Canto VIII

"Man's memory shapes

Its own Eden within."

-Jorges Luis Borges-


November 28 2014

Great, this is going nowhere Monkey King kicked with light force a small rock that fell to the deep abyss below him. He ran his gaze around the place where he was in, the lair of Pitch Black. Everything, even the atmosphere that gave off, was colored in black and grey. The rocks that formed the interior were all shaped in steep angles, the pillars that stood on his sides were old and decaying, and it was like he was in a sinking city of Venice only much scarier and creepy.

"Talking about 'Pimp my House,' this place needs a little bit of makeover, sheesh!" He fussed in a plain tone as he resumed his walking.

The Monkey King, with his arms crossed around his chest, snarled at a Nightmare Horse, Pitch's fearlings, after he saw it peaking from behind a pillar discreetly. He clicked his tongue in dismay and grumbled.

Piss off The ape hated being watched by them, only protested mentally. He didn't have the courage to kill it since it would anger the Nightmare King and might complain to the Shadow Man, whom he considered as his 'new found' friend. He had seen him fight and he was absolutely amazed but a little bit terrified, he didn't want him to get angry over his petty annoyance.

"Hmph, he's lucky that I don't know him—"

"Ba, ba, dook?" He almost yelped in shock but he restrained his voice and turned around. The Babadook stood behind him motionless, his top hat looming over him, he seemed to be following him.

"What do you want…Oh I'm guessing your guarding me and you'll tell Pitch if I do something funny eh," the Primate rose a brow, annoyed and miffed at the dark being's surveillance method.

The Babadook shook his head, moving his top hat and denying what the Monkey King said, and spoke again. The Primate listened to him and then rolled his eyes.

"Great now what does he want?" He groaned and sighed and resumed his slow pace and lazy walk towards the main chamber of the Nightmare King, still annoyed and irritated.


The main chamber was just like the hallway outside; dark, gloomy, and menacing-like. The ceiling above was grey and black and hundreds of cages, attached and suspended, made a low creaking sound after the Monkey King passed through below it.

Pitch Black and his 'friend' stood in front of a large globe. The large sphere-shape contraption glowed in ominous gold as the Shadow Man stared at it, observing and probably thinking something sinister.

"You summoned me?" Pitch slowly turned to the Monkey King and made a smile. He moved closer and loomed over him and spoke.

"Yes, Monkey King, I know your history. It was very unfortunate for you am I right?"

"Heh, whatever," the Primate said and picked his ears. Pitch Black, after he saw the reaction of the Monkey King, frowned and moved away. He was expecting him to scowl from being offended but to no avail. He stood beside the Shadow Man and asked,

"So…what's the plan?"

The Shadow Man didn't immediately answer; his Bi-color mask glowed as it reflected the lights coming from the globe. He stood there, contemplating and then finally spoke in a raspy voice.

"I want you…to tell me anything about the Guardians…" He shifted his gaze and bore his mask at the listening Nightmare King and added, "and their weaknesses…"

Pitch Black, the Nightmare King, slowly created a wicked smile on his pale face. He locked his hands behind him and walked towards the globe. "Well then…" he paused as he raised his right hand, opened it and summoned a small cloud of black sand, and continued, "It'll be long…but very, very entertaining,"


Great Court of Heaven – Oval Office

(24 hours later)

Haytham, with his eyes close and legs crossed, listened intently. The meeting that was ongoing right now didn't do anything but waste his time, space…and his patience. 24 hours after it started, they still couldn't move to the same topic that was bugging him from the very beginning: Who is the Shadow Man.

"It's unknown and he's too strong." Dlanor put her elbow on her table, her chin rested on her crossed fingers, suggested. The man only rolled his eyes in her oblivious suggestion.

"And you see how he moves, it's almost liquid like." Jack took a sip of the tea that he was drinking; he looked at Haytham, across the table, and asked worriedly.

"What do you think Haytham?" Oh now I can get the spotlight the man shifted from his sitting position before he stood up and walked towards the window. He stared at the clouds as he organized his thoughts for an answer.

"Indeed he moves like water, I purged my sword at him, and it only passed through," He shifted from his stand and turned around stiffly, locking his hands behind him and moving slowly.

"However I notice something about him, his abilities I mean," His gaze moved towards the portrait of a woman dressed in blue cleric uniform, and began his reasoning. "When I delivered a thrust that time he immediately moved and backed himself to a corner with the Babadroll-"

"Babadook," He paused and gave a serious stare at Dlanor who simply corrected him. He hated being disrupted in his mid-argument, "'Babadook,' and then he summoned a spike from his shadow, blocking my attack, and that's when I noticed it," He stopped below a portrait of a man and stated. "The shadow of Babadook and him, were half overlapping, but the spike only came out his shadow which means…that he cannot manipulate someone's shadow other than his."

The Guardians looked at each other, unable to comply and digest what he said. Haytham briefly observed their reactions and let out a sigh of disappointment. I just can't believe that this group of Guardians, who were in charge of protecting millions of children, can't simply understand what I am talking about! He criticizes them and added.

"What I am saying is, if we want to defeat this guardian, we must corner him to a place without light," the Guardians smiled and nodded their heads. They finally understood what the blue Guardian was saying.

Jack was about to say something to the man when suddenly the door of to the office opened. Bunnymund panted as he entered and hopped towards North, whose sentence was cut from his sudden entrance.

"North, we have an emergency." Haytham cast his eyes in suspicion at the rabbit Guardian. They strike first his hunch was correct after North exclaimed.

"Tooth's palace, under attack?"

"Yes, Tooth already flew away we have to hurry!" North clicked his tongue in alarm. He took his swords from the wall and swung them into his hilt. "Everyone we must help Tooth, I don't know what they're planning but we will not let them succeed," The guardian thundered as everyone nodded and began to exit the room.

Aiden, standing beside Dlanor, moved his green eyes beside him with a requesting look. The Guardian of Truth nodded and said to him, "Find out who's this Guardian and bring him to this court," in a blunt tone, without looking at him.

The Detective moved away and said to Haytham, who was still standing beside the doorway, "Missions not yet over…"

"I know…This meeting was a waste of time by the way." The Blue Guardian noted plainly as they both walked towards the outside of the court of Heaven.


Burgess

Top News for the week: the Minister of Economy of Vespania, was found dead during a theatrical play of Nightmare before Christmas in Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia. Authorities suspected assassination or foul play since the man has many enemies within Russia but they ruled it out after a medical autopsy report reveals that the man had severed from heart attack. Meanwhile, friends and Family mourned together, especially the Ambassador of Vespania, who was very alarmed from his death.

This is VNN's top stories for now, stay tuned

Jamie listened to the news from the T.V. He shivered outside an electronic store after a cold wind brushed against his winter jacket. He only smiled after he looked up and saw the grey sky began to release snow that slowly freefell to the ground.

"Jack sure is a fun friend of mine," He giggled from the happy imagination. "Oh…I think that's all." The brunette haired boy turned around and cast his happy eyes at a boy. The boy was wearing a thick brown winter cloak that covered his body up to his knees.

"Oh Mikey, did you buy it?"

"Yeah," The brown haired Mikey took out an inhaler from a bag and puffed it to his mouth; he closed his eyes and relaxed after he felt the medicine to take effect. "Thanks Jamie cousin, I hope I didn't disturb your friends," His brown eyes cast a worried look at his cousin Jamie.

"Oh no they're fine," Jamie Bennet looked at him with amusement. His cousin Mikey was the same age as him. His shoulder length hair waved as cold air swept pass them, his skin was tan like he had a heritage of a Native American, which was probably the case.

The two discussed happily as they walked along the sidewalk of the main town of Burgess, enjoying the snow season.

"Say do you have a Native American heritage?"

"Yes…well I'm half, my father too but he said that his ancestors were Native Americans," The boy said, they stood at a pedestrian walk and his cousin asked him again.

"Cool! I never knew I had a half Native American cousin. How's your dad, my uncle I mean?" The boy's face was displaying a smile towards the Indian boy but then he was startled after he saw his cousin's face change to a sad one.

"Well um, he's dead, cancer took him in," Jamie gulped down, shocked and saddened by what the boy said. Mikey let out a gloomy sigh, but then he smile to the saddened Jamie after a minute long of awkward silence to cheer him up.

"Now now cousin, don't get sad, it's Christmas,"

Jamie after a minute of observation immediately responded in an elated manner and began to discuss with his other friends, namely the Guardians.

"You should meet Jack Frost and his buddies,"

"Jack Frost," The boy raised his right brow in skepticism, "isn't he just an expres-"

"Hold it! Nope he's not an expression," Jamie defended lively and the boy only laughed at him. The two continued talking as they exchanged words, Mikey, the Indian boy, felt happy and somehow relieve. He would certainly enjoy his reunion and visit here in this town.


North's sleigh flew at a rapid speed above the clouds of the great court of Heaven. The Guardians behind him silently stared at the horizon as the Old Guardian took out a snow globe.

"North, before you do something, may I ask?" Haytham, as usual in his calm attitude, asked, "Do you have a plan other than mine?"

"Plan, what Plan?" North chuckled, his right hand shook the globe vigorously until it began to glow, "There's one and it's called….attack!" Oh this is just great, Haytham only let out a sigh of disappointment as North threw the globe. The Globe shot forward and then exploded and produced a powerful light. The sleigh immediately entered and the Guardians prepared for the battle.


The sleigh exited the portal and flew throughout the clouds. The Guardians looked towards the horizon and saw the massive Palace of Punjam Hy Loo, the palace of Toothfairy. Haytham viewed with his eyes still on the palace, silently praising its massive seven columns protruding from the ground that made up the shape. It was very beautiful and grandeur, Interesting palace-

His eyes suddenly caught something on the horizon. He squinted and adjusted his vision and then when he finally saw it he exclaimed,

"Incoming!" he quickly bent his knees to lower himself, avoiding just in time a horde of black horses that swept closely passed above them. The Guardians looked in front again and was shocked as they saw hundreds of Pitch's Nightmare fearlings swirling and crawling along the columns.

Jack darted his eyes and saw a horse, flying nearby, chasing a group of mini-tooth fairies. "They're kidnapping the tooth fairies again!" He shouted and flew away from the sleigh.

"Goddamnit!" Bunny took out his boomerang and threw it with force at a horse, flying on the right side of the sleigh.

"3 ponies, 6 'o' clock!"

"On it!" Aiden raised his gun, it glowed in blue-green before its barrel opened and transformed.

Enforcement mode is Lethal Eliminator—the man fired immediately and hit the first horse on the right, then the left. He was about to fire a third shot when he grunted after the sleigh shook violently.

"Shit I'll miss-" he exclaimed but then he heard a loud bang from behind and saw a red bullet that swirled pass beside him and hit the third horse.

"Mind if I help detective?" Haytham bore his mocking smile at Aiden who only clicked his tongue in distrust.

"You better not have any idea of shooting me from behind."

"I'm tempted but because I'm curious about this place, I didn't."

The man smugly said in a polite manner and made the detective cast a glance of uncertainty at him.

"Haytham! Lad my boy, I need you to do me a favor!" North, with his one hand at the rope that controlled his reindeer and the other at his blade that he slashed a horse with on the portside of his sleigh, called him in a panicking voice.

The man only sighed and moved beside him.

"What?"

"Drive the sleigh and land it somewhere near."

"North are you aware that I do not drive-"

"Just take it dammit!" North shouted in annoyance at the man who only let out a grumbled sigh and took the rope, the helm of the sleigh. He didn't want to waste any time in arguing with him. "North do I have to remind you about the condition that I gave-"

He turned around but then he was startled after he saw North jump from the sleigh, fell, and landed on the ground filled with Nightmare horses.

"Great," Haytham griped in annoyance but then he quickly pulled the rope after he saw a column in front. He quickly whipped the reindeer, commanding them to gain speed and descend rapidly towards the ground.

"The things that I'm doing right now!" Haytham fret loudly in pique, his temper was about to fuse out from anger but then he controlled it as the sleigh hit and skidded off a platform. He pulled the rope hard, commanding the deer's to a full stop.


The man quickly jumped out and unsheathed his sword and with quick movement, he swung it and slashed a horse in half that was galloping towards him. He was startled however when a group of familiar little green fairies came out from the insides of the horse, before it turned into a pile of sand.

Those were…Ms Tooth's familiars. What were they doing- his question was answered when he looked up and saw a group of mini-tooth fairies that were chased away by a Nightmare horse.

"So they're eating them," he exclaimed and felt amused, "fascinating-"

"Haytham, 6 o' clock!" The old man immediately pointed his gun behind him and, without turning back, fired. The bullet immediately connected and buried inside the head of horse that was running towards him.

He scanned the whole place cautiously checking for any approaching Fear Stallion, but then his eyes landed instead on Tooth and Monkey King who were both engaging in a fierce battle on a large staircase by the column. He watched for a short while and then concluded.

That woman isn't going to win, he stared at them and felt concern and urge to help the Guardian. And then to his dismay, somehow, the latter won.

"Aiden, I'm going to Tooth, stay here for a while will you?" The Detective swung and planted his electric baton in the head of a horse and turn around to shout and warn the man not to do it, but then he only saw his back, running away from him.

"Shit, now I'm stuck here!" he only cursed in frustration.


"Heh!" Monkey King, let out a snuggled scoffed, and planted the edge of the sword that he held tightly to the Fairy's dagger in her right hand. Tooth grunted in pain as she felt the immense weight that she took in.

Tooth opened and bears her violet eyes at the primate after she kicked him in his stomach and pushed him further away from her. The sword that he was wielding glowed an ominous gold.

"Oh Toothiana," Monkey King said in a mocking tone, his sword swinging loosely as he held it carelessly in his right hand, "Just give up will ya, and hand it over to me,"

"Never!"

The primate made derisive eyes at the Fairy before he spoke in a stock-up tone. "This weapon of mine called 'Sword of Eden' makes me a powerful being," he looked at her with superiority, "So I suggest you give up now-"

His sentence was cut short however when he senses picked up a danger; he quickly raised the sword to his face, preventing a blade from cutting his head off. A blinding spark of Gold and Blue erupted and flooded the whole floor. What the-! Monkey King was shocked after his eyes landed on Haytham, his sword parrying his.


"Heh well, well, well," Monkey King smiled and jumped away from the man and laughed lightly and spoke in derogatory tone. "If it isn't the great and amazing Haytham Kenway, you're kinda famous by the way."

Haytham raised his right eyebrow skeptically, doubting what the primate said.

"If that is so then I don't need to introduce myself to you am I right?" He flipped his sword in his left hand, played with it for a second, before pointing it again at the Primate King. He produced a confident aura but in his mind he pondered deeply, he noticed something weird earlier when he parried the enemy's weapon.

That sword earlier…it somehow 'pushed' me away "Haytham, be careful!" He glanced over his right shoulder as the Toothfairy dictated cautiously. "His sword, it's like it has its own force field."

After hearing what the Fairy said, a smile formed on his face. A force field you say...Haytham, as if the warning was just invitation to attack, quickly raised his gun and fired a single bullet. Monkey King saw the incoming metal and quickly moved his sword upward, deflecting the bullet but released a gold spark in the process.

He grunted however when he felt the immense force that pushed him a little. "What the-!" he exclaimed, startled to what happened.

Indeed it has, well then...Haytham, after finding out the power of the weapon, quickly charged towards him, his sword at the ready. He lunged and spun in the air and hit the sword of Monkey King who blocked his attack. The man landed and careened forward and aimed at the Monkey's head but the enemy dodged his attack.

"Oi! Don't ya get tired!" Monkey King side-stepped to the left in devious manner and connected his sword to Haytham, making him cringe after he felt his strength.

"That's my question Monkey King," Haytham withdrew his sword and in a fast motion, kicked the Primate in his stomach. The Monkey King faltered backward but then he jerked back again, avoiding the Guardian's blade.

How's this possible? My sword, no, this Sword of Eden is supposed to make me invincible! He thought in fear of losing against the man who merely attacked him without breaking a single sweat as he quickly ran away from him. He was about to leap off the ledge when he felt a sharp pain in his right leg, making him trip and hit the ground.

"May I ask where you're going?" Haytham moved towards the fallen Monkey King. The enemy looked behind him and was terrified to see the looming face of the man, his blue eyes shining sharply over him.

Shit-! I'm going to lose! His thoughts scrambled as he attempted to move.

"Monkey King," the Blue Guardian loomed over him, his eyes gave a disgusted look, "How about I give you a chance to escape?" The statement made the Toothfairy give a sharp look at his back.

"Haytham you can't-"

"What're you saying...?" The man ignored the Fairy's protest as he moved closer to the fallen Primate. He bent down and grabbed the enemy by his neck and lifted him up and made him stand.

The Monkey King staggered for a bit but he supported himself with the Sword of Eden.

Haytham moved away, gaining some distance, but then he faced and pointed his gun at him. "The rules are simple; deflect as many bullets as you can until my gun chamber runs empty," The Monkey King looked at him with suspicion, analyzing what the man had proposed, he judged his situation and mentally clicking his tongue after he concluded that the only way to get out of here...was to get shot in the head-

"My patience is wearing thin..."

"Ok..," Monkey King raised his sword and gulped as the man prepared his gun. He quickly moved his sword in a curvature motion after he saw an incoming bullet, his sword came in contact but then he felt an immense force that made him slide off the ground.

"Wha—" He cut his thoughts immediately as he swung his sword, dodging another bullet, and experiencing the same result. The sword pushed him more.

"What the hell!"

"That, Little Primate," Haytham fired again and hit the sword, "is Conservation of Linear Momentum," He fired again and hit the Sword of Eden. The Monkey King teetered and held his weapon tightly with both of his hands.

The man aimed his gun again and then fired, the Primate watched as the bullet traveled towards him and when he saw it near to his distance he quickly pivoted his right arm and with force, swung it to dodge the bullet. And just as the edges of the sword touched the bullet, it suddenly exploded.

"AAghh!" Monkey King screamed in pain as a fragment of the sword, pierced the eye patch that was covering his left eye, blood began to pour out from his already empty left eye socket as he fell to the ground.

And that is law of conservation of energy…physics,


Haytham, formed a satisfying smile, watched him his eyes were unmoved and without remorse. He slowly moved towards the Monkey King, grabbed him by his neck and lifted him up without any effort. He moved towards the edge of the ground.

"St...stop..." Monkey King uttered and pleaded, his orange eyes looked at Haytham's.

"Is that what Tooth's parents said to you before you mercilessly killed them?" Tooth's eyes, which were filled with shock from what she witnessed, looked at Haytham in an understanding gaze. So that's why he was cruel to him.

The Monkey King didn't answer him as Haytham spoke again in a harsh tone, "I didn't do this out of sympathy for Ms. Tooth. I did this out of my curiosity on what will be her reaction," His grip tightened around the neck, making the Primate gasped for air.

"Now...go back to your master's rat hole." The man stared at him and then let him go. The Monkey King fell towards the ground, passing several floors. Jack and Bunny, who were both busy destroying horses, saw a glimpse of the Monkey King as he free fell to the ground below them.


"Haytham you don't have to-!" The man ignored Tooth's protest as he saw the Monkey King below, begin to glow in green and burst into flames and disappear, a tell-tale sign of magic teleportation.

"Good..." Haytham uttered as North and the Guardians reached their floor. They were all huffing and puffing, tired from defending the whole castle against the horde of Black Horses.

"Guys!" Tooth immediately flew towards the Guardians and hugged them tightly. She was relieved everyone was all right, although tired and almost worn out from defending her place. She quickly told them what happened and everyone only stared in amazement at Haytham who was still wondering around the palace.

Well, this is a nice place for summer vacation-

"You did all that Haytham, for Tooth?" The man heard North and merely let out a sigh of displeasure. He was clear enough earlier that it wasn't but then with heaviness he answered.

"No, I want him to go back to his masters so I can end them when they come out. I want to put an end to this 'worthless charade'," He landed his eyes on North and blatantly added, "And immediately sever my alliance with you."

The Guardians let out a short groan of protest and daunt, the man's hatred hadn't faltered a bit. Haytham then looked at Tooth who hovered and knelt on the floor and slowly picked up several cylindrical, gold canisters in a slow bereaved-like pace.

"By the way, Tooth," the Fairy turned around and wiped some tears away from her face and hid her sad expression but the man already saw and heeded no interest at her dismal situation.

"Why did they attack you first?"

Tooth didn't answer for a moment, she let out a sigh of anxiety and looked at a column near her, and then she spoke. "These columns Haytham, contains canisters. The canisters like this, contains the teeth of children."

The man was slightly taken-a-back but he quickly straightened himself mentally, after he recalled Ms. Tooth's identity as the Toothfairy, and asked more, "Teeth?"

"Because a child's tooth contains many good memories and if they want to recall or remember a particular good memory, we help them." She looked at a broken canister with melancholy. "It also affects their belief of us, Guardians. However…"

"However?" Haytham nudged for more answer, he tried to act calm but deep inside he was thinking hard.

"They stole all of the canisters and the children's teeth…except for one." She smiled and whistled loudly. Several mini-Tooth fairies flew and descended from above and then flew behind a column. The Guardians watched and waited for several seconds before the small group appeared again, this time carrying a canister similar to what Tooth was holding.

It stopped in front of Tooth and the Toothfairy showed it to Haytham, with a slight smile of excitement.

"This canister…" She paused as her face changed to melancholic one again and said, "Contains your teeth Haytham, and also your Good memories,"

Haytham stared with un-moved eyes at the Tooth fairy. What the woman said was just like a bomb that exploded in front of him, he was completely stunned, shocked, and somehow…relieved. He didn't show his expression but he felt the sudden surge of curiosity and eagerness and excitement.

"My…memories…" He slowly spoke in astonishment. He looked at the canister before he took it from Tooth. He examined it with keen eyes and saw an innocent child's face, drawn on the side. This is me…?He thought as he looked at the drawing before he asked again.

"These are my memories…"

"Yes,"

"That means, I will finally know who I really am," Tooth merely nodded and smiled. She examined the man, although his face was a little bit stiff and stern, he was clearly bewildered and shaken up. She saw it all despite his attempts to hide it from everyone and that made her feel happy.

"Do you want to see it now?" she asked as the man looked with a quietude eyes. Haytham began to recall all those years where he tried to search about himself in every parts of the world; a single clue would've made him satisfied however he found nothing. It was like he didn't ever exist at all.

My memories…at last, he let out a sigh of reprieve and said with vehemence. "Please, show me."


Woo-Hoo! Finally Updated! Special thanks to NewAnimeLover7951 for proofreading. Stay tuned for more!