A Light Within Darkness 36
For a moment the Guardians were in disbelief. They all stared down at the courtyard as Pitch let his defenses fall and was ran through by the Snow Queen. Each internally debated if this had been Pitch's plan all along and whether or not to run to his aid. That internal struggle was quickly solved when Jack gave a blood curdling scream that shook them from the stupor.
"NO!" the frost child cried as he shot into action. His frosted skin rippled and turned to solid yet moveable ice as his hair became spiked with ice crystals. His usually crystalline blue eyes now glowed brightly as his finger nail elongated and became as sharp as daggers.
Bunny managed to grab the boy but for one so small he was surprisingly strong and he shook off the Pooka with ease. "Sandy!" Bunny yelled, hoping the dreamweaver would knock the child out but to his surprise the Sandman had other plans.
Despite their differences Sandy had come to respect Pitch. And even though the shade had tried to absorb Sandy's power only a year ago he had also felt the pain in the other man's soul, the loneliness and desire to be believed in. Pitch wasn't as evil as the Fearlings tried to make him, there was still good in him as was proof in the way he raised young Jack Frost. He was a father, a warrior and a man worth saving. So Sandy fought, he fought for Pitch and lashed out at the ice elves with his dreamsand whips even as the Snow Queen crowed her victory. The Sandman was not about to let another being destroy the former general.
North charged in right behind Sandy with a bellowed war cry as he swung his swords in wide arcs, protecting his body as he cut down the elves in an effort to get to Pitch. If they could clear enough room he could open a portal, maybe bring in the yetis to help them fight while transporting Pitch to the infirmary before it was too late. He kept his focus on the dark spirit even as Pitch wobbled on his knees. They didn't have much time left.
Tooth was unsure what to do. Her hatred of Pitch still ran deeper than the others and she debated back in forth on what to do until she saw one of the elves approach North from behind. She didn't think twice then. Launching herself at the elf she rammed a sword in the man's chest and flung him away from her love with an animalistic hiss and buzz of her wings. No one touched her North.
Bunny struggled with Jack, trying everything in his power to calm the boy and assure him that Pitch was still alive…if barely but Jack would have none of it. He tried to punch and kick his way free but the Pooka had him from behind and was kneeling on his staff to keep him from using it. Head bunting became out of the question when Bunny pressed his cheek firmly against Jack's and pinned his head to one side which left the boy with only one other option; he bit Bunny's jaw as hard as he could until he drew blood and forced the Pooka to let him go with a cry of pain. Jack didn't bother wiping the blood or fur from his mouth he simply leapt over the balcony and wade into the battle.
The Pooka stared after the boy in shock. He hadn't expected the child to try such a stunt otherwise he never would have pinned the boy in such a way…he would have had North sit on him. Wiping the blood from his jaw, he jumped over the rail and went after the youth. He had to stop Jack before he did something foolish in his anger. Already the boy was lashing out at the elves with such fierceness that many tried to avoid him all together only to be shot down by long sharp ice daggers that the child shot directly from his fingertips. When one brave soldier did try to confront Jack he quickly regretted it. Swords formed out ice becoming extensions of Jack's arms, his staff all but forgotten. This time he wasn't defending himself, he was out for blood and his target was the Snow Queen.
Bunny hesitated. He wasn't sure what to do. He had promised to protect Jack, to take him somewhere safe and away from the Snow Queen not let him witness his own father's murder. If could only grab the kid he could open a tunnel and get him out of here…although that might not be the safest way to go right now. Alright, so what could he do? Other than fight? He threw his boomerangs and kicked and punched every elf that dared come near him. Think, Aster, think, what can you do? We're still out numbered twenty to one and these aren't Nightmares that can simply be destroyed.
He fought his way toward Pitch who was struggling to stay awake and pull the blade out of his stomach. The soldiers seemed to have forgotten about him as they battled the Guardians and no one seemed to care that Bunny was now going to his aid, no one but his fellow Guardians who moved to defend him should anyone try to get in Bunny's way. Jack was the only one who didn't seem to notice as he raged against the soldiers. Bunny kept on eye on the youth as he knelt before Pitch.
"Don't pull it out," he instructed, moving Pitch's hands away from the broken blade. "You'll bleed out faster. Pitch…Kozmotis, stop!"
The shade blinked up at him. "Eamon, what happened? Where are we?"
Bunny shook his head and couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips. Great, if it wasn't drunk Pitch thinking he was a kit it was dying Pitch thinking he was his father, a Pooka killed by the Nightmare King eons ago. But at least it was something Bunny could use to his advantage. "On your feet, general," he said as he wrapped an arm under the shade's shoulder and hauled him to his feet with a grunt. He footing almost gave as Pitch slipped on the ice and nearly fell again. "No, I said on your feet, soldier!" Bunny snapped. He adjusted his hold on Pitch until the man was firmly on his feet. "Now walk. Nick, open a portal."
"Not enough room," North yelled back as he kicked a guard away. "Jack! We must leave! Jack!"
Tooth zipped to the youth as he downed another soldier, his eyes focused on the Snow Queen who was taunting him and gesturing for him to come to her. "Jack," the fairy cried, flying in front of the boy. "Jack, stop! Pitch is alive, he's alive! But he won't be much longer if we stay."
The look on the boy's face was filled with rage and hatred but it slowly melted as he processed Tooth's words. He gave a long blink before glancing over his shoulder at Bunny and Pitch. His breath hitched at seeing his father on his feet even if he was wobbly. Then he glared back at the deranged Snow Queen but rather than continue forward he glanced skyward and called upon the winds. There was a clamp of thunder that rumbled through out the ice palace as the ground shook and chunks of the building began to break from the rest as a funnel began to form overhead and descend toward it.
Tooth gave a gasp of fear as the wind whipped around her, forcing her to tuck in her wings and stand on the ground. The Snow Queen gave a surprised cry and retreated to her palace as soldiers scrambled to get to safety. North and Sandy backed toward Bunny and Pitch, unsure what was happening.
"Jack?" Tooth asked in fear as the high winds pulled at her feathers and picked both her and Jack up. Her fear grew when she saw Jack's glowing eyes.
"Stay close to me," the frost child whispered as the others were picked up as well.
They were lifted high in the air and away from the ice palace as the high winds tore at the walls and structure, bringing down an entire wing. Jack watched all this from the vortex of wind but felt no satisfaction. Bringing down the palace wouldn't be enough. He wanted the queen and every one of her lackeys destroyed. He would not rest until the woman paid for her crimes not just to him but also the thousands of other children she had kidnapped and abused and murdered. She would pay once and for all.
The funnel deposited then several kilometers away from the palace. Bunny stumbled with Pitch and just managed to keep him from falling but the Nightmare King did give a cry of agony as the blade shifted inside him. That cry snapped Jack out of his revenge clogged mind and he reverted back to his human form and rushed to him.
"Dad!" the child cried, all but running into Pitch's arms. He stared at his father's stomach in fear and immediately went to pull the blade out of the man but stopped when Bunny shook his head.
"No, mate, if you remove it he'll bleed to death. I know he's a shade but the sword she used is magic and designed to kill spirits," Bunny explained, catching Jack's wrist. He gave an encouraging smile when his gaze met Jack's. "It's okay, once we get to North's we can properly remove it and heal him. He's got the best healers."
Pitch gave a cough. "It's okay, Snowflake. I've been through worse. Can't recall when but I'll be fine. Might raid Nicholas's Bourbon stock," he slurred but still managed to flash Jack a smirk. "After I have a nap."
"No, naps," Bunny snapped at him as he adjust his hold on the shade.
"Ah, guys, the Snow Queen and her soldiers are on their way," Tooth reported as she flew up above them. "North, how far is the sleigh and reindeer?"
North glanced to the west. "Too far. We won't make it by foot. Not with Pitch injured."
"Don't worry about me," Pitch grumbled. "I can still fight."
"You're a horrible liar," Jack quipped with a teasing smile that never met his eyes.
Pitch glared at him before looking up at Bunny. "You promised to get him out of here. Now do it, take him somewhere safe."
"I'm not going anywhere," Jack said rebelliously.
Pitch's eyes narrowed and he glared at Bunny. "Get him out of here."
The Pooka shrugged. "Sorry, the kid has spoken."
"Guys, I suggest we decide what we're doing quickly, they're almost here," Tooth shouted down to them.
"We get Pitch to infirmary. I'll send yetis to retrieve sleigh and reindeer later," North said, opening a portal. He took Pitch from Bunny and headed toward the whirling vortex, they others taken up defensive positions. "Jack, come."
The youth hesitated. The Snow Queen's army was approaching fast. Archers were lining up and taking aim. He shot up an ice shield around the Guardians as the first volley of arrows descended upon them, each one precisely aimed and it was then he noticed that the queen was now intent on killing on all them, including Jack. He re-enforced the shield as a second volley of arrows came at them. This time one managed to go over and just missed North and Pitch by half an inch. The Russian gave the others a worried look but Sandy pretty much shoved him and Pitch the rest of the way in before gesturing for Tooth, Bunny and Jack to go next. Jack shook his head, now more enraged than before.
"Jack, we've got to go," Bunny insisted but the frost child paid him no mind. His focus was entirely on the approaching army.
Shrugging off Bunny, Jack leapt over the wall of ice. He took his staff in both hands and as he descended toward the ground slammed the butt into the ice and focused every inch on magic into breaking the ice. A thunderous crack resounded shook the tundra. A moment later the ice began to crack, opening to ocean pockets below. The crack raced toward the approaching army, downing ice elves as the ground that they were running on suddenly disappeared and they fell to the frigid waters below. In seconds three quarters of the army fell to ocean and a watery grave as the rest retreated.
What should have felt like a victory suddenly had Jack in a panic as flashbacks of his own death filled his mind. He stared in horror had what he had just done and couldn't bring himself to move as the ice cracked under his own feet. He had drowned in such waters and now he was condemning others to the same fate? What was wrong with him? How could he? He no longer cared that the Snow Queen was escaping. He couldn't move and was unsure if he should be trying to save the fallen elves or running but he could do neither as fear took hold of him.
Bunny tackled him to the ground and onto safe ice before throwing him over one shoulder and yelling to the two remaining Guardians to get in the portal. Everything that had happened came rushing back at him and it was suddenly far too much for his mind to handle. He passed out on Bunny's shoulder, instinctively knowing that the Guardians would never let anything bad happen to him or Pitch.