Hello everyone!

So...I know its been a long time since my last update, I'm sorry DX I've been very busy the last month, and combined with some wicked writer's block, this chap took forever to write!

Anyway, as always, thank you for all of your reviews, favs and follows! I'm so happy to know that you guys like this story, and I hope you continue to let me know your thoughts on the story, and if you have any ideas for future chapters because I love hearing ideas!

Now this chapter has a fight scene, and I'm not exactly skilled when it comes to writing fight scenes, so I'm hoping with crossed fingers that I did okay with that! If anyone has any advice for writing fight scenes, please tell me! XD

Also, I'm still looking for a cover pic, so any suggestions are welcome!

Disclaimer's on my prof.!

Sorry for any spelling errors!

Enjoy and review please!

Jack found that, despite not being a Pooka, he felt like he belonged here as he enjoyed the festival. Bare foot and running around in nothing but his pants, Jack was oddly at ease as he took in everything the celebration had to offer. Each sight was taken in with awe-filled eyes, and Jack relished in the scent of spices and baked goods that filled the air. Bunny was hard-pressed to keep up with the immortal youth, but he didn't mind, as it did his heart good to see his young friend so happy.

When Jack had found a number of Pooka dancing near the crop fields, the teen hadn't hesitated for even a moment to join in. Bunny had hung back, watching as Jack laughed and whirled about. The boy, far more flexible than most and light-footed, easily kept pace with the other dancers. Light dustings of frost trailed after Jack's feet, not slippery at all but certainly beautiful. Several other Pooka who were passing by stopped to watch, and Bunny couldn't help but smile to himself. It was hard to not admire Jack, the boy had such a contagious smile and seeing him dance like a snowflake on the wind was truly a sight to see.

For a good half-hour, Bunny simply watched as Jack danced, the boy even pulling a few kits into the fray to dance with him. It was only when Jack finally ran out of breath and collapsed under a tree to bask in its shade that Bunny, chuckling to himself, moved over and crouched beside him.

"A lil' tired?" Bunny teased good-naturedly. Jack sent him a playful glare.

"At least I know to have some fun!" He retorted.

While Bunny snorted in amusement, Jack pushed himself up into a sitting position.

"Ready t' move on?" Bunny asked. "There's plenty more t' see."

Jack paused for a moment, thinking this over, then nodded.

"Sure." The teen immortal looked at Bunny, a mischievous light in his eyes. "Earlier you said something about people competing to see who's the fastest and strongest?"

Bunny looked faintly humored as Jack allowed the wind to lift him a couple feet so he could see over the crowd.

"So...what're they doing?"

Aster rolled his eyes.

"They're sparring, Frostbite. I thought that'd be obvious."

"So then how do they decide who's the best?"

Taking hold of Jack's arm and pulling him back down so his feet were once more on the ground, Aster launched into an explanation.

"They start with two volunteers who spar. The winner goes on to the next round, and whoever wants t' fight them can volunteer to fight them. You can only volunteer once, so if yer beaten, that's it. It goes on like that 'til there's no volunteers left, an' whoever's left standing is th' winner an' declared the best fighter."

Jack tilted his head as he considered this. Then,

"Can I try?"

Bunny's face morphed, first into an expression of shock, and then into one of badly concealed worry.

"I dunno, Jackie. Some of these warriors an' hunters have been trainin' as long as ya've been a spirit-"

"C'mon, 'Roo! I'll be fine! I might be a lot younger than most spirits and Pooka, but I know a lot more about fighting than you think! Besides, I can keep up with you when we practice, right?"

Aster sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. It was true, Jack might be young, but he could keep up with Bunny in a sparring match. What the young Winter spirit lacked in strength, he made up for in speed and flexibility.

Bunny winced as he heard one of the Pooka who was sparring be slammed into the ground.

"Frostbite..."

"Just let me try! If it gets to be too much, I'll step out, alright?" Jack pleaded. Bunny cringed when the boy turned wide blue eyes on him.

"Fine. Fine, jus' don't look at me like that!" Aster groaned, rubbing a paw over his eyes. Jack grinned triumphantly, and Bunny offered him a tired look. "Once this match is finished, ya can challenge the winner. But if ya end up gettin' yer scrawny behind handed to ya, I ain't helping ya patch yerself up."

Jack only gave his friend a cheeky grin before shoving his staff into Bunny's paws and turning back to the fight. The immortal youth went about squirming his way through the crowd to to the front, so he could get a better look at what was going on.

Bunny couldn't help but feel a nagging sense of worry start to build in his chest. Jack was a talented fighter, Aster would be the first to admit it, but Pooka weren't firm believers in "holding back". A firm hit could leave Jack with anything from bruises to a broken bone, and that idea made Bunny cringe. Bunny almost wanted to try to stop Jack, but he knew it would be useless. When Jack made up his mind, nothing and no one could make him change it.

So all Aster could really do was cross his fingers and hope Jack was at the top of his game today.

The sparring match that was going on ended as one of the fighters, a tan-furred warrior trainee, managed to lock up his opponent in a tight choke hold. The opponent was quick to slap the ground in a sign of surrender, and he was immediately released. Cheers erupted from the crowd, and the tan Pooka helped up his defeated opponent. The two clasped arms, then the loser of the match rejoined the crowd, favoring his bruised side. The victor of the fight grinned, holding his arms out as though to present himself.

"Who is brave enough to challenge me?" He asked, voice raised so that he could be heard by all.

Jack didn't even hesitate, leaping forward into the clearing, his eyes lit with excitement. Several Pooka gawked at the boldness of the little spirit, while others shared looks of confusion, seeming unsure as to if one who was not only young, but not a Pooka, was allowed to participate in the competition.

"I'll challenge you." Jack stated firmly, flashing a white-toothed smile.

The warrior trainee looked torn, being one of those who was unsure as to whether or not Jack was allowed to participate in the competition.

"I, uh...I do not know if that's a good idea, you are quite young..."

Jack's face fell into a frown, and Bunny groaned, running a hand over his ears. If there was one thing Jack hated, it was when others thought of him as a weak child. Even worse, when they voiced this aloud.

On the flip of a dime, Jack changed. He lost the childish laxness in his posture, now standing with the confidence of a young man. The youthful light left his eyes and was replaced with a hard edge, an ancient wisdom making his sapphire eyes sharp. The sudden change in demeanor made many shift uneasily, and Aster couldn't blame them. It was almost unnatural, how the immortal youth, who looked so much like a child, could suddenly look and feel so ancient.

"I'm three hundred years old. In that time I've learned how to fight, and I've fought dozens of different immortals. Being young doesn't mean I'm weak."

"I didn't say that-"

"Then come on." Jack insisted, shifting into a fighting stance. "Let me test my skills. Just like everyone else."

After another moment of hesitance, the tan Pooka gave in, taking a half-hearted stance.

"I...Very well."

After a few seconds, a Pooka serving as referee stepped forward.

"No weapons are allowed in the sparing match." She instructed. Her gaze slid over to Jack. "Powers count as a weapon, so those are not permitted either."

Jack nodded in acknowledgment, but his eyes never left his opponent. Bunny mentally praised Jack for remembering the first rule to fighting that he'd ever taught him: never look away from your enemy.

Satisfied with Jack's answer, the acting-referee nodded, stepping back as she sliced a paw downward, signaling for the match to begin.

Jack didn't even hesitate. The second the sparring match began, the little Winter Spirit was in motion, darting forward with the speed and grace of an acrobat.

Caught off-guard, the tan Pooka sloppily swung a fist down, but Jack easily twisted around it. Planting one foot firmly into the ground, Jack jabbed the other foot upward in a sharp kick that connected with his opponent's jaw. The warrior trainee stumbled back, grabbing his jaw in surprise. Jack didn't allow him to recover, a hand darting forward to tangle in the fur of the trainee's collar and the young spirit yanked down with all his might, bringing down the Pooka's head. Jack's knee drove up, smacking into the trainee's head with a crack.

Several watching Pooka cringed at the sound. While Jack hadn't used enough strength to break any bones or seriously injure his opponent, it was enough to definitely hurt and daze the tan Pooka.

Jack let go of the furred collar, letting his opponent stumble away. Shaking the dots in his eyes, the tan trainee lurched forward, swinging at Jack several times. Each time, Jack easily dodged, side-stepping and ducking around the sloppy attacks. Bunny felt a surge of pride as he watched his young friend. Jack had been a skilled fighter, even before Bunny had started training him, and that skill was showing very clearly now.

Jack continued to dodge until his opponent managed to clip his shoulder, sending him to the ground. If Jack had felt any pain, he didn't show it, hardly seeming fazed. As his opponent began to drop to pin him, Jack kicked up with both legs, locking his lower legs around the trainee's neck and hooking one foot around the opposite ankle to keep his hold of the Pooka's neck tight. With a sharp twist and tug, Jack managed to bring the trainee to the ground fully, Jack managing to roll and position himself on the Pooka's chest, legs still cutting off the trainee's air supply.

The combination of a hard fall that knocked the air out of his lungs and the inability to breathe quickly had the Pooka slapping a paw against the ground in surrender.

The second he heard the paw hitting the ground, Jack let go. With a grin, he rolled off of the trainee's chest, hopping to his feet as his defeated opponent caught his breath. His pale skin was smudged with dirt, as was his snow-colored locks, and his breath was slightly labored, but the young spirit seemed happy none-the-less.

The gathered crowd whooped and cheered, and Jack's smile widened. Jack glanced over to Bunny, who simply smirked, tilting his head and raising a brow. Jack took this as approval and all but glowed with joy. Mischievous sapphire eyes turned to the crowd, full of excitement.

"So, who wants to have a go?"