Jack was at his lake in Burgess, skating around it while putting an extra layer of ice on it, as he did every day. He was smiling and laughing as he felt the shapes of his ice on his bare feet. He would love to see it but seeing as he was blind, he stopped wishing to see his creations many, many years ago. It didn't matter to him now, he was content with feeling each crack and crevice and that was good enough for him.

No one else knew he was blind, it was a secret he kept to himself, mostly in fear of someone using it against him. In his early years, he thought that everyone saw like him. It wasn't until he heard someone talking about the colors of a painting that he realized he was in the minority.

As he was getting to the edges of the lake, he felt Wind tug on him. He ignored her at first but she did it again more urgently this time. "What is it?" He asked. She tugged on him once more. "Take me where I need to go." He said to her. She lifted him up and they took to the skies.

Jack trusted Wind with his life, he knew he could always trust and count on her. He chuckled as he remembered the first time he took to the skies, he was so scared from not being able to "see" anymore since there was nothing to touch, he yelled for her to "Stop!" She dropped him instantly and he fell into a tree. He smiled at the memory, knowing that he soon realized there was nothing to be afraid of.

The familiar smell of peppermint and sugar came to and Jack realized he was at the Pole. "Were the Northern Lights on?" He wondered aloud. Wind answered his question with a ruffle to his hair indicating that yes, they were on.

The second he touched the ground of the globe room, he heard loud metal cling throughout the Pole. The sounds bounced off of one another and it was very loud and disorienting for Jack, he covered his ears.

"What's going on?" He demanded once the sounds were over. No one had spoken or moved yet so he had no idea where anyone was and who was there.

"Is lockdown drill." North said like it was obvious.

Jack turned his head to where he heard North's booming yet joyous voice. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"In case the Pole is ever attacked, there's an emergency lockdown protocol and North gathered us here to test it out." Tooth explained.

"It seems to work so I'll turn it off now." North said. Jack heard a lever being pulled but other than that, nothing happened. "Hmm?" North said curiously. He pulled the lever up then back down once more but again, nothing happened. "This is not good." He said.

"What's going on?" Bunny asked.

"It seems to not be turning back on." North said.

"I get that ya Gumby, why isn't it working?" Bunny said with slight irritability in his voice.

"I don't know," North said. "Maybe fuse is not in place but if that's the case, we have problem."

"Why?" Jack asked, taking a few steps forward.

"It is in control room and when lockdown happens, that room locks in case villain is already inside so they can't get control of building." North explained. "I go check."

Jack walked over and took a seat on a table while he waited. Since finally being granted access inside the Pole when he became a guardian seven months ago, he explored it 'till he had the place memorized in his head.

North came back looking pale, though Jack didn't see it. "It seems that we're trapped at the moment."

"What?!" Bunny exclaimed. "What do you mean, we're trapped?"

"I mean, door is locked and protocol won't turn off." North said.

"Why don't you just make a tunnel out of here?" Jack suggested to Bunny.

Bunny sighed with annoyance that was not directed at Jack. "Because, Jack, when the bloody protocol comes on, we can't use our magic."

Jack thought this over for a moment and it was then that he realized the absence of the ever present Wind by his side. He felt the panic rise in him slightly, he had never been separated from the Wind. He didn't let his panic show though. Instead he said a simple, "Oh."

"What are we going to do?" Tooth asked, letting the panic show in her voice.

North pinched the bridge of his nose, thinking. "The only thing we can do. Wait and hope for glitch to fix self."

"Fantastic." Bunny said sarcastically, flopping down on the couch.

"Power will go out soon so I suggest we get candles." North said with a sigh, trying to figure out anything else they'll need to do.

Jack looked over at him, "I can go get them." He offered.

North looked back at Jack and once again, in the time he really got to know him, he noticed how even though Jack was looking at him, he wasn't, like he wasn't quite focusing on anything. "Do you know where they are?" He asked.

Jack nodded and he stood up, "I'd imagine you want matches as well?" He asked.

"Thank you, Jack." North said.

Jack nodded once more as he left the room, leaving his staff behind as he'd no use for it. All the guardians eyed it for a while as there was really nothing more to do. "In all the time I've known him, that's probably only the third time I've seen him let go of that thing." Tooth said, making conversation.

"Yeah, me too." Bunny agreed.

As Jack walked to the room where the supplies were, he counted his steps. Though he used to always be alone, he'd never felt more alone as he did now, with not even Wind to keep him company. He wondered if she was trying to get his attention at that very second.

He got to step three hundred and sixty-seven then stopped and turned to the left. He opened the door and walked in. "I hope North didn't rearranged this place." He mumbled to himself. He took twelve steps forward, turned right then took nine more steps. He reached out in front of him and found the candles where he remembered them last. Jack did the same with the matches then walked back to the globe room.

"Thank you, Jack." North said gratefully, grabbing the large load from Jack's arms.

"No problem." Jack smiled. Right at that moment the lights went out, not that Jack noticed. North lit a candle and handed it to Jack first, who was nearest to him.

Jack didn't know North was trying to hand him something 'till he heard North say, "Take it." Jack held out his hand and felt one of the candles pushed in his grasp. He guessed that it was lit by now which meant that the power probably finally went out.

North handed lit candles to the other guardians then went around lighting the room. Jack stood there awkwardly. He didn't know if he was supposed to hold it or put it somewhere, he could also hear who he presumed to be North setting candles around the room. When North finished, he sat on one of the couches where the other guardians were, he looked over at Jack who was still holding his candle. "Why don't you put the candle down and come join us?" He invited.
Jack fidgeted where he stood for a moment before carefully walking over to a table. He was about to put the candle down, when he felt the heat from a different one on his hand so he moved it to the right a little then set it down next to it. He walked slower than usual to the couches, Jack didn't know if North had put any candles on the floor so he had to be more careful. He was thankful the guardians started to converse with one another so he knew exactly what spots on the couch were unoccupied.

As he sat down, Bunny looked at him. "Why are you acting so strange all of the sudden, Frostbite?" He asked. Jack looked at where he heard Bunny.

"Just a little warm in here." He responded, glad with his quick lie, though it really wasn't that much of a lie. With all the candles that were lit, the room had gotten pretty warm.

Bunny studied Jack for a moment. He noticed the same thing North had. Though Jack was looking at him, he wasn't. There was nothing Jack was quite focusing on and for some reason, it kind of creped Bunny out.

Tooth, on the other hand, felt worried, a winter spirit in a warm stuffy room probably wasn't good for him. "Are you okay? Do you need a glass of water maybe?"

Jack chuckled and shook his head. "I'll be fine."