So I just couldn't wait to make this chapter! So here it is! This is were things get interesting in my opinion.
Disclaimer - look at pervious chapters
Enjoy!
BAM! Jamie glared at his best friend direction through the wet cold snow that now blurred his vision. In one swift motion he wiped it off, "seriously Jack. Why the face? Why do you always go for the face?"
Jack who was now holding his sides of laughter tried to speak in-between pants. "Well...how else are you...going to dodge them...in the future...practice...makes...perfect." Jamie let his glare fall and joined in the winter spirits contagious laughter.
"Okay Okay I guess you're right", Jamie said with one hand up unknown to Jack that a perfect snowball was hiding in the other. Jamie went to sit down next to the still laughing Jack and hit him square in the nose with the cold sphere. "But you know, you're never too old for a little practice."
"Good job my boy", North's voice screamed from the other side of the yard before he was tackled by Cupcake, Pippa and Monty into a snow bank.
Jack playfully smiled at Jamie and he gave him an innocent smile back. "Never prank a prankster, Jamie."
"Mate I'd run if I were you", Bunny said from where he was making a snow bunny man with Sophie.
Worry glazed over the first believer's eyes and he sprinted of to the closest tree near the street.
"A tree really Jamie. You insult me." Jack said in mock offence. He waved his staff into the air and beside Jack a snow ball throwing machine manifested made of ice. The boy's eyes wided, "Jack you wouldn't."
"Jamie I think you know me a little better than that." Jamie sighed in defeat and prepared himself for the upcoming attack.
Jamie sighed in defeat and prepared himself for the upcoming attack. Jack kicked the ice machine and it roared to life. The first shots were fired.
"Ompf. Hey watch it!"
Jamie opened his eyes to see the attack hit Cara who was walking on the side walk next to him.
"I was hoping on staying dry today thank you very much." She said pointing a finger at Jack.
Jack ignored the complaining and floated up to the brunette, "Cara! You're here!"
"Duh", she gave him an unamused look, "I just met my dad's childhood hero, you didn't think I was just going to let you leave again now did you?"
Jack grinned, "good to hear. I have a surprise for you?"
She smiled at the word, "really, what? What is it?"
'She looks like a kid waiting for their present on Christmas morning', Jack thought. It was kinda cute and funny to see it on a teens face. Jack whistled behind him, "guys Cara's here."
The guardians all looked up from their activities toward Jack. They told the children to continue playing and Jack told Jamie to go join them as the guardians approached the teenage believer.
Sandy got there first and gave Cara a small wave. But she continued to look at Jack. Sandy let dream sand come out of his ears, why was he always ignored. Bunny, North and Tooth followed shortly after.
Once everyone was gathered Jack started introductions pointing to each person correctly, "Cara this is Sandy, Bunny, North and Tooth. Guys this is Cara, our teenage believer."
Cara looked at where Jack was pointing her big smile slowly fading. Jack stared at her; this was not the reaction he expected.
Clearly Tooth wasn't paying attention to the girl's reaction as much as Jack as she let her excitement get the best of her.
"Oh your teeth. There so white, you must floss everyday don't you, I bet you..." As Tooth reached her hand out to inspect the girl's pearly whites further, she gasped as her hand went straight through the girl whose reaction had not changed from the event.
"W-what?" Tooth retracted her hand quickly and looked down at the floor holding herself. Bunny slowly walked up to the fairy and wrapped his arms around her for comfort. He knew too well how going through a non-believer felt. And it wasn't pleasant.
Sandy looked up at the dumbstruck Jack and a question mark appeared over his head.
"Jack what are you pointing at? What are you talking about? If this is some kind of joke, I don't see how it's funny." Cara said once again with an unamused expression, crossing her arms.
North stepped forward. "She speaks to Jack just fine." He reached a hand for her very slowly only to have the same fate as the Tooth Fairy. He frowned.
Jack looked at Cara still in shock. He didn't know what to say. What had just happened? "But you...you don't see them?"
Cara looked more confused than ever, "see who?"
Jack grabbed his head and looked over to the other guardians for help. 'Dear Mannie what was happening?'
"Lil'girl is a true believer", North stated.
"Mate you can't mean...but...how?... A true believer hasn't existed for centuries, who knows how many. And Frost? How could snowflake have one? That just doesn't make any bloody sense."
Tooth unwrapped Bunny arms from her and spoke up, now over from the initial shock, "anything's possible. Right Sandy?"
Sandy nodded his head in agreement.
"Jack what's going on?" Cara asked grabbing his shoulder, trying to knock him out of his daze.
The youngest guardian held a hand up to her, "I'll let you know when I find out."
Cara dropped he hand and let it drop by her side, "um ok then."
Jack looked back to the guardians, "guys what...why...how..."
The older guardians were too into their own conversation that they completely ignored the very confused Jack Frost. Upset at this, Jack slammed his staff into the ground letting out a cold gust of strong air. That got their attention. "Can someone explain to me what is going on?!"
Many images started appearing above the Sandman's head. Jack looked more confused than ever.
Tooth decided to intervene, "It's okay Sandy, I got this. Sweetie, Cara here is not only a teenage believer...which is very rare...she is also a true believer...which is in a category all on its own."
Jack leaned on his staff, "and what's a true believer?"
"Jack who are you talking..." Jack shushed the teenager. "Cara I'll explain in a minute." He turned his attention back to the little group.
"True believer is very special indeed. It is one who believes in only one spirit and no other. There has been only four I have ever heard of. One for Sandy, Mannie, myself and..." , North's voice lowered, "...and Pitch. No one knows why people chose to only believe in one myth and not the others. But if you have a true believer, it makes you stronger than you have ever felt."
Jack could only stare at the former Cossack in disbelief. "But...if that's true, why me. I never even had a believer till recently." Or at least one I have known of, he wanted to add but decided it wasn't the time.
"Mate that's something only she can answer." He pointed to Cara. Everyone turned their attention to the girl.
"Cara?"
Glad he was finally acknowledging her existence Cara smiled, "done ignoring me?"
Jack didn't return the gesture, he face was dead serious. 'A look that didn't belong on his face', Sandy thought to himself.
"Cara do you...and be honest okay...do you believe in Nor...Santa Clause?"
Cara stared at Jack and then started laughing, "you're kidding right? What kind of question is that? Of course I don't."
North frowned and Tooth went over to rub his back motherly. To hear you were not believed in was worse than to simply be phased through. It was a pain that hit down deep and it hit hard.
Jack frowned for his friend but continued to question the teenage believer, "The Tooth Fairy?"
"Nope", She said shaking her head.
"Easter Bunny?"
"Oh God no!" She gave a slight laugh.
"The Sandman?"
Cara raised her eyebrow, "who?"
Jack looked over to the saddened little man. He simply shook his head at Jack.
"He brings you dreams." He tried again.
"Oh, well then no. I've never had a good dream in my life", she stated, "Jack why are you asking me this?"
"So it is true", North said sadly.
Jack frowned even more. Then an idea popped in his head. He smiled at Cara, "because there right here!"
All the guardians looked up at Jack in shock.
Cara gave Jack a bemused look, "very funny."
"No Cara I'm serious! In front of you stand the guardians. There's the Sandman, known as Sandy. He is the guardian of dreams. Then there's the Tooth Fairy, her names Toothiana but just Tooth is fine. She guards your memories from your Teeth. The North also known as the famous Santa Clause. He is the guardian of wonder. Then of course there the guardian of hope, the Easter Bunny, Bunnymund. But you can call him Bunny. And I finish the group as the guardian of fun. Together we guard and protect children around the globe."
Cara just stared at the embodiment of Winter.
"Cara? Earth to Cara." Jack said waving his stick in front of her face, "say something."
Cara looked up at Jack, "I don't believe you."
"What do you mean you don't believe me?! You believe Jack Frost right, why can't you believe in the more famous guys."
Tooth came up to Jack, "Sweet Tooth, honey. You can't force someone to believe."
"But Tooth it doesn't make sense. Look Cara they can prove it too you. The other children see them."
Cara shaked her head, "Jack I don't want them to prove anything to me."
"And why not? If they just..."
"Because I don't want to believe in them!" She yelled at him, "if they are real, then where were they! Where were they when...when..." Tears started rolling down her cheeks. Her face hardened and she looked at the ground, hands in tight fists. "Do you know I never had one good dream, Easter egg hunt, Christmas present or baby tooth taken. Not one. And then last year...last year...that happened and where were they! So no I don't want proof they exist because they don't deserve to exist!"
Tears were now coming in streams from her eyes and falling on top of her white sneakers.
"Cara I...they..." Jack reached for her shoulder but Cara swatted it away.
"Don't touch me!" She hissed and ran back to her home. She need to be alone right now. It was hard for her, these painful memories brought back up. She heard faint calls for her name that only got fainter as she kept running. Once she got home, she lay down on her lumpy so called bed.
'Jacks a guardian too?', she thought, 'well why wasn't she mad at him too then. Was it because of her dad and his fond stories of the boy or was it because no matter what the snow returned every year. She knew when it would arrive and when it would leave. It'd never abandon her like so many others. It was a constant in her life, winter would always keep her safe and comfort her in times of loneliness because she knew one could always count on frost to paint her window every single year.'
Well that was a long chapter (I think my longest so far), I just couldnt stop myself from writing! Sorry about the ending though, hopefully you don't hate me for it!
The-Unnamed-Artist