**YAY! We've made it all the way to chapter three! Hope you all are still with me so far because this chapter I feel will blow you ALL from your computer chairs and send you all around the world to end up right back into your chairs =O Okay maybe not THAT cool, but here's to wishful thinking at least on my part ^^ Hope you grab onto something and go along with the ride for this chappie ^^ ON WITH THE SHOW! ALSO my computer has been autocorrecting the dark mistress in a couple chapters. Her name is AMAYA, just letting you all know lol =D**

Chapter Three: Twisting Tides

Marvelous! Such a clever idea this had turned out to be indeed. After getting to the dark kingdom that belonged to Amaya, Pitch had been taken to a secrete underground cavern where they had begun to discuss ways to make their beasts stronger. They had tried several different things and so far all had failed and caused their beasts to fall apart and need reconstructing. Though, after so many attempts, they had made a win for both of them and it happened in a rather odd manner. While Pitch and Amaya had been working on trying to find a solution, one of his Nightmares had been approached by one of her Night Terrors. They had pause din talking to watch as the Nightmare pranced around the large mighty beast before something began to happen. The two began to merge and form, changing shape and become one large creature to truly fear.

The new creation was large and held a horse-like body with large horns that coiled around much like horns upon a ram, but twice as sharp. A long, dragon tail flicked back and forth, large spikes sticking out several feet from the very tip of the tail, proving to be rather painful it impaled upon them. The beast had two pairs of eyes that glowed a bright blue-white in color and held no pupil at all. Wisps of darkness flowed around the hooves and fluttered like thick black flames dancing. The mane and tail were made up of the same black flames that wavered and moved constantly. Erupting from the shoulders of the creature was a large, massive pair of leather wings, the tips cracked looking as horns protruded from the tips to resemble claws. When the beast let loose a mighty screech of a roar, flames exploded into the air at a very hot temperature causing the flames to range from blue to orange to reds. It was a beautiful, yet terrifying creature to behold. The creature had been called a Night Shadow and stood well over ten feet within the air.

The beast was mighty and perfect in every aspect and Amaya was curious to see it in action and see just what it could do. With her mind made up she smirked and sent a look to Pitch, who understood the silent meaning. They would set this one loose upon the world and see just what it was capable of, and then they could see if it was truly, a more powerful pet than their own alone. Pitch watched as Amaya moved to stand in front of the beast and slowly held out her hand, which the Night Shadow nuzzled at, purring softly at her touch. It pleased her with how loyal their nights were, and knew with the new formation of the beast before her; the Guardians wouldn't know what to do, nor how to stop it, which would throw the battle in their favor.

"Go forth and show us what you can do my beauty…. "

With her words filling the Night Shadow, it let loose a screech before taking to the sky and soaring over Amaya's kingdom and heading towards Earth. It took hardly any time before the Night Shadow landed upon the Earth right in an intersection of a busy city. Its landing caused small tremors to shake the ground slightly, causing people to stop their actions to look around curiously. Once it was fully settled on the pavement, its head tilted, ears standing up as it listened deeply to the sounds of the city life. Slowly it moved towards what appeared to be a subway, crushing a car in its path and creating a terrible car pileup from the crushed car. At the accident, people began to panic and many ran around screaming in pure fear and terror, unsure of just what was happening in their city.

It would not be long before the beast reached the stairs that led down into the subway and all the winding tunnels. Once there, the large head sunk down into the slight darkness, eyes easily able to see the people going about their day, waiting on the train to get in and waiting for departures. With a glow of its eerier eyes, it rammed its head against the oncoming train, horns sinking deeply through the train and ripping it from the tracks to throw it against the far wall, bending the cart in half almost. It was then that the mighty creature roared and allowed fire to burst forth, igniting the train and the wires in the tunnels. The flames caused several small explosions as glass and stone flew in all directions, knocking several people unconscious and killing hundreds more. After the subway mess, the Night Shadow moved, heading out of the city to try and find something else that would be fun to destroy to please its masters.

The guardians had been once more, up in the North holding a meeting and trying to divide the group into two to three groups to go patrol the globe for any signs of danger, but the meeting had been quite short. While they had been discussing everything, Valeria paused and pushed herself up into a standing position before she turned and glanced at the Globe, her hand tightly pressed over her chest. Sitting within the corner, minding her own business, was Dandy, who also felt the pain sing through her body as she looked up to Valeria to watch her sister silently before moving to join her, head tilted as a large question mark floated above her head. North had paused mid sentence when Valeria had pushed herself away like she had been burned and set on fire. Sandy was the only one who seemed to know something was wrong and slowly moved towards his two beautiful daughters.

"Dandy… we need to get to North America…Something is destroying a city and I feel many lives have slipped away." Valeria muttered softly, head tilting as she watched glowing dots on the globe.

As several dots began to flicker and go out, Dandy only nodded her head before she raised her hand lifted and she summoned a massive chariot made from dandelions and soft clouds. Both Valeria and Delilah got into the chariot and were soon gone from view, which left Sandy stomping his foot as a little angry symbol shot forth above him which moved into a long tangent of the two just going off on their own like that and leaving him behind! Bunnymund stood up, making sure his boomerang was secured upon his back before he stood tall, prepared to speak, but was rudely interrupted as Jack held his staff high within the air suddenly.

"Come on! We need to go help them!"

"Right ice boy, I was just about to say the same thing… back off my paws Frosty!" Bunnymund glared.

"Not my fault Mr. Kangaroo was taking too long to speak!"

"ENOUGH! We go help! To the sleigh." North exclaimed loudly.

North had interrupted before Bunnymund and Jack could get to into their arguments they tended to have quite often, much to everyone else's distress. With the danger at hand, the reindeer were harnessed and came pulling North's awesome, massive sleigh. He climbed within, followed by Sandy, who for once looked very worried. After Bunnymund sucked it up and climbed within the very back, setting so he could lean out the side if he needed to. Jack perched upon the side, hand tightly holding onto his staff as he waited. He felt Toothy sitting down next to him at the middle, giving Bunnymund his space. Once they were all seated and ready to go, North gave the command and the reindeer took off to the ramp so they could get high within the air, flying over the snow covered land. It would not be long before they would take the portal to get there all the more quickly. What they saw made them gasp in pure horror.

Before them the city was filled with thick gray smoke that billowed from the underground. Flames danced several buildings and ambulances and police had sirens blarring, sorting through the wreckage and the mounting damage. So far the people had assumed there had been some kind of earth tremor that had caused all the damage, but with the amount, it was starting to look more like a bomb had gone off. People ran around looking for loved ones, many unsure if they had a home to go back to and other just sitting and crying in the arms of others. North was chilled to the bone at the amount of fear and sadness that filtered through the air. He had never seen anything like this and it pained him to be witness to such a catastrophe. As they drew closer to the City they saw roads ripped up and cars completely crushed like pancakes from some great force. Jack found his eyes scanning the city below, looking for Delilah and Valeria, but he could not find them at all.

As they flew in the air, they came towards the outskirts of the city and rode along the road that would lead towards the country and that is where they saw the Night Shadow. Not only did they see the strange looking beast, they notice Delilah flowing upon her cloud, her body shimmering like she wore royal armor. In her hands she wielded large fighting fans that shimmered and slices along the flesh of the beast that was spitting fire at her. Jack found his eyes moving over until he noticed Valeria. She was mounted upon a large dappled palomino draft horse that stood well over eight feet tall. The horse held ribbons and flowers through his mane and tail and a fancy looking saddle that held streamers flowing along it. The horse looked rather majestic as it pranced and stomped around, rearing up as Valeria shot an arrow from her large bow. The arrow looked like a withered rose with thorns covering the surface and hard, sharp petals.

Both the fans and arrow sunk and injured the creature which roared out loudly, glass in nearby cars shattering from the echo of the mighty screech. The long tail whipped around, swiping at Valeria, who was able to dodge and send back three arrows at once. Dandy threw one of her fans right at the Night Shadow's head, ripping one of the sharp horns from the creature. To watch the two fighting, it was a beautiful sight to behold. Their fighting looked like a dance and it showed they were fully comfortable with each other to know where the other would be firing and how to help each other in their attacks. Each slice and cut they made into the beast caused a strange, steaming poisonous blood to flow to the ground, killing the ground and trees it touched. Watching the two fight, the other Guardians understood why the Man in the Moon had sent them…they could fight and attack the creatures like this. They did okay with the Nightmares, but this was a real creature that could inflict reach pain and damage to the humans in the world, so it took the two that were around humans daily, and who obviously knew how to fight and lure away from the city and the people.

While Delilah and Valeria continued to fight the beast, North parked his sleigh and hopped out, rushing to the cars and checking for any still alive. While he did that Jack Frost moved in, creating an ice barrier around the beast and the guardians to keep it contained. Bunnymund called forth his giant stone eggs to help move the debris in the roads so that any traffic could continue on its way to safety. Sandy kept his eyes glued to his daughter and adopted daughter, making sure they were safe and unharmed. He was worried and called forth his sand whips to help hold and lock the creature from moving. Toothy went off to help North check the few cars scattered around the side of the road. With the beast contained, Valeria called over to Delilah.

"Hey Dandy! Let's do that one maneuver were have been practicing!"

Once getting the nod from Dandy, she moved, her horse galloping at a fast, swift pace towards Dandy, who moved to stand upon the rump of the horse, her balance perfect as she locked both her fans together and began to swing them in a large circle. As Dandy's fans spun, Valeria pulled out a large arrow that lightly pulsated and glowed a soft green in color. She urged her horse onwards until they were close enough and she fired the arrow which sank into the throat of the beast. Her arrow was soon joined by the two spinning fans which cut deep into the flesh and severed the head from the Night Shadow. With the Night Shadow losing its head, his body slowly turned into ash and sand and fluttered away in the breeze, leaving behind the deadened earth where it was standing.

Valeria pulled her horse to a halt, turning to high-five Dandy who sat behind her and rested her chin upon Valeria's shoulder. Unfortunately with all the damage, the people would have to fix it, but at least the dangerous threat had been eliminated for the moment. The horse turned, trotting over to the reindeer and standing tall and proud over them, which just made the reindeer snort. Valeria jumped from her horse and moved to allow Dandy to land upon the ground once more. Dandy moved over to where the deadened earth was and crouched, her hand placed flat upon the ground as new grass began to seep from the ground and burst into life to replace what had been destroyed. Behind her, Bunnymund could not help was watch in pure awe as she brought the grass back to life, and cleaned the entire land around them from the effects of the Night Shadow. His ears stood up straight, twitching slightly as he slowly approached her to look down to the ground.

"Amazing battle skills Delilah…Glad to have ya as part of the team."

Delilah just nodded her head, a small smile forming upon her features as she turned from the rabbit and moved to her father, Sandy, who was once more sending the evil look right at Bunnymund, his foot tapping faster than a mile a minute. Bunnymund felt like part of his sound had gone to hide with the unpainted Easter eggs as his fur stood up slowly and he turned away from Sandy and Delilah. After the guardians had done all they could, North headed back to his workshop and Toothy went to get ready for her nightly routine of collecting teeth. Bunnymund even went his own way as he sighed, trying to think of a way to not be glared at to death by Sandy. Delilah wanted to go check on Travis after all had happened so close to where the boy lived and she was gone with a hug to Valeria and a waving hand to Sandy, who left to try and send the best dreams possible to the children. Valeria was left with just Jack, who did not seem to be in a hurry to go anywhere.

She moved over to pat her horse, a gentle kiss being placed on the silky soft muzzle before she turned to glance to the frosty one. She silently lifted an eyebrow towards him, which made his turn a light shade of pink and clear his throat, a hand moving to rub at the back of his neck a few times in an apparent nervous gesture. Finally he moved, taking a few steps towards her and a large, goody grin plastered upon his face. The close he got, the more awkward he felt. He had never gotten a chance to know many people, and there was something about Valeria that made his heart beat like once did when he was alive.

"Would you mind going on a walk with me Valeria?" Jack was nervous as he rambled out his question.

"Sure, I'd love to. It gives us the perfect chance to get to know one another a bit more... anywhere in particular you wish to go?"

"Uh… what about where you use to live?"

A brief flash of pain filtered through her eyes, but she finally smiled and nodded, moving to climb within the saddle of her horse as she glanced to Jack with a mischievous smirk. Noticing the look, Jack swallowed several times before he approached the horse cautiously, wondering how the horse felt about new comers around his mistress. Before Jack could think too long on it, he felt himself hoisted up and onto the back of the saddle behind Valeria. He had not ridden a horse since before he became Jack Frost, and he had to admit it was a bit thrilling to say the least. Without much warning, Valeria clicked at her trusty stallion who took off, running until the body vanished like that of a simply shadow. When they came out of her vortex, Jack noticed all the rolling hills of green and stoned walls. He looked around and took in the flocks of sheep free roaming around and being watched by dogs. He had not yet seen a place like this in such detail. He could easily make up a small town way off in the distance, and houses scattered far and wide. To the side of them waves crashed against the cliffs, sending foam and mist into the air.

"Welcome to where I am from…Scotland." Valeria boasted happily.

"It's very breathtaking…."He replied.

He then let out a tiny yelp as the horse, named Bellfrie, took off at a fast pace, sailing over the walls and galloping along the winding hills as they passed several stones standing erected in odd patterns and shapes. They rode for what felt like hours, but Jack found himself enjoying every moment of it, his eyes taking in everything around and how different it was from his own hometown. He was fully enjoying himself as he found himself looking towards her every once in a while when he could, since he was sitting behind her. Finally the horse slowed down until walking up a large hill towards a cliff where a large stone marker rested. The marker was well worn, showing its old age and upon the stone a long list of names were written, though faded in time. Valeria moved and gently rested her hand upon the stone before turning to look out over the sea and waves ebbing and flowing roughly.

"Valeria, could you tell me about before you… died?"

"Sure…" Valeria answered after a long pause. "I was born here in Scotland to a wonderful family. I had two older brothers who picked on me all the time, and even though we didn't have much, we always made do and were thankful for what we had. Well as I grew up, a war started. I no longer remember the name of the war, but I remember how hard it was. Many people I knew lost family members. I went away to learn how to be a medic and so when the war needed medics and nurses, I went to help out when I could. In the war, I watched many fine soldiers fall, and no matter how hopeless it looked, they never gave up, never surrendered and it was such a beautiful sight to watch. The war lasted several years, and as men came into my ward, I would heal them and giving them the courage to keep fighting strong, to not give up no matter what happened. Some came in badly injured and knew they had hardly any time left, but I would give them the positive reinforcement that they had done their best and had made a difference in the fighting, and it let them die peacefully. Finally though, I tasted the battle for myself. The ward became overrun and the battle was at our front door. I took several gun shots, but even with them I still stood back up. The men fighting alongside me by this time were stunned, yet it motivated them to keep firing, keep going no matter what happened. We were able to push them back, the enemy faltering and issuing a retreat. As the enemy was retreating I took one last shot that ended all the pain running through my body. The shot went into the back of my head and dropped her where I stood to the floor, my blood pooling around me as my body soon went cold afterwards. It was then that Moony came to me and spoke with me, since he had watched the entire war and noticed how strong a spirit I had and how my determination to keep going always shone through. Well I was brought back and took after the children's rhyme for the Bell Horses. I enjoy watching racing and encouraging them to keep fighting, not giving up even if they are in last place. It was then that Dandy found me and we formed a strong bond. After that she took me home with her and Sandy adopted me as one of his own."

She looked up and gave a soft smile to Jack, who looked saddened by her tale. She had seen such gruesome things, and yet still was a stronger person for it and Jack had to admit it was very admiring. He smiled to her though, showing her he felt she was amazing for what she had done in life and even now afterwards. He was about to speak, to talk with her some more, but the Cliffside rumbled as the earth cracked where Valeria was standing. The constant waves had weakened the soil as it gave way under her feet, her arms flailing as she tried to catch her balance. Jack, seeing her falling over the cliff rushed and wrapped his arms around her as he twisted his body to toss her back to solid ground. As he had tossed her, their feet had become tangled and he felt his body hit the grass and her body. His forehead loudly cracked against Valeria's as the force of the fall as his lips pressing against her own soft lips. Jack felt like he had stars floating around his head as his head throbbed and slowly he realized his lips were pressed against Valeria's. He scrambled, flying back and floating within the air as he held large, startled eyes, his hand fluttering around as he rambled out every kind of sorry he could think of. Valeria slowly sat up, her face unreadable as she looked at Jack Frost for a few moments before slowly pushing herself up into a standing position.

"Thanks for saving me… though I could have done without the headache…. Well shall we?" she clearly avoided the accidental kiss.

"S…sure… sorry again!"

The two would leave the rolling lush hills and head back so Jack could go about creating fun for the children, since a good, long snow day was in order. Valeria had a large horse race that was coming up that she was not wish to miss, and her mind needed to sort things out as well before it exploded. While Jack and Valeria went their separate ways leaving the city behind, Delilah remained. She had left, searching out Travis and only calming down as she had come to his run down home. She floated into the house in her more ghost like appearance to not be seen. There, sleeping upon the ratty, torn up could was Travis, covered with a blanket and holding a stuffed lion. A relieved s mile covered her face as she was pleased to know he was safe and sound from the dangers that had gone on earlier this day. As she kept watch over Travis, she was unaware of the large rabbit ears in the window behind her. The ears were attached to Bunnymund as he slowly peeked into the window several times before ducking back down to keep himself hidden and out of sight. He knew it was a bit strange of him to follow someone, but he wanted to make sure that if anything happened he was here to offer his help to Delilah. For some reason, Bunnymund felt like Delilah was a pure flower and he was intrigued by her stunning beauty and her large, kind, loving heart and soul. He wanted to get to know her more… he had already decorate so many glass eggs to offer as a gift, but none seemed like the perfect gift for such a radiant dandelion. As he continued the spy on her, he sighed gently and set about painting yet another egg silently.

On the moon, Amaya was beyond furious. Everything had been going according to plan, and she had been very pleased to see their Night Shadows could do real damage to the world. She had been prepared to do a dance and song of joy when those guardians had to cause trouble and stick their noses into her business. Pitch could tell from Amaya's reaction that she knew the two who had slaughtered their Night shadow, but he had never seen them before. He was very shocked though with their battling abilities and just why they were there, but he knew the Man in the Moon had brought them since the other guardians had shown up and helped in any way they could. There was a kink in their plan that would need some minor adjusting. They needed to create more Night Shadows and send them out, and with many causing chaos at once, would force the guardians to separate which would increase the chances of killing off a few and changing the tides of this upcoming war.

~END CHAPTER THREE~

Author's Note: WOOOOOW this is a looong chappie and was packed with action and terror and gosh soooo much stuff! I hope you all enjoyed it and be on the lookout for the next chapter sooooon where we see a bit of Bunnymund being a complete goofball! Hope it's entertaining enough for you all and for anyone curious about Bell Horses, it's a real rhyme ^_^ well anyways take care and thank you for all who read!