Mason basically had to beg Ariel to give him the job in the sky.
He'd put up a really good argument, too. Sure, Aladdin has a magic carpet, Hiro has a flying robot, and Jim's got weird flying contraption thing. But knock any of those objects out of the sky, and those boys are down for the count. Mason, on the other hand, is powered only by pixie dust and happy thoughts. He's not relying on any machine to keep him airborne. Besides, he knows this enemy more than anyone.
Well, okay. He doesn't know her, know her, but he's a kid who strives off stories, and hers is one he's been familiar with his entire life. In fact, he knows all about an entire colony of invisible heroes.
Jack Frost. The Tooth Fairy. Santa Clause. The Easter Bunny. Even some lesser known legends, like the groundhog and Baby New Year. Pitch Black, otherwise known as the Boogie Man, is hardly considered a hero, but he exists, too.
As done his daughter.
Mother Nature.
A formidable, angry woman who Scar has somehow won onto his side. Mason's read all the stories, heard every tale, about the woman who lost her father to darkness and become known as a deity many people today worship.
She'd had a normal life before becoming immortal. Emily Jane had been her name. Not too many human souls knew about her history. But Mason did. He knew every detail.
As he soars higher into the sky, closer to the swirling mass of black clouds that circle the palace, he reminds himself to tread carefully. More often than not, he's gotten himself deep into trouble while dealing with grown ups. Emily Jane is dangerous, with literally the entire planet under her control, and the last thing Mason needs to do is set off a major earthquake in the heart of New York.
The air is frigid as he nears the clouds, but no snow flurries dance around in the wind. A thin sheet of water already coats his skin, moisture spinning in tiny particles as the palace eventually fades from view, replaced with a thick line of gray clouds.
"Hello?" He calls, a rumble of thunder heard above him. He floats in place, cautious of the lightning zigzagging around him. "I'd like to have a word with Mother Nature!"
At first, there's no answer, only another low growl of thunder, and he begins to wonder if he has the right storm system. Then, the darkest mass of clouds part, revealing an opening. A tall, dark form sails out, black hair floating seamlessly in the air. A upturned regal face regards Mason coldly, lips curling into an unpleasant sneer. "A child." She muses to herself, folding her nimble arms over her chest. "Scar promises me I'd release my anger onto a deserving soul, and he sends me a child."
Mason mirrors her defensive scowl, crossing his own arms into a tight knot. "I'm not that young. But I'm not that old, either." Definitely not old enough to be an adult, that's for sure.
"Hmm." Snorting, Emily Jane taps her fingers along her arm, mist building around her slender body. "To be honest, I'm a bit disappointed. I'm not going to fight you, kid." She presses her lips together, that scowl staying firmly in place.
"So you'll leave us alone, then? You'll go back to wherever you came from and just forget what Scar promised you?" Mason presses, aware that he's already on thin ice. There's no way she'll just leave - she's not that type of person. She'll stay and fight, release all her rage and frustration, probably send out a hurricane or two. But Mason has been tasked with her presence, and he needs to deal with her, one way or another.
She laughs, waving a hand dismissively. "Of course not." She lilts, confirming his suspicions. "I'll wait for Scar to send me a worthy opponent. In the meantime..." She bites her lip, finger twirling. The thunder grows louder, the clouds thicken, the lightning brightens.
