Hi everyone! Okay, there really is no excuse for what took me so long to update this. Honestly it was a mixture of writer's block, procrastination, schoolwork, illness, and makeup work. As well as a recent minor obsession with Vampire Knight. And trying to get together a costume for my local anime convention WHICH IS ONLY A WEEK AWAY WHOO!
Thank you all for being so patient, and for the guest who asked me if this story is dead, no it is not. I've just had a lot on my plate recently and my stories got shoved to the back of the bus, though I did manage to update Watching The Big Four: Seasons while I was sick.
Anywhoodles, ENJOY! (Don't forget to review! Reviews are love and make my day amazing!)
Jack and North ride an elevator, bearing the resemblance of a
Christmas ornament, down to the factory floor.
JACK
It's nothing personal, North. What you all do, it's just, it's not my thing.
"It is so your thing." Emma chuckled.
NORTH
Man in Moon says it is your thing.
We will see!
North storms through factory floor, Jack trying to keep up.
It's an amazing place.
JACK
Slow down, wouldja? I've been
trying to bust in here for years, I want a good look.
"Yeah!" the kids all exclaimed in unison. They'd hardly even paid attention to the dialogue, too busy focusing on absorbing every detail of the workshop that they possibly could.
NORTH
(peeved - still rushing)
What do you mean, "bust in?"
JACK
Oh, don't worry, I never got past the yetis.
Jack looks over his shoulder; an angry yeti pounds his fist
into his palm.
YETI
Rwwarrrrrr.
JACK
Oh, hey Phil.
NORTH
Keep up, Jack! Keep up!
North charges ahead.
North's factory is bustling with activity: Yeti's are
building toys, moving packages, while Elves are test piloting
the various flying toys.
As Jack walks behind North, surveying the factory, a duck toy suddenly flies over Jack's head. Jack ducks just in time and continues after North.
"This is so cool." Ryan breathed, a childish glimmer entering his eyes. Samantha rolled her eyes at her husband with a smile, though she had to agree.
JACK
Whoa!
(beat)
I always thought the elves made the toys.
"That's asking for disaster." Emma shuddered at the idea. The cleanup if that ever happened... There would be a convenient time anomaly somewhere about 600 years in the past if that ever happened.
NORTH
(whispers)
We just let them believe that.
Jack looks over to see a group of elves eating Christmas
ornaments and another electrocuting himself with Christmas lights.
"That just looks painful." George winced.
"What is it..?" James Bennett asked.
"It's called electricity. It's like lightning, but not quite as powerful." Emma explained. At least, she hoped it was a good enough explanation. Those from Colonial Burgess all winced. Ouch.
North smiles and calls to them.
NORTH
Very nice! Keep up good work!
North continues through the factory floor. He passes a yeti
putting the finishing touches on a blue toy robot.
NORTH
(to yeti)
I don't like it. Paint it red.
The yeti reacts in dismay as we reveal hundreds of finished
blue robots.
"Poor thing." Lucy whispered.
NORTH
Step it up, everybody.
As North and Jack move to the opposite end of the chamber, we
finally glimpse the orchestrated chaos of the entire
workshop, in all it's magic and splendor.
INT. NORTH'S OFFICE - A MOMENT LATER
Jack follows North into his office. There are shelves filled
with toys. Sketches and prototypes everywhere.
North dusts his hands and turns to Jack. His sleeves are
rolled. Jack notices that on one of North's forearms is
tattooed the word NAUGHTY, and on the other, NICE. North
grabs a plate from a nearby elf.
NORTH
Fruit cake?
JACK
Ah, no, thanks.
North hurls it - crash!
A pause as North looks at Jack.
NORTH
Now we get down to tacks of brass!
"What?" came the confused, unison response of most of the room. This caused most of them to fall into fits of giggles.
JACK
(to himself)
Tacks of brass?
As North cracks his knuckles, Jack stands silent. The wind
suddenly slams North's office door behind them. Jack looks
to the door, it locks itself, and he turns back. North moves
in close to Jack, backing him up against the door.
James Bennett tensed in concern for his friend.
NORTH
Who are you, Jack Frost?
What is your center?
"What makes him Jack." Emma explained. The kids all look down, trying to figure it out.
North pokes Jack in the chest.
JACK
My center?
NORTH
If Man in Moon chose you to be a Guardian, you must have something very special inside.
"Aye, that he does have. He always did have his mother's spark." James Overland chuckled.
North stands up straight and begins to stroke his beard as he
gives Jack a curious look.
NORTH
Hmmmm?
North is standing in front of a shelf of Russian nesting dolls. One is carved to look like North himself.
NORTH (CONT'D)
Here. This is how you see me, no? Very big, intimidating.
But if you get to know me a little-
(hands the doll to Jack)
Well, go on.
Jack gives North a curious look, then sets down his staff.
He twists the doll in half, and inside is another carved
North doll, this one is a more typical Santa Claus - red
cheeked and cheery.
JACK
You are downright jolly.
NORTH
Ah, but not just jolly...
The dolls get progressively smaller as he twists them open,
all versions of North, but all slightly different.
NORTH (CONT'D)
I am also mysterious.
(twist - smaller doll)
And fearless.
(twist - smaller doll)
And caring. And at my center...
Twist. As North approaches, Jack looks down and drops the
final Russian doll into the palm of North's hand. It's the
size of a jelly bean.
"A tiny wooden baby?" James Bennett asked.
JACK
There's a tiny wooden baby?
NORTH
Look closer. What do you see?
"Big eyes?" Rose suggested tentatively.
Jack holds it up to examine it.
JACK
You have big eyes?
NORTH
Yes! Big eyes. Very big.
Because they are full Of wonder! That is my center. It is what I was born with. Eyes that have always seen the wonder in everything!
North raises his hands, and the toys on the shelves suddenly
spring to life. Jack-in-the-boxes pop, toy trains speed around the room, soldiers march about, toy planes fly overhead. An elf gets carried aloft by a balloon.
A flying toy plane glides by and we follow it as it makes its
way around the room. A Christmas tree is ablaze with bright lights. Two double doors suddenly open as the flying car
enters the factory floor.
NORTH
Eyes that see lights in the trees,
and magic in the air!
As it crosses the frame, dozens of other toys are now flying
around the massive chamber. It's a truly magical moment.
"That's amazing..." Emily breathed.
North now stands outside his office, with Jack at his side.
NORTH
This wonder is what I put into the world, and what I protect in children.
NORTH
(MORE)It is what makes me a Guardian. It is my center. What is yours?
JACK
(beat)
I don't know.
Jack looks down into his open palm, the wooden baby stares
back at him. North closes Jack's hand. They exchange a look.
Then, something suddenly jets past a window outside. Almost
simultaneously, Bunny and Sandman come running down the hallway toward North and Jack.
BUNNYMUND
We have a problem, mate! Trouble at the Tooth Palace.
"Oh no!"
"The Tooth Palace?"
"This isn't good." the kids all begin muttering to themselves and each other, worried for the Tooth Fairy.
"I hope the little fairies are okay?" Anne whispered.
Just a note: I had to fininsh this chapter in a bit of a rush, so it is not my best work. I'll make up for it later, I promise! And I will update as soon as I possibly can! Besides, we're getting near where Jack joins the group, and is reunited with the people of Burgess. :)
REVIEW PLEASE THEY MAKE ME SO HAPPY! Seriously, whenever I get a review telling me about a part that someone liked or found funny, or just a bit of encouragement really makes my day and gets me motivated. I gotta go, I forgot to do the dishes so Mom is taking my computer. :( I'll get it back soon, I hope.