A Darkening Heart

~Chapter 1~

Ember dropped to the ground, clutching her side where her wound was. "Damn..." Ember hissed as she struggled to catch her breath. She had to get back to her feet. It had been at least three to four months since she got the wound. It should have healed by now according to Bunnymund. Then again, Ember was not one to take it easy and relax all the time.

"Are you alright?" Pitch asked as he rushed over to Ember, his scythe dissolving in his hand.

"I'm fine, just catching my breath." Ember murmured as she allowed Pitch to help her up. "Alright. I'm ready for another round."

"I don't think so. You have done enough training for today. It's time you rested." Pitch insisted as he began to lead Ember over to her bed. But Ember shook her head, she didn't feel like resting. All she was ever told to do was rest! She was getting sick of it.

"No... I think I will go make a couple rounds." Ember stated as she flew off and out of the lair. Pitch sighed and shook his head, he couldn't stop her from doing that. But he would go check on her in a couple hours if she didn't return by then...

But Ember didn't plan on returning anytime soon that day. She was sick of being treated like... well a kid! She could take care of herself as far as her wounds went. It wasn't like she was dying or anything, or made of glass. She had proved that she was strong... or at least strong enough to handle a deadly foe.

Ember sighed and shook her head as she traveled to a far away dark city. It was rather rural with no city lights to block out the stars. In fact... it was just like an old town she had read about in books and fairy tales. A river ran swiftly by, and the forest that was nearby had a terrifying beauty to it. How come she had never seen this place before? It was absolutely amazing!

Ember decided to go check out the tiny village and see if anyone actually lived here. Apparently the village was called 'River Valley' according to one of the signs that hung off a building. There was clearly a pub there that had many people in there partying and drinking away. There were a few shops here and there and the rest were houses that had sleeping children in them. Ember could hear each and every individual dream. All were good and happy, being about space, or playing in the forest with there friends. There was not even a hint of fear to be found in the place.

Maybe Pitch had never heard of this town either, or they just didn't have anything to be afraid of? Ember shrugged, it was a nice little happy town. So Ember forged a dragon to ride on to keep the strain off her wound, and began to explore around.

The river seemed to stretch on for miles and miles, it even lead into the forest. Ember decided to go there first since she had never seen such an enchanting place before. The trees were a variety of large old oak trees and tall pines. Here and there a dog wood would appear with it's beautiful blossoms. It was very beautiful.

There was a tiny clearing deep inside the heart of the forest that had pink, blue, and green lights shinning around it. Ember heard people singing a catchy fast tune, and instruments being strummed. Ember hopped off her dragon and whispered for him to stay there. The dragon snorted and reluctantly stayed as Ember quietly peered through the trees.

Ember gasped as she saw what looked like elves and fairies partying away. Some had multicolored wings and pointy ears, others looked like normal humans. Some wore dark clothing like Ember, and others bright and radiant colors. They were all dancing around a bonfire laughing away. Ember had never seen such a thing like this before. She loved it! It would make an excellent story to tell Jack and the others.

She would have to even show Jack the tiny village and how magical it was. But for now, Ember was supposed to be spreading nightmares like she said she would. So she hopped back onto her dragon and flew away as silently as she could so she didn't disturb the creatures party. Ember created tiny nightmares and a few good dreams to send out to the sleeping children of the village and the adults that had passed out drunk in the bar once she was outside the forest. When she was done she flew off to the next village.

After hitting almost a hundred towns and city's Ember's wound began to throb, making it almost unbearable to walk. So she went to her usual hang out spot by Jack's frozen pond where she laid in her tree. The moon was in it's waxing stage and shinning brightly down on the lake, reflecting shadows every which way. Ember smiled, remembering the first time she had ever come here. How she meet Jack, and how she had forged her plot to destroy the Guardians. If only she hadn't of gotten injured maybe everything would have turned out differently...

"Hey!" Jack sang as he flitted down from a branch. Ember gasped and nearly fell off her branch, but Jack held her steady with his staff.

"Why do you always jump out at me! Jeez, your going to make me jump out of my skin one day!" Ember exclaimed as she got her balance on the branch back.

"Sorry." Jack apologized. "But it's been a while. I kinda... um, missed you." Jack blushed and nervously ran a hand through his hair. Ember smiled and rolled her eyes, Jack was right. Ember had only seen Jack once since she left North's, and that was to drop off some medicine that Bunnymund had made for her.

"I missed you to Jack." Ember smiled back. She lightly rolled off the branch and landed as softly as she could on the ground. Jack followed her closely and they both began to pace around the edge of the pond.

"So how have you been?" Jack asked as he twirled his staff around.

Ember shrugged. "Fine I guess. Pitch has been treating me like I'm made of glass or something, and refuses to let me do stuff on my own." Jack gave her a confused glace.

"That doesn't sound like Pitch at all." Jack remarked.

"No, it doesn't. And it's kind of pissing me off. All because my wound hasn't fully healed yet." Ember ranted.

"Your wound hasn't healed yet? I can go get Bunnymund to make you some more medicine if you want me to! It will make the rest of your wound heal." Jack exclaimed.

"Could you please, I am so tired of being treated the way I am." Ember sighed as she ran a hand through her hair.

"Of course. I'll bring it to you tomorrow." Jack vowed.

"Thank you Jack. It will really help me out. Besides, it's become rather hard to do my job with a wound. I can't do the things I used to without falling to the floor in pain." Ember began again as she clasped her hands behind her back. "I still try and manage though by riding my dragon."

A black and golden dragon stalked out from behind a tree, eyeing Jack with curiosity and anger. Jack walked closer to Ember as the dragon followed slowly behind them, making sure that Ember was okay and that Jack didn't make any moves. Ember laughed as she sensed Jack's tiny spike of fear.

"I promise Star Scream won't hurt you, that is unless I tell him to." Ember snickered as she nudged Jack with her shoulder.

"Oh... Okay." Jack mused as he kept a spare eye on Star Scream. "But I'm sorry that your still hurt."

Ember shrugged, and began to slow her pace as she reached the edge of the forest. She had Star Scream come up next to her and help hold her up. Walking, even just around the frozen pond, became a painful struggle. Jack realized how much Ember was struggling and lifted her up onto Star Scream, despite the fact the dragon glared at him.

"Thank you Jack... ugh. I hate this! That damned Monkey King! If I ever see him again I swear I will sever his head from his hideous body." Ember growled as she laid her head on Star Screams, facing Jack.

"Something tells me you need to rest for a while." Jack smirked as he lead the way to the lair's entrance.

"No! I feel fine... I'm so tired of being told I need to rest. Besides, I have a story I forgot to tell you about a place I found!" Ember exclaimed, sorta sitting up.

Jack laughed and shook his head. "I'll be here tomorrow with your medicine, it's not like you won't see me for a couple years! Besides, you can tell me the story then when you able to walk on your own."

Ember grumbled something under her breath and laid back down. "Ugh, fine. But you better be here! I need that medicine, and the story is amazing!"

"I promise I'll be here. Now, get back to Pitch so he can take care of you!" Jack demanded as he lightly tapped Star Screams hide with his staff as if to get him moving.

Star Scream glared ferociously at Jack and bared his teeth. But Ember just smiled and lightly petted Star Screams cheek. "It's okay boy, lets go home!" Star Scream reluctantly turned away from Jack, and with a powerful wings that nearly knocked Jack off his feet, Star Scream flew away and into the shadows bringing Ember back to Pitch.

When Ember flew back into the lair, Star Scream brought her over to Pitch where he helped Ember off of him. Pitch looked a bit worried, and a bit annoyed at the same time to the point where Ember was rather nervous. Once Pitch made sure Ember was well stabilized he sent off a couple of nightmares and fearlings to go do a certain job. When they left, Pitch turned to Ember.

"Where were you today?" Pitch inquired as he clasped his hand behind. His voice was calm, and he didn't look exactly angry. But Ember held on tight to Star Scream.

"I made a couple rounds like I said I would... And once I got tired I went to the pond where I usually do. Jack came for a visit, he is going to get me more medicine from the Pooka so that I can heal faster." Ember explained.

"Hmm." Pitch mused as he turned back away from Ember. "Alright then."

Ember gave Pitch a confused look. She hadn't seen him act like this for... a long while. Not since the major fight they had almost a year ago. But Ember just shrugged it off. There was no reason for Pitch to be cranky with her. He was probably just a little irritated that Jack had just stopped by.

Ember had Star Scream lead her over to her bed, where she gently laid down. Star Scream wrapped himself around her as if he was a protective barrier, and Ember quickly fell asleep.

A couple hours later, Star Scream woke up to Pitch looking over Ember. He looked... off. It made the dragon raise it's head and begin to bare his teeth at the King. Pitch sneered at Star Scream, but he left his side by Ember and went back to his work... It was official. Even a nightmare began to tell something was up with Pitch. Maybe it was just his concern for Embers well being? No one knew... But they would find out all too soon.

I hope you liked the first chapter guys! Sorry it took so long to write, I didn't quite know how to start it off. But either way, R&R?