Sunshine and Frost

10. A New Ally

The sleigh jerks, soaring through the sky towards the populated mountain. Sandy follows behind us, bringing the subdued girl in the cage with him. "North, are you sure that is a good idea to bring this stranger to the pole?" The large rabbit asks.

"Of course, it is perfectly safe. You worry too much Bunny." North answers confidently.

We enter a large tunnel made of ice and metal, landing smoothly on the runway. I look around in amazement at the structure of the tunnel, "Woah," I say in awe.

We pull up next to a large double door entry way, both doors are carved in an intricate design. I feel Jamie place his hand on my shoulder, "Sunni, welcome to North's workshop." He announces.

The doors open to show a beautiful multi-storied complex filled with staircases, flying toys, and strange furry creatures. The layout is breath taking, the intricate designs on the wood, the detailed work on the toys, and the efficiency of the nearby work benches.

"North what are we gonna do about her?" Tooth asks pointing at the girl still sleeping in the sphere cage.

The man looks at her pondering the clear elephant in the room. North snaps his fingers, "Idea! Put her on emblem!"

Sandy nods, making the orb float to a light blue square with four triangles on each side. The triangles seem to have pictures on them, small figures along with small designs. They come off the ground and provide a base for the golden sphere.

North looks to a hole in the ceiling, "Manny, would you help old friend?"

A bright light cuts through a window in the ceiling, surrounding the girl as the sphere shifts into four walls. She floats in the light as the four triangles shift to reenforce the new barrier around her. "What now?" The rabbit asks.

"We wait," the old man replies simply.

The flying bird-lady, Tooth, flies over to me looking concerned. "Oh this must be a lot for you to take in, sorry we should introduce ourselves."

She darts to the other strangers landing gracefully, "So you would know me as the Tooth Fairy, my real name is Toothiana, but you can just call me Tooth." She explains quickly, giving me a reassuring smile.

The gray rabbit crosses his arms over his chest, "The name's E. Aster Bunnymund, my friends call me Bunny. You'd probably remember me as the Easter Bunny though." He says with a thick Australian accent.

The small golden man waves at me, "And this is Sandman, we call 'em Sandy. He's responsible for the dreams of kids, he don't talk too much." Bunny says on Sandy's behalf.

"And I'm Nicholas St. North, you remember me as Santa Claus, but I go by North now. Good to see you again Nicola Andrews." The old man smiles at me.

My face drops at that name, "Why do you guys keep calling her that, she told us her name is Sunni." Sophie asks.

Everyone looks at me, "My birth name is Nicola Adeline Andrews, but my Grandmother used to call me Sunshine before she died, and my parents got divorced. So I go by Sunni to remember her by, and my last name is Flores now. I really don't like my name, so please don't call me Nicola." I sigh, a little annoyed with having to explain my situation.

They all look awkwardly not wanting to break the silence, except for one. "Well then malen'koye solnyshko, welcome to North Pole!" North bellows.

"Wait, a mal ken what now?" Sophie asks.

North laughs as she ruffles her hair, "Malen'koye solnyshko, it means little sun." He explains.

I laugh nervously, "Um, it's a bit long. You can just call me Sunni."

The large man bows his head slightly, "Very well, Sunni it is."

I smile at his quick acceptance, "So, what are you guys gonna do with her?"

He shakes his head, "Hopefully talk things out, then perhaps we can help her with her obviously unstable powers."

My eyes fix on the girl again, "And if she doesn't listen?" North looks to his comrades, all of them falling silent.

Jamie steps forward, "Well, you'll have to fill us in later because—" there's a loud scream that cuts the teenage boy off. We all look to the source to find the girl lashing out against the new barrier.

"Guys I don't think she's happy to be caged!" Sophie calls over the commotion.

The silver light intensifies struggling to contain the girl, "Keep it up Manny!" North yells.

I run over to the cage, "Sunni don't!" I hear Jamie call.

"Get away!" The caged girl yells. A wave of blue heat hits the wall around her, with some of it leaking out of the top.

"Calm down, we're not gonna hurt you. You're safe I promise." I reassure her.

As she takes a defensive stance against me, giving me a chance to finally get a good look at her. Red hair flows around her, looking like flames, her silted irises are a deep amber, and she has fangs that add to her wild look. Her cheeks are sunken in, and her eyes are dark and tired. She looks like she hasn't rested in years.

"Where am I?! Who are you people?!" She looks around, "I don't know you! Let me go, now!" She yells in a panic.

"Do not worry little one. You are at North Pole, and we are Guardians." North explains calmly from behind me.

"No no no! I can't be here, you need to let me go! I can't control it, release me before something happens again!" Her eyes express fear that reminds me of a caged animal.

Bunny steps forward with his boomerang drawn, "Is that a threat Red?"

Tooth lowers his arm, "Bunny cut it out, she's just scared, and pointing your boomerangs at her isn't helping."

A low growl comes from the girl, "I said, let me go!"

She starts to morph in front of us, her fangs grow bigger, her red hair bristles, and more waves of blue heat radiate off her. I have to shield my face from her flames, but I'm able to hold my ground. Her wails are the same as earlier, ones of pain and fear, but this time I won't let her suffer alone.

"Hey!" I yell, "Hey, you're okay! Come on, talk to me! Um, what's your name?!"

Her animalistic amber eyes lock onto my honey human eyes, "You want...to know my name?"

"Yeah I do, so what is it?" I ask still bracing myself from her powers.

The heat dies down as she focuses on her answer, "My name...it's been so long...Kyumi. My name is Kyumi." Tears well up in her eyes, "My name is Kyumi, did I really forget that?" She asks slowly.

I place a hand on the wall, "Don't worry about it Kyumi, I won't let you forget it again." I reassure her.

She floats down to the floor, her features normalizing while still having some of their animalistic quality. She clings to the wall in front of me, like I'm the only one who can support her.

I look to North, "Lower the walls please." I ask.

Bunny looks at me like I asked if I could drive the sleigh home. "Are you out of your mind mate! She was just about to—"

North places a hand on the rabbit's shoulder, "Bunny if small girl thinks it is okay, then it is okay." He looks to the skylight, "Manny lower the walls!"

The silver light fades away, letting the sand wall crumble behind it. Kyumi floats to the ground, wobbling slightly on her weak legs. She quickly stumbles over to me before hugging me, "Thank you." She whispers.