Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

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 “Jack…?” Aster whispered, in complete and utter shock, his eyes as wide as they’d ever been.

Jack’s very long, very white, and very furry rabbit ear twitched at the whisper.  Jack raised a furred paw to rub at his eyes but froze when he saw his own hand and stared in wonder.

“Aster…?” Jack whispered back.  “What’s happened to me?”

Jack returned his gaze to his hands –

Paws, Jack thought, correcting himself.  I have paws!  And my legs!  They’re all furry!  And footpaws!  And – and –

Glancing at Bunny and seeing the shocked Pooka was absolutely useless at the moment, Jack turned to the nearest person available, but stopped short when he realized Old Man Winter, the Snow Queen, and Mother Nature were standing in a semi-circle around his half-prone form.

“Um, can any of you three tell me what’s going on?  Why am I all furry and stuff now?” Jack inquired, gazing up at the three ancient and powerful spirits in a bit of a daze, not yet sure whether he should panic.

Definitely leaning towards panic.

Winter chuckled while the two women smiled tenderly.  Eirlys knelt down to Jack’s eye-level and placed a gentle hand on his left paw.

Paws, Jack though again, unable to get over the fact that he was so furry.

“Jack, my frostling, you are a very, very special spirit.  Father related to you how you came to be, yes?” the Snow Queen said softly as color faded back into her outfit and appearance, until she resembled the warmer, brown robed woman he’d first met.

Jack thought back to the ‘kidnapping’ incident.

“He said…he said that you three and Manny were all involved in my – is resurrection the right word here?”

Eirlys nodded.  “When a new seasonal spirit is created, Mother Nature has to grant permission, in a metaphysical sense, for the appropriate powers to be passed on.  As Father and I are tied to Winter so strongly, at least one of the two of us have to be involved as well when a new Winter spirit of your caliber is created.”

“Before you ask, frostling,” Seraphina continued when Eirlys paused, “Your ‘caliber’ is that of a spirit above the everyday rabble of Winter, such as the snowgres and icelings.  You have always been intended to take up the mantle of a Guardian – that is why Lunanoff asked us for permission to raise you in the first place.  However, that is not your only purpose.”

Old Man Winter took up answering Jack this time.

“You are the first of our seedlings, spirits we have created with a special spark that grows inside them as they develop in magical power and strength.  This was not meant to happen for several centuries yet, but the General’s foolish decision to declare an open season on you hastened your growth to completion.”

“Okay,” Jack replied slowly, processing everything he’d been told.  “Okay.  I – I think I understand.  But what am I?”

“Have you not figured this out yet, my frostling?” Eirlys inquired, the amusement clear in her voice.

Jack shook his head.  Bunny chose this moment to regain his voice.

“Frostbite,” Aster whispered in a dazed tone, drawing Jack’s curious attention.  “You’ve turned into a Pooka, like me.”

Jack froze.

“…what?”

“Perhaps it would be best if he were shown, Eirlys,” Seraphina suggested.

“Oh!  Of course!  Jack here – can you stand? – let me conjure one of my mirrors for you.”

Jack stood, shakily, not in any way used to how his legs were now jointed –

Oh my god, I’m taller!

– with a helping hand from both Seraphina and Eirlys.  Once he indicated that he was as balanced as he was going to get for now, he nodded and they let go of his hands.  He swayed, but remained standing as Eirlys conjured a mirror into existence, which appeared out thin air in a similar manner to herself and Old Man Winter.

Jack stared.

Facing him in the mirror was a completely white Pooka, with the notable exception of light grey ‘tips’ on his ears and tail –

Oh my god, I have a tail! Jack thought as he turned to look at his rump, wiggling the little tail slightly.

– and the tip of his muzzle.  His nose was a shade of black so dark is seemed to shimmer with a bluish hue as he turned his head back and forth.  He had the same icy blue eyes, although they appeared somehow bigger on his new face.  His whiskers were black, but incredibly thin and –

Oh, sensitive, Jack thought as he touched them lightly.  That’ll take some getting used to.

His white fur, what he could see of it since he was still wearing his hoodie – which still fit him incredibly well, given the fact he’d gained at least six inches in height and filled out slightly – was quite soft, almost downy in texture.  His feet were just huge now, but he could already see how that was an advantage with the way his legs were structured.

I think I understand how Bunny can be so fast now, Jack mused.  I feel so – springy.

It was as he started to admire how his body looked now that he noticed his sheath –

Sheath? Jack thought in surprise.  Shit!  I’m naked!

Jack’s ears flattened against the back of his head in sudden embarrassment as his hands flew to cover his groin.  The sudden movement caused him to wobble and, if it had not been for Aster quickly moving up behind him to stabilize him, he would have fallen right over.

Bunny, despite still looking a bit shocked at Jack’s appearance, managed to chuckle at his reaction.

“Mate, you do realize that I go about ‘naked’ all the time and it doesn’t bother anyone, right?”

Jack squeaked at the thought and turned himself to press against Bunny, front to front, to hide himself from everyone else.

Aster chuckled again.  “Never thought about it that way, did you Frostbite?”

Jack buried his face in Bunny’s chest fur and shook his head.  Aster hugged the smaller Pooka close, nuzzling his head in assurance.

“You’ll have to get used to it, mate.  Pants don’t rightly work for us.  You wouldn’t believe the chaffing they cause.”

Jack’s ears perked up at that statement, before one fell back behind his head and the other fell forward, covering his left eye.

“Ack!” Jack exclaimed as he batted the offending ear out of his way.  “How do you keep these things out of your way all the time?”

Bunny grinned.  “You’re just not used to using those muscles yet, Jack.  It’ll come, in time.  Here, let’s move over to the couch.  I can already see you’re starting to have trouble standing on your new legs.”

Aster half-guided, half-dragged Jack over to the couch and settled the two of them on it, Jack curled up in his lap protectively.  In deference to Jack’s human modesty, he pulled a blanket over the two of them.  Jack purred contentedly, before starting at the sound in surprise.  Aster chuckled as Jack gave him a sheepish grin.

“It’s going to take me a while to get used to things,” Jack murmured against Aster’s chest as he nuzzled it affectionately.

Old Man Winter chose that moment to chime in, saying gruffly, “You will need to be very careful with him, Aster.  While he is physically an adolescent, his control of his body will be that of a newborn kit.  There is likely to be a bit of growth over the next several months as his body finishes adjusting.”

“Wait.  Wait wait wait,” Jack spluttered, ears going alert for a moment before falling in his face again.  Jack shook his head to shift them aside and continued in a more measured tone, squeaking giddily on the last word, “I’m going to grow more?  Do you mean taller?”

“Yes, frostling.  You will grow both a bit thicker in body – although you will always remain quite thin – and a bit taller.  We expect you will likely be about six feet tall when you complete your growth,” Seraphina supplied in answer, smiling gently at Jack’s enthusiasm.

Jack grinned excitedly.  “Awesome!  I won’t be the shortest guy around anymore!”

“Jack?  You’re accepting this amazingly well.  Do you have any thoughts, concerns, questions?  Perhaps an emotional outburst or two?” Eirlys questioned, with a sly grin on the last statement.

Jack shook his head, saying, “I’ve kind of gotten used to weird crap happening to me.  After all, I died and came back to life, with ‘magic powers,’ of all things.  I’ve met and am now friends with Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Sandman, the Easter Bunny– I’m dating the Easter Bunny, for goodness’ sake!  Turning into a Pooka seems like a bit more of the same weirdness that is common to my everyday life now.”

Jack frowned at that thought, asking, “Speaking of which, why am I a Pooka?”

Before anyone could answer him, Jack suddenly yawned expansively and felt a heavy wave of exhaustion overtake him.

“What the…?” he murmured drowsily.

Old Man Winter noted dryly, “You have just undergone a massive change – of species, no less, frostling.  You will likely sleep for several days.  I suggest you rest now, frostling.  We will explain everything to your friends and they can inform you later when you wake.”

Jack, already half-asleep, hummed, “Mmm ‘kay.  Sleep…sounds…good….”

Jack passed out to the sounds of Aster’s strong, steady heartbeat and the susurrus of his friends asking a million questions at once.

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The first thing Jack noticed when he awoke was Aster’s heartbeat, still beating steady and strong.  He shifted slightly and stretched, nose twitching as his whiskers brushed Bunny’s chest fur.

Wait…

Jack’s eyes shot open as he examined his left – paw, the memory of what had happened coming back to him in a rush.

“God, this is going to take a while to get used to,” he muttered.

“Merry Christmas to you too, Snowflake,” Aster murmured cheekily as he surfaced from a light doze.  “Glad to see you awake, mate.”

“It’s Christmas already?  I’ve been asleep for four days?” Jack exclaimed.

Aster nodded.  “Yes.  It’s not all that unusual; when a Pooka first learns how to shapeshift fully into another form, they tend to spend a couple days asleep afterward from the effort.  You basically coupled that with extreme magical and physical exhaustion after a major battle.  I’m actually surprised you didn’t sleep longer.”

Jack eyed his lover oddly.  “Wait.  You can shapeshift?  How come I didn’t know this?  Wait wait.  Does that mean I can too?”

Bunny chuckled at Jack’s reaction.  “Yes, I can change shape and yes, you will be able to too.  Eventually.  You need to get used to this body first, mate.”

“I’m still not sure what to make of all this.  Or my new body, for that matter,” Jack groused.

Aster eyed Jack lasciviously.  “I think you’re a beaut, mate.  Truly.  You were a very attractive human before, Jack.  As a Pooka…”

Bunny shuddered lightly as he reined his libido in.

Jack flushed as his ears went flat against his skull, his fur spiking slightly across his cheeks from frost at the evident lust he invoked in his partner.

“You still think I’m attractive?” the sprite queried softly, unsure of his new appearance.

Aster looked at Jack like he’d lost his mind.  “Of course I do, you drongo!  You’re still the Jack Frost I’ve come to know and – love,” he stuttered slightly on that word, still not used to saying it, before continuing, “and you do make a very fine-looking Pooka!  You just need to get used to yourself, mate.  You’ll see.”

Jack nodded, reassured, both by the verbal compliments and the way Aster was eyeing him, half in obvious desire and half in wonder.  He started slightly when he felt a slight poke in his belly.

“Um, Aster?  Should I take care of that?” he asked shyly.

Bunny sighed gustily, his ears going flat in both annoyance and embarrassment.  “Nah, mate.  I need to calm down.  Old Man Winter chided me quite thoroughly that we should avoid sex of any kind for at least a week, while you get used to your new body.”

“Oh God.  You got a shotgun talk from Old Man Winter?” Jack giggled helplessly.

Bunny flushed dark enough that Jack could see it through his fur.  Jack’s eyes widened.

“In front of everyone?”

“Yes,” came the curt reply after a moment.

Jack couldn’t contain himself any longer and burst out laughing against Bunny’s chest.  Aster promptly pushed him out of bed in mock annoyance.  Jack continued laughing on the floor for a minute before slowly trying to climb to his feet.  He made it to his knees before he wobbled and fell forward onto the bed again.  He pushed himself up onto his hands and knees, still a bit shaky, but managed to look up at Aster’s amused-despite-himself face and grinned.

Well, that was until his ears flopped forward into his face again.

“Ack!”

Aster chuckled at Jack’s distress, even as he reached out and gently pushed Jack’s floppy ears aside.

“Serves you right, laughing at me!” he mock-scolded, before growing a bit more serious.  “So, there’s lots of things I need to tell you, mate, but first: would you like some breakfast?  It is Christmas morning, after all.”

Jack grinned at the suggestion and nodded as he asked, “Help me to the kitchen?”