Wondrous Nightmares
by bloodysword99
Recommended song: Kimi Ga Tame- Saura
Fanart: -
Sorry for the super late update! I mean really late! I've got my thesis to worry about and my graduation to prepare for! So here it is! :3
ARCH 2:
Memento Furor
(meaning Remember Madness in Latin.)
Chapter 14: Valuing Broken Childhood
He hated the Man in the Moon. Pitch never understood his hate towards the mystical moon being or his guardians. All these years shrouded in darkness, it was funny. He hadn't even once questioned his loathing for them or even gone to root of why he did so. He just despised them because his nature told him. But once he had time to contemplate and seeing Alice's life, Pitch's abhorrence was the result of his past. The past he buried deep in shadow and nightmares; resurfaced when he had met the little Liddell.
He was a man once, Kozmotis Pitchiner. He was a loyal follower of the Lunar family, The Man in the Moon's parents. A loving, kind father and husband, Kozmotis was a satisfied and well accomplished person. That man had done no harm to his masters or his subordinates. He—no—Kozmotis did not deserve to be this. He had served the Lunar's most of his life and he was rewarded by guarding the putrid prison of Fearlings, the dark monsters. Kozmotis was sentenced to a life of solitude to safeguard the prison; Not seeing his family, his beautiful daughter…Years of insanity and tricks from the dark creatures around him, torturing him with voices of his wife and daughter, In the end, darkness had consumed him. Thus, he became the Nightmare King.
That was him a long time ago.
Pitch wasn't angry at Manny and the Guardians themselves per say.
He, once, had served and…believed even in the Man in Moon so innocently and blindly like Alice had and yet Manny failed both of them. They had done no ill to deserve the punishment for crimes that wasn't their own. They were victims. And neither Manny nor his Guardians saved either of them. That was reason for his hate; abandonment.
But despite his loathing, he won't let the Guardians commit the same mistake with Alice again.
He raced underground to the Warrens. Bunnymund was the first on his list because he hated him the most. He'll be the first to feel his wrath. His entrance was grand. Pitch came in with a manly poof of black sand. The Boogeyman startled all Bunnymund's henchmen—or rather, egg minions and even the Pooka himself. Instantly, the Kangaroo drew out his boomerangs and threw them at the Nightmare King who dodged with ease.
"C'mout n fight!"
And he did, it wasn't what Bunnymund expected. Pitch stood firm and tall materialized before the Guardian. He brandished no weapon against him and had no fear in his golden eyes.
"What do I owe the pleasure?" The Guardian spat his distaste despite the obvious uncertainty oozing out his psyche. Pitch could feel many dark emotions within Bunny and he hoped to use it to lure him into his trap.
"I have a proposition." He dictated.
"Oh really? But you see, the thing is, I don't do propositions with scum like you." Bunny glared at his weapon like he was ready to throw it directly into the Nightmare King's head.
"But you definitely want to hear this one." Pitch insisted with a leer.
"Not interested, Boogeyman." He spat before turning his back on Nightmare King but he had an elaborate plan to show Pooka's true colors. He'll need to antagonize him at just the right moment and then twist his words against him.
"I've noticed lately that you Guardians have been very efficient with your duties this century." Sarcasm was practically oozing from his words which were impossible to miss. Bunny halts and peers over his shoulder to see the ever pompous King of Fear.
"We protect children from creatures like you, Pitch. They're fine under our protection." He sneered.
"Emotionally, yes but not physically or mentally sound." Pitch chimed maliciously.
"The point is they're safe!" Whipping his head to prier his full hate towards the Boogeyman.
"What's the point on keeping a child safe when their childhood is being depredated?" Pitch raged and he saw the Easter Bunny's eyes darken.
"This world values children: not childhood!" Stumping his furry feet, Bunny roared while his little eggs scattered at his rage.
No.
That's…not what he expected.
The Boogeyman couldn't believe what he was hearing. Wide golden eyes behold the monstrosity of the Guardian. Bunnymund was a prick but he was a faithful Guardian. He provides and protects the hope of all children and yet, Pitch stood there; stunned of his words. Saying the world valued children and not of their childhood was—true, of course—but Guardians of Childhood value both children and their youth. It was their principle. How could Bunny say such—such awful things? Jaw clenched, Pitch did his very best to hold at the unpleasant emotion. The bile of disgust was rising from his stomach just by looking at Bunnymund. For shame upon the name of Guardians and The Man in the Moon's chosen ones!
"H-How could you say that!? Y-You're a Guardian!" He choked.
"And you think you are?"
Pitch took a step back when Bunny reached for his Boomerang. Stepping into his personal space, the Pooka taps the tip of his weapon against the Boogeyman's chest and muttered his distaste.
"Look here, mate, you keep your hands off Guardian business. How we do our job doesn't concern you." Bunny was angry and authoritative. Pitch expected as much. Among all the Guardians, the Pooka was the one that loathed him the most. And it seemed whatever case the Nightmare King will present, he'll just retaliate and dismisses it, no matter how urgent or important. It was hopeless to hope for, ironically, the Guardian of Hope to help him.
But Pitch remembered Caterpillar's advice.
"They know more of Alice than they wished. Mention her and you may find the odds are in your favour."
And just like that.
"Alice Liddell." Pitch growled and instantly Bunny looked as if he was punched in the face. The Pooka stumbled back a few steps and glared at the Boogeyman; like trying to figure out his secret scheme. In truth, there was no evil plan; not this time.
"Alice Liddell is my concern." He stated strongly and he could visibly see a lump pass down the Guardian's throat. All signs of his arrogance and agitation completely left Bunny. His body language spoke for itself. The Pooka's fluffy paws were fidgety, his big rabbit feet were shuffling in an odd manner, his eyes shifting as if an imaginary fly was circling his line of vision and lastly his nose was twitching; a tangible note that he's hiding something. He was nervous but why?
"…I-I don't know who that is." A pathetic lie! Pitch knew Guardians memorised all their believers by heart. Even at the sound of their name, they instantly knew if they were believers or not. And Alice Liddell was, definitely, one of them. She believed in all of the Guardians.
"Don't play me, Pooka. Alice Liddell, tell me what you know." Pitch stepped forward and Bunny practically scuffled. Now, he had the upper hand. Standing straight and authoritatively, the Boogeyman teleported next to the rattled Pooka and he jumped away at the sudden action. It wasn't long till he was cornered by nightmare horses. Pitch snarled as he towered the cowering Bunny. He will be heard! He will be answered!
"I told ya! I-I don't—" Bunny froze when he saw the Nightmare King's scythe already against his furry neck. Pitch was in no mood to play.
"Let me remind you then."
Sand modification was never his forte. It was more of Sanderson's gift. But with the years of free time, he managed to bend his own Nightmare sand into the basic things. Like weapons, shields, horses and camouflages but never into any specific form; especially lifelike and radiate emotion like original dream sand. Doing the best he could, Pitch shape shifted his nightmare sand in Alice's best figure. He gave the sand-figure the girl's beauty, her slim frame, beautiful rich face and outline of her exuberant detailed features. The emotional traces of her smile as she twirled around in place while clothed in her wonderland dress; the fine detail astonished Bunny and even the Nightmare King himself. As he finished, he reflected on his art. This Alice is what Pitch had always envisioned her despite all that's happened. Not an asylum freak or an orphaned menace but the spirited and imaginative Alice Liddell.
"Alice. Liddell." Exasperated and drained, the Nightmare King growled.
The Pooka shook his head as if was still dazed by the lifelike Alice before him. But soon his amazement twisted into horrific dismay just the sight of her; Alice Liddell, a believer they had sworn to protect, a failure that followed him and haunted him through the Boogeyman. Bunnymund was never succumbed to his mistakes because of his enormous pride but seeing the sand-figured Liddell made everything hard.
"I-I don't know anything!" He continued to lie but why?
The Nightmare Sand crumbled when Pitch started to breathe. He didn't even realize he was holding it. Pitch let his guard down for just a second but that's all it took for the Easter bunny to escape. The hare scuffled and ran for dear life and disappeared into the warrens.
Bunny refused to acknowledge his plea despite the fact he came to him. And what was worse he ran like a coward.
Pitch had to try a different approach. A different guardian but…
"Alice is in danger. Those Guardians have to wait." He barely breathed when he sensed her believer was in dire peril. He raced away into the shadows hoping he could reach Alice.
The next chapter will be posted soon!