0o0o0o0o0
Pitch had been defeated and the Guardians went back to North's shop to celebrate! There was so much extra confetti flying around that the flying toys had to be grounded for a while, though that didn't stop the yetis from working or using the cranes.
HA! North said there would be no reason to keep so many umbrellas around. The yetis say different!
So, in North's lounging room a party was thrown. Complete with a large snack table, a fireplace with chairs and sofas all around, and inviting all the unofficial guardian spirits – minus Pitch – and the room was filled with chatter, streaking, and magic tricks.
Yes, there is a certain Guardian of Love streaking around the room; though after the initial shock everyone could care less because the guy has the anatomy of a Ken Doll.
The only one invited who didn't show up was Mother Nature, who insisted she was too busy at the time and tossed the messenger over a few houses and into a bouncy castle like he was a basketball.
After having to send ten other elves one by one to get him (and eventually the others) North had to send a yeti to retrieve all of them.
Aaaaaaand someone managed to spike the drinks without being noticed and Cupid started being really silly with his "naked people are funny" act after he drank some punch. The chupacabra was acting mighty suspicious with the specific denial.
He's here because he eats diseased livestock... and the occasional healthy one.
In the middle of it all North was having an eggnog-chugging contest with Thor. No one is sure who is winning. The two were beginning to sway and tip over.
Lovely atmosphere~!
But for some reason Jack Frost couldn't relax.
He had sat down on one of the chairs close to the snack bar, talking to the Leprechaun about pranks and other funny things to get rid of the tense feeling... when he got a sudden shiver down his back. It's not the 'holy crap it's cold' shiver, but the 'my hair is standing on end' shiver.
"Whats'a wrong, Jack?" The Leprechaun asked. "Why'reyougetin'sotenseit'sblaghteriblahnotlikePitchwi llbebackohlookRedisherekalin kablahshehasanerfgun."
"Wait-wait. Can you repeat tha-?" Jack was about to finish but suddenly jumped out of the seat. He back-flipped and landed on the back of the chair and glanced down to see what nearly hit him.
Ten Styrofoam darts...
Half of them with suction cups at the tips.
So that's why he's so tense! SHE'S here!
Oh, she's going DOWN!
Jack quickly dodged another hail of darts and darted over to the chandelier to use as cover and a vantage point.
He saw a flash of red take cover under the snack bar. They're heading towards another Nerf gun lying on the floor!
Jack frantically scanned the large room and dove for another Nerf gun on the opposite side. He quickly grabbed it, barrel-rolled, and sent a couple shots at the nearest red thing.
Which happened to be North.
Who fell over because he was standing on only one leg.
Countless Nerf guns were tossed in the air...
...And Hell broke loose.
Next thing everyone knew they were yelling and diving for the Nerf guns, rolling around, and ducking for cover.
Aw crap, the Leprechaun got two of the big ones!
The Groundhog's gone crazy!
Tooth's fairies picked up the used darts and thew them all over the place!
Now EVERYONE has a Nerf gun!
Tony the Alien found the ammo stash!
No fair! Bunny got five guns and had strapped some onto himself!
The Leprechaun released his shamrock minions!
It's like hardcore laser tag!
Cupid just made a Nerf bow and arrows – how he did that was a mystery - and was trying to shoot everyone in the butt and laughing like a maniac!
Then, amidst all the chaos Jack just had to jump on the snack table and shout: "EASTER BUNNY! 1000 POINTS EACH!"
The poor rabbit had hundreds of Styrofoam bullets all over him before he could dodge!
Father Time was sitting off to the side sipping tea and going "Oh, ho ho ho ho!" and slipping a camera out of his pocket. He then stood up...
...And froze time.
Then walked around the room and took lots of pictures.
0o0o0o0
Sandy made everyone take a nap by using his own Nerf gun and ammo.
Those sleeping next to one another or in piles had their dreams mingle into crazy messes. One such mess was a Chupacabra dressed like the stereotypical cupid was reciting Shaksepere quotes to the Hulk who was wearing a frilly pink dress and a pikachu hat and dancing ballet... all the while reindeer were pooping on them.
There were just two delinquents and an old fart that managed to evade Sandy.
The room was silent. Those still awake were hiding.
Jack was under the snack table. Out of breath, but not down for the count. He quickly checked how many darts he had left.
Three left.
And lucky him, they had suction cups.
He smirked devilishly. "Payback time, Red."
He grabbed his staff and snuck out behind the table. One of the nap piles was next to the table... Cupid was lying on top, pasty-white butt exposed.
… It's as if it had a huge neon sign saying "HIT ME!"
So he shot a dart at it.
"Hello, Jack."
And it was a stupid move.
Reacting, Jack spun around and shot at random.
And one hit Red square on the nose!
He doesn't know where the last one went. Red had tackled him and the gun was pointing upwards.
Using the momentum, Jack flipped Red off him and jumped over the table. Red quickly ran around it to the other side and soon the two were face-off, hoods down, and pointing the Nerf guns at each others' faces.
Well, now he knows where the next dart went.
"You're pretty good for a girl."
"Says the guy who blew his cover."
"Says the girl with darts on her nose and chin."
"Says the guy with darts on his butt."
"Idiotsayswhat?"
"What?"
"Exactly."
"Why you-!"
Click.
Click click...
…
Jack fired.
Click click...
…
Click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click.
Whadd'ya know, they're both out of ammo.
Next thing they knew golden darts hit their heads.
There was a moment of realization between them before they fell over asleep, with dream-sand hovering above them.
Above Jack floated kittens playing King of the Mountain
Above Red floated ferrets playing tag with her in the middle of it.
Sandy peeked out of his hiding spot – the mantle on top of the fireplace – and hovered over everyone. He quietly counted everybody and noticed that one person wasn't there. Eh, maybe he left to find the bathroom.
A tiny sand watch beeped and Sandy looked at it. Oh, it's time for him to make his rounds again. He glided over all the dart-covered-and-snoring sleeping beauties over to the door. Just before leaving he left a note: it was a replica of him circling around Earth.
He let it float by the doorway and left the building through one of the open skylights and set out for Asia on a dream cloud.
Back in the lounge room the closet door opened.
Father Time was hanging upside-down like a freaking bat (he even had his robe wrapped around him as if he was one!) from the nearly-stuffed coat rack, his ridiculously long beard in his face, and laughing his usual "Oh, ho ho ho ho~"
He flipped over to stand back up, took out his camera, and proceeded to take more pictures.
0o0o0o0
Her dream turned into a disturbing one... bordering nightmarish. And it reminded her of why she existed.
Her job is just helping the victims survive through the ordeal. She knows that much.
Though she feels she's very bad at her job.
Examples? Wars, starvation, domestic abuse, homicide, and when fear gets out of hand. There were even times where she had to kill so others would survive. Sometimes she couldn't do anything but watch people choose how they died; burning slowly in an inferno, or last-minute skydiving and end it on the pavement?
The worst was when attacks happen out of the blue; when she couldn't get there in time before many were dead. Even when she tried to numb herself to the horrible feeling it never worked entirely. Dammit, the victims always grabbed sympathy from her.
So after being woken up by North who had seen what was happening to the dream-sand, she tried to lighten her mood by forgetting it and chatting with others.
When talking to Jack about ways to tie up someone's legs in artistic ways and Jack suggesting they try out a funny one on Cupid, Red felt an emergency direct her to North America, she was surprised. It was so large and urgent that she might be blowing things out of proportion just because it was for this person alone.
Red looked almost too grim when she grabbed some food and left without telling anyone. She usually told someone what was happening and where she would be, but this time she didn't speak a single word even when she was being talked to.
North went up to Jack when they noticed her leave. "Did anything happen, Jack?"
Jack shrugged. "I don't know, she suddenly got serious, grabbed some food and left. She didn't say anything. It's as if a dementor came by and sucked out all the hype out of her."
"Something serious happened. You should follow her. Ask her what is wrong."
"I already did that. Why ask that again?"
"Because she talks to you most easily, remember? You know what she's like. You're the only person other than Nature who can get her to explain her problems. You two are like family!" North patted Jack's shoulder and ushered him to the exit. He then turned back to the crowd and shouted "Who wants another round! Bunny! How 'bout you!"
"Yeesh." Jack trotted outside, flew through the stables and tunnel leading out of the workshop, just in time to see Red fly off on a small cloud.
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So~ what'ya think~? Constructive criticism is welcome! *buried by an avalanche of words*