Doing well so far, managing to keep a nice rhythm for postings. Hopefully my inspiration will be able to keep up with me~

After school activity signups are on their way! Anyone else know about the Tri-M music honor society? Just kinda curious~

Alright, Chapter 3, here we go!

Chapter 3: A Little Feud

"Alright, ready?" Ice blue eyes glinted with power as the the shepherd's crook began to glow.

"Anytime." Kaleidoscope irises gazed back with a similar charge of power in a swirl-pattered gold and silver staff, a black balance mounted on one end, different colored jewels decorating the twists like flower buds.

An icy blue bolt of lightning shot from the crook of the wooden staff, pulsating in the air as it sizzled towards it's intended target.

Staff plunged in the ground in front of her, Max manifested a white spheric orb in her hand, gently setting it on the left side of the balance. The plate tipped to the left and the bolt of wintry power hit the mutant's left arm.

Nothing. She felt a slight cold sensation on her left arm but it affected her no more than a drop of rain would from heavy clouds above.

Frosty eyes shone with mirth as they both laughed, concluding training the perfection of a simple technique.

"Not bad huh?" Max said while stifling her giggles.

"I think it's overpowered. But it fits you, after all." He replied as his laughs subsided.

"Hey. It is not overpowered." She defended, expression shifting only a little to shoot a quick glance at her half-bandage covered left arm.

"How're those freeze burns treating you?" He chuckled.

"I don't mean just those. But they're healing nicely." Her voice took on a slightly more serious tone.

She was dressed in grey-blue jeans and a silvery-white hoodie with black and gold patterns stretching across the sleeves, which were currently rolled up in order to practice proper powers.

"Yeah, I'm aware. But that was fun. Got any ideas to run?" He wondered, shifting his stance a little but still showing bits of childish excitement. Max smiled back and manifested a few more orbs. The staff she strapped to her back instead with a white leather holster barely visible against her hoodie. The orbs she stuck in her pocket as backup.

Raising her right hand in front of her, a shot of fire exploded from the center of her palm.

Jack's eyes widened as he immediately countered with a powerful blast of permafrost, nullifying the effects of the explosive shot of flame.

And saw two more heading straight for him.

At this speed of fire, she'll expect me to dodge to the sides...He stood completely still as the streams of fire went past him.

When he focused back on her firing there was a streak of water coming towards him.

And shoot right down the middle.

An icy blast froze the water and stopped it's path.

A second shot right behind it.

"Oh shit!" He gasped out and the high pressure bullet of water hit him right in the forehead.

Max looked over him when he fell on the ground groaning. She could almost see the starts going in circles around his head.

Almost.

"You alright there, Jackie-dearest?" Max taunted as she giggled at his moaning form.

"That was unfair."

"Not my fault you never tried it. Hey, what's on our schedule today after this?"

Jack frowned as he massaged his head. "I think...I got that annual season meeting. You're supposed to attend, I think."

"Why do I have to attend?" She complained, rolling her eyes.

"You attended last year."

"No one was there. We got there late." Max deadpanned.

"The year before?"

"You're always late."

"Aw Max, you're no fun." Jack pouted in a fake upset tone.

"Just because you're the youngest seasons doesn't mean you can shirk your work." Max reprimanded with a frown.

"Hey, don't act like you're older than me. I'm older by 3 years!" He whined.

"You don't know that! I don't know when my birthday is!" Max retorted. "I might be your age. Hell, at least I act older!"

Jack tried to plead one more time. "Didn't I tell you that they hate me?"

"That's what I'm here for. I want to see what their reaction is when their attacks fizzle out." Max laughed.

"Fine. Let's get going then!" Jack shouted up at Wind, who immediately swooped him up in its waiting grasp and he laughed in exhilaration.

Max kicked off the ground and the magnetic pulses reactivated, shooting her high up into the sky with a cheerful shout.

"Nature Garden!" Jack ordered aloud, and Wind shook him a few times as though it were laughing, before whisking him away towards their destination, Max following swiftly in his wake.

"Ah, Jack Frost. Glad to see the troublemaker of the world could make it." A spring pixie sneered.

The Spirit of Winter in question frowned. "You know that isn't my title. Please give it to the spirit who manages it." He replied curtly.

Max stifled a giggle at his diplomatic attempt. He shot her a grin as he proceeded to his seat in front of all the sprites and pixies who sat in their respective season categories.

The Guardian of Balance smiled as her gaze fell upon an empty chair that sat on the stage right next to Mother Nature's throne. It was made of wood and vines, the default seat for any spirit who had yet to create a personalized position.

Murmurs immediately swept through the crowd as Max hopped onto the stage and directed a beam of pure power from her hand to the chair. It immediately morphed shape into something more regal, silver and gold swirls mixed in perfect harmony and stood like a single-legged stool on a point that seemed inadequate to hold that much weight evenly.

She stood in front of her chair like all of the major spirits and quietly awaited Mother's arrival.

A group of Garden Sprites with wooden flutes kicked up a light, sweet fanfare indicating her arrival.

Mother Nature, otherwise known as Seraphina, proceeded down towards the stage from the back of the hall as all the nature spirits finally quieted down. Dark forest green hair was done in a braid to her waist, and she wore a grassy green robe lined with gold to announce her status to the spirit world.

She was, after all, a spirit who was not to be estimated.

The Spirit of all things natural stood in front of her regal throne-like seat on the stage, a kind, motherly smile adorning her face.

"Asatsuyu Hana, Spirit of Spring, please take your seat. Aestas Calor, Spirit of Summer, please take your seat. Turi Feuille, Spirit of Autumn, please take your seat." She turned to Jack and the earthly power in her eyes glowed a with a little more mirth. "Jack Frost, Spirit of Winter, you may take your seat."

Mother turned gracefully to the seat beside her and smiled. "I announce, the arrival of a new major spirit. Maximum Ride, Guardian and Spirit of Balance."

Whispers flew across the Garden Hall.

"Spirits of the Seasons, she will be assisting you in transitions in the occurrence that you do not come across each other during the changing of seasons. I ask that you treat her with respect, as she is very much one of the crucial spirits that hold this world together." Her gaze swept over the crowd. All gazes fell upon the spirit that had held her position for 3 years.

Max twitched against their scrutinizing stares. For the occasion, she and Jack had changed into something more proper for the annual gathering of nature spirits. The Spirit of Winter was wearing a navy blue woolen jacket over his hoodie, as well as similar colored pants. The Keeper of Balance herself was wearing grey button-down shirt, silver vine patterns wrapping the sleeves, with a black cloak draped around her shoulders, embroidered with a balance and a ying-yang symbol. She wore a pair of loose fitting dark green pants on the bottom.

Narrowed eyes and fierce glares. Looks like a lot of controversy that no one else got promoted, eh? Max thought to herself.

She bowed with a smile plastered to her face and shot a few fiery looks at spring sprites that looked like they wanted to kick her off the stage. She calmly took her seat and the meeting began.

"Jack Frost, Spirit of Winter, is a nuisance."

Max was jolted out of her eyes-open examination of the balance of nature in the room. Her eyes flickered for a moment with irritation. She hadn't seen any of these arguments Jack told her in action yet.

Her eyes immediately focused on the toga-wearing spirit and realized he was from the long line of Legend spirits in the center of the hall. Apparently, the major ones, being the Guardians of Childhood, were having a meeting of their own.

Stuck up higher-ups, she grumbled internally.

The spirit's eyes flashed with small lightning bolts and had passing storm clouds. His hair was grey and puffy that mixed with a beard in a similar fashion. He carried a wand with a tornado at the top.

"He froze my rain into snow again." The man's voice was thick and rumbling like rolling clouds.

"It was December in Rome." Jack deadpanned. A hush fell over the crowd as everyone focused burning gazes on the Spirit of Winter.

Mother Nature, seemingly knowing that Max had jumped out of her "working zone", gave her a questioning glance.

"I, quite frankly, do not see what the problem is here."

All judgmental eyes turned to the newly turned Spirit of Balance.

Analyzing his "spirit power balance" and judging him with a sharp hawk-like gaze, Max began her rebuttal.

"Zephyr Boreas, you have, I believe, a reputation for causing landslides in the hills near Rome. (not sure if it's a true fact. let's just pretend it is. :) This has, notably, been seen as a source of damage to the oldest trees and homes in the area. Not only has this been a threat to the people who live there, but also a threat to balance. Spirit of Storms in the Mediterranean, Balance has passed its judgement upon you. Retain your ways or experience the deaths you cause. Fix your ways and there will be no threat." Max's eyes flashed with the threat.

Silence rang in the hall.

"I could not have spoken better myself, Max. Boreas, we have heard your case. Please take your seat." Mother Nature ordered.

There was a series of gasps from the summer sprite section that Boreas belonged to. Many of them sent nasty glares towards Jack Frost, but the majority focused their aggression on the newly turned Major Spirit.

She gave them all a sickly sweet balance and brushed the left side of the balance on top of her staff. A small drop of water decorated the smooth surface of the curved black plate.

A wave of calm washed over the dissenters.

"Thank you, Max. Does anyone else have need to speak their case?" The Lady of Nature questioned.

No one spoke up. Evidently drenched in submission by Max's power.

"Good. Annual seasonal meeting dismissed." Mother Nature gestured with her hand. She stood and left her throne.

After majority of the minor sprites had left the hall, Jack stood up from his chair and waited for Max to walk off the stage. She greeted the mischievous winter spirit with a grin.

"Hey Frostbite. The cold get to your head or something?" The Spirit of Summer sauntered up to Jack right before the Spirit of Winter could make a greeting to Max. He'd already forgotten the winged mutant's presence.

"What do you mean?" Jack's eyes narrowed a little as he tilted his head in question.

"What I mean is, can you think with that brain of yours, or is it frozen solid just like your heart?" Summer asked. Boreas had proceeded to stand right behind the leader of their season and had a cocky look plastered to his face.

Max's eyes narrowed as she grasped the handle of her swirl-patterned staff, bringing it in front of her, right hand reaching towards the balance.

"What are you trying to blame me for now, hot head?" Jack frowned, the smile having left his face a while back and traces of mirth unseen.

Sensing a spike in usage of summer powers, Max immediately dropped a white orb onto one side of the balance. The bolt of lightning that had shot from the staff of Aestas fizzled out completely.

"Hand that over!" Feuille snapped, snatching Max's staff away. She snarled and a black bow immediately formed in her hand, an arrow strung.

She spun around and shot a flowery throwing knife aimed at Jack right out of the air.

Her staff, having disappeared from the Spirit of Autumn's grasp, had lost its form and reappeared as just a balance in Max's hand.

Wings shot from Max's back as she immediately took Spring and Summer's distraction to jump beside Jack. The feathery limbs immediately curled protectively around the two as a barrage of arrows flew from Tari's bow. The Guardian of Balance grunted with the effort of keeping the arrows off them. They were shot with high force, and very nearly went straight through her wings had she not tensed the muscles.

Hissing with pain, she pushed out all the arrows with a magnetic pulse that repelled the metal-headed arrows from her wings. Immediately she folded them in so the Garden Hall would not be tainted with blood.

"Spirits of Autumn, Spring and Summer. What is the fight you have to pick with Jack Frost?" Max snarled, eyes glinting dangerously.

Asatsuyu snorted. "He's winter. He's death, destruction, and coldness. He's everything no world wants to have. He ruins the flowers I bloom and Aestas nurtures. He ruins Tari's colored leaves. And he makes it hard for people to live. Who wants him around anyway?" She sneered. "He's an irresponsible, selfish brat."

"You don't look much older yourself." Max commented idly. All four seasons stared. "I mean, no offense Asatsuyu, but you hardly look like an adult yourself. What are you, 2?"

"You little-"

"Vindictive bitch? Yes, thank you for talking about yourself for me. Let me make this point clear." Max's eyes sharpened so they bore through the very souls of the personifications of the seasons. "Whether or not you cause allergies with flowers and attract bees," Her gaze landed pointedly on spring, "like to watch people run around naked because it's hot or hit people with lightning," she stared at Summer, "or steal all the water and set fires to watch the tree nymphs run out without wearing anything." she fastened hawk-like eyes on Autumn. Her eyes swept the near-empty hall where all the other seasonal sprites had been watching their feud. "Jack Frost is protected. He is much smarter than any of you since most of you have flowers for brain cells, burned up your head, or flooded it with water. He controls his season much better than you all do. So either heed my warning, or shut the hell up and by MiM, go somewhere no one else will ever find you. Because if I see any of you messing with Jack Frost again, you will not last an hour of what I would do to you." She growled. All faces paled with the threat and immediately disappeared in a shower of leaves, petals, or a rumble of thunder. Jack met Max's eyes.

"Seasonal tempers in action." He stated softly.

"Well, if they get near you again..."

"Whatever would I do without you, Maxi?" He teased as his eyes regained their playful light.

"Oh no you don't!" She shouted as he spun into the air and towards the now empty Garden corridors to the outside world. Feet left the ground as the usual chase ensued.

Asatsuyu Hana- Morning Dew Flower (Japanese)

Aestas Calor - Summer Heat (Latin)

Tari Feuille - Dry Leaf (French)

The names of the seasons, I think, are kinda cute. Careful though, they might be deceiving. I know, the ending was a bit awkward but I couldn't think of anything else.

What do you want Max and Jack to be up to next?

Another update coming soon, I hope!

XD