Chapter 2: Reunited

Early the next morning, Pitch steps out of a tree's shadow with one of his smaller nightmares that was about the size of his palm. The little nightmare neighs at him when Pitch feels a familiar tug in his soul. Pitch was surprised at first. He only felt this tug when his brother was around.

He slowly walks through a set of threes that leads to a clearing. Pitch was glad the morning was still foggy so he didn't have to worry about his nightmare too much. He smiles softly as he hears someone's voice. Pitch stays hidden near a tree and watches a young boy with brown hair feeding, at least, ten sheep.

He watches in amazement at how easy he did it. The boy laughs as one of the smaller sheep rams into another playfully. Pitch shook his head at that. No matter the age, kids were very amusing.

He continued to watch in silence as the boy herd the sheep. A few hours passed and the boy finally started to herd the sheep back home. Pitch followed the boy from the shadows and watches him as he walks back home. Once the sheep are all in their pen the boy leans on the fence.

Pitch studies the boy from the shadows. The boy had brown eyes that sparkled with mischievousness and had brown hair. He wore a white undershirt, a brown vest, brown trousers, and a brown poncho to protect him from the morning winter chill. The boy also has a shepherd's staff in his hand.

The boy glances in his direction and Pitch wonders if his brother sensed him. The boy smiles and tilts his head to the side as if he was hearing something.

"You can come out. I know you're there." Pitch shook his head in amusement. Of course his brother would know if he was there. He would have felt the tug as well. With a smile he walks out of the shadows and in front of his brother.

His brother blinked his eyes in curiosity as he appeared in front of him. "Hello Jackson." Pitch said with an emotional smile.

Jackson blinked his eyes for a moment, looking slightly confused. So this was the Boogieman? He didn't seem that scary as the storyteller tells them, but he had a feeling he knew him. Jackson frowned slightly in confusion as he studied the Boogieman.

The man had a grey complexion, as if he hadn't been in the sun in years. Jackson also noticed the man's clothing. It was nothing he ever seen before, though the outfit seemed for someone of Royalty or someone who was really old. Then again the man looked like he was in his late thirties. Jackson looked into his eyes and froze. Those eyes looked so familiar. He seen them before. The man's eyes were yellow with a tinge of silver in them. Jackson studied his eye a little longer and was surprised that the man knew his name. The voice sounds familiar as well. He knew that voice. It was the voice from his dreams that he has from time to time, when he was on a ship with mother, brother, and niece. Could it be?

"Kozmotis? Is-is that you?" Jackson asked hesitantly. What happened to Kozmotis? He looks so different now.

Pitch smiles warmly, with tears in his eyes. Without even thinking, overwhelmed with emotions, Pitch pulls his brother into a hug, which Jackson returned.

"Yes, it's me. Thank the moon that you are all right. I have been looking everywhere for you."

Jackson snuggled closer to his older brother. He felt like Kozmotis, and sounded like Kozmotis, but the outfit and skin tone and the strange, yet cute, miniature black horse baffled him. He wondered what happened. He knew he was pretty young when they got separated. He remembered he was maybe three or four when he and his niece, Emily, fled their home when they were attacked. He couldn't really remember what happen after that, but all he knew was that he was in a hibernation cradle when they crashed landed on Earth and got separated. He wasn't sure how long he was in the cradle, but he was eventually found by the Overland's when they were traveling through the forest. He was grateful for that.

"What happened to you? You look so different." Jackson asked, shifting to gaze at his brother.

"It's a long story," Pitch said as they pulled away. "And I'm not sure if you have enough time, since you have to get your sister ready."

Jackson simply gives him a warm smile as he gestures to a house not far from the small sheep pen house. "Would you like to come in and have breakfast with us, then? We don't have much, but I love it if you joined us." Pitch smiles and nods, but what he said bothered him. He didn't voice his opinions as he followed his brother. He didn't want to voice just how poor his brother's adoptive family are. He would have to fix that. Maybe he can bring them food and supplies to help them. It was the least he can do for his brother's family after all. He couldn't fathom his brother (as well as his family) eating so little and not making enough to support themselves.

Pitch entered the small wooden home and noticed that Jackson's family didn't have enough. There was a kitchen, a table for meals, chairs in the living room and a hallway that must have lead to the bedrooms. Pitch was led to the kitchen and took a seat at the table.

"Tea?" Jackson asks as he put water into a kettle and takes out some herbs.

"Yes, thank you." Pitch watch his brother as he makes tea and puts it over the fire. Pitch places the small nightmare on the table when Jackson goes to wake up his sister. Pitch smiles at the nightmare as he stokes its head with his finger. "At least he's safe." The horse neighed in response. "Stay with him and protect him. I do not want those insufferable Guardian to go after him. Who knows what they might do if they find out I have a younger brother?" The nightmare whined in response, clearly not liking that mental picture. "I made you to be his personal nightmare. He is not afraid of you and would be very curious of you." It neighed and tilted its head as Pitch spoke.

Jackson smiles as he goes to his and his sister room. They didn't have much and have to share a room, but it worked for them. She smiles at his little sister. They might not be blood related but they still loved each other. Flee was his little sister and would do anything to protect her.

He gently shakes her to awake her up. Flee groans as she slowly wakes up. "Flee? Wake up."

Flee slowly opens her eyes and looks at him sleepily. She yawns as she sits up. "Jack? What is it?" Jack raised an amused eyebrow at her.

"Did you forget you have school today?" She blushed and pouted at his teasing tone.

"I didn't forget, much." Jackson shook his head in amusement. He ruffled her hair affectionately before sitting on the edge of her bed.

"Sure, kiddo. What ever you say," Jackson said teasingly. Flee laughs as she tries to swot his hand away. Jackson laughs, as well, at her attempts to stop him. He ponders on what to say when they calm down.

Flee noticed something was bothering her brother and spoke before he could sort through his thoughts. "Are you okay?" She asked in concern. "Did something happen while you were herding the sheep this morning?"

"Yeah I'm fine." Jackson answered back. "Do you remember when mom and dad told you that I was adopted?"

"Yeah." What's this about? She thought to herself. "You said that they found you while they were traveling and took you to the town's healer to make sure you were alright. Mom said they found you in some kind of strange cradle."

Jackson nodded at that before asking his next question. "Do you remember when I told you that I had vague memories of my family?"

"Yeah. I remember you telling me a little bit about your brother, Kozmotis, and your niece, Emily." Flee said thoughtfully. "Though it's still weird how your niece is older than you." Jackson shrugged at that. It wasn't his fault that he was born after her. "Why you ask?"

"Well," Jackson started with a nervous smile. How would his sister react to his brother being in the kitchen. "He found me while I was herding the sheep." Her eyes widen in shock.

"What? Really? Is he here?"

"Yeah. He's joining us for breakfast." Flee practically jumped out of bed before he finished his sentence. "Where are you going, Flee?" Flee turned to him, her hand on the doorknob.

"To see your brother." Jackson raised an amused eyebrow at her.

"Don't you want to look decent before meeting my brother?" Jack teased as his sister blinks at him and then blushes when she realizes she was still in her nightgown.

"Right. Sorry. I'll get ready." Jackson hummed in response as he gets up to leave the room, but not before ruffling his sister's hair again. Earning a "JAAACCCKKK!" in response, before closing the door behind him. Jackson snickers to himself as he makes his way back to the kitchen.

As Jackson reenters the kitchen he noticed that his brother was stroking the miniature black horse. Now that he thought about it the horse looked like a smaller version of that nightmare horse that came last night. Jackson frowned. Was his brother this 'Master' that the horse was referring to? Was his brother really the Boogieman? And why was he? His brother was a hero and loved his people. Why would he intentionally give nightmares to children? Not that he was complaining or anything. People need nightmares to keep them from doing something stupid. But still, something wasn't right.

"So," Jackson said as he walked passed his brother, to start breakfast. "Is there a reason that you're wearing a dress?" Jackson smiled smugly as he was rewarded with an exasperated look from his brother.

"It is not a dress!" Jackson snickered, and surprisingly the small horse whined in agreement, as Pitch glared. "I will have you know this is a very, formal, robe that was very popular way back before you were born."

"Really?" Jackson said sarcastically. "And here I thought it was a dress!" Pitch glared at him and at the horse as they snickered/whined in agreement.

"Brat!" Pitch growled, non-threateningly. Jackson gave his brother a mock, hurt look.

"You wounded me, Koz! That really hurt! And here I thought we were getting along so well." Pitch rolled his eyes at his younger brother's antics. The horse whined at him and Pitch glared at it.

"Traitor." Pitch growled at it as its ears flicked up before leaving Pitch's hand.

Jackson blinks as the horse flies out of his brother's hand and flies in front of him. Jackson wasn't sure what it wanted, especially with the one he saw last night. He studied it for a moment before putting his hand out. The horse neighed in response as it landed in his palm and looked back at him. Jackson smiled slightly as he slowly began to stroke the horse's mane. He was surprised that the horse felt like sand, yet it was a living thing. Well, that's something you don't see everyday.

Pitch smiles as he watches Jackson interact with the small nightmare. He had created the nightmare for him as a present. At least now he will know where his brother is and if he needs help the nightmare will let him know.

"You like it?" Pitch asked, but he already knew the answer.

"It's amazing, Kozmotis." Jackson chuckled as the horse left his hand and flew up to his shoulder to nuzzle his cheek. "I don't know how you did it? But this is probably the cutest thing I ever seen."

Cute? Pitch thought incredulously. Normally he would have retorted a comment, but held his tongue when he saw his brother admiring the small nightmare. I guess I can live with that. He smiles softly. As long as he is happy, I really can't complain.

"That's good than." Jackson looks at him. "She's all yours."

"What? Are you serious?" Pitch smiles at the shocked look.

"Yes, I made her for you." Jackson smiled softly after getting over the shock.

"Thanks Koz. I'll take good care of her." Jackson said with a small smile as the small nightmare nuzzled his cheek again.

Oh, Pitch knew his brother would take good care of his nightmare. The two were already bonding. Usually he would never say or think this, but the sight was very cute. Pitch folded his hands on the table as he watched them. Pitch loved the feeling of being reunited with his brother. It had been decade since he held him, though Jackson should be a lot older then sixteen. He wondered how long he was in the hibernation cradle.

Pitch tossed that thought away for the moment. It didn't matter now. Jackson was safe and sound. They were together again, despite him having another family. He frowned at the thought that they were poor, but quickly plastered a neutral smile on his face when Jackson glanced at him for a second before putting the nightmare down to get cups for the tea.

He thanked his brother as he handed him the cup of tea. He silently watch as his brother gave him a smile before turning around to start breakfast. This was going to be an interesting morning, Pitch silently mused to himself. If he didn't know any better, you would think that he would be getting soft. Soft? No. Happy? Yes. If the Guardians knew he had this side of him, they would most likely use it against him to win the war.

Pitch frowned at that thought. The Guardians have been a thorn on his side for ages. They managed to temporarily set him back in a very unfortunate defeat, during the Dark Ages, but that didn't mean he lost. They haven't won. He will defeat them and make them pay for what they did. They destroyed those he loved. He will make them pay.

Yes, they will pay, but what if they go after Jackson? Pitch did not like that thought. He would have to make sure he is safe. Jackson was a child and he doubted that the Guardians was willingly hurt a child. However, if they find out that Jackson is Pitch's brother...who knows what can happen?

Would the Guardians willingly kidnap Jackson and used that as leverage? There is a slight chance. But that was a chance he was not willing to take. Now how he was going to protect Jackson from them was a different story altogether.

Pitch would have kept that line of thought if it wasn't for a slightly awe, slightly surprised female voice.

"The Boogieman!"

Oh god!