Hey guys! Sorry for the lateness. Hope everyone is having a great Easter :) Thank you for the reviews I love hearing from you guys and seeing how you are liking the story so far. Now without further delay, here's the next chapter. Enjoy.

(With Darkness)

Upon a small island rhythmic waves crashed upon miles of golden shore creating a melodious symphony. This concert continued past the sandy beaches into the dense jungle that lay just beyond the beach. Numerous sounds rang beneath a crisp canopy of trees, ranging from simply the wind in the leaves to the exotic tunes of tropical birds and animals who only existed upon the island itself.

For most, this array of sounds would have been peaceful. In fact, many would have found it to be quite relaxing however for Darkness who was walking beneath the shade of the canopy the sounds that surrounded him invoked just the opposite.

These noises sent ripples of fear through the young shade, who had no idea what any of them were. He could only imagine what twisted beasts lay hidden within the trees above or in the thick brush around him.

Not only was Darkness frightened by the unfamiliar surroundings another fact that added to his fear was that he was a prisoner being marched down a trail to gods knew where, by brutish creature's he had no memory of ever encountering.

"Why are these guys doing this?" Darkness whimpered slightly as he glanced back at the two creatures engrossed in conversation, "I haven't done anything to them…have I?"

At that the shade tried searching his memory for anything that would bring to light why this was happening to him. Darkness sighed when just as any time before the only thing he could remember was waking up in that house with Pitch and the others.

Speaking of Pitch…he needed to figure out where he was so he could somehow let the older shade know where to find him. Only…he had no idea where was.

Darkness managed to put aside his fear for a moment and look around his surroundings, trying to find anything that might give hint as to where he had been taken.

Just like before though, the dense trees offered nothing more than more questions.

"Where is this place?" silver eyes darted from side to side as Darkness walked the long trail that wound through the thick underbrush, "It feels a lot different than Tooth's place." A slight whimper escaped him, "It's a lot hotter."

Unfortunately for Darkness it wasn't just him that was feeling the effects of the heat.

"Mmmp!" a muffled yelp escaped the shade when he was suddenly grabbed by his arm and flung to the side. A grunt of pain followed Darkness hitting the ground full force. He managed to quickly roll to his side, the shade staring up in fear at his two captors that were sneering down at him.

Darkness cringed when Wureg loomed over him, he didn't try resisting as he was snatched up into a sitting position. A grunt of pain escaped him when he was roughly shoved against one of the trees that lined the trail.

"Now."

Darkness scrunched down when the creature sneered at him.

"You are going to sit here like a good little prisoner while we take a break."

Silver eyes closed when Kurag patted him on the head.

"If you're good I might let you have some water later."

"Don't lie to him Wurag." The other creature rolled his eyes as he rummaged through the bag he had slung onto the trail, "You know only the boss can command the vines, and I for one am not going to remove that gag. Not unless you want to be reduced to dust like Admiration."

Darkness was confused by the glance Wurag gave him, the young shade could feel the fear within the creature and what confused him was that it spoke to Darkness of just how fearful Wurag was of him.

"Why would they be afraid of me?" Darkness filled with questions as he watched Kurag sling the large satchel he held to the trail "Just what does removing the gag have to do with Admiration turning to dust? What is dust anyway? What was an Admiration?"

"Hey!"

Darkness jumped at the shout, he watched in surprise as Wureg stormed over to the other creature.

"Don't eat that Kurag! I brought it!"

"So, I've had to carry the pack this whole time so I get first dibs!"

A rustling in the brush snapped Darkness's attention from his arguing captors. The shade strained to see what had caused the noise, a chittering above him snapped his attention to the tree he was under.

Sitting above him on one of the tree's twisted branches was a small, winged creature, its brilliant red eyes staring at him with what Darkness could only describe as cruel delight. A shiver ran down Darkness's spine when it opened its mouth to grin at him revealing jagged teeth.

A low chittering escaped the creature, then it leapt nimbly from the branch down onto the bound shade.

Darkness didn't understand the feeling a dread that washed over him as the creature's sharp claws dug into him as it perched on his shoulder. He was scared of the two monsters that had taken him captive but the fear he felt at the sight of this small, winged creature was a million times worse…and he had no idea why.

A gleamed came to the creature's eyes suddenly, it chittered wildly then reached its clawed hand towards Darkness's face.

Of course, this sent Darkness's panic into overdrive "Mmmp!" the shade called out to his captors, as much as he feared them, this new creature terrified him.

"Hey! Get out of here you dirty imp!"

At Kureg's shout the creature let out a shriek and launched into the air, disappearing into the trees.

"Stupid little devils…thought they'd all left with Fam…"

Darkness didn't bother listening to the rest of what the creature was saying, instead he was scanning the trees for any sign that the imp might have hung around.

After a moment of quiet Darkness let out a sigh, satisfied that the creature had been scared off.

"Wonder why that thing made me feel like that?" Darkness shook his head, "Bet Pitch knows…" at the thought of the older shade a whimper escaped him, "I wonder if he went to Burgers?"

A proverbial pause came over Darkness

"Wait…not burgers." The shade made a face as he reevaluated his own thought, "What are burgers anyway? Some kind of animal, maybe? Wait, focus! What was I thinking of again?" Darkness shook his head trying to recall the correct word he was trying to think of.

A feeling of excitement came over him when it came to mind, "Burgess! That's where I was thinking of." Darkness beamed with pride that he had remembered, he grew even more excited when a thought came to him, "That's where he lives so Pitch has to return there at some point right?" The shade felt his pulse quicken when an idea suddenly came to him, "If I could somehow get a message there, then maybe that kid, Jake I think his name was, he can tell Pitch and then he'd come save me!"

So enthused with this potential idea of being rescued the shade didn't realize that his captors had finished their break and had gotten to their feet.

That is until Kurag towered over him.

"Didn't you hear me! I said get moving!"

Darkness's head snapped up when a crackling erupted in the air, he filled with panic when he realized that Kurag had gotten back out the black stick.

Kurag sneered, "Do you want a reminder of just what'll happen should you disobey orders?"

"Mmmph!" Darkness shook his head quickly as he scrambled to his feet. As soon as he was up Darkness nearly fell as he was pushed forward.

"Now march."

Darkness didn't have to be told twice, the poor shade not wanting to experience the pain that came from that strange weapon.

"That's better. See told you Wureg this guy was no big deal, we can han…"

Darkness stopped listening to the creatures, focused now on the trail he was being forced down. Though even as he walked in the back of his mind Darkness was praying that Pitch (or anyone really) would come rescue him from these horrible creatures that had abducted him.

(The Reflection Pool)

Unfortunately for Darkness back at Tooth's no one was even aware that he had been taken. In fact, the atmosphere around the palace was as normal as it got. Bright cheerful fairies flitted in and out of the many glass-less windows the tiny fae going and coming from their jobs of gathering teeth from around the world.

Within a large meadow just past the main palace five elephants had landed, the beasts large ivory tusks glinting as they used their trunks to gather the different flowers and grasses for their after-migration snack.

Toothiana had come out to greet them, the Fae Queen having finished her conversation with Pitch an hour ago. She spoke with the creatures of their travels as well as what was current with the Guardians since their migration away from the Palace.

These events included the infamous battle with the Nightmare King, the induction of the newest Guardian Jack Frost (here some of the small fae swooned much to the amusement of the large creatures), to the discovery of Pitch and Jack's linage.

Further from the palace and the conversation there, at the Reflection Pool Paro had finished gathering the last of the berries Tala needed for the dinner she was going to make.

"Will this be enough?" Paro held his basket outwards for the Dryad to look at, to his surprise she didn't respond instead her face held a thoughtful expression, "Ms. Tala? Is everything ok?"

His question seemed to snap her out of whatever was on her mind.

"Oh, sorry sweetie." Tala smiled (though Paro could tell it was forced), "What did you ask?"

"Is…is everything ok?" Paro glanced around, worried that she had sensed some kind of danger.

"Yes, of course." Tala nodded quickly, "I was…I was just thinking is all."

Paro frowned; ever since she had returned from going up the trail earlier the Dryad had been acting strange. He could tell that she was troubled about something however before he could ask again a smile came to Tala's face.

"Oh, that's a lot of berries Paro." Tala motioned at the basket he held, "I believe that should be plenty for tonight's dessert. We should return to the palace." Tala smiled as she held up the full basket in her hand, "I need to get started cooking."

At that the teen forgot about his worries, "Oh can I help?" Paro bounced beside her as Tala started towards the main trail, "I am pretty good in the kitchen."

Tala chuckled at the boy's excitement, "Of course Paro, I could use a bit of help."

Paro frowned when she turned in the opposite direction they had come, "Ummm Ms. Tala isn't the palace back that way?"

"It is Paro." Tala motioned up the trail where a lone stone podium stood, the structure in stark contrast to the green around it, "But the Return Rune is up there." She grinned, "I do not know about you, but I don't feel like walking all the way back with these heavy baskets."

A grin came to the Changeling's face, "I didn't think when you said there was one out here it would be this close." Paro grew increasing more excited as they near the podium, the teen having never been allowed to use the Rune stones during his time as Neela's slave.

Tala startled when they reached the platform and a blur rushed by her, she simply shook her head in humor as the Changeling inspected every inch of stone.

"Oh, this so cool!" Paro's eyes shifted rapidly between greens, blues, and pinks "I never knew Transport Runes could simply be carved into normal stone." He glanced at Tala who had caught up, "The one's that Queen Neela had were always carved within gemstones."

"That doesn't surprise me. She sounds like a vain soul." Tala snorted as she stepped to the stone, to Paro she offered a smile "Runes can be carved into anything Paro, as long as the incantation is spoken correctly the runes will activate no matter what they are placed on."

Paro cocked his head slightly, "Even if they are covered?"

"That's right." Tala nodded as she ran a hand over the ancient letters that were hollowed out within the stone, "Now it will be just a moment Paro, I have to gather a bit of energy before activating these." A sigh escaped her, "It was easier when we were closer to the palace since the magic there is a lot stronger then out here."

Paro waited as Tala closed her eyes and began concentrating on the energy around. After a moment though the boy felt the familiar tug of curiosity that dwelled within all teens.

So without much thought Paro stepped away from the podium and began exploring the area.

The teen wasn't surprised to see that there wasn't really anything aside from the Return Rune that stood out. In fact, everything here was the same, same grass, same flowers, same blustering wind….

At that last one Paro rushed towards the air flow, instantly he felt his heart in his throat as he came to a drop off. He would never have noticed it if it had not been for him sensing the air current that was rising upwards from the valley below. He glanced back at the podium, noting that Tala was still focusing on the energy needed to activate the rune.

Cautiously Paro stepped to ledge, his eyes shifted from bright green to blue as he stared at the tiny specks of trees beneath the layer of clouds below.

A familiar rise of adrenaline stirred within the Changeling as he fixated on the ground far below.

Air rushed upwards from the land below, ruffling the spikes that ran along Paro's arms. A tingling rippled along the teen's shoulder blades. How many times had he stepped from cliffs back home, simply to spread his wings at the last second trusting them to stop his descent?

Paro's eyes swirled with a mixture of color, how long had he gone without that sensation? How long had he been allowed the chance to touch the sky? How long had it been since he had the opportunity to spread his wings in freedom?

So entranced by his thoughts Paro didn't realize that his feet had begun to move, his steps taking him closer and closer to edge until…

"Paro!"

The Changeling froze, his foot in mid-step over the edge.

"Paro, sweetie." Tala's voice was soft as she stepped slowly towards the teen, "Just take a step back ok?"

At her words Paro shook his head as if he were coming out of a trance, his face paled when he realized what he had almost done.

"Paro what were you thinking?" Tala's voice was gentle as she slowly made her way to the now trembling teen.

"I…I…I forgot I don't have wings anymore!" Paro's breath hitched in throat, "The wind felt so good! And I just remembered flying…the sensation of being free…and and…" tears began falling from the boy's now bright teal eyes, "It hurts so much!" a sob escaped even though Paro was trying his hardest to hold it back, "It's not fair! It's not fair that Neela took them away! It's not f…" Paro didn't finish before he was in engulfed in Tala's arms, it was too much, and the teen collapsed into her chest.

"Shhhh, I know, I know." Tala's voice was calm as she stroked the now sobbing teen's hair. She didn't say anything else, simply allowing the Changeling to cry in the shelter of her embrace.

For a countless moment they stood there, neither saying a word, then Paro pushed away from her slowly.

"Paro?" Tala's voice was gentle as she studied the teen now stepping back.

"I…I'm ok now Ms. Tala." The teen's cracked slightly as he used his sleeve to wipe his eyes, "Everything…just hit me all of a sudden."

"Listen sweetie, I know you are trying to be brave." Tala smiled as she placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, "But you do not have to feel like you are going through this alone. Both Toothiana and I are here for you should you ever need to talk."

Paro's lip trembled, "Th...thank you Ms. Tala."

Tala smiled as she gave the teen's hand a squeeze, she then motioned towards the podium, "Now how about we head back and get started on supper?"

Paro grinned, glad that she was moving on past what had happened, "Yes mam!" the Changeling filled with excitement as they started back to the Transport Rune, even though he still missed his home immensely he couldn't wait to get back to the palace he had come to know and love.

(With Jack)

Miles upon miles away, in a place very few souls had ever stepped foot Jack would have loved to have also been back in a place that he knew.

Once the fire that had wrapped around him had died the winter spirit had been caught off guard to find himself in a whole new setting.

No longer was he surrounded by trees that seemed to stretch on in every direction, instead Jack found himself corralled by walls of white stones, that ran indefinitely in either direction.

Jack hissed when he took a step forward and hot agony rippled through his soles, "What is under this floor?" blue eyes gleamed at the sight of the brilliant red stone under his feet, "Lava?"

"You are not far off nephew."

Instantly at Haruto's voice the heat in his feet was forgotten, instinctively Jack leapt forward then spun around his staff held out defensively.

"Whoa there Jack." Haruto held up his hands in mock surrender, "I'm not going to hurt you."

"Is that so?" Jack glowered, "You could have fooled me."

"You wound me!" Haruto held a hand to his heart, "I have been nothing but kind this entire time!"

"Oh, so you call grabbing me by my neck and slamming me into a tree kind?"

Haruto rubbed the back of his neck, "Ok maybe I was a bit…"

"Or the maybe it was being 'kind' when you almost killed my dad!"

A broad grin came to Haruto's face, "Key word there is 'almost'."

"Ugh! You are impossible!" Jack yelled in frustration, there was no talking to this man.

"I am not." Haruto pouted, "I am a very reasonable person."

"Yes, any 'reasonable' person kidnaps somebody and tortures them just so you can get someone to talk to you!" Jack didn't care that his voice echoed off the walls, passing down the corridor like a shot.

"What can I say?" Haruto shrugged, "My father never taught me social skills…and you've seen what my mother is like…" a smirk came to his face, "So is it any surprise I'm not that good at talking to people?"

Jack glared, "That's no excuse."

"But Jack, your friend has been having such a 'great' time in the dungeons." Golden eyes gleamed, "I mean, at this very moment I am sure he's 'burning' with excitement at what fun he's going to have next."

Jack narrowed his eyes at the grin that came to the spirit's face, "I should wipe that smile off your face."

"That would be interesting to see." Haruto chuckled as if he found the idea funny, "Perhaps you'll get the chance."

Jack stiffened when the spirit started walking towards him, to his surprise Haruto simply continued past as if unconcerned he was even there.

"However, before you can we need to leave the place." Haruto sneered as he glanced back, "Now come along, or do I need to see if Sam can handle another round of 'fun'?"

Jack ground his teeth when his uncle didn't bother to see if he was following, since the man was certain that as long as Sam was his hostage Jack would do as he said.

The winter spirit hated that Haruto was right.

A tense silence settled in the hall as the two of them walked, the occasional crackling of torch fire the only sound to be heard.

After a while though the teen couldn't take the silence

Jack glanced around the corridor, noting that there were no windows allowing him to see outside, "So, where are we, exactly?"

"At the current moment we are crossing through the Roshan Path." Haruto motioned to the walls, "It was built millennia ago by a very powerful spirit to create a way for others to reach his palace."

Jack rolled his eyes at the almost visible pride within the man's voice, "Let me guess, that powerful spirit was you?"

"How did you know?" Haruto glanced back faking shock, "Can you view the past as I can the future?"

Instead of humoring his uncle Jack decided to keep the conversation going.

"So?" Jack asked half heartily as he stopped to inspect one of the black metal torch holders that lined the way, "What did you mean earlier when you said I wasn't far off with the lava?"

"Oh that, well see you are kind of right yet wrong." Haruto chuckled when the teen let out an exasperated huff "I'm just saying that you are right in the fact it is hot like lava, but it's not lava." Haruto glanced back "It's plasma."

Jack paused mid-step, "Wait plasma? Like blood?"

"Hmmm I've never thought of it that way." Haruto stopped walking, rubbing his chin as thinking, "I suppose you could think of it as blood in a sense. Considering it's at the core of my home." A grin came to his face, "I like it, it's the 27-million-degree life blood of my palace."

"What…" the teen had to hurry to catch up with his uncle who had started walking again, 'Just where is this palace of yours anyways?"

"The Sun."

"You told me that joke already." Jack rolled his eyes as they turned the bend and continued down the seemingly never-ending hall, "Really where is it?"

"Did I stutter? It's the Sun." Haruto snorted, "Kids these days and their loud music ruining their eardrums…."

The winter spirit ignored the last part since he was focused on the first.

"You are telling me…. your palace is on 'the' Sun?" Jack was having a hard time believing what his uncle was saying, "You've got to lying."

Haruto smirked, "Ok you got me. It's not actually on the Sun."

Jack huffed; he was about to tell his uncle off but before he could the teen had to put on the proverbial brakes when Haruto suddenly stopped walking.

"It's actually inside it."

"Whoa…." Jack stared at the large iron door that now stood before them.

The entire archway was lined by flickering torches, the flames casting an eerie glow over the gold etched runes that covered the door's surface. Glinting green pulled his attention to the jade chains that crossed over each other in an intricate pattern, each link ending within a large gold lock that was embedded within the middle of the door.

"Wait…" the winter spirit was pulled suddenly from his awe of the door before by what Haruto had said, "Are you trying to tell me that this door leads inside the Sun!"

"Yep." Haruto nodded as he took the lock in his hand, "I thought it'd be the best place. Quiet, remote…" the spirit grinned as he glanced back, "not to mention nearly impossible for anyone to get in or out of without my say so."

A shiver went down Jack's spine, he understood what his uncle meant. He was stuck here until Haruto was ready to let him leave…if that ever happened.

A resounding click echoed in the air like a shot, bringing Jack from his thought. He stared at the lock now dangling open.

"Ummmm you do know I'm a winter, right?" Jack unconsciously took a step back as Haruto began pushing the door open.

"What? Are you serious!" Haruto turned around, his face full of shock, "I could have sworn you were a Naiad!"

Blue eyes narrowed at the grin that came to the man's face.

"Though I should have known better since you really don't do well with water, do you?"

Jack's fist tightened around his staff, "You're such an ass!"

"Ok, ok that was a bit uncalled for." Haruto waved a hand at the teen, "I apologize." The man then smiled, "But in all honesty Jack, you shouldn't be affected negatively while staying here. My palace may be in the Sun, but I have a great air conditioning unit." A sigh escaped him as the spirit started through the door, "Though I must say the power bill is through the roof! I mean I should probably switch to a dif…"

Jack stared as his uncle disappeared into the blackness of the opening, he glanced back the way they had come the torch lite corridor suddenly very inviting…

"Coming Jack?" Haruto's voice echoed from within, the man's tone indicating it wasn't really a question.

The winter spirit inhaled, he had no choice but to follow his uncle in…though he had no way of knowing if he'd ever leave again.

Please review and let me know what you think of the story so far. I love hearing from you guys and seeing your reviews. I am really excited for what's coming ];) Until next time.