Sorry it's been so late. I started working and the internet has Barrucuda and I can't type up on inkpadnotepad like I usually do or else I would've been update. Again, thank you all for being patient and understanding as this summer has been crazy. Hopefully, this story will be done in another week or and if people want, I can write a sequel. Thank you!
The image of Kailani burned in Jack's mind as he and the Guardians fought against Pitch Black, pushing him to finish him once for and all.
To finish him for threatening the innocence of all the children all around the world.
To finish him for what he did to Kailani.
Jack pushed him as they fought, protecting each other's back, attacking Pitch as a unit.
"It's over, Pitch. There's no place to hide." Jack said threateningly, his face contorted in fierce determination and anger as he and the Guardians pushed Pitch into an alley with no escape.
Pitch looked around before laughing as he slipped down into the ground, disappearing. Jack looked around with his staff at the ready for any attack as they heard Pitch's laugh and his shadow on the building.
"Jack, look out!" Bunnymund yelled and Jack immediately turned, stunned to see Pitch holding a weapon, ready to aim for him until Bunnymund's boomerang hit Pitch's wrist but that didn't stop him.
Pitch raised his weapon once more but a whip of gold dust snagged both of wrists together, snapping him back as he yelled in surprise.
Jack saw the huge whirlpool of gold dust and smiled as Sandy sarcastically made a motion of "Nuh-uh-uh." before punching him, bringing him up high in the sky as Sandy held on to the gold dust rope.
"The Sandman," Jamie said along with his friends as they stopped to see him give a tipped hat salute to Jamie, to which he happily returned. The rope yanked and Sandy pulled back the rope, bringing Pitch slamming to the ground.
Everyone went to congratulate Sandy as he happily accepted the praise. Jack saw Kailani coming up the hill, dragging her baseball bat, scrapes on the back of her thighs and palm and Jack felt his insides squeeze at the thought of her being hurt.
He rushed to her side, stopping in front of her as she controlled her heavy breathing and brushed back her hair that had stuck her flaming cheeks. Jack really wanted to touch those cheeks, to feel their warmth as their lips joined together.
"Is it over?" She asked him and Jack nodded before she sighed heavily and rushed to hug him. He grunted with the impact but quickly hugged her back, holding her to him tightly as he breathed in her scent, a lavender type of smell that made him feel comforted and not alone.
He didn't want to let go of that scent. They held each other for who knows how long, but long enough to feel a hard stomp come near them and Jack instinctively pulled her closer to survey where the danger was but he laughed when he saw the golden dinosaur walking past them along with hundreds of other animals that were remnants of children's dreams.
She let go of him and gasped as she saw the dinosaur walk by, her green eyes wide delight and she laughed and rushed to the dinosaur, acting so much like a child that Jack couldn't help but smile and feel his insides warm as she ran under the dinosaur, touching its' legs, laughing and smiling as if she had no care in the world.
This was the happiest he had ever seen her be from the time he met her until now. He vowed to make sure that she had that smile on her face and that laughter again, no matter what it took, no matter how long. As long as she smiled and laughed with absolutely no fear of nightmares.
Because that's what he wanted for her.
He wanted her happy and safe.
He saw her giggle and rub her cheeks against the golden dolphins that swam around her as she dropped the baseball bat and squealed, twirling around and around as the dolphins circled her.
He turned to see Jamie looking at the golden fishes and Jack smiled, bending down to grab a snowball and smacked him right in the back.
Jamie turned, confused until Jack tossed the snowball in his hand gently in the air before catching it. Jamie laughed and grabbed his own snowball, throwing it at his friend with the glasses and before Jack knew it, everyone was in on the snowball fight.
"Your Center?"
"Well, It took a while." Jack began as he looked at the kids throwing snowballs and laughing cheerfully. but as his gaze landed on Kailani, who was still playing with the golden dolphins and butterflies which were darting in and out of her, causing her to giggle like a little girl.
He loved her like this. So carefree and filled with joy. He never wanted her to ever stop being like this.
So happy and carefree.
It was because of her that he had managed to figure out what his roll in this whole scenario was and who he wanted to be. Someone who was worthy of her. Someone who could protect her and Sighters just like her. He wanted this feeling of accomplishment to continue on, stopping the whirlpool of confusing and angry emotions that had grown inside of him, unable to understand why he was here, why no one could see him, why he felt useless and inadequate.
It was her who made him winter to be something better, to be someone better and more understanding. It was her that pushed him to work with the Guardians and help save the children and Sighters from losing their beliefs. She helped him find a purpose.
And he would forever be grateful for whatever being caused his Kailani to be born and be tossed into his path. He absolutely could not imagine his life without her in it.
He stared at her, at the girl who suffered so much but refused to give up hope, to give up on him, and he fell in love with her without even knowing.
"But I figured it out." He finally said to North before pulling his gaze away from her and towards North, who gave him a knickknack of a mini Jack Frost looking up at him from his palm.
Jack chuckled quietly as North laughed until he got hit by a snowball. North turned around to see tow of Jamie's friend and a elf behind him and the two kids were pointing towards the elf.
"Haha, you're all on naughty list. Bunny, think fast." North yelled as he tossed a snowball at him.
Before Jack knew it, he and everyone else were in on the snowball fight. It wasn't until Pitch's word sunk in that he managed to pay attention to what was going on and what he heard froze his body.
"You dare have fun in my presence?! I am the boogeyman and you will fear me. Especially her!
Pitch's evil voice rang out, the children unaware of the sudden danger. At first Jack thought Pitch was referring to Sophie but when he turned to look at her, Pitch wasn't near her.
He was aiming for Kailani and Jack felt his body freeze like a block of ice. He couldn't move. Everything was suddenly in slow motion. The flying snowball that was moving at a snail's pace in mid-air. Kailani bending down to pick up her bat, that achingly beautiful smile still on her face. Pitch flying towards her.
Jack found that everything was too slow, he was unable to get to her in time and he couldn't reach for her in time.
Time picked up speed again once Kailani grabbed hold of the bat, standing straight and looking towards him, the voices and laughter now loud and strong.
She saw his panicked face before that smile of hers dropped and a frown was placed instead.
Jack only had time to yell out a, "Run!" as he flew towards her.
She didn't understand and Jack pushed himself faster, but he was too far and Pitch was too close.
She only had time to gasp as Pitch wrapped his arms around her neck and waist, yanking her to him as she paled and struggled against him, dropping the bat in the process.
"JACK!" She screamed, trying to reach for him but Pitch was pulling her away from him and it was ripping Jack apart. He wanted to blast Pitch but he couldn't without risking hurting her.
Pitch laughed as he began to head towards the lake with Jack following him along with the Guardians. Pitch stopped in the middle, his black shadows covering her mouth as he held her uncomfortably tight as she struggled against the grip.
"Let her go, Pitch. You're outnumbered." Jack said threateningly, his body tight with tenseness and anger, looking at Kailani with what he hoped was reassurance.
"I don't think so, Jack. I wouldn't do that if I were you Bunnymund. One attack and I send her into a world of nightmares that she will never escape from." Pitch said, now holding the back of her hair, tilting her head back and the other arm restraining the rest of her body.
"Don't hurt her!" Jack yelled, yielding his staff like a weapon as he saw Kailani wince in pain and her horrified face drain of blood.
Pitch laughed again, smirking at Jack and that angered Jack more. He wanted to protect her and he couldn't even stop Pitch from grabbing her.
"You like this human girl, don't you, Jack. Not very good for a Guardian now is it?" Pitch mocked as he tightened his hold on her hair, causing her to whimper and a tear to fall.
Jack felt like he was being sliced up at his lack of ability to protect her and at her pain. He felt useless and angry, so, so angry that he had to tighten his hold on the staff to stop himself from going further.
"Let the girl go, Pitch. There's nothing you can do. You're too weak." North said as he held his swords.
"Weak, am I? Every second this girl fear hits me, I get stronger. She's filled to the brim with fear and I love it."
Jack saw red in his vision and he shot a blast at Pitch, yelling at him to let her go.
Pitch merely laughed and smiled cruelly at Jack.
"You destroyed everything I cared for. I'm just returning the favor." Pitch said, bowing mockingly and Jack wanted to strangle him with his bare, cold hands.
"Do you know what her fear is, Jack? Huh? Do you?" Pitch said as he caressed a struggling and whimpering Kailani on her cheek and the touch made Jack stomach roll.
"Here's a hint." Pitch said, turning to face him and the look on his face made Jack's body fill with horror and dread.
"She's scared of the water and do you know what else, Jack?" Pitch said, dark eyes mocking and filled with the satisfaction of a villain who was winning and Jack was powerless to stop him and save the girl he loved.
"She can't swim."
With those last words, Pitch snapped his finger and the spot where Pitch was holding Kailani suddenly melted and the shadow left her mouth. She screamed in terror and horror as Pitch let her go as she dropped from the air and straight into the melted hole where the icy cold water was waiting for her.
"NO!" Jack screeched in horror as he raced for her but he was too late.
Kailani sank into the water as the water swallowed her body and her screams and as Pitch laughed with joy at Jack's despair and popped out of existence, leaving Jack to wallow in his pain and the Guardians stunned into silence.
Thank you once again and please review!
