~12 years later~

"He's choosing a new Guardian." North said.

"What?! Why?" Bunny yelled, annoyed.

"Must be big deal! Manny thinks we need help!"

"Since when do we need help?!"

"I wonder who it's gonna be?" A Dreamsand Four-Leaf clover formed above Sandy's head. "Maybe the Leprechaun?"

"Please not the groundhog, please not the groundhog." Bunny chanted under his breath. There was a flash of light and TWO figures resolved atop the pillar. The first was hooded and smirking, holding a staff. The second had their eyes closed and their lips pursed as if whistling.

"Jack Frost... AND Seamus O'reiley..." North said.

Seamus O'reiley, now 305 spirit years old, dipped his feet in the freezing waters of Split Rock, leaning back with a sigh. In reality, he was 321, but hey, who's counting?

The water was freezing, but Seamus didn't mind. It reminded him of Jac- NO, he was NOT going to think of him. He was still not over it, it being that they suddenly disappeared off the faces of each other's planets. Why? Seamus sure didn't know. And he sure as hell wasn't going to track Jack down to question him.

He heard a splash and a yelp, and his eyes flew open. He dried his feet and slipped his shoes and socks on. Seamus began to creep toward the noise and peered around a bend to see...

"The Tooth Faerie?" He muttered. The woman was splashing about in the current, flustered. Seamus walked over and gripped her wrist, pulling her out of the water. She huffed as she dried instantly, fluttering back into the air.

"Why is it so cold?" She whined.

"It's still technically Winter." Seamus said. "What are you doing here in New Paltz?"

"Well... Oh wait, you're Seamus, aren't you!" Tooth squealed. Seamus gave her a confused look.

"Uh, yeah?"

"Oh, great!" She said. She let out a whistle and Seamus yelled at suddenly, two large yetis grabbed his arms. He kicked at them, but they stuffed him in a sack.

"Lemme go!" He yelled, thrashing around. It was dark, and cramped, and hot, and he was NOT in the mood for this. And then he heard the smashing of glass, and he was suddenly chucked. He let out a yell, then grunted as he hit the ground. He struggled to get out. He still couldn't see anything as he fought with the cloth.

"Oh, yeah. I love being shoved in a sack and tossed through a magic portal."

"You know Bunny, obviously."

"Obviously."

"And the Tooth Fairy?"

"Hello, Jack. I've heard a lot about you. And your teeth."

"My, my what?"

"Open up! Are they really as white as they say? Yes! Oh, they really do sparkle like freshly fallen snow. Girls, pull yourselves together... Let's not disgrace the uniform."

"And Sandman. Sandy! Sandy! Wake up!" North said, waking the slumbering man. Seamus finally managed to get out of the sack, and stood.

"Hey! Ho! Anyone wanna tell me-?"

"Jack." Seamus said. Jack whipped around with wide eyes. They walked towards each other, as if to hug, but then both froze.

"Seamus... I..."

"You know each other?" Bunny asked, smirking slightly. They both nodded slightly. Then Seamus broke eye contact to look at the Guardians. "Why are we here?"

"Ah, good question." Bunny remarked to North.

"How come? I tell you how come! Because now... you are Guardians!" North bellowed. Off their confusion, yetis lit ceremonial torches. Elves leapt from columns, unfurling celebratory banners as they descended. Seamus brushed off a few baby teeth who try to present him with a necklace made of paper snowflakes.

"What are you doing?" Seamus said. His voice was drowned out by the sounds of horns and drums.

"This is the best part!" North yelled. An elf marching band struck up, marching into the room. Two yetis moved Jack and Seamus on to a designated spot on the floor. Jack looked down to find an elf pointing at his bare feet. The elf then directed his attention to two approaching elves, carrying a pair of ceremonial boots. Jack's confusion escalated.

"Huh?" He said. A Yeti handed North an old large book. North blew off the dust, opened it, and began clearing his throat. Jack clenched his jaw as he scanned the room: The Mini Teeth continue to fawn, Sandy's smiling, Bunny's apathetic, and North looks on with pride.

Jack suddenly slammed his staff down, sending a blast of frost and wind across the room. The torches went out and everything stopped.

"What makes you think I want to be a Guardian?" Jack snapped. He glanced at Seamus, who also appeared to be anti-guardian, the turned to glare back at North. North bursted out in laughter holding the book in his hands then stopped and looked to Jack, stone faced.

"Of course you do! Music!" The elves blared the trumpets again. Celebration!

"No music!" Seamus yelled. Everything stopped instantly. Seamus glare was actually quite scary. North, displeased, glowered.

"Look, this is all very flattering, but ah...you don't want me. You're all hard work and deadlines, and I'm snowballs and fun times. I'm not a Guardian." Jack said. Seamus looked to him and rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, that's exactly what I said!" Bunny exclaimed.

"You could be if you tried." Seamus said to Jack.

"Not the point, Shea."

"Jack... I don't think you understand what it is we do." Tooth swept in and turned Jack's attention to the massive globe behind him. "Each of those lights is a child."

Jack looked up at the Globe, taking in the enormity of this. North suddenly moved to Jack's side.

"A child who believes. And good or bad, naughty or nice, we protect them. Tooth... fingers out of mouth." Seamus looked to discover that Tooth was examining Jack's teeth. Tooth removed fingers.

"Oh, sorry. They're beautiful." Jack moved away from the Globe and back toward the center of the room.

"Okay, no more wishy-washy! Pitch is out there doing who knows what!"

"You mean the Boogeyman?" Seamus asked as Jack scoffed.

"Yes! When Pitch threatens us, he threatens them as well." North said, pointing to the lights on the globe.

"All the more reason to pick someone more qualified!" Jack said, walking away.

"Pick? You think we pick? No, you were chosen like we were all chosen. By Man in Moon." Jack turned and looked to the group.

"What?"

"Last night, Jack. He chose you." Tooth said.

"Maybe." Bunny grumbled.

"The Man in the Moon, he talks to you?" Jack looked up to the skylight, taking in the awesome sight of the moon as it shines down on Earth.

"You see, you can not say no. It is destiny." North said. Seamus rolled his eyes. Jack was still confused by the news. What does that mean?

"But why, why wouldn't he tell me that himself?" He let out an exasperated sigh and Seamus moved to place a hand on his shoulder. That's when the Guardians (at least some of them such as Sandy and North) realized the situation between the two. "After 300 years this is his answer? To spend eternity like you guys cooped up in some, some hideout thinking of, of new ways to bribe kids? No no, that's not for me. No offense."

Jack turned to leave, leaving the Guardians stunned and Seamus grinning proudly. Except for Bunny, who was relieved by the turn and looked to the others.

"How is that not offensive? You know what I think? I think we just dodged a bullet. I mean, what's this clown know about bringing joy to children anyway?" Jack turned around.

"Uhh, you ever hear of a snow day? I know it's no hard-boiled egg, but kids like what I do." Jack said, pissed.

"But none of 'em believe in you." Bunny leered him. "Do they? You see, you're invisible, mate. It's like you don't even exist."

"Bunny!" Tooth gasped.

"Enough!" Seamus snapped. Silence. Jack tried not to look stung by the taunt.

"No, the kangaroo's right."

"The, the what? What'd you call me? I am not a kangaroo, mate." Bunny said.

"Oh. And this whole time I thought you were. If you're not a kangaroo, what are you?" Jack snapped.

"I'm a bunny. The Easter Bunny. People believe in me." Bunny had hardly finished his sentence when suddenly, a knife flew right in front of his nose. Jack and Bunny looked to see that the thrower was Seamus. He was glaring harshly at Bunny.

"That was a warning." He growled. North, Sandy, and Tooth exchanged glances.

"Jack, Seamus. Walk with me."