Well, this chapter might be a sad one. I had to listen to "Trust Me" by The Fray non-stop to help me capture the emotion. Anywho, enjoy guys!
North parked the car at a nearby public parking lot that wasn't far from the pier. The pier was connected to a public park that stretched halfway along the Hudson river. Jack followed North out of the car as they walked to the crosswalk. The sound of taxi cabs and other cars honking at each other, people yelling, laughing, and talking, echoed throughout the lower West side.
It was a charming weekend night for families and friends to spent time together. The late fall air was crispy and tasted delightful. Patches of leaves danced around the sidewalks and some fluttered against the incoming ocean breeze.
"So why are we here?" Jack asked curiously. "I thought it would be nice to spend some time with you. I haven't lately since I worked at the toy store" North confessed.
"Oh, that's alright da-" Jack stopped talking for a moment. "I mean. Don't feel bad. You're just doing your job. And I guess I was doing mine." Jack chuckled happily.
"Quite so" North patted Jack on the back. "Come on. Let me treat to you to some hot cocoa or something." He put his hand on Jack's shoulder like a proud father spending some quality time with his son.
North decided to buy two cups of coffee and two pastries. North indulged himself to an apple and cinnamon danish, while Jack began munching on a peppermint chocolate brownie. He hardly ate anything, cause his friends gobbled up all the krumkakes at their little party.
"Now tell. Who was that fair young lady friend of yours?" North asked Jack. Jack blushed and nearly choked on his brownie. "Um we only known each other for a couple of months. I think we're still acquaintances." Jack confessed. "Same goes for her sister Anna and Kristoff. Dunno if I'm actually their friend, yet." Jack was unsure of himself.
"Ah I see. But they seem to be good friends, Jack. Bunny and Sandy told me how happy they acted around you." North informed him. "Time doesn't measure friendship. Love does."
Jack looked at his old jolly friend. His sense of philosophy was filled with wonders that Jack can't forget. Even though, he only knew the sisters and Kristoff for a few months, they were kind-hearted people that opened their arms for him. Jack can't find people like them or even to replaced. Even getting to know more about Olaf and Marshmallow was one of Jack's idea. But, something special was wildly buzzing around his mind. When will he get the chance to hang out with Elsa?
North looked at Jack who had a big joyful smile on his face. And, his eyes was filled with wonders like his. He hated to break this timeless image of Jack in his mind. But, Mani has given him orders. And an order is an order.
"Jack. Mani sent us a message. He informed us about what's going on." North said nothing more. "Really?! What did he say?" Jack asked in excitement. It was a long time since he heard from Mani. North went on telling Jack on how the kidnapping of Guardians was getting worst. Mani had to sent out his messengers to take over some of the Guardians' jobs. Especially those who was kidnapped and those who went on hiding. Mani didn't want anything getting worst.
"Wait so all this time, Tooth and Sandy hasn't been doing their Guardian jobs?" Jack asked North with great concern. "It's just too dangerous for them go out at night." North said calmly.
"Even though, they're capable of doing their jobs. I feel less worried if they had at least some friends to watch over them. But, I respect Mani's decision." Jack stared out at the river with a serious expression on his face. North was quite astounded at Jack's remark. He never knew the boy could spoke like an adult.
"So are we going to be replaced too? Is Leo and his cool cats going to take care of the Winter solstice and Christmas?" Jack chuckled. A smiled formed around North's face. Even though, the lad is growing, well mentally, he still acted like his former self. A fun goofy kid.
"Unfortunately. Yes. But, Mani welcomed us to take commanded at the events, if we want to." North told Jack he might end up making the basement of the house to be a mission control station on Christmas Eve. But, Jack told him, he won't take on this year's Winter Solstice. Even though he was in charge with the event, Jack let Mani and his messengers take care of it this year. North was shocked at his idea. Jack simply told him that he might had plans during those weeks of December and maybe the rest of the season.
"Jack are you sure about this? You haven't missed a Winter Solstice since you became 'Jack Frost'." North reminded him. "That's quite true. But, I feel like taking the opportunity to spend more time exploring around the city during that week." Jack confessed.
"Anything else from Mani?" Jack asked North. North looked Jack, he isn't a little boy anymore. Even though he first met him as a teenager and his appearance never changed, but, deep inside that the boy was slowly growing up into a man. North had the feeling to take back his words when Jack mentioned about skipping this year's Winter Solstice. It just ached his heart to go on telling the lad about something that might crushed him. Since, they moved to the city, everyone, including himself, became alive over the centuries of Guardianship and isolation.
"Yes." North took a snip from his coffee. He could smell the gingerbread scent from his paper cup. "The kidnapping became worst. Jack. If this keeps up, we might end up having to leave and go hide somewhere." North looked directly at the boy who had his eyes wide open. Jack slowly took in the bad news. "How worst?"
North dug into his coat pocket and unlocked his smartphone. His thump danced across the glowing screen while he searched through his messages. On the screen was a short email from Mani's head messenger, Leo. The lion that the Guardians met on that spring night back in Australia. There was not much from the email, except Leo asking North to watch a video. North opened up the video and handed his phone to Jack. "Watch it." Jack took the phone and pressed play.
The video was like security camera footage. But it was a high quality image with less glitches and it was in color. At bottom corner of the screen had block text saying, "Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 21:30 PM." A skinny figure with beautiful spring dress walked across a field of grass at night. There wasn't that much street lamps or any light where the woman was at.
As the woman strolled across the grass, small pulps of flowers popped out of the ground. She stood in the middle of a field where the camera focused at her silhouetted body that had a touch of moonlight outlining the edges of her body. Suddenly five dark ghostly figures appeared and surrounded the woman. Two of them grabbed hold of her. Another one went up to her and someone placed something over the woman's chest.
Her chest illuminated with this red rose glow. In a matter of seconds, one of the figures threw something onto the ground to cast a portal. The woman was tangled around dark cold chains as the figures dragged her inside the portal. The video stopped playing.
Jack closed his eyes and handed the phone back to North. "Leo sent me more." North swiped the screen to look for the rest of the videos. Jack shook his head. "Not another one North. Where does Mani want us to go if things get crazy?"
North looked up from his phone. He closed his eyes. "Antarctica." The old guy let out a big sigh.
"Antarctica?" Jack wasn't pleased at the idea. He looked annoyed. "Yes." North said in a serious tone. "You gotta be kidding me." Jack looked up at the sky. Mani was already out even though the evening sky hasn't set yet.
"Jack, please don't be afraid. But, unfortunately, we are the only ones left." North tired not to scare him. Jack took a step back. So, the big four and him are the only ones remaining. "It's okay. Everything is going to be alright, my boy. Leaving there won't be that bad. I bet you'll love the place. There's plenty of snow and ice over there." North encouraged Jack.
"I've been there before North." Jack looked down at his empty coffee cup. It was decorated with printed black snowflakes over a dull white background. "I hate that place!" Jack furiously tighten his jaw. He began to freeze the coffee cup, patches of ice covered it. "That's no haven for us. But, here, this place is something else." Jack lifted both his arms as he gazed at the cityscape behind them.
"But Jack -" Jack interrupted North. "No. Look North. I'm getting sick and tired of living a life of isolation." He confessed. "You're not alone Jack. You have us. Me. The Guardians." North wanted to give the lad a hug.
"Not true. Back then, we just did our duties, had short breaks for each other, but they weren't enough. Then that cycle continues, Guardianship, a break, or no breaks at all." Jack's eyes is filled with rage. At the corner of his eyes, teardrops started to form. But, Jack pulled them back.
North agreed with Jack. The boy reminded him of his old himself. He once lived a life of love and affection like a normal human being. But, he was chosen to become a Guardian for significant reason. It was his only choice in order to survive and keep a certain someone safe. Deep inside at the pit of his stomach and the back of his mind, he had this seed of regrets growing inside him for years.
"Are you tired of being so isolated?" Jack asked North. Through the old man's eyes he was sucked into a flashback. A young North, handsome as ever with his dashing smile and strong man features. A beautiful young woman playing with his raven black hair. She touched his face and gazed into his wondrous blue eyes. Young North glanced down at the woman's beautiful emerald eyes as he touched her lips with his.
"North!" Jack's voiced echoed throughout North's mind. North snapped back to reality.
"Why can't we just go hunt this monster down and stop it?" From the look of Jack's eye's, rage was slowly building up and sooner or later he might loose control of it. North looked down at Jack's coffee cup, it looked like a solid block of ice. "I was able to handle two goons today!" Jack's impulsive self slipped something he shouldn't had mention. But, sooner or later he had to tell someone.
"Goons? What are you talking about?" North looked at Jack with a concerned face. "They were just random dark spirits made out of black sand attacking these two humans." Jack explained. "Black sand? Jack are stupid!" North stopped talking. He realized he just made a negative comment about Jack. "Jack. Wait. I'm -" North tried to apologize to the boy standing in front of him with his arms crossed around his chest.
"Save it." Jack said it calmly. He continued on telling the fight. The goons with black magic and ancient weapons. But didn't talk about either Elsa or the helpless man.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" North questioned him. "I thought if I tell you, you'll go nuts, and report this to Mani. If Mani found out, he'll reassign our assignment from hiding here to somewhere else." Jack confessed. "But, hey what a coincidence. That guy up there wants us to move again anyway." Jack said sarcastically while pointing at Mani.
"Why was Fearlings disguised as humans attacked innocent humans?" North wondered. "Just to cause trouble. The man is alright, thanks from the help of this girl who had similar powers as me." Jack informed North. North didn't like the sound of it. In the back of his mind, he knew the source and cause of the attacks. He told himself that a certain someone won't rest until he got want he wants.
"I think that's enough evidence for Mani to know. Jack I need you to stay away from this girl." North told him. His voice was tired, but, had enough strength to tell Jack to stay away from danger. Jack protested. "How come? She didn't do anything bad." North nodded his head. "Yes, but, you did. I don't want to see anyone getting hurt." North firmly replied. "Jack, even though we're immortal. We still can attract danger."
North walked up to Jack and placed his big soft-tendering hand on his shoulders. Jack avoided to look up. "Remember my boy, you're a Guardian. Your Guardianship comes first before anything else." North softly reminded Jack.
"Well I was doing my job. I was saving two children of Earth from two monsters from fear." Jack stared down in the ground. "Promise me, Jack that you will stay away from this girl. Please don't cause her any trouble." North went on. "Also you need to start keeping a distance away from those friends of yours." Jack looked up showing his sapphire eyes. At the corner of his eyes, teardrops was falling down his face.
Jack took a deep breath and stared directly at North, even though the tears rain down his face. "All my life I thought I was a nobody. No one believed in me. But that wasn't case when I received my old memories and after becoming a Guardian. Secretly, for a long time, I still feel hollow. Empty inside." Jack took a moment to regain himself.
"North. I'm hungry for love. Compassion. Acceptance! Not only accepted as a Guardian, but, who am I. Centuries of leaving in a life of isolation. It doesn't make a difference except make a person go mad! Don't you see." Tears rushed down the poor boy's face. North's softly narrowed his eyes and placed his hand over his heart. Jack went on confessing. "I'm having second thoughts on being a Guardian. What else is my purpose in this world then bringing fun for the children of Earth, keep the seasons in balance, and just be a Guardian? What else?!" He yelled at the sky. North took a deep breath before talking.
"Jack look at the leaves on the trees." North pointed at the rows of trees that still had their leaves. It's already mid-to-late November and most the trees still had their leaves on. "The Guardian who is in charge of Fall, hasn't done his part to welcoming the winter season. This is not good my boy. As Guardians we don't only protect, but, we are responsible for the seasons, weather, and other elements that keeps the Earth in balance."
Jack wiped off his face with his sleeves. "That's why we need to go find him and the rest of the Guardians. We can't just sit around and watch more of them get kidnapped."
North cleared his throat. "Jack this isn't a simple and easy business. You'll put lives at risk." Jack crushed his coffee cup. The frozen block of ice shattered and pieces fell into the ground. The remaining liquid bleed through the cup and raced across his hand's skin.
"Risk others' lives. How? We're risking their lives right now!" Jack continued on crushing his coffee cup. A new coat of ice slowly covered the cup again. "I still don't get this Guardian business. We made an oath. But, why do we act like we're disobeying it?"
"Sounds like you need some time to think about this, lad. All I know, is that there's a reason why you've be chosen. Yes I do believe there is more to you than your center. Guardians take turns to hold this world. It's how it's always been. I bet you when you grow wiser, you will understand why you're here." North tired to smiled at Jack, trying to show him some comfort.
Jack saw his damaged coffee cup that looked like a block of ice. He started to lose control of his powers and emotions. Suddenly, the block of ice formed several icy spikes. The cup evolved to a frozen baby porcupine. But, Jack managed to relax his emotions and powers. He walked pass North and tossed his coffee cup to the nearest trash can. Inside the empty can, the sound of icicles breaking and a loud bang echoed inside.
"Where are you going?" North asked. "I gotta pee." Jack wasn't joking, after drinking three bottles of soda and a large cup of coffee, it's time for a visit to the nearest restroom.
North waited for Jack outside the restroom area. He was contemplating if he had done the right thing. "Why me?" North sighed. He looked up at Mani who was accompanied by small patches of evening clouds.
North took out a rusty old pocket watch that was painted in gold with silver vines decorated around its body. He traced the designs with his finger and pressed a button that lifted the lid of the clock to open.
Inside was clock ticking away and underneath the lid was an old self-portrait of a young woman. She had graceful and charming face. Her soft porcelain skin illuminated the black and white photograph. She tied her dark hair into a simple bun. But, some strand of hair playfully curled out of place. The photograph tightly capture this angelic woman's smiling face. The sight of it would bring a smile on anyone's face.
North soften his small blue eyes and smiled at the woman. Then he turned his attention at Mani. "I hope you know what you're doing old friend" North talked to Mani. The moon just shined brightly above the night sky.
So whatcha think guys? Did some of you guys cried or shed a tear? Here's some tissues. This was a tough chapter to write. Apparently this one starts the rest of the other chapter were we will see where the Guardians' situation will lead them.
Don't worry the next chapter is going to be fun and somewhat happy one. And yes. It's a big Jesla chapter. So calm y'all fan-self down! Haha.
Once again, THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT! [Yes CAPS again] Okay, back to some school work. Happy Weekend guys! :D
