Mother Nature led the Guardians to a small grove enclosed by a tight circle of trees. It was shaded with only a few thin beams of light poked through the tree line to illuminate the area, and a small brook bubbled through. The aura of the place gave the grove a secluded feel, and for that, each of the Guardians were thankful.

Jack's lithe body was gently laid on a flat stone which neared the tiny water fall within the curve of the brook, and Seraphina motioned for the four of them to step closer. Each cautiously abided, but it was Tooth who flitted this closest, for it was she who seemed to trust Seraphina the most. Bunnymund, who moved to stand to the right of Jack continued to eye the Spirit of Nature cautiously. He wanted her help; he truly and honestly did. If it helped Jack, then he was okay with her attempt; however, there was a slight chance that his physical body could be damaged even more in the process, and even if brought back, Aster didn't know how long Jack could manage with such injuries. After all, Bunnymund was the most knowledgeable when it came to Mother Nature's magic and rituals. She could do so much good, and yet, she was a destroyer as well. His question was would she honestly do her best to preserve and resuscitate Jack, or would she simply make matters worse?

Some might argue that because Jack was dead, there was no "worse", but Bunny begged to differ. He knew there was worse, far worse actually, and he didn't want any of it for Jack Frost.

North and Sandy filed in, finding a spot close to Jack. North rubbed his meaty hands together anxiously, and even the Sandman, who always seemed to have a tired look on his face seemed alert and focused.

"Alright Guardians," Nature began, placing a hand across the winter child's forehead, "in order to prepare yourselves, I must tell you that there will be steps to this process. Some steps might prove to be disturbing, but I assure you, it must be done to insure Jack's ultimate survival." The nature spirit's tone was serious, and almost that of a teacher instructing her students. Her treatment of him would depend on the severity of the wound (or wounds) that the frost spirit acquired during his death. If minor, such as clean wounds, then Seraphina wasn't deeply concerned. However, if Jack's injuries extended beyond a simple stab wound, then she couldn't promise that "fixing" Jack was going to be a pleasant experience to witness. If that was the case then, she hoped the Guardians were strong of heart.

But, Jack was their baby. She understood that. She could see it in their eyes and in their fixed determination that they'd do anything for him - even approach a spirit they had no reason to trust. It was love, and Mother Nature, although unpredictable and sometimes rash, could appreciate that.

Glancing over the four of them, she released a steady sigh and met each of their gaze. "Do you have any questions before I start? Any second thoughts?" She just needed to know. It seemed right to ask them, after all. In retrospect, she was the equivalent of Jack's doctor, and the Guardian's his family, and this was a big deal. It was quite the "operation", so to speak.

"Vhat sort of steps are there?" North was the first to ask, though she knew they all were thinking the same thing.

"Well," she began, wetting her lips, "First, I must treat the injuries - rid his body of them. There is a chance his body will reject, but that is a chance that needs to be taken in order to move any further. I then must merge him with his element. I'll also ask each of you to give a bit of your light to him, and i'll give a touch of mine. It'll help with coaxing the life - the life he lost, back into his body. It is difficult to explain really, but you'll see soon enough."

"But what if it don't work? What if Jack doesn't come back?" Bunny interjected, concern riddled across his features. A single furry paw went down to squeeze Jack's lax hand, and the Pooka fought to keep his voice from wavering.

Mother Nature would have shrugged. She would have made that "eh, whatever" face and gone about her work had circumstances been different, but she felt pity for them. She couldn't be so cruel. Instead, she offered the Pooka and his companions a soft smile and stroked her hand through the frost child's white hair.

"Then at least you...we can say we tried. I'll assist you in making his existence known throughout the world should I fail you tonight, that way his name will live on, even if it is whispered."

Tooth smiled, though her smile was tinged with sorrow. "Yes...we'd appreciate that. If anything...we don't want Jack to be forgotten."

"Yes well," Seraphina began, pushing her long back hair out of her eyes, "He won't be. After all, Old Man Winter died what...centuries ago? People still know his name. If it is Jack's fate that he should remain amongst the deceased tonight, I promise you that his name will live on - that Jack Frost will not be forgotten."

Toothiana nodded and smiled, and she reached out to squeeze the hand Sandy offered to her. Both she and Sandy seemed completely satisfied with Seraphina's promise. Even Bunnymund and North, who were still focused on the worst of the "what ifs", visibly relaxed. They could live with that promise.

Clearing her throat, Mother Nature's face turned serious and she bent over the deceased child, eyes quickly giving him a once over. "Well then, I do say it is time to start, yes? Prepare yourselves, and please do not disrupt me. I will let you know should I need your assistance." Seraphina wasn't a patient spirit if interrupted. She found her work to be extremely important, which it was, and bringing an elemental back to life would take a lot of concentration and physical work. It was something she needed complete and utter focus, and should they interrupt her, she might not be so formidable.

Their silence was enough reply for her, and she turned her eyes away from them and worked to take off Jack's hoodie. Once the hoodie was off, she took note of the cleanly stitched line where the boy was stabbed only hours ago, along with numerous pale scars that she figured he acquired over his lifetime. Some scars even seemed to pre-date his immortal re-birth, and she let her fingers slowly run across a few of them in curiosity. She found it odd that the Man in the Moon changed nothing physically about the boy save for his eyes and hair. Everything - every scar and feature was left as it was, and there was no hint about his body that the Man in the Moon tried to erase them.

Toothiana had grown feathers during her transformation from mortal to immortal, Bunny had gotten bigger, North had aged, and Sandy had changed in density. Jack Frost on the hand, had been preserved. It was mind boggling really, and Seraphina had to catch herself before her thoughts ran away with her. She could ponder over it later.

The spirit of Nature placed a pale hand over Jack's bare chest, completely covering the stitches with her palm. Her brow creased in concentration, and she bit down on her lower lip. A soft, low glow emitted from her palm, and Nature had to take a steady breath through her nostrils as the glow pulsed beneath her fingers. Within moments though, the glow faded, and her face relaxed. With a few slow and steady blinks, she peered back up at the Guardians and huffed. Her expression caused Toothiana to wring her hands together worriedly, and the fairy bobbed.

"Well?" Tooth chirped, her crown of feathers flattening slightly atop her head.

With her palm still flattened against Jack's chest, Mother Nature tapped one finger idly against his bare skin, though she gave the Guardians her undivided attention.

"The good thing is that I've dealt with worse. The bad thing is that there is a bit of internal damage the extends beyond the stab wound that I will have to repair, and it won't be enjoyable to watch."

Sucking in a strong breath through his nose and puffing out his chest, Bunny nodded and kept his body firmly planted as if to display confidence. "We can handle it," he said, ears erect. "It needs to be done." But then he paused, and his head tilted, and Bunny gave her a concerned look.

"What sort of internal damage?"

Seraphina chewed on her lower lip and pointed to the right side of Jack's chest. "As you know, he was pierced all the way through. What ever object he was stabbed with punctured his right lung, and it has completely deflated. There is an artery that has been damaged also, which has caused some internal bleeding. I am going to have to reflate his lung and repair the artery before I repair the muscle and skin."

Bunny and North looked deeply concerned, and Tooth emitted a low whine. None of them had any idea as to what Jack's internal damage was - they had just assumed that the his outer wounds were enough to kill him. But, in all fairness, Mother Nature had warned them to expect the worse.

Sighing, the nature spirit repositioned herself above Jack, glancing at the four of them behind dark lashes. "I'm going to continue now. It is for the best." The Guardians silently agreed, but they weren't thrilled for what was to come. They had to keep telling themselves that yes, it was for the best, and it was one step they had to take to get Jack back.

With no further hesitation, Seraphina's hand left Jack's chest, though it remained hovered above his body, only inches from the puncture wound. She flicked her wrist, fingers twisting, and her eyes closed simultaneously. Although it took a moment, whatever magic she had summoned worked to undo the stiches one by one, and the final stitch suddenly snapped to reopen the wound. None of the Guardians looked all that pleased to have their handy-work undone, but they remained quiet, not wanting to disturb Mother Nature's process.

Her hand began to glow again, and rather than flattening her palm over the surface of the wound once more, she grimaced and stuck three fingers inside of the youth's body, ignoring the gasps and grumbles of protest from the other spirits that circled her.

"I told you that you wouldn't like it…" she mumbled back, gritting her teeth together as she focused on finding the injured organ to the right of Jack's chest cavity. She was by all means performing surgery, however instead of using the utensils one would typically use, she was using a rare and almost ancient form of magic – magic that the Guardians knew little to nothing about.

Seraphina released a held breath as she found Jack's lung. Twisting her fingers around inside him, her magic swirled down her outstretched arm and into him, causing the lifeless body to inwardly glow. She first concentrated on the hole in the lung, and inch by inch, she worked to close the hole, as well as patch the artery right beside the deflated lung that had also been damaged during battle.

Feeling both holes singe shut, Mother Nature let her body slump, if only for a moment, before focusing on the next and most difficult part.

"I managed to close both internal wounds," she said, solely for the purpose of keeping the Guardians updated, "so now I'll try to reflate his lung. If his chest expands and remains expanded, then it worked. Right now, from what I can tell, his chest is extremely hollow, and should the stab wound not have killed him, this definitely would have."

North's face turned grim, and Aster's ears flattened. It sickened them to know that had they managed to patch the wound before Jack's death, he still would have died. They would have lost him regardless.

"I hope it works…"Tooth said softly, which was so unlike herself. The fairy hovered close to the ground, her feet nearly touching, and her eyes were large – practically doe-eyed – and riddled with worry.

Seraphina smirked and waved her free hand towards as if disregarding the tooth fairy's apprehension. "Trust me, it will. It is as simple as blowing up a balloon. Your Jack will have working lungs - if anything, he'll have that."

Tooth nodded, however she looked as if she needed more reasurance. Mother Nature didn't have time to comfort her. She was doing all that she could.

"Now, if you please, I need silence again." Seraphina's eyes closed and her wrist flicked again, however this time the Guardians couldn't watch the motions of her fingers. It disturbed them how Jack's pale flesh was stretched as Nature worked inside him. Had Jack been alive, such a thing would have been too painful for him to endure, so it did comfort them to some degree that he currently wasn't feeling any pain. With each ticking second, the Guardians had to remind themselves over and over that such things were necessary, and that everything would be okay.

They needed to believe that everything would be okay.

Releasing a soft grunt, Seraphina's tongue poked out past her lips as she concentrated hard on her work, and she pressed down on the winter spirit's chest with her free hand to brace herself as her magic began to surge through the deflated lung. It took a moment, but slowly and surely, she felt the lung began to expand and rise, much like an air balloon getting ready to take flight. Air pushed its way through the lifeless body, and suddenly, as if a surge of electricity jolted Jack, his body twitched and his chest suddenly rose.

It was as if he breathed in, the way his chest expanded, and although it did deflate some, it was natural, and his body became still once more.

Tooth slapped a hand over her mouth and gasped, and an exclamation mark formed over the Sandman's head. They hadn't expected it to be so sudden, but Tooth caught herself giggling in glee. Even Bunny, who was still worked up and worried, grinned. It was refreshing to see things going smoothly, even if whatever happened next didn't pan out the way this particular procedure did. It was a blessing really, and Seraphina assured the Guardians with a smile of her own that part one had been successfully completed.

It took only moments for her magic to bring the severed skin together on both sides of his body, and the wound closed without a hitch. Mother Nature looked rather pleased with herself as she brought her now blood soaked hand away from the youth's body, and squatted to allow the stream to wash the red liquid away.

"I will say, for an elemental that I myself didn't create, fixing his wounds wasn't nearly as difficult as I assumed it would be." She said, drying her now clean hand with the folds of her dress.

"What does that mean? Will he wake up now? Is he okay? What's next?" Tooth rambled, buzzing back and forth above Bunnymund's shoulder. She continued to wring her fingers together out of nervous habit, and her eyes remained large. Had it not been for the fact that she was afraid of touching Jack due to possibly throwing Mother Nature off, Tooth would have already scooped the limp child up and into her arms, cradling and checking every inch of him as any worried parent might do.

But Toothiana wasn't Jack's mother. She knew that. It didn't mean though that she couldn't dote on the winter child, and if anything, she wanted to ensure his safety above anyone else's. Had the situation been up to her, she would have never ever pegged Jack to be the one to die. She would have never chosen him to die, and would have sacrificed so much, even her own self, to have kept him safe.

Bunny might have "claimed" the role of Jack's protector, but that didn't mean that she couldn't look after his well being also. Jack needed them all now, really - but most importantly, they needed him.

Exhaling, Seraphina looked over her shoulder at the flitting fairy and cocked an eyebrow. Poor thing, she never was calm, was she?

"It means that we now have a chance of bringing him back to life. No, he isn't okay yet, but that is what we are aiming for. " She said, moving to stand by Jack's side once more. "Now fairy, please calm yourself before I tie those pretty little wings together. I know your intentions are good, but this next step is even more difficult than the first, and I need calm." She snipped, leaning against the stone slab.

Tooth pressed her pretty lips together and lowered herself towards the ground. North placed a steady hand on her shoulder, and she was thankful for the support. Had she not had any sort of physical reassurance at that moment, she probably would have teared up. Usually she wasn't such an anxiety ridden, stressful mess, but today was doing her in.

"I hope you all can stand the cold," Mother Nature said with a slight chuckle, walking towards the one leaf-less tree at the foot of the stone Jack's body rested on. She placed her hand against its bark and smiled, running her fingers along the trunk until a faint blue glow began to emit from within the tree. It was as if all of the warmth within the area was suddenly sucked away, leaving a chilly stillness behind, and the Guardians marveled at how their breath became visible within only a few seconds time.

"I find it funny how most relate winter to death..." the raven haired spirit said, continuing to touch the tree - summoning the cold right out of it. Frost began to nip and her fingers, and slowly, snowflakes began to fall. "Winter is not death," she continued, turning to walk back to the stone. "It is hibernation - it is rejuvenation. It is the rest the world needs in order to replenish itself come the next season. Without winter," Seraphina stroked her knuckles across Jack's cheek, "Spring, Summer, and Autumn would cease to exist. Most don't realize that." Nature touched the stone slab, and just as ice and frost had formed on the tree, it began to spread across the stone.

Ice crawled up Jack's prone body. It slithered between his fingers and froze his hair. It kissed at his cheeks and formed barriers around his arms and legs, as if holding the sprite in place. Within a moments time, every inch of the teen was either encased in ice, or tinged with frost. His lips and cheeks even began to turn a slight blue, which was natural for him, and Mother Nature marveled at just how magnificent the youth was when connected to his element.

Oh yes, the Man in the Moon had done a wonderful job on him.

With winter's chill in the air, and the grove covered in a thin layer of snow and ice, Seraphina placed her hands on Jack's chest and forehead, and breathed in deeply. She began mumbling words that neither of the four Guardians could hear – not even Bunnymund and his acute hearing – and she kept her hands steady against Jack's now frozen body. As with the tree, a blue glow began to seep through her fingers, and the ice that had gathered around Jack Frost seemingly froze the magic as it formed a sphere above his head and heart. The magic was still alive though. It continued to pulse under her fingertips, and although it was incased in ice, it seemed to thrive on it.

Bunny's ears perked in awe as Jack Frost became one with his element, for in all his year of knowing the boy, never did he see him so connected. He looked as if he was made of ice himself, and although the sun was now covered by grey clouds, light seemed to bounce off of the icy encasing, and the blue tent of Seraphina's magic made his appearance even more frosted.

Gently, Mother Nature pushed the ice covered spheres against Jack's pale skin, willing the ice to conform and mold to the frost and ice that had already coated the boy. The spheres cracked as she shoved, and the ice covering his forehead and heart seemed to melt, allowing the spheres better access to his skin. Once the spheres touched the now frozen body, they cracked completely, and the blue magic contained in both spheres darted downwards, prodding at the youth's flesh.

Mother Nature held both hands over the magic, not allowing any of it to escape. Its only choice was to embed itself within the sprite's heart and brain, and Seraphina pushed harder, nearly gritting her teeth together when skin and magic began to conform.

From a bystander's view, the transference looked rather painful. Aster wanted nothing more in that moment than to seize Frost's hand again and ensure him that everything was alright, but such a notion would do no good. It would only comfort him.

Finally, after a few painful minutes of pushing at prodding, the magic finally gave in with a tiny squeal and dissolved into Jack. The skin that the magic had been push against glowed momentarily, and Seraphina peeled open one of Jack's eyelids, noting the blue haze that glowed around his pupil.

"Fantastic, the transference is going smoothly. His body didn't reject his element, though I am not surprised." She said, once more leaning against the stone as to get her bearings. "Though I will say, he is taking more magic to repair than I ever thought he would." Mother Nature huffed and whipped sweat off of her brow. Her eyes didn't seem nearly as vivid as they had minutes ago.

"What do ya' mean?" Bunny inquired, tilting his head to the side.

"I mean that for some reason, I am having to work extra hard to fix him. Other elementals I've healed, although difficult, didn't make me sweat by any means." She said, resting her weight on her arms as she bent forward. She looked as if she had just ran a race. "It could be because Jack Frost isn't necessarily mine."

North's brow creased slightly, and he glanced over at Sandy, trying to read the Sandman's reaction. The Sandman however, looked just as perplexed as he. His tiny fingers ran across his chin while one arm folded across his chest. It wasn't as if the Sandman was confused per say, he was simply curious. He wanted to know exactly why the Man in the Moon made Jack without consulting in Mother Nature, and yet, at the same time, her magic was seemingly working for the boy. The intricate details that made up Jack Frost seemed to be more so a mystery than anything.

"Nevertheless," Seraphina clapped her hands together, interrupting the Guardians's train of thought, "I can take a breather later. We need to go ahead and follow through with the third step while the magic is still active. Now, " she paused, motioning the four of them closer with both hands. "Stand close. I'll need you close. Each of you need to touch him somewhere. If he was simply mine, I would not need you. But, he is partially yours, so your assistance is needed."

Without question, the Guardians placed a hand on Jack Frost's stiff body. Toothiana and Bunny took hold of his shoulder and hand, and Sandy and North, who were towards the lower end of Jack's body, took hold of either leg.

"Now, no matter what happens, don't let go. It might get awfully windy and bright, and you may start to feel a little pain yourselves, but the bonds must not be broken, do you understand?" Seraphina asked, her eyes snapping up to meet each of theirs, and she took hold of Jack's other shoulder. Each of them nodded vigorously, reaffirming their grip on the youth.

"Very good then. Now, I am going to extract a pinch of your centers from each of you to give to Jack. The purpose of this is to give him the will to live. It is to give him a purpose and a reason to come back," She said, patting the teen's shoulder. "This will feel weird, but it will not hurt, nor will it affect your centers as a whole." The group nodded again on to affirm that they understood, and Seraphina reached over Jack, first placing her hand over Tooth's heart. She twisted her fingers through the fairy's feathers and bawled her fist against the fairy's chest. With a deep gasp, she pulled, extracting a small ball of violet light from within the Tooth Fairy. Tooth's eyes widen and she tightened her grip on Jack as if she was using him for support, and she sucked in a deep breath. It was an odd feeling to have a part of her pulled out of her, (even if it was a small portion) and Tooth had to blink a few times before she could regain her posture.

Bunny was next, followed by Sandy and North. Each of their lights bore a different color. Bunny's was green, Sandy's was yellow, and North's was red. They experienced the same, odd sensation that Tooth had experienced before them, and it left each of them gasping and clutching their chests.

Once each of their lights were extracted, Mother Nature touched her own chest, and with a grunt, a white orb appeared between her fingers. She breathed in deeply and uncurled her fingers to reveal all five lights, pleasantly hovering within the center of her palm.

The colorful spheres bobbed around one another in a mindless pattern, and Seraphina smiled at them, holding the lights up so that she could get a better look at them.

"Beautiful, aren't they?" She mused, green eyes watching them dance. "It amazes me how none of our centers are ever this same, and thus, our inner colors vary." Mother Nature brought her hand back down and looked at the frost child. "I wonder what his would be..."

If she could guess, she'd guess blue - a light blue, possibly even a mint. Why? Light blue was refreshing and rejuvenating. It was a youthful color, and a color that blended and matched well with most any other color. It was the color of ice, and the color of the sky. And, from what she had heard, everyone needed a bit of blue in there life. Just a touch of it.

"Just so you know my friends, you are giving your Jack a beautiful gift." Nature smiled broadly, once more stepping up to Jack.

"Well," Bunny began, clearing his throat and gripping Jack's frozen hand. "He is worth it. Just havin' him back will be a blessin' enough for us."

For once, Bunny didn't seem to mind the cold. He didn't mind the chilly nip in the air, nor how the ice that layered the teen's skin burned the pad of his paw. To feel some sort of chill from the winter spirit was far more comforting then none at all. Jack Frost was supposed to be cold after all - and although still dead, he, for the first time since his death, looked like himself.

Seraphina hummed and nodded, eyeing Bunnymund with a slight twinkle in her eye. "Consider it then a gift for a gift." She took hold of Jack's shoulder again and braced herself. Her bare toes dug into the snow covered earth, and Mother Nature swallowed with a tinge of nervousness. "If this goes well, then I would bet my very soul that the spirit of winter will rise again."

"And if not?" North inquired, curling his hand around Jack's knee.

"Then you will know that I have tried my best." She replied, taking in another deep breath. "If this does not work, then his death was fate. If fate, then not even I, Nature, can resurrect winter inside of him. If that is to be..." She paused, pressing her lips together in a thin line, "then winter must be resurrected anew."

"What do you mean?" North raised an eyebrow.

"I mean that if this does not work, then I will have to create a new winter spirit. It is the circle of life my friends, surely you understand."

And they did. They may have not liked the thought of a new winter spirit - a replacement, per say, but as Mother Nature had clarified earlier, winter was needed, and thus, a spirit to represent the season was needed in order to keep the balance.

Such was life.

Sighing, North nodded and glanced down, focusing on his own hands. None of the others desired to pry further, and simply fastened their hold on Jack, waiting for the Nature spirit's next move.

Noting their desire to go ahead and continue, Mother Nature brought the five glowing orbs down against Jack's heart.

"Ready?" She asked, giving them one final look. They each nodded briefly and physically braced themselves, trying to prepare themselves for whatever was to come.

With little to none of the tenderness she held earlier, Mother Nature quickly flipped her palm and shoved all five orbs against Jack's chest. Much like the magic had done earlier, the spheres of light squealed as they were forced against the boy's heart, and fought to pry themselves from underneath Seraphina's fingers, desperately wanting to return to their owner's bodies. But, Seraphina held fast, and created a barrier with her other hand to keep the orbs at bay. She gritted her teeth and pushed, sweat once more beading at her brow, and Mother Nature let out a forceful yell as the pain from exerting so much force and magic began to take a toll on her body.

A dense aura formed around Serahina's body, and it began to manifest around Jack's body as well. The Guardians squinted their eyes as the aura grew in size, and the light soon became too much for them to bare. Nevertheless, they kept a firm grip on Jack, holding on with all of their might when the aura began to sting their hands. It was as if a thousand bees attacked their hands and arms, and the sensation grew and travel up their shoulders, causing a few of them to nearly fall to their knees.

The squealing noise of the orbs rang in high pitched keens, but Mother Nature did not let up. She kept pushing - willing the orbs to dissolve into the frost child's heart. His body bucked as magic flowed through his veins and singed his nerves, and Seraphina released another yell, this time out of determination.

"You WILL obey me!" She hissed, forcing the lights that tried to crawl through her fingers back down. "And you will. go. IN!" The aura bubbled and began to burst, sending tendrils of light in every which direction. It crawled across the trees and seeped in through the snow. Mother Nature grunted and growled, and with every last bit of her might, she gave one last, forceful shove.

That did it.

The ground began to shake and the squeals of the orbs reached an all time high. The world around the Guardians became unnaturally bright, almost as if the flash of a camera went off right in their faces, and the flash never dissolved to allow their eyes to adjust. The stinging sensation though seemingly dimmed, and within a few seconds time, a hollow BOOM rang out within the grove, causing trees to bend to the mighty force and the world to seemingly stop.

It was silent.

Almost too silent.

The air was still, and the trickling sound of the brook was replaced by a soft ringing in their ears.

North was the first to open his eyes. He blinked and widened his eyes, trying to regain his footing. The Cossack reached out and touched Sandy, who was the closest to him, and the golden man stirred. Bunny and Tooth were the next to follow, and as soon as the four of them were able to check each other over and dust themselves off, their eyes immediately went to Jack's body.

Aster rushed to him, placing a paw against the boy's shoulder and shaking him lightly. "Jack?" He said softly, eyes glancing up and down the boy's slender frame. The Pooka gulped and shook him again, noting just how still the youth was. It didn't matter to him that color had now returned to Jack's body, or the fact that soft breaths puffed past the sprite's cheeks. He just wanted to see his eyes open - he wanted him to respond. He wanted to be assured that yes, Jack was alive, and that his eyes wasn't playing tricks on him.

North on the other hand, crossed around the stone to Mother Nature, who was slumped ungracefully against it. He reached out and touched the side of her face, and the contact caused her eyes to snap open and stare the large man down.

"Are you okay?" He inquired, offering her his hand to help her up. Seraphina, in all of her prideful glory, waved his hand away and forced herself up onto her own two legs. She chewed at her lower lip as she stood, ignoring the stiffness that caused her muscles to ache. She had over exerted herself, and a few days rest was definitely in order.

"Of course I am," she replied blatantly, holding her hand out to stop the Tooth Fairy from assisting her as well. She was tired after all, not terminally ill. "Such magic though can be rather...exhausting."

Moving to sit atop the stone Jack currently laid on, Nature reached out and touched Jack's face. She felt for his pulse, as well as checked the dilation of his pupils before patting the boy's chest and allowing herself to slump slightly.

"Good news Guardians," she breathed, her lips pealing back into a tired but soft smile. "Your boy lives."

Toothiana squealed happily as fresh tears cascaded down her cheeks, and North released a victory "whoop" and clapped his large hands together. Sandy smiled brightly and nodded at his fellow Guardians's enthusiasm, but it was Bunny who seemed to still be in shock by the whole ordeal.

"Why...why isn't he waking up?" He asked, hovering close to the boy, but looking up at Seraphina skeptically. "Is somethin' wrong? Is...is he okay?"

His companions paused in their celebration to look at Mother Nature. The raven haired spirit sighed and raked her fingers through the teen's white hair, blinking up at Bunny as if exasperated. She cleared her throat and pinched the bridge of her nose, though she gave the Pooka her undivided attention.

"Jack Frost is fine. His physical body is perfect. But, you must think Bunnymund, his body just went through an entire reset so to speak. He's exhausted. I don't imagine he'll wake up for another few hours. Just give him time." She said, continuing to pet the frost child's head. "Though, I must inform you…," her voice tapered off with another breathy sigh, and turned to address the other Guardians as well.

"There is a chance that his memory might not be the same. I don't believe it has been wiped clean, but he'll be slightly disoriented and confused for a couple of days, possibly weeks even, but it is up to you to be patient."

Tilting her head, Tooth buzzed closer and sat down beside Mother Nature, though she refrained from entering into the other spirit's personal space. Her dainty hands took hold of Jack's chilled hand and threaded her fingers through his.

"What if he doesn't remember us at all?" The fairy asked, her voice timid and etched in concern.

"Then consider this a chance to start fresh." Mother Nature replied without a second thought. "If I recall, the child was left alone for what…three hundred or so years? There is no doubt in my mind that all that time by his lonesome left a mark on the poor boy." She pulled her hands away from Jack and placed them in her lap.

"If he does not remember you, and if he does not remember his purpose, then it will be up to you to bring him up right. Just think…he'll wake up in a world completely loved and cared for."

Despite wanting their Jack back, the notion was something that they could live with. After all, Seraphina was right. Jack Frost would be loved, and he would be taken care of, and if he woke without the slightest memory of them, he'd live a life without doubt and uncertainty. It was a reasonable alternative. Most definitely.

The Guardians were silent for a moment, taking in Mother Nature's words and listening to the silent breathing of the now living Jack Frost. The sound was welcomed, and although North wanted to sit and listen to it all day, they had taken up enough of Mother Nature's time. She wasn't a spirit that took kindly to lingering. He popped his knuckles and shoved his hands in his pockets, motioning for Aster to go ahead and pick Jack up.

"Ve do appreciate this Seraphina. You vill never know just how much your help means to us, and we will forever be in your debt." He said, watching as Tooth helped ease the sleeping teen into Bunny's arms. The Pooka smiled and held him close, tucking the thin body against his chest protectively.

Mother Nature smiled and nodded, graciously accepting the hand shake North offered her.

"You are very welcome Nicholas, and who knows, I may need you someday." She said with a smirk. Nature stood up and walked over towards the edge of the grove, showing the Guardians the way out as any proper host would.

"Just promise to allow the boy to come see me within the next couple of weeks. I'd love to see him in all of his…spritely glory. Besides, I have now played a part in his creation, so Jack Frost is now under my protection as well." North nodded in agreement and helped usher the rest of his band out.

They each said their own goodbye, whether by hug or silent acknowledgement, before filing into the sleigh. Mother Nature, although unsure of the hug Toothiana gave her, smiled at the fairy and saw the Guardians off, making sure none of her many guards or unseen traps kept them at bay. With a snap of the reigns, North beckoned the reindeer forward, and the sleigh took off, dancing into a glowing portal before disappearing all together.

An entire day had passed since Jack Frost's resurrection, though the teen had not yet stirred. He was constantly being checked on by each of the Guardians, and their only comfort was the fact that the frost child had a steady heartbeat and was breathing without any difficulty.

They had laid him in his room at Santoff Clausen – the room with the vaulted ceilings and large windows. Jack had taken to the room early on, and North had deemed it his once Jack became comfortable staying the night. Jack was tucked in under a thin blanket, and his head propped up against the fluffiest pillow North could find. A window was opened to allow the breeze in, and the north wind in particular kept the room chilly.

To say that the winds had been elated to hear of the winter spirit's rebirth would have been an understatement. They blasted through the North Pole, careful not to damage the structure nor the landmarks, and took turns coming in and out of Jack's room. Though, it was the north wind that obviously marked the territory hers.

Once all of the commotion had died down, and once Jack was deemed "okay", Tooth and Sandy reluctantly left to do their jobs, though Tooth ordered Baby Tooth to stay behind to alert her should Jack wake up. Sandy had instructed North to do the same for him, and the burly man had to assure Sanderson more than once that yes, he'd send word to him if Jack stirred.

So that left Aster and North with Jack.

Bunny had ventured home for only a moment to check in and make sure everything was still in order before returning, and during his absence, North had sat in with Jack. He had pulled a chair up to the side of Jack's bed and made himself comfortable. Both arms were folded neatly across his chest, and he often hummed to himself when the silence grew to be slightly disturbing. He wasn't used to silence in the Work shop. Usually yeti's bustled about, and the tingling of tiny elf hats echoed through the hallways. He assumed that his workers were trying to remain quiet and not disturb their sleeping ward.

But North wanted him to wake up. That was the problem.

The door to Jack's room creaked open, alerting North of Bunnymund's return, and Aster relieved North of his duty to allow the toy maker to do the same as he and regain some of his bearings. Although hesitant, North agreed that it was best that he gave his work shop a quick look over, and he moved to allow Bunny to take his spot.

Bunnymund plopped down in the chair and leaned forward against Jack's bed, reaching out to take hold of the child's hand once more. He quietly watched him - he watched Jack's eyes shift from beneath closed lids, and watched the steady rise and fall of his chest. To think that only two days prior, Jack Frost had died, and then he had been brought back. The thought made Bunny shudder, and he wanted desperately to rid himself of such memories.

Though, to say that he was grateful for Mother Nature's help would have been an understatement. He had been entirely wrong about her (well, at least this once), for she had done the impossible and had brought his Snowflake back. It meant more to him then she, or anyone, could ever imagine, and for once, Aster was completely and utterly appreciative for the life he lived and the family he belonged to. Pooka or not, they were his.

Shifting against the cushion, Bunny rested his chin against the crook of his arm and continued to watch Jack. Although nothing had changed, the Pooka hadn't the slightest desire to look away. He was afraid that if he did, he'd miss being the first thing Jack laid eyes on, and most importantly, he didn't want Jack to wake up thinking he was alone. Never again did he intend the frost child to think that.

But, North's elves had other plans.

With a loud clatter and thundering footsteps of yeti's bustling down the hallway, Aster jumped in alarm and mentally cursed as tiny giggles reverberated off the walls - rapid jingling and an even louder bang following. The Pooka wanted to shout and to rip those damn bell tipped hats off of the tiny creatures' heads, but before he could protest any further, a faint stir caught his eye.

"Jack?" He bent down, the breath catching in his throat. His large paws enclosed around Jack's hand, rubbing the pale digits soothingly as he watched the frost child's brow scrunch and lips purse. Jack's limbs stretched out - muscles flexing and bones popping from being idle for so long, and he breathed in deeply, filling his lungs to the max with cool, crisp, morning air.

Bunnymund felt his pulse race. He felt every inch of his body shake with a mixture of anxiety and excitement, and the fur coating his shoulders bristled. His green eyes widened and his eyebrows raised as he hovered over the shifting figure, and while Aster kept a firm hold on Jack's hand, his other hand hovered over the boy. He desperately wanted to touch him - to reassure Jack that yes, he was there, but at the same time, he couldn't quite remember how.

"Jack?" He repeated, his pitch slightly higher, and he finally decided to rest the pad of his paw against the side of Jack's face, coaxing the teen to look at him.

With a tired groan, Jack Frost rubbed at his eyelids and yawned. Although the morning light was bright, his blue eyes began to open, and he blinked and squinted his eyes more than once to adjust to the change in atmosphere. His world, which was once filled with darkness, was now so bright that it nearly blinded him, and there was a warmth he wasn't quite sure of that seemed hover close. Although the chilly air felt good against his bare skin, whatever it was that was touching him felt remarkably natural.

Releasing his head breath, Jack turned his head to the side, trying to focus his eyes on the grey blur that hovered over him. He blinked again, this time out of curiosity, and Jack tilted his head, icy blue eyes narrowing as he stared up at Aster.

Bunny didn't know what to say. Hell, he didn't know if he could say anything. There was a lump the size of a tennis ball lodged in his throat, and Aster was doing all that he could to keep it together. He wanted to laugh, cry, and hug the insufferable brat all at once, but instead, he kept his composure, and simply grinned down at the boy. He didn't give a shit of Jack knew him or not. Bunny was so overcome by joy and by and abundance of hope that simply having Jack look at him was all the confirmation he needed.

But, within a single moment - a single silent tick of the clock, Jack was able to make out the world around him, and his eyes took in the furry, tear stained face of his comrade. At first, his face was unreadable. His eyes remained in a squint, and his lips slightly agape. But then, within a single, fluid motion, Jack's lips pulled back into a gentle smile, revealing his pearly whites. The youth's eyes twinkled in merriment, and although it was noticeable that Jack was still extremely exhausted, he looked every bit like himself. He looked like fun.

"Hey there Frostbite..." Bunny whispered, hardly able to get a proper sentence out due to an over flow of emotions. The Pooka remained close, pushing back the boy's bangs when the wind teased them against his eyelashes.

Jack Frost watched Bunny closely, and leaned slightly into his touch. His smile slowly morphed into a smirk, and the sprite cocked an eyebrow, raising his chin to meet Aster's gaze head on. He remained silent for a moment, having forgotten that yes, he could talk - in fact, Jack Frost recalled he was quite good at chatting. What did Bunny call it? Ah yes...chin wagging.

Clearing his throat, and keeping his ever cocky smirk present, Jack nodded his head towards Aster and opened his mouth to speak.

"Hey Kangaroo..."

And, we will leave it at that! :) Cut. Print. The END.

That chapter was a ball buster, let me tell you. Not only is it the longest chapter I have ever written, but the hardest. I just had to barrel through it and take my time. I didn't give myself a deadline, nor did I try to rush through anything, which I think paid off in the end.

Hopefully you all enjoyed this arch. I definitely enjoyed writing it! As said, it was hard, but a good deal of "brain juice" was used.

So my next question is, what to write next? I am open to suggestions, though I must repeat that I will not write stories with OCs. Sorry kids. It isn't my cup-o-tea. But, with that said, suggest away, and let me know what you thought of this particular arch and its ending!

Thanks again to all my trusty followers and readers, and I hope I didn't disappoint!

Love always,

Cay.