Hello Music Mixers!
Thank you all for the support thud far. Kind reminder that please DO NOT go beyond this chapter, for it is my un-edited, old version and thus, drastically different!
Enjoy:)
It was late in the evening when North received a letter.
The man was munching on a platter of Christmas cookies while humming a tune composed by Beethoven. He tinkered away at an ice sculpture with an ice pick far too small for his ginormous hands, but the Guardian always ended up making the most beautiful ice inventions with his ridiculous set of tools.
At times like these, North's mind liked to drift and wonder about other things. Pleasant things, such as Christmas treats, new toys to give to good children, and his most recent fondness, his team. His family. Ever since the new addition, Jack Frost, everyone had been doing wonderfully.
North always took pride in having faith in the boy from the very beginning, and had further grown to trust and love the boy like a father over the years. During the Guardian's first Christmas with Jack, North's gift was taking the spirit off the Naughty List and putting him on the Nice List. Jack was ecstatic to say the least, North actually felt bad for not putting the boy on sooner, he didn't realize how much it meant to him. The boy had shown talent, compassion, and love like North would have never guessed. Jack deserved so much, and North did everything in his power to give it to him. It touched North's center to see that Jack was so grateful, he really was the son that North never had.
Why, even Bunnymund had taken a liking to the boy! A brotherly sort of love if you will, but it was powerful. The two boys were as thick as thieves. They were either sizing up their egos and at each others throats, or ready to sacrifice themselves for the other in combat. Between the harsh comments and the offensive nicknames, the bond that Jack and Bunny shared was unique and special. North admired that the most. Being able to observe as a third party, the blossoming relationship was impressive. Jack had changed Bunny... for the better. Bunny was known in the magical realm as, to put it promptly, a dick. His demeanor was a bit too headstrong and brash for many spirit's tastes. The Pooka would mean well most of the time, but it meant nothing if he actually didn't show it. (Which he didn't, actions speak louder than words after all.) But oddly enough, it seemed as if Jack had gotten through to the over-sized rabbit. Bunny had slowly become more open and relaxed, he had accepted that it was okay to be a little soft around others and still come off as a tough person. He just saved his dickish attitude for Frost himself.
Sandy also held a special type of relationship with Jack as well. In the beginning, before Jack became a Guardian, it was safe to say that Jack trusted the Sandman the most. Perhaps it was what the little man stood for, or his polite and quaint aura that got to the boy, nobody really knew, but it was evident that Jack (at first) liked the Sandman the most. Once Jack became a Guardian, there were no favorites, but he and the Sandman's relationship continued to grow. The two enjoyed long nights together, sitting atop clouds and stargazing. They discussed certain things. Jack even opened up to some memories and issues that he struggled with in the past years, and Sandy listened to him and coaxed him through it; giving the teenager words of wisdom and comfort. It was a respectable relationship that North was almost jealous of (but he of course would never want to strip Jack away of his happiness with the little golden man).
However, while North was not one to pick favorites, he was most proud of Jack's relationship with Tooth. His dearest Toothy had found love at long last! Not to say that North was a matchmaker and had any interest in getting Tooth with someone, but it was better that Jack and Tooth were together rather than they be apart. North observed; the two were not the type to gush over each other, nor start drama and argue day in and day out, but they kept a healthy and reasonable balance. They were always there for each other and they cherished their time together. They thought about each other, a smile playing on their lips whenever they did so. While 'being wed' was not a term in the spiritual world, Jack and Tooth considered their bond to be something of the sort. Jack and Tooth's love for each other was a lovely sight to behold, North cooed to himself.
For better, for worse... in sickness and in health... till death do us part...
North was startled from his ice sculpture when a letter came fluttering down his chimney.
It was nowhere near Christmas (which was why the Russian had the time to privately work on his hobby in peace). Even though he did receive letters throughout the year (and a decent bunch, considering the millions of children on the Earth with thousands of different purposes), he was always surprised to see a letter come in. However, many of the letters, including the Christmas letters, North ignored and had many of his yetis read. One man cannot read millions of letters from children who's handwriting is practically unreadable for centuries on end without going bonkers.
Although this one caught his attention.
Letters were delivered from doorways, windows, ceilings, yetis, and elves (the ones delivered by elves were nastily chewed up, mind you). North rarely ever got a letter through chimney; that was his honor (to travel through chimney), not measly paper! Unless... unless the writer knew what he or she (or it) was doing and directly sent him a letter.
Only powerful people with a powerful purpose could pull off such a stunt.
North trudged over to the envelope that lay tranquil upon the dark-wood floor. North leaned down and picked up the scrawled paper in his hand, speculation etched upon North's face. He scratched his beard, reading aloud to himself in his deep, rich accented voice, "To North at the Workshop..." Alas, somebody did know what they were doing. No regular child addressed Santa Clause as 'North' at 'the Workshop.'
"Jamie Bennett..."
Once North read the writer aloud, a smile came to his face, he could never forget the Last Light of 2012. Bless Jamie Bennett, he saved them all. Jamie hadn't written to the Pole for two years, since he had officially become an aging child, but North would not complain about a letter. In fact, it would be nice if he received a letter from the other children from the Battle of Burgess. North's mind fondly wandered as he thought about what Jamie Bennett could be up to.
North merrily read aloud, not processing the words he was reading, "Pitch is back. Jack is in trouble. Jamie Bennett. Lackawanna College, Pennsylvania..." he hummed.
Wait.
North's heart seized. His hands flinched as North read over the letter again...
And again.
And again.
And again.
"сука блять..."
North held his breath, his wide eyes of wonder filled with fear. Without a second thought, he marched himself into the Globe Centre and twisted the handle, sending the Aurora Borealis across the world. North then heavily groaned, massaging his temples, his whiskered eyebrows stitched together. Why had his belly deceived him? He had not suspected a thing... which was Pitch's perfect opportunity.
North looked up at the sound of thudding heading his way.
"Pitch is back, Phil."
The yeti garbled in panic.
"Jack's in trouble, too, according to Jamie."
The brown yeti made a sound of distress, his paws grasping the sides of his face. This caught the attention of many of the other yetis whom impeded their work to listen in on the fuss.
Phil is right, North nodded to himself, I cannot wait and sit idly by... not this time.
"Phil," North spoke.
The yeti soluted.
"Get the reindeer and my sleigh ready quickly. When the others arrive, show them this letter and inform them that I have already made way-" North entrusted his beast companion with Jamie's note, "-as I must leave now... Ah, and tell the others to get back to work. Давай!"
Phil nodded firmly and rushed to work. The yetis, although alight with alarm, forced themselves to get back to their duty while Phil made a beeline to the docking bay.
North headed back to his office, swiping his red coat and ushanka before calling upon his twin cutlasses that manifested themselves perfectly into his scabbards. Without another glance towards his beloved ice sculpture or even his cherished cookies, North was on his way.
"What could that bloody drongo want at a time like this?" Bunnymund snarled as he impatiently tapped his foot on the tiled floor of the globe room in the Northern Workshop.
"Now, now, Bunny..."
Bunny chortled, he heard that coming a mile away (one could take that literally).
"Well, g'day ta ya, too, Tooth." He responded sarcastically.
With the flutter of a set of graceful wings, the Tooth Fairy came floating in from a window with a few of her minion fairies loyally at her side. "North must have some logical reason to use the Aurora Borealis to summon us."
"Ya," the Pooka turned around with a smirk, "like the time he wanted ta host a cookie-eatin' competition between us all!"
"Oh," Tooth hummed, "you're just bitter because North actually bettered you in something!"
"He's Santa Clause! Of course he beat me!"
"Honestly, I can't believe you're still heated about it. That was a few years ago!"
"Don't chide me, Tooth... besides, a few years is nothing ta us."
Tooth guffawed, "Now what have I said about taking our immortality for granted, Aster?"
"And what have I said about calling me by my real name, Toothiana?" Bunny sneered in response.
It was all jest, but Tooth didn't travel all the way to the North Pole to argue with the Easter Bunny. "This conversation has gone long enough."
"What's that s'pposed to mean?"
Tooth let out a frustrated cry. With a quick chirp, her mini-fairies (who had been listening in on the conversation) scattered and went back to their work.
In the midst of their argument, Bunny and Tooth failed to notice the Sandman, who had just arrived and was trying to get their attention. Sandy scowled to himself; people could get so enamored with their words. Perhaps they just liked to hear themselves talk. Sandy supposed it fascinated people to a certain extent; it's one of the evolutionary factors that made humans special, after all. He took pride in not having the need to speak, it did him well...
Most of the time.
Times like these, on the other hand... by the Man in the Moon what would he give to just yell at his teammates.
Whatever, that's why Elves existed!
Without remorse, Sandy snatched the nearest elf and proceeded to jangle it into submission (the lot were quite the nuisance, so Sandy felt no pity.)
Simultaneously, the two Guardians ceased their argument which had grown into that of a married couple arguing over what color to paint their walls.
Bunny smirked, his attitude switching to that of genuine coolness on a dime, "Sandy, good ta see you, mate!"
Tooth rolled her eyes as she clasped her hands together, a tight smile playing on her lips, "Do excuse us, Sandy. How are you?" She raised her chin with defiance as Bunny sent her a glare.
Sandy shrugged.
Composed, but not relaxed, Bunny spoke, "Where the bloody hell is North? He's takin' longer than Jack-"
"Where is Jack?" Tooth intervened with genuine curiosity.
"Now, I know he's ya boyfriend, Sheila, but ya can't vouch for him over his tardiness!"
Tooth scoffed, "I was just with him-"
"Ooh," Bunny sneered, "What were you two up today?"
Tooth's face turned beet red as her lips twisted in mortification, "Excuse me!?"
Tooth made an attempt to swipe at Aster, but two golden hammers formed over the fairy's and bunny's heads before delivering a powerful blow to each of their noggins. Sandy could be quiet and patient, but his tolerance level was extremely low on certain occasions. Seeing to that the bunny and the fairy were settled on better terms (once they had some sense knocked into them), the golden man made a gesture to Phil who had been waiting patiently by the golden man's side.
"Ah, yes, what is it Phil?" Bunny asked whilst rubbing the crown of his head.
Phil frantically tried to reply, but alas, it was gibberish to the rest of the crew.
"Bugger," Bunny hoarsely sighed, slapping a paw over his face, "we can't understand the bloke."
Phil let out a grunt as he shoved a piece of paper towards Bunny who took and unfolded it. Tooth and Sandy hovered behind Bunny's shoulder who slowly read it out loud.
"Pitch is back. Jack is in trouble..." Bunny's emerald eyes widened in terror.
Tooth gasped and covered her mouth with her hands in utter shock, but it lasted for a mere moment before her fear subsided into rage. Her hands balled into her fists and her fuchsia irises gleamed treacherously, her voice dropping into a guttural tone, "I swear, if he even thinks about touching Jack I will rip out his throat with my hands."
Bunny released a tempered puff, his paws turning into fists as well, the paper crumpling against the force of his iron-fist grasp. "I have ta agree with ya there. That arse doesn't know what he's getting himself into. As much as I find that frosted dill annoying... that piece of shite doesn't even compare..."
Sandy then came into view and created a candy cane, then making it float over to a spot in Pennsylvania on the grand globe.
"Yer sayin' North is there already?" Bunny glanced at the paper one more time, "Lackawanna College in Pennsylvania."
Phil nodded vigorously.
Bunny sighed, mashing the paper into a ball and tossing it to the side, his paws becoming occupied with his pair of boomerangs instead. With the tap of his padded foot, the ground caved beneath the Pooka's foot to reveal a perfect yet dark tunnel. Without hesitation, Tooth and Sandy jumped in.
"We'll send word if we know of anything on Frostbite and North, okay, Phil?" Bunny asked, but not bothering to wait for a reply before hopping into the hole himself.
Phil grumbled to himself. Situations like this never ended well.
The tunnel closed up to leave behind a chocolate cosmos flower; it's center a stunning black and the petals dyed in a crimson, blood red.
Jamie awoke to the sound of pounding at his door. Out of habit, he glanced up at his alarm clock (that was proudly not digital) to see that it was two in the morning.
The door was pounded again, with more fever this time.
"I'm coming! Have patience for god's sake!" Jamie groaned and got to his feet. He glanced over to the other bed in the room to find it still empty. It was probably his room mate. Rather remarkable that he's able to knock, Jamie thought, especially in his drunken stupor. Such an ass.
Jamie threw open the door and was prepared to catch his wasted room mate, but to his surprise, a large man with a red coat and a white beard stood before him instead.
"North!" Jamie squawked in surprise.
North didn't usher a word as he ducked his head through the door frame and entered the cramped (for his mass) dorm room. Jamie locked the door behind him as he began to remember why North had arrived at his doorstep. It was only a few hours ago that he had completed all his work early and was going to head off to bed when Pitch snatched him. Jack, thank god, came to his rescue. Jamie prayed that Jack was alright, but if North had still bothered to show up, that meant that Jack was still out there. Jamie felt weak; he went over to the coffee brewer and shoved a filter in the machine. Damn, did he wish that he was eligible to drink for once.
"You want some coffee, North?" Jamie asked in a stressed tone, "My room mate probably has some alcohol- vodka stashed somewhere..."
"No thank you." North replied curtly. Albeit tempted, he had to make a hard pass. He sighed as he glanced around nervously before speaking in a hushed voice, "As good as it is to see you, Jamie, I must cut to the chase. What happened?"
Jamie felt nauseous. "I was packing up for the night when I was dragged right through the ground." Jamie had no other way of explaining it. It was true. With all the lights off, Jamie was ready to hit the hay when he fell through the floor.
"That must have been some sort of shadow portal," North pondered.
Jamie chose to not bother and understand exactly what North was referring to. "Pitch was going to kill me when Jack showed up and helped me escape. He got dragged off... I don't know where they are now."
North frowned, confused, "What was Jack doing here?"
Jamie stuttered for a second but quickly recovered, "He was probably on his way home to his lake. I'm just rather glad he showed up."
North felt the itch that Jamie wasn't telling the truth, but it didn't matter. "Are you alright? Did Pitch hurt you?"
Jamie shook his head, "No. Jack saved me. Pitch wanted me dead, like, really dead- and I think you know why... but-" Jamie hesitated as his mind began to travel to doubt and suspicion. A theory slithered into his mind that Jamie felt stupid for not suspecting it sooner. "What if this was some sort of trap? What if this was supposed to happen? I mean, Pitch is the Boogeyman and I assume has been around for quite some time... I don't think he's that stupid."
"Or that he didn't learn from his mistake..."
"What if his goal is to get revenge on Jack? I know Jack can handle himself but what if he's just... ready this time?"
North's face drooped in realization as he dawned on the terrible possibilities that could be in store for Jack, or even Jamie. If this was Pitch's grand entrance, he had to have something in store. Pitch could have gotten a lot stronger over the years, who knows what the spirit could be thinking.
"This isn't just about Jack," North speculated, "I don't think he's quite finished with you, Jamie. By what you've said, I think it is safe to presume that he will stop at nothing until you are dead."
"That's not all." Jamie said, adverting his gaze from North. "Pitch is... he's not the same guy."
"What do you mean?"
"He's a monster. Before, I understood his motives and why he wanted to get rid of you guys, but now... he is fueled on pure rage and revenge. He's not even his human self anymore. He's like- half nightmare or something! He doesn't care how messy things get as long as he wins."
Jamie shuddered as the memories pushed themselves to the front of his mind; Pitch's maniacal laughter, his hideous face, his deformed body... it was too much to process. With shaking hands, Jamie took his mug of coffee and took tiny sips, but the coffee still didn't comfort him the least bit. Maybe a couple shots of alcohol wouldn't hurt...
"I just hope Jack's okay..." Jamie whispered, finding himself almost brought to tears.
Why now? Like this? North's mind struggled to come to terms with the situation. He palmed his face and sighed. Emotions swirled in his belly, but it all grilled down to fury and determination. This isn't going to happen; not here, not now, not ever. We will put a stop to Pitch Black, once and for all. By the power invested in us from the Man in the Moon... The Guardians wouldn't let Jack down, not this time.
"Jamie, the others will be here soon, I think I am going to stay here and guard over you until this is-"
"WHERE THA BLOODY HELL IS THAT DONGO-"
"Bunny! Relax! He's not here!"
Barging through Jamie's door was a very angry and over-sized bunny that wielded two boomerangs. A flustered fairy and an annoyed golden man flew in next.
"Hey, guys!" Jamie waved awkwardly at the intruding (and very armed) guests.
Tooth flew over to North and flitted before his face, "Did you see Jack and Pitch on your way here?"
"I took a snow-globe for the most part, but I didn't see any sign of Jack or Pitch. Not even any traces of a struggle. What about you?"
"We took the tunnels," Bunny answered, "Even so, I didn't hear or smell anything."
"My fairies will inform me if Jack arrived at any of our palaces." Tooth inquired.
"My yetis will do the same."
"So will my lil' googies."
Sandy only nodded in agreement.
"Standing around here isn't gonna help us," Bunny hollered, kicking the bedpost, "what do you two know?
North took his turn, "We suspect this was some sort of trap. Lure Jack in by threatening Jamie-"
"Pitch captured me earlier tonight." Jamie added in.
"We can only assume the worst in that Pitch has Jack. We don't know why now or just why in general, but I believe he isn't done with Jamie either. I'm going to stay here and guard him while you three search for Jack."
"Sounds like a plan, mate." Bunny agreed.
"Jamie," Tooth ordered, "where did you last see Jack?"
Jamie pointed towards the door, "he got dragged off from my doorstep."
Sandy suddenly came into view and spun around in an urgent matter.
"Sandy's right," Tooth said, "we cannot waste anymore time."
"But, where do we even start?" Bunny began, "Pitch could be anywhere."
"Let's start with his catacomb here in Pennsylvania." North offered to the search group, "I also suggest that you split up for time benefit."
"I'll take the one here." Tooth said quickly.
"He's got an access in every single capital of every single state and country," Bunny said warily while shaking his head, "they all connect to the same fabric of reality but we can't be sure where exactly he brought Jack. Who knows, mate, he could be preparing for us and lead us somewhere, trap us in his realm, or worse-"
"Any worse than letting Jack be with Pitch for all eternity and you did nothing to help?" Tooth snapped.
Bunny ate his words and nodded. Nothing was worse than guilt and shame... and knowing that Jack was possibly at the mercy of that nightmare.
Sandy came into view as a golden globe came into view. Sandy then demonstrated how he would try to cover the capitals in the countries of Europe and work his way back to America.
"Sounds like a plan, I'll take Asia." Bunny said as he created a tunnel beneath his padded foot, a couple of papers falling inside in the process. "Good luck, I'll report back if I see anything." With that, Bunny was gone in an instant.
"Take care of Jamie," Tooth demanded before shooting out a window and flying into the night sky.
Moments later, Sandy did the same, soaring beyond the clouds.
With a sigh, Jamie prayed, "Be careful."
Jamie's freshman year in college was coming to an end as summer was right around the corner. Jamie was rather looking forward to having a nice summer as an official college student. Let's just say that this isn't exactly what he had in mind. However, having Santa Clause as a room mate was pretty bad ass.
Crap. Where the hell was North going to sleep? What was an immortal being going to do all day?
"Well," Jamie spoke up awkwardly, "make yourself comfortable."
"Hard to," North said admittedly.
"That's fair." Jamie commented.
"By the way, don't you have a room mate?"
There was a weak knock at the door which proceeded a sudden thump and a thud that seemed like the sound bounded off from the ground.
"Speak of the devil," Jamie groaned as he threw open the door to find his drunken room mate at his feet, passed out at almost three in the morning.
This was going to be a shitty summer.
A scream tore through the cavern as another fingernail was removed from Jack's hand.
In the past few hours, Jack had suffered numerous lacerations from beatings by the hands of Pitch Black. His staff was already torn to smithereens and trashed god-knows-where; that was the first thing to do on Pitch's bucket list. The gruesome fellow wasn't the type for the mortal torture machines (which Jack was rather thankful for), but his own painful techniques were bad enough.
"You're going to have to do more than that to kill me." Jack choked out with a forced smile.
Without the slightest warning or a moment's notice, Pitch slammed his hand-held lever down on a small mechanical toy (as Pitch referred to) that caused another one of Jack's nails to be removed. Pitch smiled when Jack screamed louder, as he didn't have time to brace himself and endure the pain.
"Seriously, my dear boy, you haven't figured it out already?" Pitch cooed, "I sincerely thought you were smarter than that... I overestimated you, what a shame."
Jack fought the urge to roll his eyes. "You've underestimated me in the past, why change now?" He then smirked, "Oh, is it because I kicked your punk-ass back down to hell where you groveled in your own-"
In an instant, Pitch loomed over Jack and raked his clawed hand down the boy's face at a painfully slow pace. Pitch's nails punctured deep beneath Jack's skin as blood pooled and flowed down the side of his face; Jack letting out a shriek all the while.
"Don't make me kill you, boy."
Jack let out a sarcastic huff once he had composed himself, "Why not?"
Pitch snarled, "I want death to be a mercy to you once I'm-"
"Yeah, yeah, I've heard it all!" Jack exclaimed exasperatedly, "You're all the god damn same. You don't know when you've lost..."
"That's petty, coming from the person who's helplessly strapped to a table and being tortured..."
"Well, you're fucking rich for thinking you have the upper-hand. I don't need my staff to survive, you won't break me, the Guardians will find me sooner or later, Jamie is safe, and you will never live to see the earth again."
Pitch looked startled for a moment, but it simply faded away. "Oh, scary," he mocked.
Jack found himself wanting to scream or cry out in fury. He couldn't keep up his bold facade for much longer. He was completely spent. His staff, being broken until it was nothing but splinters, left a dull yet painful ache residing in his heart that he feared would never heal. The lacerations were still bleeding, and they were only going to get worse. The tips of his fingers were so sore and stung to the point that they grew numb. What was next? Broken bones, whip lashes, emotional deprivation? It all was enough to send Jack slightly over the edge.
"That's it!" Pitch suddenly said with delight. "That fear! That's what I want! That inner turmoil and dread! I could feed off of it forever... you will give me what I need to defeat the Guardians, kill that precious little Believer of yours, and take over the universe."
Jack lashed out against his restraints in rage. "That won't happen! I won't let you, I can fight my fear."
Pitch caressed Jack's jawline with his clawed hand and whispered, "Not forever."
Jack jerked his head out of Pitch's grasp and looked away in defiance, unable to see Pitch slink back into the shadows. However, he was aware of the suffocating darkness that began to cloud his vision. No, he wasn't falling into another nightmare, he was being surrounded by the same darkness he woke up in.
Surely he would go insane if he were to stay like this... forever.
Meh, not as long or as interesting as I wanted it to be but, c'est la vie:/ I tried stretching it as much as I could but I think it came out rushed. BTW, the two Russian translations are as follows: (#1) – suka bliet (- bitch, fuck); (#2) – davai (- let's go). Anyways, have a great weekend, and thank you all for reading:) Peace!
-SkatingDJ