Hello my wonderful readers. I am so sorry for all of the lateness. I don't get much time to write.

Thank you to my faithful reviewers. I am still amazed by you guys. :) hope you're enjoying it.

-Wolf

Chapter 10

Pitch stared as Jack's body suddenly seemed to relax. A moment later his breath evened out, and Pitch chuckled. He stepped from the shadows, leaning Jack's staff against his throne before approaching the teen. Up close Pitch could see very clearly that Frost was asleep, the monitor laying on the floor by his feet. Pitch scooped the small box up, placing it on the arm of his throne as an idea struck. He knelt close to Jack, reaching out to brush his forehead. The reaction was almost instant, sending the white haired boy into a nightmare beyond any he had ever had before.

Jack looked around, blinking up at Jamie's house. He grinned, and dove up to the young believer's window, tapping gently. Jamie looked up from his homework, staring at the window. After a moment he shrugged and went back to his work. Jack tapped again, feeling a bit uneasy. "Hey, Jamie! It's me."

Jamie looked up again, slowly standing. He opened the window to look around, and Jack rolled his eyes. "It's not funny to ignore me." He tried to tap Jamie on the back of the head, but gasped as his hand went right through the younger boy. He hovered there, his hand still out for what seemed like years. He didn't move until long after Jamie had closed his window. He shot through the air, searching for any child who could see him. He froze when he saw a flash of gray fur ahead of him.

Bunny was sitting in a clearing up ahead, after a moment Tooth fluttered over to him. Jack tried to call out to them, but no sound came out. He kept trying until Sandy and North joined the others. They were all talking, discussing plans, and occasionally bickering. Jack couldn't help but notice how much fun they seemed to be having. Suddenly Sandy looked around. "Where's Jack?"

Jack didn't even find it strange that Sandy had spoken, as if he always had. His voice was gentle yet firm, the exact one Jack always imagined in his head when Sandy signaled to them. After a moment Bunny scoffed. "What does it matter where the brat is? As long as he's out of the way." Jack felt himself getting closer to the ground, stopping just inches above it.

Sandy sighed and spoke again. "I worry when he's gone. He's only a child after all, and not a very responsible one." Jack completely collapsed to the ground, falling to his knees when the others nodded.

Bunny huffed, crossing his arms. "If it wasn't for his own recklessness we would have been able to defeat Pitch much faster last year. You wouldn't have been hit by that arrow, and Easter would have been fine. I warned you he was not a Guardian."

Suddenly the ground crumbled around Jack, and he fell, hearing the words Pitch had said in Antarctica echoing through the darkness. "They never really believed in you."

Jack fell hard to the ground, gasping as he looked around. He could hear echoing voices all around him. He covered his ears, trying to block them out. He looked up as Pitch stepped out of the darkness, twirling Jack's staff. Jack tried to call to the older man, almost begging for his staff, but Pitch simply smiled. Jack stared as Pitch dropped it, and time seemed to slow. Jack's staff fell to the ground, shattering into a million pieces as if it were glass. Jack screamed as pain ripped through his body, making him feel as if he had shattered as well.

Jack's head shot up, slamming against the wall behind him. He looked around, panting in fear, and the small shocks of pain still going through his body. It took him several minutes of staring around the room to remember where he was, and why. A sound caught his attention, and he spun towards it. His eyes landed on Pitch, who was leaned back in his throne with a glass of wine, a look of curiosity on his face.

Jack stood slowly, cursing himself for the tremors of fear that shook his whole body. "It was a nightmare?" Had his mind not still been partially asleep, he would have realized how absurd his question sounded. Pitch simply watched Jack, amusement mixing with the curiosity.

Pitch sipped at his wine silently. After a few minutes Jack was finally steady, and more than a little aggravated. "Are you going to ignore me?" Pitch smirked, but said nothing. Jack groaned, then stared at the wine. "Are you an alcoholic, or something?"

Pitch raised an eyebrow, glaring at Jack. "What would possibly give you that idea?"

Jack smirked, pointing to the glass in Pitch's hand. "The last couple of times I've been down here you've been drinking. You threw an empty bottle before too."

Jack fought back a chuckle as Pitch set the glass down, frowning at Jack. "I can assure you I am not." Pitch stood slowly, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Simply a lover of fine wines."

Jack rolled his eyes. "Just admit you drink a lot. You're in denial." Jack fought back a shout as Pitch's glass shattered against the wall by his head, splattering wine across Jack and the floor.

Pitch glared down at Jack before smirking, and leaning forwards. "Perhaps it's simply that you've never had any before? Though I doubt I should give alcohol to a child." Jack twitched, his anger growing. He was getting very tired of Pitch calling him a child.

Pitch chuckled, putting his hands out. Two glasses appeared in one, and a bottle appeared in the other. He filled both glasses about half way before holding one out to Jack. Hack simply stared at it and Pitch chuckled. "Are you afraid, little one? I promise it isn't poisoned."

Jack growled, clenching his eyes shut. "If I touch the glass it'll freeze. I am not afraid, and I am not a child."

Pitch rolled his eyes, still holding the glass out. "Drink it quickly then. It won't have time to freeze." Jack still hesitated, but a moment later his hand shut around the glass. It frosted over instantly, but Jack managed to drink most of the red liquid before it froze. He dropped the almost empty glass, shuttering as it smashed on the floor. "That tastes horrible."

Pitch rolled his eyes again as he returned to his throne, watching Jack carefully. After a moment Jack's eyes landed on his staff, which was still where Pitch had left it. He glared at Pitch, locking eyes with him. "Give me my staff."

Pitch simply laughed. "Why should I do that? You're still acting like a spoiled child." Jack opened his mouth to argue, but realized that would only amuse Pitch more. He sat down, thinking for a minute. Pitch made it seem as if he would give Jack back his staff if he acted like an adult. Jack knew it was probably a lie, and flopped onto his back, groaning. He couldn't bring himself to act like an adult, they were too boring.

A tapping noise caught Jack's attention, and he looked up to see Pitch drumming his fingers against his staff. Jack groaned again. "Just let me have my staff so I can leave." Pitch chuckled, smirking down at Jack.

Pitch stood, twirling the staff again. "Now why should I let you leave? It's rather boring down here."

Jack sat up, watching Pitch circle him. "Then why not go back to scaring defenseless children if you're so bored?"

Pitch shrugged. "I could almost go back to full power on your fear alone, dear boy. Why would I give that up?"

Jack smirked, pulling one knee to his chest. "If you don't then we'll just have to keep..." Jack paused, his smirk growing. "..'Making a mockery' of what you do. Doesn't matter how long it takes, and I'll come back every day to show you what they're out there doing. Soon the thought of the 'Bogey Man' will seem like nothing but a joke to children across the world."

Pitch stopped his pacing, staring at Jack in shock. He couldn't believe what the smirking boy was saying. No. He didn't want to believe it, but the look on Jack's face told him it was true. Pitch growled, grumbling to himself. "This is just the type of plan I would expect from those stupid Guardians."

A snicker from Jack made Pitch jump. "Actually it was my plan. Now are you going back to the only thing you're good at besides being an alcoholic, or should I tell the others to get the cheesy Halloween masks?"

The look Pitch sent Jack made him feel as if his insides were on fire. There was absolute fury in the dark man's eyes. He felt his heart skip a beat when Pitch's hand snapped shut around his staff. After a moment Pitch threw the staff hard enough that Jack had to take a step back when it hit his chest. Pitch's voice was cool, and filled with venom when he spoke. "Get out. I have work to do." He turned, vanishing into the shadows.

Jack stared at the spot where Pitch had disappeared for only a few seconds before he shot down the nearest tunnel. It didn't take him long to find his way out, being led by the wind. He took a deep breath of cool air, reminded again how stuffy Pitch's lair was. He wanted to simply float, and enjoy the crispness of the night around him, but was yanked out of his thoughts by a thundering coming from directly below him. He dove out of the way just as every Nightmare that had been down in the lair came bursting from the entrance.

Jack had the thought that he should freeze as many as he could, but by the time he had his staff up they were gone. He stared off after the fleeing creatures, turning when he heard a loud crash a bit away. He spun, grinning as he heard a Russian voice shouting. He zipped through the trees, arriving in the clearing just as the other Guardians were piling out of the sleigh.

Tooth was the first to see him, and she was almost sobbing as she wrapped her arms around him. "Are you alright? We were so worried about you!" Jack rubbed the back of his head with his empty hand. He had been ready for a scolding, but not for the worry.

He coughed, pushing tooth away gently. "I'm alright. Not even a scratch." He put his arms out, spinning slowly. Tooth gasped, touching his cheek, and staring horrified at the red liquid on her hand. Jack put his hands up as North raced forwards, looking just as horrified, if not more. "It's not blood! I had a glass of wine smashed near my head. It's just wine."

North grabbed Jack, inspecting his face quickly before pulling the boy into one of the tightest hugs Jack could remember. He struggled free, gasping as he fell to the ground. North looked Jack over again, his eyes landing on his staff. "Did Pitch not steal it?" He blinked at Jack, confused.

Bunny hopped forwards, glaring at North. "You swore to us that Pitch had Jack's staff, and that he was probably in danger. The show pony looks fine to me!" Jack opened his mouth, trying to explain, but was ignored as North, and Bunny got into one of their very common arguments. After a moment Jack felt a tug on his sleeve, and looked down to see Sandy holding up his bell. Jack grinned and took it, ringing it loudly.

All eyes turned to the eternal teen, and he suddenly felt uncomfortable. "Look. He did take my staff, but he gave it back. He's also back to doing his job, so you guys won't have to do it ever again."

Everyone's jaws dropped as they stared at Jack. Tooth fluttered forwards, looking Jack over. "How did you convince him?"

Jack coughed and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "I just, kind of, showed him you guys trying to scare kids." He cringed at the shout of protest from Bunny, but North silenced the pooka. Jack gulped before continuing. "Well it worked. Now all of the kids should be back to normal by Easter." At the mention of his holiday Bunny's ears perked up.

Jack looked at the ground before walking past the others, and hopping in the sleigh. "Well we all had a busy night." The others just watched him.

Bunny leaned forwards, eyeing Jack suspiciously. "Who are you, and what have you done with the real Jack Frost?"

Jack scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Don't you have hard boiled eggs to prepare, Kangaroo?" Bunny huffed, but didn't say another word. He vanished down a tunnel with a flick of his wrist as a farewell.

Tooth looked to Sandy then sighed. "We should probably get back to work too. We spent half the night scaring kids. We have a lot of making up to do." Sandy nodded quickly, waving to the others as he formed a sand cloud and floated away. Tooth patted Jack's shoulder before zipping off in the opposite direction.

Jack looked at the ground nervously as North climbed up, and grabbed the reins. He glanced back at Jack, smirking slightly. "How did you know would work?"

Jack shrugged, glancing up at North before looking back to the ground. "It was just a guess."

North nodded, snapping the reins. Jack couldn't help but feel like he was forgetting something as they went through one of North's portals.

Pitch returned to his lair just before sunrise, sighing. It had been a lot more work making the children frightened again than he had thought it would be. He leaned against the wall across from his throne, cursing the further damage that those dreadful Guardians had done with their pitiful attempt at scaring. He tilted his head as his eyes fell on a small black box resting on the arm of his throne. He scooped it up quickly, a grin forming on his face as the screen came to life. He flipped through the cameras, all working, minus Sanderson's. The little man must have remembered to turn his off, unlike the others. Pitch laughed as he flipped through the signals again. This was sure to be entertaining.

Now Pitch has eyes on the inside without having to send the Nightmares. XD interesting. For those awaiting the inevitable BlackIce... you won't have to wait much longer.