First of all, did anyone see that guy on Louisville team break his leg. My brother and dad were practically screaming!
Now, shout-outs to you kind people:
BrightDarkness-2013: First of all, I love your username! I'm surprised you liked the personalities and such. I think I could have gone into more depth to portray what I wanted (which I will in this chapter). Oh, and I'd stop following a fic if they don't update in three weeks, let alone five months. haha
ForlornDream: Haha well it's my YOLO :) I don't really like YOLO thing, it's overused for everything. Thanks!
DuckieLuver: Avril is a confusing case. I wanted her to be the "Too Blind To See" person since I wanted her to start the kidnapping in the first place. And NOPE, not bad at all!
Alright, Party Crashers Part 5:
It came at him like a sneaker wave, no warning and threatening to drown him. White, hot agony course through his veins. His heat, he swore, stopped beating. All the the way to his fingertips, he felt the fire course through him, destroying him from the inside.
His screams of agony echoed in the vast desert only to be heard by the four guardians, satyr and sprite. They were loud enough to hurt his own ears, only adding on to his pain, but there was no way of holding them in.
He didn't hear Tooth's frantic calls for him. He didn't focus on the hand waving in front of him, only the pain.
But as quick as it came, it ended, leaving exhausted and empty. His chest hurt, not only from his broken rib, but from his heart's rapid beating. He felt his eyelids droops and consciousness slipped away.
.../\...
It took them all by surprise. They'd watched as Jack's back arched, his head push back, fear fill his eyes, pain unknown to the rest of them surge through him. After only moments of it starting did Jack's screams subside and his body fall back to the sand.
"Jack, Jack!" Tooth cried out, shaking his shoulder softly, as if too much could shatter him. "Jack. Talk to me, Jack. Please!"
North and Bunny rushed to the frantic Tooth Fairy's side. "Easy Toothy," the Pooka put a paw on her shoulder, "He's unconscious."
She turned and buried her face into his fur, holding onto with a death-grip as if it were a life-line. "Oh, Aster, it was because of me he got hurt." He felt the wetness from her tears as her body racked from her sobs.
"Now's not the time to be sorry, Tooth. Right now, let's get Jack out of here. You know what just happened to Jack? Why did he scream?"
"I-I don't know!"
"Bunny, help me move Jack to sleigh," North ordered, already bending down to lift the boy. Bunny took his legs, trying not to bustle them about with the knife still protruding through it. His stomach wrenched at the thought of it going through the bone and the blood that poured from it wasn't helping. After a bit of work, the managed to move Jack to the back of the sleigh with Tooth and Bunny. North turned back to the Sandman who hadn't moved from his spot since Jack's first scream. "Sandy?"
The little gold man's eyes snapped to his leader, worry and fear filled them.
"Sandy, Jack will be fine. I need you to take satyr and sprite to Mother Nature and Father Time to be tried. They must pay for the consequences."
His eyes widened along with the satyr beside him. The sprite only bowed her head, accepting what she was to come. Playing charades would take too long, so Sandy formed in cursive the words above him:
Demetrius admitted to being wrong AND helped us to find Jack and stop Avril and Patrick from hurting him further more.
North looked at the satyr, then back to the Sandman. He sighed loudly. If you believe him a good man...goat, then you may choose whether to have him tried or not. I trust you. Now, go and meet us at workshop later."
Once more, Sand conjured a dust cloud to carry he, the satyr and sprite. But before he reached a yard off the ground, he looked over to Jack, still unconscious. In fact, he looked like he was dead if it wasn't for the pink in his skin tone. The blood though coating him said otherwise. He quickly signed to North a Jack figure, then the other three guardians holding weapons of some sort surrounding Jack and looking outward.
North quickly interpreted and answered, "Yes, Sandy, we will protect him. Now, go."
And with that, the group split. One heading towards the greatest spirits on Earth and the other disappearing into a portal made from a magical snowglobe, taking the sleigh and its passengers elsewhere.
.../\...
The first thing they did when arriving at the Pole was head straight to the infirmary. Whatever caused Jack that sudden pain to also knock him out had to be serious. They laid him gently on the white-sheet bed, Jack's blood quickly making pure white to be false. His leg wound, the knife, didn't make it any easier.
That was their first focus, cutting away the brown pants to reveal the bruises and cuts and gashes decorating his skin. The mere sight brought the Tooth Fairy to tears. How can someone be so cruel, she thought to herself though she was sure the others were thinking the same.
With great effort, Bunny had gotten Jack's hoodie off, but the blood on his hoodie wasn't false advertisement. Underneath, as well, blood could be seen from more cuts. But what caught the Pooka's eye was the blue and purples that coated the boy's stomach. It was in patches from other hits, dozens of them, he knew.
He couldn't help it. He found himself retching in the sink where most of medical supplies could be found above in cupboards. He didn't stop until there was nothing left to bring up, and even then he was dry-heaving.
North and Tooth saw the sight as well, and Tooth fled the room covering her mouth as well. No one blamed her. In fact, Bunny was glad she wouldn't have to see anymore. North was the only one to not cry, to not vomit, to not flee from the room while adorning the boy's wounds. Bunny guessed that was why North was their leader. He could remained calm in the times need most. He could be the jolly St. Nick but could pull out his twin swords and fight for those that he loved.
He seemed at ease at the moment, but in truth he was only imagining the punishments that would behold those that did this to their beloved guardian. How dare they come after a guardian, a protector of children, something they all wanted to protect? How could the hurt someone who only is trying to fulfill the duties of a guardian bestowed on him by the Man in Moon? He had no control over being chosen. In fact, he was chosen when he died. How could he control that?
And now, there Jack was lying in an infirmary bed injured because of the other spirits' jealousy.
.../\...
(Dream State)
He was in Antarctica. How he got there, he didn't know. In his hands was his tooth canister. Fear clenched his heart in a death grip. A part of him wanted him to throw it off the cliff where he stood, another part wanted him seek the memories in side. A part of him wanted to apologies to the guardians while another part wanted him to hurl himself off the cliff and pray for death to take him. What was he to do?
No one wanted him around. He screwed everything up. He destroyed Easter. He gave Pitch Baby Tooth with a simple trick. He let Sandy die. He disappointed North. He was a screw up. He ruined everything, even the things he loved.
He stood at the edge of nothingness. It would only take a leap and a fall. Even though he was frozen in time and had inhuman abilities and strength, surely a bad fall would kill him. Maybe drowning...
He shivered.
"I thought this would happen," a voice behind him said.
"The guardians know how worthless you are," said another voice, a woman's voice.
"Pathetic," said another.
Jack turned to see three people that hated him. Pitch, Avril, and Patrick glared at him, their eyes burning into him.
"What do you want?" Jack asked.
Each of them pulled out a weapon. Avril a knife from her boot, the same one that had stabbed into Jack's leg. Patrick pulled out his own dagger, and Pitch formed a scythe.
"We're just here to get rid of a pest," Pitch stated as he came closer to the winter spirit. "After all, having you here will just make matters worse, even for me."
"Nobody wants Jack Frost around," Patrick said monotonously.
"All Jack Frost does is murder with his cold. And they call him a guardian of childhood."
"Pathetic," They said. "Worthless."
"Unwanted."
"Pest."
"Murderer."
He covered his ears to block their voices, only to find there was no resistance. Their voices echoed in his mind as everything darkened.
Murderer
.../\...
Everything hurt, especially his chest. The oxygen he was given was never enough. He wanted more, but couldn't get it. He wanted the cool air to fill him...
Cold air?
Yes the air was colder. There was moisture in it, he could tell. He tried to open his eyes, only to have them stung by the blinding lights above him. He shut them tight, regretting ever opening them in the first place. It only added onto his pain. He clenched his fist, grasping the sheets beneath him. Where was he?
He tried to move his legs closer to flatten his feet on the surface to support himself to try to lift himself. But then a wave of agony strike at his left leg. He gasp from the shock of it.
Then there was a hand on his shoulder.
He attempted to open his eyes once more, finding it still difficult but bearable. Everything was blurry at first, but then there was gold. A golden man. Sandman.
"S-san-" A cough racked his body, only adding onto his pain. His brain pulsed against his skull. Why was Sandy there? Where was "there?"
He smiled in relief to the boy. Even though he was coughing and in pain, he knew, at least he was alive. He was alive. They didn't arrive too late.
"Sandy?" he choked out, only making him cough more. His throat as dry, so dry.
The little gold man put his pointer finger to his lips. Don't talk.
Jack nodded slightly, not wanting to add to his headache, and laid back in the bed, simply breathing.
Beside him, he heard a door open revealing North and Tooth. The Tooth Fairy gasped at the sight of seeing Jack's blue eyes once more. "Jack, your okau!" She rushed to the side of the bed, putting a hand to his forehead. "How're you feeling? You had a heat stroke and I was so worried. You'd been there so long, we weren't sure what damage it might have done."
Damage?
Then memories rushed through his mind. The desert. Avril. Patrick. Demetrius. The heat. The pain. His staff in Patrick's hands.
His staff.
"Tooth.." he coughed. "Where's my staff?"
She hesitated, her smile fading. "I'm sorry, Patrick must've ran off with it."
"I need it."
"We know but-"
"I have to have it." He sighed. "Patrick snapped it, but I-"
"He did what!?" a shout came from the door. Bunny stomped with his rabbit feet next to the bed. How he managed to walk with those things, Jack would never know. "What do ya mean he snapped it? How'd you know?"
"I have a link with it. When it snaps, it causes me pain. Before I pass out, in the desert, it felt like someone was trying to crush my heart. I'd felt it before. He broke my staff."
After a few moments, North ventured up, "Your staff has broken before?"
He nodded.
"That's why he screamed..." Tooth added.
"We have to find it," Jack pointed it. "It let's me filter my power. I have to have it."
"But it's broken, mate."
"I can fix it. I have before."
"Then we must go," came another voice. All eyes turned to the satyr standing in the doorway. "I know where we may find him, but I understand if you do not want me along or wish to trust me. But, I do know where Patrick is if you allow me to aid you." He turned to Jack. "I am sorry Jack Frost. I did not know what I was doing, but that doesn't make what idea excusable. I'm grateful that Sandman didn't turn me in to Mother Nature, but I still must repay for what I'd done. If you will allow me, I wish to help you."
It was quiet. No one spoke and all held their breaths.
Jack stared at the satyr. "You were there?"
"Yes..."
"Why did you attack me?"
Demetrius watched the winter spirit, but his face was blank. "It was out of jealousy. Avril and Patrick believed that they should have been picked, or at least someone else. I joined because they'd said you killed thousands of people with the cold and snow... It doesn't justify what I did, and I'm sorry for ever thinking that-"
"No. It's true. I've caused car crashes, hypothermia, taken lives. They were right."
"Jack," Tooth whispered.
"It is true. But, I've chosen to protect the children from fear. I know that I've gotten angry and made blizzards, but it is a part of who I am. You think being haven't died in floods from Avril? From creeks flooding and becoming dangerous?"
"I... I have asked the same thing. I too have caused broken legs from falling from my trees, tripping on their roots and tumbling down hills and such. I too have a fair share."
"Which is why I never was angry at you."
Demetrius stared at Jack in confusion.
"I knew partially why you were doing it, and I didn't think you'd realized what you were even doing. I know you're a good person. You were just not seeing clearly."
"I... Jack Frost, please do not make excuses for me. I am grateful, but I can excuse what I'd done."
Shocking everyone, Jack laughed softly. "You're forgiven. In fact, I'd forgiven you a while ago. Now," he looked over to North, "When can we get my staff back?"
.../\...
Patrick had to admit, breaking the staff wasn't the smartest idea. He was just so furious he had to take his anger our on something. He could have used it as a bargaining item against the guardians, he thought, but now it was just a stick. Oh well, he wouldn't let go of it yet. Maybe Jack will still want it. After all, what was he without it? But the again, it was broken. Hadn't he already won? He made Jack Frost useless. He was nothing without his staff. Patrick knew from over the years that the spirit of winter was never far away from it. He made snow and ice from it. Without it, he must be without power or at least weaker, right?
He fled to end of the rainbow, a place in Ireland that no one knew, a place where he hid his gold for no others to take. It was a place he rarely visited for he didn't want to rouse suspicion. But with the guardians likely coming after him -to blind to see what the real problem is, he thought- it was a place for him to hide.
It was quite a secluded place. Humans were miles away and hardly ever came near his place. Most of them couldn't see him anyways. He didn't have to worry about them seeing him, just his gold. Forest surrounded him. The trees towered over him, it's leaving making patterns on the forest floor. In all honesty, he was like Jack. He lived in a forest area, slept in its trees, never having an actual home.
It was quiet, all peaceful, until the sound of a whipping of reigns and shouts from a man filled his ears. He knew what was coming: North on his red sleigh carried by his reindeer.
Before he could even lift his head, he felt something collide with his jaw, knocking him off his branch and to the dirt floor.
"Ouch," he heard a woman say. In his blurry daze, he saw Toothiana shaking her hand. " You have a hard jaw!"
On a dust cloud, four others came into view: Sandy, Bunny, North, and Jack who was adorn in gauze wrapping and a leg cast. His blue hoodie was replaced with a v-neck instead. Patrick was sure there were more bandages underneath the shirt from all the blow he and Avril had given him.
The thought made him smile. They called themselves guardians, but really they were just taking the title to get the goods that come with it. Why were they so special?
"Look who decided to show up," he laughed. Laughed. How could he be laughing.
"Patrick, stop this," came another voice. Demetrius entered the clearing. "Think of what you've done. They are not our enemy."
"Ha! You want me to believe that! Have ya not told them you took part in taking Jack Frost? You're no better than I."
"I know, and I see that now. But I'm now trying to make things right. They are giving me a second chance. They may allow you if only you choose to come clean."
"Shove that shit up your arse, goat boy."
"Look here, show pony, we want Jack's staff," Bunny growled.
"You mean the staff that let's Jack use his powers? Now, why would I give that to you?"
"Unless you want your arse chewed off, I suggest ya give it here." He stepped forward, anger boiling his blood. When he tried to move forward, a hand crossed his chest blocking him. "Jack."
"Patrick, why don't we make a deal?"
All eyes widened except he and the leprechaun who laughed. "Oh, Jack, it seems you figured out how I work. I guess you would since you weren't living all high and royalty until a while ago. Now, what kind of pricing are we talkin' about?"
"Name it."
"Ooh, not very safe thing to say to a leprechaun, kid. How 'bout no Mother Nature or Father Time involved. No sending me to them."
"Fine."
"And a few riches. What is a guy like me suppose to do with out a lil' gold to keep him going? After all, I do so much for the spirits around here and they barely pay half of what I deserved."
Jack turned to the others. He stared at them pleadingly. They knew Jack had no type of gold. In fact, he was staying at North's place since he had no more than the clothes on his back, which were now bloody and torn in the workshop probably going to be thrown away.
The staff was really all that Jack had left. But it was more than a staff, it held his power, his birth, his soul. It was there when he first woke up in the lake. It stayed by his side during those three hundred years when no one else did.
It was a part of him.
Bunny nodded sternly. He knew what Jack was asking silently. So did North and Sandy and Tooth. Each were willing to pitch in for the boy they'd grown to love.
The winter spirit turned back to the leprechaun, glaring. "Fine. You'll get your wish, but first the staff." Jack held his hand out, palm up.
"How do I know you'll hold your end of the deal?"
"Call it a guardian's promise."
"You're making this too easy, though." He pulled the staff from his it's hiding spot, from a hole hidden between the roots of a tree. It came in two pieces. It'd been split in half. The other guardians couldn't help but wonder about the staff. The fact that it helps Jack but put him through those moments of pure agony left them in wonder of the staff. It truly was a part of him. He had to have it. "What makes you want this staff back so badly? After all the injuries, you're here to get it back, hardly even given yourself a break." He held the two pieces in his hands, brushing it delicately. "It can't matter to you that much if its only a piece of wood. Tell me, does it hold your power?"
"No. It helps me channel it, nothing more."
"So, why is it of such importance, Jacky? It's already broken into two pieces. Might as well throw it away."
"It's mine."
"Is it bad I don't believe you? So, what would you do if I threatened to break it even more?" He raised the two pieces held above his knee.
"No!"
But it was too late. The white, hot flash of pain course through him, refusing to let his heart extend outward. His rib cage felt like it was caving in. He felt it all the way to his fingertips, the burning sensation that no spirit of winter should have to go through. He felt his mouth open, he wasn't sure if any voice left it. All he could think about in those moments was the pain.
It was a reaction Patrick was not expecting. He figured it would only rile the kid up more, not cause him pain like that. He had snapped it after he left Avril and Jack in the Desert. He didn't see how Jack reacted to it.
It wasn't even a second later that he felt something collide with the back of his head and the world around him blackened, leaving only the guardians and the satyr there. Bunny couldn't help it. He'd already been edging closer to the leprechaun, and when he heard Jack's cry of pain, he knock the leprechaun with his boomerang, obviously a bit hard.
The world around Jack, too, darkened. He slumped forward into someone's arms, and that was all he remembered.
.../\...
The haze lifted once more, and Jack Frost found himself in a bed once more in the workshop once more. At least he didn't have a dream this time. That and all the guardians, plus Demetrius, were sitting in chairs or standing around his bed, a weird way to wake up to see everyone watching you.
"Guys?"
"Jack!" Tooth shouted with glee, rushing over to hug him. "You're okay."
"I'm having a weird sense of Deja vu."
"Oh, sorry." She released him, allowing him to breathe once more.
"What happened?"
"Well, eh, you see," Bunny started off, "Patrick broke your staff... again... into four pieces now. He did it before any o' us could react." There was a hint of guilt in his words, something Jack didn't expect to hear. They felt so useless, letting their youngest guardian get kidnapped right under their noses, not knowing until there was damage, not stopping Patrick from snapping the staff into four pieces. Bunny had wondered if having it snap twice at one time would hurt twice as much, but he didn't want to ask.
"How long have I been out?"
"About a day, twenty-four hours," North stated solemnly.
"What happened to Patrick?"
"Well, we weren't sure exactly what you'd want us to do. You seemed okay with not taking him to Father Time or Mother Nature. You swore a guardian's promise," Bunny explained. "But, that didn't stop me from kicking his ginger arse."
At that, Jack couldn't help but laugh. It brought a smile even on Bunny's face. It was good to see the kid smiling and laughing even after that events that had happened. "I didn't think you'd let the midget get away that easily. Thanks for not turning him in." He sighed deeply. "Maybe, someday, things will work out between us."
"No offense, mate, but he kidnapped you, beat the crap out of you, and broke your staff twice. I don't think there's a 'working things out' coming anytime soon."
"Yah, but he was clouded by greed. That's why he attacked me. He wanted what he thought we had gained from becoming guardians. But, there really isn't anything special given when becoming a guardian except joining the family, which, by the way, is something I'd treasure more than gold. It's just that he didn't realize that we really aren't anymore different from him.
Sometimes, Jack's wisdom shined through his childish appearance and attitude. Sometimes, they forgot he really was three hundred years old, not seventeen which meant he couldn't even drink in most countries.
"Aww," Tooth wrapped her arms around the boy once more. "You're so sweet. We love you, Jack."
For once, he returned the embrace. "Love you guys, too."
.../\...
Well, with having to hide his pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, he's FREAKING greedy. Avril doesn't play well with others unless she can use them, and Demetrius is just easily influenced since he wants to please others (like from Avril :3). BUT he wants to be a fair person.
Well, hope you had a good Easter and April Fools (a very dangerous day. I refuse to go anywhere with people because I know what's coming O_O).
I'm actually not proud of the ending. My novelist part of me showed a bit in the chapter, but I tried to keep it all short (even though it's killing me. Then again, I dont' want to spend 4 hours on finishing this drabble). My next drabble should be up in about... four days? Maybe? I'll reorganize the order of the drabbles so the Party Crasher Series doesn't have a random drabble between it.
Until Sunday or something!