"Damnit North!" All heads turned as a familiar Aussie accent filled the air, the sound of the doors slamming behind. "Again! Damn lucky you are Easter isn't for a while and I'm ahead you dill! This better be damn impor-why are Jack's little ankle-biters on the couch?" Sophie swiftly attached herself to Aster.
"Bunny!" she exclaimed, looking happily up at the six foot one rabbit.
"Well, you got big ya pesky little ankle-biter." He said, ruffling Sophie's hair. "At least Jack hasn't gotten you calling me kangaroo. Speak of the damn show-pony, where is he? Napping in a snow drift?"
"We'll explain once the others arrive." Said North as a swarm of small humming bird-like fairies and Toothiana descended from the window.
"Hi!" she said brightly, zooming about the children. "Cupcake! Your last tooth was beautiful! So clean and white! Somebody has been brushing and flossing!" Sandy silently drifted in, looking slightly miffed his work had been interrupted.
"Alright, we're waiting on Frostbite." Huffed Aster.
"Actually, this is about Jack." Said North. "Jamie, explain." Jamie rose, the other two joining him.
"Jack hasn't been around Burgess lately." Said Jamie. "I know he has other places to bring winter, but it's not like him not to visit. Then the storms started. The clouds haven't broken for days, and not a flake of snow has dropped that isn't in hail or sleet form."
"Frosty is probably mad about something and stewing somewhere in the woods." Scoffed Aster.
"I checked his pond, and he wasn't there." Said Jamie. "No sign of him. Then, under the tree he usually sleeps in, I found this." He set the claw on the table, and heard Tooth gasp. Sandy had an exclamation mark over his head, and Aster's ears flattened.
"Shadow Beast." Snarled Aster. "Pitch used the damn things to destroy my species. I thought they were wiped out centuries ago!"
"Apparently not." Said North. "We think Pitch has kidnapped Jack."
"Frosty wouldn't stand a chance against a whole pack and Pitch." Said Aster. "The claws are treated. They are black, but NEVER this shiny." Sandy dropped a bit of sand on it, and like poison it spread up his whole arm. Sophie touched it, but only managed to stop the spread. It took all the children and Guardians to remove the shadows, a look of horror on all heir faces.
"He poisoned their claws with fearlings!" gasped Tooth.
"What's a fearlings?" asked Sam.
"A fearling is a dark creature near impossible to kill." Said Aster. "They slowly poison a body until the victim becomes weak and dies. But, Jack is a spirit. He can't die. In us, it weakens our minds and brings out the darkest side of us. If Jack has one of he's going through him, he's in big trouble. Hell, we're in a bloody good state too if Pitch gets Jack to join him." Suddenly the moon began to glow.
"Manny!" said North. "You have something to offer us?" In the center of the stone crest, the moonlight shone on the opal. Shadows began to form, all eyes watching expectantly. First came the image of Jack, barely outlined and bright. Then pitch appeared, six claws lashing out and striking Jack. Slowly the dark color of the other shadows filled the shadow Jack until he fell to the floor and became a black mass like Pitch. The scene changed to blizzards and ice, entire oceans freezing over.
"But how do we FIX it?!" demanded Aster. "We need some help with this one! Hell, I'll take the Groundhog!" Many showed the shadow of a flower being plucked and thrown into a cauldron. Then, a small vial of the concoction was filled. The moon flashed to a fight, and Bunnymund forcing Jack to take the mix, which restored him to the slivery white being in the light.
"Manny being awfully specific." Said North. "Bunny, YOU must cure Jack." Tooth noticed the three human children exchange a knowing look.
"Why do I have to do it?" asked Aster. "I mean, it's not like I WANT Frosty to be Pitch's slave, but why me?"
"Maybe it's something only you can do." Said Jamie. "Jack says the Moon may not make sense, but he knows what he's talking about." Sandy nodded and patted Jamie on the head.
"That's a snow lily." Said North, looking at the flower Manny displayed in the shadow. "They grow on top of peaks to west. Must be fresh or cure." Suddenly a hissing diverted them to the globe, black sand sweeping over the metal. To their horror, tendrils of ice wound about with the sand, creating shimmering darkness that clung to the globe like cold glue. A yeti yelled, jabbing to a computer screen.
"Pitch is active in Antarctica." Said Tooth. Aster swore.
"Fuck!" he hissed. "Of COURSE! Why is it always snow and cold?!"
"And Jack is with him!"
"Too the sleigh!" exclaimed North, grabbing his swords and coat.
"We're coming too!" said Jamie.
"Absolutely n-" began Aster, thumping his foot, only to be stopped by North.
"The more the merrier!" said North. "This not take long. Too early to attack. Keep defensive. Children safe!"
"I'm not getting in that death trap." Said Aster. North grabbed the rabbit and chuckled.
"Tunnels take too long!" he said, half dragging Aster through the halls, the children trailing after. "Where your spirit of adventure. Don't deny it Bunny. EVERYBODY loves the sleigh!" Aster protested, though there was nothing but yetis to grab on to and Aster had NO intention of smelling like yeti any time soon.
"Whoa!" exclaimed Jamie, the children going wide eyed at the sleigh. It had been repainted and fixed up since the battle with Pitch five years ago, and moon be damned if it wasn't a sight to behold. The children climbed in, practically bouncing in their seats. Aster dug his nails into the wood as North climbed in, holding a portal.
"Ready Tooth? Sandy?" the floating guardians landed in the sleigh and nodded, Baby Tooth latching on to Sophie's shoulder. "Then lets fly!" With a snap of the reins the reindeer rocketed forward, the children screaming happily as they sped through the ice tunnels, through loop-d-loops and cork screws until finally they shot into the light. Aster looked like he was going to vomit, while everyone else squealed and yelled with glee. North passed the reins to Jamie, and stood with the portal.
"Antarctica!" he tossed the ball and a spotless expanse of white was visible through the swirling cloud. Like a flash of light the sleigh disappeared, traveling to the other side of the world.
But, all merriment failed upon arrival. Above were angry black storm clouds, not yet throwing icy storms but one was definitely brewing. Below, a spiky mass had developed, made of ice and nightmare dust. Suddenly a shot of blue rocket from the earth, hitting the bottom of the sleigh. Ice crept around the wood, dragging down the vehicle as it spun around, the children screaming in terror as Sandy held them in with dream sand. With a thud, they landed, dream sand barely breaking their fall.
"If it isn't the Guardians."Aster bristled at the snobbish voice, turning with his boomerangs at the ready. Pitch stood on a platform of ice, nightmares bristling around him.
"I thought we sent you back to the slimy, mould infested wreck-" began Aster.
"You can't destroy fear, little bunny." Said Pitch. "Or, should I say kangaroo?"
"I'm a BUNNY!" snarled the rabbit. "What have you done with Jack?!" Pitch laughed, making all sick to their stomachs.
"Oh good. You brought some children." He said. "The children that ruined my plans. Though, now that won't be happening. You're missing one of your Guardians, brats. I wonder where he could be?"
"You know EXACTLY where Jack is." Said Tooth, fluttering about, but glaring menacingly at Pitch.
"You mean Jack Frost?" he chuckled. "He's long gone, and will never return. My fearlings made sure of that. Jack Frost is dead."
"You can't kill an immortal." Said North. "And we all know it."
"The Jack Frost YOU knew is dead." Sad Pitch. "But my new and improved Jack Frost is very much alive! Good thing you brought the brats, North. I'm sure my Ice Queen would just LOVE to play with them." Shadows moved towards the children, only to be sliced away by Sandy. Sandy puffed himself up, pictures flashing madly over his head. Baby Tooth zipped up, squeaking angrily and pointing at the tall, lonesome sculpture of ice and black sand.
"Oh, you remember." He said, gripping the small bird. "Where little Jack Frost gave me his staff too save your worthless life. But, he's not going to rescue you this time." The nightmares surged forward, the Guardians forming a protective ring around the children.
"Nightmares?" laughed North, slicing through most in a single blow. "Ha! That's not working again Pitch!"
"Who said I thought they could defeat you?" a howl rang through the air, six dark wolves inching forward. Jamie noticed one was missing a claw and shivered.
"It was you." Said Jamie. "You sent those THINGS-"
"You're nothing but an immature brat." Said Pitch as the Shadow Beasts circled them, their smoke bodies rippling with power though they lacked solid substance. "I merely do not take no for an answer. But I am not totally heartless. Yet, NONE noticed I took what I wanted five months ago, when I did my work."
"We DID notice!" said Cupcake. "No snow in RUSSIA, but Jack isn't predictable. We knew something must be up when the storms started."
"Ah, anger." He sighed. "No being has fury like the Ice Queen."
"And stop calling Frostbite a Queen ya bloody-"
"But it's quite fitting." Said Pitch darkly. "After all, you remember your own dead species old terms, don't you cotton tail?" Aster Froze, realization and rage burning in his eyes.
"You low brow, filthy scum of the Earth!" said Aster. "You wouldn't DARE!"
"I manipulated fate." He sighed. "I found a loop hole. And Jack is infecting it without even realizing it. The young and naïve, so pitiful yet so entertaining. Why do you think he is not fighting? Why have we built this fortress of the cold and dark, if there wasn't something there worth protecting? The only shame is it made my torture of you useless, cotton tail. Pity, but it will be oh so worth it."
"What's he talking about Bunny?" asked Sophie. "What did he do to Jack?"
"You're to young to understand, sprout." He said lowly. "But Guardians are not like humans, both in our lifespan and anatomy. We have a dominant identity, but we still have the other within us. He infected Jack when he did, without torturing him first, because he wants something else, and he manipulated fate to do it."
"You Monster!" snarled Tooth, scarring the crap out of the children as she swung deadly quills at Pitch and the beasts, injuring the animals but not hitting Pitch. Pitch grinned, snapping his fingers. The beasts growled, turning to their trapped prey. Pitch took a deep breath, reveling in the fear radiating from the children.
"A little of your fur was all I needed. No sold substance to nightmares, sadly, and you were the best target." Laughed Pitch. "I had my DNA sample. Now, I only needed a powerful spirit, and little Frosty was the PERFECT choice."
"You have crossed line." Said North, impaling the Shadow Beast in front of him on his left sword. "Line that should NEVER be crossed."
"What?" asked Sam, Cupcake looking up at North for answers as well. Jamie gasped.
"He's not…good Lord!"
"Pitch infect Jack early because…" began North, eyes never leaving the dark, smiling figure. "He's infecting an unborn Pooka kit with a fearling. He's creating a true nightmare with Jack as the incubator and Mother."