DISCLAIMER: I don't own either movies.
To Matt: (in response to my Bendy story) Just for that, I don't think I'm going to write any of my stories now that you're just gonna badmouth me. It takes a lot of time for me to get motivation to write more chapters, okay? Writer's block gets to us all. Why can't you understand that?! Are you just using me to write my stories just to entertain yourself? I'm not gonna tolerate that kind of critique. So stop being a goddamn baby!
Thank you. Please read and review!
Jack had perched onto the window to North's workshop before he landed on the floor inside, seeing the yetis doing their job and the elves just doing elf things, wandering about like curious puppy dogs. Jack approached North who was standing by the control console.
"Jack, I was hoping you'd arrive at some point." said the Russian said, already sensing his presence as he turned to face him. "Have you decided?"
The winter spirit sighed and wanted to give his best answer.
"I'm still thinking about it. But if it's all the same to you, I'd like to go along with you guys, even if this is the Moon's answer after so many years of silence." acquiesced Jack.
"Funny you should mention that." North said, holding up a finger before walking up to the Globe. "Man in Moon and I were speaking and he sends condolences for his lack of response to you. But, you see, the Man in the Moon assembles these Guardians of Childhood to watch over the children of the world. He revives those who are good to children and gives a role of Guardian based on what lies in their center. It takes very long for him to chose as Guardian. Your choosing took longer because you're young. It took 50 years for Man in Moon to choose me and he has not spoken a word to me before that either. Luckily, I had my elves and yetis there with me. He created Sandy, you know. Out of the dreamsand that he creates to the children with dreams and he was chosen not long after he was born. So you see, Man in Moon keeps quiet to help you understand your purpose on your own. He wants you to understand why he has made you who you are now."
"Oh, I...I see." Jack stuttered, surprised by North's story. "I never knew."
"Well, now you do." explained North. "Have you found your purpose yet?"
"I don't know. I wish I could."
"You just need to dig a little deeper." exclaimed Father Christmas. "I may not have been alone for years like you, but I know what it's to be ignored. Like you, I was scared and confused when I was awakened for first time."
"But I'll always just be Jack Frost. Just an expression." Jack said unenthusiastically.
"Ignore that hobble-gobble. That is nonsense. If you can prove that you're more than just a phrase or a lyric in a song, than maybe they would believe in you."
Jack smiled at that, with a little confidence inside of him. At that moment, they both turned to see Bunny and Sandy rush towards them. Bunny stopped when he saw Jack and looked annoyed and angry.
"Oh, look who decided to show up." He rolled his eyes, seeing that his so-called enemy was here.
"You're just lucky I'm here to help." Jack shot back.
"Whatever. Look, we've got trouble, mate." Bunny told North, now getting serious.
Tooth was having some trouble down at her palace and the remaining Guardians needed to go help her right now. So North led everyone down to the sleigh laughing base to get there by his own means of travel. Jack was insisting that he could just fly there on his own, but North wanted him to at least ride in his sleigh with them, much to the spirit's reluctance. Upon arriving at the stables, North commanded his yetis to prepare the sleigh.
"Boys!" He ordered, clapping his hands. "Ship shape, as soon as you can!"
"North, wait! I can't fly on my own! Honestly." Jack tried to get a word in over North's voice as he walked in with the rest of the Guardians while the yetis worked. "There is no way I'm climbing into some rickety old...sleigh."
He ended his sentence with a hint of confusion while watched the doors being opened and from out of the dark, the reindeer galloped outward into sight, snorting and grunting while they pulled North's sleigh out. By the look of it, it wasn't any old-fashioned-looking sleigh that Jack was expecting. The exterior design looked almost futuristic and state-of-the art complete with a red paint job with black and white striped accents, wings on the sides and even a small globe on the front. Jack eyed the exceedingly upgrade sleigh gobsmacked while North looked smug.
"Alright, one ride. But that's it." said Jack finally, making up his decision to ride along with them.
"Everyone loves the sleigh." North commented triumphantly. "Bunny, what are you waiting for?"
Bunny was hesitant about riding in the sleigh.
"Uh, I think my tunnels might be faster, mate." He stuttered, tapping the exterior with his foot. "And safer."
"Bah! Get in!" North scoffed and grabbed Bunny by the scruff of his neck and placed him in the back with Sandy and Jack.
"Buckle up!"
"Woah, woah, woah! Where are the bloody seatbelts?!" Bunny asked, scared for his life and hoped North wasn't joking, only to hear him cackle.
"Ha! That was just expression." He smirked when he saw the rabbit's reaction. "Are we ready?"
A few yetis and elves were still busy making adjustments to the sleigh, when they backed off as North was about to take off.
"Ya!" North cracked the reins, making the reindeer charge forward down the icy tunnel.
Bunny yelped in fear and gripped the side tightly, leaving scratch marks in the process while Jack quietly chuckled at him.
"Out of the way!" North shouted.
North made the sleigh go faster and steered around the twisting tunnel in maximum speed while Bunny still screamed with terror. Jack saw a tower of stairs with yetis waving at them as they zoomed by. North cackled from the fun he was having right now. He always loved riding in his sleigh and this was always his favorite part. He then steered the sleigh into a loop.
"I hope you like the loop-de-loops!" He told them.
However, Bunny looked sick from the speed and about ready to throw up.
"I hope you like carrots!" He groaned.
Sunny was having the time of his life, holding his arms up like he was riding a roller coaster in a theme park.
"Here we go!" North cracked the reins once more and the raced towards the end of the tunnel, leading outside where they rode off a ramp and finally into the air with Jack whooping with joy, but Bunny's fear was getting the better of him.
"Let's go!"
The sleigh flew about the workshop and into the direction of Tooth's palace. Jack stood at the back of the sleigh to see the view of the workshop far behind and below as they flew farther away.
"Hey, Bunny. Check out this view-" Jack said to Bunny, before he suddenly flew off the sleigh from the wind.
"Oh! North! He's...!" Bunny shouted, somehow suddenly concerned that Jack might've fallen to his death or something. So he took a small, worried peak over the seat to see that Jack was actually sitting on the runners.
"Aw, you do care." Jack mocked jokingly with a smug grin.
"Oh, rack off, ya bloody showpony!" Bunny growled, angered by the winter spirit's little practical joke.
"Hold on, everyone!" North told his passengers. "I know a shortcut!"
"Oh, oh, strewth! I knew we should've taken the tunnels!" Bunny whined.
North held a snow globe up to his face and whispered to it, "I'd say Tooth Palace."
A small model of said palace appeared in the globe, confirming the desired destination and North threw it far ahead of them in their path, which created a magical portal and he flew the sleigh right through and then they were now where they needed to be. Suddenly, far up ahead, North saw something flying straight toward them.
"What?"
The cloud came closer and everyone saw that is was a group of Nightmares running past them, screeching. The Nightmares were darting past them, barely even noticing them, causing the sleigh to swerve left to right to avoid getting hit. Sandy made a golden umbrella to block the black sand from hitting him. Jack saw that they were going after Tooth's fairies and devouring them to carry them off to their master.
"They're taking the Tooth Fairies!"
Jack flew up to grab one tiny fairy before a Nightmare could catch it with it's mouth. Jack landed back in the sleigh and cradled the fairy in his hands.
"Hey, little Baby Tooth. You okay?" He asked it soothingly.
She nodded and chittered in affirmation. North steered the sleigh into an open of the mountain where the palace was located. The place was currently deserted as you would imagine, which meant the rest of the tiny fairies were taken. The sleigh steered all around the palace, chasing after one remaining Nightmare. North looked determined and angry before he passed the reins over to Jack.
"Here, take this!" He ordered and stood on the head of the sleigh, unsheathing his sword.
"Uh...hyah!" Jack shouted, crackling the reins.
With one swipe of his sword, North destroyed the Nightmare, which released canisters from it's belly. Bunny picked one up and knew what it was.
"They're stealing the teeth!"
Sandy wiped some black sand of his sleeve and looked at knowingly. Jack didn't see where he was going and was about to hit a pillar.
"Jack, look out!" North warned him just in time for Jack to steer the sleigh to a rough landing. Everyone looked to find Tooth flittering about, panicking and exclaiming with worry.
"Tooth! Are you alright?" shouted North.
She looked all around for her fairies, but they were all gone.
"They took my fairies! And the teeth! All of them!" She gasped, hurt by the revelation brought upon her and her poor fairies. North, Bunny and Sandy all climbed up to be by her side. Baby Tooth came out of hiding behind Jack and flew up to her creator, while the latter gasped with relief as she held her in her hands.
"Oh, thank goodness! One of you is alright!" Tooth smiled.
Just then, a chilling, all-too-familiar voice echoed all over the palace, "I have to say this is very, very exciting. The Big Four, all in one place. I'm a little starstruck."
Pitch, the Boogeyman, appeared above them in all his dark glory while the Guardians all took a stance, ready to fight him until the Nightmare King continued, "Did you like my show on the Globe, North? Gotcha all together, didn't I?"
"Oh!" North grunted.
"Pitch!" Tooth flew up towards him with unnatural rage and was one inch away to pounding the Boogeyman into submission. Pitch disappeared before she could get to him. "You have got 30 seconds to return my fairies-!"
"Or what?" He taunted, appearing from another spot. "You'll stick a quarter under my pillow?"
"Why are you doing this?" North demanded, point his sword at him.
"Maybe I want what you have." explained Pitch. "To be believed in. Maybe I'm tired of hiding under beds."
"Maybe that's where you belong!" Bunny argued.
Pitch appeared underneath him with a sigh.
"Oh, go suck an egg, rabbit."
He vanished into a shadow before Bunny had time to grab him. Then Pitch noticed Jack with him, holding his staff out to defend himself.
"Hang on, is that Jack Frost?" He asked, chuckling. "Since when are you all so chummy?"
"We're not." Jack glared.
"Oh, good."
Jack jumped and saw Pitch behind him as he raised his staff at him. "A neutral party. Then I'm gonna ignore you. But you must be used to that by now."
That did it. Bunny had had enough of listening to this man in the shadows mock them so he decided it was time to take action now or never.
"Pitch!" He roared, hopped after the Boogeyman and ready to clobber him to a pulp. "Shut up, you shadow-sneaking ratbag! Come 'ere!"
But, of course, Pitch had already disappeared before Bunny could make the first hit. Tooth joined in and grabbed one of Bunny's boomerangs before she flew towards Pitch on another level with a battle cry, ready to give him what for. But before she could, a Nightmare materialized next to Pitch and reached out to Tooth, forcing her to back off with a scared look. Baby Tooth immediately took cover behind Jack, cowering.
"Whoa ho ho ho! Hey! Easy, girl!" Pitch calmed the Nightmare. He chuckled, conjuring a pinch of black sand and showed it to the Guardians. "Look familiar, Sandman? Took me a while to perfect this little trick. Turning dreams into Nightmares. Don't be nervous. It only riles them up more. They smell fear, you know."
Bunny cackled at him.
"What fear? Of you?" He asked, taking his boomerang back from Tooth. "No ones been afraid of you since the Dark Ages!"
"Ah, the Dark Ages." Pitch sighed happily, memories coming back to him as if it were yesterday. "Everyone frightened, miserable, such happy times for me. Oh, the power I wielded! But then the Man in the Moon chose you to replace my fear with your wonder and light. Lifting their hearts and giving them hope. Meanwhile, everyone wrote me off as just a bad dream! Oh, there's nothing to be afraid of! There's no such thing as the Boogeyman! Well, that's all about to change."
Suddenly, the ground started to shake a little while the architecture and decor around the palace started to lose magic and it's color was beginning to darken.
"Oh, look. It's happening." Pitch chuckled darkly.
"What's happening?" asked Jack.
"Oh." Tooth whimpered.
"Children waking up now and realizing the Tooth Fairy never came. It's such a little thing, but to a child..." Pitch taunted.
"What's going on?" Jack asked concerned.
"They...they don't believe in me anymore." She squeaked, sounding broken.
And then Pitch turned to Jack saying, "Didn't they tell you, Jack? It's great being a Guardian! But there's a catch. If enough kids stop believing, everything your friends protect; wonder, hopes and dreams, it all goes away. And little by little, so do they."
He laughed at them, striking a nerve in the Guardians.
"No Christmas or Easter or little fairies that come in the night. By the time this alien invasion arrives to enslave humanity, within the children's view all around the globe, there will be nothing, but fear and darkness...and me. It's your turn to not be believed in."
That was it. Bunny has heard enough from the evil being's mouth, so he tossed his boomerangs at him, which he ducked outta the way of. Pitch hopped on the Nightmare's back when the boomerang swerved back towards his direction and rode off downward as the rest of the Guardians and Jack chased after him. Bunny threw his egg bombs at him which exploded into cloud of glittery, colorful dust but they were too far behind him for them to hit him. Pitch finally disappeared into the shadows before everyone landed on the ground in Tooth's Lagoon. There was a painted mural on the mountain wall of Tooth being received teeth from children, which represents what she does. North kept a battle stance, looking around with his swords out for the Boogeyman to jump out at any time, but he was nowhere to be seen.
"He's gone." He noted.
"Okay, alright, I admit it. You were right about Pitch." Bunny confessed to North.
Meanwhile, Tooth sat on the ground, clutching a tooth canister with grief. Now there were no teeth left for her in her collection. Jack sat next to her to console her.
"Sorry about the fairies." He told her.
"You should've seen them. They put up such a fight." Tooth responded while Baby Tooth flittered around.
"Why would Pitch take the teeth?" asked Jack.
"It's not the teeth he wanted." Tooth answered. "It's the memories inside them."
"What do you mean?" Jack asked, not following.
"That's why we collect the teeth, Jack." She explained. "They hold the most important memories of childhood."
Tooth flapped her wings and hovered over to the mural on the Lagoon wall with Jack following her by walking on iced-patches on the water with each step he takes.
"My fairies and I watch over them. And when someone needs to remember what's important, we help them. We had everyone's here. Your's too."
"My memories?" asked Jack with wide eyes.
"From when you were young." She explained. "Before you became Jack Frost."
"But I wasn't anyone before I was Jack Frost."
"Well, of course, you were." Tooth said. "We were all someone before we were chosen."
"What?" Jack asked.
Meanwhile, North was chuckling while telling Sandy, "You should've seen Bunny!"
"I told you never to mention that!" Bunny hissed in response.
"The night at the pond, I just...Why I assumed..." Jack softly said. "Are you saying...are you saying I had a life? Before that, with a...with a home? And a family?"
"You really don't remember?" Tooth asked with surprise.
"All these years, the answers were right here. If I find my memories, then I'll know why I'm here. You have to show me!"
"I can't, Jack." Tooth said sadly. "Pitch has them."
"Then we have to get them back!" Jack said seriously.
Tooth gasped and saw that she was molting her feathers off. She was running out of time before the children's belief in her goes away prior to her disappearance as well. The mural's colors were starting to darken as well.
"Oh, no. The children. We're too late." She mourned, having lost all hope.
But North was determined fellow and was not at all ready to give up when all the belief was fading. Not now and not ever.
"No! No! No such thing as too late!" He yelled in denial before trying to think of a solution. "Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait!"
Then he finally had a plan as he pointed one of his cutlasses at Bunny's face, making him flinch backwards to avoid being cut.
"Idea! Hah! We will collect the teeth!" He theorized.
Everyone looked at him like he was crazy; Tooth especially.
"What?"
"We get teeth, children keep believing in you." North explained to her.
"We're talking seven continents. Millions of kids!" argued Tooth matter-of-factly.
"Give me break." scoffed North. "You know how many toys I deliver in one night?"
"And eggs I hide in one day?" added Bunny.
"And Jack, if you help us, we will get you your memories." North replied to the young winter spirit.
Tooth laughed excitedly. Bunny looked distressed by this ordeal and frowned when Sandy gave a double thumbs-up. Jack thought about this. He really wanted to see what his life was like before he became the spirit he is today.
"I'm in!" He said with a hopeful smile.