Oh kidlets! I think I need to address the elephant in the room. WHICH IS THE FACT I HAVE NOT UPDATED IN MONTHS! I know, I know… I am terrible and I FEEL terrible. I just got swept up in midterms and then finals but I have returned! Fear not! I present to you the conclusion to that nasty cliff hanger I left you with for so, so long! Hopefully this will satisfy your hunger! I also strongly encourage you to google the lyrics of the song of the Chapter after reading this chapter! It fits perfectly!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything but my own characters, everything else belongs to Dreamworks
Song of the Chapter: My Love - Sia
Chapter 12: A Flower in a Thorn Bush
Jack raced through the streets, calling out Ellie's name with no response. His heart was pounding through his chest, blood rushing to his ears at the thought of anything happening to her, his Ellie. "ELLIE!" he called out frantically. "ELLIE!" But the night was silent and unforgiving. He raced back to the other Guardians and children all stationed silently on the street waiting for his call.
"Jack, where did you last see her?" Tooth asked, hovering beside Santa.
"I-I-It was the pond!" he yelled out, taking to the skies in frantic haste before anyone could stop him. He heard his name be called out behind him but ignored it. No force strong enough could stop him between his destinations, he would make sure of that.
XXXX
The night was very cold, but that seemed to be of little importance to Ellie right now. The wound in her stomach was growing with frightening intensity as she whimpered on the ice. Warm blood dripped from her abdomen, cooling off as it reached the frozen pond beneath her. Her body froze in a state of shock, the unbelievably that these were her final moments rippled through her with panic.
She thought hard on Pitch's last words to her, the truth becoming clearer by the second. She would die alone, as she had spent all her life alone.
As quickly as the shock had come it was wearing off, and soon Ellie's ribs were wracking with violent sobs. Sobs for the way this was ending, her life that seemed all too short now, and sobs for those she would leave behind. Images of the ones she had come to love flashed quickly through her mind, the last pausing on the image of Jack. How incredible it was that only a short time ago she had been wrapped securely in his arms. Now all that remained of him in her parting moments was the cold night air and the frozen pond beneath her.
Ellie tried to control her breathing, calling on every ounce of strength she had left, determined she would be strong for him and the other Guardians. Pitch may have broken her body, but her spirit would remain strong. Or at least try too. That would be her final fight against him.
Ellie counted backwards from ten out loud, her voice heavy with labor. Each word sent a shock of pain through her body as she became more aware of her injury. The arrow, which protruded from her stomach, was lodged deep. She fumbled for it weakly and cried out when her hand knocked into it. She held her fist up to her mouth and moaned into it, new tears escaping her eyes. Regaining her control she counted back from ten again, willing her breathing to slow down once more. With a shaky hand, Ellie found the arrow using more caution. She grabbed the shaft with her right hand and using her remaining strength broke it close to her body. She cried out once more, this time biting her tongue hard enough to draw blood. She threw that broken half of the arrow down violently on the ice, hating the thing with every fiber of her being, wishing she could yell at it, scream at it, blame it for the irreparable damage it had caused. But for now she could only stare at it with devastated eyes.
She felt better knowing she had broken the thing that had broken her, and knew that whoever found her body would have a less terrible sight to deal with. The thought threatened to send her over in hysterics as she considered her fragile mortality. She had only begun to truly live. Now it was time to say her goodbyes before death erased all of her memories and self.
She imagined what she would say to the others if they were here right now. She would tell Tooth how glad she was to have had such a wonderful friend like her and that the memories of children were truly a beautiful thing. She would tell Bunnymund that she had never met a rabbit with such an attitude but that that's what made him so annoyingly endearing. She would give Santa the biggest bear hung she was possible of and tell him how she could never be more grateful to anyone for taking her in. Finally she would tell Jack not to worry and that she would be reunited with her family soon. She would remind him that he was never truly alone and that there was always someone who believed in him; that she had always believed in him.
Ellie bid these thoughts with all her will to reach the others so that they knew she thought of them in her final moments. She wished they would know that they gave her strength in her time of need and that her love for them was pure and true.
Ellie smiled weakly with their faces in her mind, beginning to drift in and out of consciousness.
XXXX
Jack swore violently as he flew towards the pond, his heart beating fiercely in his chest. He was already imagining everything he would do to Pitch if he had hurt Ellie. Sevenfold would be the pain he would cause that black, slimy bastard. The pond came into view then, much to slowly for Jack though. And as soon as he saw it, his heart fell through his chest. "NO!" he screamed.
The pond was ever the same; peaceful in the serene way Jack was so used to, except for the sight of Ellie. She lay in its center, like a rag doll someone had forgotten on the ice. Jack propelled himself the rest of the way, landing right in front of her on the ice and falling to his knees at her sight. "Oh Ellie, oh Ellie. Oh god. What have I done?" he cried aloud. Jack crawled the rest of the way towards her head. Her eyes were closed, her breathing shallow, a pool of blood surrounding her midsection, dark and lustrous in the moonlight. He willed for the blood to return to her body, for the wound where a broken arrow protruded to heal itself, and for Ellie to wake up as if nothing had happened. But his will was not a cure and the blood remained spread out like a sick reminder.
Jack's hands shook violently as the pulled Ellie on to his lap. She whimpered a little, her eyes opening with effort. Jack held his breath before letting it go and stroked her hair softly. "Ellie. Ellie. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry."
Ellie took in a shallow breath and locked her eyes with Jack's. "Jack - I... this isn't your fault. Please don't think that." She took another labored breath, finding strength in his presence and wanting to get out all she could. All she could get out before death took her into to an eternal sleep. "Thank you so much... I finally lived when I was with you. And I haven't since my family left me, but you gave me a second life. Don't ever forget that Jack. I finally lived again. I had a reason too." Ellie coughed violently then, blood splattering from her mouth and onto Jack's sleeve. Tears glistened in her eyes, threatening to fall. "I finally had a reason too," she repeated.
Jack lowered his head and placed a delicate kiss on her forehead, slow tears tracing his cheeks and turning to ice as they fell. "I'll never forget, Ellie. I promise you that."
Ellie smiled weakly and closed her eyes, as if finally having said all that she needed to say and was now free to die in peace. Jack wanted to tell her not to, that if she closed her eyes she was one step closer to leaving him and that was unbearable. "Thank you Jack."
Ellie took another shallow breath, her final one and then her body relaxed.
Jack could almost pretend she was sleeping, desperately wanted to, but the horror was too great. "Ellie," he whispered, as if calling her name would bring her back to him. "Ellie, don't go," he said again with greater force, his voice hoarse with grief. "Ellie!" he called. But her body remained still. "Oh god!" Jack moaned, every grief escaping in his cries. "Oh god!"
He clutched her body more tightly to him, trying to come to terms with her death. He prayed to every god and deity to help. To the universe and all the saints he could think of. "Anyone!" Jack cried aloud to the dark sky. "Please! Someone bring her back!"
But the night was silent.
Jack looked back upon Ellie and kissed her forehead one last time, letting his final tears fall. "I'll never forget," he whispered into the night, knowing no one would hear his promise.
XXXX
"Jack!" someone called his name from afar. "Jack!"
Jack looked up slowly; when the tears had halted so had any other emotion. It seemed all the grief and sorrow had been replaced with a deafening numbness. The world in front of him lost of its colour somehow. Every sound muffled and taste made bitter. It was the first real loss he had in 300 years and his coping ability was unpracticed. How could you cope when you didn't know how, when you never had to before?
"Jack!" the voice screamed louder, coming into sharp focus, the first real thing to pull him out of his daze in the last five minutes.
Tooth buzzed forward with great haste, the others coming behind her. "Oh Jack! Oh no!" Tooth choked up upon seeing Ellie's body. She still lay in Jack's arms, unmoving in her oblivion. "North! Take the children away!" she yelled quickly behind her. Jack noticed the sounds of distress coming from behind Santa, but the big man had the children ushered out of the area before they could see what had happened.
Bunnymund followed close behind Tooth, his head hanging low and curses escaping his mouth. He stood on the other side of Ellie's body, a giant paw over his heart in pain and remembrance. Tooth cried openly as Jack had done, coming up beside him to lean against him, to hug him and to comfort him. Something he couldn't do for himself. After a few moments Santa joined them, his voice the loudest of them all.
"How could a man do this!" he yelled in a roar. But Jack was no fool and could see the tears threatening to fall. "This is cruel! She was just a girl!" he cried out, crumbling to his knees beside Bunnymund and joining his cries with Tooth. "She did not deserve this. She deserved better," he said between sobs, anger seeping through in his words.
The four of them remained there in silence then, each trying to say goodbye in their own way.
After what seemed like eternity Tooth shook Jack's shoulder. The fairy still had tears escaping her eyes but Jack could tell she was trying her best to hold it in. "We have to go Jack. We can't just stay out here in the open. It's not safe," she said weakly. "We have to put her to rest somewhere."
Both Bunnymund and Santa were standing now, their faces set with the darkest of expressions. "She is right Jack," Santa spoke quietly. "We will find somewhere nice to put her. Someplace beautiful; where she can be in peace."
Jack nodded slowly and gently moved Ellie off his lap. "She was a flower in a thorn bush," he said quietly. "She had every reason to be bitter and angry but she wasn't. She was strong and beautiful and loyal. She deserves the very best." Jack stood up then and watched as the silver reflection of the moon danced upon her still face; a very bright reflection of the moon. Almost too bright.
Jack turned his face up to the night sky where the moon, which had been only a quarter full, was now at it's fullest. The beauty of it nearly stole his breath away as it's light grew in intensity around Ellie. The entire world seemed to stop. The air had ceased to move. No sounds were made and all the coldness of the world was gone. Very slowly the blood seeped around Ellie began to disappear, as if the moon could will such a thing. And in its place, small tiny flowers, a variety of kind, popped up from the ice. It was incredible and incredulous at the same time, each one of the flowers a vibrant colour, so full of life. And as the last flower grew, a delicate white lily, a sudden gust of wind lifted the flower up and let it fall just above Ellie's heart.
That was when he heard it. The sound of her breath.
The air, which had once seemed so stiff and cold now had a new flavour to it as her breath deepened. It was warm and smelt of flowers, a delightful change to the mustiness of death. A warm breeze had surrounded them all now, bringing a feeling of calmness and reassurance with each breath Ellie took. It was so contrasting to what Jack had been feeling before; he had to remind himself to let out all the tension he had been keeping in. This was his prayer being answered.
After a few more moments, Ellie's eyes opened slowly.
At first they were unfocused, and Jack leaned forward, eager to greet her. Then her vision focused, and that was when he noticed the change. Where once her eyes had been a sharp and intelligent light brown, they now shone with a clear and intense green. Her lips also seemed pinker; her hair a more brilliant red then it had ever been before. The change must have been quick, for he hadn't noticed it. But here she was, Ellie. Ellie, who had fought all her life. Ellie who had saved him in his darkest moment. Ellie who had lost her own life to a terrible man. But she had returned, all thanks to the Man on the Moon. Just as Jack had done 300 years ago himself.
Jack took a couple steps toward her and crouched on his knees. He extended his hand out to Ellie who had propped herself up on her elbows, a look of confusion and distress upon her face. She looked quickly at Jack's hand, moving her gaze up along his arm until landing on his face. For a moment he feared she had forgotten him, as he had forgotten everything every thing when he was brought back.
"Jack?" she whispered hoarsely to his relief.
"I'm here," he said, putting all the strength into his words. "I'm here Ellie."
She looked up quickly around her, her eyes connecting with everyone around them, but the fear would not leave her gaze. "Jack... I was so scared," she whispered quickly and grabbed onto his arm, pulling him into a tight embrace. "It was so dark and I couldn't see. It was like I was supposed to go somewhere but I didn't know how to get there or even if I could. And I knew I was dead, Jack. I knew it but I also knew I wasn't done. The Man on the Moon wasn't finished with me yet. And he called to me Jack, He was the only light in the darkness and I followed him. And he brought me back. He brought me back and gave me a new name." Her eyes were stinging with tears, but Jack could tell they were not tears of fear anymore. They were tears of relief and tension all at once. "He called me Ellie Primavera. Or Ellie Vera for short. He said it suited me."
Jack drew back from Ellie then, a smile so wide on his face he could feel his cheeks hurting already. Ellie's eyes searched his, as if needing his consent. Jack tugged lightly at a strand of Ellie's hair. The bright red shone radiantly despite the dim light of the moon. "And Ellie Vera suits you perfectly."
Ellie let out a breath she had been holding in as Jack leaned forward to kiss her tenderly on the forehead. "Thank you," she said so quietly only he could hear.
Jack then took this as a cue to stand back and help her up. She stood awkwardly at first, like a baby dear walking for the first time, and took a small step forward. That was when Santa, Bunnymund and Tooth assaulted her. Each one was trying to get a hug from her, all speaking over one another in their joy and gratitude. It was slightly chaotic but Ellie held her own, answering each of them to the best of her ability while still trying to listen to the others. It was a grand sight to Jack's eyes; one he wouldn't trade for the world.
After the three Guardians had had their time to welcome Ellie back, they separated allowing the girl to breathe. She stood tall and proud, ready to take on the next adversary after she had been knocked down. Her eyes were sharp, her body tense with anticipation. On the ground behind her lay her bow; in the place where she had dropped it. It too was buzzing with anticipation. Ellie -as if sensing the bow rather than seeing it- turned around. She picked it up gingerly before tightening her grip and turning back to face Jack. It was time for war and Ellie would get her revenge.
Jack smiled the slightest of smiles. This is what Ellie was meant to look like. This was her as her true natural self. All flowers aside, she was a warrior. She had always been one and now she truly looked like it.
"So?" Jack said, beginning to feel more himself again, more playful. "How do you feel?"
Ellie bit her lip in consideration. "Different."
"How so?"
"A good different. I feel stronger. More connected to the things around me. As if the trees and plants are actually talking to me."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "So you're a hippie now?"
Ellie snorted most unladylike. "Oh yeah. I've got revenge on my mind and its probably going to get bloody, but I'm going to retain my tree-hugging, animal-loving, peace-making persona. That's definitely how things are gonna go down."
Jack laughed at that. Everyone else giggled except for Bunnymund who just rolled his eyes. "You have quite the can-do-attitude for someone who just died and came back to life," Jack observed, crossing his arms in a mock sternness. How amazing it was to be joking again with her, despite the severity of the situation.
"Well... I don't see the point of moping around anymore. I've been given a second chance and might as well enjoy it. Plus I'm going to kick some ass while I'm at it. You are most welcome to join me."
"I think something can be arranged," Jack considered. It felt good but still slightly wrong for Jack to joke about something so serious, even for him. But if Ellie was the going along with it, why not? "After you," he said and held out an arm to let her pass.
But Ellie didn't move right away. In fact, she turned the opposite direction to face the others. "Firstly I wanted to say thank you, to all of you. Those last moments were the scariest moments of my life. But the strength you all have given me... if it wasn't for that, I would have been terrified and alone. So thank you. Thank you for everything. And I want you to know that I fought for you and will continue to do so till the very end." It seemed her words made everyone speechless. It was both a reminder of her grim death and of the beauty of love and the strength that it can give a person.
"Well let's hope it doesn't come to that again," Bunnymund finally said, breaking the moment. "Let's just worry about how we're going to kick Pitch's ass to a place where he can't return."
Santa nodded vigorously. "All the way to Timbuktu," he yelled, throwing a fist up in the air.
"Sounds good to me," Tooth said, rubbing her hands to keep them warm in the frigid night.
Ellie finally turned around to face Jack. "You lead the way," she said with every bit of confidence. "We're right behind you."
Jack smiled wickedly. "And this time, we're going to win."
XXXX
Satisfied? I hope so haha!
Leave a review! Whether to give me heck for my snail-pace of an update or general comment on the chapter! Thanks!
Until next time! (Which hopefully will be a lot sooner!)