Giving Fantasia: The Taking Fantasia Sequel

Chapter 83: Trick or Treat?

Chapter 83: Trick or Treat?

Tooth shivered. North's snow-globe portal had spit them right into bad weather. Wind, rain, slush the works. Admittedly, the rainfall wasn't too heavy, but it was cold. Even North was shuddering in his furry red overcoat and black ushanka hat.

It was a dismal day in Fantasia. And their unsuccessful search for the Otherland child made everything worse. According to North's globe, the child was somewhere in the Western Fantasian Sea, but the rainy weather complicated their search. 

Everything looked grey. The ocean was grey, the sky was grey, up, down, left, right was grey...Tooth knew they were flying in circles. Why, if it hadn't been for Sandy (glimmering on North's reindeer sleigh), Tooth would have lost the group herself.

"Come on girls..." Shielding her mini-fairies from the rain, Tooth flew to the sleigh. The flight  was short but difficult. North's sleigh was a cross between a snowmobile and F-14 jet fighter, and powered by eight giant reindeer. Rollercoaster on steroids – Tooth barely caught up.

"Okay, everybody under." Tooth fanned her wings, creating an umbrella for her freezing fairies. The fairies chirped gratefully as she settled between Sandman and Bunny. Both guardians were dreary, but Bunny was grouchy. Bunny did not like flying, and he detested North's sleigh.

Tooth sighed. Spirits damp, she scanned the sleigh's dashboard for the miniature version of North's Globe of Belief. The tiny red light -- the Otherland child in trouble – was still there, but it was fading.

Tooth wrung her feathers. Oh no! The child's light was dying! That meant the child's belief in the guardians was also dying. And if too many children stopped believing, then the guardians would become invisible. Invisible...like Jack Frost.

Tooth brightened. Jack! Jack was in Fantasia!

She had an idea.

"North!" Tooth reached over Sandman. "North head back to the mainland! We need to find Jack! Cold and ice are his powers, his elements! Maybe he'll be able to navigate this storm and help us find the child!"

Sandman looked thoughtful. He gave Tooth a thumbs-up. 

Bunny immediately objected. "Jack? We don't need Jack! He hit the high road, remember? Kissed guardianship goodbye like a ---- ahh-aahh ah ahhhh!"

"Is good plan!" North bellowed, slapping the reins. The reindeer spurred, pulling the sleigh in a loop de loop. As Bunny swallowed carrots, Sandman and Tooth hugged as the sleigh returned right side up. It was a challenge – North didn't believe in seatbelts.

"All eyes out for Jack Frost!" North zoomed through ocean mist. As the Fantasian cliffs emerged over the seascape, he tapped the miniature globe. "And be quick! This child, she is suffering."

Four faces fell. Sandman puckered sadly. Even Bunny stopped complaining. They all silently prayed for the suffering child.

Determination restored, Tooth leapt from the sleigh. Mini-fairies streaking behind as she dove for the Fantasian coastline.

Suddenly Tooth crumpled. An icy, invisible something bit her mind. It was like an icecream headache but worse. Much worse. Tooth felt like an icicle had been stabbed through her brain.

North screeched overhead, shouting and waving as Tooth plunged. His voice was distant. Tooth only managed to survive the fall by thinking of the Otherland child – the child they were going to save.