Chapter 9

It wasn't even a full day later before all the Guardians were buzzing about Katherine's nightmare. She refused to tell anyone what had happened, or what had her so shook up. She wouldn't even tell Sandy, one of the people you cold always trust with personal information. Instead, Katherine grabbed up her book and flew off to a desolate and peaceful forest where she could be alone for a while.

Jack didn't like the thought of Katherine being alone in the woods. But North had directly ordered him not to bother her. Reluctantly he obeyed and flew out of the workshop, wandering what he should do today since Katherine wasn't around to play. He flew to Burgess and aimlessly skated around the frozen pond. Today was a very dreary day, black storm clouds blocked out the sun and thunder crackled overhead. But no rain fell surprisingly enough, only tiny flurries of snow here and there.

"My my, this is a surprise. I don't think I have ever seen the Frost spirit so... depressed." Pitch smirked as he leaned against a tree, his fearlings at his feet.

Jack sighed, he was in no mood to fight with Pitch today. "What do you want Pitch?"

"Oh nothing. Well, the usual of course would be nice." Pitch added with a malevolent smile that made Jacks skin crawl. "I just couldn't help but notice all the fun has been drained out of you. It's quit nice really."

"Aw, how kind of you to notice." Jack deadpanned. "But really, I'm fine. Now rack off." Jack stormed as he turned his back to the Boogeyman. A loud stream of thunder crackled overhead, making light reflect and bounce off of their surroundings.

"Your soo unkind Frost, I only wanted a nice conversation to cheer you up." Pitch sighed with a tiny hint of sarcasm. But not enough for Jack to entirely notice.

"Fine, you want a conversation? Then what type of person gives his own daughter a nightmare? Please, do explain Pitch!" Jack demanded as he threw his hands up in the air. He didn't get Pitch, he just didn't!

Pitch laughed to himself, it was to easy to get Jack worked up. He began to pace around the lake, sometimes disappearing into shadows and appearing again in another place closer to Jack. "It's very simple really. It's one of the only ways I get to see my daughter and truly interact with her. Though I must say it's not one of my favorite ways, but they get a nice treat out of it." Pitch motioned to the fearlings that were slowly beginning to surround the pond.

Jack held his staff closer to him as the fearlings eyed him hungrily. More thunder crackled above, showing just how many fearlings were surrounding him. Jack didn't like this, but the conversation was only just now getting interesting.

But Jack didn't really now how to respond, he felt bad that Pitch couldn't really get to see his own child. But the fact that Pitch allowed the fearlings to feed off of her fear made his stomach lurch. "What was the nightmare about Pitch? You startled her pretty badly." Jack asked, wondering if Pitch would actually tell him.

"I'm afraid I can't answer that Jack. It's up to Katherine if she wishes to tell. But I will say this, the time is drawing near." Pitch grinned. Jack felt a surge of fear run through him, but it was quickly masked my anger.

Jack growled and sent a stream of ice at him. "I will never let that happen!"

Pitch carelessly avoided the stream of ice, but now he was starting to get angry. "Ha! You really think that you could stop me?" Pitch sneered as he sent a blast of nightmare sand at him.

"You seem to always forget that I have once before, and I will do it again if you go anywhere near Katherine again." Jack snapped. They both sneered at each other and broke out into a full head on fight.

Jack desperately tried to avoid the furious attacks of Pitch, he didn't realize how strong Pitch had become in the last couple years. But Jack did all he could to send harmful blows at Pitch. He tried to take a page from Katherine's book and created an army of large yetis to attack Pitch. But Pitch merely sent out his fearlings to destroy the snow beast for him.

Pitch forged his long scythe and violently swung at Jack. Each time Jack barely escaped the sharp blade. He tried shooting up in the air and attacking from above, but Pitch merely sent large waves of nightmare sand at him. Jack was beginning to worry if he would possible be able to get away from this fight unscathed. He might need the help of the others.

"Scared Frost? I thought that you could defeat me easily like last time? Ha! It seems you've over estimated me." Pitch let out a wicked laugh and unleashed a hoard of fearlings and nightmares on him.

Jack quickly dogged the oncoming attack, but they chased him as he swerved through the trees trying to loose them. It was a useless effort. The thunder began to get violent and the snow fell fast, making it difficult to see. Jack didn't know what to do, the outcomes looked hopeless now. All he could do was to try and evade the monsters as he tried to shoot at them one by one. But there were just too many.

Suddenly there was a bright flash and a howl of pain from the nightmares and fearlings. Jack looked back with astonishment to see all of the hideous creatures gone. He lightly fell to the ground, completely forgetting about Pitch. But wondered how on earth that just happened.

"Jack! Are you okay?" Katherine asked as she flitted down beside him, her dress covered in frost and nightmare sand.

Both Jack and Pitch were astonished to see Katherine. Pitch couldn't believe that his own daughter just took down an entire army of nightmares with one attack. Neither could Jack really, even he wasn't able to do that! Jack just gaped and nodded, to shocked to even speak a word.

"Katherine?" Pitch breathed, still taken aback.

Katherine felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. She swiftly turned to see Pitch, staring at her the same way Jack was. She felt her breath catch, he had the same eyes... as, as. Well, whoever it was last night and in her dreams. Katherine had seen Pitch before, but never up close for a long amount of time. Only in the child's room that one night. This was the monster who nearly killed North, Jack, and even tried to make a young girl his darkling princess. Katherine didn't know what to think.

Jack suddenly realized what was happening and stepped in front of her. He held up his staff, ready to attack if need be. But Pitch seemed to snap out of it as well and sneered at Jack.

"It seems our little conversation has been cut short. Until next time, Frost." Pitch smirked and snapped his fingers. All of the nightmares and fearlings came flowing back to his side, and slowly consumed him until he was nowhere to be seen.

Instantly the storm began to lighten up, and the snow faded back to a light flurry. Jack lowered his staff and turned back to Katherine. She still looked shocked,and rather confused as well. Jack lowered himself to match her height and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Katherine, how did you do that?" Jack asked as he searched her eyes.

Katherine seemed to snap out of her daze and looked at Jack with a confused look. "Oh... I don't even really know. I just created a sand arrow and shot them. It seemed to work I guess." Katherine explained. Jack smiled and took Katherine's hand.

"Common, lets get you back home." Jack smiled. Katherine lightly smiled back and took out one of the tiny globes that North had made for her if she didn't feel like flying. She threw one on the ground and hoped into it with Jack by her side. Jack had some exciting, and bad news for the others. But it would have to wait until Katherine was taken care of for now. This would surly be an interesting story to tell.