I'm sorry I haven't posted anything for a while. Schools been a struggle, and I've had a period of sloth unfortunately. There is some good news (for me any way) I got a full time job, so I've had less time to work on this; but more money.
Anyway, her is the next chapter of The Masked Guardian, & were going to meet my OC.
The Masked Guardian
Chapter 2, The Man Of Many Faces.
It was a crisp autumn morning in Pensilvania. October had just started, and Halloween was on everyone's mind. A small elementary school was just opening it's doors, the first to arrive was the principle. He had just finished unlocking all the class rooms when.
Bang! Bang! Bang! He heard a knock at the front door, and in stepped one of the teachers. Theodor Rumbsfelt, a middle aged man. He had short curly brown hair, with specks of grey. He also wore a brace on his right had for his carpal tunnel.
"Hello, Theodor." The principle said. As he went to greet his colleague he caught a whiff of smoke.
"Theodor, do you smoke?"
"No, but the door man of my apartment does. I have to pass him everyday, and that stuff always lingers on me."
"Also, why do you always knock? You work here, just come in."
"It's a quirk I have. I've tried to kick the habit, but I just can't."
"One more question, why did you decide to become a school teacher?"
"Hugh?" Theodor asked.
"You have a masters degree. You could do so much better then this, so why work for a public school?" To his surprise, Theodor smiled.
"True the pay isn't much, but the feeling of pride and teaching children more then makes up for that." About an hour later, Theodor was giving his fourth grade class a lecture about the up coming Lunar Eclipse.
"What's a Lunar Eclipse?" Asked a girl in pigtails.
"Good question, Sally." Theodore said. "As most of you may know, a solar eclipse is when the moon passes between the earth and the sun, casting it's shadow on the earth." He drew a diagram on the wipe board to illustrate. "So a Lunar eclipse would be when..." he stopped to let his students have a chance to guess. Finally one said, in an uncertain shaky voice.
"When the earth passes in front of the sun, and casts its shadow on the moon?"
"Correct." Theodore said and he threw a piece of hard candy to the student who happily caught it; it was surprisingly hot.
"According to the experts, the next Lunar eclipse is scheduled this Friday at 9:30 PM. If anyone wants to earn some extra credit, observe the eclipse and document what happens in a journal, if weather permits."
They spent the rest of the school day covering subjects that most children wouldn't see until early middle school. Unlike the other teachers, Theodore preferred to challenge his students with problems that required higher levels of thinking, although his superiors weren't to pleased with him for this. However, unbeknownst to the class, they were being watched. A hummingbird was hovering above the flowers, looking in at the class.
After class was dismissed Theodor gathered up his stuff, but instead of leaving, he made his way to the supply closest in the back of the classroom. He took off his wrist brace. Holding it in one hand, and with the other, knocked on the closet door, opened it, and stepped inside. Little did he know, the hummingbird had made it's way inside, and slipped through the door with him before it closed.
In a dry dusty town in the heart of the Texas badlands, a small fireworks store stood on the outskirts of town. At the moment, the store was closed, but then there came a knock at the front door. The door swung open, and in stepped a woman. Her name was Sara Hernandez. She was a middle aged woman of mixed heritage. She had thick bushy brown hair and buck teeth. She wore overalls and a fedora. It was early October and business was slow, not like around the 4th of July, but there were people who would come by, and today she had such costumers. Around noon a woman and her young boy came in. The mom said they were looking for some fireworks to celebrate their husband/dad's birthday. After a while looking, they came to the front counter with their picks.
"Okay, so thats five M80s, six Roman Candles, four Devil Dragons. Anything else, hun?"
"Well, it's my pa's fortieth birthday, and I want it to be special. Could I get some of your famous Sky-Candies?" The boy asked.
"Sure thing." One thing that set Sara's store apart from other fireworks stores was that her most popular products were of her own making. Sara had a degree in chemistry from The University of Texas, and she made good use of it. A few minutes later, she returned from the storage with a handful of her home made rockets. After the mother payed for the fireworks, she and her son turned to leave, when.
"Hold up." Sara put her hands under the front counter, and heard the clattering of countless tiny items clinking against class. Sandy pulled up jar full of assorted candies from behind the counter. "Take a couple. Free with every purchase." With his mothers permission, the boy took a handful of the complementary sweets; they were strangely hot.
Eventually, the sun started to set; early with it being fall. Sara locked up the front door, and made her way to the back when she heard the front bell ring. She turned and saw a young man wearing the most unusual attire. He wore tattered pants that looked to be made of burlap. He was barefoot, and he wore a blue hoodie, which was really odd considering how hot it was even at night. His hair was pure white, and he was carrying a wooden staph the resembled a shepherds crook.
"Man, it is hot out here." The boy said, but as he walked a blast of icy cold air filled the shop.
"Can I help you sonny." Sara asked. As she did, a hummingbird flew down from the ceiling, and greeted the boy enthusiastically.
"You can drop the act Lantern, we know it's you." A feminine voice said from behind. Sara turned and there, hovering in midair, a half human, half hummingbird woman, with at least five little look-a-likes floating around her. Sara sighed heavily then said,
"I would ask how you found out my identity, but it's obvious a little birdie told you." only, she didn't speak like she normally did. The tone had been reduced to a monotone, and her southern accent had been swapped for an irish one. Despite all this, what really stood out was that she was now speaking in a male voice.
Sara took off her Fedora, then to everyones surprise,smoke began to rise off of her body, her skin began to burn away, like fire burning from the center of a leaf outward. However, as her skin burned away, it did not revile any of the bodies inner working. Instead, her appearance began to change, and soon, where Sara once was there stood a man. He wore a old fashioned trench coat, and black pants. He had bright flowing red hair, and through the slits in the gothic masquerade mask he wore, one could see that his eyes were emerald green.
As soon and his fiery transformation was complete, Jack O'lantern flicked the arm in with he held his Fedora. In a burst of flames the hat had vanished, and was replaced with a small, old fashioned hooded lantern. it seemed to be made of Wrought Iron, and glowed with a soft light.
"So, what does a guardian and a spirit want with me?" As Lantern spoke, a ball of fire erupted in the palm of his hand. When the flames died, there was a lollipop, which he immediately popped in his mouth; Tooth winced at this.
"Ugh, I'm a guardian too." Jack said, feeling slightly offended.
"Oh, my mistake." Lantern apologized. "So, why are here?"
Jack smiled mischievously. "Follow me." he turned and walked out of the shop, Tooth and her fairies following behind him. His curiosity piqued Lantern followed, locking the door behind him, again. Lantern followed Frost and Tooth around back, but just as he rounded the corner, he was ambushed. Before he could react, a Yeti grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, and lifted him off the ground.
"What are you doing? Put me down!" Lantern shouted, his lollipop falling out of his mouth. His protests, however, were ignored as he was thrown into a large sack held by a second Yeti
"North was right." Jack said with a smile. "It is fun to do that." One of the yetis threw a snow globe onto the ground, and a magic portal to North's workshop appeared.
"Ladies first." Jack gestured to Tooth. She imitated a curtsy and flew into the portal. After Jack leapt in the Yetis threw their package into the portal and followed, the portal closed behind them. The bag flew through the air and landed at the feet of North and the others Guardians.
"He's here." North said exited. What happen next caused ever to jump back in shock. The sack that Lantern had been in burst into flames. In mere seconds, the bag had been reduced to ash, but it's contents were unharmed. Lantern stood up, brushed himself off, and looked at the ones who brought him here. Without warning, Lantern burst into flames, and in his place stood a blond teen-age girl, Lantern's lantern had become a bright pink purse.
"OMG, I can not believe it." He/she then came over to the Guardians and started shaking their hands. "I can not believe it, I am actually shaking hands with Santa Cause."
"Please, call me "North.'"
"And you can drop the acting, mate." Bunny said sounding agitated. The blond teenager sighed heavily and In a burst of flames, changed back into Lantern.
"Very well. Why have you brought me here?" As he spoke, a ball of fire formed in his hand. When the flames died, several small pieces of candy appeared in the palm of his hand; Tooth winced in disgust at the sight of them. Lantern was about to pop them in his mouth, when he looked down and saw several of North's elves looking at him in pure awe. Slowly, Lantern put the little candies in his shirt pocket, and another fireball erupted in his hand. This time, when the flames died there was a whole chocolate bar in his hand. In a teasing manor, he slowly unwrapped the candy bar, the elves drooling as he did so. Once the wrapper was completely off, he looked at it for a moment or two then threw it towards the globe. The Elves watching turned around, and ran off in search of it. Little did they know that Lantern never threw the chocolate, and was taking a bite as he watched them run off.
"Anyway." He continued. Why am I here."
"Good question." Jack said with a grin.
"Why?" North said stepping forward. "I tell you why. Because now, you are guardian." Without warning, several of the elves let loose a loud fan fair. Trumpets sounded, drums were pounded, and two yetis marched around Lantern, twirling batons that were flaming at both ends. Two of Tooth's fairies, reluctantly put a star necklace around his neck. As the music grew louder and louder, confetti began to fall, and a band of elves playing brass instruments circled around Lantern; who stood there blankly and let all this happened around him. A yeti brought out a large book, and gave it to North, who cleared his throat as he opened it. The room went quiet as North began to read.
"Will you, Jack O'Lantern vow to watch over the children of the world, to guard them with your life, there hopes, their wished, and their dream, for they are all that we have, all that we are, and all that we will ever be?"
"No." Lantern said flatly, and the necklace spontaneously combusted .
"Well you cant say no. It doesn't work if you say no." Bunny said.
"I'm flattered that you would invite me to join you group, but I'm afraid that I have far too many commitments. I have several businesses to manage, charities to run, and In thirty minutes I'll be giving a college lecture."
"Crikey, how many lives are you living mate?" Bunny asked.
"Well, if you don't want to be a guardian, we wont force you. Thank you for your time, goodbye." Tooth said quickly. North stepped forward and put his hand on Lantern's shoulder.
"Look up there." He gestured to the Globe of Belief. Everyone of those lights is a child who believes, and good or bed, naughty or nice, we protect them."
"I understand, and I see the importance, but I have other responsibilities to manage. You will just have to get someone else."
"We didn't pick you." Jack said, taking to the air. "HE did." He gestured to the moon.
"The man in the moon wants me to be a guardian?" Lantern asked. "That raises so many question. Why didn't he tell me himself, why wait until now, and why chose me?"
"Why so many questions?" North asked.
"I'm a curious guy." Lantern said, not taking his eyes off the moon.
"All you need to know," North said. "is that Pitch Black is up to something, and we need your help.
Pitch Black? The Boogyman?" Lantern asked.
"Yes. Yesterday, Man in Moon called us together. He told us Pitch was up to something, and he chose you to be new guardian." North said.
"Well, how about we see this thing through together before I consider joining your group." Lantern said.
"Sounds like a plan." North said, slapping Lantern on the back, almost knocking him down. "Jack," North said, Frost flew down. "why don't you show him ropes?"
"Why me?" Jack asked.
"You were the new guy once." Tooth said. "So you should be the one to teach him what he needs to know."
"Besides mate, it might be fun." Bunny said with a grin. Jack frowned at his friend/rival. He then turned to Lantern.
"Come with me." Jack lead Lantern to a deserted area of the work shop, passing the elves that were still in search of the chocolate bar they would never find. Once they were alone, Jack turned to Lantern.
"Well, as North would say." He put on a fake Russian accent. "'We get down to tax of brass.'" He looped the crook of his staff around Lantern's neck. "Who are you, Jack O'Lantern." He pulled him in closer. "What is your center?"
"My what?" Lantern asked. Jack released him from the crook of his staff.
"Every guardian has a center. Something that they put into the world that makes life wonderful, and each one is unique. North is wonder, Bunny is hope, Sandy, obviously, is dreams, and Tooth, strangely enough is memory."
"And what is your center?" Lantern asked, who felt strange being lectured by someone younger then himself.
"This is my center." he reached into the pocket of his hoodie, and pulled out the smallest of a set of Russian nesting dolls. Lantern looked at it.
"I don't understand." he said.
"Take a closer look." Jack said. Lantern took a closer look. The most prominent feature he noticed was the dolls smile.
"You're smiling." Lantern said.
"Yes," Jack said exited. "because he's having fun. It took me a while to figure it out, but the man in the moon chose me to be a guardian because even when things are at there worst, I know that we can always have fun."
"Fascinating," Lantern said, returning the doll. "I can't say I know what my center is, but you have me intrigued."
"Don't worry, you'll find it." Jack said, putting his hand on Lantern's shoulder. They then hear the sound of galloping. They looked up, and saw Bunny running to them.
"Mates, you've got to see this." He said sounding worried.
I hope you all liked it. Sorry it took me so long to put it up, but I got a full time job recently, and I haven't had as much time to work on it. I hope you all enjoyed my OC Jack O'Lantern. If it's self explanatory, while Lantern is disguised, he can be seen and interact with ordinary humans (children and adults) with out being believed it. Well, see you next time.