AN: Thank you so much to everyone who has read and reviewed. I'm glad you like the idea. Please comment, review, PM, favourite, follow, etc. As always, I do not own Rise of the Guardians.
North was running along the rooftops, bellowing laughter echoing through the air. "Quickly," he yelled.
"Four molars over there, a bicuspid, two lateral incisors, they're everywhere," Tooth announced, swirling around in joy. As per her request, Jack was trailing after her, taking in her excitement. She twirled around and smacked directly into a large billboard.
"Are you okay?" Jack asked shyly, and then tensed. He shouldn't have spoken out of turn.
"Ya," Tooth laughed, "It's been a long time since I've been out in the field." Jack wanted to ask how long, but restrained himself. Suddenly, she gasped and zoomed after a tooth, leaving Jack and the little tooth fairy to catch up.
All the Guardians were laughing and uttering challenges. Jack mutely took it all in, wonder written across his expression.
"You can't race a rabbit," Bunny called at the others, running past. "Come with me Jack!" The winter spirit obliged, following the grey blur of the Pooka. He watched the rabbit's antics in fascination.
He actually laughed out loud at one point as Bunny opened a tunnel right under North's feet. Jack clapped a hand over his mouth, stopping the sound of amusement, his eyes wide.
Bunny looked over at the startled winter spirit. "You're allowed to have fun ya know, mate," the rabbit said gently. The frost teen just shook his head sadly, eyes down. He tugged uncomfortably at the collar that always seemed to restrict his breathing when he was upset.
The Guardian of Hope sighed, probably realizing Jack wasn't worth the trouble. They moved onto the next tooth.
Soon after, the Tooth fairy told the others that they were supposed to be delivering gifts, Jack found himself once again flying alongside the fairy. She was standing over a boy that the winter spirit recognized, gazing down at him with motherly affection. "Lost his tooth in a freak sledding accident," she commented, "I wonder how that happened, Jack?"
"It was an accident," he murmured, "he was walking downhill and slipped on a patch of ice so I led him through the city safely, but his tooth got knocked out." He bit his lip, waiting for a response.
"I think he had a lot of fun," the fairy declared. The winter spirit shuddered, he wasn't allowed to have fun, much less be spreading it.
"This was the part I like best, seeing the kids," Tooth whispered, crossing her arms.
Sandy drifted through the window, waving silently. North suddenly squeezed his way through the door frame, asking, "How you feeling Toothy?"
"Believed in," she whispered, excited but not wanting to wake up the sleeping boy.
Finally, a hole appeared in the floor and Bunny emerged, muttering, "I see how it is, all teaming up to beat a rabbit."
"Sh," they hushed and Bunny looked around, startled, before noting the sleeping child.
"Is not competition," North announced, "But if it was, I win YEEEE HAWWWW!" The cry was cut off suddenly when a beam of light landed on the cheering Guardian. "Uh-oh," North muttered.
"Santa Clause, the Easter, Bunny, Sandman, the Tooth fairy, I knew you'd come," the boy, Jamie, cried.
"Surprise, we came," Tooth laughed.
Jack watched Jamie's take in all of them, except him. He shrank back, of course he couldn't be seen, who was he to hope?
"Knock him out, Sandy," Bunny requested. The golden man stepped forward, pounding his fist into his palm. "With the dream sand, ya gumby."
Jamie looked confused as the Sandman summoned a glittering gold ball. Suddenly, a dog jumped onto the bed, growling up at the Guardians. Bunny put out his hands soothingly but the dog still let loose a growl. Jack took an involuntary step backwards, slipping on a toy and knocking the boy's alarm clock. A shrill ring caused the dog to jump, suddenly chasing the overgrown rabbit.
Sandy targeted and let loose, but was knocked over, missing his target. Jack crouched down as he watched the golden ball ricochet through the room, knocking out the Guardians and even the dog. Sandy caught Jamie and nodded his head, causing the kid to fall asleep.
Jack inspected the chaos around him, bowing his head. "I'm sorry," he muttered. Now he knew he was in for it, he had messed up so badly. Something touched his arm and he flinched. However, the thing wasn't removed, but it was warm and soft. Jack looked down to see Sandy's hand. He then looked at the golden man.
Sand symbols appeared above his head, glowing faintly in the dark room. He spelled out the word 'accident'. Before Jack could respond, a cool wind blew into the room, bringing with it a nightmare.
The winter spirit retreated a step, but a curl of black sand wound its way to his collar, attaching him to the dark horse. It then shot forward, dragging Jack in tow. Fear coursed through him as he was pulled through the sky. He used the wind to help him along, willingly following the nightmare so not to be dragged by his collar.
The short flight ended on a rooftop, black clouds roiling all around. Jack was brought face to face with his captor, tormentor and master once more. Icy tendrils of terror shivered their way across his spine.
"Jack, Jack, Jack," the slick voice cooed, "Making trouble for me again, aren't you?" The winter spirit nodded his head miserably. "What are we going to do about that? … Oh, I know," Pitch turned to Jack with a wicked smile, "Punish you of course."
The frost child shivered in fear. "But first," Pitch drawled, "You can watch me crush the Guardians." Jack gasped eyes wide, causing the Boogeyman to cackle with glee.
The laugh was suddenly cut short as Pitch was jerked backwards, gold sand circling his wrist. Sandy stood there, glaring up at the dark creature. "Sandman," the Nightmare King growled. The gold figure formed sand whips, lashing out at his dark counterpart. Pitch had to keep dancing out of the way, barely managing to form a black club which Sandy easily avoided. Gold sand once again wrapped around Pitch's wrist, throwing him around before ejecting him into the streets below.
Jack's eyes were wide and he was too stunned to move as Sandy glided over to him. The golden man turned both the nightmare and the chain into golden sand. He then drifted to the edge of the roof and beckoned for Jack to follow.
They floated down to the street, watching Pitch groan and get up. "Okay, Okay. It was stupid of me to mess with your dream sand," Pitch admitted. Then his gaze hardened, lips quirking into a malicious grin. "I'll tell you what, you can have it back."
Nightmares encircled them, scores thick and gaining in number. "Boo," the nightmare king stage whispered, sand creations rushing forwards. Sandy formed a swirling cloud out of glowing sand, lifting him and Jack into the sky as a sleigh passed by. The winter spirit was deposited among the other Guardians and the golden man flew off into the fray.
Jack watched, eyes growing wider by the moment. Nightmares were everywhere and the Guardians battled with single minded intensity. North's two swords cut twin swatches of carnage through the mass of darkness. Bunny's boomerangs whirled to and fro, easily taking down monsters. Sandy was whipping viciously at the creatures. Tooth was fighting with one saber, hacking away.
As Jack watched, Tooth battled two nightmares right in front of her. However, one edged behind, eying her before it went in for the attack. Without thinking, Jack did the only thing that would get to her in time, launched a volley of ice. The nightmare instantly froze, coming apart in a jagged snowfall of dark frost.
"Thanks Jack," Tooth said, before jumping back into the fray. The winter spirit just stood there, mouth agape. He had actually fought back, more than just rescuing a fairy. He had destroyed a nightmare. Memories of his early years in captivity flickered through his mind. Even before he was allowed his staff, he froze nightmares any way he could.
However, back in the present, Jack's distracted state allowed for a nightmare to grab him and rush him back to Pitch. As they neared, Jack watched Sandy's swirling mass of dream sand get surrounded by black. But the golden man refused to give in.
Then, time crawled as Jack noticed Pitch raising a black arrow, tip aimed towards the Sandman's heart. "Sandy," the winter spirit whispered and flew forwards, freezing the nightmare holding him and ready to leap into the way. However, he was too far away and the arrow found its mark. Sandy's face calmed, vanishing with a look of tranquility.
"No," Jack whispered.
Pitch spotted him, yelling, "Time to go, you useless servant."
"No!" the winter spirit screamed, power responding to his emotions. He felt a slithering of cold along his spine and then across his staff. It released with a powerful crack, freezing the dense cloud of Nightmare sand surrounding the Boogeyman. The powers warred with one another for a moment, ice slowly infusing the dark sand, sharp crackling resounded through the air.
And then both forces were thrown backwards. Jack felt himself flying through the air, but it seemed like a dream. His fall was slowed and then he touched down on something. The dreamlike quality disappeared and he looked up into the anxious faces of Tooth, Bunny and North.
He couldn't help it, he drew his knees into his chest and began sobbing quietly.
"Jack, what's wrong?" Tooth asked, concern evident in her soft voice. She tried to scoot closer to the winter spirit who just curled in on himself tighter. He would have backed up, but he was wedged into a corner.
"Back off," Bunny hissed under his breath, dragging the other Guardians back from the trembling boy. The rabbit himself crouched about a foot away from the child, head lowered, ears down, eyes averted. Slowly, the sobs tapered off and Jack began to relax slightly, risking a peak through his bangs.
"Now Jack," Bunny began, voice low and gentle as if talking to a spooked animal. "We aren't gonna hurt ya. We just want to know what's wrong."
The boy relaxed, but wouldn't raise his eyes to meet any of theirs. His posture was rigid and head down as if awaiting a blow or a rebuke. Taking a risk, the Pooka very slowly reached his hand out towards the winter spirit, head still down. He watched Jack tense, but still slowly closed the small distance, resting a furry paw on the boy's arm. The Guardian of Hope felt a shiver run through the winter spirit as if he was fighting the urge to shake off the paw.
The Easter Bunny withdrew, then spoke. "Now, tell us what's wrong Jack."
The boy squeezed his eyes closed, fighting back another wave of tears. He had to answer, he had been asked a question. "I c-couldn't s-save him," Jack stuttered, then rushed onwards. "I c-can't, s-save anyo-one. And h-he was s-so n-nice to me. A-and now P-pitch is going to b-break my bones."
"Oh, Jack. We aren't going to let Pitch hurt you," Tooth assured, drifting forwards.
"Why not?" Jack asked, brows scrunching together, "T-that's the p-punishment for defying him."
"Well you don't belong to that man anymore," North announced.
"Y-yes I do," the winter spirit sighed miserably, "He's my master."
Tooth shook her head, distressed. "No he's not, you are your own master."
Jack gazed at her as if the words didn't quite compute and the fairy's heart swooped with grief, pity and anger at Pitch. "M-my own master?" the spirit asked.
"Yes Jack," North replied gently, "We will help you get free."
"Why?" the frost child murmured, eyes wide with shock.
"Ya don't deserve to be used like this," Tooth declared, swinging her arms wide with emotion. Jack flinched quickly.
"Thank you," the winter spirit whispered.
"For what sweetie?" the fairy asked softly.
"For being kind to me." The rest of the ride passed in silence, each of them wrapped up in their own thoughts and grief.