"It's kind of fun to do the impossible" —Walt E. Disney
Chapter 2: LOVE-ing the kidnapping business
"Are you gay?" I asked, and the redhead only gave me a crooked smirk. Did I just make this awkward?
"Um, no" he responded and my eyebrows raised to my hairline. Well, there goes my attempt at having a male friend who isn't a Guardian.
"Oh. Well, okay then, what were you asking again?" I asked, effective changing the subject as he restated whatever he said before.
"I was wondering if you could tell me, are you always so bipolar?"
"Hmm, no. I'm not. But see, the thing is, I don't always have the privilege of eating chocolate, so therefore I'm never this decent. Like right now, I would be kicking your a** if I was my usual self" i said with a smirk as the young spirit looked at me with a fearful set of eyes.
"That's not very reassuring Miss Weather-Seasons! Quite terrifying in fact" he said and the corners of my lips quirked.
"Sucks to suck Geo"
"Well, anyway, back to my questions: how old are you? Mortally and Immortally? How did you become Guardian? Why did the Ice Queen challenge you? Do you have a boyfriend? Is it true that Matthew Bowman broke your heart? Cause if it is I'll break his face! Are you and Toothiana the only female Guardians? When's your birthday? Have you ever had s—"
"Woahhhh, slow down tiger. I got a question for ya, what's with all the questions? Are you tryna write a biography about me?" I asked and Geo's face flushed red.
"Um, well, you see I-"
"You aren't one of those overly excessive fanboys...are you?" I asked.
"Honestly, I'm not sure. It's just that Im a naturally very curious person, so, are you willing to answer my questions?"
"Good enough, and I suppose I will, but I do have a limit, only two questions per day and no personal ones" I said, setting the record straight with the ginger.
"Touché, I agree to your terms oh Great Queen Weather-Seasons!" he said, in a tone that made me wonder if he somehow died in the medieval times.
"Well then kind sir, I believe you shall, ask away" I replied, playing along with his manner.
"Question one, what made you accept the position as Guardian and fight for it when the Ice Queen challenged you?" asked Geo, and a thousand memories whirled through my head like a deadly tornado. A frightening, deadly, ominous tornado. One that killed and destroyed anything in its wake.
Giggles resonated through my memories, twin giggles, child giggles. Two little boys, twins in everything but their eyes, giggling as they ran through a pile of raked, fall leaves. Two twins, frightening their sister in hopes of her chasing them, initiating a game of tag. Two twins, sleeping with their sister in attempt to rid her of her nightmares. Two twins, being murdered by a pair of vengeful sisters. Two twins, who had such a bright future ahead of them, buried 6 feet under ground, in identical coffins, side by side so they wouldn't be lonely as they traveled to the underworld.
"The twins" I whispered, almost to myself.
"Uh, what?" asked Geo, breaking me out of my trance as I gave him my attention.
"U-Uh, mm, I mean that the children, are the ones who caused me to become a Guardian, they remind me so much of myself when I was younger, that I vowed to protect them" I replied, and Geo smiled.
"See, I knew you were more than a heartless b*tch. Question two, why are you so afraid of falling in love?"
"Who said I was afraid of anything? Last time I checked, I was the one who put fear into demons' eyes" I said, rather smugly if I may add.
"Oh right, Warrior Hottie, Michelle Weather-Seasons just isn't afraid of absolutely anything" he said, rolling his eyes.
"It's true! I have no fear"
"Everyone has a fear, darling. And trust me, I will find out yours"
"Wow. Who would've thought that a Spring spirit had so much darkness in him?" I said, rather teasingly. What could I say? The kid was growing on me.
"Ha-ha, very funny Miss Weather-Seasons, but trust me, I find things out fairly quickly, so—" he started, but my watch began beeping, effectively interrupting his speech.
'Meeting at North Pole, North's Toy Shoppe- Important ' Read the holographic letters on my watch.
"Welp Geo, it seems as if we'll have to continue this later, I have important business to attend to. See ya" I replied, getting ready to kick off and use the wind in order to fly to the Pole.
"I'll see you in the Claus's Coffee Emporium at 6:00 sharp tomorrow. Don't be late, I have questions to ask of you Weather-Seasons"
"Sure thing Reporter Geo" I replied, rolling my eyes as I kicked off and commanded the wind to keep me in the air.
Oh the joys of flying.
•~•~•~•~•~•
"An' so yeh inter'rupted mah prep'rations for Easter?" shouted the familiar voice of Bunnymund aka E. Aster Bunnymund, The Easter Bunny.
"Not to side with anyone North, but I have so many teeth to collect-Oh! Canine on 1011 Grand Oak Road, Louisiana! It's a nice one!" replied the voice of Toothiana, also known as The Tooth Fairy, as you've probably assumed.
"Hush, hush Bunnymund, we must wait until the Weather-Seasons siblings are hear, the news is important!" retaliated North, aka St. Nicholas, Santa Claus, etc.
"To hell with them! Easter is almost right around the corner and I-"
"To hell with whom Bunnymund?" I asked, causing the Australian to shut his mouth up real quick.
"None ya business Trouble" replied the 6 foot tall, dark blue bunny with a pale blue belly as he smirked at me.
"Again with that godawful nickname?" I asked, rolling me eyes with good humor as I sat on one of the red couches, my staff in front of me and leaning on my shoulder.
"Aye, it's ain't my fault trouble always seems ta find ya Shelia" he replied as I noticed that the intricate tribal designs had gotten more prominent, indicating that he had gathered more believers. Something I envied greatly.
"Whatever you crazy bunny. Anyhow, North, what's the sitch?" I asked, quoting an old cartoon.
"Can't tell, you're brothers aren't here yet!" said the joyous, tall, plump man as I rolled my eyes.
"My brothers are dweebs and never listen," I started, not hearing the sounds of three rowdy boys nearing, "it's not like any of them, excluding Josh, would even listen to what you have to say."
"Ah but darling," he said with an alien look of fear in his old eye, "this too important. They must hear." His Russian accent held so much worry that I was beginning to feel fearful myself. I stared at the ground. What could possibly be so bad?
"Oh my gods of Olympus! Someone take a picture! I've never seen that trouble maker so concentrated! Save this moment someone!" said an overly enthusiastic 20 year-old.
Behold, my eldest sibling, Seth Weather-Seasons. Blond hair, sea-green eyes, and a swimmers build were the key aspects of my annoying oldest brother. Add a cocky attitude, over-protective genes, and a helluva lot of love, and you have my brother.
"Oh hush up Seth Weather-Seasons!" I replied, not being able to stop the grin from spreading across my features.
"Awh sis, you know you just love us" replies, low and behold, Josh Weather-Seasons, the calmest of us Weather-Seasons siblings.
With light brown hair, blue eyes, and a body like David Beckham, that 19 year-old had many female admirersy, but then again, all my brothers did. It's in our genes.
"OOOOH! And you especially love me, and my pranks" said a sassy 18 year old by the name of Noah. With a mop of curly blonde hair, green eyes, and the tendency to make anyone laugh, he was thought of as 'adorable' by the ladies. Which he definitely loved.
"Yeah right! You guys are the worst. I love y'all" I said, but my words came out incorrectly. "What the heck! I meant to say I LOVE y'all. Ugh!" I shouted, exasperated at the words coming out of my mouth. Could I not say 'hate' anymore, Goddess Aphrodite?
"Bowman! Cut that out!" yelled Seth, going on big brother mode at the one person whom had the chance of breaking my heart and did: Matthew Bowman, Guardian of Love.
With a glare, I turned to look at the Guardian of love. His "David-Beckham's-Oldest-Son" look made him almost irresistible to all the females, excluding myself. Those baby blue and pink eyes no longer had an effect on me, and by now, I had threatened him so much, that his pink bow wouldn't dare aim it's white arrows at me.
"Oh cmon guys, I was just having a little fun" replied the Guardian as he flattens out his "babe-magnet". A black leather jacket that covers his white t-shirt. I scoff at him as he hangs his bow across his chest and sits down.
"That was quite amusing, though" replied Toothiana as she hovered above a couch, her human-hummingbird abilities causing the sound of her wings beating, to be a distant hum.
"Yeah yeah, whatever," interjected Seth, as he sat in the chair Tooth was hovering over (he's always had a thing for the human hummingbird) and Tooth sat on the armrest.
An awkward silence filled the room. Great.
"Hey, where's Sandy?" I asked, referring to the short, plump man, who's made of sand and is always in his golden sand pajamas.
"He's-He was here, a while ago" replied Bunnymund.
"Crap, where could that little man go?" asked Seth.
"Oh don't get too excited, he probably fell asleep somewhere" says Josh, indicating on how the Sandman is the Guardian of Dreams.
"Or maybe he's eating?" questioned Noah, just as the sound of a bell ringing violently entered our ears.
Instantaneously, 8 heads swiveled to the source of the sound, where we saw the little mute man holding a poor, dizzied elf by the hat. Sandy's golden sand features were etched with annoyance, indicating he'd been trying to get our attention for a while now.
Briskly, the little sand gestures he makes above his head, in order to communicate, created an arrow that pointed to the moon. The moon, or more specifically Man on Moon (or Manny as North likes to call him), moved a beam of moon ray towards a pedestal that hadn't been touched in decades. The last time it was touched, was when I became Guardian.
Silently, and with great curiosity, all 8 Guardians made their was around the white pedestal, that had emerged from the ground, careful not to block the moon ray's path. A figure began forming in the crystal atop the pedestal (one I had created, seeing as I broke the original).
"A new Guardian? I hope it's another girl!" I said, as the other Guardians voiced their opinions. Seeing as most of them were guys, they vouched for another male. Ugh, guys will be guys.
"Why on Earth would we need a new Guardian though?" asked Matthew, a hint of his southern accent showing, indicating his nervousness.
"Afraid of a little competition Bowman?" I asked mockingly, as he rolled his eyes.
Slowly, the figure began to take shape, and the outline was enough to tell us, that it was indeed a male. Or a rather masculine female.
"Please don't be the groundhog, please don't be the groundhog" chanted Bunnymund, and I rolled my eyes.
"Open your eyes Aster! it's a damn human, ya buffoon" I said, smacking him upside the head as I said it too.
"Keep ya trap shut Trouble" he replied, and I figured the nerves were getting to him as well. This must be pretty huge, the problem I mean, because getting a new Guardian, well...it's never really good.
Suddenly, a blinding light appeared, and I had to close my eyes so they wouldn't burn. It was as if I was looking at the godly form of one of the gods or goddesses of Olympus!
As the light dimmed, I opened my eyes, and saw the one and only, Jack Frost. Just Wonderful.
"Oh Great! Why did it have to be him? I'd rather have the groundhog!" complained Bunnymund as I looked directly at the eyes of Jack Frost.
The others began arguing about who knows what as I observed the soon-to-be-Guardian's crystallized form. With an easy going smile, charming blue eyes, and a mess of white hair, I almost overlooked the fact that our outfits were scarily similar.
What the f*ck?!
The only differences between the immortal and I were the fact that his capris were brown, mine were white. His staff was of wood, mine was crystal. His hair was white, mine was brown with white highlights. He was barefoot, I had my trusty converse.
Other than that, his outfit was almost exactly like mine. Again, what the f*ck?!
"So, what are we gonna do?" I asked, voicing my thoughts.
"Hopefully he isn't exactly like you, then we might have some luck bringing him over" taunted Matthew, referring to when I was younger (immortal wise) and rejected the opportunity at becoming a Guardian.
"Go to Hades!" I shot back, but before Matthew could respond, North had shouted, "Idea!"
"What's ya idea, mate?" asked Bunnymund.
"Capture! Michelle and Bunny, you take red, Christmas bag and yeti and snow globe, find Jack, and put him in bag and bring here!"
I stared at North, dumbfounded.
"You want us to kidnap him?" I asked astoundingly.
"Erm, yes?"
"And how are you so sure he'll fall into the trap?" I inquired, fearing his next words.
"Well...eh...um" he fumbled, rather sheepishly.
"Say no more. I'm not going to let you use me as f*cking bait!"
"Michelle! Language!" scolded Seth, like the big brother he was.
"To hell with my f*cking language! I will not be used as damn bait!" I yelled, enraged at how my own family would want to use my damn curse as f*cking bait. A**holes.
"But dear, it the only way" says North.
"Yeah, I'm with Michelle, we can't risk the chance of him falling in love with her" says Matthew. And the thought of him wanting to protect me, sickens me to my core.
"Could you stop! We've been over for years Bowman! I do not need your damn protection! I am the moon-damned Guardian of Protection, not you! So keep your opinion on me to yourself!" I fumed.
"How selfish are you?! Don't you think I know we've been over for years?! Gods-damn, I was looking out for that poor guy! You and I and the Guardians all know, what happens when a guy who falls in love with you, suffers from a broken heart. It's a fatality that we can't let the public know about" he shouts right back.
"Well then no wonder you aren't 6 feet underground" I said, tears threatening to spill as I concluded, that Matthew Bowman, the one guy I fell in love with, didn't return those same feelings.
A look of regret clouded Matthew's eyes, as I looked at North and stated, "Count me in."
-An Hour Later-
"So, basically I use my "flirtation skills" to lure him here?" I ask Bunnymund, bunny-earring the words 'flirtation skills' and he nods. (No pun intended by the way).
"The Pub polled guys on what they find most attractive, and it's basically your voice and body that lure them in" stated Bunny as I roll my eyes.
"Great way of telling me I have a shitty personality" I reply with a look of annoyance.
"Oh shut up Trouble, you and I both know why your personality sucks when you're around the guys" he said with a knowing tone and I smiled.
"Good" I replied, before my darling brothers voice filled out ears thanks to the earpieces North made us wear. Sometimes, I swear he wants to go back to being a Russian spy.
"Frost is heading your way" Munching sounds fill the ear piece, "a few streets down" Munch, munch, "over,"
"Noah Weather-Seasons, are you eating on the job?" I ask incredulously.
"Er, get back on the job! Over" he responds and I roll my eyes. The audacity of that boy.
"Alright Bunnymund, here goes nothing" I say before I use the voice command, "Auxeus" to summon my crystal staff.
"G'luck Trouble" he responded, just as a twister of the seasons' symbols engulfed me, and teleported me to my destination.
I appeared at the one place in Maine, where I truly loved. Margaret Emerson, descendant of Jodie Emerson, my first believer, lived here. She played in this plaza, played hide and seek in the woods not too far from here, and died here, at an old age. This was where I spent my days as a confused, and stressed out young immortal. I absolutely loved it here.
I began watching the children play, and a young Margaret Emerson soon emerged from her home. The first thing she saw, was me. Her eyes seemed I have been trained to see me before anything else.
With a wide, front-toothless grin, Margaret waved at me, her features showing nothing but joy.
"Michelle, Frost is heading your way, inexplicable speed. He's not alone, over." warned Noah, and before I could explain why, I had disappeared from Margaret's sight by turning invisible. Not even she am could see me, and she was one of my strongest believers.
Right before my eyes, and too quick for me to comprehend, Jamie Bennett, one of the most strongest believers out there, went airborne, falling in front of a statue and missing it by mere inches. I was on the verge of turning myself un-invisible and dashing towards the mountain of snow, when all of the sudden, Jamie popped up, his face glowing from the adrenaline rush.
A facial feature I knew I wore too well, and too many times.
"Woah! That was awesome!" exclaimed Jamie as I let out a huge sigh of relief.
"Jamie Bennett, is he safe?" asked Noah over the earpiece, he probably looked at the traffic cameras. He may be a prankster, but he was a wiz with computers.
"The Jamie Bennator is—" I stopped dead in my tracks as a huge sofa hit Jamie, knocking him over. That was definitely gonna leave a mark. I was just about to tell Noah that we needed Josh's medical affinity, when Jamie jumped out of the snow again, holding a certain white object in his fingers. A f*cking tooth.
"Wow! Look! I lost a tooth!" he exclaims, and I shake my head.
"Safe, he's safe. over" I reply, and that's when Jamie sees me. I motion for him to head inside, and knowingly, he tells the kids his mom made hot cocoa and they follow him inside, Margaret is now where to be seen, meaning she's with Jamie and his friends. I will my outfit to change, into a floor-length, blue gown that molds against my body, showing every curve. Now where is—.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" asks a husky voice that sends chills up my spine. Jack friggin Frost, ladies and gentlemen.
"Noah, turn the mic off. it's about to get ugly, over"
"Copy that. Connection, c—"
I turn around, and place a fake, flirty smile on my face. Unbeknownst to dear Jackson Frost, Im plotting a million deaths for only him, in my head. No one, messes with my kids.
"Are my eyes deceiving me? Or is that the freaking sexy, Michelle Weather-Seasons?" he asks, and I beat my lashes and pretend to blush. The crystals on my gown sparkle, emitting an angelic glow around me.
"Oh what a charmer you are, and quite handsome too" I reply, walking painstakingly slow towards the immortal. I place a hand in his shoulder and feel his breathing hitch as I ask, "What's your name, cutie?"
He grabs my hand and uses his free arm to snake it around my waist and bring me closer, I mistake the tingles for goosebumps as his cold fingers come in contact with my warm skin.
"Jack Frost, at your service" he whispers, directly into my ear. Oh gods of Olympus, help me. I've never felt like this before, it's thrilling. Like an amped up adrenaline rush.
"Hmm, what a darling name. Tell me, Jack? Are you a naughty little boy?" I ask, bringing my lips intimately close to his ear, moreover close to his neck. I can feel him struggling to keep his control.
"For you, I'd be anything" he responds and I smile, this was easier than I thought. I move my head and stand higher on my tippy toes as his head bends down. My lips are mere inches from his, and as he attempts to go in for a kiss, I stop him with a whisper. My lips almost touching his silky soft ones.
"Well Mr. Frost, if you want me, you have to catch me" I say, snatching my body from his grasp. "Auxeus" I say inaudibly, and my staff retread to its necklace/locker form. I walk backwards, away from him at a slow pace, taunting the spirit.
"Oh, Baby Doll, is that a challenge I hear?" he asks, and I giggle. (Cue barf!) Although, this is actually quite thrilling.
"Hmm, I believe so Jack. Didn't you know, all magic comes with a price? And the price for this one, is to catch me" I say, a flirty tone coating my words.
"Challenge accepted" he says, as I smirk.
"Catch me if you can pretty boy" I say, just as I turn and dash away, towards the alley in which Bunnymund is waiting. More than a few times, I almost trip over the damned dress whilst looking back, and making sure Jack is still chasing.
One last time, I turn and face him, I send him a flirtatious wink, before dashing into the alley on my right. Bunnymund raises his eyebrows at my outfit, and I scowl, mouthing, "Not one word."
Then in a flurry of fall leaves, water droplets, snowflakes, mini spheres of sun, spring grass, and other earthly symbols, I find myself in a portal leading back to the North Pole.
Needless to say, I was loving the kidnapping business.
❄️
Hiyah everyone! I absolutely adored writing this chapter for y'all! Send in your opinions and don't forget to vote! Thank you!
love, elle.