This chapter is a bit of a filibuster. Still, take my word for it, it's just before the final fight. This is getting good. Of course I'll take your opinions on that. Enjoy!
"What happened, Ema? Where were you?" asked Kayla.
"I got the wind knocked out of me, that's why I was late. Don't worry though; I was just waiting until Shadow-britches showed himself, that way I could get the jump on him," I said confidently. My glow faded as I stared down the nightmare king. Pitch laughed.
"Ema, you believe you're going to win? You may have gotten a confidence boost and a few new believers, but that doesn't mean you have what it takes to beat me."
"Maybe not," I shrugged. "Of course I know one thing, belief is a powerful thing. It has the very power to change the tides."
Water began to crash down from the rooftops. I trapped my friends within a bubble and back flipped on top of it. My waves washed away the nightmares in front of us. Pitch unfortunately avoided my waves and threw a javelin at the bubble popping it. I quickly made a wall so no black sand would hit the group.
"Those tricks won't work on me, Ema," Pitch grinned; time to play a different tactic.
"That's news to me, I'm learning a lot about you tonight, Pitch."
"Is that so," said Pitch.
"Of course…I've always wondered why you so obsessed with me. I mean come on, it's "me." You said yourself, I'm horrible. I'm a nuisance, a pain, an annoyance, a grievance to anyone who knows me. Why would you want me on your side? I'd probably be the same towards you."
"Would you?" said Pitch.
"I'm annoying, right Jack."
"It grows on you," said Jack. "You're also not annoying to me so much."
"Why would that be, Ema?" asked Pitch.
"Why are we suddenly talking about me?" I said while starting to turn white.
"It's because he's your friend, it's that simple."
"And you were hoping you could be that instead? You're an old man, old man! Not to mention creepy, and a tad clingy, with unresolved anger issues and you're a jealous type!"
"What makes you say that?" he said, slightly annoyed. I got him. I grinned like the Cheshire Cat.
"As soon as you heard I was going to be the next guardian, and figured out I was a friend of Jack's, not to mention how lonely and alone I was for years, you decided to approach me. You tried your bargaining deal a tad earlier than with Jack, hoping I would say yes if I wasn't approached yet by anyone else. Besides fears, you're terrible at reading people."
"I may have been a little hasty, but I had a point; who is truly on your side Ema Fay?! The guardians, they need you, but they are annoyed with you. If they had the choice they would not pick you, no one would." That comment shook me, as it did, the wall shimmered.
"I would," said Jack. He took my free hand and clasped it firmly. I smiled.
"As would I," said Kayla. She came and stood beside me.
"We would too," I heard the elf perk up as she stepped forward.
"We might not know much about her, but from what we've seen she's amazing," said the doctor. "We believe in her." I smiled and with that smile came a glow that strengthened my wall.
"Sure, but those friendships you rely on are very flimsy. Seeds of doubt cause it to break apart. Isn't that right, Jack?" I looked to Jack, he looked forlorn.
"He came back to me, like a true friend would," I said defiantly. "It's true I kept secrets from him and that didn't help, but I wasn't used to having friends, I made mistakes. You didn't help that, you twisted the truth to your own ends."
"Much like you do," said Pitch. "Shouldn't I get kudos?"
"Don't try to redirect things, Pitch. I know what you were trying to do. I tried to remove all my friends from my life, isolate me, darken my perspective, my very heart. When I was all isolated and lonely for so long once again, you would come by and I would take your hand of friendship out of desperation, is that right?"
"You are perceptive, Ema," said Pitch shaking his head.
"You really think that after everything you've done, that I would choose you!?" I started to turn red, and catch on fire.
"People do unexplainable things when they are afraid," he said smiling and shrugging his shoulders.
"You planned to shackle me then? Make me so afraid so I wouldn't leave you? You were that desperate for a companion once Jack rejected you, you thought you would try me on. I'm Jack's friend; it would hurt him if I joined you. It's a good bout of revenge for everything he's done in opposing you. Not only that, but I'm so much like you. You moved on from Jack and went to me, someone else who's good at shaping the world around them, manipulating things to their benefit. I denied it before, but I have to admit it, we are very similar; it might be the reason people do not like me."
"Oh so you finally see it for yourself," said Pitch. "Done with your illusions towards yourself?"
"Ema," I heard Jack say.
"It's alright," I said. "I've had a lot of time to think. This is true. It's also not true." This confused Pitch.
"It's either true or it's not, Ema. You can't have both."
"On contraire, Pitch Black, you actually can. My powers work similarly, real to me, fake to most. I've realized something…" Pitch narrowed his gaze.
"We may be similar, we are both lonely creatures, we are both dangerous, but unlike you…I would never go to these lengths to get a friend."
"No, you'd just stay lonely for eons. You wait for people to come to you instead of acting for what you want. You pretend with a thin veil of possibility."
"It's what's best for everyone. I'm considerate of others; while you make their worst fears reality, I bring forth their best dreams; I allow them to have fun. I'm nothing like you!"
Pitch gave a sarcastic smile.
"Ema, we both know it's best for that dream I had to die. We both realize that we won't work together. If you won't work with me, that means you're against me, and I'm afraid that means I have to destroy you. I did give you a chance, but I knew even before coming here, that this is most likely how things would end between us."
"I know that," I said strengthening my wall until it was opaque. "I won't let you hurt anyone else here though! You want me, you can have me! I'll take you on!" I turned to my group.
"To be honest, I don't know if I can beat him. It's Halloween and the demons aren't here, he has an advantage. Of course, if I can buy you guys time to get to somewhere safe, I'll do it."
"Ema, let me fight with you," said Jack. "It's about me as much as it's about you."
"Jack you need to make sure they get out of here safely."
"Don't go Ema," said Kayla.
"Don't leave us," said the doctor.
"We were just starting to get to know you, you can't disappear on us," cried the elf.
I leaned down so I was eye-level with them.
"Guys, I don't really have any other options. Your safety is what matters most."
"Don't leave us, Ema, please," cried Kayla.
"I have to," I told her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"No! What will we do without you?"
I was going to comfort her some more, trying to find words to say to inspire her, to make her happy, to consolidate her…and then I remembered…I had this conversation before.
When I was with Alice, hiding in the tree, near frozen, I tried to comfort her with the idea of me parting from her. She had tear-stained eyes; she really didn't want me to leave her. I just keep leaving people when they need me. I didn't want to abandon these kids now either. I remember, she didn't know how the family would be protected with me gone.
"No, what will we do without you?" I knew I had planted the seeds, but Alice was all she needed to be happy. I couldn't believe she had doubts in herself. I had quite the imagination, but she had one as well. I had merely fanned the flames to stoke the fires of her mind. Wait a minute…
What I said to her to inspire her to keep going…it was…
"You'll be fine, just…use…your imagination."
Who couldn't have guessed this was the answer? She found her center? Does this mean she can Pitch? Probably not; does this she has a plan? Maybe; Does this mean she's motivated...yeah she is! You'll just have to wait and see what happens. Until next time, stay tuned!
-AdmiringRoseBlossom11