Wind studied the endless darkness around him for a long moment before sighing, typical, how did he always manage to get himself into these kind of situations? The darkness around him wasn't still, it writhed and twisted, glowing red eyes watched him from the shadows. All that protected him was a small bubble of light barely a few feet wide. Even that didn't appear to be fool proof protection either. Occasionally a clawed hand or lashing tail would penetrate the edge of his safe haven.
Wind sighed, just another day in the life, he thought humorously before beginning to walk. Staying where he was, was pointless. If he wanted to escape he had to search for a weakness in Pitches mind. Days seemed to pass as he wandered the shadows of Pitches mind, the darkness eating away at his protection millimeter by millimeter. Until something made him pause. He peered off to his left, was it just him, or was the darkness a tiny bit less in that direction? Wind considered it for a moment trying to decide if this was a trap, what would be the point though? Pitch already had him, it was just a matter of time until he couldn't hold out any longer. Turning he walked towards the light spot, slowly it gained strength.
Wind paused in annoyance as the shadows began to press in on him, trying to force him away from his goal. With a hiss he forced his way through the snarling horde, he nearly lost his balance when the pressure abruptly ceased and he stumbled into another tiny island of light.
The occupant of said island stared at him in undisguised shock. The man sitting on the ground was dressed in black armor edged in gold with intricate patterns also in gold curling across it.. A black cloak pooled around him on the ground, the golden hilt of a sword visible at his side. Wind and the man eyed each other for a moment before Wind finally spoke. "Um..hello?" He asked a bit uncertainly, the man blinked, apparently too stunned to answer immediately.
"Wh...Who are you?" The man finally asked, his voice rusty from disuse.
"I haven't had a proper name in centuries, but most call me Wind." Wind answered. "Who are you?" He asked the man sighed softly, looking impossibly tired.
"It has been a very long time, but I do still remember it, my name is Kozmotis, Kozmotis Pitchiner." He answered his eyes distant. Wind was frozen, staring at the man in blank awe. Kozmotis? This was KOZMOTIS? That, it should be impossible! He thought in stunned disbelief. As far as he knew Kozmotis's soul had been completely consumed by the fearlings when he had been tricked into releasing them and become Pitch as a result! Nothing should have survived that! Especially after all these centuries! But still, here sat the last remnant of the once great general.
"If that look is any indication I suppose I must have gained myself quite the reputation under the control of the fearlings?" Kozmotis asked quietly, bringing Wind out of his thoughts. Wind hesitated before nodding.
"Unfortunately yes, for what it's worth, I'm sorry." He added when Kozmotis closed his eyes a tear leaking out from one. Kozmotis merely shook his head.
"Its my own fault, I shouldn't have listened to them, I knew better." He whispered brokenly. Wind looked down uncertainly at the man, not having the slightest clue for how to help him.
"Everyone has their limit." He offered, Kozmotis looked up at him with a faint lopsided smile that spoke of nothing but pain.
"I suppose so, how long has it been?" He asked, Wind frowned, honestly not knowing that answer to that.
"Truthfully I'm not sure, a few thousand years at least." he answered.
"A few thousand years?" Kozmotis echo, utterly horrified, Wind wanted to wince.
"Um, maybe? I really don't know for sure, but a long time, I know that much. " His hand flicked nervously, he didn't want to inflict anymore pain on Kozmotis if he could help it, the man had suffered far too much already. Kozmotis's half of the bubble of light flickered dangerously as the man stared at him in despair.
"Why couldn't I have just died?" He asked, Wind sighed softly, he unfortunately understood that.
"You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain." he agreed thinking back to his own life, he had seen that coming for him shortly before he became the wind, ever fickle he'd known the tide was turning against him once again and this time there was no war to make him the Hero in their eyes again. Kozmotis chuckled humorlessly.
"You speak from experience?" He asked Wind shrugged.
"People are fickle, when I was alive I led a war, I saved them but they feared the power I had gained to do so. I was lucky, I became the wind before they could decide I was the next monster to threaten what little hope they had gained." Kozmotis nodded.
"At least for you it was all in their minds, you didn't really become the monster."
"True enough, although I don't doubt my friends would have let me get away with it!" Wind smiled wryly, Hermione was certainly a force to be reckoned with when she saw what she perceived as being wrong. She would have kicked his ass. Kozmotis smiled faintly.
"Indeed, everyone I loved died in the war, it's one of the reasons I agreed to guard the prison, I had nothing left to go back to." Wind nodded, understanding very well. A long moment passed in silence before an idea began to take shape in Winds mind. He hadn't used magic in a very very long time, but if there was ever a time to put his knowledge to use, it was now.
"Kozmotis?" he asked quietly, a faintly grin on his face, the general looked up at him curiously. "How about we get the hell out of here?" he asked holding out his hand. Kozmotis stared at him puzzled.
"How would you propose we do that?" he asked dryly, " I have been trying to force the darkness out for eons." Wind just smirked.
"Ah, but you didn't have me then, did you?" he asked, Kozmotis stared at him for a long moment uncertain before taking his hand and allowing Wind to pull him to his feet.
"You have a way to free me?" he asked, Wind shrugged.
"Won't know until we try, will we? The spell will need both our wills to have any hope of working however."
"What spell is this?"
Wind laughed, " I learned this spell a very long time ago, to make it work you must concentrate on the happiest memory you possess. Hold it in your mind and remember, I will cast the spell." Kozmotis frowned before nodding and closed his eyes, concentrating. Wind took a deep breath and focused as well, thinking back. The memory of the castle as they came around the bend the first time in the boats, the realization that this was real.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"
Everything vanished in a blinding flash of white light.
