Rise of the Shadows

Chapter 3

THIS TOOK WAY, WAY, WAY LONGER THAN EXPECTED. BUT SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS POPPED UP, AND WELL, IT JUST GOT CRAZY BUSY IN MY LIFE. HOPEFULLY NOW THAT I’M OUT OF SCHOOL, AND IT’S SUMMERTIME I’LL BE ABLE TO WORK ON THIS STORY AND GIVE YOU QUICKER UPDATES ON IT.

HEADS UP FOR EVERYONE, IF YOU HAVEN’T READ FLASH OF GOLD, YOU MAY WANT TO GO BACK AND READ IT, BECAUSE SOMEONE *COUGH* NATHANIEL *COUGH* IS IN THERE. I WAS SURPRISED NO ONE COMMENTED ON THAT. IF YOU DON’T REMEMBER WHO NATHANIEL IS (SEEING AS HE IS MY CHARACTER) GO BACK JUST TO REFRESH YOUR MEMORY.

ORIGINALLY THIS CHAPTER WAS GOING TO BE LONGER, BUT YOU GUYS HAVE WAITED SO LONG I FIGURED I BETTER GIVE IT TO YOU NOW.

AND I’M RAMBLING…AGAIN I AM REALLY SORRY! YOUR REVIEWS HAVE BEEN THE MOTIVATION I’VE NEEDED TO UPDATE, SO KEEP BEING AWESOME! READ, REVIEW, AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!

Chapter 3:

(The North Pole)

“Jack, let us call Guardians.” North said as he trudged through the floor filled with pointy, cookie licking, elves, toward the workshop control panel. North looked down at them with a determined look still on his face. “Why always under boots!?! Move, MOVE!” The elves scattered stumbling over each other to get out of his way. The spirit of wonder sighed in relief, some of the weight coming off his shoulders. “Thank you. Now” He paused looking at Jack. “Do you want honors?”

Jack looked up from shaking his staff an elf biting it on the end, also stopping what it was doing, looking at North with wide eyes. “Nah.” He jerked the piece of wood to the side, catching the elf off guard, flinging it into the air sideways. “I’ll pass.”

North shrugged. “Okay, suit self.” The older Guardian gripped the handle of the button and turned it, pushing it down.

A burst of light rushed through the room, leaving through the open hatch in the ceiling and spread across the globe, reaching the other Guardians. 

“They should be here soon.” North sat down on a control chair rubbing the bridge of his nose with his fingers. "Jack. I must ask favor of you."

Jack walked over to him. "Yeah, sure what is it?"

 North took his hands away from his face and looked at Jack. "You said you knew Pitch's daughter was still alive yes?" The winter spirit nodded and North continued. "Do you know where exactly she is, or anything about her that might be good to know now?" At this the spirit paused and raised a brow. "I...I don't know North. Nathaniel didn't tell me that part. Only that she was now Mother Nature, a very powerful spirit and that she was Pitch's daughter. Sorry, but I don't know where she is."

 "Is okay I know how to find her. But we will get to that when others arrive." As if on cue the Sandman came drifting in, his head lolling slightly in a dreamlike state. North stood. "Sandy! You're here, good, now where others?" A large hole appeared next to the Sandman, two ears popping up before Bunnymund jumped out of the hole. "Again North, really mate. What is it this time?"

 "First, its closer to Christmas than Easter this time, and back to course of core. Pitch has returned." North exaggerated his movements, spreading his arms wide.

 "Already mate? It's only been nine months, no offense but he can't have gained back his power that quickly. It took him millennia last time."

 A bright voice echoed through the workshop, "Pitch? Again?" Tooth flew into view with four other mini-fairies. Baby Tooth happened to be one of them and she flitted over to Jack chirping happily. Jack smiled at her. "I missed you too Baby Tooth." 

North turned their attention back to the problem at hand. "Any of you had nightmares, or unrestful sleep?" the jolly man stole a glance at Jack, having have heard him wake screaming on occasion and wander the hallways at strange hours in the night. "Bunny?" 

"No mate; my sleeps been normal." the Pooka looked over at the little golden man. "And I take that as a sign that Sandy has to" 

North stroked his beard. "Hmm." 

Jack looked at him "What are you thinking North?" 

"I do not yet know Jack. But first, we must find Keeper of Hours. He can help us."

"Whoa whoa mate, slow down. Father Time? How could he," Bunnymund wove his hand to the side "help us?" 

Jack knew where North was going with this. "It’s the only way we'll be able to find Pitch's daughter..Mother Nature." 

Tooth froze momentarily in the air feathers perking up, her orders to the mini fairies stopping. "You're telling me we have to find the daughter of the man that stole my fairies? I can't say me and Mother Nature have always been on steady ground." 

"Yes, I know she doesn't always come to terms-"

"Wait, slow down, you all have met her before?" Jack looked at the other Guardians stunned.

"Was long time ago; we'll tell another time. But now we must find Father Time.” The next words came with a flick of his hand. “To the sleigh!”

 Bunny groans. “Do we really ‘ave to?”

 “Come on Cottontail. It’ll be fun. Just like last time.” Jack smirked and Bunny gave him a glare. 

“You know bloody  well the last time was not fun.”

Jack gave out a half laugh. “Oh but it was! Go on and guess why?” Bunny didn’t respond, but folded his arms in irritation instead. He knew the kid had been through a lot the past few months, but he couldn’t help it if he still got on his nerves, he knew too well which buttons to push. “Because I was there! And I am fun!”

Tooth flew between them before anything could break out. “Okay, Bunny, just one more time. We need to get there quickly, and we need to stay together. If Pitch really is back in power we need to say in a group. We’re more powerful that way. Plus, we don’t want him picking us off one by one”

 Bunny reluctantly nods arms crossed. “Fine; but I am not sitting next to ‘im.” Bunny glanced at Jack with a toss of his head, who in return gave him an innocent smile; Sandy who was beside him gave a silent chuckle and image of Bunny frightened forming above his head. “Ah, rack of you two!” Jack gave Sandy thumbs up and they all made their way to the sleigh.