Chapter Text
Life does not always go as you plan. I did not really plan to walk into those woods. I did not plan to rescue a trapped animal there either. And i didn't plan for that night to be my last as the person I used to know.
I had thought that That was it for me. That my story was over. The pages from my book of life cruelly ripped out when I was barely halfway through.
But apparently someone decided that it wasn't my time yet. That I still had more to offer. And I suppose being dubbed the guardian of karma wasn't a bad deal. I got to punish those that deserved it and made good things happen to those who worked hard and always did their best to be kind.
I'm currently in the middle of some rare down time, sitting on the floor of my cabin painting. Since being brought back as an immoral being,I've taken to a few hobbies to keep myself busy.
When I'm halfway through painting a pine, streaks of color out the window catch my eye. I look over to the big window overlooking the forest that surrounds my home. Then I notice the auroras rippling in the sky. For a moment I'm confused, as the northern lights should not be visible from here,but then a tidbit of information from 3 years ago resurfaces and I remember.
Meet at the north pole
I quickly toss my brushes in a cup of water then grab and fasten my pouched harness for my weapons around my waist before darting outside. I slide off one of the gold bracelets from my wrist then toss it where it expands and opens a portal to the north pole. Stepping close I can already feel the frosty breeze blowing before I leap up and through the opening landing on all fours in deep snow. Turning quickly I catch my bracelet before it hits the ground once the portal closes.
I hurry toward the fortress since I can already feel my feet begin to numb. Once inside I see that everyone's already arrived and I pad over to them "Hey guys,it's been a while."
North steps over and gives my shoulder a friendly pat "Twilight! I'm glad you could make it."
Sandy makes his way over to North and displays a flurry of symbols above his head questioning his motives.
"I know,I know. But I would not call you all here unless it was serious." He then turns to face all of us "The boogeyman was here. At the pole."
Tooth flutters over and we share a worried look "Pitch black? Here?"
"Yes there was black sand covering the globe." North gestures to the large spinning sphere in the room "and then a shadow."
"What do you mean black sand? I thought you said you saw pitch?" Bunny cuts in,hopping over from warming his feet at a nearby fire place,them pulls out a halfway painted egg and paintbrush.
"Well, not exactly..." North admits
"Not exactly? Can you believe this guy?" Bunny looks over at Sandman and I, pointing at North accusingly with his brush. A question mark forms over Sandy's head and I chuckle quietly.
"Look he's up to something very bad. I feel it. In my belly."
His belly?
Bunny must've been thinking the same thing because he's not having it.
"Hang on you mean to tell me you summoned me here three days before Easter because of your belly? Mate, if I did this to you three days before Christmas..."
"Please, Bunny. Easter is not Christmas." North said with a taunting pat to Bunny's face.
Oh boy, there they go again. These two just love messing with each other. I sit off to the side, sensing this may take awhile. If only I had some popcorn.
"North I don't have time for this! I still have 2 million eggs to finish up!" Bunny continues his scolding, following North to the other side of the room,still trying to finish painting the egg he brought along.
"No matter how much you paint,is still egg."
"Look mate, I'm dealing with perishables. You've got all year to prepare."
"Why are rabbits always so nervous?"
"And why are you always such a blowhard?"
While watching the two men bicker, I take notice of Sandy gesturing wildly at something. I look to where he's pointing and notice the moon shining brightly through the skylight.
"Um, you guys?" I stand and try to gain the others' attention as well.
"Tooth. Can't you see we're trying to argue?" North briefly pauses in his squabble with Bunny to address the toothfairy's ramblings to herself and little fairies.
"Sorry not all of us get to work one night a year -oh! San Diego, sector two.."
"You guys!" I try again, waving my paw a bit.
"Come on, mate Pitch went out with the dark ages. We made sure of it."
"I know it was him. We have serious situation."
"Well I've got a serious situation with some eggs."
I huff and share an exasperated look with Sandy, then watch as he floats over to an elf standing nearby and proceeds to grab and shake him so the little bell on his hat rings loudly. I wince slightly at the sound.
Everyone turns toward us and we both point up at the moon, then they finally look up as well.
"Ah! Man in moon! Why didn't you two say something?"
"Wha-" I start to complain but North's already turned back to address the moon. Sandy obviously shares my frustration, when sand shoots from his ears mimicking hot steam.
"It's been a long time old friend. What is big news?"
A beam of light shines from the moon and toward the floor where depictions of the guardians form a diamond. Then suddenly a silhouette of Pitch appears.
"It is Pitch." Bunny states, all traces of skepticism gone.
North Pats his belly and gives Bunny an 'I told you so' look. "Manny what must we do?"
The stream of light concentrates then the floor opens up and a podium with a large crystal rises up through the opening. I squint slightly against the brightness.
"Uh, guys you know what this means, right?" Tooth says looking at each of us.
"He's choosing a new guardian." North replies
"What? Why?" Bunny asks, that skeptical look returning to his face
"Yeah and why so soon after I've joined? Does my presence not give us enough of a shot?" I cross my arms,indignant.
"I'm sure it is no insult from Manny. He must think we need help." North tries to reassure me but I still pout a bit.
"Since when do we need help?" Bunny scoffs looking around at us as if waiting for someone to say this is just a joke.
"I wonder who it's going to be." Tooth chimes in excitedly
A clover appears over Sandy's head.
"Maybe the leprechaun?"
"Please not the groundhog, please not the ground hog." Bunny mutters quietly and I snort a laugh.
The light from the crystal shifts and sparkles until finally the form of a person appears.
Thats...
"Jack frost." North sounded as surprised as I felt.
"Uh I take it back. The groundhog's fine."
"Well as long as he helps to protect the children, right?" Toothe says sheepishly
Mmhm sure. I saw that look, Tooth.
"Jack frost?! He doesn't care about children! All he does is freeze water pipes and mess with my egg hunts. He's an irresponsible,selfish-"
"Guardian." North says cutting into Bunny's rant
"Jack frost is many things but he is not a guardian."
"I'm sure it'll all work out.Manny seems to know what he's doing with this kind of thing." I finally speak out addressing everyone, then I walk over and lay a paw on Bunny's shoulder in reassurance "Let's trust the process."
He grumbles but says nothing else.
"Right, so how do we find this guy?"