Permafrost

by Millie M. Banshee

After Pitch breaks Jack's staff it's was never the same. It's losing power. So MiM tells Jack about another staff called the Permafrost. But the staff is locked away in a fortress set with 7 dangerous traps. It is a suicide mission that he must face alone. Well, not completely. It seems Pitch as the key to the vault. Can he be trusted with Jack? Alone? Short story. Only 2 chapters.

1. Chapter 1

Permafrost

Two Shot Story

(A/N I decided to have a little fun with a not so simple 2 chapter story. Please, sit back and relax. This I'm hoping will be fun and nail biting.)

SUM: Although completely fixed, Jack's staff has never been quite the same since Pitch broke it in two and it's really starting to show. Jack needs to do something about it, but he doesn't know what to do. MiM tells Jack that there is another ice staff out there called the Permafrost. It is the strongest staff ever created and was owned by Father Winter. Only problem is that it's hidden in a fortress riddled with traps to protect it. On top of that there are a couple more catches. The other Guardians cannot help him and Pitch Black owns the key to the vault. What is Jack to do and how well will he fair against the traps given to him?

SOUNDS/sounds

Thoughts

MiM's Voice

00000000000000000000000000000 A TALK WITH MIM 0000000000000000000000000000

Jack roughly landed on a large snow covered tree branch, struggling to catch his balance briefly. He let out a sigh before turning to look at his staff. It had been acting odd these last few months. It had slowly started to lose its power after the battle with Pitch. Jack concluded it may have to do with the fact it had been snapped in half.

He sat down and examined the staff. He could make out the fine outline of where the brake had been. He rubbed his thumb over it lightly. It was getting hard to even control the wind now much less tamper with the weather. He knew sooner or later the staff would become useless to him. He had tried once to see if North could mend it better but there was no luck with that.

How could he be Guardian with his staff like this? Scooted along the branch to rest against the tree trunk. He looked up at the dark sky dotted with stars and one large full moon over his head. He looked up at the moon and let out another sigh.

"What am I going to do?" Jack breathed, holding up his staff at the large round orb. "My crook is losing its power little by little. It's now gotten to the point that I can barely control the Wind to keep me up. You must have noticed, right? I'd given it another month at most…"

Jack grew silent in hopes that he would hear the distant voice of MiM. He waited a few minutes feeling the cold air rush through his silver locks. Wasn't MiM going to answer him at all? He was a Guardian now after all. Jack slumped a bit, turning his blue eyes from the sky to the snow covered treetops.

"Still not talking to me, huh? I guess I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up," Jack muttered, closing his eyes. "What kind of Guardian can I be like this? I'm going to be completely powerless soon. What can I possibly do like this?"

I'm not ignoring you, Jack. I have noticed your current problem.

Jack sat up as straight as a rod. His gaze was now once again fixated on the moon. Did her really hear that? Was that really MiM? He got up to his bare feet never once waving his stare.

"So did hear me? Then you've got to know what's going on with my staff," Jack smiled, holding up his staff again. "How can I fix it? There has to be some way."

That staff is beyond repair. You may have mended it but the damage has been done, I'm afraid. I only gave it power because it was the tool you used to save your sister. It was never really meant hold magic in the first place. It was only by your own willpower that you mended it.

Jack slowly lowered his staff and looked at it sadly. That can't be. The staff was soon going to be rendered useless. He had grown so attached it what was he going to do with it now? After all these years the staff was a part of him. Everything in him tightened. What was he going to do? He was losing a big part of himself.

Jack, your staff may not hold much power anymore but it may hold out just long enough to complete a task. If you are willing, of course.

"A task? What sort of task?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow.

There is another staff out there far more powerful that your old crook will ever be.

Jack looked highly intrigued by this. There's another staff? One even more powerful than his own?

"What? Where is it?" Jack questioned.

The question is not so much where it is but how you will obtain it. The staff is called the "Permafrost." It is the most power ice staff out there, however, it is locked away deep inside a mountain fortress. The fortress is guarded by various beings and traps. Many have tried to get their hands on it and the very few that have managed to close enough to the vault only to find they have no key.

"Then what good is that going to do me if I somehow make it through all these traps and I can't open the vault?" Jack stated, plopping back down on the branch.

Yes, well, this is where things get a bit more complicated. I just happened to know where the key is, however…

"Yeah, I'm listening," Jack nodded, looking wide-eyed at the moon. "So… Where is it?"

The key is with Pitch Black.

Jack's face paled even more at the thought of that. Seriously, Pitch owned the key? He ran his long fingers though his hair and let out shaking breath. Just how was he going to get the key from Pitch?

"With Pitch? Oh, man… Wow... This is not going to be easy," Jack said, looking a touch nervous. "Maybe I should get Sandy to help."

No, the other Guardians must not help you in this task. This is solely for you to achieve. The Permafrost was forged by your predecessor Father Winter. If anyone should own that staff it's you, Jack. The staff can be found in the Himalayan Mountains at Cho Oyu on the Nepal-Tibet boards. This will be a great undertaking and just so you know you may not come back should you fail.

May not come back? Oh, boy, that didn't sound good. Not at all. Was this Permafrost staff worth it? Grant it, he was going to lose his powers shortly. He had to at least try and see what he could do while he still had his powers. He might as well try it. He can't be a Guardian otherwise. He got back to his feet again and let out a hard breath.

"Well… I'll give it a shot. If I don't try I'll most likely end up regretting it later on," Jack said, resting his staff on his shoulder. "So it's at Cho Oyu, huh? Okay, yeah… I'll do it."

Good luck, Jack. Just remember Pitch has the key to the Vault.

"Oh, trust me I didn't forget that," Jack nodded. "Well, I might as well get this ball rolling. Thanks."

Jack gripped his staff and took back off toward Burgess. He was unsteady as he went but that was the only opening to Pitch's lair that he knew of. It would be late summer there now. Not something he was looking forward to. Heat did not do well with him.

0000000000000000000000000 ACQUIRING THE KEY 000000000000000000000000000

When Jack arrived at his hometown it was dusk and the air was hot and dry. He thought about briefly about seeing Jamie and the others for a moment but he really didn't want to show him how weak he was getting. He just decided to go to the old pond and look for the hole. He landed on grass near the bank. He had looked around in the twilight for the hole. Each step he took froze the grass before it quickly melted. He looked all over for the hole but it was nowhere to be seen. How was he going to get to Pitch then? He had no other idea on how to get to the cave.

He remembered roughly where it was but… Getting flustered he started kicking at the ground. He suddenly let out a light yelp finding a good sized chunk of splintered wood in his food. He pulled it and noticed that it had a right angle to it. The bed frame? So it must be here. But where? He gripped his staff and started pounding it on the ground. Maybe with the ground being hollow underneath it would make a different sound. He crouched down listening for any change in sound. It took him a couple of minutes but he found it. Now he just needed to break through it.

He started slamming his staff on the ground but it was as hard as rock. He couldn't break through it so he'd start digging. He started by ripping out the grass before grabbing a rock and actually started digging. How far down did have to go he had no idea. He just kept at it until finally he saw a small hole open up and a little air rushed out of it. Finally he was getting somewhere. He kept digging with the rock before be he was able to pull large chunks of earth out with his hands. The hole was now just big enough for him to slide through.

He dropped in his feet first before finally scooting in all the way. The fall was quick but he caught himself, landing silently on the ground. He had a look around it. Pitch's lair looked to be in shambles. Jack was careful of where he stepped as there were sharp rocks and items scattered everywhere. The place was in such a mess Jack even wondered if Pitch was even still here.

He continued on deeper into the dark fortress keeping an eye out for a Nightmare or an ambush from Pitch. Jack looked high and low for the Nightmare King. The cave was massive now that he was actually looking around. He had been looking now for nearly 30 minutes and found no sign of Pitch anywhere. Just where was he? Perhaps he really had abandoned this place. In all honestly Jack wouldn't blame if he did. This was hopeless. Pitch wasn't here. Jack let out a long sigh and turned on his heel only to nearly run into his target.

"What are you doing here, Jack?" Pitch bit out with a snarl, his arms were folded tightly cross his chest.

"Uh, well… Uh…" Jack stumbled over his words, taking a couple of steps back.

It was clear Pitch was not is the best of moods. His gold/silver eyes were narrowed and his lips were pursed tightly together. At this point Jack realized Pitch was more or less protecting his territory. Jack fully understood the aggression Pitch was displaying in his body language. Jack cleared his throat a bit as Pitch's glare deepened.

"Well, I'm looking for something…" Jack stated with a grin. "I-I was told you have it."

"Were you planning on stealing whatever this item is from me? Is that why you tiptoeing around?" Pitch inquired, leaning in over Jack. "Get out of my home. Now."

"No! What I mean is…" Jack tried to come with an answer but if fell short.

"Get out! Or I will make you," Pitch ordered, forming his large black sand scythe.

"I need a key," Jack bit out holding up his staff in defense as Pitch raised is scythe. "That's all I need from you! It's a key to open a vault at Cho Oyu!"

"Cho Oyu? Aleister de Winter's old fortress?" Pitch asked, looking oddly at the younger spirit before a wicked smile split his face. "Oh, I see. You're after Permafrost, aren't you? Hahaha! You honestly think just because you asked me that I'd just hand it over? Ha! Not even once!"

Pitch brought the scythe down as Jack quickly jumped out of the way. Hey, it was worth a shot. So, in the end he had to fight Pitch over the key. Pitch's moves were slower than what Jack remembered, meaning Pitch was still rather weak from their previous battle. Jack might have the advantage but could he even fight Pitch with his staff in such poor condition? Honestly, Pitch wasn't giving him an option and Jack needed that key.

Jack sent a stream of ice at Pitch knocking the dark spirit back but not for long. Pitch charged again and swung. The dark blade barely made contacted with Jack's nose but it was enough to leave a fine scratch. Pitch was clearly adamant about protecting his home. Jack jumped up and kicked Pitch in the face. The Nightmare King stumbled but managed to keep his balance. That only succeeded in making him even angrier. Pitch clinched his teeth, hard, and charge furiously at Jack.

Jack barely had time to duck as Pitch brought the scythe down. Damn, an inch closer and that would have taken his arm off. Jack really needed a plan if he was ever going to get that key from Pitch. He quickly put some distance between him and Pitch. Not much but enough. Hopefully Pitch wouldn't notice until it was too late. Jack started to coat the floor in a thin layer of frost. He only had one shot at this. He doubted Pitch would fall for it again.

"You've gotten slow, Pitch," Jack taunted at the dark spirit. "Want to try that again? I'm wide open!"

"You cocky little…" Pitch growled out before racing at Jack again.

However, the moment Pitch's feet hit the ice he realized he had very little traction. Jack wasted no time and jumped up into the air and coming back down. He used both feet against Pitch's head this time. The Nightmare King went down hard and Jack quickly put his staff under his chin, pressing in a bit on Pitch's throat.

"Drop the scythe," Jack ordered as little ice started form around Pitch's neck and chin. "Drop it! Now!"

Pitch let go of the scythe as it turned to sand. Jack wasn't about to let Pitch up until everything was settled. Preferably, with words rather than actions. Pitch glared up at Jack with a great bit of hate in his eyes. To be beaten in his own home was shameful. Pitch's lips curled into a snarl.

"Where's that key?" Jack demanded, digging a little deeper in Pitch's throat.

"Why should I tell you?" Pitch replied bitterly. "You break into him home and attack me."

"Now, I did try asking first," Jack answered quickly. "But that didn't seem to work either. So, what's it going to be? I'm asking as nicely as I can right now."

"I can't just hand you the key," Pitch said through his clinched teeth. "It's not as simple as that, boy."

"Why not?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow, quizzically.

"Because de Winter was no fool," Pitch replied. "The key is not a key in the normal sense. He had no intention of just letting anybody take his prized staff. Don't be an idiot, Jack, going there is suicide. Very few have ever escaped that fortress alive."

"Stop lollygagging! Just tell me where it is, Pitch," Jack threatened, sending out a small blast of ice.

"You're looking at it," Pitch bit out, making Jack jump slightly.

"What?" Jack asked, a little more than confused.

"I am the key, you idiot! The Permafrost is useless to me. Only spirits with an ice element can wield it and who would honestly expect the Nightmare King to be the key to the vault?" Pitch hissed with venom. Jack looked a little shell-shocked at the news. "I told you de Winter was no fool! I've had several before you come here looking for it. None of them ever once thinking that I was the key they were looking for."

Now this really did change things. If Pitch was telling him the truth then how was this going to work? He highly doubted Pitch was just going to jump on the bandwagon and come with him. This was certainly going to be a challenge. Maybe there could be some sort of trade off. But what could he use?

"What do want out of this?" Jack asked as Pitch smiled.

"Good question but there is nothing you can offer me," Pitch snorted. "The one thing I want I know you and the other Guardians would never allow."

"That's true," Jack sighed, pulling his staff away from Pitch. "Oh, man…"

"Abandon this quest of yours, Jack," Pitch said, trying to sit up. "Ow! And unstick me from the floor."

"Unstick yourself," Jack grumbled, turning on his heel. What am I going to do know? I need the Permafrost.

"Why do you want the Permafrost to begin with?" Pitch asked, trying to pull the ice from his neck.

"None of your business," Jack snapped in response.

"I know there has to be good reason for it. What is it?" Pitch inquired again.

"I said none of your business," Jack almost yelled, turning around to face Pitch again. "Just drop it!"

"Oh-ho, there is more to this than first I thought," Pitch leered, still working on the ice around his neck. "You're going after the Permafrost out of necessity. Most want the Permafrost just for its sheer power."

Pitch strained to look up at Jack. Why would Jack need the Permafrost? What was the reason? Then a memory hit him and smile split his face. Of course! He had broken Jack's staff a few months earlier. Damage must have been done. So Jack wasn't as strong as he was letting on. Always the trickster and good one at that.

"I severely damaged your staff, didn't I?" Pitch chuckled. "And now you want to replace it with the Permafrost."

Jack didn't answer. He just turned and started to walk away. He didn't want to hear it. He'd find some way to get Pitch's help. He wasn't going to give up that easily. He was going to get his hands on the Permafrost one way or another.

"Don't you walk away, Jack," Pitch called out, finally breaking the ice and threw it at Jack.

Jack felt the ice hit him square in the back. He turned around to see Pitch getting back to his feet and dusting off his clothes a bit. Were they going to fight again? Jack gripped his staff hard waiting for Pitch to make his move.

"There are 5 levels before you hit the vault each becoming worst as you go deeper," Pitch stated, putting his hands behind his back and he walked towards Jack. "Inside the vault there are 2 more traps from what I was told by de Winter. I know not what these traps are but they are each designed to kill you, forever. Not even the Man in the Moon can help you if you should parish."

Jack realized that Pitch was concocting something most foul. He didn't really like where this was going. Pitch slowly started to walk Jack with an even, steady stride with a large smirk on his face. If he was going to attack him he was taking his sweet time in doing so.

"If you want to die so badly, fine, I'll give you my services," Pitch bowed, mockingly at Jack. "Just so you know I won't be raising a single hand to help you in this endeavor. As the key I cannot be damaged or affected by the traps so you don't have to worry about me."

"Why are you helping me?" Jack asked as Pitch stood up strait.

"I'm not. I told you I won't be lifting a hand to help. I'm just a tool to open a door. I am as neutral as they come," Pitch stated, dully. "You will be completely on your own and I get a front row seat in watching you get killed."

"You're in it just for the show," Jack grumbled as Pitch nodded slightly.

"Well, someone has to tell the Guardians what happened to their precious Jack Frost when he fails to get the Permafrost," Pitch chuckled, patting Jack on the shoulder but was not all pleased. "I will thoroughly enjoy this event."

"You sadistic son of a—"

"Yes, I am and quite proud of it!"

Jack was practically fuming at this. Pitch was just tagging along for a good show. He wanted Jack to get killed in fact he might even set him up to him get killed in one of the traps. He'd really have to watch his back with this guy.

"Okay, you won't help me but don't turn on me either," Jack bit out, pointing his staff at Pitch. "I can still turn you into a block of ice if I have to!"

"You're bluffing. You'll need whatever magic you have left in that staff of yours to get through those levels so I'd conserve what you have left," Pitch stated, pushing the old crook out of his face. "As it is I have a tunnel we can use that brings us to close to the Cho Oyu. This is as much help as I'll give you."

Pitch started to walk away towards some stairs that led down. Jack reluctantly followed the dark spirit. There was no telling if this was a trap or not. He'd have to keep his wits about him. All he could do for now was follow Pitch into the dark abyss and hope Pitch keeps his word.

00000000000000000000000 LEVEL 1 ENTERING CHO OYU 00000000000000000000000

A large flat piece of stone slid off a hole as Pitch stuck his head out and had a brief look around. The wind was blowing hard and whipping the snow and ice around his head. He climbed out first followed by Jack. Pitch replaced the stone before he pointed off in front of them.

"That is Cho Oyu; the 6th tallest mountain in the world. His fortress is at the summit on the northern side," Pitch yelled over the roaring wind.

"This is as close as you can get us?" Jack asked, pulling his hood up.

"Yes. Don't whine about it," Pitch snapped, pushing the winter spirit. "Can you fly us out of this storm or are you too weak for that?"

"Don't start! I'll get us there," Jack bit out, pushing Pitch back.

"Then do so and get us out of this wind," Pitch barked, covering his eyes as the wind picked up even more.

Jack jumped up and grabbed Pitch by the back of his black robe and off they went. Pitch let out a few worried screams at Jack's sporadic flying. Pitch did kept an eye out as Jack started to circle the summit. Where was it? It had to around here somewhere—

"There it is," Pitch called out, pointing down at an odd formation in the snow and rock. "It's right below us."

"I see it," Jack answered, taking a nose dive.

The landing was a bit rough but they made it onto a large landing. They stood up and had look around them. The fortress was just that a fortress. There was a large iron gate in front of them closed tightly covered in a thick layer of ice. There were no other openings in the rock-face so this was the only way in.

"You're on your own from here," Pitch said, folding his arms as Jack approached the gate. "I've completed my part."

"Yeah, yeah," Jack grumbled, puzzling over how to get the gate to lift up. Okay… Now, how do I get this thing to open? Is there a lever or something?

Jack started looking high and low for some mechanism to raise the gate. There had to be something that opened it. He knew Pitch wasn't going to help so he had to do this on his own. He found no device that he could use to open the gate. He let out a long sigh and stepped back. The wind started to pick up again as the storm started to move in.

"Give it up, Jack," Pitch said, pulling his arms closer to his body. "You're not getting in."

"Shut up! I'll get in there… Somehow…" Jack snapped, pulling his hood back up. "You want that show, don't you?"

"Of course, but I can't help you anymore," Pitch stated again.

"I know you can't. I know," Jack let out sigh as he heard the metal gate clank slightly.

It was only the wind on the gate. The wind was steadily getting stronger. Wait. He stepped up to the gate again. He tried lifting it but it wouldn't budge in fact it didn't even rattle when he hit it. Something wasn't adding up. The wind was passing right through the iron bars but somehow it was making the gate rattle. Father Winter was no fool is what Pitch had said. So if there was trick to it. Jack stood back from the gate and raised his staff. The gate reacted to the wind, somehow. It may not react to the natural wind of the mountain but it might react to wind controlled by magic.

"I've got it!" Jack exclaimed and Pitch turned to look at him.

Jack ran back from the gate a little bit and held up his staff. Pitch watched carefully as Jack called on the wind and funneled it at the gate. Sure enough it started to rattle and lift up. The ice cracked and fell apart as the gate steadily rose. So the boy had finally figured it out. Pitch ran into the large cave first and Jack made a mad dash in right after. The gate slammed down with a mighty crash, rattling the cave walls a bit, knocking off chunks of ice and rock. Well, they were now in.

The light was starting to fade as the storm moved in ever closer to the mountain. The cave looked dark and highly uninviting. The winds outside made the cave howl an eerie sort of cry as if the mountain itself was in pain.

"Don't tell me you're scared," Pitch leered, looking out of the corner of his eye at Jack. "You can always turn back right now."

"No. It's just the wind," Jack bit out, lighting up his staff with a blue light and started the trek downward into the cave. "Come on."

Pitch chuckled a little following Jack deeper into the dark abyss. Soon enough the howling of wind stopped and the only sound heard in the cave were their footsteps. Just how deep was this fortress? This place was even darker than Pitch's lair Jack noted. They did not exchange any words as they followed the narrow path farther down in the heart of the mountain. Just how long was this path and how long had they been walking? Honestly, if felt like they had be traveling in circles but that was impossible. There was just this one path.

Jack took a slight look over his shoulder to see Pitch grinning slightly in amusement. Jack turned back around, his frown deepening. He didn't like that. On a hunch Jack laid a small circle of ice on the ground with his staff. Pitch said that he was immune to the traps so who's to say they weren't in one now. They kept walking on and Jack kept a look out for his marker.

It took a good while but Jack spotted it. He stopped dead almost causing Pitch to run into him. He whipped around and glared at Pitch. Pitch only smiled, looking down at Jack's angry face.

"How did you figure it out?" Pitch asked, getting Jack's staff shoved his face. "Hey, now. I'm neutral, remember?"

"You knew we was just looping around this whole time," Jack growled, slamming his staff down.

"Oh, yes, I knew. But I was enjoying how frustrated you were becoming," Pitch grinned, leaning on the cave wall. "Now you know you're in a trap. How do you plan to get out of it?"

"Obviously, I can't go back. I'll most likely just start over again at the gate if I do that," Jack mused, plopping down on the ground. "I have yet to see a single opening, though. But there has to be one!"

Jack got back to his feet in a hurry and started feeling around for an opening on the walls. Maybe they were hidden passageways? Pitch watched in amusement as Jack struggled to find an opening in the walls but everywhere seemed solid. Jack began to wonder if this really was a good idea or not. He was stuck underground with Pitch, which was bad enough on its own. There had to be another trick to getting out of the looping passage way. He sat back down on the ground to catch his breath. Pitch just stood there, leaning on the wall, waiting for the Guardian's next move.

"Just let it go, Jack. You're not getting anywhere," Pitch said, pushing off the wall and sat down by Jack. "You'll just wonder this hall until you are nothing more than a memory."

"You know where the openings are but you're not going to tell me," Jack said and Pitch smiled in response. "You really are enjoying this."

"Oh, immensely," Pitch hummed.

The two grew silent as Jack took this time to think of what he should do. Everything had a catch to it. Like the gate being opened my magically charged wind and Pitch being the key to the vault. Nothing was every straight forward with this place. This trap was bad enough and he couldn't imagine what the others are going to be like especially the ones in the vault. Right now since they weren't moving he might a well conserve like Pitch had told him to do. He looked down at his glowing staff and let the light fade from it. It was very black in that tunnel.

"Aren't you scared that I'll run off or kill you myself?" Pitch's voice resonated beside him.

"Then what fun would that be for you?" Jack answered swiftly.

"That is true," Pitch breathed. "We haven't even gotten to the really fun parts yet."

Jack snorted and pulled his knees to his chest. Now what? He rested his chin on his knees and closed his eyes. They didn't say anything for a while as Jack pondered what he was going to do and how to get out of this trap. Several minutes passed as he slowly opened his eyes. For some reason the tunnel seemed a little brighter than it had or rather should. He knew his eyes had adjusted to the light but they were inside a mountain there should be no light whatsoever. So then where was this very faint light coming from? Maybe it was the way out?

Jack got back up to his feet and looked down the tunnel. Sure enough there was a light down there. A very faint but a real light. Pitch got up not long after and started to follow Jack down the tunnel again.

"You see it now, don't you?" Pitch said walking behind Jack.

"You can only see the opening in the dark but no sane person would travel into a cave without a light source," Jack stated, studying the doorway.

"Of course," Pitch said.

The cut blocks around the doorway were giving off the dim light but the entrance itself was black. So this led to trap number two. Jack was nervous about this. This trap was only designed to discourage and disorient but there was no telling what this next one was designed to do. He might as well proceed.

00000000000000000000000 LEVEL 2 OUT OF YOUR ELEMENT 0000000000000000000000

He stepped in and instantly found himself in a chamber of some sort. Pitch was still right behind him. Jack noticed that the room unnaturally warm. It was downright hot in fact. The chamber wasn't anything fancy but it was very long and very wide. The ceiling was supported by many large columns that just seemed to stretch upwards into nothing ness.

"Wow. It's a little warm in here, isn't it?" Pitch said, pulling at the collar of his robe. "It's the Sahara at the height of summer."

"Rub it in a little more," Jack grumbled, rolling up his coat sleeves.

They walked down the few steps before actually making it down into the main chamber. The door was clearly on the other side but there was no way it was going to be this easy. Jack noticed that the deeper they got the hotter the temperature became. Not only that there was absolutely no moisture in the air either. This wasn't good for him. His core power was ice and without cold or any water in the air this did nothing for his wellbeing.

"Are you feeling all right?" Pitch asked, noticing that Jack was slowing down. "It's not too warm in here for you, is it?"

Jack didn't answer but instead picked up his pace. Technically, yes, this was far past his normal limits but he wasn't going to give Pitch that satisfaction. Jack was keeping his eyes open for anything that might be lurking among the sea of columns. He had that odd sensation of being watched and it wasn't from Pitch. It wasn't long before Jack stopped and took off his coat and tied around his waist leaving only a thin sleeveless shirt on. The floor was even starting to burn his feet. He let out yelp and jumped back knocking into Pitch.

"Watch it," Pitch snapped.

"The floor's like fire," Jack exclaimed, looking down as his bright red feet.

"It's not my fault you don't wear shoes," Pitch snorted.

HHHHIIIIISSSSSSSSS….

"What was that?" Jack asked, turning to look at his left.

"Don't know," Pitch answered, hearing movement all around them. "But we're not alone in here."

"Great," Jack said, raising his staff. "Okay, who or whatever you are show yourselves!"

The movement only seemed to intensify at Jack's orders and the temperature suddenly skyrocketed. Pitch noticed that it was getting harder for Jack to breath in this dry heat. So now the real show was about to start. Grant it was it ungodly hot in chamber even to him but he could only imagine what Jack was feeling right now. A smile split his face, watching Jack struggle.

"Don't melt on me," Pitch leered as Jack tossed him a nasty glare. "There are only 5 traps left after all."

"Shut up," Jack grumbled.

A moment later something rather large and glowing red moved towards them. What was that thing? It looked like its skin was molten lava. It was soon joined by others. They were four stubby legs with long bodies and tails and big yellow eyes. They had a reptilian built boy but that's not what they were.

"Fire Salamanders," Pitch mused, looking rather intrigued. "And a lot of them from the looks of it."

Jack looked horrified. There were 10 or more of these things. The heat coming off them was tremendous and they were blocking the path to the other side of the chamber. He raised his staff and went to use his power and noticed he couldn't do anything.

"You're out of your element, boy," Pitch stated as started to walk off through the salamanders toward the door. "I'd like a better seat as things are going to messy. I'll be waiting by the door should you make it there alive."

"Pitch! Wait," Jack called out but the salamanders quickly closed the path that Pitch made. "Damn it!"

Jack was practically panting at this point and he hadn't even done anything yet. This heat was robbing him of everything. He really was out of his element in his place. The heat was getting to him and there was no water in the air to use. This was not going to be good. If he couldn't use his ice powers but maybe he could still fly. There was more than enough air in this room to use the Wind but it was hot dry air. This was not going to be easy to do. The floor was getting so hot now. He had to try.

Jack quickly called up the wind in the room as it circled around and lifted him up off the scorching ground. But it felt like the air was being pulled out his lungs. He just had to endure it to make it to that other doorway. He noticed that the salamanders were now climbing the columns to get to him and one of them threw its head back then spit a ball of fire at him. Jack dodged but in his weakened state he started to fall the ground.

He landed hard and he let out scream as the hot floor touched his back and shoulders. He quickly rolled over and got back to his already burnt feet. He started running as the salamanders quickly started to gather around him again. Some of them were ready to spit out more fire balls. There were more that just appeared out of thin air. Jack realized he couldn't out run them so he opted to fly again. Soon he was off the ground again but the heat was making it hard to concentrate in avoiding the fire balls. One of the salamanders even jump off a column hoping to take a good bit out of Jack but just missed.

Pitch had just finished climbing the stairs and turned to see the salamander jump at poor Jack. If he honestly made it through this level there was little hope of him making it through the next one being in such poor condition. Pitch watched as Jack tried to make his way to where he was. Jack couldn't fight so his only option was to run. He was little more than 3/4 of the way through now.

Jack honestly couldn't take much more of this. But the door wasn't that far now but he was feeling faint. He dodged a couple more fire balls that just barely missed him. He just needed to get to that door. Suddenly he dropped.

Pitch watched with a smirk as Jack suddenly plummeted to the ground. Oh, dear, the poor thing must have fainted. Oh, well. Soon there will be no more Jack. Pitch couldn't wait to give the other Guardians the good news. Oh, well, the boy did try. He had to give the boy kudos for that.

Jack hit the ground barely awake but he'd be damn if he quit now. The salamanders were almost on top of him. Just once more. He was going to try flying once more to get out this fire pit. He summoned what little power he had left. He couldn't get much height but at least he was moving again. He swerved back and forth between the creatures as fast as he could, trying to avoid the fire balls and being bitten.

Pitch suddenly noticed that the winter spirit wasn't down just yet. He was still fighting his way across the chamber. Pitch watched as Jack finally made it through the crowd of salamanders. He landed on the steps and started up them as fast as he could. The salamanders were right on his tail. Well, now, this was getting good.

"Hurry, Jack! Once you're through the door you're safe," Pitch called down to him.

Jack was losing his momentum but the salamander weren't losing theirs. Just a few more steps and he'd be on the landing leading to the door. He struggled up the last steps to the landing. Pitch was already at the door. Jack used the wind just enough to propel through those last few feet. He slid through the doorway rolling a bit before he came to a stop on the hard ground.

Pitch walked over the unconscious Jack and looked down the younger spirit. He was still alive but badly injured. Cuts and burns covered his body. The boy was in no condition to continue this quest of his. Poor Jack will never get his hands on the Permafrost. In fact Jack's current staff didn't look so good either. The old dry wood charred some in that skirmish.

Pitch sat the boy up against the wall and waited for him to wake up. He warned the boy this was a suicide mission. There was no way Jack was going to make it through this. Aleister de Winter really had no intentions of letting anyone get the Permafrost. It was far cooler in here compared to that room so it was up to Jack to see how things went.

000000000000000000000000 LEVEL 3 THE SNOW MAIDEN 00000000000000000000000

Jack slowly opened his painfully dry eyes. The first thing he saw was Pitch sitting opposite of him against the other wall. He wasn't dead, which was good but he was certainly charbroiled. Every bit of exposed skin was burnt and blistered. He let out a hiss of pain as he moved.

"Oh, so you're awake now?" Pitch asked, lifting his head up to look a Jack. "Are you ready to end this death-wish quest of yours?"

"Why? Because I look like a roasted marshmallow?" Jack painfully joked.

"Actually you do," Pitch hummed, nodding his head a bit. "You can't possibly be thinking about going on with this."

"This is level 3, right?" Jack said, trying to stand. "OWWW!"

"You've got massive burns over your body and you're badly dehydrated," Pitch said, getting to his feet and walked over to Jack. "You are in no condition to continue."

"Will you stop saying that," Jack bit out, using the stone wall for support. "I'm going to continue one way or another."

"Then you really are a fool," Pitch snapped, handing Jack his staff. "Fine, get yourself killed. No skin off my nose if you do."

With the help of his staff and the cave wall Jack continued on with Pitch beside him. They interred another chamber but it was odd scene. It looked as though they were outside but when they looked up there was no sky. No top of that there were evergreen trees growing here and everything was covered in snow. Jack decided to take this as a bit of a blessing but there was no telling what was in this chamber. The snow felt good on his burns but if it wasn't for the fact he had to keep moving he'd stay in that spot and let the snow heal him.

The two carried on through the maze of evergreen trees. They had no idea where the other door was but they keep moving. Pitch was immune to everything but Jack wasn't and he was really starting to resent Pitch more than ever before. Jack stopped every now and then resting against a tree. He was exhausted now and he wasn't even through level 3 yet. Those salamanders really took everything out of him.

They continued on for a while more when Jack could have sworn he heard a voice; a woman's voice in fact. Pitch didn't seem to react to the far off sound. Jack shook it off and kept moving but the voice returned a little louder and it sounded as though it was singing. This had to be another trap. Jack went on the alert as the singing became louder. He turned to Pitch but the Nightmare King was not there. Great! Did Pitch abandon him yet again?

"Pitch! Pitch, where are you?" Jack called out but got no response. "Oh, c'mon! Pitch!"

Jack suddenly felt hands on his burnt shoulders that slowly slid down his sides to his waste. He turned around and found no one there. The hands were soft and gentle. That was really weird. Pitch was nowhere to be seen and there was no one else either. Well, as far he knew anyway. So where did those mystery hands come from?

He continued on again, looking for any way out of this indoor forest. The snow was doing wonders for his burnt feet. He paused again trying to grip on his surroundings. Every tree looked the exacts same. No tree was taller than the other and they were all the same width. They were carbon copies of each other. It made it very disorienting. Only way to find the door was to get up and over them. He looked at his staff. It really had really seen better days.

He then felt the hands again on shoulders. Once again they slid down his thin white, charred shirt only this time arms wrapped around him in a hug and he felt the wait of body on him. That was definitely a woman. Okay, this was awkward. He felt a little flushed and she leaned in on him a little more.

He turned and saw woman with pale skin even paler than his own. Her long hair was as solid black, her features were very delicate, and her lips were an odd shade of blue. This was really, really awkward. He pulled away and faced her. She was wearing a shimmering white kimono and it was pulled in tightly at the waste, giving her a good figure and the top of her kimono was barely holding in her assets.

"Oh, hello," Jack said, awkwardly as she walked up to him again in a rather flirting manner. "Wow, um…"

"I don't get too many visitors," she said sweetly, reaching out putting a delicate hand on his chest. "Especially ones that are as handsome as you."

"Okay…" Jack said, gently removing her hand. "Um, thank you, but I really need to keep—"

She then pressed her ample chest against his, pinning him to a tree. This was getting more than awkward. She starting running her hands through his silvery white hair and then down his neck to his shoulders again. He gently pushed her back and scooted away from the tree. He mind was saying one thing but his body was starting to say other. He gave her a funny grin and started to walk away from her.

"Maybe some other time," Jack said, only to feel her hands run up under his torn shirt. "Whoa! Oh!"

He turned around again as she gave him a bit of a naughty grin. This was one game he didn't need to be playing right now. Though the temptation was indeed there and she was trying very hard get it out of him.

"Look, I really don't need this," he said as she slid the kimono off her smooth shoulders. "And you're, uh… Wow. Um, yeah."

She pressed up against him and wrapped her arms around him again, tightly. This wasn't such a good idea. He knew this was one of the traps but this was rather unexpected. And he didn't want to admit it but he was actually enjoying it. Then she got up on her tiptoes and started humming in his ear. It was that same voice from earlier and it was just as sweet if not sweeter. He started to feel strange as she kept humming in his ear. He knees slowly started to collapse on him as they both fell softly to the snowy ground. She kept humming as she started tear away at his tattered shirt. He rolled over on his back as she pulled off the last of the fabric.

Everything was very wrong with this. He knew what he was doing but it was like he wasn't in control of motions. He realized he was pulling the rest of the kimono off her top as she leaned forward kissing his neck. It felt so good as she kept kissing him and pressing her bare chest into his. She then sat up and started to undo the obi on her kimono. He couldn't take his blue eyes off her as she removed the obi and fully open her kimono. He knew this was a trap but he couldn't not react or stop this. What was she planning? Well, he knew one thing, that was very obvious, but it had to go deeper than that.

"It's been a long while since I last touched man. I must say I got lucky with someone as good looking as yourself," she cooed, running a slender hand down his stomach as Jack tensed. "Oh, now, don't tense. I've been told I'm very good at what I do."

Yeah, this wasn't going to end well. He needed to get out of this but he slightly wanted to know how far this was going to go. She started humming once more as she started to undo his pants. She was going to go that far. Oh, wow. No! No, he needed to stop this. This wasn't right. He needed to stop her before she goes too far with this.

"St-stop…" he choked out as she smiled and put a finger on his lips.

"Shhhh, my prince," she smiled, leaning on him again and put her face in his. "I can give you all the pleasure you'll ever want or need."

"N-no…" he struggled to get that one word out.

"Oh, now, just give me a chance," she said, kissing his again before moving her kisses to his mouth. "Don't fight me, my love. Let me take you to a place you've only dreamt about."

She had every intention to continue as she started humming again. It was that song of hers. Whenever he'd start to fight back she'd start singing it again. It had an odd power over him. He needed to get away from her. But what could he do? He needed to stop her from singing. Then a thought struck him. He slowly started to lift his hands toward his large assets. She obviously wanted him to touch them and as much as he wanted to he wasn't going for those. With one quick motion he hit her in the throat. Not too hard but enough to really a message across.

She fell off him gasping for air and clearly in pain. This was his only chance to get up but that song had a bit of a lasting effect on him. He managed to roll over as he tried to crawl away from her he felt her slam a foot on his back and grab a fistful of his hair and yanking his head up.

"How dare you strike a woman," she bit out hoarsely, glaring down at him. Her dark eyes turning completely black. "And in the throat no less!"

"You're no woman," Jack stressed, glaring up at her.

"How dare you," She then slammed his head into the ground before physically picking him and slamming him hard on back. "You want to end it that's just fine with me. I just like to sweeten my meals before I eat them."

Eat them? What? Jack thought as she got on top of him again. "Get off me!"

"Now hold still, my prince," she said, bitterly. "I'll try to make this as painful as possible."

Jack saw that his staff was just out of his grasp. If only he could grab it and knock her back one good. She leaned in on him again and kissed him on the lips again. He started to feel all the energy in him slowly start to leave him. She was draining him and she was indeed making him hurt like hell. He just needed his staff but it was about only an inch out from his fingertips.

"Oh, wow, you are good one," she said, sitting up for a bit of a breather. "You really are delicious even without all the sugar."

"Yeah, well eat this," Jack snapped, finally reaching his staff now that she wasn't pressing down at him.

He sent a blast of ice at her knocking her back a good ways. He used his staff for support as he shakily got back to his feet. He needed to get out here. She drained him pretty damn good just now. She sat back up and saw him start to hobble away. Anger flooded her as the winds around her started to pick up. Snow and tree branches started to assault Jack viciously. He turned to face her as she floated high in the air with his arms spread wide. Okay, so now they were going fight.

"You will regret doing this to me," she howled at him as her fingers turned to long blade of ice.

She flung her arms as him firing off the blades. Jack dodged them and sent up another blast of ice at her as she flew out of the way before coming down at Jack. Jack blocked her with his staff but his lack of energy was starting to show as he could barely keep up her back.

She fired her icy blades at him again. Two of them dug into his right shoulder. He let out scream of pain as she laughed. He pulled them out as she took to the air again. He wasn't going to let her. He quickly took off into the air after her. Apparently she was not expecting that move. She quickly flew off with Jack right behind her. She then circled around and tried to strike him again with her ice claws. Jack kicked her back as they tussled around in a mid-air battle.

Pitch watched from the far safety of a treetop close the door. He had to admit he was enjoying this and it wasn't just for the fact Jack looked like he was getting his ass handed to him. No, the yuki-onna with wide open kimono was a bit of an added bonus. Now if only he had a set of binoculars.

This was getting to be ridiculous. Jack was having a hard time keeping up with her movements. He wasn't really one to hurt woman but he might just have to get to away from her and get out there. He'd have to play a little dirty. Jack quickly circled around her and hooked her neck in the crook of his staff. He raced towards the ground and slammed her hard into the ground. She let out a ear-piercing scream of pain. Jack unhooked her before holding up his staff to her ready to hit her with the same attack he usually reserved for Pitch.

"Who are you?" she choked out, with her eyes half open.

"My name is Jack Frost," he bit out at her. "I am a Guardian and it would be wise if you just stayed where you are and let me pass."

"A Guardian? One of MiM's best and brightest?" she asked, raising a black eyebrow.

"I am. My title is the Guardian of Fun," Jack said, removing his staff from her face. "Now, just stay where you are."

Jack slowly stepped back from her. She painfully rolled over as Jack took off into the air. He finally saw the exit and Pitch sitting in a treetop. So he did make it over there. Jack quickly flew over to him and hovered a bit in the air.

"That I thoroughly enjoyed," Pitch grinned as Jack just shook his head and dove down toward the door.

Pitch jumped down and quickly met up with Jack. The two walked out through the door and looked around. This looked like a pretty good area to take a break. Jack studied his bloodied shoulder. There wounds were wide but not deep. Jack sat down on the ground and took notice that his pants were still undone. He sheepishly fastened them back as Pitch chuckled.

"Did you have fun, dear Jack?" Pitch questioned but Jack found no humor in it. "I see you managed to lose your shirt and your hoodie."

"That's all I lost," Jack bit out and then mentally hit himself.

"Oh, so you have never done it before?" Pitch smirked. "Well, you sort of missed your chance."

"She was trying to eat me," Jack replied sharply. "And not in that way."

"Oh, well, suit yourself," Pitch said, waving the boy off. "Your loss."

"I wasn't about to do 'death by snu-snu,'" Jack grumbled as Pitch looked at him funny.

"I don't get that reference," Pitch answered.

"Don't worry about it," Jack said, resting a bit.

"Tired are we?" Pitch asked as Jack tried to get comfortable.

"Yes. Now if you don't mind leave me alone for a little while," Jack said, closing his eyes.

Jack needed to gather his energy back. Grant it being in that snow did wander for his burns but this one really messed with him more so than the salamanders. He just needed to a good long rest. This was the safest point right now. He was just about asleep when he felt a light gust of when hit him.

"Hey," a woman's voice shouted at him.

Jack lifted his head only to be slammed in the face with his hoodie. He pulled it off to see the snow woman now fully clothed again standing just on the other side of door. What did she want? He was very much tired of her.

"Guardian Frost," she bit out, pointing at him. "If you somehow manage to get the Permafrost get me out of this hell hole."

"Why should I?" Jack asked, slipping his messed up hoodie back on.

"I was trapped in here by Aleister nearly 400 years ago. Look," She put her hand towards the door only to have it rejected by a barrier. "I can't leave this place! The only thing that can remove the barrier is the Permafrost! Please, you've got to get me out of here."

"I'll think on it," Jack moaned.

"Oh, men! You're all alike," she huffed, taking off back into the forest.

"Hey, I actually think she likes you," Pitch said, hooking a thumb back toward the door.

"Well, the feeling is not mutual," Jack said, trying to get comfortable again.

"I know, after all you have a soft spot for the Tooth Fairy," Pitch said, walking over to Jack. "Admit it, Jack. I mean even I could tell she has a thing for you as well."

Jack pulled up his hood and turned the other way. Pitch got the clue that Jack didn't want to be bothered anymore. That was fine with him. He just sat down across from him and let out a small yawn. They both might as well get some sleep. There were still 4 more levels to complete and Pitch didn't want to miss a moment.

0000000000000000000000000 LEVEL 4 MIRROR MIRROR 00000000000000000000000000

Jack woke up rather painfully. He opened his eyes and sat up, trying to remember where he was. Pitch looked like he was still asleep. How long was he asleep anyway? He rubbed his sore neck and let out a sigh. He got his energy back but the burns were still there, not to mention those nasty gashes. They were better but not great. He got to his feet, grabbing his staff. He tapped Pitch's foot to awake him. Pitch snorted slightly, before slowly turning up to look at Jack.

"Rise and shine, sleepy head," Jack said, standing over him.

"I may rise but I don't shine," Pitch groaned, getting up and stretching his arms and back. "Great. I've got in knot in my back."

"Don't even start to complain," Jack snorted, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You ready?"

"I am not a morning person so not really," Pitch stated, but started down the tunnel with Jack. "I hope you've got your energy back, because I have a feeling you're going to need it."

"My energy is fine," Jack said, picking up his pace.

"Your body not so much. I see you still have a bit of a limp," Pitch pointed out.

"I'll be fine, thank you, your concern is not needed," Jack replied a bit bitterly.

"I don't believe I was giving any away," Pitch said, keeping his pace with Jack just they entered the next level. "Well, that is weird."

Before them was a narrow stone walkway that dropped into nothingness on either side but led to a large white/silver wall with only one entrance. Oh, this didn't look ominous at all. The thin stretch was just big enough for one person to pass at time. Jack took careful step out and began making with way across. Pitch wasn't far behind him.

Jack continued until he was in the door and Pitch slide in after him. Both of their mouths dropped open. There were large sheets of crystal as far as the can see that was reflecting the light from and unknown source. It look beautiful but that was only part of the trap's charm.

"Wooow," Jack drawled, moving in closer to look at his many reflections. "Wait, I think I've seen something like this before. It's a mirror maze. I've seen them at carnivals and fairs!"

"Yes, well, this is no game at a state fair," Pitch reminded the boy, walking up noticing something odd. "I guess my immunity prevents me from casting a reflection."

Jack looked over and Pitch was right. The Nightmare King made no reflection in the mirrors. He wanted to make a vampire joke but this might not be the place for that. That also worried him. Just what do these mirrors do? The only way he was going to find out was by walking into the maze. He was very reluctant to do so.

"Well, Jack, you've come this far so don't tell me that you've started to have second thoughts," Pitch grinned, ruffling Jack's hair with his hand as he walked by. Turn back, you idiot. Just turn back now!

"I'm going through with this so just stop it, Pitch," Jack said, fixing his hair back. "This is the fourth level and I'm not backing down."

"As stubborn as always, I see. Very well, get yourself killed," Pitch shrugged. "After you."

Jack put out his staff and used it feel where the opening to the maze was. He found it off to the right. He walked in still closely followed by Pitch. This might be a good place to knock off the boy. So far by willpower and sheer dumb luck Jack had made it through. Pitch noticed when he put a hand through the sheets of crystal mirrors he passed right through them. He really would have the advantage over the boy here. He cast no reflection and he could pass through the mirrors. He'd act when Jack was at his most critical moment in the trap.

Nothing much seemed to be happened other than that Jack kept running into the mirrors. Pitch laughed every time Jack walked into them. Jack of course found no humor in that. Suddenly like back in the last levels Pitch just left him. All alone. Why did the jerk have to keep doing that to him?

"Oh, c'mon, not again," Jack groaned, spinning around finding no sign of Pitch. "That's really annoying how you keep leaving me alone like this!"

Oh, but, Jack, you're not alone. I'm going to be watching every move you make, Pitch leered, watching Jack from the other side of the crystal.

Jack continued to delve deeper into the maze of mirrors. Slowly and painful but he carried on. Just how deep was this maze? He felt like he had been going on for an awfully long time. There hadn't been any sense of time ever since he entered the mountain. He paused briefly when he came a bit to a crossroad. Which path to take? Right or left? He held his staff up on its end and let it drop. The staff fell to the left. So the left corridor it was.

Jack picked up his crook and turned left. The corridor had not twists or turns. Maybe this was the end of the maze. That wasn't so hard. It was easier than the first trap. However, when he came to the end of corridor he was greeted by a mirrored chamber. So it was a dead end? No good. He went to turn around when something caught his eye. One of the mirrors were flashing. Okay this was new. He cautiously tuned to face only the inside of North's workshop. Okay that was odd. He took another step closer and he was suddenly standing in the workshop. Okay, then.

"Um, hello? North? Phil?" Jack called out only getting an echo as a response. This doesn't feel right…

Jack kept looking around but there was not a single yeti or elf to be had. This wasn't good. He knew someone had to be there but he found no one. He bit his lip in worry. He then heard something move behind. What it an elf? It jingled like one. He followed the sound to small corner. He pulled back a box and found an elf hunkered down.

"Hey, now, I'm not going to hurt you," he said, reaching down to pick the elf up only to have the elf bite his hand. "EEEYOOWWW!"

Jack jumped back in surprise, shaking his hand but the elf wasn't letting go. The elf was clamped on hard. Suddenly there was the thundering sound of charging footsteps. Jack whipped around to see a charging stampede of yetis coming at him. It looked like Phil was leading the charge. This wasn't right. Jack took off with the yetis right on his heels. What was going on?

Jack quickly ducked down a side corridor only to run into someone. Bunny? Jack looked up at 6 foot plus rabbit. There was an angry look in his green eyes that Jack didn't understand. Did he do something wrong? Suddenly Bunny raised his hand and back handed Jack across his face. Jack hit for the floor hard sliding a before yetis bend down a picked him. His staff was taken from him and he was tied up.

"Let go of me!" Jack yelled, struggling against the yetis and his binds. "What did I do? I don't understand! STOP!"

Jack was ignored as he carried to large room that looked like it was set up for court. This was getting weirder by the second. Jack was slammed down onto a small wooden stool. The winter spirit was completely confused. What had he done wrong? Everything was just happening so fast he had no idea what was going on. He looked up before him and saw North, Sandy, Bunny, Tooth sitting before him as judges. This was getting to be too much.

"What is all this about?" Jack asked, trying to wriggle out of his binds. "Will someone answer me! Please!"

"Don't play innocent, Jack," Tooth snapped her feathers all ruffed.

"I'm not! I really have no idea what going on," Jack answered back.

"Well, frostbite, let me clear a few thin' up for ya," Bunny said, looking down at Jack with his eye narrowed. "Ya teamed up with Pitch! Is that ringin' any bells for ya?"

"Teamed up with Pitch? I don't under—"

"You first say you wanted to be Gaurdian like us," North said, gesturing to the others. "You take oath everything is fine. Then you backstab us. You join up with Pitch not long after. You are back on naughty list. Permanently!"

"That's not true! I'm not with him! Why would I do that?" Jack pleaded. "When I took the oath I meant it!"

"That's just another one of yer tricks," Bunny said, shaking a fuzzy finger at him. "Stop this lyin' of yers! Yer not getting' out of this, no way, no how."

"I'm not lying! I'm telling the truth," Jack bit out starting to get angry. "I would never work with—"

"Just stop it, Jack, just stop," Tooth yelled at him, she looked hurt. "You betrayed the oath and you betrayed us! You allied yourself with that—that—that monster just so you can get your hands on the Permafrost!"

"But I don't even have it," Jack snapped at them.

"Quit with tall tales. You do to have Permafrost," North said, crossing his large arms.

"I don't even know what it looks like, for crying out loud," Jack groaned in frustration. "None of this is making any sense to me!"

"Why must you keep lying?" Tooth yelled at him. "We all trusted you! You're not the same person! I can't believe I ever loved you!"

Jack turned to look at Sandy. The small golden man had a little angry squiggle over his head. This wasn't making any sense. What all this about? Jack knew he would never, not even once, team with that bastard. On top of that he's never even seen the Permafrost. How can he have something he's never even seen?

"This is not making any sense whatsoever and I am being very honest," Jack retorted, getting up to his feet. "I am not teamed up with Pitch and I do not have the Permafrost!"

"You sit back down," North yelled, pointing a finger at Jack.

"I will not," Jack yelled back only to nearly get hit by a boomerang.

"I believe he said sit down," Bunny practically growled.

"You're only digging yourself into a deeper hole," Tooth snapped. "Just sit back down as we ordered!"

Jack shook his head and clinched his jaw. This was a very unfair trial. Hell he wouldn't even call this a real trial. This was like a step just before execution. He knew he was right so why were they doing this? Why did they have no trust in him? He would never side with Pitch or abuse his powers in such a malicious way.

"No, I will not! Why won't any of you believe what I'm saying?" Jack growled, looking at all four of them.

"Because who would ever want to believe in you, Jack Frost?" Bunny growled, pointing a boomerang at Jack.

Suddenly everything changed everything around him was dark and covered in ice. The wind was blowing furiously around him. Jack looked over his shoulder and spotted one lone crystal mirror in the darkness. He could see himself in it but something was wrong. He turned face it full and took a couple steps closer. Everything tightened inside him. That wasn't him. That couldn't possibly be him.

In the mirror's reflection was indeed Jack but it was wrong. His skin was ashy looking, his clothes were dark, and hair was longer and pulled back. There was also an evil grin of his face. Jack shook his while his reflection nodded.

"No, no! I don't believe—NOOO!" Jack looked down at his hands and clothes and were like what was reflected in the mirror. "This isn't me! No! I'm not like this! No! No! No!"

Suddenly the mirror shattered and the area around him lightened a bit. He quickly realized he was standing in a city; a very familiar city. It was Burgess, well what was left it anyway. Jack took in the space around him. Everything was dead and destroyed. All that was there was darkness and ice. None of this was right. None of it. He felt sick to his stomach in a way he never thought he would feel.

Then, in a flash, the Guardians were on top of him. They were armed and ready to fight in the rubble of this fallen city. They surrounded him ready to attack at any given moment. Jack's heart raced up to his throat. They really mean to do him harm. Jack gripped his wood staff as they closed in.

His wooden staff? Wasn't he supposed to have the Permafrost? This was defiantly his old trusted crook. This wasn't right. This wasn't really happening was it? No, it couldn't be nothing was fitting together. This was all an illusion. This was his worst fear playing out before him. This wasn't him. The only thing keeping him in some reality was his staff. He had no idea what the Perfrost look like so the illusion couldn't be produce it. None of this was real.

"None of this is real! None of this is real! None of this is real," Jack chanted, gripping his staff hard and slammed his eyes shut. "I DON'T BELIEVE IN ANY OF THIS!"

At a breaking point Jack released a blast of energy out around him. He collapsed to the ground gasping. He was back in the mirror chamber and he was still reeling from what just conspired. He didn't know where was. He was breathing heavily and he had a look of sheer terror was on his face. Honestly, Jack was in state of shock and his mind was still going through everything that happened.

Finally it looked like Jack was at the critical moment. Pitch materialized his black sand scythe as he watch Jack struggle to mentally sort out what had happened to him. This was the perfect opportunity that Pitch could not afford to pass up. He approached Jack from behind the mirrors with large toothy grin on his dark face. Oh, the poor dear looked so terrified. He was so going to enjoy this.

I might as well put the poor boy out of his misery, Pitch mused, raising the scythe up over his head. This is the end for you, Jack Frost!

(A/N Oh, no! I am such an asshole, right? Admit if you had the power to reach through the internet and strangle me you would. Oh, dear how is this going to end, I wonder? I do so love cliffhangers! Well, when I give them to other people of course. I'll be putting the other chapter out soon. I'm hoping to get it out of the way so I can get to my other stories.)

Millie M. Banshee