I feel like this is one of my weaker chapters. I don't know we'll see. Anyways, thanks again guys for all the support. I hope you enjoy this chapter even though I don't really care for it much. I'll update again as soon as I can. Please leave any feedback or ideas you might have for this story. I would love to see them!

Deep within the shadowy and ever-changing fortress North was being held prisoner. The black sand that once held the vulnerable winter spirit now restrained the mammoth of a man.

So far nothing had been done to him, he had just been left alone. It appeared Pitch wasn't as eager to harm him as he was with Jack.

Thick eyebrows were furrowed in concentration as he tried to play out scenarios of how to stop Pitch. He wouldn't and couldn't underestimate him again after what he'd done to the boy he'd quickly grown to think of as a surrogate son.

He knew what Pitch wanted, for the world's children to give up on believing in the Guardians, for them to grow up only believing in their fears. If he could accomplish that, the Guardians and their kingdoms would disappear, and the world would plunge into darkness; a darkness Pitch would rule over.

He also knew that in order to stop the Nightmare King he needed to escape. Unfortunately he wouldn't be able to do it on his own, the remaining Guardians were going to have to find a way to get him out of this fortress just as they had rescued Jack.

North had complete faith in them to find a way, for now he would just wait. He didn't regret exchanging himself for Jack's safety, the boy needed to be saved, he could only hope that they had found him in time. Worry for the boy continued to claw away at him, the images of his injuries haunting his thoughts.

How could he let himself forget what Pitch was capable of? How did he let the boy down so horribly?

North continued to let a multitude of thoughts crowd his mind. He was thankful that Pitch recoiled on the idea of having him as a fearling, he couldn't imagine attacking his friends, and not after all they'd been through together. It also gave him hope that when he was rescued, and he knew he would be, that he would have to strength they needed to help them overcome the Nightmare King once and for all.

North smiled to himself as he remembered that they still had a secret weapon. With a situation as dire as this they would have to summon the mightest of them all, Man in the Moon.

MiM was the one that granted the Guardians their powers and gifted them with immorality. If there was anyone who could both help the Guardians and stop Pitch, it was him.

The father of Christmas let another smile play upon his lips as he thought about how much hope there still was.

'Pitch doesn't know what's coming to him, but when it does, he's going to regret every thing he's done.'

"How is he Bunny?" Tooth questioned, a mask of worry etched upon her soft and colorful features.

Bunnymund had finally tracked them down after leaving Jack with Phil. They were standing in the main hall of the North Pole, the festive decorations and designs doing nothing to help their moods.

"Terrible, he's already had a nightmare since we've gotten him back. You should have seen him Tooth, he thrashed around in that bed like he was fighting for his life. The pain of his injuries didn't even wake him." Bunnymund said; his voice filled with melancholy.

Sandy immediately perked up, various sand images forming above his head. He created a scene of himself sitting by Jack's bed and sprinkling dream sandy over his distressed body. The body then stilled and rested peacefully as small dolphins dancing around his head.

Bunnymund smiled as it was as if Sandy had read his mind, "That's actually what I was going to ask you do to mate. He's gonna need you to watch over his dreams every night until we can get those nightmares to stop."

Tooth glanced at the floor before her pink irises narrowed at Bunnymund again.

"Did anything else happen Bunnymund? Was he alright when you woke him up?" Tooth asked, apprehension clearly in her voice. She wasn't really sure she wanted the answer.

A sigh sailed its way out of Bunnymund before his responded, "he broke down Tooth. I can't remember the last time I've seen someone cry so hard. And this is Jack we are talking about, that kid would rather be caught dead than let me see him cry."

Tooth and Sandy looked at the red-carpeted floor in silence. A few agonizingly quiet moments snaked by before Bunnymund decided to break it.

"Look guys, I'm not going to sugarcoat this. It's going to take all our efforts to get him back on his feet, and it's probably going to take a lot of time. But I know we can get him back to his old self if we try."

Sandy and Tooth both looked up and smiled in unison. If Bunnymund had hope then there was no reason they shouldn't have it as well.

"I'm gonna grab that pain medicine you were telling me to get." Tooth exclaimed as she flitted higher into the air before zooming off into one of the giant wooden hallways.

Sandy looked up and nodded at Bunnymund before he too took his leave, floating down towards the infirmary.

Bunnymund took a moment to himself. He looked up at the large clear windows at the end of the grand room, streams of moonlight passing through them with ease. His green eyes traveled higher until they rested upon the moon.

'MiM, please give us strength'

Jack continued to stare at the ceiling of the infirmary blankly. His eyes were half open and hazed over in thought as he counted the lines in the patterns sitting above him. It seemed that even the infirmary as brightly colored and designed with eloquence.

The only reason he was so focused on his surroundings was because he was trying desperately to distract himself from the pain of his recently treated wounds.

Pain shot through him with every breath, his cracked ribs and internal bruises making his insides prickle. His shoulder and back were still throbbing. Every cut and scrap burned.

All the while he was trying to keep thoughts of yellow eyes and ominous shadows vacant from his mind.

He really wished Tooth and Sandy would hurry up. All he wanted was to sleep without nightmares and escape the pain.

A small moan emanated from him as he shifted ever so slightly in his bed. He gritted his teeth as he waited for the pain to end, clutching at the white sheets tightly.

In a flash Phil was out of his seat, checking over him, running a hand through his hair again. Jack didn't say anything; he actually welcomed the soothing contact. As Phil continued to stroke his soft white hair Jack found himself starting to relax again. The pain became easier to ignore.

After a few more minutes the door to the infirmary swung open and Sandy's golden form floated in. Jack felt relief wash over him, as he knew he could finally sleep without the threat of horrible nightmares.

Finally, he could rest without fear consuming him.