Chapter 6

(Ivy's P.O.V.)

Fighting Lessons

"What are you doing?" Lauren mumbled as she opened one eye right as I was walking out of the door. I tried. I really did try to sneak out of the room without Lauren waking up. But alas! She is the lightest sleeper that has ever existed! Sandy, you really need to get better at your job...

"I'm... I'm going for an early run." I lied. Con-vincible enough I guess. Right?

"Ew. Have fun..." Lauren grumbled as she turned back around and dozed off again.

I dashed off as quick as I could. Too bad I didn't have a day off, it is so pretty! The sun is warm, it's not gross and rainy. Ugh, curse this Neo! Whatever, I guess it wouldn't hurt to know how to fight. So I hurried into Pitch's class where I found him playing with a nightmare.

"Having fun?" I asked with smirk as I walked up to him. The nightmare disintegrated and Pitch turned to me.

"Sleep well?" Pitch asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yep!" I lied. I swear, I haven't had a good night's rest in almost a month.

"You have bags under your eyes, Ivy. Learn to lie better." Pitch pointed out. Oops... Pitch let out a slight laugh. "Are you ready?"

"Sure... So how is this going to work?" I asked rather confused. "Like, will you all teach me together or will it just be one at a time?"

"Good question. Let's go find out." Pitch replied as he put his hand on my shoulder and lightly gripped it. I quickly wrapped my arms around him right as the ground began to shift underneath my feet, hopefully this time I wouldn't trip.

I felt my surroundings change, and I held on tight. We suddenly came to a halt in a large open field. Trees surrounded the sides like a barrier, and I could see mountains in the distance. The others where in the middle laughing at some joke with freshly sharpened and polished weapons in there hands. Jack just had his staff though, and Sandy didn't seem to need a weapon either.

"You can let go now." Pitch acknowledged as he took his hand off my shoulder.

"Oh, oops. Sorry." I apologized as I tried to hide a blush. I released him and I hesitantly walked out to meet the others. pitch followed close behind with his hands clasped behind his back.

"Ah! Ivy, are you ready for training?" I heard North call. I nodded even though I would rather still be in bed. "Good! First lesson begins now."

"Good luck." I heard Pitch whisper behind me.

"Your first lesson will be mainly administered by Pitch, Jack, and Sandy." Bunnymund began. "You clearly have a power of some type, like we all do. So do the others at the Academy. They just haven't been taught how to use them yet. Today, however, you will be taught how to use yours."

I openly laughed aloud at this. "Me? Have powers? Ha! Oh man that is hilarious!" I laughed. No one else laughed... "Your serious?"

"Yes, you just have to learn how to use them." Bunnymund explained.

"How do I do that?" I asked.

"That's where we come in!" Jack announced as he lightly flitted over to me. Sandy flowed right beside him and gave me a big smile. "Alright! Are you ready to begin?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." I shrugged. I was not ready for this, how do they even know I have a power? What if I can't summon it? Ugh, someone save me from this!

"Alright, I want you to look deep inside of you. Try and feel the power that surges inside you!" Jack began. "Let it flow through you arms and hands. Just let it go!"

I tried to look inside myself. But there was just nothing to be found. No unusual senses, no awesome powers. Just me. A little pint up anger, and some tired feelings. But other than that... I am just me.

"Do you feel it?" Jack asked with an excited smile.

"Nope." I shook my head. Jacks smile faded a bit. But Sandy waved his arms and hopped up and down. He held a finger up signaling for me to pay attention. He brought his hands together and slowly lowered them. Dream sand began to flow out of his hands and slowly swirled up into the air.

I got the notion. Channel my energy and let it flow through out my body. Easier said than done though. So I tried to channel all my energy into my core and let it spread through out me. I could feel all my energy move through me, but when I tried to let it go like Jack said, nothing happened. Now I was becoming a bit irritated.

"If I remember correctly, our dear Jack here discovered his power while being physically attacked. Maybe the same will work for Ivy?" Pitch commented.

"Are you suggesting we attack Ivy?" Jack demanded, looking rather defensive now.

"Yes, but not to the point where we hurt her Jack. I am not as heartless as I would like you to think, believe it or not. Ivy is the last person I would consider hurting. You on the other hand, well.." Pitch explained with a slight smirk. Jack mumbled something under his breath and turned to me.

"Well... That's up to you Ivy. Do you want to try that?" Jack asked. The others shared worried glances, but it seemed I was the main component here.

I shrugged. "If you think it will help me discover my powers, then I'm up for it." Hopefully I don't get seriously mauled during this. "Whatever it takes to keep my butt from being killed."

North chuckled a bit, but everyone looked rather worried at Pitch's idea. I trusted Pitch well enough as a teacher and... a friend in a way. I highly doubt he would intentionally hurt me... then again it is said that he has killed children before...

Pitch forged a scythe in his hand, and Sandy formed his whips as usual. North tossed me a sword, and I got into a fighting stance. Toothina had her swords, Jack with his staff, and Bunnymund had his egg staff that he always carried around.

"When your ready." Pitch smirked. I nodded for him to go, and he swung his scythe.

I barley blocked it, Pitch is a lot stronger than he looks. He swung it again, and this time I had to doge it. Sandy cracked his whip, and North began to attack. I ducked under Sandy's whips, and blocked North like he had taught me. I attacked this time, but Jack blocked my attack with his staff. Frost raced up my sword, making it shimmer in the light.

"Let's see what North has really been teaching you lately!" Pitch grinned as he switched his scythe to a sword to match mine. Oh no...

Pitch came at me with a skill I had never seen before. He swung at me, hitting my sword on purpose and making mine reflect off. I didn't fight the reflection, but used it like North taught me. I let the sword fall a little, but I swung it back around and meet blades with Pitch. I pushed him back, and swung again. Pitch blocked, and we were in a full on battle.

"Not bad Ivy. But you will have to get better than that!" Pitch called as he formed another sword in his hand. I could feel my body tense, I couldn't beat this. I can't. North never trained us for two swords yet.

It was all like a beautiful yet deadly dance. Pitch spun around and with his two swords, locked mine in a hold. I twisted it my sword out of his hold with difficulty, and knocked his legs out from under his feet. Pitch went crashing to the ground, but with one of his hands he propelled himself back up with ease. "You never said it had to be fair!" I smirked as I took the chance to attack him.

"Your right." Pitch grunted as he blocked my attack. But then, I felt something twist around my legs. It spread quickly up my body and before I knew it I was engulfed in an odd blackness.

Fear raced through my mind. How do I get out of this... What even is this!? Eep! I could hear screams from what sounded like far off, but they faded quickly. Another scream... but this one sounded familiar. It was Ashley! No! Why was she screaming? I heard the scream again in the most agonizing voice I had ever heard. It broke my heart to hear my sister like that. "Please! Leave her be!" I cried as I tried to break free of the black mess. "Leave my sister alone! Please!"

I felt like everything was lost. The black mold was to hard to break. It only squeezed me harder. "Ivy! Help me!" I heard a distant Ashley cry. No... that was it. I had to get out. I had to help Ashley. I struggled against the mold again... and this time a bright light began to shine. It spread across the mold and I struggled harder and harder, but I payed no mind. I had to get to Ashley I had to.

I heard a loud squealing sound come from the black mold as it began to break away and fly off. The black mold was in pain, it hates light! I made it brighter and brighter until... there was a loud crack. I fell out of the black mold and into a pair of cold hands. But... I couldn't hear Ashley anymore...

"Pitch you bastard! Your lucky you didn't kill her!" I heard Bunnymund scream. I looked up and saw Pitch looking down at me with... a proud smile? But why?

"Don't get your fur in a bunch rabbit. I never hurt her, see." Pitch hissed as he lightly raised me to my feet. I had to clutch on to Pitch to keep from falling. All the adrenaline was wearing off and the fear was enough to make my feet shake.

"Ivy! Are you okay?' Toothina asked as she flew up to me. Why were they all so worried?

"Yes, I'm fine. I promise... but. What just happened? There was a black mold and screams and... a bright light?" I began to muse as I went through it all again.

"The black molds, which was nightmare sand thank you, and the screams were all an allusion I created. The bright light my dear, was your power." Pitch explained as his proud smile returned. "You discovered how to use your powers."

So... that bright light was my power? Like the one I saw when the man Neo attacked me? Interesting enough I guess. I let go of Pitch as my legs stopped shaking and ran my fingers through my knotted hair. Whatever this power was it took a lot of energy out of me.

"So... Ashley is alright?" I asked as the question returned to my head.

"Your sister is perfectly fine. Remember, it was just an allusion." Pitch assured me as he folded his hands behind his back. Thank the moon it was just an allusion...

"Why don't we rest for a little! I do not think Ivy had breakfast yet. Let us go and eat!" North announced as he pulled out a tiny globe. Everyone nodded in agreement but Pitch, who slightly scowled.

"I think I will pass. I have work to be doing." Pitch remarked as he started to walk into a shadow. But I hurriedly clutched his hand and pulled him back.

"Oh come on Pitch, I think you got enough fear out of me to last you a couple hours don't you think? Just join us, please!" I begged him with as sweet of a smile as I could muster. Pitch rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Fine. But I will be travailing my own way." Pitch huffed as he grabbed onto my hand and pulled me into the shadows. I half screamed and laughed as we traveled through the dark voids of the shadows and abruptly came to the Guardians personal little dinning room where the yetis had already prepared breakfast.

Pitch kept me from falling on my face once more as I tumbled out of the shadows after him. I laughed as he kept me steady and he rolled his eyes. "You need to get better at that." Pitch commented as he went and sat down at one of the seats. I sat beside him and put my napkin in my lap.

"You'll have to teach me then I guess." I nudged him with my shoulder. There was a flash and all the Guardians came hopping out of North's little portal.

They all sat down and we began to dine on freshly cooked omelets, some odd sort of meat I had never seen before called Kolbasa, and fruit that I had also never seen before. Pitch barley ate a thing, but it was a nice breakfast. It made me feel ten times better after the fight. But I guess I will have to get used to being tired if I am going to get anywhere close to beating this Neo. Oh well, I will focus on that later. Right now only food was allowed into my mind.