Disclaimer: I am not the owner of Sword Art Online or Rise of the Guardians
Walking through the streets of the city was boring, even with his friends beside him. Jack hated just walking around, he always had to find some kind of game to play. Still, Kirito was asking questions about the tree and he did not feel comfortable interrupting them. That was why he settled with just making patterns of frost on the ground, trailing behind them as they walked through the crowded streets.
"Hey, Jack?" Jaimie asked, looking a bit nervous as he stared over at his friends. "Are we going to do anything about that quest I was given? The one from Oberon?" he asked.
Jack hadn't heard much about this quest, but he had a bad feeling about it. If it helped the man they were fighting against, Jack did not have any intention of actually going through with it. "I don't think so. It's not like it'll bring us any closer to our goal, all it will do is help Pitch in the end." he replied, while Jaimie looked a bit uncomfortable, glancing at the ground.
"Actually, the reward is a system access card. I don't quite know how to use one, but I imagine it would let me log out if I got it." Jaimie stated, making Jack's eyes widen. It was something at least, something they both wanted so badly. Even so, it would come at a high cost, and it was likely something neither of them wanted to pay.
Yui overheard their conversation, flying over and sitting on Jaimie's shoulder. "You are correct. When combined with a console, you could utilize the system access card to force your character to log off." she told them, while Jack nodded, focusing ahead of them.
"Still, it's what he wants us to do. Sorry kid, but we're going to have to find another way to get you out of here. I'm not going to fall for Pitch's trap, not again." Jack insisted, while Jaimie nodded.
Yui frowned at them, looking confused. "The quest you have seems strange to me. It was never meant to be given to a player in the game, it doesn't feel like one the Cardinal system created." she commented, making Jack remember that she was tied into the game's internal workings.
Jaimie nodded, glancing up at the sky. "That doesn't surprise me, I wasn't even given the option to decline it." he told them, sighing as they moved forward. "Either way, I think this is going to be fun. We're about to take on the Grand Quest of the game, this'll be awesome!" he insisted with a grin.
Yui stared up at the sky, before gasping, her eyes wide. "Mommy…" she whispered, making Jack realize just who was up there.
Jaimie nodded, following her gaze. "Yeah, she's up there. I was with her for a while, before he sent me away." he told the pixie, who flew up high, screaming for her mother. Kirito noticed her actions, quickly following after her into the air to try and get to Asuna.
"He really loves her, doesn't he?" Leafa asked, glancing over at Jack who nodded, giving Leafa a slight smile.
"Yeah, they're a good couple. I don't think I've seen them apart for long, typically Kirito was always with her back in SAO." Jack commented, realizing the only time he had seen them separate was during the event boss. Otherwise, they were always fighting side by side, watching out for each other and making sure they stayed safe in the game.
"I'm happy for him, for my brother. I thought it would hurt more when he found her….but strangely, it makes me happy to see him filled with so much hope." Leafa stated, watching as he flew back down, with Yui on his shoulder and something in his hand.
"Jack, are you ready to go to the World Tree?" Kirito asked, his voice far more serious than it had been before. He nodded, stepping forward with Jaimie at his side.
"Sure thing, we'll take it down and have fun while we're there." Jack insisted, watching as the swordsman nodded, taking off at incredible speeds towards the stairs where the entrance was. Jack quickly moved to follow after him, with Jaimie right behind him.
"Hey, thanks for all the help, Leafa! We'll see you again when we're done!" Jack called out to her, waving as they moved towards the tree. They barely made it in time, with Kirito already standing before it by himself.
One of the statues spoke to offer them the quest, blocking the door. "Thou know'st not the heights of heaven and above. Dost thou seek entrance to the castle of the king?" it asked. Jack nodded towards the others, accepting the quest along with his friends.
"Go then, prove thou art worthy of thine wings. Prove thou art worthy of flight!" the statue ordered, allowing them to enter and take on their challenge. Glancing at his friends, Jack grinned, prepared to fight anything to get to Asuna. She had been his friend, someone to rely on in SAO. She was always smiling, and she was a part of his guild, even if it no longer existed.
"Come on, Kirito. We're gonna find her soon." Jack insisted, stepping inside with a smile. They followed after him, starting around at a tall, circular room that seemed to be empty at first. They began to fly upward, towards what appeared to be the goal of this challenge, only for something to appear from the walls.
This was what Jack wasn't expecting, the face that came out. This was what Pitch put into the game, something he should have realized when Leafa explained that they'd have to fight their way past guardians here. "No way…." he whispered, seeing the flying person by his side, colorful green and blue feathers surrounding her body.
"Is that….the Tooth Fairy?" Jaimie asked, looking confused as well. Kirito blinked at them in surprise, but he did not hesitate as he flew forward, slashing his sword through her body and destroying her.
From below, Jack saw holes appear in the ground, multiple Bunnies appearing below them and throwing their boomerangs at them to attack. "Get back here, you rascals! I'm gonna get you if it's the last thing I do." one of them yelled, while Jack moved quickly to dodge. Another Tooth appeared from the wall, flying closer to them as she moved to kick them, only for Jack to fly away quickly and dodge.
"I'm going to show you what happens when you forget to floss!" she insisted, while Kirito blinked at them, slowly beginning to realize what was going on.
"Jack….if these are two of your friends….does that mean the others will be here soon?" Kirito asked, flying closer to him as he slashed out at another Tooth, destroying her as more gates opened, more Guardians flying out towards them.
The winter spirit nodded grimly, while Jaimie got out his sand whips to fight. "Looks like it's the Guardians of Aincrad versus the Guardians of Childhood. This is only a game, Jack, so just have some fun with it." Jaimie insisted, watching the winter spirit nod slowly, his staff held ready to fight.
He began creating snow in this place, sending a wave of ice towards the Bunnies on the ground. Many of them were destroyed, fairly weak alone but strong with greater numbers. That was one thing that was off about them; none of them had the strength of one of the real Guardians. Jaimie began fighting as well, his sand whips grabbing Tooths and Bunnies to throw around and destroy. Before long, it looked like they had cleared the room, before a massive shadow fell over them, blocking their way to the exit. "Everyone loves the sleigh!" a voice called out from above them, making Jack move quickly to dodge the man jumping from it, slashing out with his swords as he fell. The blades struck Kirito, who gasped as his health began to fall from the blow.
"Not this guy again….Jack, can you distract him like last time?" Kirito asked, landing in front of him. Jack nodded, stepping forward with a slight grin. Jaimie had a point, this was just a game. He had to let go of the idea that this was reality, if he wanted to succeed.
"Hey, North, isn't it a little too close to christmas for you to mess around with us?" Jack asked, watching the man laugh, holding his belly tightly as Kirito slashed out, his sword cutting into the man who was somewhat distracted.
"Hey, I just saw Jack Frost breaking into your workshop, you've gotta go stop him!" Jaimie added, this time getting more of his attention before North could recover.
"Frost? Ah, Phil will stop him. He is good yeti, always protecting shop from intruders." North insisted, while Kirito attacked again. Jaimie joined in, his sand wrapping around North and throwing him into the sleigh he had jumped from. The collision sent both of them into the ceiling, where the sleigh fell apart from the force used. North's health dropped to zero, before the boss vanished from sight. Now, they were still waiting for the next challenge, and Jack knew who it would be.
Sandy appeared from the walls, seeing North's fallen body with a look of anger on his face. Jack could see sand blowing out from his ears as he flew down on a cloud of gold sand, making Kirito a bit nervous. "Jack, didn't you say this guy was someone we never wanted as an enemy?" he asked, while Jack nodded a bit nervously, watching as Sandy prepared for battle.
Jack was expecting it, however he was not fast enough to dodge it. Sandy managed to get his whips wrapped around the winter spirit's waist, grabbing him and sending him flying around, colliding with walls, the floor, and anything else the Guardian of Dreams could reach. A bit dazed, Jack sat up after the attack with a glare, staring at Sandy who seemed confident in his skills. When Kirito went to attack, he did a bit better, managing to cut through Sandy's first attempt to get him with his whip, but failing to dodge the next one. Jack watched as Kirito soon joined him on the ground, after a massive beating from Jack's friend.
Jaimie stepped forward next, his own whips in his hand. He was frowning, staring at it as he turned towards Sandy, looking somewhat sad. "This isn't you, I know it isn't. Even so, Jack only ever told me of one way you were stopped, and I don't really know what else to do." Jaimie stated, blocking Sandy's attacks with his own whips when the small man began to attack. They were both fast, whips of sand colliding with each other at high speeds as they danced around the ground. Both of them were focused, but Jaimie's words gave him an idea. If bright thoughts could turn dream sand light, would negative thoughts do the opposite? They had to stop Sandy somehow, and it was the only idea Jack had.
He sent a wave of ice towards Sandy, distracting the man as the winter spirit charged forward. When Sandy moved to attack, Jack ducked, sliding underneath it as he continued move forward, reaching out towards Sandy. "I can think dark thoughts, if I want to. I'll show you just how dark I can be, Pitch Black taught me just how to do that." Jack insisted, strangely feeling like he was succeeding because of his enemy. He focused on all of Pitch's words, his insistence that Jack only ruined everything. He focused on how fear and fun were becoming so close to the same thing, on how his center was begin corrupted. These dark thoughts became the focus of his mind as he grabbed Sandy's arm, watching the Guardian stare up at him with a frown, worry in his eyes.
Jack could see it happening, the darkness spreading from his grip on Sandy's wrist. The golden man broke free, staring down in fear at his arm, before turning back towards Jack with a silent look of distress. The winter spirit turned away, not wanting to see this again, the way Sandy turned completely black before fading away into the wind. Jack glanced upward, expecting this to be over as he flew towards the exit. "Come on, that should be the last of 'em." he insisted, only to be shocked as something collided with him, sending him straight back towards the ground.
He saw a massive pile of snow on his shirt as he sat up, melting off as he stared upwards with wide eyes. "Jack, am I imagining things….or is that really you up there?" Kirito asked, following Jack's gaze. Sure enough, there was a second winter spirit in the room, this one with a look of anger on his face.
"You killed Sandy….I failed once more. I'm not letting you get away, just like I stopped Pitch, I'll stop you." the enemy spirit stated, tossing a snowball in his hand with a dark look on his face.
This wasn't good, Jack never expected to be fighting himself as a boss in this place. Sure, it had replicated the Guardians, but for some reason, Jack had never really thought he would be one of them. He wasn't a real Guardian, he was just some kid trying to act like one. That was what he felt like, but apparently, Pitch saw him differently. The enemy spirit sent a wave of ice towards them, dropping the snowball as he grew angry with the players on the ground.
Jack understood this guy's pain, which was part of why he wasn't quite willing to do anything but dodge. "Bring them back! Bring back my friends, they were the only ones who ever—" the enemy was yelling, between massive blasts of ice that kept throwing all of them around on the ground. It was clear that none of them could get close enough, and Jack himself wasn't quite feeling the right mood to try.
"Believed in you?" Jack finished for him, watching the spirit blink in surprise. It calmed him for about two seconds, before his glare returned, another wave of ice flying towards Jack and sending him into the wall behind him.
"Get out! Leave me alone!" the winter spirit yelled now, no longer sounding concerned with avenging his friend.
Jack glanced over at him, seeing what he could have been if he gave into the darkness within him. If Jack forgot about his center, if he focused on that pain he always hid deep in his heart, this is what he would be. He would become a hollow man, bent on harming others who got in his way. Flying into the air, Jack grew determined to try and stop this from happening, determined to help himself see the truth. He dodged as more ice was sent towards him, aware of all of his own tricks and capable of dodging them when needed.
"They believed in me too! I know how that feels, to finally be seen, to finally have friends in the world, only for them to be torn from your side." Jack called out, watching the enemy stare at him, looking sad and angry as Jack flew up to his level. The enemy spirit glared at him, kicking Jack's stomach and sending him flying backward in anger.
"No one understands! If you did, you wouldn't have killed Sandy!" he insisted, preparing for another ice blast.
Jack stared at him, ready to block it with his own ice if needed. "Maybe I did, but that doesn't mean he is gone. Please, listen to me, I know where the real Sandy is, where North, Tooth, and Bunny are all waiting. We don't have to be alone, we can gain belief from others if we want to." Jack offered, watching as the enemy spirit gazed down sadly.
"It isn't possible….Pitch showed me the truth before, that no one would believe without fear. I don't want children to fear me, so I'll be fine living in isolation." the spirit insisted, glancing at Jack before using his magic again to attack. Jack dodged this time, expecting it before he sent a wave of his own magic towards the enemy. The spirit flew back into the wall, while Jack grew even more focused on his mission, not noticing the commotion below with his friends.
"Children believe in me, and they aren't afraid. Sure, I can do some scary things if I want, but there's much more to us than just that. We're meant to be fun, that's what kids think of when they see one of us, and that's why you need to stop this. If you don't let go of this mood of yours, you will be right in the end. You will forget how to have fun, and that is something I cannot allow." Jack insisted, tossing a snowball in his hand as he flew closer to the spirit.
The enemy gazed over at him with a frown, not looking like he believed quite yet. That was before a golden wave of sand appeared between them, making him gasp and gaze downwards towards the ground. Both spirits saw the players below, a familiar group of undines gathered at the base of the tree. "Oi, since when are there two of you bloody rascals? Either way, one of you still owes me for the blizzard of '67, and I'm ready to have my revenge." one of them shouted, right before a boomerang went flying past Jack's head.
Jack grinned down at Bunny, watching as the enemy spirit glared at them, a massive blizzard forming within the tree. "Enough! I've had enough of this talk, of listening to someone just as devious and conniving as Pitch Black. I thought I recognized those promises of yours, and now, I remember where they came from. All of you have to be stopped, you are the very thing we Guardians fight against." the enemy stated, sending a chill through Jack as he landed by his friends.
"Looks like Plan A was a bust, got any other ideas?" Jack stated, glancing around at the others who looked determined, recovering from their initial battle with his other self.
Jaimie nodded, grinning at Jack. "We've got this, unlike him, you know what your center is. That will make you stronger than him, I know it will." Jaimie insisted, while Kirito shrugged, his sword out and swinging around calmly.
"I taught this noob everything he knows about fighting, I'm sure I can handle him in here." Kirito stated, while Jack glanced at him with a slight smirk.
"Oh really? You never saw me with my magic, kid, it's a bit more than anything else you could have taught me." Jack argued.
"You guys, we don't have time for this. He's coming!" Tooth warned, making Jack glance up to see the enemy spirit landing before them, his staff swung over his shoulder as he stepped forward.
"Jack, we may not understand what it is you are after in here, but we will not abandon you. Go, we will handle this fight for you. Take your friends and finish your mission." North stated, pulling out a sword as he faced off against the enemy spirit. Kirito glanced at him, looking determined as he nodded and took off, soon followed by Jack and Jaimie.
Glancing back, Jack began to nod towards his other self. "Hey, you claimed I was like Pitch, right? Well, I guess I am. I put on a brave face and claim to not have fear, when in reality, I am filled with fears. I don't let anyone see my emotions, and I never like being viewed as weak. Most importantly, my biggest dream in life is the same as his. We all just want to be believed in, Jack Frost, and in that case, you are just like us too. All of us have something in common with Pitch Black, what makes us different is how we act on our feelings, and that is why I know I will never be feared in my world." Jack stated confidently, watching the enemy spirit frown in confusion as Jack joined his friends at the ceiling. They were all getting through this, regardless of what happened. Asuna would be saved, and they would finish this game once and for all.
So, I'm trying to quickly finish the last few chapters of this story. Why? Because a friend of mine that is also on this site just showed me that they are getting death threats from reviewers. While I still would like more feedback...that is not right and it has me a little afraid of writing much more here. Don't get me wrong, you guys are amazing, even with how little reviews I get (kind of expected, since this is the only story in this crossover category). Never once have I felt threatened by any of you, so you are amazing, but I still can't help but worry over how I'd react to actually getting comments like that. As a result, I'm trying to take my break as soon as I can, so I can calm down and rationally think through things later on.
Expect frequent updates for a bit, before I leave. I'm going to try and finish this today...though, I make no guarantees of success. Feel free to review as you read, I'd love to hear your thoughts (I think).