Authors note

Hello again everyone. Over my winter break I had plenty of time to come up with new ways to advance the plot. I also would have updated sooner, but school projects have been taking up my schedule. So sorry about that. Hope you enjoy chapter 4.

WARNING: I will not be describing characteristics or appearances of characters unless they are an OC, if you don't know what the others look like go see/buy the movie or look them up on Google.

Disclaimer: I do not own Rise of the Guardians, or The Nightmare Before Christmas, or Wicked

Please review, and NO FLAMES

Authors Comment

Thought

Dramatic emphasis

Demonic voice

Chapter 4

Gripping his staff tightly Jack slowly entered the cave.

Alright O'Lan, it's time for some answers.

Empty and dark the cave became as Jack took his first few bare footed steps into the cavern of the Halloween spirit. As Jack proceeded deeper into the black before him he began to feel something strange, he Jack Frost the spirit of winter felt cold. Though this cold was not his kind of cold, not the kind brought by snow or even by ice, this was the cold brought by evil and recognized by fear. To ease the bad feeling Jack had the staff he was clutching in his hands began to glow with its winter magic, allowing Jack to calm down a bit and provide him with better lighting to find his path. After walking for nearly a half hour Jack heard noises come from the far end of the tunnel he was going through. Quickly rushing to the end of the path Jack found a large circular stone door with a pumpkin chiseled into it before him, setting his staff down to the side Jack opened the door enough so he could slip through. Picking up his staff and squeezing through the crack of the door Jack was surprised by what he saw on the other side.

Halloween Cavern was a large town full of gangly black houses completely overrun by decorations of bats, ghosts, and pumpkins, all incased inside a massive dome carved out of the earth with a massive lantern-like structure built into the center of the dome casting light equivalent to the sun in the late evening. All around gardens full of (you guessed it) pumpkins filled whatever spaces where not homes, courtyards, or roads. All manner of creatures filled the streets each preparing for the upcoming holiday, skeletons and zombies were practicing musical instruments and dance moves, while witches and ghosts worked together to hang decorations that would be too high for the goblins below. Jack slowly walked through the town taking his time to admire the strange new world right in front of him, every so often Jack would notice one or two of the locals giving him strange looks. Not that he was angry about it, he was a foreign being to all the citizens of this Halloween land. Though he found it interesting how different some of the creatures of the town were from how the modern world depicts them, the zombies were not rotting corpses but instead they just looked like gangly people with a pale blue tint to their skin, the witches were not ugly old hags in fact they actually appeared like young girls from about 7-10 years old with green skin. Skeletons and goblins were much like what he had heard of in media, walking bones and gangly green monsters. Remembering why he came here in the first place Jack began to search among the crowds for O'Lan, but he could not spot him anywhere. Looking up Jack saw a group of witches flying above him in a circle, almost like they were observing him.

"Excuse me!" Jack called up to the witches.

The youngest looking of the witches quickly did a dive on her broomstick with a sharp upward angled halt bringing her to eye level with the Guardian.

"Yes? How can we help you Mr. Frost?" The witch asked.

"I'm looking for Jack O' Lantern, do you know where he is? And also how do you know that I'm Jack Frost?" Jack asked back with a bit of a surprised tone to his voice when asking the second question.

The witch merely let out a small giggle at the frost spirits reaction. "The master is in his personal garden, it's behind his mansion at the far end of the town on top of the hill. And as for how I know that you are Jack Frost, I saw you creating a snow day in the town of Burgess. Though I personally say it's a bit too early for snow, after all it's only partway into October." The witch spoke answering all his questions in a short moment.

Thanking the kind witch for the help she provided Jack took to the skies and flew to the other end of the town landing at the front of a towering mansion that based on the quality of work put into it the mansion surely belonged to O'Lan. Plus it was the only mansion on a hill in the Halloween Cavern. Walking around to the back Jack hopped over the fence around the massive garden in the back and started looking for O'Lan. Following a faint sound of someone walking in the garden Jack followed it to see O'Lan pacing in front of a well in the middle of the garden. Creeping closer to the Halloween spirit Jack noticed that he appeared to be in a really deep thought, letting out a exasperate sigh Jack was startled when O'Lan began to sing.

There are few who deny
at what I do I am the best,
for my talents are renowned far and wide.

When it comes to surprises in the moonlit night,
I excel without ever even trying.

With the slightest little effort of my ghost-like charm
I have seen grown men give out a shriek.
With a wave of my hand and a well-placed moan
I have swept the very bravest off their feet.

Yet year after year
it's the same routine,
and I grow so weary of the sound of screams.
And I
JACK!
The pumpkin king,
have grown so tired of the same old thing.

Oh somewhere deep inside of these bones
and emptiness began to grow.
There's something out there far from my home.
A longing that I've never known.

I'm the master of fright and a demon of light,
and I'll scare you right out of your pants.
To a guy in Kentucky, I'm Mr. Unlucky,
and I'm known throughout England and France.

And since I am dead, I can take off my head
to recite Shakespearean quotations.
No animal nor man
can scream like I can
with the fury of my recitations.

But who here would ever understand
that the pumpkin king
with the skeleton grin
would tire of his crown.
If they only understood,
he'd give it all up
if he only could.

Oh there's an empty place in my bones that calls out for something unknown.
The fame and praise come year after year.
Does nothing for these empty tears.

Sitting down on the well O'Lan started to stare into space again.

"It's true, I am a bringer of terror and fear, though it's not like I want to bring harm through my actions. I simply am doing what I was made to be, even if it means if no one loves me for doing my job. Quite the hard life to live isn't it Jack?" O'Lan said as he turned his head towards the bush that Jack was hiding behind. "I know you are there, I felt the temperature drop when you stepped into my garden. That's why I decided to explain how I have felt over the last few years in the best way I know. And before you ask no I can't really take off my head, it's just part of the song."

"I thought I had it rough when I was alone." Jack spoke as he revealed himself from behind the bush. Walking over to the well Jack leaned his staff against the well and sat next to O'Lan. "I always felt underappreciated because of how to many people I was invisible, just a myth. And some people even feared what I would bring and try to get away from it or get rid of it." Jack confessed. "But I think I really know now what people mean when they say stuff like "Don't complain about your problems, cuz there's always someone who has it worst" and those kind of things." Spoke the winter spirit while giving O'Lan a light pat on the back.

O'Lan chuckled as he turned to face his visitor. "Thanks Jack, what you said means a lot to me." O'Lan spoke as he returned the pat on the back. "But enough of the dreary parts of life come inside have a drink with me my friend!" O'Lan declared fairly loud as he proceeded to the back door of his mansion. The interior of the mansion was a lot like the haunted mansions in old movies he would catch glimpses of. (Think like the Addams family mansion) O'Lan silently led Jack up a large set of stairs to a study on the second floor, once in the study O'Lan opened up a cupboard on the far side of the room and pulled out two glass goblets and set them down on a desk covered in papers that resembled construction plans.

"What are these papers here supposed to be?" Jack asked as he looked over them.

Noticing the curiosity in the Guardians eyes O'Lan turned around and began to organize the jumbled papers. "Merely plans for some new construction projects I have being worked on, you know home refurbishments, new lamp posts, the works." O'Lan explained as he pushed the papers into one of the drawers and locked it turning back around to the cupboard. "So my friend what can I get you to drink, I have wine, ale, beer, some sake, even a little vodka, no eggnog though. Wait! I first have to ask." O'Lan exclaimed as he turned back to Jack. "Are you old enough to drink?" Jack merely answered his question with a puzzled look. Noticing the look on Jack's face O'Lan quickly turned around back to his selection of drinks. "Right, right, that was a stupid question. My bad." Pulling out one of the bottles of a Red wine O'Lan filled the two glasses and handed one to Jack, taking the other in his hand and taking a small sip from the glass. "So what brings you all the way out here to my humble home, surely it was not to hear me sing, and I doubt that the Man in the Moon actually wants me to join the Guardians. The only way I would be let in was if the world was in danger, which I am sure it's not." O'Lan spoke chuckling at the end of his last statement. O'Lan stopped chuckling when he saw a very grim look on Jack's face. "Is it." O'Lan asked with worry growing on his masked face.

"Unfortunately the world is in danger O'Lan, and the threat is someone you know." Jack explained as O'Lan turned to stare out the window.

"Who?" O'Lan asked as his grip tightened on the glass in his hand.

"Pitch Black." Jack answered, and was immediately startled by how suddenly the glass in O'Lan's hand was crushed in anger.

"That shadow dares to show his face in this world in my season eh. Well he won't be around for long; I will personally make sure of that. I swear this on my very blood." O'Lan swore as the Red wine dripped down his hand and arm reminding Jack of the blood he saw earlier in North's workshop.

"Why was there blood on your hand at the North Pole?" Jack asked causing O'Lan to turn around and look down at his left hand, knowing full well what Jack was talking about.

"To put it simply I'm not human Jack. Everything about me is meant to bring fear, so I don't shed normal tears like the rest of you, instead I shed tears of crimson red blood. Creepy isn't it?" O'Lan explained as he slid down the wall beneath the window bringing his knees to his chin as he sat down. "In truth I always knew that I was not likely to be chosen to be a Guardian, after all I have done so many bad things in my life. Even if I did turn over a new leaf I was not likely to be accepted by you guys, but that didn't stop me from at least trying." O'Lan finished as he set his head down on his legs.

"Actually O'Lan, it might be hard to believe but the Man in the Moon has chosen you to help us take down Pitch." Jack spoke as he placed a hand on O'Lan's shoulder. Though he quickly drew his hand back as O'Lan in the blink of an eye jumped to his feet in shock and disbelief.

"Is that true Jack? Can it be true, that everything I have ever longed for is at last within my grasp?" Spoke O'Lan as he began to pace around the study. "If it is true, then how can I help? I will do everything I can to help the other Guardians."

"First we need to get back to the North Pole. The problem is that a snowglobe only works once." Jack replied while looking around the study. "Do you have any quick way to get to the North Pole?" He asked.

"Is a pumpkin orange? Of course I can get us to the North Pole quickly!" O'Lan shouted. "Though I first need to inform my lead witch that I will be leaving, after all she helps organize stuff while I am gone." Turning towards the window O'Lan stuck his head out to call out "Elphaba! Get in here!"

A moment after he called out the window the witch that Jack talked to earlier came zipping through the window on her broomstick, landing gracefully on her feet and quickly saluting towards O'Lan.

"Yes my king! You called for me?" Elphaba spoke to O'Lan.

"Listen up Elphie; I'm off to the North Pole for official Guardian business, so take good care of the Cavern while I'm gone." O'Lan informed the witch. "I can trust you with this right?" O'Lan then asked.

"Of course my king I will handle preparations while you are out, you can trust me." Elphaba confidently spoke back to O'Lan.

Turning around to face Jack, O'Lan had a big grin forming on his face as he slowly walked over to Jack. "So we need to get going right?" O'Lan asked as Jack simply nodded his head. "Good!" O'Lan exclaimed as he flipped Jack onto his left shoulder.

"Hey! What are you doing!? Put me down O'Lan!" Jack screamed as he flailed around in O'Lan's grip. But to no avail seeing how Jack was still on O'Lan's shoulder.

"Nope, not putting you down my friend, after all we can't have you chickening out on me." O'Lan chuckled as he carried Jack to the well in the back garden.

"Chickening out on what!" Jack yelled at O'Lan.

O'Lan let out a light chuckle as he formed a fire-door at the bottom of the well looking up at the winter spirit slung over his shoulder.

"THIS!" O'Lan yelled as he heaved Jack into the well head first. Jack could only scream in terror as the flaming ring grew closer and closer, though he could have sworn the ceiling he could see on the other side looked familiar.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XX

Tooth was zipping back and forth in the globe room while practically hyperventilating. Sandy was watching her pacing (If that's what you could really call it) growing more concerned about the feathered woman every time she crossed the room.

"He's been gone for over an hour; he never takes this long with anything. Not even when he brings winter to the world! What if he got lost in the cavern! What if Pitch attacked him before he got to the cavern! What if he is out there badly hurt and dying! I CAN'T STAND WAITING FOR HIM ANYMORE! I'M GOING AFTER HIM!" Tooth panicked before zooming in the direction of an open window, only to be stopped by Bunny and North.

"Tooth calm down, panic never solves problem." North tried to reason.

"Don't worry about Frostbite he'll be fine. The kid is strong enough to protect himself, especially against Pitch." Bunny spoke so as to calm and reassure Tooth.

"I know." Tooth whispered lowering her head. "I just can't help but worry about him. He means so much to me."

"We understand Tooth, your love for Jack makes you worry about his wellbeing. But he will be fine, he will arrive very soon and unharmed by Pitch. I feel it…in my belly." North spoke while grasping his belly at the last statement.

As soon as North let go of his belly the floor behind the four Guardians was covered by a small circle of fire. From inside the ring of fire they heard the familiar scream of Jack growing louder. Suddenly Jack went flying out of the fire nearly hitting the ceiling before quickly falling to the floor still screaming. Still full of her panic and energy Tooth rushed over to Jack and caught him about two feet before hitting the ground, gently setting him down on his feet and pulling him into a tight hug. Quickly calming down from his nearly painful experience Jack hugged Tooth back and began to run his left hand through the feathers on her head to sooth his girlfriend.

"So I take it you missed me?" Jack spoke with a chuckle.

"Missed you! I was worried sick by how long you were gone!" Tooth exclaimed looking up at Jack.

"Trust her on that mate, we were afraid she was going to start losing feathers from stress." Bunny interjected. North walked over to the pair with Sandy right behind him.

"So tell us Jack did you manage to convince O'Lan to come back to the Po-"

"GERONIMOOOOOOOOOOOO!" O'Lan interrupted as he came flying out of the fire at a faster speed than Jack. Performing a few midair back flips before landing on the ground like an acrobat. Dusting himself off and closing the fire door O'Lan walked over to the Guardians with a big grin on his face. "Well, it's most certainly wonderful to be back here so soon. Back at the good old North Pole." O'Lan happily proclaimed as he walked over to the selection stone. Looking at the image projected by the stone O'Lan only stared at the image. "So it is true, I really have been chosen as a Guardian. After hundreds of years dreaming of this, it has finally become reality." O'Lan murmured with his grin growing larger and more wicked.

"SO! Jack tells me that Pitch is back and I can be of help. After all few know the mind of Pitch like I do." O'Lan stated with a quick turn back to the Guardians.

"Very true O'Lan. We need to know plans Pitch has in store and you most likely to guess correctly." North replied with a nod of his head. The other Guardians nodded their heads in response to North's statement.

"Well, if that is what you need." O'Lan spoke leaning against the crystal pedestal. "The way that Pitch always starts a plan is by creating doubt or fear so as to cripple your strength. Like when he created doubt in Tooth's existence, or when he did it to Bunny. He also will try to cripple the strongest or most threatening first, which as far as I know is you Jack."

"But how would he cripple my power? Even before I became a Guardian I had a lot of power within me." Jack asked with a glimmer of concern in his eyes.

"The way Pitch would try to cripple you is by going after ones that mean much to you." O'Lan continued. "People like family, close friends, your loved one, and if possible…your strongest believer."

Jack was immediately frozen by the possibility of Pitch harming Tooth, or Jamie and his sister. Gripping his staff tightly in his right hand and pulling Tooth closer with is other arm. "Who will he likely go after first?" Jack asked afraid of what the answer would be.

A look of regret crossed O'Lan's face as he spoke his answer. "Based on how you keep Tooth close he won't go after her...yet…so until then he will gun for your believers, most likely…Jamie Bennett."

Those final four words hit him harder than any other words he has heard. "No. No. No! Not Jamie!" Jack screamed as he fell to his knees. Getting back up all the Guardians were frightened to see Jack's bright blue eyes turn dark with anger.

"If Pitch harms Jamie I swear…I will kill him." Jack growled.

"Well then Jack, what are we waiting for? Let's put an end to Pitch Black…once and for all!"

CLIFFHANGER!

The conflict begins. What is to come? Will Jamie be safe from Pitch? Or will Jack lose his first believer to the Nightmare King?

Find out as soon as I write the next chapter.