~Rise of the Guardians~

Fear and Flames

( Don't worry, Don't cry, Please don't have a fit. Fear is not real, unless you believe in him.)

The Guardians stood upon a building in a small town near Greenville South Carolina. The town was a decent size. Two strip malls, art galleries, restaurants, and schools were housed in this quaint city. Still, the Guardians were not there for pleasure. The source of their current gathering in this town only accessible by the sky and highway 85 was describable in one word, Pitch.

He loomed like a shadow cast upon the guardians. His nightmares peeked through the darkness ready to pounce at Pitch's command. He grinned as he held up the subject for their gathering. A girl of about 8 with soft brown locks, light blue eyes, and a round innocent face. Tooth knew the girl from her memories. She was a brave little girl, yet she had been reduced to silent tears in the boogeyman's presence.

"Let de girl go!" North demanded drawing his swords.

Sandy made a sign with his sand of a bird leaving a cage. The symbol of freedom. A light chuckle floated through the air.

"Why would I do that? This girl is one of my precious believers. One of the few left thanks to you."

Tooth blanched, "We protect our believers Pitch! Not terrorize them!"

"Yea," Bunny chimed in, "Let the little sheila go mate."

"Why would you kidnap your own believer?" Frost questioned.

Pitch looked unimpressed, to say the least, "I truly doubt you could understand. Unlike you do-gooders, my believers do not look to me for fun and hope, they fear me!" The girl screamed as a nightmare snorted and stomped his feet at her.

The Guardians had had enough. Sand drew his whips, Tooth her sabers, Bunny his boomerangs, and Jack created ice spikes on the end of his staff. Pitch clicked his tongue in disapproval holding the girl up in front of him,

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. What if you were to strike Tila by mistake? The girl is frightened enough. Any more and she may start to panic." Pitch chuckled again as the guardians one by one stood down.

"You would risk your own believer!" Frost shouted his anger growing every second. "No Jack, the question is, would you?" Tila screamed louder and the Guardians instinctively backed down.

"Tila?"

Everyone on the rooftop froze as an unknown voice rose above Pitch's laughter.

"Tila? Is that you?" The voice called again.

Pitch dropped the girl in a state of shock. The nightmares surrounded her instantly cutting off any chance of escape. Upon impact, the girl started to cry openly.

"Tila!"

The Guardians and Pitch turned in time to see a hand grasp the side of the building. Another swiftly joined the other until a figure hauled itself onto the roof. The figure stood stepping out of the shadows. The light of the midnight sky revealed a young woman in her mid-twenties. She had light Auburn hair that flowed in jagged layers to her shoulders. Her dark brown eyes were outlined in black liner and different shades of gray. Her powdered high cheekbones shimmering with a slight pink complemented her rounded face. Toned lean arms moved gracefully as she swatted at the little bit of dirt on her gray sweater dress. Athletic legs barely shone beneath her thigh-high boots. The guys gaped at this sultry beauty as she patted down her tight-fitting dress.

Tila perked up at the sight of the woman, "Scarlet! Make the bad things go away!"

Scarlet eyed Tila, then surveyed the area, "Bad things?"

The woman strolled closer to Tila still looking over the area. One hand placed on her cocked hip as she stood just a couple of feet from the frightened child. Seeing nothing she addressed the girl once more.

"What bad things? Why are you on the roof of the book store?"

Tila yelped as a nightmare pulled at her hair a little, "The bad man and his black ponies!"

The Guardians held their breath as the adult obviously could not see them. She was well past the point of not believing anymore.

Scarlet smirked pushing some of her hair away from her face, "Ponies? Don't tell me my little monster is afraid of ponies."

Tooth gaped, "Monster?" She looked at Bunny who was looking at the girl strangely. Like she was a science project.

Tila started to cry some more as another mare stomped its feet angrily. Scarlet looked again but seeing no one she hoisted Tila onto her hip. She watched Tila expectantly as a light switch seemed to have flipped in Tila's mind. She abruptly stopped crying looking from the nightmares back to Scarlet.

Her rescuer sighed in annoyance, "I thought we were past this phase Tila. Remember? There is nothing to fear but fear itself."

The Guardians smiled at each other as Pitch rolled his eyes. Oddly enough he had not made to attack the girls yet. He simply watched the unexpected visitor curiously. He seemed to be studying her as closely as Bunny. Even North appeared to have noticed something different. His eyes twinkled in wonder.

Tila glanced fearfully at Pitch, "B-But I-I'm not asleep right now and the bad man is still there!"

The woman looked in Pitch's direction. Eyes staring but not truly seeing what was there. Tila watched Scarlet with all the determination she could muster.

Scarlet raised an eyebrow at the girl, "Okay. So, you see something?"

Tila nodded her head fiercely.

Scarlet sighed again, "They say children have the ability to see things that adults cant. So maybe something is there but why hasn't it attacked us? Why do the monsters and boogiemen run away from the adults?"

Pitch narrowed his eyes at the woman's accusation. As if the Nightmare King would be frightened by a mortal.

Tila noticed his irritation, "I don't know but he hasn't run away. He's still there. You just can't see him!"

Scarlet raised her brow in Pitch's direction. "The bad man?" Tila nodded in confirmation.

"He can't attack because I can't see him. So, I am not afraid. That's all the bad things can do Tila, is scare you. You give them power when you allow them to torment you."

Pitch was gaping as the Guardians cheered at the woman's statement. The stupid human woman actually knows this!

Tila smiled a little at the Guardians, "Really?"

Scarlet smiled too, "Oh, believe me I know. When I was around your age, I had nightmares every single night."

Something about the way Scarlet said this recaptured the Boogieman's attention. His anger subsided as he regarded the woman once more. He stepped closer as his curiosity grew.

Tila's eyes widened as he drew closer, "What did you do Scarlet?"

The woman grinned down at the girl, "I got angry."

Tila gasped, "Really!"

Scarlet hummed her confirmation as Pitch took another step towards them. Gears turned slowly within his mind.

Scarlet chuckled at her memories, "I got so fed up that I started to attack everything that tried to scare me in my dreams."

Tila looked at Pitch then back at Scarlet, "Did you ever see the bad man?"

Scarlet was caught off guard by this question but considered it. Slowly she started to nod as an old memory surfaced, "Yes actually. He called himself the Darkness king, or Nightmare king. Whichever."

Tooth gasped as the other Guardian's eyes grew as large as saucers. Pitch looked like he had just figured out the answer to a complex equation.

Tila narrowed her eyes at the Boogieman, "Did you ever fight the bad man?"

Scarlet laughed a little at the question, "I tried but I always woke up before I could ever hit him."

The Guardians fell into a fit of laughter despite the dangerous situation.

"He ran from a wee sheila!" Bunny blurted holding his side.

"From liddle gurl!" North added grasping his large belly.

Pitch felt his body tense as his rage grew. He made to grab Tila but fell straight through Scarlet. Tila watched in horror as he turned back to try again. Without warning, Tila leaped out of Scarlet's arms causing Pitch to fall yet again through the young woman.

"Scarlet!" Tila called realizing she didn't have much time, "The bad man! Was his skin gray!"

Scarlet was alarmed at what was happening. Tila had just jumped out of her arms and seemed to be distracted by absolutely nothing. "Um. I guess. It was a long time ago, but I think so."

Tila yelped as the mares chased her back between Scarlet's legs. The woman yelped as her dress hiked up a little.

"Tila! What are you doing!" Scarlet demanded trying to keep her underwear from showing. "Scarlet hurry! Did he have gold eyes! Did the bad man's eyes glow gold in the dark?"

The mares stopped inches from Scarlet. The woman slowly stepped back from Tila as the earth seemed to hold its breath. Pitch was frozen in place as his worst suspicions were confirmed by the woman's huge fearful eyes.

"How?" Two heartbeats later, "He's real?"

Tila cheered as the older girl finally came to the realization no other adult had. The boogieman is real!

Scarlet blinked a few times as the black images of horses came into view. She rubbed her eye in disbelief. There was no way what she was seeing was real. Standing amongst the dark mares was a tall slender man who was all too familiar to Scarlet. Her eyes remained fixated on him as his eyes, like a timber wolf, peered through the dark at her just as they had when she was little.

"He's real," Scarlet whispered.

Pitch smirked at the young woman's expression. "Two believers now. My my this is a good day. I shall enjoy playing with you, my dear."

Tila clung to Scarlet's leg for comfort. Scarlet's head fell until her chin touched her dark auburn hair fell to shield her face. For a moment Tila thought she was about to break down.

"Scarlet?" Tila whimpered in worry. Moments passed with no one making a sound.

"Tila." Scarlet's head lifted back up but instead of tears Scarlet sported a glare that could melt a glacier directed right at the boogieman, "Tila cover your ears."

Tila didn't have to be told twice and Pitch noticed with disdain that the little girl held more fear of this woman at the moment than himself. That should have been a warning, but he is the king of nightmares. All fear him but he fears none. What could one woman possibly do?

"Sick bastard!"

The Guardians all froze. None even dared to breathe in the woman's presence. Pitch raised an eyebrow at Scarlet.

"Oogie Boogie. I have a bone to pick with you." Pitch smirked at the Oogie part, "and what could a blossoming woman such as yourself possibly want with me?"

Scarlet stepped forward with her left leg pushing Tila behind her. "Plenty."

Pitch grinned, "Well my dear, how could I refuse such a request. You want me then all you need do is come get me. Don't mind the nightmares. They don't bite, unlike myself."

Barely above a whisper, Jack asked North, "Is he flirting with Scarlet?"

North numbly nodded, "It is a very heated discussion but me tinks so."

Scarlet balled her fists bending her knees as if to attack. Pitch raised his arms summoning the shadows to rise with them. They seemed to just glare at each other for a moment until Scarlet dashed forward at a speed Pitch didn't expect. A fist came within inches to his face, followed by a low kick towards his stomach. Pitch avoided all of them. The shadows toward over them as they continued to dance. Pitch avoiding her blows and Scarlet kicking and punching with all her might. Round kick at the head, left hook, right jab, hook kick to the side missing only by inches. Scarlet became angrier with each second while Pitch kept his cool. The Guardians watched silently.

The only one who spoke was Bunny, "I thought she looked familiar. She's a kickboxer, named Scarlet Flare. Look at er go, mates! Incredible!"

Bunny swatted the air with his fists bouncing on one leg to the next like a boxer. Frost grinned at the excited Easter spirit. He had to admit the girl was pretty awesome, but she wasn't landing a single blow and her moves were slowing down. Pitch laughed openly at the woman's anger. To him, it smelt like the sweetest perfumes with autumn musks.

Scarlet finally realized she wasn't making any progress, so she backed off allowing the fight to come to a standstill. She panted openly as perspiration started to form on her skin. Pitch clasped his hands behind his back.

A menacing smirk was directed at his opponent, "Giving up?"

Scarlet glanced at Tila who was watching with bated breath to see what would happen next.

"Not even close." She finally spat.

Her balance shifted as she changed tact. This time she was leaning back slightly with her right leg forward and ankle turned out. Her left leg was just behind her and the ankle was turned in the opposite direction. Almost like a pivoted ballerina only she seemed to be controlling her breathing and her arms were locked on either side of her body. Fists up and elbows back.

"Make your move Oogie."

Pitch silently questioned her odd stance. He had never seen it before.

Bunny seemed to be on the edge of his seat, "She's taking the defensive/offensive stance."

He smiled openly as the other Guardian's raised eyebrows at his odd behavior.

Bunny noticed, "What? I like to watch kickboxing tournaments. I ain't always painting eggs and hiding in holes mate. I take interest in other things too."

"Women's kickboxing?" Frost questioned raising an eyebrow.

"It's more fun than the men's tournament! Men lock up in the first ten minutes and hit the floor grappling! The Sheila's have more grace than power, so they spend more time throwing blows instead of locking up." Bunny exclaimed like it was common knowledge.

Pitch and Scarlet ignored the Guardians. Scarlet because she could not see them and Pitch because he dared not take his eyes off this strong girl. Nor alert her to the other's presence. She was his own believer. The first adult since the dark ages to believe in only him and Pitch loved it.

"Such a pity I don't remember you. I've terrorized so many children over the centuries that one little girl looks like all the others but you-" He emphasized the 'you' drawing her attention more on his words and less on his movements, "Such a strong-willed girl should have managed to hold my attention. You had dreams of me every night, did you?"

Scarlet clenched her jaw at the boogieman's question.

Pitch clicked his tong shaking his head at her, "Such a pity I didn't revisit your sweet dreams as you grew but no matter. You see me now and I can guarantee you I'll be visiting you at night very frequently."

Scarlet silenced the panic he was trying to cox from her. "Try to keep your mind on the now Oogie Boogie or else my victory will be hollow."

Pitch felt a strange feeling rising inside him...Thrill perhaps? Whatever it was he loved it. This feeling was akin to sneaking into a child's room through the shadows preparing to frighten them in their sleep. The thrill of the hunt. Scarlet was not a helpless child though. She was a fierce competitor. It made the hunt all the more electrifying to say the least.

"Getting a little ahead of ourselves aren't we Scarlet? After all the work you've put into trying to hit me you yourself seem to have taken most of the damage. A blind man can see how this will end. Do you still wish to continue fighting fear?"

Scarlet blanched, "How shall this end Oogie?"

"Pitch." The boogieman corrected.

Scarlet stared at him a little confused. "My name is Pitch Black, but you may call me Pitch if you like. Oogie was cute the first few times but it doesn't suit the nightmare king." Pitch explained like they were having a casual conversation and not preparing for battle. Not waiting for Scarlet to reply he continued, "And this shall end in your defeat and my most inevitable victory but do not fret darling, it shall not hurt too much. I am not a sadist. Though victory does taste sweet I do not plan to crush you. No, I have something else in mind." Pitch looked Scarlet over earning a shudder from the young woman.

She ignored his implication, "Keep dreaming Pitch."

Pitch smirked allowing the wave of darkness around them to finally fall. Scarlet wasn't expecting this. She had forgotten all about them. In mere seconds she was pivoting like a ballerina only instead of jumping she twisted on her front foot to her right avoiding the shadows that grabbed at her. They continued to follow her movements as she twisted and turned barely missing the dark hands that made to connect to her fast-moving form. Pitch grinned as he had his shadows grab at her from both sides.

"No fair!" Bunny yelled as he made to step in.

He was held back by North and Sandy as he almost jumped towards them. They watched in horror what they thought was the end. Scarlet closed her eyes as the darkness made to envelop her. She bent her knees fully in the pivot and this time jumped twisting in the air as the shadows collided with each other. Pitch gritted his teeth as Scarlet backflipped in midair landing just in front of Pitch. Landing like a cat on all fours she glared up at Pitch who was left completely open. Pitch barely had time to call his shadows as Scarlet sprung forward to punch him in the face. He could feel the air force itself away from his face as Scarlet's punch glanced his right cheek. Brown eyes widened as she fell through the air unable to stop herself.

Bad move. She thought too late.

She thought for sure that her punch would make contact but with a dreadful realization that what she had planned had gone horribly wrong Scarlet landed on top of Pitch in a pile on the ground. Every eye was wide as Pitch hit the rooftop with Scarlet on top of him. However, Scarlet didn't have time to process the body beneath her or the golden eyes staring into hers as darkness swallowed them both leaving no trace of the feuding pair.

"Scarlet!" Tila screamed looking all over for the woman.

The Guardians ran over to the area where Pitch and Scarlet had disappeared.

"Oh no!" Tooth placed a hand over her mouth.

"No. He took her!" Frost yelled as Bunny hit his knees in disbelief.

"That wanker just kidnapped the best female fighta I ever had the pleasure of watching. Right bloody in front of me!" Bunny looked on the verge of hysteria. "Was our fault. We should not have left battle to human girl. No matter how naughty she was as child." North stated looking around the area for any shadow that moved.

Sandy took Tila's hand silently soothing her nerves. Tears fell from her eyes as the shock of their disappearance started to wear off.

Bunny raised to his feat angry and determined, "We gotta find her mates. No matter what it takes."

They all nodded in agreement. "She may not be a child, but she was at one time. According to her, we weren't there to keep Pitch from scaring her. We should make it up to her now while we have the chance." Frost stated summoning his wind.

"She may not have flawsed but she has good memories and a good heart." Tooth agreed. She quickly waved her fairies away as she too prepared for war.

"Not for belief this time but for the safety of one little girl who grew up to be a beautiful soul." Sandy symbolized with his Sand.

Tila nodded, "Bring my sissy back home!"

~ FIN~

Tell me if I should continue this story or not. I'm not sure if the plot is good enough for a continuation.

-Sissy Perigrin