Sorry it's been so long! Christmas preparations have had me very, very busy. Mairead had a wretched Christmas last year, and we have been doing our utmost to make sure she has a good one this year.
Thank you for reading, Metaljinx! Always nice to get feedback. Bluefrosty27, thanks for your continued support.
Now, to pick up where I left off...
CHAPTER TWELVE: Telling North
Tooth and I got to North's village a little before dawn, flying our fastest all the way. Well, I was using my flying and frost-road-building by turns, having fun to quell the nervousness trying to creep up in my stomach. Tooth kind of shimmered a little when she flew, her wings beating so fast I could see only a blur.
We were welcomed by elves and yetis and ushered in to see Santa Claus himself. He acted pleased to see us as usual, but his eyes told me that our unexpected arrival worried him.
"There's no crisis," I told him quickly. "Just some things I need to discuss with you."
"Well, good," he said, visibly relaxing. "Pull up a chair. Have milk and cookies."
I couldn't help smiling a little as Tooth and I made ourselves comfortable. I took a cookie and nibbled a little, washed it down with some milk and then set my snack aside.
"I'm just going to dive right in," I told him. "A couple of weeks back, I got... sort of dragged to another world."
"Dragged? By whom?" North demanded. Then, seeming to reconsider priorities, he said, "Another world?"
Painstakingly, I did my best to explain Mairead's situation and the world that she lived in. North had many incredulous questions, but I won't bore you by putting them all in.
When he seemed to finally have a grasp of what I was talking about, he concluded. "Is very interesting. Could you take others there?"
"I... guess. Maybe," I said reluctantly. I hadn't really thought about it, and it definitely wasn't what I wanted to talk about now.
"Could others come here from there?" Tooth asked, looking like she felt threatened.
"Uh, maybe," I said, deciding not to mention Leo. "But I think it would be only under certain special circumstances. That's not what I wanted to tell you about, though."
From there, I brought up William Joyce's books and the Rise of the Guardians movie and showed North a copy of his story. He perused it with great interest, flipping the pages and stopping to look at a lot of the pictures. We discussed the similarities and differences between canons and our personal memories. Then I disclosed my concerns about the whole situation.
"I see cause for uncertainty, yes," North said, still looking at the book. "Is lots of memories here."
"Yes, but are they your memories?" I asked anxiously. "Do you remember Ombric and Katherine?"
"Of course, I do!" he exclaimed, surprising me.
"Well... what happened to them?"
He stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Some I remember," he said at last. "Some I do not."
"That's what I was afraid of. I've introduced ideas from these books into our world without even meaning to... because I can't help but believe that they're true."
"Ah, belief is very powerful, as you know," North said. He held up the book. "I keep this?"
"If you want to," I said. "I've read the whole thing already. And the next one."
"Next one is about Toothiana?"
"No, Bunnymund. Tooth's is third. Then Sandy's."
He nodded and ate another cookie before speaking again. "Well, Jack, you started this thing, and it seems to have done no harm so far. Tell me, we come out on top in these books?"
"Yeah. Every time... though, Pitch always comes back for the next one."
"Then I say you must finish what you started. Keep reading and see that we come out on top again, every time. You need help..." he gestured to himself and Tooth. "...we are here."
It was much more accommodating an answer than I had expected. "You... you trust me?" I asked.
He stood up and stretched. "Sure. You're a Guardian too, remember? Besides... looks like we have no choice." He grinned and messed up my hair.
"You have to keep us informed, Jack," Tooth said, after not speaking for a long time. "No secrets."
From the way she said it, I knew she wanted me to tell North about Pitch.
"Hold on," I said. "You'd better sit down again. There's something else. Related, but..."
Sobering, North sat back in his chair and reached for another cookie, as if they gave him fortitude.
I began to tell about Pitch, beginning with my theory that he would be small and harmless now, and ending with Jamie saying he deserved a second chance.
"You knew this?" North asked Tooth.
"He told me," she confirmed. "I wanted to tell you much sooner, but Jack wasn't ready."
He waved a hand. "No harm has come of it. Yet," he added, looking at me. "Still, it is a lot you undertake without your friends at your side."
"Well... can you blame me for worrying that you might not give him a chance?" I asked. "No one's ever suggested it before. But like I said, in these books, he keeps coming back and we keep defeating him—why not let him come back and help him be better? Then we won't have to defeat him and the cycle will be broken."
"Is charming idea. I like it. But... what's the phrase?"
"Easier said than done?" Tooth suggested.
"Mm." He nodded, then said, "Something about theory and practice."
"It may not hold up in practice as well as in theory," I said.
"That's the one."
"I know that, and I'm being careful. I know he's still the Boogeyman. He doesn't have enough power to do anything very harmful right now, but I know he might go back to it once he does. I just want to try to help him. I know he's lonely. Maybe he just needs a real friend for a change."
"I told you, is nice idea. I hope it works. But you need help—don't run from us, your friends."
I nodded. "I know. Thanks for hearing me out. I hope you will again if I need help. Don't jump to conclusions or act too quickly."
"Listen to this one," North told Tooth with a snort. "Jack Frost telling us not to be rash."
Tooth smiled. "We'll listen to you," she said, looking back at me. "I think Sandy and Bunny should know about all this, too, though."
"I can fill in Sandy and Bunny," North offered.
"Really?" I asked. Things had actually gone better than I thought they would, and I figured that with the other two Guardians respecting North more than me, they would probably handle the strange news better from him.
"Sure. You say in this other world you visit, it's nearly Christmas, yes? You have lots to do. So, go do what you do best: have fun."
I felt happy at this. "Thanks. I really appreciate it."
Tooth and I said goodbye and I flew south with her for a little ways.
"Thank you for coming with me," I told her.
"That's all right. I feel better now that he knows," she answered.
She looked thoughtful, and after a moment, I asked what she was thinking about.
"I was just wondering... now that Pitch is like a child again... does he have baby teeth?"
I laughed. "I don't know... I guess he probably does, though. Gosh, I guess not many people get a second set of baby teeth."
Her face showed some tender emotion and she said, "It's like you said... a second chance."
"Yeah. I'd better be getting back now. Like the man said, I have a lot to do."
We parted ways and I hurried back to this world.
/'*
We had yesterday off from the day job, so we took a trip into town. First stop: the library. I was still not all that far into Tooth's book, but I returned Bunny's and picked up Sandy's. Next we went to what they call a "dollar store," where they have all kinds of cool stuff for a dollar apiece. We bought a lot of stuff. Seriously. A lot of it was little gifts for Mairead, but we got each other some things, too. I'm excited about my present, even though you might find it silly. I'm trying to forget about it so I'll be surprised when I open it, but... I doubt it will work.
Next we went to a couple of thrift stores and we found me a blue hoodie. It's darker than the one I wear in my world, but it was the best we could do, and I had really been missing it on this plane. Of course, they're making me wait until Christmas to wear it. Maybe they'll let me wear it Christmas Eve. Compromise.
The house smells good, and the little tree looks very cheerful. I can't remember celebrating Christmas with my real family, so this is very nice for me. Vin told us he hasn't had a proper Christmas for years either, and I know Eren and Levi are from a poor, war-torn place where they can't afford to celebrate in a big way. So this is going to be very special for all of us. It makes me feel like I belong.
I've come to really care about these friends a lot. I know we'll go our separate ways eventually, but I'm just going to savor this time together. It's like having a family. I can understand why Pitch would want something like this... why it would lead him to justify some pretty terrible actions in its pursuit. I hope I can help him find what he wants—what he needs.
All for now. I hope you enjoyed seeing North's reaction. I was sure relieved! Questions and comments still welcome. (And if you end up reading this years after I posted it, if you have questions or comments then, someone will likely still answer and appreciate them, even if I'm not around.) ~Jack