The Importance of Family | Rise of the Guardians Reader x Various

Chapter 3

Pitch sent a black sand dart hurtling towards Hestia.

"Hestia!" the guardians yelled, running towards her.

Hestia seemed to notice the dart before the guardians did. She raised her hand and incinerated the dart with ease.

"Nice trick." Hestia said, levitating off the floor and sending long blasts of fire at Pitch.

Pitch laughed and sunk into the shadows at the top of the globe.

"Where did ya run off to?!" Bunny yelled.

"Hestia. We need to get you out of here." Tooth said.

"No. I'm staying here. If I'm going down, I'm going down fighting." Hestia said.

"Ah, stubborn as always." Bunny said.

Pitch's laugh was heard throughout the room, and black sand came from different directions, all attacking specific guardians.

Pitch appeared behind Hestia and held up his black scythe to strike her.

But before he could, Jack sent a blast of ice curtains towards him, knocking him off his feet.

Hestia looked back to Jack, "Thanks, frosty."

"So you gave me a nickname?" Jack laughed while casually kicking a Nightmare away.

"I have nicknames for everyone." Hestia said, she turned towards Pitch, but he was gone, "Ugh, of course..."

"You know. I knew it would be hard to take you. But I never imagined that the Guardians would find you first." Pitch said from on top of the globe.

"Leave, Pitch! We will not let you take Hestia!" North yelled.

"You're right, I can't take her here." Pitch said, "There are other ways to snuff out the flame."

Pitch disappeared into the shadows.

"Oh no..." Hestia breathed.

"What's wrong? He's gone, right?" Jack asked.

Hestia looked towards him with fear in her eyes, which was the first time Jack had ever seen that from her, "He's going to Greece."

Hestia took off out the window when the guardians began to put the pieces together.

"Snuff out the flame! That's what he meant!" Tooth exclaimed.

"We must go now." North said, "Everyone to the sleigh!"

Usually, Jack and Bunny would groan in annoyance, but they knew they had to stick together least they are separated.

The guardians hopped in the sleigh and North immediately took off into the sky, all while howling in enjoyment.

"Do it for her, do it for her, do it for her..." Bunny mumbled to himself.

"As, are you scared? How many times have we done this?" Jack asked, lazily dangling his feet off the side of the sleigh.

"Oh shut it, Frost. I get air sickness that's all." Bunny said.

"Oh my goodness! Bunny! You like Hestia!" Tooth exclaimed.

"W-what? What gave you that idea?" Bunny asked.

"You've known her for a long time! And you were mumbling 'do it for her'  If that's not a crush then I don't know what is!" Tooth smiled.

"That's not it at all! Did your brain get stuffed with feathers?" Bunny huffed.

Jack couldn't help but feel a little jealous. Bunny liked Hestia?

"Look alive everyone! Welcome to Greece!"

"Woah. How did we get here so fast?" Jack asked.

"I used a snowglobe while you were arguing. Do not worry, I didn't hear a thing." North winked.

The guardians looked around at their surroundings.

There were ancient ruins everywhere all on top of mountains.

"Wow..." Tooth breathed.

Sandman conjured multiple symbols related to Greece and a thumbs up.

"This place is beautiful..." Jack said.

"Let's go!" North exclaimed, snapping the reigns which made the reindeers fly down at a landing spot.

"Alright, Bunny. Where's Hestia's flame?" North asked.

"I haven't been here in 200 years, so don't push it." Bunny snapped, looking around.

He sniffed the air a bit, and eventually stopped.

"There's something big burning in that one right there." Bunny said, pointing to a circular building with columns surrounding it. It was enormous, almost as big as a Tooth's palace.

"How did we miss that?" Jack asked.

The guardians walked towards the building, with the heat increasing as they got closer.

When the guardians entered the building, they saw Hestia throwing fireballs at Pitch, who was trying to get to the roaring flame at the center of the building.

Pitch sent a nightmare behind Hestia. But before the dark horse could reach the flame, Hestia managed to make it explode with her fire.

"We need to help her!" Jack said.

"Right!" North said.

Tooth immediately darted down to the bottom and shredded a few of the nightmares.

Pitch and Hestia looked towards the guardians.

"You came!" Hestia said, relieved.

"There's no way I'm leaving you in danger like this." Bunny said, throwing one of his boomerangs at Pitch.

"Thanks for the help, really." Hestia said, "Under no circumstances, must that flame go out." Hestia said.

"So keep the flame burning and get Pitch out of here. Got it." North said.

"You ready?" Jack asked, smiling at Hestia, who returned it.

"Alright Pitch..." Hestia said, the other guardians joining.

"BRING IT ON!"