Protector of Lost Children

| PROLOGUE |

Hello, Readers! Here is the first part of the newly rewritten Rise of the Guardians story that I promised you! I will be posting every Saturday morning, so this is a bit of an anomaly, so sorry, once again. Enjoy!

~CSP2708~

| Prologue || The Birth of the Protector |

My name was Lucy. No last name; I don't remember. I had a family, but I don't remember them either. All I know is that now, I'm a spirit. I'm a being without physical form unless small children see me in their imaginations. The children unlock my true power, and because of that, I try my very best to help them when they need help.

***

I remember only a glowing light - maybe a warm smile - before everything turned dark. A beautiful scene turned to a lifeless wasteland of evil. I wish I knew how it happened, for it was my first memory upon my rebirth, but I have yet to receive answers.

After that, I remember beginning to feel, only to realize that I had a form. I had fingers, toes, limbs... I had everything a human had... but I wasn't human.

I tested myself, wiggling my fingers and toes slightly, only to feel the darkness around me crumble, allowing light to shine through. I squirmed, and the heavy weight upon my body eased. Rotating myself, I pushed upwards with all my strength.

The darkness was relentless, spilling in where it broke away. Small bits crashed against my face, stinging my nose and eyelids. My eyes moved frantically underneath, seeing only blackness with flashes of colourful spots. It was almost like my brain was trying to imagine what the world outside would be like, but couldn't quite focus on one thing, making everything blurry.

Finally, my hand broke through. I kept pushing until there was nothing left. I wiggled it around, feeling no more blackness snug up against it, and knew that I was free. It felt like reaching into cold nothingness; a chill stung my hand as it blew past.

The more I experienced through only my hand, the more I realized how comfy and warm the darkness was. I almost felt the need to pull my arm back inside and slumber once more but knew that sleeping was no longer an option. I needed to escape. I needed the light. I craved the light.

I threw my free arm from side to side, hoping to widen the gap, while with my other arm I pushed again.

Suddenly, a large chunk of the dark surface broke away. I was splattered with bits, all falling onto my face. As I exhaled, a few flew off - only a few. I tossed the chunk aside, and it disappeared out of my reach.

Finally, the moment of truth. Taking one large breath in, I nearly gasped at the taste of the air on my tongue. It felt fresh and clean. It felt cold but also warm. It felt amazing. I nearly laughed out loud. Slowly, but surely, my eyelids slid upwards, folding into the crevices of my socket. Bits of the darkness - now identified as dirt - fell onto my eyes, but a strange film slid over my corneas, washing it away.

Immediately, I was attacked. Light poured in through my pupils, which contracted greatly at the sudden rush. Everything was too bright. The trees. The grass. The sky. The animals that watched me as I struggled.

A scream ripped from my throat. A scream of utter pain. I couldn't handle it. Everything was so new! The sound of utter agony continued long after my body calmed. It was only choked off by a small weight pressing down onto my forehead.

My eyes shot up and immediately met with a mess of feathers. A bird. The word just formulated in my head. Mere seconds ago, I didn't know what the strange creature was, but now I did. A bird. I smiled. The bird seemed to smile back at me. It hopped off my face, extending its wings and disappearing into the leafy branches of the trees, singing its wonderful song.