At last, the final chapter of The Center of Imagination. It's short and sweet. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I bought Rise of the Guardians! On DVD. I still don't own them. But I do own Reshma, Insanity, Madeline, Rouge, Pierre, Henry, Jack (I wish, I don't), Liplid, Janey, nameless crazy guy, Eira, various extras and IMAGINATION! So many OCs.
Let's end this.
Amidst their revelry in their most recent victory, the Guardians do not realise Reshma's state. Tooth fusses over North, glad to be absolutely free of Insanity and ignoring how shaken she is. Sandy cleans up the pile of sand with a flick of his hand, grinning. "Good job, mate," Bunny comments to North, nodding in acknowledgement of the warrior's achievement. "You too, Sandy."
Sandy puts two thumbs up. "Yeah, that was pretty awesome. Everyone thought you were hurt then boom! Insanity down for the count," Jack says energetically. He cannot tell the others but Insanity has affected him deeper than they suspect. The cold hard loneliness that resurfaced under Insanity's influence makes Jack feel unstable, likely to fall apart. So he pretends it away.
Over Sandy's relatively low to the ground head, Jack at last notices the fallen spirit. "Reshma?" Jack flies over, the Guardians following behind him. Bunny lends her a paw as she pulls herself up.
"Wonderful Reshma!" North booms, waving his sabres for emphasis and almost slicing Tooth in two. "You were very brave! Guardian material!" His twinkling blue eyes pass over each Guardian, looking for confirmation. Tooth, Baby Tooth, Jack and Sandy all nod their heads in agreement, Sandy perhaps the most eagerly. Bunny is hesitant. He may like her and she may have shown her metal but that does not mean he trusts her just yet. Finally, he nods curtly, giving his okay to proposition the imagination spirit. She will probably say no anyway. "Will you become a Guardian?" North asks earnestly, not expecting anything but yes.
Reshma replies exactly as North anticipated.
"I'm sorry. What?" Bunny snaps immediately, believing he heard incorrectly.
"I said I will do it. Become a Guardian."
"Excellent!" North cries. "Let celebrations begin! Phil! Bring me the Book!" North seems to realise something and he looks around the room, finding only the Guardians. "Where are yeti and elves?" he wonders aloud to no one in particular.
"Virhorann trapped them in the Workshop so they would not get in his way," Reshma explains. "I can find them." With that, she strides away. She returns minutes later flocked by bell-topped elves and hulking furry yetis. In her hands she holds an old book. She throws North the ancient tome who catches it thankfully, fumbling a bit. "Brought this as well. Thought you would need it."
North opens the old yet well cared for pages of the Guardians' Book. Without even glancing down, he recites the words of the age old promise. "Will you, Reshma the Muse, vow to watch over the children of the world? To guard them with your life, their hopes, their wishes and their dreams? For they are all that we have, all that we are, and all that we will ever be." Reshma almost rolls her eyes at the corny, sappy Oath but she restrains herself.
"I will," she instead vows. Jack crows in joy, doing a backflip. Tooth twirls in an excited circle, Baby Tooth squeaking her approval. Sandy claps silently but enthusiastically. Even Bunny smiles.
"Then congratulations, Reshma," North announces, downright jolly. "You are now and forevermore a Guardian."
The Guardians cheer for their newest member, elves jingling in the background and yetis applauding. Just as North takes a step forward to kiss Reshma on the cheeks, as is customary with his people, Reshma holds up a hand. "Now that's over, I'm going to get some rest. See you in a week or two." With a brief wave, Reshma whirls away, the floor swallowing her in a great wrenching open of floorboards. The wood rearranges itself as though she was never there.
"Say what you want about her but she's not one for convention," Bunny muses, staring at the spot Reshma once was.
North strokes his beard as he ponders this, smearing the squid-ink there, a remnant of his most recent battle. "No, she is not."
That's the end, folks! There will be a sequel. Also one-shots and stuff.
My sister: Did I hear FLUFF?
Me: Possibly...
Her (with a blunt instrument in case of failure to deliver): YAY! YOU WILL WRITE RESHMUND!
This is my fangirl world. She is very adamant about that particular ship. I don't question it. Love ya and review!