Rise of the Guardians 2

Chapter 43

We split up into to two groups. We decided that Merida should work with Hiccup, so she could ride on Toothless, since Mer couldn't fly. We hadn't seen her horse Angus and didn't have time to look for him.

We also decided to use cell phones as a way of communication. We took two from random places. Punz objected("Isn't that stealing?") but I managed to convince her otherwise("It's borrowing. Borrowing without permission"). In retrospect this was not the best idea however as it took a good 45 minutes to teach them to use it. And even after that, they still didn't even want to touch it. Finally I got Hiccup to carry the Phone for his team and I carried the one for mine. We agreed to meet back at the tower at the end on the day.

Punz and I concentrated on just spreading our centers, Joy and Laughter. We dispelled the gloomy clouds that seemed to be everywhere. We made bright sunny days, and Punz healed the sick and injured. Nobody saw us, but that was to be expected. Rapunzel was having the time of her life. This was her first real day as a Spirit and she was exuberant.

We traveled all over the world and Punz was amazed at all the different places and cultures and art. Especially art. We stayed in the Sistine Chapel for ages as she looked and marved at all the murals.

After we visited New York, we were going to France and Punz and I were traveling above the earth. Punz loved flying. She laughed and burst into song.

-

Just smell the clouds! The sky! Just like I'd thought they'd be!

Just feel that summer wind- the way it's calling me

For the first time in forever, I'm completely free!

I could go Flying

And Floating

And Gliding

And Soaring

And Racing

And Bounding

Wings Flapping

Heart Pounding

And Once again feeling

Now's when my life begins

-

When she finished she looked over at me embarrassed. "Sorry, you probably think I'm weird. It took me a while after I left the tower to realize that people usually don't start singing randomly"

"Naw, I'm used to it." I said smiling "Once does that all the time...or did." My grin faded from my face and Punz came over to me.

"I'm sorry about your friend" She said sadly "He seemed like a really nice guy"

"He was" I said "He made a few mistakes along the road, but he was a good person."

"He must have been" Punz said "He wouldn't have been chosen if he wasn't" We were interrupted by the phone ringing. I pulled it out of my pocket and answered it.

"Hello"

"Breeze, you and Punz need to come right now" Hiccup said urgently

"What's wrong!"

"It's hard to describe. You guys just need come see it. We're in a town called Burgess, Pennsylvania."

"We'll be right there" I said shooting Punz a worried look and hung up. "Hiccup and Merida need us to see something, It's in Burgess, Pennsylvania"

We changed course and headed for the small town. We got there in half an hour. We spotted Hiccup and Merida on Toothless and headed for them. As we did I gasped. The town of Burgess lay in ruins. Not the result of a fire or flood, but the houses and building had decayed, the smell of rot was so strong I could smell it from here.

"Was this Namtar's doing" I asked Hiccup and Merida.

"We're not sure" Hiccup said grimly "When we got here it was already done. The People are mostly fine, only minor injuries."

"Well, physically they're Ok." Merida said "But their acting strange. They argue and fight over the smallest of resources, even useless things. If it gets to it, I think they might even kill each other over them. They're turning into beasts on the outside"

"This doesn't seem like something Pitch would do" I said "His one main goal is to be believed in and to spread fear. He doesn't usually attack humans"

"He could've have changed, now that he's accomplished those things" Hiccup said

"Maybe" I said unconvinced "Let's go down there and see if we can find anything more out" We flew down and searched the streets of Burgess, not quite sure what we were looking for.

We ended out search in a house that Merida said belonged to a boy named Jamie.

"Jack introduced us once" Merida said

"Jack introduced you" Hiccup said incredulously

"You mean that you were near Jack for a long time...and you didn't kill each other" Punz asked teasingly

"Hardy har har" Merida said dryly "There were rare occasions where Jack was not being a pest. Anyway Jack introduced us 2 years ago. Jamie was the last light, in that last battle with Pitch"

"Yes it was so hard to convince that boy the second time. Stubborn little light wouldn't go out. But we managed in the end." We all turned and Pitch Black stepped out of the Shadows.

"Hello my little Guardians in training, how goes the fight."

"You know very well how it's going" I spat at him

"Really, do I? Were you fighting me? I couldn't tell if you were or not, so little difference was made."

"We will beat you Pitch" Punz snapped at him. "We-"

"Yes yes, good will eventually triumph over evil, yada yada yada" He yawned "You can try little Guardians, but you will fail. There is just not enough good in the world left to work with." He paused. "However there is another option."

"Which is what?" Merida asked apprehensively

"Why, you could join me" He said

"Join you!" I said incredulously "Yeah right"

"Aw, come on Breeze" A much different voice said "How bad could this possibly be?"