A/N: As said in 27, I'll start off at the park scene
Chapter 28 – Why?
3rd POV
Aster's chest heaved as he watched the children walk dejectedly back home, their head hung as their hope began to fade. No, no, no… he chanted.
"Maybe he just hid them really well this year." I little girl stated dejectedly, holding onto her hope. Aster quickly raced forward, hopping between the two children and holding out the basket of eggs.
"I checked everywhere! There's nothing!" The boy muttered disappointed.
"Yes there is! Look! Here! I know they're not my best lookin' googies but they'll do, right?" he asked, holding the egg out closer to them, letting the relief flood him as he saw them stare at it.
"I don't believe it." The girl muttered causing Aster to chuckle. "I know."
The girl hops down from the table she sat on, grasping the basket in her hand. "There's no such thing as the Easter Bunny."
Tooth and North gasped as they heard, their eyes locking on Aster who was twitching and trying to talk to them. "N-No! Wrong! No-not, not true! I'm right in front of ya, mate!" he stuttered out his smile vanishing quickly as panic at the words began to diminish his relief.
He turned and tried to get the other kids attention, ignoring the mutterings of their disappointment and the sensation of their hope at his existence leaving. He felt his chest tighten and agony sweep through him making him cold as the child walked though him. He crumpled over in pain at the sensation, "they don't see me…" He chants as he curled in on himself.
Jack watched his heart clenching as he saw Aster crumble. He knew the feeling of being unseen and being walked through, he knew the pain Bunny was in and it was his entire fault once more.
"Jack!?" North called surprised as he felt the cool breeze hit him. His eyes locking onto the stricken looking Winter Spirit, "Vere were you?"
Jack turned to North quickly before turning back to look at Aster who was curled into Tooth. "What happened?" he asked, his voice cracking slightly; he could feel the thick sensation of hopelessness in the air and it made him ill.
"The Nightmares attacked the tunnels. They smashed every egg, crushed every basket. Nothing made it to the surface." North replied, leaning heavily on his scimitars. Another wave of guilt crashed over him as he saw how ashen and old North looked, he truly looked weak and frail.
He turned to look at the sound of his name but the words didn't register over the screams in his head. He could see Tooth asking him something pointing to the tooth box that called him to Pitch's lair; the image of the girl from the memorial long ago on the front.
"Oh Jack, what have you done?" Tooth gasped in betrayal as she saw the box, causing Jack to look down at his hand; shame filling him.
"Pitch..." was all he was able to get out before betrayal swept across North's face.
"You were with Pitch?" North asked with a gasp, he didn't want to believe it but how else would he have gotten the memory box when they were all stolen.
"NO! You need to listen… I'm sorry. This… I didn't mean for it… the box…" He stuttered out trying to explain only to be cut off at Aster's voice.
"He has to go." Aster uttered brokenly, he had heard every word and he just couldn't take looking at Jack. He had trusted the boy and that was his mistake, he should have known that he couldn't be trusted even if his entire being screamed to trust him.
"What?" Jack asked with wide eyes as he turned to look at Bunny. Anger welled up in Aster at the hurt in the boy's eyes, at the fact his chest ached at seeing the hurt.
"WE SHOULD NEVER'AVE TRUSTED YOU!" He yelled, hands flying up and fists clenching before letting the anger loose and the grief and hopelessness to replace it once more. "Easter is new beginnings, new life. Easter is about hope." He whispered his explanation.
"An'now it's gone." He choked out brokenly before turning away. Jack turned to the others, his eyes wide and pleaded only for them too to turn away from him.
The words from the egg and from long ago whispered in his mind causing his heart to break and grief fill him. Pain, hopelessness… He had destroyed hope, and without hope there is nothing to hope for… It took everything in him to not crumble where he stood, he had to leave.
Reaching into his pocket he took out the doll North had given to him and scowled before dropping it on the ground and pushing off into the air, letting the wind catch him and take him far away.
He hated himself, hated what he was and what he stood for. Winter: destruction and death. That was all he was associated with, all everyone thought he did and he had finally proved them all right.
After all, he killed the Sandman and destroyed Easter yet again but this time there was no chance of hope being rekindled, not one that he could see. The grief he felt for destroying hope and seeing the way Bunny crumbled hurt more than losing Sandy.
As his feet touched the ice, Jack focused back on his surroundings. He was in Antarctica, a place he loved to come for solitude. Solitude he knew he deserved, to be along forever for the agony he had caused and it was all because of the stupid tooth box he now carried in his hand!
Rage filled him and he took off in a sprint, stopping at the edge and his arm pulled back ready to throw the blasted box into the sea and yet he couldn't. He couldn't because he needed to know why it called to him, a box that was not his own. His shoulders sag as he held back the sobs in his chest; he was a foolish boy; alone.
"I thought this might happen." Pitch crooned sadly, causing Jack to spin around in fright. "They never really believed in you. I was just trying to show you that. But I understand." He hummed, savouring the fear the winter sprite had. And ohh, he had so much fear.
Fear of being alone, fear of himself… and oddly enough a deep fear of Pitch himself that left him curious and surprised.
"You know nothing!" Jack spat, anger filling him. No, Jack wasn't at fault for Sandy or Easter, it was all Pitch's fault.
"No? I don't know what it's like to be cast out by humanity, spirit? You think I don't know what it feels like to be weak and not believed in?" Pitch hissed, moving closer to the boy, eyes keeping an eye on the staff. The power of the boy, he would have to destroy it to finish his plan.
Jack yells, frost bursting from the crook of his staff and missing Pitch completely as he dodged out of the way.
"All those years in the shadows I thought, no one else knows what this feels like. But now I see I was wrong, very wrong. I wasn't alone in the shadows. I wasn't alone in the loneliness and agony of not having anyone who believed. We don't have to be alone, Jack." Pitch told him, he was offering a way out for the boy. Though it was for his own gain, the power and fear he could have with a Winter Spirit under his guide.
Jack's rage hit hard as he swung his staff in Pitches direction causing him to summon a wave of corrupted sand to block the attack he wouldn't be able to dodge. Snow burst into the air at the velocity the two hit together, Pitch's eyes widened before a grin formed as he took in the structure.
"Children will believe in you Jack, I believe in you. All you have to do is join me." Pitch asked softly once the dust settled to see Jack gasping.
Jack hearing the words looked at the nightmare king, want and longing filling him. "Really? They will in me?"
"Yes!" Pitch crooned excitedly while gesturing to the sculpture blast of sand and ice. "What goes together better than cold and dark?"
Jack looked at the sculpture, seeing his face melted and twisted in a way due to the way the sand sat under the ice. It showed him the true monster he is, the monster he doesn't want to be, no matter how promising having believers would be. He lasted this long without any, he will continue on more in suffering; just want he deserved.
"NO!" Jack roared, swinging his staff at the Nightmare King. He refused to become a monster, refused to be corrupted by the man who brought forth the death and destruction in his head. The man who had slaughtered Aster's race long ago because they wouldn't submit. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" He snarled before kicking the king back with a move that was committed to his muscle memory.
Pitch snarled, very well then, he would have to destroy the boy then. "You want to be left alone?" He snarled, "Done but first…" He trailed off in a chuckle while holding up the Baby Tooth that accompanied him into his lair.
Jack stared in horror as he saw Pitch hold out Baby Tooth, squeezing her tightly causing her to squeak in pain. "Give me your staff; I will not be set back because of you." Pitch hissed darkly, all mock friendliness gone.
Rage filled him as he looked down at his staff before sighing in defeat, he would not let harm come to another being because of him; especially not Baby Tooth. He could hear her protesting, saying in her own way not to do it because of her, not because of her; she wasn't worth the trade. But she was wrong; she was worth it to Jack. She was worth it because she was a Tooth Fairy, one of Tooth's daughters so to say; she was more important than him.
"Fine," He sighed while twirling the staff in his hand and holding it out. Pitch smiled pleased, his razor sharp teeth gleaming in the light as he grasped the staff watching as the winter spirits power withdrew and the frost was removed to reveal darkened wood.
"Now you have what you want, let her go and be on with you!" he grits out through clenched teeth.
Pitched just laughed at the boys naivety, "you said you wanted to be alone, Jack. So you get to be alone!" he laughed out, screaming and cursing as something sharp stabs him in his hand. A squeak followed as he threw he blasted fairy away, giving it one last squeeze before smirking back at Frost who stood before him with rage burning in his eyes.
"You will pay Pitch, for many things you will pay." Jack snapped out darkly as Pitch snarled and raised the stick above his head. He brought it down quickly with a blink of an eye over his knee, the crack echoing the silence before the agonizing screams of Jack Frost filled the space.
Jack screamed and screamed as he felt the something burn deep inside his chest, his magic exploding before frizzling. He clawed at his chest as he tried to numb the agony he felt, his screams unable to mask the sickening crunch of wood and the familiar sound of ice cracking. He felt his body fly as sand smashed into him before colliding with ice; he felt his body tumble down into the ravine as he heard Pitch's laughter and the sound of wood clacking together before nothing but his sharp breaths and chirps.
"I really messed up Baby Tooth, I fail everyone." He whispered out in pained gasps as he looked down at the fairy who seemed to be the only one so far who hadn't swooned over him.
"Are you okay?" he asked while cupping her in his hands. The fairy nods her head before cocking it to the side and dashing into his hoodie pocket, her eyes widening as she sees a familiar tooth canister. She remembered this child, she had collected her teeth, they always felt magical even her mother had said so and was guarded well, well until now.
Why Jack had flew towards it then, she didn't know but she realised it was the one that drew him to the dark lair. Baby Tooth placed her little hand on the box before blinking as a flash of light hit her, she scooted out as Jack shifted and yanked the box out.
"Ack! Ack! Jack!" Jack's eyes snapped open wide as he looked down at the box he pulled out before looking at a curious Baby Tooth, "Did you hear that?" he asked causing her to shake her head and hopping over to the box and tapping it with her hand.
Jack frowned before finally understanding that she wanted him to touch it, he cast her one more look before placing his pointer, middle and ring finger on the box and blinking as white light filled around him.
"HEL! Hele! ACK! JACK!" the little girl squealed causing the boy to laugh.
"No Pippa, Hel-le-bore-as." Jack slowly repeated his name before laughing; she was the only one to know his name.
"Jack, I'm scared…" Pippa whimpered as a flash of light and a crack of thunder filled the small room.
"Shh my Calla-Lily, it's just a storm." Jack cooed as he pulled her into his warm embrace.
"Tell me story?" She begged with a sniffle causing Jack to laugh. He always told the best stories.
"What story do you want to hear?" He asked her.
"The one of the rabbits, tell me of your home!" She asked with a happy smile causing Jack to laugh.
"There was once a great race of Pooka's, they were mighty warriors of their time. The were the four great rulers of the Pooka home that each ruled a season, the mighty Bearberry Thatch of the summer tribe with gold fir that shone like the sun. Queen Blackhaw Bunnymund of spring with mighty swords and beautiful silver fur and flower designs. Then there is the warrior Felonwood of Autumn, his fir the colour of the setting sun and last…" Jack paused as he looked fondly down at his sleeping sister, she never got past Blackhaw, her favourite of the Pooka' warriors.
"Jack I'm scared!" she cried.
"I know, I know...but you're gonna be alright." He tells her raising his arms and slowly tiptoeing closer. "You're not gonna fall in. We're going have a little fun instead." He tried to reason with her, try to make her think about something else.
"NO WE'RE NOT!" She cries out.
"Would I trick you?" He asks and she nodded her head, he always tricked her.
"Not this time. Not, not this time. I promise. I promise, you're going to be... you're gonna be fine." He tells her, "You have to believe in me." He tells her and she does, she always believes in her brother.
"You wanna play a game? We're going to play Hopscotch! Like we play every day!" he tells her as he moves towards the staff making a joke as he slipped on the ice after the second one causing her to laugh.
Now here they were with his arm and staff outstretched and her so very close to grabbing it.
"THREE!" He yells, surging forward and swinging her away and safe as soon as her little fingers grasped the wood. Fear and horror outweighed the relief as he spun and landed on the thin ice. Pippa letting out a cry of his name as she watched her brother plunge into the depths of the water.
Jack gasped as he tugged himself free of the memory, clutching his head in agony. Oh god, oh god… he cried out as images and sounds burst through his head.
A/N: *Gasp* Oh! Guess what is next? Jack remembers!
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