"Curse those Guardians! Curse you, Jack Frost!" Pitch seethed as he struggled to walk through the deep snow with strong winds rushing against him. As he said these words, the image of Jack's grin boils the anger forming within him. Everything was perfect a few moments ago, but then that winter spirit took everything away from him! Pitch despised the very being of Jack Frost, much to the point that he didn't mind the dangers of walking through a snowstorm brewing in the mountains.
The Dark King was badly injured. He was weak. The Nightmares turned against him for he was too weak to control them. But it won't take long until he returns back to his normal self. He swore to himself that he will return and destroy Jack Frost. Never mind the other Guardians, but Jack is his main target. If it wasn't for him every child would fear him. He would have been believed in! But no, Jack always had to be the hero. He made the children believe in the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus and the Easter bunny. Those wretched children even brought the Sandman back. How can that winter spirit not accept the idea that he and Pitch were the same? They were alone.
Accepting his defeat, Pitch rushed to the mountains from the town where the Guardians were. He had to get away, it was his only choice. As much as he detested the idea, he had to, if he wanted to live. He used his last energy to shadow travel in the mountains, only to search for one thing he had kept for too long.
Pitch weakly raised his head, his eyes flickered on the snow dusted staircase in front of him. He knew that he was in the right place. This was the only mountain he knows that there is an ice staircase in the middle of nowhere. He dragged himself to climb the mountain. As his hand brush through the railings, he recalled that these railings were flawless before as clear and smooth as glass. He stared up once again, watching the mist fade away, giving him a good view of the place. Pitch grinned inwardly. It looks older, it was covered in snow yet it retained its beauty and the grand feel whenever he goes inside.
He approached the door, pushing it with all his might. Pitch hissed in pain as he pushed the large door made of ice. He almost fell on his knees once he got inside. He had no time to lose. His eyes lingered on the interior of the castle. It was dark, for there was no sun to bring light in this once majestic room. He remembered that the sun made the ice glow like diamonds; he must say he found it beautiful even though he doesn't usually like anything that may be considered as something beautiful.
"Why is she so fond of stairs?" Pitch rasped as he made his way up to another staircase. As soon as he got up, he saw angry spikes of ice inside the room. The once beautiful chandelier that hangs in the ceiling was now broken shards of ice scattered on the floor. The place was dark and gloomy; Pitch could not remember that this place ended up like this the last time he went here. Well, his last visit here was a hundred years ago, many things can happen during those times.
"Ah, my Queen" he smiled when he saw the figure of a sleeping woman inside a wall of ice. She remained beautiful and retained her youth after a century. It's as if she was just sleeping soundly for a few minutes.
"It's time for me to make use of our bargain, my Queen" Pitch raised his hand and darkness began to envelope the ice wall containing the woman. The darkness covered almost the entire wall, but the woman's face can still be seen. She didn't stir at all, she remained calm as if nothing was happening.
"Your fear will serve me well, my Queen. But perhaps, it's time to wake up soon…" Pitch pulled the darkness that was covering the ice and it crawled onto his arm. His twisted grin widened as he can feel the power surge within him again. Pure fear is now snaking at the palm of his hands.
"I told you we will meet again, my Queen" he turned his back at the wall of ice, "And you have served me well"
And with that, Pitch left, leaving the castle of ice in the dark once again.
xXxXxXx
"Ever heard of the place called Arendelle?" North asked Jack while studying a toy truck in his hand. Jack turned his attention from the toy train to his fellow Guardian.
"I can't say that I do. I may travel a lot but there are actually places I haven't been to yet" Jack leaned on his staff, looking at North in wonder, "Why'd you ask?"
"Because that place is quite hidden, even we Guardians barely get any contact in that place" Bunnymund now intervened. Jack spun around to see his bunny friend.
"But I thought you go to every corner of the world!" Jack said, confusion written on his face. North put the toy in his hand down and faced the winter spirit.
"Arendelle is a place where there is no joy, no sorrow and there isn't even a speck of fear. It is a place in which there is no use for Guardians, a place where even Pitch has no use for" North explained and Jack simply stared at him.
"You mean like, it's neutral?" Jack asked
"You can call it that way" Bunnymund said, fiddling with a robot figurine in his paws.
"There might be children down there that needs our help. Is that why you started this conversation? To help them all?" Jack turned to North.
"Jack, I know that there are children there. We will soon get there; bring the joy back in that place. But now, Pitch might be using that place to hide" North said darkly, his eyes looked down on his feet. His brows furrowed, knowing that there is a big chance Pitch might be there.
"But Pitch is gone! We saw him get dragged down into the ground! And how can you be so sure that he might even be there?"
"Aye, Pitch got back into his own place. But that doesn't mean he'll be gone forever. Arendelle is a place filled with dark secrets, Jack. There are some things that didn't bode well for them" Bunnymund told the winter spirit. Jack was confused; he turned to North, his eyes pleading for the old Guardian to make things clear to him. North sighed
"Just promise me you will not fly to Arendelle after I tell you this…" North muttered and Bunnymund raised his brow at the old Guardian
"Wait- You are seriously telling him, lad?" Bunny blinked at North
"The boy wants to know the secret, and then I will have to tell him. He is a Guardian after all" Jack gave Bunny a mocking grin. Bunnymund despised seeing Jack smiling victoriously at him.
"Lead on, pops"
"Have you heard of the Tale of the Snow Queen, Jack?" North asked the young Guardian
"I've seen some books, but I haven't read it at all"
"Well, that story originated in Arendelle. Arendelle was once a bright sunny country. It never experienced the cold of winter for it only bathes in the warm kiss of the sun. It was led by a royal family, Kings and Queens to be precise. You were already a spirit by this time, Jack. You just didn't know of its existence, only now. Back to the story, one night, when the Queen gave birth to a princess, she was different. She was gifted with the power of winter. Her hair was platinum blonde, icy blue eyes and she was beautiful. The King and Queen hid the powers of the princess from their people, for they fear that their daughter will be condemned by the people. For years she stayed inside the castle walls, being trained to be the next Queen of Arendelle. But because of her parent's untimely death, she was forced to be in position as Queen at a young age. But because of an accident, she showcased her powers in front of everyone. The people cursed her, accusing her of using witchcraft. Because she was afraid, the new Queen ran away. As a result of her fear and sorrow, the whole kingdom was cursed to have an eternal winter. That was the last time they ever saw the Queen of Arendelle"
Jack was dumbfounded. He can't believe if any of North said was real or not. He just can't believe it; there was someone who is exactly like him.
"Is that for real? You mean like Arendelle today is still…?"
"Yes, it's still winter in that place" Bunnymund answered for North. Jack's eyes widened
"So the Snow Queen is real?!"
"Yes, Jack she is real. But she's not a spirit, she's a mortal! That story happen a century ago, she might be gone now" North stated, surprised at Jack's sudden excitement.
"But still, I now know that I am not alone!"
"Jack, don't get any ideas of going to Arendelle. It won't-" Bunnymund started but was cut off when Jack bursted out of the room, leaving traces of frost on the floor.
"I knew you shouldn't have told him. It would excite him too much. See, he didn't even acknowledge what you said 'bout the Snow Queen being dead" Bunnymund turned to North. The old Guardian grinned at the bunny.
"Perhaps, we must let Jack go to Arendelle. Who knows? He might bring back the joy through that winter. He is the Guardian of Fun after all"
Jack flew as fast as he could into the sky. He may not know where Arendelle is, but he has this ability to sense where winter is present. He spiraled into the air, swirls of snow trailed off his feet. He never thought of being this too excited over a country that is cursed with an eternal winter. Why did the story of Snow Queen actually interest him? He has to know more about this, perhaps, he might uncover more. Perhaps he can bring back joy to Arendelle. And maybe, just maybe, he might put a much happier ending in the Tale of the Snow Queen. Winter isn't that bad at all. The cold would never bother him anyway.
