I rushed through the threshold of my little house; the welcomed warmth pushed away the cold biting mercilessly at my fingers. Closing the door behind me, I called out through the hall to let my friend know I was home.

I had lived here for over a year with him, as he was the only family I had known in all my years. I had no sibling or grandparents, uncles or cousins; even my parents were a complete mystery. Nothing could be found of any of them, and I began to wonder if my surname-Lafond- was really mine to be called. The only thing that I recognized to be mine was a simple soft blue stone on a silver chain. In certain lightings, it almost glowed.

My friend called back, his voices echoing from down the hall, followed by the softened steps as he came to greet me. His hair was shaggy and unkempt -as per-usual-, and gave me his warm, toothy, trademark smile that was straight and perfect. Jamie was tall and quite handsome, I wasn't afraid to admit it. But by now, I had given him the honorary title of brother, so there was no extended feeling. He didn't mind this; merely smiled when I told him. "How was your walk?" Jamie asked leaning against the wall.

I paused, both considering the right words and weather or not to tell him about Jack. We were quite protective of each other, Jamie and I, but he even more so, because of my dodgy past. In his own way, he became a Guardian, like the ones he told me when we first met.

The thought turned heavily over in my mind before I pushed the slight doubt away and told him of my little adventure. I would probably never see those blue eyes again. Though making sure to skip over my embarrassing moments and keeping my own thought to myself.

"What was his name?" Jamie asked after I had finished in an almost to casual tone. I looked up, taking the time to study his features. He was gently leaning forward expectantly, and his eyes betrayed his strong emotions of excitement and anticipation. I couldn't understand this sudden change in him. Yes, he was fun and had this child like excitement moments when he did. The moments that I couldn't help but admire in him, but this…

"Jack, I think he said." My words were slowly as I observed his reaction. The slightest smile itched at his lips, and his eyes took on a far away light, as if remembering a childhood memory. "Why?" I asked, but he shook his head. "Nothing. He just sounds like a guy I know." I raised my eyebrow, but was satisfied enough not to press.

Jamie left soon after that, saying he had a few errands to run and didn't think he would be back for dinner. I bid him goodbye, warning him about the roads and telling him to be safe, as I always did. He smiled and placed a brotherly kiss on my head before he was gone, and I was left alone.

I didn't mind being home alone. It gave me the opportunity to do the things I couldn't really do when Jamie was around. Girl things. Like taking long relaxing baths, singing and dancing to really loud music, talking to myself: normal things, generally speaking.

Jamie didn't return 'till much later in the evening. By then I was falling asleep on the couch watching 'How to Steal a Million' staring Audrey Hepburn. I had gotten worried when the sky had darkened significantly and there was still no sight of him. Often I stayed up waiting for Jamie to return, and only finding sleep when I heard the door close after I had gone to bed. It seemed irrational at first, but the habit soon became a routine. But when Jamie walked through the door with that smile that could melt anyone's heart, I my anxiety was completely forgotten.

It began to snow soon after he left it began to snow, which spotted his coat and dampened his hair. "What took you so long?" I sounded more relaxed then I had previously felt, but maybe that was just the weariness kicking in. He looked at my teasingly, shaking the snow from his coat. "Why? Were you concerned?"

"If you mean losing my one and only good source of entertainment, then yes, I was." He chuckled as I turned off the T.V. "You heading to bed?" Jamie asked as I stood up, yawning. "Yea. You?"

"No. I think I'll stay up a little longer." I nodded lazily. "Can you tell me about the Guardians?" Despite my tiredness, I could see the warmth and joy in his eyes. "Of course."

Before I knew it, I was in bed, vaguely aware to how I had gotten there. Jamie laid beside me on top the sheets as I cuddled shamelessly with my old stuffed bear. But he never mocked my with it, so there was no real worry. "What story do you want to hear?" "Anyone?" I could faintly feel him smile as he began his tale of the world's unsung hero's. His voice was so smooth and flowed right into my subconscious as I began to dream of the Guardians and there adventures.


Emily had seen a Guardian. Not just seen, but met. And not just met any Guardian, but she had met Jack Frost, the Guardian of winter and his best friend (not counting Emily). Jamie could hardly contain his excitement as he softly closed the door to Emily's room and entered his own.

He had never thought she had believed in those tales he's been telling since he and his friends had helped defeat Pitch. Of course, he never mentioned names when telling them, but Jamie had always thought that Emily viewed these stories as more entertainment then truth. Yet, he shouldn't be surprised really.

Emily always seemed to have an active imagination, often daydreaming about grand adventures and magic, and writing stories, always careful to add a character that sounded faintly familiar to their writer, no matter how small. But she never often let anyone really read her work; always to concerned about the imperfections. But Jamie, of course, was the only exception.

Weariness tugged at Jamie, telling him to sleep, which he obeyed gladly.

Out side of Jamie's window was utter darkness; the moon and stars were hidden my clouds, giving the perfect cover for any dark creature that might be prowling. If Jamie hadn't been so absorbed in the excitement of today, he might have noticed the little glowing eyes and the unnatural shift of the air as it moved. But now, as Jamie turned off his light, the eyes vanished, settling the night into a sinister silence.


Deep in the woods, the wind blew harsh and fierce, sending all animals and creatures in to the safety and warmth of their homes and burrows. The clouds above dispelled sometime after midnight, casting the snowfall with it and unveiling the bright full moon and his shining companions. Jack Frost, the commander of such weather, was the only exception as he sat up on a dangerously high branch, his face heavy with thought. His looked blankly up to the sky as the face of a certain young woman filled his thoughts and that he was seen.

After Pitch was defeated, more and more children from around the world began believing in him each passing day. And now nine years later, Jack was a strong and happy as the other guardians. So to be seen by a young woman should be no surprise to him. But it was.

And even more so, the more Jack thought about Emily- the name ringing through the walls of his mind- the more familiar she became. When he was human, he had many friends, but non-that looked like the girl he met hours ago. Or compared.

The jumble of thoughts nagged at him repeatedly, refusing to be ignored. Crying out in frustration, he rose from his perch and jumped forward, flying through the air with the help of the wind towards town, in the hope's that the work of the sandman Sandy would distract him.

As he thought, arriving in town, ribbons of gold sand drifted gracefully through the air, spiraling and gleaming as the guardian created images of ships and unicorns for the boys and girls. Jack spotted Sandy quickly on top of the park statue and flew down to join him. "Hey Sandy." Jack said softly, getting a glance from the small Guardian and a smile, before turning back to work. Jack did the same, in awe at how grand it all seemed. Like a child waking on Christmas morning, he would never get over this.

He watched as bits of sand drifted to the windows of almost every house he could see, each one creating a different image for each sleeping person. One he saw a friendly looking dinosaur, remembering back to one of the first night he really witnessed Sandy at work. Another he saw was an image of a hot air balloon, and another a knight saving a princess. He smiled. I wonder what Emily's dreaming of. He sighed, weather it was from the late hour or the thought of seeing Emily again, he couldn't say.

An image of sand then covered Jacks vision, and he flinched back, startled. He looked to Sandy, who gave him a puzzled look. Jack new, -with out Sandy having to make a pictures- what he was implying. "I'm fine. Just thinking." Sandy raised a golden eyebrow, a question mark forming over his head. "Nothing important." Jack lied, unable to share his thoughts with his companion, whom seemed, at most, satisfied with Jacks answer and returned to his work, letting the matter drop.

The rest of the evening was spent in comfortable silence as Jack continued to dwell on his own confusing thoughts: both too busy to notice a shift in the shadows that disappeared when a streak of gold passed by.


It was dark and wet and cold, this unknown fortress of the Guardian of Nightmares; Pitch, though often referred to as the Boogey-man. No light dared to enter this forgotten realm, which had been overrun with darkness centuries past. It was, by all standards, grim and frightful. But to Pitch, these word meant nothing but comfort.

He sat- high and god like- on a high backed chair of dark ebony, elegant carvings of human faces frozen in fright and of monsters: snarling, pouncing. Even in this desolate place, shadows still lurked, as is in their sanctuary. The eyes of the Guardian and those of his followers were the only hint of life. But all held no warmth or real life to them.

Perhaps in another time, Pitch would-or was- worshiped as Hades, God of the Underworld.

The nightmare Guardian was motionless on his pedestal, consumed with his dark thoughts of revenge and hatred towards those whom had reined victorious in the battle so many long years ago; the memory still fresh in his mind.

After being cast away into his own hell, suffering as he suffered when his own time of terror ended into the age of the moon and North and the other worthless guardians, his anger was the only thing in his mind he still possessed to be sane. And over the years, growing into bitter hatred and revenge, Pitch once again took control of the wild beasts that had attacked. But months had past since his freedom, but no plan could manifest in this mind.

A Fearling flue to his master's side followed by another, to where the Guardian of Nightmares sat unmoving for what seemed like ages, deep in his thoughts. With out looking, he acknowledged his creations. "I trust your disturbance is justified." He said coolly and thoughtlessly, his words were hushed, swallowed by the darkness.

Both Fearlings reported their findings about the guardians. They spoke no word and made no sound, but Pitch could understand this non-existent language.

The information seemed uneventful and unnecessary. All were busy at their, causing Pitch to sigh heavily, restraining his frustration. But as they continued, they told of Jack and his newfound friend. Pitch's brow relaxed, and a slithery grin graced his appearance. Naturally he was intrigued.

In the youth of many mortals, their minds are innocent to the world and reality, giving them the ability to see far beyond understanding: to see Pitch, as well as the other guardians, to his great misfortune. But as they grow, their childhood is left behind and forgotten, much with their gift of sight. And for this human girl in her age to still have the sight was beyond rare.

"Well, I must say, this quite a lovely development. It seems that this girl has caught the attention of the cold-hearted Frost. What shall we do about this?" He said sarcastically and humorously, a tone that could send a stabbing chill up the spine of a man. His sharp smile grew as a plan formed. Pitch turned to the floating sand. "Watch them. I want to know how close they become." He relaxed into the chair. "I shall like to meet this girl soon." And with those final words, the Fearlings vanished and Pitch was left to himself, his teeth gleaming much like his gold eyes.