I don't really have anything interesting to say here...so, I am just going to say thank you to ALL the people who both followed and favorited this fan-fic. You know who you are.
And an even bigger thank you to everyone who reviewed! One reviewer in partiular, you know who you are as well. I appreciate that very much! It helps to know people actually enjoy my writing. Thanks guys. :)
Chapter Seven
Jack looked at Tooth. He saw his own worry reflected in her eyes. Jack flew down lightly and landed near the edge of the lake where the nightmare sand did not reach. It just stayed near the center of the lake, seeming to be moving up and down in a spinning fashion. Jack shot Tooth a confused look who simply shrugged. She had no idea either. Jack took a step towards the sand his staff raised in front of him. He knew who's doing this was, Pitch's. Who else would be able to move nightmare sand like that? A better question, who else would be able to even make nightmare sand in the first place? He was about to see if he could freeze it when someone shouted his name from across the lake.
"Jack!" At first he thought it was Tooth until he realized Tooth was behind him, and it was a boys voice he heard. He flew up to look around the mass of sand that was in front of him and was surprised to see Jamie.
"Jamie? What are you doing here! It's not safe!" Jack shouted flying over and placing a hand on the thirteen year olds shoulder, who was gripping his shoulders with cold. He wasn't wearing a very thick jacket and he had no gloves on.
Jamie shivered but answered him steadily. "Jack, you said to come here whenever something was wrong. You said you'd always come eventually and to always wait." Jack remembered when he'd said that. It wasn't long after they'd defeated Pitch the first time. He had reminded Jamie that if he ever needed him to come to the lake and Jack would know. He wasn't lying he had felt a presence on his lake but he didn't think it would be Jamie. It wasn't even fully dawn yet, it was a good two hours yet.
"Ya," Jack finally answered him. "I did say that, but it's not safe here." He repeated while looking him in the face. "You must know that."
Jamie gave a loud huff, much to Jack's annoyance. "Yes, I can see that! It's important Jack, I think I saw...I saw... no I know I saw him Jack, I saw Pitch!"
Jack frowned. They had suspected but now they knew for certain. Pitch was back, and they had to do something about it, because if Jamie had seen him then he must be up to no good. Tooth flew over then and began talking to Jamie so fast that he wondered how the boy could even understand what he was saying. "Jamie. We already know. You really should go back h-" Jack was about to finish his sentence when he felt something behind him dart out. He had only one second to grab Jamie and Tooth who were still talking and shove them out of the way before a thick rope of nightmare sand darted out in an attempt to grab them. Jack rolled away and stood up. "Tooth! Get Jamie away from here it's not safe. I can not stress that enough!" Jack yelled and a bewildered Tooth who must've realized Jack would never have acted this worried unless it was something very important.
Tooth quickly grabbed Jamie who was protesting over leaving Jack alone but Jack called to him. "I'll be right behind you Jamie, calm down." He couldn't have said more even if he wanted to because Tooth who had a firm hold on Jamie flew up into the air in the direction of his house. The nightmare sand would have to wait, Jamie was far more important, children first, always, it was the guardians most important duty, to protect children.
Jack flew up to follow them, Tooth who was much faster was already flying over the forest ahead nearly at the town of Burgess. Jack turned back one last time to look at the nightmare sand that was still circling the middle of the lake when a sudden rope shot up at him, at that close range even Jack couldn't have dodged and the nightmare rope shot around his ankle despite his fruitless attempt to dodge it. He yelped when it gave a harsh yank and pulled him back towards the ice. He struggled on the way down but as soon as his side smacked into the ice the wind was knocked out of him and he gasped, he felt blood trickle down his neck again and placed a hand on it, his neck wound. He remembered North's words. Can't heal on there own...Phil... he sighed. Maybe he should've told them, it was no matter though, he no longer felt pain from it, it was really just a nuisance to him. Even if it did hurt sharply when he turned his neck a certain way and the blood that ran down his neck would just get harder and harder to hide...not now. He would worry about that later. Right now he had bigger concerns.
He looked back towards the nightmare sand in the middle of the lake. The rope that had grabbed him had retreated and Jack looked up for Tooth and Jamie, but he didn't see them. That's fine. Less for me to worry about. He would have flown up to follow Tooth and Jamie, pertend nothing happened, you know? Pertend that he thought he seen something near the lake and went to check but came back to follow them after, nothing to worry about. At leats that was his plan until the nightmare sand in the middle of the lake swelled into a huge ball, knocking him of his feet and covering him in the gritty, black substance. He tried to brush it off his face, but after a moment it subsided.
He quickly scrambled to his feet. It was dark now and it felt like his head was slightly spinning, wait dark? It was almost dawn, not the midle of the night. It took him another moment of having his brain scramble for logic before he was able to comprehend that he was in the middle of the nightmare sand that was located in the middle of the lake. It had formed a black bubble of spinning sand around him, he gripped his head when a sense of vertigo past over him and he heard laughter behind him, and a smooth malicious tone spoke to him from behind. A tone of voice he knew all to well and hoped he'd never have to hear again for a long long time.
"Hello Jack."
Tooth flew quickly over the buildings searching for Jamie's house. Her mini fairies followed her, all except Baby Tooth and it never occurred to her where she was. She floated between multiple building before spotting Jamie's. She gripped Jamie tightly with one arm and pried open the window with her other arm. She barely noticed that Jamie was struggling in her arms trying to tell her something. She flew Jamie in setting him on the bed with a smile on her face. She tended not to stress over much but her and Jack had to go back and check on the nightmare sand um...problem. She was about to leave when Jamie grabbed her arm tightly. "Ow, Jamie. What's wrong?"
Jamie three his hands up a scowl set deeply onto his face. "Tooth! Are you blind? I've been trying to get your attention the whole way here. Did you not notice Jack wasn't following us all the way! I saw him above the lake near the trees and then nothing! Tooth go get him! I need to know he's okay!"
"Oh no." Tooth muttered.
"Oh no? Tooth, wake up! I don't know why your acting this way but snap the hell out of it!" Jamie screeched directly in her face.
Jamie's comment made Tooth's breath hitch when she realized she wasn't paying attention to the present, the danger that was present. She was worrying about her fairies back at the Tooth palace. Now she didn't know where Jack was. Tooth rubbed her hands together before realizing she was doing it again and a clear thought finally crossed her mind. Jack! She flew out the window ignoring another distressed call from Jamie and flew directly towards the lake, her mini-fairies who she'd also ignored followed her.
She looked quickly back towards the lake, landing on the edge of the lake she looked at the swelling circle of nightmare sand with growing horror. "Jack! Jack! Jaaaaack!" She screeched and shot towards the dome of nightmare sand that separated her from Jack. How did she know for certain? She could feel it, just like North felt things with his belly, and what she felt was not a good feeling, she flew back a little indicating to her mini-fairies to back away for minute before she raised her wings higher than usual to fly and charge the nightmare dome. The only thought in her mind was, I'm coming Jack.
Jack jolted at the voice and swung his staff up so that it was in front of him. He turned in a circle trying to see Pitch in the almost pitch black but not blackness. He finally spotted him, but Pitch didn't seem to concerned by his threatening stance, which made him slightly confused.
Pitch smiled taking a step into the area of the nightmare sand dome that was slightly lighter than the sides. "Good to see you again, Jack."
Jack smirked. "Yes, it's my pleasure to see you to Pitch, a question for you all mighty Nightmare King. How are you still alive?" Jack asked his voice dripping with sarcasm that only made Pitch laugh.
"Oh Jack. You haven't changed one bit have you? Did you really think my nightmares, my creations would destroy me?" Pitch answered his question with more questions. Typical of Pitch.
"I'd only hoped." Jack hissed.
"Talking with you is very nice Jack but lets get to the point as to why I am here in the first place. I've asked you this once but I don't think you understood exactly what I have to offer. Join me Jack Frost."
Jack looked at him shocked for a moment before instantly replying, "No." Jack had hesitated last time and it had nearly cost him the guardians trust in him, which he didn't really think he had much of in the first place but he had some now and there was no way he was going to loose it, not now. The guardians trust he had gained the most was Tooth's but it was not intentionally. He just felt that there was no way the guardians could trust him if he himself didn't trust them first.
Pitch frowned at him but only slightly. "I thought this might happen." He snapped his fingers. "I am out of time, this time. Someone who'd forgotten about you a moment ago is nearly back but that doesn't mean I can't play a little bit first." Pitch laughed before a frustrated Jack could try and freeze him with his staff. The blue frost hit the nightmare sand wall, freezing some of the sand but the sand was only replaced by more nightmare sand. Jack tried hitting it with his fist only to have it stick sharply into his hand. He pulled back with a yelp, his hand bleeding from multiple little jabs. It felt as though someone had shoved needles into his hand. He tried using his staff to pry open the wall as well but he only succeeded in the nightmare sand throw him against the opposite dome wall with a vicious swat. Jack rubbed his back standing up, muttering under his breath. He paused for a moment, why did Pitch snap his fingers? Jack scowled before he realized something was behind him, but by then it was to late, he heard a growl and then something sharp connected with his back and he clenched his teeth before his vision began to spin.
The last thing he heard before the blackness clouded his vision was a fast moving line of colors coming into view shouting. "Jack!"
Heh, I don't know why but this chapter kind of wrote itself so if you see anything wrong or something I could add feel free to send me a pm. ;) I am pleased with the end result though. Tooth always seemed like the mother type to me even if she did seem to be quite distant sometimes, like she was in this chapter.
I will stop rambling now. :D Thank you for reading this far and I'll update again soon!
