Past Memories and New Realisations

Hello there! This is my first story I ever published! Hope it is not a complete failure. It was just a thought I had after watching Rise Of The Guardians, and had to do something! Eventually it is a one-shot, or I write more... We'll see. Sorry for grammar and vocabulary, english is not my first language. By the way: SPOILER ALERT! And I don't own Rie of the Guardians.

Finally, a bit of relaxation after they defeated Pitch Black, the Boogeyman.

Now all the guardians have assembled at the North Pole to celebrate their victory and the newest guardian, Jack Frost. The spirit of winter and guardian of fun. But instead of celebrating and chatting like the others, Jack was sitting on the windowsill all by himself. His hood was over his head, his arms warped around his knees and staff protectively pressed to his body. Jack was lost deeply in his thoughts about the past few days with the guardians. Without noticing it, the temperature slowly dropped. Snow that started to whirl around him and ice flowers crept all over the window. The winter spirit didn't notice the cold, for he was most comfortable in it, but the others weren't.

Stopping in the middle of a discussion about the importance of Easter North because of a shiver, Bunnymund turned to Jack and glared at him. 'Hey frostbite! You do know you are the only one in here who is immune to the cold, right?' Now they all looked at Jack and Bunnymund, waiting for the bickering and teasing to start all over again. But what happened instead surprised them all. Jack just looked at the tall Easter bunny with a blank expression and stopped the snow in an instant. 'Sorry...', was all he said before he looked back at the window, his chin now resting on his folded arms.

Bunnymund was flabbergasted. He didn't think the normally challenging teen would give up this easily. Especially after his victory over the Boogeyman!

Bunny looked clueless at North, Tooth and Sandman. They were all somewhat confused by Jacks actions. Something has to be up... Was something wrong with the spirit of winter and mischief? Concerned for the youngest guardian, they all approached the windowsill on which he was sitting. The nearer they came, the better they could see just how absent-minded Jack Frost really was. He only realised they were all standing right beside them, when Norths big hand came down on his right shoulder. The normally alerted teenager nearly jumped to the sudden touch and turned to his fellow guardians.

An obviously faked smile appeared on his face. It just looked so strange and atypical for Jack.

'North, you nearly gave me a heart attack there!' He laughed a hollow laugh.

The guardians looked at each other, not believing his façade.

North was the first to speak. 'Jack, what is problem?' His thick russian accent full of concern. 'Something is bothering you, we can tell. You can tell us, you know...'

Sandy nodded in agreement and smiled. Pictures running above his head, nobody could understand. Oblivious that the Sandman 'said' something, Tooth just looked at Jack and announced: 'North is right, Jack. We're here for you.' She had a reassuring smile on her face.

All of a sudden Jacks expression changed. Hurt and anger could be seen and unshared tears gleamed in his ice blue eyes.

'Yeah... you are...' Jacks voice was harsh and grim. He looked down at his staff.

North removed his hand from Jacks shoulder. The other fantasy characters were all shocked by the gloomy tone of the guardian of fun. But before anyone could say something, Jack looked back up again, tears streaming down his face, which froze at the contact with his cold skin. His otherwise gentle eyes piercing at them.

The winter spirit stood up, his frozen staff clenched in his hand. 'How can I believe you?' This question shocked the guardians. 'You say you are there for me. But where have you been when I found out about my powers, when I woke up without memories' Jack looked at Tooth, who jerked at the mentioning of her job. 'When I needed help or just somebody to talk to!?' His voice grew louder and louder with every word. Snow started to whirl around him and he floated in the air. The guardians started to shiver, but not because of the cold. 'You only ever cared when the moon told you I should become a guardian! The same moon who made me what I am today. The same moon, who spoke to me only once. To tell me MY NAME! I tried to get your attention so many times! I even tried to break into the workshop, after the Yetis told me again and again the great Santa was too busy to talk to me...' North remembered. He really told the Yetis he was to busy... 'Then, when my loneliness became to big, I created a blizzard because I couldn't contain my hurting anymore. That was 1968.' Bunny listened up at this. 'Suddenly the Easter Bunny showed up and I thought somebody cared. But no... I was only screamed at for destroying Easter. Poor Bunnymund... being believed in has to be such a burden! But how can I know, nobody ever believed in me!' Jack let out all the built up hurt. 'No. The only reason you ever came talking to me, was because the MOON TOLD YOU SO! But before... you never really cared for me...' Jacks face was tear strained and he landed back on the ground, the snow stopping. The moment he touched the ground, his knees under him gave up and land fell to the ground sobbing. His staff lay abandoned beside him.

North, Bunny, Tooth and Sandman looked at their feet in shame. They never thought he felt this way, they had never assumed... Jacks silent whisper stopped their thoughts. 'Nobody ever cared for Jack Frost...' At this moment, Tooth just couldn't take it any longer and embraced Jack with silent tears running down her feathered face.

The winter spirit now clung to Tooth, memories crashing down at him. 'Why...? I had a life... a family... I never asked being here!' Tooth ran her fingers through his snow-white hair soothingly and whispered calming words.

Watching the scene before them, they thought about all the things they misdid with Jack. They were all ashamed of themselves, for not realising his hurt and loneliness sooner. For all he was still a child, and they were guardians, who vowed to protect children. But with the eternal child, one of their own, they had failed miserably. And they hadn't even cared to talk to him because they thought of him as an annoying troublemaker. How could they not have seen what was right under their noses, for 300 years...

'I'm sorry...' The guardians looked surprised at Jack. He freed himself from Tooths hug, with a grateful smile. His voice was meek and he looked the others right in the eyes.

'I'm really sorry... I shouldn't have said those things. Guess it was just what Pitch said. I should have ignored him!'

North kneeled down in front of Jack and put a hand under his chin, to meet his eyes.

'Jack, it is not you who should be excusing... but us!' He looked over his shoulder and Sandy and Bunny both nodded and approached them as well. 'He's right, mate! Pitch has this ability to get under your skin! But that doesn't excuse our behaviour...We treated you real badly, but that's gonna change now... Promise.' Bunny affirmed in his gruffly australian accent and smiled. Sandy nodded and gave a thumbs up. 'You're not alone anymore. You have us, Jack!' Tooth smiled.

Jack Frost was overwhelmed with his emotions. A look of pure gratitude was on his face as he looked at his fellow guardians. 'Thanks...', was all he could whisper.

From now on, everything would change for him. He felt it!