I bet M.N. and Eros didn't think that Pitch would show up the moment they left. But he did and now these new Guardians are being put up to the test and have to not only keep Summer safe but, they also have to ward off the boogieman. Can these newbs hack it?
Chapter Eight: The Funny Thing About Spring
[1st Person POV; Summer]
I stared ahead at the dimly lit form of Pitch, only able to clearly see his grin in the shadowy atmosphere. Then I watched as nightmares from all sides began to approach our small group. My friends all tightened their grips on their staffs and charged up the first attack they'd use.
For a moment it was all quiet and still. Then, in one great horde, the nightmares all rushed forward at the same time while each of us let out our own attacks. As the different offenses hit them the black horses let out wails of pain and a good amount of them retreated. The ones that weren't hit, though, kept going forward and neighed angrily, black sparks sprouting from their noses.
Autumn shot four Jack o' Beams, hitting five nightmares and causing them to turn tail. Hilaria was making flowers spout everywhere and grow to ridiculous lengths, their thorns digging into and exploding the black horses. I was sending out small waves of light over the ground while focusing on keeping the mini sun lit. And Adelia, well…what she was doing was amazing.
Flipping her staff up she cut through on of the nightmares, turning it to dust. Then she threw her hand forward, rays of light in the colors of the rainbows spreading from her fingers and piercing the black horses. As I watched her fight I realized something that both shocked me and made me feel just alittle happy. Adelia controls light, like me! I'm not the only one!
"So Summer, you think your friends can keep you safe? Let's see how well your weakest link does then!" Pitch shouted to me sinisterly while disappearing.
I only had a moment to realize he meant Hilaria when he showed up a few feet away from her. She turned to face him just a he launched a dark arrow at her. As time seemed to slow Autumn Adelia and I all tried to make it over to her, all of us shouting out her name in concern. We all thought she was done for, but, that wasn't what happened.
The dark arrow made of nightmare sand hit Hilaria but didn't even scratch her. Instead it warped into the shape of a nebula and then dissipated slowly into nothing. The three of us and Pitch all stared at the Spirit of Spring in utter shock and confusion. She repelled the hit like it was nothing! How was this even possible?
Hilaria took advantage off Pitch being discombobulated and ran at him, twenty thorn cover vines following her and launching ahead at the boogieman. Several of them lashed onto his arms, digging deep into his skin and making him cry out in pain. He quickly tore free of them and vanished into the shadows of the sphere.
All of us grouped back together in the center, Hilaria with her vines forming a protective cage around us and me still sending out light waves across the ground. Soon it was dead silent without even the sound of the black horses neighing in the darkness. We waited for the next attack, trying to her any noise that might give it away.
Just as another wave of nightmares came out of the shadows and prepared to charge five red and black arrows pierced through the wall of darkness and went through several of the enemies. Vines that were much stronger and didn't belong to Hilaria, bursted up around our group and slammed down forcefully on the black horses. It was then that we heard the others trying to break through the wall and shouting out to us.
"It seems your keepers are trying to interfere. I guess I'll have to end this quick." Pitch said bitterly from the darkness.
He then sent all of his nightmares forward in a useless attempt to reach us. I first questioned why he was doing this until I noticed a shadow pass over the mini sun I had made. Looking up I saw the one weak spot in our defense and Pitch's' plan; we were wide open up top and he knew this. The boogieman dropped down as I tried to raise my staff to attack. But I was too slow and his hand caught me by the throat, slamming me down to the ground.
As soon as we hit the sand another black sand wall surrounded him and I completely, cutting off all light. It was such a small confined space that I couldn't use my staff and felt it harshly ripped out of my hands and thrown out of the tiny area. Then, in the darkness, I felt Pitch wrap and arm around my neck tightly. He began choking me, cutting my lungs off from the much needed air about me.
[1st Person POV; Hilaria]
I turned around just in time to see Pitch drop down on Summer, grabbing him by the next and pulling him down. Then, before any of us could help him, another dome of black sand enveloped them and cut all of us off from our friend. It was only a moment later that we saw Summer's staff thrown out through the wall and land next to the vine barrier.
Angry and determined to help my friend that had helped me my whole life, I dropped my staff and went up to the smaller dome of nightmare sand. Without hesitating I put both my hands on it and focused all of my energy into repelling the wall. I was able to deflect Pitch's arrow so hopefully I'll be able to do the same for this.
As things grew more hectic I forced all thought out of my mind and closed my eyes. Soon all the noises around me dulled down and things became silent. Taking a deep breath I pushed hard on the wall, feeling it give way underneath my hands.
[3rd Person POV]
Pitch was grinning to himself as he felt the Spirit of Summers' struggles grow weak and almost slack. He had finally caught the one Guardian that would ruin his and his masters' plans for the world and its inhabitants. Well, he thought that until he saw a small thin pair of hands push through his wall. In horror he watched as the pale fingers grasped the edges of the barrier angrily and practically tear it open.
There, standing backlit in the new opening was the furious Spirit of Spring. She glared at the boogieman with eyes that were as gold as his had once been and hair just as dark as his. He watched as she stalked over to him and pulled back her closed fist. Before he could even blink her clenched hand flew forward and hit him square in the face, breaking his nose.
Pitch shouted out in surprised agony and released the practically unconscious Spirit of Summer so he could clutch his now bleeding nose. He ducked a kick and tried to grab the fallen spirit and run but was hit by another punch, this on hitting his back. Falling down he snaked out a hand in a final desperate attempt only to have the girls bare foot slam down on it, pinning it in place.
"Leave now before I really show you how angry I am." She threated through her teeth.
Reluctantly Pitch grimaced and sunk into the shadows. Within a minute of that the first barrier disappeared along with the nightmares and what was left of the second barrier. For now, the boogieman was gone.
Hilaria let her anger disappear as she crouched down next to her unconscious friend, looking him over and checking that he was breathing. He was, but barely, and his neck was a painful red fabric burn. She sat down and cradled his head in her lap, not really noticing the others running over in concern. No, she just calmly brushed the hair out of his face and wondered to herself if there was any place he was safe.
So, I guess Hilaria has officially become badass…and so has Adelia and Autumn…they're all pretty cool. Holy Mangos, I just finished chapter eight! Anyway, leave your comments; I do read them and appreciate them. Thanks!
