A/N: I apologize for the long wait. The hiatus is officially over! Yay summer! Regarding the sudden change in rating, it is only because of the topics in this chapter and some possible action scenes later on. Thank you for reading and enjoy!
Well, the next morning the Guardians went their separate ways. Toothiana was desperate to get back to her fairies, Bunny said he had preparations for spring, North was exhausted, Jack still had plenty of snow days to bring, and Joy had promised to visit certain kids after Christmas.
Jack and Joy flew with each other the first few miles south, but soon had to part ways. Jack was headed to Canada and Joy was headed to Mongolia. They lingered over an iceberg for a moment before saying good bye.
"We should get together again sometime," Joy said.
"Definitely! I'm pretty busy until spring though," Jack replied.
"How about April 12? I know the perfect place too!" They made plans and then parted with a hug (both were a bit too shy to kiss again).
As Joy flew away she did a few loop die loops just for the fun of it. Over all, it had been the best Christmas she could remember. And that reminded her of the teeth. She still hadn't opened them yet. She was nervous about what she would find and that it might ruin now.
Tomorrow, she thought. I'll do it tomorrow.
Tomorrow passed and so did the next day and the next. Spring came and Joy found herself anxiously waiting for April 12.
I'll do it then, she promised.
So on April 12 Joy flew to the closest thing to her home. There was a river by where she had woken up with a stone bridge that crossed over it. It had to be at least 20 feet up. Joy landed on the side of the bridge and soaked in the warm spring sun. It wouldn't last long if Jack was coming, so she enjoyed it while she could. As she sat on the bridge waiting for Jack, another boy came along. Everything about his posture just screamed misery. Joy didn't even need to physically look at his feelings to know how he felt. It became even more obvious when he went and stood on the side of the bridge too and looked down into the deep, cold water.
This was another reason Joy came here. This bridge was a popular suicide spot and she stopped whoever she could from making the worst, and last, decision of their life. And if they didn't listen to her, she at least tried to slow their fall.
She saw this boy and ran over to stand beside him.
"Hello," she said kindly. "I'm Joy. What's your name?" She didn't entirely expect him to see her, but figured it was worth a shot. The boy turned to look at her and she took a frightened step back. It was the boy from the ice caves! But, but how?
"Hello Joy," he replied sullenly. "I heard you got your memories back. Do you remember me now?" Did he almost look hopeful? Joy shook her head.
"I- I haven't opened them yet. Who are you?" This was killing her. He just looked so familiar. He avoided the question and continued.
"I also heard about you and the Frost boy. Really, Joy, him?" When she didn't say anything, he continued with a sigh.
"I am Despair. Not as powerful as Fear, but just as effective when used correctly. I suck out the joy from everyone's lives. They exact thing you try and protect. The thing you've protected since before you can remember." He stepped closer to her and looked into her eyes. It seemed like he was willing her to remember. Finally the mysterious boy reached out and touched one of her braids.
And she remembered. Everything. She was Joy Carter. She'd lived in the neighborhood on the other side of these woods. She'd had a mom and a dad and friends!
But most importantly, she'd had a brother.
"Derek!" she screamed and threw her arms around his neck. He sighed and reluctantly hugged her back.
"Hi Joy."
"Derek! You-what-how-ah!" Unable to put her feelings into words, she hugged him again. He gently extracted himself from her.
"Glad you remember me." Joy was too stunned to reply. Memories were still flying through her head with her barely processing them. But one stood out.
"Oh, oh no. Did I really almost do that? Did you really almost do that? Oh, oh no." She covered her mouth with her hands as tears started to form.
"Yes, Joy. That really,ow, did happen." Derek put a hand to his head as if in pain. Joy reached out to him.
"Derek? Are you alright?" He put his hand down slowly and looked at her again.
"Yes, yes. I'm fine now. Do you remember what I told you in the cave?" He didn't give her a chance to reply before continuing. "Pitch really does have it out for you and Jack. In fact that's why he sent me here today. I'm sorry Joy."
"What are-" Joy was cut off as he placed his hand on her shoulder. Everything was suddenly dismal. The sun wasn't shining. Spring wasn't in the air. Dark memories began to creep up on her. She tried to fight it, tried to think of something happy. But no, there was nothing there. She was alone.
"Until next time Joy. Maybe," said a voice faintly and then they were gone. Sad memories encroached her and then Joy passed out.
Jack hopped from a tall pine tree down to the bridge where he was supposed to meet Joy. After nearly five months away from her, he couldn't wait to see her again. He scanned the bridge in search of her and was surprised to see her hugging some other boy in the middle of the bridge.
Jack could feel jealousy creeping in and he began to walk over there to give this bloke a piece of his mind. He stopped abruptly when the older boy placed a hand on her shoulder and Joy crumpled to the ground.
"Hey!" Jack yelled, throwing caution to the wind. He shot a bolt of snow at her attacker as he jumped on the guardrail. "Get back here!" The older boy just laughed.
"You're next Jack." Then he fell backwards over the rail and disappeared into a plume of smoke. After sending another shot after him, Jack ran over to Joy.
"Joy!" he cried as he knelt next to her. She was huddled up in a ball, shaking badly, and sobbing uncontrollably. He shook her and yelled her name again, but she didn't respond. Then he noticed something. Dark blue-gray smoke was gathering around her. It seemed to be spreading from where the other boy had touched her and was quickly enveloping her. Jack searched his mind for some solution, when it hit him. He dug in his hoodie pocket and pulled out the bag of Dreamsand he had gotten from Sandy. Without a second thought he dumped it all onto her face. Immediately her cries became softer and her face slightly more serene. The shaking stopped as well. But the tears still streamed and the smoke was getting thicker.
"Maybe Sandy can help," Jack muttered. He lifted Joy up and then yelled, "Wind! Take me to Sandy!" A huge gust swept the two of them into the air. They soared for what seemed like forever as the smoke grew thicker and thicker. Joy began to cough occasionally, even as most of it was whipped away in the wind.
"Hang in there Joy," Jack whispered. In the distance he could see a floating golden island with tendrils coming out of it. Jack landed on it's ledge with a gentle thump.
"Sandy!" he called. "Joy's in trouble." The tiny guardian had heard them land and came over quickly. Now that there wasn't any wind to get rid of the smoke, it almost covered her face. Jack summoned up a quick wind to keep it at bay. Sandy looked her over and formed a question mark over his head.
"I-I don't know what happened," Jack answered worriedly. "I was going to meet her, but then there was another boy there. He touched her shoulder and she just crumpled." He paused. "Will she be alright?" he asked quietly. Sandy smiled kindly at the winter spirit and nodded gently. He scooped up a bit of golden sand and sprinkled it gently on her face. Her breathing became easier and she looked a lot calmer. Finally, the smoke began to clear. It was interesting to watch. Instead of just dissipating and blowing away, it seemed to condense into a liquid. Streaks of dark blue and black now decorated Joy's hair. The imaginary friend began to cough and then slowly opened her eyes.
"Derek… What? Where? Jack?" He helped her sit up as she rubbed her eyes and took in her surroundings. "Sandy? What am I doing here?" she asked obviously bewildered.
"I came to meet you like we planned, but then some bloke touched your shoulder and you passed out. I brought you to Sandy, hoping that he could help," Jack explained. Sandy waved, smiled, and then made a floating thumbs up and question mark. Joy laughed a bit.
"I'm better now. Thanks Sandy."
"Well don't leave us hanging Joy! What happened? Was he the boy from the cave?" She nodded and told them that he was her brother along with the discussion that they had.
"And then my memories! There are so many, it's like how could I forget? I-I want to tell you guys why I got chosen to be a Guardian. And why my brother is… like that." The two other Guardians nodded, urging her on. She took a deep breath and plunged in.
"When I was very young my mother died. Our family had to move because we were running low on money. We were low on a lot of things. Happiness was one of them. I… I fell into despair. Nothing could cheer me up. Derek tried to help me, but I just couldn't get out of whatever pit I was in.
"One night it got so bad that I considered taking my own life. Derek saved me. He spent the entire night with me, talking me out of it, promising I wasn't alone, that I was stronger than that.
"From that night on, I vowed I would never sink that low again. I made friends and always had a smile on my face. Life got better. Until Derek went where I had been. He started hanging out with the wrong "friends" and not making the best choices. I was really worried for him.
"One night quite a few years later he decided to do what I had only thought of. It was just after Easter and kind of warm, so I had slept with the window open. I swear it was the moon that woke me up. I looked around and Derek wasn't there. I left the house and ran to where I knew he would probably go; the bridge I was going to meet you on, Jack. He was just climbing onto the rail when I got there. I ran up and grabbed his arm. "Don't do this!" I said. "You're stronger than this. I can help!" He didn't want to listen so I did the only thing I could think of, which was forcibly tackling him back onto the bridge." Joy giggled a bit as she told the next part.
"I sat on top of him the entire night talking him out of it, telling him there were people who cared. I even bribed him with cookies. Around 3 am he relented and we walked back to the house. I got a bit excited and ran ahead. I was in a grove of aspens when one broke and fell on top of me. And then… I woke up." She shrugged and looked up at them, feeling self conscious after revealing her darkest moments. She was waiting to see their reactions when Jack tackled her in a hug. Sandy turned away laughing as Joy returned his embrace. Eventually Jack pulled away and looked at her.
"So, what did he do to you on the bridge just now?" Joy sighed and ran a hand through her hair, noting the dark streaks.
"He's called Despair now for a reason. While Pitch inspires fear, Despair inspires sorrow and loneliness. When he grabbed my shoulder I was flooded with emotions I haven't felt since that dark time in my life. It was so cold and, and lonely." She subconsciously brought her knees up to her chest. Jack put an arm around her.
"Well, I can't help with the cold thing, but I can certainly help with being lonely. Three hundred years on my own has taught me how to cope. Don't worry Joy. I'll always be here for you." Joy peered into his eyes.
"Promise?" she asked. He nodded.
"Promise." Joy gave him a peck on the cheek and then stood up.
"We need to talk to the others. Pitch is planning something new; something bad.." The frost spirit stood up as well.
"He mentioned I was next before he left. I don't know about you guys, but that's no fun. I say we find out where those two are hiding and go surprise them."
Sandy gave a big thumbs up. They both turned to look at Joy. She smiled broadly at them and replied, "Now that sounds like fun."
A/N: Thanks again for reading! Please review!