Author's Notes: So sorry for the long wait! I had a trip to Jogjakarta for school research, and had to do an essay for it afterwards. Aside from that, I just got a new puppy too, so, busy busy. So in return, have a long ass chapter! :D Thanks so much to GoldSparks1 for the reviews! Also, shout out to Jayybear, Joyfulelf, Ziphera, SoUL CHRoNiCLER, ShutUpShay, TheGabification, phoenixmoon25572, 21stCenturyFangirl, Ichigo Kitsune-chan, Badwolf432, and ShioriOokami! Thanks for favoriting and following this story!
By the way, a little announcement: I'd recommend you guys to look back on the first chapter, which I've recently just updated to suit the new plot I recently came up with for this story. And also, from now on, I'll only do shot outs for people who follow, favorite, and review this story. Cause, I'd really love to know what you think!
P.S. I finally drew Daze! I also made a bio for her, but be warned, her life story has major spoilers. Take a look here! (remove spaces and parentheses) colors-of-fire . deviantart (/) art (/) Daydream-ROTG-OC-577766046
It all felt like a dream. And yet, here I am, in a room that so clearly belonged to North's workshop. In a room that I so clearly did not belong in. My body felt heavy, as if all the sand that coated it had somehow turned to lead. But at least, the pain had gone. Or had it ever been there at all?
My mind felt clouded. Like a television set that could not receive a signal, showing nothing but static. I couldn't remember anything, and no matter how hard I try, my mind simply didn't allow me to. And it scared me. It was like being denied access into your own personal savings, like losing control of a limb. An alien hand syndrome. I draw blanks on why I am now on the floor. I can only recall pain. Panic. Fear. These emotions still swim in my heart, and I know they won't go away any time soon.
With great effort, I push myself off the cold, hard floor. My joints feel as if they'd completely locked up, and refused to budge from a straight line. "S- someone…" I wince, allowing this soft, frail voice of mine echo dully within the confines of this room. Only then did I realize how raw my throat was. I cough and writhe some more, unable to help how pathetic I must look. Well, more pathetic than usual, at least.
As if answering the plea I'd uttered not a moment ago, the door slid open. My gray irises dart upwards, but I am barely able to lift my head. Immediately, I see a pair of blue eyes, frost colored hair, and an eternal smirk. "Having fun there?" Jack's voice was deep, smooth, and amused. As it always is. I'm quietly glad that my earlier blunders hadn't seemed to change his opinion of me. But I reckon, the opinion he has of me is too low to be dropped anyway.
"Har har. Something wrong with giving the floor a hug?" I mumble sarcastically into the floor. "You should give it a try. Floors need love too."
Open, free laughter burst from the winter spirit's mouth, but it simply made me feel worse. How could I not? I'm on the floor like a frog that'd been ran over by a car, I can't move, and I'm sick of what the floor tasted like. And what does he do? He laughs. Maybe I really don't have a sense of humor, but I'd just like to breathe through my nose again, thank you very much.
"Well, if that's the case, how about I give you some privacy~?" His sing song voice. God, I wish I could move so I could kick his shin. I feel an annoyed growl leave me before I could stop it, and being the merry soul he was, Jack simply laughed yet again. "You're a riot, D."
With such ease, he pulls me on to my feet, and I lock my knees together so I don't fall over like the last time. "D? Is that what you're calling me now? A letter?" I'm surprised at how easily I communicate with Jack. It's nothing like my encounter with the other Guardians. In hindsight, Jack was like Sandy; approachable, friendly, and gentle. He wasn't as quirky as Tooth, as intimidating as North, or as blunt and direct as Bunny. But the traits he shared with Sandy made it easier for me to adjust to him, and I was beginning to accept who he was as his own person as well; a playful, humorous, jokester.
"Yeah, say what you want, but it's already stuck." He cocked his eyebrow like the giant tease he was. I snort at him, and he blew at me. His breath sent chills- literally, and frost my way. I could see the stream of snowflakes and rigid air, clinging to my hair and freezing over my eyebrows. Somehow the snow and cold infiltrated my skin, cooling the anger boiling inside. I could feel muscles I didn't realize tense, relax. I blink once, and his hand comes up to brush a trail of frost off my cheek.
His cool thumb made my cheek grow warm, and I simply did not have it in myself to move away. "What a shame."
For a brief, fleeting moment, I was content with gazing into the blue which are Jack's eyes; two sparkling crystals that stayed locked within my view. I begin to smile, and in return, his confident grin decorates his lips. "Say, how about a grand tour of the workshop? A special wrecked-by-Pitch addition?" He moves to my side, slinging his arm around my shoulders the way he did not long ago during my introduction to the other Guardians. The hold was loose, giving me enough room to stay comfortable, but close enough for him to direct me easily. And yet, I still look at the hand that slung over the edge of my shoulder with curiosity.
I turn back to the culprit and cock an eyebrow, a snide remark ready to leave my lips. I'd been to the workshop countless times during its functional days; seen all there is to see, entered rooms restricted by locked doors, and even found out where the elves go during their 'breaks'. What good would observing it in its destruction do? There was simply no point. 'Fun has no point, yet you enjoy it anyway.' A thought occurred to me. So for this time, I let my remark slide. Instead, I shrug my shoulders. The motion was not large enough to displace his arm, but clear enough for him to see. "Sure." The smile remained on my face as Jack ushered me away.
"Perfect! Right this way, then! Watch your step."
Out of the room, and into the open air. Literally open air. The area of which we emerged was untouched by restoration. Cold, winter air flowed in from where walls and rooftops were blasted open, depositing snow in certain areas of the toy manufacturing area. I hadn't noticed how awful the condition was. When we arrived, it was more than likely that the chaos we experienced was merely a residue; far from the actual assault. I subconsciously begin to hug myself from the chaos. Jack's playful explanations went in one ear and out the other. I wished I could pay attention to him, but the destruction did strange things to me. For the first time in a century, I felt cold. I shuddered in my shoes and even startled Jack, interrupting his comment on Pitch's barren schedule.
He glances at me, brows raised, and arm hovering just off my form. I look back, meekly. "What?"
"I didn't know you got cold." He mumbled quietly, completely removing himself from me. He added quickly, "I'd just make you colder."
I remain quiet at this, however. There was simply no answer that came to mind. I cringe at this distance, because it was the same one I used to experience as a human. However, I simply push it down, and climb up a few feet above the ground. I look down at him, and glance back up. The craters on the roof, and the walls; so ugly and erratic. They had no purpose being there, yet they littered the intricately designed building anyway. It made my nails dig in to my arm, scraping sand under my nails yet again. My head pulses. I sink deeper into my shoulders. "Daze?"
"NORTH!" A voice halted every movement in the workshop. Even North, who has the largest voice among all the Guardians, flinched. I crane my head around to the source of the voice, finding the tooth fairy dashing towards North, who stood atop his indoor balcony, at full speed. She halted sharply before his face, immediately speaking in a panic. I could tell, because she could hardly hold still.
Heads were turned, whispers were exchanged, and from where I stood, I can see North sigh. Tooth's feathers looked extremely disheveled, a few of her helpers hovering around her in just as bad as a frenzy as their mistress was. I look to Jack, and he nods back. We both take off and approach land on the balcony. "What's going on?" Jack strides over, and I follow just behind him. I don't dare put a word in, for this is none of my business in the first place. I'm not a Guardian. I have absolutely no reason to butt in to their personal affairs. But, given the current situation, I've accidentally become a part of it anyway.
My eyes, however, are glued to Tooth, who seemed so unlike herself; shaking, afraid, traumatized. I myself am taken aback. So much so that I literally take a step back. This side of Tooth had never occurred to me before. It was simply... Unthinkable. "I- it's-"
North however, grabs her shoulders and forces her to look him in the eyes, and keeping her still. "Tooth, listen to me. You need to calm down. We need to think this through with a calm, level head-"
"BABY TOOTH IS GONE!" Tooth finally burst. The volume of her voice challenged even the howling snowstorm outside. She had her teeth clenched and hands balled into fists. She jerks out of North's hold and glared at him with a fire. "Pitch took her... His nightmare snatched her up right before my eyes- I tried to go after her, but they just vanished! I won't let this happen again! We have to act right now!"
"Baby Tooth...?" I turn back to look at Jack. The charming smile on his face is wiped clean off. His eyes wide. I cock my head in confusion, brows furrowed. For a moment, the workshop is silent. Jack's figure is still. His breath held. He shook, lowering his gaze do the floor, and for a second, his stillness resembled a statue. North seemed to know immediately his next move. But before he could do anything, Jack had taken off in a large gust of freezing air.
"NO!" North yells, bolting after him.
"North! Calm down!" Now it was Tooth's turn to play peacemaker. She flies in front of him, stopping his tracks.
"No, Tooth! Don't you see?! Pitch is playing him like he had last time! He's trying to lure Jack back into his blasted cave! God knows what Pitch vill do to him after last time! Or us or that matter, if ve dare come after him!" North yells, in turn once grabbing Tooth her shoulders.
"I know, North! I know! But- Baby Tooth is in danger! Jack defeated Pitch the last time! We can't just do nothing!" Tooth exclaims, fear and worry were clear in her eyes. An argument breaks out between the two.
I stare quietly to where Jack had left a patch of ice on the floor. The words exchanged by North and Tooth were left ignored, except for a few. In my opinion, both Guardians were right. The taking of Baby Tooth is obviously a trap set by Pitch in order to lure a Guardian into his lair and, heavens know what he will do to them. But Jack is too impulsive to think it through. He's most likely putting himself in a very dangerous situation. And Pitch knows none of the Guardians will be able to go after him. It was too risky for them to leave their hideouts unattended. 'But I'm not a Guardian...'
"I could go." My voice comes out without permission, earning the two's attention. North and Tooth's eyes were glued on me, and occasionally they exchanged glances with each other. Tooth eventually breaks the silence.
"A-are you sure? I mean... You..." The sweet fairy couldn't bring herself to finish. But I know what she was going to say.
Aren't you too weak to?
"I'll be okay. What's important is that Jack and Baby Tooth return safely, correct?" I shrug nonchalantly, but deep down, my resolve is breaking. I am terrified out of my senses, but I know I'd be putting the world in a lot of danger if I didn't go after Jack. Even if I can't fight, or protect him, I'd still be able to make a big enough distraction for him to escape. And so, I climb on to the air. "I can do it."
I don't let either Guardian say anything else. Without another word, I take off after my new found friend.
I don't dare the slightest bit to think of the worst case scenarios that could occur. I'm hesitant, but I know I have to do this. Jack is in danger, and I was the disposable one of the bunch. I only need to create a small amount of inspiration for every child and person, helping them when they need it. Otherwise, they would self-sustain themselves in the long run and create on their own. That means they would be able to see spirits even without my help. And they always will. So long as they still believed. But of course, my job is to only help them develop their imagination. Belief is just... A bonus, you could say. The result of imagination.
So, everything would be okay... Right?
The sky passes by so quickly. From its shade of baby blue to an orange sunset. The trip is a long one. Especially for me, who had just learned to fly a day ago. I have no idea where the entrance to Pitch's hideout is, having the old one been closed off already. The best option, would be to search from there.
My shoes touch the unpaved ground of Jack's forest, which, ironically, was also Pitch's. I walk to the spot where the rickety wooden bed frame once stood. I jump up and down on the dirt beneath it, hoping the ground would break and somehow land me in Pitch's cave. But of course, I only ended up making a fool of myself. If anyone were to spot me now, I'm sure they would think I was mentally troubled. The ground was sturdy and thick. The hole just really wasn't there anymore.
'Wonder if Jack found a way in yet...'
I decide to search elsewhere. Jack always had a magnet for attracting trouble. Most likely he's already in there right now. I look around frantically for any bits of frost. I must have been lucky, as I manage to find some on a branch a few feet away. I run toward it, and that small patch of frost led me to more and more of them. They were on the barks, the branches of different trees. Revealing to me a trail to the white haired boy.
My feet moved quick. Turning from a jog to a run. My shoes catch the ground easily. Carrying me above protruding roots and over the rocks that would've tripped me. I wasn't sloppy that day. Despite the fact that I wasn't watching where I was stepping. And the fact that I haven't moved like this in years. I remember that physically, I am young. I was meant to move. My head held high, staring above at the frost on the trees. They were becoming fresher and fresher. Jack should be near.
My suspicions were right. Though vaguely, I can see him hopping from branch to branch furiously, occasionally using it as boost to gain speed for flight. I begin to lose my breath, and my feet soon climbs to the sky, skating after him. I couldn't find my voice, and Jack just keeps going.
Just when I thought I was about to faint from fatigue, he lands. I wobble out of balance ungracefully and collapse to the ground with a faint thud. A thud that Jack doesn't notice. He was looking around, turning his head about. I pant as I watch him, unable to speak. He seems to be in a trance, and suddenly runs to what looks to be a small, rocky cliff side, and begins to push aside the boulders. I watch with wide eyes as the rocks topple down, revealing a cave entrance. And I can confidently bet that that is the way in to Pitch's cave. Before I could even blink, Jack shifts his position, and darts straight inside.
"Jack no!"
My body jolts on its own, going straight after him. My feet picks up pace, and I begin to glide there. The surroundings turn from trees and wide skies to dark and narrow tunnels. I could still feel the chill that Jack left. A small bit of snowflakes still hang in the air, guiding me deeper in. I feel my heart quench. "Jack!"
My voice only echoes through. Leaving no affect, no difference from if I hadn't said anything at all.
It was as if his mind was not his anymore. That all of his common sense and log had been replaced by the thought of Baby Tooth. 'Baby Tooth...' One of Tooth's favorite helpers. The one that had grown increasingly attached to Jack, or perhaps, it was his teeth she admired? I shake my head, clearing these random thoughts. Everything is a rush as I navigate through the tunnel. My muscles are cramping. I can feel it burning. My lungs or on fire, but I manage to scream once again.
"JACK!"
My vision blurs over, and the ringing in my ears are excruciating. The lights painted by my glides dominates my senses. And again, I falter. My foot somehow slips and I end up on the hard, rock ground. I could barely breathe, but I clench my fists because it was all I could do. I was too weak to do anything else.
"Daze?"
I look up, and there he was. Snowflakes hovered around him like a halo, but I also notice the look of hesitance on his face, the wary way he stood. Did he think I was one of Pitch's traps? "You... Idiot." Was the first thing that left my mouth. Smooth, Daze. Real smooth.
However, that statement seemed to ease Jack. His facial features relaxed, and a weak smiled pulled on his lips. Quickly, he crouched down and pulled me off the ground, back on my feet. "Yeah, it's you alright."
There is a slight pause. He allows me to recover, and I soon gaze at him seriously. "Pitch is playing you... This isn't the way to rescue her... We have to go back and think this through."
Immediately, his face hardens. His hand leaves me to stand on my own and he takes a step away from me. "I don't care. She's in trouble, and I'll save her." He turns coldly away from me. I can feel the chill going up my spine, I knew I'm not stopping him from saving Baby Tooth. I'd considered this possibility. It wasn't the best of outcomes, but it wasn't the worst either. However, that did nothing to ease the fear of what I am going to say next.
"Then I'll go with you."
Instantly, Jack's face melts again as he tries to restrain a chuckle. I'd expected this as well, so the offense didn't faze me. Much. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
He reaffirms his resolve, and nods. Finally. "Alright then. Just... Stay close."
He continues on, this time with me. The tunnel is long, and the further down we got, the less air there is to breathe. I feel myself begin to suffocate, but Jack remained completely unbothered. By the time I thought I was about to black out, we found a stone vault. It had strange engravings of which I immediately took notice. Jack didn't, however. He tired pushing it forward. It wouldn't budge. But when he repositioned himself to push sideways, the vault door just seemed to roll open on it's own.
Immediately, a gust of oxygen fills our lungs, revealing the underground chamber of Pitch's cave. I take in as much as I can. My eyes roll back for a moment, enjoying the sensation, but Jack had gone inside already, on the watch for any attack Pitch might throw at us. I know I needed to help him find Baby Tooth so we could get out of there as soon as we can, but the buzz of her familiar wing beat came in so loudly and obviously that a bad feeling just catches in my gut.
Jack doesn't seem to care. He darts to the source of the noise, trying his best not to call out, or else something might come out and attack. I watch as his wind took him to one of the cages. Quickly, I glide after him. There resided the lone fairy helper; Baby Tooth. Jack seemed so relieved to see her. The little fairy's eyes widened happily at the sight of him. His fingers immediately find the lock, and froze it. "Don't worry, I'll get you out of there..."
Once it was thoroughly frozen, Jack crushed it in his hands, and threw the door open. I'm in awe at his physical strength, feeling a small pang of jealousy inside. The little fairy immediately flew into his arms. The frost haired boy smiled widely as hugged her back. I'm restless now, itching to just fly out the way we came.
Jack seemed to remember where we were, and he gently moved Baby Tooth onto his shoulder. He gazes at me with a childish, innocent smile, making me force one on my face in return. "Got her?"
"Here she is." He lifts his shoulder a bit, bouncing the little fairy sitting on it. I give him a court nod, when all of a sudden, a skull bashing headache split through me. I grip my head and fall to the ground like a moth burned by a flame. It was a long fall. And the sensation of falling reminded me of death. "Daze?! What's wrong?!"
Just as he finished his sentence, an earsplitting roar blew from behind me. He jumps in front of me defensively and got his staff ready. It felt like a claw was trying to drill into my skull. I could barely open my eyes, and when I did, I wish I hadn't. Standing there was a giant, black dragon with the eyes of a nightmare's. Each time it shifted, black sand shed off of its glistening body. Baby Tooth trembles. "Don't worry Daze, I'll keep you safe."
"Jack... You have to... Go." My voice chokes.
His blue eyes flick towards me in shock. I can see his jaw tighten as he looked back towards the menacing beast. Brows furrowed, he said lowly, "Not without you."
In an instant, he grabs me and yanked us into the air, just as the dragon opened its mouth and blasted an inferno of hot flames. The flicker chases us, but Jack destroys its trail with a gust of frost. The dragon roars, enraged. But another sound catches my ears. It was a cackle. One I've grown to fear. And it causes a piercing shriek to penetrate my ears, making my vision flash white. I can barely keep up with him.
"PITCH!" Jack's voice sounded so far away. As if I'd somehow been transported somewhere miles away. But the cackle only grows. Louder, and louder, until his figure appears from the shadows. But my vision was so unusual. From my eye right eye, I saw him, and from the other, I could see Jack and myself. Was I... Seeing from Pitch's eye?
"Jack! It's been so long since your last visit. Do you like my new pet?" I can see the disgusted look on Jack's face with my left eye, and from my right, I see Pitch's grin start to grow. Fester like an infection. "And look... You've brought a friend..."
Jack begins to scowl. He pulls me behind him, but I could still see. My head felt ready to rip from the confusion and disorientation. Pitch started moving, and from the violent jerks of Jack's body, I could tell he'd disappeared from sight. Yet, with my left eye, I could still see perfect. I could see Jack, looking around frantically. Myself, struggling to stay airborne.
"What do you think, Daze? My experiment was a success, wouldn't you say?" Pitch's voice echoed in my head and I nearly scream. Groggily, I look back to Jack, but he doesn't seem to hear what I am. Suddenly my body was stiff as a board. I could still see Pitch, moving, seeing from his eye. He turns his attention behind us. Watching a black silhouette move soundlessly closer and closer. I turn my head and look in that direction and I see red. "Jack-"
Before I can even finish my word, the dragon knocks Jack to the other side of the cave. Immediately I start to plummet with a scream.
From my left eye, I see my body glide into the shadows, growing closer and closer. And then, all hell broke loose. The black sand, hidden amongst the gold of Sandy's resurfaced upon my skin. It gripped me, choking me in a way that felt familiar. Like a deja vu. I couldn't even breathe, let alone scream. All of a sudden, I feel arms wrap around me. My eyes shift, and I learn that it was not Jack's. It was the bogeyman himself, pulling me into the darkness with him.
He keeps his gaze behind me, and I could see what he wanted me to see; Jack coating the dragon in ice, its body began to trembling as the ice cracks. And what once was a dragon made from nightmares, soon became a blast of black sand. But Pitch only smiles.
He only smiles.