Chapter 3

By time I had woken up it was already dark, the moon shined brightly in blue light. Now usually, the moonlight only shined threw the gaps between the leaves... But there were none. I stumbled up, still half in my state of unconsciousness. I turned my dizzy head this way and that, but still none. And the animals, were all gone. Dead, I thought. What am I to do, this is my forest, my home, the only thing I know. I haven't left this place in 12 years, what was out there? I heard a shuffling from the shadows behind me, an animal?! "Hello?" I called sweetly. "It's ok, I won't hurt you. You can come out now." I coaxed. I heard a low chuckle and I must admit, it scared me half to death. "W-who's there?" I demanded. "Oh my, such a big voice for such a little girl." I spun around so fast it made my head Hurt more. "Woah there, let's not hurt yourself some more." "Come out, show your self!" he chuckled again "If I must." he stepped out of his favorite shadow, I must say, he scared me. He was very tall and dark, as in, shadow dark. "No need to be afraid," he sneered. "I know more about you then you think... Locket." "How do you know my name?!" "Like I said, I know much about you Locket, guardian of Spring."

I shrieked and backed away. But he came closer. "Trust me young one...I can help you..." "W-Who are you?!" I demanded. "I am Pitch. Pitch Black." "Who?" "Pitch, guardian of... Dreeeams. But I suppose that doesn't matter right now, your head is bashed in pretty badly. Why don't you come with me?"

"... How do I know I can trust you?" "aahhh, wise question little one. Well I suppose you just need to believe me when I say you can." I thought for a moment, what choice did I have? I nodded and he lead me along with a long bony hand of his. "you know, Locket, you and I are very alike." "How so?" "You see Locket, all I want is to be believed in." "R-Really?" I asked."All guardians want that my dear." I didn't reply, for someone who looked so intimidating...he seemed so sad. "Well if it makes you feel better, I believe in you." he looked at me with surprise. "reaally?" I smiled "Really."

Jack's POV

I entered Santa's (AKA North) Workshop. The elves seemed kinda happy to see me again. But I was kinda annoyed. I had been in the middle of creating an awesome snow day when North called me in. I was just about to rap it all up with a huge blizzard too! "Alrighty North, whatcha need me for?" I asked, stretching with my staff behind me. "Not just you Jack, all the guardians. This is of major importance. "Yes Jack, so come sit and listen." Tooth advised me. I said nothing more, just sat. Who ever said I was going to listen? "Well you all know how I hate dilly dallying, so I'll get right to it. The man on the moon has chosen a new guardian." "WHAT?!" we all cried at the same time. Now I was paying attention. We all started murmuring to each other when North interrupted. "QUIET!" he boomed. We all stopped dead and looked at him. He cleared his throat and continued. "The man on the moon has chosen a new guardian, 12 years ago." again, "WHAT!" "we didnt we know about her before?" asked Tooth. "The man on the moon ALWAYS tells us when a new guardian comes!" Bunnymund commented. "Settle down everyone," North said. "Anyway, she is the Guardian of Spring." "Aw come on! She's so gonna ruin my winter up in New York!" "Jack!" Tooth scolded me, again. "Now the man on the moon had also told me something else, something MORE important." we all waited in suspense. "She has sided with Pitch." no one said a single word. Although, Sandy DID pass out. "Oh!" Tooth and her minis flew over to his side. North continued to tell us about her. How she died, her powers, her personality, what had happened to her. "Whoa whoa whoa, hold it North. What's this girls name?" "The man on the moon has decided to name her Locket." "North!" Bunnymund interrupted. "Why are we bring someone who works for PITCH, here?!"

"Because," North said, "if we don't get Locket on our side, then the season cycle with be thrown out of whack. Just think about it, if spring doesn't come, who here is out of the job? Hhmmm?" "Oh, ... Right." Bunnymund stuttered. "Well of shes with Pitch, how are we gonna get her back? That's what I wanna know." "Well Jack, we will simply wait for her to come to us. She will catch wind of who Pitch really is soon." "But North, I'm not saying I'm all that excited to let her ruin my snow, but we don't know what Pitch is capable of anymore. I say we just go get her." "That is we're you are wrong jack. If we were to barge in like maniacs and take her from Pitch, who she joined WILLINGLY my I remind you, I'm pretty sure it is us who-" "who look like the bad ones..." "exactly." I sighed and sank in my seat. Well, I guess it was either inviting someone to end winter or having to face that maniac Pitch again. But my snow days...

Days later

Locket's POV

It's actually been nice here with Pitch, he actually understands me. And get this, he said he is going to give kids dreams about me so they will finally believe in me! He also told me about the other guardians and how he couldn't believe how different they were from me. They were more famous...children believed in them...and, get this, were perfectly fine with losing their lives as humans. They didn't miss their families and friends...Oh Leo... But it wasn't as lonely. Pitch was always there for me, and he made me animals to play with out of his dark glittery dust. He was so kind to me, I have no idea why the guardians would try to hurt him.

Months later

Jack's POV

I stormed into North's office, spring was late. "North, we need to talk." he said nothing but gestured for me to keep going. "Look, I love my snow as much as the next person but spring is TWO MONTHS LATE! Two MONTHS North, that doesn't happen!" "Jack I know. I already got this complaint from Bunnymund." North told me. "Any ideas?! Well like I said before, we can't just barge in and take her." "Well then we just need to convince her to come over to us... I got it!" " oh I would love to hear this." "we could tell Sandy to send her a dream about Pitch!" "Sandy doesn't give nightmares Jack." "Not a nightmare, a vision, a sign, a warning or something!" North stared at me in awe. "Jack, for once you've actually come up with a good plan." "Thanks North I- Hey!" "I shall inform Sandy of this, he will send her the dream tonight. But first, Jack, why are so determined to get her back?" "W-well..." to be honest I really had no idea. "Because Bunny is complaining to me about spring not coming. It gets real annoying ya know?" now satisfied with my contribution, I left the room