Author's Note
Hello! My name is Logan, and I thank you for taking the time to check out my story, Found but Lost. Found but Lost is a very old idea that I wrote (but never finished) around the time RoTG came out. I am much older now than I was then, but Found but Lost still carries a lot of importance and nostalgia for me. My old RoTG fanfictions such as this one taught me to write and helped me to grow in my passion for what would later become the career path I am pursuing (creative writing).
With that in mind, it never sat right with me that this book remained wallowing in an unfinished state. So, after the quarantine hit and left me floundering in a hole of writer's block, I picked it up again. And here it is now, finished and ready to be read. I hope you enjoy!
One last note, I unfortunately do not know every detail of the expansive Rise of the Guardians lore. That said, I took a few creative liberties regarding the Sandman's past life and the world of RoTG. These liberties may conflict with the true lore, but please enjoy the story nevertheless! Thank you!
Sandy
I hesitated at the doorway. My hand was already raised to knock, but for some reason it had frozen there.
I could hear the muffled rumble of chatter and instrumental music on the other side of the wall, and there was a welcoming glow seeping through the cracks of the door.
I shuddered in the cold, burying my face a bit deeper into my gold scarf. It would be warm inside. There would be a cozy fire, glowing lights would be all around, and the entire building would smell like delicious food.
And yet, I still hovered there with my fist a couple inches away from the door. I puffed out a long breath that billowed past my face in a cloud, and chuckled dryly as I rubbed my aching eyes. I was being silly, of course. What reason did I have to hesitate? I was totally ready, dressed in a striking gold suit and bowtie beneath my overcoat, and I had even gotten my hair under control.
Every year, I looked forward to this party. Why would it be any different this year?
I shivered again.
Swallowing hard, I pulled the smile across my face. I knocked.
A couple seconds passed, and then there was a bit of scuffling from inside. The door opened, and North appeared, dressed in an ornate crimson strelets coat with his hair sleek and gelled. He beamed and stepped aside to let me in. "Good to see you, Sandy! Come in! Yetis will take your coat."
I waved as I floated inside, and an influx of sound, light, and heat washed over me immediately. The instrumental music grew louder, and so did the talking. String lights and colorful decorations had been hung, and the entire building from the floor to the ceiling ten stories up was vibrant with warmth.
North paraded to the other Guardians, all of them dressed in formal attire and gathered around the globe. He said something to Tooth, then disappeared into another room.
There was a grumble behind me, and I turned to see a yeti holding out his hand. I stared for a moment in confusion before he gestured to the coat rack behind him. I lifted my hand and gave a lighthearted chuckle before slipping off my dreamsand jacket and scarf for him to take.
"Sandy, good to see you," Bunny replied from where he was leaning against a pillar, sipping eggnog nonchalantly and wearing a fancy button up overcoat.
Tooth, who had been talking to Jack, turned and waved cheerfully. "Happy New Year! I'm very excited to see your fireworks this year. My fairies and I always look forward to them." The tiny fairies surrounding her squeaked in eager agreement.
I grinned and waved bashfully as I leaned over to snatch a cup of eggnog from the tray an elf was carrying past me.
"Oh, don't be so modest. Every year they're more beautiful than the last!"
"Hey," Jack interrupted. "Anyone know where North went? I'm starving."
As if he had been summoned by the sound of his name, North appeared from the other room. He clapped his hands loudly. "Now that we're all here, who's hungry?"
"Finally, someone's talking sense," Jack quipped, and Bunny nodded along with him.
"Dinner is served!" North beamed. He stepped aside and bowed, revealing a giant, round table elaborately decorated red and gold with candles and holly and six settings of fancy plates, bowls, cups, and utensils. The yetis in aprons backed away to make room for us.
The other Guardians flooded to their chairs, and I followed behind, clapping my hands gleefully. We each found our name cards and took our seats.
Beside me, Jack glanced over the array of different utensils and grinned. "I didn't even know this many types of forks existed," he snickered.
Yetis in bowties began to pour into the room carrying plates with silver covers. A plate was placed in front of each of us, and our cups were filled. When everyone had been served, the yetis stepped back. North stood from his chair and cleared his throat.
"A toast," he announced, holding up his glass. "To another successful year protecting the children of the world. We may have hit a few bumps along the way, and this year certainly challenged us all in ways we did not expect possible… but there are many things which deserve to be celebrated." He nodded slightly towards Jack. "Here's to the changes and the victories. Another wonderful year."
We all lifted our glasses, clinked them together, and sipped.
At once, the yetis lifted the lids on our dishes. Steam billowed up into my face, followed by the heavenly scent of broiled lobster tail. There were two tails, some asparagus, and decorative lemons, all perfectly seasoned and plated.
North had done it again, it seemed as I looked around. Everyone was practically drooling over their food.
"Oh North, it's wonderful, as usual," Tooth replied.
"North," Jack guffawed in disbelief, grabbing his dessert spoon to dig into his soup. "I don't know how you knew, but this is my favorite food of all time."
North beamed proudly. "Of course I knew! I know everything."
The others dove right in, but I found myself hesitating. I prodded the lobster tail with my fork, and my stomach churned. I caught Jack's eye, smiled at him, and forced myself to start eating.
As usual, the meal was accompanied by joking and laughing. Everything seemed totally normal, like it was just any other year. North was being bombastic and loud, sharing wild (probably untrue) stories from his most recent trip around the world, which had only been a few days ago… How he found the energy to host this New Years party every year was beyond me. It was an essential thing, according to him. We needed to take time to celebrate and enjoy eachothers' company.
Bunny called his bluff a few times after his more… unbelievable stories, such as when he wholeheartedly insisted one of the houses he visited happened to be the home of a pet walrus. Jack ate until he claimed he would never be able to look at food again (which changed pretty quickly when North announced dessert was ready).
I could see North beginning to jitter with anticipation as he waited for Jack to finish his last bites of cake. He leaned back in his chair, glancing about and tapping his fingers impatiently, trying to act nonchalant.
Finally, when Jack set down his fork for the last time, North leaped to his feet. "I'll be right back," he replied, trying to stifle his excitement under a forced casual tone. He quickly bustled out of the room.
Bunny and I exchanged an amused glance, and Jack raised an eyebrow. "What's he up to?" he grinned.
"Oh, you'll see," Tooth replied.
North burst through the door, a red sack slung over his shoulder. He placed it on the ground in front of us and pulled it open to reveal four perfectly wrapped gifts.
"Aww, North," Jack chuckled.
"North, that's so sweet of you," Tooth chimed in, placing a hand over her heart. "You didn't have to."
"Of course I did," North insisted. "It's my job."
He began to pass out the gifts to each of the Guardians. Bunny tried to hide his excited fidgeting as he accepted his gift, and Jack gave North an impish grin.
"I thought I was on the Naughty List?" he teased.
"Whoops," North yanked the gift away right before Jack could take it. "I forgot. Thank you for reminding me."
Jack's face fell, "Aw, come on. I'm a Guardian now, remember? What happened to wiping the slate clean?"
"I'm just joking with you, Jack," North guffawed, surrendering the gift. He murmured over his shoulder, "But you better watch next year."
He handed me my gift last. It was a medium sized box covered in gold paper with a beautiful ribbon. I smiled gratefully, and he stood back with his hands on his hips to watch in glee.
We ripped open the packaging. Wrapping paper went flying, and the room lit up with smiles.
Bunny's composure had been abandoned, and he gaped down at a beautiful set of brand new paint brushes, only making stunned noises for a few moments. "These are beauts here!" he exclaimed, brushing his paw through the bristles.
Tooth pulled up a colorful, glass wind chime and gasped. "Won't this look wonderful at the palace?!" she exclaimed to her little fairies, who twittered excitedly.
Jack eagerly ripped open his box, only to find a pair of moccasins. He raised an eyebrow. "Thanks, North…"
Finally, I had torn all the packaging off my present and lifted the box open. There were multiple sleeping supplies inside, including calming herbal teas, a lavender and chamomile mist to spray on my pillow, and a sleep mask.
For a moment, I just stared. I lifted up the silky eye mask, turning it over in my hands. To be honest, I was never a fan of these… I wasn't, but I knew someone who would've loved it.
Something slammed into my back. I dropped the mask back into the box as volts seized my body. My ears rang. I groped at my back with both hands. When I turned, it was only North, standing there beaming at me. He had slapped me a bit too hard, as he had a habit of doing.
"What do you think, Sandy?" he asked, but it sounded as if he was far away.
I blinked hard and shook my head. Things came back into focus, and I forced my heart to slow down. I gave North a thumbs up.
"My goodness!" Tooth suddenly gasped. "It's almost midnight already!"
North glanced up at the countdown he had projected over the globe and exclaimed, "To the balcony, everyone! Quickly!"
While the other Guardians gathered their coats and hurried after him, I staggered off my chair. I slipped around a corner into a dark hallway and leaned against the wall.
I started to rub my eyes, only to find my hands shaking. I clenched and unclenched my fists a few times, slowly breathing in and out… in and out…
"Hey, short stack."
I jumped. Jack appeared, and immediately, my face fell into its usual benign smile. I placed a hand over my heart and chuckled, hoping my face didn't look as flushed as it felt.
"What are you doing hiding over here?"
I shrugged.
He held up his moccasins. "You like my gift? Not exactly what I was expecting… but hey, I can't complain. I'm just lucky I'm finally getting into this party."
I didn't respond right away, and he hesitated. For a moment, I thought I saw concern flitter across his face. He opened his mouth, but before he could speak, North's voice rang through the room.
"Sandy, Jack! It's almost time!"
Jack winced, then glanced at me again. "Come on. You have some kind of fireworks show you do every New Years, right? I'm excited to see it."
He stood up and headed back into the main room.
I swallowed hard. For a moment, something inside me wanted to call him back. I wanted to talk to him. But I shook my head, took a deep breath, and smiled.
The minute countdown began just as I floated up beside Tooth. She gave me an enthusiastic smile.
I stepped back to give myself some space, and began to form a ball of dreamsand in my hands.
The countdown began, and the other Guardians chanted along.
"Five, four, three…"
I lifted my hands, and the dreamsand sphere shot into the sky.
"Two, one!"
At exactly one, the ball exploded. The sky erupted into golden fireworks of all kinds, bursting and fizzing and swirling.
I landed on the ground behind the other Guardians, watching in a lull.
The last of the fireworks exploded in the air, creating the forms of each Guardian in the sky. The balcony filled with 'oohs' and 'ahhs.'
The remaining golden dust sprinkled down over us, and the other Guardians began to cheer. When they turned to face me, I hopped up into the air and smiled.
"Happy New Year!" Jack exclaimed, and he and Tooth began to chat excitedly.
"Wonderful, Sandy, wonderful!" North praised, setting a hand on my shoulder as he walked past. The group followed him, and that left me alone on the balcony.
I held out my hand, collecting some of the flakes of dreamsand in my palm. I just watched it fall around me for a moment.
"Sandy!" Bunny called from inside. "You have to see this, mate!"
I sucked in a breath, smiled, and headed inside.
