Operation: Save the Worlds

Chapter 10

Clue of a Nightmare's Power

The Guardians watched Samantha walk through the portal, the vortex of spinning colors closed behind her. The grouped looked around that their surroundings. The only notable difference from this world and their own was the lack of magic in the air. At home, magic was often in the air, here it seemed that you could only get whiffs of magic here and there.

Jack finally spoke up, "So, umm does anyone know exactly where we are?"

"It looks like we are in a North American forest," Bunny said, sniffing the air.

"Wow, that's Bunny amazing, we would be soo lost without you," Jack replied sarcastically as he leaned up against his staff.

"Now listen here ya bloody show pony," Bunny warned striding over to the teen.

"You two, knock it off," Serena warned, her silver eyes turning a bright red color. The two Guardians gulped.

"Serena is right. You two need to knock it off. If we don't work together we won't be able to find Jamie," Tooth floated next to the other female guardians, extremely relieved that she wasn't the only girl anymore.

"In order to find Jamie, ve need more solid plan," North stated, looking up at the sky as a raindrop hit his nose, "Might I add ve also need stable place to 'hide out' in."

"If finding a hide out is what it takes to get to Jamie sooner, then I don't care if we stay in a cave," Jack crossed his arm. Sandy delicately created an umbrella out of sand, holding it over his head as more rain drops began to fall. The group of seven walked silently through the unfamiliar forest. North lead the the group as Tooth sent her fairies to search the forest, Bunny and Anne Marie were having an animated conversation, Sandy and Serena talked quietly; leaving a very pissed of winter sprite trailing behind them.

Although he would deny it, Jack was still furious with the other Guardians.He was frantic to get Jamie back, but none of the Guardian really seemed that concerned. Maybe because Jamie wasn't a child? No Jamie is still a child at heart. Ugh! The others didn't even try to defend themselves when Jack yelled at them back at the pole. Guaranteed they were attacked, but not even Tooth bothered to check on him afterwards, Sam was the only one that knew his was still upset! And hell, she wasn't even there for his outburst! Jack groaned to himself; he missed Jamie, it hurt not being able to check on him, not knowing if he was okay. Why could the other Guardians pick up on this? Weren't they his family? Maybe he made a mistake trusting them seventeen years ago?

"You were right. His has a pure heart, but there is much darkness in it," a dark voice dripping in venom interrupted Jack's thoughts.

"What can I say. This boy will be easy to manipulate," an equally dark voice joined the first one, sounding oddly familiar to the Guardian of Fun.

"It will almost be a shame to see the mighty Jokul Frosti, almost." Jack's eyes widen. No, it couldn't be! How could he be here. Jack held his staff in defense, turning back and forth.

"Jack?" Jack turned quickly, shooting a blast of ice, "JACK!" The winter Guardian blinked quickly,

"Tooth? Shit, did I hit you?" Jack asked quickly as he realised who it was,

"No Sweet Tooth, but you did managed to freeze a couple tries," Tooth smiled floating towards the immortal teen. Jack looked behind the fairy to see the trees turned popsicle.

"Oops. Sorry about that," Jack rubbed the back of his neck, trying not to make eye contact with the motherly guardian. Tooth rested her hand on the teen guardian,

"Oh, it's okay sweetie. We accidentally wandered without you. But luckily we found a deserted cabin. North wants us to rest and go over his 'battle plans' then we will go look for Jamie first thing tomorrow," Tooth looked at the young sprite, who continued to look at the ground, "Here why don't we head to the cabin okay?"

"Yeah okay." The two Guardians walked back to the cabin in silence.

The first thing Jack noticed about the cabin was that is was old. The wooden siding was graying and splintering from the effects of nature, while the mud that was used to hold it together was crumpling. The same could be said from the roof; the roof was covered in wooden shingles with a criss cross pattern on top. There was a chimney on the side of the cabin, matching the rest of the house. Jack quietly floated over to the side of the cabin. touching it briefly, allowing frost to dance on its side. The winter child looked at the house in awe with a star struck look in his eye,

"Is something the matter Jack?" Tooth hovered close to her fellow Guardian.

"No, nothings wrong," Jack smiled, "Just kinda remind me off the house I grew up in." With his mom, dad, and..sister. Jack's family. Damn he missed them, but he has a new family with the Guardians and..Jamie. He was wasting time, "Come on, let's go in." Jack issued before Tooth could question his sudden silence.

Inside the cabin was just what Jack expected: single room with a cast iron oven, a wooden table along with log chairs, a few shelves, a counter, a musty old bear skin rug, and a straw bed that has seen better days; the typical setup for homes in the 1700's-1800's. There also appeared to be a set of stairs, most likely leading to the area were the other occupants of the house slept. Jack also noticed the portraits on the walls must have belonged to the previous owners of this cabin. There was a happy couple on their wedding day, baby photos and the elderly photos. A fading scrapbook was lying open on the termite-eaten table. A few moth-eaten blankets were thrown on the bed. Besides the decor the next thing the winter sprite noticed was the other guardians: North, who looked even larger in the tiny cabin sat in one of the chairs taking strategy with Bunny, Serena was looking over the old albums with Anne, and Sandy looks as though he fell asleep on the musty old bed. Anne and Serena looked up as they saw Tooth had brought Jack back in one piece,

"Glad to see you made it back Frosty," Serena smiled, her nervous yellow eyes changed to a more relaxed blue color.

"Crikey, if you weren't back soon we would of had a search party looking for ya," Anne smiled.

"Jack! Good to see you!" North boomed.

"Yeah. Sorry about that you guys. I think I will go upstairs and rest I don't feel that well," Jack shook his head slightly.

"Mate, there aren't any beds upstairs," the Pooka grinned, " There are only sacks with cotton in it. No beds." The Easter Bunny shrugged. Jack's eyes widened excitement, looking upstairs grinning wildly,

"No way cotton? We had only straw as a kid!" Jack raced up the stairs.

"Oi! I have never seen him so happy over something that didn't have to do with winter or children," Bunny rubbed his neck. The room fell quiet as they realize which child brings him the most happiness.

Jack looked upon the ceiling of the upper room following the cracks with his his eyes. His staff laid next to him as his hands rested behind his head. His body sank into the makeshift cotton bed, which-for the record-was much comfortable than the straw beds he grew up on. A yawn escaped the winter guardian, sleep overtook the boy a few minutes later.

Darkness eloped the dreams of the young sprite. Green and black mixed as one. He couldn't escape the darkness, like something was holding him there, tying a rope around his heart. A blue light surrounded him, bringing the surrounding darkness into him, absorbing it all. A dark laughter was heard as Jack screamed in agony.

Jack bolted up from his sleep, a thin layer of cold sweat covered his thin frame. A sharp pain hit the sprite square in the chest. Jack cautiously looked down at his chest, a gold spear with a blue gem was resting on the center of his chest. At the other end of the spear stood both Pitch and what's looks to be like Loki.

"Hello my old friend, Jokul," Loki grinned,pressing the spear a little bit into Jack's skin. Pitch touched the golden spear, black sand twirled down the smooth surface, "We have so much to catch up on," Pitch also grinned as the sand meet the blue gem, "but first, we need to take care of the darkness inside your heart." Jack shrieked in pain, clutching his icy blue eyes shut as the black sand and blue light entered his body. The winter sprite's eyes shot open, the once ice blue eyes are now a deep gold, his snow white hair was a shade darker, and his skin was a sickening color of gray. The heart of the once Guardian of Fun was now twisted and darken into something unrecognizable. This wasn't Jack Frost anymore.

*Dun-dun-duunnn! Cliffhanger! Hehe new chapter you know what that means? I got over the bump that I was having with the next chapter yayyyy! which is like twice this size of this chapter. Oops! i would like to thank you guys for being patient with me on the account my highschool doesn't know we have lives outside of school…

So I totally forgot to thank the wonder viewers who reviewed chapter 8 in the last chapter, so thank you: Darkblade, Book Soldier, Tigermike83, and little miss BANANA HEAD for reviewing chapter 8. And thank you: LuffyxRuby, DC, and Book Soldier for reviewing chapter 9, it really means a lot! So please R&R, favorite, and follow! i love all of your kind words!

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~VHT