Hey guys, I might be kinda late for my standards, but here I am with Chapter 30!
First come the reviews, as usual! Not too many this time around, but...part of that might be because the update time thing was screwed up by me replacing a chapter instead of posting one, haha. Anyway, big thanks regardless to BooksAreMedicine, Randomly Talented (Oh trust me...you should worry :), rwbygirl, and OneWhoDreamz (Yeah, I learned that one the hard way too lol. And thanks, I have fun putting in Jack's train of thought!)!
...by the way, just to clarify, this is Chapter 30, so if you missed last week's update because of stupidity with the notification...Chapter 29's back thataway -
That being said, on with the chapter!
Chapter 30: A Plan
There were many possible reasons that could explain why his magic refused to work properly for him under normal circumstances.
Perhaps it was simply that he lacked a natural knack for it. This was the most likely of the explanations, but he had always felt as though it was something more, as the magic wouldn't even come to him with hours of practice.
It could have been a birth defect. As far as he knew, such a thing had never happened before, but as the saying goes, there always has to be a first time for everything.
Some had suggested that his magic was too weak to be summoned forth, or that he himself was too weak to do said summoning. He doubted this as well, as his magic had proven capable of coming in sudden bursts, but only when he was angry or scared.
Could it have been that, deep down, he was actually afraid to try using magic? No, impossible. He knew that he desperately wanted to be able to use his magic to its fullest potential without issue; he wasn't frightened of it.
Was it a sickness, maybe? No, he felt fine, and no doctor had ever diagnosed anything. Could he not do it simply because he didn't believe he could? Yes, psychology might have had something to do with it. Or perhaps it was merely the fact that he was a particularly "late bloomer", so to speak.
Or maybe...just maybe...it was that his body wouldn't let his magic escape, because it was far too powerful to control when set free…
()()()()
Jack didn't want to wake up.
Through his dreamy, half-asleep state, he could tell that he was wrapped in thick blankets that quite nicely held in the natural cold that his body produced. He was curled up like a child, feeling more comfortable than he had in a long time.
The calming effects of the dreamsand lingered for a long time, keeping a smile on his face and a strange sort of warmth in his heart. Nostalgia from his childhood flooded him, and for once, he felt at peace.
Unfortunately, however, any sort of peace could never stay with Jack Frost for long. The dreamsand soon faded, and the boy was forced to sit up, blinking the sleep from his eyes. For a moment, he tried to hold onto the gentle, sleepy feeling, but it had vanished like a scent on the wind. He heaved a deep sigh.
"Guess I had to wake up sooner or later…" he mumbled to himself.
Jack stood up, struggling to untangle himself from the blankets, then ran his fingers through his tousled white hair to try and fix it a bit. It didn't work very well, but he couldn't bring himself to care. Reluctantly, the boy drew his cloak around him and left his tent, blinking in the bright sunlight that suggested he had slept until at least noon.
When his vision properly cleared, Jack noticed that the Guardians were gathered together, seemingly waiting for him. He remembered Sandy's promise that the four of them were going to disclose their plan for defeating the Nightmare King, and exhaled slightly, walking over. His dark eyebrows raised as he spoke. "So? I believe I was promised a course of action?"
Toothiana nodded at him. "Yes, Jack. We'll tell you what the plan is."
Jack crossed his arms and shifted his weight to one leg, then nodded at them. "Alright, then. I'm listening."
"Okay, well first off, mate," Aster said. "I'm gonna be blunt with ya; Pitch can't be killed. He's Fear itself, and even more immortal than any of us are. There's literally no end ta him. Because of that, he's gotta be trapped, which is why the Tsar gave us these." The Pooka reached behind him and picked up silver chains, holding them out for Jack to see. "They're magic, ya see. As long as we can get these around him, he won't be able ta break out, and no Nightmare or Fearling'll be able ta touch 'em."
The young sprite nodded in understanding. "So getting close enough to get the chains on him is the issue," he said. "And...let me guess. My having the Tsar's protection comes into play here."
Aster snorted and nodded. "Perceptive one, are ya? Well yeah, I'd say it 'comes into play'. In fact, it's pretty much the ace up our sleeves."
"How so?"
"Well, Jack," said Tooth. "As it stands, the Nightmare King doesn't know you have Tsar Lunar's mark on your chest. He couldn't, after all; the Fearling that possessed Simon is still trapped by Sandy, so it couldn't have reported anything. You essentially have two extra chances at life when dealing with Pitch and his minions…" She frowned. "I...I don't like to ask this, but…"
Jack scoffed. "But you want me to charge into danger while the rest of you get in position to put the chains on him."
"Is...one way of putting it," North said awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "Jack, you are only one here who has received this gift. Is very special; it takes much magic to grant, so Tsar does not grant it very often. If you cannot stand against Pitch even with this, then no one can. This is our best shot. You understand, yes?"
Jack could tell that his shrug and simple reply of, "Yes, I'll do it." greatly surprised the Guardians. He observed their stunned faces amusedly, figuring that they had expected him to fight back and argue with them, claiming he did not wish to run headlong into peril. The only Guardian who didn't seem surprised was Sandy. Rather, the little golden man seemed concerned, and Jack knew exactly why.
()()()()
"What, why do I want you to kill me?" Jack asked frostily, raising an eyebrow. At a nod from the Sand-Spinner, he shrugged. "There's nothing left for me here. I've spent the past six years trying to survive, but all along I've just been kidding myself. 'Tis not worth it. I'm not worth it." He scowled. "Now could you just do it already? You would be doing me a favor. Or is that only more reason for you to refuse?"
()()()()
"I'm not suicidal, Sandy," Jack told him with a nod. "I just acknowledge that, not only am I the one with two safety nets in place for me, but I'm also the most expendable one here."
Tooth frowned. "Jack, what are you talking abou-?"
"Admit it, you know it's true," Jack told her. "Think about it. You're the Guardians of Childhood. People look up to you, respect you, rely on you." He shook his head. "I'm merely a teenage snow sprite who has no one to return to, and nothing but hatred directed at me. For all I know, I'm the last of my kind, a kind no one wants around. If I live, great, but if I die, I won't be missed, and at least I'll have died trying to do something worthwhile for once."
The Guardians seemed to be stunned into silence. Jack wasn't exactly sure what he had said that seemed so farfetched to the four immortals, but he didn't bother asking.
No doubt they would pull me into yet another heartfelt lecture if I said anything, he thought. Besides...they're not fools. I'm sure that, deep down, they know that I'm right. They're simply too soft-hearted to say it. He paused, then revised this theory. Besides Aster, of course. Though if I had to guess, I'd say that he's only keeping quiet because he knows that he'll be lectured too otherwise.
Finally, however, Aster did speak up. "Fine. Yer a bloody idiot for thinkin' that way, but fine, be an idiot and see if I care." He scoffed, rolling his emerald eyes. "Just so ya know, though, this ain't a sacrifice play. I don't like ya, but I ain't gonna support sendin' ya ta yer death. We're gonna be there, and we're gonna make sure nothin' goes wrong."
Jack frowned slightly, doubting the merit of their certainty, but he didn't comment on it. Instead, he merely gave a curt nod. "Fine." Then, he arched an eyebrow. "So...me distracting Pitch while you chain him…'tis the entirety of the plan?"
North sighed. "I know is not much, Jack," he said. "But is all we have. We did not know Fearlings would be involved...nothing can defeat them, so we have limited options."
The boy nodded. "I see…" He exhaled. "Well, I suppose if this is all we have, then 'tis all we have. I accept my role in this plan. If I end up losing my life...so be it."
Jack could tell that the Guardians were still uncomfortable with this notion, but they didn't vocalize it. Instead, they suggested continuing with their training sessions, which Jack agreed to. If he still wasn't able to use his magic by the time they were to confront Pitch, then he would have to make up for it with physical strength.
They trained hard all day, and Jack was pleased with the notion that it was becoming easier and easier to get through each session without ending up on the ground, motionless in pain. He thought about this as he sat alone outside in the fading light. The Guardians were already asleep, but he preferred to stay up a little longer, smiling slightly as he watched the firelight dance a little ways away from him. He shied away from its heat, but admired the way it flooded the campsite with warm, calming light.
I truly am getting stronger every day… he thought as the flames crackled and swirled. Perhaps soon, I'll be ready. If I go and it turns out I wasn't...then hopefully, my death won't be in vain.
He was just about to stand and return to his tent for the night when suddenly, Zephyr spooked, prancing to one side and whinnying nervously. Jack frowned, eyebrows creased as he stood up. "Zeph…?" he asked cautiously, making his way over to the stallion. "Are...are you alright…?" The sprite abruptly stopped, eyes widening as a familiar sense of unnatural fear washed over him.
"Oh no…" he whispered. He quickly turned to call out to the Guardians, knowing that, if Nightmares attacked, he needed help to fight them off.
Then, he fell into his own shadow.
()()()()
…
…
...where…
...where am I…?
I was just...I was just with Zephyr, then…
…
...it's dark…
I can't see, am...am I chained to something…?
How…?
How did I...did I get here…?
"Hm, so this is the sprite?"
"Yes, sir."
"I see…"
Who...I feel like...I know those voices…
"Sir, what are we going to do about him? If we're going to kill him, let me! I still need to pay him back for-"
"Patience, Onyx."
"...yes, sir."
On...yx…?
"Now, now, girl, we don't need to kill him right away. That can come later. For now, I have a very special job for this boy."
What...what's that sound...something...moving...towards me…?
"...sir, are you sure?"
"Absolutely. You said this boy used extremely powerful magic against you, correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"Perfect...now, he will use that magic...for us…"
Someone's...someone's touching my head…
Why…?
It...it...h-hurts…
I-I c-can't…
I-It h-hurts…
It…
...hurts…
…
…
"...a flawless transition. Now...what I want you to do, my boy...is return to your little camp...and kill the Guardians."
"Sir, will he really be capable of such a thing…?"
"It doesn't matter. Either he kills the Guardians...or he dies trying. Both will work quite nicely in our favor. Now, boy, you remember what you have to do, don't you?"
…
…
…
…
...kill...Guardians…
...do...do you get it? The chapter's called "A Plan"...so like...you think I'm just talking about the Guardians' plan...and then there's kind of a plan at the end, so...
...
...I'll stop trying to be clever.
ANYwho, I hope you enjoyed, and I'll see you guys next week for Chapter 31!
For now, Sapphire316, out.