Disclaimer: Rise of the Guardians does not belong to me (unfortunately). I am in no way associated with the creator, move, production or characters (WHYYYYYY T^T).

A/N: Heyyyy! Yaaayyyy I actually updated sooner this time :PPP Omg sorry guys I take forever to update :( But dw, I'm taking it upon myself to write more frequently (aside from all my other History/English/Geography work -_-).

Special thanks to cookieswithfrost (Guest), and walawala koala (Guest) for your awesome reviews!

Hope you enjoy this chapter! XD

Please R&R!

Melting Heart: Chapter Five - Sealed Memories

Thump! You groan and rub your sore back from being dumped ungraciously by the Yetis through the portal. You pop your head out from the small opening and struggle to wiggle free from it.

"Need some help there?"

You glance up and frown. "Jack!" you complain lightly, pushing down hard on the cord that holds the bag together, but only succeeded in pulling it tighter.

"Darn. How do you get out of these things?" you mutter.

"Here," Jack wraps an arm around your waist and pulls you out of the sack.

"Thanks," you breathe a sigh of relief from being free of that constricting bag. "Remind me never to take the portal again."

"You'll get used to it," Jack says with a twinkle in his blue orbs.

"No—"

"Here, m'boy! Are you always going to be late?" A voice booms from the corner.

Your eyes widen and you gasp.

"Are you—are you—!" you stammer, putting a hand on your mouth and staring up at the tall, roundish figure.

"Ohohoho. You betcha, dear! Welcome to my workshop!"

You gaze at him in awe and your lips split into a wide grin. "Santa!" You can't help but squeal slightly and rush forward to hug him.

"How come you don't do that to me?" you hear Jack mutter, disgruntled, behind you. You giggle inwardly.

"Oof," he grunts from the impact, but lifts you up and twirls you around. "Hello, (F/n)!" he smiles when he sets you down.

"How—how do you know me?" you falter.

"I'm Santa, remember? I have magic," North's eyes gleam and he gives another hug. "Jack here has been talking a lot about you, too," he whispers in your ear as he does.

"I've heard," you say again, shyly.

You blush hotly as he straightens while giving you a wink.

"Now, would you like a tour of my—"

"Oi! North, you forgot to introduce Tooth and Sandy," Bunnymund comes jumping out of his hole from the ground and his left ear twitches impatiently.

"Oh yes!" North agrees. "Right."

A floating, yellow stature moves towards you and you take a step back cautiously, bumping into Jack.

"It's okay," he says with a smile. "It's just Sandy." He motions for you to go forward, but you hesitate.

Suddenly, twitters of birds surround you and you blink uncertainly. "Ummm… Jack…?"

"Oh! Sorry—" there's a swirl of multi-coloured feathers and the sounds are gone.

"Oh, um, thanks," you shift uneasily as the figure gauges you.

"It's nothing," she says finally, with a cold edge in her voice as she floats away.

"Um … was it something I said …?" you say softly.

North shakes his head. "No. Toothiana's been like this for a while. Don't worry about it," he replies.

"Oh," you say, but you can't help but feel hurt. What did I do? You wonder.

Jack nudges you and points to the other guardian that is still gliding beside you.

"H—hello," you say quietly.

It turns around. It's short and cute in a chubby sort of way. It wore an orangey-yellowish robe; its hair is golden and cropped, styled into five points and glitters in the light.

"Is—is that a dress?" you ask, confused.

Jack stares at you and bursts out laughing.

"No, (F/n)!" he gasps in between bouts of giggles. He rolls on the ground, still laughing, and you cross your arms huffily.
"Well excuse me!" you grumble.

Even North is laughing, his large belly jiggling and he wipes away tears.

"No, (F/n)," Jack repeats, finally coherent again, as he puts a hand on your shoulder.

"It's made from his dream dust," North explains.

"Dream dust?" your eyes widen again and you stifle a gasp. "You—you're the Sandman!"

The Sandman smiles and draws a figure with a finger on the top of his head.

"Oh, yes. It was kinda bumpy, but it was worth it," you nod and answer his question.

You turn around and notice Jack and North staring at you like you've gone nuts.

"What?" you ask crossly.

"N—nothing. Just surprised," Jack says quickly, closing his mouth with an audible snap.

"You can understand him?" North asks incredulously.

"Um … yeah. Why? Am I … not supposed to?" you ask in bewilderment.

"No, no. It's just … none of us can understand him," North mumbles under his breath.

"Wha—what? Really?" you exclaim.

"Mhmm," Jack confirms.

You spot the Sandman twirling in the air happily while illustrating for figures with his magic.

"Uh, yeah, I am," you murmur embarrassedly.

"What did he ask you?" Jack says curiously.

"H—he asked if I was your," you swallow, "if I was your girlfriend."

Jack grins at the Sandman. "Yup. She is," he smirks. He tugs at your arm with his staff and wraps his arms around you protectively.

"Jack!" you hiss.

"What?" he says innocently.

You groan but stay where you are, feeling safe snuggled in his embrace.

There's a cough and you snap out of your daze.

"Umm … right," you say uncomfortably, scuffing your shoe lightly. Jack ignores Bunnymund's interruption and continues hugging you.

Your back is against his chest and you force yourself to look at North.

"Umm … I was wondering …," you begin tentatively.

"Yes?" North smiles encouragingly.

"Umm … I was wondering if you could help me with something …," you say softly.

"What is it?" he asks.

"Well … you see … I kinda … lost my memories as a child. I was wondering … if you could help me remember?" you say quietly.

You feel Jack stiffen behind you, but you ignore him and carried on looking at North, waiting for an answer.

"You'll have to ask Tooth about that," he responds finally. "She keeps memories of childhood of different people from the teeth she collects."

"I wish she had mine," you sigh disappointedly.

"What do you mean?" North says sharply.

"I never lost my teeth as a child. I used to pull them out and then throw them away," you laugh bitterly.

Jack tightens his grip on you.

"So what you mean is …," he says slowly.

"Yes. I have no memories as a child, and Toothiana does not have any teeth from me."

"What happened?" Jack asks softly.

It's been only two hours since you've arrived at Santa's workshop in the North Pole, but you feel exhausted. How had a perfectly wonderful trip turn into such a strenuous day?

"I don't know," you reply miserably. "I don't remember."

"When?"

You know what he's asking.

"Since I was eight," you say with a sad smile.

"Then what about your parents?" he attempted.

"Don't you think I've tried that, Jack? I've asked them so many times, but they refuse to tell me anything, saying that I would remember eventually," you say cynically. "But, you see, I don't remember. I don't remember anything. It's like I have a huge gap between when I was born up until I was eight."

"That's impossible! Even amnesia doesn't go that far," Jack says, frustrated.

"Jack? I need to talk to you," North calls from the lower deck of his shop.

Jack glances at you and you give him a tired smile. "I'll be fine. Go," you say gently, your (e/c) eyes warm and weary.

"I'll help you remember," he promises. He kisses you tenderly before picking up his staff and flying down the spiral staircase.

You sigh and finger the necklace that your mother had given to you on your fifth birthday.

"Promise me you'll wear this, (F/n)? Never take it off, okay?" You're mother had said urgently.

"Okay, mama," You're eyes were wide, puzzlement swirling in the depths, but she simply placed the necklace on your neck and touched it lightly while muttering a string of words under her breath.

"Mama? Why do I have to wear this?" You'd asked.

"It's a protection charm, (F/n). Until you meet him, it'll keep you safe," she'd replied.

"Meet who?" you'd said with inquisitiveness.

"Nothing. Just promise me you'll never take this off, okay?" your mother had repeated.

"Yes, mama."

Now that you think of it … that was the last night you ever saw her smile as beautifully as she did that day. "Mom," you murmur. You try to conjure up the memory of your mother's face at that time, and failed. The only think you can remember is her eyes. Her lovely red eyes.

"North? What is it?" Jack asks anxiously as he lands in front of the guardian.

"Jack. Her memories were stolen," North says quietly.

"Stolen? By who?" Jack says in confusion.

"Maybe stolen isn't the correct term for it. It's more like … her memories are sealed. It's not by accident, either. It was on purpose," North confides.

"Why?" Jack growls, slamming his staff on the ground in anger. A wave of freezing wind blows across the palace and North gives him a warning look. "Sorry."

"A spell. A spell was placed on her," North says.

"A spell? By who? You don't think—?" the winter spirit starts, but he stops when the Christmas guardian shakes his head.

"No. Not Pitch."

"Then who?!" Jack says agitatedly.

"That's the thing. I don't know," North says slowly.

"Jack, I think you should stay away from her," he adds gently. "She's compassionate and charming, but we don't know what exactly she's up to. And that spell, too … we don't know what it does. She could be working for Pitch."

Jack stares at him in disbelief. "Are you joking?" he says in a low tone. "Are you freaking joking?!"

"No. I'm sorry, Jack, but it would be for the best," North says kindly.

"No," Jack says darkly. "No!"

"Jack. She could be dangerous," North cautions.

"She could be! But she's not! I've spent the last week with her! Don't you think if she wanted to kill me, she would've done it already?!" Jack screams, frost beginning to creep its way into the workshop. A cold gust of wind blows across the air and several Yetis freeze. A tornado begins to form, the presents that were previously scattered on the floor is swept away with the furious wind.

"Jack! Stop this!" North shouts over the deafening noise.

"No! I won't let you do this!" he yells heatedly.

"Why are you so serious?!" North barks.

"Of course I am! Didn't the Moon tell you yet? She's mine! She's my chosen! I love her! I won't let you hurt her just because of your suspicions!" Jack roars lividly.

His silvery hair whips around him and he looks crazy, but his eyes are determined.

"W—what?" North says in surprise.

"North," Jack says, suddenly deadly calm, "Didn't you ever feel this way before? The feeling where you would do anything for someone, no matter the consequences? I love her," he repeats. "She's the one person I've been looking for my entire life. She's not dangerous. She thoughtful, beautiful and so, so, kind."

North is silent as he registers Jack's words.

"I—I understand. If you really believe you can do this, then … who am I to stop you?" North says finally.

Jack drops his hand and his staff hangs loosely in his grip. The tornado disperses; the presents once again back on the floor and the ice melting. The workshop is abruptly silent.

"No matter what happens," Jack says quietly, "I'll be by her side. She's not working for him. You encounter so many children every year, North. I thought you'd know by now. Someone who has a heart full of compassion and love is incapable of evil like Pitch."

"(F/n) is so beautiful, North. I wish you could see that," Jack takes a shuddering breath.

"Jack—" the Christmas guardian protests.

"You're the one person I never would have thought would be against me. What happened, North? You used to be so kind, too." Jack says sorrowfully.

North heaves a sigh. "You're right, Jack. We've changed. All of us have," he agrees. "Pitch has been picking individual fights with us. Can you feel it?" He raises a hand and taps the globe that is twinkling with bright stars all over the continents.

Little by little, the dots are fading out.

Jack stares at the miniature world in dread. "He's doing this to us, isn't he?"

"Yes. But it's not just him this time. This time, it's much, much, worse," North says dejectedly.

"Who—?"

"My father."

Both guardians whirl around.

You stand there, in the middle of the wrecked room, in jeans and a t-shirt, wary and fatigued, but somehow you still manage to look striking.

"My father. He's the reincarnation of Death himself."

A/N: So? How was it? Good, bad? Hate it, love it? Please review!

Ohohohohoho just what is Pitch up to, working with your dad? Who knows? XD

Next chapter includes an idea by DayDreamer1435! (Yeah, I was gonna put it in this chapt, but it felt too rushed, so I'm incorporating it in the next one. Hope you don't mind! xP)

Anyways, please PM me any new ideas (:

Please R&R! No flames.

~IntertwinedRoses