GAHHH sorry for the delay again everyone! Work has gotten so stressful and I can't seem to keep my life together T^T so sorry about that…

Hope you enjoy nonetheless!

Ariadne immediately tried to break past Jack, who had to use both arms to hold her back.

"Mommy? MOMMY!" Cedric tried running towards her but Pitch, with a smirk, lifted a hand to summon dark sand which swirled around the boy's body, dragging him back to his side. "MOMM-MMMGH" The sand covered his mouth.

"YOU- GIVE ME BACK MY SON!" She struggled in Jack's grasp. He lowered his arms and tightened them around her waist.

"Ariadne no! This is what Pitch wants, we have to think rationally!"

"LET ME GO!" Ariadne screamed, writhing her body violently to free herself from his hold.

Elio, meanwhile, took the chance to immediately rush forward, swords ready at his sides, with Bunny not far behind. He leapt up high and swung them downward at the Nightmare King, while the Easter Bunny threw his boomerangs with all his strength.

However, with a simple flick of his wrist, dark sand erupted from the ground like black magma escaping its earthly crust and halted everyone's movements. Elio was stuck in midair, fruitlessly using his feet to try to dig his arms and swords out of the sand's clutches, and the boomerangs were swallowed up in the darkness.

Pitch simply rolled his eyes, flinging his sand to flick away the two fighters. "Please, you're making this too easy."

But as soon as he spoke, a large shadow cast over him, causing him to turn around to behold a giant wave of water that was drawn from the surrounding ponds.

"Leave. My. Children. Alone." Jack and Ariadne looked over their shoulder to see Mother Nature, glowing with a cerulean light. She raised her hands and clenched them tightly before dropping her arms, resulting in the body of water to crash onto the Boogeyman. He collapsed onto the ground from the sheer force and him and his sand were now drenched with the cold fluid. Unfortunately, Bunny and Elio were also caught in the attack and they laid on the ground as well, struggling to cough up all the water in their lungs.

"Cedric!" Ariadne was finally able to wretch herself free and she raced towards the poor boy, who was also soaking wet and spluttering sand out of his mouth, shaking his head to clear the grains from his hair. She clutched him tightly in her arms, holding onto him as if her life depended on it.

"You are now unable to manipulate your sand, the power you stole from the Sandman anymore, Pitch Black." Mother Nature stated grimly, her glow disappearing. However, as soon as it dissapated, her labored breathing and pale visage was evident and she fell forward onto her knees, gasping for air.

"It's over." She wheezed, closing her eyes.

"Mother!" Jack ran towards her and took her shoulders with his arms as support. She leaned against him gratefully.

Pitch, however, was coughing up the fluid while crawling up onto his elbows. Despite his state, a sneer graced his lips.

"Oh, this is far from over." He snarled.

Suddenly, an arrow shot out from the fog and flew right towards Jack and Mother Nature. He barely managed to see it in time and shot forward, dragging her down with him flat onto the ground and the weapon whizzed by their heads.

"What the-?!" Jack quickly got to his feet, grasping his staff tightly. "Who's there?! Show yourself!"

A figure slowly appeared out of the fog and into the clearing, slowly wobbling forward with his cane in hand. His other hand stroked his long grey beard and he eventually made his way in front of them.

Ariadne squinted her eyes in confusion. For a moment, she felt like she was hallucinating. "Loony Lucas? Why is the neighborhood homeless man here?"

Jack quirked a brow as well, recognizing him as the war veteran with the absurdly large collection of weapons that he and Jamie went to see, but realization dawned across his face in bitter understanding. "So it really was no coincidence that you had my staff. It was all a ploy wasn't it?"

The man gave a wicked grin. "I guess I've finally been found out, haven't I?" Within seconds, his back straightened and he stood tall, his hair and beard no longer grey, but a rusty-red shade. "I wouldn't quite say a 'ploy', more of a strategy." He drawled.

"Who are you?!" Jack raised his hook and aimed it at the man, "What do you have against us, and why are you attacking us?"

"I suppose introductions are finally in order." He sighed tiredly, closing his eyes. He ran a hand through his thick locks.

"But first," He opened his hazel irises, which held an inhumanely evil glint. "You have to do something for me, Mr. Jack Frost."

"Aurelia~ …" He sang, turning around to behold her. An all too familiar figure came out of the fog, holding her signature bow. Jack's eyes widened with horror and Mother Nature couldn't stop herself from letting out a choked sob.

The Autumn Spirit's skin no longer had a rosy shade as it did while she was alive, but now it was a nauseating grey. Her amber eyes that used to hold so much life and compassion now held nothing but a cold, blank stare. Though matted, one could tell her hair used to be a rich shade of honey, but now it was a sickening flaxen color. Her clothing was tattered and in ruins, but despite her decrepit state, as she walked forward, the trees around them began to change color, and the air grew crisp.

When she came to his side, the man turned his back and ran a finger down her sunken cheek with repulsive affection. "My dear, Aurelia. Could you be a doll and eliminate the uh…extras for me?" His grin widened maniacally. "Oh wait, you are already one."

"HOW COULD YOU?!" Mother Nature screamed, her body now glowing with a blood red hue. Flames engulfed her hands and she threw a ball of fire towards the two.

But both were quick. The man simply stepped back to dodge the flame while the Autumn Spirit dove to the side before charging towards them whilst grabbing an arrow. Jack jumped in front of her but she simply leapt high above him, drawing her bow and aiming at the two humans.

"NO!" Upon hearing Jack's desparate cry, Ariadne turned her head and, with wide horrified eyes, realized where the attack was aiming. She clutched Cedric tight against her body and quickly got to her feet to escape, but the arrow hit its mark and pierced her leg. She fell with a sickening thud, shrieking with pain.

"MOMMY!" Cedric grasped his mother's shirt with terror.

Jack tried swinging his staff at Aurelia but missed as she somersaulted backwards out of reach. The man laughed humorlessly.

"You know that measly staff won't do anything Mr. Frost." He chuckled darkly. "You'll need to use your powers if you want to save them."

"DON'T DO IT JACK!" Ariadne cried, despite the searing pain and the growing pool of blood. He whipped his head towards her and saw her gripped her leg fiercely, hissing in agony. "If you use your powers, you know what will happen!"

"But if you don't, Mr. Frost…" He raised his fingers, and Aurelia cocked another arrow on her bow, already ready to fire.

Jack turned back around and took a desperate step towards the woman he once considered his family…his sister. His clenched hands already beginning to glow. "STOP…please, Aurelia, don't do this…please…!" He begged, his ice-blue eyes shining with anguish.

"It'll be simply…too…" The man snapped his fingers and the Autumn Spirit released the arrow.

"…late."

Again, so sorry for the delay :( I hope you guys liked this chapter and thanks for being so patient with me! Leave a review or PM me if you're interested!