Was the wait for this chapter too long? Well, this is longer than my usual chapters.
Beware of line breaks. Like I said. The Big Four have met.
Chapter Two: The Call
Her hands clinging onto Kristoff's chest, Anna pulled herself in and shut her eyes firm. Kristoff wearily wrapped an arm around the young princess. His head rested on Anna's and he braced for the impact.
There was a flurry of brilliant azure blue. A wave of icicles shot out from the floor, impaling the black horses through their chests. Sharp whinnies echoed from the creatures as they crumbled into dust. Elsa stood in a strong stance behind Sven, one of her arms forward. "You monsters are not touching my sister."
Olaf marched forward, curling his stick fingers into fists. "You're going to have to go through us."
Anna's eyelids fluttered open. A smile immediately adorned her face. Her voice was filled with happiness and relief. "Elsa!"
The Snow Queen angled her head to Anna. "You alright?"
Anna bobbed her head and murmured a little "uh-huh." The princess cautiously shifted herself away from Kristoff, completely careful not to hurt his wounds. The soldier that ran off before returned with a group of men and women dressed in white. "We'll take care of him, your highness," one of them said.
Taking a step back, Anna allowed the medical team to tend to Kristoff. There were a thunderous roar from the clouds. Anna treaded closer to Elsa.
"More of them seem to be coming," said Elsa, her voice solid. Flakes of ice danced from her fingertips. "Anna, you go into the castle. It's much safer there."
"No, I want to stay here and help," Anna insisted.
"I don't want you to get caught up in this," Elsa answered. "And just in case we can't handle this on our own, I want you to call for help."
"Help? From where? We don't need help!"
"Anna, please," urged Elsa. "As a failsafe. If more of these creatures attack Arendelle, I'm not sure can I hold them all off. I can protect you, but I'm not sure can I protect the whole Kingdom. We can't do all of that by ourselves. And I trust you will know the right people to go to."
"No Southern Isles," Anna grumbled and let out a quick sigh. Her eyes suddenly lit up. "I've got an idea. Elsa, can you keep the monsters out of the palace?"
"I'll do what I can."
"Alright. I'm going to the library. There's something I need to find."
"I trust you, Anna." Elsa turned to the snowman beside her. "Olaf, stay with my sister and keep her safe."
"Yes ma'am!" Olaf replied giving the queen a solid salute. Sven nudged Anna's shoulder. He nodded his head towards the lute attached to the side of the saddle. The young princess smiled as she took the instrument. "Thanks, Sven." She and Olaf turned their backs to the front gate, rushing into corridors.
As Elsa whipped her head back to face the heavens, funnels of black sand slammed into the tiled grounds of Arendelle. In the wake of the crash, an array of black horses. They began to make their way towards the castle. Soldiers raised their weapons. And the Snow Queen took her stance.
The doors to the library violently flew open. Anna dashed inside, the bright moon staring at her through the windows. She looked frantically around the maze of shelves. "Come on, Anna," she told herself. "You've spent years bored out of your mind in this room. At least remember where that book is."
"Anything I can do?" asked Olaf.
"Here." Anna dropped the lute into Olaf's hands. "Cover me." Olaf firmly brought up the instrument into a striking position as he slowly paced backwards, guarding Anna's back. His alert eyes darted around the library.
Anna ran her fingers down the spines of lines and lines of books. "Where is it? Where is it," she mumbled. At long last, she found it. One of the backs bore a the title she was searching for: The Defenders of Realms. Anna pulled on the book's end-band, bringing it off the shelf. She began flipping through it forcefully while her eyes sprinted down the pages.
She stopped. A grin came to her face. "Found it!" Reaching out an arm, Anna grabbed one of the quills on a nearby desk and dripped it in ink. She moved towards the window, placing the book in the moonlight. Anna started to etch symbols onto the ground. Olaf watched the princess curiously from her side.
"What are you sketching?"
"The book says drawing out the symbols will send a message to the Defenders," Anna replied, her focus not leaving the book and it's strange emblems. Her hands moved swiftly and her gaze switched between the floorboards and the page, copying the images with swift precision. A crescent moon, a dragon, a sword. Anna panted slightly. "Three down, one to go."
There was a loud screech. An ebony horse smashed through the glass windows. Anna let out a shriek in surprise, covering her head as shards rained down. The creature landed in the library, tapping it's hooves as it snorted.
"How did it get past Elsa?" Anna gasped.
There was a yell from behind. Olaf sprung into the air and swung the lute, striking the animal just as he turned his neck. The monster was caught off guard, the strength of the hit shattering it into dusty remains.
"Thanks, Olaf," Anna huffed before turning her attention back to the book. She stepped back into the moonlight and brushed away the glass. Anna drew the last symbol into the ground, a sun.
The moment she lifted the quill, a bright blue beam shot up into the sky with explosive force. It pushed right through the ceiling off the library. No hole was created. The light was intangible. It emerged at the very top of the palace, continuing it's path directly into the sky. It's brilliance could be seen for miles.
Just as Elsa lashed at another one of the horses, she noticed the beam. "Anna..."
Phil thrusted the door open fiercely. The yeti began speaking quickly in gibberish. North looked at Phil, confused. Following the Yeti's instructions, North hastily made his way to the Globe Room. The massive balcony overlooked the entire workshop with a model of the room revolving in the center. Phil pointed towards the control panels.
North looked down, still baffled. There was a strange envelope present. North tore the outer layer apart, immediately getting to the paper within. At the end was a seal in the shape of a snowflake. "It is a call for help. This symbol, it is new." Something in his brain clicked. He had seen that snowflake before. "It is from fifth world! A call to the Defenders!" The Russian man turned to the yeti standing beside him.
"Phil!" he bellowed. "Get me Jack!"
Phil murmured in confusion as he pointed to himself and spoke incomprehensible words to North. "I don't care," the man replied. "Stuff him in a bag and use the snow globe to get him here if you have to."
North handed the yeti one of his said snow globes. Shaking it, Phil grumbled before a swirling portal appeared. Stepping in, he felt like he was moving at incredible speeds. The movement was slightly rattling his lunch. When he came to a stop, Phil was met with a snowball to the face.
"Whoops." Jamie Bennett winced as he wasn't able to stop his throw. The boy was dressed in a casual blue vest and a long sleeved shirt, complete with sneakers and jeans. The yeti wiped the flakes off his face as Jamie said sheepishly, "Sorry, Phil."
"Oh hey, Phil!" Another boy with a dark blue sweatshirt and snow white hair landed on the ground. "Good to see you again, buddy." The boy could otherwise be known as the famed Winter Spirit, the Guardian of Fun and leader of the Defenders of Realms: Jack Frost. Jack twirled his staff in his hands before settling it's tip on the ground. "So, big guy, what brings you here?"
Phil didn't even bother to answer. He simply gave the traveling device a shake, and Jack knew what it meant. Jamie did too, and he dropped his shoulders. His expression was slightly sad. "Do you have to go?"
Jack smiled. "Hey, I'll be back, kiddo. Until then, keep throwing snowballs." The winter spirit gave Jamie a friendly wave as Phil opened the gateway. Jack followed Phil into the vortex and the pair disappeared. Jamie sighed, picking up more snow from the ground. Looks like he has to find someone else to chuck snow at. Or maybe he could just build a snowman.
"Alright, I'm here," said Jack as he treaded onto the balcony in North's workshop. "I hear you needed me over ASAP. Phil dragged me out of a snowball fight with Jamie. And you know I don't like draws."
North turned to face the fun loving boy with an absolutely stern face, complete with scrunched eyebrows and a solid stare. Jack was rather surprised as he became tempted to step back. "Something tells me I should take this much more seriously."
"I will explain later." North handed Jack a pair of compasses. "These will allow you to travel across the different worlds."
"Worlds? Travel?" Jack repeated. He was dumbfounded for a moment. "Wait, you mean I'm crossing realms again?"
"Yes. I need you to gather up the Defenders. I'll explain the situation once all four of you are here."
"Okay," Jack began, still lost as to what was going on. Nonetheless, he closed his eyes and one of the compasses started to glow. A yellow light engulfed the young guardian and within seconds, he vanished completely.
When Jack opened his eyes, he was no longer in the workshop in the freezing North Pole. The temperature was still incredibly cool, but it was still a few degrees south of freezing to death. Jack gripped his staff tightly, keeping him afloat in the chilly skies. His other hand held the two compasses. The sun rays were strong and fresh as the early morning.
Jack gazed downwards. Below him was an island with a massive mountain. His sights locked on what seems to look like a giant metal bar dome-like cage structure. It was exactly what he was looking for.
With a wave of his staff, Jack summoned the wind to carry him downwards. There weren't a lot of flying reptilians in the skies today, something Jack was rather thankful for. He reached the entrance of the arena, which was decorated with a dragon shaped logo that possessed a red tail fin.
"Hey guys," said Jack, greeting the teenagers inside. Each of them stood by their signature dragons, either mounting up or feeding them. Astrid with her blue Deadly Nadder: Stormfly, Snotlout with his deep scarlet Monstrous Nightmare: Hookfang, Fishlegs with the adorable Gronckle: Meatlug, and Ruffnut and Tuffnut were conducting their usual business in bickering over their two headed dragon: Barf and Belch. At the end of the arena was another dragon, it's color almost as black as night. His partner: a skinny boy with auburn hair, a green tunic, a brown waistcoat and a prosthetic foot.
"Jack," said Hiccup, walking up to the winter spirit. "You're back already. That was fast. We're about to go out for a morning ride, wanna join us?" The black dragon, Toothless, nudged Hiccup happily.
"I don't think North would like that," Jack replied. "He wants us back at the pole soon. And we still have to go pick up the girls." He passed Hiccup one of the compasses. Berk's young heir caught it neatly in his left hand. "Okay," Hiccup answered, his voice becoming much more strict. "I'll grab my shield and go."
"Shield?" Jack asked.
Hiccup couldn't help but smirk. "What? You can't possible think that I spent the last six months staring at the sea." He threw his legs over Toothless' saddle, his prosthetic left foot clicking into place with the pedal as he turned to his peers. "You guys keep training while I'm gone. Astrid is in charge of the Academy."
Groans escaped from the mouths of Fishlegs, Snotlout and the twins. Astrid stood there with her arms crossed, already considering what kind of training regimes she can inflict on her friends. Hiccup and Toothless slipped out of the arena entrance.
"Be careful," Astrid told Hiccup.
"I will."
Jack hovered above the boy and his dragon. "Make it quick. You get Merida I'll take Rapunzel."
"Alright," Hiccup responded. Toothless took off into the skies above Berk, and Hiccup directed his dragon to the village plaza with much familiarity. He hopped off the dragon's back, hurrying into Gobber's workshop. The blacksmith was beating a sword with a hammer on the anvil, and sparks flew.
Hiccup dashed past his mentor, grabbing a silver ornate shield complete with a painted silhouette of Toothless. "Gobber, tell my dad I won't be coming back for a while."
The statement seemed to have caught the viking by surprise. "What? Hiccup, where are you going?" Before Gobber received his answer, Hiccup had the strap of his weapon slung across his chest and brought out the compass. "Let's go, bud."
Merida wasn't expecting a viking to suddenly walk in on her archery training. As Hiccup was inspecting his shield for damage, Merida kept insisting that the fifteen year old was very lucky to not get shot in the head. Hiccup simply blamed his luck, though he couldn't help but think that the only reason Jack wanted him to pick up Merida was that so Jack wasn't the one who could have been shish kebab-ed. DunBroch's feisty princess brought along a set of fresh new arrows in a quiver and her trusty bow. She preferred to travel light.
Jack's experience was much more peaceful and sane. He had appeared at the outskirts of the kingdom of Corona. He made a jet for the castle and Rapunzel was out on the balcony, giving Jack a rib crushing hug of a reunion. She was a little reluctant to join Jack on this journey, though after prodding from her husband, former thief Eugene Fitzherbert, Rapunzel decided to come along with Jack. Though she did leave her pet chameleon and friend, Pascal, in Eugene's care.
It didn't take too long for all four Defenders to regroup at North's workshop back in the First World. He did give the team sometime to say their greetings, and the two princesses exchanged friendly embraces. Toothless stayed beside his rider, curled up into a comfortable napping position.
"So, what's this mission that's so urgent the four of us have to get together?" Hiccup was the first one who bothered to ask the question.
"Yeah, you'd better have a good reason for pulling me away from making snow days," Jack grumbled in addition.
"I have very big news," said North as he started pacing back and forth in front of the Defenders. "For centuries, there have been only four worlds connected to each other. But now, a fifth world has been added to the link."
"A fifth world?" breathed Rapunzel.
"Yes. And it just so happens that we have received a message asking for help from this new world. It is something straight up the caliber of you four. It is your job to journey across the different realms and protect them from darkness. Even with another world, your duty remains to same. I would like you to venture to this fifth world and see what it is they need help with."
"Fair enough," said Merida. "Is there a name to this place?"
"Yes," said North. "Arendelle."
"Fancy name," Jack commented. He held out his compass. "Well, let's get going guys." As Jack said these words, a light surrounded the Defenders. "Next stop: Arendelle." With a bright flash, the teenagers and Toothless were gone, leaving North in the workshop. He allowed a moment of silence to pass by before looking up to the moon. "Manny, please protect them."
As the light dimmed down, the Defenders find themselves on a slope in the middle of the forest. It was peaceful and tranquil. Hiccup could barely make out a small shack in the distance, maybe something like a distant trading post. The boy didn't pay much attention to it.
"It's warm here," said Rapunzel.
"It's probably summer," Merida deducted. She took a deep breath in of the fresh air. Hiccup and Rapunzel were enjoying the moment, and Toothless took into account their new surroundings. Their delight was short lived.
Jack fell to his knees, grimacing in pain. His staff dropped out of his hands as his arms supported his chest from the ground. Everyone's hearts turned cold.
"Jack!" Rapunzel cried. She lowered herself towards the guardian. "Are you alright?"
There was a pulsing sensation rattling Jack's entire body. He didn't understand it. He didn't know what it was, or why it was happening. For a brief moment, Jack shut his eyes tight. Then, the pain stopped as quickly as it began. Jack's breath hitched and his heart was still pounding. He tried to calm himself down.
"Jack?" Merida asked.
Warily, Jack stood back up. "Don't worry, guys," he said, putting on a smile. "I'm perfectly fine. It's probably just a minor side effect of the crossing between words thing."
Rapunzel and Merida seemed convinced, but Hiccup was definitely suspicious as he handed his friend the staff. Jack was acting much like him. Keeping everything to himself. Telling others they have nothing to worry about when he's trying to do everything himself. Hiccup knew he couldn't blame Jack. He did spend 300 years all alone, much like how he was shunned by his tribe for most of his life. However, he had to play along.
"Come on. Let's go find Arendelle, and the people who sent us that message."
Jack readily agreed. He had reassured his teammates that things were alright. But his instincts were bugging him, and Jack couldn't shake off the feeling that something was very, very wrong. Looking down at his right palm, Jack was surprised when a snowflake flew outwards without his control.
Uh... I think this chapter was a bit rushed, even though it's long enough as it is... and I apologize for any and all OOC.
And yes, I watch Defenders of Berk, hence Hiccup's ornate shield.