Snow Day

Chapter 80: San Fransisco Awaits

With the world saved from Pitch's wrath and the children of the world safe once again, Riley was all set on returning home, but now her sister was at a crossroads.

"Well-" Riley began. "What are you going to do now?"

"What- what do you mean?"

"Pitch is defeated, we can go home... live in San Francisco together with mom and dad". Riley cheered excitedly.

"Wait, don't I get a say in this?" she inquired.

Looking at her sister and then back at the Guardians, unsure of what to do. She finally replied, "I, I- can't, Riley..."

"What do you mean you can't?"

"I mean, after going over this situation three times... it's almost as if I'm given a coin to flip over thrice in hand in order to see what the outcomes will be... and even then, it's an impossible choice; you've got to understand now Riley, this isn't an easy choice for me to make... I have friends here. and the Guardians, well... I've come to know them more as they're my family now".

"What? What are you saying?" she replied, her eyes narrowed angrily.

"Whoa, whoa. whoa... now just calm down there Riley, I just meant that I don't know exactly what I'm going to do yet,"

"You're not? Well- what's holding you back?"

"Well. here, I have friends"

"Ummm, okay--?"

"Come on Riley, this is your decision too? You- you did like Hogwarts didn't you?"

"Yes, but..."

"But...?"

"Look, I can't just leave, I have a family..."

"Yeah, but... you felt ordinary didn't you?"

"Well, yes... I admit that I didn't even know my full potential but..."

"No buts, it's settled then... you're staying"

"I am? But I... I can't"

"Riley," North's voice boomed. "I'll be glad to take you home if you want"

Riley just nodded slowly. Turning to Sophia she replied, "You're welcome to join me" before walking with North towards the stables where the reindeer were waiting. As North opened the big, green stable-style looking doors, sunlight began to seep into the doorway, cutting through them like a knife. As the stable, itself, began to reveal itself to Riley.

Straw covered every inch of that barn, Riley stood there amazed as she looked from left to right, she noticed that on either side there were about four stalls. Each stall held approximately one to two reindeer. there were a few extra pens towards the back of the barn, which North explained were 'nursery stalls', and housed some of the newborn and baby reindeer.

"I'll get the reindeer hitched up, you can... meet the babies if you want," he said.

"Cool," Riley replied, "... and thanks" she added, walking along the dark, dimly lit hall of the barn. until she came to their stall. A baby reindeer attempted to stick its head through the wooden doors but got itself stuck in the process.

"Well, hi there, little one," she gently ran her hands over a nameplate that was conveniently located outside the young deer's stall. Glancing over it carefully, she found out that the deer's name was Fireball, that he was a boy, and that he was just born a few days ago. Riley found this all very interesting as she continued to stroll around the barn, coming up on a few does this time, one of which's name was Clarice. To the side of each stall on a clipboard was a piece of paper that showed each of the newborns' Name, Date of Birth, Age, and its Family Tree-- according to one it said that Rudolph's parents were Donnor and a doe simply known as Mrs. Donnor but was nickname Truly, this could be said for the reindeer that pulled North slay too-- including that Blitzen was given the nickname of Baby Blitzen by his parents because of his baby blue eyes that he had at birth.

"All done, time to go" North's booming Russian accent echoed throughout the barn, though Riley was reluctant to leave as she pondered over what she was reading with fascination.

Sophia only smiled, excitedly hopping into the sleigh. The guardians, along with Jamie and Sophie, follow suit.

Once everyone was sitting comfortably in the sleigh, North took his magic snowglobe in hand and announced in his big, booming, Russian accent, "I say, San Francisco," he shook it a little before throwing it out into the wind.