A/N: Hi guys! This is a new story I've been thinking and working on. Hope you enjoy! I give credit to minomotu from deviantart for the cover picture of this story.

I'll still be updating my other story, A Mess of Colours. Take note, i will not update this story regularly. I could update in a week, a fortnight or a month or more so don't expect this to have a new chapter any time soon.

Disclaimer: I do not own Rise of the Guardians. Enjoy! :D


Chapter: 1

He awoke to the feeling of watching eyes. Feeling dizzy at first with his senses all over the place. Once his senses have settled, he looks around, at first, he thought his eyes were still closed. But when he blinked, the darkness stayed. His eyes went to adjust themselves to the darkness, looking around with a mix of confusion and caution.

As he moves into a sitting position, he can feel his head sting, unwillingly producing a groan from his mouth. He reaches to the back of his head, feeling a lump with his hand. He sighs in relief, feeling no blood there. With his head still dizzy, he looks around, observing anything but the darkness surrounding him. Those prying eyes he felt, gazes at him, never leaving the back of his head.

He tries to stand, but, with a surprise yelp, the ground shifts under him. Swinging, it seems. He moves his right hand to the side, searching for something to lean his weight on, only to discover metal wherever he touched, sort of like a metal cage.

His staff, where is it? He looks around, finding nothing but darkness.

"Looking for this?" a voice seems to emerge all around him, echoing off the walls he cannot see. "I wouldn't want to leave it with you. You might leave if it is with you and I didn't want that happening, not with a guest in my own home."

"Pitch! Where are you? Let me out of this cage you coward!" he shouted as he clutches to the metal cage with his hands.

"And what would be the point in that?" said the Nightmare King as he appears in the cage using his shadows. He holds Jack's staff in his hand loosely, as if teasing Jack at how easily it could be taken. "I'm not as stupid to think to leave it within your care."

"What is it that you want Pitch." asked Jack through gritted teeth. The Bogyman disappears from the cage before Jack could hit him. He reappears on the walkway below the cage.

"What is it that I want? Hmm." he pretends to ponder on such a thought. "I want to spread fear across the world. I want the Guardians to be nothing more then powerless lowlife spirits. And to do that, I need your help. You will join me either willingly or by force."

"I will never join you Pitch." spat Jack, glaring at Pitch. He gave a tired sigh.

"Oh you poor naive boy. You will join me, it might take a few years but I have patients. Have you ever wondered why the Guardians pay attention to you after 300 years? Why they never bothered with you before?" Taunted Pitch as he looks at his nails with fake interest.

He's right. Why would they only pay attention to him after three centuries? Why not when he was reborn at his lake, when he was new to the spirit world? His glare wavered at those words, which hit the right spot in his heart. He clenches his hands on the bars tighter. He didn't want to believe it but it is the truth.

Pitch turns his head towards him with an amusing yet knowing smile. Jack moves his eyes away from Pitch's. "Maybe it's because they never knew." he said much for himself for reassurance then to give Pitch an answer.

Pitch laughs as if Jack told a funny joke. "You foolish boy." he said with fake sympathy. "They knew you existed, as did the other spirits. But they never approached you, did they? It was only that one time when the bunny sought you out in 1968. But even that was not a friendly encounter. They ignored you for 300 years. Then what?" Pitch paused for dramatic effect. Jack slide down on the bottom of the cage, with his knees pulled to his chest.

"No more..." he mumbles. Pitch smiles, knowing that he's pushing the right buttons.

"They suddenly pay attention to you because you were needed? They would throw you away once they are done with you. Which, I presume, would be soon." Jacks shoulders are shaking and shuddering. He doesn't want to listen anymore, it's all lies. And yet, if it's all lies, how come it hurts so badly?

"They are only using you Jack. As soon as they are done with you, they'll cast you aside like garbage because you are useless, a burden on their shoulders. My offer still stands if you wish to switch sides."

Jack lifts his head up, tears gathered in his eyes, ready to trail down his check. "I-i don't believe y-you. Your l-lying. Th-they'll come for m-me... when t-they notice i-i'm gone." he said with a shaky voice. Pitch smiled almost kindly, if it wasn't for the amusement hidden underneath it.

"They don't care about you. Just give them up and join me if not... then you'll be left here. In this cage, all alone without so much as a glance from me." Jack looks at him for a moment. Then he frowns.

"There is no way i'm joining you." he said in a much calmer voice then before. Pitch frowns.

"So be it. This is will be the last you see me for a very long time. You'll be alone with nothing for company. No ones coming for you, no one won't even miss you. In fact, they'll be glad to have you gone. Without you messing up everything, they'll be happy to have you tossed aside. Goodbye, Jack. Have fun."

Pitch disappears into darkness, leaving a rattled up boy behind.

"They'll find me, they'll be here any minute now." he mumbles to himself for reassurance as he wraps his arms around his legs, completely unnerved of what Pitch said to him.


Run, run, run. Don't stop, just keep running.

Something or someone is chasing him and he doesn't know who or what. He can hear the footsteps gaining on him, stepping on fallen leaves and broken twigs on the ground. Why must he be running? He knows he can't slowdown, because if he did, something terrible would happen to him.

Run, run, run and never look back.

Who's chasing him again? How did he end up running in the forest? Why are they chasing him? Did he do something wrong to be chased by strangers? What was it that he did wrong in the first place? Suddenly a hole opened a few meters in front of him and out jumped a Kangaroo? Wait, kangaroo? Bunny!

"Bunny, help, somethings after me!" Jack cried but his voice didn't work. He tried again and again but it still wouldn't work. The footsteps are coming closer. He looks desperately at Bunny, only to receive a glare.

"Thought ya could get away didn't ya Frostbite?" he said as he hops forward. Jack takes a step back, feeling scared of Bunny.

Whats going on? He shouldn't be scared of him. Yet, somehow, he knows that he's going to do something terrible. But why? Bunny's his friend, isn't he? But he could feel the danger from him, every instinct is telling him to flee from Bunny.

Jack backs up and away from Bunny. Suddenly, someone wrapped their arms around him, securing him as to make sure he wouldn't run. The footsteps stop behind him and he realizes with a start that its North who wrapped his arms around him.

"We have no use for you anymore Jack. You is such a burden to us. A stupid worthless burden. Why would anyone want you? You is nothing but filth." said North behind him.

"I cant believe we had to pretend to be your friends just so we could use you to defeat Pitch. It disgusted me." said Tooth from somewhere to his left.

Sandy came out and pointed towards him then showed a garbage can, dirt, a man trying to carry an empty box and finally he pulled a face of disgust. 'Your trash, nothing but dirt and an empty burden to carry.' is what Sandy explained. By now, tears have gathered up in Jack's eyes and, unwillingly, flowed down his face.

"Lets get rid of him. Chuck him out, he's no longer a Guardian. Never was one before, never will be again." said Bunny as he tapped the ground with his foot. A hole opened up in front of him and North moved towards it.

Nonono!...pleaseno...i'msorry,i'msosorry!...please,iwontbeworthlessanymore!...please!

He still couldn't speak. His voice just refuses to work. The hole loomed under him, as dark as the starless night in the sky. Why are they doing this? Why is he so worthless? He just wants to be useful to someone for once without messing up. Why is he always so pathetic?!

The people he once thought were his family, laughs as North lets him go. He falls into the hole and into the darkness laying in wait for its victim. The last of words from above echo around the empty hole. "Good riddance..." said Bunny as darkness swallows him whole.


A/N: What did you guys think about it? Sounds like Jack is in real trouble. Where are the Guardians? What will happen to him? And what is Pitch trying to accomplish here? Find out in the next chapter!

R&R plz! :D