RoTG fan fiction
"Sufferably Cold"
Author's Note: Oh man, this took longer than expected. So! I'll give a quick little note saying; This is a Jack and pitch fan fic- AND IT'S NOT A LOVE STORY :D Oh joy~ I can't say much other than, I'd really appreciate tips! Are the paragraphs too long? Is the dialogue too long? Please let me know! This is my first story I have ever posted and I want to improve.
Chapter one
The cold numbing air was surrounding him but it didn't bother the man at all. The wind made the world seem more white than he had actually planned this week. But that didn't bother him too much because people would not be heading out for work and the kids would be home and away from school. Now he'd have some alone time. He slid down the frosty roof he had been standing on and then jumped up into the air, letting the tough breeze lead him to his destination. He watched his course carefully and took sharp turns when he need be. His destination was close once he saw the tall pine trees stretch out before him. Now he knew he was close to the one place he called home. Then he dropped down onto the snow right where the trees started. Not far ahead was a frozen lake. As he set his gaze upon the glittering ice, he felt his long forgotten memories fill his mind once more. Every single time he imagined those memories being replayed in front of him he heard his name being called like it was years and years ago... Jack. He heard it. But he shook his head. No reason for him to stupidly bring that into his mind right now. Jack calmly and quietly walked over to the ice. Then he scanned the area. Seeing the place again also reminded him of a more recent event. It was the time when Pitch had been taken away by his Nightmares. He didn't fear him returning or anything of the likes, but he did feel a presence. Jack ignored it and took it to be one and two lingering Nightmares beneath the ground in Pitch's hide out.
After a few cold moments of silence on the lake Jack settled down on one of the many smooth rocks in the middle of the expanse of frozen water. He hadn't noticed it but he dozed off into a deep sleep. His staff had stumbled out of his grip and onto the ice and he was laying up uncomfortably against the grey stone. The wind around him was like a song that made everything seem so calm yet something in the forest behind the thick storm of snow was bound to be something dangerous. What ever it was Jack could not sense it. Everything in the world around him was not of his care now that in his sleep he felt dreams appear in his mind. These dreams he did not know what they were exactly but they gave him a warm feeling and that was all that mattered to him. After what felt like quite a while his dreams faded. In his sleepy mind he just thought it was because he was becoming more awake but he ended up being wrong. Suddenly Jack noticed images of a dream appear yet again in his mind. He hadn't realized how this dream would he until he noticed that they were not positive at all. His pulse quickened as this nightmare appeared in his mind. Most of it did not make sense to him but he made out the black matter all around him and then the glowing yellow irises of someone familiar. Too familiar to Jack. While fighting with the image in his head, he struggled to try and wake. Like a snap of someones fingers his eyes were open. He was awake on the lake with the snow storm buzzing on around him. His heart was racing and his breath was quick. As he looked around he noticed that the storm he had caused was even worse. Now he could hardly see the trees around him. Soon he may not be able to even see his hands in front of his face. But with the sudden panic of having a nightmare he looked around frantically. How could he be having a nightmare? That question stuck on his mind as he tried to possibly find something. He already had the idea of what something was and hoped that it wasn't what was on his mind.
Jack got up on his feet and picked up his staff. He walked around the lake holding his staff in a fighting position, ready for anything. The snow made things hard to see but he kept his guard up. With out a single notice a shadow loomed behind Jack. It was a tall slender figure that would be recognized by anyone. Jack could feel it and he felt an unpleasant presence from what was behind him. Suddenly an echoey voice pressed down all around him.
"Oh look who we have here..." the voice said with a hint of pleasure and mocking surprise.
Jack could not let out a word, only turn to see the shadow of what he wished least for.
"Is that fear Jack?" It came again with a small laugh. "I thought you didn't fear anything.. And me of all things."
"I do not fear you, Pitch... But I thought you were gone for good." Jack said, very confused and indeed afraid of what was happening.
"Me? Gone?" And those were his last words before the voice faded.
That left Jack to look around frantically for any more signs of his enemy's presence. Once again he turned in the opposite direction to find Pitch standing there before him. Jack took all his strength to hide the anger and fear that filled his mind. Pitch's tall dark figure stood still, a few feet away from his. His stance was calm but Jack made out a smirk forming on his lips. Like this Jack couldn't think straight. One blink and Pitch was somewhere else. Jack looked down to see the type of dream sand that Sandman used... But it was black, like the stuff Pitch used to use when he had control of it. Jack had always thought he lost control of the nightmare sands when his own nightmares took him away. In slight panic, Jack stumbled back, but instead backed up into Pitch. Quickly he lifted his staff, immediately the sharp frost shot from the end. But Pitch was faster. His nightmare sands shielded him from the attack and it quickly turned solid at the extremely cold touch. The frozen structure had a blue sparkle that was definitely brilliant, but it was nothing Jack could pay attention to at the moment.
As fast as Jack could react, Pitch was already a shadow on the ice, like the start. Pitch was indeed ready this time to hurt him. He could hardly make out the things around him due to the thick snow and he really wondered how Pitch was keeping up. But at the moment he was even more unaware of what happening and was going to happen. Faster than he had expected, he was thrown up into the air and then slammed against the lake side cliff. The impact knocked the breath out of him as he hit the expanse of solid ice below him. He shakily kneeled on the ice but realized he was missing something. His staff had fallen out of his grip when he was thrown. It was many feet away from him, but he'd attempt to get to it. He stumbled at first then used the ice as an advantage to dash across it's surface. But before he reached it his path was blocked. Faster than his blinking eye, a wall of Pitch's nightmare sand formed a thick wall in front of him. Surprised, Jack fell on the ice, sliding and hitting the dark mass. With barely a touch, the black sand coiled around his arms and another around his stomach. He struggled to break free but that seemed to have made it worse.
"Not so strong now, Jack Frost?" The laugh that echoed around him on all sides made him sick. "Out of shape I assume? Or am I just too strong for you this time around?"
"Let go of me!" Jack shouted out of quick reacting fury and panic.
"I'm sorry, this time I won't be so easy." He replied mockingly.
Before Jack could retort, Pitch irritably tightened the nightmare sand that held on to his arms, shoulders and stomach. He gasped and in slight pain of his stomach his legs buckled underneath him, leaving him dangling in midair in the grasp of Pitch. Jack shut his eyes as if he could block it all out and it maybe was still a nightmare.
"Let go of me! P-put.. me... down.." Jack yelled breathlessly, struggling to get the oxygen through to his lungs.
"No no, not just yet." Jack listened to the painful words that left his mouth.
Still Jack struggled in his grasp and with a struggle for breath, Jack had started coughing dryly. Light on air, his sight became weak and blurry. Jack was full of panic now and with his natural instinct he pulled away from the nightmare sand as hard as he could. He got an arm free but his shoulders, one arm and a stomach was still held tight. But even with Jack just having a free arm, Pitch was annoyed and was fast to show him more pain. Pitch's grip was as hard as before but to show his rage against the almost breathless body before him he slammed Jack against the lake. The hit almost knocked him out but instead he let out a quick cry of agonizing pain. Then another. He was again hit against the lake's icy cover. This time it broke and deep in his thoughts he knew what he was going for. Pitch wanted to bring back the same fear Jack felt hundreds of years ago. Now he wasn't suffering from the loss of air, now he couldn't even attempt to suck anything in with the water pressing down on him. He hadn't been under long before he fearfully yelled under water, bubbles of his last breath lifting to the surface. Then instinctively he sucked in, thinking it could have some how been air. Of course the water rushed into his lungs. It felt like his chest was screaming at him for air.
Soon enough, Pitch brought him back onto the surface and he was dropped onto the stable ice. He lay limp for a moment or two until he had strength to get on his knees. But even with that he was shaking from fatigue and his lungs were full of water. With his body knowing that, he quickly coughed and upchucked the sucked in liquid. After a while of coughing and spluttering Jack felt his eyes water from heaving and forcing so much out of himself. As he attempted to regain himself, he made out Pitch standing quite a bit away from his helpless form.
"You look to useless to listen anymore... I'll leave you to suffer here alone now." He said with disgust in his voice.
Jack had no strength to reply and didn't see by good at doing so anyways. He looked one last time as Pitch's black shape disappeared in the blizzard. Then he fell to the ice, limp. His legs were shaking and so were his arms. Jack's head was filled with the images of what had happened moments ago, covering his face as if to get rid of it all. Then after many moments of heavy breathing he tiredly looked around. He spotted his staff and crawled on his knees very slowly to where it lay. He reached it and used it to stand. Then he felt a horribly tight pain around his stomach. He cringed and ignored it the best he could. Soon after slowly gaining a little strength, Jack felt himself become tired again. His head felt heavy and his mind whirled. Jack fell to his knees and then onto the ice, totally unconscious. His mind was black and his heart had a slow pulse. There was nothing to bother him until he yet again awoke in to the world.
Now there was no pain. It was almost like it didn't even happen, but that he could only wish for. With a rasping breath, Jack stood up with no problem. He barely remembered passing out after the unfair fight with Pitch. Every time he had an image pop into his mind, he couldn't think straight. It seemed like the previous day had ruined his train of thought. He wasn't surprised, with the shock and fear of seeing him return. And it was like he could hear his horrible voice still, an echo in the chamber of his mind. Even with this jumbled up mind, Jack took into the air and thought maybe he could forget it by going into town. Lucky for him, people believed in Jack. From what Jack knew he had assumed no one believed in Pitch anymore.
Now he was over the homes, frosting the roofs as he went by. He felt more joyed going back to his usual routine, and by this time the blizzard had lightened up. Below him he spotted the usual kids heading out for a snowball fight. Excited and definitely wanting to join, Jack landed on the soft snow below him forming a handful of snow into a ball. But before he even lifted an arm he all of the sudden noticed something strange. Seeing it made him stop and choke on his own breath. Why did the kids say their normal hello? Jack couldn't suppress any sort if fear until he found out why it was happening. No way were these kids too old for believing in him or anyone else. If these kids weren't believing then there should be one left who still does. Immediately Jamie came into mind. He was one of the only believers before and surly he would be again. Quickly Jack was on his feet over fir Jamie's house. He reached it and got to the window of his second floor room. Before he even attempted knocking he noticed that Jamie looked a little different. He didn't look so well and by his facial expression, Jack could make out the slightest of fear. He knocked on the window and saw Jamie look up at him. Jack took it that he saw him and entered into his room.
"Jamie...?" Jack started but really didn't know what to say.
Jamie looked up at him, struggling behind what fear shine in his eyes and why. "Oh. Hi Jack.."
Jack observed him closely, finally getting to his point of being here. "Jamie? What's wrong? No seems to... see me anymore."
Jamie's expression showed disgust but he didn't show anything in his voice. "We've all... Been having nightmares," he paused the looked down nervously, "about you, Jack."
"What?" Jack laughed a little. "That's ridiculous. Jamie, they're nightmares. It's nothing real!"
"No, it's not ridiculous.. The rest of my friends are scared." Jamie replied, not looking at Jack.
He looked at him impatiently. "You can't he serious. Why are they so bothered?"
"Well, one, I think Pitch it back. I don't see any other reason I'd have nightmares.. And two..."
"Jamie, what is it? Come on, you can tell me." He said as Jamie trailed off, slightly annoyed.
Jamie looked at Jack once more and gave away his answer, "It's also because we think the nightmares are too real.. It's just what happens in the dream. It's... well, fear."
Jack looked away, anger slowly growing. "I can't believe it. So it's not just your friends.. you out of all kids also believe those stupid nightmares."
Jack didn't see any reason to let his anger out on the little boy so he took into the air, leaving Jamie behind. He tried to clear his mind by flying high up into the air, through the clouds and above pretty much everything. He could see the sun setting on the horizon but the whole time he didn't really notice the hours he had spent unconscious. Sure it looked beautiful but he could hardly process any feelings for it because of how he felt just now. He just hovered over the thick layer of clouds. He was still annoyed with what he had just heard and expressed those feelings easily by running his staff through the clouds and making them extremely cold. Jack new that result caused hail, it was the only thing he would do to show his feelings. He stopped and sighed. Why was this happening to him all of the sudden. He already had ideas of what Pitch was doing and he wanted to know more. In a way he knew he'd need to find him but it was dangerous. Pitch was stronger then he had hoped for. Jack needed to find Pitch, he knew he'd have to.
He was back at the lake like before. He was hoping maybe he'd find Pitch like before, be prepared and find out what he was doing. He hesitated then looked towards the old wooden planks that led down into a deep dark hole. The wood that had kept the hole hidden had already been kicked away by him a few years ago. He took a deep breath and then jumped into the darkness. Not long after his jump he was in the strange underground home. He stepped further out into the faint light, that really seemed to have no source, and looked around. He didn't see anything but that didn't mean nothing was there.
It was a bad idea but Jack decided to say something. "I know you're here, Pitch..." then in the corner of his eye he made out the movement of a shadow.
"You're a smart one aren't you, Jack?" He laughed and continued to hide his being. "Oh and don't forget you're strong and brave. You do know that's why the rest of the Guardians wanted you, right? You were better than them and they didn't want to get hurt. But there's a little problem now.. You see, you aren't very strong compared to me anymore."
Jack felt his heart beat slightly fast. He knew he was actually right. "Just get out here! All I want are a few questions answered."
Pitched laughed a little before saying, "Okay, I guess I could do that."
Pitch took form quite a distance away from Jack, he wouldn't hesitate to hurt him by any means though. "I think I know what you've been up to... But.. What the hell are you doing exactly?"
"I'm doing the two things I do best. Creating nightmares and getting rid of you." Pitch answered with out a problem. "But I'll be nice and give you a private insight of what I am really doing... You see, if I can't get believed in I might as well just make the kids loose hope in all of us. Most importantly, you. Since these kids can't see me I'll reach them with nightmares. These nightmares consist of horrible images and actions, with the character of the dream as you. Once it is done enough, they'll fear you and never want to remember you again. And maybe, just maybe, they'd be forced to think of me."
Jack looked at him, angry and disgusted. "You could have just gone the simple way out, you know hurt me, kill me. I don't know, something alone those lines maybe... Why are you so hard on yourself, mister bad-guy?"
"Is it a problem to have a little fun?" Pitch smiled, "You like fun the most and what's more fun than taking the long road this time?"
"You can just give up Pitch." Jack said simply and aimed his staff at him.
This time Jack was holding on tightly to his staff making sure to not let go. Then he fired at Pitch, the frost shooting out and freezing all around him. But Pitch's nightmares flooded over the ice and towards Jack. He jumped back before the sand had a hold of him, leaving it to cover the ground. Jack jumped up and against the wall, above and away from the ground. Jack froze the moving sand with his staff then jumped back down. Swiftly though, Pitch lurked below him as a shadow. He did not pull him or throw him, simply created illusions within his mind, pretty much anything he feared most. And man, did he enjoy Jack begs for a stop.
"Poor Jack, I thought you didn't fear anything." Pitch said mockingly.
Jack stood a little bit away covered in black sand, he looked up and struggled for words. "I..." He was almost going to say what he had said years ago but it was pretty obvious that he did have a fear now.
"I know what you fear now," He continued, "and you aren't so strong when I know."
With all the strength he had lifted his staff, Jack again froze the nightmare sand around him. Easily it became solid in front of him, almost like a shield. He jumped out of the way and behind Pitch. Once he landed he was able to aim his staff again but Pitch took form of a shadow and escaped Jack's planned attack. Frustrated, he again and again shot the cold frost anywhere he saw a flicker of movement from a shadow. Soon frost was scattered all across the dark cold stone. He continued this with no success. Eventually Jack wasn't the only irritated one. In the lengthly fight Jack hadn't realized Pitch's shadow coming before him and with his unawareness Pitch took form right before him. Jack stumbled back but Pitch quickly grabbed him by the neck of his sweatshirt, lifting him inches off the ground.
"Jack don't even try." Pitch said simply. "Just understand I only want you to suffer like I did for the rest of your life."
"Fine then let me go," Jack replied, "I'll just fix this again."
Pitch disappeared into the shadows again, dropping Jack to the ground. He headed for the easiest exit and started heading out. Even though Pitch didn't say or do anything before he left, Jack felt a pain in his head and flashes of dark images in his mind. He shook his head and walked out into the cold world above. Luckily the hail melted into a softer snow now, it made the trees white and the blueish lake a nice powdery color. All he could do right now was think. He needed an idea of what he'd do with all this.