Not Just Fun and Games

Chapter 10: Awakening

I was comfortable. I was lying in a bed of snow, the wind blowing my hair across my face. It was peaceful, gentle... I smiled, snuggling deeper into the comfortable bed.

But yet, there was something else. A faint, nagging feeling at the back of my mind that I was forgetting something...

Oh yeah, that's right... Pitch had stolen my staff... Did I still have it?

My hand closed around the rough wood. I smiled as the power flowed through me, welcoming me home. Yes, I still had it. No wait, I'd retrieved it. Pitch had been frozen because of it. Served him right.

I opened my eyes slowly, very slowly. I squinted at the bright light, cringing as I raised my arm to block it out. I was stiff, as if I'd been sleeping for a really long time.

Wait, that's exactly what it had been, hadn't it? After I'd destroyed Pitch's storm, I'd fallen, exhausted, into North's sleigh. And then I was told that because right now, the world had no need for a bringer of ice and snow, I'd fallen asleep to allow the world to thaw.

And now, I was awake.

My joints cracked painfully as I sat up. I groaned slightly, scanning the ice room I'd been sleeping in for the last who knows how long, trying to get movement back into my limbs. I could barely think or even remember anything. The last thing I remembered seeing were the faces of my allies, my friends. North, Tooth, Sandy, Bunnymund, and...

"Oh no! Lucilla!" I cried, jumping up. I didn't know how long I'd been sleeping, but I hoped that I could say hello to her. Or at least goodbye. I hadn't gotten a chance to say that either.

I headed for the door, my staff in hand. I could feel ice crystals forming on my body as I stepped into North's house. It was warm, but the ice coating me protected me. Instead, the warmth just made me feel iffy on the inside. I didn't like it.

As I walked, I could hear the sound of distant voices. I left a trail of ice on the floor in my wake, but I didn't really notice it. As I followed the voices, I slowly began to recognize words.

"White Christmas... White Christmas..." A gruff voice muttered. "That's a gift I can't give."

"What are you going to do about it, North?" A high pitched voice asked.

North's voice sighed irritably. "I'll just have to make do. I just wish I could see smiling kids again."

I reached out and turned the doorknob, pushing my way into the room.

"Hello?" I said, my voice raspy from lack of use.

North and his elves turned around, their eyes widening.

"Jack Frost!" He cried, trudging towards me.

"Hi." I said, looking up at him. He then dragged me into a hug so tight, I felt like I was going to be crushed.

"It's good to see you up and about again, Jack!" North said cheerily, releasing me and slapping my shoulder. It felt like my knees were going to give out.

"How long have I been sleeping for?" I asked.

"About a hundred years or so."

"A hundred years?!" I cried.

"Honestly, I'm surprised too. I expected you to be out longer."

I fell against the wall and slid to the floor, frost crackling out from where I sat. "A hundred years..." I whispered.

"Relax, Jack."

"It's been too long..."

"You're right. We've all missed you."

"Everyone's still around?" I asked, looking up at him hopefully.

"Yep. Bunnymund comes back to visit from time to time. Tooth is the same way. Her and Sandy are always working hard." He stopped, smiling down at me.

I stared up at him, waiting, hoping for some sign of Lucilla. What had become of her?

"Lucilla's still around as well." He said after a long pause.

My eyes widened. "She is? Where is she?"

"Out and about, just as she has been since you fell asleep."

"Can I see her?"

"Sure, if she stops by. Although, Jack, she doesn't remember you."

I froze. That meant...

"She's a Guardian now?"

North nodded. "Yes. She is."

"But how? Why? What power was she given?"

"You know as well as I do that Lucilla always had a deep love for life. That's why she looked after all of those orphans." North smiled. "She was like a mother herself. But now, that's who she is for real."

"Wait, you're not saying she's...?"

"Mother Nature, Jack." North smiled warmly. "She's the one who helped thaw the ice out faster. She brought the world back to life."

"But why'd you give her powers?"

"She wanted to help with whatever she could. So I offered her a position as one of the Guardians. Her and all of those children she looked after are now spirits."

"Why the kids?" I asked. "What's their role?"

"Nature's little helpers. Warmth, time, strength, bloom, rain, that sort of thing."

"So, her new name is Nature?"

"Yes." North replied. "Always remember that. Don't tell her who she once was."

I nodded. "I know."

...

"Jack!"

I grinned as Tooth whizzed towards me. "Hey, Tooth!"

"It's great to see you again!"

"Yeah, seems like it was only yesterday, huh?"

Tooth fumed slightly. "Maybe for you, but for the rest of us, it was a really, really long time, Jack."

I laughed. "I know."

She smiled. "Good to have you back."

"It's...nice to be back?" I said with a grin.

Tooth nodded, as if this was an acceptable answer.

"I'm guessing the Guardians are gathering again?" I asked.

"I think so." Tooth said. "North told us to come as soon as possible. He didn't tell us why, but he said there was a nice surprise waiting for us. Think he meant you?"

"No wait, I got this." I ducked behind a table and jumped out from behind it. "SURPRISE!" I said cheerily, waving my arms flamboyantly

Tooth laughed. "Okay, that works too!"

Tooth and I walked down the hall towards North's living room. I sat down on the couch which partially froze as I twirled my staff between my hands. I didn't want to be sitting here, but at the same time I was eager to see my friends again.

North took one look at his couch and shook his head. "It's nice to have you back, Jack, but I'm going to have to get used to thawing out my furniture again."

I grinned. "Sorry, North. Old habits die hard."

"I can see that." North chuckled.

The door opened. "All right, mates, I'm-" Bunnymund froze as he caught sight of me. "Oh great, the brat is back."

"Hey!" I cried. "I wouldn't be talking, Kangaroo!"

Bunnymund's boomerang smacked me in the side of the head. I laughed hysterically, seeing it flying back as a chunk of ice. It slid straight out of Bunnymund's hand as he tried to catch it. The rabbit sighed in irritation and looked at me, a small smile on his face.

"Good to see you again, mate."

"You as well." I laughed, rubbing the side of my head.

Sandy joined the fray next. He bounced with glee at the sight of me being awake. I knew that there was one more left, though. I didn't know when she'd come, or whether she'd still look like Lucilla or not, but I was still eager to see her again.

"Where's Nature?" Tooth asked, getting bored. "I have things to do."

Sandy nodded in agreement, nervous about leaving sleeping children dream free.

"If you don't mind me asking..." I piped up. "What happened to Pitch?"

"He thawed out." North stated, sighing. "He's powerful, I'll give him that."

"Fear is a powerful thing." I said softly. "It doesn't surprise me that he escaped again."

The Guardians nodded grimly.

The door opened again.

"Sorry if I'm late..." A familiar voice said.

I turned, smiling at the sight of a girl with brown hair streaked with green. Her eyes were greener than sunlit leaves, and she had a smile on her face that made me feel like everything was going to be okay.

"Welcome, Nature!" North said happily.

"Hello, North." Nature said. "Why have you called me here?"

"There's somebody I'd like you to meet. A Guardian who has been sleeping for a long time now. He's just returned."

"Oh?"

I stood up and stepped towards her. "Hello." I said, holding out my hand. "I'm Jack Frost."

Nature looked me over a few times. I saw a flash of resentment in her eyes for just a split second before she reached out and shook my hand. She pulled away a second later, frost nipping at the palm of her hand.

"Well." She said, shaking the ice off her hand. "The Winter Spirit, is it?"

I nodded. "Yes, that's me."

She nodded once. "At the very least the snow melts and provides water for the plants..." She said airily, sitting down on a chair.

I returned to my spot on the couch, feeling sick to my stomach. She didn't remember me. Of course, it was to be expected.

"I hope that the two of you will get to know each other." North said. "Although I can see right about now that that would be quite difficult..."

Our eyes met from across the room. I understood what North was talking about. She brought flowers and life, and plants to the world. I, as Jack Frost, killed the things she created with cold, snow and ice. But then, at the same time, her and her plants were constantly trying to keep my frost at bay. Though we were once friends, Lucilla and I would be conflicted for the rest of our immortal lives. A wave of sadness washed through me.

"I expect you all want to get back to your posts!" North said, clapping his hands together. "You can stay as long as you like, but when you choose to, you may head back out and do your duties."

Tooth and Sandy shot into action immediately.

"See you, Jack!" Tooth called.

I waved as she left, smiling slightly.

"Jack? May I speak to you?" North called.

"Sure." I said, standing up and twirling my staff so a bit of frost formed on the floor.

"And stop freezing my house!" He laughed.

I grinned. "Sorry." I tapped the end of the staff on the ground, accidently on purpose causing a large circle of frost to form beneath it. "I just can't help it."

Bunnymund chuckled.

Nature kind of glared at me from behind.

"What did you want to speak to me about?" I asked.

"For the last several years, I've had the same wish from dozens of children around the world." North said. "They all want a white Christmas. And now that you're back..."

I grinned broadly. "I'll get right to it."

North laughed. "I hoped you would!"

"Wait!" Nature cried, standing up. "So you're just going to let this boy wreak havoc on the world? Freeze everything in sight?"

I walked towards her and trailed my staff along the ground by her feet. "Let me tell you this, Nature. I'm Jack Frost." I grinned. "I live for winter!" Then I headed straight for the window and pushed it open.

"Now wait just a second!" Nature cried, trying to step towards me. Then she realized I'd frozen her feet to the floor. "JACK FROST!" She shrieked.

I laughed. "See you in spring!" Then I leapt out the window, flying on the wind towards the south, ready to give the children of the world exactly what they wanted:

A White Christmas.

.

.

.

FIN