Chapter 1: A Storm Brews

Eight years. It had been eight whole years since Jack had seen the ice princess. Upon his return back to the North Pole he stormed right up to North and demanded answers.

"Who is she? Why does she have MAGIC? She needs a guardian, a teacher.. she has ICE North, how is that possible? What is she?" The questions were endless. North's silence only fueled his ire, and the desire to return to Arendelle. "Tonight." He thought desperately.

"She is on the cusp of adulthood, Jack." Toothiana broke in, placing a hand on his shoulder, attempting to soothe him. "She is already under the protection of those greater than we. She will be alright." She smiled reassuringly.

He shrugged her hand off his shoulder and turned to Sandy, prepared to demand an explanation. Bunnymund cleared his throat. LOUDLY. "Oy mate. We called ye back 'ere for a reason." He looked around at each of his companions. "Sandy's got news…."

His expression grave, Sandy conjured images quickly.

A tall, hooded figure with teeth like razors and claw-like fingers, screaming children, giant creatures in tattered cloaks roaming darkened streets. People hunched over, wandering streets aimlessly, in despair.

Jack stepped back in disbelief.

"Pitch? That's impossible, how can he be-"

Bunny cut him off sharply. "No mate, something worse, much worse."

Jack looked around, eyebrows furrowing in concern.

"They call him, the Night Terror, his true name has been lost in the sands of time. An ancient, ruthless spirit that feeds off of fear, despair, and worse of all….locks those in a paralyzed state. In and endless nightmare forever."

Bunny leaned forward, peering directly into Jack's eyes.

" 'Ee destroys centers mate. Ee's bad news, for the children, the adults... and for us all."

—**—**—**—**—

It was hard to believe how quickly things had spiraled from there. It all started with the fog. Not the natural sort made of condensed water that spiraled softly up from warming lakes, or the kind that crept gently along the ground, the clouds above descending to rest on the sleepy streets below.

No.

This was different.

And it was TERRIFYING.

It was dense, almost impenetrable..it sucked you into its dark grey depths, seemingly endless, and burning, like the hottest flame. The worst part was, you didn't even have to be asleep. One could be strolling through the park and next thing they knew they'd walked right into their worst nightmare. Triggering hallucinations and inciting fear and hopelessness from the moment the fog brushed their skin. It passed through comparatively quick, once it rendered its victim immobile, sucking the light and joy out from within.

The only solace the Guardians could take was in the knowledge of when it would come. The sky would glow an unnatural red. Loud rumbles like thunder would precede the tall looming figures that formed in the sky. Raising their long, bony arms and spindly grey fingers, they conjured great billowing streams of magic clouds, and blanketed the ground below before dissipating into the sky, powers spent. When the victim's light had been forced out, drawn into the fog, it would fragment into dust and absorb into the ground, leaving no trace behind as it returned back to its master. The individuals who'd been immobilized by the magic were left dazed and drowning in a sense of hopelessness.

Most people knew now, to run inside their dwellings when they saw the sky. Most adults concerned a major storm was brewing. The hunkered down with their families until the sky cleared and the fog passed.

There were only two ways of stopping the fog in its tracks. Entering into the comfort and safety of a home, the darkness turned away by the strength of love and comfort that emanated from family or the building's inhabitants within. And ironically enough…

The power of nature.

—**—**—**—**—

"Frost."

Jack turned, finding Bunny in the shadows of an alleyway, leaning against a building's stone covered wall.

"Yer needed at te' Pole. North 'as an assignment fer you. Orders, from te' chief up there." He glanced pointedly at the glowing moon above.

Jack nodded, walking up to him and bracing himself for the drop into Bunnymund's tunnel that would bring them back to the North Pole.

With a couple thump's of his long, furry foot, the two guardians disappeared out of the darkened streets, and in front of the globe in North's shop.

Jumping in surprise at the sudden intrusion, Phil the yeti let out a squeaky growl, accidentally dropping the tray of hot chocolate over top of the toys he'd finished painting. North bumbled in and spotted both the guardians and the mess.

"Best get back to painting Phil! They're supposed to be red, not brown. HO HO!"

Phil groaned and groused, scooping up the toys and trundling out of the room.

"SO! You've made it back, and now it is time for the business!" North proclaimed loudly. "Here is your directive my boy, and dally not because the time is ticking as they say!" He grabbed Jack around the shoulders and unfurled a scroll.

The missive was written in golden ink, the parchment glowing from the moonlight streaming through the window. Jack peered down, reading the words aloud.

"Find the fifth spirit. In the enchanted forest lay the powers needed to banish the darkness back from whence it came. Do not let doubt cloud your mind. Find the trolls, they know what must be done."

Jack looked up at North in confusion, eyebrows raised.

"Ok, so where can I find this magical enchanted forest place, exactly?"

North paused, eyes darting briefly toward Bunnymund then back to Jack. He cleared his throat.

"Arendelle."

Jack's heart stuttered, chest feeling tight.

"…What?"

That single word dredging up a memory he shoved deep in the recesses of his mind, to solely focus on the fight against the darkness terrorizing the land, together with his fellow guardians.

"Find the queen and she will guide you on your way."

North threw down a portal and in a flash, Jack was gone.