Okay, so this chapter is gonna be something I've never written before. Like ever. So I hope it goes well. Lots of drama, action and a new romance. Give this chappie some love, people!
Thank you guys so much for your sweet reviews and support! You guys rock! *winks*
Where we last stop:
Jack and Kayla were the last people there and the winter spirit looked at her in a remorseful way. Kayla walked to him and put her arms around his shoulders. Stunned, Jack flinched but let her embrace him anyway, even letting his arms wound around her waist. He felt better from her embrace; it was like her silently telling him that everything was going to okay and it wasn't his fault. It was then that Jack Frost suddenly realized how much he missed his human friend.
Little did they know that far away, in the cold blizzards of Alaska, Pitch Black was standing with his legion of fearlings, all rearing their ugly heads and bristling against the cold wind.
"Hush now, little ones, our time is near," the boogeyman said malevolently as the fearlings suddenly shifted and became one, growing over 20 feet tall. The writhing mass of shadows then took a frightening form of a demon as it released a loud cry. Pitch laughed as he floated to the top of the demon and the shadows split themselves to five entities, all hell bent on their master's revenge.
Meanwhile, back at the workshop, the atmosphere was very tense as the guardians all seemed to be waiting for something. It was then that Tooth and Sandy announced that they had a night's job to do, and left the workshop. Kayla was up in her room, sketching and humming. She didn't notice when Jack had entered her room to call her. He stood by the doorway, admiring her drawing and then cleared his throat.
Kayla jumped from her sit and turned around to face her friend with a mock glare. "Can't you see I'm trying to draw here, Frosty?" she grumbled as Jack groaned.
'Don't tell me Bunnymund put you up to that," Jack said as Kayla tried to smother her grin before it was too late.
"Well, ankle biter, I got bored and since you're the only one not mad at me, I wanna show you something," Jack said, excitement sparkling in his eyes. This had piqued Kayla's interest as she put down her drawing book.
"You got my attention now, Frost, what is it?" Kayla asked, grinning at him. Jack reciprocated back her grin as he gestured for her to follow him. Kayla got up and followed him where he led her outside of North's workshop.
"Kay, do you still remember the time when you were four and I took you flying?" Jack asked, with a happy glint in his eyes.
"Yeah…" Kayla trialed of suspiciously, folding her arms together.
Without warning, Jack scooped her up, bridal style and flung himself into the air. Kayla let out a terrified screech as she found herself looking down at North's workshop. How funny it seems that she thought it was really huge, when up here it seemed as small as a building block. Kayla clung to Jack, terrified and also out of coldness. The weather was barely bearable as there were no winds blowing but this was still Antarctica we were talking about.
Kayla shivered as realization hit her that maybe Jack was manipulating the winds not to blow in their direction. "Jack! What the…? You can't just go scooping girls up lifting them high up in the air," Kayla shrieked as she held onto the winter spirit tighter.
Jack just chuckled. "Relax Kay, I want to show you something, I promise that it's going to be awesome," Jack said as Kayla shook her head stubbornly but went along with it.
She squinted her eyes against the frozen wind, to exhilarate to feel the cold. Then Jack landed softly on the ground and Kayla rubbed her eyes to find that they were in a frozen meadow of some sorts, far away from the Workshop. Kayla stopped to admire the trees and a frozen river nearby as Jack put her down gently on the ground.
The place looked like a magical winter wonderland.
"Whoa," Kayla breathed, walking around the meadow, touching the frozen trees and admiring the frost covering the tree bark.
"Don't tell me you did all this, Jack?" Kayla said her voice breathless with excitement. Jack smirked but shook his head.
"I had nothing to do with any of this, but this meadow isn't the reason why I brought you here, I wanted to show you snow flowers," Jack said, walking around the clearing and apparently looking for something.
Kayla grew curious. "Snow flowers? You mean like flowers that grow in the snow?" Kayla asked, trying to pry the answer from Jack.
"No, these are different… Ah, here we go," Jack said as he gestured for Kayla to observe a tree bark on a frozen tree. Kayla noticed that there were small spikes of flowers growing on the bark and she stared at them admiringly, reaching out to touch them. They melted instantly at her touch and Kayla giggled.
"How'd you do this?" Kayla asked as she turned to Jack with wonder filled in her eyes.
Jack chuckled. "I told you this is none of my doing, it's all the wonders of the Arctic," Jack replied honestly. "Snow flowers develop on a thin, fresh layer of ice and only when there is a large difference between the temperature on the ice surface and in the air - at least 20 °C," Jack explained as he touched the snow flowers. They seem to gravitate towards his touch as the ice flowers expanded and grew even more beautiful.
For a moment, Kayla was envious but she shook her head and watched as he manipulated the snow flowers into more beautiful versions. She then started firing question after question about snow and how it varies around different parts of the world. Jack just shook his head in amusement and answered all of her questions with a tinge of pride and bashfulness as nobody had ever been interested in winter as she had.
Kayla then said she wanted to sit down and Jack manipulated the snow covered ground, melting it so that Kayla would not be stuck frozen on the ground. He then sat back down next to her as she asked him questions about his winter season and he in turn asked about her life.
"Honest to goodness, I've never really drew much last time, I only did if I was upset or needed some time to think," Kayla answered Jack truthfully when he asked her how she had become interested in drawing. Kayla was surprised that throughout her whole conversation with Jack, there never seem to be an end to their topics. She found it nice.
The topic then turned to teenage infatuations as Jack had wondered aloud why some kids changed all the time. He wanted to know it firsthand from a teen herself so he could wrap his head around the pondering question as to why children suddenly change 360 degrees when they grow up.
Kayla had pondered on this question before replying. "They just simply grow up Jack. School replaces fantasies, boyfriends/girlfriends replaces true friendships and suddenly being popular is so important as if it was oxygen; it's silly and shallow but for the next 5 years, it's all that teen's will ever know," Kayla said as truthfully as she could. She thought her reasoning was flimsy but thankfully, the guardian just nodded, satisfied with her answer.
"Did you ever have a girlfriend?" Kayla asked impulsively and clapped her hands on her mouth as she realized what she just said.
Jack just did a double take when he glanced at her, as if he was really surprise by her question. "Uhm, nope, haven't had one even when I was human," Jack admitted truthfully. Kayla cocked her head to one side as she looked at him curiously. Jack just flushed.
"I kinda thought girls were gross back then because I wasn't really friends with many of them last time," Jack said, shrugging his shoulders.
Kayla laughed. "Wow, you must've been quite the lady's man," Kayla said with a hint of sarcasm. She giggled when she saw him blush.
"How about you? Ever had a boyfriend before?" Jack asked, turning the tables, his grin devilish as Kayla flushed.
"I've had one before, but it was just a minor thing, it didn't even last for a week," Kayla admitted truthfully as Jack's blue eyes widened. He was surprised at the flash of jealousy he felt at the mention of Kayla's boyfriend but he quickly shook it off, opting for a snicker instead.
"Aww, I guess that little Kay here isn't as innocent as we thought," Jack said in a teasing tone as Kayla poked him by his side and blush.
"Ugh, as if, don't tell me you never felt at least a liking for one girl before," Kayla said challengingly as Jack looked thoughtful.
"There was one before," Jack admitted. "But she never knew I liked her, of course when I was still human," Jack said simply and shrugged. Kayla nodded, her curiosity piqued. She felt something akin to jealousy but quickly pushed it down. She and Jack were friends. At least she thought they were?
She asked for the mystery girl's name but Jack just changed the subject and said that they should be going back home as night was fast approaching. Kayla nodded; feeling a little disappointed but just decided to let it go. Jack held out his hand for her to take and she grasped it. As soon as her hand touched his, she felt a spark and withdrew her hand hastily, surprised. Jack also looked surprised as he looked down at his hand.
Kayla just laughed nervously as Jack gave a crooked grin. He felt weirded out but decided to let it go, they had more pondering things to think about than a small physical spark.
Jack held out his arms for her to hop into and she wrapped her arms around his neck with ease.
"You two are so sweet, it makes me sick to the core," a malevolent voice spoke.
Jack's head whipped up as he looked at the shadows forming around them. He plopped Kayla to the ground, hid her behind his back as his grip on his staff tightened.
Out of the darkness, a hooded figure approached them, baring his teeth, flanked by a legion of shadows.
"Pitch," Jack said and uttered a swear word as Kayla cowered behind him, quaking like a leaf. "Don't show him fear, Kay," Jack whispered to her as he turned to face the Nightmare King.
"Pitch, it's been a long time," Jack said casually as if he was greeting an old friend. Pitch nodded a glint of hatred in his eyes.
"Yes, Jack Frost, it has been a long time," he said softly but threateningly as he circled the both of them.
"You didn't bother to tell me you had a girlfriend, Jack, it would've been lovely to meet her," Pitch said as he leered at Kayla and Jack's grip on her tightened even more until Kayla could swear that the arm he was holding already had a bruise.
"Kayla Montgomery, so it is, it's been a terribly long time since I've visited you child," Pitch grinned as Kayla shrunk back.
"So it was you, who did give me all those nightmares," Kayla said, revelation lighting up her eyes.
"Of course it was my dear, who else would be so creative into thinking of different ways to torment little children," Pitch said as he stalked nearer to her and Jack turned his body, shielding her. "But me," he uttered those words softly as the nightmares and shadows descended upon them.
Kayla screamed as her vision went dark and she felt a strong force flinging her, until she fell upon the cold ground. Kayla opened her eyes and found that she was feet away from the battle taking place. Jack was in the middle of the chaos, a mass of blue and white shooting out of his staff to freeze the nightmares. It looked like a tornado of darkness was descending upon Jack as he fought it of valiantly, his face molded into a snarl so frightening, it shocked Kayla.
"Run, Kayla! Get out of here!" he shouted as one of the fearlings ripped the hoodie on his back.
"No!" Kayla shouted a she scrambled to her feet.
"Just go!" Jack screamed at her before summoning a huge wind force to propel her into the meadows, where the trees would shelter her from the onslaught. She landed with a thud and was momentarily disorientated as she hid behind some bushes. She watched the showdown with huge fearful eyes.
The fearlings were a tenacious force but Jack fought with everything he had, freezing the fearlings and zipping around the remaining ones. He fought tooth and nail as the fearlings attacked back continuously, never stopping.
She screamed when one of them came behind him but Jack just turned around with the skill of a warrior and froze him. He then shot sharp icicles while rotating 360 degrees in the air, every icicle landing perfectly at the targets.
Kayla felt as if she couldn't breathe. Her heart was stuck in her throat as she watched her friend battle it out, varying cuts appearing on his pale skin from the onslaught of the nightmares.
She then heard something come up behind her and before she could even turn around, a cold hand grasped around her neck, lifting her up. She spluttered and tried prying the grey hands of her neck but it wouldn't budge as if it were made of steel.
The figure then led her to the center of the clearing as she coughed and kicked the air but couldn't fight purchase. Black spots were covering her vision before the figure dropped her unceremoniously onto the ground. She heaved oxygen in as she realized the figure was Pitch. Pitch stopped the fighting and the nightmares immediately backed off. Jack then stood there all alone, still in his battle stance.
Pitch smirked at him before picking Kayla up roughly by her arm. Jack noticed and gasped; fear filling him as he realized Pitch had Kayla.
The Nightmare King then caught a whiff of his fear, so potent and powerful that he grinned in delight. "Well, well, well, who knew that little Jack Frost would be so afraid for his human friend, you really must love her so much, Frost. Shame," Pitch said nonchalantly as he dug his sharp fingernails into Kayla's sweater and dragged it down, causing her sweater to tear and the teen to whimper.
Jack's eyes widened before they settled into a hostile stare. "What do you want from me, Pitch," the winter spirit asked, his face contorting into a snarl.
The dark spirit's face broke out into a grin before he spoke. "Simple, I want my revenge Frost; I want to destroy you and your pathetic group of guardians. I want to make each and every one of you suffer the same thing I've been going through for the past 22 years. Hell," Pitch said and his grin widened. Kayla tried to fight him of, but his grip was like steel.
"But seeing as a mortal girl is put into the picture, I want to… Shake things up a bit," Pitch said as he ran his hands through Kayla's hair.
"Don't you dare touch her," Jack growled, low and menacing.
"Or what Frost?" Pitch challenged him. "If you even move a single muscle in a threatening way, I will injure her so bad that she'll be beyond recognizable," Pitch said and true to his word, he knocked Kayla on her head hard and she passed out, falling to the ground. The fearlings then swarmed around her and Jack tensed.
"I'll ask you again, what do you want Pitch? You can have anything you want from me as long as you release her," Jack said, his shoulders slumping.
"I'll tell you what I want Jack, I want you to get your sorry butt out of this fight, you are to have no involvement in this battle whatsoever and if you so much as raise your staff, I will kill her with my own hands," Pitch said softly as he looked at the conflicted Spirit of Winter. "Shake my hand to confirm your deal," the evil spirit added, smiling malevolently.
Jack took a deep breath. "It's a deal, you won't see me fighting at all," Jack promised.
"Good," Pitch said as his grin grew impossibly wider. He walked over to the guardian and extended his hand. Jack grasped it forcefully and almost doubled up in intense pain. He felt as if his very life-force was seeping out of him and every part of his body ache and hurt.
Pitch let go of his hand with a satisfied smirk. "Because after I steal your powers, you won't have to fight anymore," the boogeyman said triumphantly.
Jack kneeled on the ground as the pain wracked every fiber of his being. "Pitch, you-you lied, fuck," Jack gasped as the pain ripped through his head.
"So I did," Pitch muttered and he walked over the wrecked Guardian of Fun. "Sweet dreams, Jack," Pitch muttered as he delivered a hard blow to Jack's head and Jack slumped to the ground, unconscious.
It seemed to be hours before Jack could finally wake up and he groaned as the moonlight bathed over his face, illuminating the meadow where he had been showing Kayla the snow flowers.
"Kayla" Jack gasped and quickly stood up, wincing against the dull ache in his body. He looked around and found that the meadow was empty. There were no signs of the fight that had just happened. Jack jumped into the air to fly but instead, landed butt down onto the ground. He groaned and tried again. A third try and a fourth try. By the 6th try he had given up and slump to the ground, until he remembered his staff.
He scrambled up and searched for it, finding it mercifully intact by the roots of a tree. Pitch must have thought that without his powers, Jack wouldn't need his staff so therefore, Pitch found no need to destroy it.
Jack smacked his forehead as he realized how stupid he was for letting Pitch trick him into stealing his powers and he had also kidnapped Kayla! Jack grunted in frustration at his weakened state before he noticed the Aurora Borealis illuminating the night sky. Jack gasped as he saw the distressed signal North was sending the guardians. But without his powers, Jack couldn't summon the wind to take him to the Workshop and most importantly, to save Kayla from Pitch.
Jack looked up to the full moon in exasperation at his situation. "Manny! Help me, I lost my powers," Jack pleaded to the ancient guardian. "Pitch is back and I need to save Kayla before it's too late, please help me," Jack said as his voice broke at the end. He felt so tired and weak, but he forced himself to look at the moon, where he knew Tsar Lunar could hear him.
The air around Jack suddenly felt different, as if someone had clapped a pillow around his head. There were no sounds, not even the occasional noise of wildlife. It was so quiet that Jack could even hear his own heart beating thunderously against his chest. Suddenly his staff was vibrating and a bright blue light seem to shine from within the staff, illuminating the guardian's face.
It floated in front of Jack as he gaped in shock. He then felt this crazy urge to hold his staff. Jack then gripped the staff in his hands and felt a surge of cold electric like force running itself up his veins, energizing his very being. He gasped as he felt his strength return to him and as soon as it started, the strange phenomena was over.
Jack looked at his staff with huge eyes before testing out his powers hesitantly. A blast of icicles shot out and Jack leaped into the air with glee. "Thanks, Manny!" Jack called out to the moon gratefully as he started his search for Kayla.
He grimaced as he thought how long Kayla had been in Pitch's clutches. Don't worry Kay, I'm coming for you, Jack thought as he sped with lightning speed to search for his friend.
~WOC~
Kayla struggled against the nightmares. She tried very hard to wake herself up. It felt as if she'd been stuck in her nightmares for days. She fought as hard as she could and nearly cried when she succeeded as she surfaced from the dreaded dark, head pounding and limbs hurting. She opened her eyes and tried to adjust her eyes to the smothering darkness. Kayla then tried to wipe of the sweat that clung to her like a second skin but she discovered she couldn't move her arms or her legs for that matter. Panic struck her heart as she realized that she was bound and violently fought against the black restrains.
"Well, the little girl has finally reawaken, good to see you after so many years sweetheart," a voice said from the shadows. Then, the figure of the boogeyman was suddenly in front of her and Kayla flinched.
Pitch Black cut a tall and imposing figure, with his clawed hands and feral looking yellow eyes which were currently fixed on her smugly.
"12 years is a long time that I haven't held you and watched your nightmares, little one" Pitch crooned as he tucked a stray lock of brown hair behind Kayla's ear.
"What do you want from me?" Kayla asked surprise that her voice hasn't wavered.
Pitch just smirked as he walked away from her before turning around sharply and growling at her. He stalked to the bound Kayla and grasped her cheek hard in his hand that Kayla could feel a bruise welling.
"What do I want? What do I want?" Pitch asked, sounding delirious as his grip on her cheek tightened and Kayla fought back the sob that threatened to burst out.
"I want to hear your screams, I want to see you cry because of your nightmares, I want you to be scared of me," Pitch said in a way that sounded as if he was just ticking of items in his grocery list. "But no, you haven't, ever since that blasted Frost couldn't stay away from you, he brought happiness, care, love," Pitch spat the word as if it was poison in his mouth. "You haven't had many nightmares since, but no dear, that's not what I brought you here for," he said as he released her cheek.
The boogeyman stalked away from her and patted one of his fearlings on the head. "No, I brought you here as bait, I don't really want you, I want your boyfriend, Jack Frost," Pitch said mildly and smiled at her. "Though I have to admit, the smell of your fear is so strong, it's almost enticing," Pitch said as he leered at the teen. Kayla shrunk back at the wall.
"But I don't want him just like that, I want him broken, I want him to see the extent of my powers on someone he cared about, I want to break his heart as much as every bone in his body," Pitch said as he stroke her head. Kayla flinched at his cold touch. It wasn't comforting cold like Jack's, it was a deathly chill.
"Now enough of me rambling, I bet your tired sweet girl, so I'll see you tomorrow," Pitch remarked as he walked out of the dungeon. Immediately the fearling that had followed him here reared its ugly head and stalked towards Kayla. The fearling could smell her fear and how potent it was that Kayla swore it smiled before attacking her and covering her world in a blinding darkness again, the onslaught of her nightmares so powerful that Kayla screamed.
Up in the air, not far from Pitch's new lair, Jack Frost was trying to find something, anything that would lead him to the Nightmare King's realm. The dusting of snow on the ground was untouched and Jack could find nothing out of the ordinary.
This frustrated the winter spirit to no end. He needed to safe Kayla quick. Jack then thought of the possibilities how Pitch could've brought Kayla to his lair. Jack thought that Pitch wouldn't be travelling via flight so it was possible that he could've cleaned up good before he left.
Jack then dropped to the ground as he searched for traces across the snow. Jack suddenly had an idea. He placed his open palm on the frozen ground and concentrated on Pitch's footsteps, the varying aura and temperature and impact he could've left on the ground. His palm glowed blue and he was struck with a vision of the Nightmare King, walking with his fearlings and dragging Kayla along with him, from the ground's point of view. Jack gasped as he opened his eyes and retracted his palm, astonished at his own show of power.
He grinned in a self victory smile as he followed the trail. The trail led to a mountain side where the crevices were imposing and the edges of the cliff's sharp. Jack then realized he might need some help later from the other guardians. He smiled as he thought of a brilliant way to connect with them and pass on his message.
Jack conjured up a snowball and whispered his S.O.S message into it, before rolling it conjuring up a wind to take the snowball to his friends. He threw the snowball at the direction of North's workshop, hoping with all hope that his plan would work as he watched the snowball whizz away.
Jack then used his newfound ability to discover where the entrance to Pitch's lair was. The snow then led him to an opening in a rocky terrain. He flew to it cautiously and peeked inside. There seemed to be an aura of depression and fear surrounding the area. Jack entered cautiously, his staff poised for attack anytime soon.
The walls all seemed to be hewed from rough rocks but everything else looked man-made. As if someone lived here.
A piercing scream then interrupted Jack's thoughts as he ran straight for the source. He knew that scream, it belonged to Kayla and she sounded like she was being tortured.
Jack ran down the maze like corridors and came to a stop in front of a big red door. It looked formidable and imposing. He opened it and was shock by what he saw. Nightmares were swirling around a figure that seemed to be shackled to the wall. Her sobs could be heard. Jack gasped as he quickly froze the fearlings and destroyed each and every one of them out of rage.
With the nightmares out of the way, he quickly flew up to see if Kayla was alright. What he saw made his stomach churn.
There were dark purple bruises under her eyes, a bruise welling on her cheek and her sweater was in ruins. But that wasn't what scared him the most. What scared him was the hollow look in her eyes which held only a glimmer of hope. She smiled a relief grin through her cracked lips.
"Jack," she rasped.
"It's okay, Kay, I'll get you out of here," Jack said as he undid the bindings that held her to the wall. Once it was done, she collapsed into Jack's waiting arms and the winter spirit felt a huge surge of relief flow through him as he gently floated to the ground, careful not to aggravate her wounds. Kayla looked up at him with tear filled eyes.
"It was horrible Jack," she whispered as Jack nodded, his heart constricting at her pitiful sight as he wipe her tears and dirt away from her face.
"I know Kay, I know, you're safe now, love," Jack said, realizing his words as he held her close and felt the relief that was so palpable in his heart that he lifted her face and kissed her deep and hard. She was surprised but responded, her lips synchronizing with his cold ones. The kiss then turned tender as Jack was careful not to touch the bruised part of her face.
When they pull apart, Kayla gave a little smile as she clung to him tighter. "What was that for?" she rasped out with a huge smile on her face. Jack just smiled and kissed her on the forehead.
"Ah, prince charming, so nice of you to join us," a menacing voice said as the boogeyman appeared from the shadows. "You broke our promise Jack, now the girl has got to go," Pitch said in a fake sad voice as he heaved a heavy sigh.
"Over my dead body," Jack snarled as he got up and released a typhoon of icicles towards the Nightmare King. Pitch avoided them all with ease as a snarl was etched on his face.
"Your powers… How'd you get them back?" Pitch hissed as fearlings rose from behind him to flank their master.
Jack gave a cocky grin. "Oh, you know, luck," Jack said the last part as he dove for Pitch, hurtling chunks of ice at him. The fearlings rose up and surrounded Jack but the winter spirit fought them of, delivering kicks and punches that made them all dissipate like dust. Pitch dodged to the right as Jack managed to break through the barriers of nightmares and lunged at him.
The Nightmare King growled as he shot black sand out of his hands in a shape of arrows. Jack was faster than him as he flew midair and deflected the black sand with a huge chunk of ice. Jack then used the shock of the attack to gain advantage over Pitch as he delivered a round house kick to the boogeyman's ribs. Pitch easily gained back his balance and his grip turned into talons.
Pitch gave a cry and used his black sand to swarm around Jack; the guardian stalked around the swirling black sand with caution (imagine being in a tornado but only it's made out of black sand) as suddenly, the boogeyman launched at him and punched him in the face. Jack doubled over before recovering and finding his staff but the Nightmare King was faster as he kicked Jack's staff away from him and delivered a harsh blow to Jack's face.
Jack fell down, shielding his face from Pitch's constant blows; without his staff he was under Pitch's mercy. The Nightmare King stalked toward Jack with a languid smile on his face, forming a huge arrow that would pierce through Jack like butter. The winter spirit didn't give up as he slid under Pitch's feet, tripping him and flew in midair, trying to find his staff.
Jack was momentarily distracted when he felt something pull down on his leg and Pitch grinned as he gain leverage above Jack and punched the winter spirit's stomach repeatedly. Jack had enough strength to push Pitch of him and with a pained grunt he fell to the ground and hobbled to the side.
"There's no where you can run now, Jack," Pitch said dangerously as he closed in on Jack. Jack readied himself as Pitch laughed at his pathetic attempt.
"Jack!" a voice outside the tornado shouted and Jack looked up as his staff came hurtling through the tornado. It was Kayla. Jack avoided the boogeyman's grasp as he flew midair and caught his staff. When his staff connected to Jack's hand, a bright blue light suddenly illuminated and covered the whole tornado. The swirling mass of black sand froze and exploded into tiny shards of ice as Jack and Pitch covered their eyes, momentarily distracted by the staff's show of power.
The tornado dissipated around them and Jack could see the ruins of the room and he noticed that Kayla was on the ground, hiding her face. Jack felt relief that she was okay before feeling a ripping pain in his shoulder.
He turned around and escaped Pitch's second blow with the sword as he felt warm blood seeping down his arm. He winced and used his other hand to raise his staff to create ice shields, protecting him from the deranged boogeyman's blows.
Pitch was snarling, his yellow eyes darkening and fangs bore at Jack. He looked like a mad dog about to strike as he knocked Jack to his feet, making Jack land on his already injured arm and raised the sword deliver the final death blow.
Just as Pitch was about to land a blow on Jack's head, a rope of golden sand captured his hand and drew the sword into the boogeyman's own face.
Jack literally shouted in relief when he saw the other guardians arriving into the room, all poised for a fight. Jack noted that they looked beaten and wondered what the emergency was at the Workshop.
North turned to him, seeming to have read Jack's mind. "We already defeated about 2 of them, but three are on their way, we couldn't shake them of in time to safe you," North explained in a rushed way as Sandy and Bunnymund were engaged in a epic fight with the Nightmare King.
Sandy had managed to subdue Pitch with his golden sand before Bunnymund knocked the boogeyman over with his boomerangs and explosive eggs.
"There, that'll keep that bastard under wraps," Bunnymund swore as Pitch slumped to the ground.
Jack looked confused. "Three of them? What…?" Jack trailed of as he felt the ground shaking. He heard Kayla scream and point outside the window. Funny, he didn't even know this place had windows, Jack thought momentarily as he looked in horror at the cause of the quake.
Outside, three huge shadow demons were making their way up the rocky terrain and back to their master's palace as one by one they trudged back up.
"They attacked your workshop?" Jack spluttered as he looked at North and the giant guardian nodded sadly.
They didn't have time to worry before the roof of the room was being torn open and the demon's hideous faces peeked in. A horrendous screech could be heard from them as the demons used their shadow powers to strike the guardians. All of them moved out of the way as Jack flew and crashed into Kayla, shielding her with his body. When the dust died down, the guardians all couldn't be seen as they were hiding behind various different boulders found in the room. This confused the monsters to no end.
North, Jack and Kayla were hidden together behind a boulder when Jack whispered his rushed plan to North. North looked shocked but nonetheless agreed. North then moved from his spot behind the boulders as he waved up and down with his swords, demanding the demon's attention.
They let out a roar at finding their prey and just as they opened their mouths, Jack Frost flew up from his spot behind the boulder and flew head first into the demons mouth. The demon paused, looking confused as the others were firing black sand blows to the rest of them.
"Jack!" Kayla screamed as Tooth zipped out and restrained her, pushing the girl behind another boulder before telling her to stay there. Kayla was the weak link here and if anything happened, it would likely hurt her first.
Toothiana gave a battle cry before flying through the demons hand, slicing his whole hand of with her wings. The demon shrieked in pain before the giant hand fell to the ground in a show of black sand.
The rest of the demons were then distracted by one of them who was moaning and groaning in pain. A blue light seem to shine and grow through the attacked black sand demon; he gave a low cry before exploding in a icicles and a very daze Jack Frost stood hovered in midair, black sand staining his white hair grey.
The other demons gave a loud cry and attacked the guardians with newfound zest for revenge for their fellow demon.
"Good job mate!" Bunnymund shouted as he took advantage of the demon's shock and e threw a rather large explosive egg into the demon's middle. The demon gave a low growl and dissipated. Meanwhile, Sandy and Tooth were busy deflecting the attacks of the last black sand demon and Tooth was using every chance she could get to mutilate the demon's huge mass. She managed to cut through the demon's leg and the huge mass of black sand groaned, trying to balance itself.
"Now, Sandy! Bunny!" Tooth yelled as the sandman used his sand ropes to hinder the demon of its feet and Bunny threw a few huge exploding eggs and the demon exploded into oblivion once and for all.
The guardians stood in the middle of the whole chaos with triumphant smiles on their faces.
"You think you have won, but think again, guardians, I'm going to murder one of your believers right here," Pitch said threateningly as the guardians turned around and found him holding a knife made out of black sand to Kayla's throat.
"I tried fighting him of," Kayla said weakly as Tooth tried to give her a comforting smile.
Bunny looked at Sandy and nodded. The golden man grimaced.
"Pitch, haven't you had enough of tormenting that young girl, you monster," North growled and flashed his huge double edge swords.
Jack just narrowed his eyes and looked to Kayla in desperation.
"Oh, I'm not done tormenting her yet, she needs one more touch before she's finally broken," Pitch said as he threw Kayla to the ground.
"Girl," Pitch said in a harsh tone. "Do you want to know the truth of your parents death?" the Nightmare King asked as he looked at the confuse teen who was trying to pick herself of the ground.
The guardians all tensed, especially Jack as they knew where Pitch was going with this. Kayla slowly shook her head. "They died in a car accident," she said softly as she looked at Jack, confusion and panic clearly etched on her face.
"Ah, but do you know the real cause of their death?" Pitch said as he smirked at her. The teen's eyes looked guarded as she shook her head.
Pitch's smirk grew immensely smugger as he pointed his knife in Jack's direction. "He's the cause of it all," Pitch muttered as he faked a look of sadness in his face and tone. "He killed your parent's on that very night," Pitch said as he crouched to look Kayla in the eye.
"Yo-You're lying," Kayla gasped out as she looked from Jack to Pitch. "Tell me he's lying," she pleaded to Jack. The winter spirit couldn't look her in the eyes as he slowly but surely shook his head, regret and shame written all over his face. No.
Kayla gave an almost inaudible gasp, her eyes flashing with betrayal. Jack dared to look at her and found her brown eyes stormy and hostile. "How could you, Jack?" Kayla asked weary and angry at the same time.
"It was an accident…" Jack explained weakly as Kayla attempted to stand up and she looked Pitch in the eye, wincing at her injuries.
"You're a fucking monster," she spat out as Pitch merely smiled. She then looked at Jack. "You're not so far behind him yourself," Kayla said venomously as Jack's eyes widened.
"Now, Sandy!" Bunnymund yelled as the little golden man extended his sand ropes and grasped the Nightmare King in them. Bunnymund used one of his explosive eggs to knock Pitch out and Sandy used the leverage he had to fly out of the lair.
The guardians all watched with rapt attention as they saw Sandy flew out through the torn roof and with the extension of his sand ropes; he rotated 360 degrees, gaining momentum as he flew higher, and higher. Soon, all that could be seen was a blur of golden as Sandy screeched to a stop and he released the figure of Pitch Black. The Nightmare King went flying up, high into the sky and they saw his body disappear.
Sandy looked down to see that he was almost out of the stratosphere, near to outer space. He then gravitated back down, as the guardians all pat him in the back.
"Where did Pitch go?" Tooth asked Sandy, her eyes shining with excitement.
In answer to her question, the Sandman just made an image of the moon above his head and proceeded with a figure of Tsar Lunar.
"You send him to the moon, that's brilliant," Tooth gasped as she looked at North.
Sandy just shrugged and gestured to Bunnymund as if to say it was also the Pooka's idea. They all then looked to the moon as one and saw that part of the moon was smudged in black and ever since that day, mankind will know it as the dark side of the moon.
"C'mon, it's time to get you kids, home," North said jovially as he looked at a stony Kayla and nervous Jack.
Sandy then floated up to Kayla and without another word, he sprinkled dream sand onto her eyes and she fell into a deep slumber.
"Her injuries would be too painful for her to handle conscious," Bunnymund explain as he picked up Kayla up bridal style and walked towards North's sleigh, hovering outside.
They all got into the sleigh, happy to be in such a short distance from the Workshop.
"We'll get the yetis to tend to you and her in the infirmary," North whispered to Jack who sat quietly beside him, stone still to avoid aggravating his bruised skin.
"Do you think she hates me?" Jack asked sadness and regret coloring his tone.
North sighed. "She had to know the truth sooner or later. But my boy, why didn't you tell her about this before?" the giant guardian asked, looking at his winter friend.
"I was selfish, I… I didn't want to lose her," Jack finished that last part softly, almost inaudibly but North understood and nodded.
They got back to the Workshop and North immediately whisked Jack to the infirmary to treat the wounds and bruises he suffered from the fight with Pitch. The last thing Jack remembered before Sandy sprinkled sleep sand in his eyes was the rest of the guardian's look of compassion and Bunnymund setting Kayla on a bed opposite the hospital. Sandy then sprinkled dream sand into his eyes and Jack found himself falling headlong into unconsciousness.
Jack woke up and felt well rested but stiff from the lack of movement. He found that he wasn't wearing his hoodie but instead the white shirt in which he slept in. There were bandages plastered on Jack's body and he moved cautiously.
He got up and made his way to Kayla's bed at the opposite of the infirmary. He noticed that she was wearing a white hospital gown and there were tubes stuck to her hands with an IV drip behind. She was groaning softly, restless because of the pain and dreams she was having. Jack sat on the hospital chair next to her as he brushed the hair out of her face, avoiding the plastered area of her bruised face.
At his touch she seemed to calm down a little and Jack was transported back to the time when he did the exact same thing, 12 years ago at a Burgess hospital, when Kayla was awaiting her parents who never came back.
Jack's heart constricted with regret as he caressed her face. "I'm sorry I let this happen to you, Kay," Jack whispered, remorsefully.
Kayla didn't answer him back, finally settling down from her dream and falling back into a deep sleep. Jack then gently held her hand as he felt the waves of tiredness crash back upon him as he laid his head by her side and fell back asleep.
Kayla awoke a few hours later, grimacing as she sat herself up but couldn't. She then realized that Jack was holding her hand, fast asleep with his head just resting on her bed. Despite the anger she felt towards Jack when Pitch told her the truth she couldn't help but running her fingers through his white hair, relishing how soft yet cold it was.
She knew that she couldn't stay mad at Jack forever but Kayla still felt the sting and she needed to know the real truth.
Fortunately, she felt Jack stirring from his sleep, awoken by her touch. He blinked the sleep out of his eyes before glancing at her. Immediately a look of shame graced his face as he sat back on the chair and looked at her impassive face.
"Hey, Kay," he said softly and when she didn't reply, Jack sighed. "Look, I have to tell you the truth," Jack said as he looked at her with sad eyes.
"About time," Kayla whispered sarcastically as she rasped through her sore throat.
Jack grimaced but didn't falter at her tone. "Look, could you please just sweep all judgments aside and listen to me," Jack pleaded and after a moment, Kayla slowly nodded, frowning.
"Okay, it was 12 years ago, on Christmas Eve when the rest of the guardians blamed me for causing a blizzard which complicated Santa's gift sending," Jack sucked in a deep breath before continuing. "I got mad so I flew back to Burgess and took my anger out by freezing the streets and everything around it," when he said those words, Kayla shot him a look but Jack just ignored it and continued.
"It was around midnight and honest to goodness, I didn't know that there were any cars on the road. I was just about to undo the frost when I heard a car speeding down the main road, and before I could do anything, it skidded on the ice I created and smashed into a tree," Jack said as he recalled that fateful night, remembering the sound of the car colliding into a tree.
"That's when I found you. I followed you all the way to the hospital and was there to when your grandma came and took you home. I made a guardian promise that no matter what, I would stay with for as how long as you like and be whatever you wanted me to be, a brother, a friend, anything," Jack said softly as Kayla's eyes welled up in tears which she wiped it of furiously before they could fall.
"That's why I never left you, even when you stopped believing in me, I was always there," Jack said.
"So, you were always there?" Kayla asked, momentarily shock as Jack nodded. "Did you really cause that blizzard?" Kayla inquired curiously.
"Nope, it happened when I wasn't even there," Jack said as he and Kayla shared a look.
"Pitch," they both whispered with semi horrified looks.
"He's gone now so he can't hurt you anymore, Kay, that's for sure," Jack reassured her as Kayla nodded, relief coursing through her at his words.
They were both silent for a while before Jack had the nerve to look at her. He gently held her hand, giving her ample space to pull it back if she didn't want to touch him. He'd understand. But, no, she didn't pull away nor did she grasp his hand.
"Kay, I am so sorry for everything that happened all those years ago, I would understand if you hated me and never want me around ever again," Jack said as he traced circles on her hands, his eyes averting to the white sheet of the hospital bed. It was silent once more as Jack could literally hear the cog works in Kayla's brain.
Suddenly, she tilted his chin up so that he would look at her. Kayla noted that his eyes were weary, guarded and apprehensive all at the same time. Kayla surprised herself and Jack when she impulsively leaned down and touched her lips to his. Jack responded a nanosecond later, kissing her back and cradling her face in his hands. They pulled back, and Kayla smiled at him for the very first time that day.
She cleared her throat. "Jack, after everything that happened, how you risked everything to save me and protect me all those years," Kayla trailed of and Jack felt himself hoping. "I forgive you, but on one condition," she made her tone a mock strict one as Jack nodded, all too happy with her forgiveness to even care about her conditions.
"Go ahead, Kay, I'm all ears," Jack said as he smiled at her to continue.
"Before I request this, I want to know something… What are we, Jack?" Kayla asked, confused as Jack looked at her first in confusion and then recognition as he realized what she was trying to say.
"I mean, we hold hands, we kiss and care about each other to the point of when it's more than friends, but I need to know, what are we?" Kayla asked softly, now afraid of facing rejection herself.
Jack straightened up, his grip on her hand never slackened. "Kay, you know I care about you, right?" he asked as Kayla nodded, looking down at her fingers.
"Sometimes, I care for you so much to the extent that it scares me and sometimes I think, I…" he faltered as Kayla dared a peek at him. "I… I love you," Jack whispered that part out as Kayla's face brightened like the sunrise on a clear morning.
"I love you too, Jack" Kayla whispered. "So, I wanted to ask… You said you would be anything I wanted you to be, right?" Kayla asked as Jack nodded.
"Well, I… I want you to be… Mine," Kayla said as she smiled at him. Jack grinned.
"Of course Kay, and I want you to be mine too," he said as he hugged her. Kayla laughed and returned the hug back, enthusiastically.
Jack broke away and grinned down at her before leaning in to capture her lips with his again. Kayla was all too happy to deepen the kiss as she smiled through it. His hands wound across her waist as she threaded her fingers through his white hair. The two of them broke apart, smiling like buffoons as Kayla felt warmth spread across her cheeks.
A loud cough made them break apart further and blush as they found the rest of the guardians standing by the hallway of the infirmary.
Bunny was smirking, Tooth had tears in her eyes while Sandy and North were grinning.
"I was about to come in and give the little ankle biter some pain meds but I can see you done away with it better than any meds could, eh, Frosty?" Bunny said as he winked at the both of them.
Jack rolled his eyes and Kayla laughed as the rest of the guardians joined in.
"C'mon now, we have to fix you both and then, it's time for Kayla to go back home," North said as the teen pouted.
"Aww, man! Can't I stay here for a little while longer?" Kayla asked as she looked pleadingly at North.
North thought about this before he nodded and Kayla whooped with happiness. She loved Santa's Workshop to say goodbye to it so soon.
She looked over at Jack who was also grinning and they shared a look before Jack leaned in to whisper conspiratorially.
"What's say you and I snow ball attack Bunny when he's coming out from his hole?" Jack said as the rest of the guardians looked on in curiosity.
"Deal," Kayla said and a huge smile spread across her face before she accepted her meds from Bunny, who was giving them both glares. A look that said, both of you better not be attempting something fishy as Jack and Kayla just laughed and settled against each other.
Ta-da! How'd that go for a drama/action/romance chapter? I hope I did well. Let me know in the review section *hint hint*
Though I kinda feel sorry for Pitch in the books, I wanted to make him more cruel and sadistic so it fits the theme of his long time revenge, etc etc.
Oh and snow flowers are real. Just go and search for the 'Wonders of the Arctic'. Their super pretty.
Once again, thank you guys for the lovely reviews. It's pretty simple actually, the more reviews I get, the more I write. So if you love this story, hate it, ship it, etc, review, review, REVIEW! xoxo teeceecee.