Whoooo! :D Guess who's uploading a chapter?! :D

Yes, it's me. ;) I worked on this last night but I could only upload it now because I had to go to bed straight after I finished this since I'm going out with my cousins and a few family friends today. ;) But, anyway, here it is! I hope you enjoy! :D

Disclaimer: Contrary to any belief, I actually DON'T own Rise of The Guardians...*gasp!*

Chapter 18 – The Beginning of the Battle
(Atheia's POV)

The visions were pulled away from me, and I could feel myself tumbling into a black mass of nothing. It was dark, and the prickling feeling of cold needles poked at my skin. I couldn't move and I couldn't see or hear anything, only hold my breath as I fell further into the darkness.

Suddenly, as if being pulled, I was yanked from the darkness, and everything came back. I uttered a gasp as my legs weakened underneath me as I collapsed to the floor, gasping and coughing away the invisible smoke that scratched the insides of my lungs. I was barely aware of the faint ringing in my ears and the blur in my vision, but I could feel smooth, wood under my hands, and cold hands grasping my shoulders. I stared, unblinkingly above me, which was a blurred mass of indecipherable colours. The ringing in my ears faded to a light buzz, and I could make out the sound of voices, but I didn't know what they were saying or who they belonged to. I let out a groan as I felt something or someone, pick me up from the wooden floor, and cradle me. Another blur of colours invaded my vision as the buzz in my ears started to slowly fade. Patched words rang in my ears, the sentences cutting off as my ears picked up different works.

"Atheia?! Please-"

"-okay! I'll-"

"Listen to-"

"Don't leave me okay, you're gonna b-be fine!"

I clenched my eyes closed, my face scrunching up in pain, before reopening them as the colours swirled into focus. I squinted at the torn, broken face above me. His eyes glistened with tears and his mouth hung agape in a silent plea as he breathed deeply. I could feel his cold arms wrapped around me, clutching me to him as he gazed down at me with a hopeful expression.

And then everything came rushing back.

"My dear Rose, forever remember that you're brother and your father will always come home."

"It's okay...it's okay. I'm here; and as long as I'm here, there is nothing to be afraid of."

"Do you think you could teach me how to skate?"
"Sure I can."

"With Jack…gone…"

"I really do miss you. It's not as fun when you're not around. You don't know how much I regret asking you to teach me how to skate. I feel as if it's all my fault."

I gasped, scrambling out of Jack's arms and flinging myself to the corner of Jamie's room, a fearful look in my eyes as I cowered in the dark shadows of the room. An expression of hurt scrawled across the winter spirit's face as he stood up and took a hesitant step towards me, only for me to flinch and back further into the dark.

I breathed heavily from disbelief as I gazed at the winter spirit from my huddled, terror-filled view on the wooden floorboards of the room. Other than the extremely pale skin, silver hair and wounded expression on his face, this was Jack; the happy, cheerful teenager who was always trying to make everyone in the village laugh; the one who pelted me with snowballs and cuddled me when I was scared; the one I had seen at his best and worst times; the one who had died saving me.

"Atheia…it's me, Jack."

I was petrified at the sight of the loving brother who gave his life up for me. I had spent the rest of my life wishing for him back, and when I finally did get him back, I was terrified. Terrified that he might slip away again; terrified that he would disappear right in front of my eyes; terrified that him being there was too good to be true. So terrified, in fact, that I flinched away from him again as he tried to move closer.

"N-no," I stuttered, tearing my eyes from his icy-blue ones to lock with the floorboards. "It-it can't be you."

A forgotten memory that I didn't see in the tooth container –which was now abandoned to the other side of the room– flashed behind my eyes; of Jack reaching his arms out to me reassuringly, telling me I was going to be fine, but never once mentioning that we would both be fine.

"I saw you fall into the lake…" I muttered disbelievingly under my breath, not noticing as Jack took hesitant steps towards my shaking form. "…I saw you sink into the darkness; Jack, I saw you die."

"But I'm here now, aren't I?" He said, kneeling down to me and placing his cold, pale hands on the sides of my face, wiping away tears that I didn't even know had fallen.

I looked into his crystal, cerulean eyes unsurely. He gave a small smile that brought back a wave of familiarity as he held out his arms for me, just like when I was little. I couldn't handle it anymore, if he was going to disappear from me again, I wasn't going to make his visit pointless. I wrapped my arms around him, sobbing into his shoulder as he patted my head in a soothing gesture. I let out all the stress I had been holding; Sandy's death, Pitch, my memories and the Guardians, only savouring the moment I had with my brother as I held him tighter.

"Umm…Jack?" The voice caused both the winter spirit's and my head to whip to the side, and I saw Jamie still standing in his previous spot, a confused expression on his face. Fluttering above his shoulder sat Baby Tooth, who looked a bit exhausted as she struggled to keep herself in the air. "Who are you talking to?"

My heart sank as I saw the little boy's eyes flicker over me. Jack, as if sensing it, gave me a reassuring smile, setting me to the side and brushing himself off as he stood up. He floated lightly over to the boy, his worried and hurt expression disappearing and being replaced by a mischievous glint.

"Ever heard of Mother Nature?"

Mother Nature?! I glared at the winter spirit in anger, opening my mouth to protest. "My name is not-"

"Ah ah ah!" Jack said, quickly turning around to 'tisk' me, before facing Jamie again, lightly chuckling as he heard me give an exasperated sigh as I crossed my arms.

Baby Tooth beamed at me, fluttering over to me, however struggling as she collapsed into my open palms. I looked down at her in worry as she ruffled her feathers, but she didn't seem to mind as she grinned up at me. I gave a soft smile back, petting her head feathers as I placed her on my shoulder. It was about then I realised I wasn't in my normal attire. Glancing down at myself, I grumbled as I noticed that I was still in the dress Pitch had given me before I Changed. I looked down at the scraps of cloth I wore that barely passed for clothing, grumbling irritably. Dresses were definitely not my thing, especially ones that had tears all through it. My cloak was missing, and I felt a strange sense of incompleteness without it. I also felt the weight of the leather sheath around my waist, and I looked to the floor to see the abandoned dagger on the floor. It's dark aura from when the Shell had first received it had faded, making it appear like an ordinary knife, but it still sent a wave of chills down my spine as the moonlight streaming through the window of the house glinted off the silver blade. I gazed at it for a bit, tentatively treading over to the patterned knife and kneeling down to it. The purple swirls still glowed softly along the hilt even when I wasn't touching it. I picked the dagger up, weighing it in my hands for a bit as I gazed at the glinting blade, before pocketing the knife almost without thinking into the sheath at my side.

I glanced to Jack and Jamie, who were both now sitting crossed legged on the wooden floorboards of the brunette boy's room, though Jack was hovering slightly off the ground from excitement as spun a tale of beautiful Nature Goddess who cared for and loved the children of the world. He waved his hands dramatically, adding an awe-inspiring touch to the story as he described the adventures and battles of the Nature Goddess.

I blushed lightly, settling on the cold floor and propping my chin up with my hand as I listened to Jack's tale. He was always a good story teller, being able to spin images into the minds of the listeners and make them gasp or cheer when the character did something heroic or daring. When Jack finished, Jamie was left gaping in front of him, an enormous grin on his face.

"Now Jamie," Jack said, standing up and offering his hand to the boy, who took it with eagerness. "I need you to close your eyes, and I want you to believe in the Nature Goddess, can you do that?" The boy nodded, closing his eyes and scrunching up his face in concentration.

I stood up myself, sighing in despair as I brushed dust off the torn dress. What Jack was trying to do for me was sweet, but, knowing from previous experiences when I tried to get someone to believe in me, I couldn't have faith in that what Jack was trying to do would work.

"Jack, I-"

The winter spirit hushed me, grinning widely as Jamie's expression molded into one of confusion, and I tore my eyes away from Jack as I stared at Jamie, a flower of hope blossoming in my chest.

Jamie slowly and unsurely peeled his eyes opening, before gazing in my direction with his mouth agape and eyes widened. "No way…" He muttered under his breath.

I was taken aback at Jamie's words, gaping at him disbelievingly and taking a couple of seconds to look behind me. There was nothing interesting, other than the dark sky and the melting frost on the window. I turned back to Jamie, who still continued to gape at me in stunned joy. Jack stood to the side, a triumphant smirk on his face as he crossed his arms over his chest, his staff hanging from his right hand, but I paid him no attention as I stared at the brunette boy as his grin grew wider.

"Can you…?" I trailed off, slightly nervous that Jamie might not be able to even hear me. "Can you see me?"

Jamie nodded as his grin grew and his eyes widened further with barely contained happiness. I took hesitant steps towards the boy, my light weight not even causing the boards underneath me to creak. Jamie's eyes followed me even as I knelt down so I was eyes level with him. My emerald-coloured orbs scanned the chocolate-brown eyes of the boy, as if examining him for any signs of the whole matter being a complete sham. He only stared back at me with pure belief.

Anxiously, I reached out to him with a shaky, hesitant hand. As it neared the boy's shoulder, I prepared for the pained hollowness in my chest to agonizingly rip throughout my body, but it never came. I stared wide-eyed at my hand as it connected with his shoulder, not slipping through or glowing blue at all. I felt the cloth of his shirt and underneath the bone of shoulder. I gasped as a wave of relief and overwhelming joy overcame me, causing my eyes to sting with tears that I had to blink back to stop from falling. Jamie let out a chuckle of joy and disbelief as I poked as his brown locks of hair.

"You can see me…" I whispered to him in shocked glee, to which he gave a massive grin to and threw his arms around my neck.

I gasped in alarm, expecting him to fall through me, but when he didn't, I hesitantly wrapped my arms around him, letting out a couple of breathless chuckles as I savoured the warmth of the hug. I felt a tear trail down my cheek as I gazed back up to Jack, who grinned down at me with a fond smile.

"Jack…he sees me!"

Jack smiled down at me and Jamie, but before he could reply, the windows blew open and crashed into the walls, resulting in a loud bang echoing in the room. The three of us looked out the window as the thunder rumbled in the skies and the sound of bells filled the air. Jack and I raced to the edge of window, peering out as a flash of red and brown flickered in the air, rapidly descending from the sky.

"Come on!" The winter spirit said, perched on the window sill, preparing to jump out any moment.

I took a step to follow him, before my eyes widened as I gripped the invisible and non-existent object in my hand. "Jack, wait!"

He turned back to me, a confused expression scrawled on his face. I held my hands palms-up towards him, my mouth turned down in a miserable frown. "My staff…"

Jack gazed down at my empty hands as his eyes widened in realisation. He hopped down from the window sill, walking up to me and placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "We'll get it back," he said, giving me a determined grin. "But for now, take Jamie downstairs; take the front door. The kid needs to see this…" The winter spirit winked mischievously, heading to the window and giving a mocking salute, before free-falling out the window, the wind lifting him in the air and out to the streets.

I smirked at Jamie as he watched in awe as Jack floated gracefully on the wind. "Oh close your mouth already, you'll catch flies." I remarked at his amazed expression.

I laughed at the boy as he abruptly closed his mouth, the tips of his ears reddening with embarrassment as I playfully nudged him.

"Come on!" I exclaimed, ushering the boy towards his bedroom door when he refused to move.

"W-where are we going?" He stammered in confusion, but nevertheless allowing me to push him along the floor.

"You need to meet a few people," I smirked at the thought. "Jack was right; you're gonna have to see this."

"V'hat are you doing here?" I heard North's echoing voice before I even opened the front door of Jamie's house.

The wooden door pushed open with ease, and Jamie rushed out, gazing at Tooth and North as they stood on the cold pavement.

"Same as you," Jack said, turning away from the two Guardians to let them see Jamie as he gazed at them with a wonder-filled expression.

"The last light…" North said in awe, gazing at the brunette boy with hope.

Tooth jerked her head to the side, and seeming to notice me hiding in the shadows, beamed in joy. "Atheia!" She cried, attempted to flutter over to me, but seeming to ditch the idea and decided to just run over to me instead.

She threw her arms around me, pulling me into a relieved hug. I stood there in shock, feeling my body and mind go numb from the caring gesture. Before I got the chance to return the hug, she pulled back, smiling at me in a thankful expression, before looking to my clothes and gasping in worry.

"Oh my goodness! What happened to you? Was it Pitch? Did he-"

"Tooth! Tooth! I'm okay…everything's okay," At those last words, I sent a small smile Jack, who leaned on his staff as he returned the grin.

"But what happened?"

"Uh…" I gave her a sheepish grin as I rubbed the back of my neck. "It's a long story…"

"It is you!" I heard Jamie cry, and I looked at him to see him gazing at North in astonishment. Tooth and I padded over the cold pavement towards him, North and Jack as Jamie fussed over North. "I mean…it is you!"

The boy chuckled, turning to both Jack and I as I came to stand beside the winter spirit, his triumphant eyes flickering to both of us. "I knew it wasn't a dream!"

North, seeming to register the look of belief on the brunette boy's face, stared at us in astonishment as he leaned on one of his swords. "Jack, Atheia….he sees you…"

Jack smiled fondly at the kid, before his expression of happiness turned to one of confusion. "Wait…where's Bunny?"

North's expression turned grim at the mention of the Guardian of Hope. "Loosing Easter took its toll on all of us…Bunny most of all…"

North and Tooth turned to the sleigh, where I could hear the sound of light feet scratching the polished floorboards of the sleigh. Suddenly, a grey ball of fluff appeared at the side of the sleigh, it's pink nose twitching. It was only when the fluff ball's green, mossy eyes locked with mine that I realised who it was.

"Oh no…" I muttered under my breath, as the tiny bunny hopped onto the wing of the sleigh, his nose twitching as he sniffed his surroundings.

Jamie chuckled lightly, walking over to the grey, dark patterned bunny. "That's the Easter Bunny?"

The bunny stood on his hind legs, his little front paws pulled back into little fists as he glowered at the last believer. "Now someone sees me!" The rabbit cried exasperatedly, and I was taken aback as the deep, Australian voice of the normally 6 ft 1 Easter Bunny came out of the little creature that now stood perched on the wing of the sleigh. "Where were you an hour ago mate?"

I raised an eyebrow, giving a sideways glance to Jack as he gave me a just-as-confused expression.

"What happened to him?" Jamie asked, turning to look at the four of us for answers. "He used to be huge, and cool, and now he's just…" The young boy turned back to the regular sized bunny, weaving his fingers underneath his neck. "…cute."

Bunny's expression softened, his foot rapidly tapping on the ground as Jamie scratched underneath his chin, before his gaze hardened on the young boy and he waved his hands away in protest.

"Bah! Did you tell him to say that?" He sent a sharp look in Jack's direction as he hopped off the wing of the sleigh and bounced over to him, kicking his ankles and holding up his front paws. "That's it! Let's go! Me and you!"

"No! Actually, he told me you were real," Jamie said, kneeling down to the grey bunny. "Just when I started to think that maybe you weren't."

Bunny looked at Jamie in shock. "He made you believe…in me?"

To his question, Jamie nodded, and Bunny looked up at Jack, for once his eyes gleaming with appreciation and even a tinge of affection. The two shared a secret exchange, and I smiled at the both of them.

The moment was ruined when a loud clap of thunder and a bright flash of lightning erupted in the sky. Bunny let out a frightened cry, his ears perking up and his eyes widening in fright as we all turned to gaze at the black cloud of swirling sand in the sky. I could see Pitch perched atop of it, his smirk glowering down on all of us.

"Atheia? And Jack? Oh dear, this is a shame…" Pitch cried from the skies, the cloud drifting lower to the ground. "Couldn't stay heartless forever, could you Atheia?"

I growled under my breath, wishing for my staff as I tried to get into a defensive stance without it. Pitch chuckled, his laugh merging with the roars of the thunder that echoed in the sky.

"Maybe you couldn't stay the cold-blooded, cruel self you know you are," He jeered from his sand cloud, pulling an object from the darkness. "But I do know that you are powerless without this."

My eyes widened in fear as I recognised the smooth, carved wooden stick grasped in his hand, and I could hear Jack's sharp intake of breath next to me. The other three Guardians, seeming to now just realise that the piece of wood was absent from my grasp, gazed up in horror at Pitch, who smirked down to all of us as he held the piece of wood in both his hands.

"And I also know," The Nightmare king continued, bracing the wooden staff above his knee. "That not only your powers are connected to this…" His grip on my staff strained, and I gazed up at him fearfully as I suddenly realised what he was doing. "But so is your very soul."

Jack's eyes widened and the Guardians all gasped, but before anything could be done, I felt abrupt pain blossomed in my abdomen, crashing down on me in waves as the snap of my staff echoed in my ears. I heard Jack cry out, but I couldn't make out any words from him as another snap filled the air and another wave of pain shot up my body.

"Every-"

Snap.

"-single-"

Snap.

"-part-"

Snap.

"-of-"

Snap.

"-your-"

Snap.

"-soul."

I groaned in excruciating pain as I slumped to the cold ground, my arms snaking around my waist. It felt as if all the bones in my body had been snapped in half, and I could only focus of the pain as my vision blurred and my ears rang. I could hear Pitch's echoing laugh above me, and I could feel the many pieces of my staff being crushed together in his grey-skinned grasp. I could feel my eyes droop close as the pain numbed my mind and body. The last thing I saw were bright, cerulean eyes gazing down at me and faint cries in my ears before everything went black.

Bah! I feel like this is getting too predictable...is it? Should I tone down the OC torturing? Or do you like the suspense? O_o Let me know in the reviews. ;)

Hey guys! Guess what? I'm at 93 REVIEWS! I'm am SO happy! I didn't even think this story was going to get over 50 ;) I just want to thank every one of you who has reviewed, and even if you hadn't and are just reading this story, I wanna thank you too. All of you guys have been supporting me through this and I appreciate EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU! Without you guys, this story would basically be nothing...I thank you for the support you've given me :) COOKIES TO ALL OF YOU! (::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(: :)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::) (::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(: :)(::)

*NOTE!*
Guys, last chapter I said I made a poll about my next story, and I'd REALLY appreciate it if you could take the time to vote! I wanna see what you like! Thanks!

Review Responses:

dream lighting: Yeah...I feel bad for Atheia too :( I'm kinda a heartless bitch towards her, aren't I? :/ Hahaha, yeah, Jack's her brother, that's why I couldn't afford any romance between the two or it would just be awkward ;) Thanks for the welcome back note! Hope you enjoyed the chapter and here's another cookie! :D (::)

storygirl99210: Thanks! I was worried her memories might be a bit weak or something, but I'm glad you enjoyed them! Here's another cookie for your AWESOME review! :D (::)

booklover1598: Hehe ;) Doesn't EVERYONE love cookies?! ;) Yeah, Atheia's kinda locked up in her room...she kinda wants to be alone right now...but don't worry! Once everything is back in shape with her she should be happy again...she just hates it when I mess up her life like this ;) A heroic death? I thought so too! I was kinda going with the 'repeat of history' thing if you know what I mean...because Jack saved a little girl and so, that little girl grows up to save another :) I'm glad you liked it! Here's another cookie! (::)

JustPlainOldMe: Hahahaha, don't faint on me too much ;) Otherwise you're hair will remain permanently wet ;) Awww! I 'blow your mind'? Hahaha thanks ;) I was always planing to have Atheia's memories, but what really annoyed me was I didn't know WHEN to have them...THEN I got this awesome idea *gestures to last part of chapter* and I decided to have them in Jamie's room. I am seriously hoping this story isn't becoming too predictable...you'd tell me if it was...right?
NOOOO! Atheia doesn't hate you! She's just...very emotional right now...well, I mean, I would be to, if someone was screwing up my life like this...don't worry! I'm sure you'll get plenty of hugs and thank yous once her life is back in order ;)
Underdogs become non-underdogs? Hmmm...I'll have to think about that...*GASP!* I'm thinking?! WHAT IS THIS?! ;) Hahahaha, maybe I should just change my name to The Suspenseror...
*goes up to lady* "Hi miss, I'd like to have a legal name change."
*lady grabs form* "Well, okay. What would you like to change it to?"
"The Suspenseror."
*Lady looks at me like I'm retarded.*
Hahahaha ;) ^ I can actually imagine that happening!
Aren't all words made up though? ;) Ooooo! Ya didn't think of that, did ya? And I know about the kangaroo thing! You just sometimes see these memes of us on kangaroos and I'm just there thinking: "WTF?" Oh! Also! I LOVE your idea about the two visiting their graves! I didn't think about that! And it would be a cute, emotional thing...I'm crying just thinking about it :') I was worried for their mum too...I would think she would died of depression :'( The poor woman had to suffer so much...and her life was so HAPPY at the beginning *sobs* Thanks for the complements! :D:D:D Here's a bunch of cookies to celebrate YOUR awesomeness! (::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(: :)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)
Oh, and I'm just curious about your question about Memory Loss/Familiar Yet Foreign...did you mean to say Age is Just a Number? Because in Memory Loss/Familiar Yet Foreign the basic storyline is Jamie has amnesia and can't remember anything about the guardians or his life...*shhh!* don't tell anyone I told you that (even though its pretty obvious) ;) However, if you DID mean Age is Just a Number, YES the story is going to be about Jack's connection to his staff...wind will be mentioned here and there but the story will mainly focus on the importance of Jack's staff :) Hopefully I could help you with that!

MidnightWolf191: Hahahaha ;) That's okay, I understand about the iPhone thing ;) All I saw was 'This' and I was just staring at it for ages just like...O_o "This what?" Hahahaha ;) I'm sorry for the part of you being grounded...I know how much that sucks! It does count ;) Thanks for the sweet comments and for reviewing! Here's a cookie for you! :D (::)

That's it for me guys! Phew! *wipes brow* Hope you enjoyed the chapter and everything! ;) Remember! Please vote on the poll on my profile! :D
To anyone who is new to this story, please favourite, follow and leave a review for me! I'd really appreciate it!
Hopefully, chapter updates come soon and I only own what you don't recognise in the movie! :)

Cya everyone! :D

CrystalxRose