All rights to Rise of the Guardians belongs to DreamWorks Animation. The OC's in this story belong to me. If you would like to borrow them, then please ask.
Thank you MySadDelight for drawing us an awesome picture of Jack and Crystal!
Everyone check her out and see the awesome picture. And just wait she says there are more to come!
Crystal sat there on the ground, staring at where her brother had just been, wishing she had somehow gotten him before he left. His face flashed through her mind of him smiling at her when she was small, and how kind he was to anyone and everyone. She knew he couldn't have changed; yet he was scared of himself enough that he didn't want her too close to him.
"Crystal," Manny said behind her, his hand laying itself on her shoulder.
Anger and red flashed through her mind as she smacked his hand away and glared at him with tears at the corners of her eyes. "Don't touch me!"
She stood up and pushed him away, tears spilling over, but her eyes narrowed harshly as she glared at him. He put his hands up defensively, trying to calm her anger down.
"Crystal, listen," He said gently.
"Manny, let her calm down." Pitch told him, grabbing Manny's upper arm.
Crystal turns her glare over to Pitch, making him flinch back from her gaze. "Calm down? You knew about this?" She shouted at him angrily. She turned back to Manny and balled her fists. "YOU DID THIS TO HIM! What the hell did you do to my brother?!"
"Listen, there's a reason for this." Manny said, trying to calm her down.
"A reason? How is any reason good enough for this?" She shouted at him, taking a step towards him, swiping her hand through the air gesturing to the situation that had just gone on. "You turned my brother into this….this….DARKNESS!"
"Just listen to him." Pitch begged stepping towards her.
She glared at him again, punching him in the jaw, making him fall back onto the ground. "YOU have no right in this conversation to tell me to listen. YOU were the one who took my life! YOU were the one who made me think it was my entire fault when my family was killed! AND YOU were the one who knew about my brother and didn't tell me a thing! SO DON'T YOU DARE TELL ME TO CALM DOWN OR LISTEN!"
"It wasn't suppose to turn out like this." Manny groaned loudly, rubbing his face with his hand.
"Turn out like WHAT?" She growled at him. "Turning my brother, who was kind to everyone and tried his best to make everyone happy, into this dark person?! He protected me and you turned him to something bad? You are not the person I thought you were!"
"Crystal would you just listen to my explanation?" He shouted at her, temper rising.
The Guardians held back, scared to get in the middle of the argument for fear they may be the new target for her rising anger. Jack reached his hand out, but retracted it as she pushed Manny once again away from her.
"NO! I WILL NOT LISTEN TO YOU!" She growled at him. "YOU MADE IT OUT THAT TYLER IS THE ENEMY! BUT ALL ALONG YOU WERE THE ENEMY!"
"Crystal!" He growled at her.
"You are the one to blame!" She shouted, ignoring him.
"Crystal! I'm warning you!" Manny said strictly, his anger about bubble over.
"Warning me? No, I'm warning you! I want my brother back to normal!" She shouted at him.
"Enough!" He said snapping.
A loud smack was heard through the clearing as Manny's hand connected with her cheek and sent her head to the side. Her mouth hung slack as she looked stared into space, her mind following the hard smack and the red formation of his hand that is slowly darkening on her face.
"Manny!" North gasped stepping forward.
"I told you to listen to me!" Manny said losing his temper towards her.
She turned her face slowly to him, water forming in her eyes again at the stinging pain that was unleashed on her cheek.
"I swear! You are the only one who can make me so angry!" Manny shouted at her.
"Me make you angry?" She said, her anger coming back to how it was.
She dug her toes into the ground, feeling the dirt move and slide in her movements. Vines crept through the ground and wrapped around him tightly, before throwing him towards the lake. He made a giant splash as he landed in the lake, and his head broke through the water gasping for air.
"This is a battle you don't want to fight Crystal." Manny warned as he floated above the water and made the water deflect off of him.
"Oh, yes I do." She growled at him, wind gathering around her and animals surrounding her protectively.
"Crystal, come on sheila," Bunny said, hopping towards her quickly. "There's probably an explanation for this."
"Back off Bunnymund." She growled at him, making his ears go back in fear from the tone in her voice.
Bunny backed up as wolves padded out of the woods, eyes flashing, ears back, teeth bared, and a real growl leaking out of their throats. They stood next to Crystal as Manny lowered the moons light, his strength growing.
Water lashed out of the lake and whipped towards her, trying to attack her skin. She jumped out of their way and pushed her hand forward, sending the wolves after him. Manny narrowed his eyes at them, and snapped his fingers, making the wolves howl in fear and back away from him. They looked at Crystal momentarily before taking off into the woods again.
"You won't win this Crystal," He told her in a growl. "I control all."
"Then I guess I'm a good opponent huh?" She said, flying forward and kicking towards his head.
His arm came up and blocked the kick, the ribbon around her ankle brushing along his arm. He flung his arm down, sending her away from him as the water once again lashed out towards her. She sliced her arm smoothly through the water as it neared her, slicing it in half as it flew past her.
He flew at her, the same moment she charged at him, catching each other in a battle of strength. Their hands locked together as they both tried to push the other away, and gain the upper hand in the battle. They pushed on another back through the air, landing away from each other on the ground.
"I didn't do this to torment you!" Manny shouted. "I did this to help you!"
"What? So turning my brother evil was supposed to help me?" She argued. She threw vines at him once again, wrapping around his arms and legs, pulling tightly.
"No!" He clenched his teeth as thorns sprouted on the vines, piercing his skin. "Come to your senses! Do you think this is the person everybody wants to help? That everyone likes to be around?"
"Shut up!" She growled, pulling her arm, making the vines tighten and stretch more.
"What about Jack? Would you regret meeting him?" Manny shouted, trying to make her see things. "What about Jamie? And Sophie? Is this the big sis they met and grew up with?"
Crystal lowered her hands as the little boy and girl flashed through her mind, sending a realization into her. She clenched her teeth, still angry at Manny, but knowing she shouldn't jump to conclusions like she was. She cracked her knuckles and snapped her fingers, making the thorns disappear, then making the vines disappear into the ground, leaving Manny standing there watching her carefully.
"You will explain everything to me. You got it?" She said with narrowed eyes.
Jack came up, rubbing her arms comfortingly. "Calm down. Breathe."
She tore her attention from Manny to Jack, staring into his icy blue ones, sending an instant calm into her body. He smiled at her sweetly as he wiped away the water at her eyes that was still lingering and threatening to spill over.
"I'm right here. Shh. Shh. It's okay." He said as a sob broke through her again.
He gathered her into his arms as she gripped his jacket in her fists and pressed her face into the nape of his neck, letting the tears dry up with her anger.
"You okay?" He asked into her hair, pressing a small kiss on her head.
She nodded her head, feeling his arms loosen around her, and pull her back to look into her face.
"Let's listen to what he says. Okay?" He asked her, cupping her face in both his hands.
She nodded again, leaning into his hands, letting the cool touch calm her down more and relax her. He smiled at her and kissed her lips calming, sending her mind away from the predicament and into a calmer state.
"Let's go," He said on her lips.
She opened her eyes and saw he was still looking at her, waiting for the okay. "Okay," She breathed, finding her breath again and feeling her anger diminish for the moment.
He let her face go and linked his hand with hers, tugging her next to him as they boarded the sleigh. "I think we'll meet you there." Jack told Manny in a warning tone.
"That's a good idea." Manny said with a thankful nod.
"Pitch," Tooth said looking at him carefully. "Go home. We don't need you here at all."
Pitch opened his mouth to say something, but stopped as the Guardians all glared at him, and Manny shook his head, telling him not to argue against them on this.
"I see when I'm not wanted." Pitch grumbled.
"You brought this on yourself Pitch." Crystal said, not even looking at him, as she leaned into Jack with his arm around her. "You could have used your power for good. Instead you used it wrongly and brought this upon yourself."
Pitch sneered at her before slinking into the shadows and disappearing beyond their sight. North looked at the others before snapping the reins, and sending the reindeer back towards the workshop. Crystal let the wind blow on her face as she leaned into Jack and closed her eyes.
"I'm sorry," North said up front. Crystal opened her eyes and looked at him confused. "If I had known what Manny had done….I would have…"
Crystal shook her head, making him stop as he glanced back at her. "It wouldn't have changed anything. You wouldn't have been able to stop him."
"He better have a good explanation." Bunny grumbled as he clung onto the side of the sleigh.
"Oh, Crystal," Tooth said, flitting over to her and pulling her into her warm downy feathers. "We'll figure this out. We'll solve this."
"Do you think we can?" Crystal asked, hugging the fairy to her. "I don't want to lose him again."
"Let's hope that we can." Tooth said truthfully, feeling the Guardian of Spring turn her head and lay again her feathers with a sigh. "You never lost your brother." She told her after a pause. "He's always been with you…here." She pointed to Crystal's heart, making her smile and let out a small laugh.
"Thank you," Crystal said hugging the fairy again and letting her laughs ring out into the wind. "Though that sounded so cheesy."
Crystal let herself rest between Tooth and Jack comfortably, her anxiousness becoming stronger the closer they were getting to the Workshop. The sleigh slid gently into its spot as it stopped at the workshop.
"Come on," North said, nudging his head toward the globe.
Crystal glanced over and saw Manny standing there, waiting for them calmly; his anger passed from him already. She clenched her fists before climbing out quickly and storming over to Manny. He turned to her slowly and calmly, judging her mood by her face.
"Explain." Crystal said simply, staring at him with her hands clenched to keep her temper under control.
Jack strode over to her calmly and put an arm around her waist, sending his icy touch and calmness to her. Her fists slowly unclenched as she took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, moving her hand to lightly grip his back and lean into him again.
Manny nodded, waiting till everyone joined in and would be able to listen. "I promise you, this was not how it was supposed to be like." He clasped his hands together, watching her carefully. "You're brother, Tyler, I watched as he desperately tried to save your life, even when he knew he was going to do die doing so. I meant for him to be one of the Guardians, just as you are now, his power was suppose to be one of night, to control the strength of light and to bring forth the time for sleep, me, and the stars. But the power was much stronger than I thought it would be; it completely took him over and began to control him completely."
Crystal felt her knees give out below her as she fell to the floor, Jack gripping his hold on her tighter, letting her fall gently.
"You're brother was suppose to be the Guardian of strength, of knowing there will be tomorrow and a new day, but he was also the Guardian of Death." Manny said sadly, watching her as she watched him with the same sad eyes. "I knew your family history, and how your whole family had this ability to forever believe in us. I had hoped he would be able to continue watching over you; to keep you safe from the dangers out there. I didn't know he would become like he is." Manny rubbed his neck, feeling more and more guilty the more he explained. "Turning you into a guardian was not my original plan, but I knew that it was the only way to bring down and change how your brother is now. Your power is the only thing that can help him now. You are the Guardian of Courage, knowing there will always be a way to achieve what you want; you are the Guardian of Life. Your brother is even beyond my help anymore."
"I can help him?" She asked quietly. She stood up shakily and walked the few steps to him, grabbing onto the front of his shirt desperately. "How can I help him? Tell me what power you are talking about!"
He shook his head at her. "If I tell you, you will not be able to access it or use it to the extent you need it."
She gripped the front of his shirt, clenching her teeth as she held back the hit she so badly wanted to deal him. "Then how am I supposed to help him?" She asked desperately.
"I cannot tell you." Manny told her with a shake of his head. "If you are not strong enough to help him then he will stay how he is. I cannot do a thing about this except for tell you, you can help him."
Crystal palm connected with his face before she could stop it, leaving him staring to the side and clenching his teeth. His cheek began to form a print of her hand in red as it swelled and throbbed in pain.
"You shouldn't have done it in the first place," She growled at him, her hand shaking and spreading to her body. "If he was going to be so powerful that you wouldn't be able to stop him, you should have not done it at all! I couldn't save him or my family before! What makes you think I can do it now?"
She didn't let him answer and she swerved on her heel and took off running towards the room North gave to her; ignoring the outstretched arms and shouts for her, heading up the stairs, and slamming the door behind her. She slid to the floor, burying her face in her arms as she cried once again that day, knowing she would not have any more tears by the times she was done crying to her heart's content.
"Manny," North grumbled, looking at his old friend. "What have you done?"
"I know. I've done some damage that cannot be undone." Manny said with a shake of his head. "I have to go now. I've used up all my time."
North sighed as he shook his head and looked at the door to Crystal's room. "Jack, Sandy, can you go check on her."
They both nodded as they headed up to the room, worried at what they would see. Jack creaked the door open and spotted her lying in front of the door. She was fast asleep, her breathing finally even, and tears running down her face, leaving streaks on her skin.
"I can't believe I can't do anything." Jack mumbled hurt. He wiped the tears from her eyes and off her cheek, and then pushed her hair out of her face, gazing at her in worry and helplessness.
Sandy began to jingle, making Jack turn his attention to his friend. Sandy pointed to himself and made a house appear over his head.
"Your home?" Jack asked confused.
Sandy nodded quickly as a smile spread on his face. Sandy pointed to Crystal and then back to himself with the house over his head.
"Oh! You want to take her to your home." Jack said hitting his fist on his open palm. "Yeah, I think that'll be best."
Jack turned back to Crystal and nudged her shoulder. He kissed her forehead as her eyes cracked open and she groaned, rubbing her eyes.
"Jack," She whispered, looking at him in confusion.
"Sandy wants to know if you want to get away and go to his home." Jack said with a small smile, trying to cheer her up.
"Sandy's home?" Crystal asked, looking at Sandy, then remembering what happened. "Yeah, I'd like that."
Sandy beamed as he floated over to her and grabbed her hand gently, pulling her up and towards the window.
"What about North?" She asked looking at the door.
"I'll go tell him, then I'll catch up. Okay?" Jack said, walking towards the door.
Crystal nodded and leaped out the window with Sandy, letting him take her to his home. Jack soon caught up with them, and gripped her hand in his as they neared and island, full of Sandy, and a couple of palm tree's decorating it.
"It's beautiful," Crystal sighed, letting the warm sand slide through her toes and cover her tracks as she walked.
Sandy grabbed her hand and showed her lying back on the sand relaxing, making her smile back at him.
"Thank you Sandy," She said warmly and lovingly. "You might want to head out, the kids need their dreams." She waved him on with a calm smile. "I'll be here when you return."
Sandy nodded as he waved at the two on the island, and took off towards the sleeping children.
"Not much on this island." Jack said looking around.
"I like it," Crystal said with a laugh. "It's simple, and relaxing."
Jack lay down on the sand beneath a palm tree and crossed his arms beneath his head, letting his staff lie down and bury itself halfway in the sand. Crystal glanced over to him and watched as he gave her a warm smile and held out his arm.
"Come here," He told her.
She walked over to him and sat down, feeling the sand move around her to the shape of her body. Jack's arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her down to him, turning on his side as he pulled her close. She nuzzled her nose into his neck, making him shiver for once. His leg slipped between hers, their feet entangling in one another, his arm tightening even more so around her waist. He breathed her in and still smelt the cherry blossoms rising from her; enveloping her completely with the sweet scents.
"Jack," She whispered, pulling back from his neck. "I'm scared. I'm scared I'm going to lose everything again."
Jack leaned his forehead on hers and gave her Eskimo kisses, making her giggle and smile at him. "I promise. You won't lose anything. I'll make sure everything that happens will turn out good."
"Really?" She asked hopeful.
"Yeah," Jack breathed, watching her light blue eyes shine.
He stared transfixed into her eyes, feeling her heart beat speed up against his chest, feeling it beat in time to his own, and feeling her breath glide over him smoothly. Before he even realized he was moving forward, he felt his lips connect with her soft ones, feeling the warmth radiate through them as he kissed her lips fervently.
Crystal pulled back and kissed along his jaw and down his neck, feeling his cool skin on her lips. He groaned as he cupped her cheek and kissed her neck, leaving a small red mark on her collarbone. He kissed it once more before trailing his finger along her lips, jaw, and down her neck, making a circle around the mark, and making her suck in a breath and let it out raggedly.
"This is my promise." He told her with a smirk.
She giggled as she pulled him back to her, with his hand still on the mark. She seized his lips and sighed against them as his hand trailed back out and down her arm softly, before resting once again around her waist.
"You need sleep," Jack said breathing heavily after pulling back and looking at her.
He ran a thumb over her lips gently, seeing the bruised look they now had as she breathed just as heavily. She pouted and groaned, making him laugh.
"I'll be right here." He told her gently.
She sighed, giving up as she lay her head down on his arm beneath her head, and gently fell into a calm sleep with Jack enveloped around her.
Crystal woke with a start the next morning as she found Sandy lying in her arms like a small stuffed toy, and Jack was nowhere to be seen. She stood up and watched as Sandy tossed in his deep sleep. She looked down at her necklace and touched it gently, determination floating onto her face.
She nodded her head, knowing what she had to do right then. She looked once more at Sandy, before taking off into the sky and beginning her search. She was going to find her brother, and learn everything she could. She searched every place she could think of, with no clue that he was ever there at each one. Finally she reached the last place she could think of, the tunnel her family was killed in.
She looked around and sighed helplessly as he was still nowhere in sight. "Not here either."
"What are you doing here?!" A voice asked worriedly behind her.
She turned on her heel quickly and saw Tyler standing there, watching her with wide eyes. "Big brother!" She rushed to him and wrapped him in a hug before he could stop her.
"Don't do that!" He said desperately as he pushed her away from him. "You can't come near me! Please!"
"Please Tyler! You have to tell me what is going on!" She begged him, watching as he back away from her in fear…not of her, but of himself. "Tell me how I can help you!"
"You can't help me!" He shouted at her, making her gasp and take a step back. "No one can help me!"
"But big brother!" She shouted helplessly.
"No! You have to get away from here!" He shouted at her fearfully. "You have to get away from me!"
"No! I will not!" She argued looking at him with hard eyes, set with determination.
"Run!" He shouted.
He gasped and gripped his arms to himself, making Crystal step towards him in worry as he doubled over and groaned. The darkness flashed out of the surrounding area, and wrapped itself tightly around him. She watched as the last features of her brother were consumed by the darkness, and he stood up straight, no longer in the pain he was in before.
"Big brother," She breathed watching as he began to walk towards her. There was no longer fear in his movements. This was no longer her brother; she could sense it radiating off of him in waves.
He disappeared before standing behind her and wrapping an arm around her arms and stomach and the other around her throat, cutting her air off and her way of defending herself.
"I will end you myself." He rasped out.
She gritted her teeth, swinging her arms back and gripping the darkness in her hands as if it was a piece of clothing. "NO!"
Light escaped out of her and into that part she was grasping, making her brother scream out in pain and let her go. She fell to the floor, but quickly recovered and stood, watching him carefully. The darkness thrummed as it covered the hole she had made in it.
"You will pay for that!" He shouted at her.
He lunged for her, arms outstretched and ready to grab her. She jumped into the air, and let the wind carry her above him and out of his reach. She looked around desperately, hoping to find some clue or way to stop her brother without hurting him. She dodged again as he swiped at her harshly, keeping in the air.
"You won't get away!" He growled, flying up to her.
She slide her hand through the air, sending the wind towards him, and pushing him away and to the ground. She twisted her wrist and watched as roots and vines tethered him to the ground carefully.
"I won't fight you!" She shouted to him. "I don't want to fight you!"
He laughed maniacally as he killed the roots and vines holding him. "That's too bad."
He flew into the air again, clenching her arm in his hand and pulling her to him so they were face to face.
"Please, stop," She begged quietly. "You don't have to do this."
"You see? That's the difference between you and me." He told her with venom. "We're opposites. We live to counteract the other out."
Crystal watched in horror as he reared his arm back and filled it with darkness, ready to hit her with its power and send her down to the ground once again. "Big brother, PLEASE!"
He laughed maniacally, before he made a pained sounded and groaned out. The darkness in his hand disappeared as he gripped at his head once again, the covering disappearing from his face and showing the struggle he was having on his face.
"Run," He groaned out. "Get away from me! I don't want to hurt you!"
"But," She began to say.
"GO!" He shouted at her.
She turned quickly and was about to fly away when a hand gripped at her neck, enclosing it in his grasp and sending pain lancing down her spine. She let out a pained squeak as she glanced behind her, to find the darkness was once again consuming him.
"You're not going anywhere," He sneered. "This is why I have to get rid of you. You are just another problem that gives this boy too much strength to go against me."
"You're not my brother," She said, already knowing the answer.
He laughed out in spite. "Me? No, I am the darkness itself! Your brother here is just a vessel I'll use until he can no longer be useful to me!"
"Then what?" She growled at him, gripping the hand that was squeezing her neck.
"Then I'll find another one," He laughed by her ear. "I don't need that stupid Man in the Moon to transfer me! I'm strong enough to do it myself!"
"I won't let you!" She spat at him. "I won't let you use my brother like that!"
"Oh, you will. You'll watch as I make all the children stop believing in you Guardians, and send this world into complete darkness!"
His grip tightened around her as she gritted her teeth in pain, and desperately tried to tear his hand away from her.
"You will not harm my brother." She seethed out. "You will not touch the Guardians. You will not harm the children! You will not take their hope and imagination from them! AND YOU WILL NOT TAKE OVER THIS WORLD!"
A strength built up in the pit of her heart, growing larger and larger, until it spread to her whole body, making her hum in resonance, and feel as if she was filled with warmth and light.
Her eyes widened in realization as she felt the power move inside of her, as if it was another being. They were one and the same. Just as the darkness had said, they were opposites. He was darkness….that meant she was light. They counteracted one another, and could also destroy the other if needed.
She yelled out as she clawed at his hands, and made him let her go. She turned and quickly slammed her hands into his chest, letting the power flow through her and explode upon the impact. It was so powerful the darkness itself deflected from her brother and hit the rock behind them, and sent her flying back into the ground. The breath was knocked from her lungs as she rolled to her side and desperately clawed for air, bringing it into her lungs harshly as she sat up and looked at her brother.
He lay there unconscious as the darkness flew back to him and started to envelope itself around him, but more slowly this time as that power knocked its energy and strength out. She looked at her brother sadly before standing up and watched him.
"I promise I'll come back and help you." She told him lightly. "I right what has gone wrong."
She took off into the air quickly as she flew as fast as she could to the workshop. Hardly feeling the change from warm to cold air as she rushed through the window and straight down to the globe.
"Crystal!" North said with a relieved sigh. "Where have you been?"
He looked at her closely then as she landed on the wooden floor and quickly walked towards the guardian circle. She was covered in dirt, and most likely had scrapes and bruises all over her from the fight she had with her brother.
"What happened?" Tooth asked with a gasp. She flitted around Crystal, but didn't get in her way as she continued to walk to the circle.
"Oi! Sheila! Are you okay?" Bunny asked, finally stepping in front of her and making her stop.
She looked up and saw everyone staring at her in worry and confusion. "Sorry Sandy, I didn't mean to worry you." She told the sandman as he watched her with the most worry.
"Crystal," Jack said softly, reaching out to her.
She grabbed his hand and gave him a small smile. "I'm fine. Really, I am." She looked around at all of them, determination edging across her face once again. "I need Manny."
"I don't think he could come down again." North told her. "He said he had used all his time already. I don't think he has energy left to do so."
"I'll make him come down." She said with a hard look at the others.
She let go of Jack and walked into the middle of the circle where the crystal sat just beneath. She took her necklace off and put it in the small hole that sat in the middle of the whole circle, turned it slightly, and heard the click. Light edged around the circle and shot into the air, surround Crystal, and trapping her inside. She stood up once again and took a deep breath in. She felt the light edge closer to her until it was in the smaller circle and was about an inch away from her all around.
Wind picked up on the inside and lifted her into the air, just enough to where her toes were no longer touching the floor, even as her feet stretched out. Her hair blew gently around her as she closed her eyes and concentrated. She let the crystal envelope her in its power as she opened her eyes with light shining in it. She gazed upwards and felt the power hit its maximum point.
"Man in the Moon," She said commandingly. "You are being summoned. Come down, NOW."
The light shot out from her and to the moon that hid just behind the sky, ready for the night. It grew closer and closer, until it was visibly seen by them. The light changed from shining from her to the moon, to shining from the moon down to the floor boards before them. It grew brighter and brighter, till it dimmed and went away completely, leaving Manny standing there before them, completely confused.
He glanced up and spotted Crystal, floating there in the circle of light. "You found out."
She nodded as she let the light die down and the wind dropped her to the floor gently. She yanked out her necklace and stared at him hard.
"What is my true form?" She asked him pointedly.
The others watched in confusion as the other two stared each other down in a silent battle they couldn't be a part of.