We left off with the Guardians, Eros and M.N. talking about the current situation. However, a scream from outside the mother tree broke their conversation. Obviously some-one showed up but the question is, who? Is it Autumn or is it Pitch back for round two?
Chapter Seven: With Autumn Winds Comes…
[3rd Person POV]
All of the Guardians along with the two others ran as fast as they could out of the mother tree, praying that Summer and the others were safe. Once outside they franticly began to search for the three missing people, all of them splitting into pairs of two. Sandy and Tooth checked the woods while Bunnymund and North searched the desert and plains. Jack checked the snow covered land while Eros and M.N. went to look through the beaches and canyons.
For at least a good five minutes none of them found any sign of them and all began to panic. However, that was until Eros and M.N. had met up at the crossing between the canyon and beaches. They bumped into each other and were about to speak when another third voice interrupted.
"Are you guys okay?" Hilaria asked sweetly while looking at them with her big gold eyes.
M.N. and Eros both looked to their side and saw the group of three there, safe and sound. With a massive sigh of relief they both went forward and hugged the Spirit of Spring, glad that nothing had happened to them. Then the two older protectors paused and thought about why there was a scream and who it came from.
"Hilaria, did you or Adelia scream about five minutes ago?" Eros asked her.
Blushing in embarrassment Hilaria answered, "Yes. That was me. But you see Autumn thought it would be fun to sneak up and scare me rather than say "hello", which is why I screamed. But all of us are okay so you don't need to worry."
They both sighed again and then looked over at the others to only just notice that Summer was talking with Autumn. When the two spirits saw the others they walked over. Adelia, who had also been talking with Summer and Autumn, followed them over so that they were all together.
"Autumn, what did I tell you about scaring Hilaria?!" M.N. said, scolding the orange haired spirit with violet eyes.
"Gee, it's great to see you too. I'd –" Autumn began, only to get cut off by the protector of love.
"Also, why did you take so long getting here?" Eros asked.
"If you'll let me talk, I'll tell you." He replied smartly.
Eros and M.N. both went quiet and waited for his explanation.
"Thank you. As I was going to say, I got the lights mixed with Norths' because they look very similar so, I went to the globe room looking for everyone. When I got there the whole workshop was empty without a single yeti or elf in sight. None of the electrics worked and the globe itself had black sand practically oozing off it." Autumn told to them, pausing for a moment.
Continuing he said, " I knew Pitch had been there, obviously, and he was looking for who knows what. However, as I was about to leave, the crystal came out of the ground and it was glowing gold. I know that only happens when a Guardian is being picked but what I saw was like the Woman in the Sun was choosing her own personal army. The hologram showed four more crystals and above each was a new Guardian picked by her. They were me, Hilaria, Adelia, You, and Eros. I thought it was odd Summer was left out considering how much WiS adores him."
The two just stared at the young now Guardian of Excitement in utter shock. WiS had chosen, in a matter of days, six new Guardians. To add on top, this was the first time ever she had ever been this active with them… well most of them. For some reason WiS always had an extreme soft spot for Summer, but that might be because he's the Guardian of Summer and his sad predicament.
Finally pulling himself together Eros said, "Well, that's a lot to take in. We're going to get everyone together in the mother tree and discuss this in more detail."
Autumn nodded and watched as M.N. and Eros ran off to go get the others and let them know that Summer and the rest were okay. Then he looked back at his friends and saw their shocked faces…well most of their shocked faces. Summer himself wasn't surprised at all which was alittle odd for the Spirit of Summer.
"Sorry about the Guardian thing Summer. I thought she would've chosen you for sure." Autumn said while feeling bad.
"Dude, she chose me as a Guardian a few days ago actually. Don't feel bad." His friend answered with a smirk.
"Wait really? Well, that makes sense. Why didn't you say something?"
"I was going to but then M.N. and Eros showed up."
"Oh yeah. They cut you off. Anyways, it'd make perfect sense that WiS picked you first. You're practically like a son to her."
"Yeah. Now if only mummy dearest would figure out what to name me." Summer said wishfully.
"Ha, yeah…she needs to work on that. Let's get going and head to the mother tree." Autumn replied, taking up his staff and starting to walk in the direction M.N. and Eros went.
However, as he felt everyone's heart beat (which comes with being the Guardian of Excitement), he felt an extra one nearby in the shadows. Autumn stopped the group and looked at the pitch black blot by the cliff face. This heart beat wasn't one he'd come by very often and it most certainly wasn't one of the other Guardians. No, there was something sinister about this one.
With his staff out defensively he told Adelia and Hilaria to guard Summer since he was injured. Then he advanced and stood a few feet away from the dark shadows. With a deep breath he dug his foot into the sand and listened as the heart in the darkness went faster with fear and excitement. Then, in one fluid and quick motion, Autumn kicked sand up at the shadows and shot a Jack o' Beam (which is a ball of fire that looks like a Jack o' Lantern) at the figure that leapt away and out of the dark.
Getting hit in the side the figure rolled in the sand until he hit a small boulder. Standing up quickly they brushed the sand out of their gray/black hair and off their dark clothes. Then he felt all of the eyes of the new Guardians on him and their ill will towards them. Turning around the figure smiled.
"Pitch, how in the hell did you get here?" Autumn asked through his teeth angrily.
"Well, dirt is very dark and full of holes for me to slip through. Now, hand over the Guardian of Summer." Pitch answered, his holes/eyes boring at Summer.
Stepping protectively in front of her friend Hilaria raised her staff and said, "You'll have to get through us first."
Pitch laughed loudly, throwing his head back at the sight. He wondered how much of a fight this puny girl could put up. Not much he guessed. Looking back at the small group he decided to play their game and humor theses pups.
"Very well, give me a good show you little fools." He answered summoning a dome of black sand to surround them, cutting off all light.
Hilaria and Adelia gasped as they lost their sight and everything became dark. That problem was soon remedied though as Summer created a mini sun and threw it up at the center of the dome. The sand immediately began attacking it but at least now they could see and soon found themselves surrounded by nightmares that were slowly emerging from the darkness.
"Everyone, stay together and whatever you do, don't let Pitch near Summer." Autumn said as he charged his staff up.
Adelia and Hilaria nodded, showing they understood, and prepared to fight. Summer, who was at the center of his friends, also got ready. He wasn't really able to move around much but he could still launch out attacks and he didn't plan to let his friends do all the work. Besides, Pitch can't get risk getting too close or else he'll be hit by light, which doesn't sit well with this boogieman.
Chapter seven is done and everyone (minus Kuroi) has been officially introduced! Yeah-yuh! R&R please and thanks for reading
