The Man in the Moon has spoken.

The Northern Lights is a beautiful natural phenomenon, creating a stunning light show along the Northern Hemisphere. At least, that’s what the world thinks. In reality, it’s a signal from Nicholas St. North to the other Guardians: “We must gather together. Something new requires our attention.”

It doesn’t take long for the Guardians—Sandman, Bunnymund, Toothiana, and Jack Frost—to meet with North for whatever reason.

“So, why are we here again?” Jack Frost drawled, spinning his staff lazily as he hovered just above the workshop floor. “Because I was in the middle of frosting up some perfect sledding hills—”

“Aye, because frostbite is such pressing work,” Bunnymund muttered, flipping a boomerang between his paws.

“Guys, c’mon. North must have a very good reason for calling us here,” Toothiana defended, her wings shimmering like hummingbird feathers as she glanced toward the towering double doors at the end of the workshop. “He doesn’t just light up the Aurora for fun… Most of the time.”

Sandman—ever the silent Guardian—laughs silently.

North’s laughter boomed through the workshop before he even appeared, the sound ricocheting off wooden toy soldiers and half-carved rocking horses. The double doors flung open with a gust of peppermint-scented wind, and there he stood—seven feet of muscle, fur-lined coat, and twinkling mischief. "Ah! My friends!" he bellowed, arms wide enough to scoop up all three Guardians at once. "Is not social call! Well…maybe little social. But also—business!”

Jack arched an eyebrow, spinning his staff with a flick of his wrist. "Business, huh? Last time you said 'business’, I ended up wrestling a yeti for a sack of cursed candy canes."

North's grin widened, his beard bristling with barely-contained excitement. "Ah, but this time is different! No yetis—well, maybe one yeti, but only if you want to wrestle him." He winked, then strode toward an enormous globe suspended in the center of the workshop, its surface flickering with golden constellations.

“How so, mate?” Bunnymund crossed his arms, his ears twitching skeptically.

North tapped the globe with one massive finger, sending ripples of light cascading across its surface. The constellations twisted, reshaped—then settled into a single pulsing dot over the Arctic Circle. "Man in Moon," he announced, as if that explained everything. “He has chosen.”

“Another Guardian?!” Toothiana gasped excitedly, darting forward so fast her wings left streaks of iridescence in the air. She hovered right in front of the glowing dot, her tiny hands pressed against the globe’s surface. “But—who? Where?”

Suddenly, a portal—one of North’s—opened mid-air with a crackling pop, and before anyone could react, two shaggy yetis tumbled through, clutching a writhing burlap sack.

"Oi!" Bunny shouted, jumping back as the yetis ran off, knocking over a stack of wooden nutcrackers as they dropped the sack.

Sandman clapped excitedly as he floated over, opening the sack with a curious expression.