Permafrost

by Millie M. Banshee

After Pitch breaks Jack's staff it's was never the same. It's losing power. So MiM tells Jack about another staff called the Permafrost. But the staff is locked away in a fortress set with 7 dangerous traps. It is a suicide mission that he must face alone. Well, not completely. It seems Pitch as the key to the vault. Can he be trusted with Jack? Alone? Short story. Only 2 chapters.

2. Chapter 2

Permafrost

Two Shot

(A/N Well, not as big of a turn out as I thought this would be.)

SOUNDS/sounds

Thoughts

MiM talking

000000000000000000000000 LEVEL 4 MIRROR MIRROR 00000000000000000000000000

Finally it looked like Jack was at that critical moment. Pitch materialized his black sand scythe as he watched Jack struggle to mentally sort out what had happened to him. This was the perfect opportunity that Pitch could not afford to pass up. He approached Jack from behind the mirrors with a large toothy grin on his dark face. Oh, the poor dear looked so terrified. He was so going to enjoy this.

I might as well put the poor boy out of his misery, Pitch mused, raising the scythe up over his head. This is the end for you, Jack Frost!

Pitch swung but fell short of his target. The black blade hovered over Jack's head, wavering slightly. Pitch gritted his teeth as he looked down the oblivious winter spirit. It would be so easy to just slice the boy's head open like a melon, so why couldn't he? Nothing was physically holding him at back from cutting into Jack's skull. Pitch gripped the scythe's handle hard in frustration.

He could do this. He raised the large scythe again, glaring at Jack. It would only take one quick motion and Jack Frost, the Guardian of Fun, would be no more. He went to swing but quickly hesitated. This was stupid. He went to try for a third time but stopped himself yet again. How hard could it be to kill this nuisance? Jack Frost was nothing more than a pest. Grant it the boy didn't deliver the final blow, Sandy did that, but Jack made those brats believe in the Guardians. That was grounds enough to kill him. So what was stopping him?

Dammit, Jack, why now? Pitch growled mentally, letting the scythe hang at his side. I'm this close to killing you and yet… Ugh… Just, dammit! I can't believe I'm doing this!

In all honesty, Pitch really disliked Jack. He really truly did but he wanted to see just how far Jack was going to get on his own. It was iffy if Jack would even make to the vault looking at the boy's current state. He glanced down at his scythe and shook his head. The large black scythe crumbled to nothing. He was that close but he couldn't do it. He was actually starting to root for this brat. What if Jack did make it to the vault? What then? No one has ever made it past that point because no one ever could without him.

"Tch. Lucky," Pitch chided in a low whisper.

He let out a heavy sigh and disappeared into the mirrors. He'd give the boy a chance. But what if he did make all the way through and get the Permafrost? That would really sully a lot a future plans. With the Permafrost in Jack's hands there was no chance of Pitch ever being on top again. He hit himself in the head. What on earth was he actually thinking? Okay, that brat really did have to die. He materialized the scythe again and moved in. He was going to do it this time for sure. There was going to be no underdog story. There was no way he was going to let Jack come out on top. He raised the scythe up, right over his head. He had a clear shot like he did before from just being the sheets of crystal. This was going to be a piece of cake.

But just before Pitch was about to bring down his scythe Jack let out another large blast of energy. There was a loud crack followed by the chamber shattering. That was not expected. The crystal mirrors took the brunt of the blast, which Pitch was thankful for. He stood there in shock and Jack slowly sat up straight, still gasping for air. What the devil was that? It wasn't until Jack started to get to his feet did Pitch realize he was still holding his scythe up ready to kill the boy.

He quickly tucked it behind his back as if to hide but realized he couldn't really hide it. He quickly let it fall back to sand just as Jack turned around face him, with his head down. Pitch had a sheepish grin on his face as he looked at Jack. Hopefully, Jack was none the wiser. Well, that's what Pitch was hoping for anyway. Pitch swallowed a small knot in his throat.

"Wow… What a mess," Pitch said, looking around at the crystal that littered ground. "Uh, are you all right? Jack?"

The boy slowly lifted his head to look at him. He looked angry, really angry. He also looked like he was on the verge of tears as well. Pitch really didn't know what happened but he had a feeling it was a head-game of some sort. That was something that he was all too familiar with. Jack looked like he wanted to yell something at him but he clinched his teeth and turned sharply on his heel. He then stormed back down the corridor, leaving Pitch a little befuddled as to what just happened. He might want to keep his distance for a while.

Jack was pissed to put it bluntly and he was confused and hurt emotionally. The last person he wanted to be near right now was Pitch. He might end up hurting the guy for something he didn't even do. That illusion/hallucination whatever it was hurt worst of all. He would rather face the salamanders again than be confronted with something like that again. And he just might, seeing as how he was still lost in the bowels of the maze. He came back finally to the fork and went down the only remaining corridor. There had to be another trap in this horrible maze. It twisted and turned like the other corridors had before. He'd run into mirror once and a while. But he noticed something was up when he was seeing other things in the maze with him. Was he alone? Was it Pitch?

He stopped briefly to see if he could get a fix on it. He saw nothing but his many reflections. He sighed in frustration and started navigating the maze again. He then spotted it was Jamie? What was Jamie doing here? No, it was a trick. He looked in another direction at saw Cupcake. This wasn't going to be good. Soon he was surrounded by all the children he had befriended in Burgess. He felt his heart start to race again. He didn't know how much more of this he could take. He needed to move now before something happened but the moment he took a step forward the images showed all of the children dead and covered head to foot in blood and ice. Black sand swirled in the background along with snowflakes.

"STOP IT!" Jack yelled, clutching his head. "None of this is real! It's not! Don't show me this!"

He started running again only succeeding in hitting more mirrors than passageways in his panic. The images just kept following him no matter what turn he took. He finally turned down another corridor and all the children vanished. Was it over? He was shaking badly and he was bleeding from his head, nose, and mouth a bit. He looked started to look around to see if that was end. It wasn't. His blue eyes finally fell on a young girl with brown hair and brown eyes. His heart seemed to just stop and drop into the pit of stomach.

"Oh, no…" he whispered, looking at the image of his sister before him. "Not you… No…"

"Why?" the girl asked, her eyes filling with tears. "Why did you leave me, Jack? Why?"

"You're not there," he barely breathed, slowly shaking his head.

"You were my big brother nothing bad was ever supposed to happen to you," she cried. "Why didn't you come back home?"

"I couldn't! When I-I fell through the ice I—" Jack tried to explain.

"You were always lying and playing tricks," he wailed, collapsing to her knees rubbing her eyes. "You still are! I was so scared when you left me and mom was so heartbroken!"

"Let me explain, please," Jack pleaded with the girl. "After I fell through the ice… I… I change. I mean look at me. On top of that I didn't even know who I was and—"

"Stop lying, Jack! Just stop it," she bit out through her sobs. "Nothing was fine after you left! Nothing!"

"I'm not lying to you. I would never lie about something like this," he said, feeling his eyes start to tear up. "Especially not you! You just have to believe me."

"That's wh-what you said just before you… You…," she cried even louder and harder.

"I know, I know," he said, moving towards her. "Everything going to be fine. I promise."

"Th-then why didn't you…" she cried as Jack knelt in front of her. "It wasn't s-supposed to end like that! We should h-have gone home—together."

"Yes, we should have but things happened," Jack reaching and put a hand on her cheek. "I can't change that. No one can. But everything happens for a reason. It just takes more time to see it than others."

"That still d-doesn't change the fact that y-you left," she stated, reaching out and hugged. "Please, Jack, d-don't leave me alone again. Come home w-with me. Mom will be so h-happy that you've returned. Pl-please don't go away."

"I won't go anywhere," Jack said as she squeezed him a little tighter.

"You promise?" She asked, looking up at him.

"Cross my heart and hope to—" he paused. Hope to die…

"What's the matter?" she asked, looking worried.

"No… I can't," he said, gently pulling her off him.

"Then you don't promise?" she asked, about to break down again. "I knew you were a liar! How could you!"

"How can I make a promise to a lie?" he whispered, starting to shake again. She looked confused. "I didn't walk out on you, I died. I died to make sure you lived! You're just a memory that's been twisted into something else! I can't come home because there is no home to go back to. You're the lie! You're not real!"

"No, Jack, don't," she cried trying to grab him but Jack quickly got back up to his feet. "Please! Please don't leave me!"

"You're just an illusion! You're not my sister," Jack yelled and ran off.

He heard his sister's voice call after him but he wasn't going back. More than anything he wanted to see his family again but not like this. Not in some twisted placed like this. He kept moving until he found a lighted doorway. He was unsure at first. Was it the exit or was another parlor trick? There were no more exits to be had. That had to be it. He quickly dashed towards and soon he found himself standing on an old swing bridge with Pitch waiting on the other side. Was he out? Was he truly out?

"It took you long enough," Pitch called out to him.

Jack let out a shaky breath and started across. The old bridge creaked and swayed under his weight. He slowly but surely made his way across the bridge. He was happy to be away from the maze. He collapsed at Pitch's feet, still shaking. That was the worst place by far. He couldn't imagine the final three and what they were like. He wiped his blooded face off on his jacket as he tried to regain a sense of normalcy.

"What happened to you in there?" Pitch asked, looking down at Jack.

"I don't want to talk about it," Jack's words came out harsher than he meant them to.

"Fine, don't," Pitch snorted, turning on his heel and walked off to give Jack some space.

I don't think I can do this anymore, Jack sobbed, burying his face in his hands. That was a large chunk of all my fears and doubts just thrown in my face. What else do I have to deal with in this horrid place?

Pitch waited by the exit, propped up against the wall with his arms crossed. He looked Jack and just scoffed. The brat was actually crying. How ridiculous. How long was he going to have to wait? Pitch guessed they must have been down here close to three days now. He was only guessing.

I knew I should have been rid of him when I had the chance, Pitch hissed mentally. I could've been on my way home by now.

It was a good long while before Jack felt well enough to get up and continue. He slowly dragged himself towards the exit and Pitch. Jack paused as Pitch pushed off the stone wall. There was a bit of tension between them. Jack just shook his head and walked through the carved out door. Pitch followed right after him into a new tunnel.

000000000000000000000000 LEVEL 5 SOUND OF MADNESS 000000000000000000000000

The mood between them was indeed sour. Jack wouldn't even look or even acknowledge Pitch. They two continued on down the dark tunnel not uttering a single word. It took them a while but they came to another chamber. Jack was more than apprehensive to enter the solid stone chamber. It was fairly large and domed shaped. Every little sound echoed loudly on its walls. In the middle sat large dark purple crystal. It just seemed to be floating in midair.

Pitch walked in first looking at just how oddly shaped the chamber was. He noticed that Jack still hadn't budged from the door. He turned to see Jack just hanging out the doorway and little bit slumped. Was the boy giving up? His resolved seemed so strong before but now... Oh, this was priceless. Jack was indeed broken. Pitch smiled.

"What's the matter, Jack?" Pitch leered, walking back to the boy. "Don't tell me you don't wish to continue."

"I-I…" Jack seemed to be a bit more than nervous.

"What?" Pitch snorted. "Either come in or we abandon this quest. Those are your only options."

Pitch was right. Either finish what he started or just turn tail. This was the fifth level. After this level was the vault and two more traps. Suddenly the thought of two more traps sounded like a lot more. Was he going to go through with this or not? His better judgment was yelling at him to leave but his pride was saying continue. He didn't know what do.

"Make your choice or I will make it for you," Pitch threatened, glaring down at Jack. "Now, Jack!"

Jack clinched his teeth and slowly placed a foot inside the chamber. He'd continue. Pitch turned back around and noticed that the crystal was glowing a little bit. How strange. He continued deeper into the chamber with Jack quite a few steps behind him.

"UGH! WHAT IS THAT SOUND," Jack yelled, collapsing to his knees and holding his ears shut. "IT HURTS!"

"What sound?" Pitch shrugged, looking at the boy a little more than confused. "I don't hear anything."

Jack was clearly in pain but there was no sound except for the boy's painful screams. Pitch looked back at the crystal. Maybe it was emitting some sort of sound that he just couldn't hear. He really liked his immunity. While he studied the crystal he never noticed that Jack was back on his feet hold his staff and aimed it right at him. Noticing the lack of screams Pitch turned around just in time to not get iced. What in the world was that for?

"What do you think you're doing?" Pitch snapped as Jack just stared at him. "Well, answer me!"

He only got another blast of ice shot at him. Pitch avoided it but Jack was determined to hit him. What the devil was going on? Pitch quickly materialized his scythe and took a swing at him with his staff. Pitch blocked it only to get knocked back by a blast of wind. Pitch went sailing hard into the wall. He got back to his feet just time not to get hit by another jet of ice.

"Jack, enough! Stop this assault," Pitch yelled at him, holding out his scythe. "What's wrong with you?"

Pitch studied the boy and realized something. Jack's eyes were glassy and he was bleeding from his ears. Pitch's immunity kept from falling under the crystal's spell but he was still venerable to Jack. Father Winter really was determined that no one got their hands on the Permafrost; even if it meant killing the key. He needed to get out of there. He went to head towards either the entrance or the exit but both had vanished. He was trapped in there with Jack.

"Great," Pitch grumbled. "Either I kill you or you kill me. Well, it's not going to be me!"

Jack's face showed no emotion as charged Pitch again. Pitch held up scythe block the attack only problem with Jack shot straight up and attack came from above. Pitch was knocked back again rolling along the ground. He shook his head and turned to see Jack moving towards him again. Oddly enough a long blade of ice had formed on the end of his staff but like Pitch's scythe. Well, now this was going to be interesting. He had never seen Jack use this move before. He even wondered if the boy knew he could do that in the first place.

"All right, so this is how you want to do it?" Pitch sneered as he charged Jack. "Then let's do it!"

The two swung at each other, both blades struck hard. Jack was making this a clear challenge for Pitch. Okay, he was curious to see what Jack had. Pitch threw a cloud of black sand at Jack but Jack blocked by freezing it. Pitch swung again but Jack blocked it with his new ice scythe. Pitch sent another wave of sand at Jack. Jack jumped back and swung his scythe. The blade came down close to Pitch's arm. It cut the fabric a little. Jack really wasn't playing around.

Pitch blocked two more strikes but he wasn't expecting what came next. Jack, with his left hand, had somehow managed to make an ice whip that was barbed to boot. He swung the long thread of ice around faster than Pitch could blink. The ice whip hit hard along Pitch's right arm. It tore into him and knocked the sand scythe out of his hand.

"AAAAAGH!" Pitch let out a scream as he grasped his badly damage arm, blood dripped to the floor. "JACK, STOP!"

Jack didn't even acknowledge him as he went to swing again with ice whip. Pitch quickly jumped back as the whip came down with a mighty crack on the floor tearing it open. This was unreal. Jack would never fight like this. That crystal was to blame. Pitch needed to get over there and destroy it. Only problem was Jack was standing in his way. He'd have to fight to get over there. Pitch looked at his damaged arm. He didn't have a choice. He formed the scythe again.

Just as he was about to go for Jack but Jack sent out a wall of sharp ice spikes. Pitch dodged those but just barely. He needed to get to that crystal or kill Jack. He might be able to get close enough so he'd have to come up another plan. Jack held up his ice scythe and swung down. A blast of pressurized wind hit Pitch knocking him back and cutting him open in areas. Pitch rolled out of the way just as Jack brought the ice scythe down where his head had been. The blade cut into the stone floor. Pitch was beginning to wander if that was even ice.

He got back to his feet and sent a wave of sand at Jack again. Jack blew it around with the wind and sent it all back at Pitch. Pitch quickly dispersed it but found an ice whip speeding towards his face. He fell over backward just as the barbs scratched the bridge of his nose. That was close. A little too close. Pitch rolled over to get back when he realized he had a clear shot of the crystal. He formed a sand arrow and took aim. This was going to end here and now. He fired at the crystal but the arrow went straight through it.

"I can't believe I'm saying this but damn my immunity," Pitch growled making another arrow and aimed it at Jack. "If I can't get rid of that crystal I'll have to get rid of you! No hard feelings!"

Actually there were quite a few hard feelings. Pitch released the arrow and Jack knocked it back with his ice scythe. For someone about to lose all his power he sure had enough to spare. Pitch formed his own whip and wrapped around Jack's foot. He quickly swung Jack up off his feet and hard the ground. Pitch formed his scythe again and went to bring it down on Jack's head. What goes around comes around. Jack rolled out of the way like Pitch had done earlier. Jack then swung a leg under Pitch. Pitch slammed to the ground as Jack grabbed his scythe and swing down. Pitch blocked with his own and not a moment too late. The tip of the blade was only about an inch from his eye.

"Jack, listen to me! Fight this," Pitch bit out, pushing back as hard as he could. "This isn't you! This isn't how you fight!"

Jack didn't budge, instead the tip of the ice blade started to grow. Pitch sent up a wave of sand, finally knocking Jack back. He just barely managed to save his eye. Pitch had to do something to stop this for good. Jack was showing abilities he had never demonstrated before. Pitch dodged another blast of ice. Jack wasn't making it easy to get too close to him so killing him wasn't going to be a walk in the park. But, wait… He turned to look back to look at the glowing crystal. What if he got Jack to destroy the crystal? That might just work but he'd have to survive long enough to accomplish that.

"Okay, Jack, let's end this," Pitch said, running back towards the crystal. C'mon, follow me!

Jack quickly raced after Pitch using the wind and cut him off. Pitch slid to stop. Yeah, this wasn't going to be a walk in the park. Jack sent another blast of pressurized wind at Pitch. This time however it little ice needles in it. Pitch covered his face as he was pushed back by the wind. The ice needles dug in deep. Pitch let out a hiss of pain as he moved his arms out his face.

He charged at Jack and swung once again his scythe. Jack countered with is scythe and jumped back to use the ice whip. Pitch dodged. Left! Right Left! Pitch quickly formed his own whip again managed to strike Jack across the chest knocking him back closer to the crystal. Pitch wasted no time charging Jack again. Jack was back up and sent another large blast of ice at Pitch. Pitch jumped up just missing the attack. He brought his scythe down just missing Jack head. The boy turned around. This was it. Pitch's back was up against the crystal and Jack was facing him. But Jack was a lot closer than he had planned. Too close actually.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Pitch yelled fiercely at Jack as Jack raised his scythe up over his head. "Do it if you're going to do it!"

Jack brought the ice scythe down in a flash. Pitch felt the blade dig a little his shoulder as went avoid the blade but he had succeeded. Jack had managed to damage the crystal and a good chunk was taken out of it. Pitch stumbled back holding his shoulder. Jack let out another ear piecing scream as he collapsed to the ground holding is ears again. Jack was clearly writhing in agony. Pitch collapsed to the floor using his scythe to keep him sitting up. Hopefully, this would all stop soon enough. It took a minute or two but Jack stopped screaming and moving. Pitch let out a long breath looking at the motionless Jack.

"Well, that happened," Pitch moaned, looking at his injured arm. "I never knew you had that in you."

Jack wasn't moving at all. In fact Pitch wasn't even sure if the boy was breathing. He painfully got back to his feet and made his way over to Jack. He turned the winter spirit over to check to see if the boy was still with him. He was but barely. He had a feeling that the crystal really scrambled the boy's mind. This had to be it. There was no way Jack was physically or mental well enough to continue. More importantly was Jack aware of what just did? If he was that would be… Cruel.

"Well, we can at least make it to the vault," Pitch moaned, using his good arm to sort of pick Jack up and used Jack's staff a walking stick. "We can sort things out from there."

Pitch half carried half dragged Jack out of the exit that had reappeared. There was another tunnel leading down. Pitch sighed as he looked at the unconscious Jack. There was no telling what Jack was going to be like when he wakes up. Hopefully this would be the end of it. Jack would realize this was a foolish quest and be done with it.

00000000000000000000000000 THE VAULT: POWERLESS 0000000000000000000000000

Jack slowly stirred from his deep sleep. Everything hurt, especially his head. What happened? Did he get kicked by a mule? He slowly opened his crystal blue eyes. The area was unfamiliar to him. Where was he? He slowly moved his head from side to side trying to get an idea of where he was. He was underground? How did he… Oh, yeah… He was looking for the Permafrost with Pitch. Yeah, Pitch… Oh, good grief, Pitch! Everything just hit him like a ton of bricks. What did he do? He was only getting bits and pieces of it right now… He had tried to actually kill Pitch. The last image he had was digging the tip of his scythe into Pitch's shoulder.

"I don't imagine you slept too well," Pitch's voice rang out from around the corner.

Pitch stepped out soaked in a good bit of blood and wearing makeshift bandages out his robe. Jack felt sick to his stomach as Pitch walked up towards him. He really did try to kill Pitch. All those things he did. All those weapons and attacks he made. He had no idea he could do that and even if he did he wouldn't use them in a fair fight.

"Is your brain scrambled or fried?" Pitch asked, stopping just in front of the young Guardian.

"I am so sorry," Jack said, looking like he was about to break down again. "I never meant to—"

"Don't start that again, boy! There's no point in wasting more energy in crying," Pitch snapped, kicking the boy in the foot. "It wasn't your own actions. Now, listen to me close, Jack. Just around the corner is the vault. I can open it if you'd like or we can do what we should have done earlier and leave. Personally, I'd like to leave and you should do the same."

Pitch was clearly pissed off and Jack couldn't blame him. Perhaps it would be best to just leave. Not a single soul has ever made it past the vault door and maybe it should stay that way. No wonder why MiM didn't want the other Guardians down here. There wouldn't be anyone left. Jack hung his head low and clinched his jaw.

"Either leave with me or stay here," Pitch stated. "If you choose to stay I'll open the door for you but I will no longer have any need to accompany you. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes," Jack slowly nodded.

"Then what do you choose?" Pitch asked as Jack slowly looked up at him.

"I… I'll go back," Jack muttered, painfully getting back to his feet.

"Wise choice," Pitch said with a heavy sigh. "Let's go."

Pitch started for the door. Jack sighed looking around a bit. Well, this was obviously never meant to be. He picked his staff up from the wall and started to follow after Pitch. He had failed horribly at this. Pitch had already started back up the tunnel. Jack picked up his pace and caught to Pitch. For once Jack was following behind.

"Don't beat yourself up about not getting in the vault," Pitch grumbled. "No one has ever gotten farther than that. It's not like you broke a record."

"No…"Jack drawled but suddenly stopped moving.

"Hm? C'mon, Jack," Pitch said, turning around. "I'm rather fed up with this place."

He noticed that Jack was just staring down at staff like something was wrong. Jack quickly struck it again the side of the tunnel. Nothing happened. In fact the staff wouldn't even frost over to his touch. No… Jack hit it again against the tunnel wall. Nothing. Sheer panic danced on the boy's face.

"Looks like you used it all up," Pitch stated, walking down to Jack. "Not much of a Guardian anymore, are you?"

"Just rub in a little more salt, why don't you?" Jack bit out, his panic turned to anger. "Go ahead! You wanted something like this to happen! So go on and gloat!"

"Enough!" Pitch yelled, slamming the boy hard into the wall and held him there. "Now you just stop that! Right now! I've been where you are! It not good a feeling but this not how to move on! Trust me on that!"

"Okay, then what am I supposed to do?" Jack snapped, pushing Pitch back. "Even when I didn't have believers I still had my powers! Now I have nothing!"

"Yeah, well join the club and get over it," Pitch growled. "I've been stuck at the bottom for centuries! I wasn't always down there and when I fell, oh yes, it hurt! It hurt like hell! But I managed to pull myself up! Grant it, I'm not where I'd like to be but it's better than where I was! Even after you and the other Guardian ran me into the ground not that long ago I still carried on! I don't give up and I'll keep trying until I get what I want!"

Those last few words struck Jack in a certain way. He blinked with a look of puzzlement on his face. Pitch noticed that gears were turning in young spirit's mind. Was this a good or bad thing? Pitch arched an eyebrow as Jack seemed run over something in head.

"You know, Pitch, you're right," Jack said with a weak smile.

"I am?" Pitch asked, a little confused. Then something dawned on him. "Oh, no! Nonono! Don't you even think about it! Jack, don't do this! That's a very bad idea! I thought was already established that!"

"What do you care you're not sticking around," Jack snorted, going to turn back around but Pitch grabbed his arm and starting pulling him up the tunnel. "Let go of me! Dammit, Pitch! Let go!"

"Are you suicidal? Honestly, are you suicidal?" Pitch snapped as Jack jerked his arm back. "Listen, I know you've hit rock bottom but getting yourself killed is not the way to go about it!"

"You're the one that said—"

"I know exactly what I said but don't do this," Pitch barked, clinching his fists.

"I thought you wanted me dead," Jack drawled, looking Pitch in the eyes. "So what's it to you?"

"I… That's off topic," Pitch bit out.

"No, it's not! Watching me die was the main reason you came, it wasn't so that you could unlock the vault for me," Jack pointed out.

"That last trap really did fry your brain, didn't it?" Pitch hissed, poking Jack in the head. "Listen to yourself!"

"Are you sure it didn't fry yours? What happened? Did… Did you suddenly grow a conscience?" Jack asked, swatting Pitch's hand away. "Don't tell me you're starting to care about my wellbeing?"

"I'm not! Nor would I ever! I'm looking out for myself as always," Pitch replied sharply. "If you died the other Guardians would put my head on a silver platter!"

"I'm calling BS on that," Jack spat out. "You're not just looking out for yourself! Admit it!"

"You want to get in the vault, fine, if it will shut you up," Pitch roared, stomping back down the tunnel. "You're crazy for doing this and I'm crazy for letting you in!"

The two made it back to chamber in record time. They rounded the corner and before them were two large massive doors made of stone, steel, and ice. They stretched up high towards the ceiling a good 100 feet or so. So this was the vault? Jack's mouth hung open as they approached.

"Oh, wow…" Jack hummed his eyes open wide at the sight of the massive doors.

"I really hope you know what you're doing," Pitch said, walking to a pedestal that stood to the left of the vault. "The last two traps are the worst of them all and without your powers…"

"I know…" Jack said, looking down at his old crook. "Trust me, I know."

"I'm going to ask you one last time to forget about this mission and go home," Pitch said, dusting off the old pedestal. "But you're not going to listen, are you?"

"Nope," Jack huffed as Pitch found what he was looking for.

"Stubborn mule. Okay… The key is my voice. I'll start the spell to open it but it's a bit long," Pitch said, looking at the faintly painted words before clearing his throat. "To those that seek what lies within, be forewarned my dear friend, inside awaits what you do seek, but please listen to me while I speak, while the vault hold a treasure plenty, for you I have no pity, for while you march on to your death, I warn you will draw your final breath, two more traps will seal your fate, turn around now before it's too late, should you win this final trail, I bid you go with a smile, for if you gain the Permafrost, then I know it is I that have lost."

The massive doors rattled and creaked before there was a loud boom. A large rush of air exited the vault doors as they opened wide. The gust was strong enough to knock back Jack and Pitch. The air spelt old and musty. Clearly no one had been in there for a very long time. Both of them got up but only Jack walked towards the door. So this was it. The final two levels and he had lost the last of powers while he was mindlessly fighting Pitch.

"All I can say to you is good luck because you're going to need it," Pitch said, tuning around.

"You don't want to watch?" Jack joked but Pitch just kept moving away. "Wait… You are really are leaving…"

"I told you once the door was opened I had finished my duty. I have no other reason to remain," Pitch answered just before he rounded the corner.

Jack stared into the dark abyss of the vault. So this was it. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea especially now that Pitch just walked out on him and that he a used up every bit of his powers. Jack clinched his staff hard and began making his way inside. He had to try. Maybe, just maybe, the fates would be kind to him. Well, of course it was just wishful thinking.

0000000000000000000000000 LEVEL 6 ALL THAT GLITTERS 00000000000000000000000

Jack stepped in and had a good look around. The space was large, empty, and very dark. It wasn't too late yet. He could still turn around right now a catch up with Pitch. All the fears from earlier started to creep back in. His body tensed as he struggled to swallow the knot in his throat. He gripped his staff even harder as he slowly made his way into the darkness.

The farther he got from the door the darker it became. He no longer had his staff to light the way and he wasn't blessed with Pitch's ability to see in the dark. When he turned to look at the door it seemed far off and shrouded in mist. He could still… No, he got farther than anyone before him. He was going to continue.

He let out a deep breath and pressed on. Soon the door was no more and Jack was wandering blind. He kept his staff out in front of him to feel for any steps or drop offs. Just how big was this vault? It felt like he was going around circles again. Finally his staff struck something. He reached out and down finding a set up steps. He carefully made his way up about 30 or so steps when he hit the landing the chamber burst into a golden light. Jack had to cover his eyes.

When his eyes had somewhat adjusted he noticed that he was surround by mountains of gold and gemstones. Jack's mouth hung open as he took in everything around him. He had only seen such riches in movies. Even the air around him seemed the sparkle with gold. He went to pick up a small ring but pulled his hand back. This had to be one of the traps. It would be wise not to touch anything.

Jack continued on along the small path that weaved between the giant mounds of riches. That path was getting narrower and narrower the farther back he got. He practically had to tread on his tiptoes to avoid touching anything. At least he still had his gift of agility. Just how deep was the vault and how much gold did de Winter have? It was finally getting to that point where no matter where he stepped he was going to touch some piece of treasure. He stood on his tiptoes looking at the path now littered with gold and gemstones. He was going to have to face the trap sooner or later; he couldn't just walk out as he had hoped.

Jack looked down at the treasure that surrounded his feet. He lightly pushed a well-polished opal with his staff. It scooted along the ground a little ways. He waited for something to happen but there was nothing. Maybe he was just being paranoid. He looked back down at the opal and his staff. That was weird. He picked up his staff and looked at the end. About two inches up he noticed that the tip was made out of opal. That wasn't good. He took the hook part of his staff and set it down in one of the mounds. It touched some of the gold and an emerald. The staff took on gold hue that soon became studded with little pieces of emerald.

"Uh-oh…" Jack said, looking at everything in a new light. "Talk about the Midas touch… This is not a good place to be."

So every little piece of treasure was cursed. This was not what he had expected. He was thinking that some sort of monster would come out of the gold if he touched it but this was much worse. The treasure had narrowed so much there was no way he keep moving forward but there was no other path. He no longer held the power of the wind to just fly up and over it. If he wanted to continue he'd have to start climbing over the cursed mounds. Or he could just turn back. This trap was obviously designed for the greedy. He was thankful he hadn't touched that gold ring earlier. He'd have a solid gold hand and as it was he'd have a pair of solid gold legs if he tried to climb. He was at a stalemate with a room of gold. This was foolish.

Jack hung his head low and let out a sigh. He should have left the first time with Pitch but he stupidly got his hopes up again. He was so close and yet so far. He'd have to go back now. He just had to be careful not to become a jewel incrusted gold statue. He clinched his jaw and let out an aggravated grunt. Yeah, he was mad. He managed to make it farther than anyone before him and he had nothing to show for it. He'd have to go back defeated and without his powers. What was he going to tell the other Guardians? For 300 years he helped bring in the winter all over the world but now…

"Dammit," he growled out, looking at the large gold mound before him.

Perhaps this was going to be the most foolhardy thing he had ever done but he wasn't going to give up. He took off his tattered jacket and tore it into pieces. Hopefully his coat would turn to gold before he did. He wrapped his feet up the best he could. He'd have to make a run for it. He had a feeling that the door was just over that mountain of gold and jewels. The climb looked steep and he knew he had no room for mistakes. He'd have to do this in one shot and he had to move as fast as he could. The less contact the better.

Jack let out a sharp breath as he looked at the challenge before him. This was it. In a flash he was off. The climb was shallow at first but it quickly became steeper the higher he went. His coat was already nearly solid gold and jewels and the weight was slowing him down. He used to his staff a couple of times as a pole-vault. Grant it didn't get him far but he help propel him farther up the slope, little by little. When he finally made to the peek he wasted no time to have a look around. His used his new "gold shoes" as a pair of odd skies and slid down the opposite side.

Jack used this crook as a bit of a rudder to steer. He didn't want to look down at his feet in fear of finding them as large block of gold and gemstones. When he hit the bottom of the mound he fell forwards, skidding along the ground. He quickly got back up but found he could barely move his legs. He had turned to gold just below his knees and when he hit the ground a few parts of his torso and arms also started turn into whatever it touch. He then spotted the door. But his feet weighed so much now. He felt like he had cinderblocks strapped to his feet.

He slowly but surely he made his way to the door but he took notice that the areas affected by the curse were spreading. He was hoping that by getting out of the chamber that the curse would subside. At least that's what he had hoped. He was only 6 or so feet from the door but it felt more like 60. Every muscle was starting to harden. He could barely move his legs to get to the door. He was so close now to that final level. He wasn't going to stop. He had to keep moving forward for as long as he could. It couldn't end here! Not like this!

It finally got to the point where Jack couldn't even hold up his own weight. He collapsed back the treasure littered ground. He struggled to crawl along the floor but so much of him had already turned to gold or jewel that he could barely move. He was only like 2 freaking feet now from the door but he could no longer move. Everything froze in place as she felt the weight of the gold creep along his face. Soon he noticed that his vision was going, along with his hearing.

"JACK!"

000000000000000000000000 FINAL LEVEL: INNER DEMONS 00000000000000000000000

Jack awoke with a start, gasping for air. He grabbed his legs and arms in a panic. There was no gold or gemstones to be seen anywhere on his body. How did…? He had pretty much turned solid so how could he be here? Actually, where was here? He turned to his left and saw the door leading to the Midas room as he decided to call it. He never did make it to the door so…

"I would make some golden boy joke but that would be in very poor taste," a voice said, behind Jack.

"P-Pitch?" Jack breathed, looking up at the Nightmare King. "But I thought you…"

"Left? I made it as far as the crystal maze and decided to see this catastrophe through to the end," Pitch said, leaning on the wall with his arms crossed. "Apparently I'm immune to even the traps here in the vault. I honestly didn't think I was going to be."

"Is that's why you left in the first place?" Jack grumbled getting back to his feet. "Were you scared that your immunity ran out?"

"No…" Pitch drawled, sarcastically.

"Then why did you?" Jack inquired a bit forcefully.

"Just be thankful in the fact that I came back and saved your butt," Pitch bit out. "I could have just left you to remain as a pathetic gold statue!"

"Whoa! Are you saying I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth?" Jack snapped.

"Yes," Pitch hissed. "Technically I helped you cheat when I was to remain a neutral party, remember? So don't be ungrateful!"

"I'M NOT," Jack yelled.

"WELL, YOU CERTAINLY HAVE A BIZARRE WAY OF SHOWING GRATITUDE," Pitch yelled back louder.

"FINE, THANK YOU," Jack yelled again.

"YOU'RE WELCOME," Pitch also yelled.

"WHY ARE WE YELLING?" Jack hollered at the top of his lungs.

"I DON'T KNOW," Pitch yelled with a shrug.

Jack then started to laugh and hard. This boy had more mood swings than Pitch could shake a stick at but it was a rather odd moment. Slowly Pitch started to chuckle as well. Jack was laughing so hard he had to wipe the tears from his eyes. It took a couple of moments before they could breathe again.

"Ow, my sides," Jack smiled.

"Well, now that that's out of our system…" Pitch said, catching his breath. "You ready to continue and get this over with?"

"Yeah," Jack nodded his smile fading a bit. "You still haven't answered why you really came back, though."

"I did tell you. I came back to finish watching this to end and see if you get killed," Pitch stated but Jack shook his head. "Do I have to explain everything little thing to you?"

"If you had wanted me dead you would have left me as a statue," Jack pointed out, picking up his crook off the ground. "Be honest, Pitch, why did you come back?"

Pitch drew in a breath and slowly let it out, scratching the side of his face. Jack was waiting for an answer. Well, this was awkward. How to answer Jack was rather tough. So, he just turned on his heel and quickly hurried down the corridor. Jack stood there a moment a little confused.

"What? H-hey, stop avoiding the question," Jack snapped, running after the older spirit.

By the time Jack caught up to Pitch they were in the doorway of the final trap. The room was circular and composed of different tiers all leading up to a white glowing crystal obelisk at the very top and center. So this was it? This was the final level he had to face. Jack felt nervous again. He doubted Pitch was going to raise a finger this time to help. He didn't even expect Pitch to help him at all during this. Jack let out a sigh started to walk through the door, only to have Pitch blocking him with an arm.

"What?" Jack asked, looking at Pitch.

"I need to show you something first," Pitch said, making a come gesture and walked back up the corridor and pointed to a small plaque. "I saw this as we came here. I didn't think too much of it at first but…"

Jack looked at the plaque. He wasn't that greatest reader in the world. He slowly read over it trying to figure out what it said. He was starting to feel embarrassed for taking so long to read it. Pitch seemed to notice the boy struggling and sighed.

"It reads: To the traveler that stands before this plaque, I hope you don't expect any slack, you have reached the point of no return, now you must show me what you have learned, here you must stand and face your ghost, for it knows what hurts you the most, to you this is my very final warning, pray you live long enough to see your next morning," Pitch read aloud, before turning to Jack. "You do understand what it says, right? To face your own ghost?"

"I'm assuming my inner demons…" Jack whispered, casting his eyes to the floor.

"Oh, very good," Pitch grinned. "You're not so dense after all. Can you fight yourself, I wonder?"

Jack dropped his shoulders. This was his final test to get the Permafrost. He had a feeling it was going to be far worst then the mirror maze and that maze really did its damage. How was he going to face his inner most self? Everyone is their own worst enemy. That's a widely known truth but he had to try. There was no going back now. He came this far he had to continue.

Jack drew in a shaky breath as he finally lifted his head and started back down the corridor. Pitch was right on his heels. They both stopped at the entrance again. Jack knew that once he stepped in he was going to have to prove that he was a better than all his doubts, fears, and shortcomings. How he was going to do that he didn't know but standing around looking into an empty room was getting him nowhere. He quickly mustered up his courage and pride and took that fateful step into the final camber.

The moment he was all the way in he felt like his very essence was pulled from the top of his head and out through the soles of his feet in one swift motion. He stumbled felling dizzy. He landed on his hands and knees, gasping for air. What was that? He felt strange.

"Oh, no, Jack," Pitch called as he went to go to the boy but wall of heavy ice sealed off the door. He started pounding the ice but it didn't even crack. "Jack! Jack, can you hear me? I can't see anything!"

"Neutral parties must remain neutral, Black, you aided him once that will be enough interference from you," a voice rang out from up above. "Besides he's your enemy after all, there's no sense in being chummy."

Jack knew that voice all too well. It was his own voice but the tone was different. It was deeper and a very threatening. Jack lifted his head to look around. Everything was coated in ice and snow. He got up to his feet and slipped falling back to the ground. That was weird. He shouldn't slip on the ice and why was he so cold all of a sudden. This didn't make any sense. He was actually starting to shiver. Why was this happening to him?

He turned to look at the door where Pitch was locked out of the room. He focused on his reflection in the ice wall. No, that couldn't be right. Could it? He looked down at his hands they were a nice bright healthy tone with the exception of his fingers turning a touch red. He reached up and plucked a strand of hair from his head. It was brown, a nice earthy brown. His heart started to race into his throat. He was… He was…

"Human. Hahaha! Well, this really does give me the advantage," the voice cooed in his right ear.

Jack was then shoved across the floor. Jack landed hard as he slid along the ice. He sat back up to see a version of himself that made him shiver for a different reason. This was the person he feared the most staring him in the face. There was a menacing grin on this dark version's lips and a look of malice in his dark blue eyes. He wore the trademark hoodie but the color was a dark navy and the pants were solid black. His hair also wasn't a silvery white, it was more like a rich pewter gray.. In his hand was the old crook but altered into the ice scythe again.

"Surprised to see me? Well, don't be I've be hiding inside you for years," Dark Jack leered. "I'm everything you hated about yourself. The self you wanted to keep locked away and never show to anyone. Well, I don't want to be locked up anymore. I'm here and I plan to stay—out. Here are the stakes and I'll put them in simple terms so you can understand. You beat me, which you won't, you get to walk out of here with the Permafrost, but if you fail, which you will, you will cease to exist and I will become an actually entity. Grant it I can't get my hands on the Permafrost, but hey, at least I won't have to live in your subconscious anymore."

"But the staff it's…" Jack said, getting back his using the old crook.

"Your staff, not mine," Dark Jack snorted, spinning the scythe around in a well-practiced manner. "I'm fully powered and ready to get this slaughter underway! You allowed me to practice earlier on Pitch now I get to try all this stuff on you."

Dark Jack aimed the ice scythe at his better counterpart. This was not going to be good, not at all. Jack had no advantage whatsoever. He was now back in his human body and that made him weak to just about everything, especially the cold and ice. His feet were starting to burn already from the freezing temperature of the ice. This was not going to be an easy task.

A moment later Dark Jack sent a blast of ice out at his counterpart. Jack barely at time to get out of the way but another blast was soon sent he way. He barely missed getting hit by the one as well. He didn't see the ice whip until it was too late. He slid across his bare back tearing his back open. Jack collapsed to the icy floor screaming in pain.

"Get up, you lazy louse! I'm going to play this out," Dark Jack hissed, kicking Jack in the side. "GET UP!"

Jack painfully got to his feet, holding his staff out in defense. Dark Jack smiled at his good half in a mocking way. Oh, yes… He wasn't going to give this weak creature a quick end. He was going to drag it out until Jack was begging for it. He was going to break him down bit by bit.

"That's better," Dark Jack grinned, slashing with his scythe.

Jack jumped back to avoid getting cut but he noticed small ice needles burrowing into his skin. He grunted in pain and tried to pull them out. Dark Jack then came in with another swing of the scythe. Jack hit the ground to avoid the scythe and its needles. Those needles that were still in skin dug in deeper. This was in no way a fair fight. Jack rolled out of the way as the scythe nearly sliced his head open.

"You still got your reflexes at least," Dark Jack commented as Jack got back to his feet. "But they won't save you. You're struggling just to stand up straight on the ice."

"Shut up," Jack snapped at his evil twin.

"Oh, what's the matter don't want hear about how weak you are?" Dark Jack mocked, forming the ice whip again. "How 'bout I cut your ears off so you can't hear me anymore."

He swung the whip around and brought it towards Jack's head. Jack ducked again but he could feel the barbs scrap along his scalp, taking hair and skin with it. Blood quickly started run from his hairline.

"Well, I'd guess you'd call that a close shave," Dark Jack laughed. "Oh, do be careful. Blood is a nasty thing to get in one's eyes. Kind of makes it hard to see."

Jack then suddenly took off and tackled his counterpart to the ground only to get kicked off. Both Jacks got back to their feet, well, one did, the other floundered around a bit to get his balance back. Dark Jack didn't like that last attack. Grant it, it wasn't much of one but he was knocked clear off his feet.

"Lucky move," Dark Jack hissed, sending a blast of ice at Jack.

Jack dodged one blast after the other but he did finally slip. A blast of pressurized wind him hard. It cut straight into his leg. Jack went down, holding a gaping wound in his left leg. Blood coated his fingers and tripped onto the ice. Dark Jack walked over to him and knelt down to look at his handiwork. He smiled watching Jack try to scoot away from him.

"Bit by bit, my friend, I will tear you part," Dark Jack said, reaching out to Jack's throat and started from ice around it.

"Y-you know…" Jack shivered, looking his dark side in the eyes. "It's a nasty th-thing to get blood i-in one's eyes."

Jack pulled his hand from his leg and slung a good helping of blood into Dark Jack's eyes. The ice spirit stumbled back as he tried to remove the sticky red substance. Jack picked up his crook again and hooked it around Dark Jack's throat. Using all his weight and strength he managed to spin his dark counterpart around on of floor before releasing him like a Frisbee. Dark Jack slid until he slammed into the wall. He wiped the last of the blood from his face just in time to see Jack come at him with his staff raised, ready to beat the hell of him. Dark Jack quickly manifested his ice whip again and swung it around. With one loud snap Jack's staff was severed in two.

Jack slid to an unsteady stop as he looked at the severed end in his hand. The hooked end was several feet from him. Dark Jack got back up to his feet and practically growled at his polar image. Jack took a weary limp back from his approaching counterpart.

"Powerless and now weaponless," Dark Jack mocked, ripping the bottom half of the staff and ripped from Jack's hands. "This just isn't your day."

Jack went to punch his twin but was quickly blocked by an opened palm. He hand was quickly started to freeze over. Frostbite was possible. His feet were already past the point of burning, they were numb and starting to turn more purple than red. Jack was then shoved back to the ground onto his wounded back.

"Oh, you're making this too easy for me," Dark Jack said, placing a foot on Jack's middle and freezing him to the floor. "You're too damn nice. That's your problem."

"R-release me," Jack ordered, trying to break the ice from around his middle.

"No," Dark Jack hummed. "Oh, this is just too much fun but that's what we like, isn't it? Fun? It's going to be so much fun when I destroy the other Guardians. Slow torture just like what I'm doing to you. Especially, dear sweet Toothiana. Yes, she will be the topping on the cake. Just think what I can do with her."

"I-I won't let th-that happen," Jack yelled only to get kicked in the face.

"Shut up! You know what I'm talking about, don't you? But not in the sweet tender way you would do it," Dark Jack said, as Jack spit out blood. "No, I'd just take it and enjoy it while she screams for me to stop."

"You…" Jack choked.

"Kind of hard to talk with all that blood in your mouth," Dark Jack smiled, smacking him in the face. "So keep your mouth shut. I already told you, you can't win. There is no scenario where you come out on top. You're no saint, Jackie. You've had a bad streak in you a mile wide since you were old enough to understand what a lie was. You're a trickster. Mull that over and let it set in. You destroy everything you touch. You're a failure!"

"N-no, I'm not," Jack stated, still struggling under the ice. "I-I am no failure! I m-made it this far, d-didn't I?"

"Only because Pitch cheated," Dark Jack bit out, pointing at the door. "You should have remained as a statue!"

"Th-then you wouldn't b-be here now," Jack mocked, with a sarcastic grin. "Be gr-grateful…"

"What? Oh, don't even start that with me," Dark Jack hissed, smacking Jack again I the mouth.

"Wh-why? Because I'm n-not the most gracious p-person out there I-I know that," Jack stated. "I l-like getting gratitude I d-don't like giving it v-very often. That's s-something I'm just starting t-to understand since I became a Guardian. I was gr-grateful to Pitch but I was also r-resented having to thank m-my own enemy. I-I wanted to pr-prove I could do on m-my own."

"But you couldn't, could you? That just shows how weak you are," Dark Jack grunted. "You had to rely on someone else to help you."

"Th-that's not a w-weakness," Jack snapped only to get his mouth hit again but with the staff this time.

"Keep talking like that and I'll break your jaw," Dark Jack warned with a bit of a snarl.

Jack paused, looking up at his inner demon. A good amount of blood was pouring out of either side of his mouth. He was having to spit out as much blood as he could to keep from chocking on it. He began to realize something. Whenever he pointed out the truth, his counterpart didn't like hearing it. He wasn't completely helpless. Words could be a weapon if used correctly. He smiled looking up at his dark side.

"What are you smiling at?" Dark Jack inquired with a drawling tone. "It's creeping me out. Stop it."

"Th-there's nothing wrong with r-relying on others that w-want to help you," Jack grinned. "I-I just didn't l-like the idea of w-working with others because I-I was scared of responsibility a-and commitment. I got use t-to relying on only myself and d-doing things my way. I-it's a habit I'm still f-fighting with. Not everything c-can be done alone."

"What did I say about keeping your mouth shut?" Dark Jack spat out with venom, about to kick Jack again in the mouth.

"The tr-truth hurts, doesn't it? I-I'm greedy and s-selfish at times. I can a-act like a real brat. I-I carry a lot of pr-pride with me to the point th-that I come off as being c-conceited at times. Th-that being s-said I don't like cr-criticism," Jack belted out only to get hit in the mouth again.

"Shut your damn mouth," Dark Jack growled as Jack tried not to choke on his blood.

"COUGH! I-I also can get mad wh-when I don't get my w-way. I don't always sh-show it, instead I hold i-it in," Jack spat out. "But I-I have a wild t-temper COUGH! when I'm f-finally able let loose and sh-show it! I like to p-pick at people and belittle th-them when I get the ch-chance! I like to make p-people angry because I f-find it fun! Like Bunny, I-I enjoy aggravating him b-because I know I can! Is it r-right? Probably not b-but that's just who I a-am! COUGH! I've told m-more lies then I care to a-admit not just to other p-people but to myself j-just so I can justify m-my actions and make me f-feel better! I also have s-some confidence issues s-so I put up a bold fr-front to keep out any u-unwanted criticism! And I h-have my own fears th-that I fight with daily!"

"You don't know when to shut up," Dark Jack yelled, putting the tip of the ice scythe under Jack's chin.

"I-I've always had a rambling m-mouth, that's something I've always kn-known," Jack stated, through a clinched jaw. "It's g-gotten me in trouble b-because I say what I'm thinking f-far too often. When I w-was younger I couldn't k-keep a secret to save m-my life and I still b-backtalk others."

"I said: shut up," Dark Jack snapped harshly pressing the tip of up into Jack's skin. "I'll cut out your entire jaw! I don't want to hear any more of this nonsense!"

"But m-my biggest fault COUGH! i-is that I'm scared o-of myself and what I-I could potentially do," Jack said, feeling tears start to run from his eyes. "I-I have the power to m-make people happy and h-have fun but COUGH! I-I also have the power to destroy a-and hurt others. Always a-at the back of my m-mind I think about what I-I can do to people COUGH! e-especially when I get mad. O-oh, I've thought of s-some really nasty th-things. But I have a str-strong enough conscious that k-keeps me from committing th-those vile acts. I keep you l-locked away so I d-don't become just like you b-but you're always COUGH! in there a-and you will c-come out from time t-to time! I'm not a-a saint and I'm n-not perfect. I'm a brat a-and a showoff. I like b-being COUGH! the center of attention a-and causing a raucous! I-I admit all my faults a-and accept who I am! B-both the good a-and the bad in m-me!"

"You bastard!" Dark Jack yelled as he rammed the scythe clear through Jack's jaw. "You just couldn't shut up! Now neither of us is going to win! I told you that you would never come out on top! Now look what I had to do!"

Dark Jack took a step back as the ice and snow around him started to break up and evaporate into the air. The ice barrier around the door started to crumble. Pitch was finally able to break through it and step into the chamber. He was greeted by a sight he wasn't expecting. There were two Jacks in the room; one was slowly fading into nothingness along with the ice the other was motionless on the ground. What had happened in here? Dark Jack turned to look at Pitch. He stuck his tongue out in a mocking manner before he vanished completely with the ice.

"Oh, jeez, Jack," Pitch called out, running to the boy. "Jack? Jack…?"

The once proud ice spirit looked human and he was soaked in blood from head to foot. He wasn't moving at all and he didn't even look like he was breathing. Pitch bit his lip. He knelt down and examined the boy up and down. There was a gaping wound coming for the base of his jaw clear up into his skull and he was making a faint gurgling sound. The boy was basically drowning in his own blood.

"Jack, can you hear me?" Pitch asked but there didn't seem to be any life in the boy's earthy brown eyes. "Jack, c'mon… You're this close to get the Permafrost! You can't die now!"

Pitch thought about carrying Jack the rest of the way but that might just hasten his death. The boy was going to die regardless. He was practically on Death's doorstep right now. He turned to look back up at the obelisk; it was now a vivid blue. Curiosity got the better of him. He climbed up the different levels and stood before the 30 foot tall monument. He walked up to the structure and saw a panel cut out of it. He pressed on it slightly as it slid down revealing a compartment; a very empty compartment… There wasn't even a single piece of dust to be seen. Wasn't the staff supposed to be in there? He was pretty sure of it. Grant it, the Permafrost was useless to him but he at least wanted to see it.

"What a waste," Pitch growled with his jaw clinched. "What a damn waste! It's not even here!"

Pitch punched the side of the obelisk in anger and frustration. They went through all that only to find nothing? Had this whole adventure been just one giant setup? Countless fools tried and died to obtain something what wasn't even there? Pitch's blood started to boil the more he looked at the empty compartment. If this was de Winter's idea of joke it wasn't a very good one. He started circling the base hoping there was another opening but there was none.

"I don't believe this…" Pitch grumbled, shaking his head and started back down the tiers.

He stopped and looked back down at Jack. The boy went through all that just for one great big lie. Aleister de Winter really had no intentions of ever giving up his prized staff, not even to someone that had fought as hard as Jack had to earn it. The gurgling sounds in Jack's throat had stopped. Surely the boy must be dead by now. His brown half opened eyes looked distant and unmoving.

0000000000000000000000000000 WINTER AND FROST 0000000000000000000000000000

The space was black and the air was void of all sound. The only thing he was feeling was the icy coldness and a sense of weightless floating. There wasn't even a current moving him about the empty space. He was just there, suspended in the black vacuum that incased him. How long had he been there? When did he get there? How did he there?

Then slowly he started see something small above him. It flashed and floated down from the darkness above. It seemed so bright against the void as though it were a free floating piece of light, perhaps even a falling star. It fell softly on down past his head. More started to manifest, dotting the darkness like little dancing stars. They started to fall around him in a pure white light. Suddenly, the air filled them and they started to form shapes as they landed in the space around and above him. As more landed the void wasn't so dark.

Trees started to show, along with rocks, hillsides, dried grass, and a pond. Everything was covered in a white light that now seemed more like sundrenched snow. He suddenly wasn't floating anymore put resting on one of the small hillsides overlooking the glassy pond. There were two figures standing out on the pond; a young girl and soon to be young man.

He studied them for a moment when he realized that was his sister and himself out on the pond. There was still no sound but the images played on. He couldn't move. It was like he was a spectator just watching it all unfold. There was nothing he could do even if he could. He watched it all unfold from a different perspective. He watched as the hooked his trusted crook around his sister and moved out of harm's way only to land on the small patch of thin ice. In an instant he fell through and was lost under the frozen surface. Time shifted in a why he had never seen before. It was like everything was being fast forwarded.

He watched as his sister tried to figure how to get to him. She then ran off only to return with their mother and some men from the village. They tried to break to through the ice to get to him. Some were even brave to try and dive to retrieve his body. Obviously, none succeeded. The day began to unfold into evening. A small funeral was held with the local pastor standing on the bank along with the members of the village. People left while only two figures remained after the sun had set; his mother and sister. Finally his mother took his sister away out of the cold night air.

He watched as the full moon above rose over the trees and the passage of time slowed again. The light of the full moon blanketed the surface of the icy pond and slowly a small patch of ice began to break a part. From the ice he floated out of the dark water and into the light of the full moon. He was now Jack Frost. It would be a little over 300 years before he would ever join the Guardians. Right now, he watched his younger self first discover his powers, mainly, his first attempt at flying. Yeah, that was a rather rough landing. Eventually, his past self left the pond to go explore the village.

But he remained unmoving as he sat on the hillside, overlooking the glassy pond. What was the point of showing him all this? A moment or two later he felt a present standing beside him. The figure sat down beside him also looking out over the moon lit pond. He slowly turned to see who was beside him. To his dismay it was his dark doppelganger. His double said nothing; he just stared out at the pond.

The air was still, cold, and silent. Time seemed to fast forward again. It changed from day to night and eventually the seasons started to change with the daylight. He pulled his knees up to his chest as he watched everything change around him in rapid succession. It was fascinating to watch but also rather haunting. He could trace how the sun varied in the sky, depending on the season not to mention the phases of the moon. He got a sense of the world spinning as he watched the stars circle around. He could see how storms developed and dispersed. The world just carried on through its normal every changing but predictable cycle. Grant it, it would vary but winter always became spring, spring grew into summer, summer faded into fall, and finally fall giving way back to winter.

"You were close you, you know that?" the double said, scooting up a little closer to him. "You were so very close to achieving your goal. But you neglected one thing."

Jack still said nothing as he noticed that the village was slowly growing closer to the pond and becoming more modernized little by little. He felt his darker side lean up against him and draw in close to his ear.

"What didn't you confess, Jackie?" the doppelganger asked in a low voice. "I suggest you hurry. Once this passage of time stops so does your existence. You're running out of time."

"What didn't I confess…?" Jack whispered, turning to look back at his twin.

"Surely you must know the answer to that," Dark Jack said with a sneer. "You were given a clue, just so you know."

Jack pondered for a while. He confessed all he could think of. So what was he forgetting? There was something… Something… He didn't know. Time seemed to be going by faster now. At this point he didn't care if he no longer existed. He was tired. So very tired.

"Think! Think as hard as you can," his twin snapped, shaking him. "You were given a clue! I can't tell you the answer! C'mon, dammit!"

"I don't think I can do this anymore…" Jack said, knocking his double off.

"Don't start that! Look at me!" Dark Jack snapped, grabbing his double by the shoulders. "You have to complete this! You're dying, which is why you feel this way! You've got to complete this! What is the answer? What do you need to confess? What are you feeling right now?"

"I'm just tired…"

"That's not it! What are you feeling? I can't help you any more than that!"

"Regret…"

"Regret for what? C'mon, Jackie!"

"Regret I didn't win this."

"What else?"

"Regret that I didn't get to do much good for children as a Guardian."

"There's more to it than that! What is it you regret most?"

"Please, just let me be…"

"What is it that you regret the most? TELL ME!"

"I regret not being there for my family and I regret not being able to watch my family grow. I regret in some ways that I died even though I did it so that my little sister could live. I regret so much because I had no memories of who I was until a few months ago. Even if they couldn't see or hear me, maybe if I had known, I could have shown them somehow I was still there. I could have watched over them. I never even got to say goodbye to them or anything. I was just—gone..."

"Is there anything else? Time is beginning to slow down again! You're almost out of time! With all your regrets what else is there? Why do you feel all this?"

"I don't know…"

"C'mon! You need to finish this! You've confessed your anger, your fears, your regrets, and your bad habits. But there is something else! What are they to you?"

"They make me who I am, I guess…"

"There's more to it! What are they to you? Where do they come from? All of these emotions and falts?"

"I don't know! I don't know! I'm a screw up! Does answer anything? I have doubts about myself like everyone else! I-I-I make mistakes constantly! And I do mean—constantly! To err is human, right? That's all I really am, is human! Which you made perfectly clear when we fought! I-I was weak and couldn't really defend myself against you… A sheer force nature… I felt so small and… And…"

Jack paused as he looked at his double. He was on to something, wasn't he? There was a certain look in his double's eyes. Jack mulled over what had said. That was it, wasn't it? He let out a long breath, and rubbed the back of his neck.

"That's it, isn't it? No matter what power I have, I'm still human. I'm going to have good traits and bad traits. I have a choice to do either good or bad. By taking away my powers and letting me fight as my true self I learned what it was like to be an average person again. It's painful and rather humbling to be like that. Especially, going up against a force of nature. Being Jack Frost I was indeed a force of nature and there were times I got careless. I have hurt people, not intentionally of course, but I can abuse my powers at times. I never really did think of myself as such a force but I really was. And a human can't fight such a force and really expect to win. I'm just human but with a power that can help or harm. That power was given to me and I wasn't born with it.. It's what I choose to do with that given power that makes the difference. I need to remember that I'm going to be human in the end and no amount of power is ever going to change that fact. I'm still human but I'm also a force of nature to sum everything up and I have to remember that."

"So you've figure it out, have you?" A new voice said from behind.

Jack turned around to see an old looking man with a long white beard that came down near to his knees. His head was bald and he had a rather large nose. He was dressed in a shimmering white robe with a white fur cape. His skin was pale and his eyes were such a pale blue they looked almost white. In his hands was a very intricate staff. It was so white it had a bluish sheen to it. It was inlaid with fine gold etchings and at the very was a blade that looked like a half a snow flake but was shape more like crescent moon and sitting in the middle was a shimmering blue orb. Was that it? Was that what the Permafrost looked like?

Jack turned back to his double to longer find him at his side. Jack continued to look up at the old man as he steadily walked closer. Jack was finally able to get back to his feet and greet the elderly man. He was a little taken aback by the man's presents. The old man, Aleister de Winter, stopped about 4 feet from Jack and smiled a bit. Jack gave a simple head nod as a response.

"Jack Frost, is it? Jack Overland Frost is your full name," Aleister said, looking the boy up a down. "I must say I'm rather quite impressed. Here I was expecting something else to finally best my fortress. Here I get mere slip of a boy and one who has yet to celebrated his first millennium."

"I'm not following," Jack answered, lightly shaking his head.

"You're still young, Jack, but you've shown more wisdom than others older than you," Aleister stated. "You came here seeking my Permafrost not so much as a way to boost your power but to replace what you were losing. You had no other intention for my Permafrost other than to use it as you had your old crook."

Jack's old staff appeared whole and in Aleister's left hand. There wasn't a scratch on it and it glowed with a vibrant light. It looked brand new, really.

"You don't seek its power. You also learned what it's like to fight a force of nature, which is good, so you know what it would feel like should you even do something you shouldn't," Aleister pointed out as Jack looked shocked.

"I wouldn't in the first place. I want to use it to protect people. I'm a Guardian," Jack stated, boldly. "I could never forgive myself if I did something like that."

"Yes, one of MiM's best and brightest. I can see why he would want you to protect the future," Aleister said with a slight sigh. "You should know that despite your staff losing its own abilities you never really lost yours until the final battle. You have power in yourself that you really haven't even explored. It was that power in you that mended your crook in the first place. Now why haven't you developed them?"

"I… I don't know… I just always relied on using my staff," Jack said with a shrug. "It was there. It was something solid that could just cling to—"

"It was just a crutch, Jack, but now it's time to learn to stand on your own without it," Aleister said as crook vanished like powdery snow in the wind. "Taking the Permafrost means a lot more than you think. Taking the Permafrost means also ascending to a throne."

"Uh…" Jack's blue eyes grew wide and his dropped. "What?"

"I'm sure you know there are other ice entities out there by now," Aleister said, bluntly. "I use to rein over them. I use to keep them in check but there came a time when I could no longer do that. I used the last of my powers to create those traps to safeguard my Permafrost and I used Pitch as the reluctant key to the vault."

"What did happen to you?" Jack asked, crossing his arms.

"A battle I both won and lost. The giants of the north wanted to use my staff to bring about another ice age. I lead an army against them," Aleister stated as the scenery around them changed to that of a battle. "We ultimately drove them back but I was wounded badly. I knew I didn't have much longer to live but I knew I couldn't leave my Permafrost unguarded and without a proper master."

"So you constructed this place as a safe hold?" Jack asked and the old man nodded.

"I knew that one day someone with the right courage, tenacity, and heart would come along and finally earn the right to own my Permafrost," Aleister said as the world went back to the black void. "That being said, even with Pitch's meddling, I think you have earned it as you did actually win the final fight. You know your strengths and you know your weaknesses. When taking this staff you must understand this goes far beyond your duties as a Guardian. It's not just children you protect, but the real bulk of the world. You will have to keep the balance at all times. Other ice entities will challenge you for your position. Don't let them. Show them that you are the new ruler. I would suggest getting in contact with Mother Nature to help start you off. Just don't tell Pitch."

"Why not?" Jack asked, looking confused.

"Hmmm… Well, they have a rather—complicated and muddled history," Aleister said, stroking his long beard. "Yes, it might do you well not to mention any sort of meetings with her."

Jack still looked a bit lost. What was between them that might start a problem? He might just ask the other Guardians about that later.

"Hey, uh, how is it that I'm in this place and you're here with me?" Jack asked, scratching the side of his face. "And just where are we?"

"This is your inner most mind. Here time seems to travel at a normal pace but in reality all of this is happening in the blink of an eye," Aleister said as an image appeared. It was a hazy image of Pitch he looked like he practically standing still. "This is what you are seeing currently but as we are moving at a faster pace time out there seems to have stopped. This is why I'm able to talk to you. Also I am just an imprint generated by the obelisk. I'm just a memory more or less."

"Huh… Pitch looks a little disappointed," Jack mused.

"You do know that you are on verge of death, don't you?" Aleister said as the space around them went back to the growing Burgess and the ever changing days and seasons. "Once the seasons and the days stop moving you finally meet your end."

"Whoa, hold on! I don't understand. If I won then why am I…?" Jack asked rather puzzled.

"You died when you first went from being Overland to Frost and I think it's only fitting the same happens again. It's just a rebirth if you will," Aleister clarified, before holding out his staff. "If you wish to take this staff into your hands you know the responsibilities attached to it. It will help guide you but it is a tool not the source of your abilities. That comes from within you, so master them. And once you've master your own gifts the Permafrost will be your greatest companion. If you decline this staff I can only return to you your life. Not as a spirit of ice but as simple mortal boy, just as you are now. So, will you Guardian Frost take this staff from me and rule with a firm and just hand as I once did?"

The prospect of being a normal, living person again did sound… Well, it sounded tempting. He could interact with others and make even more friends. Hell, he could have his own family but… That would be selfish. He took an oath to protect the children as a Guardian. He wouldn't be able to do that if he was mortal. Not dwelling on that thought any longer he reached out and took the Permafrost. Aleister's old knobby hand drew back and a smile appeared under his thick whiskers.

"Well done. Guard that staff well, Lord Jack," Aleister said, putting a hand on Jack's shoulder. "Keep in mind that no matter what you are still human at heart and all that it entails. You are also a force of nature so choose your actions carefully."

Jack turned to look back at the staff in his hand. He started to feel cold again as the seasons started to creep to stop. It was nearly the end of fall and soon snow started to cover the earth again. Jack felt Aleister's hand move from his shoulder. He watched at the old man just vanish into snow, being blown about by the wind.

Then everything became still and quite. Snow stopped in midair and the wind stopped blowing. Nothing moved one iota. Then the space faded back into the void taking everything, including Jack with it.

0000000000000000000000000000000 KINK VS KING 0000000000000000000000000000000

Pitch scratched the back of his head. What was he to do with the body? He could just leave him here but… No. He might as well return him back to the Guardians. He went to pick Jack up only to have the light from obelisk start to intensify. It was so bright it was physically starting to hurt him. He quickly took shelter in the darkness the tunnel.

"What the devil was that?" He asked as he waited for the light to ebb away.

It took a while but the light finally faded enough for Pitch to reenter the chamber. To his surprise Jack was no longer on the ground bloodied and broken. Instead he was seated quite proudly in front of the obelisk. Pitch was a little awe struck to say the least. It was Jack alright but he was also very much different. His silver/gold eyes took in sight before him still almost not believing.

Jack's was still had his usual silver white hair but just a little bit longer than before. And his blue eyes were even more intense than they normally were. He was dressed rather nicely. It looked like something noble might were but simple. His shirt was shimming icy blue and his pants were bright white. However, the most stunning difference about Jack was that he no longer looked link a gangly teenager. He looked a good bit older possibly somewhere in his mid-20's. His body had bulked up some and was just a little bit taller than he had been previously. And to Pitch's amazement in his lap rested the Permafrost.

"You're… Uh… Different," Pitch choked out a little lost for words.

"I guess I am," Jack said with a smile. "But just physically. I'm still me."

Jack got up to his feet and quickly flew down, landing beside Pitch. The boy had indeed gotten taller. They were almost eyelevel with each other now. Pitch of course was still taller, regardless. They said nothing for a bit. Finally, Pitch cleared his throat to speak.

"How did you… I mean, I thought you were dead?" Pitch asked as Jack let out a sigh. "You were chocking on your own blood."

"I pretty much was dead. I learned a lesson and one I don't plan to forget," Jack stated, holding out his hand and formed a large delicate snow flake. "It's was a personal one… Hey, you do realize what my new position is, don't you?"

"Oh, yes, I know," Pitch mused, watching the snowflake spin on its end in Jack's hand. "Now you will be an even greater thorn in my side from here on out."

"Ah, don't talk like that," Jack hummed as the snowflake disintegrated. "You're the one that helped get me here."

"And you're going to always hold that over my head," Pitch grumbled. "The one time I play hero and it becomes back around to bite me."

"You honestly didn't think I'd make it this far?" Jack chuckled lightly, resting his new staff on his shoulder. "You have no faith in me."

Pitch snorted and turned towards the door. Jack quickly picked up his feet to follow him back into the tunnel. Jack noticed that Pitch did look rather bitter about the whole thing. In some ways Pitch had a right to be. He helped one of his own enemies gain a stronger power. He even set himself up for failure in the future. Yeah, there wasn't anything good going in Pitch's direction. Jack bit his lip and picked his feet a little more to match Pitch's hurried stride.

"Are you really that disappointed?" Jack asked as Pitch's face darkened. "You didn't have to come back after you opened the vault. And you still haven't answer why you did return."

"That's none of your business, Frost," Pitch said, picking up his pace a little more using the shadow to propel himself faster down the tunnel back to the Midas room.

Jack sighed and followed after him. When they arrived at the room they found it to be barren. There wasn't a single jewel to be had; just a wide empty cavern. Pitch took the first step in and kept moving. Jack followed closely behind him. The tension between them had grown thick suddenly and growing thinker by the second. Pitch's decision to save Jack was starting to weight down on him. He realized he had made a mistake and there was no way to fix it. It was just eating at him from the inside out.

"Hey, stop," Jack said about halfway across the cavern. "Pitch, I said to stop!"

Pitch reluctantly stopped but didn't turn to face the new King of Winter. Jack instead walked around him so that were face to face. Pitch was fighting the urge not to snarl or even strike out at him. He kept his silver/gold eyes down at the rocky ground.

"Pitch, look. Part of this was your choice," Jack pointed out. "You didn't have to come and open the vault. You didn't even have to follow into the vault but you did. Brooding over it isn't going to change the fact that helped me."

"It's a mistake I do hope to rectify," Pitch bit out, sending a blast of black sand at Jack, knocking him back. He quickly formed whip and slapped the Permafrost from Jack's hands. "I don't know what got into me and I can't believe ever wanted to help you!"

"Pitch, stop it! Now you want to turn on me?" Jack bit out, glaring at the Nightmare King.

"I never thought you'd make it as far as you did," Pitch snapped, sending another wall of sand at Jack.

Jack quickly held up his hand and closed his eyes. The Permafrost was a tool not his source of power. He focused in on the air around him. He didn't know how much control he would have but… With a strong push he sent the wave of black sand back towards its conjurer. The wind whipped sand hit Pitch hard, knocking back to the ground, rolling. Jack took in a breath and looked at his hand. He had very little control but at least he managed to do something without a staff. He quickly made the wind bring him back the Permafrost. By then Pitch was getting back up to his feet again. He looked a little bit past angry. His teeth were clinched tightly as he snarled at Jack.

"Pitch, that's enough! I'm still learning how to control everything," Jack stated, holding out the Permafrost as Pitch formed his scythe. "Don't do this! I'm libel to get both of severely hurt!"

"Shut up!" Pitch growled with venom, gripping the handle of his scythe hard. "You didn't honestly think I'd just let you leave with that staff, did you?"

"Listen to what you're saying! One second you seem like you're more than happy to help and now you're back to wanting to kill me," Jack pointed out jumping into the air as Pitch charged him with the scythe.

"That's because the realization of what you could do finally struck me," Pitch said, using his sand whip to snag Jack out of the air back to the hard ground with a meaty thud. "With you being both a Guardian and the Winter King I won't ever stand a chance a beating any of you!"

Jack quickly rolled over and aimed the Permafrost at Pitch. Now would be a good time to see how much power he now possessed. Pitch charged him again with scythe ready to swing. In one quick movement Jack shot a black of frozen energy at Pitch. The blast quickly covered him a thick layer of ice. Pitch couldn't move and he was frozen to spot. Just looked down at the Permafrost and blinked. Yeah, this was going to take a lot of practice to master.

He got back up to his bare feet and took a few steps. He knew Pitch didn't have much power but he was quickly shown how much he currently had and Jack knew this wasn't his full potential. Jack looked at the frozen Nightmare King and shook his head.

"You know, for some off the wall moment I honestly thought you still had a bit of a heart," Jack grumbled, his showing hint of anger. "But I guess that was hoping for too much. You're still going to be you no matter what. You can just stay here until you cool down a bit."

(A/N Oh, wow this chapter was running far too long! It will now be a 3 chapter story. Sorry I know. It just kept going and going and I was like that's just too much. Anyway, if you like please review! I do love reviews! Later y'all!)

Millie M. Banshee