Hi guys thanks for all the reviews you guys are great ;) Anti-hero Darkness won the vote, (laughs manically) I was hoping that would be your vote I have such a great story for him. Anyway, here is the next chapter, enjoy :)

(At the Pole)

"Moesia!" the pooka exclaimed as North explained to the other Guardians what he had found out.

North nodded, his eyes filled with excitement, "Chand said that Panacea lives there," the spirit became quiet, "He was a little ticked that we hadn't thought to ask him sooner."

Jack rolled his eyes, "Yeah, well he could have talked to us."

"Moon cannot talk to us when he is on the verge of the new moon," Tooth explained, "North has to use the Lunatine stone to contact him."

"Oh," the winter spirit became quiet for a second then he blurted out, "Well why are we waiting around, shouldn't we go find her?"

North smiled, "That's been handled Jack, a certain man that can find anything is on the case."

As if that were his cue, the room exploded into colored light as Patrick's rainbow brought him to the room. The occupants all stared at the woman that accompanied him. Her soft velvet dress hugged her slim figure, her dark brown hair flowed the length of her back.

She smiled at them, her face seemed to radiate kindness, "Hi, my name is Panacea and I believe you have need of my assistance?"

Jack was the first to find his voice, "Yes!" the winter spirit grabbed her hand as he dragged her out of the room, "Pitch needs you."

"Oye Frostbite," Bunnymund was horrified at the lack of manners the young Guardian was displaying, "That is no way to treat a lady."

Jack stopped, "I'm sorry, it's just…"

"That's ok young one." the woman smiled, "Patrick here has explained everything to me, so I understand your actions." She motioned with her hand, "Take me to your brother."

(With Pitch)

"How on earth did this happen?" light blue eyes narrowed at the sight of the man before her.

Pitch shuddered as the woman ran her hand over the wounds on his back, "I was attacked by a gallu that had Lurid Sand on its claws. The sand caused my scars to reopen."

"Lurid Sand," she frowned, "That poison that killed entire villages during the Dark Age?"

Pitch cringed, "Same stuff," he spoke, self condemnation in his voice "I should just be allowed to suffer my fate for creating it in the first place."

"But you didn't create it Pitch." the winter spirit nearly shouted, "Darkness did, you had no control over his actions."

Panacea glanced at Jack, then at Pitch. She had heard of all the things the Nightmare King had done, how he had killed humans just to be killing them. No one in the spirit realm knew why he did it, only that his massacre destroyed hundreds of human lives. The woman shuddered at the memory of the few spirits that had tried to stop him, and failed, before Moon had created the Guardians to take him down. But now she wasn't sure that the broken man before her could have done those things, there was something noble about the spirit before her.

"Besides Pitch, you're the one that sealed it away remember?"Jack continued

Dim golden eyes gleamed, "Yeah that was kind of hard to do too, the Lurid Sand wasn't exactly happy to be denied its fun."

"I bet you kicked its ass." The winter spirit grinned

"Jack!" Pitch scolded his younger brother, "There's a lady present!"

The boy turned red with embarrassment, "Sorry."

Panacea simply laughed, "There's not much I haven't heard child, I have four brothers and four sisters."

Blue eyes widened, "Wow…"

Soft blue eyes glanced at Pitch, "Now, let's see what I can do for you."

Pitch watched as the woman closed her eyes, he could feel her hands growing warm against his skin. A hiss of pain escaped him as his back exploded with pain; his breath became ragged as she redrew her hands.

"The wounds themselves are simple to fix," she sighed, "But the sand has imbedded itself deep within your body."

"So you can't help him?" the winter spirit spoke, his voice quivering

Panacea smiled at him, "I didn't say that child, I simply meant that it will take more than just my simple potions. I will need my strongest cure." her turquoise eyes sparkled, "I haven't had to use this for millennia."

Jack and Pitch watched confused as she reached into her small bag, they were even more confused when she pulled what seemed to be moss from the satchel.

Pitch raised an eyebrow; "You're going to destroy Lurid Sand, the thing that wipes out lives in minutes, with grass?" he coughed slightly, his body shuddering from the pain the action induced

"It's not grass," the woman sulked, "its part of the ingredients used to create my poultice."

"What else do you need?" Jack asked excited

"I will need Watercress, ground into a powder; Anjwain, about a teaspoon of it boiled; Koseret leaves…" the woman spoke as she started towards the door

Jack mouthed 'sorry' to his grimacing brother as the healing spirit continued naming off all kinds of herbs and plants that would be included in the cure as she walked out.

"Dear Moon, I'll die from her cure if the sand doesn't finish me off first." the man cringed at the thought of what he was going to face later, "This has 'got' to be payback for making you drink the Night's Herald"

Jack laughed at his brother, "It sure is Pitch." he frowned suddenly, "Do you think she'll find everything she'll need in time?"

Pitch smiled at him, "I'm sure she will Jack."

"Hey Jack, you want to come on a gardening trip with me?" the smug voice of Patrick filled the air as he poked his head in the door.

"Go on Jack," the man laughed as his brother glanced at him, "I'll be here when you get back."

"Promise you won't die on us, ok?"

"I promise," he smirked, "And I always keep my promises." as soon as they had left the cough that he had been holding back exploded from him, specks of blood dotted his pillow. The Nightmare King writhed as his chest felt as if were caving in, he could feel his heart beginning to slow, "At least I used to…"

(With Jack)

"Ok Patrick, what can I do?" the winter spirit asked as they walked through the steamy jungle.

"Kid, you can keep your voice down." the Leprechaun whispered as he crept through the trees.

"Why?" Jack asked as he walked a little closer to the man

"For starters I'm not exactly welcome here." he grinned, "I kind of made off with a priceless flower for a client once." he pushed Jack to the ground as a large ax flew inches over their heads, "And then there's that guy."

Blue eyes widened at the large creature that was crashing towards them. His body was covered in what appeared to be old beggar cloths. Jack was surprised to see that he had a beard made from living grass and vines, his green hair fell in his eyes as his rage filled scream filled the air. Jack yelped as Patrick picked him up and pushed him behind him, he watched as the new comer stopped a few feet from them, anger seeming to pulse from the creature.

"Hey Leshy, long time no see…" the Leprechaun spoke carefully

The creature narrowed his eyes, "You have a lot of nerve coming back here thief." large fists clenched, "I thought I told you the next time I saw you I'd rip your head from your shoulders."

"You did, you did." Patrick smirked, " Though I'm surprised you can remember that far back Leshy."

"Is this how you handle everyone that wants to kill you?" Jack asked as veins popped in the creature's neck

"Pretty much, I figure if you're going to die you might as well have some fun before you go right?" he turned to the enraged Leshy, "Hey I got a list of things I need, you think you can help me? I'll read them real slow for you."

"I'm going to kill you!" Leshy lunged forward

Jack held his staff ready, he startled when Patrick simply pushed him to the side. He watched as the Leprechaun hit the back of the creature's neck as he barreled by. The jungle shook as he collapsed to the ground, out cold. Blue eyes darted from the unconscious Leshy to Patrick.

"Pitch figured out his weakness when we came here last time, Leshy is a powerhouse unless you can hit the nerve in his neck. Then it's lights out." Patrick laughed at Jack's expression, "Come on kid, we have to hurry and gather the grass we need before he wakes up."

"So, why did you two steal from him?" the winter spirit asked as Patrick began searching the wide variety of plants that grew.

"I was hired by a client to find a plant for his daughter that had been bitten by the snake of a Chimera. The plant was the only thing that would save her from its poison." he smirked, "And Leshy isn't exactly known for his generous nature, but I mean who can blame him though. It's his job to protect this place; it has every kind of plant that has ever come into existence."

"Then it would have Night Herald right?"

"Ok, not 'every' plant." Patrick chuckled, "That's another reason Leshy is so cranky. Spirit's abused this place and harvested more than they should have just for money, many of the plants were wiped out because of them." he carefully pulled a few leaves from a plant and placed them into a bag, "That's why we have to be careful and not take more than is needed."

Jack smiled, "Gotcha." he raced off through the trees in search of the items needed

(With Pitch)

"I can't take this anymore," Pitch spoke to the empty room as his body shuddered with agony as the sand seared through his veins. He could feel his body giving out; his eyes began to close as the Nightmare King began to give in to the sweet temptation of sleep.

"Don't you dare die you pitiful excuse for a spirit."

Golden eyes opened slightly at the voice, "Darkness…just shut up." a sigh escaped him as he closed his eyes again. He was tired, so tired, all he wanted was to sleep then maybe the pain would end.

"No, if you die then I die." the voice seemed to huff, "And I still have lots of things left on my list to do."

"Didn't take you for the agenda type." Pitch's eyes opened slightly

"I am, and killing you is on the top of that list," the voice sneered, "And how can I possibly do that if you're already dead?"

Pitch didn't reply as a wave of pain took his breath away, he coughed as his lungs screamed for oxygen. Golden eyes glazed as they closed halfway.

"Where are those damn Guardians when you need them?" Darkness fumed as Pitch teetered on the edge of consciousness. "Hopefully he's so out of it he won't notice…" he spoke as golden eyes began to change to dull silver as Darkness stepped out of the golden cage and began to overshadow Pitch's weakened soul with his own.

If anyone had been in the room they would have seen the once bedridden Nightmare King get slowly to his feet. Would have watched as dull silver eyes filled with pain as he took an unsteady step towards the door.

"He's so weak I can't even call out." Darkness grimaced at the pain that he was now taking the brunt of. "It's a wonder he didn't die the first day, shit this is agonizing." he suddenly fell forward as his legs gave out from under him; the room reverberated with the sound as his body crumpled to the floor. "Well that did the trick…" Darkness could hear footsteps rushing down the hallway. He retreated back into the golden cage, releasing his control just as the door swung open

"Pitch!" North exclaimed as he rushed in, he placed the water pitcher he had been retrieving on the floor as he knelt beside Pitch, "I left for just a few minutes!"

"How…why am…I on…the floor." Pitch panted as pain rippled though him

"You do not remember?" North looked at him confused

Pitch shook his head, "Not really, I kind of spaced out there for a moment."

North carefully picked him up and gently placed him back in the bed, "How are you feeling now Pitch?"

"Like I'm dying." his voice cracked as his head sank to the pillow

"Just hang on my friend, Patrick should be almost finished gathering the things needed for the cure."

"He'll have a bit of delay if Leshy finds him." Pitch smirked.

North frowned as golden eyes started to close, "Leshy, who is he?"

Pitch opened his eyes, "Just a spirit that gave me and Patrick trouble once."

The Spirit of Wonder sensed an opportunity to distract the pain ridden man, "So, what happened?"

"Patrick had gotten a call from Avital."

"The Spirit of the Morning?" North asked as he pulled a chair up to the bedside

Pitch nodded, "Same one, his young daughter Nadia had been poisoned and needed the Ruva flower to cure her."

North listened as Pitch began his tale, relieved that he had managed to distract him from his pain.

Please review and let me know what you thought. I love hearing from you guys, you are what drives me. I can't wait for the next few chapters I have planned ;) Till Next Time