Hey guys! Thank you for the reviews, I love hearing from you. I hope all of you are doing well and staying safe. Life is getting busy for me again, so I was worried about getting this chapter done but I managed :) so without further ado here it is. Enjoy.

(North Pole)

A wind swept across the barren landscape, carrying with it waves upon waves of white snow. Any being caught without shelter was subject to the coldness that gripped the very air with its icy claws.

It was in this harsh land that Faine found himself waking up in. Though the teen hadn't fallen asleep, he had been knocked unconscious by the pain caused by the sudden collapse of the Ecosphere.

Dull green eyes blinked open, when his vision cleared Faine was surprised to be staring up at the Northern sky. It dawned on Faine that not only was he on his back but that he was moving slowly through thick snow, and it was not on his own accord.

Faine winced when sharp pain, not unlike needles, pierced his ankle. The teen glanced at his feet and instantly wished he hadn't.

The reason for his forward momentum was due to the emerald demon Kreager dragging him by his ankle, the creature's sharp claws the source of the pain Faine had felt.

Faine was completely confused. Why was he out in the middle of the snow? Hadn't he been at the Pole? Had Kreager taken him from there somehow? These questions raced through Faine's mind as the demon continued dragging him across the land. The teen racked his brain for answers…

It took just a few moments for it all to come rushing back

Faine instantly filled with fear, though the teen wasn't as scared for himself as much as he was for Nyx and Decadence. The poor Dryad's mind filling with all the awful places the two might have wound up due to him not being able to hold the Ecosphere open.

"Oh, you're finally awake."

Faine was jerked from his thoughts by Kreager's voice, the Dryad trembled when the demon stopped and focused dark red eyes on him.

"If you hadn't intervened, I'd have that wench in hand and back at Balark instead of tramping through this Void forsaken place freezing my ass off!"

Faine cried out when the demon gripped his ankle tighter

"Just who do you think you are!"

Faine didn't have time to react before Kreager lunged and grabbed his shirt, snatching him into the air. The poor teen grabbed onto the creature's arms with his hands as the demon lifted him off his feet.

"You are nothing more than a dirt eater, a wretched worm…." Kreager bared teeth as he pulled the teen closer to his face, "Who needs to learn not to interfere with other people's business."

Faine closed his eyes in anticipation for whatever pain was about to come. To his surprise nothing happened. Faine cautiously opened his eyes, the teen trembling at the smile that had curled the demon's lips. It was not the kind that was reassuring in any way, in fact it reminded Faine of a predator's smile when they cornered their prey.

"You know what though…" Kreager spoke as if he were thinking, "I 'am' feeling a bit generous today." The demon's smile grew, "So I will allow you to live, if you do something for me."

"Wh…what do you want?" Faine's voice quivered, the cause a mixture of fear and the cold (since the demon had removed the teen's coat before dragging him off).

"As you may recall Faine, earlier you interrupted my hunt by opening that damn tunnel for Decadence." Kreager growled, "So in exchange for your pathetic life, you are going to do the same for me."

Instantly Faine's breath caught in his throat, he couldn't do that! Bunny had trusted him with the tunnels! The Guardian had taught him how to use them, counted on him to keep their secretes. What would Bunny think if he opened the Ecosphere for a such an evil creature like Kreager?

"Did you hear me worm?"

Faine was brought from his inner turmoil by the demon's voice, the teen straightened himself the best his could and stared Kreager in the eye.

"Well?" Kreager's question was underlined by a sharp snarl.

"No." Faine's voice quivered, the teen knowing that he was going to be killed for his refusal.

Kreager snarled as yanked the boy up to his face, "Come again?"

"I…I won't do it." Faine couldn't help the whimper that escaped him when Kreager tightened his hold.

"Surely, I didn't hear you correctly, worm? Perhaps you want to run that by me one more time?" Kreager bared his teeth, making it very clear that the Dryad needed to rethink his response.

However, Faine had made his choice.

"I said no." Faine set his jaw as he faced Kreager's piercing glare, "I will not open the Ecosphere for you."

"I really think you should reconsider worm." Kreager spoke through clenched teeth, the creature not used to people not doing as he ordered, "Or else it will go bad for you really quick."

"You can do what you want to me Kreager." Faine prided himself in the fact he kept just how terrified he really was out of his words, "But I won't open the Ecosphere for you."

Silence followed, Kreager seeming taken aback by the boy's conviction. That disbelief however didn't last long and gave way to fury.

"Don't say I didn't warn you."

Faine startled when the demon suddenly let go of him, however the teen had little time to enjoy the freedom.

With almost the same motion as letting the teen go Kreager's hand shot outwards, the demon's clawed fingers hooking a tight hold on the boy's light green hair.

The air rang with Faine's cry as he was snatched upwards

Kreager sneered and gripped the teen's hair tighter as he lifted the struggling spirit higher.

"Let go of me!" Faine screamed as his feet began to lift off the ground, the teen grasped with both hands in an attempt to aleve the pressure from his scalp.

"Do as I said and I will." Kreager was relishing the Dryad's expression of pain, "It's really a small task, just open up the tunnel."

Faine whimpered, "I can't…I can't do that!" the teen reared back and kicked with all his might in an attempt to get the demon to let go.

A grunt of pain from Kreager told Faine his kick had landed, though his celebration was cut short by the growl the demon let out.

"You shouldn't have done that worm!"

Faine cried out when he was suddenly thrown downwards, another escaped when the instant his body hit the ground Kreager's foot came crashing down on his chest.

"If you don't open that tunnel…."

The teen winced when Kreager pressed down harder, Faine could feel blood now flowing from the deep cuts the demon's claws had made in his chest.

"I'm going to crush you beneath my foot like the worm you are."

Faine's scream echoed in the air along with a crack as the demon slammed his foot down harder to emphasize his point. Faine tried to push the demon's foot off, desperate to get from beneath the creature's weight.

"You might as well do as I ask; I'm going to get to North's anyway." Kreager sneered down at the teen trying to get free of him, "However, you can get me there faster by opening that tunnel." The demon pressed down again, enjoying the cry that came with the action, "And by doing so you'll be saving your pitiful little life."

"I won't." Faine's voice was no more than a breath, the teen struggling to take in air due to the pressure being asserted on his chest.

"Wrong answer worm." Kreager's eyes burned with fury, "Let's see if a bit more 'encouragement' will help you come to the right one."

Faine felt his heart start to race when flames burst around the demon's closed fist. The Dryad clenched his eyes tight; he had experienced many a burn by demon fire while he had been captive within the Vaults and was aware of what pain was coming.

Instead to Faine's surprise Kreager's weight suddenly lifted off him, followed by a loud 'thump' as something heavy hit the snow behind him.

Faine's eyes shot open, the teen hastily sat up, ignoring the pain from his chest, "North!" the Dryad stared in shock at the Guardian now grappling with Kreager in the snow.

"Why the hell does this keep happening!" Kreager cursed as he tried to get free of the man now holding him in a headlock, "First it was the winter brat now the cookie maker!"

"I do not just be making the cookies." North grinned as he wrestled Kreager onto his stomach, "I can also make the pretzel."

A howl split the air when North snatched the demon's arms back and up

"Now if you do not want arms to be torn off."

Kreager screamed again when North yanked to emphasize his point

"You will give up and come back to Pole quietly." North smirked, "There is nice cell with name on."

Kreager cursed under his breath. First, he was frozen by the stupid winter spirit and now he was going to be taken captive by the fat toy maker!

"Waiting for answer…" North tensed as if he were getting ready to pull again

"Ok, ok!" Kreager decided he liked having his arms attached. The demon sneered when the Guardian began to loosen his hold, all he needed to do was to let North let his guard down just a bit more…

Unfortunately for Kreager he didn't count on the fact that North wasn't one that was easy to get the drop on. Before he could react, the demon felt hard steel against the back of his head,

"Now, that is that." North smirked as he replaced his scimitar into its holder as the demon sank to the snow unconscious. "Are you ok Faine?" North spoke as got to his feet and made his way over to the Dryad.

"I'm fine but the tunnel I made collapsed, so you need to go look for…"

"Do not be worried Faine. That lady, Decadence I believe she said name was, she made it safely to the Workshop." North offered the teen a smile as he crouched beside him.

"So…I didn't fail then?" Faine was almost as relieved with that fact as he was about the rescue.

"You did good Faine." The Guardian placed his hand on the boy's shoulder, "Bunny will be pleased."

Faine beamed with pride at the thought of the Pooka being proud of him.

"Now, let's get you back to the Workshop to patch up that chest." North waved a hand at the blood that had seeped through the teen's shirt.

"Yeah." Faine glanced down at the stains, "Kreager's claws cut pretty deep."

North glowered at the demon still out cold, "So that is this one's name?" the man smirked, "Good to know so I can make plaque for cell."

Faine startled when North began removing his own coat, "Oh North please! I couldn't poss…"

"Do not worry Faine it is no problem." North interrupted the teen as he gently laid the covering over the shivering spirit, "As I told Ahio when I did same for him, I embrace the cold."

A laugh escaped Faine when North made a show of inhaling and letting out his breath.

"Ok but only if you are sure."

"Very." North grinned as he watched the teen put the oversized garment on, "Are you ok to walk?" the Guardian caefully helped the teen stand.

Faine nodded quickly, "I can sir."

"Chudesno!" North shouted as he moved to the demon and grabbed the creature's ankle, "Then let us head back to Pole."

The Dryad didn't miss the irony of the fact that now it was Kreager being dragged through the snow. Faine cocked his head when a sudden thought came to him, "Hey North? How did you know where to find me?"

"Oh that! Well you see once Decadence came through the tunnel, she told of plight so of course I immediately set out in direction she said you were…."

Faine listened intently as North told his story of how he had used every ounce of his bandit knowledge to find him in the vastness that is the North Pole.

(Between)

While at the top of the world North was more than happy to answer Faine's question, in the realm between realms Pitch was about ready to strangle the person asking him one.

To be fair, Pitch normally would not have minded answering the inquiries of the shade following him. However, Darkness had not stopped asking questions from the moment the two of them had stepped from the shadows into the Between.

'Where are we?'

'How did we get here?'

'What happened to all the color!'

"Why does everything look like its melting?'

And so forth…

After what must have been the millionth inquiry Pitch was certain he was going to kill the younger shade.

Thankfully before Pitch decided to do so Darkness suddenly rushed past him, having caught sight of the forest they were approaching.

Pitch let out a sigh as Darkness disappeared into the grove of trees, "If I had known it was going to be this much of a chore to bring Darkness to Tala I would have just stayed in Burgess." the Nightmare King's shoulders drooped as he trudged to retrieve the wayward shade.

Once he reached the trees however Pitch didn't have the heart to yell at the spirit for running ahead. Darkness was in sheer wonder as he ran from tree to tree, the shade running a hand down each blackened trunk.

"I guess we can stay for just a moment." Pitch thought as he leaned against one of the blackened trunks. The Nightmare King crossed his arms as he watched Darkness explore every inch of their surroundings.

"Wow…these are so different than the one in your yard." Darkness's voice was full of awe as he tapped on one of the trunks, "The color is all wrong."

Pitch shrugged, "The Between has its own set of rules and norms Darkness."

"Pitch look look! The leaves are floating up instead of down!"

"Gods he's so childish." Pitch rolled his eyes as Darkness shook the small twisted tree he was standing beside, the spirit watching in amazement as the foliage twisted upwards towards the dark green sky, "And here comes the question." The Nightmare King smirked when the shade turned to him.

"Why do they do that?"

"I don't know." Pitch exhaled, bracing himself for a follow up question.

To his surprise it didn't come.

"Whoa! What's that?"

"I'd swear he's related to Jack in the way his attention span is." Pitch sighed as he watched the younger shade race past him.

Darkness walked around a gnarled white tree that stood in sharp contrast to the blackened forest it was in. "Why is this one a different color than the others?" his silver eyes scanning it up and down.

Pitch cringed; he really didn't want to answer this question. It would be best if he could convince the younger shade they should move on "Darkness, we do not have time for this." He motioned to the trail trying to distract the spirit from the tree.

Darkness didn't seem to hear him, the spirit instead carefully touching the ivory bark. A shiver ran down his spine, "I…It feels as if..." Darkness's voice trembled, "It feels as if it is terrified."

Pitch exhaled, of course Darkness would be able to sense the fear within the tree's bark "You are not wrong Darkness." Pitch spoke quietly as he stepped to where Darkness was "This is an Osul Tree…" golden eyes scanned the tree up and down, "it holds the soul of someone who was unfortunate enough to wind up here."

Darkness's eyes widened, "Wait…there is a soul trapped in here!"

Pitch nodded solemnly

"But…but how can we get them out!" Darkness began searching the trunk and twisted limbs, "There has to be a way to help them!"

"Darkness." Pitch made sure his voice was gentle, the shade placing his hand on the spirit's shoulder, "There is nothing you nor I can do."

"Why…why…how did they get trapped in the first place?"

"Terror."

"They were trapped in a tree because they were scared?" Darkness narrowed his eyes, certain that Pitch was making fun of him.

The Nightmare King exhaled, it amazed him just how much crucial information Darkness had lost. Pitch growled under breath, Morana must have placed the spell as a failsafe. Planning for Darkness to be caught by one of her lackeys due to the shade's amnesia.

Well it was his job to help Darkness regain the information that Morana had robbed her son of.

"Terror is the ruler of this Realm; he is a cruel spirit that was banished here by my father for some reason." Pitch waved a hand, "Don't ask me why, I haven't had time to ask him."

"I don't care why the guy is here." Darkness growled as he placed a hand again to the white trunk, "I want to know what he has to do with this…this poor soul."

Pitch sighed, "The Osul are just one of the many demented ways the bastard uses to store captives." The Nightmare King continued when Darkness gave him a confused look, "Terror absorbs souls. Taking that lifeforce and power as his own."

"That…that's so cruel."

Pitch startled when glittering yellow gems began falling to the ground, the Nightmare King was even more surprised when Darkness glanced at him and he saw that the gemstones were coming from the spirit's eyes.

Darkness didn't seem to notice, the shade focused on the white tree. Darkness didn't understand why the idea of this soul stuck for gods knew how long, simply waiting to be harvested for some sadistic spirits plan, the thought of it made his heart feel as if it were going to shatter.

"How could anyone do that?" there was a hitch in Darkness's voice as more topaz gems fell, "It's not right…whoever this is, they are terrified! Not knowing when that monster will return, not knowing what day will their last! They are completely at this Terror guys mercy!" several topaz stones clattered to the ground as Darkness placed his forehead against the white bark, "They don't want to die again…"

Pitch stood silent for a moment; not sure of how to comfort the shade. The Nightmare King was glad for once that Darkness had no memory of his past, of the fact that he was the son of one of the cruelest spirit's in the Spirit Realm. That Darkness himself had murdered thousands by her command.

"Pitch are you sure there is nothing we can do?"

Darkness's plaintiff question brought the Nightmare King from his thoughts

"I am sorry Darkness." Pitch placed a hand on the spirit's back, "Once Terror has turned a soul into an Osul only he can reverse it."

Darkness's eyes gleamed, "We need to find this Terror guy and make him to change this person back."

"That would be a feat." Pitch chuckled "Terror isn't known for his willingness to comply with demands."

"Please…" Darkness didn't care that he was pleading, the shade just couldn't bear the thought of leaving this poor soul imprisoned just so Terror could use them later.

A sigh escaped Pitch, "Look I tell you what, once we have gotten back your memories I will speak with the other Guardians to see if they know a way that can reverse the spell Terror used." The Nightmare King waved a hand, "There is no amount of convincing that will make Terror relinquish a soul he has trapped." A grin came to Pitch's face, "In fact the only way I got you from him was because of Sam's trickery."

"I don't remember that…"

Pitch sighed when Darkness looked at him expectantly, "All right fine, but I will only tell you as we walk." The Nightmare King motioned to the trail, "We have already stayed longer than I wanted in this place."

"Ok." Darkness started to move then he turned back to the tree, "Don't worry, I'll be back for you."

Pitch watched as the younger shade patted the ivory trunk, "Now let's see where to start…" the Nightmare King made a show of thinking as he started down the path.

Darkness cast one last look back at the tree, then he hurried after the shade, listening as Pitch recounted just how he had been rescued from within the very depths of Terror's dungeon.

(Burgess)

While in the Between Darkness was intently taking in the story being told to him, in the small town of Burgess the usual stories that accompanied breakfast were missing. Instead an awkward silence had settled over the room, the tension so thick one could cut it with a knife.

At the table Jack sat with his eyes focused solely on the empty space in front of him, the winter spirit aware that the tense silence had been brought on by his sudden exit just moments earlier.

The teen glanced at Jamie, who was picking at the mound of syrup-soaked toast on his plate. The boy's hazel eyes held a look of guilt, and Jack couldn't live with himself if his little brother thought he had done something wrong.

"Jamie…I want to…" Jack stumbled over his words; the winter spirit not sure exactly how to explain what had caused him to run off, "I want to apologize for…"

"No Jack I need to apologize!" Jamie's eyes rimmed with tears, "I shouldn't have been bragging about having a Chanuar. I promise I didn't know you didn't have one."

Jack glanced at Rashana who was quietly still working on more French toast, obviously she had already told Jamie why the teen had left.

A sigh escaped the winter spirit "Jamie, you have nothing to apologize for. I'm not mad at all that you were excited about dad's mark showing up." A mischievous grin came to Jack's face, "In fact it's awesome! Now we can figure out just what kinds of powers you have."

"You mean it? You're not mad?" Jamie's face lit up; the boy as much relieved that his brother wasn't mad at him as he was about the thought of finding out his abilities.

"Most definitely not!" Jack's smile broadened, "I mean, can you imagine if you have like a mix of my ice and Pitch's shadows…or or even if you have Sandy's power mixed but instead of Dream Sand it's like…Dream Ice!"

"Oh man that'd be so cool!" Jamie grinned, his brother's excitement becoming contagious.

Unfortunately for them Rashana decided to put a damper on their parade

"I highly doubt that Jamie has powers like Pritchard, Samuel or even your Jack." Rashana chuckled when both boys deflated, "That's not say that Jamie doesn't have some kind of power." She smiled as she placed a plate of French toast in front of Jack, "But they will be Jamie's and no one else's."

"Oh, so like I could have powers we've never seen before!" Jamie once again filled with excitement.

"What if you have lightning powers?" Jack waved a hand as he reached to grab the syrup "Or maybe even the ability to fly!"

Jamie grinned "If that's the case me and you could go anywhere we wanted."

"Well before you two set off on your worldwide adventure you need to finish your breakfast." Rashana chuckled as she placed a plate in front of the booster chair, "Sophie sweetie, breakfast!"

"Fence toast, fence toast, fence toast…"

"Someone's excited." Jack chuckled when Sophie's chanting followed her into the kitchen

Sophie's blonde hair bounced as she skipped to her seat, "Mommy cans I pour my owns surap?" the little girl gave Rashana a smile, "I am a bigs girl now."

"I know you are sweetie." Rashana smiled, "But why don't you let Jack help you this time?" she glanced at the winter spirit who had currently drowned the food on his own plate, "Though perhaps he might need to use a 'little' less on yours."

"Sorry mom." Jack grinned sheepishly, "It came out faster than I thought it would."

"If you say so." Rashana chuckled as she turned to begin cleaning up

As his mom started putting the dishes into the sink Jack got up and made his way to where his little siter was sitting "Do you want me to cut it up for you Sophie?"

"Yes peas." Sophie nodded as the winter spirit used her fork, "Then pours los of surap alls over it!"

Jack grinned as he grabbed the syrup bottle, he made a show of glancing at Rashana "Ok, but don't tell mom."

"Ok." Sophie giggled as she stole a glance at her mother who seemed to be not paying attention. She bounced in her chair as Jack squeezed a dollop of sticky brown syrup onto each piece of toast, "Yeah! Jafs is the bestest Fence toast surap pourer!"

"That I am Sophie." Jack beamed as he made a show of swirling the last bit of syrup over her plate.

Once he had finished Sophie took all of two seconds to admire her brother's work, then she began shoveling the pieces like they were going out of style.

"Wow…" Jack was impressed as he watched the plate quickly start to empty. The winter spirit returned to his own plate, slowly eating as he admired the speed at which his sister was consuming her own food.

After just a few minutes Sophie sat back in her chair

"Done!" Sophie grinned; her face covered in syrup.

"My goodness Sophie, you were hungry." Rashana chuckled as she turned from sink "Though it seems you didn't eat any of the syrup since it's all over your face."

"I did too eat the surap." Sophie giggled as her mother used a napkin to wipe away the mess of syrup off her. When Rashana finished Sophie beamed, "Cans I go play outside mommy?"

"Ok sweetie." Rashana smiled as she tussled her hair, "Let's head upstairs and I will help you get into your play clothes."

"Yeah!" Sophie bounced out her chair and raced ahead of Rashana, the little girl reaching the stairs within moments.

Jack chuckled as he watched his little sister disappear up the stairs, "Someone's excited."

Rashana smiled as she started out of the kitchen, she paused in the doorway, "Boy's make sure you stay close to the cul-de-sac." Her face filled with worry, "Who knows if that awful Kiln that took Sam will come back…" Rashana shook her head, "I do hope that Patrick will be able to find out some kind of information that will help us find the poor boy soon."

Instantly Jack's heart clenched, he hated not being truthful with his family…even if it was simply lying by omission…

However, before Jack broke down and revealed that he knew exactly where Sam was, Rashana continued.

"… make sure you clean the table before you go." Rashana cast them both a smile then she headed after Sophie who had long since disappeared upstairs.

"Ok Jack let's hurry." Jamie grinned as he got up and quickly put his plate into the sink, "I bet the guys are already waiting for us."

"Slow down." Jack grinned as he slowly ate the last bite of his breakfast, "There's no rush." The winter spirit walked in slow motion to the sink with his plate.

Jamie rolled his eyes, then left the kitchen

Jack chuckled as he dropped the dish into the sink and quickly followed Jamie out of the kitchen. The teen stopped as he caught sight of his staff that was propped up against the wall. Jack reached to take it, then hesitated, his hand just inches from the wooden surface.

If he left the staff here, there would an excuse as to why he needed to return home before going to meet with Haruto. He could delay whatever the ancient spirit had in store for him just a bit longer…

Jack shook his head, he couldn't chance being late in meeting with his crazy uncle. There was no telling if the spirit would punish Sam for his tardiness or not.

"Jack! Come on!"

Jamie's voice brought the winter spirit from his thought

"Coming!" Jack snatched up the staff, he cast one last glance at the stairs where his mother and sister had disappeared then he hurried after Jamie. The winter spirit already planning on just how he could slip away from the boy so he could meet Haruto without Jamie trying to stop him.

All right guys! Tell me what you guys thought of the chapter, I love hearing from you :)

I can't wait for what's coming ];) Till next time.