Sunshine and Frost

1. After The Battle

Jack's P.O.V.

As the echoes of Pitch's cries fade away Manny's brilliant light cuts through the clouds, signaling that the fight is done.

I look in wonder at the moon as I hear the laughter of the others behind me. I turn towards them grinning ear to ear, "Okay, you guys win, I'll do it." I shrug.

The Guardians stop laughing with the children, "You do what?" North asks, his accent becoming thicker with confusion.

I laugh nervously, "I'm saying I'm ready to be a Guardian."

They all share a glance as their smiles fall, "Jack, it's not that simple anymore." Tooth explains.

I feel my stomach drop, "What do you mean? You said that the Moon chose me to be a Guardian, so make me one."

Tooth hovers in front of me, tucking a few feathers out of her face, "That was before..."

"Before what?" I ask.

"Before you betrayed us! Before you sided with, with that monster!" Bunny screams in anger.

The rabbit shoulders his way through to me, "We trusted you Frost, we were counting on you, and what did you do? You went to make a deal with the enemy, just to get some stupid teeth!"

"But I didn't go there to make a deal with him." I back away with each step he takes towards me, "A-A-And they aren't just teeth, they're important! You all should know, Tooth made all of us collect them for a whole night just to keep the balance."

"It doesn't matter why you were there Mate! You chose to leave when we needed you, and now you need to live with the consequences! We never should have trusted you in the first place!" Bunny yells at me.

I look to North in desperation, hoping that he will step in to tell Bunny he's wrong. The old man turns his head away, as does Sandy and Tooth. I feel the world around me start to close in, a wall made of glass in betweenness and my goal, with everyone else on the other side of it.

My eyes narrow, "But I saved Baby Tooth, I helped Jamie believe again, I fought against Pitch!" I point at the moon sinking in the sky, "Manny told you that I have what it takes to be a Guardian, so make me one!"

"It's too late kid, the damage is done, you can't be one of us." Bunny states. None of the others make a move to correct him, they all avoid my eyes while Bunny gives me a cold glare.

I stride up to North, "So all that talk, about finding my center and protecting children, didn't mean anything? Why tell me that stuff if you didn't believe it?"

He places a hand on my shoulder, "I did believe Jack, but Bunny is right. You made your choice, and our trust in you is gone."

I hit his hand away, "What about them?" I point to Jamie and his friends, "They believe in me, isn't that enough for you?"

North hanged his head, "I'm sorry Jack, but you can not join us." He explains.

Tooth flies over to me, "You should go, don't worry about the children we'll take them home."

I shake my head "But I—"

"Just go Frost! You've caused enough trouble already!" Bunny yells. I turn to Bunny as he glares again, "Don't you get it? You played both sides, you weren't there when we needed you, so we can't trust you anymore."