Bunnymund towered over your head, glowering at Jack. He pushed Jack away subtly with his returning boomerang, beckoning you forward. You flushed, finding the ground the most interesting thing in the world. Jack tried to take your hand, receiving a glare from the warrior. His cold hand reassured you that this was really happening, that you were really at the North Pole. What you could not see, however, was that Jack was freezing the floor, and consequently Bunnymund, behind you.
A loud thud emitted, a groan following. You spun, but Bunny was already on his feet. He caught your concerned expression. Mentally killing Jack with his eyes, he told you, "I'm fine, sheila."
Your gaze lingered a minute longer before you turned back to the sound of Bunny quietly muttering a threat on Jack's wellbeing. You looked at Jack, he smirking down to you. You smacked him playfully with the back of your hand, he feigning hurt.
You thought back to the books you received. When they first came into your hands, you had quickly flipped through them to see what pictures William Joyce illustrated. In the Tooth Fairy's book, there was a picture of Bunnymund with six arms captioned, "Bunnymund ate the six-armed chocolate again!" Out loud, you wondered, "How much of those books are real?"
Jack stumbled when you asked that. He looked to the kangaroo-like pooka with a pinched expression. You glanced at Bunnymund for the explanation Jack was unwilling to give. You eyes met to his voice, "Real enough."
The subject was dropped at the sight of a wooden door taller than three yetis. Without strain, the Easter Bunny pushed the doors open. You could see his muscles rippling under his gray fur as he held the entryway for you. You blushed and looked down, finding that you nearly stepped on an elf holding a platter of cookies. He raised it to you, you taking a chocolate chip one.
North gained your attention by calling your name along with Jack's. Each face that turned to you - Tooth and Sandy - you recognized immediately, aside from the woman hiding poorly in the shadows. Before you could inquire more about her, you found Tooth prying your mouth open with her fingers, she muttering excitedly about how well you took care of your teeth.
"Tooth," North warned her, causing her to back away.
"Sorry, but they're so pretty." The mini fairies swarmed around Jack, some sighing, one fainting, a handful glaring at you, and one - Baby Tooth - seated on his shoulder. You shifted your feet slightly. Jack noticed the look that the fairies gave you, taking your hand and igniting a spark that struck your nervous system and set each of your cells on an icy fire.
The fairies fluttering away, North stood before the Globe of Belief, arms stretched high like he commandeered the world. "Welcome, little one," he boomed, "to the North Pole!"
A fanfare of horns and trumpets from the elves erupted, blasting your eardrums. "Jack," North called over the noise, "Did Pitch attempt anything while you slept?"
"No," Jack answered, the volume in the room quieting. "He's still up to something though."
"Any ideas, Sandy?" the Tooth Fairy cut in. The Guardian of Dreams produced an image of a Nightmare before dissolving it.
"Are we even certain it is Pitch?" Bunnymund skepticised. "How do we know that she's not lying? Everyone, especially children her age, can lie."
Jack stepped up to your defense, but North beat him to it. "I feel it in my belly."
"Hey," you tried to interject, finding their backs to you. "Hey!" The Guardians ignored you, even Jack. You were about to shout when you found a hand on your shoulder. The woman from the shadows stood by your side. She took your hand and led you to the hallway. Your conscience repeatedly thwacked you, yet your heart argued to your brain that she meant now harm. For better or worse, your emotions beat out your logic.
The door closed behind you silently, the woman releasing your hand. She had midnight hair that reached past her knees, cerulean eyes, and skin that displayed only spots on her hands that hardly revealed her true age. Embracing you in a hug, she murmured, "I'm glad that you aren't mad at me."
Her voice gave away her true age, and identity. She put you at arm's length for your reply. "Mrs. Klaus?"
"It's actually 'Claus.' I'm sorry for their impertinence. As my husband said before, welcome to the Pole. What were you trying to convey?"
"Bunnymund," you began. "I- I don't even know why I'm here other than the fact that Pitch sent me nightmares, and he's calling me a liar."
"You're here because the Guardians want to protect you from Pitch," she explained. "I'm sure Bunnymund is just afraid of what happened that Easter will recur. He certainly takes for granted that he's believed in."
"He said children like me basically always lie, as if Sophie doesn't count."
"Well, she is only four-"
You cut her off. "He needs to realize that I am not a child. They're the Guardians of Childhood, not me. It makes me feel insignificant."
"Yes," her voice rang with sarcasm, "You most definitely are not a child, and that certainly is why I took you from Lady Jay's. They're just being a tad bit overprotective."
"Why? I'm just going to die anyway." The fact that you were not immortal struck Mrs. Claus with a pained expression of sadness. She placed a hand against your cheek.
"Each life," she told you slowly, "has meaning. Though we are immortal, we still die, eventually. None of us are the Master of Death like Harry Potter, nor do we regenerate into younger forms such as the Doctor and the other Time Lords and Ladies. Nicholas used to not be the kind man he is today; he used to be the Bandit King of Russia. The choices we make to etch our place in the fabric of the history of the universe today effect how we will reincarnate, disappear, or celebrate -whichever you believe in- with the next life, be it after or here once more.
"Jack met you only a few short days ago, and he fell hard, for you. I met you only yesterday, yet you've found your way into my heart. Though for the majority of your life you have not found yourself a family, you have one here. He may seem cruel at the moment, but Bunnymund and the other Guardians have come to protecting the new piece of their heart. As long as you are loved, you will be immortal, in memory if not physicality."
She ended her monologue to the sound of the Guardians' arguing ceasing. "We'll talk later," she concluded. "I'm sure you have more questions, dear, but it seems the ruckus they were causing discontinued. Shall we return?"
Mrs. Claus opened the door back to the Globe room, gesturing for you to enter first. You took the initiative, thanked her with a nod of your head, and straightened up under the watchful eyes of your self-proclaimed protectors.
EveleenBlackthorn, yep, it sure is.
The Book Worm 124, THANK YOU SO FREEZING MUCH! And, you are very welcome.
DayDreamer425, thank you. ^_^
Sorry for the lateness, Royals, my parabatai came down from New York and delightfully surprised my family. At the moment, I am supremely astonished that we're fifteen chapters in and there haven't been any flames yet. Hmm...
Thanks again for your patience. If I ever try your patience again, just go to YouTube and watch videos from Danisnotonfire. Does anyone know where I can find some good Pokémon Phan fiction? I only found one here.
If y'all are looking for an awesome movie to watch in theaters, (this sounds like a bad promotion, frost) I recommend After Earth. If you want my reasoning, I have a tumblr now (queen-z-of-harte) and my very short explanation is on there. -Z
We take into consideration any ideas you have for yourself. Please note that your idea may or may not be incorporated in this story, but you will get an answer as to why if it can't. -Ashley