9. A Light in the Dark
Note: Sorry for the lack of updates. Busy week. Just giving a brief taste of Creeper!Pitch.
Pitch watched the winter spirit, easily seeing the similarities. He had told the truth when he'd attempted to recruit the boy, but only because his ideal partner was…disinclined to leave his limbs attached should they meet again. Really, it was amazing that the Guardians' blasted master had managed to save Overland considering how out of his skill set reanimation was. And giving him the winter chill? The Nightmare King shook his head, amused despite the seriousness of the situation. It was a bold move to steal from Mother Nature.
1459 AD
Germany
Pitch's Castle (pre-Lair)
A young red-haired girl sat with her back to the wall, shivering alone in the darkness. It was a beautiful room, lavish to the extreme, with gilding, and murals, and silks and furs. It was a room fit for a princess, if one could ignore the obvious issues, like the lack of doors, windows, or light.
The redhead rubbed her hands together, sending out a couple small sparks. She couldn't remember how long she'd been here. He liked it that way; maybe a week here, a month in the dungeons, then back here for a few weeks. Never staying in one place long enough to feel comfortable, not that she really cared. A cage was a cage. He could give her anything and she wouldn't feel gratitude. He could take everything and she wouldn't feel the loss.
Lady Midday's inner fire was beginning to dwindle, but she stayed resolute. Loyalty and perseverance were the traits she prized above all others. She would not give in.
Lounging on an obsidian throne, Pitch watched the girl curled up in the darkness. He hadn't expected her to last this long, but her resistance only made her a more worthy prize. Gold eyes narrowed as he sensed her fighting his magic.
The girl was powerful, intelligent, beautiful and loyal. With her at his side, he would have the world on its knees, Mother Nature and MiM lost to the shadows. Smiling, he sent out a stream of magic, pushing the child into restless sleep.
1477 AD
The once glorious castle lay in ruins, black stone melting away as a small figure strode through the debris, eyes set on her prize. Nobody would recognize her as the noble summer spirit, no, they would see her as what she was: an angel of vengeance.
Pitch felt his heart stop as he looked at Lady Midday. He hadn't expected this, hadn't known! Arm shooting out, he sent a blast of dark magic forward. She didn't even blink as it connected, burning away on impact.
It would be the last time the two would meet, as Pitch's empire was lost to blood red flames. She would take everything, leaving him easy prey to the Man in the Moon's spirits. For many centuries after, the dethroned King would hide away, in shadows and under beds, dreading the day spring gave way to summer. Every year, he could feel her searching for him, determined to finish the job.
Waking from his memories, Pitch shivered in fear…and excitement. Oh yes, he'd feared her, hated her, fanaticized her brutal execution at his hands, but the fact remained that he wouldn't trade Lady Midday for a hundred Jack Frosts. She was his, and had been since their fateful encounter many years ago. Pitch schooled his features as the boy turned to look at him.
The hunt was on.