Dangerous And Cold 2: Call Of The Spirit

Unrequited Love?

The group soon managed to get Crusher to the Warren, which was under ground of Australia, but they still managed to make it thanks to Jokul's staff. They settled Crusher down on the green grass of the Warren as the group glanced around the indoor spring field of the place.

"So... what's the deal between Winter and Spring spirits, Mr. Aster?" Gabby asked.

"Kinda obvious, really," Aster chuckled. "Spring Spirits hate Winter,"

"But you don't mine ME coming in here?" Jokul teased.

"You idiot," Aster nudged him. "Of course I do, but every time I tell you to stop, you come anyway, so who am I to stop you,"

"Winter and Spring don't get along as well as Aster and I do," Jokul explained.

"Well, we really appreciate you helping us," Blaze said gratefully. "But how in the world did you know where we were?"

"Eh, Santa's been telling me and our group of friends about you, Blaze," Aster replied. "About you and your friends,"

"SANTA?! You know Santa?!" Pickle squealed.

"Isn't that what he just said?" Darington asked, nudging the green truck.

"Yeah, I'm-"

"Ahem," Jokul raised an eyebrow.

"Sorry, sorry, WE are friends with his cousin, Nicholas," Aster corrected himself with a playful eyeroll. "Santa told me to keep an eye on you lot since you get yourselves into danger more often than any other mortal,"

Pickle's jaw dropped, but Stripes pushed it back up with a giggle.

"Well, either way, thank you," Blaze smiled. "What do you need us to do for this to work?"

"Well, I'm gonna need a steady tire to help carry all the potions," Aster said. "Frostbite?"

"I'm going to stay here with Crusher, if you don't mine, Kangaroo," Jokul giggled.

"Oh, ha ha, alright," Aster chuckled. "Blaze? Help me out?"

"Of course! Lead the way!"

As Blaze and Aster left, Jokul couldn't help but stare at the Spring Spirit with a happy, lightly blushing smile.

"Do I sense something between you two...?" AJ asked with a smirk.

"Maybe..." Jokul chuckled and shook it off. "But not that possible. Aster has always been annoyed with me. The possibility of him returning the feelings… it's just not possible,"

"Well... you never know unless you ask him," Starla said. "That's how Blaze was with Darington."

"Huh??" Darington looked confused. "Really??"

"You kids have your chances," Jokul laughed. "But Aster… I'm just a friend to him,"

X

"And get this and this too!" Aster placed the potions in the box Blaze was holding.

"Got it!"

"Great!" Aster smiled. "Ooh, and we need this too…"

As the stuff piled up, Blaze glanced around the Spring Spirit's cottage. The place was neat and cozy, like a humble home would be. What caught his attention, however, was a picture of Jokul on the fireplace.

"Hey... is that a picture of Jokul over there?"

"H-Huh?!"

Aster yelped as he bumped the nearby shelf in surprise.

"Oh! Oh, that? Yeah, we uh... took that a while back, long before any of you were born."

"But why keep it on the fireplace, though?" Blaze grinned. "I don't see any other pictures of Santa or your friends around, so why Jokul's picture?"

"Erm, I… I like it," Aster cleared his throat, his face lightly red. "I like the picture, that's all,"

Blaze smiled lightly. "I think I know what it is. You like him... I mean, like him, like him. I know it's none of my business, but I was the same way when I tried to ask Darington out. You'll never know if he has the same feelings if you never ask."

"Psh, as if… as if he likes me back," Aster's expression darkened. "I mean, he had a child with the SNOW QUEEN, for the moon's sake. He… He doesn't like me back, that I'm sure,"

"He only did that so that way the queen would spare him," Blaze said. "He couldn't stand being her servant anymore, so he decided to charm her and become her king so that way he would be spared, and Crusher could be brought to the world."

"Really...?"

"Really. He never was in love with her."

Aster thought about it for a moment before chuckling. "That crazy drongo and his plans. Imma whack him next to get him to stop. That crazy trapped in the ice thing was just as crazy." He sighed. "I wish I could've stopped Pitchiner from trapping him,"

"Me too..." Blaze sighed. "What matters now is that he's here with us. But Crusher won't be if we don't hurry."

"Right,"

Aster nodded before they headed back out.

Outside, the group had surrounded Crusher, who had closed his eyes as his breathing was starting to slow down.

"Good, you're back!" Stripes sighed. "What do we need to do?"

"Move aside, and let me work," Aster spoke, moving beside Jokul. "But Jokul, I'm gonna need ya to restore some energy into him, so he can have strength to take in the potion,"

"Anything for my son." Jokul nodded and aimed his staff at his son.

Aster took a deep breath as he spread the potion all over the dark blue truck. He then sighed.

"Hopefully this works," he hissed. "I've tried it on many spirits… but never in half-spirits before,"

"I'm sure that it'll be fine, Aster," Jokul gave him a smile.

"Well… the potion is still gonna take a while," Aster turned to the group. "You all wanna stay here and wait for him to wake up?"

"Sure," Darington nodded. "Maybe we can learn more about the different kinds of spirits!"

"Good idea!" Stripes smiled.

"Just lead the way, Aster," said Blaze with a grin.

Aster smiled and stood up to lead. He glanced back at Jokul, who chuckled.

"I'll stay here with Crusher a little while longer, if you don't mind,"

"Me too!" Pickle nodded.

"Take all the time you need, you two." Aster told them. "You know the place well enough, Jokul,"

With that, he led the group inside the house while Jokul and Pickle stayed outside.