MORE BORING NO-ACTION I'M AFRAID.
I'm really lacking in work motivation- I wanted to get all of the acquaintances out of the way and get to the good part- which I admit hasn't even began since all of the best story past I've got come in after this- but It seems I haven't got there yet. This story's not being reviewed as much by those who read a 'Blackened Memory' and I honestly feel like his one's lame compared to that one.
Rant about this story's awfulness over.
If you have the time, please review if you think there are parts that could be improved or if I'm drawing it out too much or not enough. It would really help. I appreciate all the feedback I have though- Thanks everyone!
Enough of that. Enjoy the next chapter!
Chapter 7: Are Your Guardians?
The living boy kept books in shape from many years ago- more than people could believe that ordinary books could survive. They sat on many walls, each telling their own story like thousands of threads in a tapestry; all surrounding and ending on things that connected.
In his youth he'd red such books, but the first had come to him as a young boy, crouched on the lakeside with his head bowed against his knees, knelt silently beside the still, reflecting waves that's reflection could not fill the void of the empty space beside him.
The book, seemingly dropped out of the sky by who knows what, had been titled with curious words. Brightly colored drawings parked every page, though some held dark shadowy figures that made him shiver...and as he stared upon the pages, he felt as though someone was watching over his shoulder.
As he turned, and gazed around, he heard the faintest flutter of wings. His eyes widened, and as he looked closer, something vague and mysterious too over him.
Around the frame of his site, like frost upon a window, a blue light had spread, and he saw through the trees, and caught the tiniest glimpse of a pale figure, thin and masked, watching him with longing brown eyes he never dreamt of seeing again.
The boy reached out, his strange sight and the sound of wings forgotten, anything else cast aside as he gazed with a hurtful expression, fingers shivering as they reached.
But, as he did, the blue light around his sight faded, and the trees focused. The gaze of the masked figure was gone, and he was left alone. Yet, his hand stayed in mid-air, slightly reaching, slightly wondering.
Jo's eyes snapped open, and he jerked up into a sitting position, breathing hard and shaking. He blinked in bemusement, looking past his silver-coated toes to the table nearby, were a bunch of cookies, jars, sweets and other promising treats had been laid like they would be in a birthday celebration.
Jo frowned, and giving the room he was in a quick glance, taking in the curing walls, the roots above, the fireplace, he guessed that he was in some kind of underground cavern- one that had been carved and decorated by its inhabitants.
Faint memories of his last awakening approached him as he stood, stumbling back a little. The shadows cast by the fire were smaller, and light was shining through a small hole in the ceiling, where a mirror directed its light to a glass-like bunch of pointed stones in the center of the roof. The reflected sunlight bounced off the glass and around the room, lighting the place a little more clearly. Jo ran a hand through his hair, ignoring the small sprinkles of silver that feel past his shoulders as he did so.
The edge of his vision became a blur of blue as he stared around with his Second Sight; looking through the walls to find many dark tunnels leading away from where he was. He could honestly get lost in this place- how would he find a way out?
Jo blinked, and his vision returned to normal as he turned back towards the table nearby. He took a hesitant step towards the table of treats, feeling a little uneasy despite the warmth and smoothness the cavern held. He eyed the small cakes suspiciously.
"Awake, eh? How's the Sand-in?"
Whoa!
Jo leaped into the air and spun around, a long pole materializing in his hands out of nowhere as he looked around the room, searching for the owner of the voice. He spotted a long, wooden pole a few yards away and rose a brow in confusion A small, cheery laugh followed.
"He's gotta pole. Isn't dat great."
"What?" Jo lowered his sand-constructed weapon and looked up- finding the wooden pole was in fact a very long staff- one that curled more than a candy cane, almost resembling a spiral. Crouching on top of it was a impish youth, dressed in black, orange and purple, sporting wavy brown hair that was curled behind his ears, freckles standing out against his skin. A toothy grin was spread across his face, and he was tapping his small pumpkin cap absently as he gazed down at Jo.
The plainly dressed boy frowned up at him, deciding to take no chances. He gripped his makeshift weapon, and a point materialized to form a spear. "Who are you? Where Am I?"
A candy bounced off his head, and Jo's defensive posture was a little stunted by his surprise. His eyes slid away from the stranger and towards to the toffee at his feet; held in transparent, orange wrapper.
"I have a lot of candies, sweets and things." Said the taller boy as Jo looked up at him with a scowl, "Though I take it you're not too fond of the sticky kind. Ya haven't touched breakfast."
"Breakfast?" Still gripping his weapon, Jo looked back over at the table were the various treats still lay. He rose a brow uncertainly. "I take it you don't have any problems with loosing teeth."
The boy stood on the tip of his staff, balancing crookedly as he grinned down at Jo. There was just something a bit too mischievous for the silver-clad boy's liking, and already he was beginning to dislike the elder's evasiveness. He shook his head and pointed the tip of his Sand-Spear towards the other boy, frowning again. "Okay, enough fooling around. Who are you?"
"Hal of the Tricks, O' course!" The boy announced, arms stretched wide for the un-seeing world. Jo's brow furrowed and the smile on Hal's face slipped. "Buuut...I guess a Great Guardian like yourself is more known. Whaddaya they call you?"
Jo was quiet for a moment. He hadn't really thought about this issue in a long time...guess he just accepted it, really. "I'm...not really called anything. I'm a different kind of Guardian."
Hal hopped down from his staff at last, giving the smaller boy a doubtful grin. "Huh?"
Jo sighed. "The others call me the Guardian of Belief. I'm not really known at all."
Hal stared at him quietly, and for a moment the only movement in the chamber was the flickering shadows on the walls. Then, the taller boy shrugged. "Well, join tha' club."
Jo was quiet- completely lost for words. He could find nothing to retaliate to it...for it didn't feel like it was needed. So, he just watched as the older boy moved over to the table and plucked a candy apple from one of the plates, happily munching away before turning back to him.
"So, you considered one o' the big-" His mouth full of apple, the boy swallowed and went on, "The Big Four?"
Jo repeated what he said to himself softly, before realizing what he meant. "You mean North, Sandman and the others? I- well, I am Guardian, but..."
"Big Five, member in our house!" Hal twirled theatrically, arms outstretched. Jo blinked in bemusement as he watched. Hal gave a toothy grin. "How's it feel to be important?"
Jo nearly missed the slight negative edge the last words had, but pushed them away. Last thing he needed was for the people who kidnapped him to...wait.
The girl.
Suddenly, all the alarm, fright, and confusion came flooding back to drown him in a swift blow. The girl...her eyes, so much like the Nightmare King's...Like Pitch's. Jo shuddered and stared at the ground. And the way she'd looked at him...that frown. It unnerved him, but...
...He needed to know who it was.
"That girl...the one who brought me here..." Jo's voice was low, shaky even, "Who was she?"
The smile ebbed away from Hal's face, and he was silent. He took a few steps back, and slowly, with an oddly enigmatic grin, he spread a single arm out like a sweep of a brush.
"I'll let ya two get acquainted, if dat's that word. I'm gonna check on our stuff." He moved towards one of the doors and opened it, looking up past Jo's face, "I'll see ya, Ducky."
He disappeared through the wooden entrance without another word, leaving Jo alone in the silence of the room. The shadows flickered quietly beside him as he slowly turned around, much like he had the night before. Then, as he looked up, he saw someone hovering to the side of the fireplace, hidden within the shadows.
The girl was there, her small body attired only by a simple black dress, feathers ranging from blue around her body to black around her neck and head. Her face was rounder and paler than Tooth's, eyes sharper and without the brightness and life that the fairy held. The feathers were vacant from the ridge of the girl's nose, and her ears stuck out from her black hair feathers.
But her eyes were the most familiar, and for some reason Jo didn't think it was because they looked like the Nightmare King's.
She was watching Jo, holding onto her elbows as if cold, wearing a solemn look that didn't suit her ageless face. All Jo could do was stare back up...feeling a little worried. And concerned.
He didn't like the sad look on her face, and the Guardian within him was prodding him to say something. But all he could do was stare at the hovering girl, who was kept above by black wings made...of sand.
After what seemed like an eternity, Jo finally spoke.
"Who...are you?"
His husky, soft voice seemed to fall like stones. The girl finally titled her head, and a small, bright smile came to her face. Something within those eyes lit up.
"I'm glad you can see me." She hovered down closer, almost shyly to stand in front of him. Unlike Tooth, she was the same size of a human child, one a little younger but a lot smaller than him. She beamed up at him, clasping her hands in front of her and rocking on her ankles happily.
"They call me Ducky." Jo couldn't help but smile in return to her sudden laugh that followed. He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Why'd they call you that?" She grinned and suddenly her feathers frayed, ruffling to resemble that of a small duckling with blue feathers. Jo couldn't helps himself- despite his predicament, he began laughing. She giggled in return, hopping into the air to hover around him in circles. Jo slowly spun around to try and keep up, only to stumble back. Ducky laughed loudly as the Guardian regained balance, silver dust sprinkling around him.
She gasped and flew closer, right beside him so he almost fell back again. He timidly stretched out a hand, expression full of wonder, and ruffled his hair. She stared at her hand, were the silver sand now coated her skin.
Her eyes widened, and a large gasp came to her. "It's...sparkly sand. Silver..." She through it into the air with a laugh, Jo blinking quietly. He glanced at the black-sand wings behind her with uncertianty.
She saw him looking and hovered back a bit, eyes dropping to the ground. "Mine's not as bright."
Jo was quiet, too, before replying softly, "...I guess not."
There was a pause. Jo thought the girl was very nice; she looked quiet happy to see him, even...but he didn't know whether or not to ask about the black sand. Something about her, despite her friendly words, didn't seem right. He didn't know what it was.
"There's more of us, too, you know." She stated, and Jo's eyes widened in surprise, and a slight exciting came to him, too. He forgot his thoughts before for a moment.
"Really? You mean- other spirits and people who-"
"Yup- Like Ayver!" Ducky laughed again, but then an uncertain look came upon her despite her excitement, "But uuum...He went out to tell off Jack Frost. Ayver brings the Spring...and its late this year."
"Ah..." Jo hadn't heard of this Ayver, but at least there was an excuse for all this snow they'd been having. Wait...How come he hadn't heard of him? Didn't the other Guardians...
Something jumped in his mind, like an engine being kick-started. The other Guardians.
With a sharp intake of breath, Jo moved back away from Ducky with a look of pure horror. Oh No...he'd completely forgotten about Pitch...about telling the others.
Something was wrong, Jo knew it.
"Oh My God." Jo whispered, before jerked his head up to look at Ducky in frozen alarm, "...I saw...Its..."
Ducky, however, stared at him with a serious, almost hostile look in her eyes, all excitement and bubbly behavior vanishing. Something angry came to her features, as subtle as a whisper. But Jo could not see it in his anxious state.
"Pitch. He's... back."
The Man in the Moon was staring past the clouds as the shadowy figure sauntered slowly and almost gracefully along the alleyway, hidden in the shadows with a malicious gleam in his eyes. A soft, but unstable laugh echoed through the dim, and as he emerged from the ominous shadows, Pitch looked up at the moon with a playful malice in his grin.
The moonlight was sharp through the clouds, boring down through the darkness towards the figure as Pitch looked up towards it, smooth laughter never faulting.
"Don't look at me like that, Old Friend." His voice stretched through the echoes like a ripple, "You had to have known this was going to happen."
Then, as he watched with an ever growing smile, a trail of Nightmares galloped across the Moon's vision, fast and slithering. "My Nightmares are finally ready."
With those words, Pitch titled his head and his voice lightened in mocking softness.
"Are Your Guardians?"
Pitch seems confident...
DUCKY AND JO. This scene was a fail at making them adorable. :(