Chapter 21

When we are born we bear the seeds of blight;
Around us life & death are torn apart,
Yet a great ring of pure and endless light
Dazzles the darkness in my heart

― Madeleine L'Engle, A Ring of Endless Light

"Ok, so what's the plan here guys?" Jack asked around.

"We charge!" North replied confidently.

"Uh, I don't think that's going to work."

"We can try looking for the kids and the adults on the ship. But I'm sure they are guarded closely." Tooth suggested.

"So how should we go past the guards?"

"We can use North's crystal ball!" Jamie exclaimed.

"Good idea kiddo, but you know last time we used it, we ended up in a cave instead of the top of Mt. Everest." Bunnymund combed his furs lazily. "I say we do what we do best; believe in ourselves that everything will somehow work out."

Sandy had a big stop sign on top of his head with a meek expression.

"Well, it worked out last time." Bunnymund resorted back.

Jack looked toward Mick and Pick. Mick crossed his arms. "We take no responsibility for any action regarding this situation! We are doing nothing! Nothing we tell you." Pick snorted in agreement.

Pitch clasped his hand together with half frustration and half exasperation. "You are all useless."

Pitch took a deep breath. "Listen to me, I'm going to only explain this once: Sandy, Tooth and I will use our ability to move around the ship stealthily as possible. With my shadows, we should be able to sneak by and save everyone before they notice anything is amiss."

Pitch turned to Jack, Bunnymund and North. "Sadly, you are all too loud for this stealth operation so you would be staying on the ship and guarding our getaway route."

"What? Who made you the captain?" Bunnymund laughed in disbelief.

"Glad you asked-" Pitch said casually, "because my dear easter bunny, who was the one that broke all your eggs?" Bunny abruptly stopped his laughter and gulped. Pitch danced to Bunny's fear that drifted around ever so thinly.

"Who was the one that stole all your little tooth fairies?" Pitch grinned manically at Toothania. Tooth narrowed her eyes as if she was remembering the distasteful memory.

"Who was the one that sneaked into the magical workshop?" Pitch cooed at North mockingly. North glared at Pitch firm anger but Pitch chose to ignore it. "You may do three impossible things before noon but it's awfully clear; I'm better strategist than you are."

"But who was the one that destroyed Sandy?" A voice mumbled behind him. "It was you."

Jack spun around to face Pitch, spurned by icy fury. Suprised, Pitch stepped back.

"We didn't forget what you did to us." Jack stepped forward and the deck frosted over in icy particles. "Don't you feel guilty? Don't you feel horrible for destroying the eggs, stealing the innocent tooth fairies and for trying to ruin something good? You never even apologized for what you did. So why should we listen to you?"

"Because, I'm kindly offering my help to save them!" Pitch forcefully said between his clenched teeth. But even when he spoke, he couldn't believe his words. He tried again. "So that we don't lose-"

Ringing filled his ears like a warning, waxing and waning like a siren. A scene flashed by his eyes; a woman falling from the sky like a dying star amongst the glittering rain of glass.

"-her." Pitch finished his sentence in confusion. "I mean, them."

It wasn't what Jack wanted to hear. "So, no apologies?"

PItch cackled in disbelief that turned to a snarl. "Apologies? For what do I have to apologize for? It was for my own survival!" He turned to the rest of Guardians. "They don't understand what I have been through, to barely survive day by day on scrouge little fear!"

Pitch stared squarely at frightened Jamie. "Do I have to spell it out for you little boy? Oh, why did I try to scare your little friends? It was to fight or to die in the shadow-slowly. I took my chance to fight, for the world to envelop in darkness once more. And I lost. So, look where I am now. Are you happy that you have me trapped here at my weakest like a caged wild animal?"

PItch smiled unpleasantly and loomed over Jamie like a ceiling. "You must be. For it's in your nature to fear the dark, and in my nature to consume your fear."

"Get away from him, Jamie." Jack raised his hand outstretched and a force of cold wind slowly gathered; enough to make the ship creak and the tear to slowly appear on the mast.

Pitch raised his hand innocently. "I'm not doing anything." He looked around as the winter wind began to whip his hair back and forth. "In fact, you should stop."

"Jack," Jamie interrupted in a small whisper. "Just let him go this once. He did promise to help after all. I think it was thanks to him we arrived here." Sandy also nodded in agreement and expressed that it was in the past. For now, they must work together.

Jamie turned back to Pitch. "I'm still not afraid of you." He said hesitantly. "You just appear-"

"I hate to admit it but I'm afraid Pitch makes good enough point." North interrupted grumpily while looking at his watch. He tapped it on the glass couple times. "And we better hurry. We can't be around here for long I believe. My watch is telling me there will be oncoming star clusters in couple of minutes."

North clapped his hand. "So! I should stay behind with my furry mate and recoup just in case something occurs out there. But I'm afraid Jack has to go with the stealth group. He would be best at keeping the kids calm from fear."

Jack beamed with pride while Pitch sighed. "Fine."

"Ready?" Jack said as he looked back at the stealth crew.

Sandy had North's magic sack to safely whisk away the kids and the kidnapped adults. Besides Sandy, Tooth had a rope launcher, Jack had his staff, and Pitch played with black sand like a cranky kid. Each member had earpieces that North has recently invented. His following logic for them was that they seemed to be useful next time Pitch invaded their domains and actually had them ready in his pocket. North also produced new materials to make a couple of extra, just in case. Bunny shook his head in irony and got to work. Bunny sat on the front of the deck, setting up a machine that looked like an old ham radio. Bunny looked up expectantly after putting on the earpiece and doing some testing. Sandy and Tooth gave him a thumbs up while Pitch grumbled 'let's get this over with.'

Everything was good to go.

"I"m ready too," Jamie replied confidently.

"What-Jamie, you can't come with us! We can't risk it." Tooth said anxiously.

Jamie looked at his feet. "But I can't bear to stay here. I have to go and see if my mom and Sophie is safe. If I don't-," Jamie teared up. "Please Jack, let me come with you guys."

"Just let him come," Pitch said annoyingly. "We are running out of time. That ship isn't going to stay here forever."

"Thanks Pitch!" Jamie said brightly.

"Don't thank me. I'm just paying back what you did for me earlier. That's all." Pitch smirked.

"Thanks anyway." Jamie smiled sincerely. Pitch scowled and walked away as Jamie climbed into North's sack.

0000000000000

Jack silently placed his foot gently onto the unfamiliar rotting deck. Tooth tucked the rocket launcher behind her.

"Guys, How is the situation?" Bunny's voice statically broke in their earpieces.

Tooth pressed a button. "Nothing yet. We arrived on the deck but it's empty."

There were couple stacks of wooden boxes in the corner, a large green double door under the second deck and a ground hinged door that clearly led to the basement of the ship. On the second deck, a black steering wheel hanged loosely as if it will come loose and ropes were tethered roughly and in tangles. There was a savage rip along the sail that ran diagonally all the way to crow's nest. On the closer look to the ship, it felt as if it was haunted and hollow with no living residents beside themselves. There was not even a single light and thus, Sandy's bright yellow sand guided in the air like a sailing lamp.

There was no sign of any kids nor any enemies.

"I don't get it. Shouldn't they be patrolling this whole area? Where are the guards?" Jack asked in confusion.

"They must have not expected anyone to come to rescue them. After all, we are in Space." Pitch replied.

Sandy made arrows and they dissipated in different directions.

"Right, let's split up. We can cover more ground quicker." Tooth agreed. "Jack, Sandy and Jamie, you guys take the first and second deck." She glanced at Pitch. "Pitch and I will check the basement."

"Don't open the green double door. I'm sure it's the captain's cabin." Pitch added.

"How do you know that?" Jamie quipped.

Pitch shrugged. "I just do."

"Right, not suspicious at all." Jack squinted his eyes.

"Well, ignore my warning then. Will see what happens when you wake up the, what were they called-ah, the dream pirates."

"Guys! We don't have time for this. Let's get to it. Chop chop." Tooth announced.

Jack snorted but went with Sandy and Jamie toward the front deck. Tooth turned to Pitch and hissed."And you have to turn it down a notch. Come on, let's go"

Tooth hovered over the crate door with a metal hinge. Using her strength, she pulled it open. It was dark inside with no lights.

"Ladies first." Pitch smiled. Tooth sighed as she looked into the darkness and ruffled her wings. Slowly, they began to glow like a soft luminescence lamp.