Howdy everyone! Hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend! Sorry for another late update I promise to kick myself into gear soon! Quick thing I forgot to mention last time in this story I am not following with the books, Pitch's daughter is not Mother Nature (duh) she died with her mother due to a nightmare attack. Oh and her name is Seraphina, cause I don't like Emily Jane lol. Onto the story!
I don't own ROTG
Chapter 7: Fever Dream
Kozmotis turned at the sound of laughter, a high pitched giggling that was sweet as wind chimes. Running toward him was his pride and joy, his beautiful daughter Seraphina. Her raven hair flowed behind her and her brilliant green eyes shined with happiness. Following at a more relaxed pace was her mother, her beauty incomparable to any in all the known worlds. Her eyes matched the color and joy of their daughter's as she smiled lovingly toward her husband. He smiled back and opened his arms for his daughter, ready to catch her in a tender embrace. Just as she was about to leap for him, his world turned black…
~~~~~Break~~~~
The memory faded from Pitch's mind and with great disappointment found himself to be still alive. Slowly he opened his eyes, squinting as they were attacked by light. Eventually the brightness faded and he could make out his surroundings. When the boogeyman recognized his them he figured he had to be hallucinating. Because there was no possible way in hell he was in Santoff Claussen. His confused thoughts were interrupted by a chirping, looking to his right he saw one of those incessant hummingbirds that belonged to Toothiana. Possibly the same one that jabbed its little beak into his thumb moon knows how long ago, if the one blue eye was anything to go by. "Are you supposed to be my guard?" He asked, "Because that's insulting, even for my current state." The little fairy huffed and rolled her eyes before flying out of the room. Pitch took the chance to try to get out of bed. Exhausted as he was he had no idea what the Guardians had in store for him and he certainly didn't want to stay to find out. Grunting in pain he pushed his hands against the mattress, but his arms shook so badly that they collapsed not even a minute later. It seemed he wasn't going anywhere any time soon.
Before he could try again Jack Frost entered the room, the fairy on his shoulder. The winter teen saw the older spirit tense all over, so as a sign of good faith he leaned his staff against the wall. "Baby Tooth told us you were awake," he started a tad awkwardly.
Pitch managed to work himself to a sitting position, "If that's the case where is the rest of your happy group?"
Jack shrugged in return, "Figured you wouldn't want to be bombarded by the masses. Nat probably would have insisted to but we finally got her to sleep. And Sandy dared any of us to wake her up."
That got a chuckle out of Pitch, the little man always was a fierce one. "And how long have I been out exactly?"
"About a week," he replied. "At least, this is the first time you're awake and coherent…you are coherent aren't you?"
Pitch coughed, "Yes yes I'm awake and aware." The one cough turned into an all-out fit then, and Jack took the opportunity to grab a glass from a nearby table and fill it with water. Pitch nodded once in gratitude before taking a long gulp. When he spoke again his voice seemed a lot more like himself. "And tell me Frost, how long has it been since we last saw each other?"
He noticed Jack shift uncomfortably before answering, "A few decades shy of 600 years…" The boogeyman's expression gave nothing away when he heard this. A tense silence began to fill the room, so Jack took the opportunity to step forward and press a hand to the ashy forehead.
Pitch of course slapped it away immediately, "What the hell are you doing?!"
Jack chuckled, "Seeing if your fever's gone down. I think it has, but not by much. Kind of hard to tell ya know? Me being colder and all."
The statement was ignored as Pitch's head turned to the window. "600 years…" He murmured. "I've lost 600 years." Any trace of a smile disappeared from Jack's face as he watched an anger emerge in the Legend. "Damn it!" He swore, hurling his half full glass of water across the room, where is smashed against the wall. Jack leapt into action when he saw Pitch fight to get out of bed. Holding the boogeyman down only fueled his thrashing, and Jack immediately noticed that the fever had decided to spike. Sweat started to form on the gray brow so the winter spirit tried to gently cool him down with his powers. Which only seemed to throw Pitch into a full panic. "Get off me get off me get off me!" He shouted, causing Jack to call for help. Thankfully North and Sandy barreled into the room moments later. Gold eyes stared wildly at the newcomers, black hair matted to his forehead.
"Guys we have to knock him out! Sandy do something!" The dreamgiver nodded while North moved and held Pitch down.
"Let me go!" Pitch snarled just as a stream of sand was shot in his face. For a moment he settled, but then his eyes fluttered open and resumed his struggles. "I said release me! I have to save them!" The gold sands began to tint black as Pitch doubled in his efforts, even North was having a hard time keeping the man down. Staring straight at the Guardian of wonder he growled, "I have destroyed a thousand of you nightmares! You will not keep me from them!"
Jack rushed to the sandman, "He's hallucinating, he needs more dreamsand! Enough to put him out and not change to nightmares!" The gold man nodded and created a giant ball, shining brilliantly with the power of dreams.
With one well aimed shot the sands hit Pitch right in the face, and to the relief of everyone he collapsed back onto his bed. Above his head two female figures and one male laughed and danced above his head, the male lifting the smaller one and swinging her around. At that moment Nat and Tooth burst the room.
"What's going on?" Nat asked.
Jack looked at them, "Pitch woke up, but wasn't very happy to be here. His fever spiked, he started to hallucinate, Sandy knocked him out." He sighed, placing a hand on the forehead once more and sending a wave of cold to ease the fever. The action seemed to help and Pitch relaxed into the pillows. "This is just a guess, but I don't think he's ready to face the rouge nightmares."
"Well he better soon," a voice said, startling them. Turning everyone saw Bunny leaning on the doorframe, a firm frown in place. "Cause we've been running ourselves ta the ground keepin' this nightmare thing under control. He needs ta get ready and fast or I say we quit wastin' our time with him and throw him back inta the hole we found him in." And before anyone could reply he turned and left.
Nat sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration. She was about to follow her mate to try and talk to him when she noticed Sandy staring intently at the dream Pitch was having. Sadness filled the Guardian's expression, and Nat wanted to ask him about it but Jack spoke first. "What did he mean he's destroyed nightmares before? He's the boogeyman, the king of nightmares."
"Maybe was just fever dream?" North suggested.
Tooth agreed, Jack nodded at the possibility, but Sandy still didn't add to the conversation. The man seemed lost in his thoughts, his gaze still on the dream playing out before him. "Sandy," Nat began, "Do you know something you're not telling us?" The question grabbed the attention of the other three, and all watched the gold head snap up in their direction. He looked almost nervous but instead of answering made a clock above his head, saying it was time to go and spread dreams. Hitting Pitch with one more wave of sand he flew out the window and was gone.
"Well that was…un-Sandy-like," Jack said.
Everyone agreed and Nat said, "I'm going to try talk to Bunny. Someone needs to stay with him in case he gets violent again."
The room was quiet, no one really wanting to volunteer, until Jack sighed. "Alright, I'll play babysitter. Just, get back quickly?" Nat nodded with a smile, kissing her brother's cheek in gratitude. With a promise to be back soon she went left the infirmary to find her husband. After a quick sweep she decided to try the Warren. Snagging one of North's snow globes she whispered her home and created the portal. Moments later she was surrounded by the warmth and bright colors. She definitely sensed Bunny here, and as she started walking Neron and Sophie bounded toward her. Reaching their mother the two stood up, each with a grim look on their faces.
"You haven't happened to see your father have you?" she asked.
The twins shared a look and Sophie replied, "He's currently destroying the training field. We're gonna need to make new dummies."
Nat nodded knowingly, "Right…Why don't you two go to the workshop, or see if Zephyr needs help collecting teeth tonight? I'll handle your dad."
"Any change with Pitch?" Neron asked.
"He woke up, but became violent so is once again unconscious."
"Teeth collecting it is then," her son said. Nat chuckled, hugging them before they left.
"Have fun," she called after them, "And look out for the rouges!" She then headed to the training clearing, and even though she had been warned she couldn't help but look surprised at the damage her mate had caused. And was still causing apparently. She watched him move gracefully across the field, a deadly force with even deadlier precision. Nat approached the field, sure that Aster knew she was there, but he ignored her. Spinning the pooka brought his paw down to vanquish an invisible enemy, but was surprised that his blow was blocked. Opening his eyes he saw Nat, her arm up and holding his own. "Thought you could use a partner." Bunnymund looked at her for a moment before swinging his other arm, beginning the spar. Husband and wife twirled around the clearing, a vicious dance between the Guardians. Neither knew how long they fought for but eventually the blows began to slow. And soon after the two stood toe to toe, inches apart. Both breathed heavily, sweat glistened over Nat's skin, and Bunny rested his forehead on hers with a defeated sigh.
Nat brought a comforting hand to his cheek, running her fingers through the silky fur. "How're you doing?"
With closed eyes he replied, "The monster tha' killed all I cared about is now resting at the pole under our protection. When every bone in mah body is tellin' me ta kill the bastard." Nat didn't reply, instead continuing to pet his fur. "Where are the twins?"
"Out collecting teeth with Zephyr," she murmured in response.
She felt him stiffen, "What? They're out there? At night? No way, they need ta-"
"Shh," she hushed him. "Aster they're fine. Right now it's just you and me." Nat played with his chest fur until she felt him relax. "I know you're not ok with this, but it's the only way. Please understand."
"Oh I understand," he replied angrily, "But I hate it anyhow."
She kissed him briefly, "I know, and I love you for supporting it anyhow." A comfortable silence grew, the mates simply taking a moment to hold each other again. After a bit Nat murmured, "We think Sandy's hiding something about Pitch."
The statement drew Bunny back to look in her eyes, "What?"
"Mhmm," she answered, "Something about the family he mentioned last week probably."
The pooka growled, "Tha' bastard never had a family. No man who did would eva' cause the kind of pain he's caused others. He lied cause he probably thought we were gonna kill him, and used the pity card to stop it."
"But we aren't going to kill him Aster. I know the pain he's caused you but he has to be alive to control the nightmares."
"I know Natty. I may not like it, but I'll be damned if anyone I loved became the nightmare ruler."
Nat smiled at him, "That sounds more like the fierce Guardian I married." The remark got a smile from the rabbit. Taking his paw she began to lead him to their cottage. "Now come on, the kids are gone for the night. Let's forget about Pitch, at least for a little while."
With a less than innocent smirk Bunny easily hoisted Nat over his shoulder, making her squeal in surprise. "Sounds like a plan ta me love. And I know just the way to forget about him."
"Aster!" Her answering giggle made the pooka's spirits lift, and for the millionth time he thanked the moon for giving him this wonderful creature to love. To be honest he didn't know what he's do without her. Picking up the pace the couple headed home, where they let themselves forget their troubles, at least for a night.
Another not so great chapter I know. Sorry again for the ridiculously late update I had the worst case of writers block. There should be some action next chapter hopefully, thank you readers for being so patient with me! You all get cookies! (::)
