*sigh* I feel really horrible for that cliff hanger. But at the same time, I loved it. I finally got de-grounded, and the first thing I did was play my electronic devices for a couple days. Then, while playing the ending chapter of Fire Emblem Awakening for the third time, I realized I had a reputation to earn back here. Sorry for any weird transitions or typos or Out-Of-Character characters in this chapter, I had to rush so you guys didn't think I died. Anyways, here is the next long-awaited chapter. Enjoy!
Chapter Nine: Bigger Threats
North, Bunny, and Jack flew in the sled - or, more accurately, Jack flew beside the sled, and Bunny tried not to barf.
Wind was nice enough to guide the sleigh along and change direction depending on where they were going. North claimed they were nearing the west coast of America and could maybe make it past there to the equator.
"Nooope," Jack had said. "No equator. Ever. We stop in California or something."
Bunny had agreed because he hated sleigh travel as much as the next pooka, right? Wind seemed to hear their conversation and changed direction yet again toward the coast. jack eventually retired to the sleigh, the heat being just a bit much for him. When teased by Bunny, he replied with, "I'm just saving my energy, kangaroo."
Sure enough, they reached California as the sun started setting. "Where are we, exactly?" Bunny asked suspiciously.
"Hollywood area," North and Jack said in unison. Jack continued. "It's thattaways." He pointed his staff toward a mountain. "Other side be's the Hollywood sign."
North then spoke. "Zee children will be seeing us, yes? Best sleep vile ve can, no?"
They had parked in a field, and North stayed in the sleigh while Jack sprawled on the ground, unaware of the frost that covered an area around him. Bunny, of course, went back to his home underground.
(Line break)
Again of course, Jack was gone when Bunny resurfaced and North awoke. He'd left a message in frost reading, "Be back in a bit, Jack" where his body had previously been.
"Well?" Bunny asked Santa Claus. "Whaddya think he's gotten off ta now?"
"Having fun," was the reply. "He ees Jack, is he not?"
Meanwhile, Jack flew back to the field after spending an hour throwing snowballs at children. They had all sort of looked around, and most kids had said, "All right, who's been saving a snowball since the beginning of winter?" It was quite satisfying.
When he got back, the sleigh was ready for takeoff. Jack sat next to Bunny in the back, who was already closing his eyes. Jack just got ready for G-force.
"Fasten your seetbelts!" North laughed, taking off.
As soon as the G-force was out of his face, Jack asked the air, "Wind! Where are we going?" Pause. Jack groaned. "Not the equator! Where are we even going?" Another pause. Another groan.
"Vell?" North asked.
"An abandoned little island in the South Pacific. Couldn't we just skip the heat and open a snow globe portal there or something?"
North blinked. Apparently he'd never had the idea. "Very good, Jack! Now, vet's see if I have any in here..."
The sleigh kept going, much to Bunny's horror, as North rummaged through his cloak. "No, no, no, no..." he emptied each of his pockets and let the items fly away in the wind. Whether on purpose or by accident, no one will know.
"Found it!" Jack said, grabbing it from a pocket he could reach. The glittery snow inside the globe swirled around so it was impossible to see what lay inside. "Wind, what's the name of this island?"
There was a pause, then Jack handed the ball to North, whispering a name. North threw the snow globe in front of the sleigh, and a colorful, swirling portal opened up. The sleigh flew through it, and they were gone.
(Cue line break)
"What exactly was this place called again, Jack?" Bunny asked, shivering.
"Relicta Island." Jack replied, swing his staff nonchalantly by his side.
The island was fairly large, with an insanely huge beach and a forest in the middle. The sleigh was crash-parked in the white sand around half a mile away from them, as they trudged up the beach. Wind has left as they entered the portal, not wanting to go near the island. Even with ten minutes of walking, the edge of the forest was still almost a mile away (1). Jack had debated flying, but decided to stick it out with them.
As they walked, Jack heard a screech. North apparently also did, because he turned and looked in a couple directions. Bunny jumped.
"You hear that?" The pooka asked.
The wind whistled by, but not the real wind, a hollow, moaning sound that made the air colder. The screech sounded again, from in the forest. Then it was from the beach. Then to their right, then the forest again...
"It sounds like something I've heard before..." Jack muttered. "Like a -"
"Nightmare!" Bunny nearly screamed, looking up. Just as the others did, three black horses descended on them.
A/N: Sorry for ANOTHER cliffhanger! :) But this time, I promise not to get grounded for a month (or go on a weeklong vacay to Canada again) over summer. I'll probably even update more often, seeing as today was my last day of school. I'll leave you all alone now. Please R&R if you're happy I'm back, and I'll see you next time!