**Ellie**

This new life of mine is amazing. I can see things I couldn't see before, like I have some sort of absurdly good acuity. Shadows and darkness is no match for me and I can feel if someone is nearby. I can't only see and hear Pitch as he walks beside me in his hideout underground, but actually feel his present, like a small globe of light is flowing inside of him that only I can feel and almost see. Pitch tells me everything I need to know. For example, he's very accurate to mention my lack of self-control and that I need to be careful with my powers until we know what they are. The more Pitch tells me, the more I realize I need him to explain this new world to me. If Pitch hadn't found me down here I could have gone really lost, both physically and mentally. He says it was mean of the moon to transform me without any preparations and that he had to take action himself to find me and help me. I'm very grateful to him and I know I own him big time.

"Elisabeth, I wish I could tell you it's all fun being one of us, but I would lie if I did. You see, my reality is not what it used to be. There are other spirits out there who tries to disturb the balance in the humans' world. You see, fear, hope and belief all need their parts in a child. I have tried to keep the balance untouched since the dark ages but a group of spirits, calling themselves Guardians, doesn't understand this. Without hope and dreams, a child is lost forever. It won't have anything to live for and it will be forced to grow up to fast. Fear is needed to make the child grow in itself. Without fear it would be blind for the moments and situations in life that is more or less glorious for it. You grow stronger inside if you defeat your fears in life. And believe is needed for us spirits. Without the children's believes we would cease to exist. This balance is needed for everyone on this earth and that, that is something these guardians don't understand."

I just look at Pitch as I get more and more confused. Not by the story, I understand the balance perfectly well but I don't get why these guardians doesn't.

"So this balance is bothered, I see. Well, what is it these guardians do that disturbs it?"

Pitch sighs and looks kind of sad all of a sudden.

"They decided to fight against me, even though I haven't done anything wrong. I'm usually busy with my duties but they surprised me one day and defeated me. I lost most of my power for a long time which caused the children in the world to not have any fears for a long time. I still have not gained all of my powers and I fear the children will grow up without this balance, making them different from the other people. Can you imagine a life without any adversities, misfortunes or willingness to fight back? They would be spoiled and blinded to what they already have, because they have nothing to compare it with."

I understand perfectly what he means. This balance is important to everyone on this world and I see that clear. So why didn't the guardians?

"I hate to have to ask this of you, Elisabeth, but would you like to be my companion in this war to save the world? We have to fight back, and I can't do it alone."

I know I have to make a choice. Even though I have only been here for a short while, I know I play a big role in this coming war. I need to save the world. It's my duty as a spirit.

"I'm onboard, partner."

**Jack**

I wake up from the loud voices in the room. North, bunny and tooth is back and I immediately push my sleepiness aside.

"Did you find her? Is she okey? Where is she?"

Everyone in the room turns their heads towards me when they hear me.

"Jack, you're awake", says North and draws his fingers threw his beard. "I'm afraid we have bad news."

It's like something heavy falls down my chest and land somewhere deep in my belly. I want to know the news and at the same time I don't.

"What is it?" I manage to say.

"Pitch's hideout was empty. Either he or the girl was anywhere to be found. We will keep searching, but the chances to find them are small. I'm afraid we can't do much more then wait for him to show up. We're playing on his terms now."

North's news were really bad news. Every second passing Pitch could do god knows what with Ellie and here they were, unable to do anything to help her.

"I can't believe he really got her. If I just hadn't been…" but I don't get to end my sentence as a weird sound is coming from my stomach. I get kind of surprised and unknowingly spanning my body which of course makes it hurt like hell in my back.

"What was that?" I ask kind of afraid and North laughs loudly.

"Jack Frost. Are you hungry?" he asks and make eye contact with an elf which immediately runs out of the room.

"Hungry?"

I don't really know what he means. Could I really be hungry? But I'm the spirit of fun and I have never in my 320 years of living ever eaten anything. I haven't felt hunger since I was a human and I don't really remember the feeling either, just assuming it could be the case.

"But… I never eat anything…" I say confused.

"You don't?" Tooth puts her hands over her mouth and Bunnymund gasps. North slowly turn towards me and he's looking at me in a way he have never done before. I guess I understand why. Different spirits have different personalities, needs and remaining connection to the mortal self, before they became spirits. North, for example, eats a lot and I have seen Sandy sleep several of times. I'm not one of them, just like toothfairy and Bunnymund. I never sleep or eat and it suddenly hit me that I just woke up, which means I just slept which must be the first time for me ever in this world. Of course you can force someone to eat or sleep, but it's never ever a need to us. As my friends are looking at me like I was dying I get a little scared too. What was happening to me?