"Emma! Emma! Emma, Where are you?" Riley heard someone call from overhead. She didn't turn to look up though—assuming her ears were just too cold and hearing things, she took out her white and black ear muffs. Putting them on, she continued to skate, ending with a triple Lutz.
"Emma! Emma!" she heard again. This time however she looked toward the sound to see someone—someone flying in the sky? Thinking she was hallucinating, she shook her head violently and skated back to her bench. "Emma! Emma!" the stranger called again, as Riley began to un-tie her skates hurriedly.
Standing up gathering her things, she prepared to walk back to her house, walking faster and faster as she heard the continuous shouts from overhead.
"Emma, Emma wait! Where are you going?" she heard a man's voice shout. "Emma, Emma wait- don't go!" The stranger's voice got louder and louder until... Oof; she bumped into someone. Dusting herself off and muttering, she prepared to run again when... "Emma, are you okay?"
"Fine" Riley muttered.
"Aren't you going to look at me, Emma?"
Back in headquarters Joy and the others were trying to figure out what to say in response.
"Eh, who is this stranger calling Emma?" Disgust scoffed, "and why?"
"Stranger" Fear panicked. "Let's get outta here! Strangers usually lead to danger".
"What?" Anger snorted.
"Stranger danger! Stranger danger!" Fear chanted.
"Let's just run back to mom and dad" Sadness suggested, "They'll protect us".
"Guys, guys calm done—there's no reason to panic" Joy replied, trying to calm all the other emotions. "Besides I've got this," she said, pressing a button on the control panel.
"Emma? Who the heck is Emma... and who are you?" Riley spoke, raising her head up slowly.
Jack stood there in surprise for the face he saw didn't match that of his sister's. "Hmmm... E—Em—Emma?"
"Umm no, I'm sorry but my name's not Emma, it's Riley".
"Oh..." A disappointed look crossed the young man's face.
"Who's Emma anyway?"
"Emma? Why she's my sister... or—she was"
"Was?"
"Yup, I saved her way back when..."
"Cool... how?"
"Well, I'd taken her out one winter's day to teach her to ice skate near a pond that had frozen over".
"Oh... I love stating too" Riley shows him her skates.
"Yes, anyway... I guess the ice wasn't all that solid and it began to crack not soon after we set foot on it; my sister ended up surviving though".
Riley was really curious now, it was clear that any sense of fear she had towards the mysterious stranger had been wiped clean away. "How?"
"Well, long before I found this odd-shaped stick... it looked to me like something a shepherd would use so I kept it—luckily I had it with me that day... using it I talked her through the rescue saying that we were going to play a game... a game of hopscotch... we played it every day and I figured it would come in handy right then... anyway once I got close enough I used the shepherd's stick to scoop her up and get her to safety" he cut off looking rather sad. "That—that was the last time I ever saw her face though".
"Oh, how sad... I'm sorry"
"It's okay" he replied sadly.
"What about you?" Riley whispered, "Didn't you survive—well, I mean of course you survived otherwise you wouldn't be talking to me".
"Yep... well, actually I fell in but then someone saved me?"
"Really who?"
"Well... actually it was more like something".
"Who or what was it?"
"Well, it—it was... umm... now you... you might think this is silly but I'm telling you that it is in fact totally true".
"What is it!" Riley demanded, clearly on the edge of her seat.
"It was, well... the moon".
"The moon?" she said confused. "How could the moon save you? Save anybody for that matter?"
"Oh—well... that's—that's an easy one; okay so apparently the moon chose me to become a guardian".
"A guardian, hmmm..."
"Yes, a guardian".
"Are there more... guardians, I mean?"
"Hmm... oh yes, there's me, The Tooth Fairy, North... or as most kids like to call him Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny, and The Sandman".
"Oooh!"
"... haven't you ever wondered who collects those pearly whites from under your pillow?"
"Wait, that was The Tooth Fairy!?"
"Yup"
"Oh, how could I forget; I believed in the Tooth Fairy since—well since forever but I never saw her; mom never told me she didn't exist or anything, I think she wanted me to eventually figure it out for myself but I never wound up doing so".
"Oh well, that's good then".
"Good because... she does exist?"
"Yes, the only reason why you've never been able to see her or any of the fairies for the matter is because she's very crafty".
"Oh..."
"Or... have you ever wondered who delivers presents to you and all the children of the world on Christmas Eve?"
"Mom told he wasn't real... well when I came to that certain age".
"Oh well then, she was wrong—just out of curiosity what did she tell you?"
"Well, all she told me was that a long time ago there was once a Saint Nick who..." I was interrupted by him.
"Oh, North told me that story once... he said that that's one the reasons why some children aren't believing as much or if at all".
"Anyway, after my mom told me that; I was crushed... " Riley cut off.
"Oh... it's okay, the important thing to know is that he is real—and so is the Easter Bunny"
"The Easter Bunny? I- I never doubted that he wasn't..." and yet again I was cut off.
"You didn't? Oh well that's very good".
"Anyway, why are you here—and who are you?"
"Why I'm Jack, Jack Frost—and I'm here because I need your help; you see, my first believer Jamie lived in my hometown but even he stopped believing".
"Oh, I'm sorry..."
"It's okay, but with the help of North's globe I saw that to my surprise... every little light on it had been blown out except for one... yours".
"Okay... so?"
"Don't you get it? You're the chosen one, the last ray of sunlight this world has... the last believer".
"Okay..."
"So Riley if you would, we need your help desperately—if we don't have enough children believing in us—we- we- we will forever seize to exist".
"Okay I think I understand, but what can I do?"
"I'm glad you asked! Here take my hand".
"Okay, Let me just tell my parent" Riley stated, before walking in the direction of her house. Opening the door with a small creak, she walked in.
"Oh, hey Riley you're back early" her dad exclaimed, looking up from the morning paper.
"Oh hey, Dad. I just need to get my phone" she said, hurrying up the stairs. Approaching her room again she ran to grab her phone from off her desk and a few other things that might come in handy. A flashlight, pair of binoculars, some wool socks, a camera, an autograph book, and her diary.
"Hey Riley, want some hot cocoa with marshmallows?" her mother asked sweetly, seeing her daughter bounding down the stairs.
"No thank Mom, I'm okay" Riley replied, making her way towards the door once again.
Opening the door, her mother replied "Where are you off to this time?"
"I'm just going to go hang out with some friends," Riley smiled.
"Very well, just don't let ol' Jack Frost near you—he'll nip your nose clean off" she warned jokingly.
"Umm, yeah..." Riley answered flatly.
"Anyway, have fun honey," she said.
"Okay, I will—I have my phone so feel free to call me and keep me up to date on whatever".
Their eyes widened in surprise as they looked at each other, "Okay..." they shrugged.
"Bye" Riley exclaimed, as she slipped out the door.
Walking back, she did feel a bit guilty for not telling her parents everything. So when Jack came into view she asked, "Hey Jack would it be alright if I text my mom?"
"Umm, sure..." he replied awkwardly.
"Thanks" she quickly pulled out her phone. "Where are we going by the way?"
"The North Pole"
"Thanks", she replied texting away. Hey mom, there's no need to worry about me, I'm just heading out to the North Pole with Jack Frost... apparently, I'm the chosen one, the last ray of sunlight this world has... the last believer and he needs my help to get the children of the world believing again". Sending the message she waited anxiously for the ding.
I little while later her phone vibrated, "Oh Riley—your mind works in mysterious ways".
"Umm, yeah... I gotta go now, but keep me posted and up to date as to when school gets back in session okay?"
"Umm... okay'
"Bye, love you and Dad so much"
"We love you too" looking at the text Riley felt a little hurt as she closed her phone, putting it back in the pocket of her backpack.
"Ready to go?" He said, holding out his hand.
"You bet I am!" She smiled, taking his hand gratefully. Riley's head began to spin with questions as her emotions wondered what would happen. "Umm... Jack, what're you doing?"
"You'll see..." he replied, as he began to hover back into the air; his bare, white feet hovering at least five inches off the ground.
"Wait, whoa, wh- wh- what are you doing!?" Riley said, letting go of Jack's hand. Falling, landing softly in a pile of snow.
Jack quickly descended kneeling next to her cooing softly "Riley, trust me okay—you're safe with me; this is just how I get around it's perfectly safe".
"Are- are you—are you sure this is safe!?" she stuttered, shaking a bit—not from cold; but from fear.
"Do you trust me?"
"W- what?"
"Do you trust me?"
Riley hesitated for a bit, unsure as to what she should say. "Yes...?" she said at last taking his hand again.
Hovering about five inches in the air again, he gently picked Riley up—clinging to the back of his neck he replied, "Okay now... comfy?" Riley nodded her head nervously. "Good, cuz' we've got a long way to go".
"Ummm... wh- wh—what if I fall?" Riley questioned.
"Well, hang on to me and you won't" he reassured, as they began to fly off through the sky.
As they flew up north the sky began to grow dark, Riley began to tense up as they slowly descended. Letting go of Jack's neck Riley began to wonder if her parents were concerned about her.
Immediately she took out her phone and asked Jack if he wanted to take a selfie.
"Sure..." he shrugged, "but I should warn you... the picture may come out a little- weird".
"That's okay, come and stand by me".
"Okay..."
He walked over and stood by her awkwardly, wondering what the heck he was getting himself into.
"Okay now, pose".
"Okay... how's this?" He asked, putting his hand on her shoulder he squatted down.
"That's perfect!" she said excitedly. Crouching down beside him—getting her phone ready.
"Say cheese!" she exclaimed to Jack's surprise, they both smiled—Riley's happy-go-lucky face unknowingly was oblivious to Jack's little prank. At the last minute, before they both heard Riley's phone had taken the picture, Jack used his other and made two bunny ears and rested them behind the young girl's head. They took one serious one and one funny picture with both her camera and her phone.
"Okay now, I'll take one of you in front of North's workshop".
"Hmmm... I love that idea but can it wait? North is waiting".
"Hmmm.. okay" she sighed heavily.
"Aww come on Riley, it's not like we'll forget about it—it's just... I thought you'd be more excited about this".
"I am... I just—can't help but worry about my parents' being concerned about me that's all..." she sighed, walking with Jack towards the workshops' entrance, pushing the heavy doors aside, she was instantly shocked by the pitch blackness coming from inside.
Hesitating, she slowly followed Jack inside—they passed by several dimly lit rooms and all the while Jack was looking left and right constantly—like he was looking for something.
"Hey Jack, what are you looking for?" she whispered from behind.
"Oh, I'm just looking for some—some friends that's all".
"Oh... okay" Riley followed closely behind until they came to a big room, lit with nothing but candles.
"O, Jack!" A big guy said through a thick Russian accent. Walking over to Jack and putting a hand on his shoulder, "Thank goodness you're here, huh?" He chuckled.
"North, why are all the lights out? Did Pitch come back? Is he here now?" He questioned North... Riley hid behind Jack, her eyes buried in his blue sweatshirt.
"Ooh no Jack, If he's here my belly would sense it and black sand would cover the wall eh" he chuckled lightly. Just then something caught his eye, bending down he glanced over toward the girl Jack apparently had hiding behind him. "Who's this?"
"This?—oh, this is Riley"
"You shy little one?"
"P- p- Pitch is a r- r- re- al—real—p-p—person?" she stammered.
North felt bad for her, she hadn't been here but ten minutes and already she was frightened "Es, I'm afraid so..."
This made Riley only shy more away behind Jack, "If- if—he's real—th—than I n- n- ne- need t—t—t—to leave n—n—now".
"Ahhh..." North said, scratching his chin; standing up, he turned back towards Jack and replied "Jack, you sure this is the right person?"
"I'm sure North" he replied, sighing heavily. "So she's afraid of Pitch, it's not the end of the world: besides I've flown by her room many of times before and she's always had those glow in the dark stars".
"Ahhh... so that explains it then" he concluded, "Pitch must've gotten to her when she was younger and somehow scared her". North knelt down again and looked at her talking softly. Taking her hand he stroked it gently trying to get the girl to open up to him.
"Riley..." his voice was soft and sweet, even for a Russian accent. "You—eh—you had nightmares when you were little didn't you?" Riley turned her head a bit to look at him. Nodding slowly—she stuttered.
"Y- y- y—ye—yes"
"My, what're your nightmares about?"
"Basement stairs mostly" she muttered.
"What?"
"Well, you see my old house had these stairs that lead all the way down to the basement".
"Ahhh... I see, so it was dark and that's when you saw him?"
"Who?"
"Mmm... Pitch, Pitch Black"
"Umm, yes... nightmares used to happen to me all the time before—before I got these cool glow-in-the-dark stars" she paused suddenly. "Or at least they did till I moved from my snow-covered home of Minnesota to San Francisco"
"Ahhh... the nightmares that Pitch sent came back?"
"Yeah..." Riley began to tear up thinking about the memory. "I still remember the nightmare too... we—we'd just moved and in the dream, our car flew—it was surrounded by clouds... but then it turned into a nightmare..." Riley began. "The car pulled up to our new house, but it turned out to look more like a haunted house; there was a rat outside the house looking more like a zombie than a rat and he said '"Come live with me Riley"' then he pretended to shoot himself in the heart and he laid down... dead. Then there was something about dancing broccoli pizza slices that came out of a pizza box".
"Oy Riley—I'm sorry".
"It's okay—the good news is that he can't harm me here right?"
North chuckled a hearty laugh as he replied "Right you are, young and smart you are; anyway come, come, meet Tooth and the rest of our kind" he held out his hand. Riley glanced at Jack briefly.
Jack knelt down "It's okay Riley, don't you wanna meet the rest of my spiritual fam-" He started but she cut him off shaking her head violently. Pointing to one of the candles in the corner of the room she asked.
"Why are the lights out?" her questioning eyes sparkled with wonder.
Jack sighed, turning towards North. "So... it turns out that she refuses to meet them—because beyond anything else she wants to know why all of the lights are off in here".
North sighed, "Very well" turning towards her he replied, "Riley, the only reason why we shut off all the lights is so that HE is less likely to find us".
"Hmmm... sounds a little fishy if you ask me," Jack said.
"Hmmm," North said raising an eyebrow. "Well Jack, you want The Nightmare King to find her?"
Riley then gasped. "Find me!? Nooooooo!" she panicked, inching closer to Jack again.
"It's okay Riley, we won't let that malicious, evildoer get to you" North reassured, "Now—you wanna meet yhe rest of our team?"
"Umm... sure" she replied, glancing over at Jack. "Will—will you come with me?" she squeaked, holding out her hand.
"Of course," he said taking it. They walked up slowly towards a big pretty green and blue fairy, a BIG bunny rabbit looking creature, and a man that looked like he was made out of golden sand.
"Riley meet Toothiana, Bunnymund, and Sandy".
"Ummm, hi" she replied shyly.
"Tooth, Bunny, Sandy—this is Riley".
"Hey, sweet pea" Tooth smiled. "You can just call me Tooth if you'd like—my full name's Queen Toothiana but that seems to be a mouth full".
"Ummm, okay" she shrugged.
"... and you can just call me Bunny, mate" Bunny replied, "my full name's E. Aster Bunnymund but no one's called me that in years".
"Oh..."
"... and mine and Jack's full names are Nicholas St. North and Jackson Overland Frost".
"Oh, why didn't Sandy give his full name?" she cried angrily.
Jack sighed heavily. "Well you see, Sandy here's a mute".
"A mute?"
"Yes, a mute—he uses his golden sand to communicate by making pictures appear above his head".
"Oooo, kind of like Sign Language?"
"Hmmm yes, I suppose that in a way it is"
"Cool, so about this chosen one thing..."
"Ahhh yes, well... come, let's sit and we'll talk" North proclaimed, pulling out a chair for Riley.
"Thank you" she replied smiling sweetly; taking a seat they began to explain what their plan really was.