Synopsis: The Man in the Moon informs the Guardians of a new kind of enemy, an abomination that will threaten their lives and everybody else's if they didn't act now. While the other Guardians search for help elsewhere, Jack is sent to enlist the help of his old enemy, Pitch.

Chapter 1

Jack Frost felt a little nostalgic as he peered down the hole leading into the Boogeyman's lair. He thought that he would never again have to set foot upon this ghastly place given what happened three years ago. Nobody was welcomed into Pitch's lair, let alone any of the Guardians. But desperate times required desperate measures, and Jack and the other Guardians were indeed desperate for they were about to face an entirely new kind of enemy – a threat which could well and truly destroy all life on Earth.

They first heard of this new threat from the Man in the Moon, but the identity of the enemy remained unknown – to the Guardians at least. All the Man in the Moon told them was to muster a greater number of them to fight, for the foe they were about to face was unlike any they had ever encountered before. North immediately called for the gathering of like-minded spirits. While he had sent Bunny, Tooth and Sandy to go fetch the others, he told Jack to bring Pitch.

"But why would we ever need his help?!" Jack had asked, almost outraged by such a suggestion, especially knowing that it came from North himself. "Do you remember what he tried to do three years ago? Do you remember what he tried to do to us and the kids?"

"Aye," North had nodded and replied in his strong Russian accent. "How could I ever forget? Man in Moon speaks of an even greater terror though. Something much darker and abominable than Pitch ever was."

"And how do you know this?"

"I can feel it in my belly." And with an unsatisfied frown, Jack had left the North Pole is an urgent haste, riding the winds as if it was the most natural thing to do.

And now here he stood on the edge of the hole leading down into Pitch's lair where he knew he was unwelcomed. Out of all the Guardians, Pitch had the most reasons to hate Jack Frost who had brought fun and joy back into the world after he had nearly successfully claimed it with his reign of Nightmares.

The white-haired boy leaned forward, unwilling to make himself go inside for he feared what he would have to deal with when he did. He wasn't scared of Pitch himself, but of his poisonous words and his manipulative ways. The Boogeyman may still be in his severely weakened state, but he was still breathing and alive, and that was enough reason for Jack to be extremely cautious around the dark spirit.

Before the Guardian could have second thoughts about the whole ordeal, some kind of invisible force pulled him closer towards the edge of the hole. It may have been the wind, or it may have been the entity which dwelled within the hole, but regardless of it, Jack lets himself fall into it. He travelled down the tunnel, landing with his feet at the end of it, and began to make his way deeper into Pitch's lair, using his staff to light the way.

"Pitch, are you in here?" Jack called out, his voice echoing through the tunnels as if there were a dozen more of him standing in the caves. "It's me …Jack. We need to talk."

The winter spirit jumped in fright at the ominous sound of Pitch's voice. He instinctively raised his staff to his chest, ready for a surprise attack from the malicious spirit. "And to what honour do I owe to the one most unwelcomed here. Perhaps you have forgotten whose home you trespass through. Or do I need to remind you what your presence here does for him?"

Jack sighed almost dejectedly. "Look, can we just forget about what happened between us just this once. There's something really important that I have to talk to you about."

Again, only Pitch's menacing voice was heard. He was still unwilling to make an appearance. "Oh, does the almighty Mr. Jack Frost wish to make amends with his life-long enemy? If he did, then by all means do so. Not that it would make much of a difference."

"No. I didn't come here to make amends." Because you and I know we both hate each other and that's never going to change. "Listen to me, Pitch! This is something that concerns the lives of everything in this world. Please, if you would just put your hatred aside for just this one moment and listen to what I have to say."

It took a while before the dark spirit replied, but it wasn't the answer Jack was hoping for. "No, I will not listen to what you have to say, nor will I make my special appearance. The lives of the people in this world, and certainly the lives of the Guardians, are of absolutely no concern of mine. Now if you would so kindly turn around and get out, that would make my already-miserable day a bit better."

"Pitch…"

"Get out, Frost. You are the last person in this very world that I wish to see. If the world is really going to end like you say it is and we were the only ones left, I would see you fall into the abyss devouring the world and relish at the sight of you disappearing." Jack flinched at his words. He knew the Boogeyman didn't hold him in high regard, but surely he didn't detest him that much, right? He was the fun and lovable guy who brought humour and joy in the world. Sure, he was a bit of a prankster, but his intentions were never malicious.

The winter spirit gritted his teeth in frustration. He lowered his staff and startled to turn back from whence he came but something told him that he would be met with disappointment when he returned to the North Pole without the extra aid.

There must've been a reason why North sent me instead of the others.

"Listen, Pitch…" Jack started, hoping the Boogeyman didn't run out on him already. "I know how hard it is to be alone – with nobody to acknowledge your existence and no one to talk with. Believe me, I know how it feels because I've been through the same thing, though I figure you've had it a little worse since you lock yourself up in this dusty ditch of yours." Jack regretted making that little joke because it wasn't helping him make his point. "What I'm trying to say is, uh, well…I can sympathise with you a little. I mean, I'm not sorry for what we did because we all know you deserved it, but I am sorry for what you're going through right now."

Jack's last statement lingered in the air for a long time and he waited for a response. When he didn't receive one, he lowered his head in disappointment. There had to be a way to get Pitch's attention.

"Do you know why I came all this way to meet with you, my life-long enemy? Because I – and the Guardians – we need your help. It's apparently not something we can handle ourselves, so we're gathering help, you see? And I've been given the special task of recruiting the infamous Boogeyman, despite all the animosity between us." He paused, subconsciously looking for any signs of the other appearing. "So Pitch, I'm not leaving without you."

And almost instantly, Jack felt a cold breath on his neck and he stumbled forward to get away from the dark spirit. Pitch rose from the shadows and stared down at the boy. His yellow eyes glowed eerily in the darkness. "Why would I help you? What's in it for me?"

Jack frowned. He should've known Pitch would've wanted something for his help but he had no idea what he could gain from all this, and honestly he didn't really care either. One thing was certain though – if he was going to enlist the aid of this tortured spirit, then he was going to have to convince him.

"If you come with us…" he began on a whim, but he found that he couldn't think of anything he could bargain with. Come on, Jack! What would Pitch want? What would a lonely and pathetic, weak spirit want for his birthday? Besides taking over the world, of course.

"If I come with you …what? What would I get from assisting you lot of misfits?" Pitch was growing impatient and it was evident that all he wanted to do was crawl back into his lonely hole. "Frost, I don't have all day to talk –"

"Companionship!" The Guardian finally answered. "If you come and help us, you'll gain companionship!" The boy wanted so badly to face-palm. It must've been the dumbest thing that he's suggested to anybody, let alone the dark spirit, so he isn't at all surprised when Pitch laughs.

"Oh, my dear Frost. Why would I ever want the companionship of the Guardians of Childhood? Do you really believe that I would come with you just so I could call the stupid bunny my 'mate', to call you my 'friend'? How did you come up with such a ridiculous idea?"

"But you won't be alone anymore," Jack mumbled a little too fast for Pitch to comprehend. So he said it again, slowly. "At the very least, you won't be alone anymore."

The grin dropped from Pitch's face. He appeared to be caught off-guard by Jack's seemingly sincere response. He searched the boy's wide eyes for any signs of deceit because he didn't want to be taken for a fool. The winter spirit may be a trickster by when it came to lies and deceit, Pitch was the expert.

The dark spirit opened his mouth as if to speak but he closed it with a –clop- and shook his head. Jack realized that Pitch was about to accept the offer but something must have made him reconsider. He had to do a little more convincing.

"Look, Pitch, I know you might think that this seems a bit stupid to you but I've been through this one as well, remember? Before all this Guardian business, I was all alone and bitter. The only comfort I got was seeing kids smile when they were having fun. And then the other Guardians enlisted my help – well, actually they kidnapped me and put me in a sack, but I digress – and so I went with them to put a stop to your plans – er, again I digress." Pitch raised what would've been his eyebrow if he had any to start with, and frowned. Jack quickly regained his composure and continued before the Boogeyman could say otherwise. "The point is that I went along with them, although reluctantly at first, but it was the first time for a long time that I didn't feel so alone anymore. I felt a little less bitter about everything and, well, eventually they became my closest friends."

Jack remained unmoved, waiting for a reaction from the other spirit. He could see Pitch's resolve wavering as he considered the boy's words, but before Jack's hopes were brought up, the dark spirit turned his head away, his eyes lowered to the ground beneath him. "No. And even If I did seek your…companionship, there is nothing I could do that would help you fight. I've lost most of my power and my Nightmares won't even bend to my will anymore." He looked up and bore his gaze into Jack's blue eyes before disappearing into the shadows. He didn't say anything to Jack but the Guardian knew what those eyes implied.

I lost everything because of you.