Chapter 8
Sentenced to sollitude

In the heart of Antarctica, in the middle of a white, deserted landscape, there was no sign of life. Freezing to death temperatures didn't allow animals or humans to venture there safely. And even if there had been some, they would have not notice this lonely figure. A teen ran by the end of a frozen, snowy cliff, bare feet, a shepherd-like crook on his hand, a golden cannister in the other.

He ran to the edge and backed his arm, aiming to throw the golden cylinder away, but he stopped at the last moment. He tried again, only to face the same hesitation, making him groan in frustration. For all he hated this situation, for all he wanted to blame the canister, Jack couldn't get rid of it. He just couldn't.

He stared at the golden and purple patterns on top, then at the portrait on the front. The mischievous chestnut boy on it seemed to mock him. Jack sighed and dropped his arms against his body, wondering what he was going to do, now.

''I thought this might happen.'' A silky, soft voice spoke from behind him.

It was soft and sympathetic, but it only filled Jack with boiling anger.

''They never really believed in you. I was just trying to show you that. But I understand.''

Jack couldn't take hearing this, he burst and attacked, blasting crackling lightning bolts of ice on the shadow spirit. Pitch marely smirked and used shadows and black sand to built a shield around him, through he was pushed by the strength of the blow. The winter spirit lunged at him and struck him again, screaming in fury.

''You don't understand anything !''

Pitch warded the new blow and struck back with his own powers, Jack dodged by throwing himself on the side.

''No ? I don't know what it's like to be cast out ?!''

''Nooo !'' Jack roared as he took to the sky, concentrating his powers for a much more powerful strike, forcing Pitch to draw into his limited among of black sand.

The blow was so violent it lifted snow and formed a thick fog around them, blinding them. When Jack's feet touched the ground, he couldn't see anything, just hear the Boogeyman's voice.

''To not be believed in ? To long for… a family ?''

Jack located the source of the voice and turned to aim his staff to Pitch, readying himself to dodge another attack. But when Pitch appeared, he was slightly bending, his face sad and his eyes pleading. His last words echoed in Jack's head and aching heart, making him hesitate, then lower his crook.

''All those years in the shadows, I thought 'no one else knows what it feels like'. We may have not been through the same hardship, but our pain is the same. That's why I offered you my help. That's why I still do it now.''

Jack sniffled and completely withdrew his staff, his head now low.

''I know what it feels like to be abandoned and rejected, that's why I would never do that to you, Jack. I believe in you, and I know children will to.''

''… In me ?''

''Yes !'' Pitch exclaimed.

He came closer and put a hand on Jack's shoulder, touching him for the first time since they had met, fourty years ago. Jack convinced himself it was because the Boogeyman really believed in him.

Pitch slightly pushed him to place him in front of the imposing sculpture created by the collision of their powers. Ice and black sand had frozen into a spiky tornado-like spiral.

''Look at what we can do, not just by using your ice to stabilise the nightmares. What comes together better than cold and dark ?''

Jack stared up at the giant sculpture, he had to admit it did was impressive, while Pitch started to turn around it and the winter spirit, suddenly excited as if he had been a kid on Christmas day.

Jack felt like he was going back through time, over fourty years ago, the first time Pitch had offered him an alliance. Oddly, he remembered Pitch's speech, and it was basically the same. The promise of an alliance, of having someone to believe in him and care for him. However, as tempting as these promises were, Jack remembered what Horren had told him the night Sandman had been killed.

''I don't know what Pitch told you to convince you to join him, but you have to realise what he's doing is wrong. No spirit can pretend being more important than another one. No spirit should be allowed to destroy another one.''

Keeping this in mind, Jack reminded himself of how Pitch had killed Sandman, how he had tried to ruin the kids' belief in Tooth, how he had ruined Easter, and how he was certainly going to kill the other Guardians. The Boogeyman's promises then appeared to him as what they truly were : lies, trick.

''We can make them believe ! We'll give them a world where everything, everything is-''

''Pitch Black ?''

Pitch's pause and wide eyes proved Jack right. He had just found him out. Pitch didn't care about him, he just wanted his powers to use for his own goals. Surely he was planing to get rid of Jack once his ice wouldn't be useful anymore. Still the Boogeyman tried to trick him.

''And Jack Frost too, of course. They'll believe in both of us.''

''No, they'll fear both of us, and that's not what I want.''

Jack slipped the canister in his front pocket, perched his staff on his shoulder and turned his back on Pitch.

''Now leave me alone.'' he added.

He walked away while catching his breath. A sudden feeling of freedom bloomed in him, as if he had just freed himself from a burden. He was done with this manipulator. At least, that's what he had thought.

''Very well, you want to be left alone ? Done ! But first…''

Jack froze as he heard a high-pitched squeak. He looked back to see Pitch squinting a little tooth fairy in his fist. He was compressing her small body, undoubtely wrinkling her delicate wings. During his isolated centuries, Jack had often met these little creatures. Even if they couldn't see him, he had grown fond of them and had a lot of fun racing them. While they were caged in Pitch's lair, he had hated see them locked in like this. He had tried to talk to them and comfort them. He thought he had done so behind Pitch's back, but visibly he had been found out. But what really shocked Jack was to see which fairy it was.

It was the one with different eye-color, the one who had seem to see him before the others. Pitch must have noticed this too, so if he had brought this peculiar fairy, there had to be a reason. Could it be she had really been able to see him before the others ?

Jack didn't had the leisure to muse about this as she was squeaking uncomfortably, she seemed to be in real pain and even suffocating. He couldn't let her die, and it had nothing to do with Tooth never forgiving him for having one of her fairies killed because of him. He knew he had already lost her trust, anyway.

He tried to run to her rescue but Pitch stopped his charge as he squeezed harder. Jack stopped a couple of steps from him and pointed his crook to the tall, slender man, thinking fast for a plan.

''Your staff, Jack !''

The winter spirit rose an eyebrow, confused.

''You took a bad habit of interfering. Now hand it over, and I'll let her go.''

Jack hesitated, then met the fairy's eyes. She seemed panicked, but still she squeaked and shook her head no, mouthing the word for emphasis. Even if they didn't know each other, the tiny fairy was devoted and didn't wanted him to give in to Pitch. Or had she grown fond on him because he had tried to reassure her and her fellows ? One thing for sure, she was really brave and didn't care about what could happen to her. Still Jack couldn't take that risk.

After a long hesitation filled with anger and frustration, he lowered his crook. Pitch flashed a satisfied smile, and even more when Jack handed it over. Once the Boogeyman's fingers touched it, the magical wood turned darker, and when Jack let go of it, the frosted patterns on it melted right away. Both spirit took a step back, Pitch's smirk growing. Jack frowned and outstretched a hand.

''Alright. Now let her go.''

Pitch snickered lowly and looked down on him, before his face turned serious.

''No. You said you wanted to be left alone. So be alone !''

The tiny fairy got angry and, much to both spirit's surprise, she suddenly stabbed Pitch's hand with her beek. He shouted in pain before throwing her in the air. Jack looked at her in shock, but he barely had the time to turn back to Pitch the evil spirit used his knee to snap the staff in too.

Instantly, Jack felt a surge of stabbing pain tearing his chest apart, paralyzing his whole body and tearing a scream of pain from his throat. But Pitch was not done yet. While the winter spirit was bent in two, unable to breath, the Boogeyman loaded shadows and black sand, striking him without mercy. The blow was aimed to knock over a teen Jack's size and built, but the Boogeyman didn't know this boy was as light as a snowflake. That's why the hit was even more brutal than anticipated. Jack left the ground and was thrown in the air, ramming into the side of the mountain. He instantly lost consciousness, overcame by the pain of his body breaking appart.

Pitch stared in shock at the winter spirit as he fell into a crevice. He hadn't meant for the blow to be that strong, making him rush to the edge to look down. Thirty feet lower layed a motionless silhouette. He sighed heavily. He didn't know the damages he had done, but he seriously doubted it was enough to kill a spirit. Jack was just knocked out. Still, the staff was broken. He knew Jack couldn't use his powers without it, so the boy was going to be stuck down there and wouldn't bother him anymore. He looked down at the two pieces of wood in his hand and dropped them to the snowy ground next to him, out of Jack's reach.

''Sorry, kid.'' He whispered as he turned to leave.

This idea became more pressing as he spotted something in the sky, and heard a whistling getting closer at top speed. Pitch barely had the time to get a glimpse of a purple light aiming at him he had to throw himself on the ground to avoid it. The blast exploded just behind him and he didn't wait to ease his panic that he vanished in his shadow. If he had waited just a second more, he would have been crushed by the weight of an infuriated auburn dragon that smacked into the snow.

Hiccup rose up again and growled as he noticed the foe had, once again, fled like a coward. He shook his back to get rid of the snow and checked around him, only for his burning orange eyes to land on the broken staff. His heart came up to his throat and he quickly shifted so he could pick it up.

''Jack ?!'' He called out in panic.

He turned around once, two times before he saw the marks on the mountain wall. Black sand sprawled on it and a negative shape of a lithe body he knew. Horrified, he looked down into the crevice and found the winter spirit at the bottom.

''Oh no…''

While keeping the two pieces of wood in his hands, he jumped and used his powers to run downwards, until he reached the bottom. Once his feet touched the ground, he froze in front of the motionless silhouette, and noticed another one a few steps away. One of Tooth's tiny fairies. She wasn't moving either but he could see she was breathing. So he focused back on Jack, and seeing him like this broke his heart.

The boy was half sprawled on the ground, half leaning against the wall, his chest marred with dark residues while a curious, sparkling white silver liquid strained the side of his mouth, just like the wall behind his head. Hiccup identified it as the spirit's blood. Each spirit had blood formed by their magic, explaining why it could take such strange color. Hiccup's own blood was a vibrant redish orange color, just like the color of his flames. It didn't surprise him that Jack's blood would look like liquid winter moon.

The viking crashed to his knees, dropped the broken staff and bent down so he could carefully gather the boy in his arms. He swore someone stabbed him in the chest as he felt how Jack's body was broken. Even a spirit could not survive such wounds. His own body started to shake and tremble while sobs gathered in his throat.

''Oh Jack, no… Not again…''

He squeezed the cold and lifeless body in his arms, burying his nose into the snowy locks. He pressed a kiss there and sniffled before lifting his head and eyes to the sky. At the bottom of this crevice, he couldn't see much of it, but at least there were no clouds.

''Lord Søl…'' He called, his voice cracking. ''I'm sorry. I beg your pardon. Now I know it wasn't your fault, that you tried to bring him back. I know it's because Lady Máne interfered that you couldn't make him a spirit. She's the one who saved him, like I asked you to. No matter which one of you will answer my prayer this time, but please… I beg you, save him once more. Not for me. Not for my selfish reasons, but for the Guardians. He's their only hope to survive Pitch. He's too strong, I can't protect them alone.''

Hiccup took a deep breath in try to sooth his sobbing, holding on the hope to be heard even if he could see neither of the stars.

''Lord Søl, I imagine that, if you sent the Guardians to me, it was for me to lead them to Jack. They don't need me to beat Pitch, they need him. Am I right ?''

He kept silent as he waited for an answer, eyes locked in the deep azure sky. And when the answer finally came, it was not exactly the one he was expecting for.

Because one of the stars entered his field of view. Lady Máne was shyly glowing in the daysky, still he could see her. New tears streamed his cheeks, this time from relief, and he closed his eyes when smooth silver rays of light descended on him and Jack. The light brightened, slowly at first, then faster. Hiccup cautiously layed Jack's corpse down in the light, then he got up and stepped back, looking from afar.

Soon silver turned into a blinding white and the viking had to close his eyes and shield his face with his arms. He waited with anguish. When the light finally faded, Jack looked fine. His twisted body was healed, the snow blood was back inside of him, all wounds closed, and even the darkness on his chest had been banished. Hiccup stared in anticipation, holding his breath, until the winter spirit moved and grimaced.

The dragon spirit sighed in relief and looked up, silently thanking the Moon from the depth of his heart. He swore she smiled back, so he nodded. Then he knelt next to Jack who was waking up, he helped him sit up slowly.

''Easy, Jack.''

''Horren ?'' The boy blinked, astounded. ''You… What are you doing here ? How did you find me ?''

Hiccup faked a smile, sadness written all over his features.

''I followed your scent. After what happened in the park, I had to find you.''

Jack averted his eyes and lowered his head, pulling his aching and numb body to rest against the iced stone wall.

''Why are you saying this as if I did nothing wrong ? Easter is gone because of me, I said I'd go back to help you guys and I didn't…''

He squinted his eyes and sighed. Hiccup remained silent. They could have stayed like this for a long, long time if the tooth fairy didn't remind them of her being here with a faint whine.

The viking felt bad for forgetting her and aimed to pick her up, but Jack proved faster. Despite a wince and sloppy movements that proved he was still recovering, he carefully placed the little fairy in his pale palms.

''Hey little baby tooth, you okay ?''

She nodded and smiled to tell him so, but as Jack folded his hands around her, she squeaked. He re-opened them to find her shivering. And she sneezed. He sighed.

''Sorry. All I can do is keep you cold.''

He sat back against the wall, next to Hiccup who glanced at the fairy. She was staring at Jack, looking sad and helpless, surely because he was sad and she wanted to help.

''Pitch was right. I make a mess of everything.''

Jack sighed again and gave the fairy to Hiccup. It was obvious the fire wielder would keep her warm. Jack's shoulders sagged with even more depressing thoughts as his eyes landed on his broken staff, and he silently huddled on himself, hugging himself.

Hiccup gave a look at the fairy and soflty placed a finger under Jack's chin, lifting his head so their eyes could meet. Jack averted his, he didn't dare to face the other spirit.

''Were you with Pitch, this morning ?'' Came the dreadful question.

After an hesitation, the winter bringer nodded hesitantly, shoulders tensing as he braced himself for the dragon's wrath, but nothing came. Actually, Hiccup smiled at him.

''He trapped you, didn't he ?''

Blue eyes widdened.

''H-How… ?''

The viking snorted then casually sat next to him, leaning his back against the wall.

''That's pretty obvious, actually. The others would have realised it too if they had let you explain yourself.''

''It's not their fault. Easter is gone because of me.''

''Because of Pitch, you mean.'' Hiccup contered, his voice firm.

Jack's head remained lowered, still refusing to meet fire orange eyes, so the viking turned to face him, even tilting his head on the side in try to see the pale face.

''Look, the others know they made a mistake by pushing you away. And they regret it, you know. Even Aster, though he's not going to admit it .''

''You think so ?''

Hiccup smiled as he finally met the younger spirit's eyes, brimming with hope. For a moment, he dove into these ice blue orbs, and wondered as, despite the cold color, that look held nothing but warmth. It was warm, just as much as in his memories.

He nodded to reassure Jack. This boy really was a good person. Even after being rejected by the Gardians – though it had just been a misunderstanding – he was not resentful and was hoping to make it up to them. Jack was kind-hearted, just like the boy Hiccup could still see in his memories. The dragon's smile faltered as he thought back to this.

Tooth had told him Jack had his baby teeth when he had come back during Easter's disaster. Since they had a tooth fairy with them, it seemed to be the perfect time to finally find out. And, even if he had been wrong about who Jack was, he knew seeing his previous life's memories would help the boy understanding this one.

''Do you still have your teeth canister ?''

Jack hesitated, taken aback by the question, then he slipped a hand in his front pocket and pulled out the golden cylinder.

Hiccup felt a stinging pain in his chest as he saw the portrait on the front, but he forced himself to ignore it and extended his open palms with the fairy still cuddling in the warmth. Understanding what they wanted to do, she beamed and jumped in Jack's palm. Warmed up by Hiccup's magic, Jack's cold skin didn't bother her anymore, and she quickly sat next to the cannister before touching the design on top, and looking up to Jack. Hiccup noticed how blue eyes suddenly widdened and filled with sparks.

''How did you do that ?'' The boy asked the fairy.

She chirped and seemed amused, then Jack looked at the other spirit.

''Did you hear that ?''

''Huh… No. You're the only one who can see your memories.''

''It… It was the voice I heard in Pitch's lair. It's the same voice. I know it but… I don't know from where.''

''Well, it's time to find out.'' Hiccup smiled as he nodded towards the cannister.

Jack's smile dropped and he looked down to it too. When he meet the fairy's eyes, she nodded in prodding.

Under the attentive gaze of the dragon spirit, Jack took a deep breath and hesitantly placed his fingers on the golden and purple patterns. When his fingers touched the center, a faint light emitted. Hiccup and the fairy didn't see anything, but Jack dove into the past.