The Nightmare King
Hey! Um, here is the next (longer version) of this fic so kick back and enjoy!
Disclaimer~
Little Prince raised to immortal three,
his eyes met a dark being,
one whose voice echoed through the air,
Pitch Black... The King of Nightmares...
By: Me
Young Prince Jack laid in his crib, barely a year old, but was actually three years in mortal wise, as he stared up at a snowflake being formed by his father's hand. To the baby boy, it was quite amusing in seeing the small little thing dance around his eyes, yet it was so frustrating when he tried to reach his small hands to capture it, yet could not. Plus, the mop of his white hair kept getting in his sight.
"See? Look at the snowflake. Bet you can't nab it, ya little blizzard," Jasper crooned, clearly amused by his child's frustration. The scowl Jack made was priceless as a river of tears made its way across the child's eyes. The king fell into a fit of laughter, but couldn't have his baby boy ruin that cute face with such a frown, and dare he resist those pleading eyes. Playfully, Jasper tugged at Jack's small foot and wagged it.
"Aw, don't make that face at daddy, Jack! You'll ruin your entire complexion- oh, not the eyes! Not the eyes!"
Jack may be just a newborn sprite, but gods if he knew how to make his big baby blues much larger and glisten in tears. Jasper finally gave in and dropped the snowflake down to Jack. "Such a cheater with those eyes. You'll make a fine prince, Baby Boy. And there you go..."
The snowflake landed softly upon Jack's nose, but instead of melting right away, it stayed still for a few moments, then popped into very tiny icy particles and sprinkled the baby's face. Jack giggled and clapped his small hands, kicking in glee.
Jasper couldn't stop the laughter and lifted the infant up.
Such a lovely toothless smile.
"Aren't you going to be the trouble maker?," the Winter King said, tossing Jack up and catching him under the armpits. Jack squealed, and laughed in joy by the tummy turning ride. Jasper did this several times before nuzzling his nose against Jack's, enjoying the way small hand pressed against his fuzzy face. Jack made a few words which only could be heard as weak mumbles of blubbering.
"AaApa! AaaApahb!"
It warmed Jasper's heart to his core seeing his child trying to talk to him...
His boy...
Mariah, who was reading a book, became intrigued by the bonding shared between the two father and son. The sight of it made her feel light shine upon the kingdom, but mostly on her thoughts.
Her fear of Jasper growing tired of a family or not wanting to put down the fun antics for now, had calmed down. The Winter Queen could clearly see that Jasper truly wanted to take up the responsibility to fatherhood and be there for her and Jack.
...
Their Jack...
Jasper held Jack at arms length and gave him a firm look. Using his best antagonist voice, he spoke in a fairly fast pace, "How 'bout it kid, wanna cause havoc towards your mother? I'll split the deal, 50/50, got it, but you gotta get the job done, so what do you say, what do you say?"
Jack blinked plainly at the man for a moment, the bopped up with a simple, "Ba."
"Jasper!," Mariah scolded.
Jasper looked at his wife innocently. "What? He said yes!"
Mariah shook her head with a grin and stood, placing her book down on the chair. After doing a quick stretch, she strolled to a drawer and opened it. Reaching inside her fingers roamed through the fairly spacey box until the tips of her fingers brushed against it. A moment later she pulled out a silver band. It had frost designs engraved with metal and on the front was a large blue sapphire embedded in the center of a ring.
A perfect symbol for their genuine baby boy.
Mariah walked over to her husband and child and happily placed the band on top of Jack's head. Despite the beauty of the blue sapphire which was absolutely the last of its kind, it was no match for the magnificent sapphires of her son's eyes. Big and blue, they glistened in the light. Both Winter King and Winter Queen stared down at the baby with awe filled eyes.
Mariah chuckled softly and tapped her finger lightly upon Jack's tiny nose.
"Mmm. Jack Frost... Our little prince," she crooned in delight.
Jasper nodded in agreement and pulled his family in his arms, guarding them from the evils of the world. Like always, a vow played in his head that he would defend his family to the ends of earth, no matter if it killed him or not. His son or his wife will not live a life in vain.
If Hell should reign down, may he, the Winter King, be the first it would strike.
"Yes. Our son," Jasper whispered.
Jack giggled as he was nuzzled with affection. The crown slightly slipped from his head , but the child didn't mind and only laughed as the wind brought it back on his head.
"Why do I haf to do thif?," Jack, holding the complexion of a five year old, pouted as Jasper placed his band on his mop of hair. The metal was a uncomfortable settle to his head and just to feel it hold down his hair agitated the Winter child even more.
Today will be the day that Jack understands the most boring thing in the Winter Kingdom... the Kingdom in its economy form... Whatever the heck that meant in Jack's mind.
"Because, it is part of being a prince," Jasper said gently, trying to ease his child down, "you need to understand how things work around here, Son."
Jack frowned and folded his arms, slumping his back. It had been taught to him by strict maids that this was a very inappropriate position for a... Prince. "Well I don't wanna be pwince!" Jack declared stubbornly and hoped this would get him out of learning such boring things!
Jasper chuckled at his son's rebellion. Mischievous and cunning as him, yet stubborn and -at points- downright terrifying as his mother. So Jasper knew that this would be the hardest thing of the damn day.
"Look on the bright side, Jack; When you are much older, you get to wear daddy's crown." Jasper pointed at his own crown with a cheeky smile. Hopefully Jack would want to wear the much larger and more descriptive band on the Winter King's head.
Sadly, Jack still didn't look satisfied, but instead he was confused. "It's onwy a stufid circle," he muttered.
Jasper perked up in sudden shock. Wha... Here he was trying to make his son go to some Kingdom meeting, yet the child does not even know the exact meaning of his beautiful crown?! This will never do. Jasper scowled but held the small temper and rolled his eyes. "Nooo. This circle is what makes Daddy a good, strong man and if I did not wear it, this entire kingdom will be somewhere where the Earth meets its core" he exclaimed boldly.
He took of the crown and lowered it down to Jack's face. Surely if the Winter Sprite saw all the pretty designs and white colors, he would be persuaded into agreeing with Jasper.
...
Jack looked at the object, blinked several times, then gazed up at his father...
...
and shrugged.
"It's stiw a circle."
Jasper blew it and wavered his hands in the air. The wind howled around him and small flurries of snow surrounded their feet. "I know it's a circle!" Jasper waved the crown rapidly in front of Jack's flat face, "do you not think I know a circle when I see a circle, Jack?!"
Jack giggled at his father. Just seeing the man in frustration made a funny scene to the child.
"You silly, Daddy." Gently, Jack grasped the crown from Jasper's hand and placed it upon his father's head, fitting it on just right, "but if dif circle mean awot to you, den I'w go," he said. Before running out the room, Jack gave his father a small kiss on the cheek.
Jasper smiled sweetly, watching the adorable child disappear into the hallway and followed, thinking of how he was a better talker than his wife.
(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)
After the big discussion with the Winter Court, Jasper walked up a flight of stairs with Jack sleeping in his arms. The child had his head snuggled against his father's chest and his tiny hand clutched lightly on the frosted fabric of Jasper's robes. As the child snored softly, tiny snowflakes danced around his lips like a small blizzard show.
Jasper smiled softly and held his baby boy closer. "You did good today, Jack. You did good," he murmured softly, kissing the top of Jack's head.
Once the Winter King made it to Jack's room, he opened the brown wooden door using the wind to aid him. He strolled inside and placed Jack gently upon the blue frost covered bed, but turned on the nightlight next to him. Jasper stared down at his child with awe.
Jack had been a true miracle. The first to be carried and labored from an immortal. The way the nightlight shown on the child made him look absolutely genuine. Jack looked so much like Jasper and Mariah, yet he was created by Mother Nature. But Jasper did not want to think of it that way. Mother Nature, bless her and all of her magnificent power, is the only person Jasper paid a unlimited debt to, but...
Jasper thought of it as: he and Mariah were the capable ones. Jack was fully theirs- 199%... He was formed in Mariah's womb and labored through her. Despite what other may think, Jack was their son and no one else's.
Mother Nature could take up the Aunt role.
"Aw. He must be exhausted," the sweet voice of Mariah whispered from behind. Jasper turned to his wife and smiled. He too was tired, but not as tired as Jack. Poor kid had a fight today.
A fight to stay awake.
"Yeah. If that man came talking to me about the village politics at such a young age, I would have surrendered to slumber too," Jasper chuckled. Mariah smacked her lips nudged her husband's shoulder. "Hey, you still have trouble staying awake, my Winter King," she muttered. Then, she walked up to their child and bent down, gently slipping the band off Jack's head and replacing the spot with a kiss.
"Goodnight, sweetie," she whispered before entwining Jasper's hand in hers and leading him out the room. Just as they stepped to the door's opening, Jasper stopped her. "Hold on," he whispered. The Winter King looked around Jack's room, glared at every corner and every entry an intruder can get through with sharp eyes. Something... Something didn't feel right, Jasper just could not see it.
It was like he could feel eyes glaring daggers upon him...
After a moment, Jasper took himself as being paranoid from exhaustion and shook his head.
Nothing was here to hurt their son.
He sighed and gave Mariah the clear satisfaction. "Okay. Come, Love," he whispered and closed the door behind him.
All was silent in the Winter Prince's room. One could hear a butterfly's wing beat. The wind softly howled a soft tune which kept the child at peace and the moon's bright rays shone upon the child's bed. The child seemed like a white light enhancing the room's dim brightness, filling the aroma with pure innocence.
... But then... The wind changed a different tune. The howling became more firm and bitter... More alerted. The slightly harsh wind caused Jack to stir in his bed and snuggle unconsciously into the pillow as if it were his daddy's chest
The wind howled louder, trying to warn the child to get up. The wind shouted for help in whistling tunes. The wind needed to get Jasper and Mariah! Jack is in trouble! Within a matter of seconds, the howling died out as the wind blew out the window, rushing away to get help.
Moment later, after the wind left, a figure stepped out the shadows just as if he were apart of it... His skin was a dead, ashy grey, his eyes were a cold catlike yellow, and his clothes and hair were as black as night. He stood tall and haunting... His bad spirit enclosed around the room, mainly around Jack who stayed in slumber. Slowly and all so quietly, the man stepped over at the beside of the Winter Prince.
The moon whose rays covered the boy, brightened by the man's presence. Not in a way of rejoicing, but in a way of alert and fright. The moon knew this man...
This was Pitch Black...
The King of Nightmares.
"Oh, look at the little prince," his velvet voice spoke, as he gazed down at Jack. Such a wonderful sight the sleeping Prince made. It brought greater wonder towards Pitch. He grinned and ran a caressing hand down Jack's cheek. "My, my, have you grown. You do look like a wondrous creation. Look so much like your father, yet so much like your mother. You carry their traits along with their powers, yet... Sadly, there is much to the story than anyone understands or yet, refuses to understand..."
As the slender hand reached Jack's chin, the child unconsciously whimpered and moved his head more deeper into his pillow. Pitch's dim yellow eyes softened in amusement, but he soonly scowled.
"A poor shame... There is no gold sand to corrupt..." His eyes lightened once more, "Oh, wait." A shark like smile stretched across his lips. "There is..." Pitch then pulled out a bag of golden sand and sprinkled it over Jack's head.
Instantly, the sand shifted into lovely shapes; dolphins and snowflakes formed over the head of white, but in the center of the chaotic dreaming, stood Jack playing with Jasper; Jasper was helping Jack build a snowman.
The King of Nightmares scowled. Of coarse this would be the Winter Prince's dream.
"Such a role model you are, Jasper," Pitch hissed before tapping the dream. To his touch, Pitch watched in dark amusement as the golden sand started turning into black horrific, terrifying forms.
Black hands suddenly gripped the dream-Jasper by the legs and dragged him into a black abyss. Jack's eyes slight clenched and then relaxed, then clenched again. "Mm... D... Dad... dy," the child whimpered.
The dream-Jack released silent screams and cowered behind whatever was left of their destroyed snowman. Despite his efforts to hide, shadow figures stalked behind him and before the dream-Jack knew it, they ceased him by the arms and began to drag him back, locking his wrists in chains.
Jack's eyes clenched tighter and a more louder whine escaped his lips. "Mmm... N-no!... ,... Mo... Mommy! Da... Daddy!" A single tear slipped down the Winter Prince's cheek and fell upon the pillow. No matter how much deep Jack snuggled his head into the pillow, it could not bring him the comfort of his father.
The Nightmare King's eyes gleamed with a sudden hungry feeling. So strong this fear was and absolutely refreshing. The fear from the boy was outstanding and just... Definitely one of a kind as the boy himself. "Ah, yes. You will do very well, Little Prince.." So Pitch sat there, combing his slender fingers through Jack's hair as the Winter Prince's precious dream...Turned into a nightmare...
(~~~~~~~~~~~~)
Wide awake, Jasper laid on the bed with Mariah, listening to his wife talk about how her day had gone in vast detail... Well, he tried to listen, but there was that feeling in the pit of his stomach, as if something were trying to tell him to get up and check Jack's room. Because what he felt after putting Jack to bed... It bothered him. But a day's work of being a parent can do those things to you.
Mariah seemed okay, but just the way her husband sat, slouched and oddly quiet- too much for his manner, had her knowing something was up; something was bothering the Winter King over the edge. So, quickly she changed the subject.
"How did we get a miracle like Jack? Are we good parents? I mean, we are the first immortal bio-parents?," Mariah asked. Jasper smiled, hoping that it would ease his worry. For some reason, being a bit cheeky seemed to get the edges undone for him. "Of coarse we are. Bio-parents and the best parents. As long as Jack is safe, how greater can we get?," he asked.
Mariah smiled softly and leaned closer to Jasper, pecking his cheek in a soft kiss. "None the less, my Love... Now, how about we get some sl-"
BANG- CLASH!
The noise echoed the once quiet room as the balcony window's glass suddenly shattered due to the wind forcing its way to enter in...
Both of them jumped up in surprise, especially Jasper who used his staff to form a ice shield to protect Mariah from the flying glass. "Jasper!" Mariah instinctively cried out. Jasper clung onto her but listened for the wind...
The wind was very frantic...
It was very cold...
The wind was scared yet very clear words poured from it and to Jasper.
Danger...
Jack...
Nightmare King...
The blue in Jasper's eyes darkened into a near black of fury and immediately, Jasper was out of the bed and storming across the room to the door. Mariah quickly scrambled off the bed herself, suddenly worried about her husband. "Jasper?!" When Jasper ignored her, she had to observe his fury when he actually grabbed the door handle (Spikes of ice shot up the wooden surface) and swung it open hard enough that when the door met the wall, it made a very noticeable crack.
Mariah stood there in shock but quickly ran after the man. "Jasper!"
They darted down the hallways until they came to a near stop at the door of their son's room... Mariah froze, connecting both two-and-two together; the wind, Jasper's rage... guards stood at Jack's room trying desperately to open the door. Plus, they could all clearly hear the muffled screams coming from inside of the room which filled the mother and father with terror... Jack...
Mariah glared at Jasper, one, because he did not tell her what was probably going on. Then she glared at the guards.
"What is going on here?! What is wrong with our child!?," Mariah demanded. "We do not know," one of the guards- Aaron- said in worry, through the shrieks. Jasper grew impatient and pushed passed the guards. He tried to open the door, but like Aaron had exclaimed, the door refused to open fully; it only cracked open just a peek, but then was forced back closed. "Damn!" Jasper cursed.
He then backed and the shoved forward with his shoulder making an impact against the wooden surface. It was like a boulder was blocking him, so he tried harder; this time, the door was beginning to break. A guard- Joseph- took an aiding step forward.
"My King, the door-"
"The hell with the door!," Jasper growled. He had to get inside. Jack's screams urged him to. His son was in danger and damn him if he was going to stop. Jasper rammed into the door several more times with much more brutal force and the door showed signs of weakening.
"One... More... Time!"
One last budge was all it took for the door to bust open and immediately all ran inside the room. Frightening, the first thing Jasper saw was Jack, thrashing and screaming tears in the bed. The poor child looked flushed with an abnormal red and his tiny fists clutched tightly onto the bed spread. The bed itself was nearly just a block of ice under the child's winter ignited power. Miranda was next to see Jack and she released a cry of horror.
This looked beyond worse, yet so familiar...
Jasper rushed to Jack along with Mariah who shoved past the guards. Once at their son's bedside, Jasper gently scooped Jack's small upper body in his arms and shook him with just enough force not to break him. "Jack! Wake up, son!" the Winter King pleaded. Sadly, the first few shakes were all in vain.
But a few more shakes, big baby blue eyes snapped open, releasing a ocean of tears. Almost instantly once awaken, Jack lurched up and clutched onto Jasper and Mariah with clear whines escaping his lips. Mariah petted Jack's hair with worry in her eyes and relief that her son had woke up.
"There, there. It's okay, it was just a ni-..."
She froze during her sentence to collect what she was about to say.
No... It couldn't be...
"Well, well, well... What a lovely sight to see those meant to cause such a bitter cold, all warmed up to a bright young child," a velvet voice purred from somewhere in the room. The guards took their stance, only to have black grainy tendrils come from the shadows and grasp onto their necks. They were helplessly forced against the wall as submission.
Jasper clenched his teeth at the familiar voice and pulled Mariah and Jack behind him. Jack pressed his face hard against the back of his father's robes, hoping to seek safety. This dark man scared him. By the time he had awoken and saw this man grinning down upon him like a scary monster, to the moment he spoke in a evil whisper.
~"Run Little Prince, run. For the darkness wants to have fun... Can't hide in the shadows, no they'll find you there, and the moon's Rays will ignore the Winter heir..."~
The tyke clenched his eyes shut by the poem... "Don't wet him tawke me, daddy," he whimpered.
Jasper's eyes lowered in pure sympathy and he turned to his child and held onto his smaller hands gently. Putting on a reassuring smile, Jasper whispered, "It will be okay, Jack. Daddy will protect you and Mommy... Now close your eyes, cover your ears, and count until I tell you to stop, okay?"
Jack nodded and began to do so, since he knew his daddy would make the man in the shadows go away. Daddy will protect him. "One. Two. Three..."
"Wow, I am impressed, Jasper. I thought the child would never last his first year in your care," Pitch insulted, "by the way, his fear is rather enjoyable."
Jasper made a low growl in his throat at the thought of the Nightmare King laying a finger on his son, better yet, trying to scar his innocent mind. The wind began to howl around the small family, creating a protective wind circle around them."You stay the hell away from my kid, Black," Jasper spat. He could feel anger grow cold inside of him and below, frost escaped from the soles of his feet which only showed how far that anger was growing. It was then when Jasper felt Mariah's hand softly wrap around his bicep.
"Don't, Jasper," he heard his Queen whisper and understood. Sighing and relaxing his composure, the Winter King silently commanded the wind to blow away the frost. He knew he couldn't go overboard... No matter how pissed he became.
"Despite your anger, Jasper, I cannot and will no do such. The boy's fear is too irresistable," Pitch crooned.
Mariah scowled, holding Jack closer. "What do you want with him, Pitch?," she demanded. She had that sudden urge to freeze the damn shadow to high hell! She will not let anything such as Pitch Black get another foot near her child.
"Nothing for now, my dear. But when the time comes... I can't promise that the boy will stay forever in your arms... You both know it was never meant to be..."
The winter parents' eyes casted down by that statement.
"But until then, this is goodbye. Sweet dreams, my Little Prince..."
With that, the room went dead silent and the guards were released from their bindings, coughing up for air. Aaron stood straight and glared firmly at the others who struggled to regain composure. "Boys! Perimeter search, make sure that damn shadow is not around! Light up every dark space if possible! Move!"
"Yes sir!"
"Right away!"
"Let's go chaps!"
...
The guards rushed out the room doors, leaving the two distressed parents at the gravity of silence. Neither knew how to comprehend what they had just witnessed or heard.. It was just too horrific to rethink...
Mariah started to cry and held Jack closer to her chest. Jack clenched his eyes shut tighter as his voice wavered during his counting for he did not know what was going on. Jasper felt rage within him. He did not understand why Pitch Black would want Jack, but at the same time, he could understand why he would want Jack...
Jasper just feared that his son was in greater danger than imagined...
Sighing, the Winter father turned to Jack and gently grabbed the two small trembling hands, pulling them away from Jack's ears. Jack's counting still wavered.
"You can stop, son," Jasper whispered softly.
Jack opened his eyes, revealing baby blues of terror. It broke both Jasper's and Mariah's hearts... Just to see their precious baby boy in terror... To know that he wonders if he will be safe... The poor boy's bottom lip trembled and tears flooded those big blue like wide oceans.
"... Papa," Jack whimpered in a small voice before bursting into tears.
Immediately, Jasper wrapped his arms around his family, pulling both his wife and son in his arms as he would try to shield them from all evil. He wished it was that simple...
Gratefully, Jack snuggled his head into his father's shoulder, feeling safe as ever once more. His mommy and daddy will protect him from the monster man. He knew it; his daddy was strong and his mommy is so smart, that evil man in the shadows would not stand a chance.
Little did Jack know, Mariah and Jasper thought differently. Their hearts were weighed down with worry...
"What will we do?," Mariah whispered to her husband, "Pitch has gotten stronger."
"Not strong enough yet."
"Yes, Jasper, but who knows... He said 'when the time comes' what do you think he means exactly?"
Jasper was silent for a moment...
"Think about it Jasper, we cannot risk leaving our son for the taking..."
"... You're right."
... "Okay. So what is it that we should do?"
...
"We signal the Guardians."
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