Aww, I love you guys. So many people are out for Pitch's blood right now it isn't even funny... ok it is funny but only cause it is Pitch and he is a royal bastard.
After making sure all of the kids we safe, Bunny hurried off to the Pole to get the other Guardians gathered. There was no telling what Pitch had planned for Jack, but it would take all of them together in order to mount a rescue.
Arriving at the Pole in record time Bunny doesn't even pause to complain about the cold and rushes straight to North's study/workroom.
"North!" He doesn't knock, but he announces himself as he swings open the door, shattering a flying toy that was too close to the door.
"Bunny, why could you not have knocked?"
"North, just call up the other's. Pitch took Jack!"
North sat shocked as Bunny grabbed his wrist and pulled him up and to the globe room where the signal was located.
"Now, North, we can't be waiting around. There's no telling what that monster will do to Jack?"
North recovers enough from his shock to send out the signal to call the others before turning to Bunny.
"What happened?"
"We were playing with the little ankle-biters in Burgess when he showed up. It happened so fast, she was right next to me and then the shadows were taking her away and swallowing her up."
Before any more can be said an unusual form comes crashing in through one of the open skylights in the globe room. Upon closer inspection the form was revealed to be a haggard man in his thirties, carrying a turnip with a carved face that glowed.
"Who the bobtail is that?"
Both Guardians look over the man closely as he slowly gets to his feet. Both are struck by the strong stench of ale from the lanky and pale form that now seems more bones than flesh.
"Ach, me back. Bloody Will'o'wisps, never know how to get one around."
The man looks at them and then looks around at the place.
"Seems they got me here though. Ye be the Guardians, ain'tcha?"
"Yeah, and who are you?"
"Name's Jack, most just call me Stingy Jack though. I'm the spirit o' Halloween."
Both Guardians let their disbelief at this be plain to see on their faces as they once again take in the thin and lanky spirit that just reeked of spirits.
"Is not Halloween children's holiday? How is it you are spirit of such a day?"
The man gives a gagging and choking laugh that sounds like it is being cut off by something lodged in his throat before he grins at them with a snaggle toothed smile.
"Ah, twasn't always for the wee kiddies. 'Sides I mostly got the job cause o' this thing 'ere." He holds up the carved turnip and both Guardians realize what it is at the same time. A Jack-o-lantern.
"You have got to be kidding me mate."
"Fraid not, now for why I came, it was rather urgent."
That drew both's attention back to the drunkard spirit.
"Ah, yes. Well I'd been chatting with Cupid a few month's ago, just after his big holiday. He was telling the Leprechaun and myself about how Jack Frost's been cross dressing. He seemed convinced it was some new prank the lad was playin' on us. Anyway a few days ago I was meeting with Pitch, you know checking up on a fellow wanderin' soul and he's great for help on me holiday." Jack can tell the other two are growing impatient with him and speeds things up. "So anyway, I told 'im bout Frost and joked that it must be a great prank the kid was playing. Pitch though he seemed oddly quiet, not like 'imself at all. Normally he waves of me jokes and stories, but he seemed interested in Frost's prank. Had me a bit worried so I tried to come as soon as I could to warn the little Frosty. I think Pitch might be up to something."
The two Guardians seemed to frown at the news, but it wasn't anything new.
"We already knew all that Pitch took Jack just a short while ago ya gumby."
"Ah, then ye best be hurryin' ta rescue 'im then. Pitch was mumblin' bout doin' things like ya do with a cheap 'ore to the lad."
That statement had both Guardians reeling, before Jack could register what was happening though he found himself being grabbed by Bunny as North led the way through the workshop, ordering the yetis to prepare the sleigh and tell the others when they arrive to start looking for Pitch. Jack soon found himself unceremoniously dropped into the back of the sleigh with Bunny hopping in next to him.
"Wait, why ye bringin' me along?"
"You know how to find Pitch."
"You will tell us how to find, then we let you leave."
"Ah, right."
"So where do we go to find him?"
The sleigh was just beginning to move forward as Bunny asked the question. A cave in Kentucky, part o' what they call the Mammoth Cave Park. Specifically lookin' for the beginnin' of the River Styx."
"Well that's cliche."
Jack shrugs and settles down as the sleigh takes to the air and North uses a snow globe to get them where they need to be. When they arrive Jack points them to a large spring that covers the mouth of a flooded cave. Moving around a bit he shows them to a place not far off the beaten path where a hole is covered by a rotted bed frame.
"There it be."
"Alright, you can shuffle on off if you want now."
Jack seems to fidget a bit with his lantern as the Guardians prepare to jump into Pitch's lair.
"You'll save 'im won' ya. Frost's a good kid, good little nipper. Used to hang around Pitch a lot, but 'e was always a good kid."
Bunny turns to the Halloween spirit and rests a paw on his shoulder. "Don't you worry bout Jack, we'll bring her back safe."
"Her? So she weren't crossdressing, were she?"
"No mate, she wasn't."
"Hmm, sad day that something bad happen to her. Good luck then."
Bunny nods and hops in the hole, North had jumped in first. Jack watches before calling his whisps to take him somewhere else. He wasn't much good at fighting, better at tricks. He hoped they would win though.
I love Stingy Jack, he was fun to research, for those wanting to know more look for an omake at the end of the story after I post the epilogue, Jack is getting a whole chapter about him. Please review.