Hey guys! Sorry for the late update, things got crazy with the holidays and then storms knocked out my internet for a few days (gotta love rain). Anyway, hope you all had a great Christmas and are having a great New Year. I have lots planned for the story and can't wait to write it for you. As always thank you for all the reviews, I truly write as often and as much as I do because of your continued support. I welcome all my new readers if you have any questions feel free to ask. Now without further ado, here's the next chapter Enjoy :)

(Village of Hret)

The quiet little town was known throughout the realm as a place visited frequently by Patrick the infamous Spirit of Luck. The town boasted of how the man often stopped by and purchased supplies for his 'job', in fact most of the small shop owners kept an eye for Patrick in hopes they could persuade the spirit to purchase from them.

Unfortunately for the shops this day Patrick had not come to prepare for one of his infamous trips instead the poor merchant had been dragged by his wife Iris to the place known as Beginnings for a Lamaze class to help prepare him for his newest adventure, Fatherhood.

However, Patrick wasn't exactly thrilled about the class, more so now that he and Iris were being gawked at by the entire room they had just entered.

The room was bare of any furniture, instead there were rows of different colored mats that lined the floored. Sitting on these mats were various couples, ranging from Dryads to Kilns. In each pair Patrick took note that the female seemed eager to be there while the male…not so much.

"Lady Iris! You really came!"

Patrick's scrutiny of the room was cut short by the excited voice, he turned his attention to the woman now hurrying over to them. Mismatched eyes went to her hair which was a brilliant green, bits of flowers dotting every strand. Instantly the spirit knew she was of the Dryad race. "Hi I'm Patrick, Spirit of Luck…" Patrick started his greeting, to his shock the woman completely ignored him and grabbed Iris's hand.

"I am Lady Ray the instructor of this class." The woman's voice held every ounce of admiration she was feeling.

Iris startled when the woman bowed to her

"It is an honor to meet the spirit who is responsible for bringing a new life into the Realm."

"I helped a little." Patrick pouted when the lady ignored him again and motioned for them to follow her

Iris chuckled, "Behave."

"I am behaving." Patrick huffed, the merchant wasn't really used to being ignored.

"Here you are my Lady." The instructor beamed when they reached a large purple mat, the woman so excited about meeting Iris she hadn't even noticed Patrick's comment, "If you have any questions during the class please do not hesitate to ask."

Patrick glared as the woman left and returned to front of the class, "Not even so much as a hello Patrick, so glad you came Patrick, thank you for contributing."

"Come on Patrick, she didn't mean anything by it." Iris had to hold in a laugh, "Now hurry and sit-down, the class is starting." Golden wings folded against her back as Iris started to sit.

Patrick forgot his indignity at being unnoticed when he saw Iris fumble in her movement, he quickly placed his hands around her, "Careful now."

"I'm fine." Iris faked a protest as she was helped to the mat, a slight sigh escaped her as she leaned back against Patrick who had settled behind her.

"You sure?" Patrick pulled her to his chest, placing his chin on her shoulder, "Maybe we should just leave and retire to the mansion." A grin curled his lips, "We could simply go to the library and lounge on the couch for the rest of the afternoon."

"Nice try." Iris smirked at how devious Patrick was in trying to get out being there, "Now quiet, I am trying to listen."

"She's just going through stupid introductions." Patrick waited for Iris to retort, he pouted when she didn't and instead continued listening to the Dryad speaking. With a huff Patrick settled on the floor and reluctantly also listened.

"….is class will help prepare you for the miracle of childbirth." Lady Ray offered the room a broad smile, "My role in this class is to provide you with information that will help you to make informed decisions, help to minimize your fears, and teach you techniques that will help you relax and cope with the labor. In this class I will cover things such as signs of labor, normal progression of labor and birth, and several techniques for coping with pain." The Dryad clasped her hands together, "So let us get started on this wonderous journey…"

Patrick grinned at that, he leaned forward and whispered in Iris's ear "You sure your up for a journey Iris? You complained this morning that the walk from the bedroom to the kitchen was tiring."

"You'd be tired too if you were carrying the equivalent of a thirty-pound weight around your middle." Iris's voice held a tone of frustration

"If you'd lay off the icecrea…" Patrick gulped when Iris's head whipped around, her emerald eyes glowering at him.

"If you value your life Patrick you will not finish that sentence."

Patrick sweat dropped, he realized that he may have taken his joking a bit too far. He needed to redirect his wife's attention before he wound up sleeping on the couch for the next few months.

Thankfully for him at that moment the instructor chose to dim the lights

"Now if you will bring your attention to the front, we are going to start this class by watching a video showing the miracle that is childbirth."

At that Patrick's eyes widened, "Iris, you never said there'd be a video!"

A mischievous gleam came to her face, "I am as surprised as you are Patrick." Iris chuckled as she leaned back against him.

Patrick's shoulder's slumped, this was so not worth the free Tavern pass Iris had given him.

(North's Workshop)

As Patrick was about to scared for life, at the top of the world the famous Workshop where North was recovering from the scaring evil that had moments ago ran through its halls.

The fabled Workshop no longer held the ominous chill that had moments ago filled every corner. Now that the demon Krampus had once again been subdued by North the Workshop was once more operating as normal. In the main area yetis were busy preparing for the upcoming holiday. Bells sounded as the tiny elves ran around 'helping' to build toys as well. So loud was the work in the main area that none within the Pole heard the slight sound of rumbling that echoed within the Globe room.

Wooden boards rippled with energy, then almost as if it were made of dirt a large hole opened up in the middle of floor. A burst of energy rippled through the room, then in a flash of light the Guardian of Hope leapt from within the opening, the Pooka landing on his feet with practiced ease.

"See Sprout that's how you get the Tunnels to get you where you need to go." Bunny glanced back at the hole still in the boards, "Sprout?" the Guardian's voice held a note of concern, "Faine, are you ok?" Just as he took a step towards the hole a pulse of energy rippled again in the air, followed instantly by a bright light flashing from the opening.

A visible look of relief came over Bunny's face as a young teenager was ejected from the hole, the Guardian cringed when the boy rolled across the floor and hit the base of the Globe. He hurried over to the boy and crouched down, "You ok Sprout?"

"I'm fine." A slight groan escaped the teen as he righted himself. Faine's eyes darted around the room with a mix of relief and frustration, "See, you should have brought us here in the first place Bunny." The boy's gaze went to the floor, "I'm just not good enough to use the Tunnels." Faine startled when the Guardian's hand extended to him.

"That's not true." Bunny smiled as he helped the young Dryad to his feet, "You just need more practice."

Faine yelped when the pooka slapped his back

"Don't worry," Bunny grinned, the Guardian not noticing the boy's yelp, "you'll get it eventually." He glanced at the doorway, "Now come on Sprout."

Faine's face lite up as he hurried after the pooka "You really think I'll be able to use the Tunnels like you some day?"

"Of course!" Bunny offered the teen a smile as he glanced back "As my apprentice you'll get to the point where opening the Ecosphere Shafts will be as natural as breathing."

"I don't know Bun…" Faine stopped instantly, his brain registering what was said, "Wait…your apprentice?" bright green eyes widened, "You're not going to send me to the orphanage?" Faine's voice quivered slightly, the teen not really sure he had understood the Guardian correctly.

Bunny stopped walking, "Of course not Sprout." A confused look came to the Guardian's face, "Didn't you get my letter?"

Now it was Faine's turn to look confused, "Letter? I never got any kind of letter…"

"I just assumed you had gotten it, I put it in your room a few days ago…" Bunny growled in his throat, "Bet that bloody dingo Tivial ate it."

Faine nodded, "He was chewing on a piece of paper the other day…" the Dryad's eyes widened, "If I had known it was something from you sir, I'd have taken it away from him!"

Bunny startled when the boy bowed

"I'm so sorry!"

"Hey hey, it's ok Faine." Bunny quickly stepped to the teen, "It wasn't your fault." He gave a smile as he gently lifted Faine's chin, so the boy was looking at him, "I should have had the nerve to talk to you face to face."

Faine blinked, what could have possibly been in that letter?

Almost as if he could read the teen's mind the pooka let out a sigh

"I had wanted to talk to you about this days ago…" Bunny rubbed the back of his neck, "I'm just not that good at emotional…stuff…so I thought I could get by with just writing it." the Guardian took a breath then let it out, "I have been thinking that…well I have a lot of work to do…and you seem to have come to like it at the Warren… so I had been thinking that if you wanted…" the Guardian paused for a second then continued, "That you could become my apprentice and live with me." Bunny waved his hands, "Though if you don't want to I und…"

The Guardian almost fell backwards as Faine tackled him

"Yes, yes, yes!" Faine's voice broke as he buried his face into the Guardian's chest

"Come on Sprout don't cry." Bunny wrapped his arms around the teen whose body was now shaking as he sobbed.

"Yes sir." Faine stepped back rubbing his eyes trying to staunch the tears that were flowing

A grin came to Bunny's face at the beaming look now on the boy's face "How about we go find North." Bunny motioned for the Dryad to follow, "With his assistance we should be able to get Kasei replanted in no time."

"You really think that he'll help Bunny?" Faine felt as if he were on cloud nine as he hurried after the Guardian, "I mean he's really busy."

"North busy?" Bunny laughed as they walked the hall, "I bet all this time he's been sitting around eating cookies and mi…" the pooka stopped talking as they came around the corner and the middle of the Workshop was before them.

Burn marks were etched into the wood of the floors and walls, as if something had slammed into them. Even the ceiling had a huge splat of burned ash from something hitting the glass. Everywhere toys and workbenches were scattered in pieces as if a million tornados had thrown a wild party in the middle of the room. Amongst the damage yetis could be seen cleaning up what they could.

"What the bloody hell happened here!" Bunny's voice held a note of concern as he stared at the destruction below.

One of the yetis looked up at them, "Ra ragras rar…."

Faine watched the pooka's face as the creature spoke, "Bunny what's wrong?" the teen was very concerned by the look of anger that was growing in the Guardian's expression.

"Nothing now, thankfully." Bunny's voice held a tone of relief, "However I'm pretty sure now that not being able to get here earlier wasn't all your fault."

"Really?" Faine followed as Bunny continued across the walk to another hall, "How come?"

Bunny glanced back, "Because from what Klint just told me the Pole's safety barrier was deployed for the last hour or so due to Krampus being released."

"Krampus?" Faine cocked his head, the teen never having heard the name, "Who's that?"

"Just some demon that existed before you were born." Bunny shrugged, "He fed off of mischief and evil, literally." The pooka shivered, "Krampus would actually eat those that were evil, which wouldn't seem that bad except the bloody monster decided that he could decide just who was considered 'evil'. Kill someone, evil. Color outside the line, evil." The Guardian growled, "It took North a bit to overcome that one, but in the end, he was able to seal Krampus away in the Naughty List."

Faine's eyes widened, "Oh, is that how the list always knows who's been bad"

Bunny nodded, "Yep." A thoughtful look came to his face, "Though what I don't understand is how Krampus managed to get free…with the magic used he couldn't have gotten free himself."

"You think someone purposely set him free?" Faine frowned, the teen trying to think of who would want a demon loose that would eat people.

"Not sure Sprout." Bunny stopped, "But I intend to find out."

Faine glanced ahead, the teen watching as North came around the corner up ahead of them, he was surprised to see a blanket in the Guardian's arms. He was surprised when the man didn't seem to notice them and turned to go into a room

"North!" Bunny spoke quickly when it became apparent North hadn't seen them.

"Bunny?" the Guardian stopped in the doorway, "Is everything ok?"

"I could ask you the same thing."

The pooka's tone was joking however Faine could tell that Bunny was concerned for the other Guardian who had several bandages wrapped around his arms and even his head.

"Everything is ok now." A big smile came to North's face, "I will explain in just moment."

Bunny grew concerned when the man's smile faded slightly and North motioned with his head for them to come with him into the room

"But first I need to make sure Ahio is comfortable."

"What happened to Ahio?" Bunny frowned as he hurried after North.

"That too is long story."

Faine's heart fell as he entered the room and caught sight of his friend.

The storm spirit lay in the room's large bed, his body covered in bandages and stitches. Ahio's leg was wrapped in a tight cast and was held up by a sling that was attached to the ceiling. Faine felt an anger rising within him when he glanced at Ahio's face, even though the boy looked peaceful as he slept that didn't hide the gashes on his cheeks nor the cuts in the corners of his mouth.

"He will be ok Faine." North spoke quietly, the Guardian noticing the Dryad's look, "Ahio will be healed up within the week." The Guardian smiled as he began placing the blanket on the storm spirit, once he made sure the covering was perfect North turned and faced him "I am glad you are doing better."

Faine nodded, not sure if he should speak or not.

North only smiled, he understood that the teen was shy, instead of waiting for the boy to speak he glanced at Bunny "Grab a chair and I'll tell you all of adventure's here."

Bunny chuckled when Faine simply dropped to the floor and went into a cross-legged position, the Dryad's eyes gleaming with anticipation of North's story. The pooka shook his head at the boy's enthusiasm as he grabbed one from the desk, "All right North regale us."

"It all started when I asked Ahio to go to Acton…."

As North began his story, neither he nor Bunny were aware of the situation unfolding at that very moment in Burgess.

Please review and let me know what you guys thought, I love hearing from you and seeing how you are enjoying the story. I will continue to try and update every month (due to my health I am not able to write as much as I want). I can't wait for what is coming ];) Till next time.