Chapter 21 A Battle Amidst a War

Elsa's POV

"So, Elsa." Pitch's voice was scornful. As usual. "How does it feel to be in the presence of the real Snow Queen?"

"Normal? I've been the Snow Queen for over three hundred years after all." I gave Pitch a friendly smile.

"No, Ice Shard, he means me," the woman in white corrected.

"And you are…?" I nearly laughed; this was fun.

She looked like she was nearing the end of her patience. "I am Illana, the Snow Queen."

I pretended to think. "The Nightmare King and the Snow Queen. Hmm, weird pair, but now I know how Isa and James are here."

Isa flew at me, anger in her gaze. Instead of stepping to the side, I raised both hands and pelted her with snowballs. Confused, she lost control of her flight and plummeted to the ground. Feeling considerate, I allowed a pile snow to cushion her fall.

Wow. I spoke to her through my thoughts. That was pathetic. Is that seriously your whole plan? Just rush at your opponent and hope that they surrender because you took the first step? If so, then prepare to lose.

Isa stood and brushed snow from her dress. "Oh, yeah, that was totally the plan. Thank you for allowing me to tell you the entirety of it." While she spoke, her dress changed to replicas of Jack's garments, only black.

I did the same, but mine were white. I sensed the rest of the Light Army branch off and begin to fight their own opponents. I was glad to see that Jack was fighting James close to me.

I inched over to him. "Jack, I need to get to Pitch. Selena did say only I can defeat him."

Jack nodded, dodging an attack from James. "You're right. Let's begin to make our way over there."

I raised an eyebrow. "Our?"

"I'm not letting you go by yourself, Snowflake. I can't lose you again."

I smiled, feeling love surge through me. I aimed my hands at Isa and an ice cage formed around her. Her face paled as she dropped out of the sky. Jack laughed as he did the same to James.

We began to make our way to Pitch, helping slightly with others as we went. As we kept our heads on a swivel, I noticed the Star Warriors losing their battle against Pitch's Nightmares. Jack's attention was on North, Tooth, Bunny, and Sandy as they gave a nod before rushing to help.

"Would you like some assistance, General Jacin?" I offered.

"That would be most appreciated, Your Majesty," he responded.

Although I hadn't been Arendelle's queen in over three hundred years, I didn't correct him.

Instead, I created giant creatures made of snow and ice. I ordered them to destroy the Nightmares, and they obeyed. Focusing on the battle, I realized something. For every Nightmare the Star Warriors destroyed, two more appeared in its place. I exchanged a glance with Jacin.

"Captains!" Jacin called. "The Nightmares are like the legendary Hydra! We must strike the heart!"

My brain clicked as it fit the pieces together. Pitch was the heart of this 'Hydra' and only I could defeat him.

Jack's POV

I was helping the four main Guardians fight against Illana. It was going better now that I was helping. She was weakening, and finally disappeared in a puff of snowflakes.

We grinned at one another, when suddenly a hand wrapped around my throat. "You are coming with me, Frost," an extremely familiar voice growled.

James!

Elsa's POV

I put on a brave face and stalked towards Pitch. Selena saw me coming, and stepped to the side, her face grave.

Pitch had his back to me and appeared to be throwing darts at a target. "What do you think, Elsa?" he asked. "How are my targeting skills?"

I went to see the target and my heart leaped into my throat. There was the target, already with several darts around the rim, clearly missing the center. Stretched out on the target, with thankfully no darts imbedded in him, was Jack. He brightened a little as he spotted me.

"You know," Jack addressed Pitch. "I'm pretty sure being tied up to a dart board and being the target isn't on the job description of the Guardian of Fun."

Pitch grinned. "You're right, it's probably not. But it will be unless Elsa says something."

Cold hands gripped my heart. "What do you mean?"

Pitch turned to me, holding up the dart. "You see this dart? It will make an implant in your boyfriend's heart unless you agree to come with me."

"Come with you?" I echoed. "I could never do that! I'm a Guardian now, not some weak queen you can threaten."

"As you wish." Pitch raised the dart.

"Wait!" Pitch looked to me again. "Don't hurt him. Kill me instead."

"NO!" Jack cried.

Pitch laughed. "Why would I want to kill you? You're weak, and you care too much about everything. It would be better for you to see that you could've saved Jack, rather than be a martyr."

My left hand had been slowly going behind my back, and now with it hidden, I was able to make a sword of ice. Now I brought it out quickly and swung at Pitch, who ducked.

He chuckled cruelly. "Do you think you can kill me, Snow Queen?"

"No, but I can weaken you," I responded.

Something flickered in Pitch's eyes, but was gone before I could determine what it was. He drew his own sword, and I blocked a slash. The battle had stopped around us, leaving just the sound of mine and Pitch's swords. There were blue and black sparks splashing off our blades as they clashed.

He seemed to be playing with me as he parried and thrusted. I growled in anger, and tried to fight him faster, but he simply swung to meet every swing of mine. I knew I would have to do something drastic, or I would lose my strength; I had to get closer to Pitch.

I quickly made an ice dagger, and, knowing full-well what would happen, practically leaped against Pitch, driving my new blade through his heart. But mine was not the only blade to strike home, for Pitch's sword was now pierced through my abdomen. The blade of pure love I had made did not kill Pitch, but it had indeed weakened him to the point where he had to vanish into the shadows, with James and Isa following.

The sword made of black sand disintegrated, falling inside the cut, and crawling over my insides toward my heart and lungs.

With Pitch gone and weakened, Jack was able to untie himself from the black ropes that bound him to the large dart board. "Elsa, that was so stupid! Why would you do a thing like that?" Tears began to spill down his face. "Hurry, Sandy! Come help! Someone do something!"

From what I could see from my collapsed form on the ground, Sandy just shook his head sadly. There was nothing he could do.

Third Person

Elsa gave Jack a small smile. "I've told you before, Frost," she teased weakly. "I can take care of myself. I suppose I saved you once. Don't make me save you again." She let out her breath and went still.

"No," Jack whispered. Elsa's body began to turn into snowflakes and drift away in a light breeze. "No!"

"I'm sorry, Jack," Selena murmured.

She reached out to put a hand on his shoulder, but he moved away jerkily.

"Don't," he muttered. "Not now."

He flew away, leaving the Guardians and allies to make prisoners of whoever was left of the Dark Army after Pitch's family and the Nightmares had disappeared. The battle was won, but to Jack, they had lost.

Yay, sadness? Don't worry, that's not the end, and I'm sorry about the failed battle scenes BP. I'm not very good at writing those. Let me know what you thought, peeps! I value your input!