Summary: Slightly AU, set somewhat if in the middle of the movie, it took a different turn. Mentions of Dark!Jack. And a much more evil Pitch.
20 years since the world was taken by Fear, a girl was murdered. The Man In The Moon took this as an opportunity to create another sprite by reviving her, but along the way she disappeared.
Shadow is a sprite of the night without a cause, and like the Boogeyman and Jack Frost, is not able to be seen by others. For years of being on her own, her somewhat peace is suddenly disturbed when she is called (but actually taken) to the North Pole, told that the MiM wanted her to help The Guardians defeat the 2 who have put their very existence in jeopardy: the two called Cold and Dark. But what if she doesn't exactly cooperate, not wanting to be a part of the Kiddie Patrol, as she puts it, being more defiant to the situation than Jack was? Plus, when she doesn't even know who or whatexactly she is?
But there is more to her than meets the eye—why does she call herself Shadow when MiM describes everything about her as "Light"?
*Jack & Shadow/Nightlight (oc)
Tooth/Jack
Maybe Tooth/Bunny
T for language and mentions of death. May be rated M later for future mature content and maybe graphic writing.
A/N: This is supposed to be sometime years after the last chapter.
Listen to: "work" by Jimmy Eat World
Ch 2: Syndicate
ˈsindikit | (noun) 1. a group of individuals or organizations combined to promote some common interest.
"Come, come! You must hurry!"
The large portly man called loudly, brushing aside several tall, hairy creatures. He ushered three others to follow him inside a large room.
"What the bloody hell is it this time?!" The large anthropomorphic rabbit grumbled.
The slam of the heavy wooden door behind him was his only answer. Everyone but the man jumped in surprise, and turned toward the entrance. He stood in the doorway for several seconds before walking to the front of his small group.
His large hands were clenched into fists, his dark eyebrows—which contrasted with his long white beard—were knitted together in a worried look.
The silence in the room was almost deafening. The only sounds were the restless fluttering of Tooth's wings and the nervous quiver of whiskers. Everything else was so quiet, a pin could drop and it would echo.
None of the guardians were in a particularly swell mood. Ever since their run-in with Pitch Black, they have been feeling their powers depleting rapidly.
It began with the Tooth Fairy, after the attack on her tooth palace. Then, after Pitch tricked Jack Frost into joining him, the remaining guardians soon felt the still-growing effect of children ceasing to believe in them.
The sound of dinging bells became restless. A whistle blow of a train, and the magical sound of twinkling sand were the only things to break the silence. Everyone kicked at the ground lightly, though there was nothing there.
The side effects include flight becoming increasingly difficult for Tooth, North losing his youthful strength and jolliness, and E. Aster slowly losing his 7-plus foot height. The only one who was not affected was the Sandman.
The large man crossed his arms.
The elves cheered and ran towards North, bells dangled from their hats; they seemed to be the only ones in cheerful moods. Everyone shifted from back to forth, all of their facial expressions knit.
"North..." It was Tooth who finally broke the silence. "You haven't spoken a word since we arrived; what is the reason for calling us here? Is something wrong?" The fairy gazed at the portly man, her wings making a soft humming sound as they flapped. Her miniature clones also quivered.
"Yeah," the tall, human sized bunny began to protest. "Why are we here anyways?" E. Aster tapped his foot as he twirled then pointed a sharply carved edge of a boomerang at the older man.
Everyone had been busy trying to save as many of the last of their believers as they could—the Tooth Fairy had been making her rounds under the pillows of millions of kids, yet at a much slower rate than usual, and what she would prefer; Bunnymund had been in his Warden dying eggs, getting ready for next year's Easter; Sandy had been awoken from his slumber, while awaiting nightfall. And who was falling asleep yet again. Needless to say, neither had been too pleased at Santa's timing.
Everyone snapped back to reality hearing North clear his throat.
"Everyone, there is news from Man in Moon," he announced, not very loudly so that the others had to step closer to hear. He paused, expecting a loud eruption of questions and remarks but was met by none.
The Easter rabbit scoffed. "Oh-ho really. Then what does he have ta say now? The last time he open'd his mouth, his little plan backfired."
The room went momentarily quiet, no one sure how to react to the remark made about their supposed-to-be addition, Jack Frost.
"I-is it Pitch again?" Tooth asked, lowering herself to the floor after growing exhausted of floating.
Sandy formed a question mark of sand above his head.
"The Man..." North paused and quickly surveyed the room. "The Man has called for us to invite another among us—-"
"So you mean he wants another Guardian," Bunnymund interrupted.
"-—No, I mean what he said," North hissed. "He said for us to get help...a, uh, assistance to periodically join us in our hunt for Pitch."
All but Tooth rolled their eyes. And gazed up at the large full moon before moving to the center of the room where the crests of the Guardians were carved into tile on the floor.
Everyone watching in awe as the moon created a beam of bright light that fell upon the circular tile in the center. Everyone stood quietly, eyes shifting between one another and the circular tile that slowly opened, emitting a pedestal holding a large crystal still partially embedded in rock. Even the elves, in their little suits, stood as still as gnome statues.
"Sure looks like he's recruiting another Guardian," Bunnymund mumbled.
A collective gasp echoed around the room as a bright light shone from the large gem, momentarily blinding everyone in the room. It felt as if all the air had been sucked out of the room; And yet, still it shone brighter. Everyone shielded their eyes. Yeti's hid, elves stared. Sandy gave a subconscious glare toward where he hoped the moon was, and Tooth tried to gaze reassuringly at her assistants.
The process seemed to go on for ages. Unlike last time; it seemed instant.
"Man in Moon," North spoke, "who shall it be...?"
The brightness grew even more intense, if that were possible. The sudden blast knocking the elves on their backs and Tooth's mini fairies cowered behind her. When it finally died down, a figure carved purely out of stone stood in place of the giant moonstone.
Tooth clapped her hands together loudly. "Oh! It's a girl!" she gasped happily. Her fairies buzzed amongst her.
Carved out of crystal was indeed a girl. The sculpture shown a petite girl wearing a one-strapped elegant looking dress of waves. Her hands were held out in front of her as if she was holding some invisible object. Her short hair reached to her shoulders, a plump bang was swept just over her right eye. The figure seemed to be emitting its own additional light, if it were possible.
Bunnymund looked unexpectantly pleased.
Sandy smiled.
North glanced at everyone before turning back to the moonstone. He wasn't sure if the others saw, but the statue not only seemed to be giving off it's own light, but it appeared to shimmer. Or that could just be his thousand-plus years of age catching up to him.
The statue seemed to want to jump between two figures—to stay at its current one as well as blend into another.
Tooth continued to buzz about the room, cooing and cheering of excitement that another girl would be joining them. Sandy was fast asleep floating in midair, and Bunnymund scooting away any elves that wondered too close to his tail.
Yes, North knew he was the only one who noticed.
"Oh, I hope she has wonderful teeth!" Tooth smiled. She nodded at one of her clones.
"But who exactly is she?" Bunnymund asked, killing Tooth's excitement to turn into curiosity. Everyone stared expectantly at North.
North's eyes widened hearing the Man's response whispered in his ear.
"Nightlight," he answered. "The Man in The Moon wants us to recruit Nightlight."