The cold embraced him, never fearing the truth that might be revealed. ...might. For what are the chances that he would remember, he couldn't have remembered, he won't. That was cenuries ago, he doesn't even remember who he was, not completely, that is. No that is...
...insane. He won't remember, he musn't.
Why, you ask? Because he must never know who he is, who he truly is and how he came to be...
...Jackson Overland Frost.
The South pole was a bleak, cold and harsh place, but to Jack it was home. He was alone for so long that he got comfortable with the peace and quiet, only Wind kept him company. He didn't mind it though, Wind was his oldest friend, his ally. He couldn't see her, but he could hear her. She spoke in a quiet, peaceful voice that only few could hear. She carried him up to the sky and across the globe, they cared for each other deeply, like two raindrops on the autumn leaf.
He never told the Guardians about her, but she didn't mind. He never told the Guardians anything really, the only thing they knew about him was what they had seen, which in reality wasn't much. He liked it that way, he was alone for so long that it sometimes bothered him when people tried to find out things about him. Aster sometimes tried to pry, but then reluctantly gave up, the others didn't really care so much. They had their own problems to deal with, so they didn't really have time for Jack. But he knew that they were only busy, they had to be, right?
Jack sat on the icy cliff, looking at the Atlantic. He held his staff in his right hand and slightly twirled it between his fingers. He liked that, the view, mixed with the calm. The mixture of blues and greys made a mesmerizing palette of colours. He held up his chin and breathed in the cold. A slight breeze ruffled up his hair, he chuckled, breaking the silence. "Stop that," he said turning to Wind "I'm trying to sleep." Wind blew harder this time, knocking him over, which caused him to almost topple down the cliff. "Okay I wasn't trying to sleep, but still... want to go on a trip?" He asked, brushing of the snow from his blue hoodie. Soon Jack was up in the air, heading North.
Nicholas St. North was wrapping up the last few Christmas presents. Christmas was in three days and all had to be prepared. The Yetis carefully placed each toy in a box that fitted in size. The big grumps carefully shuffled around the workshop, they were in a hurry and yet it felt like they had all the time in the world. The many different coloured boxes shined in the sunlight, every ray of sun beamed of the shinny wrapping paper, creating a rainbow of light. North was excited, Christmas was just around the corner and nothing could go wrong.
The Guardians, like every year, just before Christmas, gathered on the North pole. North prepared his famous dinner, well his elves and yetis did, but that was mere formality. They all came like clockwork. First Aster, then Toothiana, Sanderson followed shortly after, and lastly Jack. The feast was as always extremely delicious, and even though their need for food was small they still ate all of it. After dinner they gathered in the globe room, the room was sparkling as the now moonshine lit the wrapping paper. A wide smile spread across their faces as they saw the wonder it held.
"Just, don't accidentally destroy boxes, okay." North said, turning to Jack, who was playing with his staff. The boy looked at him, he put on a small grin, "Don't worry, I won't." He reassured the man. They talked for a really long time, talking about what each and everyone of them did recently. Not that it mattered, they all knew what they were doing,
Tooth was collecting teeth and sorting out memories, Aster was painting eggs and taking care of his garden, Sandy was taking care of children's dreams, North was wrapping up presents, eagerly awaiting Christmas, and Jack was around the world causing snow and blizzards where they were needed. All of them knew that, but it made them relax when they talked about their day, or any other day. Sometimes they even made jokes and laughed like crazy.
Their nice evening was disrupted as the lights suddenly started to flicker. Some even turned off, causing that only the centre of the globe room was lit. The sparkling began to fade away, as the Moon was beginning to be owerthrown by grey clouds, casting a shadow that fell on the entire North pole. The Guardians looked around, with horror and concern in their eyes. Jack stood up, his left leg in front of his right, he grabbed the staff with both of his hands, he was defensive. The others stood up too, Aster reached behind his back and pulled out his two boomerangs, North was wielding two swords, Tooth stood, prepared to fight, and Sandy followed after.
Then they heard it... as the shadows hugged their bodies, as the small light that lit the room began to fade, they heard it. Laughter, but not normal laughter, this one was sadistic, slow and sharp like nails on a chalkboard. "You really thought that you could escape from me?" Bright, silver-golden eyes appeared from the shadows. The figure was grim, lithe, grey and dark. A man or a monster? No this was no man, this was a monster, the one that children fear. The one they tell their parents about just before they go to sleep. This was the Boogeyman, this was Pitch Black.
The Guardians turned towards the shadows, towards the voice that they desperately wanted to avoid. Jack gripped his staff more firmly now, his eyes filled with anger. "We thought we beat you last time. I certainly didn't think you would have the courage to show up again." He said with a growl, as he took a step towards the Boogeyman, his staff still firmly in his hands, pointed at the figure. Pitch didn't flinch, there was no light in the room. He had the upper hand, he rulled the shadows. "I had... what, half a decade to regain my strenght, I would say that is more than enough. Wouldn't you, dear Jack?" Said Pitch. The Winter spirit didn't move, but his eyes did change. That icy glare of anger was now gone, replaced by sorrow and pity.
"Don't you dare look at me like that!" Pitch shouted at the young Guardian. "I don't need your pity..." he stopped, calmed down, straightened himself up and started over "I presume you're all wondering why I am here. And I can assure you it isn't to gloat." he turned, his eyes still aimed at Jack. "After we had that little fight, when..." he was quickly interrupted by Jack "When you broke my staff?" Pitch frowned, tightening his lips "when I offered you that deal. Do you remember? I asked you to join me, and you turned me down." Bunny and Sandy looked at each other, while North and Tooth stood there in confusion. "Oh, they don't know?" a small grin appeared on his face "Jack, Jack I thought you told them. I'm so sorry, I presumed they knew about how you hesitated, and almost considered joining me. I mean you were hurt at the time, you felt betrayed and alone. I definitely didn't expect you to turn me down." he took a step closer, know only two feet from where the Guardians stood. "And I do have to say I was a bit disappointed, and I would lie if I said I wasn't suprised."
Sandy was worried, the Nightmare King was back, at his strength too. He wasn't fully strong, but enough to pose a real threat. They should kick him out. But no, there he was, leading the game. He looked at the other three Guardians. North was surprisingly calm, well calmer than usual during their interactions with Pitch. Tooth was acting fidgety, nervously hovering above the floor. Bunny was annoyed, like a cow that is surrounded by flies. Anger, pity, calmness, annoyance, nervousness, but no worry. Why weren't they worried?
"What do you want?" Jack growled. He took a few steps to the right forcing Pitch to turn, away from the Guardians. "You know I've spent a lot of time thinking. This past few years haven't been really kind Jack." Pitch replied, his voice was calm, but a hint of determination could be sensed. "I was cast out again, which gave me plenty of time to ponder about our little fights. Have you never asked yourself about it?" Jack clenched his jaw, his pupils dilated "About what?" He was loosing his patience, the Boogeyman played his game for far too long. Pitch pursed his lips. His eyebrows lowered as he lift his chin. A wary tone slipped his tongue "How is it that you are the only one, besides Sandman of course," he gestured, pointing at Sandy "that can defeat me?"
Jack's face turned pale, well paler. His eyebrows lowered, he cocked his head slightly. He was cautious, he had to be. The game lasted long enough, it's time to stop rolling the dice. But nothing could prepare him for what happened next. Nothing could prepare any of them. Like electric current through water it passed through the room, sending a wave of shock... leaving them silent.