A/N: Hello my dear readers, for all of you the new chapter for this story. Thanks for the wait. A lot is happening in this chapter and I hope that you will enjoy it, I won't give any spoilers to what is going to happen, so I just will tell you all enjoy this chapter and please tell me what you thought of it. Also I would like to add that we're nearing the end of this story, a few more chapters to go!
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Jack immediately rushed back to Merlin again, while Tooth covered him from the nightmares that emerged out of the shadows.
This time he didn't flinch away, instead he broke through the barrier and lay his hands on both sides of Merlin's head, hanging above the warlock. He breathed deeply out as he felt the soft heartbeat beneath his cold fingers 'Merlin... Merlin, can you hear me, please Merlin, please wake up.' The little dragon was whimpering softly next to him, looking desperately at her master. Merlin stirred beneath Jack and a small smile crossed over Jack's lips. 'Merlin, wake up.' His words were spoken slightly louder.
Then those eyes opened on their, those eyes, those once sky blue eyes were now pitch black, they looked dead. Hands crept up his chest and again he felt two hands wrap around his neck.
Jack could only look down shocked at those pitch black eyes as his lungs screamed for air. What... what had Pitch done to Merlin, what had he done to his friend! His mind screamed at him to save his friend... But first he needed air. He reached for those hands around his neck, trying to push them away, but he wasn't strong enough.
'Jack!' He could hear Tooth scream and soon he was pulled off Merlin. He quickly took in sharp breaths as he hung in Tooth's arms, the fairy was looking at him nervously up and down before her eyes shot back to Merlin. 'W-what has Pitch done to him?' She looked horrified and next to him he could hear Prism whimper in panic.
His eyes shifted back to his friend, Merlin was slowly getting up, his face completely blank, as if he was in some sort of trance. 'T-Tooth we have to save him!'
'I know... I know.' She whispered painfully to him. Tooth quickly shook her head, clearing her head before she shouted a warning. 'North, Sandy, Bunny!' She pointed to Merlin and all three of the men looked up in pure terror.
It was now time for Pitch to laugh wickedly. 'Ah, it seems that you have found my little surprise.' The king of darkness said as he looked at Merlin. The raven was standing upright, his eyes still dark as night and completely empty. If Merlin had not been standing Jack would have thought that Merlin was dead. Pitch stretched out his hand. 'Merlin come to me.'
The raven immediately reacted to Pitch's order and slowly started to walk towards the man. 'No!' Jack screamed and he tried to reach for Merlin, but was held back by Tooth.
The other Guardians quickly gathered around Jack and Tooth, all glaring darkly at the nightmare king. Pitch just looked back amused as he lay his hand on Merlin's shoulder.
'What have you done to him?' Bunny growled.
'That's indeed a really interesting question, my dear Bunnymund.' Pitch placed his hand underneath Merlin's chin, lifting it slightly up. 'How much do you all know about your little friend? Did you all realise that he's actually the famous Emrys, the greatest warlock that has ever lived... and the one that had supposedly died together with his king.'
'Yes, ve knew that.' North answered as he took a step forwards.
'I wouldn't do that if I were you.' Pitch quickly said while he wrapped his hand around Merlin's neck, stopping the Russian man from coming any closer. 'Though I must say, I'm surprised that you figured that one out, I know how secretive this one is, though I must admit that it created wonderful nightmares for me. But to come back to the question of how. As Emrys he is magic, not only a user, but everything that contains magic. So it wasn't that difficult to corrupt him, as magic can be used by both the good and the bad... he only needed a little guidance.'
'You monster!' Tooth fluttered at him, rage clearly visible in her eyes.
'Oh, thank you for the compliment.' Pitch turned to Merlin. 'Now why won't you go and play with your little friends?' And with that he released Merlin. The warlock set a step forwards, lifting his hand to the Guardians.
'No, Merlin, don't listen to him!' Jack screamed, he could feel tears well up in his eyes.
A ball of pure darkness formed form Merlin's hand and he shot it towards the group. He could feel Bunny's paws grab him and drag him out of the way. The dark power slammed into the wall behind him, leaving a large gaping hole in the stone, causing the earth to tremble.
Jack shivered in the Pooka's arms, the power was so terrifying, so evil, so... not Merlin. Merlin was kind and gentle, his magic the same.
'Ah, it seems that all of you can dodge, but that doesn't matter, you all will be dead soon, I promise you that.' Pitch raised his arms and nightmares appeared from the shadows that were cast by the few lights in the cave. 'Kill them all!' And with that the nightmares attacked, forcing the Guardians to separate from each other.
Jack was forced into a corner, furthest away from all the others. He kept blasting the shadows that attacked them, freezing them. Somewhere in the sea of nightmares he could hear Bunny cry out in pain, but he couldn't help, he couldn't reach his friend, there were just far too many.
He cried out as a nightmare cut him and large droplets of blood streamed from his side. With his free hand he quickly covered the wounds, but it didn't stop the blood from seeping through his fingers. He quickly froze the wound, hoping that it would stop the bleeding till he could get it treated... if they would even be able to treat it.
It was then that he noticed how the nightmares backed away from him and opened up a small path. Through it walked Merlin, it seemed like his skin had paled even further into a sickly white, while the shadows on his face cast dark rings underneath his dark eyes.
'Merlin?' He began. 'Merlin, please, don't listen to Pitch anymore. Don't let him control you any longer, you're stronger than he is.' He breathed out those words, but they didn't seem to work, he kept walking towards the winter spirit.
He held his staff out in front of him, not knowing what to do, he didn't want to slay his friend, but did he really have any other choice, he wasn't able to get through to Merlin.
Jack tightened his hands around the staff, his knuckles turning white before he shot ice towards the warlock, freezing his feet. Merlin looked down, staring at the ice around his feet, he turned his head slightly to the side for a moment before looking back up at Jack. This dark Merlin didn't say a thing, he just looked at him with those cold eyes.
The winter spirit breathed deeply in before he walked forwards, making sure to keep an eye out for the nightmares that still lurked in the shadows around them. 'Please, Merlin, you aren't like this, I know that you can get rid of Pitch's hold over you. you're far stronger.' Merlin just kept looking at him. 'We know who you really are, we know that you're Emrys and we knew that you're stronger than this... Do you truly believe that this is what King Arthur had wanted for you?' The last he nearly shouted. He knew it was a dirty trick, but if it would get through to Merlin than it was worth it.
Merlin seemed to freeze for a moment, the first real reaction he had given. A pained expression crossed Merlin's face for a moment, before it went back to being completely blank again. It gave Jack a bit of hope again, so Merlin was really still in there somewhere, his friend was not completely gone yet.
'Merlin, you're still in there!'
Suddenly a low growl left Merlin's lips and warmth spread from his body, melting the ice that held him trapped. The warlock lifted his arms and ancient words, filled with darkness were spoken and a wave of energy was shot his way. He made to jump to the side, but he was unable to get away quickly enough and the energy hit him, throwing him off his feet and again the cave's wall.
The air was forced out of his lungs and for a moment he feared that one of his ribs was broken. His vision was blurred and he blinked, wanting to get it clear again as he got to his feet, stumbling for a moment, he held himself up as he leaned against the stone.
Though he wasn't on his feet for long, a mighty power grabbed the back of his hoodie and threw him to the ground. He felt a weight on top of his chest and he stared deep into pitch black eyes. 'M-Merlin?'
The warlock let out a loud growl and Jack flinched, it sounded far to unhuman. 'Don't... speak!' The words were hissed out and he was barely able to understand them. '... It... hurts!' And for a moment there was indeed sadness in those eyes, pain, but again it disappeared as soon as it had appeared.
'Merlin, no you can't forget who you are, you can't forget about your king, about King Arthur! Don't forget about your friends, about us, it's part of you! We're here to help you, I'm here to save you! Please, I need you too!' Jack grabbed Merlin's shirt, pulling him closer as he looked desperately at those dark eyes.
The raven looked taken aback and for a moment he felt like he had gotten through to him, but Merlin was shaken out of it as he heard Pitch's voice. 'Kill him, kill Jack now!'
Merlin raised his right hand and dark energy sprang from his palm. Jack eyes snapped close, fearing what was about to happen. Though the blow never came and he carefully opened his eyes, what he saw next caused him to held his breath.
He stared up straight into those two eyes. One was pitch black, but the other held the most beautiful blue he had ever seen, it felt as if he could drown in it, it held power and strength, yet also pure joy, fun and kindness, it was pure good. Merlin's face was twisted in a pained look, it was clear that Merlin was struggling, a power fight between his own self and the tainted part of him.
Merlin threw himself backwards, a loud scream left his lips as his whole body shook.
In the corner of his eyes he could see Pitch stomp in anger as he screamed. 'No, no, you have to listen to me, kill him!'
Jack just blinked before he whispered to his friend. 'Merlin, we're here at your side.'
Than Merlin's body went limp and long seconds past before the warlock finally got back up, his eyes closed. He looked at Merlin and he saw how Merlin took a deep breath before his eyes slowly opened themselves. Two drowning blue eyes stared back at him.
