A/N: It has come... The second part, the final scene, the concluding chapter, the completed sequence, the finished story, the ... Nope. I got nothing. Read and enjoy. ^-^
It had been about two days after the Guardians left when Phil got the news that they had returned. He looked up from his work instantly and went to go meet them. He had been worrying the whole time that something would go wrong. It seem like it had all been for nothing, after all... here they all were.
They came into the globe room slowly. Each had a deep sadness in their eyes. Phil panicked and looked for Jack. No... he was fine, though he seemed to hold a heavier weight on his shoulders than the rest...
Wait...
Where was Sandy?
He heard North give some of the other yetis some instructions... he could have sworn he heard the word funeral.
What?!... no.
That's not possible... It-it can't be!
Phil growled out to Jack, to get him to tell him Sandy was just a little late, or he had an errand to run...
Jack stared at Phil for a moment. He opened his mouth, and tried to say something... he could only look away.
NO! He can't be-
The yeti turned and walked away from the others. His feet carried him nowhere specific, he just didn't want anyone to see him right now.
Alone in the halls of the pole, Phil let loose a howl of distress and pain. His first slammed against the wall, and he fell to his knees.
He hardly noticed when a cool hand was placed on his shoulder. Jack sat down next to him, and they continued to mourn in silence.
::
As a funeral was held for the Guardian of Dreams, Phil couldn't help the small tears that fell from his eyes. He looked at the others and saw they too were feeling the sorrow of losing Sandy.
A look around the room told Phil that Jack was somewhere else, away from everybody. He had wanted to talk to the boy. It almost looked like the winter spirit blamed himself for what happened. Phil needed to figure out exactly what happened. Jack shouldn't hold the weight of a friend's death on his shoulders alone...
Of all the Guardians.. it had to be Sandy. That was the one who would hurt Jack the most. He would have mourned for the others as well, but he had known Sandy. He had spent time with him and had formed a few good memories. His death was the hardest for Jack to take.
::
When the Guardians decided to help get Easter ready, Phil was already waiting to help. He stood by the lift as each of the Guardians got off. He held a mace in his hand. Another friend would not die while Phil could still fight.
With the hope of Easter, it seemed to lift everyone's mood. Sandy would not want them to lose faith, so they would not. They would keep fighting till the end.
Phil stood at the ready to go to the Warren. He'd never been there, so this was actually exciting. When he saw Bunny begin to open a tunnel, his excitement went away. Gravity took a hold of him and the whole group fell into the ground. They slid down and down, going through twists and turns. It felt a awful lot like when Jack made him slip through one of North's tunnels. He had just as little of control now as he did then. He hated being at the mercy of someone else.
When they finally reached the end, Phil gratefully stood up and brushed away the dirt that had gotten in his fur. His eyes were soon filled with the scenery that surrounded him.
Everything was so... Green!
There was so much life surrounding them. It was so vastly different from the barren pole that the yeti was so use to. A variety of flowers grew everywhere, and butterflies flew all around. It was so peaceful here. It was hard to believe that just above was Pitch, sending more and more of his Nightmares out into the world each passing moment.
When he saw the little girl come running out of one of the tunnels he just wanted to hug her. When her face lit up upon seeing the elf... Phil would never forget that. It was adorable.
Ah! Her scream! That was almost as cute as her laugh. Phil gave a chuckle at Tooth's attempts to interact with the girl. Jack thought it was funny as well.
"When was the last time you actually hung out with kids?" The boy was seriously curious. It was a good question too. They were the Guardians... one would think they would be spending quite a bunch of time with children.
"We are very busy bringing joy to children! We don't have time... for children..?"
Phil had to hold in a snort at that statement... did he really need to finish it? Obviously North found the flaw in that sentence because he ended it in a question.
Jack just laughed and decided to show the guardians how to have some real fun.
As Phil watched the eggs get ready, he couldn't stop the gasp of awe escape him. It was all done naturally. No machinery was used, no technology could be seen anywhere. It was all done through the powers of nature.
When an elf happily came over covered in dye, Phil could only roll his eyes. When they returned, that elf would soon become quite popular with others of his kind... unless the dye washed out quickly, but Phil didn't think that the case. These were made by the Easter Bunny, the paint wouldn't wash off so simply.
Bunnymund come from down the path, and passed Phil. He couldn't help but notice the little girl sitting on the rabbit's shoulders. The Guardian of Hope seemed to have made quite an attachment to her. That made a smile come to him. He thought it was a good idea to grow a bit close to the children they were sent to protect.
The other yeti who had come to the Warren was busy painting eggs by hand, trying to get more done. When Bunny passed by him, the guardian didn't hesitate a moment before commenting on the eggs.
"Too Christmas-y mate, paint 'um blue."
Phil snorted. That was now twice in a short period of time that that yeti had to do a job over again. Phil couldn't really feel bad for him though... it was too funny.
That thought made Phil let out a sigh mixed with a small laugh. He has been hanging out with Jack too much.
Speaking of Jack... He watched as the boy went up to Bunnymund, Phil held his breath for a moment, waiting for the usual tension that came between the two of them, but it seemed like the two of them were just talking and enjoying each others company. That was a good sign. Phil smiled as he realized that Jack could definitely learn to be a great Guardian.
The best part of the whole day was when Jack offered to take the girl, who Phil learned her name was Sophie, home. Although the other Guardians were worried, Jack got them to trust him and, with the single sentence "I'll be as quick as a bunny.", Jack was able to joke with Bunny at the same time as complementing him. Those two seemed to be getting along just fine.
::
The Nightmares came.
They came in waves, and there were too many to count. They easily surrounded the Guardians. The small group readied themselves for a fight, but it was easy to see they would be beaten... but Phil could tell from the look in their eyes. They were waiting for Jack. If they could hold the shadows for long enough, Jack could come and help them.
Phil didn't know if the winter spirit being here would have made a difference or not, but what he did know that he would do his best to protect the eggs!
He let out a yetish war cry and charged ahead. Bunny passed by him and quickly brought down three with his boom-a-rang, and another four with his martial arts skills. Phil brought his mace down, smashing the fiendish steed that had come at him. He swung the weapon around and hit four more that had tried to surround him.
A hoof slammed into his back, causing him to stumble. Before he could turn around, he heard North give a cry and slash at the creature who had come in from behind Phil. Without time for a thanks, they continued fighting.
Some had already branched off and were attacking the eggs. The larger egg golems were doing the best they could, but they were slower creatures and were just as outnumbered as the Guardians and Phil were.
More kept coming. They never seemed to end, but at least there was no sign of Pitch. That would have really been troublesome.
"What is keeping Frost?!" Bunnymund mumbled as Phil destroyed a Nightmare that had come too close to striking the pooka. Phil could only worry for their young guardian. He was a little grateful the kid wasn't here. He didn't know if Jack knew how to fight properly or not. If this would have been his first ever battle... it would not have ended well for Jack.
At some point, the shadows began dispersing. They had accomplished what they came here to do. They destroyed Easter.
It seemed as though the very Warren itself felt the loss. Everything was drooping, everything was darker...
Phil glanced around and saw that none of the others were seriously hurt physically at least... Looking around at the Warren, then back at Bunny, Phil knew that this would hurt him a lot more in just a little while when the children found no eggs and no Easter. Would the whole world miss Easter this year? Would Bunny be able to live off the little hope that remained to fix it up for next year?
Jack still hadn't returned, and that made Phil really worried. What could have kept him? Did Pitch send some Nightmares after the boy as well? Would he be all right on his own?
Bunny rushed to the surface, to see if anything got there at all. To see if any of the children would keep their hope.
The other guardians followed... Phil would have joined in as well, but North quietly asked if he could return to the pole. If Pitch attacked there, there needed to be someone there ready to defend and contact North and the others right away. He was also ordered to be ready at any moment, in case North called for him with his snow globes.
Phil sighed and returned as asked. He just hoped that nothing would happen here. With Sandy gone, the teeth taken, and now... the Warren attack? This was the only place left that Pitch had yet to strike at the Guardians, not counting Jack, but Phil wasn't too sure about that.
What else would have kept Jack from returning if it wasn't Pitch or more Nightmares?
::
If looks could kill, Pitch would be gone in seconds. After he appeared at the pole and began boasting of his powers and victory, of how there would be no Christmas... Phil was sorely tempted to throw something at him.
Phil was enraged when Pitch began counting down the believers. This was all just a game to him! How dare he mock the children's belief!
If only the other Guardians were here. Then again... they probably still would have been defeated. Pitch's power was only growing stronger.
At the thought of the Guardians, Phil thought of Jack and what he would do if he were here... Probably put a patch of ice under the Nightmare King's footing.
A grim smile came to Phil as the thought came, but it quickly left him. With the presence of fear in the pole, and the ever dwindling believers, Phil would be surprised if anything could really lift his spirits.
Phil closed his eyes tight as Pitch snuffed out the last light... or tried to at least.
The kid stayed strong. He or she still believed. This one child gave Phil the slightest bit of hope. Even as Pitch growled out and left in a wave of nightmare sand, Phil knew that the Guardians would use all their power to help the child keep their belief.
Phil, as soon as all signs of the Nightmare King were gone, went about gathering the yetis preparing for a fight. North would surely call on them, and they needed to be ready. This would be the final battle against the shadows... this would be their final chance, and they would win!
::
When Phil emerged from the snow globe's portal, he immediately let loose a wild yeti battle cry. The Nightmares continued towards them, but he and the other yetis didn't hesitate to go on the offensive. His fists slammed into nearest one, while his companions fought off the other on-coming wave. One almost struck Phil as he destroyed a different Nightmare, but one of the children came and touched the beast. Phil's eyes glowed with a light as he watched the steed reform into a beautiful golden lion. It roared and the pounced on the other Nightmares that came at the yetis. With dream sand constantly converting more and more shadow creatures, the yetis and children easily defeated them. Phil watched with joy as more and more dream sand came. He smiled as his thoughts went to Sandy. Looks like the little man couldn't be taken away from the world that easily.
When the yeti got a moment to breath, he looked around and watched as Pitch was surrounded by the Guardians. Phil took a step towards them, but then saw Pitch disappear. The shadows grew around the others and Phil grew worried for them. The Nightmare King could appear anywhere...
When Jack was seen to be in danger, Phil let out a garbled cry of warning, trying to save the boy. His warning went unheard by them, but even Bunny's shout of "Look out!" did nothing. Jack turned helplessly as Pitch swung his blade towards the boy.
A golden whip grabbed at Pitch and he was pulled away. Phil had to run closer to see what was happening.
A huge collection of sand was gathering. It swirled around and held something in the middle. When it emerged, Phil let out a cry of joy.
Sandy, the Guardian of Dreams had returned!
The yeti watched as the dreamweaver sent his sand all across the globe. He watched as the children played with the dreams. He watched as Jack smiled at Jamie, and Jamie smiled back.
The yeti's breath was now coming in short gasps as he realized that Jack had believers. He could be seen!
The smile the boy had on his face was better than any others Phil had seen previous.
When Jack pulled the Guardians into a snowball fight, Phil could only laugh at them. He had never seen such behavior from them, but they looked like they were having fun.
SPLAT!
A wet snowball hit Phil, and he turned to glare at the thrower of the projectile. Jack only smirked and threw another one, bringing in more of the elves.
Phil let out a chuckle, and bent down to grab some snow of his own. This one was headed straight for North. Right after it left his hands, he watched as Sophie grabbed a bunch of snow. She tried to lift it above her head, but only succeeded in dropping it on her head. Phil couldn't help but join in Sophie's laughter.
He was surprised at the little kids. They got in some good hits with Phil and the other yetis. After a bit, Phil noticed the Guardians were missing. He quickly looked around and found them standing on Jack's lake. He caught the last words of North.
"Are you ready now, Jack? To make it official."
Phil knew right away what they were talking about. He used a quick snow globe and returned to the pole. It took all of two seconds for him to jump in the portal, grab the official Guardian book, and hop back to the lake. By the time North gestured for it, Phil was ready to hand it to him.
"Will you, Jack Frost? Vow to watch over the children of the world? To guard them your life, their wishes, and their dreams? For they are all that we have, all that we are, and all that we will ever be."
Jack looked back at Jamie, and with his encouragement, was able to answer. "I will."
Phil smiled at the winter spirit. Now that he had someone he really wanted to protect, Jack would do anything to keep them safe. When Jamie ran and embraced Jack, Phil could see the joy and wonder in Jack's eyes as he was finally believed in, and he was finally able to be a part of a child's life. This was only his first day chosen, but Phil knew, that even as time passed...He will be a great Guardian.
::
Putting the kids to bed was quite an adventure in itself. There were some mishaps, like when the little tooth fairies forgot that they could go through glass, and the kid could not... Good thing Phil had been close enough to catch her, other wise that could have ended bad. He scolded the little guys so it wouldn't happen again. They just sheepishly apologized.
Just as the immortals were about to return home, Phil decided to pay a quick visit to one special boy.
Jamie.
He had wanted to personally thank the kid for believing in Jack, and for helping him become a Guardian. When Phil reached the boy's room, he was already asleep, but that was expected since Sandy put all the kids to sleep before they had been sent home. Besides, fighting off an army of Nightmares and the Nightmare King can be quite exhausting.
The yeti noticed a small book on a dresser. There, on one of the bookmarked pages, was a picture of Phil. He chuckled at the memory. At the time, he had traveled to Greenland... he couldn't quite remember why though... He had gotten just a bit too close to human populations, and had gotten a snap shot of him. Not one of his finest moments, but looking back on it now, Phil could only laugh.
He grabbed a pen from the dresser, and signed the book. He bet Jamie would enjoy that, and it was one way that Phil could show his thanks right now for all the help the children provided.
When he returned to the pole, it was all celebrations and parties. Jack was talking and laughing with the rest of the Guardians when he caught sight of Phil. The yeti gave a small nod and a proud look to the boy. When Jack saw it, his whole face lit up with a smile.
Phil then looked up at the moon as it shined down on them all. There were times when he never would understand what MiM was thinking up there, but he knew that choosing Jack had been one of the best ones. Who better to bring joy to children, then one with the heart of a child?
A/N: Question! For all you lovely folks out there. I had this great idea, once upon a time... where Jack drank hot Chocolate and it had disastrous results... I wrote it out, but I wrote it wrong! To write the next part I had planned I would need to rewrite my first one to something almost completely different. Heres what I want to know. Should I replace the chapter that I already have up? OR Should I just have both in the story?
Thanks for reading, and review.
