Alright guys, this is super late but I got it done! School just started and it is exhausting. Anyway, you guys voted no on the jackrabbit. It'll probably be in my next story, though, because it's my OTP and it's adorableJ. DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ROTG OR ITS CHARACTERS!
The moon was big and bright, making the snow sparkle like crystals. Everything seemed quiet and peaceful. This infuriated North. How could the world be so calm while his Jack was suffering!? He glared at the moon accusingly before exhaling loudly and letting his shoulders drop in a defeated fashion.
"Manny", he said. "Please help the poor boy. He is miserable." For a while, nothing happened, and North resolved to twiddling around with his swords. At the moment he just felt so useless! Standing here wasn't doing anything, and North was definitely the kind of man to stand up and do something.
Suddenly, a light began to shine in front of the swordsman. It glimmered in and out for a few seconds before becoming tall and thin, materializing into a young boy. He smiled at North and reached out for his hand, grasping it firmly.
"Nightlight!" North gasped. "Manny sent you!" The boy nodded. He began to run towards the reindeer stables, dragging North clumsily behind.
It turned out Jack couldn't keep down much of anything. Just a couple minutes after he ate he clutched his stomach and stumbled to the bathroom. He was so weak by that point Bunny had to carry him back to bed and dab his mouth with a tissue. A yeti brought in some small pieces of ice so the winter spirit could at least stay hydrated, and Aster had to practically feed those to him as the boy wavered between consciousness and delirium. His finger tips and throat began to turn a grayish black color. Jack had begun to change. This scared him and Bunny, and the Pooka cursed Pitch while he caressed Jack's temple in order to soothe him.
Jack was lying tiredly against Bunnymund when another wave of pain rattled through his body. The heat intensified, so much he was almost numb in the brain. His mouth opened as he tried to scream, but no noise came out.
"-CK! JA-! –n you hear- " But Jack couldn't hear him, his ears were ringing too loud. Shuddering and sobbing, the boy clutched handfuls of fur in a desperate plea for help.
"Jack!" Bunnymund gasped. He cradled the boy bridal style and grabbed a wet rag. Pressing it to the boy's forehead, he shushed the boy gently, but to no avail. Jack was trying to scream, but only a high-pitched whistle escaped his mouth.
"JACK! JACK!" The Pooka called. "Can you hear me? Fight it Jack, fight it… Shoot!" Bunny hopped up and shot out of the door. If he could get Jack to the snowdrifts, it would cool his fever and maybe numb some of his pain. They were almost to the huge double doors when a yell finally ripped out of Jack. Tears were streaming down his pinkish face as he began to gasp and wheeze.
"Sshh, calm down Jackie, we're almost there", Bunny shushed gently. He took no notice of North's absence once outside; he just laid the ill boy in the snow. Jack rolled over and retched again. Just when he was about to pass out face-down, a gentle voice greeted him and fuzzy arms surrounded him. Jack leaned into the touch and continued crying.
"B-bunny", he whimpered miserably. "It hurts. I- I can't-!"
"Hush now", The Pooka said. "You're gonna be just fine mate. You'll see." He couldn't have spoken at a worse time, though, because more of Jack's skin became tainted-looking; black shooting up in spirals and wrapping around the weak body. Jack cried out in pain before flopping back against Bunnymund, unconscious. A faint buzzing began to fill the air, alerting the Pooka Tooth and her fairies were back. A golden rocket came into view not far behind. 'Thank goodness', he thought. Now maybe they could make some progress.
Deep under the ground Pitch's raspy laugh filled the air. Things were going to become much harder for the guardians. Soon, Jack would be his. The army of Nightmares he prepared reared and bucked, hungry for fear.
"Let's go, my pets", Pitch ordered, and off they shot.