~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Author's Notes~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey y'all I think I left you all in suspense for long enough. I updated my other story and thought 'man I'm on a roll!' So I here you are.
Also I know this chapter don't have much Pitch or Jack air time, but the next chapters will make up for it.
Disclaimer- mild scrap between two small characters. Don't own RoTG. Possible spelling/grammatical errors...hey it's like 4 am so I'm entitled to have a few.
Chapter 25: Dark side
Wind whipped through his hair as he sped across the desert sky, heat form the sun beat down upon his flesh. Voices of his fellow Guardians carried after him upon the winds, each one pleading for him to turn back.
Although he knew that they were concerned and wanted to help him, he just couldn't get himself to stop. His spirit told him to turn around, but his mind and body urged him forward. Like there was some invisible force pushing him to continue on, to not slow down no matter what. He didn't know where he was going, nor did he care, all that mattered was he get out of there and fast.
It wasn't long after Jack left that North had ordered everyone back into the sleigh. Sandy's plan was simple, go beat the truth out of Pitch and if need be, smack some sense into Jack.
Once in the air North positioned his sleigh west and snapped the reigns with renewed vigor. Bunny clenched the edge of his seat, his eyes clenched shut whispering over and over for it to end. Even with all of his rage and determination he just couldn't get use to flying.
Sandy sat in the back of the sleigh using his dream sands to secure Stevie down; unlike everyone else the boy wasn't immortal so falling out could be rather disastrous. Originally
they were going to leave the boy behind when they left, but after everything that has happened they thought twice about it.
Tooth clung on to the railing closest to North her feathers ruffling in the wind, "North, do you even know where we need to go? I mean we have no idea where Jack went, and Pitch could be anywhere!"
North smirked at the inquisitive fairy, "But of course, we are headed to Burgess where else?"
"O-oi mate, I-I don't mean to sound pessimistic but w-what makes you think we are going to find either one of them there, WILL YOU STOP DOING THE LOOP-DE-LOOPS!" Bunny belted over the wind as North had once again flipped the sleigh around in the air.
"Come now Bunny, everyone likes the loopy-de-loops!" he exclaimed ignoring the original question.
"I am not everyone, besides your scaring the kid!"
"This is AWESOME!" the boy whooped from the backseat, his hands in the air alongside Sandy.
Tooth giggled at the sight behind her, "Looks like that blows your excuse out of the water Bunny."
Pulling out one of his magic snow globes North whispered his destination and chucked it ahead of the sleigh. Shattering into nothingness the globe was immediately replaced with a swirling vortex of various colors, its pull of magic beckoning the travelers to venture inside.
Bunny clenched his eyes tighter awaiting the inevitable push/pull sensation that was sure to over take his scenes at any moment. Tooth stole a glance back to see Sandy and Stevie beaming with excitement. Knowing the sight of the vortex the reindeer spared no time in lunging trough it, pulling along with them their precious cargo.
Jamie found himself wondering through Burgess Park not far from his house, his instincts told him that for what ever reason he needed to be here right now. Much to his surprise his instincts were spot on, for not long after his arrival did the ever familiar vortex of lights appear in the sky.
Like a vacuum in space Santa Clauses sleigh was spat out into the open sky, every one aboard looking active and lively as ever. North peered over the side and gave Jamie a slight wave, who returned the gesture with much fervor.
Jamie knew the Guardian's returning here meant either one of two things: either Jack was with them and they were just setting the children's fear to rest; or Jack was still missing and they needed more clues. As much as he had wished it was number one, he knew that was not the case. If he didn't know better he would have thought Santa's 'gut instinct' was rubbing off on him.
Running as fast as little feet could carry him-hopping over various fallen trees and bushes-Jamie made it to North's landing zone. Before the contraption could even finish landing Bunny had hopped over the side and crash landed to the ground. Laying flat upon the earth a huge sigh of relief escaped deflating him like a giant windbag.
"Now Bunny it was not that bad." North remarked.
Bunny glared at him from where he laid, "Oh yes it was. I swear you are never getting me back on that death trap again!"
"Oh Bunny you say that practically every time after a long flight."
"I mean it this time Tooth, that man is a menace. Mark my words, it will be a cold day in my warren before I'll step foot on that thing again."
Jamie just shook his head at the most ridiculous argument. He had herd Jack tell him numerous times about how fun riding in the sleigh was; he also explained the prank he pulled on Bunny, so he figured that perhaps the rabbit acted this way for good reason. What with him being the only real one ground bound out of the group, well technically North was too, but the point was only one of them actually left the ground on a simi-normal basis.
Tooth spotted Jamie shaking his head and flew quickly to his side; she looked around the forest for the other children but spotted none. "Hello Jamie, where are all of your friends?"
Shrugging his shoulder slightly he responded, "probably at their houses why?"
Bunny perked up his ears at the kids answer and decided to ask the next question, "If that's the case, why are you out here all alone?"
Jamie gave a half smile and turned to the six foot rabbit, "Well I felt it in my gut that you guys would be here."
North beamed at the news, "HA! You see, gut never fails! Jamie you are truly a boy after my own heart."
"Or stomach." Bunny coughed into his hand.
"Aw that so neat, it's like he's a mini North and mini Jack all balled into one!" the Fairy chirped aloud.
"Speaking of Jack where is he?" Jamie asked aloud. All the Guardians tensed for a moment but didn't answer; Jamie knew something was really wrong.
Sandy emerged from the back of the group, his golden sands displaying images of everything that happened with Jack. Even though they didn't want to spoke the boy, Jamie had a right to know. Jamie and Jack shared a very special kind of bond and friendship. It was only fair that he was told of what was going on. It described all the events right down to the time when Jack flew off into the unknown away from them.
"Well I guess the good thing is that you found him, even if it was for only a little while." Jamie chimed in; the boy certainly knew how to stay optimistic. "So what are you guys planning on doing now? Will you look for Pitch or Jack first?"
They had to hand it to the boy; he was super fast at processing information. That was a rather unique talent for a boy at his age; once again the Guardian's were impressed.
Everyone started to mutter different ideas and plans aloud, no one really picking on which on they should choose. Jamie listened half heartedly to their ramblings when movement on the sleigh caught his eye. Leaning sideways Jamie peered around the group to take a closer look. What ever sat in the sleigh moved back upon Jamie's inspection, this only made the boy more curious.
Removing him self from the group he walked over to the sleigh and began to look around. When his head peaked behind the banister of on of its sides he spotted the back of a familiar little boy.
"Stevie?" Jamie questioned, the boy jolted at his name being called but didn't turn. He had faced the wrath of the Guardian's so facing the wrath of Jamie should be a walk in the park right? Wrong…for some unexplained reason, facing this kid was harder than facing any of the others.
Jamie frowned when the boy didn't turn so he tried again, this time with a little more energy. "Stevie, hey I'm talking to you."
Hearing the sudden voice of Jamie behind them the Guardians turned to see what was going on.
"This should be interesting." Bunny muttered to the group, all of them nodded in agreement.
Stevie turned slightly and glanced at Jamie, upon doing so Jamie's eyes narrowed. This intern caused Stevie to spring up and jump out of the back of the sleigh. At first the Guardian were concerned that the boy would hurt him self from the fall, but their worries changed to a different subject when they noticed Jamie race around to cut off Stevie's only exit.
"Where are you going?" Jamie inquired rather angrily.
"Nowhere."
"Really, it didn't look like nowhere to me. Mind telling me why you were going nowhere?"
Stevie glared back at the boy in front of him, "Why do you care where I go?"
"Why shouldn't I care?!"
"What do you mean why?"
"I am asking you that!"
"I don't know!"
"Exactly you don't know! You really are stupid!"
"Hey, I know I messed up alright you don't have to call me names!"
"Your right you did mess up, and I'll call you stupid because that's what you are Stupid!"
Stevie found him self going from sad and guilty with fear of facing Jamie, to enraged and angry at him in the span of five seconds.
"What is your problem?!"
"You, you're my problem!"
Stevie shoved passed Jamie in a huff, what no one knew about Jamie however was that there were three things you should never ever do around him. One: don't ever hurt or insult his family. Two: never hurt or insult his friends. Three: don't ever touch him when he is defending one or two. Like a gunshot went off Jamie found himself lunging after Stevie.
Everyone freaked at the sudden spontaneous outburst form what they deemed as the nicest child they've meet in this century. Stevie responded in kind to the random attack by attacking back. Each boy grappled and tugged at each other like two wild dogs fighting for the upper hand.
"Guys do something!" Tooth chirped in alarm as the boys fell to the ground in the struggle. Before they could act the two kids started yelling at each other again.
"You are so stupid! You did all of this just so you could get a friend?!"
"Shut up Jamie, like I expect you to understand anything!"
"Of course I don't understand, you never let me even try!"
"Yeah right! Your only saying that because of what I did to Jack!"
"This has nothing to do with Jack!"
"Oh yeah then why are you so mad at me?!"
"Because you left without saying goodbye, I thought we were friends!"
Stevie's struggling halted as he looked confused at the other boy, "What?"
"You heard me, I thought we were friends! We played games, jokes, and shared such fun times with each other. I even told you secrets I never told anyone other human. Was I the only one who thought we were friends? I was so worried when you left that I asked anyone and everyone for information about where you were!"
"That can't be true…"
"Why, because you say so? Dude, if I knew you needed me to come out and tell you I was your friend everyday I would have! I would have told you that every single day if I had to, but oh no you just had to be all stupid and jump to the first conclusion!"
Stevie shook his head and in disbelief, his eyes gazing down at the ground, a small smile playing on his lips, "Stupid huh?"
Jamie smiled too, even though he was exhausted he obviously got through, "Yeah…Stupid."
"So you aren't mad at me over Jack?"
"Well I'm upset that you went to Pitch of all people rather than just asking Jack; but I know Jack doesn't blame you so why should I?"
Stevie really was getting surprise after surprise recently, "So I have just one more question?"
"Shoot?"
"Why did you just freaking attack me?"
Jamie gave a sheepish smile and looked away, "Well uh that's what friends do…sorta. I was trying to get through to you, I don't like it when anyone hurts those I care about, even when its themselves. When you just pushed me away I kinda just snapped, sorry."
"Jamie you really are something" Stevie huffed as he stood up.
Brushing himself off Jamie smile triumphantly, "I know."
From the sidelines the Guardians just stood dumfounded.
"What just happened?" Tooth asked nervously to the others.
"Shelia, that what we fellas call bonding."
"Aww, dose that mean all these squabbles between you and Jack are really just bonding moments?" she asked excitedly.
"That is not the same thing, besides Jack deserves every kick and egg bomb I throw at 'em!"
Tooth rolled her eyes at the obvious lie; Bunny really was the big brother of their family after all, even if he didn't like to admit it openly.
"Good, now no more fighting or both of you will be on naughty list this year!" North bellowed at the two.
Both boys exchanged a glance of shock before acting like nothing ever happened.
"Now, that we have all of this out of the way. It's high time we formulated a plan, I say we strike at Pitch first."
"That's great Bunny, but where is his lair? The only time I remember ever finding it was years ago. If what Jack told me it moved from there to somewhere around here, well at least that was until we last defeated him."
"Hold on let me think…think think think think Ah-HA! Idea, let us capture nightmare and make it lead us back to lair!"
"Exactly how do you plan on doing that mate? Last time I checked getting one of those buggers to cooperate was neigh impossible."
"Well I got an Idea." The small voice of Jamie echoed over the group.
Tooth flew forward being the first to asked the question, "Oh, and what's that sweety?"
"First we get a dream catcher…"
Dundun dun! What does Jamie have up his sleeve now? Stay tuned! Ill be updating more often. Also if you want a good laugh and new adventure take a look at my newest RoTG story.
-Skye out