Song: Nil Sen La

By: Celtic Women

Please favorite, follow, and review. Let me know how it is. Thank you for reading.

"Jack, wait come back!" North chased after the winter spirit, the others close behind.

At first Jack kept just in sight and the big four would follow him never seeming to get any closer. Then he seemed to be playing peekaboo, they'd see him for a second but then he'd vanish again. All they could do is go to each of the spots he appeared in and wait to catch a glimpse again.

"Come on Jack, this is getting old. Just come out so we can talk." Bunny, who had wanted to make a tunnel and get back to the warren the minute he landed, couldn't bring himself to leave. The frustration in the boy's voice, when he told them they "needed to get out and have fun", had hit him hard. All of the older Guardians had made a silent agreement that they wouldn't let Jack feel left out the loan ever again. So when he had told them they were stuck in their work again, it had been like a slap of reality. They had gone back on their word, and now they couldn't even get him to stop and talk so they could apologize.

Before long they lost Jack completely. As they searched the area they'd last seen him Sandy noticed some dancing lights like rainbow colored fireflies, he pointed these out to the others.

"Those are pixie lights." Tooth informed.

"Forget it," bunny yelled. "Follow pixie lights and you're sure to get lost."

Sandy made a compass with a spinning arrow.

"Right Sandy, ve already lost." North confirmed.

An image of Jack replaced the compass above Sandy.

"Maybe you're right, maybe they'll lead us Jack." At the winter spirits name the pixie lights started creating even more intricate patterns.

"All right, but I'm making a tunnel the second I sense trouble!" Bunny grumbled, and the Big Four trekked after the pixie lights. The trees around them began to thin and the sound of drums fluttered to their ears, then a happy and quiet sound joined it.

"Is that a fiddle?" Tooth questioned, before the others could answer singing mixed with the instruments.

(Start song here)

The pixie lights left the trees and what meet the Guardian's eyes caused them to stop in their tracks. They stood at the edge of a large open field that held spirits of all shapes, sizes, myths, and legends. The air hummed with music and the scent of thousands of different foods made their noses twitch and their mouths water.

The four of them walk through the crowd, marveling at the dancing and merriment. The pixie lights that had led them floated up to join the thousands of others that flashed and twinkled above. In the center a group of dryads were playing instruments and singing to the mass of spirits.

A young man noticed them wandering and, excusing himself from the spirits he was talking to, came over. He was lanky, animal ears poked out of his hair, and a long thin tail actually swished behind him. When he smiled his grin looked like a crescent moon with two little fangs. With amusement in his eyes he said "Wow! The Guardians! I can't believe I get to meet you. Welcome to the spirit Festival!"

"Festival?" North asked.

"Oh! Forgive me; this is your first time. The spirit Festival is a gathering we hold once a year." The fiddle went into a beautiful solo as a young man, and animal spirit of some kind bunny gassed, continued to explain the festival. "We perform music, and show off our artwork, and cooking skills."

The big four were lead to a gathering of tables just to the right of the dancing spirits. Each were covered in intricate art of every imaginable, and lots of unimaginable, mediums. Sculptures, paintings, and drawings of plants, animals, and scenes of nature as only its caretakers could see and show. Tiled mosaics and glass blown mugs sat next to wind chimes made of water drops and jewelry crafted out of light.

North's nose twitched as he recognized a Russian dish he'd loved during his Cossack days. When his belly gave a loud growl, the young man led them to the food stands. All the Guardians found dish they loved and when asked about prices they got a surprise. "Everything at the festival is free to everyone. You see, for us, this is a time to share our crafts, music, and other gifts that we usually don't get to because of our work. We could never ask a price for such a thing as someone enjoying what we do."

The idea of all these spirits getting together for this day every once a year, not only to see old friends but to give their talents away for free was something the Guardians were astounded by. They did not know that there were so many out there that craved to spread their gifts and yet had little to no opportunity to do so. The Big Four had forgotten that most spirits weren't even acknowledged for what they did. As Guardians they did their work every single day of the year or their holidays were so anticipated that it was felt year-round.

But they didn't have time to dwell on it for the music had started to grow in intensity and their attention was brought back to the middle of the field.

"I'll leave you here; I want to get a good spot for the next song."

As the young man began to walk away tooth called to him: "I never caught your name."

He turned back "My friends call me Chesh." With that he began to slowly vanish, starting with his feet and then moving up his legs. His tail seemed to unravel into nothing and soon all that remained was his crescent moon smile, then that too vanished.

"Was that…?"

"Couldn't be!"

The song sped up as it came to the end. The crowd of spirits broke into applause and the dryads gave a bow.

Jack watched as the Guardians joined in and smiled. He'd watched as Chesh (the Cheshire cat's son) had shown them around, always keeping just out of sight. He knew that if he showed himself to soon the big four would whisk him away and the whole plan would be ruined. No he'd stay hidden until all of them were thoroughly enjoying themselves and engrossed in the festival.

The sound of hoofs caught his attention. Petrov nudged his shoulder. "How's it going?"

"We're looking good Petrov, go have fun some fun yourself."

The lead reindeer snorted happily then left the teen's side to go do just that. This was his first festival to after all and he planned to enjoy every minute of it. The reindeer never got to come to it because they couldn't get out of the stable or their yard without someone's help. The Yetis and Elves were kept working by North, so they missed out every time. If this worked out maybe they can make this an annual thing.