Pitch paced in front of the dark globe at the center of his lair, sharp teeth grinding in annoyance as he glanced feverishly to the unconscious, roughed up white Pooka strapped down to the wall.

"I killed them all!" he growled lowly. "How did this one escape?! Are there others? No, I'm sure of it! Nobody could have survived but that blasted rabbit! How in the name of MiM…" Pitch's gold eyes widened at the realization, and spun around to face the moon peering smugly into his cavern through cracks in the cave roof. Pitch growled, anger bubbling up in his chest.

"Ow…" Pitch whipped around, turning angry eyes to the Pooka.

"Well, well, well." Snorted the nightmare king. "Look who decided to-" Pitch stopped, seeing the white Pooka was not actually awake, blue eyes glazed over like in a trance.

"Koz…?" Pitch stood rigid. He hadn't heard that name in hundreds of years, and a small part of him started at the sound. "Kozmotis Pitchner?" Pitch huffed, squashing down the apparently still living part of the man who's body he possessed. He would deal with the general later, but now he needed answers.

"You ought to know the man is long gone." Said Pitch darkly. "And you, you are DEAD. I killed you with my own hands! So tell me, how are you still living, Jack Frost? Or, should I say Silvian Snowhare?"

"I'm no longer Silvian Snowhare." Said the white Pooka. "That life is gone and over, and will never return." Suddenly the Pooka shuddered, eyes clearing.

"Pitch?!"

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"Damn it North! Twice in one bloody, Godforsaken day is enough, but TWICE-" North shoved a carrot into Bunny's mouth, causing him to choke. Bunny spar out the carrot as Tooth zipped in, looking miffed as well, while Sandy sat, a cup of eggnog in hand, on his sand cloud.

"North! What now? We JUST had a meeting!" cried Tooth. "Today IS my field day, thank-you very much!"

"Oi, where's Jack?" asked Bunny, seeing no sign of the frosty closet Pooka. Something deep inside told him something he wouldn't like was the answer, and as North's jolly face suddenly turned stony, he knew his hunch was correct.

"MiM say Jack has been taken." Said North. "Nightmares were spotted in direction he flew off, over Nunavut. Pitch must be after revenge."

"WHAT?!" All heads turned to Bunny at his outburst, his ears slowly going back in embarrassment.

"…Are you okay Bunny?" asked Tooth.

"…Uh, I just meant Pitch isn't up to snuff by a long shot." Said Bunny. "At least, he shouldn't be. Just surprised, is all." The half truth seemed to satisfy the others, but old fear suddenly pulled through to the surface. All too well he remembered the Pooka massacre, and to have his ma-Jack, to have Jack in Pitch's clutches…Sweet MiM almighty, if Pitch finds out…please let that necklace stay on! For the love of all that is good and holy-

"Then what are we waiting for?!" asked Tooth. "We have to rescue him!" Sandy waved, gaining everyone's attention.

But we don't know where Pitch would take Jack.

"Some kind of slimy little hide out." Snorted Bunny. "Bloody rat could be anywhere besides the Pole. Gotta be dark that's for sure."

"Transylvania?" The other three Guardians gave North a look. "Vhat? Count Dracula legends spread plenty of fear to feed off."

"Guys, there are PLENTY of dark holes Pitch could be hiding in!" huffed Tooth.

"And we can't just drop it all and search." Supplied Bunny.

"Bunny is right." Agreed North, Sandy nodding. "Vill take too long. Jack has few believers. Time is of the essence, and time we have little of with our work. No, ve must be sure of where Pitch vould go if he has prisoner."

Tooth deflated slightly, the other Guardians settling into an argument over the best search sites, until one of the fairies following her chirped. Tooth looked at the little fairy with wide eyes, the little thing flitting about with waving arms.

"You know where his lair is?" asked Tooth. "How?! Where is it?!" More chirps, Tooth nodding excitedly, and the rest of the present guardians suddenly wished they had tried to learn the fairy language.

"Uh…Toothie? Care to translate?" Tooth looked up.

"Baby Tooth knows where Pitch's lair is." Said Tooth. "She knows how to get there! It's in Burgess, in the same forest as Jack's pond to the South-East" Bunny froze, fear gripping his heart.

No wonder MiM had him keep the necklace on…Jackie and the rat bag are practically neighbours!

"Bunny!" Bunny shook his head, seeing the other guardians rushing to the sleigh, Tooth calling. "Come on!"

"Ah, coming sheila!" he called, turning and racing to the elevator.

Please let my Sil-Jack be okay…

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Pitch paced, glancing over at the snow white Pooka struggling fruitlessly against the nightmare sand chains, shouting obscenities that would make even a seasoned sailor blush. His mind was a flurry of questions, rage, and most surprisingly, fear, his grip tightening on the ancient wooden staff. Soon the Guardians would sniff out their youngest member, and his mind was drawing a blank. Suddenly a Nightmare nickered in his ear, the news making his golden eyes narrow.

"Caught on faster than I expected." He huffed, scratching the staff. Jack let out a gasp of pain, gaining the Nightmare King's attention. Slowly a dark grin spread on his face, sharp nails digging into the wood, eliciting a suppressed scream. Slowly he pulled a splinter from the wood, delighted at the strangled scream of pain spilling from his prisoner's mouth.

"I wonder how many blows to your little toy it would take to end you…" he mused, grinning maliciously.

Jack froze, chest still heaving, and pressed himself as far back into the wall as he could. Pitch raised his staff in both hands, the wood creaking under the pressure of his grip.

The snap of wood was only muffled by the cracking of bone and blood curdling scream echoing through the dark caverns.