Chapter 11: The Titanic

Jack winced when the next memory opened. Frost was upset. Jack had learned a long time ago that when his emotions ran rampant, so did his powers. He learned that after the...

"Oh, no..." He winced.

"What's wrong, Sweet Tooth?"

"Y-you'll see... This is 1912." He sighed. The other guardians shared looks of confusion.

"Guardians... Jack is 200 in this memory." MiM informed, causing the group to jump.

"Manny! Do not scare us like that!" North pouted.

"So why were you so upset?" Tooth asked, looking at Frost as he flew through the sky. He held his side like he was injured, and tears froze to his cheeks. A few stray tears that managed not to freeze entirely fell as snowflakes to the white earth below.

"Nothing too bad. Just Damian and his group again, that's all." Jack informed them.

"Nothing too bad?!" Bunny scoffed. "Considering what we saw last time, I'd say you're lucky to be alive." He glared off in the direction Frost had come from. "If I ever see those Summer Sprites again, I swear I'll show 'em just how terrifying a Pooka can be."

"Yeah! Nobody messes with my Sweet Tooth!"

"Guys, guys, calm down! There's really no need for that!" Jack chuckled. "I can fight him off, now. I'm a big boy."

"Nyet. We are needing to feel useful and protect you." North flushed.

"What he means to say, Frostbite, is that we weren't there for ya when we should've been. So let us be there for you now." Bunny amended.

"But... I can handle things on my own. I studied several fighting techniques from all over the world, and Damian gave me plenty of practice. I can hold my own in a fight, you know."

Frost eventually grew tired of flying blindly in his pain and anger. Damian's voice echoed as Frost recalled what had been said. "Nobody likes winter. You can just go die for all we care. In fact, the world would celebrate!" The Summer Sprite's laughter echoed.

"N-No, you're wrong! Winter is necessary!" Frost's voice protested, but he sounded unsure.

"Winter is, but you are not. Nobody likes you. Nobody cares about you. You are unnecessary, unneeded, unwanted. You cause a mess wherever you go! You're a murderer who covers up the blood on his hands with laughter and immaturity! Honestly, how you ever became a seasonal sprite, I'll never know."

"I'm a spirit, not a sprite." Frost protested.

"Ha! You don't even know the difference?! A Sprite is someone who helps spread a season or concept. A Spirit is born of that season, and is essentially a representation or personification of that season or concept. Like how Santa is the Spirit of Christmas, or the Easter Bunny is the Spirit of Hope. If those concepts die, then so do they. You on the other hand are a Sprite. You have no concept. No core."

"You're wrong... I'm the Spirit of Winter." There was silence for a moment as the Summer Sprites took in the sudden information.

"Damian... I think he's tellin' the truth... I mean, even the wind listens to him." Another voice said.

"Tch... Spirit of Winter, huh? So you're even more of a monster than we first thought. Freak." Damian spat. "That just means that you should die sooner. You really shouldn't have told us that. Now everyone is going to be after your head. Not just us. Because the last Spirit of Winter tried to freeze over the world. You're too dangerous to let live. Nobody can handle an entire season on their own. It's impossible! Each season has hundreds of sprites and spirits to help spread out that burden, but you? You've got nobody. Winter sure is the lonely season, isn't it? Mark my words, boy. One day, your season will drive you mad, and when you finally snap and go insane, you'll kill the world. So it's nothing too personal... I'm just going to kill you to protect everyone, that's all."

The voices stopped as Frost realized he was flying over the ocean. He sank down onto the surface of the water as a fierce storm kicked up due to his emotional state. The water froze beneath him, forming a small platform on which he could sit. He looked around, seeing nothing but open waters.

"Now... it's okay to let loose, right?" He asked the Wind, who gently caressed his friend.

With that, Frost brought his knees up to his chest, ignoring his undoubtedly broken ribs, and cried. It started as small whimpers that dissolved into full out sobs and screams. "WHY!? WHY DID YOU CREATE ME?!" He screamed. "I've got no purpose! I hurt people, and now I find out that I truly am alone in my season?! Why...?! Why am I here?! WHY WON'T YOU ANSWER ME! Am I just some plaything to you?! Some form of entertainment so you can get off on watching me suffer?! I'M DONE! No more!" Frost created an ice-dagger in his hand, and the Guardians watched in horror as he positioned it to pierce his heart.

"J-Jack..." Tooth stared in shock.

"I'm so tired... I don't want to be alone anymore. So please... Haven't I suffered enough?" He looked up to the crescent moon. He was just about to plunge the knife into his chest, when a loud rumbling startled the white-haired boy.

His eyes widened in horrified realization as he looked behind him. In his emotional distress, the small piece of ice he'd been sitting on had grown into a superb iceberg. And a very large ship was heading straight towards it.

S. S. Titanic was written across the side of the iconic vessel. The Guardian's looked absolutely heartbroken.

"No... To think... that this is what really happened..." Bunny's eyes were wide. How could that kid smile after everything that's happened to him?

"S-Stop!" Frost cried out, trying to move the iceberg out of the way. But he was too late. The ship had gotten too close. It hit the iceberg with a terrifying groan, and panic soon reigned throughout the once quiet seas.

He tried to help where he could, but nobody could see or touch him. Then, hours later, as hundreds of people floated dying in the icy waters, a man looked up and saw the spirit, who was still trying to help whoever he could by creating ice-platforms for them to hold on to, or climb up on.

"You... you created that iceberg." He accused, and his voice rung out softly across the watery graveyard. Frost whipped around in shock.

"I-it was an accident! Nobody was supposed to be out here!" His face was a twisted mix of guilt and grief. Tears froze thickly to his cheeks.

"Whether you intended it or not..." The man wheezed. "It's your fault. My family is dead because of you. And soon, I will be too. I will carry my hatred for you to my grave. We all will. Know that you have ended hundreds of lives this night. Our blood... is forever on your hands... Spirit of Death." The man's eyes dulled as his breath finally stopped, and he fell into an eternal slumber.

"But... I didn't..." Frost backed away, looking around him. Over a thousand people floated all around him. None of them were breathing or moving. It was like a vast watery floating graveyard, and in that moment, something within the winter spirit broke. His shoulders sagged. "I guess I am just a monster." He abruptly flew off towards Antarctica as the memory faded away.

"How terrible! Jack, you know what he said was wrong, don't you?! That wasn't your fault!" Tooth reassured, but Jack shook his head.

"No, Tooth. He was right. If I hadn't been having that temper tantrum, I wouldn't be responsible for the ending of over 1,500 lives. I was being selfish, and they paid the price. I can never forgive myself for that." He sighed. "But I suppose I've repented. At the very least, Karma came and collected." He laughed dryly to himself, and the cold bitter expression on his face bothered the Guardians more than they were willing to admit.

North sighed to himself as he shared a look with Bunny and Sandy. They had a lot of work to do. It seemed Jack wasn't quite as carefree as he led them to believe...

A/N: HOLY SCHEIßE!! A triple update! What magic is this?! Whelp, we've gotten the Titanic outta the way. I never saw the movie, though I did do a bit of research. I once walked in on my cousin watching part of the end, which I used inspiration from for the imagery you've seen here in this chapter. I added in the part about the guy blaming Jack to give it more umph and emphasize Jack's guilt. Aside from that, if you were wondering why he could see Jack... Well, they're technically being killed by Winter, and those who die at winter's hand can see him, not just kids. But adults, too. Jack's just not usually around for that, is all.

Words: 1,400

Pages: 3

Posted: 04/11/2019