Well. Halloween. Which means: GORE. Whooo. Okay, don't start this chapter if you have a life. It's a little longer than usual. It's also damn near half two in the morning so be grateful. Na, totally joking. Really wanted to post the chapter XD

Sea biscuit: Exclamation mark overload indeed. I wonder what your review will be for this one lol.

Cheshire cat: Don't cry D: Makes me feel bad. I don't want to make you cry.

Koryandrs: I can't wait to see how it ends either XD Making it up as I go really.

DevineGuardianAngel: Thanks. I love reading your reviews! I hope this battle lives up to your expectations.

Tanairy Cornelio: Don't worry. She does. I made sure.

ChocyKitty: Relax dear. I did wonder where you had floated off to, but I knew you would be back. Glad to hear from you.

SoaringPhoenix86: Well, normally I would taunt you into finding something good about the upcoming chapter, but today I won't. I'm not going to lie. I'm incredibly nervous. I hope that you find something you like and are kind about the things you don't.

Chapter 14 – Life after death

Zoe looked at Guardians. 'I am sorry my friends, I have wronged you greatly,' she says sadly. 'Today. I right this wrong,' she smiles weakly. Tooth and North both looked horrified by her appearance, both physical and the fact that Pitch summoned her. Bunny stared at her red eyes, pale hair and darkened wings. Zoe untied the bundle at her hip and placed it gently in the snow, her hand lingering on it for just a moment. She looked at Pitch anger in her eyes. She began to glow lightly. A dark aura appearing.

'Strewth!' Bunny exclaimed. Tooth nodded, North sighed and as usual, Sandy was the silent one. The king of fear began to laugh.

'Oh? How do you expect to right this wrong without your weapon?' He said twirling the blade in his fingers. 'I have four of your stones Cheryl. You have do not have any.' Zoe scowled at him and began to run, her wings pulled in close to her spine as she charged through the snow. Pitch laughed, there was a good hundred metres between them, he readied the scythe. Tooth went to fly toward Zoe but North pulled her arm and kept her in place. 'Come on then Reaper,' he taunted. Zoe narrowed her eyes and when she was merely ten metres from him she vanished. Pitch stepped back in shock only to be grabbed by the back of the collar thrown by Zoe as she re-appeared behind him. He hit the tree, causing the ice to crack and reassemble within seconds. He growled and got to his feet, brushing his hair back. Zoe merely looked at him, a slight smile across her face. Pitch let the shadows take him and he sank into the snow. Zoe crouched lightly, staring at the shadows that surrounded her, she could feel her heartbeat rising. The darkness swamped toward her and she leapt into the air beating her wings quickly to gain height. North flinched as he heard Pitch's roar of rage, he erupted from the snow following her quickly.

'Will she win?' Tooth said worriedly to Bunny who shrugged. He hoped for their sakes that she did.

'I can taste your fear Daya!' Pitch laughed as he gained on her. Zoe was beginning to panic that was true. She had very little strength and he had her scythe. Compared to him she was merely a fly. But flies are persistent and very annoying. They make people do stupid things. If she could get him to drop the scythe, she would then have the upper hand. She hovered at a height that made it almost hard to breathe. Either a very clever tactic or very stupid one. Pitch appeared a few metres to her left.

'Fight me properly!' Zoe shouted at him. 'No weapons,' she said desperately.

'Do you think me stupid?' He laughed. 'But I will humour you,' he said with a smirk. He sheathed the blade across his back. 'See. Gone,' he chuckled. He wouldn't put it down, he couldn't summon it like Zoe so he had to keep it on his person. Zoe frowned, this looked like it would be the best she would get. 'I'll give you first blow Cheryl,' he says sweetly. 'Go on. Right here,' he said offering his cheek to her. Zoe scowled. He was playing with her. She vanished, like before. Pitch was ready for her appearance. When she materialised, her fist travelling at speed to his face he grabbed her arm. Her attack stopped centimetres from his skin, he began to laugh at her futile attempt. 'You're so predictable,' he said smiling.

'Am I?' She replied. She knew he would stop her punch which is why she leant back and kicked straight up. Her foot cracked him upside the jaw and he screamed in pain. He dropped her arm in his recoil. Zoe heard the bone splinter and the cartilage of his nose crack. He coughed, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth and destroyed nose. She beat her wings furiously to keep at a higher height, she had him on the defensive, she needed to keep attacking otherwise he might use the scythe. She fought the wind as she dove towards him, pulling his arm from where he had been shielding his face, and returning with a quick jab. They began to fall through the sky, but she ignored the wind tearing past her face, as she punched him again and again. Her knuckles felt slick with his blood, she slit the skin on her fingers as she hit him in the mouth, his teeth ripping through the tendons and what little muscle she had in her hands. He fought back pulling her hair back as he used his elbow to hit her across the cheek. Zoe yelps and pulls away, the air currents and her limp wings cause her to begin spinning erratically. She could feel the bone of her cheek rupture it's way through her flesh. The blood vessels in her eye burst and blinded her with a deep red. Every jolt made the fractured bone push further until it split her skin. She didn't have time to cry out as she felt Pitch grab her head and deliver blow after merciless blow to her mouth and nose. Snapping the bone that had already broken through her cheek.

'We're rooted,' Bunny sighed, 'come on Sheila. You can do this,' he said wincing at every blow that Zoe took. Tooth had begun to cry silently. They watched as the pair tumbled and twisted in the air, shadows clung to them. Zoe brought up her arm to defend herself from a blow and screamed as she felt it splinter the bone. She pushed Pitch away with a sharp kick to his ribs. He grunted, the wind creating a barrier between them. Zoe fought for balance, the ground was approaching them fast, she opened her wings, screaming in agony as they were almost torn from her shoulders. She flapped weakly but only succeeded in slowing her descent. She saw Pitch hit the ground before she did, his cry of pain echoing over the snow plain. All the air left her lungs as she impacted the white drift, feeling the snow compact and harden beneath her body. She screamed out with the little amount of oxygen that was left in her body. She didn't have a moment to think as Pitch grabbed her by the hair and and pulled her upright. He had recovered quickly, although his face was a mass of bloody bruising. He dragged her over the snow, she tried to pull him from her but only caused her hair to be torn from her scalp. She thrashed and kicked. He stopped in front of the Guardians, pulling her further upright.

'Here she is,' Pitch laughed spitting blood and throwing her into the ground, Zoe moaned in pain, the bone from her cheek jarring as she hit the snow. She felt her blood trickle down her cheek and chin, her blinded eye swelling. 'Your precious Reaper,' he says wiping the red from his mouth. 'Look at your predictable Zoe, unable to give up and leave it be.' She coughed pulling herself to her knees. She looked at the Guardians, sorrow on her features. She had failed them, she was too weak.

'I'm sorry,' she whispered. Tooth shook her head and North looked like he was about to protest. Pitch took the scythe, and placed the blade against her throat.

'Watch as your Reaper's blood seals my uprising,' Pitch says slowly running the blade deeply into her skin. She gasped at the pain, it was cold and sharp. She felt the metal tear her veins and slice easily through the muscle on her throat. She jerked her head back as she saw her life essence stain the snow below her. She coughed feeling the blood trickle into her throat. She was too late, the damage had been done Zoe could feel her blood choking her as she inhaled it, panicking. But she threw herself away from him and he let her go. Knowing that now it was only a matter of time. The warm cloying taste of metallic filled her mouth as she heaved her own blood onto the snow. It couldn't end like this, she somehow found an inner strength and pulled herself to her feet, her hands clamped to her throat. Black spots appeared in front of her eyes. She was thinking quickly, a thought hit her.

She had two stones.

Admittedly they weren't with her, but rather with the ones she loved. She looked over at Sandy, this'll weaken him. It wouldn't be fair but she had to stop Pitch before she passed out and became for the lack of a better word, dead. She might even die seeing as she doesn't have the source of her power. Sandy smiled and nodded sitting down in the snow, he seemed to understand what she was about to do. She looked over at Jack, still suspended in the tree, this should work. Pitch laughed.

'One last attempt before you bleed out?' He said smiling. 'You're creating lovely patterns on the snow Cheryl.' He added with a chuckle. Zoe scowled, and spat the mouthful of blood that had been filling up around her teeth and gums. The pressure that her hands were applying was stopping her from loosing too much, she was healing, but no where near fast enough. She fought the dizziness, she had to do this quickly. Releasing the pressure from her throat she clapped her hands, the blood splattering over her as they met. Pitch looked a little worried, she spread them concentrating.

'That's not possible!' Pitch screamed as he watched golden sand appear between her fingers, shaping, lengthening. He looked over to where the Sandman had gone pale. The stone around his throat glowing brightly. Zoe coughed, almost falling to her knees but she straightened up, the sand took shape, a large staff appearing. She raises her hand to her throat, applying pressure against the gape. Zoe spun the staff and thumped it into the snow beside her. 'You think you can defeat me with a stick?!' Pitch roared furiously.

'No,' Zoe coughed shaking her head. She hadn't finished. The snow at the base of the staff began to swirl up the length. It clung to the golden sand, creating sparkling frost patterns until it reached the tip and began to spread out. Pitch's eyes widened in fear as a glittering clear blade was created at the end of the staff. It looked wickedly sharp and was twice as long as the edge on her original scythe.

'It's not possible!' He repeated. He stepped back. 'It does not matter! You are still going to die Daya! I still win!' He shouts flustered. She looks over to the tree, smiling softly to herself.

'I'm going to need your help here, Jack,' she says quietly, coughing on the blood. She closes her eyes as she feels the frost spread from her scythe down her arm and around her throat, the cold is sweet and comforting. She feels the ice begin to harden under her hand. The stone in Jack's staff began to glow a pale blue light. She can feel her strength returning as the blood flow is temporarily stopped. The frost that appears on her arm doesn't melt however, it strengthens her already weak frame. It seems that Jack wasn't going to let her fight on her own this time. She smiled bitterly and stood up straight, her arms covered in blood she stared straight at the nightmare king. 'You are going to die,' she says weakly.

'Not before you!' Pitch screams throwing himself at her, scythe raised. She deflects the blow with her own handle throwing him off balance and giving her an opening where she kicked him heavily in the ribs again. She smiled at the loud crack that reverberated through his body. He clutched at his chest and growled. She was caught unawares as his shadows cast them both into darkness as they surrounded her. She swirled the scythe in her hand, listening intently for anything that might give him away. She beats her wings a few times to see if it shows anything. Her reflexes are slow and sluggish from the lack of blood and when he finally shows himself behind her she isn't quick enough to protect herself from the blow. She screams as he grabs her wings running the steel through her feathers. The cartilage tears and her sinews snap as the pressure increases. The metal bites into bone and she falls to her knees as the waves of pain destroy her resolve. Pitch laughs as he pulls the scythe, completely severing her wings from her body. The shadows vanish from around them, light blinding her only good eye. The Guardians watch in horror as Pitch walks from her dropping the large feathered mass on the snow. Zoe dropped her scythe and her hands move to her shoulders, her whimpers echo as she touches the bloody muscle and torn feathers. Tears run down her cheeks uncontrollably. Her tears turn into heavy panting and that turns into breathless howls.

'My wings!' She sobbed grabbing the wounds. She rocked back and forth screaming. Pitch laughed. She looked at him furious. She was already going to kill him, but now she was going to make it as painful as possible. She got to her feet picking the scythe back up, her knuckles whitening as she gripped it. 'You... you have fifteen seconds,' she says through her tears.

'Till what?' He laughs turning to her.

'Until I embed this blade so deeply into your stomach it will pin you to the fucking floor!' She screamed at him. The wings that had been ripped from her released feathers in the wind, feathers that began to turn white.

'I'll believe that when I see it Daya,' he scowls unhappy at her threat.

'Thirteen,' she said moving closer to him. He begins to back away. He could see her broken face, the blood that trickled from under the ice collar that was stopping her from bleeding out. The stubs that were her wings, moved as if she was trying to take off. She whimpered in pain with every step she took.

'Come any closer Daya,' he threatened.

'Nine,' she murmured. What more could he take from her? Pitch moved away trying to keep his distance, but the fight had taken a lot out of him as well. He could barely breath with his broken ribs. His face had been destroyed in the first round. She didn't quicken her pace, her golden scythe held at arms length as she glared at him.

'Is she going to be alright?' Tooth whispered to North who shrugged. They stayed on the sidelines. They were weaker than Zoe put together. There was truly nothing they could do to help. He sighed and held Tooth closer. They could all hear Zoe's countdown. As it got lower, Pitch was becoming more and more panicked. Zoe had taken everything that he had thrown at her. He had even slit her throat and yet nothing. She was still standing. Still talking. Still fighting.

'One,' she said softly her eyes narrowing. She advanced swinging her scythe. Pitch roared in defiance and swung the stolen weapon back at her, time seemed to slow for the Guardians as they watched with baited breath. Tooth buried her head in North's shoulder as they heard the blades meet flesh and bone. Pitch had managed to pierce Zoe's shoulder and sink the blade to the hilt. Zoe had fulfilled her threat and embedded her blade deep into Pitch's stomach. They fell into the snow, Zoe straddling the nightmare king. Who was coughing and shouting in rage and agony. Zoe pulled the blade from her shoulder, forcing Pitch to let go of her original scythe. Her golden one begins to break apart as her hand closes around the stolen weapon. She gasps as she feels her powers return to her. Shakily she stood up stumbling back a little.

'What now Daya?' Pitch says laughing. 'Your precious Jack is already dead. You're all alone,' he taunts. Zoe clicks her fingers and Pitch is pulled to his knees by an unseen force.

'I may be all alone,' she whispers leaning down to his level. 'But you will die and you will never walk this earth again,' she replied. The skin on her shoulder hung open, showing the white of her collarbone. The blood that trickled was thick and clotted.

'I will return, you can't stop me. There will always be fear,' he chuckled coughing blood, his hand was weakly pressed against the gaping wound in his stomach. 'My essence will remain. My soul will remain,' he smiled.

'No, it won't,' Zoe promises. She moves closer to him catching his lips in hers. Bunny swore and tried to move only to be held back by Sandy. Pitch gasped, as he felt something shift. He tried to pull away but Zoe held him in the kiss, his eyes widened in recognition. Zoe touched his chest allowing her power to flow through him and tear his soul from his body, which she absorbed through the kiss, taking Pitch's soul into her own. 'The only fear people will have, is from death,' she whispers. Pitch's eyes have clouded over, his body merely a shell. She moved behind him and with a swift movement swings her blade. The blow is neat and powerful, removing his head without hassle. His blood sprays across the snow and drips from the metal, his head, now separated from his body rolls a couple of times before becoming still. Zoe twitched violently, her teeth tearing into her lip as she fought Pitch's soul that she absorbed. She drops her weapon, the stones glowing slightly as she walks over to the tree that encased Jack. She smiled the closer she got, her footsteps becoming weakened and sluggish. She placed a hand on the ice leaving a bloody print, she held herself up, Jack was only a few inches from her. 'I did it,' she said coughing. 'Pitch is gone,' she smiled. 'I'm sorry, Jack.' She presses her forehead against the ice. Zoe stands up and summons her scythe. She looks over to the Guardians, regret on her features. She had made so many mistakes. Her own stupidity.

'Zoe?' Tooth said stepping forward. The Reaper shook her head.

'Do not come closer,' she warned. Tooth ignored her and kept walking through the snow. 'Stop!' Zoe said sharply, her power flooding over them. 'Do not come closer,' she repeats softly. Tooth halted and began to walk back to her fellows. Bunny wrapped an arm around her comfortingly.

'We gotta let Sheila do her thing,' he said quietly.

'What's she going to do?' Tooth asked worried. Bunny shrugged his shoulder and sighed.

'I don't know Tooth. But we've got to trust her,' he says sending Zoe a weak smile. She returns it looking back at Jack. She inhales deeply. She didn't know if this was going to work but she had to try.

'I love you Jack, I never told you enough,' she says, holding back a cough, the ice around her throat was beginning to melt and she could feel the warmth of her blood begin to run down her collarbone again. 'This will set everything right, I promise.' She says feeling tears well in her eyes. 'But, I don't think I'm going to be with you,' she coughed, 'this, this is truly goodbye. But remember, I'll always be thinking of you. I will always love you.'

…

This is my penance, my punishment. I was told to protect the balance and I failed in my duty. I know now that the Reaper must be felt, not seen or heard. While I cannot die, I will destroy my physical being and roam the earth doing my duties as a true spirit. Looking at Jack encased in the ice I feel my heart lift and the pain in my body soften. These last ten years have been the best of my reincarnation and it's all thanks to him. I have hurt him badly, the guilt will never leave me. It shouldn't either. I can feel the power in my scythe, the stones are charged and thrumming with energy. If I let it, it'll be a repeat of ten years ago. Running around the earth trying to discharge them in a safe way. But no. I have a different plan. I begin to draw on the power and let it build up inside me. Pitch's soul is blackening and twisting my own, I can feel the agony, the screaming returns in my mind. I will right what I have done. Correct this wrong. In the only way I know how. They say that even in death there is life, I am hoping that the saying is true. I place my hand on the ice and let the energy go, the tree shatters, turning into snowflakes. Jack stays suspended in the air for a moment before falling to the snow. I place my scythe on the ground, it's useless now. All the energy from the stones is inside me. I kneel next to his body, tears falling from my eyes.

'I'm so sorry Jack,' I whisper. 'For everything.' I watch as my blood falls onto his clothing, 'it wasn't supposed to be like this.' I bite my lip, hoping that this works. Slowly I let my fingers touch his chest and force the life source into his body. It takes a few seconds but his lungs inflate and I feel his heart begin beating again. I can't help the sob of happiness that leaves my chest. I return to him the power of death's sight and place the information about Jamie into his mind. He will not wake before I go. I carry him over to the other Guardians, passing him silently to North. They try to stop me but I refuse their contact and words, simply shaking my head. Sandy tries to give me the stone but again, I refuse. It will not matter in a few minutes. The stones will become obsolete. I cross over the snow, passing the bloody mass that was once my wings. I will join you soon my friends, I think to myself, knowing that the man in the moon will give them back to me. I pick up the small bundle of cloth that Baby Tooth is wrapped in and do the same for her that I did for Jack. Something that would usually be impossible, but I am the balance and I'm using my own life force. I move the cloth as I hear the twittering and squeaking. She's awake, much to my surprise. I actually laugh as she sits in my hands chatting at me. I run my finger over her feathers and nod. Baby Tooth begins to hover, she hugs my thumb before racing off to her Queen, who I hear scream in delight at having a member of her family return. I smile weakly and turn my back to them looking across the unstained snow. I feel the cold breeze on my scarred and broken face, the snow melting on my skin and for the first time since I can remember. I feel alive. My tears dry on my cheeks stinging in the wounds. I raise my arms ignoring the sharp pain in my shoulders, it is time for me to truly set things right. I release the energy in my body, feeling the wave burst out my chest.

'Do you really... think... I'm about to let... you go?' A familiar voice chuckles behind me. I drop my arms and look at the floor. I should have known that he wouldn't stay unconscious. The man is stubborn to say the least.

'You don't have a say, Jack,' I reply almost laughing. 'It's too late, it's already begun,' I murmur feeling myself weaken. Soon my physical form will be gone. I will be trapped in the other side. Limbo. Between life and death. Like the Reaper should be.

'Angel.'

I turn to look at him, feeling my heart break as I did so. His clothing is still stained from his death and his awakening, but his eyes glitter, the wind brushing through his hair. I smile trying to hide my tears. 'I'm sorry Jack,' I whisper. My knees give out and I fall into the snow drift. He runs to my side, pulling me into his lap. He gently brushed my hair from my eyes, his fingers lingering on my skin.

'My broken Angel,' he says softly. 'Please... don't go,' his voice is choked and clenches at my heart. I lift my hand to stroke his cheek, but I can't. My fingers have begun to go see through. The energy is burning through my body. 'Why? Why are you leaving me again?' He says quietly, trying to hold my upheld hand.

'I have to correct things Jack.' I reply softly. He shakes his head.

'No, no you don't. Stay with me.' He kisses my forehead, holding me close. 'Just, just you and me. No duty, no frost. You and me, in our home, just us.'

I laugh quietly shaking my head as much as I could. 'No Jack, as much as I want to say yes, I can't.' I feel the tremor run through me, I haven't got much time. 'Find Jamie,' I whisper, my eyes growing heavy. 'Keep him out of the darkness,' my breathing is slowing. I force my eyes open as I look at him. 'I love you, Jack Frost,' I mumble. 'Never... forget that.'

…

Zoe's breathing halted, her upright hand dropping. Jack sat up looking at her, tears falling onto her skin. 'Angel?' He said shaking her. But she was beginning to vanish completely, her skin paling until it didn't even exist any more. His hands went straight through her shoulders as he tried to grab her. 'Angel, no. Angel, please, you can't do this to me. Not again, please not again...' he said panicking. There was a large breeze that stirred the snow, it brushed past them all, blinding them. When Jack was able to open his eyes, Zoe had gone. He clutched at the snow where she had been lying and slumped. North crossed the ground and placed a hand on the spirit's shoulder. Deja vu, bursting into his mind. He was just about to speak when there was a high pitched giggle that echoed over the plain. Tooth lifted her head raising her brows. Bunny's ears twitched.

'What happened?' North called over to them. Bunny sniffed the air. A smile appeared on his features.

'Nature mate. Mother Nature to be exact. I can feel it.' He patted a foot lightly. 'That must have been what Zoe did. She's hastened the reincarnation of Mother Nature. Brought Jack and Baby Tooth back and... now she's gone,' he said, the upbeat tone in his voice dwindling. Tooth stroked his fur.

'She set everything right,' Tooth soothed.

'Not everything,' Jack replied getting to his feet. He weakly made his way over to his staff and picked it up. He no longer felt the surge of power he would usually get since the stone was placed in the wood. Instead it was a cold, lifeless gem that was embedded in the grain. He sighed and ran his fingers over the smooth surface. Zoe was gone. Truly this time. She had no body to return to. He looked up to where the moon was rising in the sky. 'I hope you're happy,' he mutters turning his back to the glowing orb.

…

Child.

Your journey has not ended.

It has merely begun.

So ends the time of the Reaper.

It is time for you to be reborn.

Daya.

Child of the balance.

You lived in darkness and death.

Now flourish in the light and life.

Time will have passed.

The Earth not as you know it.

But he is waiting for you.

I have made many mistakes.

Wronged so many.

This is my gift to you.

No duty.

No pain.

No heartbreak.

You fulfilled your oath.

To protect the souls of those who lived.

It is my turn, to do the same.

Like I said. Mammoth chapter. Fuck me my fingers hurt.

Well. One more to go.

Stay tuned. If you liked, or even if you didn't, please drop a review.

I'm going to get some fucking sleep -yawn-

OKAY:

In all seriousness I love writing Zoe and Jack,

I am thinking about a third and final story.

Please let me know your views,

This will affect the next chapter.