Alone in the dark

This is completely AU and I hope you enjoy it. We have Pitch trying to help, a scared Jack and the Guardians all helping. Jack never spends three hundred years alone

The boy blinked and murmured as the ice fell off his body as an unseen force dragged him towards the moonlight. He opened his eyes wide and gasped, fear overtaking him. He was scared. It was dark, he was alone on the quiet white lake and he was so scared. He didn't know what, didn't know of what but he struggled to breath. Instead of turning to the moon like what was intended, the little spirit turned and dove for the forest. The Man in the Moon was surprised. Usually in the dark, people, especially children would seek out the light as a source of comfort or guidance.

Jack, his newest addition to the world had …. run away.

Jack made his way to the darkest part of the woods. The darkness was a comfort to him, it hid all he didn't know. Jack found a small cave that he had to crawl through the opening on his belly to get inside. He lay curled on his side, cold and scared. He frowned, not wanting to cry, not wanting to think.

This isn't happening.

To escape, he did what he had been doing for what felt like a long time, he slept.

The Man in the Moon was worried. He had assumed like others, Jack would have sought out the light, sought out the world and begun his journey. He hadn't even picked up the staff, an important and intrical part of his new life. He sighed mentally and decided to leave the child and hope he just needed time to settle before his new beginning. He hadn't even told the boy his name.

Jack Frost.

Time passed and Jack hadnt stirred besides the odd movement. He would awaken, look around to see if he had awoken from a dream and then went back to sleep. Denial was a strong sleep medication. When hunger forced the boy out of his borrow he would sneak out, skittish as a newborn colt and glance around wildly before cupping some snow before him in his hand and eating the frozen ice. Then there was a quick scrabble as he ate bits of bark, roots and leaves before disappearing into his sanctuary with an aching stomach. This went on and the Man in the Moon began to worry.

Pitch Black paid a visit. He knew the shadows well and was connected. He came upon the boy as he was busy digging up a root.

"Jack Frost" he drawled.

The boy's head shot up and his eyes widened, immediately he backed up and made to dart away. Pitch prided on his quiet intimidation. He knew his voice faltered a grown man with the right tone and so he pointed a long finger at the boy and said firmly with a hint of dire consequences at refusal, "Sit."

The boy gulped and sat down immediately.

"Eat your root." He said, indicating to the dirty edible clutched in his shaking white hand.

The boy immediately stuffed the entire root in his mouth and cheeks bulging was trying to force it down. Pitch mentally cursed in his head, this boy is like a child! His eyes widened at the realisation and he tried a different tactic. He bent low and made his way to the boy as he said, "Chew child, chew." Jack nodded and slowed down his haste but watched the man warily as he approached him, circling him. Pitch was unsure as how to proceed. The boy had been startled by his arrival but was by no means afraid of him, the boogeyman. He knew the spirit had taken great comfort in the shadows and darkness as an escape so doubtful he would be afraid of the master of it. His root duly eaten, Jack looked up at the calm, sinister man before him expectantly.

"Your name is Jack Frost." Started Pitch.

"I have a name?" responded the boy and Pitch was really worried about how this conversation was going to go. He glanced up through the trees and hoped the Moon could see his sneer through the foliage.

"Yes and its Jack Frost."

"Ok."

"Say it."

"Jack F-Frost." Stuttered Jack, the words came out harder than he had thought it would.

"What are you doing here Jack Frost?" asked Pitch. He hoped by familiarizing the spirit with his name, he would become more comfortable and become more of a child spirit than this thing he was now.

"Eating, but I have to go."

"You do have to go," agreed Pitch, "but not back to your little cave, your glorified burrow. The world is waiting for you Jack Frost, go to it."

Jack shook his head.

"The shadows may be comforting now but you were never meant to stay in them. Leave now Jack while I am reasonable."

Again the boy shook his head.

"Scared?" taunted Pitch.

A nod. Pitch mentally palm-faced himself. Of course the annoyance hadn't socialized enough yet to develop an ego. He began to lose his patience, "Go child! Go play games, find others like you, cause trouble and snowstorms and all that infantile annoyance!"

Jack's eyes widened and confused, he turned and bolted. Pitch sighed and made his way out of the darkness and into the moonlight. "He's found too much comfort in the dark and is too scared to venture on his own. You need him, he is your Spirit, for whatever great purpose you have for him. I will do what I can."

Over the next few weeks, Jack found the darkness that had blanketed him was now whispering and if he looked, movement amongst the shadows. He simply sucked in his breath and closed his eyes, diving further into the safety and refuge of his mind. Soon Pitch admitted defeat and looked to the Moon, "perhaps its time for some of your wonder and delight." He said it nastily, almost spitting out the words but the Moon shone brighter, agreeing with him.

Jack was miserable. He had got used to his appearance thought it didn't make acceptance any easier. Though he knew nothing, he knew something (alright a lot) about him was wrong, abnormal. He was so hungry but his stomach ached and refused the roots and bark and leaves and he could only handle a handful of snow now and then. His tooth hurt right at the back and he worried it with his tongue as he lay curled up, waiting to go to sleep and just not wake up again.

He heard the scuffle, the sound of boots moving through the snow and movement and then, voices.

"He said here, iz the place."

"Are you sure?" asked a feminine voice.

"Yip. I'm going in mate."

Then to Jack's shock, the sound of movement got closer and he looked up from his huddled position to look at the entrance to his impromptu home. First he saw the light, of a flame, then a shadow and then a creature appeared with the torch light in his hand. "Had to dig that tunnel over again just to fit." The creature complained and then seeing Jack, he yelled, "Found him!"

Jack in turned, opened his mouth soundlessly, kicked out his bare foot which made contact with the fluffy creature's nose and screamed as the creature yelled out in pain. He continued to kick as the creature reached out a paw towards him and managed to connect a few more times before his ankle was grasped and he was slowly pulled out of his haven.

"He's a live-wire!" yelled Bunnymund as he emerged with the struggling boy behind him.

"Your nose!" cried Toothiana, noticing the dark marking.

"Hey there." Tried North, trying to calm the thrashing boy, "we are friends."

Jack stopped, "friends?"

"We're here to help you," said Tooth. "I'm Toothiana, this is Bunnymund," gesturing to the Pooka, "and this is North and Sandy." Indicating to the large man with the white beard and a little golden man who smiled warmly. Jack got to his feet, still unsure. "You need to come with us."

"Why?"

"We have so much to show you, tell you. You were meant for things Jack."

"How does everyone know my name? The dark man told me I was called Jack Frost, he said I had to leave here." Said Jack indicating the forest.

North and Bunnymund continued to let Toothiana speak, out of all of them she was the less intimidating.

"You need to leave here but you can always come back, whenever you want." Promised Tooth.

"Then I want to go back, now,"

Bunnymund sighed, "you haven't even left yet."

Jack shrugged and turned to go back to his little space. A gentle feathered hand landed lightly on his shoulder, "wouldn't you like a real meal Jack?"

He paused and she continued, "and I can tell your tooth is hurting, I am after all the Tooth Fairy." She ended off with a wide genuine smile which Jack returned with a small grin.

"I can try come with you guys…" he suggested slowly, still unsure of himself.

"Wonderful!" cried North making Jack jump slightly, "sleigh is right here."

Jack followed, noticing how the small group seemed to have boxed him in the middle and noticed a large stick in Sandy's hand. He felt drawn to it somehow, "What is that?" he asked. Sandy smiled and wagged a finger and made an image of time.

"Sandy cannot speak but he is right, we will tell you all in good time. But to let you know, it is yours."

"Mine?"

Nod in affirmation and Jack felt the first inkling of excitement creep up inside him. Which was immediately squashed when he saw the sleigh and snorting reindeer attached to it.

"Everyone loves the sleigh." Grinned North mistaking the stunned silence from Jack as admiration. "I'm not going on there!" yelled Jack and turned to bolt. Tooth managed to grab him by the shoulders before he disappeared, "its alright Jack!" he continued to squirm. "Maybe he can go by tunnel?" suggested Bunnymund. "I changed my mind! I'm not going anywhere!" cried Jack, Tooth's arms wrapped around his waist and Sandy holding onto one arm. North handled the situation, grabbing a thick blanket from the sleigh and with the help of the others, wrapped it around Jack, pinning his arms to his sides and legs pressed together.

"Hey!" came Jack's muffled shriek. He was positioned between Sandy and Bunny and clenched his eyes shut as the sleigh hurtled through the sky, his stomach clenching. He didn't know if he liked these people so much anymore. One portal later, the crew had arrived and Jack was deposited in the bathroom and looked up from his position on the floor to the three yetis surrounding him. "Clean him up boys and bring him to the kitchen when he is clean." A nod and growls in affirmation and North shot back, "Behave Jack!"

Jack did not behave. He bit and scratched and growled as he was undressed, howled as he was dumped into the round wooden tub with the soapy water and spluttered as he was dunked and prodded and cleaned with wooden brushes and soft bristles. He sighed and relaxed as he was wrapped and vigorously rubbed dry with large red towels and eyed the new clothes he was given but put them on after a glare from the head yeti.

When they were done he was led to the kitchen which was large and inviting. At a wooden table sat the Guardians and an empty chair. Jack was seated and a soup placed in front of him and a glass of milk. He lifted the bowl and immediately began guzzling the soup down, it had cooled instantly at his touch. "Slow down mate," said Bunnymund passing him the spoon. Jack did so but it took great restraint. In no time at all the bowl and glass of milk were finished. He traced the empty bowl with his finger and licked it. "May I have more please?" he asked hopefully.

North shook his head, "More food when you haven't eaten for so long will make you sick." Jack glanced around and eyed a plate of cookies, he wanted to reach across for one but saw all the eyes on him. North had noticed his lingering gaze, "You can have cookie just now Jack, when Tooth looks at your tooth."

Jack nodded and licked his lips. He could smell them from where he was sitting and was wondering how he was going to go back to roots and leaves after something as delicious as that. He was led to another room and placed on a recliner and a plastic sheet covered him from the neck down. Tooth was quick and professional but nearly had her hand bitten when she touched the aching tooth. "Its alright Jack," she soothed, "Sandy's going to make you sleep for abit while I fix it, ok?" Jack didn't have much time to answer as he was sent gently off to dreamland. When he awoke some time later, he found his mouth was numb and it seemed to be late morning. He was taken to a large room with a big window and a fireplace and several chairs. The Guardians had him sit down and while the numbing in his mouth began to fade, they spoke and told him about the Guardians, his place in the world, his duties. They also told him he would be invisible to others. Jack was a little taken aback but was quickly reassured, "we all started the same way. You will have believers one day, till then you will have us. You wont be alone." Promised North.

He was given his promised cookie and he thoroughly enjoyed the choc-chip taste crumbling in his mouth. "What must I do to get more cookies?" he asked.

North laughed, "Just ask Jack! This is your home now."

"I thought the forest was my home?"

"It can be, if you want it to be. But it seems very lonely there, are you sure you want to be alone?" asked Tooth gently.

Jack thought about his little burrow, the darkness, the quiet and loneliness. In the last few hours being surrounded by people, light and comfort he didn't know how he could have found the darkness so alluring. Jack knew very little but in time he would learn but for now he knew, he didn't want to be alone, ever again.

He shook his head, "I'd like to stay here."

The Guardians cheered and clapped him on the shoulders and welcomed him to the group loudly. Then Jack was given his staff and taken outside to learn how to use it. As soon as his hands closed around it, instincts kicked in and within half an hour Jack was flying on the wind, doing daredevil stunts and starting a snowball war.

"Watch it Frostbite!" yelled Bunnymund as he narrowly avoided the flying boy spinning past him.

"Frostbite?" Jack called back.

"It's a nickname you dingbat."

"Ok …. Cottontail!"

"How original," grumbled Bunnymund.

So the day continued and then the weeks and then the years. Jack became abit of a trickster and daredevil. Life was full of adventure, snowballs and fun times. There were a few brushes when Jack's rebellious nature would lead him astray but with North as an impromptu father-figure, Bunnymund's discipline, Tooth's maternal and caring nature and Sandy's quiet companionship, Jack always stayed on the right path. He had a family, he would never be alone again.

In the time of darkness, the Moon gave the boy the gift of wonder and delight, good memories, sweet dreams and hope.

I hope you enjoyed and please, REVIEW. I have more chapters but still the ransom continues, the traffic graph shows three thousand reading my stories so ten reviews min please! I am loving the suggestions and will def get to them. The next shall be abit fluffy and hopefully funny.

Alright so on not a so positive note, I was reading a fanfic called The Longer I Run by Cayran and saw something in the author's notes. They didn't want to be rude and point out who it was but felt someone (me) plagiarised their story. They didn't say me but they did say they have been following a fanfic of one-shots and that I published a Claustrophobia Jack story right after they did and I used their words and phrases. I've read through both and honestly cant say I see it at all. The author hasn't messaged me or anything but just wanted to put in my two cents worth.

Also I have like four thousand readers on the traffic thing, can at least ten percent of you review? PLEEEEEASE.

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Wildkitkat

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