Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

With short, brisk strokes Jack slowly got the white mare looking just as clean and polished as a snowbank. The old thing was mostly asleep by the time he finished but hey.. He'd be asleep too if someone brushed his hair for four hours.

"Rotten little fink..."

It hadn't been THAT bad.

A little mud never hurt anyone.

Leaving her to finish her doze, Jack grabbed his bucket of tools and quietly latched the door behind him.

One down, four to go.

Jack sighed.

Ok, so a little bit of mud never hurt anyone but a LOT of mud was sure going to leave him sore. He could already feel it in his arms and back

Jack gave the large stallion a dirty look as he passed the next stall, the large white head hanging over the door and he KNEW that Blizzard was smirking as Jack entered the third stall.

Sleet was just as dirty as Flurry had been, and so was Dendrite and Powder and the littlest mare, Zastrugi.

The punishment was just beginning.

If he thought about it in percentages though, he was 20% done! That was a huge chunk!

Starting with the metal comb, Jack attacked the dried mud that coated the mare from ears to hooves.

"Next time, we'll wait till winter is PROPERLY started."

No more mud slides cause it was still too warm for a proper snow.

Still...

"Worth it," his whispered to the mare as she nudged him with her muzzle.

"And next time, we show those Nightmares a REAL party!"

Someone cleared their throat.

Jack winced. The mare winced. The stallion on the other side of the wall snickered.

Turning around, Jack smiled brightly at Grandfather. The Old Man of Winter had a beard much longer than North's, and while he was just as tall he was much skinnier. And sterner. And quieter.

"I uh... Hi. Grandfather. How are... things? I'm working hard, swear!" See? Look how hard he was working, brushing out all the dried mud!

"Mmmhm. Next time you'll be properly outfitted and acting like the representative of winter you are. Not some young hooligan out for a joyride."

Wilting a bit under the intense glare, Jack didn't point out that he WAS young and most of the time a hooligan. He was already grounded, no need to make it worse. "....I'm sorry?"

When in doubt, apologize!

"Mmhm." The old man glared for another long, fidgety moment. "The General, the Lady, and I have come to the decision that you need more responsibilities. So starting tomorrow, or when you've finished your current chore, the General is going to teach you how to guide the herd. YOU will be in charge of starting Winter. When the time is right for it."

Oh HELL yeah! Finally they could see Jack was growing up! He was responsible now! He was a GUARDIAN after all and that meant he could handle stuff on his own!

This was awesome!

"...ow. Ow. OW!"

This was not awesome.

Old Man Winter pinched Jack's ear hard between boney fingers, and waited to be sure he had Jack's attention. "This is important Jack Frost. The ride should be thrilling enough for you, there will be no shenanigans. Do you understand? Do NOT disappoint us."

"Ow! Yeah, gotcha, perfectly clear Grandfather." Jack leaned up onto his toes with a whine, trying to relieve the pressure. "No fooling around!"

It was like no one trusted him! He was a Guardian now darnit! He'd faced down Pitch Black if they'd forgotten! But noooo, Jack you're in big trouble. Jack you're grounded. Jack don't forget to do your chores. Jack don't forget your curfew. Jack don't make it snow in July you muleheaded whelp! Jack don't throw snowballs at the Nightmares it only riles them up and then what will you do?

He was a Guardian and Guardians shouldn't have so many rules.

Speaking of.

Wonder what the Guardians were doing. Did they use summer to take it easy too? He should probably ask. Send them a message or something. They were probably wondering where he'd run off to for the last few months.

Chapter Text

One hand clamped to the top of his head, Jack raced down the corridor. If he lost another coronet his Mother would kill him. Trying to take a corner at near warp speed caused his boots to skid across the slick floor but a small decorative table saved Jack from face-planting into the ice.

He was not late. Nope. Never. Why would he be late? The High Prince to the Winter Court was never late, he was always exactly on time. His time.

His mother was going to kill him if he was even one moment after the 12th bell. His presence at Court was part of his punishment and Jack didn't want to think what would happen if he had to be punished for a missed punishment.. Ugh.

“I'm here! I'm here!”

Wind slammed the doors open ahead of him so Jack didn't have to stop and now the boy was exactly where he was supposed to be at the time he was supposed to be in the clothes he was supposed to be wearing. Including that damned coronet.

The entirety of the Royal Family looked at him, causing the boy to wilt a bit under their disapproving stare.

“...well I'm not late,” as the 12th bell started to chime. His sulk deepened as his Mother moved closer and tried to comb his tangled hair back into a more respectable style.

“Late, no. But nor are you on time,” rumbled his Father who was not his Mother's Husband but Brother because Family relations among the Winter Court was as tangled as a ball of yarn given to a kitten. That is to say, his Mother and his Father were related because they chose to be related by a sibling bond, and had then claimed the same child as their own. Not because they had practiced incest which some of the court did dabble in because there was only so many magical winter beings and that was a train of thought Jack was not ready to delve into.

So.

“I'm bored and Open Court hasn't even started.” The High Prince of the Winter Court did not whine, he merely pointed out a fact of life that sucked. Nor did he yelp as the Old Man's staff made a connection with his head, it was a very manly.. errr.. cough.

The General offered an arm to his Sister, escorting her to the doors on the other side of the room. Huge intricate doors of silver and yet more ice that led to the Throne Room and Great Hall. Jack could all but taste the capital letters that were liberally sprinkled throughout the Palace. High Prince and Throne Room and Acting Like a Royal. The Guards and the Winter Court and the Throne itself of painfully bright white snow. He wasn't sure if the Uber Capitalization was ingrained into his head from his studies or because everything was so…

Impressive. Breathtaking. Dazzling.

The Snow Queen whose beauty distracted people from noticing her unforgiving eyes. General Winter, armor gleaming in the bright and endless light. The Old Man, back straight and proud under his white robes and long beard. Jack Frost himself who was forever and cheerfully young, always ready to play. They were the personifications of Winter in its various aspects, and who ruled the season with an Firm, Testing, Guiding, Exuberant Fist.

The huge hall was silent in respect as the High Royals took their places, the Queen on her throne and the General standing at her right. Jack had an armless chair to the Snow Queen's left, and Old Man Winter stood just behind his shoulder with a hand clamped upon it in a vain attempt to keep the boy still. The Hall was filled with deathly quiet citizens who waited with bowed heads until a Guard tapped the butt of his spear against the floor.

“The Court is now open! Petitioners may come forward!”

Jack tried to look calm and cool as he was expected, but uhh.. Yeah. He failed almost instantly as he began waving at the first group of people waiting to receive judgment.

“Hey guys! Did you get my message?”

It had only been polite to tell them that he’d been grounded over the whole mess with Pitch Black. Though he might have said 'imprisoned' in the heat of the moment. And 'unfairly'. And 'they have no right because I'm of age and a responsible adult now so come save me!'

….oh.

Okay so that last bit may have been a bit much.

Well this was going to be fun.