*Once again, Pitch's lair doesn't look like this in the original story.*

*P.S. EJ is evil Jack*

"Let's go!" North bellowed. They rushed for the sleigh as they had done a day or so earlier. North took the reins and snapped them. Everyone but Bunny got on.

"Come on then, Bunnymund! We must go now!" North said hurriedly, the reindeer were getting antsy. Bunny shook his head and smiled.

"I have to pick something up first. I'll meet you there." Bunny said. North looked to Tooth and Sandy, they nodded in compliance.

"Godspeed, Bunnymund!" North yelled as the sleigh shot off into the sky. Bunny watched until he saw the portal open up then he turned away. He tapped his foot on the ground and a hole appeared. He jumped down it and shot off like a bullet.

"You might be our only hope." He whispered.

-o-

Tooth watched Bunny from the back of the sleigh.

"What do you think he's doing, Sandy?" She asked the Sandman. He looked up at her and spelled out a word. Hope.

"Hope?" She was confused, "What do you mean by Hope?" Sandy just shrugged and smiled a small smile.

"Approaching now!" North called and they snapped to attention. Pitch's lair appeared out of the thick fog. Dark and foreboding as always. They gently set down on the cobblestones and jumped out. It was quiet, a little too quiet. Then the huge wooden doors opened and Pitch floated out.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" He asked sarcastically.

"We want Jack back! We know you took him again!" Tooth yelled. They all shook in anger and annoyance. Why would he take Jack again?

"I have no control over him. He makes his own choices." Pitch sneered.

"Fighting over me? You shouldn't. It could get deadly." A voice from behind Pitch announced. "But I like that kinda thing." Jack appeared, sidestepping around Pitch. Trying to keep his distance. He looked at the three guardians and cocked his head to the side.

"Where's the Kangaroo? Decorating eggs?" Jack asked with curiosity. North stepped forward and folded his arms. He glared at Jack.

"Now," North asked quietly, "Where is the real Jack?" Jack raised an eyebrow and smirked. Deep down in his subconscious there was a white flicker.

"Locked away." Jack spit out. He didn't like North the most out of all of them.

"What good will that do?" North asked in a gentle voice. Jack snapped, he launched himself at North. He formed an ice blade in his right hand and pressed it to North's throat. North didn't even flinch.

"I'm protecting him from you! You're putting things in his head! He doesn't need you!" Jack hissed. His eyes glowing brightly. North stayed calm.

"That may be true." North looked him dead in the eye and said, "But he doesn't need you either." Jack growled and North whipped out his swords. Jack jumped out of reach of the blade, missing him by inches. Jack smirked and crushed his own blade. Then he formed two new ones that looked just like North's. He took a stance and beckoned to North.

"Now it's a party!" Jack said playfully. Then they both launched at each other. Ice and metal clashed together, the sound music to Pitch's ears. They blocked and attacked but no one got hit. Then Jack put out a foot and tripped North. He fell down hard, his face red with exhaustion. Jack leaned over him and poised the blade over his heart.

"It was nice knowing you. But not really." Jack lifted the sword slowly. Tooth and Sandy ran towards them. Jack smiled sadistically and brought it down.

"Jack, no!" A voice rang out. Jack froze and his head snapped up. The sword in his hands was inches away from North's chest. Jack tightened his grip and it exploded into snow. Jack looked at the two figures that had just made their entrance. He straightened up and took a step in their direction.

"Jamie?" Jack asked in a conflicted voice. The white flicker was flashing wildly now. Jamie was standing beside Bunny, who was breathing heavily. He had run for miles to get to Jamie so quickly.

"Jack, stop. This isn't you." Jamie pleaded calmly. Jack took another step in his direction and his vision blanked out for a second. It was like Jamie was the only thing he could see. Remember, you don't care about him. He thought. You might, but that's Jack's body you're in. He wouldn't-couldn't-put a hand on Jamie. A soft voice from within him. He fell to his knees right in front of Jamie. He looked into Jamie's big brown eyes unseeingly and smiled.

"Nice to see you buddy." Then he fell forward and Bunny caught him swiftly. Jack didn't stir.

"Jack? Wake up!" Jamie was holding back sobs. Tooth scooped him up into a hug. Tears spilled over his cheeks and landed on Tooth's soft feathers.

"Such a touching reunion." Pitch said snidely. He smiled evilly and everyone cowered away.

-o-

"Where am I?" EJ asked. Slowly a white room materialized around him, and in the middle was Jack's coffin. It gleamed pristine white with subtle blue pulses of light. EJ ran a hand over the surface and sighed. What am I gonna do? He thought to himself.

"What should you do?" Asked a voice. He slowly looked around and found Jack standing next to him. Jack looked down at his coffin and smiled.

"How'd you get out?" EJ asked curiously. Jack lifted a hand and flicked EJ in the forehead.

"I'm a hallucination you dummy." Jack said. EJ rubbed his forehead. Jack looked from EJ to the coffin and back.

"So, what are you going to do?" Jack asked again. EJ looked at him with fear in his eyes.

"I'm tired of being afraid, Jack." EJ said quietly. "I was afraid you wouldn't accept me. North's right, you don't need me." Then EJ felt a hand on his shoulder.

"I'll always want you around. You're too fun to get rid of." Jack said and EJ laughed. He gripped the edge of the coffin and lifted it open. The lid fell away into nothing, dissolving into the air. The hallucination was gone, in its place was the real Jack, who was still sleeping in the coffin. He ruffled Jack's hair and Jack's blue eyes opened slowly. Jack slowly sat up and rubbed his head, the blue roses falling onto his lap.

"You're getting on my nerves, EJ." Jack said groggily. EJ raised an eyebrow and chuckled.

"What kind of name is EJ?" Asked EJ as he helped Jack out of the box. Jack stood unsteadily and fell against EJ.

"Why are you letting me out? I thought I was supposed to stay in here." Jack complained. "And why did you choose a coffin? It's creepy." EJ laughed and pushed Jack away. EJ stepped backwards and faded away, Jack flailed and grabbed onto the edge of the coffin. Only to come face to face with EJ, who was now laying in Jack's place.

"What the heck are you doing, EJ?" Jack hissed and straightened up. EJ laughed and reached up to ruffle Jack's hair.

"Quit doing that!" Jack hissed, even though he kind of liked it. EJ smiled and the coffin started to turn black. Jack lifted his hands away and sighed. He reached down and ruffled EJ's hair, he scowled but didn't say anything.

"So you're just going to lock yourself away? Kind of cowardly if you think about it." Jack muttered the last part so EJ couldn't hear. A lid swung out from nowhere and Jack stopped it before it could shut EJ away. EJ glared harshly.

"Just let me go." EJ reached out and grasped Jack's free hand. He slipped something into it and hit the hand holding the lid. Jack let go, his hand throbbing. The lid slammed shut and the coffin disappeared altogether. Jack grasped at the open air and stumbled. Something pricked his hand and he looked down. A black rose was what EJ had left him, a thorn had stuck him and a drop of blood ran down his palm.

"I hate you so much." He whispered softly. Then a smile spread across his face and ice ran up the stem. The rose was soon covered in a thin layer of pristine ice. Jack let it drop onto the floor at his feet then a hole opened up and he was swallowed.

-o-

"Jack! Wake up!" Jamie yelled into the sleeping guardian's face. Jack's eyes slowly opened and he sat up straight. He looked at Jamie with a look of confusion. He looked to the others and pointed at Jamie.

"Why the heck is he here?" He questioned and everyone smiled.

"You all are so boring. Come back later when we've got your spunk back." Pitch called to them. Jack stood up unsteadily and glared at Pitch. Pitch cocked his head to the side in curiousness. Jack clenched his fists and fixed his stance.

"Hope you can hear me, EJ. I'm gonna need some help." Jack said awkwardly. The others were staring at him as if he were crazy. A warm buzz flowed through his body.

At your service, Jack. EJ whispered into his mind. Jack closed his eyes as the warm feeling spread over his whole body. His eyes shot open and they shone amber. But Jack was still in control.

"Let's end this. Here and now, Pitch." He hissed cooly. Pitch stepped forward and held his arms out, as if he wanted a hug.

"I couldn't agree more, Jack." Pitch said just as cooly.

Sorry for the big cliffhanger but I just love suspense. Hope you liked the chapter. Review please, you know I love it.

P.S. EJ has got to be my favorite character and he doesn't even exist. Do you guys like him?