In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. And God said, Let there be light!

"Hey whoa whoa whoa...whoa."

Not that far?

"No!"

Well, let me back this up a lil bit.

《<•○●○•>》

Who. The fuck. Ate my pie.

See. . .I was craving something sweet to eat and you know what I did? I'll tell you what I did.

I went to the fridge.

You wanna know what was in the fridge? I'll tell you what was in the fridge.

My pie.

You wanna know what is now not in the fridge? I'll tell you what ain't in the fridge.

My pie.

You wanna know what's currently suppose to be bubbling in my stomach acids? I'll tell you what's suppose to be bubbling.

My pie.

You wanna know what's in the fridge? I'll tell you what's in that damn fridge.

A plate.

...

The only remains of my precious pie were the crumbs. Scattered. Lonely. Not in my stomach.

I felt my eye twitch and ended up slamming the refrigerator door shut and making an about-face. The contents inside rattled and shook and something definitely fell over.

I didn't care that the fridge rattled. I didn't care that it shook. I didn't care that something fell over. The only thing I cared about was finding out who had the nerve to touch my damn pie.

My thoughts were interrupted by me running into something. That something being my door.

Stupid ass door.

I yanked the handle down and shoved the door open going straight to my closet.

I slid the door open and yanked my lucky cotton sleeved leather jacket out causing the hanger to flip onto the floor. Not bothering to pick it up, I slid the door shut and shrugged my jacket on.

My feet carried me over to where my boots were near the door. Crouching down and sliding my feet into them I laced them up in record timing. I pushed myself up and grabbed the handle to shut my door. It echoed throughout the hall, so I guess you could say I slammed my door shut.

Now. To the factory.

I turned left and headed around the corner to take a right to the elevator. I pressed the little down button and waited.

I reached for my phone in my pocket only to give my self a mini pat down. Damn it. I left it on charge. The ding of the elevator sounded and I stepped inside. I pressed the number four and the doors silently slid shut.

Some instrumental elevator music was playing in the background. I furrowed my eyebrows.

Is that Let it Go I'm hearing?

The elevator dinged and I promptly stepped out without ever knowing. The living room was empty. The TV was off and the fire in the fireplace was out. Surprisingly, everything was all neat and tidy. The pillows fluffed, remotes slanted evenly on the table, floor cleaned, picture frames straight, no one to confront about my pie.

Stay on task, Niya. Get it together!

I walked around to the back of the elevator and made a beeline for the see-through tubed hallway that would take me to the factory. I momentarily looked to my side and saw all the rest of our buildings covered in snow and icicles.

I felt my face relax for a moment.

So pretty... No...bad Niya. Remember why you came here.

I pulled my eyes straight ahead. As soon as I walked up to the doors of the factory they slid open.

Ahh...the factory.

So bright and colorful. Floor upon floor of a flurry of work. Golden lights hung from the ceiling. The mahogany wood covered every nook and cranny. The toys. There were so many toys. Shelves full of them. Here a toy there a toy everywhere a toy toy. Magic practically pulsed through the air. And straight dab in the middle of it all. . .a giant globe. Covered in thousands of flickering lights. All of our little believers.

My mind is not where it's supposed to be right now. I have one priority right now.

Pie pie pie pie p-Ow-what the hell?

I had unconsciously stepped forward into a stampede of children. They didn't even go around me just straight through!

"Slow down!" I called out to them.

Several okay's and alright's followed.

They didn't slow down. In fact, I think they sped up. Snotty nose kids...

A slacker in the back was trying to catch up and as he passed by me I pulled him back by his collar. He almost dropped all the supplies in his chubby little arms with my sudden jerk. He steadied himself and peeked around the boxes. I leaned down, so I was more his height.

"You seen my friends?" I asked.

His eyes darted around at everything but me."Uhh...I think...I think they're on the fourth floor." His voice was timid and unsure.

I sighed and looked up at all the floors. My gaze fell on his chubby arms clinging on to the boxes he was holding like a lifeline.

"Where you goin' ?" He finally looked up at me.

"To the second floor." His voice was so quiet I hardly heard him.

I grabbed two boxes off the top and started walking to the stairs. I sensed he wasn't behind me so I turned my head to see him standing in the same spot.

"Well come on then."

He flinched a little and gave me a cheeky smile before bouncing over to my side.

We started off for the second floor. When we made it up, I followed him to a station that was covered in train parts. He sat his boxes on the floor and I did the same.

Before I left, he picked up a box and dumped its contents on the station. Some parts fell on the floor and the action made me smile.

I ruffled his hair."Thank you," he said with a toothy grin.

"And thank you." I smiled and marched up to the fourth floor.

Taking the last steps I needed to reach my destination, I peered around the floor in search of my friends.

They were nowhere in sight.

Great, now I gotta walk around.

So I walked around. I asked people had they seen them and where they were. I got a couple of shrugs, some I don't know's, and some points in the wrong direction.

Until I got a point in the right direction.

Crowding around a table huddled up were my friends.

Oh, this is goooood. Why is this good you ask?

Their backs are turned.

Being as silent as I could, I began tiptoeing my way toward them.

In my head I kept chanting: I'm a ninja, I'm a- I'm a ninja, I'm a ninja, sneaky, sneaky nin-

My thoughts were cut short by the sound of Rosko barking.

Damn it, Rosko!

They all turned around to see what caught Rosko's attention. One look at me had them turning back around quickly to whisper amongst themselves.

Well then. . .

My mouth was open ready to speak, but they beat me to it.

"What's wrong?" they asked in unison.

Different scenarios of what might be about to happen ran through my head. One of them ending with someone getting hurt.

"Uhh, why would anything be wrong?" I picked up Rosko and sat him on the table.

"Because you didn't acknowledge us," Josh deadpanned.

He wasn't looking at me because he was currently looking through a microscope. Plus, his afro was obscuring his face so I really couldn't see him.

"And you usually do," Adelaide pointed out. She pushed her black hair out of her face and behind her ear.

"So what's the problema?" Carlos leaned on the table beside Josh, gazing around the microscope at me.

Rosko jumped up and started licking my face. I furrowed my eyebrows and thought a moment.

What am I here for again?

He kept licking my cheeks distracting me so I put him back on the floor. Then it dawned on me.

I snapped my fingers."My pie!"

Adelaide shrugged her shoulders."What about it?"

Did she just shrug off my food? She just shrugged off my food.

"It's gone!"

She held up her hands in surrender and said,"Alright alright, don't get your knickers in a twist."

"Maybe you ate it."

Maybe I ate it. Pssh. Maybe I ate it. Did I eat it?

"Yes, Carlos, I came lookin' for you guys to tell you I ate my own pie." I made sure my sarcasm didn't go unnoticed.

Josh sighed causing me to turn my attention to him.

"You wanna say somethin' ?" I snapped.

"What about your pie?" He monotoned.

"It's gone. As in, I didn't eat it," I glanced at Carlos. "As in, currently not residing in my stomach. As in someone ate my damn pie."

I observed all of them to gauge their reactions. Someone ate my pie. And it had to be one of them. Everyone else knew better.

"As in, you think one of us ate it,"Adelaide remarked.

"Yep." Rosko had his front paws on my thigh trying to get my attention.

"¿Por qué?"

"Because everyone else knows better!"

A couple of heads turned in our direction while Rosko continued to bark.

"I bought baskets full of those pies for everybody. Everyone got their share and all I asked was to save me a slice."
My voice was getting louder with every word and I was bringing more attention to us. Rosko was steadily barking now. I licked my lips and continued.

"And how am I repaid?" Josh still hadn't looked up yet and it was irking my nerves. I was dangerously close to yankin' his curly fro off that damn microscope.

"A couple of fucking crumbs on a plate. Out of all the damn pies, I couldn't get a slice!"

"It's just a pie," I thought I heard Josh mutter.

No he didn't. . .

"Uh oh, her eye's twitching." Adelaide started backing up as I glared at Josh's head still in the microscope. My hand was just itching for that yank.

"It is not just a pie. It was my Patti LaBelle Sweet Potato Pie!" I slammed my hand down on the table making something fly off somewhere behind me.

Rosko stopped barking and Josh finally looked up from that microscope.

He looked behind me and we all turned around to see what had his attention. That something that flew off the table was currently dripping off the unsuspecting victim that was in the bowl's way.

I had a mind to apologize, but I forgot the poor soul's name. I pursed my lips and turned my head to Josh. He had his eyebrow raised at me waiting to see what I was going to do next.

Annoying fu-wait. F. His name begins with an 'F'. F-Fa-...Fe Fi Fo Fum- hell I don't know. Do you know how many elves live here?

"I am so sorry...uhh," I started snapping my fingers trying to think of a name,"F-f-f-f-f-f-"

He smiled shyly and passed a flask that he had in his hand to Josh.

"Thanks, Felix."

"Felix!" I knew it began with an 'F'. "I am so sorry Felix."

He started walking backward and almost tripped over his own two feet."It's o-okay," he stuttered.

I heard Carlos stifling a laugh and I narrowed my eyes at him."Nice one, Niya."

"Oh shut up." I crossed my arms and leaned up against the table with my back to it.

Josh sat the flask down and turned toward me mimicking my position."That wouldn't have happened if you could learn to stop overreacting."

I was so ready to mouth off to him, but didn't and decided to ignore his statement completely.

"Did you eat my pie, yes or no?" If he says anything besides yes or no I'll snap.

"No."

"Addy?"

"Nuh-uh."

"Carlos?"

"Nope."

"Thank you," I breathed,"That's all I wanted to know."

Four down, three hundred and ninety-eight more suspects to go. Well, three hundred and ninety-nine if Rosko's mixed in the bunch.

I leaned down to pick him up and bring him to my face.

"You didn't eat my pie did you?"He barked and licked my face.

Carlos and Adelaide laughed while Josh went back to the flask and microscope.

I rolled my eyes and put Rosko back on the floor. Hell, I've probably confused the poor wolf by putting him down and picking him up so much.

He sauntered off to another part of the floor. This was not one of the scenarios that played out in my head and no one got hurt. Technically. In turn, I turned my attention to my friends.

"Aren't there some toys you guys s'pose to be workin' on?" Ain't no way they done with all them toys that fast.

Carlos pointed up and told me," The big guy had us stop."

Before I could ask why, Adelaide filled me in."He said he might need us for something tonight and we don't know why so don't ask."

I wonder why?

I glanced at Josh and turned to Adelaide."What's he been workin' on?"

"Don't know."

"He won't tell us," Carlos added.

"He is right here."

"He needs to tell us what he's working on," I retorted.

He peered up at me and you could practically see the steam coming from his ears. His mouth was ready to argue.

Too bad he got interrupted.

"I need Josh, Adelaide, Niya, and Carlos to report to my office immediately," a voice resonated through the floor.

Carlos straitened up so fast he had to grab on to the table for balance.

"It seems we have been summoned," I said in a deep voice.

"Smashing," remarked Adelaide.

Josh sighed and brushed past all of us. "Let's go."

We all followed and shuffled our way on up to the big guy's office. I always adored his office. He had different knickknacks that zoomed around on their own merit. Shelves of new toys. Even a snow covered ceiling.

Upon our arrival, we stood at his desk while he silently gazed out the window with his hands behind his back.

I was the first to break said silence.

"You summoned us, sir." Josh elbowed my side and gave me a pointed look.

He turned around and plopped down in his desk chair.

He looked so. . .distraught. You could see worry lines forming around his forehead and there wasn't a smile in sight.

Something's wrong.

"Yes. I need you four to go to Buffalo, New York."

Say again?

I observed everyone's baffled looks and asked,"For what?"

He clasped his hands together and brought them to his chin.

"Recon mission,"was his reply."There have been strange sightings and I need you four to check it out."

"What kind of sightings?" Adelaide asked.

"Strange."

"Well, that helped,"Carlos said with a roll of his eyes.

"Where in Buffalo?" asked Josh.

"The zoo specifically."

We all burst out laughing. Except for Josh of course.

Then I saw the big guy wasn't laughing at all. "Oh, you're serious."

We cleared our throats and waited for him to speak again.

"Just check it out and report back here." He stood and went back to the window.

"Sí, boss."

We turned to leave to get supplies and then I remembered something.

"Hey, Santa?" He turned and raised an eyebrow to acknowledge me.

"Did you happen to eat a piece of the pie that was in the fridge?"

He furrowed his eyebrows."Not that I recall."

Damn it!

" 'Kay thanks." I scurried out of the room to catch up with the others.

《<•○●○•>》

"Did that seem odd to you guys?" The big guy's mood had me on edge. He's usually in such a cheerful mood this time of year.

"Sí. He's usually down in the factory laughing and playing around with us." Carlos's concern was written all over his face. He kept running his fingers through his hair. A nervous tick of his.

"What do you think's at that bloody zoo?" Adelaide passed me a backpack while I handed her a comms unit.

"That's why we're going." Josh grabbed four pairs of binoculars and passed them to me. Slipping them into the book bag, I handed him and Carlos a comms unit.

"If we see something out of the ordinary we report back here," he continued.

"Yeah, but at a zoo?" I don't get why a zoo. Of all the places on Earth. . .Buffalo, New York Zoo?

They all shrugged their shoulders simultaneously.

I sighed."What should we take?"

"The portal's faster," Adelaide stated.

"But we're going need the snow globes," Carlos argued.

"Maybe we could use both," I put in.

"Or," we all turned to Josh," we could just use the globe in here and take two with us. One just in case and the other to get back."

We all stood there blinking until Carlos broke out into a grin. He reached his hand over and patted Josh on the shoulder.

"That's why you're our leader hermano."

Josh...smirked. He smirked. "Thanks, man."

Adelaide grabbed two globes and passed them to me to slip in the book bag. She grabbed one more and we gathered in the middle of the room.

"Who wants to smash it?" Adelaide asked.

"Me!"

"Carlos, you did it last time!" The boy loves breaking things.

"No, I didn't. That was Addy," he argued.

"Bullocks!"

"It was you," I belted.

"I'll rock, paper, scissors you for it." He held out his fist ready to play.

Before I could put my fist up, Josh snatched the globe from Adelaide and smashed it to the floor. A swirl of sparkling baby blue and white light appeared in front of us waiting for us to jump in.

"We don't have time to play games. Let's move." He jumped through leaving us to follow.

Carlos glanced at me."I still say it was Addy."

I smacked my lips and shoved him through the portal. He let out an oof and fell through.

Adelaide and I promptly followed.

A/N: This story was inspired by Axe Cop, Rise of the Guardians, and whateva popped into my brain at the moment.

So this is my first actual story with chapters and a plot. Hope u like it😊

And this is not edited. If u see any mistakes just point'em out fo me.

Thanks for reading!!!