Pitch was seething with rage. His new hideout (if you could even call it that) was an abandoned mine shaft located somewhere south of New Mexico. There were cobwebs and dirt on everything, and the heat was excruciating. Being somewhat underground helped keep the tunnels somewhat cool but the air was still humid enough to make his breathing difficult. He had built a makeshift office where he could try and plot out his revenge on Jack, but along with trying to round up all his missing nightmares and creating more nightmare men, his time was starting to become unmanageable. Although he had created a few nightmare men already, they took an abundance of energy to design. Nightmare men weren't just shadows that followed orders. Nightmare men could think and talk just like any human could. In the past, because so many nightmare men had started to develop their own opinions (Many that differed from Pitch's) he had lost control of the many he commanded. It was one of the main reasons he was defeated during the dark ages, the nightmare men added a great advantage to whichever side they were on. If Pitch wanted to gain power once more he would need nothing less than a nightmare army. The few nightmare men he had created were helping him clean out the little space they had to make it somewhat livable. Even as a being who coveted shadows, he still had his standards. A top a pile of battle plan sketches was an old war journal that Pitch had kept during the dark ages. As a man of strategy he felt it would be more beneficial to him to re-read his old strategies so he could figure out where he went wrong, what he could change to give him the upper hand this time around.
His fourth run through of the journals left him rubbing his temples in frustration. He just couldn't think straight, the only thing that had kept him from winning against the guardians recently, was Jack. So obviously if he took Jack out... The guardians would be as good as gone. What agitated Jack though was how he was going to do it. The guardians always had their eyes on Jack, whether it be in the form of a simple visit or asking Jack to stay at one of their homes. It was quite sad that Jack didn't even realize that they were just using him. Before the man in the moon told them that Jack would be the next guardian, they hadn't even given Jack a second glace, preferring to stay cooped up in their workshops working on the next holiday that would strengthen the children's belief in them. Now that they know Jack has the power to take Pitch down their practically keeping him on a leash. Pitch would care to take a wager that Jack didn't even get to go out flying around without someone watching him now. They wouldn't send someone noticeable, maybe one of Toothiana's little fairies who could fly close without being spotted or one of Sanderson's Dream Stallions who could watch from afar.
Sighing, Pitch pulled out a new stack of papers and began writing down once more. To be able to catch Jack off guard, he would also need to catch the guardians off guard. Maybe he could pull a Troy and send in a decoy. Something that whatever was watching Jack would be distracted by long enough for Pitch and his nightmare men to sneak in and attack. They could destroy him and be away before he guardians even know it was him. The guardians couldn't know that he was the one who killed Jack though. Pitch wasn't strong enough to face them yet, he still needed to regain his power once again. Standing up, Pitch stretch his arms tiredly before heading out back into the mine shafts hallways. The nightmare men in the hallway stood up straighter and the remaining Nightmares whinnied. He nodded in acknowledgment before addressing them.
"I understand that times are tough right now. The guardians are exterminating all shadow creatures that come within their sights, they are like savages! But we are better than them. In fact, I already have a plan. Our rise to victory will not take as long as last time because now I know more than I could have ever wished to have known back then. I can create an army within just a few weeks time and-" His speech was cut off by a brave nightmare soldier stepping forward.
"B-But what of t-this battle? If you a-are so g-great, why did w-we not win this b-battle?" The soldier who stood so strongly before stepped back and lowered his head as Pitch met his eyes. The piercing glare that Pitch issued the soldier was something that not even the strongest of men would want to be on the receiving end of. Just as the look began, it stopped. Pitch motioned for the shadow soldier to stand.
"What is your name?" He queried, his face blank of emotion. The almost formless shadow man thought for a moment before responding.
"T-Thomas sir. My n-name is T-Thomas." His fellow soldiers looked on in horror, fearing that he would be killed for his treason. Pitch just gave a tight lipped smile.
"Well Thomas... We failed because I did not expect the ice spirit Jack to join the guardians, nor to be nearly as strong as he was. Which is why we need to take him out before he can do anymore damage." His silky voice was one of the reasons that Pitch was the nightmare king. He could lead a horse to water and make him drink, just with a few well spoken words. Thomas, the brave shadow wasn't sure what he was expected to do. Pitch was staring at him expectantly, but Thomas knew better than to disobey Pitch. He was already on thin ice at the moment because of his previous comment and he didn't want to risk his life so soon. Pitch walked towards him in slow, calculated steps. Taking pleasure in the fear that Thomas was emitting.
"Thomas, your obviously a very brave soldier, but just how loyal are you?" Pitch was right next to Thomas' ear, his breath made the hairs on his neck stand on edge.
"I-I might b-be a little out s-spoken sir, but I-I would never b-betray you." Pitch studied Thomas' features. If you looked hard enough into the shadows that formed Thomas, you could see the faint outline of high cheekbones and a strong jaw. Thomas seemed to be the fastest developing nightmare man in the whole group.
"Thomas, you are going to become my right hand man, do you understand me?" Thomas' eyes widened to an almost comical size and he nodded his head.
"Good. You are to report to my office in the morning. Everyone dismissed." Everyone had already started walking down the mine shaft to find a place to set up a barracks, before Pitch called for them once more.
"I need one Nightmare." The smallest of the nightmares was butted forward by the rest of it's remaining pack and everyone else continued to walk away. The nightmares, although they fed on fear, could fear fear themselves and Pitch could sense fear all over this one. She was the smallest of the group, and now that Pitch thought about it, probably the best suited for what Pitch had in store.
As the Nightmare approached Pitch, he led it into his makeshift office and began giving orders in a low tone.
"I'm going to need you to keep an eye on Jack-"
"FROST!" scampering footsteps echoed through the tunnels of Bunnymund's egg forest, a certain moon haired spirit of fun was on the run from a giant kangaroo-err 'Bunny'. He had just about reached the exit when he was tackled from behind.
"Ack! What's your problem bunny?!" Jack snapped spitting out a mouthful of dirt. Bunny stood up and picked Jack up as well.
"My problem is that you keep freezing my eggs!" Bunnymund held up a pair of Easter eggs that had frost trailing up the sides. Jack dusted himself off and gave Bunny a smile, hoping to charm himself out of this situation.
"It's not even anywhere near Easter! In fact Easter just passed a couple of weeks ago, what's the big deal? it's only a couple of eggs." Bunny looked just about ready to give Jack a few knots on his head and ask what the big deal was, they were only a couple of knots! Tooth slid into the entrance of the cave with a flutter of wings.
"Bunny are you trying to kill Jack again? That's the third time this week, mister!" Tooth scolded lightly, giving Jack a little push towards the cave's entrance.
"But the little bugger keeps on freezing ma' eggs! What am I supposed to do, just let him do it?" Bunny seemed horrified at the very idea. Tooth just shook her head and followed Jack outside, she had had to deal with this situation more times in the last month than she ever thought she would her whole life time. Shaking her head she fluttered her wings and flew with Jack back to his house. Jack had built his own house in a cave area behind a frozen water fall up in Antarctica. Although both Sandy's Dream stallions and her own tooth fairies complained about watching Jack from such a cold location, it was for the best. Tooth made sure that Jack made it into his abode safely before taking off once more. Tooth didn't really have any worries about Jack down in Antarctica, after all only the guardians and a few of their workers actually knew where Jack lived, and Tooth would have sensed if something was following them. Or that's what she tells herself, as she flew off she took no notice of the petite nightmare that was watching them both from above. The nightmare sniffed the air before dissipating into the shadow of the oncoming night, the silent moon it's only witness.
AN- Well I usually don't like to start a new chapter until the previous one has at least one review, but I would be hoping a little to much for this to get reviews. Sorry this isn't that good but I'm trying. I'm used to writing fun stuff that barely has a plot, not drama war strategy stuff that I actually have tried to plan out! Well love y'all please try and leave me a review if you can, I would love to see what I'm doing wrong and what I'm doing right.