A/N Me: *Faints from reviews*
Anya: *looks down* Well, at least she's getting sleep… Guess I'll be doing the thanking. Thanks to the following reviewers:
The Blue Snow Bunny: I think Twins would've fainted from that review *Laughs* Thanks for reviewing.
Mystichawk: Well, here you are! Thanks for reviewing.
storygirl99210: Wow…and I thought I had mood swings… thanks for reviewing.
Mordmil: Don't worry…I'll make sure she does. Thanks for reviewing.
AvengerSSB: *Looks at review* you're kidding? Twins can write an A paper for English in less than half an hour! This is nothing! Thanks for reviewing.
WaitingForLifeToBegin: You remind me of myself… And don't worry, I'm sure Twins will put more of Alice in the story. Thanks for reviewing.
Katyuana: *Bursts out laughing* thanks for reviewing.
obsessive360: *Gives deadpanned look* It's not that simple…Twins' stories are NEVER that simple…unless it's an oneshot. Thanks for reviewing.
toothfairy17: *Blinks* Wow…you do look like a kangaroo… Well, at least Twins has more words for Bunny to use. She didn't know many…if you haven't noticed. Thanks for reviewing.
WALRUSvsUSA: *Smirks* Twins LOVES writing! Thanks for reviewing.
PeachtreeAmuto: She did…but didn't get much sleep last night, but it wasn't because of you guys! She just couldn't fall asleep. So she wrote this chapter. Thanks for reviewing.
TheStoryTeller231: I take it back…YOU'RE like me! Thanks for reviewing.
Tigermike83: Most likely *Crosses arms* Twins has a thing for cliffs. Thanks for reviewing.
Dude: No, just one is fine. Thanks for reviewing.
Anya: *Pours water on me*
Me: GAH! ANYA! *Blinks* what's Bunny doing here…and Sandy.
Anya: *Smirks* Blame toothfairy17… Now if you'll excuse me…
Me: *Goes wide eyed* ANYA! *Turns to Bunny* Hide…the last cartoon character she liked wound up locked in her closet for a month until she got a new one. And Easter is soon so… *Bunny runs off* Okay…while I try to keep Bunny from getting bunny-napped…enjoy this chapter. I don't own Rise of the Guardians. ANYA! Put the rope down!
North, Tooth, and Jack soon came back downstairs, "How's Nicole?" Pippa asked.
"We got her cleaned up and all fixed up," Tooth said, "Hopefully she'll be right as rain by morning. If not, she could…"
Everyone got what Tooth was trying to say. North turned to Jack, "Jack, what happened?" he asked.
Jack sighed, "I don't really understand it myself," he said, "But the minute we reached the end of the tunnel, I was grabbed and held to a wall by nightmare sand while Pitch smirked at Nicole. The next thing I know, Pitch disappears and a boy appears. Nicole seemed to be in complete shock and she dropped her bow and arrows. The boy then…well, did that. I couldn't move and Nicole wouldn't attack. She wouldn't even dodge. Finally, I managed to get free and froze the boy. You guys should know the rest."
Everyone was slightly shocked, "Why wouldn't…" Bunny scratched his head in confusion.
Jack shook his head, "I don't know," he said, "And I have a feeling Nicole won't tell us."
"Maybe not us…" Pippa looked at Sophie, "But maybe someone close to someone she knew…"
Sophie was confused, "Huh?" she asked.
Jack and Jamie seemed to get it, "Pippa," Jamie said, "You're a genius."
"You're just now figuring that out?" Pippa asked.
Nicole opened her eyes and found wires attached to her great…Frost probably brought me back to the Pole… Nicole slowly sat up, "Nicole?" Nicole turned and spotted Sophie, "Are you okay?"
Nicole unconsciously softened at Sophie's worried face. Sophie's eyes may be a different color, but they held the same spark as Olivia, "I'm fine," she stated, "What are you doing here?"
Sophie looked down, "I was worried," she said.
Nicole's eyes narrowed, "Did Frost put you up to this?" she asked.
"No," Sophie said.
Nicole knew she wasn't lying, but this only made her more confused, "Uncle Jack said you didn't fight," Sophie said, "Why? You could've beaten that person easily."
Nicole gripped the bed sheets, "It's none of your business," she stated.
Sophie swung her legs because the chair she was sitting on was a little high, "Why? I don't understand," Sophie said, "Aren't you powered by the night?"
Nicole didn't look at Sophie, nor did she say anything. Sophie got off her chair, "Nicole…" Sophie asked walking over.
Nicole made the mistake of looking at Sophie. An image of Olivia flashed before the teenager before going back to Sophie. Nicole looked down quickly, "If you so much as breathe a word of this to your uncle, brother, or anyone else…" Nicole stopped then stared at the door, "They're at the door, aren't they?"
"Um…" Sophie said nervously.
"I told you we should've waited until morning!" a voice whisper-yelled from behind the door.
Nicole sighed. She might as well get it over with, "If you want to know then get your butts in here like civilized people before I change my mind," she said.
The door opened and everyone, including Heather and Jane, were standing there. Pippa was leaning on Jamie for support. Nicole crossed her arms, "You going to stand all night or going to actually sit down?" she asked annoyed.
Everyone was soon seated on the floor. Nicole sighed, "The boy Jack was talking about was named Kishi," she said, "He was a Japanese American."
"Was?" Bunny asked.
"He lived about three centuries ago," Nicole stated, "He…he was the third human to know who I was; Olivia and Jeffery being the first and second."
Everyone was silent as Nicole built up her courage to continue. Finally, she took a deep breath, "We…we grew close," Nicole said, "Until…well…"
"You were dating…" Jamie said shocked.
"Pretty much," Nicole said, "But we couldn't actually do anything romantically because he was human and I wasn't. I knew how my mother felt knowing she wouldn't live to see me grow up…" Nicole closed her eyes, "Pitch…he tricked me."
This got everyone's attention, "I knew he and my father had issues, but I didn't know how bad," Nicole said, "I was completely naive to my father's world. Pitch gave me a deal… He would make sure Kishi would stay safe for the rest of his life…if…if I gave him my bow," Jack went wide eyed having known from pure experience what Pitch would do, "It seemed fair at the time, but then…Pitch's way of keeping him safe from everything, was killing him…" Pippa gasped, "In my anger, I defeated Pitch single handedly and took back my bow. I haven't gotten close to anybody since. But that's why I was so devoted to keeping Pippa out of harm's way. I didn't want Jamie to go through the same deal…I guess I miscalculated slightly."
"What do you mean?" Jane asked, almost afraid of the answer.
"Kishi…" Nicole said, "Pitch never killed him. The Kishi down there was the real Kishi."
Everyone was quieted into shock, "That's why I couldn't hurt him…" Nicole said, "Pitch only took Pippa because he knew what I would think. The trap wasn't for Jamie…it was for me. He wanted me to know that I can't fight him without hurting Kishi."
"Nicole…" Tooth said shocked and hurt.
Nicole got out of bed, "You're on your own from now on," she said.
"What! But Nicole-"
"I can't fight him…" Nicole actually sounded broken before flying out of the Workshop.
Jack looked out the window Nicole…
As promised, Jack made a snow day in Burgess, but it wasn't as fun as it should've been. Caleb, Claude, and Megan had just learned what happened and were just as hurt and confused as everyone else, "Pitch," Tooth said breaking the silence, "He had no right to do that."
"What do we do now?" Megan asked.
Nobody answered, "We need Nicole," North stated, "Or else Manny wouldn't have told us that we needed to make her a Guardian."
"But what is she the Guardian of?" Bunny asked.
It was quiet for a few minutes, "Maybe…maybe Manny just wanted Nicole to be protected," Pippa said, "I mean, he is her father. Could he just be over protective?"
"No," Jack said, "From what Nicole's told us, she has greater power than any of us."
"But that's only at night," Caleb stated not really thinking.
Jamie and Jack went wide eyed, "At…Uncle Jack!" Jamie yelled.
Jack was already out the window flying at top speed, "Uh, mind enlightening us, Jamie?" Caleb asked.
"Pitch is planning on attacking Nicole with Kishi during the day," Jamie stated.
Everyone went wide eyed at the realization, "Everyone stay here," North said grabbing his swords, "The Guardians will handle this. To the sleigh!"
"What?!" Bunny yelled and Sandy and Tooth dragged him, "No way mate! I'd rather take my tunnels!"
"Just shut up and come on!" Tooth yelled, her over protective mother side coming out.
Nicole was thrown into a tree. She yelled in absolute pain before falling to the ground. Pitch laughed while a teenage boy with black hair and light blue eyes just stood their emotionlessly, "Poor little Nicole," Pitch said, "You're nothing without your father…or this," he held up her bow with his nightmare sand, "Not that you gave much of a fight with it…"
Nicole gripped the grass before shakily, painfully, sitting up, "Kishi…" she whispered.
The teenage boy, Kishi, didn't even twitch. Nicole managed to stand up while leaning on a tree. Pitch sighed, "I would've thought you'd put up more of a fight," he stated.
Nicole glared at Pitch, "No, you didn't," she stated.
Pitch laughed, "You know me so well," he said, "Kishi," said boy turned to his master, "Finish her."
Kishi turned to Nicole and raised his naginata, or long sword, at Nicole. Nicole just bowed her head in surrender. Pitch chuckled, "Chop her head off," Pitch stated.
Kishi raised the long sword and Nicole just waited, "Nicole!" Nicole's eyes flew open.
"What?!" Pitch yelled shocked.
Suddenly, the naginata was frozen to Kishi's hands, "Frost!" Pitch yelled, but was punched in the face by said spirit.
Nicole was shocked. How'd he know where she was? She wasn't anywhere near Burgess. Jack floated down to Nicole, "Are you okay?" he asked.
"Oh yeah," Nicole stated, "Blood coming out is actually very good, especially-" Nicole became dizzy before she could finish her sarcastic comment.
Nicole lost her hold on the tree, but Jack quickly caught her, "Nicole!" Jack yelled.
Nicole held her head, "Who put the Earth on super speed?" she questioned hazily.
Jack glared at Pitch, "You'll pay for this," he stated.
Pitch brushed the invisible dirt off him, "Why are you here Frost?" he asked annoyed, "Why do you care so much about this Halfling?"
Nicole stiffened. Jack growled lowly in his throat, "Nicole, whether she likes it or not, is to be a Guardian," Nicole, though still very dizzy and hazy, was shocked by Jack's words, "Nicole may be half human, but that only puts us at the advantage, Pitch."
"What?" Pitch asked, "How? Her power may be strong, but only for half a day."
Nicole's breathing was becoming shallow, "That may be true," Jack said glaring at Pitch, "But she can do the one thing we can't, along with Jamie and his friends. They can eliminate fear in the schools."
Pitch went wide eyed, "W-what?!" Pitch yelled.
Jack smirked, "Nicole can be seen by humans, Pitch," he said, "In fact, she already has her school fearing her, not you."
"Frost…" Pitch suddenly smirked, "Oh, but little Nicole wouldn't want to hurt her little Kishi…" Pitch chuckled.
Nicole winced in both pain and shock. Jack glared, "Jack!" Jack and Pitch looked up just as a boomerang came at Pitch.
Pitch dodged the weapon just as North landed the sleigh, "Nicole!" Tooth yelled worriedly.
Nicole's breathing was become short. Pitch chuckled, "There's no way to save her," Pitch said, "It far too early and she's lost too much blood…The Daughter of the Moon, Artemis Nicole, is dead," Pitch then laughed and disappeared with Kishi.
Nicole soon lost consciousness, "Nicole!" everyone yelled.
Jack held her body as it collapsed into his arms more, "We'll never make it to the Pole in time!" North said, "I don't even know where the heck we are! My radar is completely messed up thanks to Pitch."
Tooth flew around in a motherly panic yelling/asking what they should do. Jack frosted Nicole's wounds hoping to buy them some time, but it couldn't last long or Nicole could be worse off, "Frostbite, ya have to know where we are," Bunny said, "Ya flew straight here."
"I did?" Jack asked, "We aren't in Burgess?"
Bunny hit himself in the head, "What do ya mean ya don't know?!" Bunny yelled.
Sandy made a picture of a hospital appear in his sand, "The hospital!" the Guardians yelled.
"There has to be one close by," Tooth stated.
Jack flew up with Nicole in his arms. Everyone got back into the sleigh; even Bunny got in willingly this time, and quickly followed the Winter Spirit. Jack soon found a hospital and set her on a stretcher and pushed her into the hospital, "Oh my! Doctor!" a woman yelled.
Jack and the Guardians followed Nicole inside, "This girl is losing too much blood!" the nurse yelled.
"And she's covered in frost…in the middle of fall?" a doctor asked.
"Question that later!" another doctor yelled, "This teenager needs blood!"
"Right! Nurse get Universal Blood! Quickly!"
The nurse quickly ran off. Jack stayed beside Nicole, "We need oxygen!" a doctor yelled.
A nurse put a mask on Nicole's face, "Hurry!" another doctor yelled, "This girl is dying!"
"Nicole…" Jack said worried.
Hours passed before doctors come out of the room where Nicole was taken, "How's the girl?" a nurse asked.
"She stable," a doctor said causing the Guardians, who were standing right in front of them, to relax, "But," this got their attention, "She's extremely weak. May not make it to tonight."
Tooth covered her mouth, "Do we know who her family is?" the nurse asked.
"It seems she's from Burgess, Pennsylvania," another nurse said, "But her guardian is still in Burgess. I've called her, but we have no idea why she was here in Paris."
Paris?! The Guardians thought in unison. That's where they were? The doctors nodded, "And her guardian is on their way?"
The nurse nodded, "Yes, but she may come just after…"
"Right," the doctors said, "Leave the door open so we can rush in if need be."
The two nurses nodded. Jack had heard enough. He flew into Nicole's room, "Jack?" Tooth whispered confused.
Bunny raised an eyebrow; "Ya don't think…" he trailed off.
"Is it possible that…" North also trailed off.
Sandy put up a sand snowflake, a heart, and the moon in a line then added a question mark at the end. Tooth looked at Jack, "It would explain how Jack knew where Nicole was, even when he didn't realize it…" she whispered, "We're different than when this happens to humans."
The Guardians nodded, "We should let Snowflake figure it out," Bunny stated, "He'll probably be like Jamie."
"Good point," North said.
Tooth, Sandy, Bunny, and North then entered the room, "Don't worry, Jack," Tooth said, "Nicole will be fine. She is the daughter of Manny after all."
Jack was sitting on his staff, perfectly balanced, "Did you not hear the doctors?" Jack asked, "It's not even noon, Tooth…"
"Jack, have more faith in Nicole," North said.
Jack sighed, "Wait, Jamie," Jack said panicked, "Pitch…"
"Jack, calm down," Bunny said, "Look if it'll make ya feel betta then we'll head back to the Pole while ya stay here."
Jack hesitated before nodding, "Alright," he said, "I'll watch Nicole."
The original Guardians nodded before leaving, "Everything will be fine Jack," Tooth said, "Just keep her alive until tonight."
Tooth then left. Jack sighed, "You're asking the wrong person to do that…" he muttered, "I'm winter, I cause death, not stop it…"
Jack stared at Nicole on the bed. She had wires attached to her arms and an oxygen mask over her face. Nicole's breathing was coming in short gasps. Jack looked at the clock before turning back to Nicole, "Please," Jack said, "Just last until night."
Jack was shocked at the slight whine in his voice what the? Why am I begging? It's not like it's Jamie or Sophie? Jack sighed and moved a large piece of Nicole's hair out of her face before turning to the window. Jack turned just as a small snowflake appeared where Jack's hand was, but then disappeared only seconds before Jack turned back.
A/N Okay…I know, I know ANOTHER cliff hanger. But this story is developing a mind of its own! And it likes cliff hangers! Any who! Please R&R and I'll try to get the next chapter up soon!