We did not have to wait very long. It was only mere minutes before Fear crashed into the room, crushing beams beneath his giant claws and smashing through walls with his long, thrashing tail. He had grown vastly since we last faced him, no doubt the result of his fearful reign over the past few days.
His smoldering red eyes glared down at us in contempt, his smoke-filled nostrils flaring. A low growl rumbled in his chest.
"What is the meaning of this?" His gaze swept across the Guardians standing before him, our forms, no doubt, no longer as fearful and docile as he had remembered. "Such colors across the sky...one might be led to believe you have not yet given up?" A forked tongue slithered between sharp white fangs, a terrifying sneer curling the corners of his lips.
"We are not afraid of you!" Tooth cried angrily, feathers rustled and wings fluttering.
Fear laughed heavily, his thunderous chuckles shaking the ground like an earthquake. "My little fairy, I never doubted that. You are all too stubborn and dull to understand the fear you should be experiencing. But no matter. You shall soon enough."
A ray of light rose from the pit of his stomach, a great beam of fire exploding from his jaws, aimed towards Tooth. She ducked her head, flitting backwards, but the flames never reached her. Ice shot its way up through the flickering fire, striking Fear like a sharpened spear. He bellowed, recoiling. His eyes widened as he looked down upon the frosted spirit standing protectively in front of the fairy.
"How...you haven't. You couldn't have!" He shouted in frustration, claws shredding the floor and tail lashing about in fury.
I watched his movements closely, the way his fiery eyes flicked to me, boring holes into my soul with their wrath. The Guardians held back, still wary, as he slowly turned to face me. I held my bow tightly, an arrow nocked, my fingers gripping the string. I would not give in to his piercing gaze. I would not give in to his intimidating presence. I would not give in to his fear.
"What have you told them? How did you figure it out? The one fear I could control, the one fear that kept me out of their reach...you..." He reared his head, a fearsome roar escaping his massive jaws. His talons lashed out at me, and I released the arrow, which flew into the palm of his clawed hand. Bunny's boomerang sliced through the pointed nails, shattering them. A piercing cry echoed around the room as out attacks connected with the void of his form, slowly whittling his strength away.
Tooth flitted about his head, serving to barrage him with blows, find his weaknesses. Bunny's boomerangs and egg bombs were aimed towards his face, blinding him as he swung wildly in an attempt to connect with anything or anyone. Jack skated around the bottom of his figure, freezing limbs and disarming Fear's flames whenever he chose to use them. North danced around the flurry of claws to strike at Fear's stomach, his swords slicing through the softness of the dragon's underbelly. Sandy's dreamsand whips cracked across Fear's wings, tearing holes through the delicate skin and sending ripples of light through Fear's ethereal form. Pitch's scythe sliced across the scales, ripping the void open, and catching Fear's thrashing tail as it flailed wildly about. My arrows peppered the Fear's body, aimed towards his face, around his eyes, into his mouth. They pierced his wings and scattered across his neck, some finding their mark while others skittered off his darkened hide.
A roar exploded from his jaws, and he slithered back. His breathing came in huge pants, his forked tongue lolling as he heaved air into his massive lungs.
"You may have discovered and dispelled your weakness. You may have beaten me back. But you haven't won." His bloodied lips peeled back into a nasty sneer. His body began to fade. "You are fighting against time. Slowly, your minutes are ticking away. And I'll be waiting. If you wish to survive...well, you'll have to find me to defeat me." Laughter echoed through the demolished room.
"I don't think so, mate!" Bunny shouted, charging him. It was too late. Fear, with one final jeering snort, disappeared into nothingness. Bunny swiped through the empty air, an angry cry sweeping across the desolate scene. He vanished into a hole in the ground, chasing down Fear in a rage. The rest of us looked to each other in despair.
We had failed. Fear had run, like a coward, but there was nothing more we could do. We had a chance, and we lost it. It was over.
Time was against us.