"You all understand why I brought you here, I take," North bellowed as he rubbed his belly. Something was up, and I knew it. Something was always wrong when this man rubbed his stomach, and most of the time, it was actually legit. It had been over 10 years since Pitch was thrown back into his hole and boy, time sure flies. Jamie's 18th birthday passed in February, and we were all sure to leave him presents. His sister and friends are growing to be fine adults. The world was at peace, well despite a few kinks like global warming, and Pitch was gone. What could possibly go wrong?
"C'mon, If I knew we'd have a meeting every ten years I wouldn't have accepted," I joked, giving Tooth a sheepish grin. She gave one back, a rosy pink flush invaded her cheeks. "What can go wrong now?"
North frowned, his eyes now narrow as if they were stabbing me like little knives. Actually, I think I felt a prick as those daggers seemed to dig into my skin. Bunny looked down from North as he pointed with his chipped paint brush. Once again, he was painting at the meeting table. Easter just past a week ago but he was still working on those little eggs which I never seem to enjoy as much as he did.
"Can't believe I'm going to agree with him—but," Bunny's furry face looked at North with a rather annoyed frown, "Why did you bring us here, mate?"
Silence. North looked down at the almost rabid elves as they devoured the cookies that were left for them to consume. My skin crawled; it was too silent for my liking. Even Sandy seemed to be disturbed by this silence and he was the one that never spoke. Ever.
"What is it…?" Tooth asked, as she turned to me. Even Manny seemed rather alarmed; his face wasn't present on the moon like before. It was serious.
"Pitch... is back." North replied.
Now if I could, I would have laughed. But even the elves were silent. The only sound was Baby Tooth's hum as she fluttered into my hoodie's pocket. The very idea of Pitch returning was not even in our minds and I didn't think he would be a problem anymore.
"What do you mean he's back?!" Bunny growled. I watched as he stood up furiously. "We drove that bugger back into his hole—I mean his own Night Mares did it themselves! How can he be back?"
The room grew chaotic, North and Bunny arguing, as Tooth tried to comfort her fairies. Growing quite annoyed, my staff met the ground, creating a whirlwind.
However, that whirlwind wasn't me. Black sand began to cover the globe as it did ten years ago. I stared in almost shock as the Nightmares began to prance around the globe, turning into a tornado of demonic black sand. The elves scattered, and the yetis ran to hide. Pitch stood on the globe, his crooked smile greeting us.
"But how did you…" North muttered, slamming his tattooed arms against the table. Everyone was now up, and alert. Something we didn't expect came right at our door step. I didn't expect it, and I was damn sure that I wasn't the only one. It wasn't a surprise attack. It was a greeting.
"Hello, Big Four—Oh. Let me correct that. Big Five" Pitch declared. The boogeyman spread his arms, and did a little bow. Pitch was back.
Bunny acted quickly, more quickly than I did. With one stroke, I watched him pull out his boomerang, and I dove down, bringing Tooth with me, barely escaping its path. We watched as the weapon went towards Pitch, but he didn't move. He only gave me a creepy smile and a cloud of black sand stopped it.
"Jack…" Tooth whispered, and I struggled to see what was happening. I looked over at Tooth, who gave me a grave look. Swiftly, I turned my head, and it hit me. I grew numb, as I stood up. It wasn't a cloud that caught Bunnymund's boomerang. It was a hand.
"Jack, I hope you like my new Creation." Pitch asserted, as he placed his hands on the head of the small girl, now holding the boomerang close to her frail body.
It wasn't a just a nightmare. I dropped my staff, as I tried to rub my eyes. For a moment, I thought it wasn't real. The sand began to build up, and finally created a person. Her hair was brown, and she wore a dark dress. Bangs covered one side of her face, and a birthmark sat near her eyes - her glowing, now purple eyes.
There, standing next to Pitch, wasn't just a nightmare.
It was my sister.