Hello everyone hope you all are having an amazing life wherever that may be :) I read through ALL of your reviews again so I could give this story what the people want. A few of you questioned things that were going on in the story and all I can say is that they will be explained in due time. Like literally, this story will make more sense when that chapter comes.

Oh but there was one question that I can answer. From Rasberry Jo: why would North send Jack on a spying mission is he had someone else more qualified? Especially if he ended up sending that someone else anyway. I'm pretty sure you're talking about the Guardian right? Well actually she isn't affiliated with the Guardians like North, Bunny, etc. She is an OC made by me and is a free roamer. The reason she is called the Guardian is because she is known as the protector for pretty much any aspect in life.

Think of her as like the scale that keeps everything balanced which is why she can control and pretty much do anything, like when she brought the temperature down or teleported Danny and company to freefall above Casper High. She also saw the threads from the beginning of the story when Danny and Jack first met. Hope that clears up some things!

Lol sorry that was probably confusing, but what is not is that this story as well as my Heir to the Throne, are going to be my main focus in the coming months. I plan to alternate or post an update for both every week...ish. But at least the updates will be consistent. Updates for my other stories may also pop up.

Also check out my fictionpress account (link is in bio) for a new werewolf type story, Phantom, as well as The Games. Hope you all enjoy and review to help my stories grow. Cookies to all!

Danny felt his stomach twist into knots as he stepped through the other end of the portal into the Ghost Zone. Before him stood Clockwork's tower, with its floating clock pieces and random ticking noises. He headed inside before he could chicken out, the steps the Guardian had told him to take ran through his mind like a mantra.

When he reached the top floor, he felt slightly relieved when his eyes landed on the owner of the tower, the ghost in his small toddler form. "I'm surprised you're not captured like the rest of the ghosts?"

"Your fear of what is to come is evident ghost child" Clockwork's words were blunt and they almost made him want to laugh in the ghost's face "but do not fret, there is still time before the End. As to why I am not captured it is because the Observants and I are who hold a key role in maintaining the balance of the Ghost Zone. Even Pariah Dark knew this and did not bother us much and we did not bother with him"

"Well I'm asking you to bother now. I need you to give me...him" he could not bring himself to say such a name, to fearful of what he had done in the past...or future.

Clockwork studied him for a moment before bursting out into laughter, causing Danny to take a step back in surprise. "That Guardian I swear. She sure does know how to make things interesting" the words were faint and Danny couldn't be sure he heard correctly but the ghost straightened before he could ask, turning into his old man form.

"Alright I'll give him to you, however you have to make sure you take care of your own desires too. Don't get caught up in her game"


Jack was feeling just as uneasy as Danny was but he didn't have the luxury of seeing a friendly face. The Guardian had warned him that this would be one of the worst challenges he was to face alone and the experience could very well kill him. There were possible other routes to take but they would be less effective without the weapon that had stopped him the first time.

The place the Guardian had sent him to was inside a dark cave. Before him sat a large slab of rock with a glowing dagger in the center. A crack in the ceiling allowed moonlight to filter inside, illuminating the silver dagger more.

He stepped closer cautiously, eyes darting around the room as he jumped on top of the rock. Now closer, he could see that the dagger was diamond shaped and seemed to glow brightly on it's own like a star.

Just as he was about to reach for it their was a far away neighing sound. Whole body tensing, he pulled his staff close, eyes scanning the shadows that seemed to be moving. Then from it came the Nightmares.

There glowing yellow eyes seemed to burn his skin as a dozen began to circle the rock, nostrils flaring as they smelled fear. They remained in the shadowy part of the cave, the moonlight seeming to act as a shield.

"Get back" Jack threatened, pointing his staff in the horse's directions. Those closest flinched backwards but they continued to circle, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

A deep chuckle made him freeze, his eyes widening to ovals as he turned around slowly to face a lone Nightmare. It looked like the rest but then it began to shift, black sand deforming before building back together into a tall man in all black. Jack stared in complete surprise at Pitch Black's return.

"Well hello there Jack. I hope you haven't missed me too much"


Stepping out of the portal again, Danny felt safe for a moment. In the comforts of the tree room, that was the Guardian's headquarters, he felt like nothing could harm him. That the events that were to come weren't true. Looking over at the female shattered the moment.

She was sitting on top the pedestal she had been standing on when they had first arrived. Legs crossed with her staff sitting in front of her, she appeared to be meditating. Danny guessed she was keeping an eye on Jack, a peculiar ability that gave him chills.

It was hard to believe that the petite girl, that now wore a shorts and a hoodie, was the Guardian. The one who protected the balances of the world. Though she didn't go into full detail of her complete status, it was clear to Danny that she was a powerful person who he did not want as an enemy.

"It seems like your travels went well?" even with her eyes closed Danny should have guessed she would know he was there. She had probably been keeping tabs on him too.

"Yeah, but are you sure we need him?" the small smile she gave him made his stomach turn with worry again. Could they really trust what she was telling them to do?

"Yes I am sure we need him. Why you do will come later, first we need to go to Jack's aid. I fear he will not be able to overcome the darkness that may soon consume him"


"Pitch" Jack tried to keep the surprise out of his voice but it did not seem to work. His body was literally frozen in place and that shouldn't happen to him. The boogeyman merely smiled at him, seeming to enjoy watching him squirm as usual.

"It has been oh so long since we last saw each other. The fear that the Nightmares smelled on me was so strong that I was trapped in a vortex of fear. However, as time went on, I remembered something very important" Pitch began to shuffle back and forth with all the confidence that Jack was not feeling.

"It was that I am their master. I am in control of fear, so feeling it was expected of me. After all the Tooth Fairy can remember many things and the Easter Bunny always has hope in him despite his sometimes timid nature. Once I accepted that fact I was back in control again. Most of my powers returned and with it, came the strong will for revenge. Your a smart boy, so you should know who I would be angry with"

Jack didn't need to hear more. Grabbing the dagger he made to blast his way through the Nightmares that had gathered, but a whip of black sand wrapped around his ankle. Pulling his balance off he felt the wind get knocked out of his lungs when he made contact with the rock face.

As he struggled to breath, Pitch hopped onto the rock as well, towering over him with a twisted smile. "Now how to exact my revenge has been the question on my mind for quite a while. When someone tipped me off that you were coming, well I realized that there were too many to choose from. So instead, I decided to keep you captive and do all the things that I had planned to you" clapping his hands together, black sand began to gather around the rock. It swirled around the formation and a few tendrils lashed him to the surface of the rock, making him immobilized.

"Now I won't let you die right away. There are so many things that I want to do" the black swirled faster as a part of it solidified into a knife.

Pitch grinned down at him as he brought the tip to his sternum, tracing over his jacket slowly. Jack froze, finger's aching to grab his staff but it had been knocked aside by the black sand. Without warning, his jacket was being pushed upwards and the blade slicing into his exposed belly all in a matter of seconds.

For a moment, Jack just lay there, then the pain began to set in and he screamed in agony.

All his life he had really only known the cold, steering clear of places of extreme heat. It was not his domain to bother with and he much rather be in the frigid cold airs of the high skies then so close to the Earth's core. But now, the cut from the blade burned him like fire would. Now the pain spread across his body like a wildfire as he screamed.

Pitch seemed delighted by this and raised to strike again. However before he could, there was a brilliant light that appeared right in front of his face. Screaming, Pitch tumbled backwards into the swirling black sand as Danny and the Guardian appeared in place of the light.

Jack was relieved to see them but the pain was slowly beginning to cause black spots to dance in his vision "what are you-" he cut himself off as he fainted.