Hello again! I am very excited to introduce you to the sequel of "Love Alone Is Worth The Fight." If you haven't read the story yet, you can find it on my profile page. Well, things from the previous story will overlap throughout this one. But if you want to know more about them in detail I suggest you read the last story to get a better understanding. Now with careful thinking and decision-making this sequel will be RATED M because of the following: Semi/To Little Extreme Violence, Explicit Languages (Cursing), & Adult Content (like Smut) - Just listing those stuff to keep things safe and fair for fellow readers.
Author Note at the end - Happy Reading!
There wasn't much happening on the island of Old Beginnings. The coastal beaches were once again awfully quiet tonight, just the sound of playful waves crashing against the barren rocks beyond the great wall that surrounded the sleeping fort underneath the late spring moon. The fort was a grand piece of architecture, advanced engineering of modern technology inside, while having its limestone towers, walls, and arches made it look ancient and abandon. The owner doesn't mind the look, all he cared about was for it to be well-guarded and strong enough to protect an important relic inside.
An ancient book that stored away information about the Guardianship, their legacy. The world of the Guardians was once a movement to fight against the Darkness and protect the Light. Since the death of the Man in the Moon's beloved parents, the movement shifted into a practice - a creed which promised to protect the children of Earth and prevent Darkness to wreak havoc once again.
Since after the birth of their son, Tsar and Tsarina faced a great battle where they had to save not only their dearest son, Mani, but, the people that lived under their kingdom. The rulers of the House of Lunanoff lives changed when a dark and cold-hearted man that once a supported them - changed his ways, and followed the path of darkness. Falling into the ways of casting sickening fear across the kingdom.
Pitch Black used to be a respectable hero during the Golden Age where he helped make traveling safer across the universe and vowed the House of Lunanoff to get rid of evil and darkness. But that sadly came to an end where the couple had to fight against him. Unfortunately, Pitch became a lost cause to the battle against darkness.
After Tsar and Tsarina's death, Mani, wrote a book in honor of the horrific and life-changing battle that shifted the way light and darkness interact in the universe. He called it Avalon, and it held seven manuscripts into one large encyclopedia of knowledge of the past. Each manuscript held many hidden secrets. About events that happened before and after the battle which affected the shift of the Golden Age in the universe to die out. But in between the pages of controversial reports were stories of bravery and noble acts from Guardians during different time periods that enlighten the Guardianship to be born.
Avalon is a token of the past, but, each page, word, and statement held the truth behind legends and secrets. This ancient book is only read by the Guardians. Only the author of this particular book carried ownership and rights to record whatever they pleased. Those were the rules in which Mani applied since becoming the head of the Guardianship. A simple man with a complex mind and benevolent heart. He's a man with the will to do what is best for his Guardians and the children of Earth. Furthermore, Mani believed keeping Avalon on an island where no one except Guardians was his best plan to prevent it from getting into the wrong hands. Even when it came to humans.
Humans weren't a threat or an enemy for him, he knew humans are easily targeted by darkness and evil. If a human is possessed by either of the two, they can gain access to the island without any trouble at all. How? Mani learned over the years that humans carried this extraordinary spirit inside that he and any other Guardian can't understand. It's like they carry to an unknown force of energy that can break through anything.
As Mani and the Guardianship concluded, the children of the Earth are worth protecting for.
At the center of the fort stood a small castle which was heavily guarded by Mani's guards. The design of this castle didn't look like an ordinary fairytale castle of its classical high towers and high scale colored glass windows. The glass windows were painted in royal blue and dark gray to mimic the colors of night and day. While looking from above, the castle was shaped like the sun. Extensions of the castle were like the sun's rays, sticking outward, providing a 360 perspective of the whole island. Besides its grand beauty of white marbled exterior, it was meant to store away Avalon.
"It's our second night here and I am not getting any work done while being away for a short mission," shouted Bunny, a slender Pooka - a warrior rabbit with a thick Australian accent. Besides his impatient attitude, his appearance and intelligence weren't something to underestimate or else someone will get hit by his dual boomerangs in the head. Which will definitely leave a mark if someone isn't too careful.
"Oh Bunny, relax. We're assigned for a mission and it's Mani's orders." A cheerful voice chimed through Bunny's long ears, causing him to sit back down on the cold dark steps of the grand hall in the castle. From behind him stood a colorful lady with a mixture of purple, green, and teal feathers decorated around her slim petite body. She carried a pair of wings behind her back that helped her hover across the room like a hummingbird.
"Tooth is right. Be more patient. But, stay alert."
Bunny looked across the room and gave a glare at the large big-boned man in a red coat that stood bravely at the center of the room.
"Yeah North, whatever you say mate." Bunny rolled his eyes and placed his elbow on his knee and leaned his head against his fist. He looked more of The Thinker's bored cousin, Mr. Tired, than having the energy to stay awake while on the job.
Despite the growing tiredness between the Big Four, Sandy, the Guardian of Dream took the chance to be himself and happily flew around the room like the bubbly sandman he was known to be. With the flick of his wrist and rubbing his hands together, a trail of gold ribbons magically appeared from thin air. North and the others looked up, noticing the small spectacular show Sandy was orchestrating. The ribbons transformed into animated creatures, ranging from mighty dinosaurs to curious insects flying across the room. The sand-made illusions danced around the Guardians, giving them a sense of joy and tranquility.
"Sandy, stay focus." Bunny commanded harshly. "This is no time for games or fun."
Soon the show stopped at a stand still. The animated creatures quickly paused, standing like statues or puppets as they waited for Sandy command. The sunburst-yellow hobbit in a sand-textured robe looked over his shoulder to find the Australian warrior rabbit with his arms crossed.
"You know making your face like that won't make you look any younger." Sandy chuckled sarcastically in a deep booming voice.
Bunny raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, if you continue to look so serious and acting like a firecracker who wants to fly away and explode. It's not going to help you with your boredom. Loosen up a little." Sandy kindly advised him. He snapped his chubby fingers, ordering a few butterflies to fly around Bunny, wanting the serious Guardian to let out a chuckle or two.
The Guardian of Hope rolled his eyes and shooed the butterflies away. "I'm just trying to do my job. Not like you three." Bunny let out a tired sigh after pointing at his friends.
The three exchanged concerned looks among one another. North began stroking his long white beard while Tooth bite her lips, avoiding any direct contact from Bunny's glaring stare. As for Sandy, the man shook his head and flew over to North's side.
The Guardian of Wonder, known as Santa Claus had a puzzled look on his face when he found Sandy suddenly invading his personal space by rampaging through his coat's pockets.
"Sandy." North calmly called his name. "Sandy. Sandy? Sandy!" The old man repeated a few times, slowly becoming impatient. "Sandy. What are you looking for?"
"Ah ha!" Sandy shouted happily. "Found one!"
North blinked twice. "No! That's my last one." Just as he was about to grab the candy bar from Sandy's tiny hands, he was too slow to catch him.
"Hey Bunny, catch!" Sandy threw the bar like a professional baseball pitcher throwing a fastball at his teammate, hoping Bunny would catch it in time.
Bunny focused his attention on his friend, too slow to notice the incoming candy bar - flying like a missile rocket across the room. Without having the common sense to at least lift his hands up to catch it, his face took the hit.
Tooth gasped while North stomped one of his heavy black boots on the floor. Sandy let out a chuckle, trying not to laugh.
"Sandy, what the bloody hell?" Bunny's face gradually turning red, giving him a sudden death stare.
"What?" Sandy shrugged his shoulders. "You get angry whenever you're bored. So I gave you a Snickers bar to keep you occupied." He smiled happily. "And maybe make you less of a party pooper." Sandy whispered to himself.
Bunny's ears quickly stood up. "What did you call me?"
"Huh? I didn't say anything." Sandy lied like a sly fox.
"No, you're lying. I know you said something about me, mate."
"Uh no I didn't. You might be hearing things. Or you might be hungry and your brain isn't working right." Sandy protested.
Bunny quirked an eyebrow. "My brain isn't working right?"
The tension between the two Guardians caused Tooth to become weary and concern for her friends. The Guardian of Memory rushed over, standing between Sandy and Bunny, with her arms spread wide.
"Guys, calm down. I know this mission is daunting. But orders are orders. And plus, we owe Mani for all the work he has done for us since joining. Please remember that." The two furious Guardians slowly loosen their shoulders and began to take a step back from one another. "C'mon, we're a team, a family like Jack said."
Jack, a name which always caused the Guardians' minds to relax and hearts soften whenever they heard or spoke of their old teammate.
Sandy and Bunny both let out a tiresome sigh. The warrior rabbit picked up the chocolate treat, wiping away the dust even though it was still sealed tight with its colorful plastic wrapper, and looked at it with great admiration.
"I wonder how's he's doing?" Bunny said softly while turning around the candy bar, studying the unique seasonal design on the wrapper. The patches of snowflakes reminded him of his old friend who was the Spirit of Winter and the Guardian of Fun.
"Wait a second, Sandy this expected six months ago!" Bunny pointed at the fading printed text that indicated a specific date on the wrapper.
Sandy shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't know. Ask North, he had it. So what? It might still be good. You shouldn't put good food to waste." The little golden man said optimistically with pride.
"That's true!" North agreed, shouting happily.
Bunny grunted. "Whatever."
"Then why are storing it inside your traveling pouch?" Sandy asked him after watching Bunny carefully storing the bar inside a small pouch where he stored medicine.
Bunny let out another grunt and ignored his little friend's question. "I like it when you used to not talk at all."
Tooth rolled her eyes while letting out an annoyed sigh. "Oh boy, here we go again."
Sandy knew how to keep his cool, but, when it came to people telling him the millionth time that they preferred his old self just put him in a bad mood. At the back of his mind, he enjoyed his new self and he believed others should accept him the way he was no matter what.
The little guy played it cool by crossing his chubby arms over his chest, tilting his round head high and stared at his tall friend with great confidence. "I like my voice and the new me. You should be used to it by now. C'mon, it's been eight years since we moved to New York and lived with the mortals. Now we're back to our old immortal jobs with a few exceptions from the boss."
"Oh yeah. And keeping the ability to talk was your choice then. A charming and clever idea, Sand." Bunny said sarcastically.
"Can you quit being an as-"
"Sandy. Remember what I told you for watching your language. Just cause you can talk, doesn't mean you can go cursing like a sailor all willy nilly." Tooth reminded him like a mother lecturing her child on proper social edicate.
"But mommy." Sandy said jokingly, causing Tooth to narrow her eyebrows and glare directly at him. "Bunny is being a sour puss. No sour rabbit."
Bunny blinked twice. "Oh, you listen here mate, I am no sour-whatever. I've just had a lot of things going on in my mind lately alright. Now would you please stop all these nonsense and go back to acting like a Guardian. Not a dumbass!" He hissed furiously.
Tooth quickly covered her mouth and took a step back. Sandy stood his ground and continued to glare at Bunny who was still standing over him like an aggravated adult looking down at a child with an annoyed and disappointed face. North rushed over to his friends, planning to separate the two before things get out of hand.
"Oyy. No need to fight here. We all a bit too tired and bored. Sandy that's enough joking around for today. And you-"
"Yeah, mate I know, 'go sit down and cool off for a bit.' I get it." Bunny interrupted North before the jolly old man could continue.
"Not, exactly. I was going to ask you if you want to talk. Privately." North told him with a concerned look. His small royal blue eyes stared at him with great affection, a genuine expression on his face.
Bunny took a second to think. North's stare caused him to take another step back. "No, I'm alright."
"You sure?" North raised an eyebrow.
The rabbit nodded. "Of course, I'm alright. Let's just survive another night here so we can go back home."
"You mean go about our a separate ways after this mission." Sandy joined in the conversation.
North and Bunny looked back him. "Well, that is what Mani wanted us to do." North responded.
"Yeah, just to watch over a book for a few days and nights. That's definitely going on my resume." Sandy let out an annoyed sigh before walking away from his friends.
"Oh Sandy, don't be like that." Tooth flew towards the direction where Sandy was going.
"What's with him?" Bunny crossed his arms.
North let out a sigh. He decided to sit down onto one of the steps of the altar that stood at the end of the room. Behind him stood a pedestal that displayed Avalon, sleeping inside an invisible wall which Mani cast a powerful barrier spell - preventing any outsiders to steal it unexpectedly.
"Sandy is still getting used to our new lives, that's all."
Bunny looked at the elderly man like if he was a bit absent minded. At the back of his mind, he already knew about Sandy's ability to talk, but, getting back to being a Guardian once again shouldn't be a big issue with him.
"We haven't been out of the job for ages. Centuries really. Why is he making a big fuss about it?" Bunny questioned.
"Well a lot of things has changed since moving to New York eight years ago. And now, five years later, Jack isn't here with us."
The rabbit saw the sudden sadness in North's eyes. Beyond the old man's white beard, he knew the man was pouting.
"But, I hope the boy is doing alright and enjoying his new life." North continued. "We shouldn't worry about him. He has a new family now. More people to love and accept him." He turned around to see Avalon still sleeping on its pedestal. "But, Jack will never be forgotten."
"As long as he's still being believed in." Bunny added.
North nodded. "Though he has a different life. The young lad will always be 'The Jack Frost.'"
Bunny let out a chuckle, a sudden thought took him back to the days of Jack's mischief pranks as a young Guardian. Jack enjoyed playing tricks on him and the rest of their friends. Then the rabbit's face gradually shifted to a serious and melancholy expression when the events of him running away and being away from home for three years cause his heart to ache a bit. Eventually, after the roller coaster ride they had gone through, he was glad about the way Jack improved his life over the years. It was like watching a curious child grow up to an aspirating young adult.
"Our mate will always be that crazy Winter-addict prankster."
North released a booming laugh that echoed across the room. "That's the spirit!" He punched Bunny in the arm with a jolly smile on his face. Bunny flinched after feeling the quick jolt of pain.
Across the room, beyond the wall of high scale windows, on one of the balconies that looked over the ocean, stood a dark silhouette figure that has been busy watching the Guardians for a brief moment since arriving to the island. Besides wearing a large robe and a hood covering its face to hide away its identity, it carried a unique belt around its waist and a set of twin daggers that were attached to the belt. On the belt had several pouches that carried an interesting assortment of throwing weapons and relics to cast certain magical spells.
The figure reached into one of its pockets and carried out a large round ball, similar to the size of a baseball, but this one had many locks and gear across its body. Without wasting any time, the stranger twisted the ball a couple times like it was a Rubik's cube toy, and threw it at the window.
After a large bang! The sound of broken glass falling onto a brick-made floor echoed across the room. The Guardians stopped what they were doing and scanned the place - finding the source of the sound.
"What just happened?" Tooth asked.
"Hey, what this?" Sandy rushed over to pick up the thrown ball which landed at the center of the room. He completely ignored the blinking lights coming from the cracks of the ball's body.
"Uh Sand, I think you shouldn't have touched that thing." Bunny pointed at the glowing red ball.
In a matter of seconds, the ball exploded into pieces, sending an unexpected force of wind that knocked out the Guardians' off their feet or in Tooth's case, her wings. North fell back on his face. Tooth slammed into the wall, collapsing onto the floor. Sandy and Bunny skidded across the room into opposite sides.
As the smoke from the explosion slowly dissolved away, a trail of thick vines and roots emerged from the remaining broken pieces of the magic ball that was cursed with black magic. The living vegetations looked harmless until the sprouts on the roots transformed into deadly sharp thorns. One scratch or pinch from those would definitely leave a mark and put the victim in aggravating pain. The leaves on the vines looked similar like poison oak leaves that won't give anyone a bad case of rashes, but will poison their skin which lead to slow and painful death.
"What are thoses?!" Sandy shouted.
"Holy eggnog…" North said surprisingly. "Everyone get up!" The elderly man lifted himself off the ground. He reached in for his dual sabers which his heavy red coat hide away. The weapons were handcrafted shashkas - a set of guardless Russian sabers that are single-edged and very sharp.
"What is he doing?" Tooth asked Bunny while helping the big guy get back on his rabbit feet.
Bunny blinked twice, trying to regain his vision to find his jolly old friend busy hacking and slashing the incoming roots and vines that were trying to kill him.
"He's just being North." He grunted. The rabbit reached for his dual boomerangs from the back of his belt before rushing into battle. But, with one step from his left foot, he gritted his teeth when a joint of pain pinched his left ankle. Bunny fell down on one knee while planting his boomerangs on the floor.
"Bunny you can't go out there like that?" Tooth rushed over to help him get off the ground and tried to guide him back away from the fight.
Bunny shook his head. "No, it's just a little sprain that's all. I'll walk it off while I'm there. I'm alright."
"But do you even know what those are?"
"Yeah, I know what they are. I have fought them before." Bunny grunted, pushing himself back up. "C'mon, we got a job to do." The stubborn warrior picked up his boomerangs and dashed into battle courageously.
At the center of the great hall, North and Sandy were busy playing defensive while thinking of ways to fight back against the large team of poisonous vines and death killing roots.
Sandy cast a spell where he formed a cloud made out of sand. He quickly jumped onto the fluffy mass and rode around the place. The clever little man cast another spell to whip out a large but, lightweight battle hammer as his weapon of choice. Just from the snap of a finger, he was carrying a massive version of Thor's hammer.
With one might swing, the Guardian managed to knock out a large root out of his way which quickly dissolved into thin air.
"Booyah!" Sandy shouted with glee.
"Sandy! Stay sharp." North advised him while busily slicing up a few vines like if they were being prepped for a nice organic summer salad. "Ahh! Stay back, you!"
North was out numbered for a moment until Bunny's boomerangs came into the rescue just in time where one of them sliced through two roots. Their thick snake like bodies were sliced in half and quickly dissolved after the attack. Bunny caught his flying wooden weaponry after returning back to his owner. Little that he knew several of the vines were zig-zagging across the floor. They jump straight at him like a great white shark attacking its prey below the depths of a murky water.
"Bunny!" North yelled at him.
The warrior rabbit looked down to see him nearly surrounded by the vines. In a matter of seconds, he hopped high above the ground. He bounced onto the room's brick walls before grabbing hold of one of the wooden beams that supported the hall's ceiling.
"North we need to do something!" He shouted back at his friend.
At the far end of the room, the mysterious figure that threw the ball of black magic managed to sneak inside without being detected. Just as it reached to the top of the altar, a flying sword nearly struck it directly in the face. The figure turned around to see Tooth standing in her fighting stance.
"Oh no you don't" Tooth rushed over by lunging her other sword at the stranger.
With quick ninja agility, the stranger dodged Tooth's attack by back-flipping away and leaped into the air to give itself a better aerial view to shoot a couple of sharp long pin needles at the Guardian.
From black magic casting balls to pin needles as throwing knives, Tooth assumed the stranger had a connection with nature. Dangerous roots and vines causing trouble to raining pin needles that can slip through an opponent's skin is a crazy assortment of weapons coming from someone who might be an angry tree hugger or crazy environmental activists.
Tooth dodged and slashed a few of the needles away. She repeated those two moves after all of the needles were cut up into little pieces.
During that moment of distraction, the stranger didn't waste any time to retrieve Avalon from its pedestal without having trouble slipping through the invisible barrier.
"Hey, leave that book alone!" Tooth shouted.
North, Sandy, and Bunny saw their friend having trouble fighting of the stranger. Tooth was playing offensive, slashing and lunging her swords at the stranger while it was dodging her blades like it was child's play.
"If Jack was here, he would instantly freeze these roots and vines." Sandy acknowledged while taking another swing of his hammer at a pair of roots that were heading straight at him.
"Well, he's not here right now!" Bunny helped him out by throwing both of his boomerang straight at the roots before they struck Sandy in the face. He also took the moment to look down if any of the vines decided to follow him. A majority of them were busy occupying North with a few sneaky routines - mainly attacking places where the man didn't see them coming. Good thing Bunny had a view from high above to throw his boomerangs, easy accuracy for killing the evil flesh eating plants.
"Hurry, we must help Tooth!" North commanded while finishing one more root by lunging two of his sabers at the heart of its body and kicking it with one of his heavy black boots.
Soon the floor was clear of any man-killing roots and vines, just messy wooden floor boards covering in dead vegetation. The three men quickly picked up their feet and rushed to Tooth's aid.
The stranger quickly drew out its dual dagger from inside its robe before engaging in a double match between North and Tooth. A risky and daring first move to start a fight when there was only four experienced Guardians and one lonely stranger with ninja abilities.
Even though, Tooth and North we're skilled swordsmen, the stranger was fast and quick whenever it played offensively. It didn't hesitate to find any of the Guardian's weak spots and flaws while fighting. North had strength while being able to lunge and slash his sabers at the stranger, though strength doesn't always make a better fighter. The stranger quickly used one of its dagger to deflect one of North's blade, dodging the other, and finished off the block by countering a round-house kick.
North took the blow from the face, causing his ushanka - his Russian fur cap to fly off his head, revealing his embarrassing round bald spot.
"Hey!" Noah shouted at the stranger before running to retrieve his cap.
Tooth and Bunny teamed up as a pair and went after the stranger with all their might. Bunny took the risk also to switch into melee, relying the use of his hands, feet, kneecaps, and elbows to fight with. The warrior rabbit was skilled in martial arts after all. As for Tooth, she was Bunny's eagle eyes, she flew above him and watched carefully if the stranger had any tricks up its sleeve to fool Bunny and the rest.
"What are you doing here?" Bunny asked the stranger. After a few jabs, missed uppercuts, and a couple blocked high kicks, the stranger didn't respond. "Not much of a talker eh? How's this to help ya talk?"
Bunny duck his head, crouching down to dodge the stranger's incoming swing of its dagger's blade. The rabbit extended his right leg pass between the stranger's feet and hooked the back of his foot around one of the stranger's feet before pulling it front. The unexpected move caused the stranger to fall flat on its back.
The stranger laid on the floor while Bunny approached it with his boomerangs both in his hands.
"You better talk now or I'll put you into a world of hurt." Bunny threatened the stranger in the most harsh and serious tone he could produce coming out of his mouth.
The stranger wasn't giving up, it took out a few pin needles and threw them straight at Bunny. The Guardian deflected a majority of the needles away from his annoyed face. Without holding back the urge, Bunny tossed both of his boomerangs at the stranger's wrists to act like a handcuffs to keep the thief in place.
"Bunny!" Tooth yelled at him.
His friends rushed over, but, the Guardian extended his hand to stop them from their tracks. The three paused for a moment and watched their friend to finish his job.
"Look mate, I'm not a killer. Let's keep this fight classy alright. State your business here and I won't jab one of my boomerang down your throat or make me uppercut your chin off the ground and send you flying to the moon." He said bluntly while crouching down over the stranger, glaring down at the stranger's face.
After a brief moment, the stranger continued to say nothing. Bunny started to grow impatient. The rabbit touched the edge of the stranger's hood and slowly moved it away from the stranger's face. But with one slight tug from the hood, the stranger managed to break free from one of Bunny's handcuffed boomerangs. It grabbed hold of Bunny's wrist and quickly cast a silent spell that turned a part of the Guardian's skin, dark green.
"Bunny!" North shouted at him. "Fall back!"
The spell began to glow while sending a quick jolt of pain that pierced through Bunny's flesh, causing him to cry in agony. The Guardian fell off his feet, landing on his button while focusing his attention more on his wrist then the stranger who was breaking free.
"Gah! What the hell is happening to my hand?" Bunny screamed. The pain, spread from his hand to his arm.
"Tooth go help Bunny. Me and Sandy will take care of this thief."
Tooth and Sandy quickly followed North's orders. The Tooth rushed to Bunny's aid while Sandy rushed into the fight taking the first swing at the stranger.
"Sandy distract it. I will protect the book."
Sandy rushed over to play a few tricks against the stranger while North rushed over to the altar. The little yellow guy swung his mighty hammer with all his might. There were a few moves where he hit the floor, sending a forceful wave of sand at the stranger.
The stranger managed to miss the tsunami of sand by jumping onto the wall before running after North.
But the Guardian of Dream swiftly switched to his weapon to his signature bull whip to quickly snatch one of the stranger's feet. The tip of the whip was wrapped around the stranger's ankle and Sandy tugged the whip to make the stranger fall flat on its face.
"Gotcha!" Sandy said victoriously.
The stranger took out one its dagger to try to cut out the rope, but, it was no use. North and Sandy approached the fallen stranger with their weapons still drawn out.
"Nowhere to go now." Sandy said confidently while pointing his chubby index finger at the stranger.
"Answer now, why are you here?" North ordered the stranger, his blue eyes glaring seriously at it.
"For Lady Mother Nature." The stranger finally responded.
"What?" North quirked an eyebrow. Sandy's eyes widen when he heard the few words that escaped from the stranger's mouth. Bunny and Tooth did the same while exchanging confused and astonished looks.
In a matter of seconds, the stranger dug something out from its robe's pocket. There were three balls, the size of marbles, inside the palm of its hands in which the stranger threw quickly onto the ground. Another case of an explosion erupting the room again with a trail of smoke appearing. This time the smoke wasn't disappearing or dissolving away. While the stranger was the only who put on a mask to block out any of the smoke from reaching into its face or nose. As for the Guardians, staying away from the moving smoke was no match for them. They covered their noses with their arms while trying not to breath it in. And yet, their efforts was no use when the smoke was too strong to bare.
Soon the Guardians slowly fell down on their knees, too weak to maintain their fighting position or even have any energy to protect Avalon from the stranger. Each of the Guardian began to gradually shut their eyes shut even though they were fighting the urge to prevent the smoke from taking over their mind and body. Except for one. As soon the Guardians were completely knocked out, the stranger climbed up to the altar and removed Avalon from its pedestal.
"At last, soon lady Mother Nature shall have the opportunity to fix her past." The stranger said confidently.
Just as the stranger was about to run off with the book, a flying saber flew past the stranger and stuck the book, causing it to break apart.
"What's going?" The stranger shouted while watching helplessly at the book that was splitting into three.
"There's no way you're getting away with that book." North said strongly while using the remaining amount of his strength, lifting himself off the floor, using his other saber as a cane. "Now you won't be able to use that book when they're not fully together."
"What?" The stranger saw the three parts of the book quickly flying away from its grip, dashing away from the great hall and out the window. "What have you done?" The stranger glared at North before running after it.
At the balcony, the separate parts of Avalon were already flying across the ocean as they disappeared into the night sky leaving without a trace.
"Noo!" The stranger shouted furious.
The stranger returned back inside to find North having a prideful smug smiled on his face. It reached in for several pin needles and threw it directly at the old man. North let out a painful yelp before yanking out the needles. But, the stranger continued to throw more of them until the Guardian fell back onto his knees. Patches of blood began to stain North's coat, causing the shade of red to change to dark crimson.
"Why are you doing this?" North questioned the stranger.
"For vengeance." The stranger bluntly replied. "Now you must do what I say or you all be feeling the wrath of my master." It threatened the lonely Guardian.
"Your what?" North began to choke and cough out the smoke that was gradually entering his lungs. The mixture of the pain that came from the needles and the remaining smoke cause him to lose his strength to keep going. Suddenly his vision became blurry to focus on what's going on.
With a quick snap of the stranger's finger, the smoke and the remaining fallen vegetation on the floor all came together to form a giant swirling cloud high above the ceiling. In a matter of seconds, the massive storm cloud swallowed up everyone in the room, including the stranger.
After a brief moment, there was no remaining soul left in the room. The area was spotless, leaving no trace or evidence of a battle. Even the altar was completely empty, not leaving any clue to where the book might have gone to. All that was left from the fight was the broken hole on the window that cause the ocean breeze to freely sneak through inside.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read the beginning of my new story. I am finally happy and excited to share this new installation of my Modern Jelsa AU series. There are more things to come after this. I won't say much about what's going to happen in this particular story, but, it will solely focus on the characters' relationships and finding about their true identity. Thanks in advance for the support and happy reading! Chapter 1 is coming soon.