Author's Note: Ok, so first thing's first. Don't kill me! I know I said I'd mostly get through the movie, but this chapter ran away on me again. I actually had everything all nicely planned out but then things just went.. I dunno! But you have to admit, it'll make things more interesting~. I'm sorry this chapter isn't as long as the last, but it seemed like a good stopping point. I have a feeling that getting through the rest of the movie will take longer than I thought, so that's why I split it up into two chapters. I will get through most of the rest of the movie in the next chapter, and there will be a final showdown. As for reviews, I'll address them at the end of this chapter as one deals with plot. So without further ado, enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-One: Nightmare Prince

Jack's heart plummeted when he saw the trail of broken Easter eggs. The eggs that they had all worked so hard on were now completely ruined. Guilt wormed its way inside him as he realized that if he had just listened to Bunny in the first place, not only would Lillian and Baby Tooth be safe right now, but he could have helped save all the Easter eggs.

He dejectedly followed the trail up to the surface as he wondered how he could even begin to make this up to Bunny. He sighed sadly at the thought, but knew that if he could just explain himself to the Guardians, they might not be happy about it, but would at least understand. If he hadn't of been tricked by Pitch to go to his lair, this would never have happened.

He nodded to himself. He just had to have faith in the Guardians. They were good people, and they would understand. Repeating this to himself, he paused as the tunnel ended at the surface. Climbing out, he found himself near a clearing where some kids were dejectedly talking. He could see Bunny and the other Guardians watching.

The kids seemed to be British judging by their accents and were discussing how this was the worst Easter ever and there weren't any eggs.

Bunny chose that moment to dart forward and explain that the eggs he had weren't the best, but..

The kid seemed to be talking to Bunny as she expressed her displeasure, but then to Jack's and Bunny's horror, the kids walked right through Bunny.

Having dealt with this his entire spirit life, Jack knew just how horrible it was to have kids walk right through you. It made you feel cold and empty inside, like nothing. It was the only time that Jack knew what it was like to be cold, as being walked through made even him shiver.

Deciding he better explain things to Bunny, he darted forward out of his hiding place. He walked up to Bunny, but it was Tooth and North who spotted him first.

"Jack where were you?" North asked as he looked weary. "Pitch and his Nightmares attacked. They destroyed every egg and basket. Nothing made it to the surface!"

Jack winced at that.

"Listen," he started to explain. "I - "

Tooth gasped as she saw the tooth case that Jack had forgotten about in his hands.

"Jack, where did you get that?"

Surprise warred with horror on her face as she realized the one place he could have gotten it from. Then she suddenly noticed his lack of companions.

"Where's Lillian and Baby Tooth?" she asked. "Oh, Jack.. What have you done?"

Jack's eyes widened as he stepped back from Tooth.

What?

She wasn't even giving him a chance to explain!

"No, that's not.. It's not.. Listen!" Jack said desperately to the Guardians.

Bunny balled up a fist in anger as he glared heatedly at the winter spirit.

"That's where ya were? Ya were with Pitch?!" Bunny shouted as he raised a fist in anger at Jack. "I knew we shouldn'ta trusted ya! I knew it! Ever since Pitch was whisperin' to ya about being disappointed in ya! Ya were with him the whole time!"

Tears filled Jack's eyes as Bunny tore down what little hope Jack had. He had been hoping the Guardians would believe him and help him rescue the little fairy and his best friend, but now that was all gone.

"..N..no.." Jack said as he wiped his eyes. "Listen! It's not like that! You.. you don't understand!"

Bunny continued to glare at Jack, but then put his fist down in disgust.

"Yer not one of us," he said to Jack. His anger seemed to fade as the hopelessness of the situation set in. "Easter is about hope, new beginnings.. And now.. now it's all gone."

Bunny shook his head at Jack and turned his back on him.

Jack looked at the other Guardians. Surely at least North would hear him out. But both North and Tooth turned their backs on Jack as well, rejecting him.

Tears spilled down Jack's cheeks as he realized his heroes weren't going to help him. No one was. He pulled the Russian nesting doll out of the pocket of his hoodie. He had hastily tucked it away when they had taken off what seemed like forever ago as they had rushed off to Tooth's Palace.

He stared down at the tiny wooden baby that had big eyes, filled with wonder. Jack clenched his fist over it for a second. He glanced at the Guardians with all their backs to him as they made their way over to the sleigh.

Jack sniffled and tossed the nesting doll down to the ground as his belief wavered. The dejected Guardians didn't notice the flickering blue light hurriedly making its way to Antarctica as they climbed into the sleigh. They had to figure out how to save themselves and help what was left of their believers. With the disaster that Easter had been, Hope was at the lowest it had ever been.

Jack made it to Antarctica in record time and landed roughly in the snow. Tears blurred his vision as he collapsed down on his hands and knees.

They didn't believe him.

They thought he was in cahoots with Pitch, actually helping him hurt kids and their beliefs.

He sat up and wiped his eyes as the enormity of the situation hit him. All the Guardians were going to fade away and Lillian was gone..

He remembered her Giant Flower of Doom, but what little hope that sparked soon died. Gold glinting on the white snow soon drew his attention and he saw the tooth case twinkling up at him.

This was all the teeth's fault. He didn't deserve to have his memories back. Not after what had happened. He grabbed them up and carried them to the edge of the glacier. He took a deep, shuddering breath and prepared to throw them all away.

Why would he need memories anyway?

He didn't have anyone.

The Guardians were debating on what they should do next, as Bunny was worriedly checking out the globe. Almost all the lights had gone out with the spectacular failure that was Easter.

His ears went back as he watched light after light go out. Soon enough, there were only three lights left. He saw that a normal light was in Burgess, but growing dimmer. The other two..

He paused as he searched the globe for the blue lights. He almost missed the one that was near Burgess, as it was so dark. He tried to puzzle out why the light was mostly black with only a tiny pinprick of it being blue. What blue he could see was so very dim and he knew it was only a matter of time before the blue light died completely.

He looked for the other blue light and saw it was in Antarctica again and was flickering. It was so dim that he feared that this one too, would soon fade out. Grief temporarily overwhelmed him as his hope fled and he began to glow.

Tooth gasped as she looked at her fellow Guardian.

"B-Bunny?!" she cried out as she saw that he was actually shrinking.

Bunny blinked and looked up at Tooth at her exclamation.

Wait a minute..

Since when did she get so tall?

He looked around and realized that everything was so big.

Panic rising, he looked down at himself to realize he was now just a little fluffy Pooka kit and not the full grown Pooka that he was. He gave a soft whimper at that, but then his gaze was drawn back to the globe he had been studying.

He hopped up on top of a seat to it, valiantly ignoring that one good breeze might send him flying off the sleigh.

"The lights are almost gone," he said quietly to the others. "The blue ones are hurt the most. One's in.. Antarctica..."

Bunny's voice trailed off as he stared at the blue light in Antarctica. It was so very cold there. They just had a big argument with Jack Frost and the distraught winter spirit had flown off.

The blue light was in Antarctica.

Jack was the only being that could survive for long periods there.

Bunny realized with growing horror that Jack looked young as a spirit.

Not quite an adult.

If the blue light was Jack, then..

He stared at the mostly black light and closed his eyes in grief.

"Bloody hell," Bunny muttered to himself. "What have we done?"

Jack paused at the last second and pulled the hand holding the tooth case back. He looked down at his precious baby teeth and gave himself a disgusted sigh.

He couldn't do it.

He was startled when a voice spoke from right behind him.

"You know, I thought this might happen," Pitch said in a surprisingly sympathetic voice.

Jack whirled around, ready to blast Pitch into kingdom come with a huge burst of winter magic, but the sight of the small black figure next to Pitch made him pause.

Lillian.

She was clutching onto Pitch's black robes and blended in almost perfectly with Pitch. Her skin was completely gray now, like Pitch's and her spring green eyes and turned the same golden color that the eyes of the Nightmares' were. She was wearing her once favorite black dress, but this time the ribbon around the waist was golden, to match her eyes. She had another black cloak tied around her shoulders that was trimmed in black fur, making her look more regal somehow. The hood was up and Jack could see that her hair had turned completely black as well, as a few curls spilled out from the hood.

"What did you do to her?!" Jack cried out as he saw his once best friend.

Her eyes had once been so full of life and warmth and now they were cold and empty and so.. lifeless.

Pitch put an arm around little Lillian as she clung to him like a small child. Ever since her transformation she had been rather clingy to Pitch. Pitch, who was feeling just as clingy back didn't seem to mind. He seemed more relaxed with the young spring spirit around, although it bothered him that something didn't seem quite right about having her there.

His plans however, had quickly pushed that thought out of his mind.

"Me? Not a thing," Pitch smirked at Jack. "Through some chance however, she's become my Nightmare Princess. With her spring powers and her new affinity with the darkness, she can help me finish off the Guardians quite nicely, don't you think?"

Pitch stepped towards Jack as he put on a more sympathetic expression.

"Listen, Jack.. I know that you're hurting right now. Abandoned by the Guardians. You feel as if you have nothing left. You're afraid that you'll be all alone like you once were. A forgotten spirit with nothing to live for. Mindlessly spreading Winter, forever alone."

Pain filled Jack's eyes as Pitch spilled all his secret fears. Tears filled his eyes again and he wordlessly shook his head in denial.

"It's alright, Jack," Pitch said consolingly as he reached Jack and placed a hand on Jack's shoulder. "I understand what it's like to be all alone. After all, I was all alone for centuries before Lillian came into my life."

Jack lifted his head and looked up at Pitch with tear filled eyes as he listened.

"But I can help you," Pitch went on. "If you join me, you won't ever have to be alone. We can be like as we were before.. just the three of us. A family."

A family..

It was the one thing that Jack desperately wanted the most.

The one thing he never dared to hope for.

But he realized that he, Lillian and Pitch had been just that at one point.

He wiped his eyes and looked at the now dark Lillian, wondering if they could have that again.

Could he condemn the Guardians for it?

Jack swallowed as he thought about it.

"Wh..what would I have to do?" he asked Pitch in a trembling voice.

Pitch kept the sympathetic look on his face, but inwardly he was rejoicing. His plan was working perfectly!

"Why nothing, my boy," Pitch said. "Just close your eyes and let me help you. Soon all your distress will go away and we'll be together forever."

Jack looked at Pitch and Lillian as he thought about it.

Together forever..

He'd have someone to believe in again.

He'd have a family.

Jack thought of the Guardians, but they had turned all their backs on him.

If they didn't believe in him, why should he believe in them?

Ignoring the twinge of guilt, he nodded at Pitch.

"I trust you," he said to Pitch, his voice small. "I want.. I want a family. I want you and Lillian back.."

Baby Tooth, who had been tucked into Pitch's pocket as a bargaining chip in case Jack hadn't wanted to cooperate, struggled to get free. She tried tweeting frantically at Jack that it was all a trick, but even if she could be heard, Jack didn't understand hummingbird.

Jack closed his eyes as Pitch summoned forth several Nightmares.

"This might hurt a little," Pitch said. "Just hold still."

Pitch formed a small dagger out of the black sand and gently rolled up Jack's sleeve. Deciding a cut on the arm would be best, he gently sliced into Jack's skin.

Jack's arm jerked back and his eyes flew open in surprise.

"Wha?!" Jack exclaimed, startled.

He stared in horror at all the Nightmares around and tried backing away from Pitch.

"What are you doing?!" he cried out.

Pitch kept a firm grip on Jack's arm however and his eyes glinted with maliciousness.

"Making sure you never leave me again," Pitch said with a wicked grin.

A Nightmare dissipated into black sand and surged forward towards Jack.

Jack's grip on his tooth case slipped as the sand surged into Jack's wound. He gave a strangled cry at all the evil he felt surging into him.

He would have fallen to his knees if Pitch hadn't been holding onto him.

"Now Jack," Pitch whispered to him. "You'll be my Nightmare Prince."

North struggled to control the sleigh as all of the three lights that were on the globe had so little belief left. Children's beliefs were what powered the sleigh and North's powers and he could feel his strength fading as he tried his best not to crash land in Burgess.

After Bunny had shared his revelations with the other two Guardians, they had decided that since two of the lights were either in or near Burgess, that they should head there. However on the way there, the mostly dark blue light near Burgess had suddenly appeared in Antarctica.

Fearing for Jack, they had debated turning around right there, but the last human light was flickering and almost out, so they had decided to press on. If they could at least get one strong believer, then perhaps they would have enough power to help Jack and Lillian.

"The blue light in Antarctica is turnin' dark!" Bunny cried out as he sat near the globe on the sleigh.

"It must be Pitch!" North said in dismay. "He is doing something to Jack and Lillian!"

Bunny's ears went back as he stared at the darkening blue light. How could he have ever thought that Jack was helping Pitch?

Jack was in trouble and they failed him.

As North crash landed in front of Jamie's house, Bunny watched as the golden light on the globe flickered violently between belief and disbelief.

By the time they managed to get out of the sleigh, the light was almost out.

As he hopped after North, he summoned all the hope he had left.

He hoped they weren't too late.

Author's Note: I know, I know! Cliffhanger. I'm evil, I know. I'm sorry. But it really did seem like a good stopping point. And yes, the Guardians are despicable. I hated that part in the movie. Also, as I was writing out this chapter, I remembered that I had read a rather dark fic where Pitch convinced Jack to join him. The Jack in my story was extra vulnerable, since he had some sort of almost friendship with the Guardians before they turned their backs on him, making him more vulnerable than ever to Pitch. So I decided mid-chapter to change things around. I have to admit, this really shook the story up and I'm not entirely sure where this is going to end up.. I guess we'll find out next chapter. :) I promise to update sometime on the weekend, so hopefully you guys can wait that long..

Now! Reviews!

I hope the reviewer that threatened to maim me will hold off on the threats now. Or.. not.. considering how cliffhangery this chapter is. Eheh.. whoops?

As to CrossoverJunkie, you win all the extra points for figuring out how Lillian was inadvertently infected by the black sand. And while I think the symbolism idea is awesome, I didn't really think of it that way. I really did just mean it as it was. I wish I could claim all the credit of thinking that much into it, but nope. Now that you mention it though, it really does sum up Pitch quite nicely. Jack and Lillian gave something to Pitch he hadn't had in years, so of course even if he is evil, some part of Pitch wants to hold them close. Of course, since he's not quite himself at the moment he doesn't think twice about them being just as evil as him.

As for future plot, a reviewer suggested that the infection kill Lillian, as it wouldn't be compatible with her. I guess the same would have to be said for Jack then. The shock of it would probably get Pitch to snap out of things, but I'm not sure I want to take the fic that far. I will definitely be thinking of this idea when I do write the next chapter though. Thanks for the input!

If any of you have any last minute plot requests, hurry up and get them out since I'm definitely writing the next chapter ASAP, as I'm just as eager as you to see how it's all going to end. Just remember, that even if the movie plot officially ends, that doesn't mean this story will! The story will continue on right where the movie leaves off, since there will still be a lot of things to sort out. And I guess if you didn't consider it before, this story is most definitely AU now as it veered so far away from the movie. I also need drabble ideas, since I have so few. Anyway, I look forward to your input and please don't yell at me too much. Remember, with the end of the movie plot, brings Sandy! So expect him next chapter at some point. Also lots of angst. And I knooow that I screwed up Jamie believing in Jack. I have a lot to figure out!