Finally a little fun stuff goes on. Like flying boats. I'm really sorry for the slow update and the boring chapters :(
But, either way, please review as it would help a lot. Enjoy the chapter!
And some Bunnymund Vs Jack...
Chapter 8: Ships that Fly
"Who's this other guy ya all keep going on about?"
Jack spread his arms wide, looking a little flustered, but as he wandered across the Guardian's line of sight, a small ounce of humor worked its way into his voice despite his clear aggravation, "What, the Leprechaun coming?"
North gave a loud, almost exaggerated laugh as if Jack had said something genuinely funny. Beside him, Bunnymund rolled his eyes and folded his arms, grumbling to himself as Sandman glanced around with clear worry.
Small shapes began appearing above his head as he turned to North, and the latter turned to watch with a fading smile. "Yes, Sandy, but I am sure it vill turn out fine."
Sandman gave a deep sigh and shook his head, hopping into the air and beginning to hover away towards the open shaft above. Jack blinked. "Hey, can someone tell me what's going on here?"
Sandman halted his flight and turned around in mid-air, looking very alert for someone who was usually always half asleep by the looks of it. With a plump hand, he gestured towards the globe, and a figure appeared above his head. One which was tall, lean with spiked hair.
"Pitch." North announced gravely from behind. Jack, with Ayver now in his hood again, turned around to frown at him. Ayver's ears stood up straight and he hopped onto Jack's shoulder, eyes wide with alarm. Jack rose a brow.
"Who?"
"The Boogeyman, ye couple of gumbies." Both of the young spirits looked over at Bunnymund, Jack with a scowl, and Ayver with an uncertain tilt of the head. Ayver tapped Jack's ear, and as the winter sprite looked at him, the bunny gestured towards the globe.
"Guess the lil' guy knows more than ye." Bunnymund remarked with a smirk worming its way into his scowl. Jack gave a humorless laugh in response.
"Ya-ha-ha, so what, the Boogeyman's what's got you spooked?" He grinned at them, but the Guardians looked all but happy. The rabbit who'd rushed in before, tattoos and all, glared at Jack from atop the control panel. She shot Ayver a slightly odd disapproving look.
"The one we're worried about..." Tooth flew towards Jack and hovered beside him almost fretfully, "Is Jo."
"Jo?" Jack raised a brow and tilted his head, grin gone. "Who's Jo?"
North watched silently before clapping his enormous palms together, and the moment the sound of the claps echoed through the giant chamber, all of the lights dimmed. Jack jumped back as something in the floor, were a large silver 'G' had once been, began to rise like a pedestal.
A large, transparent blue crystal embedded in the pedestal rose up above him, and began shimmering like a firefly. Jack couldn't help but stare in wonder, exchanging a glance with the equally mesmerized Ayver. Suddenly, in the light, figures began appearing. First North, then Bunnymund, Tooth, then Sandman...until a small figure with a thin, spindly body not unlike his own, appeared in the light.
Dressed in a suit almost like that of the Sandman only bearing a hood, with straight hair cupping his head. A noticeable curtain-like and parted fringe flopped against his forehead.
North gestured with a large hand towards the figure. "Joseph, the Guardian of Belief."
Jack frowned, shielding his eyes against the light. "Huh. He looks kinda like someone I know."
Ayver tilted his fluffy head quietly on Jack's shoulder. Then, before the two could blink, another figure appeared in Jo's place- one with a distinct hood and staff. Jack's eyes widened in surprise.
"But- But that's me!"
"Yes!" North had moved forward and gave the youth a large slap on the back, more enthusiastic than Jack had been ready for. He stumbled forward, Barley managing to catch the little rabbit who fell off his shoulder. North didn't seem to notice.
"You are Guardian- you were chosen!" Jack blinked in bemusement as North gestured up at the Moon, gazing through the open shaft. "By him!"
Jack froze on the spot, turning around and forgetting about everything else. Ayver hopped down beside his leg, watching uncertainly as Jack turned towards the Moon. In a quiet, hushed voice, he spoke.
"He...talks to you?" His head lowered, and Jack looked back towards the globe. Something bubbled inside him again. "You mean to tell me that after three hundred years, this is what he had planned for me? Why didn't he just tell me himself?!"
He spun back towards the Guardians, all taken back. Even Bunnymund was quiet. Jack scowled at them. "What, he wants be to spend every day looking for new ways to bribe kids?"
Ayver reached out a small paw, but Jack ignored him, "No...that isn't for me."
He looked back at up the moon with clear disdain, jerkin a fist back and raising his voice even more, "That's NOT for me!"
"Jack...you have been chosen for a reason." Tooth moved forward, gently. Jack didn't change his stiff posture. Ayver lowered his head beside him and shook his head.
Jack looked down at him, a small flicker of remorse moving across his face. Chewing his lip, he looked back up at the Guardians. Sandman, who still drifted near the shaft as if wondering if he should go right away or not, shook his head as well.
"Ya know, you guys didn't even ask what Ayvs does. What, we don't matter until we're needed to bribe a bunch of kids?" Bunnymund's last temper straw broke there.
He stormed forward towards Jack. "Look, Frost Bite, not all beins' are chosen at the drop o' a hat, Ye gotta have something that has somethin' to do with childhood."
Jack laughed a humorless chortle, hands in the air as he glared back, "Oh, and the Spring Rabbit that makes all of your Easters all green isn't a part of childhood. Alright." Jack lowered his head and stepped back as if leaving the argument. Ayver shrunk behind his foot.
Bunnymund's fierce scowl smoothed a little in the slightest show of surprise. "What?"
He looked down at the rabbit hiding behind Jack's ankle with a bewildered frown. "You do all that?" Slowly, eyes glancing at the floor, Ayver nodded before hiding behind Jack's leg completely. Bunnymund rose a brow in slight confusion. Jack shrugged at that, staff slung over his shoulder.
"Ah well, guess there can only be the Easter Kangaroo."
"Wait, what did ye call me?" Bunnymund moved forward, glowering down at the youth, "I'm not a kangaroo, mate."
Ayver shrunk down at the look Jack was being given, and began tugging at the elder boy's frayed trouser leg to stop him. Jack, per usual, did not listen. "If you're not a kangaroo...what are you."
All parties bar Jack and Bunnymund tensed at the challenging tone. Bunnymund leaned forward, a dangerous growl to his accented voice. "I'm a Pooka. The Easter Bunny. And they believe in me, Frost Bite."
North stepped forward quickly, easily and meaningfully pulling back Bunnymund by the shoulder as he went. A serious frown set on his usually jolly face.
"Jack. Walk with me."
The thick, carved door swung open and Hal sauntered confidently yet carelessly through it, long staff slung over his shoulder. Ducky was gently pushing Jo along the corridor as they traveled through the torch-lit halls. Jo was trying his best to get their attention.
"Look, it was nice meeting you all, But I really have to go!" He exclaimed, craning his neck to look up at Ducky behind him, who shrugged a little but said nothing.
"Pitch is back and-"
"And," Hal stated from ahead, shooting him a mischievous, knowing grin that Jo wasn't very fond of, "You have to hurry. The only way ya can get to the Pole is by traveling faster than usual, Silver Man."
"Look, I scouted ahead, and I saw something happen with Jack Frost!"
After remembering his encountered with Pitch, Jo had traveled back to the spot where it had happened, but found no evidence of the Nightmare King other than the lack of a golden dream above the girl's head. A little along the way, he'd witnessed something distinctly odd- the abduction of Jack Frost (a figure he'd seen in MiM's Crystal) by none other than Bunnymund. Unfortunately, he was too late to follow the yetis through the portal. Not a moment later, Hal and Ducky had dragged him back to their home and were leading him on what he viewed as a wild goose chase down the tunnels.
Wait. What was that about traveling faster than usual?
Abruptly, they came to a pair of double doors and Hal stepped forward, shoving them over as if the thick wood weighed as much as air. Jo found his jaw dropping.
Sitting up on a curved, circular stage-like pedestal, was a large fishing-boat like contraption that spread wings on either side, like an old fashioned plane. The sail stood straight up in the middle like a fin, polished wood glinting in the torchlight. Curled carvings were etched across its sides, and a steering stick sat between the two front seats. The fabric of the sail and wings were a pale, pale shade of blue. A single, dark blue orb hung from the front point like a lantern, similar little balls wound around the thin mast.
"Wow..." Was all he could possible say before Hal caught his hood with his cane and swung him in. Ducky joined his side as the Halloween Spirit hopped into the front, pulling down a conspicuous leaver at the side. Jo, still trying to regain balance, looked around the boat as the wings spread further and the sail flushed a blue light behind him. His eyes widened.
Then, just as the light grew brighter, the very ceiling began to open- there was no other explanation for it. The roof opened like a blooming rose, wooden curves of the chamber roof spreading back to reveal the bright moonlight. The silver light cascaded down and bounced off the pale wings and sail.
A second later, the boat sprang into the air, nose first, slamming Jo back against the seat, hair whipping back. His eyes widened in alarm as they rose out of the chamber, out of the warm darkness and into the chilly sky like they were riding a rocket, cool air smacking against his cheek.
"WHOOOA- MY GO-"
"Weee!" Beside him, Ducky cheered quirt cheerfully, arms in the air and waving as they shot vertically upwards, further and further, Hal whooped as they fly past the view of the moon. Then, the boat tipped forward and spread through the air like an airplane, turning and tilting as its wings remained still but guided the way. Jo looked behind him, almost expecting to see an engine- but found nothing.
"Powered by Light!" Hal remarked loudly over the fluttering wind, Jo flopping back onto his seat as they sped through the air, "Moonlight works faster!"
Jo, still pressed against the wooden seat behind him, arms spread and eyes wide in wonder, gave a shaky grin at that. "Sounds...very effectiiiiiiiiiiiiiive!"
They titled suddenly to the side, turning to the left. The speed increased, and Jo couldn't stop himself from struggling over to the side to look over- finding they were higher than he ever leaped. He gave a breathless laugh at how fast they scaled Scotland- passing over the chilly but remarkable scenery as they went.
With the wings glistening in the light, and the wind whistling in his ears, Jo couldn't stop the biggest smile from spreading across his face. "This is amazing! Its almost like North's Slay but-"
"Wavy-er!" Ducky quipped, hopping beside him to look over at the scenery, smiling brightly. Jo couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm, strange as she was. Maybe when all of this mess concerning Pitch was sorted out, he could find out who she was.
But for now...he may as well enjoy the ride.
And so the shadow in the darkness of the woods below watched the flying rowboat disappear into the horizon with a faint smile, head titled up, but his face looked past the Moon. He was silent, and he offered no words for him. Then, like he'd done a few times lately, Anguish began to speak.
"It's gotten out of hand, you know. Pitch. Do you really believe he deserved all of this- east least before? We were all someone before we became who we are now."
The moon offered no answer, and remained silent. Anguish sighed deeply and turned away, slipping further into the shadows and away from the watching gaze of the moon.
Moon, Y U No Answer?!
Please review. :)
Boast fly ya know.