Small Cage

The Guardians regrouped at the Warren to nurse their wounds after Pitch's attack. North was the last to arrive. His yetis sat on the sidelines to attend to their injuries with the elves trying to help, but were only getting tangled in the bandages.

"How many did ya get out?" Bunny asked as he rotated his sore shoulders.

North's gaze darkened as he gripped the hilt of his sword. "I am sorry Bunny but Pitch smashed every single one." He sat as he sighed, for once looking like the old man he appeared to be. "We fought bravely but-"

Tooth gently touched his shoulder. "You did your best," she said softly. "I wasn't able to get that many out either."

Bunny grimmly nodded. "There were way more than I expected, Pitch is gettin' stronger. However, thanks ta Sandy, we at least got half the eggs out."

Sandy gave a half smile as he displayed an image of him using his sand to lift the eggs onto his cloud and carried them to safety.

"It's not as many as I would have hope ta get an advantage," Bunny replied, "but it could have been a lot worse."

North sighed sadly, but nodded. It wasn't what they had hoped for but it was still better than nothing. He then frowned as he looked around. "Where is Jack?"

Tooth frowned as she glanced around. "I..I don't know, he was right next to me in the tunnel."

The others frowned but as they silently searched dread crossed all of their faces. "He's not here," Bunny muttered. "But where else could he be?"

"He would not leave us," North said with a firm nod. "Not now."

Sandy's eyes widened as the realization hit him and he produced an image of Pitch clutching Jack in his hands.

Tooth's eyes widened in horror. "Now that I think of it, I saw Jack at the start of the fight but I can't remember seeing him for the rest of it. You don't think while I wasn't looking-"

"One of the Nightmares snatched Jack like they did your fairies?" North finished and gave a nod. "Da, it looks like that is case.

Bunny growled as he looked ready to punch a tree. "If he does anythin' ta the little sprite my boomerang will be the least of his worries!"

"This is my fault," Tooth said as she buried her face into her hands. "I should have kept a closer eye on him."

Sandy patted her shoulder and produced a picture of a history book with a big 'X' through crossed through it.

"Sandy's right, what done is done, we can't change past," North said as he patted Tooth's other shoulder. "We must rescue Jack-"

"But how?" Tooth as as she hovered in the air. "We don't know where he is," she looked around and gasped. "Baby Tooth's not here either!"

"She must have gotten captured along with Jack," Bunny muttered.

"Or perhaps she went after Jack for rescue," North muttered.

"We don't know for sure," Tooth replied and shivered. "And I can feel the disbelief spreading."

North rose as he noticed some of his joints were aching that had never ached before. "We must go to Pole and regroup. Perhaps with globe we can track Nightmares and find source of them."

"And Pitch," Bunny confirmed with a nod.

Sandy's eyes suddenly widened and he tugged on North's jacket. He produced an image of each of the Guardians above his head, then an 'x' appeared and crossed out himself, Tooth and Bunny. A large circle appeared around North's image and the meaning quickly dawned on the other Guardians.

"You're the only one he hasn't directly attacked yet," Tooth replied. "Pitch used the nightmare sand to ruin Sandy's dreams, he stole my fairies so I couldn't collect teeth and he smashed most of Bunny's eggs."

"Yer next on the list," Bunny said as his eyes narrowed. "When we get to the Pole, we shouldn't just look for Jack, ya need to get ready."

"Da," North said. There was no denying it now, Pitch had one last moved to play and it would involve attacking North's workshop. The Pole would be the last stand, if they failed there then all would be lost.

0808080808080808080808080808080808080

Jack sat with his back pressed into the bars of his cage as Pitch carried him into a lair.

"A deep dark hole in the ground," Jack commented dryly. "Wow, that is real original. What's next? Dripping water from stalactites? A three headed dog?"

"Hardly," Pitch remarked as he climbed off of Onyx. "I detest canines."

Jack raised an eyebrow. Did Pitch actually consider that at some point? His train of thought was broken as chirping echoed. He raised his head and saw several cages hanging from the ceiling. Jack's eyes widened as he saw all the captured fairies chirping back at him.

"Be quiet," Pitch shouted, his voice making the cages shake and silencing the fairies. "Believe me, I won't think twice of finding some large cat to feed you fairies to."

Jack poked his head through the bars. "If you do anything to them, I'll freeze your hands off."

Pitch laughed as he lifted the cage. "A rather empty threat since you're a caged bird yourself," he held up his staff, "especially without this."

All Jack could do was keep glaring as Pitch carried him over to a throne. Something moved from the corner of his eye and Jack turned his head. Peeking from behind Pitch's dark globe was Baby Tooth. She pressed a finger to her lips, gesturing Jack to keep silent before ducking back behind.

Jack covered his mouth to keep his gasp quiet. So, Baby Tooth had followed him! He wasn't completely alone!

"Not talkative now are we?"

Jack jumped at Pitch's voice but forced his face to remain emotionless. He had to keep Pitch from finding Baby Tooth. "I got nothing to say to you."

Pitch placed Jack on the armrest to a throne. "Oh, I beg to differ, I believe we have much to discuss."

"Like what?!" Jack snapped, as Pitch tucked his tiny staff into his pocket.

"Despite your small size," Pitch said with a smirk. "You have revealed you hold great potential." He raised a finger. "Potential that I believe would be better fulfilled if you joined me."

Jack blinked dumbly before he gave a forced laugh. "Are you nuts?! Why on earth would I do that?"

"Because we both want the same thing," Pitch replied with an almost genuine smile. "To be believed in, to be seen, to not be alone."

Jack stiffened at the comment, but kept his mouth shut.

"We've both seen what you're capable of when combining your frost with my shadows," Pitch continued. "Cold and dark blend so naturally together." He lifted the cage. "And if you joined me, Jack, you would no longer be so tiny."

Jack paused as he raised his head. "What?"

"With me, you would no longer feel the need to keep yourself so small," Pitch said. "You can be restored to your full size."

"Keep myself?!" Jack cried. "You must have gotten your ears clogged!" Jack climbed to his feet. "I didn't do this to myself, the Moon kept me this small!"

Pitch smirked and then shut his eyes as he laughed which made Jack's bones shake.

"What's so funny?!" Jack demanded.

"Oh, you foolish boy," Pitch taunted joyfully. "I know the magic the Man in the Moon cast on you and the truth is you could have regained your size whenever you wanted to."

"What?" Jack said in disbelief.

"The magic keeps you tiny cause deep down you don't want to get big again, and I know why." He grinned and held the cage closer. "You're afraid, Jack, afraid of being alone and unable to hide from anything that could hurt you."

"T-That," Jack stammered, "isn't true."

"It is," Pitch said. "I know fear, Jack, and that is yours. If you were with me you would no longer be afraid of the world."

Jack swallowed. Pitch was lying, he had to be, right? All this time, it was Jack himself that had kept him so small?

"Do you think that you can rely on the Guardians to keep you safe?" Pitch remarked, almost sounding sympathetic. "They're not the family you need, Jack. They didn't even noticed you were gone and where were they when you needed them?"

Jack chewed his bottom lip as he stared at his hands. He had been lonely for all those 300 years. Why couldn't they have been there? But then the worlds of Bunny's apology rang in Jack's ears. The protective glare Sandy gave when he rescued Jack from Pitch. The adoringly sisterly smile Tooth had shown Jack and the fatherly encouragement North had tried to give.

Yes, they hadn't been there for Jack in the past but he had played, had fun with them. That didn't mean they wouldn't be there for him in the future, right?

"Together, all will know the names of Pitch Black and Jack Frost," Pitch continue. "They will believe in us."

Jack's eyes narrowed as he glared at Pitch. "No, they'll fear us and that's not what I want!" He shook his fist at Pitch. "If being big again means terrifying kids than I rather stay small! Forget it!"

Pitch scoffed. "You say that now, LITTLE bird," he said as he set the cricket cage back on the armrest. "But I imagine you'll change your tune after some time." He gave a grin. "There is only one way I'm letting you out of that cage, Jack, and that's when you agree to join me. I'll even be nice and let you have your teeth."

Jack paused at the mention of his teeth. There was temptation there, to finally have his memories, to see the family and life he didn't remember...but he couldn't trust Pitch. Even if Pitch was telling the truth and kept his word, the price was too high.

"You'll be waiting a LONG time," Jack snapped, "cause that's not happening."

"We'll see," Pitch replied. "Once I get rid of the Guardians and you truly see they could care less about you, I imagine you'll be changing your mind."

Pitch then leaned against his hand and he gave a sly grin. "To start the process, perhaps I should give you a wardrobe upgrade."

Pitch snapped his fingers and suddenly, Jack saw shadows crawl up and into the cricket cage. Jack recoiled and tried to back up only to slam into the bars behind him. He cringed as he felt the shadows slink up over his body and covered his clothes.

The shadows then hardened and took the form of a robe that was identical to Pitch's. "Get it off!" Jack cried as he clawed at the shadows. Suddenly, Jack felt frost blast from his fingers and instantly froze the shadows.

He watched in relief as the shadows broke off of him in ice chunks and fell to the floor. Jack momentarily stared at his hands stunned. How had he managed to summon his frost without his staff?

Pitch frowned displeased at Jack. "Well, that's disappointing, I was hoping for a mini me."

Jack glared as he kicked the shadow ice chunks out of the cage.

"No matter," Pitch said as he rose. "If you behave, I may let you have a little swing to play with in the cage." Jack's blood boiled as Pitch laughed and proceeded to leave. "I'll let you stew on your options while I prepare my final attack."

Jack remained motionless and didn't move until Pitch was gone and Onyx had followed his master out of the chamber.

Sucking the air between his teeth, Jack poked his head through the bars. "Baby Tooth?" he whispered, wishing he could yell but didn't want to risk Pitch hearing him. "Still there?"

Baby Tooth's head gradually appeared. Once she saw the coast was clear, she sprang from her hiding spot straight to Jack while making very worried chirp noises.

"I'm okay," Jack said as Baby Tooth held his hand. "But Pitch has my staff." He pointed to the cages above. "Go see if you can free the others!"

Baby Tooth looked to her sisters and gave a nod before flying up. She frowned at the lock and Jack winced realizing he had no idea where the keys where. "Maybe they're by the throne-"

Jack cut himself off as he saw Baby Tooth stick her beak into the lock and moved her body back and forth. The winter sprite held back a laugh. "Does Tooth know you can pick locks?"

Baby Tooth paused and looked back with a smirk that seemed to say "Who do you think taught me?" before returning to the lock. Jack held his breath, anxiously watching for any warning signs Pitch was returning, but finally felt he could breath again when a soft click was heard.

The other fairies cheered as Baby Tooth tossed the lock aside and started to pull open the door. "Yes!" Jack cheered but then froze as he heard a thud behind him. "Baby Tooth! He's coming back! Hide!"

Baby Tooth chirped and dove behind the throne. The other fairies in the cage chirped frantically as they pulled the door shut. Jack shut his eyes as he heard Pitch footsteps approach and prayed he wouldn't notice the missing lock.

Even if Jack or Baby Tooth weren't here at least the fairies could get out of the cage and free the others. Jack's eyes hardened as Pitch approached with a horde of Nightmares behind him. He chuckled pleased as he lifted the cricket cage.

"Well then, Jack," Pitch said as he attached the cricket cage to a belt around his waist. "Let's go visit the Pole, shall we?"

Jack was silent as Pitch summoned his shadows for them to walk through. As they approached, Jack saw out of the corner of his eye that Baby Tooth was following them. He took a side glance to the other fairies before his vision was consumed by darkness. He just hoped they were good at picking lock as Baby Tooth was.

08080808080808080808080808080808080808080

The fairies waited until Pitch and his Nightmares were out of set. They then swung the cage door aside and swarmed out. Each fairy picked a cage and proceeded to pick at the lock with their own beaks. It was going to take awhile to release their sisters and they didn't have a lot of time.