This chapter can be considered a somewhat short filler chapter as I form the story with the next ones, so sorry if it's not as amazing.
"Jack, get down from there!" Emma called, as I watched her return my playful smile with her own. Nose crinkled, eyes big and bright, that was my sister.
"After I pick your apple," I replied, reaching for the bright red fruit. Apples made that child go crazy, and I found it hilarious how much excitement filled her core over just a simple red fruit. Finally, I plucked the fruit from its branch, as I clung to my own tree limb. Looking at the fruit, I tossed it towards Emma, and watched her scream because of the worm on the back of it.
"Jack, do you like her? I personally think she's one of my finest accomplishments, if I do say so myself," Pitch murmured, his disgusting voice breaking my gaze towards Emma. I watch in horror as Pitch stroked her cheek like a father. But he wasn't. He wasn't even close to that appeal of position.
"What did you do…?" I hissed, reaching for my staff. My eyes were on Pitch, but for some reason I looked back at Emma. Her stare was so cold and so dark. It wasn't her. I didn't believe it was her. I knew it wasn't. But for some reason that face seemed so real. Just as I began to walk and call to her, Tooth stopped me midway.
"Jack, it's not her. It's just a nightmare," Tooth whispered, a sense of calm in her tone. I wanted to agree with her, for just a moment. But it was hard when that nightmare took on a form of my sister. I felt my shoulders slump. My body didn't listen. I couldn't hit her…could I?
Suddenly, a stream on golden sand—dream sand—appeared, reaching for Pitch, gripping him by the waist, and tossed him through the roof. A gaping hole let pounds of snow fall through, causing us to disperse, avoiding the slumps of my own creations. Looking over my shoulder, I watched as Emma leaped off the globe, landing upon the table with a trail of black sand behind her. Tooth was right. It was just a nighmare.
Gripping my staff, I turned; blasting shots of ice towards the nightmares, causing them to freeze into the ground, creating only what was left of the horses. Next, I turned to Emma, and pointed my staff. But I stopped. I watched as Emma placed her hand on the staff. A sense of sympathy entered my mind.
"Emma…?" I chocked, as I reached for her cheek, and for a split second, Emma looked into my eyes.
"Jack…?" she replied, and I smiled, and reached for a hug, but another boomerang flew past us. Bunnymund's boomerang.
"JACK , DON'T!" Tooth screamed, and she raced towards me, gripping my body against hers. From above, I saw what was truly happening. Emma's stare was back to its cold feel, but in her hands was a black knife, a spear almost. Just like the one that hit Sandy.
"You can't trust that thing, Jack." Bunny called. He was right. Whatever it was, that thing was only taking the form of my sister. With Tooth's support, I aimed for the torso of the nightmare that took her appearance, and shot the ice blast. Time seemed to slow, as I watched the blast hit her shoulder instead.
We all expected the nightmare the burst into sand, because even North and Sandy seemed assured that they got rid of the minor problem. But that's not what happened.
A shriek pierced the air, causing the walls to shake. Whips of black sand twirled and danced around us. Sobbing and screams went with the swirls. I felt my face grow paler that it's normal pale. On the ground, I pinned my eyes on Emma, who was hunched over, grasping her shoulder. Cackling mixed with the screams filled the shop creating a haunting harmony with Emma's voice.
"Oh Jack. Did you think she was just like the others…?" Pitch hummed, his shadow circled the workshop. Tooth zipped towards Bunny, Sandy and North, setting me down near her. We took our stance as Pitch appeared from the shadow of Emma. "Tsk, Tsk Jack. You should know better than to hurt your sister."
"That can't be Emma. It's not her." I stated. At the corner of my eye, I saw Tooth retreat, and Sandy seemed to know this by taking her spot. Pitch let out another maniacal laugh.
"Are you sure, Jack? Look at her." he moved his arm, revealing Emma. "She's the splitting image of her, isn't she?" Emma's eyes turned to Pitch, raising her good arm. The words she said made me want to scream.
"Papa." She cried. Pitch sent me a cruel smile, causing me to squeeze my staff harder. Quickly, he lifted Emma, and turned to the moon
"Manny. Take this as my warning." Pitch turned to Emma, and several nightmares circled to two. For a split moment, our eyes met. Emma's purple hue was distant from the one I saw in my memories. And they were gone.
"How did he get stronger that quickly…?" Tooth asked, placing a confused look upon her face. North turned to Manny. Manny was silent for a moment, before shining brightly. North nodded, completely understanding him without us hearing a single word.