Here we are in the third chapter! I don't want these chapters to be too long or too short, and I am trying to stick to uploading every Thursday and Friday. I moved back to Uni this week, but I'm very invested in this story so I don't think there will be a lot of, if any, delays in updates. I hope you enjoy!
"So in August, he's usually either hanging out in Maui or just spending time at his home."
"Tell me again, Jack. How is it that you're best friends with the Keeper of Summer?"
Jack rolled his eyes. He was peering closely at North's console in the Globe room, which had a more readable map of the world than the Globe. Ever since he'd told the others about his closest friend, who'd they be visiting first, Bunny couldn't seem to get enough of the story on how they met.
"He invited me to Seychelles and I accidentally made it snow in the nation's hottest month. We fought for an hour. Then we stopped fighting and we're friends now. Happy?" Jack flashed a glare over his shoulder. Bunny grinned.
"You told it better the first three times."
"We can leave you here, you know."
"We should bring gifts! What does Julius like, Jack?" North, who Jack noticed was amazing at remembering names, was sorting through a sack full of random knick-knacks. "First impressions are lasting ones, da?"
"You don't really have to," Jack said, squinting at the map and tracing his finger from L.A. to Victoria. "Maybe he went to California this year…" he muttered under his breath.
"A surf set, perhaps?" North was bouncing ideas off of Sandy, who kept making little sand figures trying out the suggested gifts. "Right, right. Maybe guitar!"
"It's probably best if we check his house first." Jack frowned. There was no easy way to track down a roaming supernatural, and among other things, this was a qualm Jack had about spirits. So many of them had been around for centuries or millennia, yet no-one had bothered to enhance their ancient fanfare with a better mode of contact? What was so bad about a phone? Humans lost or threw away gadgets all the time. You'd think repurposing and learning how to use one would be easy. Heck, Jamie had just gotten a phone for his 10th birthday, and even Sophie knew how to dial some numbers-
"Are you listening, Jack?"
"Wuh?" Jack snapped back to reality at Tooth's voice. Everyone was looking at him, and even North had put down the sack for whatever conversation they'd been having. Two elves were sorting through it now, trying to strum the human-sized acoustic guitar. "Sorry. What happened?"
"We were talking about what you said earlier," Tooth continued. Her wings fluttered slightly, and she folded her arms, looking down at her feet. "About knowing of spirits but not knowing them."
"We believe you made important point." North sighed. "It has been many years since we have spoken at length with other spirits. Our first duty is protecting the children of the world, but…" North placed his hand against the Globe, seemingly observing the places where the lights were concentrated and where they were sparse. "Pitch Black is not the only threat children face. It would be unwise not to learn about those who could be our allies or enemies."
"...and friends, right?"
"Eh?" North blinked, turning back around to Jack. The younger Guardian had perched himself on top of the console.
"They don't have to be just allies. We're allowed to have friends..." Jack suddenly paused. He looked up at the skylight and then back at North with concerned eyes. "We're allowed to have friends, right?"
"Of course!" North boomed. Jack, despite his dislike of doing so, sighed and shook his head.
"Let's get going."
North had not picked out a present that he thought best for the Keeper of Summer, so he ended up bringing the entire sack. Everyone began making their way to the sleigh, but Tooth pointed out that it was, in fact, daytime in the Seychelles islands. Children would be terribly confused to see Santa in the middle of August. The portal would be a much faster and precise option, anyway.
Jack stared at his fingers on the other side of the glass. The little scene inside the globe was of two yetis grooming one of the reindeer - apparently, all of North's globes were unique and handmade, with no duplicate figures inside. Jack noticed that the glass felt a bit warm, and upon looking closer he noticed that the trinket was glowing slightly. He took one glance around at everyone, smirked at Bunny's and then took a deep breath.
"Ile Marianne. Julius's home."
Jack shook the snowglobe and quickly tossed it forward, feeling the strangest sensation of being cold and hot at the same time. A portal formed before it touched the ground. Faced with the swirling, colorful magic, Jack almost hesitated, but with the other Guardians, there was no time for that. He managed to jump before North's gentle push connected with his back, and he was swallowed by sparkling light.
Jack opened his eyes, only to wince and shut them again. The sun was blinding. He felt a wave of discomfort flood over his skin; the sun was also burning. He felt a jarring, yet refreshing, literal wave of cold travelling up his lower half and back down again. Of course the portal would drop him in the way of the surf.
"Crikey, it's warm," he heard Bunny say. Jack rolled over and pushed himself up to his hands and knees. He felt a zap of panic at his empty hands, but relaxed when he reached out and found the familiar wood of his staff. He carefully opened his eyes again, squinting this time.
"Welcome to the Indian Ocean," Jack groaned. "Though apparently this is a part of Africa."
"Haven't been in these parts in a good while," Bunny replied. "So your mate's place is kinda just...hidden?"
"Yeah, this side is just left alone." Jack finally got to his feet, shuffling into the water to avoid the hot sand further up. His hoodie felt heavy on his body, and he was already sweating. "It's hidden in the cove. If a human tries to come here, they get turned around and put back on the other side." He sighed in relief when a cool breeze blew against his back.
"So, is he home?" Bunny asked, shielding his eyes to get a better look at the beach house. It was raised on stilts above the sand, with a wooden staircase leading up to the porch and front door. The gray thatch roof and big windows had plants on top and hanging off of them respectively. Bunny heard Jack inhale sharply, but it was too late to cover his ears.
"JAAAAYYYYYY! YOU HOOOOOME?"
The air was still for a moment, ringing slightly with the echo of Jack's shout. Then, from inside the house:
"I AIN'T CARRYING YOU UP THE BEACH AGAIN, LAZY!"
"He's home!" Jack grinned in triumph. "GET OUT HERE, I GOT PEOPLE WITH ME!"
"IF IT'S CLOVER, SHE BETTER HAVE MY DRAGON BALL SET-"
Jack ignored the questioning looks from the Guardians. He was smiling ear-to-ear; partly from the mirth at annoying his friend, and partly from realizing how much he missed exchanges like this. The front door of the house opened, its squeaky hinges almost drowned out by the sound of the wave and the rustling tropical flora.
Julius's head appeared first. He was squinting at the collection of spirits on his beach, as if unsure of who he was actually seeing. After a moment, his eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. He stalled, halfway out the door. Slowly, he pulled it all the way open and stood in the doorway, still gaping.
"Jay, you're not gonna make me walk on the hot sand, are you?" Jack pouted, still kind-of shouting, and leaning weakly on his staff.
"Uh…" Julius looked between all of the Guardians. "C...come in?"
I imagine North to be the kind of friend who just keeps giving you stuff. Especially homemade stuff. Even when it's not your birthday or a holiday, though he really goes all out on those occasions! We'll get a more detailed description of Julius, nicknamed Jay, tomorrow! Please leave a review if you enjoyed, or if you have any constructive criticism to share. Talk with you again soon!