Chapter 21: The Wind Rises

Jack summoned his ice, and called on the wind. He tried to fly like he did before, but it wasn't working… His arms flailed uselessly and he felt gravity calling to him, dragging him down. He reached out in terror as he plummeted down the cliff side. I'm going to die!

Suddenly, a wall of flesh slammed into him from the side, knocking the wind from his lungs. It flung them across the gap, and they crashed on the other side of the cliff, tumbling and rolling over each other. Jack gasped, as air filled his lungs, and coughed from being tackled in the ribs. He looked up and saw Azazel, his red eyes still glaring at him, sprawled on the floor next to him. He had jumped into the cliff and grabbing unto Jack, saving his life and also helping him across, mostly unintentionally. Jack gazed at him in amazement, when he stood up and snarled at him, like he was annoyed at how hard he was making his job right now. 'Thank you Azazel…' Jack whispered.

The master's will still must to be fulfilled. You are coming with me, Jack Frost.

Jack groaned. He was still at it. But he was a creature of Pitch's creation; of course he would be loyal till the end… 'Sorry, Azazel…. But I have to get to Pitch. No matter what…' He blew ice in Azazel's face, startling him and blinding him, and he turned and dashed ahead, running towards the fray.

/

The Guardians huddled together as winds rocked them, and black sand whipped at their bodies and their eyes. They felt sick and weak, the sand sapping at their life, killing them slowly from the inside. Sandy seemed particularly affected – his gold skin was turning yellow and getting paler by the minute, he looked so tired and he seemed to be getting smaller. North bundled his arms around all of them, putting Sandy to his chest to shield them. Suddenly Tooth jumped, 'It's Jack! I can feel him!'

'Huh? Where is he?' Bunny shouted over the howling winds, squinting as he looked at Tooth.

'I don't know… I can't focus. But I know he's close. And he's coming for us.' Tooth smiled.

'That boy is going to get himself killed in this…' Bunny groaned. He moaned and clutched himself tighter and bundled his body closer to North, putting his arm around Tooth to protect her. This felt like the end. They had never seen such ferocity from Pitch. He felt more devastated than angry. Something must have happened with Jack. They only hoped that he would survive this.

They looked up to see Pitch with his arms raised, black sand spewing from his palms. This was only the first step; the sand would gain momentum, leeching on any sign of life. And the closest ones; were the Guardians. He looked behind him, and saw the Guardians huddling together. Soon, this would all be over. Soon Jack would be free of them. And he would be free of them…

Just then he heard a fell voice on the wind. They all turned and saw Jack running towards them, shouting at the top of his lungs. No, how could he be here? He sighed internally, of course he would. He was as stubborn as a mule. He waved a hand and his fearlings jumped into action, running towards Jack to hold him. Jack skidded to a stop as the fearlings surrounded him, holding him with their paws and one big one rearing up on its legs behind him, and hugging Jack in a giant bear-hug. He struggled and elbowed the fearling, who only gripped him tighter.

'Jack!' Tooth cried in joy. They all were squinting against the wind, smiling at Jack, and he was so happy and relieved to see them. It was so good to finally see them again, even though they looked terrible.

'Guys… I'm so happy to see you….' Jack gasped, smiling at them. It felt like years since he saw them last. He clutched at his fearling guard's arm and tried to wrench it away from his neck.

Pitch watched the pitiful reunion with cold eyes. He shouldn't feel jealous now, of all times when he was destroying everything… Jack's smile was disarming. He hadn't smiled a real smile in such a long time. It made him angry that it was only reserved for the Guardians.

Jack turned to Pitch, eyes imploring, 'Pitch, please let me go. Tell him to let me go.' Pitch looked at Jack, his eyes pleading him and he sighed once more, waved a hand at the fearling. The fearling released his hold and the pack moved away from Jack. Jack stumbled and nearly fell to the ground, the adrenaline was fading and now his legs felt like lead. Pitch caught him and held him, looking into his eyes. Jack looked up and made eye contact with him

'Pitch… Please stop… You don't have to do this…' Jack put a hand on Pitch's arm. 'It doesn't have to be this way. Please don't do this to me….'

Pitch was disarmed by Jack's plea. His voice sounded so sad, and he felt like Jack genuinely felt hurt, and his hand on his arm was cool and sincere. He felt like Jack wanted him to be his friend.

'Jack. Get away from him. He's dangerous.' Bunny shouted, reaching out for him. At that, Pitch's anger reignited. How dare that rabbit accuse him of wanting to hurt Jack?

'No, Bunny. He won't hurt me. He never wanted to hurt me.' Jack said, putting a hand to stop Bunny. He reached for Pitch's arm, but the Nightmare King backed away and stood apart from Jack. What Jack had said warmed him, that he should defend him against the Guardians, like he did before that time he had first mentioned Pitch to the Guardians weeks ago. He felt happy Jack thought of him that way. But he still would not take this insult. He hated the Guardians; hated them. They never trusted him. They don't even trust Jack's heart and feelings. They had no respect. He glared at them menacingly, while Jack tried to reach for him. But he walked away from them.

He hated them. He loved Jack. He would not share….

A little ramble on my side here.

Jack started to feel the stirrings of true friendship around chapter 19, partly because he doesn't want Pitch to kill the Guardians and destroy everything, but also because he believes that Pitch is capable of better things. The entire time he was 'prisoner' he was treated well, but he just couldn't understand why and how Pitch was caring for him and being so sensitive and affectionate. Now the game has changed and Jack feels that he has been misunderstanding Pitch, from a Guardian stand point – that Pitch is evil. This in a way ironically validates Pitch's claim that the Guardians refuse to believe in the possibility of his 'goodness'. Also doubly ironic, is that Pitch believes this, as he has not been able to express his feelings the right way; due to the 'natural' order of things, which him and the Guardians are a part of, that evil is lonely and bad and cannot exist with good things like love and compassion. Pitch's act of total destruction is a symbol of the way he expresses his compliance with the order of nature, that he will express himself through destruction. But then, it goes full circle to the fact that, he does so out of love for Jack.

Jack is such a poor boy. Not quite a Guardian, as he believes good in Pitch, but not quite the bad guy in his implied responsibility of the 'evil things'. So the poor guy is stuck in the middle. The inadvertent trigger of Pitch's destructive warped love, like Helen of Troy, but he wants to fight for the good things, which the Guardians protect, but ironically cannot accept in a typical villain like Pitch.

So the question is place in the society and purpose in life. Is Pitch destined to never love and be loved? So are the Guardian's right? Or is Jack right, that there is an alternative to the endless cycle of action-reaction? Pitch here, clearly possesses the capability to love and give love and wishes to act so. Is it because of his nature and his actions that prevents him, and how does that fit in with the Guardians' perception that this cannot be reconciled and that he has no place in the world because of who he is? But the epitome of this is Jack himself, who believes in the essential goodness of people. His ice and snow is the embodiment of death and deadly sleep, however he is also laughter in the face of danger and innocence. So it begs the essential question of two natures at war within us. So does Jack represent the balance of nature that justifies Pitch's actions?

Wow I just wrote a literary analysis of a children's tale. Dayum. *facepalm* I should write this for my A levels. Why can't ROTG come out for the exam?! DAMNIT.