The Guardians of Childhood -- Complete Collection

Chapter 25

A Place of Endless Possibilities 

THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY at the North Pole, things were progressing withastounding speed and ease. A small but fantastic city was taking shape.The varied talents of the Guardians and their allies were on full display.The strength of the Yetis, Bear, and the robot djinni had been put to great usein cutting and forming the ice and wood that would make up many of thecity's fanciful structures. 

Toothiana and her tooth fairies zipped in and out ofthe towers and outer buildings, carving intricately ornate windows and doorsthrough the solid ice walls.Bunnymund was busy everywhere. From digging out massive blocks of iceto burrowing a network of elaborate tunnels that would connect everybuilding in the city to the rest of the world, he was a blur of city-creatingactivity.

Ombric and North focused most specifically on the great central tower thatwould officially mark North's city. The centerpiece for this was the originalflying tower of the Lunar Lamadary, and once they had it in place—a trickymaneuver that at first seemed to defy the laws of gravity—they started in onbuilding an extension to that older structure. 

They made it taller, bigger, andeven more grand.North had it all planned out: This tower would become a beacon to theworld. It would generate a multicolored shimmering of light that could reachalmost to the heavens and that he had already named the "northern lights." 

These lights would be capable of sending forth all sorts of messages to theGuardians and their allies, no matter where on Earth they might be.Additionally, the tower's precise placement would enable North to see anypart of the planet beyond. Best of all, it could also fly. Its transportive powerwas unlike any that had ever been since the old Golden Age. 

It could breakpast the Earth's atmosphere and fly out into the cosmos. 

"Think of it, old man," North said to Ombric excitedly. "We will be able tovisit the Moon. Meet Tsar Lunar himself! In person!" 

Ombric was putting the finishing touches on the new library. All hisknowledge, all his wisdom, he was now passing on to this most amazingyoung man, one whose start had seemed most dubious. The thought madeOmbric feel both satisfied and perhaps a little sad. His pupil was now themaster. But that's how it should be. He put his hand on North's shoulder. 

"The Moon," he said quietly. "After we save Katherine, we'll go meet theMan in the Moon together."They looked up into the sky. The Moon was just over the horizon. Fromwhere they stood, the possibilities were endless.