~Author Notes~
I'm back y'all, and I'm bringing and Empty Hourglass with me! Ok so here is the next (lengthy) chapter that you all have requested. I tried my best to make it as long as possible for you all. I figured I kind of owed you guys after all of those shorter ones. Also I apologize in advance for any and all grammatical and spelling errors in this chapter, plus those in previous chapters.
Quick reply to reviews:
Ifanybodyasksimreading: Glad you liked, here your go!
Isabella2906: put more what? More story, fillers, length, action, drama, adventure, detail….there is so much this could mean. Therefore, I am going to do it all within the next few chapters...well at least that way I'll be sure lol. Please let me know what you were referring to and I'll see what I can do.
Dragon Courage: Yes you did! *Cheers!* well hopefully I can answer that question for you in the upcoming chapters.
Kyuubecky: Sweet, so I did read that right. *fist pump* I am glad you liked Sophie and Bunny's encounter, I was hoping for that reaction. I also winced and I was writing it lol.
The-Unnamed-Artist: All right! I will be sure to give you a lot of adventure. Yeah, I originally thought I was going to have Bunny rolling on the floor in bouts of laughter, but I figured that his concern outweighed his funny bone at that moment. Don't worry though; he will be sure to make up for it. Yeah, Jack will have to keep his eyes open around Tooth…just saying.
Xion5: I think everyone is more eager to see Tooth's reaction than Bunnies once they meet. So I am going to soooo enjoy writing that part.
Ivy000: Yeah, well Pitch gets bored all alone so he won't be resting today. I do thank you for your ideas on creating another baddie in the fan-fiction (other than Pitch). I will see what I can do, but I may just create a whole different story with a new baddie just for you. What do you say? Also, no you aren't the only one.
Disclaimer: I don't own RotG.
On with this chapter! Chapter 10!
Chapter 10: Zingers, pass the photo!
Jamie stepped out of the plane into what he deemed to be the world's smallest airport in existence. This probably wasn't true, but it sure felt like it. What with only one large room to both load/unload the passengers (which totaled the large number of 8) along with their entire luggage; a small hall way that housed the bathroom, canteen area, and one tiny janitors/electricians closet. Yup, this place was really small.
In all honesty he was actually surprised it was this big, being as they were now stationed in some non-existent town somewhere in the North Pole. It was a miracle that they were even able to locate this place, it took him hours to find the flight times and connecting flights.
Jack began to squirm around in Jamie's arms pulling the young man back from his musing, "What's up bud?"
"Well as much as I like just standing in the middle of the airport, do you think we can get going? Everyone is staring this way."
Jamie surveyed the area to find that Jack was telling the truth, everyone who was sitting in the terminal (including those who just got off the plane) were looking at him as if he was some alien.
"Whoa, what is with all of them?" he whispered while subconsciously pulling Jack closer and his bag tighter.
"Beats me let's just go." Jack pointed towards the exit in the distance. Jamie nodded casually and headed for the door.
Hush mumbles drifted towards his ears but he continued forward choosing to ignore the buzz of gossip. Just as he reached the doors a young woman's clearly spoke above the others, "Sir Wait!"
Pausing, Jamie looked back to see who the woman was addressing. Much to his surprise she was rushing towards them with a concerned look upon her face. "Can I help you?" Jamie questioned.
"Um, are you going out there right now?" she pointed out the door behind Jamie. Cocking an eyebrow in confusion Jamie glanced from the door back to the girl.
"Well that was the plan. I mean I really didn't plan a trip all the way out here just to gander at the terminal." He said with a slight giggle, Jack chuckled softly at his friends quip and the girls stunned face.
Shaking her head she looked back at the boy with a serious face, "Of course, but there is no transportation here yet."
"That's alright; I wasn't going to use it anyway. All the transportation units are going in the opposite direction of where I need to be. I can't afford to rent anything for various reasons, so I am just going to walk. Is that bad?"
With eyes wide open the girl took a long moment to look over the boy before shaking her head clear, "You can walk, but you won't make it that far."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well the temperature gets way below freezing out there. Trekking blindly out there can be dangerous even for an experience and prepared native of these parts. I have no intentions of stopping you but…"
Jamie titled his head in confusion, "But what?"
Looking around at the other inhabitants of the airport the girl bit her bottom lip, "Well, it's like thirty two degrees in here and almost 10 degrees out there."
"Ok…" he drawled waiting for her to continue. She looked absolutely baffled by his reaction.
"Well aren't you cold?!" Jamie jumped slightly as the girl practically yelled.
"No, I am actually quite comfortable…why?"
Slapping her face the girl gently grabbed Jamie's free arm and held it up for him to see. Jamie felt perplexed at first; there was nothing wrong with his arm. Sure he had a nice tan going for being in such a cold climate, maybe they found it odd that….wait tan? Jamie did a double take only to realize that he never put on his winter coat. There he was just standing in a freezing cold airport in the middle of the North Pole wearing nothing on his upper body but a shirtsleeve black shirt.
Pulling his arm back he scratched his head nervously, well at least that explained the strange behavior of everyone around him. "Oh, yeah I'm not wearing my coat. I guess my mind hasn't caught up to the fact that it's cold."
Sighing in a bit of relief the girl gave a sweet smile, "Well, I thought I would let you know since you didn't seem to notice it yourself. That is a sure way to end up with frost bite."
Jack chuckled at the girl's words causing Jamie to roll his eyes, "Lady, you have no idea."
Tilting her head in confusion Jamie mentally smacked himself, "Sorry, inside joke. Anyway, thanks for your concern."
Not wanting to converse anymore Jamie strolled over to a free bench and sat Jack down. Said spirit immediately turned around and did a once over Jamie's person. It was odd how he didn't notice before the lady had pointed it out. Jamie was only wearing thick dark denim jeans, a thin black t-shirt, black thermal socks and snow boots. Jack's eyes trailed over to the light brown jacket with white fleece lining, and small black gloves poking out one of the pockets.
"Are you really not cold?" Jack inquired.
Jamie thought about it for a moment, "I feel just fine normal in fact. I know it sounds weird or unbelievable but it's true, there is a part of me that feels like putting on the jacket would just make me hot."
Jack stared at his friend for a long moment, his eyes searching for any sign that he was fibbing. When he found none he sighed, "Well okay if you say so."
"Wow, don't you believe me?" Jamie retorted, feign hurt in his voice.
Jack merely rolled his eye, "What can I say, I'm not the best judge of 'normal' when it comes to a person's body temp. What I have noticed is that normal people would be shivering if they were dressed like you in this weather. Yet you are acting like it's a nice summer day."
"Well technically…"
"Don't even go there." Jack blurted when he realized his mistake. Technically it was summer, he knew better than to leave an opening. "Man, this tiny body is slowing down my mental reflexes!"
"Sure, blame that one on your shrunken size."
Jack gave a half smirk, "What I couldn't hear you?"
"What are you going deaf to?"
"Pardon?" Jack shouted holding his hand around his ear for emphasis.
Leaning in closer to the tiny Frost Jamie could help but smirk, "What are you doing you fruit loop? Playing like you can't hear me totally won't change the fact you lost."
Jack rubbed his ringing ears from Jamie's loud proclamation but it didn't relinquish his grin, in fact it only got wider, "oh, did I?"
"What are you planning you little imp?"
"Nothing." He chirped, a small 'innocent' smile playing on his face.
"You are really a loon sometimes you know that?"
"Well I'm not the only talking really loud at a Winter Spirit in the middle of an airport full of people who can't see him."
Jamie's grew wide and glanced around; sure enough everyone was bluntly staring at him. Not a single one was looking away; a few people looked about ready to get the boy some 'help'.
Blushing furiously Jamie threw on his Jacket, gloves and picked up his backpack along with Jack. With his gaze firmly glued to the floor he rushed for the exit, this time no one stopped him.
"I believe that round goes to me!" Jack grinned mischievously.
"I hate you sometimes you know that?" Jamie mumbled his blush of embarrassment still evident as ever. Jack just laughed; perhaps this trip wouldn't be so bad after all.
North paced the globe room like he was on a never ending race track, Sandy and Tooth sat by idle watching the fretting Guardian with mild interest. With their minds still buzzing with worry, it was hard to keep focus on one thing for too long. Tinkering and hammering buzzed through the air, and random screams of yetish could be heard in the distance, it was a joyous and wonderful sound.
Nothing however sounded as joyous as the sound of a hole –courtesy of the Easter Bunny-forming before their feet.
Tooth jumped off the couch and zoomed over to Bunny before he even had the chance to fully exit his hole, "Where have you been? You are usually here before everyone else-true we were already here when North made the call- but still!"
"Whoa, easy there shela! I came as fast as I could; besides I have some interesting news about Jack."
Just the mention of Jack caused the other Guardians to circle the Pooka like a bunch of children at story time.
"So you had feeling too?" North questioned with big eyes.
"Y-yes but I…"
"Agh! I knew I should have called this meeting sooner!" North huffed loudly.
Sandy suddenly shot his sand up into the rabbits face, the shapes translating into something along the lines of 'you said you had news of jack?'
"Again yes, I was…"
"Is he alright, where is he? Have you seen him? Oh if anything has happened to my sweet Tooth!"
Agitated that no one was letting him finish he sentences, Bunny hooped onto the banister next to the globe. "Would you pipe down for one minute?! How can I answer your questions, you won't let me speak?!"
Almost instantly the others fell silent and looked up to their friend, glad for the moment of silence Bunny took a deep breath, "Finally. Now, first off yes I did feel something was wrong. Second I do have news of Jack. Third, I don't know where he is exactly but I could make a guess."
Tooth went to make another interruption but Bunny shot out his hands in a stopping gesture, "Let me finish. Forth I have not seen him. I did however run into that little ankle bitter Sophie, and I got to say what she told me would have had losing my mind with laugher if this wasn't so serious."
"What could that darling little girl say that could both be funny but bad?" Tooth questioned softly.
Bunny rummaged around in his boomerang holster and pulled out a small folded square piece of paper. Unfolding it he glanced at the glossy surface and gave a slight chuckle, "See for yourself."
Tooth was the quickest and snatched the photo from his hands, "What is this? It's just a picture of…." Her eyes suddenly bugged out of her head and her check blushed furiously.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" North, Bunny and Sandy's hands rushed up to their ears at Tooth's sudden-and rather loud- squeal. It could only really be described as shock, accompanied by excitement topped with disbelief, with a dash of worry on the side.
"Is that…no it can't be! There is just no way…but that silver hair…those precious blue eyes! That magnificently white toothy smile….this is just…he's so….I can't…" Her emotions finally overloaded her system. Dropping the picture –which was snatch by Sandy-the fairy queen promptly fainted to the ground. Her mini fairies circling her head like stars, concerned chirps emanating from their tiny beaks at their queen.
Sandy was beyond curious as to what the fairy had seen, given that she was now out cold on the hardwood floor. Flipping the paper around to the view what he could only assume to be a photo his eyes lit up with wonder. Softly chuckling his small golden fingers traced over the pictures surface gently. Before he realized it his entire body was shaking with laughter. Obviously some strange misfortune has befallen their friend, and he was in need of their help. That, however did not mean he found this any less humorous. Feeling North's large body hovered behind him-just begging to see the photo-he stole one more look before handing it over.
With twitching fingers of anticipation North took the photo and peering through the window of days past. Like the others he couldn't believe what he was seeing, and that is saying something for the Guardian of Wonder to become baffled. Starting from the top down he took in every fine detail of the picture, his eyes scrutinizing for any faulty mishap that would prove this to be a lie. Like Bunny had surmised before, this picture was real.
"This is…Jack." This was not so much a question as it was a statement.
"Yup the one and only." Bunny answered hoping off the railing.
"Why is he so small, and in a dress?"
"Well, I can't tell you why he is small. Though if I had to guess, being as Sophie gave me this photo I would have to assume that she dressed him up." A rather large smirk crossing his face.
"Bunny." North huffed, his head shaking back and forth.
"What?" his arms crossed over his chest, yet his smirk never left.
Sandy walked over to Tooth and lightly shook her awake, she mumbled softly as she pushed herself up into a sitting position, "Manny? You'll never believe the most unusual dream I just had. Jack was dressed like a baby girl."
"It was no dream Toothy" North answered softly. Tooth looked up at the big man with wide eyes; everyone could see the gears in her head turning. Obviously the poor girl was having some kind of internal struggle that the others weren't too sure they wanted to know was.
"You said Sophie gave you this." North slowly asked, drawing every ones attention back to the issue at hand.
"Yeah that's right. I felt something wasn't right with old Frostbite there and decided to check on him. Imagine my surprise running into Soph…well more like she ran into me." He mused, his hand rubbing the top of his head at the memory.
"Then if he was with her, where is he now?" North mumbled to himself before looking at Bunnymund. "You said you had idea of where he is?"
Nodding the rabbit placed his hand upon his chin, "According to Soph her brother Jamie left with Jack yesterday. Apparently Jack can't get here on his own, so Jamie volunteered to bring him here himself. I assume it has something to do with his shrunken form. I don't quite know how the plane system works but I bet you anything that those two are somewhere in the North Pole right about now."
"All by himself? That boy is truly a wonder; he always goes above and beyond for us. However I am not so sure that was such a good decision on his part."
"What's on your mind mate?"
"Jack is fine in the harsh North cold, but Jamie is not. If they lose their way the boy could be in trouble. Now that we know they are here, let us go pick them up. Where are they landing?"
Bunny gaze a ling blank stare at the jolly man, "excused me?"
"Where is there plan landing?"
Bunny looked around the room to see if the bearded man was speaking to someone else, "who me?"
"No the elves… of course you." North patted the rabbits back with his big hand causing the rabbit to stumble a bit.
"Why are you asking me? I didn't charter their route."
"You didn't ask where they were landing." North gazed at his friend in shock.
"What? I figured that there couldn't be too many places with plans up here. I though you would know."
"I don't keep tract of such things!"
"This is your territory mate, how could you not know that?"
North slapped his face and let his hand slowly drag downwards.
Sandy floated between the two and shook his finger in a scolding motion, once they both backed off a little he smiled gently. Using his sand he started to form a picture of the sleigh with them inside. It floated up to the globe and made an elaborate circling motion over the whole North land mass.
"You think we should just start searching?" North questioned his friend's antics.
Sandy nodded enthusiastically; Bunny however wasn't so keen on a part of that plan."
"Wait you mean we are just going back into that death trap of yours?"
Rather than answering, North started shouting orders to his helpers to ready the sleigh.
"Oh no! Not again, North there is no way…"
"What it is not you can use tunnels to search."
"W-well I will just…that's not the point." He huffed.
"Come on Bunny!" Tooth suddenly shouted whilst zooming past them all.
"Whoa, Tooth. Slow down, you don't even know where to start. Besides, I am still not sure we should just hop on the sleigh and fly off." Bunny shouted.
As fast as she was flying forward, Tooth came to an abrupt halt. Her fairies suddenly backed off a good few feet as there mother figure began to speak. "What was that E. Aster Bunnymund?"
Everyone in the room felt a sudden tingle go down their spine; Tooth's head turned way too slow giving off a creepy horror movie feeling. With a soft smile playing across her face she asked, "I didn't quite hear you way up here, you said you can't wait to ride the sleigh?"
"Y-yeah sure that's right; I look forward to riding the sleigh."
With a tiny nod the fairy flew off once again towards the sleigh room. North placed a hand upon Bunnies shoulder, "Note to self, If Jack in trouble stay out of Toothiana's way."
"You can say that again. Jeez, I thought my heart was going to stop."
Sandy couldn't help but give a shaky smile before gesturing for the others to move forward.
"Oh no by all means you go first." Bunny spoke waving his fry arm forward. He was not about to be the first next to an over motherly Tooth.
Sandy shook his head vigorously; both he and Bunny looked at North expectantly. "Da? Oh no I have to make sure all is closed up before we leave. You two go on ahead."
Sandy laid out a small golden carpet and gestured his friends forward, North patted Bunny on the back. "Yes go on old friend, a host can't leave before his guests."
"Oh no, it would be rude of me to wonder through your home without you present, by all means lead the way."
As the two pushed each other forward Sandy snuck behind them; forming a large whiffle bat he stood ready. Fake spitting into his hands he rubbed them together before picking up the large –yet harmless- weapon. With one good swing he bunted the two bickering guardians forward tight through the door.
With a silent cheer the golden man turned from the door and happily jogged away, that was until the sharp but kind mother like voice of Tooth rang out, "Sanderson we are leaving!" Like a scolded child the small man rushed through the door where his friends were gathering to leave. One thing was for sure, if Tooth had ever acted like a mother before, then she was sure become super momma now. Manny help them all.
Crunching of snow beneath boots would have sounded twice as loud as they should have if not for the deep moan emanated by the Northern Winds. Two lone souls trudged alone in the vast open space for hours undisturbed by any other living being.
Jamie kept his head down as he plowed further ahead in knee deep snow. Not because he couldn't see (he was wearing goggles after all) or because of the frosty cold bite it held. No he kept his head down because the sunlight glistened off the snow with blinding force.
"Damn it Jack, you warned me time and time again about the cold, but not once did you mention the freaking sun!" Jamie grumbled.
"Hey, in my defense I tend to be up in the sky! Snow blindness isn't what I tend to worry about when it comes to snow travel…oh yeah that is kind of important huh? Oops!"
"Oops? Really, that's all you have to say?"
"Would you like me to say sorry? It's not like this is my fault."
"Sigh…no, but I wish you could do something to lessen the intensity though."
Jack puzzled it over in his mind for a few more moments before his head looked up to the sky, "Well, I don't know if I can do it but I will try. Here hand me my staff."
Stopping his forward march Jamie kneeled to the ground placing Jack safely in the snow. Now free of his bundle he took off his pack to unhook the staff. When it was free he placed the dead brown wooden stick in Jacks hands.
Closing his eyes Jacks small fingers curled around his most prized possession, his body relaxing from an unknown tension that it held. Blue and white frost spread across the staff until it looked more blue than brown. A calm air filled the perimeter as the wind softened and began to caress the boy in a sad but loving embrace.
"Man that never gets old." Jamie barely whispered, mostly to himself.
"I know what you mean." Jack opened his right eye to catch a glimpse of Jamie shaking his head. Apparently the boy wasn't expecting to be heard, "what did you think Id miss that little comment?"
"Oh hush, so what is this brilliant little plan of yours"
Closing his eye again his grip tightened, a soft glow emanated from the wood. As quick as it was to calm the wind began to thrash around them wildly before rushing upwards into the sky. At first nothing was happening, and Jamie almost questioned his methods; until small clouds began to move in from every angle.
Some clouds were thick and almost black, while others looked just above a wisp of smoke. Mildly impressed Jamie looked down with a smirk to his friend but let it drop instantly. "Jack what's wrong?!"
Slightly flushed in his own way jack was breathing harder than normal, a small amount of sweat gripping to his face. "I don't know, I shouldn't be this tired after something so small as summoning clouds." His eyes opened wide and slid up to look at the sky, disappointment clear as ever on his face. "What's worse is that these clouds are not even done! Less then half of them showed up, this small body is really beginning to infuriate me."
Jamie almost chuckled as the large words escaped the tiny lips of his friend, something about a toddler saying infuriating just didn't seem right. However, even if Jack was practically the embodiment of fun, choosing now to crack a joke would be horrible.
Falling to his knees Jamie pulled Jack close –much to the boy's displeasure at being man handled- and tussled his hair. "Don't worry; I'm sure that everything will work out. Don't push yourself."
"Easy for you to say."
"Come on, at least we have a little shade. It's better than what it was before. Now let's get going." The moment Jamie touched Jack's staff the two received a jolt unlike any other. A tingle like you'd get after your arm falls asleep rushed through their arm and across their chest.
"Whoa! That was weird." Jamie crooked as he retracted his hand.
Jack looked shocked from his staff to his hand then up to his friend, something in his mind was just buzzing with an idea he never thought of before. Just like how he learned of all his other powers and abilities, a new bit of knowledge erupted into his mind. At first he was petrified by the news, but the longer he muddled it over the less panicked he felt. In fact, his heart was racing with an excitement he never felt before. A happiness shot through him like a kid unhindered in a candy store, the only thing now was to see Jamie's reaction with the news. Hopefully the guy won't hate him, at least he hoped he wouldn't man would that be a buzz kill.
"This is sooooo cool." Jack chirped hoping his excitement would become contagious.
"What's gotten into you?"
"Do you feel anything?" Jack questioned poking his friend in the stomach.
Jamie swatted the boys hand away with an odd look, "what are you talking about?"
"Oh nothing… he-he, by the way could you hold this?" Jack moved his staff a bit closer to Jamie, who promptly rolled his eyes and reached for it again. Quickly Jack closed his eyes and waited for the sensation to start again. Upon touching the staff Jack snagged the tingling feeling with his mind and summoned the clouds again.
Unlike before the clouds this time rolled in like waves form the ocean. Bright sunlight was now blocked by dark grey and black clouds. Perfectly shaped and filled with a winter storm, Jack beamed happily at the sky above. Jamie on the other hand looked like his mind was completely blown.
Jack just started laughing like a maniac; yup this trip was just full of surprises.
Author Note's...again lol
Huff* huff* Okay so how was that? Is the length better? I hope so because I have to stop now. Sure I could keep going, but then what would be the point of posting chapters? It would be just one really long chapter. Nah, I think I will stop it here.
I am going to try and post another Chapter this Friday, I was planning on posting a chapter for my other story but my Muse has decided it really wants to play with this one for a while. So lucky you!
I didn't post any real action in this one, but I was kind in a goofy mood. Now that Jamie and Jack are discovering an interesting little development, there is sure to be chance to test it out.
Also I bet you can't guess what's really going on with him, and why would Jack be weary? Huh huh? Lol
Whelp feel free to R&R, reading your reviews always get me pumped and rearing to write more! You guys are so awesome! See you in CHP 11! ~Skye out