Back to the top of the roster…Visions!
I hope you guys have been enjoying the stories thus far!
Flames…Jack could feel the heat arcing off of each greedy hungry tendril, licking away the paint and wooden facades of the sleigh. The wooden frame creaked as the boards groaned and snapped, exploding from the heat, making Jack feel his heart stop in fear. Reaching forward, the boy grasped the front of the sleigh, his chest heaving with labored breaths, as he fought for air in the overwhelming heat from the fire destroying the sleigh. His eyes turned towards the sky, a blue moon hung overhead while snowfall drifted down, looking much like tears dripping from the glowing orb, and Jack cried for help but found none.
A jarring stirred Jack back to the problem at hand. The reindeer had disappeared, flying off into the distance, leaving the sleigh to plummet towards the earth. His scream mingled with the cry of another, and Jack whirled around, his eyes wide as he searched for them. Smoke and heat stung, making his vision unfocused, and Jack swung a pale blue clad arm up to his face in an attempt to block the worst of it and see who was riding behind him. But in the middle of the flames stood a tall figure, and Jack could only catch a glimpse of a muscular arm, a bit of fur, and a long coat sweeping to the floor.
"Jack!" the voice cried.
"I'm here!" the boy replied reaching out a hand.
The figure, his face shrouded from flame and smoke reached out his own arm towards the boy, each reaching towards the other "JACK!" the masculine voice screamed when suddenly the sleigh hit the side of a mountain, making it flip through the air in its descent.
"NOOO!" Jack shrieked as he once again looked towards the moon only to see a type of lunar eclipse taking place drowning his world in darkness.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Jack jumped up from his bed running across the room and slamming into the wall.
The affect was immediate, and the boy slid to the floor, and curled into himself wrapping his arms around his legs and burying his face into his knees. Uncontrollable sobs wracked his frame as Jack felt his heart freeze with the terror from his dream. Shaking hands reached up and gripped his white hair while the winter child rocked back and forth, his breath merely a labored gasp as he wept in painful jerking convulsions.
"Jackie!" Bunny shouted, bursting through the door only to see the small boy sitting against the wall melting into hysterics.
The Pooka immediately knelt down thanking the heavens that he had made the wise decision to stay the night at the workshop and not the warren, and pulled Jack onto his lap, rocking the child while caressing his head soothingly "Come on Snowflake, it's ok…"
"N-N-No it's no-ot!" Jack wailed gripping Bunny's fur and burying his head into the rabbit's chest "I-It's not ok!"
"Well it's goin' ta be," Aster continued in a soft voice meant to comfort and calm the child "Ol' Bunny's here, and I'm not gonna let anythin' bad happen ta ya."
"Shut up," Jack sniffled as his tears were beginning to slow "you're not old and we both know it, you're not even twenty. Besides," the boy paused long enough to give a forlorn sigh laced in tears "there's nothing you can do."
"Hmph," Bunny grumped "my physical body may be nineteen, but I've been alive as an immortal fer a lot longer than that."
"You guys don't treat me like I'm three hundred," Jack grumbled "why should I treat you like you're older."
"Listen here ya wanker, I-!" Suddenly Aster paused, his mouth hanging open before he shook his head violently, and cast a playful glare at the boy "Stop changing the subject ya brat," he chuckled gently "and in response ta yer earlier statement, how do ya know I can't help ya?"
Jack sighed at being caught, and snuggling into Bunny, he bit his lip as he considered his next words "…I…" he began slowly "I can't…You just…it's impossible Bunny."
"How do ya know?" the rabbit pressed giving Jack a gentle shake.
"Because," Jack's voice cracked as he struggled to form the words aching in his heart "you just…can't, and I can't change anything either. It's impossible, and I'm powerless to change it."
"Jack," Bunny tilted the pale boys head up so he could look at him "Jackie, look at me," Aster waited until Jack finally looked him in the eye and the Pooka granted his baby brother a gentle smile "I know the prophecy, I know the rules, and I know the vision, so let me help ya? I may not be the smartest person in the universe, but I'm no idiot neither, so give me a chance and stop stressin' over this all on yer lonesome."
Jack immediately cast his eyes back to the floor, his brain whirling as he considered Bunny's offer "Um…" he breathed in a whisper "I…I don't know…if I can."
"You can," Bunny whispered back as he pulled Jack closer in a tight hug "if ya want to. I know it's scary, and hard, and ya don't know what ta do, but let me be yer support. I want ta help ya, and I understand why ya have ta keep this ta yerself, but I already know so why not let me help?"
"Are you sure," Jack's question was muffled by Aster's fur where his face was buried "are you sure you want to help and risk failing and causing the deaths of millions of people?"
"It's worth the risk," Bunny said with a firm nod "if it means we can save North, and not let anyone die as a result, then I would gladly take the chance."
Jack wrapped his arms around Aster, grateful tears streaming down his face as he clung to what he found had become his lifeline, relief washing through him as he felt as if a ten ton weight had been lifted off his shoulders "Thank you," the boy sniffled "I really need my big brother."
"Well I'm right here ankle biter," Bunny smiled as he ruffled Jack's head softly "and I'm not gonna let ya have ta suffer by yerself, I'll always be here ta help ya when ya need me."
Jack nodded, biting his lips against the sobs creeping up his throat, and gripped the rabbit ever tighter. Aster snuffled Jack's temple, nudging his head with his muzzle, once again rocking the boy and humming deep in his throat as he tried to calm Jack enough to lull the winter sprite to sleep. Jack sighed, snuggling into Bunny's chest, feeling his eyes begin to droop and Jack vaguely hoped that he would finally get some semblance of sleep. Bunny stood, resituating Jack in his arms so that he carried him like one would a child, and walked over to the bed. Placing Jack back on the mattress, Bunny proceeded to tuck him in, but stopped when he noticed tearful blue eyes watching him.
"…Bunny…?" Jack whispered in a voice hoarse from crying.
"What is it Snowflake?" Aster said gently sitting on the bed and ran his paw through the white hair.
"Can…I mean…" Jack blushed slightly at the childish tone his voice had taken, made worse by the request he was about to make "I was wondering…I just…I don't like it."
"What don't ya like?" Aster asked his eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Um…Being alone," Jack whispered miserably "especially now…I can't sleep."
"Do ya want me ta stay here with ya?" Bunny asked gently.
"If you could," Jack nodded before ashamed blue eyes hit the pillow "you don't have to if you don't want to."
Jack waited, waited for the insults, or the sigh of strained tolerance as Bunny tried to create a plausible reason for why he couldn't stay; but instead Jack felt the dip and creak of the mattress as Aster climbed on top and pulled the blankets up. The winter child cast shocked eyes at the Pooka, and a relieved smile lit the child's face as he crawled into the rabbit's waiting arms, and snuggled his face into the soft fur.
"Thank you Bunny," Jack sighed as he began to drift off to sleep.
"No problem baby bro," Aster smiled.
"I'm not a baby," the sprite grumbled halfheartedly, a pout evident in his voice.
"Shut up and go ta sleep." The Pooka chuckled.
….
Deep in the caverns running under Burgess, Pitch stalked back and forth in his newly renovated living room. Ever since becoming on better terms with the Guardians, the Boogeyman felt an unexplainable urge to dress up his lair, and make it more…welcoming. Now his home not only had a fully functional kitchen, but it had various guest rooms, plus a large sitting room furnished with tasteful yet comfortable couches and chairs. Pitch would never admit it, but the sight of his lair looking more like a home and not a dank cavern filled him with pride, made him feel a sense of accomplishment. Of course he had yet to invite any of the Guardians over, and was pushing that particular chore off to the side until such a time that an invite of that nature wouldn't be too terribly awkward.
At this moment however Pitch was far too busy to stop and give his remodeled home a secret smile of smug pride, nor did he take the usual minute or so to run his fingers over his newly acquired couch and chuckle in barely restrained glee at how well it looked in the room. Right now the Boogeyman was wracking his brain in his attempt to help Jack. The boy had had another vision tonight, and they would only grow worse until the time of the vision came to pass. Pitch was just about to rush to Jack's side, feeling the immense amount of fear and panic overtaking the young boy's mind, but luckily Bunny came to the sprite's rescue and had calmed Jack down in record time. From what he could see, or more accurately feel, Jack was peacefully adrift in a dreamless sleep which made Pitch sigh in relief. He hadn't told Jack this, but visions of the future caused him pain.
How Sandy was unaffected Pitch had no idea, but for some strange reason the Boogeyman had almost what he would call an allergy to visions, and every time a child had one he would collapse on the floor and writhe in pain. It certainly wasn't pleasant, but what could he do? He was the Nightmare King, and being inexplicably connected to dreams and nightmares, he felt every time Jack fell into that state of having a vision for the future and even saw the vision right along with him. This time had been no different, and the Boogeyman admitted to feeling weary with the nights where they would wake up in twain, gasping for air, and hugging themselves for fear that the vision might return. Unfortunately that will not happen until the fated blue moon.
"Oh Jack," Pitch sighed sinking into his couch and rubbing his face with his hands "what are we going to do about this mess?"
Suddenly a crashing causing the Boogeyman to sit up, his face hard as he ran from the room, and glanced around for the culprit. A Nightmare flew past, its call a shrill whinny as it alerted its master to the presence of an intruder. Pitch furrowed his brow, his eyes becoming sharp as flint as he created the giant scythe and began to walk towards the sounds. What he found caused him to not only drop his weapon, but his eyes widened and his jaw went slack at the sight.
The large chamber, one which still lay under construction as Pitch pondered just what use to give it, was wreathed in flame. Everything that had been stored inside while the Boogeyman worked on carving it out were being eaten by scarlet tendrils, and the heat roared like a furnace. The cavern walls turned red from the exposure, and smoke poured out in billows. Shielding his eyes, the dark man peered inside, and saw the figure of a woman. Red hair flowed down her back in curly waves, and an obsidian crown sat atop her head. A scarlet dress shimmered around her as she walked, accented by the black thorns embroidered on it. But her eyes, once a joyful holly green, were now hard as chipped ice, and just as cold.
Pitch stumbled back, his face pale as he shook his head in disbelief "…No…" he murmured "It's you…"
OOOOH! Looks like you will find out just who the mystery lady is that wants North's head on a pike!
I said I would be busy, but I didn't say that I wouldn't try my best to update when I could. Thank you so much for all your support in this Drabble.
Please continue to do so through…*drum roll* REVIEWS!