Hi guys thanks again for the reviews. They make me so happy :) I completely lost my voice today due to coughing :/ Good thing I write with my hands… Anyway hope you enjoy this chapter and as always the characters belong to others, only Reaper and the story belong to me.

(With the Guardians)

"No, no, no, no!" Bunny yelled as the stream of sand began to dissipate. He ran faster, but it was no use as the sand evaporated into the air. He fell to his knees, he pounded the snow in frustration, "We were so close…"

Tooth placed her hand on his shoulder, "It will be ok Bunny."

North pulled up with his sled, "Tooth is right. We will continue following the path the sand was taking. Come my friends, into the sleigh."

The other Guardians got in the sleigh, Bunnymund shook his head, "Naw mate I'm quicker on my feet." with that the Guardian of Hope took off through the snow.

North cracked the reigns and the reindeer took off, snow flying under their thundering hooves. Intent on finding Jack, the Guardians never noticed the absence of a certain Sandman, who was walking with new purpose across the tundra.

(With Jack)

The winter spirit picked himself up from the snow, his body protesting the movement. He stood shakily to his feet; Reaper was next to him in an instant lashing out with his fist sending the boy spiraling through the air again. The snow erupted into the air as Jack slammed into the ground with bone crushing force.

"Jack!" Jamie cried as he held Sophie behind him. He stiffened as Reaper turned his attention to them. He started backing up as Reaper started towards them.

"Such belief, such innocence. The world will miss you both." the man grinned as he removed the glove from his hand.

Sophie cried at the sight of the bone glinting in the moonlight. She cringed behind her brother.

"Oh don't be afraid child." Reaper's voice was cold, his face full of malice.

"Leave them alone!" Jack rushed at Reaper.

Reaper turned in surprise and instinctively caught the rushing boy by the neck.

Jack's eyes widened as the coldness of death began to fill his body. He grasped desperately at the hand of bone that was crushing his throat. He thrashed in Reaper's grip desperately trying the free himself.

Reapers eyes widened with realization, he desperately tried to release his grip. But a power that was not his own, kept his hand firmly gripping Jack's throat. Reaper could feel the boy's life slowly fading away; he reached with his other hand trying to pry his hand from the dying spirit. "Please no! If you go I will never have my rest!" Reaper begged, his voice frantic.

Jack's eyes began to dim; his hands fell limply to his side. His body shuddered as his lungs emptied of breath.

"Stop it your killing him!" Jamie screamed, Sophie whimpering behind him.

Reaper knew he couldn't stop, Death was claiming the winter spirit, and he couldn't stop unless a miracle happened. He then heard the tinkling of sleigh bells and the scent of gunpowder and cookies filled the air, "What the hell?" was all he had time to say as a large sleigh slammed into him. Reaper's grip loosed as he went careening into the air. He twisted in midair and landed on his feet. A large man with two scimitars in each hand stood beside the sleigh that had crashed into him, and he did not have a friendly expression.

"Jack!" Bunnymund cradled the winter spirit in his arms, "Open your eyes kid!"

Blue eyes opened slowly, "Bunny?" his voice was low and laced with pain. "You came back for me?"

"I never left you kid, I would never have left you. I don't care what you were told. You are a part of my family, and I promise I will never let another person hurt you." he carefully placed Jack into Tooth's arms as she landed next to them, "You just hang tight while I take care of Reaper." He nodded at Tooth, "Get him to the sleigh. I'll go help North."

Tooth nodded and carefully flew over to the sleigh. Jack cried out as she laid him down, she winced, "Sorry Jack. When we get back to the Pole we'll get you fixed right up." tears were in her eyes.

Jack nodded, not trusting himself to open his mouth without screaming again.

(In Pitch's Lair)

A trail of blood lay across the floor; the room was filled with agonized cries as the broken Nightmare King continued to drag himself toward the sliver of moonlight. As he reached the beam, he reached his hand into the light. His body shuddered as he collapsed, the scythe pushing farther into his chest. Blood trickled down his mouth and dripped to the floor, his golden eyes began to close.

"Pitch."

Pitch's eyes opened with a start as the Man in Moons voice filled his head.

"Why did you want to save her?"

"I just couldn't let her get hurt. She was my sister, I was her brother. It was my job to protect her." his voice was ragged from his swollen vocal cords.

"Not Gwen"

"I don't…I just."Pitch was baffled as to why he had wanted to protect the girl. Once he had seen her eyes, and heard her laughter he knew then that he only wanted her safe.

"You were meant to be something more than you became my child."

"Really! So I was meant to do more than hide in the shadows for centuries!" his voice quivering with the effort of speaking," he gasped and continued " To bring the nightmares that make children scream at night! What happened all powerful Man in Moon! Did you make a mistake when creating me!" Pitch screamed at the moonlight.

"No my child. On the night you were chosen I had to fight to keep Death from claiming you. Death corrupted you, and tossed you into the darkness. The purpose I have for you is still there inside you, if you are willing."

Pitch closed his eyes, fighting back the tears; "All this time, all those years…" he opened his hand allowing the moonlight into his palm.

The moonlight began as a small circle, it slowly began to grow as the Man in the Moon began to speak, "Do you, Pritchard Black, swear to protect the children of this world with your life?"

Pitch could feel the moonlight as it crept up his arm, tears were flowing freely now.

"To keep their hopes and dreams alive. For they are all we have?"

"I will." Pitch said quietly as the moon finished the oath. His eyes closed as the moonlight flowed over his body. The last thing he heard was the soft voice of the moon… "Then awake and go forth, Guardian of Innocence."

(Back with the Guardians)

North slammed into the snow as Reaper countered his punch with his own.

Reaper put his glove on, a wild look in his eyes, "Come on North is that all you have?" He ducked as a boomerang sliced the air inches from his face; he turned to face a very angry rabbit.

"Hi mate, you miss me?" Bunnymund said as he caught the boomerang.

Reaper smiled, "Immensely." he rushed at Bunnymund, who met him halfway. The air erupted as their fists clashed. The two were thrown back from each other with the force. Reaper grinned, and then he ducked as a scimitar flashed across his vision, "Two against one? Come on how fair is that?" The sarcasm in his voice made the two Guardians bristle with anger.

"How about three?"

Reaper turned to have a fist slam into his face; he went sliding across the snow. He reached his hand and touched his mouth, a tooth lay next to him, he smiled at the fairy that was shaking her hand, "Now it might be a fight."

Jamie watched as they clashed, he quickly gathered Sophie to him and ran to the sleigh. He helped Sophie in and then he pulled himself up.

Jack jumped slightly as they landed beside him, "Hey guys what's' going on?"

"The Guardians are fighting Reaper."

"How are they doing?"

Jamie peered over the side of the sleigh, he watched as Reaper tossed Tooth into North who then careened into Bunny. He cringed, "Not too good."

Jack tried to get to his feet; "I need to help them." he fell back to the floor of the sleigh as his legs gave underneath him.

"Jack your hurt too bad, just wait here where it's safe." Jamie pleaded with his friend.

"And what gave you the idea you were safe here?" the cold voice of Reaper seemed to freeze Jamie's heart, "Now please just come quietly."

"Don't you dare touch him." Jack growled as Reaper leaned toward Jamie.

"Ok." in a swift motion Reaper knocked Jamie to the side and grabbed a sobbing Sophie in his grasp.

"No!" Jack tried to rise only to have Reaper grab him by his hoodie and toss him from the sleigh. He landed in front of the other Guardians who immediately knelt beside him with concern.

Reaper turned from the sleigh and walked towards them, both children dangling from his hands. "Now my friends put your weapons down if you do not want these little ones harmed."

North and Bunny carefully laid their weapons on the snow and held up their hands

"Ok mate now let them go." Bunny said his eyes never leaving Sophie's face; his heart breaking with the tears that were flowing down her cheeks.

Reaper set the children down, then in a burst of speed he grabbed Jack by the neck and knocked the other Guardians to the side.

The winter spirit screamed in pain at the sudden movement, he tried to break Reapers grip from the back of his neck.

Reaper smiled at him, and then at the Guardians, "Oh and I'll be taking Jack with me. We still have so much time to spend together." Jack screamed as Reaper tightened his grip.

"Reaper you bloody wanker! When I get my hands on you!" Bunnymund was fuming.

"You'll do what Bunny? Face it I've won! I will have my rest, and no one can do anything about it!" Reaper began laughing. Reaper's laughter was cut short by the sound of a small plane approaching very fast from behind him, when he turned what he saw took a moment to comprehend.

Please review and let me know what you think :) The line: gun powder and cookies, plus sleigh crash is a shout out to my brother's story 'Power or Love' ;) Love you Bro. Anyway…Sorry if my chapters seem so short, I try to make up for it with quick updates. Also, I can't help the cliffies…they are in my nature. I am the Guardian of Cliffhangers!