Pitch cradled his daughter in the shadows. He was looking out at Jack and the others, he knew that he couldn't fight all the nightmares, not that he didn't want to try. But for the sake of the small child in his arms he wouldn't. He gently set her down within the shadows.
"Stay here, Cherny. I will try to get Jack and the others out. But you have to stay here. No matter what." The girl nodded her eyes widening in concern. Pitch stepped out of the shadows and stood there as they nightmares eyed him.
"We ssssee you have made up your mind, Lord of the Shadowssss. " The nightmares hissed.
"I have. You will let them go. And I will take their place."
"NO! Pitch don't! Don't give up to them!" Jack called out from his cage. One of the nightmares kicked at the cage.
"Sssssilence!" Some of the nightmares dissolved and surrounded Pitch forming a wall around him. He just sighed.
"Now let them go." He said. The nightmares cackled hideously, echoing the despicable sound throughout the chamber.
"You actually presumed to think we would ever releasssse the only people who would ever be able to oppose usss?" They continued their sickening laughter. Pitches eyes widened. Absolute pure fury flashed in his eyes. He summoned his scythe and tried to swing at them only to have sand tendrils wrap around his throat and squeeze tightly. He still tired to fight but quickly collapsed to the ground struggling for air, which the nightmares still denied him. It was only when he was on the verge of passing out that the nightmares released him. Gasping he stood.
"Y-You have what you want! Take me. Destroy me if you must but let them go!" The nightmares all dissolved and reformed as a near mirror image of Pitch. Grabbing his cloak they Pulled him close.
"No! We have ssserved you sssince your creation as Nightmare King. We no longer have a king. We. Are. The. King!" With that the nightmares slammed Pitch into the ground. "You will now serve ussss, Pitch Black!" They lifted him up and wrestled him down to his knees. "Now bow before your Master!" they shouted their nails cutting deep into Pitch's face.
"You were nothing until I created you!" Pitch spat back. "You will never be master to me!" the sand-Pitch shrieked in fury. They slashed at his chest cutting his flesh and robe to ribbons before slamming his head into the ground again.
"NO DADDY!" Cherney cried out running from the shadows, tears in her eyes. All eyes widened at the child entered. The nightmares smirked and Pitch felt his stomach sink. The nightmares grabbed Pitch by the throat.
"If you won't ssssubmit to us for the sssake of your own life, then maybe will her her life." shadows creeped out from around sand-Pitch snaking their way to her as he walked closer, the nightmare king's throat still in his hand.
"Cher! RUN!" Jack called out from his cage. Cherney stayed, fear not allowing her to move.
"Sssuch a beautiful child." the nightmares said sweetly. Pitch fought with more ferocity than he ever believed he had in him. He kept shouting for the nightmares to leave her alone, pleas that they chose to ignore. Pitch once again summoned his scythe and attempted to strike at the sand copy. The nightmares dissolved again pinning Pitch to a wall and forming into a hoard of nightmares once again. They started towards the child again, who whimpered in fear. She heard a sound and looked up into the eyes of her father.
"Cher... Please run?" Cherney stood her ground and looked back to the nightmares in anger.
"NO!" she swung at a nightmare that had ventured too close to the child, the nightmare fell apart and the sand ventured back into pitches hands. "Give daddy back!" she shouted. Suddenly the strongest wind ever came howling into the cave, Cherney's hair writhed around her. Icicles followed the wind piercing many nightmares many times. Every time a nightmare was hit the ice would spread freezing them where they stood. then a final icicle would hit and the nightmares would shatter and dissolve back into ordinary sand that Pitch continued to reabsorb. When it was over the girl collapsed, tears falling from her eyes. Pitch ran to her, his blood still dripping from his wounds.
"Cher? Are you all right? Are you ok?" She nodded climbing onto her fathers lap, a death grip on what was left of his robes.
"D-Don't be mad daddy. I know you told me to stay put but..." Pitch laughed pulling the child closer.
"Its ok baby. Its ok." He said wiping off the childs tears. He lifted her into his arms and turned to face the others. With the slightest flick of his wrist the sand holding the others fell away and Jack ran out tackling his family in a hug. It took a long time but eventually Jack let go, smiling with pride at his daughter who he then took into his arms.
"Thank you Cher. You saved us. All of us" The girl smiled and squeezed Jack tightly. Suddenly Pitch cried out. He collapsed to he ground, worried faces being the last thing he saw when everything went pitch black.
Pitch's eyes fluttered open, finding himself in a familiar room. The infirmary at the pole. Pitch looked around and saw Jack sitting next to him. He moved to sit up only to be held down bay Jack.
"No Pitch... Don't move." He said softly. "Y-You lost a lot of blood."
"How long have I been out?" Pitch asked settling back again.
"Three days. I've been watching over you. North just left he's going to look you over. He thinks your wounds have healed. He said that if that was the case you would be ready to leave as whenever you woke up." It was then that Pitch noticed how worn out Jack looked.
"You haven't left here have you. You haven't even slept." Pitch said.
"I couldn't... I had to make sure that you were ok. I have been sleeping but only when someone else could watch you. Which wasn't very often." Pitch reached a hand out, Jack took it. Shortly after North came back, Cherny following behind him.
"Mommy? Is daddy..." Pitch turned to look at his daughter. "Daddy!" She cried running over and leaping into the bed.
"You are awake? How do you feel?" North asked.
"Sore." Pitch said simply. North explained the they were going to remove his bandages to see how he looked. Jack sat up and straddled Pitch's hips. Helping Pitch sit up Jack slowly started unwrapping the bandages around Pitch's chest. As the final layer came away, they all gasped. Pitch's chest had nothing on it save for a few faint scars. Jack smiled and snuggled up against Pitch. Cherny crawled up to Pitch's other side. He cradled them both as in his strong, warm arms as they both fell asleep. relieved that their personal nightmare was finally over.