So I know this chapter is WAY WAY overdue, but more will be coming. It's also around normal length but the next chapter will be longer. Thanks again for being so patient with me, and I maintain the promise that this story will be finished!
"It's finally happened. Soon the Guardians will know the truth, that the winter spirit they've adopted is still mine to torment."
An eerie chuckle echoed throughout the ominous corridors of the Nightmare King's fortress, accompanied by the tapping of slow footsteps.
"I really must commend myself for coming up with such an excellent idea. Those scars I left on the boy have worked beautifully so far. I'll have to experiment with them further. " Pitch said as a smirk found its way onto his face.
The Nightmare King continued to maneuver through his domain, not really having a destination in mind.
"If I had known giving up the remainder of my soul would have brought me such a swift victory I would have done it ages ago."
The master of fear stopped in his tracks, his robes swaying at the sudden halt. Ferocity suddenly began to build inside of him, bubbling up from the memories of being ignored and his power being referred to as 'just a bad dream.'
"What good has my soul done me anyway? I haven't had a purpose since the dark ages." He spat, anger and hate clear in his voice as finished speaking. His body shook with rage that seemed almost impossible to overcome. His fist gripped his black scepter with an unforgiving force; it was as if hate was taking him over all at once.
Then quick as lightning his demeanor changed, a sly smile appeared on his raven lips and his features softened. "But all of that is nothing more but the past now, soon the Guardians will all be dead, and I'll be able to throw the world into another dark age, one that will never end. Everyone will finally know and fear the Nightmare King."
Another drop of water hit the floor, and then another and another. Maybe he would of counted them if they weren't coming so quickly. The first two nights she didn't come, he was able to keep the tears at bay and tell himself that the next night would be the night.
But this was the third night that had passed. And still there was nothing! This was the third morning he had awoken to find no evidence of the Tooth Fairy or even a mini fairy. For the third time he had gone through the night barely able to sleep, whether it had been from the nightmares that continued to assail him, or the constant worries about Jack and the Guardians. He desperately kept wishing that the vibrant fairy that he had always adored would fly through his window and take him to Jack, that his plan would of worked.
Slowly he lifted his head again and let his eyes glance once more at the tooth that lay untouched on his mattress. Again he felt a pang of pain in his chest as tears streamed down his soft cheeks.
Since Tooth Fairy and her mini fairies hadn't shown up, Jamie couldn't help but fear the worst. 'What if Pitch beat them? What if they've been captured?' Another lump formed in Jamie's throat as his thoughts became even worse 'what if Pitch killed them?'
No, he couldn't think like that. They had to be all right, maybe they were still fighting and that's why nobody could come and collect his tooth. Even if this were so, Jamie still couldn't shake the dread that sat uncomfortably in his stomach.
'Now what?' Jamie thought with despair before he started to wipe the tears away on his pajamas.
After a few minutes of sulking, he couldn't stop himself from walking over to his desk, careful to avoid the mess on the floor that was always there. Jamie rubbed his already damp sleeve over his eyes one more time, sick of the tears being there. His hand moved down before finding the handle to one of the drawers there. Slowly he pulled it opened and retrieved the object he had stowed away inside for safekeeping. He held the object protectively in his hands before he returning to his bed. Once he was settled he carefully opened his palms and stared at the object intensely.
It was the missing piece to Jack's now infamous magical staff. This is what Jack needed, he knew that with ever fiber of his being. He had observed Jack plenty during their last year of friendship, and Jack's staff was almost like a fifth limb to the winter spirit. They were one with each other.
"What am I supposed to do now? I know I shouldn't give up. That's obvious…but…"
He flinched suddenly when a high-pitched voice interrupted his words, "send a letter!"
Brown eyes met brilliant green as Jamie found the source of the voice standing in his open doorway.
"Sophie what are you doing up this early in the morning? You should still be asleep!"
The small blond looked at the floor guiltily, knowing that what her brother said was true.
"I can't…. The boogeyman keeps scaring me!" she cried, fear clearly in her voice.
Instantly Jamie's frowned, knowing what his sister really meant, she was having nightmares, just like him.
He decided it would be best to cut her some slack, so he asked the question that had be nagging at him since she opened her mouth.
"What do you mean send a letter Soph?"
Knowing that her brother wasn't mad at her made Sophie's face light up.
"Santa Clause! Write him a letter. He'll get it!" She shouted excitedly.
Jamie's face suddenly lit up, it was true that he had already thought about sending a letter, but he had decided against it because he knew it would of taken a few days at least to get there.
There was a certain amount of doubt he had about a letter actually working, but how could he say no to Sophie. It was at least worth a shot.
"Why don't you help me write it Soph?" Jamie offered. So far Sophie had tried to help in any way she could, so he decided to let her help. He wouldn't be able to hide everything that was going on from her, she believed in the Guardians as well, so in a way she probably already sensed something bad was happening.
Sophie smiled widely at her brother's words, "okay! It'll be fun writing to Santa this early in the year!"
Without wasting any more time Jamie jumped off his bed and made his way over to her, there was something else he wanted to tell her.
"Sophie, if you have another nightmare tonight, come sneak into my bed okay." He said as he ruffled her messy yellow hair. She had snuck into their mother's room the past couple of nights but he could tell that his mother was already becoming overly concerned with his sister.
"Mkay!" She said, smiling again.
"Alright then, lets get to work. Okay Soph."
They needed to get that letter written and in the mailbox before school started, and Jamie could already see the first rays of sunshine peaking through his curtains.
The three Guardians watching over Tooth and Jack had finally all succumbed to the calling of sleep. They had managed to stay up a couple of days watching over their fallen comrades. It was on the third night that they had decided that it would be better to sleep so that they could keep up their strength, and so that their wounds could heal even faster.
After Sandy had made sure that there was plenty of dreamsand to keep Jack and Tooth at peace in their sleep, the three Guardians found their own places to sleep within the North Pole. They didn't really want to leave Jack and Tooth alone, but they knew that ultimately it would be better for everyone; they needed space to be comfortable.
Within the infirmary, everything was completely still; all that could be heard were two bodies breathing quietly, along with the shifting over dreamsand above their heads.
Blue light from the shield MIM had created illuminated through the large window at the end of the room, acting as a nightlight.
Baby Tooth was still nestled beside Jack's head. She too was sleeping peacefully, curled up on the pillow.
Moments of near silenced passed on as the night continued to slip by.
Everything seemed to be at peace until a small cough broke the calm; a moment passed before a harsher cough escaped into the air.
A groan of pain escaped pale lips as one of the bodies shifted in its bed. Fingers twitched slightly as the pain came and went.
Eyelids moved before flickering open, revealing the icy blue eyes underneath.