North, Jack and Bunny re-entered the globe room and were shocked to find it in such disarray. Smith, Tooth and Sandy were standing around the bent and busted globe, which looked as if someone had taken a giant can opener to it, and sputtered sparks as it tried to continue it's rotating. Pitch was standing on the other side of the room, staring down a hallway.
"What in name of sleigh bells happened?"
The others turned.
"Hey where's Elsie?" Jack asked as he looked around and found no sign of his friend.
Sandy quickly tried explaining but left them even more confused than before.
Smith snorted. "Your 'friend' is a demon, she nearly took my head off."
Bunny made a face. "What are you talking Smith? She's harmless."
Tooth shook her head. "No it's true. She did this." And pointed to the globe.
Jack's eyes widened. "You mean she used her powers?"
That caught everyone's attention, even Pitch turned.
"You knew she could do this!" Smith bellowed.
North turned the young spirit to face him. "Is this true Jack?"
Jack stared at his feet then nodded.
"Why did neither of you tell us?"
Sighing he looked back at him. "She's scared of using her powers around others. She's afraid that if she does she'll end up hurting somebody."
"You don't say." Smith scoffed.
Jack glared at him. "But Elsie would never try to deliberately hurt someone. Not unless she was threatened."
Smith 'hmphed' and crossed his arms. "Well don't look at me. I was just conversation when that 'thing' attacked me with her demon powers."
Pitch scoffed bitterly. "Think calling her a 'mongrel bitch' was conversation worthy?" And glared at the man.
Jack would have launched himself at the pilgrim if North wasn't holding him back.
"You stay out of this hethan." John spat at Pitch.
"That's enough Smith!" Silence followed North's voice. "You've done quite enough. Ever since you arrived you have done nothing but cause trouble and ridicule our friend. Elsie has done nothing to you but defend others from your contempt."
Smith gaped, eyes wide at the chief guardian. "But it was Pitch she was defending. He's the scum of the earth!" And pointed accusingly at the dark man.
Pitch continued to glare but kept silent.
North shook his head. "We may not like him, but our quarrel with Pitch is not hers. She is free to defend who ever she wants."
"So your all choosing her over me. Fine then, put me out then!"
"No Smith, I won't put your family in danger because of your actions. Until further notice you will be confined to your room." With a wave of his hand North signaled two yetis to escort Smith out.
"North we have to find Elsie." Jack said worriedly.
The elder guardian nodded. "Jack, Tooth take this floor. Bunny, Sandy the first. Pitch..." They stared at each other for a moment. "Will you check the basement?"
He nodded and evaporated into the shadows.
Sandy made an image of Pitch.
"No not very much, but I trust him enough not to harm her. I'll check the top floor. We'll met back here in an hour." The guardians split up to search.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Tooth and Jack continued down the hall. Elsie's room still had her things inside but there was no sign of the girl herself. Jack walked ahead calling out her name, while Tooth lingered behind staring at the floor. She didn't notice him stop and bumped into his back.
"Oh, sorry." She said and continued to stare down.
Jack looked at her with concern. "Hey Tooth you okay?"
"Fine." She mumbled.
"Don't worry, we'll find her."
"I'm sure we will." She sneered bitterly at the ground.
"Okay now I know something's up. What's wrong?"
She continued to avoid his gaze.
"Hey, look at me." He said in his tender windy voice and gently lifted her chin so she'd face him. Looking into his wintery eyes and his handsome face she could no longer stand hiding her feelings.
"Why her?" Her voice barely above a whisper and her eyes glistening with unushed tears.
"What do you mean why her?" Jack was utterly confused.
"I mean why did you choose her?"
Jack was still very confused. "Tooth please, I don't understand. What do you mean? I didn't pick her, she was just the one who saw me first."
"No, that's not what I mean." Tooth groaned hanging her head. "Why did you pick her...over me?"
"Picked her over you how?"
Tooth glared at him, was he playing stupid or was he really serious. "Don't insult me Jack, you two do everything together. Your always trying to impress her and spend every moment you can with her. Baby Tooth saw you kiss her and just last night I saw you both hugging." She looked away sadly trying not to cry.
"Wait..." Jack scratched his head. "You don't think that I- and that she- that we're- we're together do you?" Jack nealry laughed at the assumption.
She glared hurtfully at him.
"I'm sorry, I really am. But just because she's one of my closest friend doesn't mean I'm in love with her. I mean don't you remember the first child who saw you?"
She nodded. "But then why have been acting so strange around her?"
Jack sighed. "The last time we saw each other, a few years ago, we got into a big fight that kind of ended our friendship. I did something I really shouldn't have."
Tooth looked suspiciously at him. Seemed she was going to need more convincing.
"Remember I was alone for three-hundred years. Elsie was the only person that could see me, so of course I spent a lot of time with her. When I found out about her powers I thought it was great, I thought she was just like me. Summer was coming and I wanted to spread some winter elsewhere, but I didn't want to be alone again. So I asked Elsie to run away with me."
Tooth gasped, almost not believing how he could have asked her something like that.
"She had the same reaction. Of course she said no. She had a family that needed her. I was an idiot not to see that back then, and like an idiot I got mad at her for rejecting me. I yelled at her, told her she was acting selfish, she yelled back and then we parted ways." Jack stared at his bare feet. "Maybe I did feel like that for her a long time ago." He said honestly. "But that all changed when I met you."
Tooth almost didn't believe her ears as she looked up and before she knew what was happening cool lips placed a kiss as soft as a snowflake on he cheek. She nearly fell as her wings froze and her face turned bright red.
"Now come on." He took her by the hand and began pulling her along. "We have to find Elsie."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
An hour later the guardians met back up in the globe room, each with no luck. Bunnymund and Sandy rushed in panting and pointing down the hall.
"We didn't find her but her rams missing from the deer pen and a door leading outside was left open. She must've taken her ram and left."
North's eyes widened. "Then we have to find her fast. There's a large blizzard on it's way. She could be buried alive."
"I'll go." Tooth volunteered.
"No Tooth, I'll-" Bunny tried to interject but Tooth wouldn't let him finish.
"No Bunny, I'm faster."
"She's right Bunny. In the air she can cover more ground and Jack will go with her." North stated. "While Tooth scouts out further ahead the rest of us will search the surrounding area. Hopefully she hasn't gotten too far. I'm going to need everyone's help. We all-"
North stopped as a white bone clattered down from ahead and landed before them. The group had only a moment to stare at it before an overpowering stench of decay floated down.
Bunny covered his nose. "Oh crikey, not now!"
They looked up to see one of the somethings peering down at them from the rafters. It made a guttural roar and was joined by dozens more staring down at the group of spirits.
Jack covered his face with his sleeve. "It's more of those things." He cringed from their combined stench.
"Morticia's minions." North growled. "Be ready." He drew his swords.
"Tooth go! I'll hold them off!" Jack shouted as he leaped up and froze the creatures around the open ceiling and Tooth zipped up through the skylight.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Tooth tried to protect her eyes from the swirling storm of snow. The blizzard seemed to have come out of nowhere and was making it extremely difficult to fly. The winds were pushing her too and fro and the dense white made hard to see. She'd thought about heading back but new she couldn't leave Elsie out in this. She'd already been flying for twenty minutes, following hoof prints that had now disappeared under a blanket of white. But as Tooth kept flying she thought that the wind was getting stronger, but soon realized that it was her slowing down. Ice had begun to collect on her wings causing her to slowly sink lower in the air. She new she had no choice now. Staying out any longer would doom her, all she could do now was hope Elsie would be alright until they could form a proper search party.
As she prepared to turn around something caught her eye. It looked like a black flag billowing in the wind, getting smaller in the distance.
Tooth tried to call out but the wind blew her voice away. Gathering her strength she sped forward, calling out to the distant figure. All of a sudden her wings gave out. Heavy with ice and tired from exhaustion she plummeted to the cold Earth, tumbling as she landed. She rolled herself onto her hands and knees and watched the dark form get smaller. The snow began collecting around her, slowly burying her.
In one last ditch effort she called desperately to the receding figure as loud as she could. Fate was on her side, for at that moment the curtain of snow opened and a gust of wind blew from behind her carrying her voice straight to the other.
The figure stopped to turn and through the momentary clearness spotted Toothania's bright vibrant feathers against the white snow. The figure raced to her and in a moment Elsie was at her side, wrapping the dark cloak around the other woman. Tooth opened her eyes again as Chirin moved to shiled them from the snow and the wind with his body.
"What are you doing out here, you could've frozen to death?" Elsie asked, her vibrant green eyes starring at the other in concern.
Tooth took a moment to warm herself and examine the cloak before answering. She realized the cloth was actually made of shadow and was fascinated by it's texture. Almost feeling like feathers but softer and at the same time more solid. It didn't change temperature being neither warm nor cold but trapped her own heat inside it while the surrounding snow parted around it, not even landing on it, in an almost unnatural way. Eventually she looked at the younger woman.
"I could ask you the same thing."
Elsie cringed. "I don't belong. I mean I have- I can- well you saw what I could do."
"Everyone knows about your powers, Jack told us everything."
Elsie looked shocked then ashamed. "I'm sorry."
Tooth looked at her in surprise. "Don't be. John was threatening you. You had no choice but to defend yourself."
Elsie shook he head. "I nearly hurt you and Sandy. I destroyed the globe."
"Elsie, no one blames you for that, it was accident. Anyways I'm the one who owes you an apology."
Elsie looked taken aback. "You haven't done anything."
"Exactly." It was Tooth's turn to look ashamed. "When John threatened you I didn't do anything, I just stood there and watched." She sighed sadly. "Truth is I've been jealous of you. Jealous of how close you and Jack are."
She looked surprised. "Jack's like a brother to me, but we're not-"
"I know, I know. If I had just taken the time to know you instead of acting like a jealous child none of this would have happened." She paused noticing that the younger woman was no longer looking at her. Instead she was staring above her.
"Elsie?"
"Oh my god." Was all she said and continued to stare.
Tooth turned and saw what had caught her attention. A pillar of black smoke was steadily billowing up from the distance turning the white clouds grey and dark. A sound like distant thunder echoed towards them, followed by a second pillar of smoke joining the first in it's skyward journey.
"North's factory." Tooth said in disbelief.
"Come on!" Elsie climbed onto Chirin and held out her hand. "We have to hurry!"
Tooth was hesitant about getting onto the large beast, remembering what he had done to the yetis. His golden eyes seemed to pierce right through her and his sharp horns didn't to inviting either. But her friends were in danger she reminded herself. She took Elsie's hand and climbed onto the ram behind her, holding her shoulders tightly. Without the need of a command Chirin took off at full speed towards the smoke. Tooth gave a short scream and hung on for dear life as Chirin galloped faster than the wind itself, and plowed through the snow as if it were nothing.
It took a surprisingly short time to get back. The upper windows of the building were spewing forth fire and smoke like an angry dragon. A blaze of ash and fire erupted out as an explosion tore another whole in the roof. Chirin dashed to the door he and Elsie had exited from earlier. Elsie tried pushing it open but recoiled as it was hot to the touch. Climbing back onto her steed she told Tooth to hang on as Chirin began leaping from every ledge and foot hold he could find, climbing in great bounds as they had done in the mountains. Reaching the roof the ram dived horns first into a large whole that was gushing out smoke. As Chirin landed and the smoke cleared from their vision they were met with utter chaos.
Most of the level was in ruins, everything from tables and toys and heavy machines were smashed and scattered. Some parts of the floors and ceilings had been ripped up and fires ranging from campfires to bonfires had broken out everywhere. All the while yetis, fairies and elves were running around trying to put out fires and fending off the deformed monsters that were wreaking havoc.
Elsie cringed and held a hand to her nose. "Ugh! It's those things again!"
Tooth dismounted the ram and handed the shadow cloak to Elsie.
Elsie took the cloak and reformed it into a double edged sword and handed it back. "Here."
"Thanks."
A familiar jingling caught Elsie's attention. Looking around she spotted Jingle. Held tight the clutches of one the creatures.
Without thinking Elsie rushed over. "Put. Him. Down." She growled her voice feral like a wild animal.
The creature's cougar's skull of a head opened it's mouth and laughed through it's rotted vocal chords, a sound she could only describe as a wet wheeze that warbled. The green aura of the creature began to slither up it's arm towards the elf like a deadly serpent.
Elsie wasted no time. She summoned her shadows that enveloped her arms turning her hands into deadly claws and smashed the arm bones into fragments. The severed green essence sizzled and evaporated on the floor.
Jingle hit the ground and rushed to hide behind his savior. With one more swing of her claw she sliced the creature's head and spine in half down the middle. It clattered to the floor, falling apart and sizzling away.
Another of the creatures was sent sailing through the air, courtesy of Tooth.
"Elsie my fairies say that the others are fighting two floors down. They're trying to gather everyone in the basement."
"Well then let's not keep them waiting." She kneeled down to Jingle's level. "Jingle, this is very important. We need you to spread the word and gather everyone left in the basement. Can you do that?"
The little elf nodded and hurried off.
"Let's go!"
The two women and ram took off, fighting their down.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Jack flew through the air shooting frost blasts at as many of the creatures he could, freezing them solid at least for a bit.
The creatures seemed rather resilient to his cold. As the creatures froze the green auras that held them together began melting through the ice and soon they were free again. Bunny, Sandy and North seemed to be having similar problems. Bunny's boomerangs could only knock the creatures bones apart, which simply dragged themselves back together. Sandy whips grabbed at the creatures and threw them but they quickly reformed, Sandy was quick to take to the air. North hacked and sliced cutting through a few of the weaker bones but doing little to the stronger ones.
The only one who seemed to be making any progress at all was Pitch. He would disappear into the shadows and reappear behind one of the somethings and smash it to bits. But he could only take out one at a time and there were dozens still, and unlike them, the creatures didn't seem to tire.
They had been fighting for over half an hour continuously, they were scraped and clawed up. Exhaustion was setting in, it sapped at their bodies and devoured their strength.
Jack failed to pay attention as a creature leaped from the rafters. Landing on his back, dragging him to the ground. At the same moment a group of the creatures watched Pitch disappear into the darkness, they predicted his next move and when he rose from a shadow jumped pinning him down. They tore apart his sand scythe, the largest raised it's grizzly claws and prepared to finish him.
A heeled boot came crashing down, snapping it's spine. A wave of shadow dispelled the other creatures before a second boot pinned the large creature's skull to the ground and crushed it.
Elsie cringed at the foul smell of rotted brains before offering a hand to help Pitch up.
He looked up at her in awe gazing at her shadow claws that were so masterfully formed. Taking her hand he stood and re-formed his scythe. A pack of creatures began advancing but didn't see Chirin rush in, his horns at the ready. Chirin skewered, bucked, charged and stomped them. What was left of the creatures were shattered bones and eight fleshy coats of matted fur strewn about, great pools of green sizzling aura. Chirin snorted victoriously and went about trampling others nearby.
Pitch couldn't help but marvel at the beast, not even his mares were so vicious. His thoughts were interrupted as Elsie charged into the fray, shadow claws at the ready.
Jack thought he was done for. After wrestling with the monster for a while his staff had rolled from his. He was pinned down, holding the creature back. It's jaws snapping at him just centimeters from his face and dripping foul smelling drool onto him.
A sword tip suddenly emerged through it's skull and the creature was pulled backwards, off of him. Another swing from the sword and the something's head was halved and it's body still.
"Tooth?" Jack asked looking at her and the blade in amazement.
She smiled and helped Jack off the ground. "The one and only."
Jack smiled and the two turned to enter the fight.
With reinforcements the guardians began pushing back the creatures. Slowly breaking them into smaller groups and dispatching them.
As Elsie finished of the last of these small groups she heard a faint cry. Turning towards the hallway she listened and heard it again, only louder. Two somethings also heard the cry and made a quick dash for the hallway.
"Oh hell no!" She took off after them.
With a wave of shadow she easily destroyed the first and the second soon followed with a slash of her claws. She paused, coughing on the smoke laden air. The hallway was hot and burning, flames devouring the walls and ceilings. Another cry for help brought her to a smoldering door blocked by fallen debris.
"Hello!" Elsie shouted over the roaring flames.
"Help we're trapped, there's so much smoke!"
Elsie recognized the voice of Pocahontas. "Step back, I'm going to bust the door in!"
Giving them a moment to move she formed her shadow claws into a powerful burst like attack. The debris and door splintered into tens of millions of pieces.
Pocahontas had Sarah in her arms and Ohitekah by the hand, followed by Smith.
"Hurry, this place is coming down fast!"
The group ran as fast as they could while at the same time trying to avoid falling debris.
Ohitekah tripped and as his parents stopped to pick him up the flaming ceiling caved in with a terrible crash.
Elsie dashed forward and knocked the family out of harms way. She managed to jump back just in time to avoid being crushed.
"Elsie!" She heard Sarah's little voice cry out.
"I'm fine, go find the others!"
"We can't leave you behind!" Pocahontas called.
"You can and you will! Smith get your family out of here! Everyone's headed for the basement!" There was a moment of silence filled by the sound of crackling fire.
Finally Smith said, "I-I'll get them to safety." Followed by the sounds of footsteps echoing away.
Good, she thought. She didn't want them to know how truly scared she really was. The flames that were pummeling her with waves of heat began draining her energy, weakening her and making her birthmarks sting in an almost familiar fashion. As if the fire's red tongues were trying to reach something locked away within her. The smoke she'd been inhaling was starting to make her feel dizzy and disoriented. She held her sleeve over her mouth trying to salvage some breathable air, and headed down the hall in hopes of an exit.
As she feared the other end had collapsed in as well leaving a huge pile of smoldering wood that emitted thick black smoke. Elsie coughed deeply as the smoke invaded her lungs. Turning she headed back, checking all the doors on the way. Most rooms were ablaze with fire, a few were collapsed in, one was free of fire and destruction but soon found that it was a dead end.
She returned to the blockade that separated her from the rest of the workshop. She tried gathering every shadow she could muster. But with the overpowering light from the fires she could only summon up enough shadow to form a ball twice the size of her fist. It bounced pitifully of the rubble and disappeared. Elsie turned and started stumbling her way back to the clear room, hoping that she had overlooked something, some well hidden door or hallway.
She nearly collapsed as she was taken by another fit of coughing. She knew she must have been half choked by smoke by now. The hall was spinning, she couldn't think straight and the edges of her vision was going dark. She slumped against a faint shadowed wall trying to get catch her breathe.
In her haste to think she failed to notice the hand on her shoulder and before Elsie could comprehend what was going on she felt herself being pulled backwards into what felt like icy water.
For a moment it felt as if time had stopped as she floated through darkness. Then the darkness opened up and a blast of fresh air greeted her. The fresh air flowed into her lungs evicting the smoke. Elsie continued to cough not sure if she'd fallen to the ground or if she'd been there the whole time. She soon noticed the hand on her arm that helped her to her feet. She turned her head and saw Pitch Black in her clearing vision.
"Pitch? How'd you-"
"Traveling by shadow is fast." He answered. A large black horse formed itself from black sand behind him. "But traveling by night-mare is even faster." He climbed on and helped Elsie on behind him. "Hang on." Was all Pitch said before flicking the reins. The horse reared and took off.
Elsie gave a scream and wrapped her arms tightly around Pitch, hanging on for her life.
Pitch chuckled at her reaction and urged his mare on. The dark steed galloped down halls and leaped over a banister, plummeting two stories before landing effortlessly and continuing on. Elsie's heart raced, her eyes clamped shut. Riding Chirin was one thing. She knew him, he was careful and calculated. But the night-mare was wild, unpredictable and absolutely terrifying.
Pitch poked her on the head. "We're here."
Elsie carefully opened her eyes and realized the nightmare had disappeared from underneath them, they were both standing on their own two feet. Her arms were still wrapped tightly around him. Blushing furiously she quickly unraveled herself and took a few steps back for good measure and missed the cheeky grin he threw her way.