Nothing was out of the usual for the guardians. Bunny ran on ahead just on the tail of the outlaws. Tooth was just above him, jumping from roof to roof she took the left. Sandy who also jumped from roof to roof took the right. North was behind, he was probably the strongest of the lot yet he was the slowest and was pretty useless for the chasing part.

The outlaws they were chasing today where not new today. The older two had been outlaws for at least two years and the third, the youngest, seven. Despite his obvious young age he had proven himself a worthy foe on many occasions.

He was agile, the way he jumped of walls and onto the rooftops looked almost like he was being carried by the wind. He worked his weapon, a wooden staff like it was a part of his own body. He wore a dark blue hoodie, old looking brown trousers. He had write hair and blue eyes. He looked young, seventeen at the very oldest.

And today, the guardians planned to finally capture this foe. They where beginning to near a dead end, the two older outlaws slowed down, looking hesitantly behind them. But Jack only ran faster. Bunny growled pulling his boomerang out and throwing them both hard. Jack dodged he first one.

The second one scraped his shoulder, ripping his clothes and making he kid flinch, but he did not slow down and as he reached the wall he jumped. Leaping from wall to wall he was on the rooftops. Tooth in front of him and Sandy just behind.

Tooth pointed her swords threateningly and Sandy had his whips out. Bunny shot his boomerangs knocking the two older outlaws to the floor "North, take care of them, I'm going to help the others!" he shouted trying to do the same as Jack, jumping from wall to wall. It took him more then one try to Bunny's annoyance but he managed.

The now three guardians were circling the outlaw known as Jack Frost "ya might as well as give up mate, there's no slipping away this time" Bunny suggested holding his boomerang threateningly.

"You always say that" Jack whispered, his staff held protectively as he searched for an opening.

"Ain't kidding this time mate, this game was fun, but it's game over for you."

"No such thing as game over for me" Jack said with a grin "that would be no fun" and with a quick swipe of his staff snow was thrown of the ground hitting Bunny.

Bunny whipped his eyes only to be hit in the back of the head by a hard wooden staff, he was thrown to the ground, golden whips struck out but where dodged as Jack ran and jumped to the next roof, running at such a speed that before all the guardians could completely register the situation at hand, he was already out of sight.

Bunny let out a growl of frustration "Bloody Show Pony got away!"

"He is very talented" Tooth whispered putting her swords away "shame he chose that path..."

Sandy nodded, frowning, he looked down at his feet as he fought about the kid. Jack had always been too good for them to catch, a challenge, he frustrated Bunny to no end. But for some reason Sandy could not help feel relieved that the kid had gotten away. All do he understood that no matter the age the law was the same and Jack deserved what ever punishment he received... but something about this kid just saddened Sandy. Besides, Jack had proven his had the talent to do much worse then hat he did. Jack could be a murderer, a spy, and instead he was a simple thief. He rarely even stole anything of much value.

"Is all going well up there?" North called form down bellow.

Tooth jumped down from the roof, landing on her feet gracefully "he got away" she informed. Bunny and Sandy followed, slightly less graceful then the fairy like female.

"It is shame... but at least we get this two!" North said optimistically waving towards the older two outlaws tied up on the ground.

Bunny nodded "it is a Saturday, if we take them in and get the reward money now we will have the time to deliver some food to poorer children" he decided.

The others nodded, smiling as they headed towards the police station, the outlaws thrown carelessly over North's shoulder.

Jack ran for hours before finally he stopped, turning around to check he was being followed he sighed with relief as he carefully got down from the roof and climbed own into the alley. He looked around, checking he was alone before throwing his backpack down onto the floor, he pulled out the blanker he had stolen recently and lay it down on the floor, sitting down on it. He looked over his shoulder.

His clothes was ripped but it was not bad enough to bother stealing new clothes, there was a small cut that he would need to clean up later when he had the energy to make it back to his lake. It would be okay for a while do. He checked his bones where not broken, perhaps cracked but seeing as they felt okay so he decided to leave it for now. Lying down on the blanket.

"That was a close one" he whispered, catching his breath "I'll need to rest now... but I should get back to the lake tomorrow first thing."

The guardians where all sitting around the big wooden table in the dining room at North's house. Enjoying a hot meal and drinks, the fire keeping the room warm as they enjoyed there food and talked about what they would do the next day.

That night a blizzard hit. The guardians stayed at North's for the night for safety. Each had there own room there anyway, despite the cold and the wind the fire kept them warm and they slept peacefully.

Jack on the other hand was curled up into a tiny ball in the corner of the dark alley, the blanket wrapped around him. He was covered in snow and hail. He held back tears as the thin blanket failed to shelter him. The night grew long as he trembled from the harsh cold.

The next morning both parties woke to an interesting surprise. The guardians woke up to the sound of the doorbell, they where quick to answer. Curiosity pulling them all out of there warm beds and downstairs to the main double doors. Standing in front of them was Manny.

"Hello, Guardians, may I enter?"

North nodded "of course, old friend, long time no see, what brings you around these parts?"

"It has been a while North, I so wish I could say I came to help but... sadly that is now the case."

"Usually ain't" Bunny pointed out leading the way tot he living room.

Manny nodded, sitting down in a separate chair, facing the two sofas. All the guardians sat down making themselves comfortable before waiting for Manny to explain "it is about one of does who you captured, years ago."

"Who?"

"Pitch Black..."

"Murderer... he was perhaps our hardest catch, but we got him in the end" Bunny said with a grin "what is up with him?"

Manny sighed "he escaped."

The guardians paled "how?" Tooth whispered. Sandy frowned.

"We're not entirely sure, we checked on him a few days ago and he was absent, we have tracked him here. We believe he may want his revenge on you, how he plans to do that we don't know yet. Also we have reasons to believe he is recruiting outlaws to help him."

Bunny growled "we have to stop him before he forms an army."

Manny nodded "I agree... I wish I could give you more help but I must be going now... I might suggest, if you are given the chance, you try and recruit some help as well. It will do you no good to be outnumbered."

Tooth and Sandy nodded "thank you, Manny, I hope we see you soon" North said, leading Manny to the door, they each said goodbye before returning to the living room but not sitting down this time. Quickly deciding to leave and starting there search.

Jack woke up, without his weapon and surrounded. It took him a minute to take in the situation before he sat up straight looking around him. He was surrounded by outlaws, some new, others old. In front of him, holding his weapon was a tall man wearing a long black cloak.

"Morning Jack" the man whispered "it's good to see you survived the night."

"Who are you? What do you want?" he tried to sound and look like a threat. Except he was still shivering fiercely from the cold and in all honesty, lying on the ground wrapped in the blanket looked nothing more than a scared child.

"I hear you're quite agile, you always seem to slip past the guardians is this true?"

Jack hesitated then nodded "you heard right."

"You see, I'm interesting in eliminating those pesty guardians... all this nice people here agree with me, so we though, perhaps, you'd like to help?"

"You want me to help you 'murder' the guardians?"

"Exactly."

"I'm a thief, not a murderer."

"But your perfectly capable of being one though, and besides... I can offer you.. a home? Seems you need one" he said moving his hand, gesturing to the floor.

"I don't need anything" Jack forced himself to stand up "except for maybe my staff back" he held out his hands.

Pitch made no sign of giving it back, Jack brought his hand back down when he realized Pitch wasn't going to give it back.

"What do you want?"

"I just told you."

"I said no. That's final. Now let me go."

"Why?"

Jack glared at Pitch "because, if you don't, I'll be forced to fight you" Jack threatened.

"You have no weapon and besides, your outnumbered."

"They've all seen what I'm capable of, would you really fight me after that?" he asked looking at the outlaws around him, to his horror they nodded. His eyes widened for a second before he hid his emotions "fine... I'll just have to fight a little harder."

Pitch laughed "we'll quickly change your mind, young one" he said and was about to grab at Jack when someone called from behind them.

"Let him go, Pitch."

Pitch Black turned around and to his shock there stood a familiar face "Manny..."

"You will not touch the child, or you will have to face me."

Pitch looked confused "what is he to you? He is an outlaw, one of mine!"

"The kid seems to disagree, I say he is one of mine" Manny said, stepping forward, Pitch stepped back. He was still weak, in no state to face Manny himself.

"I had no plans to interfere, I just spoke to the guardians, they are planning to come after you. But I will not stand idly while you do anything to a mere child."

"Mere child? Like I said, he in an outlaw! What do you want with him?"

"People make mistakes, children especially, I'm sure I'll find something. Now if you have any sense you will leave, now."

Pitch looked at Jack, hesitantly, then sighed "come on, we'll get him later" he told the other, dropping Jack's staff and silently leaving. Glaring at Manny who just walked over to where Jack stood.

Jack grabbed his staff holding it close, he looked up at Manny and slowly stood up "thank you..." he whispered, placing the blankets in his bag.

"Don't thank me, I only interfered because of your lack of interest in his offer..."

"I'm not a murderer, despite rumours that may spread..."

Manny smiled at that comment "I can see that... walk with me."

Jack blinked "I-I..." he looked behind him unsure what to do "I'm not really... public..."

Manny smiled "don't worry, I know how to avoid people."

Jack hesitated before following, his staff throw carelessly over his shoulder "so um... who was that guy?" he asked "and who are you?"

Manny looked at Jack "the man, is named Pitch Black, he is a murdered, terribly good at getting people on his side as you probably noticed. He is dangerous... the guardians arrested him a long time ago but he recently escaped. It seems your ability to keep away from them had attracted his attention."

Jack smirked "as it should" he said proudly.

Manny laughed "not sure that's something to be proud of" he said, smiling all the same "I'm known as Manny, I used to be an outlaw hunter and now I train and work with them. I don't actually hunt outlaws any more which is why I did not attack Pitch back there... I trained the guardians personally."

Jack seemed to tense at the mention of him having been an outlaw hunter but even so he was impressed to hear this man had trained the powerful guardians "wow."

"I've heard of you, Bunny complain about you all the time."

Jack grinned "I think it's cause I can outrun him sometimes."

"That would do it... so... why?"

"Why? Oh well... I've got a lot of practice and long legs... not really sure..."

Manny laughed "actually, I mean, why are you an outlaw?"

"Oh I... I said earlier... I'm a thief."

"Yes, but why? You don't seem to be a bad person?"

Jack pulled his hood up, looking away "it's kinda complicated."

"Very obvious excuse" Manny said.

Jack sighed "I just... I've been at it for as long as I can remember, I can't remember anything other than it."

"Parents?"

"None."

"Home?"

"Not really..."

"So you steal for survival?"

"I guess..."

"Did you ever try to get help?"

"Not really been given the chance" he whispered "I'm kinda well know around here but... I can't bring myself to leave, I've left before... not farther then the lake."

"In the forest?"

"I kinda turned it into my home... my earliest memory was at that lake."

"Sounds like you've had a hard time."

"I'm used to it."

"You can't live like this forever though... Pitch was kinda right, when he said it was good you survive the night, some people would have died of the cold. It is bad to sleep in the cold."

"I'm used to it though."

"That's what you think, I don't think it is worth the risk."

"I haven't got a choice."

"Here, take this."

Jack looked at Manny who was holding out a letter, Jack carefully took it, looking at it, tilting his head "what is it?"

"Give it to the guardians."

"What?" Jack's eyes widened, looking up at Manny.

"Trust me."

Jack looked at Manny "you want me to go to the guardians?"

"Trust me. I need to go. Good luck."

Jack just stared wide eyes as Manny left, then he looked down at the letter, when he looked back up Manny was gone.

Jack looked back down at the letter, then to where Manny was once "trust you..." he whispered.

AUTHORS NOTE:

Okay, this had been in my head for a long time and I had to put it into words, sorry if it seems a bit rushed. It kind of was, this will probably be very slowly updated because I have loads of stories on the go at the moment due to a bad habit of writing things the moment I think of them.

I hope you like it so far, please give me your opinion!

Also sorry for any grammar or spelling mistakes, I need to improve.