The Darkest Night Hides the Purest Light

Chapter Thirteen: Fights and Falls

"Pitch, we are NOT leaving him in their hands, who knows what they're going to do to him!"

"And I say, once again, to let that peacock suffer!"

"What makes ya t'ink ya g't a vote in this anyways?"

"Guys, we still don't know where in Burgess they're holding him, and that city isn't very small, I mean, it's not big either,"

"Jack, ya dun gotta worry bout that, we'll figure that out tomorrow. Righ' now, we gotta t'ink of a plan, a course o' action in getting' him safe."

"Apparently no one cares about my opinion!"

"You not part of this, Pitch. We must take responsibility, and save Cupid,"

"He needs to stop moving around, before he hurts himself more, Firefly,"

"Sandy's right, Kozzy, you're going to re-open your wounds, so stop fidgeting!"

"You two can't possibly agree with these morons?" the Boogieman protested. The others paused in their attempts to talk over each other, looking at Sandy and Firefly as they realized neither of them had said anything.

"We cannot just leave him there," Sandy signed, although reluctantly, "Despite our interactions in the past, he is needed in the world, just as all of us are,"

"Firefly!"

"I agree, we cannot ignore that he needs help, no matter personal feelings,"

"Firefly, after…"

"Kozzy, drop it, I've made up my mind,"

"He was one…"

"Kozzy!"

"You are ready to go save a spirit that not only loathes us both, but took pleasure in tormenting you!"

"Kozmotis Pitchiner Black, you will cease your argument or you will make me do something we will both regret," he fell silent at her threat, very unhappy, but silencing himself. "The past is the past, isn't it?"

"Yes,"

"He deserves the same chance I gave you,"

"Unfortunately,"

"We are going after him, and that's final. If you remain in bed for the rest of the night, I will see if you can join us,"

"Vhat?!"

"Sweet Bug, he's injured!"

"Firefly, is that a good idea?"

"Ah dun believe it, what makes ya so sure we need him?"

"Instinct, this has to be a trap, to get us all together in one spot."

"Ah dun like it, but Sparks is right,"

"Dah, she right, but what can we do? We must save Cupid, must stop these attacks!"

"Unfortunately, it seems we're going to have to do as they say, at least for the moment," Tooth pondered, "Girls, you'll remain behind, I am not going to risk any of you,"

"No matter, we should all rest up, and be prepared for whatever happens tomorrow,"

"Sandy's right, we all eat good and sleep good tonight. Be at full strength tomorrow," North agreed. All of them agreed, before parting ways, taking some time alone to prepare themselves. Jack settled up in the rafters, musing about the situation, still surprised that he was being involved. He contented himself by merely daydreaming, until Firefly retrieved him for a large dinner. After the mostly silent dinner, most of them parted ways again, Pitch returned to his guest room, Tooth and Sandy wandered off on their own, Bunny and North secluded themselves in North's office, and Firefly joined him in the rafters. They sat mostly in silence, contemplating and wondering about what would happen tomorrow, but not stressing over it.

"What comes tomorrow will come, we just have to brace ourselves for the unknown," Firefly commented. Jack nodded in agreement, before she pressed a soft kiss to his forehead and shooed him off to bed. It would be several more hours before she would join him in sleep, however. Firefly focused on her center, strengthening her belief in the other Guardians, and empowering them gently, gathering all the belief of the children and focusing that power to await the need for it. While doing so, she also thought of various ways tomorrow would happen, thinking of various spirits that Pitch had made enemies of, and recalling any memories of potential weaknesses in them. Sadly, Pitch had made a great deal of enemies, so she focused instead on strategic plans and countermeasures, something Pitch had taught her during their long centuries of friendship. She would never be as good as a tactician as Pitch, but he did give her some tips in thinking more strategically. "Manny, Tsar, please watch over them tomorrow,"

All of them gathered the next afternoon, to argue over whether or not they would ride in North's sleigh, only for it to come as a draw. Bunny, Firefly, and Pitch did not want to ride in the sleigh again, while Jack, Sandy, and North were all for it. Tooth remained neutral to the whole thing, muttering her own aggravation when one of them tried to get her to vote. In the end, they ended up taking the sleigh just high enough to utilize a snow-globe, since Pitch was too weak to transport himself, Jack, Sandy, Firefly and Tooth didn't have time to fly to Burgess from the Pole, and North refused to use Bunny's tunnels. To that end, Bunny decided to store several extra weapons in the sleigh, since they were bringing it anyway, and was joined by North as the others just watched with annoyance.

"And this is the group meant to protect the children of the world," Pitch muttered darkly, as Firefly bundled him up in the sleigh, "Unorganized group of riff-raff if you understand my meaning,"

"Yes, Kozzy, we understand, we're all dealing with nerves," she tried to placate him, only managing to make him grumble more.

"We ready? Let's go!"

"Oh bugger! Them carrots are back…"

"Whoo hoo! Faster North!"

"Bloody hell, Firefly, get me off this thing! North's psychotic!"

"…! ^^!..."

"You are NOT helping Sanderson!"

"Next stop, Burgess!" North threw the snow-globe, making it crackle and swirl into a portal just before they dived into the center of it. All of them jolted when they broke free of the swirling magic, circling in the air for several moments as they looked around. Bunny's ears twitched, perking up as he concentrated, before jerking to the side.

"That way North!"

"Vha-?"

"Ah heard sum'thin' so go dat way!"

"Fine, fine," Several of them squeaked in surprise when the sleigh was jolted to the left, Bunny looking over the side as he focused on the sound. "Vhat you hear with big bunny ears?"

"Rack off, North," his ears twitched, before he pointed, "There, down there, North," The Cossack steered the reindeer down, landing them relatively gently deep in the woods. Jack noted his pond was nearly a mile away, but he was more concerned with how warm the weather was. It wasn't too hot, cooling down in the evening hours, but it was still warm enough that he felt really uncomfortable.

"Guys?" Jack tilted his head, his eyes spotting footprints, "Here," He started following them as the others began spreading out. Ignoring the older Guardians, he flitted amongst the trees, following the prints. It took him quite a bit of time, having to backtrack when he lost the trail. Just when he was getting frustrated, the low murmur of voices caught his attention. Flying up soundlessly, he carefully moved through the canopy, pausing when he came to a cleared spot. Three figures occupied the area, one tied and curled up on the ground, trembling visibly, the other two standing guard casually. He recognized Cupid after a moment, his form covered in cuts, bruises, and dirt, his once immaculate golden hair a tangled mess, and his white toga was a dingy gray.

He didn't recognize the other two spirits however, not that anyone could really blame him. He recognized one as an earth elemental, due to his huge rock golem appearance. The earth elemental stood at least nine feet tall, and had to weigh at least five hundred pounds, his humanoid body was built like a body-builder, with a small head and glowing red eyes. He was slightly hunched over, his overly long arms reaching to the ground where his enormous fists rested on their knuckles. Compared to his overly-built upper body, his lower body was smaller, but compact, his skin a mixture of brown and gray, pebbles and rough patches making him easily blend into a rocky terrain.

The second figure was lithe, tall, and human-looking. His silver skin glowed in the light, while his dark hair spilled carelessly around his shoulders. He was garbed in dark colors, brown and black, with hints of blue and silver. Dark brown eyes were narrowed in annoyance and hostility, as he verbally shredded the earth elemental down.

"I don't care, Grind, they will be here soon, and we will follow the plan,"

"Grind knows plan, Grind knows Scion won't go with plan," the elemental argued, his deep gravelly voice sounding like rocks scraping together. It contrasted greatly with the eloquent sophisticated voice of Scion. Jack tried to remember anything he knew about the two, but was coming up blank. He hadn't interacted very much with other spirits, and hadn't thought about remembering names and stuff. He did recall that the two were mischievous, and got into trouble a lot. Cupid rolled over and tried to inch-worm his way away, but was abruptly stopped when Scion shoved a foot into his back, pinning him painfully to the ground.

"Where do you think you're going, Cue-y?" he sneered. Jack silently backed away, knowing that the others needed to hurry up. "Don't worry, the Guardians are coming, they're so predictable,"

"Mmm! Mm-phf! Mmm-mmm-fff-pphhh!"

"I really don't see why you're acting like this, Cue-y, we're doing you a BIG favor after all, taking out two of your enemies, tut, tut, you should be thanking us on bended knee!"

"Enough, Scion, and get that sorry excuse of a spirit to the warehouse sector!"

"Yes Boss," Jack strained, but he could only see a darkened figure in the tree-line, not giving him any clue as to who it was. He knew that Firefly was right however, there was more than one attacker. As he flew back to the others, however, he could have sworn he recognized the voice of the third guy though.

"Foolish sprite, he fell right into it," Scion laughed, looking in the direction Jack had left, "Wow, Boss, you're really good at that,"

"I try, and hurry up and get him to the warehouse! The ritual is going to start soon, and we need the sacrifice in position!"

"Yes sir!"

"Guys! Guys! I found them! They're taking Cupid to the warehouse sector of town, we gotta hurry!" Jack shouted as he barged into the area. Bunny immediately took lead, bounding through the streets as the others rushed to follow, North falling behind. Of course they didn't take into account that there were multiple warehouses around, and none of them knew which one was their target.

"Way to go, rabbit, bravo, bravo," Pitch applauded sarcastically, "You as well, Jack Frost, once again, your incompetence amazes me,"

"Ya wanna start somethin' Pitch? Ah dun see ya helpin' wit' anythin'!"

"Bunny! Calm down!" Tooth flitted between them, shoving Bunny back. Firefly grabbed Pitch, pulling him away, as Sandy and Jack shared looks and shrugged.

"Ah will NOT calm down! Dat mongrel acts all high an' mighty, yet he ain't doin' nuthin' ta help out!"

"Have you ever thought, rabbit, that we're being led into a trap, as I have mentioned oh, perhaps, a couple BILLION times by now?!"

"Dat's it! Ya wanna go, let's go!"

"I would so enjoy kicking your furry arse from here, to Manny,"

"Will you two knock it off?!"

"Vhat is… -pant- going… -pant- whoo… -pant- ..одно мгновение... -pant- … Now, vhat is goin' on here?" North finally arrived, winded, but pumped up. (one moment)

"Just try it, furball, I can take you down, with one arm tied behind my back," Pitch taunted, making Bunny bristle and get right into his face.

"Both of you, cut it out! This is not the time, or the place!" Tooth exclaimed.

"Toothy is right, you two need to grow up!" Firefly buzzed angrily, flitting close to Pitch's right shoulder. Before anyone could do, or say anything, however, a black blur narrowly missed Pitch, making him twist to the left, piercing the bricks behind him. All of them froze, Firefly landing on the ground, looking at the black arrow that had a sickly yellow glow around it, before it slowly disintegrated.

"Who's there! Show yourself!" Jack spun around, glaring, staff raised.

"How utterly amusing, not," Scion and Grind both emerged, dragging Cupid behind them. "And you call yourselves the Guardians?"

"Scion!" Pitch snarled, stepping forward, "Weak, pathetic little night sky spirit that you are, what are you doing here?"

"Perhaps I've gotten a bit bored with my lot in this life, just like you did before you became all chummy with the Guardians," Scion taunted, "So I've decided I wanted to twist things around a bit," He kicked the gagged and bound Cupid forward, "Here's the toga-wearing narcissist, I do hope he's worth it,"

"Worth vhat?" North growled, raising his sabers. Scion grinned wickedly, shrugging.

"The life of one of you," he smirked.

"Now see 'ere ya drongo!" Bunny stepped forward, threateningly, his boomerang pointing directly at him.

"No, you see here, it's time the world changed, for better or worse, I don't care, but I'm tired of being seen as a weak sprite, and shoved to the side so that you morons got all the attention and love. But alas, this isn't about me," he shrugged before locking eyes with golden ones. "Sorry, Firefly, nothing personal," As soon as he finished, another arrow was shot from the side, this time connecting with its target. Firefly let out a short scream as the arrow fractured her left wings. Stumbling to the side, falling to one knee, she barely heard the shouted warning, before another burst of red-hot pain slammed into her. The third arrow shattered her right wings, lodging into her left shoulder due to the angle. All of them could only watch as her wings glowed brightly, cracks forming like glass, before they shattered, falling to the ground with a soft musical chime. The two arrows disintegrated, forming dark poisonous lines through the shattered ends, spreading quickly into her skin. Firefly collapsed to her side, keening, as her body began convulsing, her sharp gasps loud in the stunned dead silence. Seconds later, chaos reigned.

"Firefly!" Jack dove to cover her, grabbing her shoulders as her screams became choked gurgles. Bunny and Pitch immediately launched themselves at the Scion, surprising him with their fierceness, before he managed to dart into the sky, fleeing with agonizing wounds. Grind lasted only a bit longer, as North, Tooth, and Sandy teamed up, dealing blow after blow, before he too fled, diving underground. "Firefly, hold on!" he pulled her head into his lap, watching helplessly as she continued to convulse, her golden eyes flickering strangely as she clawed at her chest. "Tooth! North! Somebody! Help her!"

"Sparks, Sparks, listen, ya gotta hold on, ya 'ear?" Bunny grunted as he was shoved to the side, Pitch and Sandy both kneeling and placing their hands on her. They all gathered around, watching anxiously. Sandy's golden sand swirled prettily around her, but kept drawing back, the reason why becoming apparent.

"Nightmare Sand," Pitch rubbed the tainted blood between his fingers, grains of his sand falling to the ground only to rejoin his. "She's fighting, fighting against her fears, her despairs, her pain and past,"

"Can't you help her?!"

"There is nothing I can do," his words were choked, as he hovered his hands over her, helplessly.

"Oh no, her wings!"

"We know her wings are damaged, Sanderson! But, given enough time, she can heal them!"

"You don't know, you don't understand! She doesn't HAVE time!" all of them froze, looking at him as his face crumpled.

"The Sandman is right, of course," Jack's head shot up, locking with satisfied beady eyes. The dark brown furred mammal walked upright, his black claws clicking together, the large ugly striped suit merely accentuating the large belly that jiggled as he moved.

"Groundhog?!" he shouted, "What the, why would you do this!" North made to berate Jack's accusation, except all of them spotted Cupid's bow in his hand, being casually swung back and forth.

"Isn't it obvious?" he wondered aloud, smirking, "Because she isn't worthy of being a Guardian, I should have been chosen as the next Guardian!"

"Are you bloody crazy!" Pitch snarled.

"Perhaps a little," the large mammal shrugged, "It comes with having such powerful divination skills, you know,"

"What do you mean?" Jack's eyes widened, remembering what Firefly had said, "You stole your own fur! Because it had divining properties!"

"Correct, as well as to divert suspicions. My fur enabled me to fire Cupid's bow with better accuracy, after all, I am not an expert bowman," he boasted, "And of course, all the other ingredients form a very potent poison, with no cure of course. I did my research very thoroughly,"

"Why, why did you hate her so much?" Tooth cried.

"Why?" a glint of insanity flickered in his eyes, "I have known since the moment I laid eyes on her, that she was a Guardian! That frail tiny Fae who could offer nothing to the world, was chosen over ME! I have asked, and begged, pleaded and bribed Manny! Yet he chose HER over ME!" he panted from his outburst before combing back his fur, returning to a calm state. "No matter, I discovered something, something she was hiding so thoroughly, only three people knew about it. Manny, Sanderson, and myself, isn't that right, Sanderson?"

"How did you find out!" Sandy wasn't pleased, at all, his whips cracking the pavement in his anger.

"Simple, I was there, I watched it all happen," the spirit smirked, "I saw what you did, and then you involved Toothiana, my, my, it was smart of you, having her watch over little Firefly's memories, or rather, should I say Nox's memories. I knew that once her memories were returned to her, that everything would change, and Toothiana played into my plan perfectly. The only problem: Firefly. Firefly didn't want her memories of Nox back, so I had to improvise, and plan anew."

"What is he talking about, Sandy?" Tooth looked horrified.

"He didn't tell you? Perfect, allow me to explain. Nox's memories contain more than just memories of her past life as a shooting star, in fact, they contain Diem's memories too, as well as some, interesting, pieces of knowledge. For instance, the unlocking of the Day Star," All the Guardians except Jack stiffened, Sandy for a different reason.

"What's the Day Star?" he asked, cradling her close.

"The Day Star, if he is awoken, will bring change to the world, for the worse," Pitch murmured, "Even I didn't dare risk awakening his wrath,"

"What does that have to do with Firefly?!"

"The Day Star, is Diem, Firefly's twin," Sandy signed slowly.

"The Seal, if the Seal is broken," Tooth gasped.

"Then Diem return, angry, more powerful than before," North hissed.

"Exactly," Groundhog smirked darkly, "And I, just destroyed Firefly's, and Nox's, Seal,"

FINALLY! Could not focus on this chapter, I swear, this was one tough one to write.. The sad thing about it, was I had the arrow scene in my head since the PROLOGUE! The next chappie will, I believe, be Nox and Diem's story.. in slightly more detail.. ;p..

Thank you to everyone who's reading! Those who have reviewed, get extra thanks and appreciation!.. ;p.. lol..

Have fun, write free, and see ya'll next Monday! ;p..