Sorry guys, i've been so busy with college, and then i went on holiday so uploading was difficult :3
i'll try to be quicker next time.
I just want to say that this is my own work; i haven't stolen someone else's ideas.
Disclaimer: I do not own Rise of the Guardians.
But i do own Isa Frost
Back at the North Pole
Bunny's POV
"So what are we supposed to do now? Frostbite's been gone a long time"
Bunny was becoming extremely impatient with Jack. They'd been sitting around for four hours now, waiting for Jack to return with Isa. What on earth was taking the kid so long? That Sheila couldn't be that hard to catch; yes she was fast but Jack knew about anything she could do,…he'd had about three hundred years' experience with those powers, it's not like she could take him by surprise.
The other guardians had taken to fiddling with various things in order to relieve their boredom. North had ordered the Yeti's to bring his desk to the globe room so he could invent a random toy for the amusement of some lucky child. Right now it looked like the beginnings of a model stable. Tooth had taken to once again instructing baby tooth on her new-found duties and sending her to and from the tooth palace with messages and various instructions for the others. Baby tooth seemed perfectly happy to whizz between the two destinations, thrilled with being given the responsibility. The energy she carried with her reminded Bunny of Jack; the way they both flew ecstatically around the room, eyes shining with childish excitement. That, Bunny reckoned, was why Jack got on so well with the baby teeth; they were all still filled with a childish wonder. The only thing really curious about the whole scene was Sandy.
As usual, he'd said nothing about this whole situation and he'd barely communicated through his sand to the rest of them at all lately. Bunny's eyes wandered over to the golden man once again. He'd taken to standing by the window for the past few hours staring into the sky and occasionally forming pictures above his head. Probably communicating with MiM….he'd been quiet for quite some time now; he'd informed them briefly about Isa and then….nothing.
"I'm sure Jack has his reasons"
North's gruff voice snapped the pooka out of his thoughts. He'd spun around from his desk so that now all the guardians were once again facing each other – minus Sandy. After hushing Baby Tooth, Tooth spoke up, "She might be proving to get than we originally thought" Bunny snorted at that, his expression annoying the two other guardians.
"Friend, Tooth may be right, we do not know anything about her. I think she is more than what she seems. I feel it –" Bunny rolled his eyes, knowing exactly what North was about to say " –in my belly"
"oh come on, we all saw how they acted together. I mean how can we trust Jack will just bring her straight here? He'll probably play games with her first"
Tooth's face scrunched up in disgust "Bunny, we do not doubt Jack in any way. He is one of us now and has rightly earned that place" The pooka raised his paws up in a surrender "Tooth I didn't mean it like that. I mean how do we know he's not playing stuck in the mud with her or something?" He hopped quickly over to the globe, pointing straight at two blue dots that were whizzing around Burgess in almost a circle "I dunno about you but that looks more like a game of chase than anything else to me"
Tooth spoke up again smiling this time, "Then maybe she is playing hard to get"
North laughed from his chair, munching on a cookie that the elves had brought for him. "Well then that will provide Jack with a challenge. Not to worry friends, they will be here soon"
Bunny turned back to look at the globe, wondering what Jack was up to right now.
…the world around them disappeared in white light.
A scene unfolded before them; a mixture of colour and sounds. The sun graced the small village around them, just as children raced down the street clothed in brown dresses and pants adorned with white undershirts. Thatch cottages stood side by side, creating a sort of street for themselves. A large barn-type building stood separate from the others, a thick chimney sticking out above giant reinforced doors.
A forge perhaps?
A well was centred a few feet away, the circular wall decorated with vines and various flowering plants. The smell of fresh bread wafted through the air and mixed with the typical farming smells.
Through gaps in the houses, she could see fields of sheep, horses and even a few cows. As if to strengthen that fact, a few girls were walking around with a block sitting neatly across their shoulder blades, complete with a bucket on either end: Milkmaids.
Laughter filled the air, harmonising perfectly with the booming voice of a singing musician, playing his banjo by the well and happily watching the villagers dance and swing around him.
A voice sounded from behind, arriving clear through the air, despite the surrounding noise.
"Jack, Jack get back here"
She quickly spun around, expecting to see the white-haired winter spirit zooming towards her. Instead, she found herself facing the entrance to a thicket of trees. A kind-faced woman with ripples of brown hair stood holding a basket next to a young girl who looked a lot like her. A daughter maybe?
The girl wore a simple brown dress – a shade lighter than her hair which stopped about halfway down her shoulders. She had wide eyes that were the exact shade of chocolate and were currently shinning with excitement as she looked into the trees; her hands clapping together as fast as a hummingbird's wing.
The woman spoke again "You can't have fun all the time Jack" Despite her words, her tone was kind and she looked as if she was trying to hold back laughter.
Through the thicket of trees, she caught sight of a figure running back towards the woman. He was moving with so much energy, it was almost visible, radiating out from him in waves. A wide grin adorned his face as he laughed wildly; his head thrown back towards the sky in excitement. He came to a sudden stop in front of the young girl and swooped down, growling playfully before picking her up and swinging around in circles, laughing in harmony as hers echoed all around, an octave higher than his.
"Jackkkkk too high, too highhhhh"
The boy stopped spinning before swing the girl firmly onto his back. With his new accessory, he turned to the older woman, obviously his mother, and Isa was able to finally get a good look at him. He wore brown pants that were frayed slightly at the bottom and no shoes….maybe he didn't own any? His white linen undershirt blew in the wind and fought against the flapping lapels of her brown waistcoat. Her eyes travelled to his face and she felt a rush of confusion. She's already guessed that this was Jack's life before becoming a guardian but she hadn't expected him to look any different. His flawless pale skin was now flushed with colour from the excitement, and the summer sun had tanned his skin slightly to a natural brown. His eyes, still large and surrounded with beautifully thick lashes, were a warm chocolaty brown colour that made you want to smile inside. His hair fell about his head in an adorably scruffy fashion and showed the same colour. Why had he changed?
Why was his hair now white, his skin pale?
Just because he was a winter spirit, it didn't mean he had to change surely…
The boy's light voice sounded again, reclaiming her attention "Of course you can, who wants to do chores anyway?" the little girl nodded eagerly, scrambling around on the boy's back in an attempt to stay balanced.
The older woman flicked his nose playfully, smiling down at her son "The quicker you finish your chores, the sooner you can play; you wanted to see Isa later right?"
Isa jumped slightly at the sound of her own name. It wasn't possible; it had to be somebody else…
She was again distracted as the boy's grin spread wider and his expression became quite sheepish. "Ermmm…yeah we were gonna have a race" He brought a hand up and scratched his face absentmindedly. The girl on his back giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck "Jack likes her"
Jack laughed again "Like is such a strong word..I'm still annoyed at her winning that snowball fight last winter. She took my glory woahhh" Jack almost lost his balance as the small girl continued to clamber around, grabbing his shirt as an anchor.
"You should court her Jack"
Jack's head snapped up, humour lost in his shocked expression "Huh? Court her?" A warm smile showed on his face as a chuckle escaped his throat. "It's not like that. Although, I'm tempted to ask her just to watch her expression"
Another chuckle.
"It would be priceless.."
The scene dissolved around her and suddenly she was standing in a field, the grass damp with evening dew beneath her feet. It was obviously later in the year as orange and yellow leaves scattered the ground, communing around fence posts and the gaps between tree roots.
A thatch cottage stood not too far away, the only proof of life was a washing line stretched out across the field, garments playing with the wind.
"Hurry up Jack. How slow can you get?"
Isa froze slightly in shock, not wanting to recognise the familiar voice. It wouldn't….no it couldn't be. She knew that sometimes you had coincidences but this was almost like a joke.
Just as she was about to turn around and face her suspicions, two figures ran past her….well through her. She quickly clenched her fists, waiting for the expected burning sensation….but it didn't come. She felt nothing; it was as if she wasn't even real; then again she wasn't here…technically. This was a memory – Jack's memory, and she was becoming increasingly curious about how it seemed to be tied to her own life. Well there was only one way to find out…
Glancing back up at the two teens she received another shock. There was Jack again, his brown hair rustling in the warm breeze. In this memory he looked closer to how he did now to when she'd seen him previously with his family. She guessed that this must have been a little while before he died.
However, the shock was actually because of the girl next to him. This girl looked about seventeen and…looked remarkably like herself. Same figure, same cheekbones; her structure was practically identical; it was the features that differed. Her hair, instead of having the appearance of frozen ice crystals, seemed to replicate a river of liquid gold falling down her back and settling just above her hips. It swayed gently in the breeze as the sun glinted off the glossy surface. Her eyes were round and innocent as a child's, shinning with a colour as blue as the precise moment of dawn, just before it fades to a pale pink. The colour seemed to become more defined as she narrowed her eyes in mocking towards the boy before her. Like Jack, she wore the same brown material except hers was fashioned into a skirt that hung across her hips and fell to hang just above her feet. Above, she wore a thin linen blouse with short puffed sleeves beneath a red corset that showed her tiny waist, complete with golden ribbon criss-crossing down the middle.
"Slow? I was letting you win"
"Oh yeah? I've heard that one before"
Still grinning at her Jack jumped up into the branches above and began swinging back and forth upside down, seeming to be completely absorbed in the activity. The girl seemed to almost dance towards the tree and settle at the base, tilting her head towards the sky in thought. "So Jackson Overland, how does it feel to know that a girl's faster than you? I'd imagine that it would be humiliating for the son of the Town's leader"
A smug smile lit up Jack's face as he thought about the rest of the village finding out "They'd never believe you, what with my amazing reputation"
The girl stood up again, too energetic to stand still and began to dance around the meadow. It appeared to be one half of a couple's dance as she was holding her arms in such a way that it seemed as if someone should be holding her. "ahh yes I forgot about your 'reputation'. You know my mother's started on about courting again? I think she's scared of me having no husband-" Her laugh danced through the air, mimicking its human host; it had a sort of elemental sound, like water over rock. "- But you know what the funny thing is? It's always about you" Jack's boyish laughter ripped through the calm air as he fought to keep himself balanced on the branch as his body shook in humour. "Yes Jack you can laugh all you want but I've been hearing all week how 'Jack's such a kind boy who really cares for his sister, he'll make you a good husband Isa, I've heard he works hard in the fields and he's the son of the village leader! You two would make such a good couple.'" The girl stopped dancing and watched as Jack untangled himself from the tree.
"Oh and you think that's annoying? I thought all I was gonna hear about courting was my mother mentioning it a few months ago but no" Jack jogged over to the washing line hanging just above the ground a short distance away "You know what I've been hearing?" Jack grabbed one of the sheets and wrapped it around his head like a scarf before putting on a high pitched voice "'you know Jack, I know what you said before but everyone thinks you and Isa would go great together. She's such a beautiful girl and is always willing to help anyone; and she can sew quite well; you know that dress she wears? She sewed that herself!-'"
Before he could continue anymore more laughter burst from his throat, making it impossible for him to talk.
"So everyone's rooting for us? You know-" Something caught Isa's eye over Jack's shoulder, clearly amusing her as a coy smile settled on her face. She stepped closer to Jack and whispered confidentially. "Okay don't look now but Mrs Lapsley is spying on us through her window"
Isa looked away from the two and glanced over towards the only thatch cottage around. A warm-looking woman with a face like a chipmunk's stood by the open window, peeking around her curtains out into the field at the couple. Her eyes alight with wild curiosity.
Jack didn't even look, accepting the girl's word instantly. His lips coiled into a smirk and he wore a thoughtful expression. "She's probably waiting for something to happen…" his eyes sliced into hers "…something a gossip like her can spread." The girl almost replicated the smirk on reflex "Well then we need to give her something to spread, we can't disappoint her"
"no we can't…" Jack ran a hand through his hair, the humour was almost visible as it emanated from him; excitement almost consuming him. "…they're all so obsessed with the idea of courting so why don't we pretend?"
The girl's expression turned from playful to shocking before settling once again with mocking "Knew you couldn't resist me for much longer Jack"
"Oh come on! You know I didn't mean it like that. But if you're not up to it…"
"Not up to it? I never back down to a game or a challenge, you know that"
Jack chuckled lightly "yes I do" he reached out gently and tipped her chin up towards him, before leaning in and kissing her softly on the lips; his other wrapping slowly around her waist and pulling her close, causing them both to smile into the sweetness of it.
Isa caught a glimpse of Mrs Lapsley's shocked expression in the window before the scene once again disappeared.
It took Isa a moment to realise where she was at first. She was still in Jack's memories of course, but where and when she couldn't tell.
Slower than before, the village came into view; forming around her as if it were but a hologram. It was night, the endless black sky twinkling with stars of all different sizes like countless pairs of eyes, staring down at the scene below. People began to appear, dancing and singing around a fire, one bigger than she'd ever seen, crackling and snarling as more wood was thrown on by men sitting at various points around it. They sat on logs, laid down in a circle to create a little community. Towards the head of the circle sat a sort of throne. This, she supposed was where the village leader sat. However at the previous time it was empty. A smaller chair sat to the right which was currently taken by the older woman she'd previously seen with Jack, her hair now tied into two plaits that snaked down to her lap. She was smiling sweetly and talking with a woman next to her. As soon as she looked at this woman, Isa felt a pang of…pain almost; as if this woman had been missing from her life for years and years. She didn't think she'd ever seen her before but looking at her now, she just felt so familiar.
Her attention was diverted as she heard a chorus of laughter. Following it she found a little stage set up against the building which she'd previously assumed to be a forge. Realising what she was seeing she began to laugh. About 20 children were sat on the ground laughing and pointing as Jack acted out a story on stage. For some reason – she really could not think why – he'd grabbed a pair of antlers which he was holding to his head as he paraded around, exaggerating every movement in a pantomime gesture. She spied the little girl from Jack's previous memory – not sitting down – but sitting atop a man's shoulders. It became clear pretty clear that the man was the girl's father. He wore a deep red tunic rolled up to his elbows and tall black leather boots. A belt was strung around his waist, from which hung a scabbard which sheathed a large sword. The man was very muscular and quite handsome too, his hair relatively the same colour as his son's, as Jack's.
So this was the village leader.
Her attention was diverted again as she heard a male voice call out nearby. "Hey Isa, we've been looking for you everywhere"
Turning around, she saw herself sitting on a chair to the left of the throne, she's clearly also been watching Jack, but now she was facing two older boys who looked about roughly the same age, if not a bit older. They were both handsome, but a bit thuggish. They gave off an unpleasant aura and were grinning greedily at her.
Three guesses as to what they want. Isa moved closely to herself, hoping to get a better look at the scene.
"So.." The taller of the two spoke. "..where have you been lately, I've been looking everywhere." The smaller of the two nodded in agreement, clearly the minion in this situation.
The girl stayed calm, her voice coming out light and cheerful "Vada via cretino"
The two boys looked at each other in confusion.
"It means 'get lost jerk', clearly you two don't speak Italian"
More confusion. "And you do" The smaller of the two spoke. It seemed to amuse the girl that they hadn't reacted to her insult.
"So Isa…" The taller one continued "…why are you here? That chair's for the leader's son"
A coy smile spread across the girl's face "I'm keeping it warm for him; he'll be back in a moment"
This time the thugs grinned "Ahh yes see I was going to talk to you about that. There's something about that which bothers me-" He leaned in, his voice sinking to a confidential whisper "-I've heard that you and Jacky-boy have a thing going on"
The girl's face stayed amused, her expression never changing in reaction "and why would that bother you? It's not your business Lawrence"
An ugly expression crept onto Lawrence's face as he stepped towards the girl; she didn't even look the tiniest bit scared. "I am the son of the village's top tradesman and I think that a girl like you should belong to a guy like me"
The girl became angry at this; repulsion flooding her face "Belong? I belong to no-one but myself. Nothing would never EVER happen between us you creep. I don't care if you ask my father for my hand because my answer will still be no. And jack is ten times better than you! For one, he's the son of the village leader, that's higher than you will ever be. And for another, he is the best person I've ever met who actually treats people with respect. Now do what I said before and get lost"
Andrew and his minion stared angrily at her for a moment before turning and sauntering off, shoving past people as they went "I'll get you for this Isa"
The girl had only just settled back down in the chair when a head popped out from behind it "I believe that's mine" She slid to the corner of the set as Jack squeezed in next to her, a happy expression now adorning her face.
Jack however, looked concerned "What was that all about?"
The girl giggled "Just idiots, nothing new"
It was silent for a minute before Jack spoke up "I've got something for you; a birthday present" Without waiting for a response he brought out a string bag from his cloak. "Okay close your eyes and hold out your arm" The girl mocked annoyance "Jacckkk don't be mean, what is it?" Jack quickly flicked her nose with his other hand, earning a giggle from her. "Come on, or I'll take it back" The girl grinned wildly as she closed her eyes, "I told you not to spend anything" Jack chuckled back as he fastened a something around her wrist "I didn't spend anything, open your eyes"
The girl opened her eyes and gasped at the bracelet now around her wrist. It was made of three strips of leather, plaited together to form the straps. In the middle was a metal snowflake, shinning in the firelight, fastened to the leather on either sides. "Jack…i-it's beautiful…how?"
Jack shrugged, slightly embarrassed at her joy "Just something my dad taught me, I thought you'd like it…I can always change it though-" He broke off as she kissed him softly. It was soft and sweet, a picture of true happiness.
They both sat in silence for a moment, admiring the bracelet before them.
Isa noticed Jack nervously fiddling with the fastening, tightening and loosening it each way. There was clearly something on his mind. She wished he'd hurry up and say something to her other half so she could hear. It was so quick in fact that she almost missed it.
"You know how everyone believes that we're together now?" The girl looked up at Jack in brief confusion. Before she could react, Jack spoke again "I don't want it to be a joke anymore; I-I want to court you…properly. We won't have to change anything; everyone already thinks we're together this way. But I don't want to be together because of what others think, I want to be with you because you want to be with me"
There was another moment of silence as the girl sat on the chair, absorbing what she'd just been told. She brought a hand to her hair and fiddled with a lock, twirling it around her finger. She laughed briefly under her breath, before glancing back at Jack and giggling shyly "I never thought you'd ask"
Jack leaned in and she met him halfway, this kiss more intimate than before.
Before anything else could happen the world disappeared in a bright white light.
Thank youu for reading another chapter, i hope you like itt ^.^ eighth chapter will be up in a few days hopefully if college doesn't get in the wayy xxx please leave a review and let me know what you think \ ( ^ . ^ ) /