15. Dawn

The sky above Manhattan had settled somewhat after the worst storm of light, but it wasn't over yet. People could feel it. The police had managed to get most of the people into at least some sort of shelter and the blocks directly below and around the supposed battlefield were empty. Those who still dared to stay outside stuck together, staying close to each other for comfort. Whatever was happening in the sky was frightening, but it was also incredibly fascinating and beautiful. And now that the Avengers were there, it wasn't quite as scary as it had been before. The Avengers had stopped the Chitauri. They were heroes. Maybe they would be able to solve this as well. When the lights started to die down in the sky, the "maybes" sort of dropped out of those thoughts and the people really started believing that they had a chance against whatever was attacking them.

People with children took extra care to keep their windows and doors locked. They tried to get their children to sleep and to forget the semi-invisible war outside. Some of the young ones obeyed and even managed to fall asleep in the midst of the turmoil. Most of the children, however, plastered their faces against the windows despite their parents' protests and watched the fight outside. The fact that the Avengers were out there fighting was far too exciting to pass up. The children closest to the battlefield could even make out figures that weren't any of the Avengers, but who were not any less impressive either.

"Is that the Easter Bunny?"

"Santa! Santa's here!"

"Tooth Fairy?"

"I saw the Sandman! He's right over there!"

"Jack Frost... Jack Frost is there too!"

And those children were the most convinced that everything would be all right. After all, they knew they were protected by not only one, but two sets of heroes.

The green giant hit Pitch like a ton of bricks. A ton of bricks high on adrenaline. Pitch felt concrete cracking under his feet from the force of the blow. He fell on his back and his senses exploded into pain. The Hulk lifted his fist above his head again, and Pitch could only avoid the hit by melting into the cracks in the roof. He turned into a shadow and slid as far away from the green man as he could without leaving the rooftop. He cursed his luck. Just a moment ago he had had no worries. Everything had been going well for him. And now... well, now all the hard work of getting people to be afraid was quickly going to waste.

Pitch observed his opponents from his hiding spot in the shadows. Most of them had taken quite severe hits during the fight. The fairy and the bandit, who had warped back into the fray soon after the fight had resumed were barely standing, and the Thunder God and the bunny were getting slower even as Pitch watched. Jack Frost was trying to hide his pain behind that infuriating smirk, but Pitch could sense his nightmare sand coursing through the boy's icy veins. Tony Stark was not doing much better either. The billionaire was afraid, vulnerable somewhere deep down. In fact, all of them were. The only thing that kept Pitch from just talking all of his enemies into submission right now were the Hulk and one Sanderson ManSnoozie. Sanderson was too strong, and the Hulk did not know fear. He knew only rage.

A few of Pitch's Fearlings tried to swoop down to his aid, but they were quickly blocked by Sanderson's dreams. Those accursed golden forms now filled the sky, taking Nightmares and Fearlings down faster than Pitch could count. Pitch let out a cry of frustration and leaped from his hiding place. He formed his trusted nightmare scythe into his hand and slashed viciously at the nearest target, in this case the pretty-boy dressed in a flag. The man flattened himself against the roof to avoid the attack, and Pitch spun around for another strike. Captain America jumped, tossing the shield he was carrying at Pitch. It grazed Pitch's shoulder, but that was minor compared to the fact that right then the Hulk reached him again. A massive fist hit Pitch out of nowhere, and if Pitch hadn't been immortal, his spine would probably have shattered from the impact. He fell, and his face hit the cracked concrete. He spit out teeth and growled in irritation. Those would take at least a few days to grow back.

He jumped to his feet and managed to avoid the Hulk's next crazed attack. He flung a handful of nightmare sand at the beast's face, and the green man howled and shielded his face. Pitch didn't have time to celebrate that minor victory, however. The female agent jumped at him as if out of nowhere, spinning in the air with almost impossible grace and planting her booted foot into Pitch's already injured shoulder. The woman landed into a low crouch, and Toothiana zipped over her head to deliver a swift and powerful punch at Pitch's face. It had all happened too fast for Pitch's frustrated mind to register, and he took both attacks and staggered backwards to the edge of the roof. A couple of his Nightmares broke through the dreams and landed defensively in front of him. Good. He could use that moment to catch his breath...

"Hi."

Pitch spun around sharply and came face to face with Jack Frost's grin. That was all he saw before a blast of ice hit him in the chest. Pitch flew back a few feet and saw out of the corner of his eye how the bandit and the Thunder God finished off the Nightmares that had broken through. With a cry of pure rage, Pitch aimed his scythe again at the nearest foe, but was stopped by a glowing strand of dreamsand that wrapped around his waist and dragged him sharply into the centre of the roof. Pitch lost his balance, stumbling forward until he caught himself. His scythe disintegrated again, and he was left defenceless, surrounded by the Guardians and the Avengers. Pitch gritted his teeth.

"Well..." he sighed, almost, almost tasting blood. The Hulk had really managed to beat him up, "I suppose we can't talk about this?"

The Easter Bunny scoffed.

"Talk?" he repeated incredulously, "Why the hell should we let ya talk?"

"You lost, Pitch," Toothiana said in a low, dangerous tone, "You are not going to hurt anyone any longer."

Sanderson nodded fiercely, sending Pitch a glare that even Pitch had to admit was quite unnerving. Pitch let his eyes wander at the others surrounding him, to search for a possible escape route. Things had really got out of hand for him. He could feel the hope of the people around them. He could feel the fear he had so carefully woven fading into the background. It would be back, he knew. But at that moment the presence of these heroes was enough to get people to believe. It crept over him like a sickness, sapping his strength away. Pitch hated it. He hated it so much.

"So what now?" he asked smoothly, his eyes stopping to look calculatingly at Thor Odinson. The man didn't flinch, "Do you expect me to surrender? Why would I do that, knowing there's no way I could avoid retribution?"

"Well, there is a chance we might go easy on you," said Stark, aiming his hand at Pitch, "S.H.I.E.L.D. has some pretty nice cells that could keep even something like you locked away. For a long time."

Pitch chuckled condescendingly.

"I would say that's only marginally better than being imprisoned by my own Nightmares. Besides, I don't think you would just leave me be, would you Stark? After I managed to dig up your insecurities with just a couple of nightmares?"

There was no outward change in Stark's demeanour. The metal mask certainly helped with that. But Pitch didn't need outward signs to know someone was afraid. He smirked despite the situation he was in.

"I thought so," he whispered.

"Shut up, Pitch!" said Jack, and Pitch had to step back from a warning shot of ice that was aimed at his feet. Pitch felt an angry tug on the dreamsand whip that kept him in place. Sanderson scowled at him warningly. Pitch glanced up and saw the remains of his army retreating like cowards from the battalion of dreams. Soon Pitch would be a general without an army. And a prisoner as well, unless he did something fast.

His eyes fell on Jack. He focused on the traces of nightmare sand in the boy's chest. It wouldn't be enough to actually do any lasting damage, unfortunately, but it would cause the brat some serious pain. It would have to do as a distraction.

"You know this won't end so easily," he said, "These people won't forget. And I will get stronger again soon enough. You all may put on your hero-faces, but I see right through you. You know I'm right. No matter how many times you beat someone like me, the danger is never over. And one day, you will lose everything, and it still won't be enough."

The grains of corruption stirred and sparked somewhere in Jack Frost's body.

"Wasted sacrifices," Pitch stated, "That's all you will ever be."

He closed his hands into fists and concentrated. Jack's eyes widened and he collapsed, screaming in agony and clutching his chest. The Guardians and the Avengers all let out shouts of alarm, and Pitch used that moment to turn around sharply. His hand reached the dreamsand whip and the golden strand was tainted with black at his touch. He knew Sanderson could just change it back in a split-second, but that split-second was all he needed. He broke the corrupted part of the whip and tore himself free. He dashed towards the bandit and the fairy, who were now distracted as well as still weakened from the previous fight. He called froth some of his nightmare sand and didn't even bother modelling it into an actual weapon. He slashed with a barely formed blade, and it cut across Nicholas St. North's chest.

His enemies' shock washed refreshingly over him, but he didn't have time to stop to enjoy it. He heard an arrow whistling through the air and he lurched forward when it slammed into his back. A boomerang followed the arrow with deadly accuracy. Had Pitch not fought in countless wars and been so used to pain, he might have not been able to go on. But he forced the pain out of his mind and kept running. Attacks rained down upon him and he felt his very existence starting to leak out of the wounds he had sustained. He crossed the brightly lit patch on the roof and dove into the blackest shadow in the corner. Darkness closed around him, and it might have been comforting if he hadn't been so preoccupied by the bitter taste of defeat.

Judging by the shouts, Pitch had got away. Jack's mind registered it very faintly amidst the pain. His blood had been set on fire somehow. That was the only explanation he could give to the pain that now coursed through him. That or there really was some remnants of nightmare sand in him. For some reason he preferred the blood on fire -theory. At least that didn't involve corruption eating away his very being.

He heard voices and felt small hands on his chest. Through dark grey haze he could see Sandy's golden crown of hair and kind eyes. Sandy could help him, he knew. He hoped. His vision blurred until he couldn't see any longer. His chest erupted with pain again and he couldn't breathe. He was drowning again. He clenched his hands tightly into fists and felt the familiar wood of his staff in his right hand. He focused on that, letting his staff anchor him to the cool concrete and to reality. The people around him were talking, but his sluggish mind could only catch a few words here and there.

"Hold on..."

"Pitch...that bastard!"

"He's pulling through this... right?"

"How about North?"

North? Had North been hit too? Hell, they all were in terrible condition. Jack couldn't get selfish and just lie down when everyone else was suffering too. And the people... he was supposed to protect them, not be slacking off because of a little bit of agony.

The pain lessened, and air filled his lungs again. Jack's eyes snapped open and Sandy smiled reassuringly at him. The dream weaver's hands were still on Jack's chest, and Jack could practically feel the last sparks of nightmares turning into dreams and then fading away. Slowly, Jack sat up, feeling his chest. He was okay. As okay as he could be, given the circumstances. He smiled gratefully at Sandy, who smiled back and quickly wrapped his stubby arms around Jack in a cheerful hug.

"I... I'm okay, Sandy," Jack managed to say in a hoarse voice, "Thanks."

He looked around and saw worried faces. Pitch was nowhere in sight. Jack let out a sigh.

"I guess he got away, huh?"

"Yes, he did," said Thor, "But we shall find him soon enough."

"I doubt it," Bunny said darkly, "Pitch can hide for a long time if he just wants to. And we're all a bit too crook to start looking now."

That brought Jack back to full awareness and he remembered the others had talked worriedly about North just a moment ago. His eyes fell on the Cossack, who was standing only because Tooth was keeping him steady. The front of North's coat was sticky with blood. Jack's breathing hitched. A bloodied Santa Claus was something no kid should ever see. Especially if said Santa was the closest thing to a father the kid in question had. Jack practically flew to his feet despite the painful protests his body made and dashed to North.

"Are you going to be alright?" he asked, his hands clutching North's broad shoulders, "Heck, are you all going to be alright?"

North looked wearily at Jack and nodded.

"Don't worry about me, son," North said gently.

"You should worry about yourself, Jack," Tooth added, "You need a lot of rest after what happened here."

"Hey," Clint Barton cut in, "I'd hate to break this moment, but are we really just going to let that guy go?"

The Guardians shared a glance.

"No," North said firmly, "Never. But for now, we need to focus on this city. People are still very afraid, even though they trust you."

"Takin' away the fear is the best way to keep Pitch away," Bunny added when the Avengers still looked doubtful.

Sandy pointed at the Avengers, a few rather abstract sand-images floating above his head. The Avengers watched them in confusion.

"These people need you now," Tooth translated, "Sandy can help them calm down, but you should be out there as well."

The Avengers understood. Or then they didn't. Jack wasn't quite sure, and he was a bit too exhausted to figure out which. They all stood on top of the roof in silence for a while. All battered, bruised and in some cases covered in blood. The silence wasn't actually an uncomfortable one, which surprised Jack a little. It was more of a contemplative, "How the heck did we get into this situation?" -kind of silence.

"We did win," North said after a while, "Don't worry about that."

North spread his arms and put them around both Jack and Tooth. Bunny limped to the group and Sandy hovered protectively above them. The Avengers stood in a row, forming a strange unity of their own. Bruce Banner looked once more up at the sky, where the last remaining Nightmares were torn to shreds by dreams, and then the green giant diminished back into a man.

"I think we should all really get some first aid," he said.

He was right.

It was a few hours until morning when the sky finally settled. For a short while there was silence. People stared, waited for another assault, but it didn't come. Slowly some of the people dared to return to their homes. Some stayed where they were throughout the rest of the night. The ones that got home found themselves exhausted and quickly fell asleep into surprisingly pleasant dreams.

The strange battle in the night would be on the news the next day, and several days after that. But as the days would pass, the inexplicable parts of the incident would mysteriously gain an explanation. And the news wouldn't forget to mention how the Avengers had defeated the threat. How they would be there to protect people. The Avengers had proven again that they could win even against something that might not have been of this world. Still, it would take a while until people really calmed down about it. For some it would take a lifetime. But for now they knew they had been saved, and they took comfort in that. The children were the most comforted of them all, surprisingly enough. In the following weeks those close to the battle would tell stories of how the Avengers had joined forces with Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, the Sandman, and Jack Frost to fight off evil.

The Guardians and the Avengers kept watch over the city through the night, scanning the shadows for the last signs of Pitch. The Boogeyman was gone, leaving only the lingering fear at his wake. Only after they had made sure that the city was as safe as it could be, the Avengers and the Guardians allowed themselves to rest.

In the sky, the night clouds parted to give way for the last rays of the moon before dawn broke.

Author's Note: So yeah... my hard drive decided to spontaneously die. That little incident cost me quite a few even very dear files, including this story and including including chapter 15 which I had already written a couple of weeks ago. So what you see here is chapter 15 version 2.0! Or 2.4 or something if you count the revisions.

Thanks for your patience and for your awesome support guys! To make up for this longer wait I promise I'll get the next chapter out sooner. I already have it written and it only needs a few adjustments to be a bit better. It's going to the the last chapter in this story.

And to Anonymous guest reviewer: yes, the Guardians of Childhood is a children's fantasy novel series by William Joyce.