The chaos raging around the Guardians kept them shocked still and speechless, unable to process what was happening.
They knew Jack had a reputation among the other spirits – Bunny had even brought it up when Jack was first chosen, and again when Jack had first arrived, about how Jack was nothing but trouble, just frozen water pipes and irresponsibility and selfishness.
But they hadn't realized how divisive Jack was among other spirits. Sure, most of them didn't think of him until he was right in front of them, but some of them held grudges almost better than Bunny did, and some of the others were loyal until the bitter end to spirits and causes that deserved it far less than Jack.
Pitch stood near the Guardians, watching it all with narrowed golden eyes, face otherwise blank and calculating. It was unnerving, and such calculating from Pitch never led to anything good.
Bunny's ears were swiveling, too many conversations going on at once to focus on one.
"We need to get out of here," Katherine said quietly. "I can't hear myself think. I don't know who here's on our side anymore."
Bunny stiffened, one conversation suddenly standing out from the rest, and he shot to his full height, looking for the source.
Pitch, with his unerring sense for drama, was already making his way towards the speaker, with Bunny following in his wake as spirits parted for the Nightmare King, leaving the speaker and her few supporters isolated.
Grimacing, the spirit stood straighter, glaring back at Pitch and Bunny as the other Guardians came to flank them. It felt strange to be including Pitch in this, but he was apparently in it for the drama, and wasn't going to listen to anyone anyway.
"Would you care to repeat that for the room?" Pitch purred, and the Guardians spared him a glance. It was odd, the last time he'd been enjoying himself like this had been...well, it had been Easter of 2012, when he'd nearly beaten them utterly.
The spirit – it took a bit to recognize them, as they were even more obscure than Jack had been, but after meeting Jack Katherine had been looking up other spirits and so they finally recognized her as recognized Peitharchia, the Grecian personification of Obedience and a minor spirit at best – drew herself up that much taller, as if that would help in the face of the group of angry, bewildered, frightened spirits.
"It's proof," she said, almost impressively stern and sure despite the eyes glaring at her, the much more powerful spirits already angry with her. "A spirit that irresponsible, as a Guardian? A protector of children? He acts like a child himself, how long until he gets bored and neglects the children? What can he possibly teach them?"
"As opposed to you, I suppose?" Loki's voice rose smoothly above the crowd, cutting short Bunny's angry retort before it could begin. "Wonder, Memories, Dreams, Hope, Imagination, Bravery, and...Obedience? Seems more something that gets drilled into children rather than something needing protection. And how is any of this proof Jack doesn't deserve to be a Guardian? He got kidnapped, he didn't desert his duties."
"You would think that, you agent of chaos," Peitharchia hissed before drawing herself back into her dignity. "Children need discipline. They need order and routine and to learn obedience. Fun is...is..."
"Something you wouldn't recognize if it bit ya," the Groundhog muttered, to general titters, some of them of nerves rather than at the tired quip.
