Yush~! Second chapter! So happy~ have fun reading my storyness! :)
Chapter 2: Teacher
Jack was never sure about how much time has passed since he had first met Pitch, he had lost track after 3 years, but then again it never really mattered. The only date he was sure of was 1712, the time Pitch had estimated when he had been "born" as Jack Frost. By now, the already small brown cloak that hung around Jack's shoulders was even more worn but he didn't mind, he didn't even notice until Pitch had pointed it out a few weeks ago. Pitch Black, to Jack, he was his father, brother, and most of all, his friend. Pitch Black was Jack Frost's guardian. After the frequent visits from Pitch Jack had convinced him to let him see his "home"; naturally he had fallen asleep there. This continued for a while before Pitch let him stay with his own room, to stay at that lake all day. Jack kind of liked it, he had a home too.
Jack had always been a free spirit, and Pitch let him be; he was strict in a fatherly way at times, but Jack always listened no matter how much he wanted to do just the opposite. And right now, well…Pitch had never said anything about racing his Nightmare.
Jack let out a laugh as he half ran half flew through the dark long dark underground hallways of Pitch's lair, a Nightmare hot on his heels whinnying with its own gleefulness. This particular Nightmare was his own; Pitch had one of his own too, the rest of them where just separate creations. While Pitch's Nightmare was slightly larger than the others, Jack's was the smallest as well as the only male horse. He fit his size and Jack had always thought fondly of him. He had named him Nightwing, he didn't quite know why but the name seemed fitting for the wild runt of a horse. Pitch's personal Nightmare on the other hand was named Linos. The Boogeyman was always one for flashy-well…stuff…so the name was also really fitting.
Jack let out a cheer and he made an abrupt loop around the side and the ceiling of a narrow wall and passed right above Nightwing's head. With a neigh of laughter the Nightmare turned sharply and ran after him again. They had been chasing each other around for almost a half an hour and Jack noticed some other corrupted dreams had joined the fun. Laughing yet again, the young winter spirit did his best to quicken his pace which proved difficult due to his already tired body. Eventually, Jack fell on his back on the cold stone floor his chest rising and falling rapidly, chuckles still falling from his lips. The Nightmares neighed and nudged him playfully.
"Haha…ha…sorry guys, I'm all worn out…"
Suddenly, the Nightmares went silent all at once their bodies going ridged and they all looked the same way. Jack's smile grew, he knew what that meant. With a second wind of energy, he jumped up and followed the now blur of black dust (Nightmares) clutching his staff tightly towards the main entrance to the Nightmare Kings home. The mares reformed and waited expectantly, soon another burst of fresh black dust fell through the broken bed frame; a group of seven Nightmares formed joining their brothers, followed by Pitch. With a happy smile Jack ran up to the taller figure,
"It's daylight already? Wow does time fly!"
Pitch smirked fondly at the boy, "For you perhaps…"
With a wave of his hand, the Nightmares neighed and vanished only to return during the night; all except for Nightwing of course. The horse followed Jack whom followed Pitch deeper into the underground home. While he lightly jogged next to Pitch to keep up with the mans' longlegs, Jack decided to ask the question that had been on his mind for some time (he just kept forgetting about it).
"Hey Pitch?"
"Hmm?"
Jack stroked Nightwing's main as they walked, "Well…the kids…they usually come out and play first thing in the morning. But they all go to school now; like, all of them!" He said this as if it was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard.
"Well of course they do, it's part of a humans life." Pitch replied tonelessly.
Jack scowled, "I know…but I have nothing to do when they're not around…sure I like the little-little kids and stuff too but they can do much in the snow with their parent hovering over them all the time!"
"School teaches them how to act and basics of life." Pitch said finally looking at Jack whose scowl deepened.
"Ok, when would they ever use the stuff they learn anyway? Like…like…math or whatever! I listened in on one of the classes and I just about died!" Jack slump into a chair that was placed in the current room they were in while Nightwing placed himself comfortably next to him of the floor his head resting on Jack's lap.
Pitch swirled a small bit of black dream sand in the palm of his hand, he was practicing perfecting the skill, "Jack, you brought five apples here yesterday but is noticed that two were missing."
Jack blinked, where did that come from? "Yeah…I ate them."
"So how many are left, I mean if you don't eat anymore."
Jack blinked again, "…three…why?"
Pitch sighed a little looking at Jack, so naïve at times… "You just did math."
Jack blinked a third time, "…Wha-?"
"Five minus two equals three." The Boogeyman said holding up his fingers as he said each number.
Jack scowled at his companion, "Hey! And so what? You trying to prove somethin'?"
"You use math everyday Jack, even if you don't realize it. And as for all of the equations and complicated subject, it's to prepare the children and educate them further."
"Why do they need to do that?"
"Probably to lessen the amount of questions that children ask at all times of the day." Pitch retorted raising a knowing eyebrow. Jack blushed light blue lowering his head a little, "I can't help it…" he mumbled.
Pitch placed his hand on top of Jacks head causing the boy to look up at him curiously with those big eyes of his; it was cute really. "I know you can't." Pitch said smiling gently ruffling the younger spirits hair lightly. Jack smiled happily at the gesture,
"You want the children to learn don't you?" Pitch asked, Jack nodded, "I guess…"
Pitch's hand left the white hair and he started to walk away. Jack, still smiling, rose minding carefully Nightwing's head and followed the elder spirit. Jack couldn't help but wonder: what did the Guardians find so bad about him? Suddenly, had an idea, one that to him sounded just fun. He jogged in front of Pitch with a smile that threatened to split his face.
"Can you teach me?"
The tall spirit stopped in his tracks to keep from running the poor boy over, "What?"
"Can you teach me? Like they do with the kids at school?"
Pitch looked down into frozen eyes, how was he to answer to that?
"What makes you think I am capable of teaching someone like you?" well…I suppose that works.
Jack frowned for a moment, "well… you're the only person who can teach me really…and you've been around a lot longer than me…plus you've got an English accent so you have to be smart!" Jack laughed at his own joke while Pitch scowled trying to hold back the smile of his own. There was a short silence,
"I suppose I could teach you a thing or two-" Pitch couldn't finish his sentence due to Jack's loud whoop. Nightwing got up on his back legs with a happy whinny and his two legged friend did a back flip in the air.
This time Pitch didn't bother to hide his amused smile wondering the same thing he had been wondering for the past few years that he has known Jack Frost: just what he had gotten into.
Linos ~ "cry of grief"
There ya go folks! Love you all! (almost all :P) R&R!
-The Bleached Inu