Chapter Text
The Groundhog stared up at the massive mountain. Or what he could see without any of the clouds surrounding the tall rock. Greece was, no doubt, a beautiful sight to behold. But to him, nothing could beat Canada's peaceful, solid grounds. Oh, how he missed his burrow in the park. Luckily the visit was only for today, and he could return home. Not that he didn't enjoy visiting his best friend, but the grand landscape and rich buildings could be overwhelming.
Clearing his thoughts, the Groundhog stomped his small foot on the ground and watched a hole appear before him. Taking his little black top hat off and dusting his paws on his vest, he jumped into the hole, scurrying up the walls. Once his head emerged from the ground, the Groundhog's vision was blocked with white. He should've put on his sunglasses first, as he always forgot that the mansion's patio shined brightly. At least he didn't forget to bring them as he grabbed the pair from his pouch inside his vest. The courtyard was empty until he spotted a cloud floating ahead of him. He recognized the form instantly as one of the Cloud Children.
"Pardon me! Hello?" He shouted to the puff-like child. When the cloud turned towards him, the Groundhog tipped his hat in a kind gesture.
The child smiled, soaring towards him. "It is wonderful to see you, Mr. Groundhog! I take it you're here to visit Princess Amora?"
"As always. I also apologize to Amora for skipping last year's lunch. I'm afraid I had to deal with a terrible snowstorm on my big day. I couldn't even budge out the door with all the snow." He complained. He would've written to Amora, but with the trouble of not emerging on such an important day, it had taken all of his spare time.
"Don't fret. Princess Amora always looks forward to your visits." The child reassured him, then directed his attention to the mansion ahead. "This way, Mr. Groundhog."
While the Groundhog preferred his small burrow, he would have to be a fool to think that the mansion of anything less. The columns decorated the platform; everything about it was clean and pristine. The same thing could be said for the inside once the Cloud Child ushered the Groundhog inside the main door.
The Groundhog only had a second to look around before he was pummeled by a pair of arms and lifted in the air by a small set of white feathered wings. "Farvald, you've finally come to visit me!" A feminine voice rejoiced in his ear. Only one person would call him by his real name, who gave it to him.
"Amora!" He chuckled, starting to see that he missed the girl's unusual way of greeting. Even before he took a break from visiting, Amora always approached him with nothing but excitement and air-borne hugs. "It's good to see you."
Amora set them down, kneeling to grab his paws. "You say that, yet this is the first time you visit me without reason. What happened last year, my friend?"
Indeed, it was a year since he'd seen the young, cheery redhead. Nothing about her seemed different; she still dressed in her usual white toga-like garment, although it appeared she sewed a single cloth on her right shoulder strap, creating a cape. Her golden belt displayed her proud arrows, the light reflecting the shiny metal. His paws even ricocheted off her golden metal gloves, which reminded him of the times he would advise her not to wear them. She only used them in battle or on the job, yet she would reply that it would feel wrong to take them off. However, he felt better, seeing that she listened to him about finally wearing shoes. The golden boots looked comfortable enough.
A year and she was still the same—what a relief.
A slight cough brought his attention back to her. Remembering that she asked him a question, he shook his head and focused. "I wish the reason was a safe one. You do recall the return of Pitch?"
Pitch. How could she forget a name such as that? How could she forget the man who tried to destroy her as a Guardian? It's been a long since she heard that name, so listening to it now brought a slight dread to her stomach. "Sadly, I do." She wished she could brush that off, but she couldn't lie to Farvald. "Even though I was here, some of his Fearlings attacked my mansion. They went after my Cloud Children. It took all of my power just to get rid of them." A shudder tore from her as she pictured the event in her mind. "Oh, Farvald, I could feel the children lose all their love!" She thought she would lose them forever.
"Do you know why the creatures attacked here?" Farvald asked, pulling his paws out of her grip.
"That's just it; I still don't know why they came. Before I could think of a way to find him, everything returned to normal. The children began to love again. I never felt so relieved."
"Well, I know why." He responded, causing Amora to turn to him with wide pink eyes. How could he know and not her? "Just before his return, I felt his presence at my burrow. It came so suddenly that I didn't know if it was real. I told myself it was merely stress because you know what a mess I can be when I have a spell." Her frown turned upright somewhat, but she needed to hear the rest. "I was wrong. He did come back, but he wasn't after me. He wanted to stop all of the Guardians. Spread his nightmares without any diversion."
"But, Farvald. Why didn't the Man on the Moon warn us if he was after all of us? We could've helped."
"Pitch was targeting the Guardians' homes and their power source. I've heard that he attacked Tooth Fairy's castle and Bunnymund's warren. Perhaps the Man on the Moon wanted us to protect our-"
"He attacked Tooth and Bunny?" She cut him off. It's been some time since she heard from the other Guardians, but the letter was their only communication option. Bunny and North would respond the most since their holidays came yearly.
Farvald gave her a sad look, no doubt hurt by the Man on the Moon's decision. But Amora knew him better than that; he was not a fighter. "Yes. However, I think I understand why the Man on the Moon didn't tell us. He recruited a new Guardian."
That was right. After getting rid of the Fearlings, Amora remembered that she had received Manny's message. It was a young Guardian, Jack Frost. The name was the only information she got from him. On the rare occasions she responded to Amora's letters, Tooth described the boy thoroughly. Handsome, incredibly white teeth that looked like freshly fallen snow, good-looking, controlled anything cold, a popular topic between Tooth and the other fairies, and a prankster. The last characteristic she understood more from Bunny's letter about the snow-covered Easter years ago. From North's note, it sounded like the boy had quite the journey of becoming a Guardian, but there was never a mention of Pitch or his return. Why did none of them tell her or Farvald? "Yes, I know about Jack. I'm surprised Manny chose that time to recruit him." Amora responded, tucking a curly strand of her short hair behind her ear.
A rueful smile appeared on her friend's lips. "You know better than anyone that Manny will do anything to make us see what it means to be a Guardian."
'That I do.' Amora returned the grin, but it was forced. She didn't like to think back on the times before she became a Guardian. It was all before she found love for children, for everyone. She was a completely different person. Farvald knew that all too well.
She needed to change the topic before she broke down with memories of the past. Perhaps she could visit her friends. Although it's been a year since Pitch was last seen, she needed to know they were alright. She also needed to meet Jack Frost. If what Tooth wrote about him is right, she could have some fun with her over this possible crush. Which means...Amora started to smile.
"What are you up to, Amora?" Farvald questioned, giving her a cautious look over.
She ignored him and rushed down the hall. "Follow me, Farvald! We're visiting North."
"North?!" Amora could hear the confusion and annoyance in his tone. "Why on Earth do we need to visit him? I thought we could have lunch together."
She knew he had nothing against North or the other Guardians (except for an unusual resentment towards Bunny. She still had to figure out what that was about), but Farvald was a particular person. He had a schedule and liked to stay on top of it. And with every visit from the Groundhog, there was always lunch.
"I'll pack us some tea and snacks for the ride. But we need to see our friends. Even if they didn't tell us about Pitch, we should pop in to see if they're doing alright. Besides, don't you want to meet Jack?"
She heard him let out a huff. "Not if he plans on causing a blizzard on my day. Or fill my chimney with snow while I'm asleep. Or mess with my garden by-"
Her head shook with amusement, turning the corner to enter her office. "My friend, you have the most unusual imagination, and I love it. You're going to have to trust me. Jack Frost will not commit any pranks on my watch." She reassured him loudly as she pulled the drawer of her desk and grabbed a single key—a simple one that was heart-shaped.
"And how are you so sure that'll happen? You've never met the boy."
Amora rushed back over to Farvald, kneeling in front of him. "If he does, I'll have him work in my target practices." He looked doubtful of her suggestion. She wasn't surprised; she wasn't the kind to punish people. So she added, "I'm sure Bunny won't have a problem with it." That she was sure about Bunny's letter about the boy gave her the impression that they didn't hate each other but had some rivalry.
Her friend appeared convinced, although his squinted brown eyes said otherwise. Perhaps it was because of her mention of Bunny. "And I presume you'll take your arrows to this visit?"
Pink eyes rolled at his question. His curiosity never ceased to amuse Amora. "It's not like I'm expecting any sudden attacks, Farvald. I'm Cupid; how can I be Cupid without my arrows? Love could be right around the corner."
"Around the corner? But we're visiting the Guardians. How…?" She gave him a knowing smirk as he stopped. She could see the pieces falling into place in his eyes. "Oh, no."
"Oh, yes!" She responded happily. Without giving him a chance to blink, Amora grabbed the Groundhog and flew them up the long stairs.
Their visions were blurred as they glided up the twirling staircase, passing many floors. Each room had its purpose, but the top floor held Amora's favorite. It was the room that held her meaning. What made her a Guardian. The sight of the arrows warmed her heart, for she knew their every name. She kept the arrows alphabetically numbered. It was a long trial when she first became a Guardian and had to count them all. But it was worth it in the end.
"Okay, where are they?" Farvald brought up as he appeared beside her. He was holding his stomach tightly. Amora winced as she remembered how sensitive her friend was to her flying, and she always forgot to slow down for him. So she crouched on her knees and petted his head in comfort.
"Not they. It. You know that each of my participants has only one arrow." She reminded him.
Farvald blinked and then gently shut his eyes as he brought his paw to his temple. "Ah, yes. Forgive me. My head is still a bit dizzy from that... trip."
Oh, how easy this small creature overlooked her mistakes. No matter how big or small. "It's I who should apologize. I should remember your motion sickness."
He opened his eyes and looked at her with acceptance. "I'm the Groundhog, my dear. Once in a while, I need a little air time. Can't stay in the ground forever."
She gave him a nose-wrinkling smile before standing back up and walking towards the front of the room. Her marble workbench stood in the center and was cluttered as usual. Splinters of wood lay scattered on the floor and desk. In the middle of the desk, a new arrow displayed itself. It was multicolored and sparkled with white specks.
"It's beautiful." Farvald marveled as they approached the desk.
Amora walked around and reached into one of the drawers, bringing out a pair of black leather gloves. The gloves were made for exceptional cases. For humans, their arrows never held any specialty like texture or temperature. But with arrows made specifically for Guardians, the wood of the darts could change. The bark adapted to what made each Guardian special. Today, she wouldn't be able to touch the arrow without the gloves.
Farvald shifted his gaze from the arrow to her, eyeing her accessories. "What in Heaven's name are those for?"
"Farvald, this arrow has a different temperature than the others. It's one of my newest creations. Here." She picked up the arrow from its case. As she lifted it, visible cold air danced around, shifting with it. She knelt and held it out towards him. His eyes were skeptical, but he touched the base anyways. Only a second passed before the Groundhog bounced away from his spot, his one paw clutching the other.
"By the Creator, I could've sworn I've just touched an icicle!" His voice pitched slightly on the last word.
"In a sense, you did," Amora responded, amused by his reaction.
His small nose scrunched up swiftly. "And is that...mint I smell? Wait…" Farvald began to pace from his spot, starting a circular path around her. "Ice. Mint. Mint and ice. Ice and mint." It was as if a timer went off in his head. His head shot up, and a gasp escaped his mouth. "You're planning to set up Jack Frost and Toothiana."
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. To her, Farvald could either be the smartest Guardian she ever met or the slowest. "You said it, not me." She playfully joked, returning the arrow to the stand.
"Amora." The seriousness in his voice caught her attention as she turned toward him with an inquisitive look. He had something important to say. "I want you to be careful about this."
"When have I ever not been careful? Love is my element." Her arrows were never wrong, but that didn't mean they were perfect. They could connect two people under the binding of love, but it didn't mean the pair could stay forever.
She expected a quip about how her pride was too immense for her own two feet, but his eyes grew sad for some reason. It was rare to see her friend share such an expression of downcast. "Amora, do you remember? Your first Guardian arrow?"
Something dropped inside her stomach at his inquiry. She knew immediately what he was talking about. Somewhere among the vast sea of arrows laid a long-forgotten fractured one. When a couple no longer had a connection, their arrow fell apart. They become useless and vanish over time. Yet, the arrow Farvald spoke of remained, despite the cracks and dead vines curling around the base. Amora hadn't the faintest idea why. There was no power to keep it there, to her knowledge.
Before she could speak her mind, a cry came from outside of the walls. Amora recognized it, as she knew all the voices of her cloud children. "Princess Amora, come to the courtyard! Something is wrong with the garden!"
'The gardens?!' Was there some sort of parasite lurking in the soil? Or perhaps one of her Cloud Children had an accident. Either way, she had to get to them quickly.
Glancing down at Farvald, her eyes spoke for her. Being her best friend for who knew how long, the Groundhog knew what she meant. "Say no more. Take us to the courtyard." He instructed in seriousness. She nodded, grabbed her friend, and flew with such speed down the corridors.
The precaution was not taken as the doors slammed open by force. Amora, still holding Farvald, flew to the center of her home, encompassed within marble frames. Though the light typically blinded those who gazed at the grand white floor, the sun hid behind dreary clouds. That never stopped the bed of roses, the garden's attraction, from glowing in its red colors. But now, only a speck of ruby was left as dull spirals coiled around the roses, draining their color instantly.
"No!" Amora cried in desperation, not realizing her arms loosened their hold on Farvald. Luckily for her, they were close enough to the ground so the Groundhog could land safely. His body tumbled with rolls before stopping gently.
Her wings would no doubt be sore by the end of the day, but she continued to flap them as fast as she could, moving at lightning speed. Just before the red rose could be consumed by the mortal coil that crept towards it, Amora swooped down and snatched the rose from its roots, gliding upwards to get a safe distance. Her ragged breath rang in her ears as she looked over the valley of pale stems and faded petals. The symbol of love stood dead in the garden, and Amora couldn't stand the sight of it. With her eyes squeezed tight, she didn't feel her fingers tighten on the rose or the thorns picking her palms.
"Amora!" Farvald's troubled call brought her back to the senses, and she winced at the new pain stinging her hand. Clutching the rose to her chest, she allowed her wings to drift down, collapsing to her knees when she hit the ground. "What's happening?"
"The roses…" Her eyes glanced at her flower bed, watching their energy drained away. "They're dying."
Farvald glimpsed in her direction, yet his expression held more confusion than sadness. "My dear, I know you cared for those flowers for years, but they can grow back." He tried to reassure her as he placed a paw on her wrist.
"The roses were from Stella." Recognition appeared in his eyes, and he backed away slightly as she continued her explanation. A chuckle escaped her lips, not holding any laughter. "Roses from Mother Nature. What friend could ask for a better gift? When I asked her what I needed to do to keep them healthy, she told me to do nothing. The roses would bloom as long as they stayed in my garden."
Before Farvald could respond, he grabbed her wrists and yanked backward, pulling Amora along. Whatever frightful thing he saw, it must've given him strength more bearable to his size. When she turned her head to see the mysterious foe, everything stopped around them.
Gray sand streamed on the ground, flowing from the lean figure. The person was devoured in its large cloak, hiding their arms and legs. Despite crouching on the floor, Amora could not find the face. Only a pointed, pale chin poked through. The black coils that killed her beloved rose bed leaked from the cloak's edge. Just looking at the figure made goosebumps arise on Amora's skin, sending a shiver down her spine.
The creature must've seen her shiver, which led to a sickening laugh. "Crying over flowers? My darling Cupid, there are worse things to mourn."
She knew that voice anywhere. It haunted children and Guardians alike.
Farvald, who stood frozen in place, uttered the first syllable of a name. Amora didn't hear the rest; she rose at lightning speed and aimed her wrists at the figure, releasing the knife-like arrows. Air-like screams could be heard before they reached their target. But in a blink of an eye, Pitch shifted from left to right, dodging her arrows. A smirk crawled on his lips, causing her to snarl. Running on pure adrenaline, she launched herself with her wings, appearing in front of him before focusing her fist on him. However, with each throw of punches, the Nightmare King dodged easily. Even with his fast movement, the hood of his cloak never fell.
"What a pity. I was expecting more from an archer. Then again, there's nothing wrong with a little combat." He managed to say as he dodged one attack after another. "Keep it up…." As Amora prepared to send a kick, he suddenly glided over to her until they were face-to-face. Snatching her wrist, Amora stared helplessly into the dark void. "And I'll steal your precious heart again." He finished with a terrifying whisper, raising her wrist in emphasis.
Pink eyes shot open with a gasp at the familiar threat. Amora could feel her heartbeat increase like a running horse. The instinct to stop Pitch vanished instantly, and she was left helpless. Her body was stiff, no matter how loud her inner voice screamed for her to react.
"Get away from her!" She managed to hear Farvald declare, along with the distant sound of paws scraping the floor.
Pitch glanced away for a moment before returning his invisible gaze to hers. "This is going to be interesting." He said in a hushed tone before dissolving into gray sand, just as Farvald grabbed ahold of his middle. Amora and the Groundhog fell to the ground once Pitch vanished, his dust flowing into the dark sky.
"How in Heaven did he return? North swore he was defeated and taken back to the lair by the Fearlings." Farvald stood and brushed the remaining sand off his trousers. Adjusting his hat, he added, "On the other hand, I wouldn't call a bed the most stable of homes. Wouldn't you agree, Amora?" His words reached her ears, but Amora couldn't respond. Her breath grew solemn again. Only it was louder than before. This was the first time her heart was targeted with all her emotions intact. It was one of the few times she couldn't feel anything but fear. There was an invisible weight on her chest as if Pitch's hand returned to retrieve the muscle.
"Amora!" A paw grasped her hand. She looked into Farvald's warm brown eyes. "Deep breaths, remember? Your heart is still beating." His comfort was a welcoming warmth to her. The fear slowly went away as she followed his instructions.
Once the fog cleared from her mind, she gave him a reassuring smile. "Forgive me, my friend. I needed a moment." Her voice shook despite her efforts.
Farvald shook his head sternly. "Don't hide these emotions again, Amora. It's been many years since we've experienced this kind of terror. I saw what Pitch was about to do, and I couldn't sit aside and watch."
If there was a competition for the world's most-known pacifist, Farvald would take the crown. Being the size of a cat and creating travelable holes in the ground, he was considered a peaceful creature by the other Guardians. Amora found the contrast between him and her amusing. She would dive headfirst into battle without question to protect her loved ones. While Farvald would do the same, his doubt would trap him from acting. So when he pounced at Pitch, Amora couldn't believe her eyes. He risked his life for her and would probably do it again should the moment come again. Giving him a genuine smile, she patted his paw. "Once again, you've surprised me, Farvald." On further inspection, she saw the remaining sand covering his hand lightly, reminding her who had attacked them. "So it's true; the Nightmare King has returned."
"Princess Amora!" Young cries reverberated around them. Amora began to see her Cloud Children emerge from the columns. Relief overwhelmed her as she watched the Children fly their way toward her.
Rising to her feet, Amora dashed them, giving light hugs around. "I'm glad all of you are safe." Suddenly, the Children shouted questions in a union.
"What has happened?"
"Why did the roses die? They did nothing wrong!"
"Will that scary monster come back?"
"What will we do, Princess?"
The last query filled Amora with a sudden burst of determination. Pitch, whatever his intention was, attacked her home. She would not, as Farvald claimed, 'sit aside and watch.' With that, Amora turned to her Children. "Children! Bring me Avra and her supplies! Everyone else, back to your activities. I will be journeying to the North Pole."
"What?" Amora heard Farvald exclaim as the Children scattered back to their places. "Amora, you still want to visit the North Pole? What about your mansion?"
"Pitch is back and up to something. We have to warn the other Guardians. If we tell North, he'll gather the rest. Who knows what Pitch will do next if we don't tell the Guardians." Amora explained. Hearing a familiar whine, she turned around to see something approaching. Avra's gorgeous white coat blended in with the marble floor, but her silver saddle and flowing mane brought out her amber eyes. Once the Pegasus was close enough, Amora brought their foreheads together, eyes closed in focus. "We ride, my angel." She whispered, smiling at the neigh she received.
"Do you think North will have the answer we seek?" Farvald asked as she mounted Avra's back.
"I know he will." She responded but looked at him when she noticed something. "You said, 'we.'"
He adjusted his hat tightly, trying to give off a look of bravery. "Of course! As I recall telling you centuries ago, we stay together. No matter how dark the unknown seems."
What a sight to behold. How could someone so meek be so determined? What Farvald lacked in courage, he made up for in loyalty. No matter how great the enemy was, Farvald always had her back. She couldn't have asked for anyone better. "You are truly the best friend I could ever have."
"I would hope so. Who else throws anniversary get-togethers every February?" Although his home was small, Amora enjoyed visiting the barrow and eating various handmade food he made for her. While the tradition didn't sound as extravagant for anyone celebrating the February holidays, she wouldn't change it for the world.
"Well, then. Let us set off, Mr. Groundhog!" She said as she offered a hand to him.
Farvald smirked before bowing at her offer. "It would be my pleasure, Cupid."
Farvald landed on the saddle with a hop, sitting in front of Amora. Once he was situated, she raised Avra's reigns and directed the Pegasus to the sky, heading for the North Pole.