Bright light surrounded Jack. Opening an eye he found himself in his room, tucked into bed and dressed in his pajamas. Looking around Jack spotted the source of the bright light. The sunlight streaming in through a hole in Jacks ceiling shined on an ice crystal, ricocheting onto the ice covered walls bathing the room in a nearly blinding light. Looking away Jack moved the ice crystal which turned down the brightness.
"Now I can believe when someone says they were blinded by the snow - or ice."
'So it was all a dream?' letting out a yawn, Jack stretched before moving out of bed and towards the halls. Exiting his room, Jack looked around to see his nanny-mare resting against the opposite wall facing his room.
"Morning Nanny," Jack stretched as greeted the nightmare, "So care to escort me to the kitchen." Nanny got up from her curled position and followed Jack. Passing through a couple more halls lit by the newly made black sand skylights, it wasn't as bright as it could be since the black sand gave the glass a natural shade cover from the sun but it was enough that the fire lamps were not needed. It had taken three months to talk Pitch into creating them, and maybe also Jack tripping on rock and nearly falling off a staircase which also lead to railings being added.
In the ten years that Jack has been living with Pitch his favorite places to be would be the library and the kitchen, when Pitch is cooking since he's not allowed to anymore. On the days leading up to summer, or when his Guardian duties were done, Jack usually stayed in, reading to the Nightmares that were watching him or studying some of the many books Pitch gave him.
Jack sat with his back against a nightmare reading a book on Norse mythology when Pitch entered the room. Watching the boy silently before speaking into the silence.
"An idle mind is the devil's workshop." Jack had paused and looked up at Pitch before answering back.
"And that is a perfect excuse to prank Bunny - thanks!" Saving his place, Jack had then proceeded to visit the eldest Guardian whenever he wasn't playing with the children or studying for Pitch.
Entering the kitchen Jack looked around the newly remade room. Cabinets had been carved into the wall on the right of the entrance along with racks for display plates and hanging pots. An island counter nearly took up the center of the kitchen. The island had a sink and space for food placement. A stove counter was right across from the sink with two more carved counters separating it from an ice box, however only Pitch was allowed to use the stove. The first and last time Jack tried to use the stove - well there was a reason the room had to be remade and also why he has a nanny-mare.
Searching through the cabinets, Jack began talking to Nanny.
"Nanny, you're never gonna believe the dream I had, actually maybe you will." Nanny huffed and nodded her head at his back.
"Alright, so I dreamt I was on my way to Sandy's Island and that I had almost given you the slip," Nanny nipped at Jack's ankle as he passed her on his way to his version of a freezer.
"I said almost okay, I didn't get passed the forest borderline, yeesh." Pulling out several fruits and vegetables Jack set them on the counter ready to be chopped into a salad.
"So anyways Pitch finds me and while he starts scolding me for being out late somehow the Guardians show up, and then I start falling asleep while Pitch starts ranting to them about something or other, but you wanna know the weirdest thing." Nanny gave a neigh and bobbed her head for him to continue.
"I actually fell asleep, in the dream! I didn't even get to leave the forest." Jack let out a groan as he chopped his fruit. Not even in his dreams could he go see Sandy's Island.
"That does sound like a weird dream, but ya know Jackie I have one that'll top that - you living with Pitch."
"YAAH!" Jack leapt onto the counter dropping his fruit salad, holding the knife out in front of him Jack gaped at the site of Bunny leaning against the kitchen's entrance.
"Bunny, what are you doing here!" Bunny just stood there amusement clear in his eyes.
"Jack are you alright!" Pitch fell out of a shadow on the ceiling wall in front of Jack landing face first in the ground, now Bunny couldn't help but let out a laugh.
"Jack! Sweet Tooth!" North and Tooth followed after, Tooth flying into the kitchen at top speed and stopping before she could fly into anything. North sort of tumbled in after her, Sandy was the only one not present.
'He must still be asleep.' Bunny mused while he stayed where he was looking between Jack and the their new guests. Glaring at his Nanny, Jack gave a huff.
"You knew!" Nanny just shook her mane and rose from the floor even for a nightmare she looked as if she was laughing at her charge. Going up to him she butted her head against his arm and bent down to eat his fallen breakfast.
"Wow - thanks Bunny, my nanny got my breakfast." Bunny just laughed while watching Pitch lift himself from the floor.
"You lost your brekkie 'cause you jumped onto the counter." Getting up Pitch stifled a groan as he lifted Jack up off the counter and set about cleaning the top and pulled out fresh ingredients to make enough breakfast for their guests and themselves.
"Alright, why don't you lot go get ready and when breakfast is set we'll talk about last night hmm?" Everyone started heading out, Bunny started walking out soon after Jack left. "And Rabbit," Bunny looked back to where Pitch was situated. "stay away from Jack." with that said Pitch brought his knife down on the carrot and started chopping away.
Shivers ran up the Pookas spine as he rushed after the retreating group.
Jack hung back from where Tooth and North were not knowing what to say to them.
"Sorry about your food." Jack jumped a little before seeing Bunny next to him.
"What's wrong, you're usually not this jumpy." Jack chuckled.
"Yeah well, it's not everyday that I see you guys in my home." Out of the corner of his eye Jack saw North and Tooth flinch, Bunny's ears drooped a little before they stood back up.
"Yeah, well now you know how it feels to have unexpected guests, huh." Jack just smirked at Bunny and shoved his arm against Bunny's.
"Hey, you have heightened senses, you at least know when someone's in your home." Bunny laughed.
"This is true." Both Jack and Bunny laughed before walking into North and Tooth.
"Oof! Oi!" Looking around Jack tried to see what made the two Guardians stop. In front of them stood two different animal figures that looked to be made of Pitch's sand and Jack's frost.
"Ivory, Chocolat, you're back so soon?" Jack went up to one of the animals and began petting them.
"Look at you, you guys are so adorable!" Jack nuzzled one and then the other.
"Uh, Jack." Looking up Jack blushed and continued to kneel beside the sand animals.
"Oh, these are my pets. They're made of the nightmare sand and my snow." Jack said looking proud at his handy work. "Pitch has been helping me control my powers and he had told me to start small so Ivory was the first thing I tried to make. She's supposed to be a bobcat, and Chocolat over here, he's supposed to be a german shepherd; be careful with him. I made him by myself using some of Nanny's sand so he's a little bit more aggressive-protective than Ivory." As emphasis Chocolat growled at Bunny when he tried to move closer.
"You know what, aggressive or not none of these type of animals like bunnies!" All guardians laughed at their friend, who just glared at them. They all tried ignoring the slight sting about learning that Jack had needed help with his powers and none of them noticed.
"Oh, Jack they're beautiful - how long did it take you?" Tooth asked flying near the trio but keeping enough space between Chocolat and herself.
"It took about three to four tries to create Ivory, but I had Pitch help me with her; Choco here took a bit more time since I was working on him with Nanny's help, since that was the only way to get sand without Pitch, I think he only took about a week or two though." Petting each animal once more, Jack stood and with newly acquired guides split their group.
"Okay, come on. North, Tooth, Chocolat and Ivory can show to your rooms and back towards the kitchens. Bunny follow me, your rooms across from mine. If we're late for breakfast Pitch will send his Nightmares to bring us to the tables half dressed or covered in soap - trust me." Without being told twice all Guardians headed down to their own rooms, North and Tooth following Jack's pets when the time came.
Following behind Jack, Bunny got unnerved by the silence. Jack Frost is anything but a quiet being.
"So, how did you know which room I was staying in?" Ignoring the odd heat in his cheeks, Jack answered.
"I didn't, I just knew which rooms we had designated for you guys." Nearly missing a step, Bunny looked at the winter spirit with surprise.
"You mean, we had rooms made for us in the bogeyman's for a while!?" Nodding his head Jack continued to stare forward. Fed up with the boys antics, Bunny grabbed Jacks arm and pulled him back.
"Jackie," Jack looked towards Bunny for a moment then back down the hall. "why didn't you tell any of us?" Jack tried to look away from the accusing stare of his friend.
"I was going to, but you guys were still healing from the battle with Pitch and then there were the meetings and the twins…" Putting his hands up Bunny made a slow down motion.
"Wait, what is the business with the twins?"
"What do you mean, Bunbun?"
"Pitch mentioned something about the Spring and Summer twins." Pain flashed in Jack's eyes and Bunny couldn't help but feel hurt himself. "Jack why didn't you mention that they were harassing you?"
"I did Bunny, or at least I tried." Shrugging his shoulder, JAck tried to free his still captured arm.
"What do you mean tried?" Letting go of his arm, Bunny watched as Jack struggled to form words.
"Bunny, I went to the Warren. Multiple times when the arguments got too heated but every time I got kicked out by one of your egg golems, at North's all I got was Phil giving me a cup of cocoa and telling me to ignore them in his own way, or that North was busy to help at the time, Tooth - well you know Tooth, and Sandy -" Jack looked pensive for a moment before his eyes widened and looked at Bunny as if he had the answer to how life worked.
'At least he doesn't look hurt anymore.'
"Bunny, do you know where Sandy's Island is located?"
'Way to change the topic Frostbite?' Bunny looked away to think and remember if he'd ever visited their sleepy friend in his home. There was that one time.
"You know I think I have once, why?" Narrowing his eyes Bunny looked towards the now jumping spirit.
"How would you like to join me tonight for a little late night flight?" Jack asked biting his lip hoping that Bunny will accept and help him.
"Why?" Honestly, it's not like Jack could do any real damage what with Sandy's Island being made up of dream sand but all the same Jack is a well known prankster.
"Because I've been trying to go to his island for forever!" The yell Jack released surprised Bunny.
"You really want to visits Sandy's?"
"Yes!" Jack shouted, making Bunny jump a little. "Oh my gosh, I have been to the North Pole and in Santa's personal Workshop, I have been to the Tooth Palace and helped return the children's teeth, I've visited the Warren and helped make the awesomest Easter eggs there could have been - except for the whole Nightmare trampling and Pitch being evil at the time thing going on," Bunny's ears flicked for a moment until he focused on the fact that Jack had said 'awesomest Easter eggs'.
'Hah, so that's your favorite holiday, eh mate.' hiding his smirk Bunny tuned back into what Jack was saying.
"-pen to live with the bogeyman in his LAIR! And out of all of this the only place I've ever seen Sandy, is on a cloud of dreamsand, and all of a sudden I hear Sandy has a whole ISLAND as his home, with mermaids and dolphins visiting him - did I mention the mermaids!" Bunny laughed at the flabbergasted look on Jack's face when he said this. Bunny couldn't help the smile that worked itself onto his face.
"You've been babysitting Sophie haven't you." Laughing as he remembered the little ankle-biter being excited about the thought of mermaids in the sea. At Jack's nod Bunny thought back to what last night's conversation.
'Jack is technically still a child.' Shaking his head Bunny asked Jack a different question.
"How long you been dreaming 'bout Sandy's Island."
"Since I heard about it the year before last, everytime I try to find it Sandy puts me to sleep, my nanny-mare keeps me from going anywhere after meetings except home, and Pitch keeps me studying Norse and Greek mythology." Another expression of frustration passed over Jack.
"Alright, I'll help you get to Sandy's." Jacks face lit up and without warning the frost spirit jumped and wrapped his arms around Bunny's neck.
"THANK YOU!" Chuckling Bunny hugged Jack back, catching sight of Chocolat and another Nightmare near them Bunny quickly let go.
'I wonder if they actually would drag us back to the kitchen?'
Pitch stood in the kitchen chopping onions and bell peppers while thinking about Jack. Nanny came up to nudge his side, putting down the knife Pitch laid his hand on the Nightmares main.
"Come on, we both knew this day would come - and if you ask me it came later than I expected it to." Without realizing it tears came to his eyes, touching his cheek Pitch stared at the salt water as if he'd never seen it before. Of course he knows what tears are, he makes little kids cry all the time for their parents or siblings, he's seen Jack shed a few whenever he got into an argument with that blasted oversized rabbit. However, he has never shed a tear - maybe there was a time when he did, from before he became Pitch Black, but now. Turning to Nanny, Pitch wrapped his arms around her neck and touched his forehead to hers and let the tears fall, she would be the only one to see.
"Everythings going to be alright, we're going to be alright." Letting go of his nightmare Pitch dusted off any sand and washed his hands before taking his knife up again. The Guardians won't be long and breakfast still needs to be cooked and the table set.
'Too much time has passed now, the Guardians can't take Jack from me. They can't take my son!'
