yay another chapter! i feel like a few of me will hate me for this chapter, but enjoy!

Chapter 24: being strong

(Jacks pov)

When we split up north's group went to the eastern hemisphere so we went to the western hemisphere. I still didn't like the fact that we had to split up, but lily was right. I just really hope that if pitch attacks them they'll be alright. I saw sand and looked to my left and saw sandy with a question mark above his head and a worried expression. I smile to reassure him, "yeah I'm fine. So where are we meeting bunny." Sandy puts a thinking face on then makes an image of pitch and another question mark. "Where do you think pitch would most likely attack," I asked and sandy nodded his head. I thought then sighed knowing where we would go. "I was afraid of that." sandy put a hand on my shoulder and this time he gave me a reassuring smile. I smiled too and nodded my head.

In a matter of minutes we arrived at burgess. Sandy and I landed in the middle of the street and bunny popped up as soon as we landed. "som'in ain't right, it's too quiet." I nodded my head agreeing sandy made an image of an investigator. "Ya wanna look around," bunny asked and sandy nodded. "Yeah mayb-." I didn't finish my sentence before a storm of nightmares began to charge at us. Sandy got his whips out and bunny pulled his boomerangs out, I got my staff ready.

We fought for a good seven minutes and I saw no signs of pitch which meant he was on the other side of the world. Another couple of minutes passed and suddenly the nightmares disappeared and what was left was an evil laugh. Then that was it complete silence we all exchanged looks. "We should go back ta the pole," bunny said hopping in his hole sandy and I flew to the pole me a little faster because of how worried I was.

When sandy and I got there we saw bunny warming up by the fire and no sign of north, tooth, or lily. "When do you think they'll get here?" Sandy shrugged and bunny sighed, "Could be any minute could be any ho-." Bunny didn't get to finish when we saw a portal open. Tooth was the first to come out but fell to the floor holding her arm. She looked like she was in bad shape. North was the next one to come out he looked just as bad as tooth but he could stand. I was waiting for lily to come out but the portal close and I felt like my heart dropped in my stomach. Bunny ran over to tooth and helped her up. Sandy brought seats for them and I just stood there too shocked to move.

"What happened ta ya?" "Pitch," north mumbled, "he fought like it nothing." "Where's lily." The two looked at me then at each other. Tooth looked sad then pulled something behind her. I walked to her and saw it was my sweatshirt. I grabbed it and looked at it and felt as though I was going to throw up. "We were fighting," tooth started, "lily kept blocking blows to us but got side tracked when a little girl got in danger. She helped the girl, I'm not complaining about it I am happy she did it, but north and I couldn't handle it ourselves. When pitch was about to finish us off lily jumped in the middle and w-was." Tooth could barley finish her sentence but continued. "She was sucked into the darkness." Tooth began to cry north looked at her and stood up, "she risked life for us, she vill be remembered for her actions."

I barley heard what was being said I was too shocked and I felt num. I felt something heavy on my shoulder and looked to see bunny. He was about to say something but I shook his paw of and ran out of the room. I heard my name being called but I ignored it, I ran out of the work shop and flew into the air. I didn't know where I was going until I got there. I showed up at the place I showed lily the sunrise. I could hear the water moving thinking I would relax but I couldn't, I lost it. I yelled, created ice then smashed it, and kicked snow around. When I finally stopped I fell to my knees breathing heavily, my sweatshirt was in front of me. I felt like crying but I wouldn't. I need to be strong.

I felt a hand on my back and looked to see Mother Nature. Her eyes looked red and kind of puffy but she just smiled. "You know," my voice was so quiet I thought she didn't hear me but she did. She nodded her head, "I do jack," she looked around, "you've done some damage." I ignored her comment, "how do you know." She looked kind of shocked but smiled again. "Come with me jack." I didn't move until she turned into a bird and flew further and further away. I got up grabbing my sweatshirt and following her. The place that we came to was beautiful; there was a flowing river and different kinds of flowers around it. What threw me off was the dangerous looking cliff.

I looked around for Mother Nature to see her standing further ahead near the river bank. I walked behind her to see her standing in front of stone. I looked at it and read what was on it; again I was shocked and felt uneasy. The stone was lily's grave stone. "This is where she died. When she died she became a part of nature," mother nature indicated the different type of lilies growing around the grave, "and when she came back she took a part of nature with her. That part is what makes her daughter nature, it is also how we are connection." Her voice grew weak. "When I felt no connection I knew she was gone."

I looked at her then back to the grave, "I am sorry." I heard a chuckle, "It was not your fault jack." I clenched my fist, "then why do I feel like it is my fault, I could have helped her." "I know jack and she knows too. If you wanted to help everyone you had to part ways. Lily knew the outcome of this but still did it." She looked at me then at my neck, I felt around and touch something then I remembered her necklace. Mother Nature smiled, "I am sure she is fine with the outcome." I looked at the grave and held the necklace in my hand. I was about to take it off but was stopped by Mother Nature. "She gave that to you for a reason you should keep it." I nodded my head, Mother Nature left leaving me there.

I looked at the sweatshirt in my hand then decided to put it on. As I did I noticed something, it smelt like lily. I smiled and made sure the necklace sat on top of the sweatshirt where it could be seen. Before I left I smiled at the grave, "I love you." Then I left going back to the guardians to help them.

(Pitch's pov)

I didn't mean to do it. I stagger into a table and place a hand on it to steady myself. I was shocked, to think she would sacrifice herself for them. To think she would choose them over someone who took care of her. To think that I hurt her. I cringed, no it wasn't me it is their fault that all of this happened and I will make them pay for what they have done. I stuck my hand in my pocket and felt something cold. I pulled it out and saw the gold heart shape charm bracelet that I gave lily. The heart on the bracelet was the only thing on it. I ran my thumb over it and notice there is a crack in it. I felt my heart swell up then placed the bracelet back in my pocket. The guardians will pay, soon my plan will begin.

(Jacks pov)

Is been a couple of weeks since lily left. Tooth's arm is bandaged up and north is getting his strength back, but other than that they are fine. Every night sandy and I go out checking on kids of the world. Everyone knows that lily is gone Mother Nature told father time who then told the seasons and kimi. Kimi cried for days while aki comforted her. Summer's and hana's way of grieving was fighting with one another, but they soon stopped when Mother Nature talked to them. Then they cried it out. I would sometimes go and visit them to see how things where. When I went there father time would tell me stories of the past or aki and I would do guy things.

"North I really think ya better take it easy." Bunny was trying to get north to rest but knowing north he wanted to be where ever there was action. "Ha! Nonsense bunny, I am perfectly fine. Jack how have sandy and you been doing." I smiled and shrugged, "great there hasn't been much happening. Do you think pitch stopped." North shook his head, "I am afraid not, pitch would not just stop for any reason. He is planning something big." "Well whatever he is doin' we'll be ready. Now will ya sit the bloody hell down," bunny practically screamed at north which just made us laugh.

I heard the bell of the clock and looked at the time, "see ya later guys." "Where do ya go everyday mate." I turned to bunny and grinned, "nowhere really." I left leaving a confused bunny to deal with north. I haven't told anyone where I go; the only one that knows is the person that showed me the place, Mother Nature. On the way there I stop to get a flower everyday it's a new flower. I finally get there and I slowly walk to the stone. I smile when I see the flower from yesterday is not there, I don't know why but when I see the flower not there I know that lily has gotten it.

I sit crossed legged and place today's flower on the stone. I sighed before I start to talk, "you didn't miss much today, lily. North and bunny were arguing as usual. Tooth and north have gotten better, north is running around and tooth is back in the 'field'. Tomorrow I might visit Jamie and Sophie for the first time in a while. They still don't know that you're….gone. I will tell them though, they deserve to know." I sat there in silence a little bit longer before finally deciding to get up and leave. "See ya tomorrow lily."

I got home late as usual and went straight to the bedroom to sleep. I put my staff against the wall and practically fell on the bed. Lily's scent was comforting and strangely made me fall asleep faster.

*dream*

It felt strange. I smelt all different kind of scents. I opened my eyes and saw I was surrounded by flowers. I must have been in some kind of meadow. I felt as though I was being watch, I looked to my left and saw nothing. I looked to my right and saw something that made my heart skip a beat, lily. She smiled at me. I turned on my side and reached out my hand to touch her. When my hand made contact with her face it made me happy to be able to touch her again. "lily." she put her hand on mine, "I missed you jack." I felt my eyes begin to burn but smiled, "I missed you so much." She chuckled, "I know, I've been watching. I came here to warn you jack. You need to protect everyone around you and fight strong." "What do you mean?" She sat up and put a hand on my head. "You need to go back, jack." "No lily, I wa-." My vision began to blur and I kept hearing my name being called. Lily slowly faded away.

*reality*

I opened my eyes again and saw blurs of blue, green, and a bit of yellow. I noticed I was being shaken and I heard my name. I finally noticed it was tooth. "Jack! Get up now we need to go!" I sat up and grabbed my staff, "what's going on." "Its pitch, come on." I followed tooth out of the house and to the front yard where I was greeted by the others. I noticed that the night seemed darker and looked to the sky to see the moon wasn't up. "Ve need to go now pitch is attacking." North pulled out a snow globe and threw it to the ground. We jump through the portal and arrived in burgess to be greeted by black sand everywhere. "What are we going to do," tooth asked with worry in her voice. No one could answer her before she got interrupted.

"There is nothing any of you can do. No one can protect you, not even the moon." "We'll do what we to protect the kids." Bunny got his boomerangs at the ready and we all did the same. Pitch laughed, "Not this time." a wave of black sand was coming toward us. I will do what lily told me and fight strong, I will be strong till the very end. I just hope everyone else will be too.

muwahahahha! that is the chapter. and i want to say that there is only a couple chapters left. i am planning to get the other chapters finish and uploaded to you guys before the week is over. anyway stay tuned. PEACE OUT! (^,-)