My name is Cupid.
Well, more specifically it's Amore Rose Valentine, but somehow my nickname changed over the years from Amore to Cupid. Don't ask me how THAT works.
Anywho, so far it's been about 30 years since Pitch rose to power and nearly conquered the earth- or at least Burgess. I'm a fairly new spirit- about 270 years old, give or take. My predecessor, also named Amore Rose Valentine, died around 300 years ago. For those 30- odd years there were a LOT of breakups, tons of awful obsession cases, and the whole 'tragic romance' thing picked up a bit more speed. MiM apparently decided this was seriously bad, and appointed me to the job of helping relationships. So, basically, I'm a spirit guidance counselor.
I'm not bitter, though. Really. I love my job! Getting to see people that become happier from what I do is one of the best things in the world. And, while I have help from my little cherubs, I prefer to work in the field.
I'm good friends with Toothiana- the way we run our palaces and take care of our jobs is very similar. We also share similar attitudes- we're both fairly bubbly and try to see the good in every situation. I haven't seen Tooth in a while because of the Pitch incident- I hope I can see my friend soon.
As I look out the window of my palace in the sky, I notice a snaking green and purple light passing towards the Tooth palace. North appears to be calling a meeting.
I wonder briefly to myself what it would be like to be invited to one of those meetings- to be a Guardian. Mentally, I pinch myself. I can't think that way- I'll work up false hope, only to be crushed. And I know altogether too well how that feels.
I hear a noise behind me. Before I can truly process it, a bucket of ice cubes is thrown over my head. I shout indignantly, turning around to face the perpetrator, only to be greeted by an empty hallway and the sound of a boy laughing. Jack Frost, most likely with Sandman. I storm down the hallway to my room, shaking ice out of my (now cold and soaking wet) blond curls. I plan revenge schemes for the next time I see him as I comb out my hair, trying to ease the anger. It isn't even really about my hair, just that I wasn't alert enough to sense either of them. I sigh, frustrated.
This is just gonna be one of those nights, isn't it?
At the North Pole
North paces worriedly, stroking his beard absentmindedly as he ponders.
Manny had spoken to him. As is, literally SPOKE. He only does that when a spirit is born, and even then only to that spirit. Something must be very bad, seeing as Manny had given him explicit instructions to gather his fellow protectors of childhood.
Right on cue, Bunnymund pops out of a tunnel in the floor a few feet away from the anxiously pacing North.
"This 'ad better be good, mate. The eggs 'ave decided to go on a bloody rampage. I 'ad to round the little buggers up, and-"
"Yes, bunny. Is going to be fine. Other guardians should be here any second." North states, absently waving a dismissive hand at the Bunny. Just as the Pooka opens his mouth to retort, looking a bit indignant, Tooth flies through an open window followed by around fifteen baby teeth.
"Hello North, Bunny- bicuspid, 584 Greene street, Atlanta- What's the problem? I'm a bit- left incisor, 32nd street, New Jersey- busy tonight." Tooth chatters, directing several fairies in the middle of her greeting.
"Ve have big problem," North says, promptly turning his back on both his fellow guardians to resume pacing and refusing to say another word.
Sandy floats in a few seconds later, followed almost immediately by Jack. Both are laughing near hysterically at a prank they appear to have pulled. In the years following Pitch's defeat, they had become as thick as thieves, pranking other spirits as well as humans almost incessantly.
"What's the problem?" Jack asks, casually twirling his staff.
"Man in moon- he spoke to me." North says, gaining a gasp of disbelieving shock from all present.
"He spoke ta' you, mate?" Bunny asks incredulously. The others nod their agreement.
"He hasn't said a word since the day I became a spirit- why would he need to talk to us now?" Tooth asks, teeth forgotten for the moment.
"I do not know- he said only "Gather the Guardians" and vas silent," North replies.
"You called us 'ere for three bloody words, mate?!" Bunny accuses angrily.
"It vas MiM! I had no choice!" North retorts, and the topic quickly escalates into a yelling match between the two Guardians.
Sandy had been trying to get the Guardian's attention for a while now. 'This is starting to feel suspiciously like deja vu', he thinks to himself. He frantically starts searching for a stray elf- to his dismay, they all appear to be hiding in fear of the fighting Guardians, now trying to refrain from screaming at each other.
At his wits end, Sandy flies over to Jack and steals his staff, much to Jack's indignation.
"Hey! Sandy, give that- wait, what?" Sandy again gestures at the shining moon, and mimes yelling.
"Oh- gotcha." immediately, Jack slams the butt of his staff on the ground, causing a wave of icy cold to blast the Guardians and shock them into silence.
"I think the moon might be trying to tell us something," Jack says, gesturing towards the glowing rock.
The Guardians all crane their necks to see the moon through the opening in the ceiling. A slanting ray of light slowly enters, shining on the floor and creating the silhouette of-
"Pitch!?" The Guardians cry as one.
"But- but we just defeated him! He's back already?!" Tooth says, glancing around disbelievingly.
"Wait," North gestures, and the group falls silent.
Another silhouette is displayed, this one of a girl with crazy hair and a pert nose. North's face pales and Bunny lays his ears flat against his head. Jack looks around, confused.
"Uh- new guy here. Who the heck's she?"
"Bloody Mary," Tooth whispers, visibly trembling at the mere name.
"Wait- like, the weird urban legend thing? Where you spin around in a dark bathroom and she pops up in a mirror? Why's she so scary?" Jack asks, slightly unnerved by the terror on his friend's faces. Before anyone can answer him, the light shines on a space in the floor, which slides open to reveal a huge blue crystal.
"Another Guardian? So soon, Manny?" North asks. Tooth looks excited. Bunny just prays quietly, "Please, for the love of MiM, do NOT be the bloody groundhog," and Jack and Sandy lean forward expectantly. The blue crystal emerges, and displays the figure of a girl, around 16, holding a bow and quiver of arrows. Wings protrude from her back, tall and feathery. She wears a knee- length dress with a lace- up corset- like bodice, and her long hair frames her pretty face. She grins almost knowingly. Tooth squeals happily, hugging Sandy out of sheer joy that her best friend was chosen. North looks puzzled but happy, Bunny looks scared, and Jack looks positively horrified.
"Shit..." he mumbles, pulling a hand through his white hair. He turns to Sandy, who is gasping for breath and looking a bit flustered. Tooth looks a bit embarrassed, and also flustered. Jack makes a mental note to tease Sandy about it later, but in the meantime he informs Sandy of their current predicament.
"Uh, Sandy... we might be in trouble." Jack says, pointing to the crystal. Sandy's eyes widen in panic.
"Jack, how about you go get the new Guardian?" North suggests. The frost spirit immediately tries to inform North of exactly why this is a very, very bad idea, but North merely laughs, shoves a burlap sack into his hands, and fairly throws him out the open window. Jack swallows nervously and flies off, tossing the bag to the ground as he flies towards Cupid's headquarters.
I hope she won't kill me...
~!^*||*^!~+
Chapter 1 done! I hope you guys enjoy. This is my first ROTG fic, so please don't hate if I didn't get the accents quite right! It is very hard to type like a 7 foot tall Australian rabbit. It is also hard to type like a jolly Russian Hulk. I understand all writers that try to do this.
Leave a review if you liked it or have any ideas/ criticisms. Thank you!
Kisses! :*
~the doodle queen
