Author's note: Hey guys! So glad that I got more comments! I hope you all enjoy this next chapter and I have a spoiler alert! There might be romance soon, I won't say between who but I have a feeling you guys already know.

Jack: ROMANCE?! Please don't read!

Me: Um, yes, please do read! Enjoy the chapter!

Jack: NOOOOOOOOOOO!

BETA NOTE: Demands for updates will be roasted and used to make marshmallows.

Author's Note: Ignore beta at your own risk, just like I do.

Pitch's POV:

It's been about an hour since that pack of buffoons waltzed in here like they owned the place. They were just dying to start something, I swear! If I weren't so wea-tired from our last friendly meeting, I wouldn't have let them walk out of here alive. I didn't notice the lack of nightmares around the place until they mentioned that they just so happened to be roaming the streets. Who would want to take off with them in the first place? There was also the possibility that, since they had no official master to control them, they decided that it was okay for them to leave and do what ever they want, which, in my opinion, makes them more dangerous than before. I smiled evilly at the idea of the Guardian's so called victory, backfiring.

After gaining a family, getting believers, and getting everything he's wanted, I can't seem to wrap my head around the fact that that winter brat left them. It was fun to rile up those idiots on the topic of Frost's disappearance though. As much as I would have liked to have been right about the Guardians eventually casting him out, I know that they would never have the heart to do it, I never expected Jack to be the one to leave them, it just doesn't make sense. Mother Nature wasn't the only one to realize the lack of snow everywhere either. Even if Frost left them willingly, he wouldn't have just started neglecting his duties to winter which meant something more has to be going on. It's not likely that he would vanish into thin air and, even more, Mother Nature has a sense that helps her know where all the seasonal spirits are, so the fact that she can't locate him is concerning. Now, it may sound like I care, I don't; in fact, the idea of that nuisance being gone forever rather lifts my mood, but, I am a little…curious. If something happened to him, then I want to be the first to know; it would be the perfect way to ensure that I have better chances of completing my goal when I rise up again. I would have won if that brat hadn't interfered and, while I am still superior, I won't lie in admitting that I didn't expect him to be much of a problem in my plans. Oh, how wrong I was.

I turned with a new thought and a wicked grin. They don't know where he is; what if I found him first and ensured they didn't get to him in time to help. Oh, yes, this would be fun.

Ella's POV:

I don't know what it was but something strange took over me when I commanded the Nightmare to attack Jack, it just felt so…good. It made me feel so powerful and superior. At the same time, I fight that feeling away, I know what happens when someone is blinded by power. The war against the Guardians was the result of what happens when someone finds themselves higher and more deserving of praise than the rest. I refuse to let those heartless and brainless creatures corrupt or distract me from my goal.

I went back at least an hour later to make sure things were running smoothly. He was mumbling things I couldn't understand in his sleep. I walked closer, half expecting to see some sort of nightmare associated with his past or with the Guardians abandoning him. What I did not expect to see, was me.

Jack's POV:

She stood there on the brink of a dark void, emotionless.

"Please, I'm sorry for what I said that day, I was just angry! You don't have to be alone!" I cried out but she didn't make one move to come back.

The darkness clouded around her, whispering in her ear and, by the looks of it, she was listening to them. They seemed to beckon her to the darkness and scream how cruel the world is. I watched them surround her with their persuading voices. This was all my fault, I should have never said the things I did. She's going to fall into the cold clutches of hate and it's all my fault.

"Why should I care? The cold darkness is the only thing that ever accepted me! You should come with me. They left you for so long, didn't they? Why don't you let them know how it feels to be alone and hated for so long?" She asked but there was a dark shadowy voice overlapping her own.

"Please, I forgave them, and I know you still have hope within you; I've seen it!" I cried but she just smiled and turned to the darkness. It began to corrupt and swallow her whole until there was nothing left but darkness.

"NO! Come back! I was wrong…I'm sorry." The last part came in a whisper.

Ella's POV:

I won't sugar-coat anything, I was shocked. He actually was sorry for what happened that day and he didn't want me to be alone. Part of me wanted to tease him about his dream when he woke up but the other part, the sensible one, told me to wait and see how this rolls out. Just because he had a dream like that doesn't mean he cares and it certainly doesn't mean that anyone else cares, it was just a coincidence. Dreams and nightmares alike can be very unpredictable, besides, I've already learned my lesson about trusting what I see and holding onto hope that would only leave me disappointed. This had to be some sort of trick; I don't know how but it is.

I slipped into my crystal like throne, in deep thought, trying to force away any part of me that thinks people, let alone him, could possess any sort of humanity. I looked back up at him on the ground; he was out cold, there couldn't have been a way that this was faked. The dream world may be unpredictable but your dreams were always affected by your feelings or desires. I know that from watching Sandy work his magic back in the Golden Age and, even then, people were only cruel beings that walked the earth. Then again, how am I any better?

I lowered my head, pondering what I have become. I, in no way, wish to change now that I see the world for what it really is but it also makes me wonder, what would it matter if I was seen? Would they only continue to ignore me like they did Jack for three hundred years? Anger started to stir in me; they've blinded him from everything. They still ignore him, with the expectance of Guardian duties. All they wanted him for was his powers so that they could defeat Pitch and they somehow managed to shield that truth from him. He used to be exactly like me; I was no longer jealous of him as I was furious of what those 'Guardians' did. I stopped; why did I care? I looked over at him, his silvery hair shined from the ice around us and he just seemed so scarred from his past and from everything he's been through. He hasn't been through near as much as me but he's still been through so much because of the people who were supposed to protect him before he even became one of them. They left him when he needed them most and, for that, they would dearly pay. My heart clenched in my chest as I slowly processed what I was feeling. I cared about him?!

I stood up from my throne in horror and raced down the hallway into my room. A phantom sensation spread throughout me that I couldn't describe as hatred or dark pleasure and it hurt. Something was stirring inside me, making me feel sick to my stomach. This wasn't right, I shouldn't feel this! I promised I'd never have to want something or hang onto hope ever again. It was his fault! Ever since he came here, he's been putting words into my head and poisoning my sense of reality. My eyes became dark with hatred and I stormed back down the hall, blade in hand, to the middle of the room. I never should have done this, there were other ways I could have gotten recognition than allowing this…boy to try and change me.

I stood in the middle of the room, above him, blade in hand, ready to end my mistake. I brought my blade execution style.

'Don't think about it.' I chimed to myself. 'Just do it.'

All I needed to do was bring the blade down. I knew if I took one look, I wouldn't do it. I breathed in and out and everything would have been fine…if I hadn't taken that one look. He was in the dark dream world, unaware of what was going on, a frown covering his features. He was so…innocent.

'No, don't think like that!' I scolded myself and brought the blade up again.

"No." His voice suddenly sounded in a whisper. "Please."

This stopped me dead in my tracks and I looked down at him. His eyes were now wide open and staring up at me and the blade in pure fear. He knew there was no way he'd be able to run if I decided to bring my blade down and it scared him. I glared at him, trying to cover up the war of feelings inside of me as he stared up at me. This needed to be done; I brought up the blade once more and he clenched his eyes shut, preparing for the worst. That's what shattered me. That's what stopped my blade. He was giving up and waiting for his death. After a few moments, when nothing happened, he carefully opened his eyes to see what had halted his death. I got angry, preparing to swing again only for arm to come back down and I growled in frustration. He stared up at me, confused. This wasn't supposed to be happening; the word mercy isn't in my vocabulary! The Nightmare that previously occupied him was standing just to the right, and, I swear, it was probably just as confused as Jack. The most confused, though, was me. I never had a problem killing anyone…until now and it infuriated me. What was this?! I looked at him and forced myself to calm down. I probably made myself look like a fool right now. I sighed and looked at the weapon in my hands; I couldn't do it.

He was still staring at me and with one glance, I brought the blade all the way down. He looked away when he heard a shattering sound echo the room. Looking back, the blade was in the floor, and had shattered the chain connecting him to the floor to bits. He looked back at me but despite what I was doing, I still kept a look of pure hatred on.

"Don't do anything stupid." I hissed and walked down the hall, back to my room, leaving a very confused and surprised winter spirit and Nightmare behind.

Author's note: Wow, talk about mood swing issues. One moment she declares to make the Guardians pay for using Jack and the next she's prepared to kill him. I posted this next chapter a bit earlier than I expected but I was excited.

Jack: Aw, she does care. *places hand over heart*

Ella: *punches in the face*

Me: o.o, we'll see you in the next chapter, I guess?