Disclaimer: I wish I was a Guardian...or could talk with one, but no, I own nothing but this plot line and a couple characters...
Summary: Rabbits are quick, agile, hardy, and can be very temperamental. Getting them to hold still is just about impossible, tell that to Bunnymund when it comes to a matter of life or death.
Chapter Four
Risen
xxx 1/01/2013
12:15 am US EST
12/31/2012
11:15 pm US CT
xxx
North landed the sleigh in front of a barn on a snow covered farm somewhere in the US. All of the Guardians helped to stash the sleigh inside it before putting the reindeer in stalls and leaving.
The farm house was dimly lit, but the door opened with ease when Sandy turned the knob. The living room was an average space, and Bunny went ahead and sat on the far end of the couch, the other two spot were taken by a teenage girl curled up sound asleep.
North solved that by gently shaking her shoulders, "Wake up, you will miss New Year's."
"Wake up Sheila."
The girl jumped a little before rubbing her eyes, glaring at North and settling to sit up halfway on her end of the couch, curled into a blanket as she turned the TV volume down from its show of the New Years' celebrations.
"Ever heard of knocking North?"
The Russian chuckled, sitting in one of the arm chairs, after making sure the others got in, Tooth and Sandy had to go back to work.
Jack took the other arm chair, watching the teen girl subtly.
She had faintly pale skin and cheeks that were a little red from the cold outside. Her faintly wavy brunette hair fell down her back and into her hazel eyes. She was perfectly at ease with the other two Guardians, barely battling an eye at Jack.
"Aiyana sent me a message, beds are ready back in my room, it's the only one with enough room. We'll see if MiM will talk to us tomorrow night."
North merely nodded before stretching, "Ah, Jack Frost this is Katherine, also known as Phoenix, Kate this newest Guardian Jack."
Kate smiled tiredly before getting up and turning the TV off.
"I give up, I'm going to bed, not staying awake this year..."
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Kate's room was pretty big, holding a lifted bed for Bunny, a heavy cot for North, and a loft bed for Jack to stay the closest to the cold window/skylight. Kate's bed was near Bunny's, and covered with flannel sheets and several blankets, apparently she didn't like the cold.
She moved about making sure everything was set for the night before ducking out of the room to change into pajamas, leaving a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt out for Jack to change into.
Once she was in bed, Jack shifted on his bed, looking around the room. Kate had put up a string of Christmas lights across the ceiling, creating a dim multicolor glow, with the, Jack could see a small stereo, a large cleared area of the hardwood floor for dancing, an old desk, and a bookshelf. Kate was rather simple...
" 'Ey Sheila, show Jack what you can do."
Kate let out an over exaggerated sigh but climbed free of her covers, moving to stand in the clear area before singing a clear pure note. As she kept singing she began spinning, until her feet started sparking and then an inferno rushed over her skin and body.
Jack yelped out of instinct, earning a small grin from Bunny as Kate slowed and "went out", she was panting slightly but the heat had vanished with the flames.
"I'm a literal Phoenix, I can control fire, mimic most voices, sing like a songbird, and if I am killed I am reborn from the ashes of my own fire. I used to be a bird but currently I'm human looking, personally it's easier with my job as spirit of youth, if a kid sees me they'd probably scream if I was a bird caught on fire."
She made sense and Jack gave a faint nod as she crawled back into bed with a yawn while dream sand slipped into the room.
"I think Sandy's trying to hint something..."
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12:29 pm
Jack groaned loudly as someone shook his shoulders, he swatted feebly at the attacking hand but didn't connect.
"Jack...wake up..."
This only made him burrow into the blanket further, yes being under it for too long would make him sick from the heat it would eventually capture, but right now it was a shield.
"Show pony ya been asleep o'er twelve hours."
He released a growl.
"C'mon mate, get yer cold date outta bed!"
Another growl, "Rack off!"
Bunny chuckled before climbing down from the loft bed, moaning as he did and rubbing at his back. Jack crawled out from under the blanket enough to see the Pooka down on the floor, stretching a little and looking sore.
"You okay?"
" 'm alright, just gonna take longer ta recover this time."
The teen nodded, freeing his staff from the tangled blanket before floating to the floor. Bunny gave a strained smile when Jack offered help, the Pooka taking it and half leading Jack out to the kitchen.
"Someone's here ta see ya Frostbite."
"Huh?"
"JACK!"
Bunny was able to duck out of the way as the winter spirit was tackled by a three and a half foot tall kid, Jamie Bennett making full use of his sugar packed body to floor his best friend.
"Okay, who gave him sugar?"
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Jack sat perched on a counter while Kate made sure Sophie actually ate her PBJ sandwich instead of share it with Bunny who had already eaten a fruit salad. Jamie and Sophie were here visiting Kate, she had been "adopted" by the Bennett kids' aunt who was a die hard believer in the Guardians ever since she was shot by Cupid in third grade by accident and fell in love with a leprechaun. Least to say Cupid's aim rapidly improved after that...
The aunt was in Burgess, Kate was hosting the kids at her house.
Figured something out?
Kate could interact with humans readily while in this "life", she went through cycles of a couple lives only seen with believers, and others where she might as well been a human.
Hence why Jamie's mom thought she was a senior in high school and perfectly capable of keeping an eye on her kids halfway across the US. In reality, Kate, as a senior and with special privileges, took a couple classes to keep busy and entertained, then flew off to do her job of keeping the children's youth in check. Most of it was helping little kids in homes with older siblings and strict parents all non-believers and tight regimes. She would lighten their moods and allow them to mature just enough to hide their love for magic...one such person had grown up and was known as Dr...Seuss maybe? She couldn't remember...
North had already eaten hours earlier, getting up with Kate after a measly five hours of sleep to tend to the finicky reindeer, he was currently at the Pole, retrieving a few elves for help and to reassure the Yetis that keeping the little idiots locked in the "ball" room would be okay until he returned. None of the balls were small enough for the elves to swallow, they'd be fine fussing with the mega bouncy balls and huge beach balls.
Sandy had stopped in for a place to nap while still being "in the know" of the other guardians...plus Kate. Tooth stopped in whenever she could, but Kate's rural area home wasn't much of place for teeth so she only stayed for a few minutes at a time.
Talk of the dark men had been postponed until after lunch...or breakfast for Jack...Sophie was still young enough to need to take a nap in the early afternoon and Bunny had already volunteered to put her down. Three year olds were notorious for refusing nap times if they were in a new place and surrounded by too many things they didn't see very often and got excited. Bunnymund was extremely sore with his back and needed the rest anyway, even if he fell asleep while Sophie napped it wouldn't hurt anything.
Jamie would be allowed in on the conversation because he was such a strong believer, and he was an inside link with younger children, Kate could interact with them but a high school senior asking questions about the boogey man would get suspicious.
Sophie finished eating readily, and Kate picked her up to get her cleaned up while Bunny was supposed to meet them in Sophie's room, the little girl had her own space while visiting her "cousin".
Only Bunny couldn't stand up.
Jamie watched silently as North and Jack had to help the Easter bunny to stand up, Jack supporting him as he hunched over.
"Rootin' back, bloody lizards that hurts..."
The boy cringed a little as the bunny grimaced, eyes squeezed shut to try and fight the pain.
"E-easter bunny? Are-are you okay?"
The Pooka forced himself to straighten a little, hiding the pain by gripping Jack's hand tightly, " 'm alright, no worries kiddo, just need some rest."
Jamie nodded, settling as Jack helped Bunny from the kitchen to Sophie's room. The guest room was a light purple with darker curtains to block out the light. Pale green, white, yellow, and pink Christmas lights were string on the ceiling like Kate's room. The difference was the bed, it was a queen sized with the sides shoved against two walls, pillows were stuffed at both ends and huge ones ready to tuck in front.
Apparently Sophie rolled out of bed rather frequently.
Kate was combing her fingers through Sophie's hair, the little girl lying on the bed but wiggling and laughing instead of calm and quiet.
"Sophia Bennett hold still..."
"Bunny!...hop-hop-Hop!"
Bunnymund chuckled softly, easing his arm off Jack's shoulders and limping over to the girl, "Hey ya little ankle biter, ya need to sleep..."
Sophie moved over enough once Kate stood to let Bunny lay down, the Pooka forming the barrier to keep Sophie on the bed.
The girl left the room, but Jack remained silently, watching as Bunny stroked Sophie's hair as she cuddled against his side.
"...There's a lake in South Australia, little lake with lovely name.
And the stories woven round it, from the picanninies came
Carra barra wirra canna, little star upon the lake.
Guide me through the hours of darkness keep me safely till I wake.
Every night the native mothers croon this lovely lullaby.
Croon across the moonlit waters to the stars up in the sky.
Carra barra wirra canna, little star upon the lake.
Guide me through the hours of darkness keep me safely till I wake.
Picanniny heads are nodding, drowsy crooning fills the air.
Little eyes at last are closing and the boat of dreams is there.
Carra barra wirra canna, little star upon the lake.
Guide me through the hours of darkness keep me safely till I wake.
Guide my boat across the waters, cross the waters still and deep,
Light me with your little candle, safely to the land of sleep.
Carra barra wirra canna, little star upon the lake.
Guide me through the hours of darkness keep me safely till I wake...."
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xxx 4:28 pm
Kate was talking animatedly with North as she and the Russian watched the four reindeer run and prance in a pen outside the barn, Tooth had left with Sandy a few minutes before hand to get back to work while Jack and Jamie settled for sledding down a hill behind the house.
Then things got interesting...
"Look out below little bird!"
Kate screamed, a pure hawk cry that echoed off the frozen trees as Cethin whipped around them via the South wind, the air was too warm and malicious to be anything else.
The dark man hovered over the icy snow covered driveway, chuckling deeply as Kate's eyes blazed.
"Well-well...what are we to do about this?"
Jack pulled his sled run up sharply, holding Jamie behind him as the black robed man meandered from the forming shadows. "Pitch."
"Jack Frost, I'm surprised you're still a Guardian...thought the big four would give up on you by now..."
The winter spirit only continued to glare at the boogey man, his staff poised to fire.
"Vhat do you vant Cethin?"
Cethin sniggered before turning to look at Jamie as he stood behind Jack.
"The boy."
Kate smirked dangerously, "Hmm...let me think...Not!"
Jack had to smirk with her as she flashed a deadly smile before tapping her foot on the ground like Bunny did, only instead of a tunnel, she created sparks and caught on fire.
"Come and get me Cethin!"
The boogey man grinned devilishly, forming into a nasty looking crow before going after the flaming girl...correction, right now she was a bird.
Pitch settled to forming his scythe and trying to cut North in half, the Russian didn't have his swords...
North spun under the attack before diving to where Jack stood, digging in the snow and pulling out a long metal pole.
"Fence post, good to improvise."
Jack smiled, jumping into the blistering wind with Jamie in tow, tucking him into a nearby tree before lunging for Pitch. This time the boogey man was prepared for both North and Jack, forming a sword of his own to counter the Russian's attacks while sending a swarm of fearlings out to occupy the winter spirit.
Kate was having none of that as she dove away from Cethin who had dragged her high enough into the sky to lose them in the clouds. A whistling scream was all Jack heard before the Wind yanked him from the fearlings, letting Kate dive into the swarming mass of nightmares and torch them.
Cethin laughed at her act before cawing sharply and drawing his own help from the darkness seeping into the air and sky. These were shadow gargoyles, about the same size as Jamie, only instead of sharp gold eyes, theirs were pitch black with sparks of fire in them. They had a target, and would stop at nothing (including tearing into Pitch's fearlings) to get at it.
Their target was Kate.
The Phoenix went down under a mass of the beasts, her fighting cries becoming painful screeches as the gargoyles own flames overwhelmed the bird's, scorching her...
Pitch laughed as he reeled back from North's blow, the Russian running to Kate's aid but being stopped by fearlings and gargoyles. Jack was equally trapped, the fearlings were intent on tearing him apart.
"Oh North...seems we have reached a stalemate..." Pitch crooned sickeningly as Cethin calmed the gargoyles harming Kate, poising his favorite to go in for the final blow.
Jack turned his head when a soft whimper made it to his ears, and it stopped his heart. A gargoyle was holding Jamie tightly, one clawed hand specifically on the boy's throat.
Cethin laughed menacingly as he followed Jack's gaze, "You see young one, I could so easily have the boy killed, one less light in the world...pity..."
The gargoyle shifted, squeezing tighter and Jamie's face was beginning to redden. "Jack..."
"Here's my offer, stand down. All five guardians, just go back to being normal figures...and I'll let the boy go." Pitch spoke, eyes flashing in the dim light.
North grumbled, "Vhat about Kate?"
"The little firebird belongs to me."
Kate struggled under the gargoyles as Cethin leaned in closer, a bony finger petting her feathered cheek.
"Time to see how many colors a human can turn..."
The gargoyle squeezed.
"Nooo!"
Jack's anger got the better of him, he had to protect Jamie...
Pitch had been his target of the icy power, but from past experience he had fled from the immediate range. The seething cold frost hit Cethin's gargoyles with enough force to destroy a few and send the rest of the ice covered things slamming into Cethin himself. The dark man roared in pain form the sheer cold, trying to writhe away from it...but ice clings to with it's deadly touch.
The blast allowed Kate to free herself, tackling the gargoyle who held Jamie with a fury before shooting at Pitch and lashing out the fearlings, exploding into a fiery star in mid air.
Fun fact, nightmare sand can burn...
The heat melted a good fifty foot radius circle in the snow, going all the way to scorch the few remaining grasses beneath the cold powder.
Pitch and Cethin had vanished after the release of powers from the two spirits, leaving behind ash and black sand. Jamie rushed to Jack only to stop at the last second, the winter spirit was panting and clutching at his chest, his normally pale skin was reddening from the heat Kate had given off.
In contrast the girl was shaking with cold, her eyes dull and breath rasping weakly.
"Sheila!"
Bunny hopped over lightning quick, stopping at the edge of the scorched circle, Kate and Jack were no more than three feet from one another. The release of their powers in such quick succession had cost both of them.
North acted first, rushing forward and yanking the two further apart, dragging Jack to a snowbank and shoving him into the cold, taking handfuls of it to wipe over his skin.
Kate was shaking as Bunny tried to help her up, giving in himself when he couldn't stand from his position. The girl crawled to Jack, icy tears sticking to her cheeks before she grabbed his hand.
"Kiss me..."
"W-what?"
"Kiss me, I can take back the fire...you have to do it fast-"
"What? Why?"
Kate groaned, pulling herself together enough to sit up a little, "Jack...I'm dying...if I don't take back the fire we'll both die..."
"Kate..."
"Oh shut up ya show pony, c'mere!"
Bunny grabbed Jack and hauled him up enough for Kate to grab his hoodie, pulling him in for the tight kiss.
Jack's eyes flew open as her freezing lips connected with his burning ones...
And the world went black.
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