A Rise of the Guardians / Guardians of Childhood Fanfic
By Sakura Martinez
Disclaimer: I do not own Rise of the Guardians or the Guardians of Childhood series. It would have been awesome if I did, but I don't. Those belong to William Joyce and Dreamworks Animation.
Summary: Pitch's parting words to Jack and the other Guardians of Childhood during the Battle of Belief held a clear message: The Guardians may have won the battle, but the war was far from over. Now, Pitch is rallying the forces of darkness, calling to arms a dark and sinister group: The Fright Knights. The battle to end the war is underway, but are the Guardians ready?
Rise of the Fright Knights
Chapter Fifty-One
A Prelude to Battle
There was something different with Baby Tooth. It wasn't just Toothiana who noticed it, but the other Mini Fairies did too. Even Jack, who had not been friends with her for too long, could tell that something was up. The only one who seem to know what it was, however, was Baby Frost, and Toothiana didn't know if she could get Jack's Snow Fairy to tell her.
If it hadn't been against her promise to give them privacy as they gave her, Toothiana would have simply peered into the link between her mind and Baby Tooth. But she wasn't that kind of a person, no matter how curious she was.
Whatever it was Baby Tooth had going, Baby Frost didn't seem to like it but had no choice but to follow her lead. It was strange watching the two fairies.
"Why do I have a feeling that those two are plotting something and Baby Tooth is the one taking the lead?" Jack asked, eyes at the Snow Fairy and the Mini Fairy, as he flew side-by-side with Toothiana, making their way back to the Pole.
"Baby Tooth doesn't scheme things," she told him with a roll of her eyes. She looked pointedly at him and said, "She doesn't know how. Well, she didn't until she met you. You're being an awfully bad example to my fairies, you know."
Jack chuckled. He knew she didn't mean anything by it. And, truth be told, he sometimes think what Tooth had said was true.
He then flew so close beside her that their shoulders touched and made her shiver. In a low voice—one Tooth really couldn't understand why he was making use of—he whispered, "You can act like you're not bothered with Baby Tooth acting secretive, Tooth. But I can tell that you are. Besides, I'm pretty sure you have schemes of your own, Your Majesty."
Honestly, though, she was more bothered by the Winter King's proximity and the way his cold, minty breath tickled her ears as he whispered to her, than she was with whatever it was Baby Tooth and Baby Frost were planning.
"Baby Tooth," the Snow Fairy warned. He had seen a glint in the Mini Fairy's eyes when King Frost had closed in on Queen Toothiana and whispered something to her ear. "Don't."
'What?' came the Mini Fairy's defensive reply, as though she had been caught doing something she shouldn't.
"I may not have known you for long, but I know that look." Baby Frost said, already he was thinking of how to contain her if she did decide to do something. He didn't think the king, the queen, or the Mini Fairies would appreciate Baby Tooth being restrained in any way. "King Frost wears that look when he plans to do something that would invite trouble."
Again, he wondered when their roles had been reversed. He was the Snow Fairy; the one who should be instigating pranks and making plans to cause mischief like his king would, not the one who tries to nip such plans in the bud.
He certainly haven't felt much like himself since King Frost did…whatever it was he did to make him look like a round-faced version, a much younger, child-like version, of himself. As far as he knew, the Winter King of old couldn't do what Jack did. The Winter King's powers of creation were limited. The only discernible features he made for the Snow Fairies were their different headgear. If King Frost could change him the way he did, then who knows if the King's power could also re-imagine the way the other Snow Fairies looked.
If that was the case, he hoped they all didn't end up looking like King Frost.
'You're just seeing things.' He was most definitely not imagining that look. 'Besides, when I make a move, it would be something that couldn't backfire on us.'
Baby Frost doubted that. Call him a pessimist, but they were far too ill-equipped to do anything that wouldn't backfire, or invite trouble. If they wanted to hurry things along with King Frost and Queen Toothiana's relationship, they would need something as extreme like Cupid's "Love Army", or whatever it was that Eros Sureshot called his helpers.
He didn't tell Baby Tooth that. It was better if he didn't say anything that would give her any more crazy and wild ideas. He already has his hands full, thank you very much.
And although he was certain to regret asking, he was curious as to what Baby Tooth meant by what she said, "And what would that involve?"
'Talking with Eros Sureshot.' That effectively placed a horrifying look on Baby Frost's face. Of all the things she could have replied with, that was the one thing he fervently hoped she wouldn't think of. Talking, after all, involved a lot of time searching for Cupid. Time, which, Baby Tooth had told him they had so little of.
Baby Frost could just sigh and hope that Baby Tooth would change her mind once she sees how time consuming that would be. "You said we didn't have much time…We don't even know where he is."
For whatever reason, Baby Tooth had convinced herself that it would be better to have the two Guardians confess their feelings for one another before the imminent battle with Pitch and his Fright Knights than when things have settled down.
'Yes we do,' Baby Frost almost lost his ability to fly upon hearing those words. He wondered how that was possible. 'Eros is with the other spirits back at North's Workshop. I saw him there.'
Really, what has he gotten himself involved with this time?
E. Aster Bunnymund squinted at the little, hovering fairy before him. His brows furrowed. His nose twitched. He wondered if it was an omen of things to come. The world, after all, must be spiraling out of control if Fate had decided it needed two Jack Frosts.
"Um," the Snow Fairy squirmed under his gaze. "Could you please not look at me like that? You look like you're just about ready to eat me."
What the bloody hell is Jack Frost thinking?!
"Bunny…" it was the Jack Frost, the real one, who spoke with warning.
"I'm not goin' to eat him," Bunnymund sniffed. "I don't eat meat…or snow. Can you explain to me again how he ended up looking like you?"
"Don't bother," Toothiana replied on Frost's behalf. "Jack doesn't know either."
"Uh-huh…" It was, in Bunnymund's humble opinion, quite irresponsible for Jack Frost to leave it at that. Wasn't he curious? Is he certain there are no side-effects for the poor, little Snow Fairy to suddenly be turned into his look-alike? He would've had a mental breakdown if something like that would've happened to him.
Again, he didn't dislike Jack Frost. He was simply perfectly happy being a Pooka. Even if he was still as intimidating as a blade of grass.
"Are North and Pyro done with their plans?" Jack sounded like he didn't like asking the question, which also meant that he had heard what his part in it was going to be. Or, rather, what Toothiana's part in it would be.
"Almost," Bunnymund replied as he began to lead the two other Guardians, along with Baby Tooth and the Snow Fairy, to the Guardian's meeting room. "Everyone's makin' preparations already. Pyro said it's not going to take long before Pitch has his Fright Knights attackin'. He thinks they'll be targeting Sandy and you, Tooth."
"Me?" Tooth didn't think she would be attacked again so soon, not since Pyro was no longer after her.
"Pyro seems to believe that Pitch had no reason to think North and I are still alive," Bunnymund explained. "As for you, Jack, Pitch didn't believe what the Monkey King had said about you becoming more powerful than before. So they're targeting whom they believe are the last of the Guardians of Childhood: Tooth and Sandy."
He didn't need to look at Jack to know that the Guardian of Fun didn't like what he had heard. Anything involving the Queen of the Toothfairies being in danger always turns on his protective instinct. He also didn't have to be psychic to know what Jack was going to say…or that said Guardian would even say anything.
"And North is just fine to keep them thinking that?" Bunnymund couldn't help smiling. There it was, the indignant question.
"It makes things more flexible for us," he replied. "Flexible" was the exact same adjective North had used. "Let them focus on Sandy and Tooth while North and I focus on the actual rescue, and you and Pyro on defeating Pitch."
"This is worse than the plan North first cooked up!" Snow had begun to fall heavily outside—a testament to Jack Frost's temper.
"Don't be mad at me, mate." Bunnymund raised his hand up in surrender, still hopping to their destination. "I'm just sharin' what I know."
"Really, Jack?" Tooth had found the opportunity to add. Glancing at the Guardian of Memories, she seemed equally annoyed and grateful for Jack's outburst. "How many times do I have to tell you I can defend myself. Besides, North has a point."
"I know you can," Jack said, then he mumbled something about a punch which Bunnymund failed to completely comprehend but which made Tooth blush. Bunnymund made a mental note to ask her about it later. "But you and Sandy against Nyx, Krampus, and that monkey? That doesn't seems fair."
"Again, you can save your complaints for North." Bunnymund sighed. He really didn't like explaining anything that has to do with Tooth being in danger to Jack. "For the record, Sandy isn't perturbed by it either, Jack."
There was tension in the room.
The Sandman had thought that when the time came for everyone to be gathered inside one room, such tension would be caused by Jack and Pyro. He didn't imagine it would be between Nicholas St. North and the Winter King.
"No. We will not change plans." North squared off with Jack. "Sandy and Tooth are fine with it."
"But that's two against three!" Jack held true to his argument, the very same argument he had, ever since stomping into the room. "At least let me stay with them."
"No." It was such a quick answer from North. Sandy wondered if the Guardian of Wonder had rehearsed everything Jack might say and what he would answer for each and every one of Jack's possible reactions. "You will go with Pyro to fight Pitch. Bunny and I will free children. End of story."
"But—!"
"End. Of. Story." North had all but bellowed as he glared at Jack. Jack glared right back at him.
Frustrated with the turn of events, Jack stomped out of the room, slamming the door shut behind him, without another word. Outside of the workshop, a snowstorm raged.
Pyro whistled. "And I thought I was the hot-headed one."
"Pyro…" North sighed, warning the Flame Spirit not to say anything more as he rubbed his forehead.
"What? I'm just saying."
Toothiana flew up, she look just as tired as North did. "I'll get him back, maybe even talk some sense into him."
"Please, do that." North nodded, letting Tooth go.
As soon as Tooth left, North slumped further down his chair. Everyone's eyes were on the Guardian of Wonder.
"As hardheaded as Jack is being, he does have a point, North." Bunnymund said after a while, scratching his ears with his forepaw. "Two against three is pretty dangerous, even if it is Tooth and Sandy."
"I don't mind going toe-to-toe with Pitch on my own," Pyro also supplied, though the Sandman doubted the Flame Spirit was being generous to what Jack wanted. "I would rather I fight him by myself, to tell you guys the truth."
"Ain't happenin'," Bunny interjected. He still didn't trust Pyro to get the job done and not betray them. And he didn't bother to hide that fact, saying, "I'm still not willing to trust you a hundred percent."
Pyro shrugged, nonplused by what the Guardian of Hope had said. He expected such words. "Suit yourselves. Good luck trying to get Frost to stick to the plan, though, what with his Queen being in-trouble and all."
"His Queen?" North asked, looking first at Bunnymund (who snorted), then at the Sandman (who shrugged).
"Toothiana. Who else?" Pyro replied, befuddled that he'd even have to clarify that.
'Tooth's not his queen…yet' were the first words Sandy spoke during that gathering. He didn't think Pyro Jack would understand the symbols that flashed as he spoke, and was surprised when the Flame Spirit did.
"Really?" Pyro quirked an eyebrow, crossing his arms and placing his feet atop the wooden table much to the displeasure of Bunnymund and North. "I wouldn't have guessed that with the way he acts with and towards her, especially when I attacked Punjam Hy Loo. So, what's the issue between the two of them? Is there, like, a taboo against the Queen of the Toothfairies getting together with a commoner like him?"
"Jack's not a commoner," Bunnymund snorted. "He's the Winter King."
"No, he's not." Pyro wasn't looking at them when he spoke. His eyes were on the ceiling. The mention of the Winter King made him frown. "I've…met with the Winter King."
"Killed him you mean," Really, everyone knew that, why skirt the issue?
Pyro's eyes hardened, though he still had his gaze in the ceiling. Bunnymund was about to say something else, possibly, something antagonistic again, when Sandy nudged North.
North, not wanting to get another migraine from a possible argument between the Easter Bunny and the Flame Spirit, said, "Jack was crowned Winter King after you killed the old one."
Pyro almost fell off his chair. His eyes widened as he gasped, "You're kidding!"
"No." North chuckled. "Were you not listening to rumors? The whole spirit community has been talking about it since it happened. Besides, didn't you notice Jack wearing different clothes now? And what about that crown on his forehead?"
"First of all, I don't waste my time with rumors." Pyro said. "Secondly, I thought he just wanted to try some new outfit or something, like getting a fresh new start after I wiped the floor with him the first time we fought."
Bunnymund snorted once more, but didn't say anything.
"Winter King, huh…" Pyro whistled again, returning to his earlier position. "So that's why he was stronger. That human kid had nothing to do with it at all."
'That kid is Nathalie's twin brother, Jackie.' Sandy told the Flame Spirit. 'The same Jackie you wanted to kidnap.'
"Jackie Bennett? You mean, he wasn't in Burgess?" Pyro asked the Guardian of Dreams. When Sandy answered his question, Pyro couldn't help shaking his head, "Damn. That was an utter waste of time then. I can't believe Frost managed to trick me into thinking he was there to protect the kid."
"It was just dumb luck Jack was there," North explained to the new Guardian. "He wouldn't have visited Burgess if Jamie hadn't asked to speak with him."
The topic they had been discussing irritated Bunnymund. His eyes twitched. They were wasting time talking about things that had passed. If Pyro wanted to learn about those things, he should leave it at a later date, when they didn't have to prepare for battle—and he told them that.
"Let's go back to plannin', shall we?" he tried his best to be polite about it, though.
North nodded. They will go with the plan he and Pyro had made, regardless of what Jack though. Though Sandy could tell North was fervently hoping Tooth could calm the Winter King down and talk some sense into him. If not, it might not be Pyro who ruins it for them but Jack Frost instead.
Jack wanted to scream. Creating a snowstorm was not enough. He wanted to hurl something through the raging wasteland of snow and ice. He knew he needed to control his temper, but the thought of Toothiana and the Sandman having to deal with three strong spirits by themselves didn't sit well with him.
Why can't they see how dangerous it is to let Tooth and Sandy fight by themselves? Jack let a blast of ice fly from the palm of his hand. It hit and caked a nearby pillar in a thick sheen of frost. Having found a place—or rather, a thing—to focus his anger on, Jack let fly another blast of ice magic at the pillar. Pitch already knows I'm still around. I should be with Tooth and Sandy. Pyro can handle Pitch by himself. He'd want to.
The more he thought about it, the angrier and more frustrated and upset he got—which in turn caused the weather to get colder and snow to fall harder. Even the Wind—Boreas—howled, affected by his mood as well.
He was caught up in his own anger—at himself, at North, and at everything going on—that he didn't notice he was no longer the only one out in the cold harsh weather of the North Pole. Toothiana was watching him, an unreadable expression on her face.
Seeing Tooth stopped him from throwing another blast of ice. He felt embarrassed that she saw him throwing a tantrum and taking all his anger out on the pillar. Unable to meet her gaze or even look at her for long, the Winter King turned away, hands clutching his staff tightly as he let the snowstorm disappear.
Jack hoped that Toothiana would get the message and leave him alone. He didn't feel like having some company, even if it was her. Still, Jack expected Tooth to fly towards him, place a hand on his shoulder or forearm, and chastise him. He was expecting her to do what she always does. But when he didn't feel her warmth beside him, when he didn't hear her say anything, Jack wondered if he had gotten his wish and she had left him by his lonesome.
The Guardian of Fun sighed, his eyes looking so far away but not really saying anything.
Well, I did wish for her to leave me alone. He thought bitterly.
Jack had left it at that and had begun contemplating on leaving the Pole, when something cold and wet hit the back of his head. It didn't hurt, but it did surprise him enough that he wheeled around, ready to give the person responsible a piece of his mind.
Jack managed to quickly change the snarl that had formed in his lips to a thin straight line. He rubbed the back of his head as he frowned at Toothiana who had one of her hands on her hips and the other juggling a snowball. She had one of her eyebrows raised and a small, playful smile playing on her lips. The way she looked at him made it seem like she was actually daring him to get mad at her for throwing a snowball at him.
He didn't understand what the look she was giving him was for, until the Queen of the Toothfairies hurled the snowball in her hands straight at the unsuspecting Winter King's face. It hit Jack Frost right at the bridge of his nose, the place where he, himself, aims at whenever he threw snowballs.
His expression must've been something, because Tooth began laughing earnestly.
"What was that for?" Jack asked tentatively as he wiped the remnants of the snowball from his face.
"What? Are snowball fights no longer fun for you, Mr. Grumpy-Pants?" Toothiana grinned as she scooped another handful of snow and began to create another snowball.
"Grumpy-Pants?" Disbelief coated Jack's features. "Did you actually just call me 'grumpy'?"
"I did," there was no remorse in Tooth's voice as she answered. "Don't tell me you haven't noticed how you've been acting, Jack. Your mood swings are worse than a pregnant woman's."
She threw the snowball in her hands at Jack. This time, however, Jack was ready and he easily stopped the snowball from hitting him in the face again. The snowball hovered a couple of inches away from him.
Toothiana was unperturbed with how Jack managed to stop her snowball, as she scooped up another handful of snow and began to make yet another snowball.
Again, Jack quirked an eyebrow. "Are you trying to start a snowball fight with me?"
Tooth, in reply, threw the snowball at him while saying, "If you remember how."
Jack didn't really understood what she meant by that, but he smirked.
Without a moment's hesitation, he lobbed the snowball he had stopped in midair at Toothiana. The snowball hit its mark—as it was impossible for Jack Frost to miss—making Tooth gasp in surprise.
"You did not just throw a snowball at me." Tooth said in disbelief. Why she was astounded that he retaliated, Jack didn't know. Nor did he particularly care at that moment.
"Well, you were asking for it." Jack was cocky as he spoke.
Instead of putting to words what she thought of that cocky attitude, Toothiana grabbed a handful of snow and, with the snowstorm gone, flew into the air, before launching the snowball at Jack Frost. The Winter Spirit ducked, the snowball missed him by a wide berth.
"You should work on your aim, Your Majes—" He never got to finish what he was about to say as Tooth hit him with another snowball right at his face. He didn't expect Toothiana to use her speed to her advantage and have another snowball ready.
"What's wrong, Jack?" Taunted the Queen of the Toothfairies. "For the spirit who started snowball fights, you sure are lousy at it."
"Ha! Before this game is through, you're going to eat those words, Queen Toothiana." Was Jack's chosen reply.
And so, the impromptu snowball fight continued. Whatever anger Jack had completely dissipated as the two of them threw one snowball after another at each other. It wasn't long before Tooth's feathers were covered in snow, her nose were as red as her lips, and her cheeks rosy, and Jack had collapsed on the snow-laden ground. Both of them were laughing and exhausted from their game.
"How's that for a snowball fight?" Jack asked with a mischievous grin when their laughter had subsided.
Tooth smiled, "It was good. I got to see my Jack Frost and not someone who just looks like him."
Jack frowned, "What's that supposed to mean?"
Tooth rubbed her cold hands together. "Recently, you've become less and less like the Jack Frost the Guardian of Fun and more and more of something else."
"That's not true!" Jack argued, "I've been nothing but myself."
"Really? You're acting like how I imagined Pyro would act. You don't smile or laugh as much as you used to, unless I'm the one you're talking to. You're brow is always furrowed and you scowl more than you did before, like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders and you want to fix it all on your own. You're always arguing with North nowadays even." Toothiana enumerated. She looked disappointed when she spoke. "You know North only wants was best for everyone, Jack. You know the plan is the best one we have."
Jack closed his eyes, hoping to block the sight of the Queen of the Toothfairies. She was right, he knew that. But to be compared to Pyro? He cringed at the thought.
"I…I'm sorry. You're right," The Winter King sighed. "It's not as if I've forgotten who I am. I'm just frustrated with everything. The Winter Kingdom, Nathalie and the missing children, Pitch and his Fright Knights…and now North's plan. It's like everything that's been happening is meant to make me want to punch a hole in the wall. Or cause a blizzard somewhere. The only times when I feel like all of that is faraway…is when I'm with you."
Even though he was pretty sure Tooth was freezing, the Guardian of Memories still remained with him, even going so far as to sit on the snow right next to where he lay. At that moment, Jack wished he had the power to make snow disappear as he could make them appear just to keep her from freezing much more than she already was. All he could do was stop the light snow from falling.
"That's not entirely true, is it? All of those things, you don't need to face them all on your own. It's not just your problem. Besides, I was there in the room and you were still acting like a grumpy old man."
Jack snorted. "I'm not grumpy. I'm just upset with everyone."
The answer surprised Tooth even if it shouldn't have. She wondered if by 'everyone' Jack also included her. If that was the case, it was a first. Jack had never been upset with her before. Or if he had, he had never said anything or shown it in any way. And so, before she could stop herself, she blurted out, "Even me?"
"You and North." The Guardian of Fun glanced at her and tersely nodded. Then explained, "You're agreeing with him. I know it's the best option we have, but you don't even seem to care about the danger that you are willingly putting yourself into. I…I don't want to see you in danger, Tooth."
"I can handle myself," Toothiana reminded him. "Or did you seem to forget that? I'm a Guardian as well, Jack. Fighting whatever threatens the children of this world is part of the job."
"I know that."
"But you don't believe that I could hold my own against Krampus, the Maharaja, or Nyx." Tooth crossed her arms.
"That's not what I—"
"That's what you are saying, Jack." She looked pointedly at him. It was her turn to be upset. "You wouldn't be against North's plan if it didn't involve me having to fight them with Sandy. You don't think I could fight as well as you, or North, or Bunnymund, or even the Sandman for that matter. You know I can fight, but you don't believe it even when you have seen it from my past. You don't trust me."
Jack wanted to punch himself. How did their discussion turn around this way? He was supposed to be the one who's upset, not Toothiana.
"I didn't mean it like that, Tooth." Jack quickly tried to placate her.
He knew he had to explain himself. Explain why he was so against her putting herself in harm's way. But that would mean entering a territory he didn't really know what the outcome would be. Looking at the Queen of the Toothfairies who seemed just about as hurt as she was when she thought he had betrayed them to Pitch, the Winter King saw that he didn't have a choice. His plans of waiting and getting ready for the moment had gone.
The Queen waited for him to elaborate and she looked like she wanted to strangle him and prove just how capable a fighter she was.
"I don't want to see you in any danger. I don't want to know that you'll be in danger and not be able to do anything about it. And it's not because I'm a guy and I have a White Knight Syndrome, or something like that." The words flowed out of him, and he allowed them before he lost his nerves. Likewise, Jack forced himself to look at Toothiana in the eye and show her how sincere he was. "I just don't want to see you get hurt. I don't know what I would do if something were to happen to you…Well, I would probably end up going on a rampage. But that's beside the point. The point is, I care about you, Tooth."
Toothiana was flattered by what Jack had said, and surprised that he even said it. She knew that he cared for her. He had showed it through his actions again and again. His caring attitude, which was overshadowed by his penchant for causing trouble, had been one of the traits she had loved about him.
"I care about you and everyone else as well, Jack," Tooth began, "but I can assure you, you have nothing to worry about. Besides, you don't see me making such a huge fuss whenever you decide to do something reckless, or whenever North asks you to do anything dangerous."
"No, no. You don't understand." Jack groaned, quickly sitting up which, of course, surprised the Toothfairy. She was missing the point. Muttering to himself, he asked, "Do I really have to spell it out? I'm already out of my comfort zone as it is. This is not at all how I wanted it to go down. Ugh."
Before Tooth could ask him if she had said anything wrong that would warrant such a reaction, Jack turned to face her once more and blurted out, "Not like that. I care about you more than a friend should. More than I ever thought I could and would care about anybody when I woke up at the lake all those years ago. I'm afraid of losing you. I'm afraid that if I agree with North and Pyro's plan, I'll come back and learn that one of the Fright Knights had killed you. I don't know what I would do without you, Tooth. That's how much I care about you. That's how much I…" An exhale, followed by the words uttered in the smallest and barest of whispers, "I love you."
Of all the things Jack could have said—the things that Tooth actually thought he would say—such a thing wasn't even on her radar and whatever she had planned to say to him in response was lost. The day had finally come when Jack Frost had rendered her completely and utterly speechless.
Seeing the shock in Tooth's face, and her lack of speech, made Jack quickly apologize.
"I'm sorry," he said, his face a deeper shade of color than before and his eyes held fear and worry in them. "I shouldn't have said anything. You were asking for the reason behind my actions and I just didn't want to lie to you about that. It's…it's fine if you don't feel the same way. I mean, you can just forget I said anything."
Jack pushed himself up. At that moment, Tooth saw something in his eyes. It was an emotion she didn't think she would see in his eyes again: hurt.
"I should…I should get going. Apologize to North and the others," Jack stuttered, unable to look at Tooth again, the words stumbling out so quickly.
It took Toothiana a while to shake the surprise off. When she finally did, her brain continued to repeat the words Jack had said, which, of course, caused her to blushing. Her face, however, fell when she remembered the look he had given her. She was unable to stop Jack from leaving. He moved so quickly, even for her. And he didn't even wait for her response.
She had just decided to run—or, rather, fly—after Jack when Iris, one of the spirits currently working with them and the Spirit Goddess of Rainbows, popped in.
"Oh, there you are, Queen Toothiana," the prism-like spirit said in a high-pitched voice. "I've been looking for you, courtesy of Nicholas St. North."
Tooth hated the Spirit Goddess' timing. And whatever message North had for her. She had something important to deal with.
Her jumbled mess of thoughts made it impossible for her to even start wondering why North would make use of Iris when he could have just sent his elves, his Yetis, or even looked for her himself.
She needn't ask, however, as Iris provided the answer without even meaning to. "The Fright Knights have made their move. Their heading here right this moment. North wishes for you to get ready. The Sandman is already preparing for the imminent battle."
"Already?" Toothiana asked, shaking her head and pushing any thought of Jack away for the moment. She needed to focus. "Where are North and the others?"
"Nicholas and Bunnymund are already on their way to their designated assignment. At least, that's what he told me to tell you, Your Majesty." Iris replied. She spoke like a robot would with her answers perfectly rehearsed. "Jack Frost and Pyro Jack had just…" she paused for a moment. "They just left a second ago."
Without waiting for Tooth to say and ask anything else, not even waiting for the Queen of the Toothfairies to thank her for her services, Iris disappeared with a pop, leaving Toothiana by herself.
Not wanting to waste any time, the Guardian of Memories rushed to the foyer where she had been stationed by North, contacting her Mini Fairies and telling them all to be ready for battle. Her part was simple enough, and she knew she could handle it. All she needed to do was separate the Monkey King and Nyx from Krampus. After that, she and Sandy would make use of the workshop's maze-like interior—which had already been vacated by every spirit, Yeti, and elf that had been there to give the illusion that North was really dead and that no one stuck around to care for the place—to pick one Fright Knight off after another.
It was a simple plan, only made complicated by Jack Frost's words echoing in her head, the dejected look she saw pass over his face, and the way she berated herself for not being quick enough to speak.
Two-and-a-half decades, Jack Frost, and you chose now to tell me that? You have the lousiest timing in the history of spiritkind. Tooth thought to herself.
Author's Note:
And now I'm pretty sure some of you guys are just about ready to strangle me after what I did in this chapter. *laughs nervously*
Seriously though, it had to be done. I figured, this would be a little in character for Tooth: the shock of hearing Jack say what something like that, I imagined, would make her speechless and render her brain not to function enough to utter a reply. Jack, I believe, would also be embarrassed and would probably rush off when he isn't given a proper reply. He is, after all, so used to being turned down, but at the same time he is still afraid by it. And, well, talking about his feelings isn't exactly his strong suit, nor is it something he usually does. At least, that's what I think of him.
Anyways, this chapter had to be done to pave way for some events in the story's future. So, apologies to those who had the urge to tear their hair out in frustration with the turn of events. XD
Anywho, the next chapter will be on Sunday. Please do share your reaction to the story via reviews. I really want to know what you guys think. :)
Until next time, dream on; fly on!
