Hey guys, sorry for the delay. I got locked out of my account for a bit and could not for the life of me remember my password. Then for some reason my email was not accepting the link to change it. Ugh I nearly had a panic attack thinking I would have to create a new account and reupload everything -_-. Thankfully, that didn't happen! Love the reviews by the way, thank you for reading :) Now without further ado, here is the next chapter. Enjoy.

(North Pole)

At the top of the world powder white snow stretched for as far as the eye could see.

Sounds of cracking ice rippled through otherwise quiet darkness. This occasional noise offered a semblance of life in an otherwise lifeless landscape. Well, for the most part it was lifeless, near a large glacier alight with brilliant colors of teal and gleaming gold, that was another story.

This glacier had become a beacon amid the cold harshness of the land around it, though it wasn't the glacier in particular that was the reason for this. No, the reason lay with the fact that North had decided to build his infamous Workshop inside said glacier and it was the lights and warmth of this wonderous place that stood out against an otherwise frozen wasteland.

Inside however one soul for once was not reveling in awe of the Workshop and the wonders it held. Instead, the young teen was sitting on a raised bed within one of the infirmary rooms.

"It's just a few scratches North really." Faine's voice was a mere whisper as he watched the Guardian move around the room.

"That may be true." North clicked his tongue as he turned from the cabinet he had opened, "But are scratches caused by demon claw." The Cossack returned his attention back to the contents within the cabinet, "If not treated could become infected easy."

Faine sighed, he had seen all too often wounds caused by demon or imp claw (or fang) become infected within the Vaults. Those poor souls wasted away in piteous sobbing shadows of themselves racked with fever and agony.

So, the Dryad knew that North wasn't just being over cautious in insisting he come to the infirmary to get treated. But even though it was necessary, Faine still felt a bit ashamed that North was having to go through so much trouble for him.

"It's no trouble at all ребенок."

The teen's eyes widened as North started over to him, "How did…"

"You are having same face as Ahio when the boy worries he is being burden." North chuckled, "I tell you same as him." Here the Guardian wagged a finger, "It is not burden to take care of others."

Faine startled when the man rested a hand on his shoulder, he glanced into caring blue eyes.

"Now, no more of this worrying ya?" North smiled when the teen nodded, his face then grew serious, "Ok let's remove shirt and take look at wounds."

Faine hesitated, he knew taking off the shirt was going to aggravate the wounds there. However, he also knew that North wouldn't be able to properly dress them with the shirt in the way so with a sigh the teen did as was asked. A slight whimper escaped Faine when just as he had thought the dried blood pulled his skin as the fabric was pulled upwards.

"Faine if it is hurting…"

"I am ok really." Faine forced a smile when he saw the concern now on North's face, "The shirts gotta come off one way or the other right?"

"That is true." North returned the teen's smile as the boy continued, despite the obvious pain the action caused him. A feeling of anger swelled within the spirit when Faine finished removing the shirt and he saw just how bad the injuries were.

In the middle of Faine's sternum area, were five puncture wounds that formed a perfect half circle. It looked to North as if Kreager had purposely flexed so that his claws dug as deep as they possibly could. He glanced over at a large machine that held a lighted image of the teen's chest.

A slight rustling brought North from his exam, he glanced at Faine noting the look of worry on the boy's face as the teen tried to decipher the image. North offered a smile, "It is not as bad as first thought. Though deep, x-ray shows no damage to organ or bone."

Faine let out a breath of relief, he winced when he saw North grab a bottle of liquid, "I thought you said it wasn't bad?"

"I said they are not as bad as I thought." North chuckled slightly, "They are still needing to be cleaned and covered."

"W…will it hurt?" Faine hated that his voice quivered, but he couldn't help it. In the Vaults demons weren't exactly the kindest when patching up injuries.

North gave the teen a sympathetic smile, "It will hurt for moment yes." He shook the bottle slightly, "But I will be using special mineral water that will aide in healing and keeping out infection…" the spirit poured a generous amount of the liquid onto a cloth he held, "You will be top tip shape before you know it."

"O..ok." Faine tried to keep his breathing under control as North gently began wiping around the first wound.

A silence settled over the room as North focused on his task, and Faine focused on trying to block out the pain that came when the water was carefully poured into one of the wounds.

After a moment though North broke the quiet.

"I am being surprised at just how deep these are." North's voice hinged with anger, "Kreager had to have put extreme pressure down when causing them." Here the spirit's tone held regret "I am to be kicking self for not reaching you before this happened."

"It's not your fault." Faine spoke quickly, not wanting the Guardian to blame himself, "Besides these are nothing compared to some of the injuries Kreager gave me when I was in the Vaults."

Faine had meant that as a means of comfort but instantly knew North had not taken it that way when a dark look came to the Guardian's face.

"Should have taken demon's arms off when I had the chance. I should have…"

A sudden horrid thought came to Faine as North continued to speak of just how much he should have punished Kreager.

What if North hated him for saving the demon? Maybe that was the true reason he had not been allowed to go see Ahio first after returning to the Workshop.

Faine's heart clenched in his chest as his mind continued to race.

What if North told Bunny that he shouldn't be trusted because he had saved the very creature that had come to attack the Pole? What if Bunny agreed and kicked him out of the Warren and sent him to an orphanage?

"Faine…"

The teen's attention jerked back to North, who now wore a worried expression.

"Try to calm down." the Guardian had halted mid wipe, "Your breathing is too fast." North pulled back, "Is it because of pain?"

"No no it's not that." Faine quickly shook his head, "I…" he stopped and hung his head, not sure how to explain to the Guardian what he was feeling.

North was confused by the boy's sudden shut down, "Faine, what is wrong?"

"I am sorry!" Faine couldn't help but shout the words, "I don't know why I did it!"

North startled when the boy lifted his head and tears were pouring down his face.

"I promise I am not a traitor! I promise!" a hiccup escaped Faine who was now sobbing "Please don't tell Bunny to send me away!"

For a terrible moment North just stared at him in silence and Faine was certain that he had hit the nail on the head and that North had already been thinking about doing just that.

"Oh ребенок!" North's voice held a tone of shock, "Whatever gave that idea!"

"Because I saved Kreager's life." Faine whimpered as he hung his head again, "I know I shouldn't have; I know it was wrong…" the teen startled when his chin was lifted up gently, he stared into North's eyes that reflected nothing but kindness and surprisingly, pride.

"Saving life is never wrong." North smiled, "Life is sacred, and it is duty of Guardians to protect it, no matter if person is bad or good."

Faine blinked, the teen not really having been expecting that answer, "But…but what if by saving him I've given Kreager another chance to hurt someone?"

"Then it will be his sin, not yours Faine." North's voice was gentle as he laid the cloth and now empty bottle on the side table.

"But North, Kreager is evil!" Faine shuddered, "He has hurt so many people…has done so much…"

"That is true." North nodded as he reached for a container, "But it is also true that you are a good soul that could not sit idle and watch a helpless person be killed." The spirit smiled, "Sometimes it is better to show enemies mercy than to render out judgment." North then wagged a finger, "However in fight sometimes you have no choice in matter."

Faine started to ask just what he meant when North waved a hand.

"Now no more of that Faine." North's voice turned cheerful again, "You are not in wrong at all. In fact, I am very proud of you and Bunny will be too."

The teen perked at that, "You really think so?"

"I know so." North grinned as he opened the lid of the container.

Faine wrinkled his nose when a floral smell reached it, "What is that?"

North chuckled at the teen's reaction, "It is special cream created specifically for Dryads. It aides in healing."

"Wow…" Faine instantly felt the heat of the wounds begin to cool the moment the ointment was applied, "Where did you ever get this?"

"Well to be honest it was back in my bandit days." North grinned when the boy's eyes lit up with excitement.

"Can you tell me about it North?" Faine could barely contain himself, "Please?"

North nodded as he continued to dress the boy's injuries, "It all began the night my second in command came into tent with news of treas…."

As Faine listened to the tale of mystery, danger, and adventure both he and North were unaware of just how far reaching Faine's act of mercy would go.

(Isle of Abhor)

Far from the cold top of the world Darkness would have loved any kind of mercy he could have. Unfortunately for the shade the beings that had captured him had little or none to give.

So instead of hoping for something that wasn't about to be given, Darkness had been trying desperately trying to recall what he could have done to warrant being abducted in the first place.

So far though the poor shade had drawn a blank.

And to make matters even worse, not only did he not understand why this was happening to him the poor spirit had no idea where he was, and there was nothing that gave Darkness any indication.

Everything around seemed to be one endless scene of the same thing. Nothing but trees, upon trees, and perhaps the occasional glimpse of a strange creature or two. Though to his relief Darkness had yet to see another imp (as he now knew it was called) amongst the branches above.

"I'm glad I caught you!"

Darkness's attention immediately left his surroundings and went to the new voice that had come from up ahead, he stopped walking at the sight of the small green creature now rushing towards him.

"Keep moving!"

Darkness startled when he was suddenly shoved forward, losing his balance from the force.

A low thud echoed in the air as the bound spirit landed heavily onto the path.

"Get up moron!"

Darkness tried to get to his feet as Kurag towered over him, knowing that the creature was going to lash out if he didn't.

Unfortunately, he wasn't fast enough.

A muffled cry escaped Darkness when Kurag grabbed his arm and he was yanked upwards. Darkness staggered from the motion but thankfully managed to stay on his feet. He glanced pleadingly at the small creature that had reached them by that time.

Any hope that the newcomer was on his side dissipated when a cruel sneer came to its face.

"Jeeze Kurag, you need to be taught how to handle a tied-up spirit?"

"Do you have a death wish Pitran?" Kurag growled as he took a step forward.

To Darkness's surprise the creature (Pitran the shade corrected himself) didn't even flinch.

"Hey, just saying." A smirk came to Pitran's face, "Trolls are well known to not be the brightest of mythics."

"So, these two are trolls?" Darkness stopped listening to the two now quarreling, the shade excited to be learning the name of the creatures that had captured him. The shade glanced at the smaller being, "Wonder if he's a troll too? He's smaller than they are but looks pretty similar."

"…that's it!"

Darkness was brought from his thoughts by Kurag's roar of anger.

"You're dead you little goblin!"

The shade perked at the new word; Darkness excited that he now knew what the little creature was too.

Though it seemed as Kurag took a step forward he had learned the species of the smaller creature just before it was going to be killed.

Before Kurag could carry out his threat, Wureg stepped in.

"Just stop it you two!" the troll's voice held a note of impatience, "Start walking Darkness."

The shade didn't have to be told twice, not wanting to give Wureg any excuse to get that stick thing out again. Darkness quickly started down the path, silently listening to the conversation now being had behind him.

"So, just why did you come out here Pitran?" Wureg's voice held an underlying tone of anger, "I'm certain the Boss wasn't worried about us not being able to handle the job."

"Ya right, I was just giving Kurag a hard time." A low chuckle left the goblin at the growl from said troll echoed in the air "In all seriousness though the Boss sent me to tell you to be sure and get Darkness straight into a cell once you reach the castle."

A low snarl escaped Kurag, "What does the Boss think we'd do? Take him for a tour of the place?"

Pitran shrugged his shoulders, "Look I'm just the messenger."

"Why'd the Boss send you all the way out here just to tell us that?" Wureg didn't sound as upset, "Any special reason?"

"Yeah, it would seem Arkin stopped by unannounced, and Boss is worried that if the guy saw Darkness, he'd want to buy him."

"Buy me?" Darkness wasn't sure if that was better or worse than being put in a 'cell' since he had no idea what either thing meant.

Though he didn't really have time to dwell on trying to figure it out, since just at that moment he stepped from the path into the middle of a clearing, void of all but a few trees.

However, it wasn't the lack of trees that really caught the young shade off guard, no it was the structure that stood in the middle of the clearing.

Darkness was certain he had never seen anything like it before.

It resembled Pitch's home, only much larger and much, much more ominous.

Dark grey stone made up the walls that reached high into the sky, the rock even made up the four towering structures that were erected upon each corner. Scattered amongst the stone Darkness could see hollow places within the walls as if someone had begun making a window but forgot to finish (the one's at Pitch's home had clear stuff he had called glass in them).

"Wonder why that looks like that?" Darkness narrowed his eyes at the fact the ground seemed to slope downwards around the bottom of the large building. He had little time to ponder the question since just a few seconds later he felt his captor's presence behind him.

"Ugh thank the gods we're back at the castle!" Kurag huffed as he shifted the pack he held, "Thought we'd be tramping through that stupid jungle all day." the ogre glanced at Darkness, "Don't stop, you got a date with a cell."

Darkness didn't resist as he was shoved forward instead his mind was racing with all the new information he was gaining "Oh so it's a castle."

Silver eyes stared at the structure with a new sense of wonder as he drew closer to it "I think it must be different than where Pitch lived, he called that place a house."

The young shade cocked his head slightly, "I wonder what's the difference between the t…"

The spirit stopped mid thought as he stepped from the grass onto hard ground.

Darkness stared down at his feet which were no longer on dirt but seemed to be now standing on a flat sheet of dull black though he could see bits of silver flecks within.

"What is this stuff?" Darkness was fascinated by the new material, so much so that he forgot he was supposed to be walking.

"Do not stop on the drawbridge. Keep moving."

At the gravelly voice Darkness's head shot up, he stared in shock at the large rock creature staring down from a top the right tower.

How could rocks talk? How had the thing got up there? Could it fly?

Darkness had so many questions, but unfortunately, with the thick vines between his teeth he really couldn't ask them. Though Darkness figured the trolls wouldn't bother even if he wasn't gagged. Instead, he'd file them away for later for when Pitch came to save him.

Until then Darkness decided he'd follow the thing's instructions.

A sense of unease settled over the shade as he began across the bridge and low rumblings underneath him suddenly filled the air. The shade was confused as to why he could hear sloshing from beneath.

"Ha, sounds like the crocs are excited."

Darkness glanced over at Pitran, he filled with confusion when he saw the creature looking over the side of the bridge.

"Oh, this thing is above some kind of animal." Darkness beamed inwardly that he had figured that out himself instead of having to be told. He wanted to go see these 'crocs' that were making such a ruckus, however Darkness didn't dare stop walking for fear that he'd be reprimanded for doing so.

Darkness quickly turned his attention back to the gaping doorway; a shiver ran through him as he approached the yawning blackness.

Instinctively he halted at the threshold, Darkness could feel ripples in the air. They sent a sensation not unlike what had happened to him when Wureg had used the black stick. Only this time instead of causing pain Darkness felt strangely energized.

"Unless you want to be reminded of what happens when you don't listen…."

Darkness's focus left the unseen waves at Wureg's voice, his heart began racing when he realized the troll was right behind him. A sense of panic took hold when the troll's hand rested on his shoulder.

"You will not stop again, until you are told."

Darkness winced when the creature's grip tightened, on his shoulder.

"Do I make myself clear?"

"Mmms." Darkness quickly nodded his understanding. He let out a breath of relief when the troll simply growled and moved on ahead of him. Silver eyes stared a moment at the doorway, then Darkness steeled his nerves and stepped into the 'castle'.

(With Jack)

Just as Darkness was taking his own steps forward into the unknown, billions of light years away a certain winter spirit was taking his.

Though unlike Darkness, Jack was certain he knew what to expect as he entered into his uncle's palace.

Flames writhing and dancing as they turned everything around them into molten rivers of red.

Towering walls of fire

Heat so intense it would steal the breath from your lungs.

Upon stepping through the doorway however, Jack could only stare in utter shock at his surroundings…

Before him lay a rectangular room, longer than it was wide.

However, it wasn't the oddly shaped room, nor the immense size of it that caught the winter spirit off guard.

No, it was what was lacking that had him perplexed.

Instead of uncontrolled fire, flickering tendrils of orange and yellow were contained within small golden lanterns that hung from iron holders.

Instead of towering walls of fire, on either side of him were walls that looked identical to the ones of the path he had just exited from.

Instead of unbearable heat the air was cool and strangely refreshing.

"Close your mouth nephew or fire wyrms will nest in it."

At Haruto's voice Jack was brought from his shock, he stared at his uncle who had glanced back at him with a cheeky grin, "But…I… you said your palace was in the Sun!"

"It is." Haruto cocked his head as if he could not understand how the teen could still not believe him.

"But…it doesn't…" Jack's eye twitched, "Where are the flames?!"

"That's what you want?" Haruto scrunched his eyebrows, "I try to keep the majority of my power outside the walls." A grin spread across his face, "Since most of the time company tends to 'disintegrate' if I let it go unchecked."

"Wait…are you telling me." Jack shook his head, trying to grasp what he had heard, "Are you telling me that the Sun, our Sun, is really just your power?"

"Well, it's technically just a smidge." Haruto held his fingers so they were almost touching as a demonstration, "I have left behind much larger pockets in other galaxies."

Jack stared at his Uncle, the teen not sure if the man was joking or not.

Haruto didn't seem at all bothered by the teen's lack of belief.

"But enough of the ins and outs of discarded life force." Haruto waved a hand, "How about I give you a tour?"

At that Jack immediately forgot about his inquiry, "Wait, what?"

"Well, I thought that before you and I have our little talk you'd like to take a look around."

"This guy is absolutely insane." The winter spirit shook his head as he had to hurry to keep up as the spirit didn't wait for his response and started walking through the room.

"…is the Great Hall." Haruto was saying as he commenced without even bothering to see if the teen had followed, "As you can see the Roshan blends perfectly into the entrance, giving it an almost continuous feel."

Blue eyes rolled at the smug pride in his uncles voice, "Yes, because that's what one is really worried about when they go to the 'Sun' and discover a flipping palace within its very core. Does the path fit in with the entrance?"

"I know right?" Haruto missed the sarcasm, "I was going to use a different stone but decided that I liked the uniformity." The man waved a hand as they neared the end of the room, "Though I did decide to use different stone for some places."

Jack glanced at the wall where his uncle had motioned, a large archway opened up into another corridor lined this time with gleaming white walls.

"I went with a white granite in the East wing." Haruto spoke as he strolled into the hall, "I thought it went nice with the fact my study and libraries were built here."

Jack ignored his uncle as they passed several cracked doors, the teen could partially see shelves within. The winter spirit wasn't that interested in books though Pitch would have had a field day.

At the thought of his brother Jack instantly felt guilt gnaw at him, the pained expression on the Nightmare King's face as the flames separated them came back to the forefront of his mind. He could only imagine the hell Pitch was raising trying to find him.

"Come see."

Jack's attention jerked at the cold voice that drifted through his mind, he glanced at Haruto but his uncle was prattling on about the design of the marble columns within the hall. The man giving no indication he had heard anything.

"Child of New, bear witness to truth."

A pulsing teal strobed from beneath a closed door they had just passed, with a hesitant glance at Haruto (who had continued walking, not noticing the teen's stop), Jack hurried to the door.

Not that he wanted to follow orders mind you, but his curiosity was peeked by the voice and just what it was wanting to show him.

Cautiously Jack turned the knob, surprised to find it click as if it had unlocked.

A slight screech filled the air as Jack pushed open the door, once he peered inside though Jack couldn't help the disappointment that came over him.

It was just a normal room, set up as he had seen lots of studies within business people's homes or office.

The teen stepped inside, determined to find out something that would warrant his attention.

After a few moments however Jack let out a huff, aside from an ornate desk and a shelf of thousands of books there wasn't much in the space that really caught his eye.

Well, that is until he turned and caught glimpse of a large painting that hung on the far wall.

Jack narrowed his eyes as he stepped towards the framed piece, he stopped almost mid step once he was within range to see what had been painted upon the canvas.

A blazing battlefield of fire, blood, and bleached bones flickered with gory detail within the light of the four torches that surrounded the frame. Upon the fields soaked red countless mythics, spirits, and even humans lay broken and mangled.

Amongst the midst of them, in hellish glory stood Chand. The man's body wrapped in obsidian triangular scales that twisted and twined the entirety of his body like vines. Two horns twisted upwards with the sulfurous black smoke around him; their tips streaked with crimson.

Jack's eyes were drawn instantly to the eight small horns that protruded around his father's head, each one gleaming a different hue of color.

"Jack?" Haruto's voice was accompanied by the sound of the door opening.

Jack ignored his uncle, the winter spirit not able to take his eyes off the image, his stomach turning as he took in more and more gruesome detail that spoke volumes of just who it was that had razed the battlefield.

The teen startled when a hand rested on his shoulder, he glanced sideways into surprisingly sympathetic golden eyes.

"What…what is this?" Jack's voice trembled as he allowed himself to be gently moved away towards the door.

"Just a relic of the past." Haruto didn't bother to look, the man knowing just what the teen was asking about. "It is nothing for you to concern yourself with."

As they entered into the hallway Jack shivered, "It's just a picture, right?" the teen couldn't help the desperation that snuck into his voice, "It didn't really happen right?"

For a moment Haruto stood still, as if he were warring within himself about the answer to give. Slowly a smile came to his face, "Of course Jack, it's just a silly painting that I had made of your father to scare the locals into hating him."

Jack could hear the lie within his uncle's voice, he started to say something when the man turned and continued down the hallway.

"Now past the East wing we will come to the Mid-Section where I decided to have the guest bedroom's placed. You have not seen luxury until you have seen them nephew! I went with sil…"

As he followed Haruto further into the palace Jack's attention was torn between listening as his uncle continued to prattle on about the different rooms and the painting that he had just saw.

Jack wasn't in the least fooled by what Haruto had said, instead it brought even more questions. However, the winter spirit wasn't sure he wanted to know the answers to them.

So, the teen pushed them down like everything else and focused instead on memorizing how to get back to the entrance of this place since Jack had a sneaking suspicion that his uncle wasn't going to assist in him and Sam's leaving.

Oh, if he had only known the truth behind that thought…

Hope you guys enjoyed :) Please review and let me know what you thought. I love hearing from you. Till next time.