"We can't let him reach the crowded area!" Bunny shouted from the back of the bi-plane Sandy had built from his sand.
The three guardians were chasing the giant – that was already several meters away from them – through the less crowded highway of the city.
The giant leapt over a bus and landed on an intersection filled with oblivious civilians crossing the street.
"Too late! He'll crush them!" Jack sped up, overtaking Sandy's plane, and stopped short when he was caught by surprise with what he saw. The giant's feet landed on the small sidewalk and the people were walking right through the giant! It was as if they weren't even aware of the gigantic presence at all!
They can't see it… Jack thought as he watched the giant run and pick up speed.
"Jack! Did you see that?!"
"Yeah!"
The plane caught up to Jack, and he flew beside it, looking at Bunny who had a glint in his eyes.
"I've a plan!"
The giant braced itself on one of the electric posts and made a sharp turn on the highway that lead to a bridge. It looked over its shoulder to check if the pursuers were still there. They weren't. They were no longer following him.
"Hey!"
The giant looked for the source of the voice and saw the winter sprite hovering by the bridge.
"I'm not afraid of you!" Jack pointed his staff and produced a spear. Mustering all of his strength, he harpooned it towards the giant, aiming for its left eye.
But gigantic hands blocked it.
"Sandy! Bunny! Now!"
The bi-plane flew past the giant, but neither of the two guardians' eyes left their target.
"All right, Sandy, we got on chance only!"
Sandy nodded and pressed the trigger on the yoke. A hook was ejected below the plane and fixed itself on a lamp post. Bunny hopped out of the plane, holding the other hook and tied it around another lamp post, stretching out a thin, barely visible, gold thread.
The giant saw this. Its eyes widened in alarm and attempted to stop. But it was too late. The giant was heavy, and the momentum too much that it ended up falling over the bridge and into the water, creating a large wave.
Jack landed on the bridge, eyes trained on the water.
"Where is he?" Bunny asked as he hopped beside his fellow guardian, Sandy trailing slightly behind him. "We saw 'im fall."
"We should see him any second now. The river's not deep enough for that giant."
So, they waited.
But there was no sign of the giant.
"What?" Bunny muttered under his breath. "A giant just 'disappeared'."
They could only look on at the dark waters, wondering where their giant has gone, and how it could have escaped.
Cold…
Eren walked slowly, arm braced against the wall to support himself. His teeth chattered, arms wrapping themselves around his frame in an attempt to fight off the chill.
"Th-those blasted g-guar-dians!" He spat bitterly. He slumped against the wall, his chest heaving.
He looked up. The moonlight shone brightly as the clouds moved and revealed the starry night sky.
"What the hell are you looking at?" The boy glared fiercely at the moon. He took another step, right on a frozen puddle, causing him to slip and fall face first on the snow covered ground.
His anger rose as he gritted his teeth, eyes further narrowed as he looked up again.
"DID YOU JUST MOCK ME? HOW DARE YOU!" He shouted. But the only answer he got was a breeze. He leaned back against the wall and slumped onto the ground.
"I'm a king, damn it." The boy lowered his head.
I need a place to stay… I can't go on with this…injury. He touched his right eye and looked at his fingers. Blood.
There was a harsh gust of wind that made the boy look up. He saw a sign board attached to a lamp post that read:
RUSSIAN CULTURAL HERITAGE: CATHERINE PALACE
Eren smiled. He stood up and slowly walked towards the palace.
Finally…a place to stay.
With a groan, Eren pushed open the window and entered the palace.
He looked around with his left eye. The place was messy. Everything was covered in dust. Furniture left and right were covered in cobwebs, the walls were decorated with paintings that have almost faded, and the floor was littered with various insects – alive and dead – and cracks where plants of unknown origins have sprouted.
His nose twitched and he snorted. It wasn't to his liking, but it would have to suffice.
After another minute of inspection, he heaved out a sigh and relaxed.
"Alone at last." He muttered to himself as his hand fished out something from the pocket of his cloak. His eyes shone as he saw the object. It was the cupcake that he took from the exhibit.
With a lick of his lips, he brought the cupcake towards his lips. He froze before he could take a bite, sensing a presence behind him. But it was too late for him to react. Something struck the back of his head with such strong force that he fell to the floor and blacked out.
"Eek!"
Anya quickly hid behind a tall chair after she hit the intruder with a large, thick Mathematics book. She took a peek. The boy was still lying unconscious on the floor.
Who is this boy? She wandered as she slowly emerged from her hiding place. She crept slowly and silently until she stood beside the uninvited guest.
She bent down and poked the boy's hip with her book. He didn't move. She moved the book over to the boy's head, brushing aside his hair to reveal his still closed eyes. Anya crouched low and extended her hand to poke his cheek.
"It's soft." She whispered.
She moved closer.
"Oh… he's…" She stared at him, curiosity at its peak. It was her first time to see a boy inside the palace. And at such proximity, too.
"Hello."
Anya yelped and ran behind the tall chair. She peeked again, and saw another boy. Conscious, this time. He was standing at the window sill with a smile on his face.
Great. What did I do for my night to go wrong? Anya thought as the white-haired boy entered.
"Hey, relax. It's okay. I'm not an enemy." Jack told her.
Anya examined him, starting from his pale, white feet to his brown pants, then his blue hoodie and finally up to his face and blue eyes.
"You must be Anya. I'm Jack Frost, Guardian of Fun."
Anya blinked. Did he just say…guardian? She slowly walked towards him.
"Jack Frost?"
The winter sprite smiled.
"Yeah. That's my name." Jack put his face behind him and took a good look at the girl.
Wow. She IS pretty. Just like what the Lorax said. He was awestruck. She had brown hair and rosy cheeks, and her blue eyes held a glow of curiosity.
"Um… Sir Jack?"
Jack snapped out of his daze.
"Oh, um. Uh…sorry. I think I'm being rude for–um staring-" He stammered and looked down, feeling sheepish.
Anya observed him, almost giggling, but she stopped herself as she remembered the boy who was still lying on the floor.
"Is he…a friend of yours?"
"Friend?" Jack looked past Anya and saw the unconscious guardian. "Oh, him? Yeah, he's my friend, and a naughty one at that."
He humored her assumption.
"I apologize in his behalf, since he came in without prior notice. You don't mind me calling my other friends so we can carry him, do you?"
Anya nodded and Jack leaned out of the window.
"Bunny! Found him!" He shouted. "He's unconscious!"
Anya stood there in trepidation, awaiting the arrival of Jack's friends. Still, the appearance of a pair of tall ears on a fur-covered head of a rabbit startled her. Anya took a few steps back as the 6-foot rabbit entered the room. A second friend appeared, this time, he was short with gold-colored hair and similarly colored outfit.
The small guardian smiled and bowed at her as a sign of courtesy.
I'm dreaming. Yes, that's it. I must be dreaming. She chanted in her head as she looked at the two new…guests.
"Hey there." Anya's wide eyes focused on the rabbit. "My name's E. Aster Bunnymund, the Guardian of Hope. The children know me as the Easter Bunny. This here's Sandman, Guardian of Dreams. You can call him Sandy, though."
Bunny extended his right hand towards the girl, who held out her own hand to shake his.
"Hello Mr….Bunnymund."
"You can call me, Bunny."
She just smiled and watched as he hopped towards the unconscious boy.
"Well, would ya look at that, Frostbite. The guy's all tuckered up."
"Yeah, serves him right for stealing. I wonder how he got like this?"
Anya looked at the two and approached them.
"It's my fault. Um, I think."
The guardians turned around and gave her their full attention.
"He just entered and I was shocked," Anya continued, "So I did what Sir Lorax told me to do in case I found a burglar."
They were stunned. That was not the explanation that they had expected for the state that Eren was in.
It doesn't seem like she saw his other form. Jack thought.
Bunny lifted up the boy onto his right shoulder. He hopped to the window, before he stopped and spun to look at the girl.
"Anya, right? I know the Lorax and he's told us many stories 'bout ya. Would ya like to come with us?"
Anya looked away from the Guardian of Hope. This reaction puzzled Jack, then he remembered the Lorax's story.
"Anya," he started gently, "you don't need to stay here forever. You have to go out and meet others. There's a lot to see beyond the walls of this palace."
She turned around, refusing to look at the winter sprite's eyes. She was uncertain. She wanted to, but at the same time, she didn't.
"Trust me, Anya. I'll introduce you to the others. There's North and Tooth! They're friendly and I'm positive they'll welcome you with open arms."
Outside the palace… Anya felt fear creep into her. She was scared of the outside world. She enjoyed 'seeing' it in her imagination via the Lorax's many stories, but to actually go out and see with her own eyes what she's only ever heard of.
She didn't know what to say.
There was a light tug on her sleeve which made her look down. Sandy was smiling at her, it was warm and inviting. She returned it with an anxious smile of her own.
Anya took a deep breath.
"Is the world outside really that nice?"
"Yes, it is! Especially if you have friends with you." Jack grinned and extended a hand for her to take.
Anya nodded and stepped forward, clasping her hands with his.
"Please show me the world."
Hoho! Chapter 5's here! A little bit of hints and determinations! Eren - a king? That's not quite possible right? Just what on earth was Eren? And then there's Anya. Jack must be thinking, is she more than a social recluse guardian?
Yay! Special thanks again to Blackrain 105 for beta-reading!