Whispers in Memories

CONTAINS SPOILERS.

By: NerdBirdWonder

Timeframe: After Pitch snaps Jack's staff in half.

Genre: Angst, a lot of angst, comedy, family a huge AU because I thought the movie didn't give me enough answers for Jack's relation with why The Man on the Moon chose him as a Guardian, let alone spirit.

Characters: Jack Frost, Babytooth, Tooth, North, Bunnymund, Pitch, Man on the Moon, and Sandy.

Chapter 1

Why me?

Jack asked himself that question silently, cold wind rushing around him as he fell. Pitch's- No, the Bogeyman's yellow eyes staring down at him and his dark chuckles were sending chills down his spine. It wasn't even a real laugh, Jack had realized, just the sound of amusement echoing in his ears. A noise that was made for those who heard it would recognize as fear.

He had done what the mad man had wanted. He gave up his staff, his power; so that he could save Babytooth (and possibly whatever dignity he had left as a Spirit). And it was stupid for Jack to have trusted Pitch in letting Babytooth go. He should of seen it coming. Because Jack knew right from the beginning that all Pitch wanted was nothing but power and people to fear him, and he's finally got that.

It was sad, now that Jack thought about it, because he and Pitch were more alike that he realized. They were both alone, both unseen by the world. . . And in all honesty, Jack was just as bad as Pitch and the very thought terrified him.

Why did you choose me?

He stared at the moon, hoping for an answer. For anything, anyone. But in the back of his mind, he knew no one was going to come. Because who would come for him? Surely not the Big Four. He had let them down in their most desperate time of need and all for what? So he could get his memories of who he was back? Yeah, right. Like that mattered anymore.

Jack Frost had made a conclusion: he was dying. When Pitch had snapped his staff in half, he felt himself disconnect from his powers and his life draining from him. It was the only thing connecting him to what he was doing from the day he had got it. From the day he realized he was something. A legend.

Everything seemed to be slowing down because his thoughts were reflecting on whatever memories that he had left, to savor the few seconds he had left to live. In all honesty, none of it was really precious to him. Sure, maybe meeting the Big Four for the first time was, but that was all in the past now. And they didn't trust him now. Not now, and probably will never.

Please tell me.

He pleaded silently to the Man on the Moon before closing his eyes. Jack thought for a moment. I'm scared, he finally admitted in defeat. He had always been scared. Of his responsibilities, of them, of himself, and now of Pitch. All his life, he had wanted to belong, wanted to be noticed by the kids, like North, Tooth, Bunnymund, and Sandy had been. And quiet recently, he had come to a cruel realization that that was never going to happen because, according to North, he doesn't know what his center was and now he never will.

Jack!

Jack's brilliant blue eyes snapped open, finding himself in a dark place. Someone was screaming.

Jack!

He flinched at the mental yell. It repeated itself, almost as if it were calling to him. But who was it? It wasn't a voice he recognized. It was getting quieter as he fell. The feeling felt somewhat familiar to him, in an odd way; that he falling into an abyss.

Time seemed to have slowed because he was sure that he has been falling for awhile now.

Then he realized something, it was him that was screaming, or was it his mind playing tricks on him? He tried to shake of whatever strange state that he had locked himself in, to come back to reality, to grab whatever help he could lay his mind on but he continued to fall. He was dying, decided, coming into that conclusion.

He could hear his screaming grow louder, and he could feel the cold air swirling around him as it tore at his blue hoodie and brown pants, and time seemed to have sped up. And for the first time, Jack felt an foreign sensation surround him. His throat felt raspy, and coldness pinched at his skin as if it were going to kill him, and his eyes burned. He was freezing.

I failed, didn't I? he thought as he fell. He didn't know what exactly he had failed at because he didn't know why he had gotten his powers in the first place. He wasn't like North, or the Easter Bunny, or any of them. He didn't want the responsibility of being a Guardian because all he wanted to do was have fun. Maybe that's why he failed? He breathed in, feeling the icy wind pin at his throat, the wind freezing his sensitive skin like a million needles.

You never even told me what I was supposed to do with my powers. I'm nothing like the Big Four, why did you choose me?

Part of him wondered if he was supposed to take on responsibilities, and be like the others. But that wasn't like him. He was a loner, a solo spirit, to cause mischief.

. . . And maybe be noticed, but that wasn't the point.

I'm going to die anyway, can you at least tell me why you chose me?

Something in him felt strange, he couldn't tell what exactly, though. Like, he was cut off from everything.

He felt the moon shine on him and time seemed to have finally caught up because Jack felt himself plummet into the ground in pain. He winced, trying to get back to his feet but everything stung in cold. Ow. . . He sat up, shaking his head. What was that? he asked, looking up to see the moon. For a moment, he thought that he was going to get what he wanted, but this was the Man on the Moon, after all. He never gave a straight forward answer.

Jack brought his knees closer to his chest, hugging them to keep warm. Then he realized something: he really is completely alone.

He heard something fall next to him and saw his broken staff and looked up. Pitch sneered down at him with his yellow eyes and smirked in amusement. "Goodbye, Jack. You should have taken my offer." he said, clasping his hands behind his back and turned to leave, disappearing into the snow storm.

Jack looked down, frowning and then looked at his staff. His cold hands reached for it but he retrieved it shortly and looked away. He didn't even deserve to see it, or to even touch it in the matter. He had almost given it to enemy, after all. A small chirping noise made his brilliant blue eyes snap open and widen, looking down to see the small fairy lying on the ground.

"Babytooth!" he whispered, crawling to her. He carefully scooped her up in his cold hands and gently stroked her. She was still warm. He sighed in relief and leaned back against the ice wall. "Babytooth, are you alright?" he whispered, hoping the little fairy would respond to her.

The baby tooth fairy shook her head and fluttered her wings for a second only to look up at the boy. It chirped quietly, trembling.

"Yeah, me too." Jack muttered, cuffing his hands together around the fairy to keep it warm. "Are you okay? Not hurt?"

Babytooth shook her head and curled up against his hands, closing her eyes.

Thank God, Jack thought. "I'm so sorry, " he whispered, bringing his legs close to his chest again. "This is all my fault . . . I probably deserve all of this. . ." he said, looking down and feeling hot tears streak down his face. He closed his eyes and shut them, finding himself sobbing quietly. He was alone and he was going to die alone.

Jack!

Whoever was calling him was certainly persistent.

Let it take him; let it take his pain. Please let it erase whatever memories he had left so he could at least die in peace and forget why he's failed as a legend, so he could leave the children to the Big Four and finally rest. Part of him felt he should care, but honestly, why should he even bother? They never noticed him, and even if they did it was because they feared him. They feared the cold. He had fallen into his own fear. He had failed. He was nothing; he could do nothing. He couldn't change anything.

He could hear something- someone calling him, trying to pull him out to whatever dark state he was in. Was it chirping? Oh, it was probably Babytooth, he realized. He held her close to his chest The least he could do was to keep her warm until helped arrived.

Just tell me why and I'll never bother you again, I promise.

He closed his eyes and felt the cold wind roar in his ears and he felt himself succumb into the darkness.