.

Chapter 14

It was broad daylight; the sun still dominating the sky in its glory. Although it was less likely that Pitch would be active during the day, he had done it before and Jack wouldn't have put it past him to do it again. Impatient, Jack swooped through the woods, his eyes grazing across every shadow, in search of the Nightmare King. To Jack's dismay, all seemed at peace during this one moment when he wished for some sort of chaos. Birds chirped happily, the sun shown brightly, and Pitch was nowhere to be found.

"If I were Pitch, where would I hide out?" Jack mumbled, landing steadily on the forest floor. He wondered if the dark spirit might sneak up on him at any given time, but the longer he stood there the more certain he felt that Pitch wasn't in the area. Yes, he must have been somewhere else because everything was as it should have been - and had Pitch been around that most certainly would not have been the case.

It would have to be somewhere dark, Jack decided, a place where no light could shine through. Knowing that Pitch was very into dramatics, he began looking for anything that stood out even in the slightest. He looked behind trees, under rocks, beneath fallen branches until his gaze fell upon a darkness that filled a small cave

"Looks promising," Jack mumbled to no one in particular, his feet dragging a bit as he carried himself towards the cave. He hoped that this wasn't a huge mistake.

Ducking through the cave's mouth, he gasped - a sound that echoed boundlessly off the walls. He couldn't see a thing; the darkness was thick enough that Jack thought if he reached out he might actually touch it.

"Pitch?" he called out, hesitation very present in his voice. "Pitch, this is me coming to you; I want to talk. Hello?"

After a moment's silence, Jack groaned in frustration; this was the biggest hunch he'd had so far. There was a huge world out there; he'd probably never find Pitch.

"Why, hello there. What a big surprise."

Jack jumped, whirling around to find Pitch at his back.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I frighten you? Hmph - good. Now to what, may I ask, do I owe this unexpected honor? You know, Jack, most people do send word before showing up for a visit."

"To what do you owe the honor?" Jack repeated back, not understanding in the midst of his shock.

"Yes, yes," Pitch waved him off, seeming agitated and yet genuinely intrigued. "I've only been trying to talk to you for months, and now here you are, on my doorstep asking to talk. Why?"

Jack took a pause then, considering what might be the best means of getting information. "I've decided to hear you out; I want to know what your plan is so that I can join you in full confidence."

"You want to join me? Now, why on Earth would you want to do a thing like that?" Pitch questioned, fading into the darkness. "I mean, I certainly recommend that as an option, but all along you've seemed rather - and it pains me to say so - disinterested." He emerged again, pacing the grounds with a scheming grin comfortably on his face. "I mean, let's face it, Jack: you're a horrible liar."

Jack didn't flinch; maybe there was still a chance at convincing Pitch. "Well now, that's not very fair. You were the one who was always so mysterious; I felt like you were luring me into a plot, not trying to strike up a partnership. I want answers. How can I play a game when I don't even know the rules?"

"It would be a worthy point, Jack, if you were truly here to take up my offer - which we both know you are not," Pitch accused knowingly, sparking a skip in Jack's heartbeat. "For once, I'll be the one to get right down to business; I don't like to be toyed with."

The Nightmare King looped around the room once more, rubbing his temples in silence as if he were ill. Finally he turned back to Jack. "Nevertheless, I will honor your request - but you must follow me."

Pitch began walking deeper into the cave, but Jack remained in place. Was he seriously expected to just tag along as if they were friends or something? Yes, Pitch Black - the Nightmare King, the Boogie Man, the Dark Spirit - was asking him to follow him into the depths of a vast, dark cave; there was nothing dangerous about that whatsoever.

"Well, don't be a baby about it; come on," Pitch said over his shoulder. "No harm will come to you."

"Yes, being suspicious of you totally makes me a 'baby'," Jack muttered as he trailed along behind. His eyes slowly began adjusting to the darkness, and he was able to make out a bit of the cave around him. He followed Pitch until they reached a crevice in the ground and Pitch motioned to stop walking.

"This is it. Watch your footing on the way down, if you would."

"Your secret lair is in a cave?" Jack asked, unable to resist. "I always heard that the Boogie Man hid beneath beds."

They descended into total darkness then; Jack wasn't able to see the expression on Pitch's face, but his irritated tone was enough. "Very clever, Jack; I'll remember that if I ever feel the need to redecorate."

Rolling his eyes, Jack followed Pitch down the hole, opting to fly rather than attempt to climb the rough walls. They descended for what felt like ages, continuing further and further down until Jack began to wonder if this was some sort of trick. When his feet finally did hit the ground, he was startled, his body jolting back up into the air.

"So jumpy," Pitch chided. "Not that Jack Frost being a coward is anything new."

"Please - I'm not afraid of you. If I was, I wouldn't be here."

"And you know, that is the most intriguing part. You are here and your little lover is…? Back in her tower I assume? I feel so privileged to be the taker of your very precious time."

"Let's not get off-track," Jack said evenly. Over time he had come to realize Pitch's ways. He knew that Pitch liked to play games - usually games of distraction to keep Jack off of his tail.

"Ah, yes; the subject of my intentions. I'll have you know that I've been nothing short of honest this entire time. I find your abilities very interesting, Jack. I think that you and I would make fine teammates."

"Yes, I know," Jack said, a stiffness to his tone; he was tired of being dished the same vague statements over and over again. "What I'm asking is why. Why do you want me on your team? What are you recruiting me for?"

Pitch clicked his tongue. "Technicalities; they bore me, really. If we're going to have this conversation won't you at least stop sitting there like some useless duck and come in?"

Jack looked around, not having realized that there was anywhere to go. Taking yet another leap of faith, he went along behind Pitch, keeping a safe distance as he was led into a massive chamber filled with archways and stairwells. It was hauntingly beautiful. Jack wondered what this place might have been before Pitch claimed it.

"Alright, here I am," Jack said, remaining unphased by his surroundings. "Now talk."

"Of course," Pitch nodded. "Now, as I said before, I've been perfectly truthful all along, and I'll continue to do that now. I want to make myself known, Jack. I want people all around to hear the name 'Pitch Black' and know exactly who I am. I don't want to be invisible. I'm sure you of all people can relate."

"What are you getting at?"

"We're the same, Jack. Join me, and together we can get the attention and love that we deserve - nobody will dare hold a candle to us. That's all that I really want."

"Really? Because it sounds more like a plan for world domination to me," Jack scoffed. "You really think I'd help you with something like that?"

"But - but, Jack, we're the same," Pitch said again, "both of us lonely and unwanted creatures on this wretched Earth - but it doesn't have to be that way."

"You're not interested in love; you're interested in power. That's what makes us different. I don't need people to fear me in order to get fulfillment."

"Maybe not," Pitch gritted his teeth, "but if that's the case then you're passing up a very valuable weapon. Fear is control! When people fear you they will do whatever you want."

"That's not the kind of control that I'm looking for," Jack shook his head, turning and walking back the way he came. "I'm done here."

"You can't be serious. You know that's what you want, Jack! It's what we all want deep down. You come back here or you'll regret it!" Pitch's voice elevated to a shout as the distance between them grew, but Jack didn't look back as he flew back up the crevice. "Your days are numbered, Jack Frost! There will come a day when you have to face off against me, and you'll lose! I promise you'll lose! But before that can happen, I'll take away your precious Rapunzel once and for all."

This brought Jack back down to the ground, his breath hitched deep in his throat. Take away Rapunzel? How would he manage to that? While it seemed impossible, Jack knew that Pitch was very creative. Horrible thoughts of the things that Pitch might do swarmed in Jack's head. The fear that piled in his stomach was so intense that it made him feel physically cold.

"That's right," Pitch whispered, approaching from behind. Taking notice of Jack's state, he squealed with joy. "Oh, and what a lovely combination fear and coldness make. It almost comes naturally - but you disagree, don't you, Jack? You think that we're better off separate. Well, I think that Rapunzel is better off if you and I are working together. That's just a little something to think about, hm? A little food for thought."

"You wouldn't," Jack growled. Pitch lingered behind him, a force of darkness so strong that Jack dared not turn around.

"Oh, I would," Pitch replied matter-of-factly, "and I wouldn't make it easy on her either. Why, I could break her down bit by bit, tearing apart that bright mind of hers so slowly and cruelly that she won't even recognize you. How does that sound? Just peachy, I'm sure."

"You're bluffing."

Pitch shrugged. "Maybe, but do you really want to chance it? You know that I could if I wished; she's never out of reach. This is my forest, Jack, and I don't get the impression that she'll be leaving it anytime soon; correct me if I'm wrong. No? Hm, that's what I thought. Given the hand of cards you've been dealt, I might consider my offer a little more closely. Now, get out of my sight."

Jack gasped for air, finding himself above ground once again, the sun shining warmly on his face. Where was he? He searched his surroundings, finding himself just outside of the cave. Why had he sought out Pitch? Sure, he'd gotten the answers that he wanted, but at what cost? Another layer of panic washed over him as the reality sunk in that he'd made everything worse - not just for himself, but for Rapunzel; now she was at an even higher risk. Pitch's words repeated relentlessly in Jack's head, making the world spin around him. He leaned on his staff for support, unable to breathe.

Rapunzel. I have to get to Rapunzel.

He was so filled with fear that he couldn't think straight - an inescapable fear that Rapunzel was in some sort of danger. Nearly dropping his staff as he took flight, Jack hopped into the sky and shakily flew back to the tower. Surely, if he got there he could prevent whatever turmoil was on the way. The trip back felt long and exhausting; he practically tumbled into the window, his knees slamming down hard on the floor. The sound echoed off of the walls, beckoning Rapunzel out of her bedroom. Upon seeing him, she hurried down the stairs.

"Jack!" she gasped, her arms outstretched and ready to help. He pushed himself up with his staff before she could touch him.

"Are you okay?" he asked, directing the attention towards her. "Where's your mother?"

"I think I'm the one who should be asking if you're okay," Rapunzel digressed. "My mother had to go out a little while ago. She'll be back in the evening."

"I'm fine," he shook his head, forcing his legs to carry him properly as he began searching the room. "Did anything strange happen? Anything bad?"

"Jack, you're trembling." He looked down to see that she was right: his hands were shaking violently, and his entire body was plagued by fluish shivers that he hadn't even noticed in his frenzy. "Please, talk to me."

Desperation filled her green eyes so thoroughly that he had to give in (and truthfully he was too weak to say no right now), so he motioned for her to follow him, sitting down on the steps.

He sighed, folding his hands together uncomfortably. "There are others like me out there, Rapunzel. I only know of one, but I assume that there are more."

"Others?" she said back. "Others created by the moon?"

"I don't know about that; I don't know if the moon would create somebody so terrible. His name is Pitch Black, and he's the spirit of darkness."

He paused then, waiting for Rapunzel to react. She just listened intently, though, never breaking eye contact, so he continued. "He has this ability - this ability to strike fear into people. He can mess with your head in ways that you can't even imagine. I saw him just before I came here."

"He did this to you?" she drew a sharp breath, her eyes wide as she looked over him; he must have been in quite a horrible state to create such an expression on her face.

Jack nodded, glad to feel that his breathing was beginning to regulate once again. "And I think he could do even worse. I've been dealing with him for months now. He's interested in me - in my powers - and I'm worried what he might do in order to get to me."

Rapunzel was quiet for a moment, and Jack watched as she slowly realized what he was getting at. "You mean…?"

"Yeah," he said somberly. "He seems to know everything about me - he knows who I care about."

"What are you going to do?" she asked, her voice wavering. Jack bit his lip; he wished that he had a solid answer for her. The truth was that he had no idea what to do. As long as he refused to side with Pitch, Rapunzel's life would be threatened - but he couldn't side with Pitch. There was no good way to deal with this; neither option granted him peace. He'd have to find a way to get away from Pitch and protect Rapunzel.

"Whatever I have to," he said decisively, rising to his feet and putting some space between them. It was only a second before he heard her trailing behind him.

"You don't have to worry so much about me," she said softly, but he could tell she that close. He didn't turn around, frustrated by her optimism.

He shook his head. "Aren't you scared?"

"I am, but I can take care of myself," she said. "And honestly, I've spent a lot of time in the last few days worrying about you, Jack."

He was caught off guard by this; she had been worrying about him? She'd thought about him when he wasn't around - and actually cared? This was something he had never in a million years expected. "That's incredible."

"Incredible?"

He laughed quietly to himself, mostly out of sheer disbelief. "Yes, incredible. Look up there." She came to his side and followed his pointing finger up to the wooden rafters of the ceiling. "I used to sit up there for hours when I first came here. I would sit there because I was too afraid to come down here and build a connection with you; I thought it would never happen. I would spend my days worrying about you, and now here we are with you saying that you worry about me. So, yeah - that's pretty incredible to me."

"Jack?"

"Yeah?" he asked a little too quickly, feeling his cheeks flush just slightly.

She smiled warmly, looking genuinely pleased. "Nothing. I'm just glad you're here."

A feeling of contentment swelled in his stomach "I'm glad too." He frowned then, recalling Pitch's threats to Rapunzel; what had been a sweet moment now tasted bitter. "But what if being here just puts you in danger?"

The sentiment in Rapunzel's eyes faltered as she considered this. "I - I don't know. You can't leave, though. Isn't there anything else that we can do?"

"I wish I knew," Jack sighed, gripping his staff tightly. "I just don't know how to deal with this guy."

"Let's just play it by ear, okay? Don't go anywhere yet" she said, her emerald eyes pleading. "Promise?"

Fighting an internal battle, Jack hesitated. How could he promise to stay if it could bring her harm? That wouldn't be right; he would never forgive himself if something were to happen to her because of him. But then, he knew that she needed him as much as he needed her. Weighing his options, Jack made a split-second decision. "Okay. I promise to stay - for the time being while we figure out a solution to all of this."

"We will," Rapunzel vowed. "There's always a way."

"Well, I commend you for your positive attitude, but I'm not so sure. Luck isn't typically on my side."

"I don't know if I'd agree with that; we're here, right? Both of us - together. Jack, I've lived in this tower my entire life, and until you showed up I hadn't ever had a real friend. I don't want to lose that."

She was right; in some ways he was extremely lucky. Perhaps he should have simply been thankful for the blessings bestowed upon him - he certainly wasn't ungrateful. Following each blessing, however, seemed to be the darkest of storm clouds; that was what always got him down.

"I don't either," he replied, his jaw clenching in animosity, "but there's always something."

"Jack-"

"I should go," he impeded, hopping out the window. He turned back to her, grimacing at the look of disappointment on her face. "I'm sorry; I just need to think this through. I'll be back - I promise. I'm not going anywhere."

"Thank you, Jack," she said earnestly.

He wanted to ask her what he had done to deserve her thanks - he wanted to thank her too and tell her exactly how he felt. Instead, he nodded politely before flying off; that would have to be sufficient for now. There was so much else to be done - and he hadn't the slightest idea where to start. Maybe the logical thing would be not returning to the tower until he'd figured out how to solve this. Yes, that would be the best way to focus, he decided, and yet he found himself flying right back to her window, leaning reluctantly on the sill.

"Punz?" she looked up from her housework, her face lighting up at the sight of him. "Can "I come back inside?"

These two and their fluffiness - they're killing me! Ugh, I love writing them so much, and this chapter in itself was so cool to write. We're really delving deeper into the plot at this point, and the action is starting to heat up. I can promise that the climax for this story is going to be huge. Obviously Pitch isn't giving up without a fight - and it will be a good one.

I actually had the majority of this chapter done just a week after my last update. It would have been up sooner if not for the fact that my family suffered a sudden death. I hated to be away from this story, but unfortunately there were other matters that I had to attend to. I'm feeling quite a bit better now, though (: I wanted to take a moment to thank one of my readers, Envyofclouds, for an extremely lovely review. I appreciate you all so, so much, but the unexpected review from Envyofclouds was so thoughtful and really boosted my spirits, helping me get back on track with my writing once again. I love you all! You're amazing.

And now I pose a question: what should Jack do in regards to Pitch's threats to Rapunzel? Should he leave the forest for Rapunzel's good, or stick around so that they can try to find a solution together?

More updates coming soon!

xoxo
ZuEra