Hi peoples!
Here's the next chapter!
Disclaimer: I only own Em.
Em POV
Em clutched her necklace as the next scene appeared.
INT. LAUNCHING SHED - A MOMENT LATER
North shoves open a set of double doors, followed closely by
Bunny, Sandy, and Jack. Several Yeti's rush by as they
prepare the hangar for launch.
NORTH (O.S.)
(TO YETIS)
Boys, ship shape. As soon as
impossible.
JACK
North, North! I told you, I'm not
going with you guys! There is no
way I'm climbing into some rickety
old...
Suddenly: the SOUND of POUNDING HOOVES. BEASTLY SNORTING.
SANTA'S INCREDIBLE SLEIGH comes into view. It's a huge,
shiny, tricked out, jaw-dropping hot-rod of a sled.
JACK
...sleigh.
The Burgess teens grinned at the sight of Santa's sleigh. Em rolled her eyes.
"It's not that impressive. My dad can fly without the help of reindeer." she said quietly. Jackson smiled at her.
"Now that's what I call impressive." he replied, just as quietly. Em smiled slightly at him.
Jack is understandably gob-smacked, so much so that he almost
gets knocked over by one of the reindeer.
JACK
Whoa!
NORTH
(TO REINDEER)
Hey! Moi deti, moi deti. Quiet,
quiet.
The sleigh comes to a standstill as the Guardians prepare to
climb inside. Several Yetis are still running around making
last minute preparations.
JACK
Okay, one ride, but that's it.
Jack jumps aboard. North smiles knowingly, and climbs
inside. Sandy hops up into the back seat.
NORTH
Everyone loves the sleigh.
North grabs the reigns, wrapping them around his arms. He
turns to see Bunnymund standing there, frozen and unnerved.
"Awwww! Look Maxie! Look Jaz! Da big, bad Easter Bunny is afraid of a wittle sweigh!" Em said, faking sympathy. Sophie glared at the girl who dare insult her favorite "Guardian". Bunny didn't look at Em, instead keeping his eyes on the screen. Maxine and Jasper giggled. Em looked at Sophie, smirking, "Problem, honey?" Jamie joined his sister in glaring at the other girl.
"Yes. You have no right to criticize Bunny." Sophie said. Bunny, for the first time, looked away from the screen, and looked at his believer.
"Actually, she does, Soph." he said, and Em's eyes widened, as she turned to stare, along with every other person in the room, at the Pooka.
"And why is that?" Jamie asked, returning his cold gaze on Em.
"Because she's right about everything." Bunny replied. Tears sprung into Em's eyes as she pulled her knees to her chest, and wrapped her arms around them. Jackson put his arm tightly around her, and Em buried her face in his chest, her shoulders shaking. Emma put her hand on the older girl's knee comfortingly. Maxine and Jasper huddled as close as they could to their cousin. The room fell into a deafening silence, broken only by the muffled sobs of Em, as the scene went on.
NORTH (CONT'D)
Bunny, what are you waiting for?
BUNNYMUND
I think my tunnels might be faster,
mate. And um, and safer.
NORTH
Ah, get in.
(hoists Bunnymund up)
Buckle up!
Bunny desperately looks around his seat.
BUNNYMUND
Whoa, whoa, whoa, where are the
bloody seatbelts?!
NORTH
(LAUGHS)
That was just expression!
Anna frowned.
"That's really not safe. Someone could fall out." she remarked. Kristoff nodded in agreement.
North turns to one of the Yetis .
NORTH
Are we ready?
The Yeti throws his hands up in a fit shaking his head no.
NORTH
Good! Let's go! Clear!
(cracks the reigns)
Hyah!
The sleigh is off. Elves and yetis scatter out of its path.
Sandy, Bunny, and Jack fly back into their seats. Bunny
clutches the edge of his, terrified. Jack can't help but
laugh.
"He's in his element." Sandy signed. Pitch nodded.
"Yes he is, Sandy." Pitch replied.
NORTH
Out of the way!
The sleigh heads down a luge-like track. North and Jack are
enjoying the ride.
NORTH
Hyah!
BUNNYMUND
Ohhhhhh no!
North cracks the reigns, the sleigh plummets, an almost
vertical drop. Sandy grins calmly. Jack loves this.
Bunnymund - not so much.
BUNNYMUND
(WALLA)
Slow down, slow down!
North pulls a lever, kicking the sleigh into overdrive. He
looks back as the sleigh enters a corkscrew.
NORTH
I hope you like the loopty loops!
BUNNYMUND
(NAUSEOUS)
I hope you like carrots.
NORTH
Here we go!
WIDE SHOT as the sleigh reaches the bottom of the ramp, and
shoots upwards, launching them into bright blue sky.
JACK
WOOO-HOOOOOO!
EXT. SLEIGH - FLYING THROUGH THE SKY - CONTINUOUS
North, reins in hand, leans into the wind as the reindeer
climb higher.
"Cool!" "Amazing" "Awesome!" The Burgess teens all cheered, breaking out of their silence. Em sniffed.
"Papa's just as important." she whispered, not lifting her head. Jackson rubbed her shoulder.
NORTH
Klasno!
Jack, in his element, leaps up onto the rear of the sleigh to
watch the North Pole fade into the distance.
JACK
(LAUGHS)
Whoa!
Bunnymund peaks off the side of the sleigh, then leans back,
and holds on for dear life.
JACK
Hey, Bunny-
Bunny turns to see Jack standing on the back edge of the
sleigh.
JACK
Check out this view-
EEEYAAAAGGHGHH!
Em's head shot up from Jackson's chest.
"Papa!" she whispered, shocked, her eyes red.
Jack is SWEPT OFF the sleigh and disappears! Bunny gasps in
horror and looks over the side...only to see Jack lounging on
the sleigh's skid.
Em let out a small sob of relief, and huddled back next to her father's human form.
JACK
Awww...you do care.
BUNNYMUND
Ah, rack off you bloody show pony!
Bunny glowers as Jack makes his way back into the sleigh.
NORTH
Hold on everyone, I know a
shortcut.
BUNNYMUND
Oh strewth, I knew we should have
taken the tunnels.
Em turned her head, and gave the spirit of Spring a small smile, not like the teasing ones before, but a genuine one. Bunny returned it.
North holds a snow globe up to his face.
NORTH
I say, Tooth Palace.
An image of the Tooth Palace appears inside the snowglobe.
Em shuddered.
"I hate snowglobes." she said in a shaky voice, not yet completely recovered.
North throws the globe into the air and a giant vortex opens.
NORTH
Hyah!
EXT. SKY - SLEIGH JETTING THROUGH THE SKY
A surreal light surrounds the sleigh as it hits HYPERDRIVE
and gets sucked through the snow-globe portal with a WHOOSH.
EXT. SKY - NEAR TOOTH'S PALACE
The sleigh suddenly comes out of HYPERDRIVE at the outskirts
of the Tooth Palace. Streaks of black rapidly approaching.
NORTH
What!?
Suddenly our heroes find themselves in the midst of mayhem,
as hundreds of Nightmares and terrified Tooth Fairies jet
past. It's like a meteor storm. North yanks the reins, and
the sleigh veers sharply, dodging the oncoming Nightmares.
NORTH
What are they!?
Sandy and Bunny duck the onslaught.
BUNNYMUND
Whoa!
Jack now sees that the Nightmares are actually GULPING DOWN
the fleeing fairies and flying off with them. It's chaos.
JACK
They're taking the tooth fairies!
Jack looks up to see a lone fairy with a Nightmare snapping
at its heels. Jack leaps into the air and rescues it before
the Nightmare can snatch it away.
Jack lands back in the sleigh. He opens his hand to reveal
Baby Tooth, who's shaking with fear.
JACK
Hey little Baby Tooth, you okay?
"Where is Baby Tooth?" Maxine asked. The small fairy had become a favorite of the twins, and had become one of Em's best friends. Said fairy fluttered to the side of the daughter of Jack Frost. Em gave the fairy a small smile.
"Hi Baby." she whispered, brushing the soft feathers of her friend. Tooth stood up from her spot.
"Baby Tooth! Come here!" she said. Baby Tooth looked from her Queen to her friend, attempting to make a decision.
"Do not make her choose, Toothina." Mother Nature appeared in the room, "Baby Tooth belongs with Em." Baby Tooth smiled at Em, as she was surrounded by a bright light, and all her feathers turned white. Her amethyst eye turned bright blue. Em gaped.
"Baby Tooth's a snow sprite?" she asked. Baby Tooth flew around her head happily twittering. Mother Nature smiled, and disappeared. Tooth's eyes narrowed as she sat back down. Maxine smiled at the fairy.
"She needs a new name, Emmy." the young girl said. Em smiled slightly.
"Baby Flake." she replied, stroking the now snow-white feathers of her friend. Baby FLake perched on the girl's shoulder, cuddling into her dress as the scene went on.
As Baby Tooth nods, North steers the sleigh forward through
the storm toward the entrance of Tooth's Palace.
INT. TOOTH PALACE - A MOMENT LATER
A vast chamber supported by pillars containing millions of
tiny wooden deposit boxes from floor to ceiling. North spots
a Nightmare up ahead and hands Jack the reigns.
NORTH
Here, take over!
BUNNYMUND
Huh?
Jack, though surprised, quickly grabs the reigns and smiles
as he snaps them.
Sandy grinned, remembering that specific sleigh ride. IT had been one of the best in his opinion. Meanwhile, Tooth stared at North.
"You let him drive?" she asked incredulously.
"Not one of my smarter ideas." North replied.
JACK
Hyah!
North readies his sword and SLICES the Nightmare in half -
NORTH
Yah!
SEVERAL TOOTH BOXES spill out of the split Nightmare and rain
down into the sleigh at the Guardians' feet. The Nightmare
disintegrates into black sand.
BUNNYMUND
They're stealing the teeth!
Sandy looks at his hands and sees the Nightmare sand take
shape and drift away. He and Bunny exchange a look.
The Guardians turn - they're headed straight for a pillar.
NORTH
Jack, look out!
Jack pulls the reins -
JACK
Aaaahhhh!
- the sleigh nearly misses the pillar and skids to a rough
stop on a platform. They see Tooth up above.
NORTH
Tooth! Are you alright?
Tooth is flying around, visibly frustrated. This is bad.
TOOTH
They, they took my fairies! And
the teeth! All of them!
Everything is gone! Everything.
Anna seemed to get an idea.
"The fairies are like your children, aren't they?" she remarked nonchalantly. Em smiled at her aunt, knowing what she was doing. Tooth rolled her eyes.
Only then does it hit her. Tooth's wings drop in defeat.
She's completely lost amidst the devastation. The Guardians
rush to comfort her. Jack stays behind as Baby Tooth pops
out from the hood of his tunic and flies over toward Tooth.
TOOTH
Oh thank goodness! One of you is
alright!
PITCH (O.S.)
I have to say, this is very, very
exciting.
Pitch's voice echoes across the open chamber. They look up to
see Pitch, standing high above them with a satisfied smile.
PITCH
The Big Four, all in one place.
I'm a little star-struck.
(BEAT)
Did you like my show on the globe,
North? Got you all together,
didn't I?
Tooth darts after Pitch, but he escapes into the shadows.
TOOTH
Pitch, you have got thirty seconds
to return my fairies!
"If he took them all, it's going to take a lot longer than thirty seconds to return them." Jackson said. Emma giggled at her brother's remark. Em smiled softly.
PITCH (O.S.)
Or what?
Tooth follows the sound of Pitch's voice and finds him near
one of her tooth box columns.
PITCH
You'll stick a quarter under my
pillow?
NORTH
Why are you doing this?
PITCH
Maybe I want what you have. To be
believed in.
Jamie took this in, along with his friends and the on-screen Jack.
"I never thought about it that way." Claude told his friends quietly. Sophie shook herself.
"He's still evil!" she replied, and the others nodded, removing those thoughts from their heads.
Jack takes this in. Pitch moves along the walls and shadows
of the chamber and emerges from behind a column.
PITCH
Maybe I'm tired of hiding under
beds.
BUNNYMUND
Maybe that's where you belong.
PITCH
Ah, go suck an egg, rabbit!
Em covered her mouth, but a small giggle escaped. Pitch raised his eyebrows at the sound, and remembered the day he had found her in the forest, so innocent and small. It was good he had gone after her, because otherwise, Jack would had never found the four-year old. Bunny heard the laugh as well, and sent her a smile.
Bunny looks down past the edge of the platform to find Pitch
upside down, staring him in the face. Pitch disappears again.
PITCH (O.S.)
Hang on, is that...Jack Frost?
(LAUGHS)
Since when are you all so chummy?
JACK
We're not.
PITCH
Oh good.
Jack turns and sees Pitch standing in the middle of a column.
PITCH
A neutral party. Then I'm going to
ignore you. But, you must be used
to that by now.
Em sent a look over to her uncle, who raised his hands in defense.
"It was cruel, I know." he said, sending her an apologetic look. Em nodded smartly and returned to the movie. Sandy laughed silently at his counterpart.
BUNNYMUND
Pitch! You shadow sneaking rat-
bag! Come here!
Bunny goes after Pitch, but he disappears and reemerges on an
opposite column. Tooth spots him, grabs one of Bunny's
boomerangs and flies at Pitch in a rage...
TOOTH
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Pitch looks at Tooth with a smile and before she can reach
him, a huge Nightmare darts out of hiding and rears up at
her. Tooth falls back. Baby Tooth hides in Jack's tunic.
PITCH
(SOOTHING)
Whoa! Hey, easy, girl. Easy.
"Onyx!" Em said happily. Onyx was her favorite Nightmare, and a surprisingly kind one to both Em and the twins. She was normally the one Pitch used for his bigger jobs.
Pitch draws a wisp of black sand from Onyx's mane, twirls it
in his palm, and turns toward Sandy.
PITCH
Look familiar, Sandman? Took me a
while to perfect this little trick.
Turning dreams into Nightmares.
Pitch notices the shocked Guardians.
PITCH
Don't be nervous, it only riles
them up more. They smell fear you
know.
BUNNYMUND
What fear? Of you!? No one's been
afraid of you since the Dark Ages!
Pitch's eyes flash with anger. But then he smiles.
PITCH
(NOSTALGIC)
Oh, the Dark Ages.
EXT. VILLAGE - NIGHT - FLASHBACK
A parent and her two children, huddled around a campfire,
scream as a shadow, resembling Pitch, washes over them. It
makes its way up the side of a mountain to reveal Pitch,
smiling as he stares up at the moon.
PITCH (V.O.)
(NOSTALGIC)
Everyone frightened. Miserable.
Such happy times for me. Oh, the
power I wielded!
EXT. VILLAGE - NIGHT - FLASHBACK - CONTINUOUS
PITCH (V.O.)
But then the Man in the Moon chose
you to replace my fear with your
wonder and light!
North's sleigh flies in front of the moon. Tooth and her
fairies flit by while SANDY's Dreamsand dances across the sky
and Bunny leaps across rooftops.
PITCH (V.O.)
Lifting their hearts! And giving
them hope!
Em cocked her head, smirking.
"Isn't that Bunny's job?" she asked innocently. Bunny chuckled as Tooth and North scowled.
Pitch, thinner and weaker than he is now, slips back into the
shadows after children run through him while playing in the
streets, laughing as they go.
PITCH (V.O.)
Meanwhile, everyone wrote me off as
just a bad dream! "Oh, there's
nothing to be afraid of! There's
no such thing as the Boogeyman!"
BACK TO THE TOOTH PALACE
Pitch leans toward the Guardians, showing nothing but
contempt.
PITCH (CONT'D)
Well that's all about to change.
"DUN DUN DUUUUUUN!" Jasper yelled, making his family laugh.
A SOUND behind Pitch: one of the COLUMNS of the Palace begins
to crack and crumble, as if decaying. Tooth is stunned...
PITCH
Oh look, it's happening already.
JACK
What is?
Tooth's eyes widen in shock.
VIGNETTES OF CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD
PITCH (V.O.)
Children are waking up and
realizing the Tooth Fairy never
came.
Lifting pillows and finding their BABY TEETH still there.
PITCH (V.O.)
I mean such a little thing, but to
a child...
Emma looked down.
"That's how I felt when I never got visited." she said quietly. Em stared at the younger girl in shock, before putting an arm around her, and pulling her close.
"You too?" Em asked. Jackson smiled at his sister and the daughter of Jack Frost.
PULL OUT from the last VIGNETTE, all the way out of TOOTH'S
WIDE-OPEN EYE, and BACK TO SCENE. Jack, mystified, moves
closer to Tooth as the palace continues to crumble.
JACK
What's going on?
TOOTH
They, they don't believe in me
anymore.
PITCH
Didn't they tell you, Jack? It's
great being a Guardian - but
there's a catch. If enough kids
stop believing, everything your
friends protect - wonder, hopes and
dreams - it all goes away. And
little by little, so do they.
Emma covered her mouth in shock, the small girl's eyes filling with tears.
"Jack would have died." she said, loud enough for the entire room to hear. Em gasped with realization. Jackson gaped at the screen. The twins began to cry softly. Kristoff put an arm around Anna as she hid her face in his chest. Tooth lifted her chin haughtily.
"It wouldn't have been our problem." she stated, crossing her arms. North nodded in agreement, but faltered slightly under the glare of a certain Pooka.
Jack's realizes now the magnitude of Pitch's plan.
PITCH
No Christmas, or Easter, or little
fairies that come in the night.
There will be nothing. But fear
and darkness and me! It's your
turn not to be believed in!
Bunny throws his boomerangs at Pitch, who quickly ducks out
of the way as they fly around the chamber columns. Pitch
then jumps onto the back of Onyx down into the depths of the
Palace. The Guardians dive after him, followed by Jack.
Bunny grabs a set of egg bombs and launches them at Pitch,
exploding seconds before Pitch hits the ground.
CUT TO:
INT. TOOTH PALACE - LAGOON - MOMENTS LATER
The Guardians land -
NORTH
He's gone.
"Oh well!" Em said, recovering slightly. She had pulled both her young cousins into her lap, and she held them tightly, soothing them until they stopped crying.
LATER
Tooth, deflated, sits on the ground with an empty tooth box
in her hands. Baby Tooth, resting on a nearby broken tooth
box, looks to Tooth with concern. Jack walks up and crouches
down alongside Tooth.
BUNNYMUND (O.S.)
Okay, alright I admit it, you were
right about Pitch.
NORTH (O.S.)
This is one time I wish I was wrong.
But he will pay.
JACK
I'm sorry, about the fairies.
Anna smiled.
"Always thinking of others." she said. Those who knew the Guardian of Fun nodded in agreement.
TOOTH
(not her bubbly self)
You should've seen them.
They put up such a fight.
JACK
Why would Pitch take the teeth?
TOOTH
It's not the teeth he wanted. It's the memories inside them.
JACK
(BEAT)
What do you mean?
Tooth leads Jack across the pond, the water freezing under
his feet as he walks.
Jackson and Emma both shivered, remembering what had happened before they were sent to the room by Mother Nature.
TOOTH
That's why we collect the teeth,
Jack. They hold the most important
memories of childhood.
Tooth directs him to a MURAL, which illustrates this.
TOOTH (CONT'D)
My fairies and I watch over them
and when someone needs to remember
what's important, we help them.
Jack takes a second to admire the immense beauty of the mural
before him.
TOOTH (CONT'D)
We had everyone's here. Yours too.
JACK
My memories?
TOOTH
From when you were young. Before
you became Jack Frost.
Jackson looked at Em.
"Who was he? He seemed very familiar." he asked. Em grinned.
"I'm guessing you'll find out." she replied.
JACK
(BEAT)
But, I wasn't anyone before I was
Jack Frost.
TOOTH
Of course you were. We were all
someone before we were chosen.
JACK
What?
NORTH
(CHUCKLES)
You should've seen Bunny.
BUNNYMUND
Hey, I told you never to mention
that!
North chuckled slightly, and Em sent an inquiring look over at Bunny, who shook his head quickly.
Jack, confused, is trying to process all this.
JACK
That night at the pond...I just,
why I assumed...Are you saying, are
you saying I had a life before
that? With a home? And a family?
TOOTH
You really don't remember?
"Does he look like he remembers?" Pitch asked the fairy, who huffed in annoyance.
Jack's expression says it all. Finally the key to all his
questions.
JACK
All these years, and the answers
were right here. If I find my
memories, then I'll know why I'm
here.
(TO TOOTH)
You have to show me.
Jack, using his control of the wind, lifts up off the ground
and flies across the pond.
TOOTH
I...I can't, Jack. Pitch has them.
Jack floats down onto a rock, overlooking the Guardians.
JACK
Then we have to get them back!
Suddenly, a patch of Tooth's feathers fall out, and
disappears. The Guardians eyes fill with worry.
TOOTH
Oh no!
Jack is stricken. He looks back - the ancient MURAL begins
TO DISINTEGRATE-
TOOTH (CONT'D)
The children. We're too late.
NORTH
No! No! No such thing as too
late!
(GETS IDEA)
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,
wait. Idea! HAHH!
"He almost decapitated Bunny!" Sophie giggled. The other teens laughed as well, and Em smiled at the scene.
He's gleeful. The others look at each other as if he's nuts.
NORTH (CONT'D)
We will collect the teeth!
TOOTH
What?
NORTH
We get teeth! Children keep
believing in you!
TOOTH
We're talking seven continents!
Millions of kids!
NORTH
Give me break! You know how many
toys I deliver in one night?
BUNNYMUND
And eggs I hide in one day?
"How about dreams Sandy gives in one night?" Jasper asked quietly. Maxine nodded.
"Yeah! What about Uncle Sandy?" she agreed with her brother.
North turns to Jack.
NORTH
And Jack, if you help us, we will
get you your memories.
Jack looks to Tooth, who gives him a reassuring smile. Sandy
gives to enthusiastic thumbs up while Bunny groans. Jack
looks back to North with a smile.
JACK
I'm in.
"My friends, we will have one more scene, before you all go to bed." Mother Nature's voice filled the room as the next scene appeared on the screen.
Please Review!
You all are great. I hope you all had a nice weekend.
See you soon!
Adios, my Guardians!
Enchantress