...well hi!

AGH I'm so sorry I haven't updated in a while! Ugh...between working on my final English essay, stuff for my Programming and Algorithms class, and...pretty much every other scrap of homework I've been flooded with recently, I haven't had much time to write. Bleh...at least I'll get a bit of a stress reliever with the Set It Off concert I'm going to this Tuesday. :) | (coughcoughtheyhavegoodmusicyoushouldlistentoitcoughcough)

ANYWAY, now that that's done, I'm back in business, so now for the reviews! Thanks so much to Randomly Talented (Ah, sorry about that, but Sandy only looked at what he was supposed to lol. But hey, that's not to say I won't eventually deliver more in the angst department XD), Brenne, Serami Nefera, OneWhoDreamz, BooksAreMedicine, jackandelsaforever101, MagicWarriorDragon, Yukomin, yummypie193 (But I like pulling heartstrings, they're my favorite instruments to play with :), AlyssaJ-DaughterOfTheStars, Guest (I'm still loyal, I promise! Just a student being flooded with homework XD), and Guest!

Now, without further ado...on with the chapter!

Chapter 33: Harmless

It took Jack a few minutes to regain his vision once the blindfold was pulled from his face. Even when his eyes were free, they were assaulted by the harsh sunlight, blinded to the point of only being able to make out a few blurry silhouettes before him. Still, he knew exactly who he was looking at.

His gag was removed, but he made no sound until his ears were unwrapped and he let out an involuntary gasp as his sense of hearing returned. He had never truly appreciated just how many sounds the seemingly quiet forest possessed normally, but had no time to consider much. He could now see the Guardians, and they were all staring at him.

For a long while, no one spoke.

Jack cleared his throat, breaking the quiet with his low tone. "So…" he began, his voice scratchy and rough for some reason. "I've...noticed that you're upset."

"Oh, have ya?" Aster deadpanned, his stiff posture indicative of his hostility. Jack was not surprised.

Also unsurprising was Toothiana's scolding of Aster. After the Pooka shut his mouth, the fairy turned back to face Jack, saying gently, "No, Jack, we're not upset with you…"

He was slightly surprised by this.

"Why...why not?" he asked quizzically. The boy winced slightly as his throat burned, applying a sort of rasp to his words. He figured that the difficulties he had with speaking as a Fearling had irritated his throat severely, and did his best to-quite literally-swallow the pain.

"Because, Jack," North said. "Sandy looked into your dreams, and Tooth confirmed that what he saw was a memory. We know it was not your fault...and we are sorry."

"Some of us, anyway," Aster added, arms crossed over his furry chest. His statement earned a sharp elbow in the ribs from Toothiana.

Jack was decidedly stunned. "The hell?" he rasped, staring at them. "Why are you apologizing?" Granted, he knew that they were apologizing for chaining him up after specifically promising not to at the start, but he simply could not figure out why they were doing so. He had attempted to kill them, hadn't he? Not only that; he had wanted to completely tear them limb from limb, reveling in the bloodshed. Why were they the ones apologizing?

"Because we believed the Fearling's lies, Jack," Tooth explained gently. He admittedly appreciated how she distinguished between him and his Fearling self. "We chained you up and restricted your senses...when you'd really done nothing wrong." She sighed slightly. "It was Sandy who convinced us that we were being too hasty in our judgement...if he hadn't been here, you might still be bound and gagged…"

North nodded. "Is true, Jack. We were wrong. Sandy found truth. We...we are very sorry." Sandy nodded his agreement, then sharply nudged Aster.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Aster grumbled. "Sorry, I s'pose."

Jack was speechless. They're serious about this, he realized. They're really, actually sorry for how they treated me, even though 'twas the one time I really deserved it. They chained a monster...nothing more.

He realized that he was most likely expected to give a response to their apologies, as the Guardians had remained silent as well. He awkwardly cleared his throat and spoke in his low, scratchy voice. "I can't say I fully understand the reasoning behind your apology," he said slowly. "But...I appreciate it."

Silence.

"...that's it," the boy rasped firmly. "That's all you're getting out of me."

Tooth gave a small smile. "We'll take it," she said with a nod.

"Good," Jack grunted. He began to stand, but winced and had to stop halfway through the motion, as his skin stung with the same pain that had persisted all throughout the ride to this spot. "Ow…" he mumbled. "What the hell…?"

"Pain is from moonlight," North explained in what was most likely supposed to be a helpful fashion. Instead, Jack was only more confused.

"Moonlight…?" he asked, a slight frown forming on his face. Last he checked, there was no such thing as "moonburn". However, he could vaguely remember being burned by silvery light as the end of his time as a Fearling. Perhaps it had merely been an effect of his nightmarish condition? Maybe any sort of light could burn a Fearling when it wasn't possessing a vessel. Then why were they considered indestructible in their natural state?

Suddenly, he froze. He had just remembered something extremely important the period of time spent as a Fearling. Still, he first allowed Tooth to explain North's previous statement before he began saying his piece on an entirely new subject.

"The only person who could have harnessed the moon's power like that is Tsar Lunar himself," the fairy told him. "He's the one that reversed what Pitch did to you. I don't know how he knew...he was most likely keeping an eye on us by way of the moon...but he saved you, Jack."

Jack lifted his head to look up at the moon, fighting to keep the scowl off of his face. He wasn't sure what kind of magic would allow the Tsar to 'keep an eye on them by way of the moon,' but decided not to question it. Instead, he concentrated on hiding his resentment for the Tsar from the Guardians.

While he was certainly thankful to be spared from a life as a Fearling, he didn't much appreciate what else the Tsar's intervention implied. So he's been watching this whole time...and yet he's done nothing until now. He may have saved me once…but otherwise, said my name, told me I'm a Guardian, then didn't bother to show up again until his precious pawn fell into the hands of the enemy. Even now, he has gone without a trace…

However, there was no time to dwell on this. Instead, he returned to the bit of information he had realized mere minutes before. "'Tis not important right now," he said firmly. "I learned something when I was a Fearling. Something vital to our objective."

Within an instant, all four Guardians were intrigued. "What do you mean, Jack?" North asked curiously.

Jack took a deep breath. "Fearlings are harmless," he said simply.

Silence.

Jack had expected this. He had known he moment the words left his mouth that he was going to be on the receiving end of looks that implied he had just grown a dozen or so extra heads, all of which had just begun singing in falsetto. Indeed, each of the immortals clearly believed that he had just lost his mind.

"What the bloody hell are ya talkin' about?" Aster asked incredulously. Do ya not see all the wounds on-"

"Hear me out," the boy calmly interrupted. "When I was...that thing, I could sense Fear from all of you-and do not even attempt to deny it, Aster," he added.

Aster, who had been about to protest, instead merely scowled and let the sprite continue speaking.

"The thing is...Fearlings feed off of Fear, which, while I'm sure you already know, I'm not so sure you fully understand. The Fear doesn't just sustain them, it strengthens them. The more they are feared, the more threatening they become. And by that logic...if one did not fear them at all, then the Fearlings would not be able to even remotely injure them."

Tooth frowned, seeming unsure. "But Jack…" she said slowly. "We've fought Fearlings before, meaning we've had to learn about them, and that's never come up until now…"

He raised his eyebrows. "Have you ever spoken with someone who's actually become a Fearling until now?"

The fairy promptly fell silent.

Jack nodded. "'Tis what I thought. Listen, I know it sounds crazy given your past experiences with them, but I'm only telling you what I know. After all, your magic is built upon belief, is it not? Why should this be any more farfetched? Now-"

"Whoa whoa whoa, mate," Aster cut in, holding up his paws with a frown on his face. "There's one thing ya ain't explainin'. What about the fact that a Fearling causes Fear in its victims just by showin' up? The way yer talkin', it sounds like we should be able ta make 'em powerless, but how do ya plan on gettin' past that?"

"Simple," Jack replied with a shrug. "Ignore it. As I told you...Fear gives them power. If you give them even an ounce of Fear immediately, they will take it, and they will cause it to intensify. In actuality...all a Fearling is a living shadow. They're only powerful if we make them out to be."

It seemed as though the Guardians were beginning to believe him. Evidently, they seem a bit less inclined to distrust me after what happened, Jack thought somewhat amusedly. 'Tis nice of them. They really don't need to treat me any differently, as in this particular case, 'twas not their fault...but 'tis nice.

And if he, perchance, happened to be a bit happier about their belief than he let himself think, he would never make it known, of course.

"So," he said after painfully clearing his throat. "Now we know the Fearlings are of no issue. The Nightmares are not as affected by lack of Fear, but they're not very powerful in general. The only problem is their numbers. And the Nightmare King himself, of course, as well as that girl…" He refused to speak Onyx's name aloud.

"Hm...this works well!" North suddenly exclaimed, a grin on his face. "Because Fearlings are no problem now, things will be easier! Nightmares and Onyx-" Jack flinched. "-will be dealt with, and Pitch will be chained!'

"But we mustn't be careless!" Tooth quickly reminded him, Sandy nodding in agreement.

"Of course not," North replied with a nod, but his demeanor, contrary to his words, indicated that he wasn't at all worried any longer.

He will be, Jack thought with a snort. Once the happiness at finding the Fearlings' weakness wears off, he'll wisen up.

Still, though, Jack's heart felt an ounce or two lighter as well, now that he knew he wouldn't have to act as bait alone now that the remaining members of the Nightmare army could be done in by he and the Guardians as a group. He had been willing to do so, of course, but the natural instinct to stay alive seemed to be practically celebrating at the new revelation.

However, there was one question that still weighed on his mind, and so he cleared his throat in preparation of asking it.

"Er…" he began hesitantly, unsure of himself now that his voice brought the Guardians' attention to him. "I...do have one question, though. Will I need any more training…? I'm not so sure that I'm ready, especially in the way of magic…"

The Guardians all shared glances.

A few images appeared over Sandy's head, spelling out to him, Physically, we believe you are ready, Jack. We don't know how to help you with your magic, so this is the best we can do in the way of training you. Don't worry, though...we will handle most of the fight, especially the part that involves Pitch. You'll be alright, we'll make sure of it.

Jack frowned uneasily, still unsure, but nodded. "Alright…" he said slowly. "If...if you say so."

"'Sides," grunted Aster. "Not like we have much of a choice. Children are bein' kidnapped. We don't exactly have a whole lot of time on our hands."

The winter boy nodded, a frown still present on his face. Then, it deepened, and he asked, "Alright, then...how much farther are we from the lair of the Nightmare King?"

Once again, the Guardians all shared glances.

"We're...a lot closer than you might think, Jack," Tooth told him. When the boy's eyes widened, she quickly added, "We're not at risk of attack, though! Pitch's lair is underground, in the dark...if our past experience battling him is anything to go off of...he'd prefer that we go to him, rather than coming to us and losing the advantage."

"I see…" Jack murmured under his breath. "Clever…" He shook his head, then glanced around. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something about this area struck him as familiar, in a discomforting, uneasy sort of way. He ignored it and simply asked, "Where is the lair exactly? Is it visible?"

North nodded. "Yes," he said. "It is down tunnel underneath broken down old bed, just as Tsar told us...do you want to see it? We have to make preparations before we go down, but would be good for you to at least know where we are going."

"Yes," Jack replied with a nod. "I'd like to have a look…"

While the other three Guardians remained behind to make sure all of their weapons were in order, North took Jack a little ways away from the clearing they had set up camp in. With every step, Jack's sense of familiarity grew, along with the anxiety that lurked in the corners of his mind. A sense of foreboding overwhelmed him, and he almost asked North if they could go back, but he forced himself to remain silent and moving.

Soon, the two came to a cleared-out area in the forest, but it was far from empty. The blackened remains of what could have been buildings long ago were strewn about, heavily contrasted against the white of the snow. Though it was clear that the fire that had destroyed the building had occurred at least a few years ago, it seemed as though no one had bothered to clear it out, and the unsettling aura that hung around the place had not even remotely faded. In the center of the place sat an old wooden bed frame, positioned directly over a dark hole in the ground.

"This is it," North said grimly, gazing out at the area.

However, Jack was not listening. His heart had plummeted like a stone from his chest to his stomach, and nausea crept up on him as he felt small droplets of sweat bead on his forehead. He couldn't speak.

The Nightmare King's lair was in the remains of his childhood village.

...mwahahahaha. See you guys next time. :)

'Til then, Sapphire316, out.