Chapter XVIII

Looking back in time. All the images they tell me where I'm going. They guide me. Look to the skies it's a new day, every day. Feeling so confused but I know your heart is true. Please trust in me— Jonathan Young, Crossing Fields (Cover)

The harsh wind felt like it was purposely trying to push Jack back. Back to where she was. It took everything he had not to fly back to her. But as Jack and the rest of the Guardians decided, it was for the best. They couldn't risk putting her in anymore danger, especially the power and strength Pitch had regained. And they certainly couldn't rely on the mysterious power she has developed.

Up ahead, in the far off distance Jack could see Sandy with his big golden sand cloud, whipping hordes of Nightmares out of existence. Jack flew faster, pushing her from his thoughts to focus on the battle that was about to commence.

"Jack! Where have you been?" North shouted from beside him.

Jack looked and see him and bunny his sleigh, flying through the sky, with bunny throwing his boomerangs around, hitting quite a few Nightmares at a time.

"Sorry. I took care of it…I'm here now." Jack replied.

"Is she safe?" Tooth then zoomed up next to Jack on his other side.

He nodded and gave a weak smile.

"Well isn't this a blast from the past." Pitch's voices echoed through the sky, as it reached the Guardians' ears.

They all looked around frantically to locate the source. But nothing but black and dark grey clouds fill atmosphere around them.

"Show yourself!" Bunny yelled.

Then there was a sigh and a gust of black clouds hit Bunny, knocking him over the sleigh railings.

Tooth gasped and increased her flight speed to reach Bunny who was falling.

"What an annoying nuisance." Pitch grumbled. "Now…wait…hang on, there's seems to be someone missing."

North, Jack and Sandman looked at each other in a panic.

"Where's the girl?"

"None of your business!" Jack snapped.

"Oh-ho, it very well is my business, for you see my plan can't be completed until I have her gone." The way Pitch said it, made chills run up Jack's spine.

Tooth soon then returned, unsteadily flying while Bunny cling to dear life until getting back into North's sleigh.

"What is your plan?" North roared, with his thick Russian drawl.

Pitch laughed deeply then sighed again. He emerged from behind a grey cloud, with black sand that created a pathway for him to walk on beneath him. "Enough talking." Pitch lifted his hand and snapped his fingers.

I charged every door with chairs and table legs I broke off, and threw everything I could that would shatter the windows, but Jack's ice was so strong that everything I used was did nothing. Huffing and puffing, retrieving the breath I lost due to the energy I spent trying to find a way out and crying, I was out of options, I had no plan of escape this time. Grabbing the last book on the book shelf, I prepared to throw for one last time, but slowly let it slip through my fingers and hit the floor by my feet. Stacks of papers that were tucked away between the covers of the book scattered. I sighed and kneeled down, picking up one sheet one by one. Gripping one of the papers in my hands I realize that it was my old drawings of night skies and constellations. Somehow I was mesmerized by the drawing, until the crayoned colored stars in the scribbled blue night sky twinkled.

There was a child's whisper as it glowed. Star light...star bright…first star I see tonight…I wish…" The voice faded along with the picture's glow.

Then as if someone took a photo of me there was a flash of light.

I saw myself looking in the mirror, my eyes sparkling, and hair longer and waved, skin glowing, I'm wearing a high-low sparkly gold dress. Even though I look a bit different, I know body and soul that it's me. A soft smile appears on my face as my hand lifts up in front of my face and twinkling dots form creating something that I know fully well.

"What the—" I gasped, snapping back into reality watching as the drawing falls to the floor.

Cautiously crawling over to it, I examine the drawing again, this time the drawing did nothing and I couldn't help but laugh to myself. Just then, in my peripherals a shining light appears and I turn to see that the stars in the rest of my drawings had begun to glow. And more whispers occurred all at the same time.

"I wish…"

"Star light, star bright…"

"First star I see tonight….

"I wish…"

Then, another flash.

I'm back in that sparkling white and gold room, without a ceiling, it was open to the night sky with twinkling stars. This time, I could see Manny visible and full in the sky. I lifted my hand once again, to try and reach for him. Then I could hear his voice, it was calm, but he was warning me. I knew what he was talking about. Pitch would arrive soon with his darkness to try and take over. Manny couldn't do anything for it was time for him to disappear for a little while, and that we would meet again in another life. I felt prepared, I knew I couldn't completely destroy Pitch but I could at least try to slow him down enough for Manny to commence his plan to summon a group of magical beings that could protect the children. Protect the world.

But if Manny disappeared now it would leave him vulnerable for Pitch to attack him, especially when I knew I would be gone as well. So I had my own plan.

The battle between me and Pitch happened once again. The Nightmares surround me, and I used every ounce of my power of light to chase them away. I could feel myself become weightless, as my whole body radiated in a bright light, as I started to shatter into little orbs that floated to the sky. It as a sacrifice. One that would for now save the children, the world and Manny. So I gave my power to Manny, for it would not be time yet for him to disappear until I have been reborn, until I remembered who I was.

"I'm a Guardian…" I say to myself when I find my reflection in the ice covered window.

Through the thick grey mist that was the cause of Jack's ice powers and Pitch's dark sand, the Guardians take a moment to regain some energy before attacking once again.

Pitch, with his composure, stood in the distance watching the Guardians fight against his nightmares and Shadow Guardians. He lowly laughed before he yelled over to the guardians. "You should give up now!"

"Never!" North aimed his sword at him then began to charge, clashing swords with his shadow self.

Tooth zooms through the air, dodging the enemies and heading straight for Pitch with a might battle cry, but is tackled by a nightmare.

Sandy with his magical sand that is turning into weapon after weapon to fend off the nightmares with Bunny at his side doing the same thing.

Just when the Guardians thought they could win, Pitch throws something new and much stronger their way.

Soon all of the Guardians are up against their shadow selves, using the same moves, the same attacks, of to which does nothing against their foes.

"This isn't working!" Tooth says breathlessly.

Bunny chucked his boomerang. "Got any ideas?"

Sandy shrugged before thrashing his whip.

"She was right…" Jack mumbled, feeling the urge to give up.

"We have to keep fighting!" North yelled. "Remember, the children believe in us, we fight for them, we protect them."

The Guardians nod in agreement, but alas their fight came to an end when the Shadow Guardians overpowered them, capturing them and bringing them forth to Pitch Black who gives a slow applause. "Oh bravo! How the man in the moon would be so proud…" He gestured his hand to the blackened sky. "That's right…he can't anymore."

The Guardians struggle to break free and to fight once again but the power of the Shadows and nightmares kept them in their place as Pitch continued.

"This is just wonderful, the Guardians at my feet, all that's left is to find the girl and—"

Jack growled in anger. "You won't find her. She's gone. Away from here and away from you."

Pitch smirked. "Well…we'll just see about that, won't we?" He slowly paces around the guardians. "Now who should I start with?" Pitch wagged his finger and gently presses that finger to his lip as he thought. Then his eyes land on Jack and with a twirl of his hand, Pitch creates a jagged dagger, pointing it at Jack.

Jack took a deep breath before closing his eyes and lowering his head.

"Jack no!" North gruffly said as trying to move, but Shadow North aggressively put his hands on North's shoulders, keeping him down.

The rest of the Guardians did the same, but was also held in place by their Shadow selves.

Pitch lifted the dagger that slowly grew into a sword. "I guess I should have asked if you had any last words…oh well." He brought the sword down.

"HEY!" A scream from across the distance brought Pitch to a halt, as the sword just stopped a hairline away from Jack's head.

Pitch looked up, as everyone turned to look over their shoulder. Standing there, out of breath, eyes filled with determination, a menacing glare, hands clenched into fists. Her cheeks burned a bright pink, her hair danced in the icy wind, her clothes disheveled.

Then when she notices the Guardians a warm smile spread across her face. "Sorry, I'm late."