YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG I'VE WANTED TO GET TO THIS PART. ALL THE OTHER CHAPTERS WERE HARD TO RIGHT BECAUSE IT WAS BORING STUFF.
Well, here's the part when things get serious and the plot begins to thicken. Sorry for the late updates, and again I must say that there won't be many for the time being. But tonight motivation hit me and I just had to get it done. To those who read 'A Blackened Memory' you'll be sighing in aggravation and saying 'Finally' because Ducky/Genevieve and Pitch's story continues from this point on.
On to more confusing plots and too many characters!
Chapter 10: Darkness Beyond
Nothing could break the silence nor could any other quietness rival it. Never had the sun-cloaked, shining palace seemed so empty, so cold. And yet, here Jo stood, head staring slightly towards the ground, his body frozen as if he was standing in total darkness when in truth he was surrounded by quite inappropriate light.
How long had it been? Since those days he spent in fear of this man, the days he spent at Alecvander's side, the blue tint to his gaze so unfamiliar, his destiny and motives so vague. Back when nothing seemed worth his trouble, and everything was a trouble? It felt like a lifetime. And perhaps it was...he'd lost count since the day he became a Guardian.
He never suspected to see Pitch, not after the first few years. The man had simply vanished from the light, retreating to the dark depths were he dwelled for years.
The next few minutes passed in a haze; his head pounding as his vision blurred. Something large entered the palace, the trotting of heavy hooves opposing the menacing clatter of the nightmare's. It was only when he heard North's booming voice calling to him, and Sandman's gentle but firm hand on his shoulder that he jerked away from his frozen state.
His head turned to meet the worried yet relieved look upon Sandy's face, but Jo offered no smile in return. His face was stuck in the expression of worry as well. The pain in his head faded for the majority, and Jo looked over his shoulder in alarm when he heard Tooth's distressed voice.
"The fairies- the teeth- they took them, all of them!" Her colourful form sunk to kneel on the ground, and instantly Jo's legs tooth off in a leap, Sandy following him to her side. Jo's hands shook, quilt drenching him just as much as the chill of panic he'd felt. He reached out a hand towards her shoulder almost timidly.
"Tooth I...I'm s-sorry, I didn't..." To his dismay, she did not seem to hear. Then, a familiar flutter interrupted, and a small fairy darted into view. Jo sighed in relief.
Tooth's eyes brightened and she reached out towards her little self. "Oh thanks goodness! One of you is alright..."
"I have to say...this is all very, very exciting."
They were all on their feet in seconds sand for Tooth, and all of the Guardians stared around, weapons in hand, in search the source of the voice. Jo gripped his sand spear like a lifeline, his nails digging into his own skin.
"The Big Five...all in one place!"
Jo's eyes widened slightly, and he turned around slowly. Tooth rose steadily into the air, turning with him. "Wait a minute..."
Above, staring down with eerie calmness, was Pitch.
His dark, colourless form seemed to cloud the colour around him as he leaned over the edge of the platform above, watching them with a smile the only betrayal of his calm demeanour. "I'm a little star-struck."
His smile faded a little, eyes darkening in slight sarcasm. "Did you like my show on the globe, North? Got you all together...didn't I?"
North's eyes widened and he tightened his grip on his swords, grunting in frustration. Bunnymund snarled. Seeing this, the smile returned to Pitch's face as he began strolling along the platform above. Jo shivered. They'd been...lured here?
"Pitch!" All of the Guardians started a little at the voice, "You have got thirty seconds to return my fairies!"
With that, she raced up towards him with her nimble fists clenched. Jo reached out to try and stop her, but to no avail. "Tooth, wait!"
"Or what? You'll stick a quarter under my pillow?"
Pitch appeared on another platform to the side, and the five turned to face him in slight alarm. Jo didn't like the faint snarl that had appeared on Pitch's face. He seemed...angry. And he didn't like it.
"Why are you doing this?"
North had raised his sword to gesture up at the dark being, Jo glancing over his shoulder before looking back at Pitch. The fierce, dark look upon the man's face steadily grew more venomous.
"Maybe...I want what you have." His voice was shaking in surpassed anger, and he stepped forward, eyes boring down on them, "To be believed in."
There was a sound of rushing air, like a sliding gust, followed by Pitch appearing on the other side of the domain. He was lower down now, closer. Jo moved back just a little.
"Maybe I'm tired of hiding under beds!"
"Maybe that's where you belong." No-one had to look to see who the snide, sarcastic remark belonged to. Jo's lips curled a little despite the situation.
"Go suck an egg, rabbit."
Bunnymund's voice was lost in frozen enragement. Jo licked his lips uneasily as Pitch slid away from his position below them, were he'd looked far too much like a living shadow.
"Pitch..." Finally, he found his voice, though it felt cracked and uncertain, "Why take the teeth? What do have..."
His voice trailed off, as it seemed to be a pretty lame question. Jo wandered a little away from the group, just a few steps, looking around for the Nightmare King. There was a pause, then...
"Little Jo."
He spun around, as the voice was horribly close, only to find Pitch wasn't there. But, a shadow passed, as if he'd just strolled right behind him. Jo turned very slowly, eyes wide.
Pitch was right behind him, hands behind his back. He strode slowly to the side, and the boy turned to face him. A faint smirk appeared. "You haven't aged a day."
Jo stepped back a few steps, carefully. A frown made its way onto his pale features. "Neither have you." It was all he could really reply with.
Pitch glanced behind him at the Guardians, Sandman especially before looking back at him with a small, inward chuckle. "You act so tough when you have your friend there to protect you."
Then, he slid away into the shadows as quick as a wink. Again, the five were left glancing around in search for him, weapons still in hand.
It was then that Jo noticed they weren't the only ones here. On the floor below them, in the centre of the palace, was a thin figure not unlike himself. For a second, he thought he was looking at some kind of reflection, only to noticed a blue hoody and brown, frayed breeches.
Jo's brow furrowed as he hopped down from beside the others and onto the same floor as the other person, and as he drew closer he saw that it was another boy- older, taller with a more defined face and spiked hair, nearly the same shade as his own. He too walked barefoot like a sprite, and the fain tinge of frost covered him. Frost...
"Wait a minute...is that...Jack Frost?" As if voicing his thoughts, Pitch's voice rang out around them. "Since when are you all so chummy?"
A surprisingly hoarse voice belonging to Jack replied slowly. "We're not."
"Oh good."
Jack whirled around, and found that Pitch was leaning on the curving bar-like walls of the palace, as if they were all having a tea party. "A neutral party. Then, I'm going to ignore you..."
He stood up, a knowing smile spreading across his face as he moved to the side. "But you must be used to that by now."
Jo, having moved to the side of the other boy (who had yet to notice him at all) didn't miss the hurt expression above his frosty face. Jo's fist clenched.
But, Bunnymund acted before he did. His boomerangs in hand, the pooka raced down from above and pounded towards their enemy. "Pitch, you shadow-sneaking rat-bag, COME E'RE!"
Pitch had evaded the attack easily, appearing opposite from where he'd just been, back on the pedestal above them. A second later, Tooth snatched one of Bunnymund's boomerangs and raised towards the Nightmare King, he looked back at her with a completely unfazed smile.
A nightmare rose up like an unexpected wave of the sea, and Tooth halted her flight and drew back, mouth hanging open in alarm. As she hovered back to the group, Pitch calmed the beast and placed a bony hand on it neck as the monstrous horse stilled. He laughed to himself, turning around as he rubbed some of the black sand between his fingers.
His eyes met Jo's as he looked back at them. "Do you remember this, Joey? Not the flimsy stuff you're able to turn to your side anymore."
Jo glared back. "No, they burst into pieces just fine."
Pitch's next laugh seemed a lot more forced. "Indeed."
The horse jerked suddenly, huffing aggressively. Jo bit his lip. Pitch continued conversationally.
"Don't be nervous. It only riles them up more- they smell fear, you know."
Again, Bunnymund replied. "Fear? Of what- you? Ha!" He took back his boomerang from Tooth meaningfully, "No-one's been afraid of you since the dark ages!"
Pitch's smile faded, and the venom returned. He clenched his fist, the sand in his palm slithering around his fingers. "Then maybe...it is time for those times to return."
As if it had been waiting for him to finish, the palace around them seemed to dim like a cloud covering the sun. A cold breeze passed Jo's shoulders, and his jaw fell ajar as he saw the towers, floors and walls begin to rust, and vaguely begin to crumble.
Jack's voice rang out behind him. "What's happening?"
An unhidden, dark delight came to Pitch's face. "Oh haven't they told you, Jack? Its great being a guardian- but there's a catch. If enough kids stop believing, then everything your friends protect, wonder, dreams it all goes away..."
He clasped behind his hands, voice mockingly gentle as he gestured to them lightly, eyes still on the Winter sprite. "And little by little, so do they."
Jo clenched his fists again, stepping forward and scowling up at him, anger boiling past his unease.
"There will always be belief, Pitch. Always."
A soft, yet venomous look appeared on Pitch's face; an unnerving mockery of a mix. "Oh, Jo. There are many types of belief."
Jo frowned. "What...do you mean?"
"I mean...no Christmas, or Easter, or little fairies that come in the night." Pitch dropped his hands, voice growing more fierce with every syllable. Now, he addressed them all. "There will be nothing but fear...and darkness...and me."
"You can't just get rid of people!" Jo retorted, pointing up at the man with fury. Pitch sneered back.
"Oh, but I can, Jo. And I will." He stepped forward, eyes glowering down at the five as the grumbling around them steadily increased. The anger on his face was almost animal-like. His voice was, however, lower and dark.
"It's your turn...not to be believed in."
Spark.
Something bright and unmistakably purple zipped from the side and stuck the wall behind the Nightmare King, missing him by a mere inch. The tall man ducked, turning his head to see who the attacker was, only to have to evade another bolt.
Jo's mouth fell open, and incredulous gasps from the others erupted around him.
Pitch threw his long arms around the neck of the Nightmare beside him and they hurtled from the platform. With a quick glance over his should, he saw the Guardians made no hesitance in following him despite their equal surprise. But, he was a long way ahead of them already, swooping in and out of the roots of the towers, the bridges and lower walls.
He looked over his shoulder again as he dived down to evade their eyesight, exploding eggs bursting behind him yet missing miserably. He tugged on the reins harder and looked behind him again.
Another purple spark hit the wall beside him, and his head jerked again to look behind. Then, time itself seemed to have slowed. Despite the distance and the speed he was going, Pitch caught sight of some familiar blue and black feathers, and sharp little eyes met his.
His near identical pupils widened, his brow softened in rare, faint uncertainty and his voice spoke by itself in a quiet word.
"Genevieve..."
The Guardians halted as they reached the summit of the mountain, but their enemy had vanished into the shadows with the blink of an eye. Jo landed beside them a second later, looking about frantically- but not for Pitch. He was looking for Ducky or Hal.
"He's gone..." North murmured. Jo didn't respond, but kept searching. Jack wandered beside him, brow creased in confusion.
"What just...what the-" Both he and Jo looked up- and the other Guardians saw them do so and followed. Jo gasped.
Ducky was hovering high above, a venomous glare upon her young face, ten times that of Pitch's. It was frightening to see such an expression on the face of a child.
Tooth was the last to see her- but once she did, her hands flew to her mouth and she let out a horrified gasp, amethyst eyes wide in contrast to the narrowed yellow pupils that met hers a second later.
Her hands fell to her chest, voice a breath of alarm. "Its...you..."
Ducky didn't respond. Her eyes moved away from Tooth's, looking over all the apprehensive Guardians; the frowning Bunnymund, the bemused Sandy and North...until her gaze met Jo's.
The glare seemed to clear just a little, the poisons stare fading. Jo reached out a hand up towards her, only for her expression to harden again.
She swept her hand to the side, and a gust of black sand surrounded her before Jo could say a word. Seconds later, the sand dispersed. She was gone.
Jo lowered his hand in silence.
Ducky's not happy with Pitch at all.
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