Author's Note: Here is chapter 9! Haha and oh, in reply to the guest Lolxxx, Jack knows that Pitch doesn't have Kaylee! He's just worried that he will be able to get her again, since he managed it the first time so he knows it is possible! Plus, he can't protect her since he is trapped, so yeah! Anyways, enjoy this chapter and please review!
Four long, quiet hours later, Tooth, Sandy, North, and Bunny finally make it to England, flying fairly low over a town when North was too lost in thought to realize it. "Mommy, look, it's Santa Claus!" a young child squeals from down below on the ground; that snaps North out of his thoughts and he commands the reindeer to bring the sleigh up above the clouds so that they won't cause any commotion down below.
"Is everyone awake? We will be arriving at castle soon, if it is really there"," North declares, looking back at Tooth, Sandy, and Bunny who were now all sitting up, still looking grim and solemn. They nod, and try to mentally prepare themselves for the fight that was sure to ensue in just a few minutes if Pitch's nightmare castle really was standing once again and that was where he was keeping their fellow Guardian. Little did they know that this fight would hold a surprise that none of them had prepared for. How could they know? Oblivious to what exactly lay ahead of them, they continue on, and soon the nightmare castle came into view, up in the clouds like the Tooth Palace. However, this palace was dark, foreboding, and ominous, resting on grey-black storm clouds instead of fluffy white ones. Taking a collective deep breath, all of the Guardians sit up straighter and head for cover behind other clouds, hoping that Pitch hasn't seen them yet, planning a surprise attack.
Jack was currently still sitting slumped against the wall in the same dark room, his eyes closed, thinking. His wound from Pitch had stopped bleeding a while ago, and although it still hurt, he tried to block it out, concentrating on the choice he had to make. He sighed in frustration; why did Pitch have to make his life a wreck? Hadn't he done enough the first time Jack had faced him? Besides, what kind of a choice was this!? He could either fight unwillingly beside Pitch against his friends, more like his family, or he could deny Pitch his wish and sit back while both he and his family suffered. Jack suddenly stiffened when he felt something in the room change; his eyes snap open, and he sees the shadows shifting positions unnaturally. He knows what this means, and sure enough, just seconds later Pitch Black forms from the mass of darkness, smiling at Jack evilly. "I'll need to hear your choice now, Jack."
Jack scowls, getting up and ignoring the pain in his side from the wound made by the nightmare sand and the last lingering effects of his staff being snapped. "What do you mean, you need to hear my choice?! It hasn't been 24 hours!"
To be honest, Jack wasn't sure exactly how much time had gone by; there way to tell while he was trapped here. He knew that it hadn't been an entire day yet, though.
"Oh trust me Jack, I know that. However, there's been a change of plans. You see, your fellow little Guardians are here already; I hadn't been expecting them yet, but it hardly matters now. So, what is your choice, Jack? Will you join me, or do you want more pain inflicted on you while they watch, and on them as well while you watch? Oh, and don't forget about that little girl. Well, make it snappy, Jack! What will it be?"
Jack already knew what his choice would be; it was really the only logical option for now, but it didn't make it any easier to speak out loud. Sighing, he says, "You win, Pitch; I'll join you." The part he left out was that he would only be joining this monster until he could figure a way out of it without having bad things happen to the Guardians and Kaylee; he didn't care about himself.
Pitch smiles at Jack, and Jack hates it, but he knew that he couldn't risk rebelling against the Nightmare King at the moment; he was injured, and his family was on the line. "I had a feeling that would be your choice, Jack. Here, change into this," he says, a hoodie materializing seemingly out of nowhere. He tosses it at Jack, who catches it and looks at it. It's exactly the same as his blue one, but black. Jack glares at him, not willing to put on the new piece of clothing; it would symbolize that he truly did belong to Pitch.
"Disobeying me so soon, Jack? Put it on now. Have you forgotten that I won't hesitate to –"
Jack cuts him off. "I know!" he snaps," and, angry as ever, slips off his familiar blue hoodie for the new black one.
"I think black suits you much better, Jack. Cold and dark, remember?" Pitch says once Jack has it on, referring to what he had told the Winter Spirit when they had faced each other at the Pole after Easter had been ruined. The white-haired boy just continues to glare in response, not in the mood for talking right now.
"Oh, giving me the silent treatment? That's a very childish thing to do, Jack. I thought you were at least somewhat mature." Pitch laughs as he sees that the boy is now fuming.
"Oh, relax boy. Here, I got you something else," he says, pulling something out from behind his back. It's a replica of Jack's staff, but in a . . . . well, in a Pitch Black color, just like the hoodie. Jack looks at it in disgust, and the Nightmare King notices.
"Being a bit ungrateful aren't we now, Jack? I spent my valuable time to make you a new conduit so that you can still use your powers properly, and you look upon it with distaste? You better learn respect very quickly, Jack, or there will be a price to pay. Now, try it out before those pesky Guardians break past my nightmares and get in here." Sighing, Jack takes the new staff from Pitch. It feels familiar in his grasp, since it is almost exactly the same as his old one, but yet he hates it, because he can sense it's dark aura. He doesn't let this show on his face, however, and instead does as he was commanded, trying the staff out.
Much to his surprise, frost actually shoots out of the thing on his command; he hadn't thought it would actually work, but it did; the same frost patterns that had taken form on his original staff were even now starting to grow on this one and his new hoodie. Pitch smiles when he sees this as well, and soon after, there is a large banging sound coming from somewhere nearby in a different room. Pitch's evil smile grows at this.
"I believe your friends have finally arrived, Jack! What do you say we go and greet them?" With that said, Pitch gathers the shadows and they form around himself and Jack, taking them to the corridor where the Guardians had managed to break into.
Author's Note: I think this was my favorite chapter to write so far, and I hope you all enjoyed it! Please review!
