Literally this idea came from I don't know where. I just started writing, and, well…bam.

Jack was falling; at least, he thought so. It was hard to tell in the darkness. His vision swirled despite the fact that he couldn't tell which way was up or down. It felt…whole. At first. It was a comforting darkness until a familiar voice sounded from within it.

"Well, aren't you all cozy and at home with the Guardians?"

He hoped it was his imagination, but this dream was far too vivid.

Jack swallowed a lump, already imagining the ashen man himself. As if on cue those golden orbs shined through like lights, illuminating the long face of its owner.

"Pitch." Jack bit out, his eyebrows scrunching in annoyance.

The man chuckled, clearly amused. "Now, now, don't be like that. I was bound to get out eventually after all. It just took the nightmares some…convincing."

Jack didn't' like the tone in his voice at all. Pitch was smooth as his black sand on the outside, but beneath that smoothness, hidden spikes threatened to spear you whenever given a chance. The boogeyman himself gave a coy smile.

"Do not worry Jack. I am not here for you. At least…for now. No offense, but you aren't quite my top priority."

"I'll try not to take offense."

"I thought not. Though…you might take offense at the new change I've given you." Pitch commented, easily pulling up a mirror. Thinking about it now, Jack had not noticed the strange way his eyes felt. He looked down, relieved to find his same blue sweatshirt and ran his hands over his form to check for any damage.

Jack huffed and looked up, seeing Pitch holding a mirror before him. Same blue eyes, same white hair…

"Pitch, what on earth are you on about? I don't see anything-"

His words turned into a pained gasp. In the reflection he saw a strange object protruding from his chest. Black, sinuous lines formed, shaped like the veins inside his body. Was it…was it pouring black sand into him!?

"Wh-what did you do?!" Jack gasped, clutching his shoulder with one hand. The other grappled at the air behind him, begging for Pitch to remove the blade from his body. The tall man simply tsked.

"Be still or you'll only make it worse. It won't hurt much longer. Why, you won't feel a thing at all in a moment."

Jack could only gasp, grunting in pain when another wave hit him, and he was left helpless to the black he saw flowing through his entire body. It was visible beneath the pale skin, and if he wasn't pale before, he certainly was now. The veins spread to his face and all he could hear and feel was the burning coming from inside him. He wasn't supposed to be hot. It simply wasn't natural. Not for him. Not for a winter spirit.

He heard Pitch chuckle from far away. He was too entranced by the black spreading to his face and towards his eyes. It was horrifying, watching his eyes transition to a dark golden color. The boogeyman seemed pleased with this, but Jack had fallen away into unconsciousness, where the only thing he heard were the sounds of cruel laughter.

The scream that tore through the halls of Santa's workshop sent everyone's hearts plummeting.

Bunny was he first to react; after all, how could his sensitive ears not pick it up? It was Emily's scream. That much he could tell. Had something happened in the future? Perhaps…but she was the keeper of time. She had to be used to it by now.

But then…another scream followed, and his ears fell down at the sound. It was Jack this time. He wasted no time getting to the room they were in. He all but kicked down the door, and frowned at Emily. Her brown hair was thrown into a messy bun and she had the most horrified expression.

"Aye aye, what happened?" Aster towered over the girl but his expression offered reassurance. Despite her interferences, he actually found he didn't mind her.

Emily's eyes were so wide they looked like they were going to pop from her head. She couldn't even speak. Instead, she pointed at the bed, and Bunny realized that they were in Jack's room. Frostbite himself was sprawled across the bed. His form was hidden by a simple blanket, and he moved once beneath the sheet.

Unable to find the problem, he placed his hands on his hips and looked down at the girl. "So, what exactly is wrong? I don't see watcha on about'."

Shaking and holding her arms, she strode towards Jack, and yanked the blanket away. "I…I had a vision. It happened…before I could stop it…"

Bunny raised a brow and glanced at the bed, hiding the worry in his face. Without hesitation he tore the blanket off the winter spirit, horrified at the sight before him. It took a moment to recognize Jack beyond the golden black hair. "Jack!?"

The boy's eyes shot open, revealing golden eyes that tore through the two in the room. "Jack!" Emily cried, stepping away from him. He seemed confused, and in a flash, he was suddenly back to normal. His hair was fresh as snow again. His eyes were bluer than the winter skies. His body glowed, and after a moment, a disoriented Sandy flew from Jack's body, colliding with the Pookah. At the same time North had all but stormed into the room, looking here and there. "Vhat!? Vhat is…" His eyes fell to the two on the floor. Sandy grinned sheepishly, while Bunny looked annoyed beyond reason.

"Sandy, get off o' me will ya!?"

The Sandman took no offense. Instead he opted to chuckle, infuriating the already angry Aster.

"Alright mate, what was that abou' wit Jack?! He looked like blimy Pitch fer cryin' out loud!"

Sandy raised his hands in surrender, trying to appease the Pookah, while North stepped over, looking at Bunny. "Vhat is dis about Pitch?"

Aster pointed a paw at Jack. "E had some golden eyes goin' on North! An' his hair was turnin' black!"

"Bunny, Pitch is dead, da? Perhaps you vere imaginin' things!"

Sandy rang out a protest. Symbols formed above his head.

"Guys…" Emily voiced, looking at her brother. She imagined it was best that the other four girls were asleep, but not for long if this chaos of arguing kept up.

"You callin' me a liar?"

"Vell, you tend to exaggerate…"

More ringing.

"Guys…" Emily persisted.

"Yer a great gumby, ya know that?" Aster huffed.

"I am not one imagining things, am I?" North replied briskly.

"GUYS!" Emily screamed. Her hair flew out around her, her eyes shining a strange color, and effectively shutting everyone up. They finally noticed Jack looking at them, looking ashen, and completely confused. He looked equally tired. Like he hadn't slept in days. Sandy easily flew to his side, sending a stream of gold into the air and offering it with a question mark.

Jack shook his head. "Sandy…what was…"

The golden one sighed silently, looking down, before replaying a flash of images before him.

Jack wasn't sure he could take much more.

"Come now jack. Giving up already?" Pitch chuckled.

Something suddenly shot his hand, and Jack merely floated there, the thing in his body continuing to poison him. He looked over, his vision darkened, to see Sandy tearing apart black sand. He closed his eyes. He couldn't even concentrate, until he felt a pull, and screamed his lungs out.

He expected Pitch and tried to resist the pulling, but screamed louder when the pain grew worse, forcing his eyes open. The Sandman filled his vision. He smiled so reassuringly Jack felt a bit more at ease. The feeling grew when he saw the twirling strands of golden entwining the both of them. It radiated from his hand. Jack smiled and nodded. He knew it would be a relief. He would falls asleep and dream.

Sandy reminded him of the sun. He shined bright and gave the future a less bleak look. His happiness was one that was contagious. Jack felt the black sand still, inside him, burning him, but it wouldn't last long. With quick fingers golden sand entered his body. At first, it was a great flood of relief, but then…

Jack screamed so loud.

Sandy was horrified. The sand was supposed to help, but it was fighting with the black sand inside of his body.

"Please, get it out! It hurts!" Jack wasn't sure which he was talking about. The sands, or the thing still inside him.

Sandy tried to pull the thing out, and grew worried beyond reason when Jack's body practically absorbed it, leaving behind a strange wound. It sparkled with the sand. There was no blood, no gushing liquid, only the sand.

Jack felt a growing pain behind his eyes. It grew stronger as the two opposing sands wrestled inside of him. One burned and the other stung. It felt like lava had invaded his veins and tore at everything without destroying, leaving him in a terrible pain that would never end. Sandy tried to console him, trying to pull both sand from his body, but he only succeeded in pulling his own. The black was burned into Jack's soul. Pitch had done more than simply try and hurt him. He turned him into a partial nightmare. Jack was simply more than a frost spirit now. He was a Guardian. And he was a nightmare.

The others had remained silent through this. Aster didn't even bother to rub it in North's face that he was right.

Swallowing, Jack looked at Sandy. "So, what's going to happen to me?"

Sandy shook his head, shrugging. So he looked to Emily. Everyone looked to Emily.

"Jack, you have many futures. You have important decisions though. Those decisions…they will decide your fate."

"Can't you just…tell me?"

"Oh Jack…" Emily looked down, looking too much like a kicked puppy. "I won't tell you your future."

"Why!?"

"I've messed up your life enough, Jackson." Jack flinched at his full name, looking away from everyone. "Don't let me decide your future. If I tell you just one, that's all that will be in your mind. You won't consider the other futures because you already know that one. So you assume you have no others. But you have so many options. Or like a lot of people…you'll get lost…and you won't enjoy life. Then before you know it, those futures have far passed you."

"Can't you let me in a little…?" Jack whispered.

Emily smiled gently and came to his side. "I'm sorry. I know your futures. I, however, won't give them away to you. They are all possible futures. But remember. Nothing is set in stone. Only you should decide your own fate."

Jack sighed. When had his younger sister become so insightful? Of course…wasn't she always? He vaguely remembered. Flashes of her personality coming through in his mind. Jack looked at Sandy.

"I don't understand though. Wh…is there…nightmare sand inside of me…?"

Sandy looked grim, an nodded, signing an 'X'.

"Waddya mean ya can't get it out?" Aster spoke up.

He frowned, looking deflated for a bright and golden guardian, and gazed at Jack apologetically. "It's…permanent." Jack whispered.

North said nothing, except came to Jack's other side, while Emily stood near, and grabbed his arm. He was curious in the black lines he realized were swimming inside Jack. He couldn't hold back the horrified thought either.

"Sandy. Vill he…"

No one had to hear the end of the sentence. The implication was there. They knew his future was unpredictable right now. Emily made no comment, which did nothing to reassure anyone. The Sandman looked down, and finally, shrugged. He didn't know.

"I suppose we should tell Ruby. And the others." Jack swallowed nervously. He could only stare at his hands and watch the sand change his skin color before his eyes.