A/N : Sorry about being late on the story update. For real though, I'm sorry. Anyways, I've just realized that I say "anyways" a lot. Ok so... Here it is... Hold on to your feels people.

Chapter 12

Numb. I felt completely, utterly numb.

There was only a void of feeling to accompany my thoughts in the blackness. I was once again alone. Alone. The word was completely redefined here, wherever "here" was. It was a neutral place, from what I could tell. Neither good or bad. It just existed. And I was in it. No family, no Jack. Just me. Not even that wretched Pitch. I would have thought that he would like it here, in the dark. Where I couldn't see my hand in front of my face. Well, not that I could even tell that my hand existed. Yep. Still numb. I felt as if someone had soaked me in novacaine. No feeling anywhere.

As soon as I completed that thought though, an annoying tingling sensation could be felt in my toes and in the tips of my fingers. It spread up my calves and through my forearms, slowly creeping to my heart. Was I having a heart attack? No. This can't be what that feels like. Heart attacks cause a great deal of pain. I calmed down a bit, relieved to be... Alive? Was I? The tingling stopped once my whole body had felt it. What happens next? Nothing?

My surroundings started to lighten, and turned dark gray. Everything gradually changed, and reached a light gray before turning a blinding white in what seemed an instant. I squeezed my eyes shut from the slight burn of the light, and cautiously opened them once it had darkened enough outside my eyelids.

I first felt the cold air, the same air of the forest. It was loaded with the fresh smells of pine and frost. Then, I saw the familiar landscape. The same place where Pitch had stabbed me with that horrible knife. I looked down at my stomach, and cautiously touched it. It felt fine. Where did the knife go? And where did I get these clothes? I was clothed in a white dress, flowy, loose fitting and simple. I had little white ballet style slippers on my feet. I felt different. Like... like I had something extra added to me. I stood cautiously from the snow.

Seemingly out of the frosty air itself, a voice spoke to me.

"_. I am the Man on the Moon."

Startled, I lifted my head towards the sky in confusion.

"Wait, what?"

I found the moon hanging in the sky, full, and very much talking to me.

"I have chosen you to carry out an important honor, _. You are to be a Guardian."

"A Guardian? Like Jack? But why?"

"You have demonstrated courage in the face of fear. This courage is rare in the world, and children need you to protect them. I have tranformed you into a Guardian Angel. You must find your center, and use it to defend the defenseless."

"But, how am I a Guardian Angel?"

The voice went silent. I was getting tired of this whole alone thing.

I had so many more questions though. What about Pitch? What's up with the knife? And these clothes? And where the heck is Jack? I looked at the snowy ground. And why am I not freezing? I mean, I can feel the cold, but it didn't make me shiver. How was any of this possible? I put one foot after the other, making a new trail through the trees. I stopped when something caught my eye. A bow and sheath of beautiful arrows rested propped up against a tree. I strided over, and picked them up. I glanced at the moon. Where they for me? Well, Guardian Angels must have something to guard with, right? They were both artfully crafted. The bow was made of a silvery metal, and felt cool in my warm hands. It was etched with swirls and patterns of leaves along the entire length. The sheath was also metal, and held about a dozen arrows made of the same metal as the bow. The feathers were pearly white on the end of each arrow. I drew one out if the sheath, and held it out in the moonlight. It shimmered in my hand, and I felt the arrow head with my finger gingerly. It was made of a shiny, steely metal. Not like the arrow shaft's lustrous silver. They were all beautiful though. The sheath was etched with leaf designs like the bow, and the strap was made of soft, dark brown leather. I slung the sheath over my shoulder onto my back, and felt it hit something.

I looked over my shoulder with curiosity. What the...?

I had wings! Huge, shimmery, white wings! I was in shock, but quickly pulled myself back into reality. I jumped up and down in place, realizing what all of this meant. I experimentally tried stretching one out, and it felt as if I had an extra pair of arms. It was easy, and felt just a tad unnatural. I flapped one, and then the other. Could I really fly? I lifted them both in unison, tilted my face to the moon's light, and brought them down with all of the force I could muster.

My feet hovered above the ground as my wings flapped behind me, propelling me forward. There was a tree ahead, and I quickly adjusted myself. I shot high into the air, out of the forest below. The wind rushed through my hair, and blew it straight back. I could feel the power driving my new wings to move. It felt wonderful. I flew higher, until I was closer to the moon than I had ever been. I stared at the white face above me, and felt the new purpose bestowed upon me. I had to find my center. I needed to. Then I could protect children from Pitch. And whatever else. I looked down at my bow, and felt the weight of the sheath full of arrows on my back. I could do it. I would be strong. For the ones who couldn't.

Then, a sharp thought pushed its way to the front of my mind.

Find Jack.

I closed my wings, and brought them tight to my body. I fell like a stone, heading straight for the forest. As I neared the trees, I extended my wings and let the air catch in the feathers. I slowed, and glided over the tree tops, looking down on the snow below. I felt the cold intensifying. I must be heading towards him. I could fell it.

I slowed my glide, and dropped to the ground once I came to a clearing. A familiar one. The one where I had practiced with Jack. The one with the wolf.

The one with Jack kneeling in the snow. Crying over something.

I could hear each shaky breath from across the snow. His back shook and trembled. I started to run towards him, wanting to see what was wrong. As I neared, his head shot up. He must have heard me coming. I stopped in my tracks. He turned to face me, and his jaw dropped in surprise. Tears soaked his face, and he looked miserable. Then he stood, and left his staff in the snow. We both stood, staring awkwardly at eachother for a couple moments.

"_? How are you here?"

"What do you mean, Jack?"

I came closer, and walked right up to him after pausing in the snow.

"_. I... But, you're..."

He seemed at a loss for words, and I glanced over his shoulder to see what he was crying about earlier. I met his eyes with concern.

"Jack, who died?"

His eyes looked full of so many emotions. There was definite guilt, and also some sorrow. There was a hint of longing, for the truth, and a pinch of hatred. For who though? Surely not me?

He stepped aside, revealing the small, wooden cross. On the grave were fresh, white flowers. And a handful of snowberries.

"You did, _. I can't believe you're really here, though. I thought... I thought that I had lost you forever."

I turned to him, forcing my eyes to break away from the eerie sight. Me?

"Are you saying that Pitch... He actually killed me?"

Jack only nodded before stepping closer to me. He pulled me into a hug, and held me tight. He had thought that I was gone from him, forever. I could feel him kiss me on top of my head. I couldn't imagine what he felt. Losing someone, then witnessing them come back. It had to be emotionally unnerving. I hugged him back, and we finally let go. He looked at me, and actually smiled.

"I'm so... Relieved that you're ok. That the Man on the Moon gave you a second chance. Like he did to me."

I stretched my wings, and Jack's smile became more prominent.

"What did he tell you?"

"That I'm to be a Guardian Angel."

"That's amazing! And I'm guessing that you got those from him too?"

I gestured to my bow, and smiled.

"Ya! I found them when I went looking for you."

His face took a more serious look.

"You didn't see Pitch, did you?"

"No. I didn't."

He looked at his feet, and then at my face.

"When I find him... I'll make him pay for what he did to you."

I only gave a slight nod. Not even a full one. I didn't know what to say or think.

He took my hand, and we flew away from the clearing. Away from so many emotions and my resting place. It left an odd impression on me. Like I was leaving my old, unhappy self, and starting something completely new with Jack. Something much better. The moon smiled down on us, certain that both of our futures were bright.