Surprise in Snow

It was a long time coming, eleven months to be exact, but it for North it was well worth the wait. It was finally December, which meant the happiest time of the year! He was hard at work both bringing the children and children at heart the first Twelve Days of Christmas and preparing for Christmas. And since it was winter time Jack was working in unison with North to create the perfect, white holiday season. There was nothing Jack loved more then waving his staff and creating snow for everyone to enjoy. Sometimes North would even let Jack ride on Rudolf as he spread his snow across the globe. It couldn't be a more fun time for him.

However, there was one thing that could have made it better. And that would be his Australian lover and fellow Guardian E. Aster Bunnymund joining him for the season. It would bring Jack more happiness than his heart could bare if Bunnymund could join him for the height of the winter season. However there were two reasons why he never join Jack at that time of the season. Reason number one was that Bunny usually hibernated at the beginning of winter to get his energy for spring and Easter. And reason number two was that he couldn't handle such frigidly cold temperatures. Jack understood and respected his lover's preferences but it still left him a bit sad. He wanted Bunnymund to be able to share in his season just as Jack shared in his season. Not to mention it tends to get lonely out at Frost Lake, skating all by himself.

And right now Jack was doing exactly that, skating all by himself. The only exception of company he had were the animals made from snow that he animated. They frolicked about and kept Jack smiling a bit but it wasn't the same. It wasn't like it would be if he had Bunny around. At some point the Guardian of Fun couldn't bring himself to skate anymore and stopped his movements, also stopping the animation of the snow. Jack sighed sadly as he balanced his staff on the ice and perched on the top of the shepherd's like hook.

"How ironic is this? The Guardian of Fun can't bring himself to have fun himself. I wonder if I can get an assistant like Tooth so I can have someone help me out." Jack said to himself as he looked up at Manny, who was shining brilliantly as only he could.

"Such a deep, sad expression is about your face tonight Jack Frost. Why is my most joyful of Guardians looking so forlorn?" Manny asked.

"Hello Manny...I guess I'm just a little depressed." Jack admitted. He's known good and well that there's no point in lying to Manny. He always finds out one way than another.

"Oh? Well that simply won't do for the Guardian of Fun. What has you so depressed, my lad? Tell Manny everything." Manny said in a fatherly voice.

"Well...Its just that, I wish Bunny could join me for the height of the winter season. I mean, its nice that he can join me at all but its usually around the time winter close to ending. And then there's not a lot of snow for us to enjoy and he has to start spring." I explained.

"Hmm, I see. And you would like to share in your season with Aster at least once, when it is full swing?" Manny asked.

"Yes, that's right. But he usually hibernates at this time before he can join me. Or he's too busy manning the Warren." I answered with a nod. For a moment, Manny was silent. Then after a moment the moon seemed to brighten up almost as if he was smiling.

"Jack Frost, make the whitest of snow all across the globe in three days. Make it as soft as down feathers and make the cold winds hum a musical tune. Then return to your lake and wait for a surprise." Manny instructed.

"A surprise? What kind of surprise?" Jack asked as he stood up on foot atop his staff, looking up at the moon with great interest.

"Heheh. That would be telling, my Guardian of Fun. Just follow my instruction by the morrow and wait here. You will very much like your surprise." Manny said.

Jack nodded as he listened to Manny. He wasn't sure what making the whitest snow had to do with his surprise, but he would do it. After all when the Moon tells you something you should listen.

"I will, Manny. And I promise I'll do my best." The snow spirit said.

"I know that you will, Jack. For now, I bid you farewell." And with that, the Moon dimmed a bit. It signified that Manny had left.

Jack, now feeling a bit perked up after talking with Manny, started up his animated snow animals again and once again skated across the ice.

Three days passed after Jack last spoke with Manny. And as the Man on the Moon instructed, Jack made the whitest snow the world has ever seen. It had an ethereal glow, it was so white. The snow spirit made doubly sure to make the snow as soft as down feathers. Then finally he made the cold winds hum a musical tune. It took a lot out of Jack but seeing people enjoy another of his winters, which for him was his best winter to date, made it worth it. Thankfully Jack had just enough strength to have Wind take him to Frost Lake. The snow spirit landed gracefully on the ice and waited patiently. Manny never told him exactly when his surprise would come or what it was for that matter, but he would wait. Ten minutes into his waiting Jack heard a rustling by the bushes. He turned and curiously stared at the shaking shrubbery.

"Jaime? Is that you?" Jack asked, stepping closer to the bushes. He heard a deep chuckle, and a very familiar one, as who or whatever it was stepped out of the bushes.

"Not quite, Show Pony." Said an Australian accent Jack didn't think he'd hear until winter was almost over.

Jack was of course shock to hear Bunny's voice and started to greet him. But when he got a good look at his lover he stopped and gasped. Bunnymund didn't look like he usually did. Or at least, his fur didn't. It was as white as Jack's hair with his markings colored in a shimmering platinum shade. He looked like a snow hare version of his usual self. After taking a moment to regain his senses Jack finally spoke.

"Bunny? What happened? You're....Well, white as snow. And yes I know that's redundant of me to say." Jack said. The Pooka chuckled at this and walked out of the bushes and stood close to the lake.

"Well Jack, the reason why I hibernate is because I'm a rabbit. But I'm also a mixed breed. Ya see mum was a snowshoe hare, and I took a bit after her." Bunnymund explained.

"Seriously? But then, why do you hibernate most of the time?" Jack asked.

"Because I only turn into a Hare Pooka once every five years. Its a weird bit of biology, but mum wasn't really normal herself." Bunnymund explained with a slight chuckle and Jack smiled a bit.

"Wow. Heh, that's sure something new to hear. Say, did Manny tell you anything? About the winter he wanted me to make?" Jack asked.

"No, he didn't mention anything to me. Why?" Bunnymund asked.

Jack was about to say something when he stopped to think for a moment. He remembered telling Manny how it saddened him that Bunny couldn't join him during winter. That the only time he could join him was when the season was about to end. It seems like the Man on the Moon told him to make this special winter not just for the mortals but for themselves as well. After all the best of your craft is meant for sharing with someone special. And for Jack Frost, E. Aster Bunnymund was very special. Jack gave a smile before shaking his head.

"Nevermind, its nothing. So do those snowshoe pads help you skate on ice?" Jack asked as he twirled around on the frozen lake gracefully. The Pooka grinned and leaped onto the ice, then skated around Jack a bit.

"I can skate all night long in this form." Bunnymund said as he held out his paw. Jack smiled and took the offered white palm.

"Glad to hear it." Jack said and the two began to skate in a waltz fashion across the ice. As they skated the chilly winds played a melody unlike any other. And Manny, happy that his Guardians of Fun and Hope were able to spend a winter together, shined luminously.