Like I said, Pyros. You got too big for your own head. You brought it upon yourself." His fingers snapped shut one final time as he levelled Pyros with a very frosty glare.

"The only reason you defeated me was because of HIM! And for that, I'll get my revenge too. I mean, it was going so well, you know. Perfectly lain curses and such," Pyros smirked, eyes flashing to Jack, and then back to Santa. "I love curses. They work so effortlessly! You lay it, tell it what you intend, and it does the rest. And this one! This one did! What was it again?"

"Don't, Pyros," said Blaise, looking very scary.

"The Curse of the Hardened Heart," Pyros continued, unabashedly. "How did it go again? Oh yes! A curse unto your firstborn child. Beware their hardened heart. For nothing shall soften it!"

"Don't," Blaise repeated

"It will be unyielding to warmth and unfeeling!"

"Enough." Blaise demanded, his hair burning taller. "That curse was impossible."

Pyros laughed. "And yet, I cast it, did I not? AND, it was long lasting! It almost destroyed your entire family, Blaise. And then last year! Goddess above! We almost had it! Almost! But unfortunately, Kringle, you are smarter than you look; and Blaise, your kids are weak. Powerful, powerful sprites, but they are much too emotional. A shame, really. I could've done so much had you—" Pyros turned to glare at Jack, "not given in to your feelings and let Kringle take back the Pole."

"Wait, what?" Santa asked, turning to Jack. "What's he talking about? Jack? Anyone home?"

The Legend was not listening. No sirree. Wherever Jack was at that moment, he was not hearing Santa. His mind was running a mile a minute. Processing everything his Uncle was saying. His Uncle, who he had never before met but had heard his entire life.

His anti-conscious had sounded just like the man.

Which made sense, of course. It was Curses 101. A little mark of the spellcaster who lay down the curse would always be there in some way, shape, or form, depending on the curse. And this curse, this very real curse that Jack had apparently been hit with, this curse of the hardened heart…taking an already brutal trait sprites had and making it so much worse…

It made sense that the way the castor's mark would manifest would be in that little voice that tells you what to do.

And what not to do.

And bolsters you when you decided what not to do was exactly what you would do.

"Jack? What does he mean you gave in? I tricked you!"

"Yeah, you wish, Santa," Jack finally said, snapping back to the present. "I was always going to say those words and switch us back, but that's neither here nor there, HEY UNCLE P! WHAT THE FROST?!"

Unable to move forward, Jack glared at his uncle. With his best Winter look, he sneered. "You knew the ENTIRE TIME what cursing someone with a hardened heart would do, didn't you?"

"Of course! Why do you think I did it?!"

"Don't egg him on, Jack! He's dangerous!"

"Oh no you don't, Dad! I have a bone to pick here, and lady above I am going to pick it," he hissed. "You cursed me! I was born frozen and couldn't thaw! Everyone told me it couldn't be done! EVERYONE! Do you know how many things I did, the people I hurt, scared—and then they told me I couldn't thaw? At all? I almost killed my sister! She was a child! The person I cared the most for in the entire world, and I nearly killed her!"

"Ou, the Day of Darkness! That was a fun one! Could you imagine, Blaise, had it gone bad? Had she actually died?! Your family would've been torn apart well beyond repair! I could've won then and there—OOF!"

There was a crack as Blaise's fist hit Pyros's jaw.

He fell onto the ground, rubbing his face. An angry red mark was appearing right on his cheek. Scrambling back, he grabbed his staff, glancing up at his brother.

Blaise dropped his fist, shaking it as he walked towards Pyros slowly. Every single step he took hissed as the snow melted beneath his feet. Steam was coming out of his nostrils on every exhale.

"That's enough Pyros," Blaise said, stone cold. He seemed to be smoking all over the place. Literally. Smoke was drifting off of his shoulders, his elbows…Pyros jumped up, scrambling back and gripping his staff, his fur cloak furling out behind him as he tried to right himself.

Blaise stopped centimetres away from his twin. "Run," he said, darkly.

"What?"

"RUN!" Blaise yelled, turning towards the square.

In a flash, he opened his right fist. The magical residue was glowing now, a bright, warm orange. He flung it out behind him. The magic soared through the air, growing bigger and brighter and splitting into three blasts, racing for the magibeans still stuck to the ground.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

Blaise's counter enchantment hit their feet, Santa and Jack finding themselves free.

"Nice!" Santa said as Jack rushed to his side, grabbing onto his bicep.

"You heard the man, Santa! RUN! Get inside, get everyone else inside, quickly now!"

"But what about you?"

"I'll be fine," Jack said. "Really, don't worry about me. I'm Jack Frost! I have just as much power as those two, if not more."

"Yeah, and an angry little sister with those SAME powers at the SAME LEVEL determined to get ya!"

"Minor setback! I'll get through to her, Santa. Don't you worry about us. Now go! Go on, get out of here!"

"But Jack, I—"

"Seriously, Santa." Jack refroze the ground below him. "Shoo," he said, pushing him away. Snow sprung up, gently shoving Scott down the icy path and out of the playing field.

Once Santa was safely amongst the steady stream of elves rushing to the back of the Workshop, Jack turned back to Jacqueline.

The enchantment had lifted from her, too. She had taken a few steps forward, her eyes wide and watery. A sob had escaped as she fell into the snow, hunched over and breathing heavily.

Jack took a cautious step towards her.

"Jacqueline?"

She didn't respond. She twitched once; twice. The snow below her was darkening in colour.

It was wet.

Jack sped up, sinking down as well. "Jacqueline?" he asked, carefully.

"You almost killed me," she said, quietly; her voice heavy with tears.

"I know. I'm sorry, I never meant to—"

"You. Almost. KILLED ME," she screamed, jumping up. The snow surrounding her leapt up with her, rumbling dangerously. "You stabbed me and left me for dead and didn't even come back to check on me and I waited. I. WAITED. And you never came!"

The truth. He needed to tell her the truth.

He opened his mouth to spill it, to admit that he was weak and out of control that night and tell her the truth, but before he could say anything he found himself choking on snow as the piles surrounding Jacqueline all rushed him yet again, throwing him down and once again burying him.

Cracking his knuckles, Blaise turned back to his brother, his lips a thin line of displeasure.

Pyros tilted his head back and forth, cracking his neck and tightening his hold on his staff.

"You should take your own advice and run."

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm right where I need to be. Between you, and my kids." Blaise shifted slightly, fingers curling into fists. They lit up, fire crackling. "Let's end this."

Pyros chuckled. He grinned. Spinning his staff, he struck it on the ground. It glowed a deep red. "With pleasure."

And in unison, the twin princes lunged.

A/N: Happy new episode day! Take this chapter of CS, TAKE IT! She had me doubty while proofing before posting, came out of NOWHERE. Hopefully it was a false alarm and the villain monologue chapter is enjoyable! R and R, lmk what you think! What you loved, hated, thoughts, feelings, etc etc. And as per the usual, CS is now on ao3 as well and has updated there if that's more your speed in terms of fanfic reading platforms :)

Next week: Chapter 27. The Frosts STICK IT TO THE MAN. We enter the fray and see how things turn out! Woo! I, meanwhile, really need to get back into Chapter 29, lol. Otherwise I am gonna be OUT OF CHAPTERS which was NOT the plan.

Enjoy! :)