When Past and Present Collide 2
Is anyone else having issues with ? My last post didn't pop up in my email as it usually does same with several reviews for other stories. Odd.
This wasn't good. It was rare to feel so much fear, panic and pain…well at least from the usually calm and collected Nicholas St. North, and especially on Christmas Eve of all nights. No, this was nearly over powering and Pitch Black was nearly knocked off his feet by the sheer power of it. The Nightmares reared as it passed over them and before Pitch could rein in his dark minions they were on the run, passing through the shadows to locate the fear's owner and source. Not giving the cause of the fear a second thought, Pitch took after them. If something was wrong with the Father of Christmas he had to reach him before his Fearlings and Shadows Men. They would feast on it and may cause more damage with the Nightmares guarded over them. Such fear was more than enough to make the dark creatures go wild. Slipping into the shadows he transported himself to the source of the fear.
Surprise filled him when he came upon the red sleigh buried half in snow and the wandering reindeer nearby. They weren't bothered by the Nightmares or Fearlings, not even the Shadow Men. One raised its head as Pitch materialized but that was all the greeting he received. What on Earth were they doing alone? How had the sleigh crashed? Where was North? He looked around in confusion. There appeared to be at least one injured reindeer but he wasn't certain – he wasn't quite sure how many were on the team. But they could wait for now. That fear he sensed was only getting worse and the Fearlings were gathering around the sleigh will ill intent. He hurried forth and shooed them away.
"Go you mangy beasts, this one's not for you," he snarled as he pushed his way through the lot. He could hear Jack's voice over the radio on the sleigh calling out to North as well as raspy breathing. Looking in the sleigh he found North laying on the floorboards, his eyes glazed over and blindly reaching for the radio. "North?" he asked, shocked by the pain filling the usually jolly man's face.
The large Russian paused from reaching toward the dashboard then suddenly grasped Pitch's hand in his much larger one. "Pitch?" he murmured before his body went slack and he suddenly passed out.
The fear and panic suddenly left as North breathing slowed. Now it was Pitch panicking. What could possibly have happened to reduce North to this? The Nightmare King had felt this fear from human's before, usually those around the physical age of North, largely due to poor dietary habits and…oh wait…no, that wasn't possible was it? He slipped a hand under the large red coat and placed it over North's heart. Sure enough the Russian's heartbeat was irregular and faint. This wouldn't be a large problem if the Moon was visible, MiM most likely would have healed North's heart before such damage occurred but alas, thick snow clouds covered the sky and hid it. That left only one other option – he had to transport North back to Santoff Claussen. Oh the yetis would love that. He still wasn't the most welcomed spirit at the old fortress. But first…
He pressed the button to the radio, silencing Jack's urgent cries. "Jack…Jackson!" he snapped then waited for the boy to answer.
"Pitch?"
"Yes, North crashed just East of the Rockies. I need you to end the snowfall and gather the reindeer and return them and the sleigh to the pole," he ordered then shut off the machine before Jack could ask more questions. He turned back to the dying man at his feet. North's heartbeat was growing fainter and fainter. He needed to get him to help immediately. This teleportation would have to be precise. "Hold on, old friend," he said as he wrapped his shadows around both of them.
A moment later they reappeared at the infirmary in Santoff Claussen. The yeti medic jumped in shock and sudden fear at their unexpected appearance. Pitch paid him no mind as his shadows deposited North on a gurney and once more checked his heartbeat. There was no improvement. If anything it was getting worse.
"Open the skylight," he ordered the medic. With luck Jack had done as he was told and the clouds would have broken up to reveal the Moon. He never felt so happy to see the silvery glow of MiM. It shone down on North. The medic rushed over to his employer and began fusing over him but North didn't stir. "Has he had trouble with his heart before?" Pitch asked with growing concern. He and North weren't really friends but since becoming a Guardian Pitch found himself developing a fondness for the other five. Every day more and more of his former self was coming back and while he was still the Nightmare King he was also the Guardian of Courage and felt very protective of his former enemies. It had to be his past persona pushing through him. Or maybe it was Jack rubbing off on him.
The medic shook his head and grumbled that North had never had a heart condition or any known illness. His furry face suddenly went blank as he checked North's pulse. Before Pitch could say another word the medic was yelling and wheeling North directly under MiM's rays. Other yetis rushed into the room and there was chaos all around. Pitch was ignored, not one of them acknowledging his presence as they rushed to help their lifelong friend.
A brief flash of rage filled the boogeyman at being dismissed so easily but he swallowed it down. North needed them and MiM. Nonetheless he headed for the Globe Room. The other Guardians needed to be informed. Perhaps with their combined powers they could save their friend. Still, it brought back old hurts to be forgotten so quickly. He activated the borealis and signaled the others. If North could not be saved at least the others will have a chance to say good-bye.