Act I.Dare to Hope (A ROTG/GOC Fanfiction)

.Chapter XIV.

The Winter King strolled confidently through his garden where Death said she would be.It was HIS domain,here it was always winter-well except when a annoying summer spirit would come here.Wherever he went,the cold followed him.Frost formed from his fingertips,snow dropped from his cloak as he walked.His castle was located at the coldest place on the planet-Antarctica,higher than any spirit could fly and colder than any other type of spirit besides a winter spirit could survive.It was fascinating that Death didn't show up wearing at least 20 fur coats.

The trees were dead with icicles hanging off wherever they could hang,with frozen rose bushes with other countless flowers among them.Unlike what was portrayed by mortals,the Winter King was not very old,however had very dark bags underneath his eyes.He had no wrinkles and a very youthful face,a slightly pointed nose and he had pale skin;not the deathly pale face that Ernaline had but rather like the freshly fallen snow.He was an ally to the Council,perhaps even a friend to Ernaline,years of torment and of the cold had drove him silent for quiet a few centuries.No one bothered,because they hated the cold,it only bought Death and suffering to their eyes.

The Winter King wasn't a fan of jewelry but he couldn't avoid wearing a crown of icicles and preferred to wrap bandages around his wrist to his forearms.It kept him safe,for a abnormal reason.Ombric had made it magical and it acted as if
they were a second pair of the Winter King's hands.Underneath the cloak of snow he wore a light blue fur collar robe underneath,it was quiet fashionable to him really.And there he find Death in the middle of the garden,wearing one of her signature outfits-an inky dress.Likewise the cloak she wore,it dripped tar or ink(even she didn't know!),her face was showing a soft smile with a locket that she wore.

He was not just a King,he was also The Godfather of The Man in The Moon.When the Lunanoff introduced a new member of their family,he was more than delightful to be The Godfather of that very child.Although he could not cradle the child,he kept watch over him just like Nightlight had done.He would make silly faces and create snowflakes just for the entertainment of the child.He'd to admit that Nightlight was shy but extremely friendly.And sometimes he would venture into Collision's lab(formerly named Gladius)out of curiosity.And on the day Pitch attacked,The Winter King fought all his might just to protect his godson,blasting ice at the attacking Fearlings,keeping them at bay.He was worried,no doubt,about Nightlight,the young prince's parents,Kozmotis and most importantly,Tsar.And when Nightlight disappeared along with Pitch,the two child's parents were gone too.

He was mortified,that his godson was out of his reach in the care of Moonbots and other Moon creatures and on the Moon,disguised as the Moon Clipper.He was on Earth,panic-stricken as he tried countless time to get the boat down,all he could do was watch and hope.He had remember the oath,the oath that he could not keep.

"Watch over our child.Guild him safely from the ways of harm.
  Keep happy his heart,brave his soul,and rosy his cheeks.
  Guard with your life his hopes and dreams."

"For he is all we have,all that we are,

And all that we will ever be."

He could never make Tsar happy,or be there to guide him on the Moon,all he could do was watch.But his godson was not his only concern,he wondered what happened to Nightlight,to Gladius,to the Lunanoff family.A part of him also wondered,what happened to Kozmotis?The general had been a part of their family as long as he could remember,he couldn't blame him for becoming the Nightmare King-he could only blame the Nightmare men and Fearlings.He soon stopped worrying,feeling glad that at least someone was up there to guild him.For he,will not be there.As minutes turned into days,and days turned into centuries...cold,lonely centuries until he found Death,Kozmotis' friend.And soon he learnt that they were both stuck here into the planet.Years had past until Nightlight was released with Pitch and Collision,who wasn't a human anymore.The battle had left a scar physically and mentally on him,and the Winter King pitied him and tells him that The Prince Lunar was safe on the Moon Clipper.

He was still worried,whether if the poor child up there was cold or if he was lonely?Until the first Guardian emerged,The Bandit King.He wasn't shocked,he knew that Tsar was no fool,Kozmot-no,Pitch would come back.And he assisted his godson on the choices as well as tried to keep Pitch away from the children;with the might he'd used on Pitch once.But he was not seen.The Council as well as the Winter King worked behind the scenes,aiding the heroes with them not even realizing it.As more Guardians emerged,the less he worried about his godson's welfare.He would spend his nights outside,on the balcony watching the Moon and hearing the familiar lullaby of Nightlight,

"Nightlight,Bright light,

Sweet dreams I bestow.

Sleep tight,all tight,

Forever I will glow."

The first time he met Nightlight,he hugged the spectral boy,sobbing all the while with tears running down his cheeks.The boy returned the hug,patting the Winter King's back while the King wrapped his icy arms wrapping around his small figure.Yet,he still remembers.When he was thrown from the ship onto Earth,all he thought was their safety or more importantly,his godson.He was in despair,his sliver eyes wide with fear;fear he had never felt before.All he wanted to do was to cradle his godson in his arms singing a lullaby that he'd created,

"The Sky is dark,and the ground is white,

The world is peaceful on this wintry night.

No one around,not a sound to be heard,

Not a laugh,not a boat,not even a bird.

For a moment,it's just me and you,

I smile inside,"

"I feel so..free."He'd whispered the last part to himself,his heart aching for the young boy.Yet no one was there,only the Moon shone on him.He didn't care how cold his arms were,he just wanted some comfort.

"It's been a long time,Whittaker,"Ernaline said,interrupting him from his train of thoughts,"A couple years,I assume?"
His eyes darted to her at the mention of his name,it felt..familiar.He sighed,before walking to a table covered in frost and just like snakes,the bandages slithered and pulled the chair out for him to seat.Meanwhile,Ernaline was eyeing the cup of tea on the table next to her.

"It has been a long time indeed,"He said,tracing the patterns on the cup,"I've been quiet inactive for a while.".There were three faces of Winter,joy,bitterness,and the silence.He seemed to like the silence better than joy and bitterness,after all years of silence could change that person.

"And one of your spirits is now the Guardian of Fun?"Ernaline spat the word Guardian like rotten fish,"We do now that he was Nightlight."Whittaker's breath seemed to hitch,as he froze.'Nightlight?Didn't he...died?His soul ripped apart?'Whittaker thought,disbelief on his face as his eyes widen with shock and his hands shaking;nearly spilling the cup of tea.

"Nightlight?"He echoed,leaning in,"How?He's so...different than Frost."It was true although the white hair was similar,but almost nearly every winter spirit has it.Nightlight was like a star glowing with warmness,but Jack Frost was radiating coldness.But they were always trying to find fun,just like Nightlight did.Ernaline nodded her head,a smile on her lips that prove that she wasn't joking.

All he could do

Was to Hope

That Jack still remembers him.

Word count:1268
Written on Thursday,10 of May