~Chapter 2~

"I don't expect you to learn how to travel flawlessly your first time, so hang onto me." The second Ember grabbed on to Pitch she felt her entire body fade into the shadows. They moved so fast she thought her skin would fly off, but somehow she still kept a grip on Pitch. Not even a second later they landed on top of a roof about 20 stories up. Ember stumbled as soon as her feet hit the ground, flying forward. But Pitch grabbed her arm and steadied her, making sure that she didn't fall off the side of the building.

Embers heart raced as she re-gained her footing. That was probably one of the most exciting things she had ever done. She looked around to see where she was, but it was too dark to make anything out. Her best guess was a big city, but she wasn't completely sure.

"Not bad for your first time, I was expecting you would get lost in the shadows." Ember rolled her eyes and laughed a little. I just might surprise you old man, Ember thought to herself. She ignored Pitch's little comment and wanted to move on to the next thing.

"So, what's next?" Ember asked, trying not to sound too excited. But Pitch could tell by the gold that seemed to fill her eyes. He allowed a little grin to show, and turned facing the shadows. He outstretched his hand, acting as if he was trying to summon something. A black stream of sand came out of the shadows, and swirled around his hand.

"Nightmare sand. Just like the Sand man's dream sand, except it brings nightmares instead." Suddenly with the flick of his wrist the sand formed a deadly looking horse, it snorted angrily and trotted around in circles. "Try." Pitch nodded to Ember, signaling her to try and create something with the nightmare sand.

Ember wasn't completely sure how to create the sand, but she followed Pitch's steps. She reached out towards the shadows and thought of the nightmare sand, she thought of evil things. Suddenly she felt something inside her move, and the nightmare sand where flying to her fingertips. Excitement jumped inside her, along with something dark. Next she needed to form something with it. Dragons, that was the first thing that popped into her mind. So Ember focused on forming the sand into the image of a dragon, and as she did a dragon about the size of herself came together. The dragon itself looked like it had come out of a horror movie, with sharp pointed wings and a tail that could kill someone. Ember thought it looked adorable, she had always admired dragons. But she thought she had out done herself on this. It roared and sneered, it's eyes where glowing yellow and they were focused on Ember.

Pitch smirked as he walked around the dragon, after about a minute of looking the dragon up and down he let out a little laugh. He never thought Ember would do so good on her first try. "Simply terrifying, well done Ember." The dragon snapped at Pitch's hand as he tried to pet it. Pitch merely laughed and started to grin. "Not bad for your first time, I'm starting to think you could be a natural at this."

Ember grinned back at Pitch, "You'd be surprised at what I'm capable of." The truth was, Ember was even surprised at what she could do.

Pitch turned away from the dragon and back to Ember, he looked at her thoughtfully. Ember almost wanted to shrink back into the shadows the way he was looking at her, though he was technically her father she was still scared a little scared of him. After another minute of the scrutinizing looks, Pitch finally spoke.

"Perhaps it's time I taught you how to give a nightmare." Pitch watched Ember's eyes light up. Ember grinned and nodded her head in agreement. "Then come along." Ember held on to Pitch again and they disappeared into the shadows. Not even a second later Ember found herself standing in a tiny pink bedroom with band posters plastered to the wall. A crown shaped nightlight was plugged into the wall to illuminate the room, casting shadows everywhere.

Ember landed perfectly this time, but almost tripped over her own feet. She tried her best to keep a laugh from escaping her, and turned to see what Pitch's instructions were. Pitch was standing tall over what seemed to be a little girl, probably about ten years of age at the most. She had a golden unicorn prancing above her, it was dream sand. Sanderson Mansnoozie had already been through this town, so it was the best opportunity to create a nightmare. Ember walked over stood beside Pitch, wondering what he would do next.

"Ha ha, unicorns. How typical." Pitch looked malicious as he spoke, making Ember almost cower. Pitch silently laughed as he poked his index finger through the unicorns stomach, a smirk appearing across his face. The unicorn crumpled, and slowly manifested into one of Pitch's nightmares. The little girl shifted uneasily in her bed, and tears streaked down across her face staining the pillow beneath her. It made Ember remember how she used to wake up screaming and crying from nightmares. "Know, it's your turn." Pitch turned to Ember and roughly grabbed her shoulder disturbing her thoughts, Ember was barely able to stifle a cry of pain. Then they disappeared into the shadows once more, and wound up in another bedroom.

This time the room was almost a shade of sky blue, with grass paintings at the bottom of the walls. In fact the walls seemed to be painted to look like a jungle. Ember looked down at the sleeping child as soon as Pitch let go of her. It seemed to a young boy, no more than eight years of age. He had dream sand above his head as well, except it was in the shape of a dinosaur. Of course its a dinosaur, Ember thought as she rolled her eyes. She remembered how Pitch had simply tainted the dream, and wondered if it was truly that easy.

Pitch watched with thirsty eyes as Ember tainted the dream. As soon as Ember had tainted it, she felt a darkness inside her stir. She smiled as the dinosaur crumpled and turned into a blood thirsty T-Rex, she rolled her eyes. What a foolish fear to have, Ember thought. Ember had never really liked kids, she never knew how to handle them or how to react. This was much easier, making them cry instead of trying to comfort them. The darkness she felt inside her almost wanted to make her laugh, bust she just smiled instead.

The kid screamed and started to move frantically, tears rolling down his eyes and soaking his pillow. It made Ember jump at the sudden scream, and she backed into Pitch. Pitch merely chuckled and put both hands on her shoulders. They disappeared back into the shadows, and wound up back on the same roof as when they had started.

Pitch laughed and picked up Ember and spun her around. "You are a natural my dear! You have great things ahead of you if you keep it up." Pitch proclaimed as he set Ember back down, Ember laughed as she stumbled to regain her balance. The adrenaline coursed through her vanes, she was surprised at how well she had done. Gold shown in both their eyes, making them look almost like animals. "Know, I leave you here. You may do as you wish, practice, explore your powers, do as you wish. But I give you one word of advice. If you run into a Guardian, don't stick around. When you feel tired of practicing, come back to the lair. I'll be waiting." With that Pitch lightly touched Ember's face and smiled. He then dissolved back into the shadows and left Ember alone.

Ember wasn't exactly sure what to do with herself, so she took Pitch's advice and started to practice.