Chapter 11
In the dark of the night
Pitch had arrived. A cloud made of black sand was looming over the town, like a silent threat. Hiccup shifted into a dragon – much to Jamie's wonder – and nodded to Jack before he took off. Jack got the message and clenched his fists around his staff. Before following the dragon, he adressed the Guardians.
''Get Jamie out of here.''
''Be carreful, Jack !'' North called out after him before he prompted the others to go.
Neither of Tooth, Aster or him were in shape for a fight, but they would still make sure Jamie was safe.
Hiccup had started the fight but he barely had had the time to shoot a blasma blast that Pitch had already sent a wave of black sand and shadows to him, keeping him busy and away from his actual target. Jack tightened his grip on the staff and darted through the sky in try to catch up with them. It didn't took long for Pitch to spot him, and that made him grit his teeth.
''Jack Frost.''
He snickered before he lunged to him.
''Let's end this, shall we ?!''
Jack didn't let him go too close and blasted his ice lightning. Pitch stopped in his tracks and gathered his shadows around him to form a shield, efficiently blocking out the attack. Unlike the black sand, darkness was not affected by cold and frost.
''This little trick doesn't work on me anymore !'' The Boogeyman taunted.
He condensed this black aura around him, thicking the darkness to the point the ice bolts started to rebound on it, back towards their source.
Jack screamed when the shadows and bolts ended up exploding right in his face, propelling him back and tearing his staff from him. He was sent into a free-fall while dragon roars echoed in the sky, just like Pitch's sneering.
On the ground, the Guardians were feeling like they were running everywhere without knowing where to go. Aster seemed to know where he was heading, but that was just an impression as he was just as lost as them. Shadows were playing with them and their panic wasn't helping think straight. The bunny was hopping and running ahead, Jamie on his tail, Tooth following and running pretty fast despite her slim legs not being used to touch the ground, and behind them North was having troubles keeping up the pace, he was slowed down by his aching old back.
Just as Aster misled them into a dead-end, they heard the howling of the wind and spotted Jack falling from the sky… before he crashed on a dumpster and sprawled on the ground. His staff fell and bumped into a wall near by, landing next to him but out of his reach. They didn't wait to rush on him, Jamie the first, quickly followed by Aster, and the other Guardians joined in as the little boy tried to help the spirit up.
''Zat was good trry, Jack. A forr efforrt !'' North said as he patted Jack's back, unwillingly sending back to the ground.
''He's stronger.'' Jack said while trying to catch up his breath. ''I can't beat him.''
North and Tooth exchanged a worried look, they were loosing hope again, at least until Hiccup managed to get back to them. He tripped as he landed and quickly shifted back in a viking, and he offered his hand to Jack.
''You're stronger too, Jack. You have believers, now.''
His determined look was enough to tell the winter spirit he was not just talking about Jamie, but the Guardians too. Jack frowned and took his hand to get up, picking up his staff.
A new lightning bolt preceded Pitch's gloomy laugh, the Boogeyman's shadow started to circle them on the walls. Instinctively, the five spirits formed a circle, placing Jamie in the middle to protect him.
''All this fuss over one little boy and still he refuses to stop believing. Very well, there are other ways to snap out a light.''
A giant dark hand with long, hooked fingers loomed on the walls, passing over different street lights, making the light lubs explode as it touch them.
The street slowly grew darker, scaring Jamie, still the boy felt a bit reassured when the bunny hopped forwards and growled to their enemy.
''If ya want 'im, ya gonna have ta get though me !''
Pitch's hand formed into a giant shadow on the ground, mimicking to stroke the bunny.
''Look how fluffy you are ! Would you like a scratch behind the ear ?''
Aster blenched and ran back so he could perch himself on North's hand.
''Don't ya even think 'bout that !'' He warned despite he had just fled away.
Jack placed a hand in front of Jamie when they spotted the unstable and distorted shapes of nightmares coming from the only way out of this dead-end.
''I can't tell you how happy it makes me to see you all like this. You look awful.''
Pitch finally emerged from the darkness, his grey eyes glowing unusually, an ominous sneer on his face. The shadows grew to get closer to the group, but the spirits kept their ground, unlike Jamie who backed.
''Jack…'' He called with a shaky voice.
The winter spirit gave him his attention without hesitation, only to see him breath fast, his shoulders shaking.
''I'm scared.''
Jack knelt and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Jamie's words echoed with his newfound memories. He saw his sister, standing on the cracking ice, telling him the same words.
''Jack, I'm scared.''
''Yeah, I know, I know. But you're gonna be alright. We're gonna have a little fun instead…''
He didn't realised he had been saying the words in a whisper, much to Jamie's confusion.
Hiccup had heard it too and couldn't help but smile faintly. What North had told him concerning the center was true for Jack too, and if the viking always had had suspicions about what Jack's center was, visibly the winter spirit had just found it himself.
''So, what do you think, Jamie ?'' The Boogeyman sneered as he approached.
Jack stood up and faced him, shielding the kid.
''Do you believe in the Boogeym- Agh !''
Heavy silence filled with astonishment followed as Pitch had just been hit by a snowball, square in the face. Even the nightmares got unsettled by that. Jamie couldn't help but laugh at that, along with North and Jack. The winter spirit had already formed another ball in his hand. A quick look in the back of the dead-end allowed him to spot some abandoned items next to the dumpster. It gave him an idea.
''Now let's go get your friends.'' Jack said.
By the time Pitch got riden of the magic snow in his face, the nightmares jumped out of the way as a path of ice formed in-between them. Instantly, five spirits and a child slipped through their fingers, using the objects as sleds. Jack flew ahead to trace a safety path, while laughter and shouts echoed in the air. Jamie was sprawled on his belly over a piece of wooden ladder. North was sitting on a pallet, Hiccup just behind him, standing and surfing on a cabinet door. Tooth was following, kneeling on a wheel while Aster was spinning on a large saucer.
They went through the town, Jack making sure their escape turned into a rollercoaster, even adding a loop for North's sake. When they finally reached the house of Jamie's first friend, the unicorn-lover girl, said girl was awoken from a nightmare by a loud bang on her window, curtesy of a snowball. She sat up and her eyes widdened as it was snowing in her bedroom. It was snowing in the room of all Jamie's friends. Pippa, the boy's best friend, opened up her window when he knocked on it. He was gesturing to her with a big grin while he was floating in mid-air.
''Jamie, how are you doing that ?'' She gasped.
''Jack Frost !'' He beamed, pointing to the empty space behind him. ''Come on, we need your help !''
He left without adding word, dragged by the winter spirit. Pippa looked at his retreating form in confusion, though it didn't took long for her to link this strange vision to the snow in her room. All of a sudden, she saw a spiral of swirling snowflakes next to Jamie, which formed a silhouette. A skinny teen dressed in a blue hoodie with a mop of shocking white hair, along with a shepherd crook in a hand, Jamie's arm in the other.
''Hey, is… is that… ?''
''It's Jack Frost !'' Monty laughed from the neighbor house, as he was putting on a warm cloak and pushing up his glasses on his nose.
The twins Caleb and Claude also found snowflakes in their bedroom, and heard the laughter outside. The first spirit they saw was the big bearded man dressed in a red coat. Soon, the spirits welcomed five children who had brough their sledge to follow them in their race.
''Jamie, you were right ! The Easter Bunny's real !''
''And the Tooth Fairy !''
''And Santa !''
''They're all real !''
They kept on sledging and guffawing in the main street, until they slowed down and went to an halt when Jack stopped icing the road. They all froze and looked up. Around the buildings, only lit up by the lightning on far away stormy clouds, huge waves of black sand and shadows were circling the town, forming an imposing wall, like a prison. Pitch appeared on the top of a three stories building, his voice echoing all around them.
''You think a few children can help you… against this ?''
North held up his sword and pointed it to Pitch, but his grib shook and the sword dropped back. He was still too weak. Hiccup and Tooth caught him before he could fall. The children remained petrified behind the spirits, suddenly scared.
''They're just bad dreams.'' Jack tried to reassure them.
''And we'll protect ya, mates.'' Aster added.
''Aw, you'll protect them.'' Pitch laughed, a false tender tone in his silky voice. ''But who'll protect you ?''
Jack clenched his fists around his staff, and glanced over his shoulder to Hiccup. The viking nodded and stepped forward to join him in front of the others. Though someone else stepped forward, even passing in front of the two elemental spirits.
''I will.'' Jamie stated.
''I will.'' The unicorn-lover added, her bulky frame pushing aside the other kids and spirits to join Jamie.
Their bravery and determination seemed to awaken the others' as the twins joined them too. The six children were now shielding the five spirits. Hiccup had to admit he was impressed by their courage, and also moved the kids wanted to defend those who were supposed to defend them. He could feel their will to protect, it seemed to pulse inside of them, in their mind, in their blood, feeding the beating of their heart.
Hiccup then felt something inside of himself. It felt like a whole new kind of warmth spreading in his veins, feeding his magic and making it stronger. Soon, the red blurred aura he was sure being the only to see around them, formed around him too. A warm light glowed in his chest, even piercing his scales-covered armor.
''The will to protect…'' He whispered to himself. ''Devotion.''
Jamie met Jack's eyes, then all of them readied themself for the fight.
''Still think there's no such thing as the Boogeyman ?'' Pitch taunted from the roof.
With a flick of his wrist, he sent the wave of nightmares and shadows towards the ground, it took the shape of a tsunami heading straigh to the group of spirits and children, engulfing all light that crossed its path.
''I do believe in you.'' Jamie assured. ''I'm just not afraid of you !''
Hiccup watched the boy's aura grow bigger, stronger, and even more as the nightmares condensed to focus on them. Everyone ducked by reflex as the wave crashed on them, and something unexpected happened. As soon as the black sand touched Jamie's hand he had placed to shield his head, light shone. Golden rays exploded and engulfed the black sand, giving it back its original golden color the Guardians knew all too well. Dreamsand. The whole wave got converted and the explosion pushed back the other heaps of black sand and shadows.
The children laughed and marvelled while even the spirits got flabberghasted by what had just happened. As to Pitch, he panicked on his roof. He had been convinced he had ended the Sandman and was done with his magic, and now these kids had just woken up this gone magic. The return of the dreams had an instantaneous effect on the Guardians. Tooth's wings started to beat again and she managed to finally leave the ground.
''Yeah, the Tooth Fairy !'' The kids rejoyed as she started to dart around them excitedly.
North's pale face turned back to its usual pinkish blush and he lifted both his swords with his regained strength, letting out his jolly booming laugh.
''No ! Get them !'' Pitch snarled, sending the nightmares on the spirits.
Aster clenched his fists and shook his hips with impatience, waiting to see his own magic being restaured. Though the small bunny had to wait and flee as he saw the upcoming nightmares. North shook two snow globes and threw them to the ground, opening portals to the North Pole. Instantly, yetis came rushing out of it, joining the fight, while a humming echoed in the air. Tooth looked up and squeaked in delight as she saw her army of fairies befall on the nightmares and attack with their beeks.
Meanwhile, Aster was hopping and running as fast as he could to escape from three nightmares chasing him. He made use of his small size to slip under a car.
''I'm just a bunny !'' He tried to wallow them.
They didn't mind and one of them managed to bit on his tail to hoist him out of his hidding spot. Though it didn't pulled out a cute little fluffy bunny, it pulled out a six feet tall Pooka warrior, armed with his boomerangs and all his powers.
''Good day, mate.'' Aster smirked.
He punched the nightmare in the face with his hinder paw and made a summersault before throwing his boomerangs. Each hit at least two nightmares before going back to him. He caught them in mid-air with a satisfied grin. Without Jack's magic to stabilize them, it seemed even easier to break them.
Two taps on the groung with his paw opened up several tunnels connected to the Warren, from which rose his tall stone sentinels in the shape of eggs. The kids also joined the fight, as soon as they were touching a nightmare, the black sand was turning back in dreamsand, chasing away the shadows in it. Raw strength combined with the dreams allowed the Guardians to tip over the balance, and Pitch realised that.
While he was watching the battlefield with dread and panic, he started and turned around as a gust of cold wind blew behind him. Jack landed on the other side of the roof and didn't wait to attack the nightmares surrounding and guarding the Boogeyman. The Guardians spotted some of the ice bolts and witnessed the chase that followed in the roofs, Hiccup and Jack chasing after Pitch who was trying to escape on a black sand cloud. Jack kept on bolting ice at him while Hiccup was blasting plasma. Seeing the fairies, yetis and children were handling the situation with the nightmares, the Guardians decided to help with Pitch.
''All yours, mate !'' Aster said to North as he dove into a new tunnel. North jumped in after him.
After an accurate plasma blast that toppled Pitch from his cloud, Hiccup caught up with him on a roof, but he stopped dead in his tracks as he realised the Boogeyman was waiting for him. The viking spirit spotted a dart that looked like the one which had killed Sandy, though it didn't manage to reach him as Tooth intervened and made it explode.
''Thanks Tooth !'' He said while she was beating up a nightmare.
Aster hopped from a chimney with a sout dust surrounding him and threw his boomerangs to the dark spirit. It slammed into three nightmares behind him. North came out of his chimney, ready to fight, but he blinked in confusion before realising the fight was actually on the other side of the street.
''Wrrong rroof…''
Aster, Jack, Hiccup and Tooth blocked Pitch but he beaconed the residues of black sand towards him to form a shield, then a cloud that allowed him to escape.
Since he was heading towards North, the spirit of Christmas jumped and lunged to him, shattering the cloud with his swords. Pitch fell and the fight resumed on the ground.
The dark spirit gathered shadows to form his scythe and struck so hard he managed to tear off North's swords from him, pushing him to the ground. Santa had just fell that Aster jumped in and pushed back the scythe, then attacked with his boomerangs. Tooth came in right behind Pitch to slow his dodge, a plasma blast broke the scythe in Pitch's hands, and eventually Jack kicked him in the chest to push him back. Pitch caught his balance before he could topple over and found himself facing the five spirits. As they slowly approached, they forced him to back in a dead end.
On the other side of the main street, the children and the minions were done with the nightmares, now marvelling at the golden dreamsand floating in streams all around them.
''Look at that !'' Caleb grinned, running his fingers through the dream magic.
''I got it !'' Jamie exclaimed with a huge smile. ''I know what we have to do ! Guys, come on !''
They laughed and followed him.
''It's over, Pitch.'' Hiccup growled. ''There's nowhere to hide.''
The Boogeyman hesitated for a bit, then he smirked and dropped himself in his shadow. The other spirits lifted their head and started to turn as several shadows in the shape of Pitch swirled on the walls. No one noticed him re-appearing at the exact same spot he had vanished, and now he was right behind Hiccup's back. Aster was the one to see the scythe.
''Hiccup, look out !''
He threw a boomerang but Pitch hit it with his weapon before quickly swinging it to strike the viking.
No one manage to do anything before Jack intervened. They barely had time to hear a shout saying 'No !' – surprisingly coming from Pitch – before the scythe went down. A blinding light exploded, dissipating the scythe as it touched it, even forcing Pitch to step back. The light softened and allowed the spirits to see what it actually was. Hiccup and Jack. The winter spirit had grabbed the viking's hand while trying to protect him, and the same emotion running through the dragon seemed to have triggered their magic.
Both of them were now emitting an aura around them, a peculiar aura producing the light. Hiccup's was a golden, reddish orange, flames swirling and dancing around him. Jack's was silver white, a soft glowing filled swirling stars and snowflakes. Pitch backed again, eyes wide as he saw them. Sun and Moon. The spirits in front of him, standing up while still holding hands, looked like the embodiement of the two protective stars. How was he supposed to fight that ? Still he tried.
He shout an angry cry and formed another scythe, though he barely had the time to lift it before a golden rope wrapped around his wrist. The weapon vanished and the Boogeyman was suddenly pulled backwards. The five spirits ran after him and followed him to the nearest park, where they could see the golden streams gather in the same spot. Pitch was pulled and dragged there, and found himself right in front of the light to assist to the Sandman's return. Because Sandy emerged from the light.
Pitch panicked even more while the short golden man pulled him a bit closer, glaring at him. Sandy shook his finger no, like a parent disapproving something their child did, before he punched the Boogeyman in the face, sending him flying in the air. The kids gathered around the golden spirit and started to whistle and applause. The Guardians then realised that, while they were fighting Pitch, the children had been gathering all the dreams… and bringing back their friend.
Sandy used his sand to form a bowler hat to salute the kids, who giggled at that. Then he pulled at the lasso he was still holding, still attached to Pitch's wrist. They waited a little bit to see the Boogeyman plummet and crash land in the snow, fast-asleep with golden moths flying above his head.