~Little Tooth~
Chapter 25
The Week went by quickly. In the wait for the trial, all there was to do was prepare one's self. Everyone knew their parts, everyone knew their role. Everyone knew what to do.
It was Christmas, or really the night of Christmas day when most kids would be staying up late playing with their new toys. The street lights were on and the air was cool. The wind was silent on and off. Walking down the street at the end of a small neighborhood and next to a large park was a girl. In her hands was a teddy bear. With her tinted red hair , the comfortable school dress, socks and shoes, the look on her face was peace.
Sissi Hoover normally took walks. Her mother didn't seem to say anything about it, so why not enjoy the night. She was never scared of the night. She loved it. Besides, there was nobody out and being alone, well, she was accustom to. She watched the stars and the moon shine brightly.
She didn't get what she wanted for Christmas. Her father didn't come back. However, she and her mother did get a card from him, along with some photos. A few weeks beforehand they sent over a package with some treats for him and his team. Sissi wondered if they got there yet, for the card said nothing of them. For Christmas, her mother took her out to eat at her favorite restaurant, and then to watch a new movie that came out a few weeks ago: it was called Frozen. Sissi loved it. Santa got her some stuffed animals and some coloring books and crayons, which she loved too. She planned to color tomorrow morning.
A strong wind blew, blowing Sissi's hair in front of her face. She stopped walking to push her hair back in protest. Dropping her bear, she gasped and looked down to pick him back up. While she did so, the wind suddenly stopped and she felt the presence of another person. She looked up and looked shocked to see a boy. An older teen, probably 17 or 18. He stared back at her, making the young girl feel uncomfortable. His hair was bleach white and his skin was horribly pale. Her wore a blue jacket that looked like it had been stuck into a freezer for years. His pants too. He had no shoes at all. In his hands was a Sheppard's staff, of which was covered in frost.
"What are you doing out here this late at night?" The boy asked with a smirk on his kind-looking face.
"U-Um..." The girl stepped back. Who was this boy? "I-I w-was just taking a w-walk."
Jack walked closer to her, holding out his hand. "Don't worry, i'm not hear to hurt you. My name's Jack Frost. What's your's?"
Sissi stopped and stared at him again before answering.
"I'm Sissi. Sissi Hoover." The girl answered with a small smile.
"Well hello there, Sissi." Jack smiled. "Would you like to have a little fun with me?"
Sissi giggled, her teddy bear being hugged to death in her arms. "S-Sure!"
Suddenly the wind picked up, getting stronger and stronger. Then, within seconds, Sissi was lifted off the sidewalk. She gasped and looked up at Jack, who was flying too! He saw her face and laughed.
"You're doing great, kid!" He said.
"This is amazing!" Sissi giggled, holding her bear tight in her arms.
"I know!" Jack Laughed, grabbing the girl's free hand. "I know!"
The wind shifted a bit and Jack pulled her higher into the air. They flew above the park, the moon causing their shadow to run across the ground. Then, after reaching the middle of the park, Jack stopped and pulled Sissi so that she circled her. She laughed and laughed, which made Jack feel good in the inside. When the wind got stronger, Jack's hand left her and she flouted there in the sky, trying to regain her breath. Jack noticed how tightly she hung onto the bear.
Flying a bit higher, the two flouted in front of the moon, the sight of them together so beautiful it was breathtaking. Jack grabbed Sissi's hands. Sissi began to panic when the bear fell from her hands, however the wind caught it and it flouted next to the girl.
"Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to it." Jack smiled.
"Thank you." Sissi smiled.
"So! How much fun are you having right now?" Jack chuckled.
"TONS!" Sissi shouted with a grin on her face.
"You know what would make this even better?" Jack asked.
"W-What?" Sissi tilted her head.
"Look up."
Sissi did as Jack said and looked up, her eyes going wide. The moon, so big, glowed as the stars, thousands of them, glittered across the sky. Living in a city where seeing stars at night was almost impossible, Sissi knew right then and there just to let it all soak in. Her mouth hung open just a little bit. Jack noticed the reflection of the sky in her eyes and laughed. He temporally closed his eyes only to open then back up to see her looking at him with tears in her eyes.
"Thank you!" She smiled. "Thank you so much, Jack!"
"Huh?" Jack was confused.
Sissi pulled herself closer to him, surprising him but hugging him, her arms around his neck. Now it was Jack's turn for his eyes to be open in shock.
"Thank you for making this the best Christmas I've ever had!" She said, her voice half full of joy and half in sorrow.
Jack let her hug him, but when he heard her start crying, he pulled away, holding her arms as she stared at him.
"Y-You're welcome, Sissi, but what's the matter? Why are you crying?" Jack asked, concerned.
Sissi looked into his eyes. "Papa didn't come back from the army this year, just like the year before that, even when it was the only thing I asked for. Then, when mother took me out to eat and watch a movie today, she seemed rushed and unhappy. She told me everything was okay, but I felt bad anyway."
Jack didn't like this story. He felt bad for her.
"But Santa got me some cool things. He got me stuffed animals and a few art supplies!" She paused.
"I went out on a walk so that I could forget about Momma feeling bad and Papa not coming home and how I really didn't feel the holiday magic like normal, but it didn't work." She smiled at Jack when she noticed him frowning. "But then you showed up and showed me the magic in the winter holiday that I missed! You showed me the stars that the city's lights make impossible to see! And you're the first friend i've ever head, other then Edgar, The teddy bear daddy gave me before he left!"
Jack didn't know how to reply.
"Thank you!" Sissi said loudly again.
Jack finally turned his frown into a small smile. "Don't thank me! It's my job!"
Sissi giggled. "Jack, can we fly some more? Over the town? Please?"
"Alright! Let's go!"
Jack pulled her along with the help of the wind. Sissi grabbed her bear again, and then placed all her attention on Jack. She loved this. This night was a night she'd never forget. She'd never forget Jack too. She loved Jack.
Jamie let out a long sigh, tapping his foot on the floor and pulling out his phone to look at the time. 11:34 at night. He wasn't too sleepy, but Sophie sure was. The younger one had her head leaning on her brother's shoulder as she stood up next to him. Jamie slightly kept shoving her off, but the sister was determined to stand her ground. The two were in a long line at the post office. Their package had arrived, but it had to be picked up. The trail was tomorrow, so they decided to get it over with before they'd have to pay for it to just sit in the office.
"How long is this going to take? We have to wake up at 6 in the morning!" Sophie complained.
Jamie's eyes constrained on the glowing screen on his phone as he passed the time by looking at pictures.
"I have no idea. And don't worry about that. You'll live."
Baby Tooth tried to go to sleep, bit it wasn't worth it. She sat in the bed for an hour and a half before realizing she couldn't fall to dreamland. She sat up and ran her hands through her hair, sighing loudly. Standing up, she walked out the door of her room and into the living room, only to see the tv on and nothing else. She saw Jackson on the couch with blankets and a pillow, however sitting and watching the TV. Olive was in a rocking chair in the corner of the room, his eyes on the TV too. Jackson was allowed to stay over so they could all get ready for the trail in the morning and lessen the risk of someone being late. Baby Tooth also noted that Jamie and Sophie were not back yet from the Post office.
"Can't sleep?" Baby Tooth asked.
"We tried." Jackson sighed.
"So we gave up and decided to stay up until we shut down." Oliver sighed. He had a blanket over his legs too.
"Well I'm going to join you."
Baby Tooth forced herself on the couch, Jackson having to move his legs to make room for her. They sat there in silence, watching the show playing on TV. Once it ended, Oliver got up form his chair. He yawned loudly and made his way into the kitchen. He got a glass of water and looked outside the window, noticing how beautiful the stars were this night. He finished his water quickly before walking back into the other room.
"Would you two like to go on a walk this fine night?" Oliver asked.
Jackson and Baby Tooth looked at eachother.
"Sure, why not?" Jackson asked.
"Fine with me!"
The three got their shoes on and jackets, for it was still winter. Heading out into the night, they walked down the sidewalk, talking about things. They walked as far as to the nearby park, the trees making way so that they could see the shining stars clearly.
Jamie sighed as he turned on the car and pulled out of the parking lot. It was an hour later, 12:30, when they finally made it out of there. Sophie sat in the back seat, already digging through the stuff. She heard her phone buzz in her pocket.
"Oh, Jamie!" She said. "It looks like They went on a walk to the park, Baby Tooth, Oliver, and Jackson."
"Well we should really drop these boxes off at home." Jamie sighed.
"I know." Sophie smiled, reaching into one of the boxes. "Just saying."
Jamie continued to drive into the night, keeping his eyes on the road. The noise of Sophie shuffling through the box was the only thing in the background other then the outside sounds. He wondered what was inside. Nothing special, probably.
"Whoa" He heard Sophie gasp. "Wait wait wait. HOLD THE FUCK ON."
Jamie sighed in annoyance. "What is it, Sophie?" He was just pulling into the neighborhood.
"LOOK AT THIS!" Sophie held out something that glowed. Jamie looked at it through the mirror to his right. His eyes widen and he gasped, almost forgetting how to drive. He stopped driving and let the car sit at the side of the road. He unbuckled his seat-belt and turned around to face Sophie and the glowing snow-globe.
"Look at it!" Sophie has a grin that spread from ear to ear.
Jamie's arms started shaking. That globe was not just any globe. It was a magic globe. One that could take Baby Tooth home. One that could reconnect them with the guardians. It was one of North's globes. Jamie's eyes met Sophie's.
"What park did they say they were at again?"
He wasn't sure if it was really time for her to go home, but he couldn't stop it. He was merely a man on the moon. Maybe he was wrong. It didn't matter though. She still had a role to play. He'd let destiny play her game.
"Frost on the bench, huh?" Oliver sighed as he looked at the beautiful patterns on the wooden bench. "Didn't think it was that cold."
"Seems like something an artist would do, but this late at night? And it's not paint." Jackson sighed, swiping his finger across the frost, picking some up so that it melted in his warmth.
"I'm glad we went on this walk. I've never seen Savannah's sky like this before." Baby Tooth breathed out, gazing at the sky.
"Neither have I." Oliver smiled.
"I kind of wish it would be like this every night. It's peaceful like this." Jackson sighed.
Oliver paused and looked back to see the two standing by the bench. He sighed, his breath visible in the air.
"I guess we should head back. The walk did the trick and now i'm tired." He said.
"Same here." Jackson yawned.
Suddenly the three heard a car, and turned to see Jamie and Sophie parking at the side of the park. Confused, the three walked towards them, only to stop when they saw the siblings running towards them.
"BABY TOOTH!" They yelled. "BABY TOOOTH!"
"Looks like they're in a hurry." Oliver noted aloud.
"You think something is wrong?" Jackson looked worried.
The two looked over to see Baby Tooth's clam face with a smile on it. Her eyes were on the glowing thing in Sophie's hands.
"No, nothing is wrong."
Jamie and Sophie finally made it over to them.
"THIS WAS IN THE PACKAGE MOTHER SENT US!" Sophie said, shoving the glowing globe into Baby Tooth's hands.
Baby Tooth gasped, gazing at it as if it were an alien. It's glow reflected in her eyes. Oliver and Jackson stared in confusion. Baby Tooth was in awe for a long while before she looked up at Jamie and Sophie.
"W-w-where? W-w-what? How'd you get this!?" She gasped. Jackson noticed tears in her eyes.
"I think Bunny gave me one after the pitch invasion, just in case I wanted to surprise visit him!" Sophie explained from the best of her memory. "I think I lost it in my messy room. I guess mother found it and put it in the attic! She probably thought it was just Christmas decoration!"
"But you know what this means!?" Jamie grinned. "YOU CAN GO HOME!"
"I CAN!" Baby Tooth said loudly with a laugh somewhere in her voice. She stepped back as realization fell upon her.
"I can go home! A-after, I don't know, 13, 14, maybe even 15 years, I can finally go home!" She yelled.
"What is going on?" Jackson asked, but not loud enough.
"I can't wait to see the look on Jack's face!" Jamie laughed.
"A-AND TOOTH! AND YOUR SIBLINGS! ALL OF THEM!" Sophie giggled, throwing her arms into the air.
"WHAT IS GOING ON!?"
Baby Tooth, Sophie, and Jamie stopped and turned to see Oliver and Jackson, both confused and frowning. Jamie and Sophie turned to look at Baby Tooth. She looked at them and then at the globe.
"What do you mean home? What is this? What is that globe?" Jackson asked, unintentionally sounding angry. "Who's Jack and Tooth and since when did you have siblings?"'
Oliver stood there silently, waiting to see what would happen next. Jackson stole the words right out of his mouth. Now all he wanted was an answer.
"W-Well...Um..." Baby Tooth stepped back. She looked down at the globe. And then she got an idea.
Now showing then right to the heart of the guardian's world would confuse them and end in agony, plus they had their trial in the morning. But...starting off slow never killed anyone. And she was closer to home then she'd ever been. She looked up at Jackson and Oliver.
"I know this is crazy, but if I asked you if you believed in Santa and the Easter Bunny and the Tooth fairy and all that crazy stuff, what would you say?"
Jackson and Oliver stared at her. She said that so powerfully. Jackson took a deep breath and stepped back, standing next to Oliver.
"Well." Oliver crossed his arms. "I'm wasn't the one who covered the bottom of the tree with presents when you were younger. I didn't have that kind of money. And I'm pretty sure it wasn't a robber who'd do that. Unless that makes mister Santa clause a robber."
Baby Tooth, Jamie, and Sophie smiled. They looked at Jackson.
"Well...um...i'm not sure. Oliver sure is hell right. But it seems childish to say I still would, even after the childhood I had." Jackson wasn't sure what kind of question this was.
Baby Tooth chuckled. "Do you really think Little Apple could afford all those presents we got on Christmas? Do you really think they'd be able to hide 5 eggs for each kid every Easter? And what do you think happened their teeth?"
Jackson shrugged. "They could have just thrown them out. Look, I don't see where you are going with this."
"What she is trying to say is that they are real." Jamie stepped in. " And she knows them personally."
Oliver chuckled. "Well then, let's see for ourselves. Prove it, my dear."
Baby Tooth looked down at the globe. "Let's not be quick." She whispered.
"What are you going to do?" Sophie asked.
"Yeah." Jackson crossed his arms.
Baby Tooth smirked.
"BURGESS!" She called out. The globe changed inside, showing a picture of the streets of Burgess, night time for sure.
She then threw it at the ground with a soft, yet strong force. It didn't break. No, it turned into a strange portal. Jackson and Oliver stepped back, their eyes wide with curiosity.
"Come on!"
Jamie and Sophie jumped through it first. Oliver chuckled aloud before jumping in. Baby Tooth began to walk inside, but stopped when she saw Jackson. He looked liked a dear in headlights. She took a deep breath and held out her hand.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"...I don't get this." Jackson looked at her.
"I know it seems crazy...and I know it's not really the best time...but Jackson." She paused. "I've been waiting my whole human life for this, and I'm not about to wait until after the trail to see my mother again."
Jackson almost forgot to breath.
"Mother? Human?" He asked. "Baby Tooth...what is this?"
She pulled back her hand. "I...haven't told you everything about me...But I know you are a kind person...and I know you'll understand."
Jackson stepped back. "You sound like you're leaving."
"But I'm not." Baby Tooth rose her voice. "I just...really want to see my mother and the family I used to have. We'll be back at home before the trail starts. Heck, we might still have time to sleep when we get back to Oliver's."
"...Okay..." Jackson took a deep breath. "But I want you to explain everything to me."
"All in due time. Now come one. I bet they are waiting for us in burgess."
Baby Tooth grabbed Jackson's hand and they jumped into the portal together. The portal closed once this happened.
"Finally! What took you so long?" Jamie asked, feeling like a kid again.
"Nothing! Don't worry!" Baby Tooth smiled, still dragging Jackson by the hand.
"SHH!" Sophie hissed. She pointed down the road, which they were at the side of. The other four looked up to see a boy flying the air, looking the other way at the moon. The boy had a staff and white hair, a blue jacket, and brown pants.
"Who's that?" Oliver smiled in awe.
"It's Jack Frost!" Sophie whispered.
"Now watch this." Jamie grinned, finding a loaded nerf gun sticking out of the snow. It was colder here then in Savannah.
Baby Tooth watched in awe, along with Oliver, Jackson, and Sophie, as Jamie slowly walked down the middle of the street towards the flying winter spirit. Cocking the toy gun, Jamie stopped about a half a block away from the oblivious spirit. He got down on one knee and held up the gun, looking down the middle of the fake weapon to aim. He fired. He grinned when he watched his ammo hit the startled spirit.
"Boom, head shot." Jamie laughed.
Shocked into being pushed off balance, the winter spirit jumped out of his skin and the wind dropped him to the snow covered road below. He gasped loudly, hitting his head on the ground. He groaned and picked the nerf gun bullets off of him. He knew this was a kid's toy and so grinned, thinking maybe one of the neighborhood kids snuck out to play with him. He laughed and looked up, expecting to see them. Instead, Jack Frost saw a man. A man with the face of his first believer. Jack's hair stood on edge and his gasped, his mouth dropping. Jamie stood there, holding out his hand. Sophie and the others began to run over.
"It was never this easy taking you down in snow-ball fights." Jamie laughed.
Jack struggled to look for words.
"J-J-JAMIE!"
Jack Frost grabbed Jamie's hand. The young adult helped pull the spirit up. The winter spirit then attacked his first believer in ice-cold emotional hugs.
The wind seemed happy too.
Note:
I have waited forever to write this.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
Thanks for the reviews and follows! THEY ARE VERY MEANINGFUL!
(((Christmas is on the 25th and this is the 25th chapter haha i didn't even plan this.)))