Chapter 7
Happy Easter

Aster showed Jack the closer tunnel to get back to the small town Sophie was from, and the winter spirit took off as he promised to come back quickly and help them as soon as he had dropped the girl home. Dawn was near but it was still dark at Burgess, which helped him to be discreet. Nobody could see him but they would have notice if Sophie was missing. He sneaked in the house by Jamie's window, the boy was still sound asleep, just like his dog, then Jack tiptoed to Sophie's smaller room.

It was filled with pink and green colors, drawings and stuffed butterflied along with costumes and paper wings hanging on the walls. Jack layed the girl in her bed. Even if he could touch her during her sleep and thanks to Hiccup's magic, she didn't seem to notice anything and it pained him, making him even more eager to go back to the Guardians. As he stepped back from the bed, the girl rolled on her side and slipped from the mattress, landing with a soft thud on her carpet. The small sound seemed enough to wake up her mother, unless she was already up for a while ?

''Sophie ? Is that you ?''

Jack froze by reflex, though he knew the woman coudln't see him anyway. He could her steps coming closer and knew he had to go, but that didn't prevent him from sprawling a blanket over Sophie and place a stuffes animal next to her. He got out through the window and closed it behind him. He sighed and chuckled, well it was time to go back to the Warren, now.

''Ha ha, Jack !'' A voice echoed in a the night.

The young spirit froze, then looked around. All train of thought that had been crossing in mind had vanished, leaving him only focusing on this voice who was calling him. He knew it. It sounded familiar, but where had he heard it before ? It was high-pitched and sounded young, it seemed to be a little girl, but she was obviously older than Sophie, maybe Jamie's age ?

He strained his ear in the night, trying to hear the voice again, but there was nothing. He sighed and convinced himself it was just his imagination. He was about to fly off when it called again.

''Jack !''

The voice sounded joyful and playful. Instinctively, Jack took off after it. He heard it again, and swore it was coming from the forest. He didn't pay attention to the fact it was slightly echoing and that it was impossible he would have heard it from that afar. In this moment, he was kind of hypnotized. He had to know.

He let the wind carry him above the town and the trees, then he landed in the forest, still making his way by foot without any fear as he didn't know where he was going. As the first lights of dawn started to light up the landscape, he spotted an old bed in the middle of the woods. He wondered what it was doing there, until he noticed a hole in the ground underneath it.

Thus he recognized the dusted and musty smell, and he recognized the old bed. For a second, the trance was broken and he knew where he was because he had already come there several times. The hole was the entrance to Pitch's lair. He shook his head and told himself he had to leave, but his efforts to stay sane went to waste as the mysterious child voice called him again.

''Jack ?''

His mind went blank again, this voice was like a siren call, hypnotising, captivating. His body started to move without him noticing, it was as if ropes had caught him and were pulling at him. He just had to let go and let it guide him to this familiar voice. He jumped in the hole. A gust of wind followed and slowed down his drop, earning him a soft landing, then he went deeper into the old, dark, wet cavern. A part of his mind woke up again as he saw the tortuous path coming into view, and the countless bird cages hanging from the ceiling. The fairies still trapped inside were still tinkling and fisting the cages in try to get out.

Jack forgot what made him go back, but now that he was there, he had to make it worthy. He took off and perched on a bird cage, realising the fairies were looking at him with rejoyment, looking happy that someone came to rescue them. Visibly the Guardians were not the only ones who could see him now, unless these fairies could because they were linked to the Tooth Fairy ? He didn't know, he only was sure he had to be sneaky if he wanted to avoid a confrontation with Pitch. The guy had to be somewhere near.

''Hush, keep it down.'' He whispered to them. ''I'll get you out of here just as soon as I-''

''Jack !''

Jack froze hearing the voice again. It seemed so close, now… He looked down and noticed hundreds and hundreds of teeth canister covering the ground, golden yellow glimming into the darkness. Then he knew the voice was coming from there, it had to come from his own baby teeth… his memories… He let go of the cage and dropped in the canisters. Once again in trance, his mind became deaf to the squeaks and calls from the small fairies, he was only focusing on the faces of children drawn on the canisters. He frantically rummaged through them, checking the faces in search for one to look like him. But he didn't find as he heard something move behind him, then a gloomy voice spoke.

''Looking for something ?''

Jack jumped and instantly blasted ice to the tall shadow. Ice crashed on the wall while Pitch snickered. Jack chased after the gliding shadow trying to flee in a corridor. Pitch, the first spirit to ever hear him, aknowledge his existence and even offer his help, had actually manipulated him from the beginning. Jack had opened up his wounded heart to him, confiding in him how much the three hundred years of solitude had been difficult, how much he felt lost and confused, and Pitch had faked understanding while he actually had the answers Jack was looking for. Not only did the Boogeyman had hiden this from him, but he also stopped him from gaining back his memories when he had stolen the teeth.

Jack kept on chasing him, going deeper and deeper into the dark corridors. He ended up loosing Pitch, until he spotted him walking on a ruined bridge. This time, it was not just his shadow, it was the shadow master himself. Jack landed behind him.

''Dont be afraid, Jack. You know I'm not gonna hurt you.''

''Afraid ?'' Jack growled. ''I'm not afraid of you.''

Pitch kept on walking casually, he didn't feel threatened at all even if Jack was pointing his staff to him.

''Maybe not, but you are afraid of something.''

''You think so, huh ?''

Pitch chuckled.

''I know so. Even if you hadn't confided in me, remember I'm the spirit of fear. It's the one thing I always know.''

He finally turned around to look at the youngest spirit, dominating him with his head taller.

''Your greatest fear is that no one will ever believe in you.''

Just voicing it out proved enough to wake up this fear, and enabled Pitch to take advantage on Jack. He used the shadows to create a portal that sent Jack through the bridge, sending him toppling into darkness. Jack screamed and didn't even managed to call out to the wind, earning him a harsh landing face-first on the ground. He tried to get up quickly and picked up his staff, while Pitch was still toying with him.

''And worst of all, you're afraid you'll never know why.''

Jack tried to run away in the shadows, but they made fun of him, darkening issues and making him think there were ways where there was nothing but walls, making him bump into it more than just one time.

''Why you ? Why were you made to be like this ?''

Jack suddenly found himself stuck, enable to find a way through darkness, however shadows receeded when Pitch called them back. Jack blinked and backed against the wall when he found the dark spirit in front of him.

''I'm not your enemy, Jack. You seem to have forgotten, but I was the first one to reach out my hand to you. And I still do.''

He did so, and Jack looked at this ashen grey hand, before he reminded himself of what he had learnt from Tooth. He grimaced and shook his head no, before pointing his staff to Pitch.

''No, you used me ! You knew I had a life before that and that I could get back my memories ! You knew it and you never told me !''

''You think I betrayed you ? And why do you think I stole the teeth for, exactly ?''

Jack hesitated, gripping his staff tighter in try to collect some courage. His thoughts were swirling uncontrollably, trying to convince him not to listen to Pitch, repeating that the dark spirit was nothing but a manipulator and that he only wanted to use Jack's powers for his own goals.

''Stealing the fairies was enough to ruin their queen, I didn't need the teeth. Still I took them, do you know why ?''

He smiled a sinister smile and hold out his other hand, pulling something from his cloak of darkness. Jack froze as he saw the canister. The face drawn on it left him wordless. It was the face of a young teen with chocolate-brown eyes and chestnut hair, still the slightly too big ears, the spiky messy hair and the mischievous smirk were his.

''I did it to find these teeth.'' Pitch said, his smile softer. ''To find your precious memories and give them back to you.''

Jack shakily reached of the canister, but he stopped himself at the last second. His hesitation left room for Pitch to withdraw in the darkness. Jack flew after him, panic raising inside of him, heart beating wildly.

''Why did you end up like this ? Invisible, unable to reach out anyone ?''

Pitch's shadow grew on the walls, dividing in three, then five different Boogeymen. They started to circle Jack, making him feel even smaller and vulnerable.

''You want the answers so badly. Everything you wanted to know is in this little box, and I give it to you. Why do you hesitate, Jack ? Why do you care so much about what the Guardians could think ? For three hundred years they ignored you, do you really think helping them out this time will change anything ? And you say I'm the one to use you ? You know Jack, they'll never accept you. Not really.''

''Rah, stop it ! Stop it !''

The boy ran and tried to get out of this circle of shadows, only to trip in damaged stone stairs. He forced himself to get up and climbed them, pointing his staff to the darkness. He started when Pitch emerged from it.

''After all, you're not one of them.''

''You don't know what I am !''

''Come on, of course I do. You're Jack Frost, surely the only elemental winter spirit to exist, you wield the most deadly season of all and make a mess wherever you go. Like our alliance, for instance, and even the one you're trying to build with the Gardians.''

''What ?''

Pitch snickered and threw the canister to Jack, who caught it by reflex.

''You're doing it right now.'' Pitch added.

Jack's eyes widdened in realisation.

''What did you do ?''

''Now to the point, Jack. What did you do ?''

The shadow master backed into his element, but Jack wasn't going to let him go with this that easily. He clenched his staff and ran after him with a cry, determined to attack, this time. Anger flooded in his being and it affected his powers. An unusual blue glow emitted from his staff, still it wasn't enough to light up the darkness.

Jack tried to hit Pitch, but when his staff only brushed air, he knew the Boogeyman had vanished, even if he could still hear his sneer echo all around him. He gave up and quickly turned around in try to find a way out and back to the others. However, he bumped into a wall, a wall that looked nothing like the damaged and wet ruins of Pitch's cavern lair. Jack realised the Boogeyman had once again used the shadows as a portal and had sent him elsewhere. Judging by the moss and carving in the stone, as well as the flower smell in the air, Jack was in one of the Warren's tunnels.

''Happy Easter, Jack.'' Pitch taunted before his voice finally quieted.

Jack turned around again and froze as he saw what littered the ground of the tunnel. Debrits of empty egg shell, beautifully colored eggs… all destroyed, smashed and crushed… all along the tunnel.

''No…''

Aster remained hidden in the bush, looking with sadness the small silhouettes dragging themselves in the park, he was trying to finish his painting quickly.

''There aren't any eggs.'' A small boy cried.

''There's nothing here !''

The children had been so euphoric when they had arrived, but the smiles had dropped while the eggs were nowhere to be found. Soon, they got dejected and gave up, starting to leave to go back home.

Only a few had remained and were still trying.

''I give up.''

''Come on, let's go.''

''He didn't came.''

''Maybe he just hid them very well, this year.'' A girl asked, sitting on a pic-nic table, looking at a friend of hers who was crouching to look under bushes.

''I checked everywhere, there's nothing.''

''Kids, oy !'' Aster yelled as he bounced out of his hidden spot, a basket in his paw.

He reached the duo at the pic-nic table.

''Yes there is, there is !'' He added.

He took one of the eggs out of his basket and showed it to the boy.

''I mean, these aren't my best looking googies but they'll do in a pinch.''

''I can't believe it !'' The girl said as she finally got off the table.

Both approached the bunny, almost circling him.

''I know…'' He chuckled nervously.

''There's no such thing as the Easter Bunny.''

''What ? No !'' Aster panicked. ''Wrong ! Not true !

Both of the children in front of him gave up too and headed towards the entrance of the park. Aster turned around and spotted another kid, a younger boy, so he quickly bounced to him.

''I'm in front of ya, bud !''

The Guardian couldn't manage to stop the boy, and the little kid went through him in a blueish halo, as if the six-foot tall bunny didn't even exist. This little boy didn't believe anymore, just like all the other kids who had given up on the egg hunt. Aster's breathing quickened as if someone had just stabbed him, it felt like someone had stabbed him. This kid walking through him was mentally painful, so much it almost turned into physical pain. The rabbit dropped his basket and his ears flattened against the back of his skull.

''They don't see me… They don't see me…''

All colors left the bunny, before he crouched and curled on himself.

Jack saw everything from afar and felt his heart break. He knew this pain, this sensation of being invisible, and knowing that, no mattered what he could do, it wouldn't change anything. He knew all too well. Pitch's words echoed in his head and he knew the dark shadow spirit was right.

It was his fault. He wasn't there. He had not come back like he had promised.

''Jack !'' North suddenly called him from behind. ''Wherre werre you ?''

The boy turned around and looked up to the big bearded man. Said man seemed exhausted, he was leaning on his swords. The fight seemed to have been pretty harsh.

''Ze nightmarres attacked ze tunnels, they smashed everry egg, crrashed everry basket, nothing made it to the surrface !''

He pointed a sword towards Jack, and it felt like accusation for the younger spirit. He couldn't find his voice and lowered his head. That was when Tooth saw him.

''Jack !''

Her voice seemed relieved, and as she flew to the winter spirit, her face was still marred with her previous sad expression despite the relieved smile she gave him. She had worried something had happened to the boy, so she was really happy to see him, but the smile dropped as she saw what he had in his hand.

''Where did you get that ?''

Jack lifted his hand to look at the teeth canister.

''I-I was… It's…''

He didn't manage to talk. He was still in shock. Shocked by his encounter with Pitch, shocked by the dark spirit's words and how he had toyed with his fears, shocked by what had just happened to Bunny… And the Boogeyman's words were still haunting him, taunting him, repeating he was making a mess of everything. And it was true. He couldn't justify himself. He knew he had to, but something more important caught his attention : they were only four.

''W-Where is Horren ?'' He stuttered.

He met Tooth's amethyst eyes, which widdened, as if his silence and change of subject has been an answer for her.

''Oh, Jack…'' She said before placing her palms on her mouth. ''What have you done ?''

''Zat is why you werren't herre ? You werre wiz Pitch ?!''

''No, listen, listen ! I… I'm sorry, I didn't mean for this to happen, I swear I-''

''He has to go.'' Aster interjected.

Jack started and turned to find the bunny standing behind him, his face was the perfect mixture of torn and angry.

''What… ?'' Jack gasped.

''We should nevah have trusted ya !'' Aster burst out, raising a clenched fist.

Jack jumped back and nearly tripped, his breathing quickened without his control and frost covered the grass around his feet.

Aster barely calmed down, until sadness and sorrow took over.

''Easter is… new beginning. New life. Easter's about hope. And now, it's gone.''

Aster's ears dropped back behind his head, his blueish fur turned dull, and he left without a word. Jack realised that something else was gone, too. The rabbit had just lost his holiday, and Jack had just lost his trust. However, the boy still had a little bit of hope. He turned back to North and Tooth, ice blue eyes pleading them, screaming without words.

Both spirits didn't dare to look at him. Tooth averted her gaze before meeting his, North's eyes went to the ground before the man – looking even more slew – slowly turned his back. Tooth followed. Jack remained frozen, erratic breathing burning his chest and hands shaking. Pitch's words echoed in his mind. It was exactly as the Boogeyman had told him it would happen. So it was true, the Gardians had never accepted him.

Still he couldn't bring himself to blame them for doing so. After all, he had helped their enemy. It was a miracle they even had let him a chance to join their group, but if it had only been in order to use him against Pitch, then it made sense. In desperate situation, they used drastic measures. Could he blame them for turning their back on him as he had ruined Easter ? He thought not. So he convinced himself he deserved this, he didn't try to convince them to keep him and rathered leaving.

North and Tooth felt the gust of northwind blow behind them. While North kept his head lowered, Tooth looked over her shoulder and saw the winter spirit flying away. Guilt stung her heart, but she barely mulled on it they suddenly heard a roar, then a loud sound made by something crash-landing on the grass.

Aster was the first one to rush to the auburn dragon squirming in the grass, shifting back into a beaten viking. The rabbit tried to help him on his feet but the viking dropped back, grimacing, an arm wrapping around his middle, where his armor was crushed. He used his magic and heat to mold it back to its usual shapen then breathed in deeply as his magical element healed his wound. North and Tooth reached them and the spirit of Christmas grabed the viking by the arm, hoisting him on his feet.

''I lost them.'' Hiccup explained. ''I followed them to the forest but they used shadows as portals. These nightmares may be just minions working for Pitch, they still won't lead us to his lair.''

He caught his breath and noticed their dejected faces.

''Hey, all is not lost. There's still hope. We're still here.''

Aster shook his head no.

''The boy came back.''

Hiccup straightened, wincing as his wound was not completely healed yet, then he looked around.

''Where is he ?''

''He was wiz Pitch.'' Nord murmured, still shocked.

''What ?''

''He was with Pitch !' Aster bursted, flailing his arms. ''That's why he wasn't here ! He tricked us ! I bet he did from the beginning ! Pitch must have sent him to find out our weaknesses ! That's why they attacked Easter !''

''Hey, calm down.''

Since the rabbit was not willing to, Hiccup got angry instead. Despite his human shape, he still roared at the taller spirit, red flames exploding all along his shoulders and back. Some of it burnt Aster's fur on his shoulder, making him start then pause, eyes wide.

''I said 'calm down' !'' The viking growled, before he soothed his anger and adressed the others calmly. ''Is this what Jack told you or what you accused him of ?''

''He had his teeth…'' Tooth hesitated.

''Come on, it's Pitch we're talking about ! What if he had tricked Jack and lured him into a trap or something ? Do you really think he would have risked his life protecting us if it was to turn on us later on ? Did you at least let him explain himself ?''

The three remaining Guardians exchanged guilty looks and that was answer enough for the viking, still Aster was stubborn.

''Why are ya defendin' 'im ?''

''Why are you convicting him ? You saw what he did back at the Warren. He's a good guy, he really wanted to help.''

''How can you be so surre ?'' North asked. ''How can you trrust him ?''

Hiccup hesitated for a moment, then he clenched his fists and frowned.

''Because I know him.''

That earned him confusion from the Guardians.

''I mean, I think I had known him, before. If he's really who I think he is, then you just made a huge mistake pushing him away.''

Silence loomed, filled with remorse and guilt, until Aster broke it, still sceptical.

''Where would ya know 'im from ? Two days ago we didn't even know he existed !''

Hiccup clenched his fists harder and looked up to the sky. The sun was shyly shinning throught thick clouds, still he was still clearly visible. The viking sighed.

''I think it's time for me to tell you what happened between Søl and I, three hundred years ago.''