Snow tapped on Heat's door as Jack flew in circles and talked to Flurry. Cinder opened the door, and Heat stepped out, scowling.
"It's not even the reunion yet," he complained. "And I still have to see them?"
"Chill out, inferno face. It's just family," Snow teased.
Heat grunted. "Yeah, yeah. But I still wish the kid could've waited."
"I'm over seven hundred years old," Jack said from above them. "I'm not a kid."
Snow reached up and grabbed Jack's ankle, yanking him down into his arms. Jack yelped.
"Hey! Snowy!" he whined. "No fair."
"Is too fair," Snow taunted back. "I can't fly."
"Ready, boys?" Mother Nature asked, her voice echoing across their island.
"Yes, Mother dear," they both intoned, and they hurried to the end of the island. The portal opened up and Jack jumped out of Snow's arms and flew through. Snow grinned and followed with Heat. The rest of the family was already there, which was a bit surprising. Usually, Snow and Heat were retrieved first because of their status as firstborns. But it was a party for Jack.
Mother Nature kissed Jack's cheek as she scanned him up and down. "Prince of frost, eh?"
Jack flushed. "Did you like your present?"
"You have quite some skill," Aurora said.
Heat looked puzzled. "Huh?"
Snow cut in front of Heat to receive his kiss first. Heat scowled at him. "Oh, he visited their islands last night and left some personalized frost."
Heat accepted his kiss last. "Hmph. I didn't get to see it."
"Your half won't frost," Jack said, shrugging. "I did try."
"He'll gladly show off for you, Heat. Just pick a time and let me know," Snow assured him.
"What if I said no?" Jack asked cheekily.
"You won't. You're a showoff," Snow retorted. "I saw what you did this morning on their islands."
Jack stuck his tongue out then jumped into the air and shot across Summersland. His gloved hand skimmed along the grass, leaving a shimmering trail of frost behind him.
Heat grinned. "That's pretty cool, slush mouth. I remember when you used to play with frost."
"He's got an artistic touch," Snow said fondly.
"Just like his daddy," Heat teased.
"Oh, stuff it, magma brain!" Snow exclaimed, his cheeks coloring. He could feel his siblings staring at him, so he quickly changed the subject. "What are the plans for today, Mother?"
"Oh, I have several activities planned," she said. "But first I suppose we should coronate him. We're waiting on Time to get here with the crown."
"What?" Snow was startled, and he could hear the others muttering. "Mother, you're coronating him?"
"Of course not. You are. Unless you don't think he's ready?"
Snow frowned. "Well, of course I think he's ready. He's been doing his job for over five hundred years. We only had a century of probation. But you don't even know him. You're willing to do this?"
Mother Nature smiled at Snow. "I trust your judgement."
"Really?" North and Thunder asked incredulously.
"Why?" Snow asked suspiciously.
"Snow, you have kept him in line well enough that I didn't know he existed for over seven hundred years," Mother Nature replied. "That is probably the single most impressive act any one of you have ever done on your own. You took the blame for his storms and accidents, but he certainly doesn't run wild, which means you're doing something right. He seems polite and responsible, and he's clearly well-adjusted and respects humankind and the balance of nature."
