Everyone could only celebrate. Snatcher was gone, they knew the truth about the boxtrolls and they now had a new addition to their family, Eggs. Well, he actually came with quite a few additions but most were still rather uncomfortable with them. Yes, everyone appreciated their genius and skill in engineering and whatnot, but it was still hard to get use to the idea that those so called monsters of the night we actually very friendly and would never do you any harm. Some were still very frightened of the trolls but it was okay, because others were confident they'd come around soon enough. Finally, after who knew how long, the people of Cheesebridge decided to expand their contact and go much further with trade and even started allowing foreigners inside! Before they were cautious and stubborn but they saw this is age as an opportunity to take risks. Eggs was proud of them, as was Winnie. New children came through, funny old men who had great stories to tell along with gifts like strange trinkets and toys. Everyone was happier now. Some wondered if they could really stay this way, what with others slowly retreating back into their homes, almost as if they'd become overwhelmed. It was a lot to get use to but they were an outgoing city, at least that's what they convinced themselves.
On this particular morning Winnie was going out for very important business. A school had opened up near the end of last year, a newer concept to the city. Other places had apparently had schools for a very long time but here everyone was tutored at home and simply knew things. But, determined to keep up with the rest of the world they waited for the right time to let everyone in. Picking staff was hard, she had heard, but they were confident they had a good one. Walking along the road, avoiding the horses and carriages that clogged the streets, mostly from foreigners, she spotted a familiar face. Now all dressed up and clean, like a proper boy, Eggs had been making his rounds.
"Eggs? Why are you still here? Don't you want to try out the school?" She asked him.
"Uh, well, as much as I'd like to I still have things to do around here. I can't really just drop everything and go." He said sadly. She smiled.
"Of course you can! I'm sure someone wouldn't mind helping you out while you're away. After all, education is the most important thing for us young folks." He pondered for a moment, pulling strange faces and making sounds. Moments later he nodded, handing his clipboard to Fish.
"You're right. Fish, please take over for me for now, I have to go." Winnie smiled victoriously and pulled his arm along with her.
"Come on, we mustn't be late! It's the first day!" They stopped in front of a large building that toward over the nearby houses.
"Whoa.." They said in unison. Around there were children clinging to their guardians, begging them not to go. They were scared and it was understandable, but Winnie was sure it would be fun, especially if all the stories the other children from out of town told her about schools were true.
"How do we do this? Do we just walk in?" Eggs asked nervously.
"Yes. There should be some sort of list in there to tell us where we go. They walked in and sure enough there was a giant wall painted with names and numbers, instructing children what to do. Winnie ran straight up to it.
"They've sorted us through age..." Eggs stared at the words. Some of these he couldn't read, having never seen them before.
"Oh, I think We're in the same room! They've given us our first class and then we get personal instructions from there." Children of all sizes and ages stared at the board and separated, some going upstairs, some going down, some staying on the same floor, and some simply leaving, feeling that it was already too difficult. Eggs and Winnie were at the very top of the floors. The classroom was dark and dank, cheap old chairs situated around an old table. They sat together and waited for their teacher. There were six other children in the room. One had dark greasy hair and tanned skin, he looked dirty and his clothing were ripped and worn. Winnie suspected they had never been washed. Two girls were twins, very short with fair skin and light brown hair with pink little dresses. They were leaning as far away from the boy as they could. One boy was short and blond, wearing something akin to a blue sailor uniform. Anther was sleeping, his dirty red hair puffed up to impossible heights, extremely thin and tall. The last girl was very thick with a lilac dress. Her hair was dark brown and her cheeks were so full you could barely see her eyes open. It was an odd group but what you got was what you got. Then the teacher came in. She was a short old woman with white hair pulled back into a bun and a dark brown dress. Her back was hunched and she took tiny quick steps.
"Okay class," she said, her voice worn and old. "Today I have a special announcement. The school board started this year completely unprepared. We only received one topic to talk about in our classes, not much we can do with that. Our topic is more hands on. Because we were given no materials, we will be taking a field trip. Consider yourselves lucky, the first day and you're already getting a break. As it turns out this lesson was inspired by our recent turn of events in this city. Yes, I'm talking about the issue with the boxtrolls and the boy." If anyone had been dozing off they were suddenly very awake. Every child in Cheesebridge wanted to know more about the story, and now they were getting a field trip based off of it.
"In a place not too far from here there seemed to be a similar situation. Not with boxtrolls per say, but with another creature. They called them mimics, very dangerous. At least they have no misunderstandings. These creatures are dangerous and are very untrusting towards other races, towards outsiders, like us. They live in the forest and in the caves of Juntin. They say these beasts will pray on any living creature that dwells too close to it's home, so keep your distance. They too have picked up a human child some years ago." Eggs perked up, staring at the old woman, eyes almost challenging her. He didn't believe it, could there be more like him?
"The beasts have been rather friendly since the people fought back, taking prisoners and offing them. They're trying to make a treaty but their leader won't allow it. Now the boy is said to be the most sad creature they've ever looked upon. Starved, injured, missing limbs, long matted hair. This child was not cared for, not like these monsters could! The townspeople have managed to rescue the boy but have been unable to tame him thus far. We are going to take a look at what they can offer us and study his trauma." she paused.
"Perhaps we can make a few comparisons between him and you, Eggs." Everyone turned their attention to Eggs and Winnie. He sunk back into his seat, nervous to have everyone's eyes so suddenly on him. Then they spilled out of the room following their new teacher.
Later that day everyone came back with suitcases of things prepared for the trip. The ride would take an hour and a half to get across the water to the city but they were willing to wait. Everyone fell asleep as soon as the boat started to float away anyway, having rather not staying awake the whole ride. When everyone was woken up by the teacher, whose name they learned was Mrs. Frink, they stared in awe at the mass coming up from behind the fog. A small city, not build up on a large hill like Cheesebridge, but staying flat on even ground. The boat stopped and the class entered the city. Much to their surprise, it was disgusting. The houses were mostly broken and it was infested with bugs and rats. There seemed to be a deathly still person laying in every dark place, possibly dead.
"I think I'd be thankful if monsters stole me from a place like this." Winnie shivered, Eggs nodding his head in agreement. Mrs. Frink told them to wait outside of a small slightly more stable looking place while she spoke to the mayor of the city. Shadows from every part of the town grew as if they were getting closer, dark figures stretching across a dirt road. The children huddled together, shaking wildly. Field trips were suppose to be fun but they had yet to experience anything other than fear and disgust. Suddenly the shadows retreated, much to their relief, as the old woman came back out, a plump man following. He faced the group and sighed, not even trying for a smile.
"Good evening, youngsters. I am the mayor of this fine city and I welcome you to this magnificent place." His voice was flat and monotone, a little high for most men in Cheesebridge, but then again it wasn't Cheesebridge, it was Juntin.
"Mr. Grump has given us permission to see the boy they rescued from the monsters. Thank him, children." Everyone let out a quick thanks and followed Mrs. Frink down a little ways. There was a staircase that swirled underground, heavily guarded by armed men with biceps bigger than Winnie's head. They were lead deep under the city to a series of metal hallways. They walked and walked and walked until there was finally a door. It was big, red lights surrounded it and there were cautions and keep out signs strapped to it. Eggs stared in confusion. If this boy was innocent and rescued, why did they hide him in such a place like he was some sort of criminal? The doors were slowly pulled open, darkness filling their visions. Literally, it was nothing but darkness. There was no lights in the room and it was deathly silent. One could faintly see an outline of a giant cage and the soft snoring of a living being. Mrs. Frink was handed a lantern by one of the guards. The cage could be clearly made out now. It was enormous, so much so that you couldn't see the top or back of it, though the bottom hung near Winnie's waist. The children squinted and urged their teacher to hold the lantern closer. Several minutes had gone by and there was nothing, even the snoring stopped. Mrs. Frink handed the lantern to Eggs and began mentioning some things she found out while speaking to the mayor about the boy.
"He's in this cage, not as punishment, but so the monsters cannot find him. Once they have a scent they never let it go so this ended up being the safest option for his well being." She continued to ramble on, having drawn the attention of all but one student. Eggs ignored her as he pressed the lantern right to the cage and peered in, hoping to see something. A figured moved somewhere too far back for details, but it was enough to send a shiver down Eggs's back. Still, he stared, unable to look away as it inched closer. The first cleanly visible thing was a hand that stuck out toward the light. The skin was pale and the nails grew long and were sharpened to a point, like a poor attempt at acquiring claws. More of the boy was slowly being revealed. His arm had scars, looking like a creature with knives for fingers had grabbed at him multiple times throughout his life. They wrapped around the thin limbs, a clear thumb nail joining the marks. Suddenly there was cloth, white and folded. It was smudged with lots of dirt and there was a bit of dried blood.
"Eggs, what are you doing?" He jumped as Winnie came up next to him to look into the cage, but the arm had retreated back into the darkness.
"I was trying to get a look but I don't see anything." He lied.
"Right, well, according to Mrs, Frink we're staying at an Inn tonight and tomorrow night. I'm sure we'll be back here, maybe we'll get to see something next time." Eggs nodded and followed the rest of the class out of the door and back up to the fresh air. He hoped he could get the boy to come out completely next time. He didn't even remember climbing up three flights of stairs and crawling into a horribly uncomfortable bed, or falling asleep while the greasy haired boy squawked and chased a terrified blond boy around the room.
AN: UUHHHHHH So I literally just finished watching this movie in theaters. Seriously love everything Laika does. I immediately thought this out, actually I thought it out about half way through the movie, and I decided that this time I'm actually going to write it down. I was horrified by how little fanfictions exist of this, especially since Raise of the Guardians had fanfictions from people admitting that they haven't even seen the movie O_O So, I hope the few of you out there actually want me to continue because this is the first story I've posted so far. I will most likely go back to fix this first chapter at some point in the future but for now I'll just keep adding until it's all done! Any reviews will be greatly appreciated!
