The days passed into weeks, and the weeks into months. Six months, to be exact. And with each setting sun, a bit of Pitch Black's confidence was chipped away.
The Wishing Star had still not come to him.
He had been so sure she would by now. They'd shared a powerful moment together, one of unity and single-mindedness. They both wanted freedom, didn't they? What was holding her back?
There was the disconcerting possibility that Man in Moon had discovered them and was now exercising his authority over his daughter, preventing her from escape. If this was indeed the case, then all of Pitch Black's restless nights of plotting and hoping were for naught. But then, there was also the chance that the Wishing Star simply didn't have the back bone to stand against her father and follow a different path. Perhaps she was ashamed to admit so?
Patience melted away into restless unease. The darkness of Pitch Black's prison cavern seemed to intensify with the increasing doubt that oppressed his mind. His nights were no longer spent in relaxed sleep, but instead, they were paced away by Pitch's endless roaming to and fro from one end of the cave to the other.
What was even the use of hoping that fate would treat him kindly for once in his life? Was he really so foolish as to still try and hold on to this last shred of light, when every day, it grew more dim?
With thoughts like these, it wasn't long before the nightmares returned to plague him. And they were more relentless than ever. Pitch Black almost welcomed the challenge they presented. He needed something to do instead of sitting around to sulk. Fighting off the black, terrible beasts was a pass time in which at least busied him from his fearful thoughts. Even if they were, in fact, the very fearful thoughts in him- personified.
Another month passed... Only a few more until Halloween was upon him once more. Pitch could last that long. He would. Spirit suffering as it was, and soul as black as the nightmares he faced, Pitch would not stop fighting.
...
Jack squatted upon a twisted tree branch, situated high upon a pine tree. He was nestled into the leaves, hidden safely by the camouflage of other forest trees, all swaying gently in the night breeze. Below, Jack eyed a large hole in the ground. The hole. The one Pitch Black was currently trapped within.
For these past few months, Jack had been stopping by to spy on the location, waiting eagerly to see if he could catch Pitch Black doing anything suspicious. However, each night he visited, he was dissapointed.
Pitch did not stir from his cavern prison- just as he said he couldn't. But Halloween was fast approaching now. It wouldn't be long before the Boogy Man was free again to wreak havoc. And what of his strange accomplice?
The Wishing Star.
Jack lifted his gaze to the heavens, taking in the awe inspiring sight of the gleaming constellations and sweeping light beams of the Milky Way Galaxy.
The reality that he and the Wishing Star had met before, under most shameful circumstances, still tormented Jack's mind. How could he have been so incredibly naive as to wish away his own memories? Hadn't he any idea of the consequences his actions would have had? Apparently not- or he hadn't cared enough to dwell on it. Hence why he'd spent hundreds of years, pining over his unknown identity and origin.
How utterly stupid. By far, Jack's worst mistake.
Shaking his head, Jack searched out the crested moon, half hidden from the sun at this time of the month.
He wished he could find the Wishing Star... He still had so many questions. Such as, just what was she doing, giving Pitch Black a chance to change? Did she know nothing of the evil stored within Pitch's ugly heart?
With her father being Manny, it was hard to believe the Wishing Star could be so clueless as to what she'd gotten herself into.
Perhaps it was her desire to try and change Pitch Black that inspired her to action?
The minutes ticked away, and somewhere an owl hooted, breaking Jack's line of thought. There was nothing for him to see here. He would come back on Halloween and confront Pitch then. It made the most sense. Clutching his staff tighter, Jack stood up on the tree branch and hopped off into the air, where the wind lifted and propelled him away into the sky.
...
All the while, the Wishing Star watched.
Her crystal eyes were ever shining down upon Pitch Black's little hole of despair. Little did he know how often her attention was fixed upon him. How could he possibly be aware that her heart fluttered with every soft whisper he muttered on his breath meant specifically for her?
Yet still, she worried. She knew she was becoming attached... And it wasn't good. It was startlingly evident to her that she should not have even been entertaining his offer to her. The offer to rebel against her own father and join his mission... Whatever that mission actually was... He hadn't exactly given her particulars. But she knew it was only bound to be something bad!
And still she felt that subtle pulling, that gentle tug in her heart towards him. She wanted to see him again. She wanted to spend more time with him. Why?
Their relationship was intended to be of a strictly professional nature. To let it turn into anything more was forbidden. She had a job to do, and could not sacrifice her purpose for a selfish whim.
But was it really selfish? Was wanting real companionship really a bad thing? All her existance she had served her father, and served those who called upon her, as was her duty. But when had she ever done anything for herself? When was the last time anyone had asked her what she wanted?
Pitch Black was the first and only supernatural being to acknowledge the fact that she too had wishes and fears, just like any other person. Why did every one else's needs always come before her own? Was it not about time she did something to please herself?
This way of thinking, while tempting and all too easy to fall into, was incredibly dangerous. Time and time again, the Wishing Star caught herself and corrected any rebellious ideas of hers. It was not right that she feel this way. But what else was she to do with these negative feelings? Each time her thoughts leaned in the direction of what she wanted, she felt herself slipping more and more into the reality that was the emptiness of her soul.
The distance between she and her father was becoming more palpable, and the only way the Wishing Star could comfort herself in these days was by refraining from meeting with Pitch. As long as her thoughts simply remained thoughts, she was not guilty of doing anything wrong... Right?
And then she witnessed as Pitch Black's nightmares suddenly returned to torment him. Why they had come again, the Wishing Star could only guess. Was Pitch anxious that she would refuse his offer to join him? Was he so desperate to hear back from her that he had put himself into this panic?
Guilt, stronger than she'd ever felt before, began to press hard upon the Wishing Star's spirit. She could not leave Pitch Black to fight his demons on his own. Her heart would not allow it.
And so, the day before Halloween, she made up her mind to go to him.
She knew not what she would say. She only knew that she missed him, and longed to be in his company once more...
