Chapter Twenty-Four

Training

Sandy glided in through the skylight a hint of worry on his chubby features. He had raced to the Pole as quickly as his dreamsand could carry him when he'd seen the Northern Lights alarm raise. The sun was just now coming up on the horizon as Sandman drifted down to see all of the other guardians waiting on his arrival looking at North anxiously. He glided up to the gathering now a large question mark trailing over his head.

Bunnymund had arrived moments earlier, but after having been assured there was no immediate threat seemed placated but nonetheless apprehensive to hear the news North felt the need to call them all to the Pole to hear.

Toothiana stretched and yawned, exhausted from a night of gathering teeth. Jack Frost took a seat in one of the chairs, his hood covering his head.

"So what's up, North?" said Jack.

"Something that troubles me." North said when he saw that everyone was present. "Earlier, when I was sleeping, Pitch tried to manipulate my dreams and give me a nightmare."

Toothiana gasped and Jack gripped his staff.

Sandy's face drew down in obvious anger.

Bunnymund, whom everyone expected to be raging mad only shook his head sadly, "I guess it was only a matter a time before we were gonna have ta address this happening. Did this happen after I left last night?"

"Actually Bunny, no," North said grimly. "It happened before I called you. I awoke and sensed something odd, but I could not put finger on it. It was only after I approached Pitch and he told me that I put two and two together. That was after you left, Bunny."

Bunnymund blinked in surprise, "Wait what? You forced Pitch to admit it to you and you didn't tell me earlier when we were looking that he'd done this, or he actually told you voluntarily that he gave you a nightmare?"

Sandy was quite curious to hear what North would say as well.

"I did not know at the time we were looking. He told me on his own after you left." North replied. "I was going to leave him to sleep, but he called me back and confessed the whole thing. Seems he was feeling guilt."

Bunnymund snorted, "That's new... and it's good. I'd never have thought he'd actually tell on himself without being under duress to do so."

North nodded in agreement with Bunny, and then turned to Sandy. "There is something else that disturbs me. I noticed that gold specks you put in Pitch were somewhat faded after this happened."

Sandy looked concerned but gave a nod of acknowledgement. He signed a picture of Pitch followed by his sands whirling around him as indication that he would reapply the light shards.

Bunnymund looked lost in thought a moment before speaking, "That little bit of knowledge is good and bad mates. On one hand, it's a great way ta know whether he's making anyone have nightmares if he does decide not to be as forthcoming next time, but if by giving nightmares he's negating Sandy's handiwork means we're not going ta be able ta keep tabs on him if he can jump in and out of shadows again. Did he even know that Sandy's influence had been diminished?"

"If he did notice, he didn't say anything." North said with a shake of his head, his brow furrowing. He shrugged. "As long as Sandy keeps him full of gold flakes, we have nothing to worry about. Although him getting urge to feed on fear and give out nightmares has me worried. I've, hopefully, discouraged him from giving in for the time being, but this little incident has left me wary."

"I guess we're just going to have to be careful where we fall asleep around here." said Jack. "Unless you take to locking his door at night."

North frowned. "I hate doing that, Jack, especially since we're trying to make him feel like he fits in."

Bunnymund sighed, "Jack has a point though; Pitch's freedoms shouldn't outrank our own. If he's proving that he can't be trusted to wander about unattended then maybe you're gonna have ta put some restrictions on him North. Maybe not this time since you've already addressed the issue, and he confessed ta it, but if'n you have any further instances where he breaks our trust we just might need ta put him under lock and key for his own good if not just as an added punishment."

"I will keep it in mind, Bunny." said North. "Hopefully it won't happen again. But if it does, I may have to stoop to doing as you and Jack suggest." North shook his head and sighed. "And here I thought we were finally making progress."

"Sounds to me like you have." said Tooth. "He did confess what he'd done, after all. The old Pitch wouldn't have done that."

"She's right," said Jack. "I have to say that I'm impressed. The Boogeyman's feeling guilty."

"Ya shoulda seen him yesterday when I gave em' too much chocolate! Oh nelly I ain't ever gonna forget that!" Bunnymund laughed, "I never would have thought he coulda changed or woulda wanted ta change, but these past couple days has proven me wrong. Numerous tannings aside, he does seem to actually have a desire ta change. Although it seems the bottom warmings have been great motivators to pushing him in the direction we've needed him ta go that he may not have veered toward on his own."

North smiled at remembering the fun he had had with Bunny and Pitch. He wished they could spend more times like that. He hoped they would. He hoped that what Pitch did wasn't the beginning of something unpleasant that they would have to deal with in the future.

"He was doing so good." North mused. "Why did he end the day like this?"

"Hey, this might be the only time." said Jack. "You can't create problems where there are none yet. We're all just going to have to keep a closer watch on him and be careful where we fall asleep."

Bunnymund mused, "I think he wants ta do good, but we're gonna have to direct those dark urges somehow. We need ta help him figure out a way ta get them under control because I don't think he knows how ta do it on his own."

"I would help if I could, but even I don't know." North said. "Pitch is only one who has powers like that. Only he knows them on personal level."

Bunnymund's ear twitched as his face became gravely serious, "Well then, maybe we need ta start getting at the source and have him tell us about it, so we can know what he knows. Then maybe we can help him help himself. What do ya think?"

"If he will tell us," said North. "And tell us what we need to know. I'm not sure he wants to get them under control."

Bunnymund's brow furrowed, "We won't know if he'll talk unless we ask. Ya think he wants them ta run rampant? Why? Maybe we should call him in here and start asking questions. I mean we are all here now. Might as well get it out of the way eh?"

Sandy shrugged before nodding that he could stay.

North shrugged. "Might as well. We have to restore Sandy's dust flakes in him anyway." He really didn't feel like dealing with any of this.

Sandy pointed at his chest and made a depiction of Pitch over his head before heading in the direction of Pitch's room.

Pitch had been heading down to the reindeer pens when Sandy flew in front of him halting Pitch in his tracks. He looked up at the golden man curiously, "Sandy?"

Sandy wore a displeased expression as he waged a finger at the nightmare lord and pointed towards the globe room.

Pitch's countenance faltered as understanding registered, and he frowned turning towards the globe room. What if North really hadn't forgiven him? Pitch was worried now as he hadn't been in the globe room since he'd first been brought to the Pole. To be heading there now felt like a funeral march. It unnerved him even more as once he'd turned towards the globe room, Sandy had sent a wave of dreamsand under Pitch to lift him in the air hauling him along bodily as Sandman sped back towards the globe room.

Sandman soared back into the globe room carrying a very nervous looking Pitch and coming to a halt where everyone was gathered. He lowered Pitch to the ground in a swirl of sand that also re-saturated Pitch with the light shards that had faded from his body.

Pitch took a few steps back standing very rigidly as he looked around at the group. He hadn't seen Toothiana and Sandy since the party, and by the way they were scrutinizing him, Pitch knew they were not happy with him. He swallowed hard as he smiled weakly at the group and gave them a halfhearted wave hello bringing worried eyes up to North in a silent question.

"Do not worry, Pitch, you are not in trouble." said North, noticing the look on the Boogeyman's face. "We only wish to have discussion to try and solve a problem that we feel needs to be solved as soon as possible. It is about you taking control of your powers."

Pitch grimaced looking down in embarrassment at the reminder of his lack of self-control, "Oh. I… I see," he said quietly.

Bunnymund got right to the point, "Do you have control of the fearlings or do they control you Pitch?"

Pitch refocused his eyes on Bunnymund as he fidgeted uncomfortably, "Um… well… both sort of? I… I can control them, but… what they offer is a little… difficult to resist," admitting this shamed him, and he flushed noticeably to admit it.

"Pitch, in light of recent events, this topic comes as great concern to us." said North. "I trust you when you say it will never happen again. But you and I know that fearlings are unpredictable. It would make me feel better if you learned to gain full control of them."

Pitch frowned folding his arms as he scoffed, "Don't you think I want to? They don't control me as much as… put temptations in my way. I feel what they feel when absorbing fear, their more like a pheromone than a separate entity."

"Well, then, you will have to learn not to give in to their temptations." North sighed. "Whatever it calls for, do it. We cannot afford repeat of last night." He looked over at Bunny.

Bunnymund moved toward Pitch, and Pitch on high alert tensed at his approach. Bunnymund shook his head, "I'm not gonna hurt ya mate, try ta relax okay?"

Pitch nodded, but he couldn't help but to watch Bunnymund carefully as he moved into close proximity and laid a paw on his shoulder looking Pitch squarely in the eyes sizing him up a moment before he spoke, "Ya need ta get control over the fearling influence in ya; we already know this. But, yer telling us that the fearlings aren't the real problem, the real problem is that temptation is your weakness right?"

Pitch reluctantly nodded looking chagrinned that he had to take the lion's share of the blame for his actions.

Nodding, Bunnymund continued, "Have ya ever tried ta deny yer urges?"

Pitch's frown deepened; he didn't like this line of questioning. Being confronted fully with what he was and the guardians' opinions of him made Pitch feel uneasy, but he answered truthfully because he realized on some level that he did want help if just to find some understanding for what he faced, "Honestly, I never really had reason to try. I remember… vaguely when I was first imbued with the fearlings, I was lost within their strength, but the longer we inhabited the same space, the more we melded and became unified in thought and body."

Bunnymund seemed reassured by this news rather than discouraged, "That's about what I expected ya'd say. So, that being the case, if you're having trouble controlling yourself, maybe we need ta put you in training ta work on that eh?"

Pitch regarded him as if he had three heads, "What?"

"Training, ya know ta get yer powers under control," Bunnymund said matter-of-factly as if this was a no-brainer, "I know, I know, it sounds crazy, but maybe if you can practice controlling yourself under supervision, you can get a handle on those temptations."

Bunnymund motioned to Sandy and Sandy pointing at himself in surprise realized Bunnymund was including him in his plan and floated over beside him looking between Bunnymund and Pitch curiously to hear what more Bunnymund had to say.

Continuing, Bunnymund explained, "Sandy has the power ta put any of us out in an instant, this can be useful twofold. See, if Sandy can put us under, you can practice controlling yourself, and if ya get out of hand… well, we've got Sandy ta make sure the fearlings don't influence ya too much."

Pitch blinked thinking on Bunnymund's words before answering with more than a little astonishment, "Are you… are you telling me you want me to practice giving nightmares to one of you to learn how to control my urges?"

Bunnymund nodded looking back up at North, Toothiana, Sandy, and Jack, "What do ya guys think? Do I sound crazy, or does it sound like a good plan?"

Sandy was unsure and shrugged glancing back at the others to see how they felt since Sandy wouldn't be the one subjecting himself to nightmares.

"I don't know..." Tooth said, worry etched on her face. "It sounds risky." She looked around at the others.

"I have an idea," said Jack. "If Pitch gets an urge to fall into any temptations, he can slap himself in the face."

Pitch's eyes narrowed at Jack as he spat, "Really Frost? How about I just slap you in the face?"

Bunnymund frowned, "Alright you two. Seriously though, I will volunteer ta be the first victim, and with Sandy observing and anyone else if they think they can add ta the process I don't see the risk being too high. What do you think North?"

"I have to agree with Tooth. It does sound risky." said North. "But if you are willing to take chance, then it is your choice." North didn't like the idea at all. It sounded dangerous, like playing with fire. What if Sandy wouldn't be able to stop and contain Pitch? What if things got out of control? He knew something had to be done, and done soon, but surely there was a better way that didn't risk Bunny. The rabbit was brave, North had to say.

Bunnymund smirked, "I've got hope this is gonna work, or at least I got hope in Pitch that we can get closer ta figuring out what we need ta do in order ta help him get a better grasp on those temptations," Bunnymund glanced over at Pitch as he said this with a warm smile.

All of this was still sinking in for Pitch, but the one thing that had surprised him most was that Bunnymund of all people was willing to trust him so implicitly to try and help him get in better control of his powers, and this faith in him was touching. There was an exciting thrill that laced up his spine to also realize that this 'training' meant he was going to get access to feed his cravings which was very tantalizing indeed! He smiled back an appreciative smile, "You'd... you would be willing to subject yourself to my nightmares to try and help me?"

Bunnymund nodded, "I wanna help ya help yourself. If'n that's what it takes ta help ya, then yeah, I'll take one for the team."

Pitch was awed by this gesture, and he felt an overwhelming sense of camaraderie to have such a vote of confidence from the rabbit. Although the others were wary, they were also not adamantly opposed to the idea either, and this gave Pitch hope that he could perhaps use this opportunity to try and harness a better grasp on his powers over just riding the flow of them and gorging himself like he'd always done. He looked up at North now feeling like he needed his vote of confidence most after being his last victim, "I'm going to do my best not to disappoint you again."

"I'm glad to hear that." said North. He then turned and gave Sandy a silent stare that seemed to say, 'I don't like this. Keep a close watch on him.'

Sandy was quick to catch the hint North was sending him, and he gave North a swift curt nod of affirmation.

"Since we're all here now, we could try it out to give the idea a test run," Bunnymund offered looking to North to decide.

North hesitated, then finally sighed, waving a hand to give Bunny the go-ahead.

Bunnymund beamed apparently pleased, "Well, I guess we should go over there to the couch?" Bunnymund pointed to a far off corner where a small set up to relax lay, but it was not really made for entertaining guests like North's lounge.

The suddenness of the request left Pitch feeling a bit flustered, "Wha? Here? Na-now?" Being put on the spot and expected to 'perform' left Pitch feeling an akin likeness to stage fright.

Sandy bore a soft smile extending a hand gently towards the sofa for Pitch to follow as Bunnymund was already making his way over to it.

Pitch had never had an audience, and the thought of them all quietly observing, judging, and evaluating him while he enacted something that was normally intimately private felt like he was being stripped bare in front of them. It was an unnervingly uncomfortable feeling, and suddenly he was having second thoughts. He looked back to the remaining guardians settling his eyes on North almost wishing the Cossack would have said no because he'd had no time to mentally prepare himself for this. "Are... are you sure North?" Pitch knew that the man was at odds with the plan, and Pitch didn't want him to feel conflicted with the decision and regret it later.

North gave a slight, nervous shrug. "If you are ready and Bunny wants to go through with this, then go ahead."

Pitch nodded although his own nervousness shone through as he slunk over to where Bunnymund lay prostrated on the couch his head propped on a cushion, arms crossed lightly over his chest, and oddly relaxed Pitch noted. Pitch on the other hand was not, especially glancing at Sandy who wore a look that was a mix between a glare and feigned indifference. Pitch swallowed hard leaning over Bunnymund whispering, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Seeing Pitch's anxiety to go through with giving him a nightmare made Bunnymund feel even more assured that he was going to be okay under Pitch's influence. He did his best to not show that he was in fact nervous about this venture, it might be detrimental to the cause, so Bunnymund put on a brave face, "Just do it Pitch. I trust you."

Pitch grimaced but nodded and moved behind Bunnymund's head, "Alright. I'm going to do my best to make sure you don't feel much," Pitch tried to reassure as his eyes traveled to Sandy giving a small nod to show he was ready.

Sandy floated over to Bunnymund sprinkling dreamsand over the rabbit's face, and Bunnymund's eyes fluttered as instant imagery of frolicking googies appeared over his head. Sandy was watching Pitch intensely now.

Pitch withered under such scrutiny. He could feel all of their eyes on him, and where his hands would normally be fluid and explorative as he reached out to touch another's dreams to turn them in to nightmares, now his hands trembled uneasily in staggered resistance. His heart was hammering in his chest, and he withdrew slinking away back onto his heels and bowed his head in defeat, "I... I can't. There's too much distraction. I can't concentrate with you all watching me like this. I don't want to hurt him." Pitch felt an acute sting to his pride at this level of impotence to give them what they were waiting to see.

North nodded in understanding. "Would it help if we moved to another place, with less watching eyes?"

Pitch brought woeful eyes up to meet North's eyes showing clear indecision, "Maybe. I... I've never done this with someone watching me... it... it feels... odd."

"Well, what do you suggest, then?" North asked. "Do you want to do it now, or wait?"

Pitch sighed still looking down as he shook his head, "I… no, let's just get it over with. I just need a minute to get my head right to focus."

North motioned for Jack and Tooth to leave, thinking it would help. Jack didn't want to go, but was finally ushered out by Tooth, who was more than glad to leave, even though the situation made her curious.

Pitch remained crumpled on the floor for long minutes with his eyes squeezed tightly closed in an effort to regain his concentration. Finally getting up the nerve, Pitch fixated on Bunnymund working to override his own fears in lieu of searching out Bunnymund's.

He breathed deeply now as a weighted invisible fog settled and Pitch began to feel the pin pricks of panic spin a euphoric dance across his nerves. Caught up in the moment, Pitch became lost in the sensations, and he had to actively will himself back to take control as Bunnymund had begun to jerk, one leg kicking about from the heat of being lost within the nightmare Pitch was weaving. Pitch took an active role to alter the nightmare now, and where Bunnymund had been dreaming about being chased by a raving drooling mastiff, the nightmare lord changed the landscape giving Bunnymund distance from the creature even though it was still bounding after the rabbit. Now, Bunnymund was able to keep leaping ahead giving small shudders of fear only as the dog got close to catching him. Pitch changed the features of the dog making it less threatening in size and physical menace to take down the level of panic Bunnymund was feeling.

Bunnymund was now mostly feeling exhilaration and excitement tinged with the fear of being caught, but mostly the thrill of the chase itself. Pitch was pleased that he was keeping a steady stream of balanced fear with minor spikes. It tasted so good! He could feel the excitement of the chase now his eyes closed shifting back and forth rapidly, heart pounding from the buzz, and oh stars, he didn't want it to end! But something was tugging at him now to push deeper, take more, and he wanted to, started to as it was close to an orgasmic need to keep pushing. He was starting to lose control he realized and withdrew sharply with an audible gasp.

Bunnymund having been wrenched from the dream awoke with a startled wheeze eyes popping open as if he'd heard a gunshot.

North's eyebrows shot upward, his eyes widening. His arms, which had been folded over his chest, fell to his sides as he took several steps forward. He looked from Bunny to Pitch to Sandy.

Sandy moved forward sands swirling out ready to coat Pitch in light shards to keep Pitch from escaping if he'd hurt Bunnymund.

Pitch looked up in alarm ringlets of shadows emanating off of him like faint smoke trails, "I… I'm sorry. I pulled out too abruptly." His brow furrowed as he spoke a little more subdued now, "I… was starting to lose control, so I severed the connection."

Bunnymund sat up spinning to a sitting position on the couch breathing heavy, but oddly enough, he was smiling, "Wow! That… that was actually not what I expected at all."

"Are you all right?" North asked, looking at Bunny with concern.

Pitch stared at Bunnymund with no small amount of trepidation waiting to hear his reply.

Bunnymund looked at all of them holding out his paws, "I'm okay; I'm okay." He started talking adamantly now, "It started off a bit rocky, but as it got going; it got less scary and more… exciting? I mean the anxiety was still there, but it wasn't dread like how it'd started. It was more like the fear you feel when you're doing something dangerous that could get you hurt but you're doing it anyway. Like riding the razor's edge of fate where one wrong move could be disastrous, but as long as you're in the moment and everything is okay, it's invigorating and empowering!"

Pitch blinked a smile widening impossibly big on his face to hear Bunnymund say as much, "That's fantastic! I was aiming to make the nightmare stimulating over scary." Pitch had been hoping to taper back the fear enough for the nightmare to feel galvanizing over crushing, and hearing that he'd managed to do so, and that Bunnymund had seemed to enjoy the thrill he gave him boosted his confidence.

Sandy seemed stunned as he looked from Pitch to Bunnymund and finally settling his sights on North to see what he thought on the matter.

North let out the breath he'd been holding, relieved it was now over and the Pole and everyone living there were still in one piece with nothing disastrous happening. He held up his hands in a gesture of surrender, smiling. "Well, Pitch, it looks like you did it. I never would have guessed it would go this smooth." He motioned for Sandy to come closer to him. "How do you feel?" he asked Pitch. "Was it easy to keep control?"

Pitch was ecstatic as he clapped his hands, "It was riveting! There... there were a couple of points I found my mind drifting, and my control faltered, but when I felt like I was actually unable to maintain control, I pulled away and ended it."

North nodded slowly, still not entirely sure about all of this. When Sandy approached his side, North walked away from the others, motioning for the gold man to follow him.

Sandy also wore an expression of uneasiness as he turned dutifully towards North to follow the big man.

Pitch was still bouncing animatedly talking with Bunnymund about his experience as the two guardians moved away.

"Did you monitor Pitch through it?" North whispered to Sandy. "What about the dust flakes in his skin? Did they fade when he gave Bunny bad dream?"

Sandy nodded vigorously a deep frown etched on his face. He twirled his hand in a swirl of sand before pointing to Pitch as unnoticeably as he could, a silent question as to whether to cover Pitch again in light shards right then.

"That is what I was worried about." He looked at Sandy. "Yes, you'd better replace flakes."

Sandy nodded an affirmative whisking a wave of dreamsand that pulled Pitch off the ground adhering more golden flecks to him.

Pitch had been in the middle of carrying on a conversation with Bunnymund when it had happened, and he was taken a bit off guard by the action. Getting his bearings once more, he looked down at himself seeing the brighter hue of the shards now and what Sandy had done that he'd not taken note of earlier in his nervousness. Realizing what it meant though sent a pang of hurt through Pitch as it was a blatant show of mistrust in him. His face fell and he grew quiet after the action backing up and looking over at Sandy and North on the other side of the room. He turned back to Bunnymund forlornly, "Uh... excuse me Bunnymund. I... I think I want to go back to my room now."

Bunnymund's smile faded seeing the hurt in Pitch's eyes, and he gave him a lame nod out of courtesy.

Not waiting for Bunnymund to comment further or for Sandy and North to rejoin them, Pitch darted towards the door and out of it as quickly as he could.

As Pitch exited, he saw Toothiana fluttering and Jack standing next to the banister talking amongst themselves, and not wanting to have to talk to them, he ducked his head and hurried to the left towards his bedroom doing his best to avoid them before they noticed him.

North lifted an eyebrow at Pitch's quick exit. He sighed, turning a look to Sandy.

Sandy looked guiltily back at North with a slight shrug. Bunnymund rose moving over to join the other two guardians now.

"Well, we do have problem." North finally said. "Sandy's dreamsand flakes in Pitch's skin fade whenever he gives nightmares."

Bunnymund looked a little irate with the two as his eyes moved between them and settled on Sandy, "Ya couldn't have waited ta do that? Ya really upset him."

Sandy wrung his hands grimacing with a slight shrug before glancing at North and back to Bunnymund.

"It was not his fault. I told him to do it. I was not aware that it would upset him so. After all, he is still prisoner here until he convinces us he has changed." North patted Sandy on the shoulder to let him know it was fine. "I am not fully convinced that all of this is good idea. I do not want Pitch getting his powers back and escaping into world."

Bunnymund grimaced turning away from North and Sandy and thumping a hole into the floor before addressing them both, "Ya say ya want ta be convinced he's changed North, but ya know, that means you have ta do a little changing to. Ya can't build trust if'n yer not willing ta give any." Bunnymund shook his head and jumped plummeting down the hole. The ground quickly reshaped itself in the wake of his exit no sooner than he'd disappeared.

Sandy stared after the rabbit a perplexed look on his face before he turned back to North.

"I never thought I would hear it coming from him." North said, after Bunny left. "And he will probably be first to complain if Pitch ever gets loose." North sighed wearily, "What have I done, Sandy? It's not that I don't trust Pitch. It's just Pitch is still prisoner, like I said. Until he gets fearlings under control, I do not want him getting any ideas about possible escape."

Sandy shook his head vigorously and swiped his hands with a picture of Bunnymund over his head making it very clear that he disagreed with Bunnymund's argument. Having been a victim of Pitch's previous malice, Sandy was in full agreement with North's stance that Pitch needed to be kept contained whether it hurt the nightmare lord's feelings or not was inconsequential.

North perked at Sandy's gestures. "So you disagree with Bunny?"

Sandy's brow drew down crossing his arms as he nodded adamantly.

"Nice to know at least one is on my side." North smiled. At that moment, Tooth and Jack entered the room.

"Sorry to bother you but..." Jack stopped, looking around. "Where's Bunny and Pitch?"

"They left." North's brow furrowed. "You did not see Pitch out in hall?"

Toothiana shook her head. "No, we didn't."

"Anyway, Bunny got mad and left." North continued.

"Got mad? Why?" Tooth questioned.

"Because I told Sandy to replenish gold dust in Pitch's skin. Both he and Pitch seem to think that I don't trust the Boogeyman."

"Well… was the whole thing a success?" Jack asked.

"Yes, it was, I'm surprised to say. But problem is dreamsand specks in Pitch's skin fade whenever he gives nightmare."

"So Bunny got mad because you replenished the specks?" Tooth questioned.

"Yes, afraid so," North said.

Tooth shrugged. "I wasn't here to see everything for myself, so I can't give an honest opinion. But… I think you're in the right by replenishing the specks. We might be trying to rehabilitate Pitch, but it's not like we can give him free reign yet, right?"

Sandy motioned to Tooth giving a curt nod of agreement.

Jack shrugged. "I think you did right, too. After all, he's partly here because he's a prisoner. I might trust Pitch a little more than I used to since he has changed a bit, but I can't say that I trust him enough to give him that much freedom yet. I mean, he's tried getting me in trouble a few times since he's been here."

Tooth nodded. "And we can't forget that he hasn't gained full control over the fearlings yet."

Hearing this made North relax.

Sandy blinked tiredly waving a goodnight to Jack and Toothiana and patting North on the shoulder. Sandy made a motion to the switch on the globe dashboard to call him while depicting a picture of Pitch and his sands swirling around the nightmare lord in an obvious show of needing to reemerge Pitch in light shards if they still planned to let Pitch practice giving nightmares.

"Pleasant dreams, Sandy," North called after him. He turned back to Jack and Tooth. "I guess I need to go find Pitch and explain things."

Tooth and Jack nodded and turned to leave also.

Pitch having made it back to his room thirty minutes earlier had spent the time sulking in the middle of his bed hunched over and clutching his Easter basket in his lap as he ate one piece after the other, moderation be damned.

He had been so elated to have had such a successful undertaking with Bunnymund especially considering the rabbit had even enjoyed the experience! It was everything that Pitch could have ever hoped for! Then, not unlike a slap in the face, Sandy took it all away from him. He showed Pitch that even though he had worked so hard to give the guardians what they wanted, it would never be good enough. Stupid star was just jealous he'd been able to give happiness in a nightmare. He would never be one of them; Pitch fumed as he continued to brood over his quickly disappearing chocolate.

A heavy knock sounded on the door.

Pitch was not in the mood for company, and so he plaintively ignored the knock hoping that whomever was on the other end would take the hint and go away.

The knock came a second and third time. "Pitch, are you in there?" North's voice finally sounded. "I think we need to talk."

Pitch groused, "I don't want to talk! I just want to be left alone!"

"I think you gathered wrong impression." North said. "I would have explained if you had not run off so fast."

Pitch squinted his eyes angrily grabbing another chocolate and popping it in his mouth as he grumbled, "Oh I understand plenty! You and Sandy didn't need to speak, I got your message quite clear!" Pitch was glad that North remained on the other side of the door as it allowed him to yell and vent his feelings on the matter.

North pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Pitch's head spun around mouth hanging agape to see North busting in his room before he scowled at him quickly turning away from the man in an obvious show that he was unhappy, "Of course. Stars knows I can't get any privacy around here."

"You are behaving like juvenile, Pitch." North scowled. "I think you need to hear what I have to say, because this behavior has gone on long enough. I did not tell Sandy to put dreamsand in your skin because I don't trust you. And it had nothing to do with what you and Bunny did. I told him to do it because you are still prisoner here. For what it's worth, I am pleased with progress you did with Bunny. I am proud of you for handling it so well."

Pitch glowered at the word juvenile hating when North used words like that to describe him. He spat in defiance his anger growing the more he spoke until he was practically shouting, "I know I'm your prisoner! Don't you think I know that every day I spend here?! What are you so afraid of? That I might actually be able to meet your expectations? You say it isn't because you don't trust me, but you're lying! That's exactly the reason why you had Sandy do what he did!"

"ENOUGH!" North shouted, glaring at Pitch. His nostrils flared, a telling sign of the level of anger Pitch had pushed him into.

Pitch flinched under the thunderous eruption his eyes staring wide in recognition that he'd goaded the man to a hair's line of losing his temper. Pitch immediately went silent knowing North would not broker anymore of his wrath. Feeling quelled, Pitch laid his chin on the handle of his Easter basket cradling it tighter as he squeezed his eyes shut tightly. Withdrawing into himself and feeling quite miserable; he sniffed back tears that brimmed from the awful ache he felt in his heart. He felt betrayed and wounded from the action, and even though North said it was not a matter of trust, that was all Pitch could focus on and believe.

It took North close to ten minutes of remaining silent and staring down at Pitch before he calmed enough to speak again, and his red face started fading to pinkish. He sighed wearily.

"Pitch," he began, his voice sounding calm. "I am sorry if you got wrong impression. As I said, I am proud of you and pleased with progress you and Bunny made today. I will admit that I was secretly against whole thing from start and had doubts, but I allowed Bunny to go ahead and do it because something has to be done to get your powers under control. I was expecting whole thing to not work, but you proved me wrong. You did well, Pitch. But just because you succeeded this one time does not mean you have won favor of whole Pole. You seem to have this mindset that once you've done something pleasing and good, you think you have earned freedom. It does not work like that. You will earn your freedom in time, but only through steps. You have come a long way already." North couldn't help but smile at the Boogeyman. "You have changed in ways that even Bunny did not expect when we first brought you here. That speaks a lot."

Pitch had turned his head, so that his cheek lay braced on the handle of his basket as he'd rocked in the silence. His brow remained furrowed, eyes closed, as he'd waited long fretful minutes for the Cossack to affirm what he felt.

Hearing North's words now though, kind and rewarding despite the gentle chiding for his impetuous expectations made the tears that he'd been holding back cascade silently in rivulets from his eyes tracing the angular arch of his cheekbones to drip onto the handle of the basket discoloring the lightly colored wooden weave. His mouth twisted in his sorrow as he shuddered quietly. He liked hearing that North thought he'd done well; he'd been so proud, and he needed reassurance so badly. He was afraid to speak now feeling a sob arching its way up his throat, and he fought to keep it down since crying like this over what he felt was something he shouldn't be crying over was a kick to his ego. He felt helpless to the emotions that now roiled through him, tearing him asunder despite his most adamant inner protests. The more he railed against these feelings, the more they seemed to well to the surface, so Pitch clenched rigidly to his basket just trying to ride out the wave of emotions and calm himself.

North reached out and put a hand on Pitch's shoulder. "Earning freedom is going to take time. You must have patience. But I will say this, you are headed in right direction. You just have to keep going."

Pitch croaked out a watery, "I know. I … I don't even really care about my freedom anymore," admitting this brought the spike of his newfound dependence to the guardians out, and the sob that had worked its way up his throat finally escaped and he heaved brokenly ducking his head away in shame as he covered his face in his hands.

North turned a puzzled look to Pitch. "You don't?"

Pitch only answered with a shuddered sob unable to further incriminate himself to save some vestiges of his pride. He was broken, a remnant of a shattered person so divested of the simplest connections with another person for so long that to have them now, he was willing to do almost anything to keep them including remaining a powerless prisoner. The act of ensuring he had no choice in the matter served to cut him deeply by forcing Pitch to confront this as fact within himself which was very humbling to say the least.

The guardians would never know it, but to be shunned by them or just the thought of simple dismissal to be cast out to once more wander the Earth alone had become one of Pitch's greatest fears.

North reached out and gently took hold of the basket in Pitch's hands, picked it up, and set it aside. He then wrapped an arm around the Boogeyman and pulled him closer to his bulky form. Hugging him in silence.

Pitch didn't resist as he was pulled physically over and into the embrace. He leaned into North's chest timidly. On some level he felt like he shouldn't indulge in letting himself feel any comfort; that he should contest in some way, pull away. But he didn't, couldn't leave the solace North offered him. Instead he cried small whimpers that were barely audible from the effort that Pitch tried in vain to silence. He wanted nothing more than to just be held and feel the warmth of another person, and this need left him immobile outside of the tremors that coursed through his small frame in unspent tears.

North continued to sit silently and allowed Pitch to vent his pent up emotions and frustrations for however long he needed to.

After several minutes, Pitch was able to get himself mostly under control, but he remained leaning against North as he spoke softly, "I don't want to leave... I don't have anywhere else to go where I won't be invisible... where I won't be all alone," he shook with fresh tears as he said these words out loud feeling the despair they encompassed within him and his fear to feel it again.

"Why do you think we work so hard to see that you change?" North finally said. "Sooner or later, you will want to leave Pole. You will want to go out into world. And I want to make sure you have purpose out there where you don't have to be alone."

Pitch was silent sitting back up as he thought on North's words. He gave a small nod of acknowledgement feeling embarrassed for breaking down like this as he wiped at his eyes to hide the indication that he'd been crying, as if North hadn't already known. Sighing heavily, Pitch murmured, "I feel like I'm constantly on edge to change. I'm looking for a silver lining that will grant me the purpose you keep telling me North, but I'm afraid with what my powers do that I'll never fit the mold you guardians want for me. I am trying though, believe me I'm trying!"

North nodded. "As long as you try. That's the important part. Things like this will take time. You cannot rush it or expect it to happen overnight. You need to accept fact that it may take long time. But no matter what happens, I can assure you that you will have home here at Pole for as long as you need or want. I will not send you back to hole."

It was reassuring to hear North say this, and Pitch seemed to visibly relax as he nodded, "Maybe with more practice giving nightmares, like I did to Bunnymund, it will keep showing positive results. I rather liked having that effect on Bunnymund; seeing that he also liked what I did… adrenaline spikes can be exhilarating."

"You keep practicing." North patted Pitch's shoulder. "But I would feel better if you did it while Sandy and either I or one of other Guardians are nearby."

Pitch nodded unenthusiastically, "Yes. I suppose mostly when Sandy is there… so he can… do his thing and make everyone feel… safe."

North did feel bad for Pitch, but he didn't know of any other way to insure the Boogeyman would stay put and not get the temptation to escape. He squeezed Pitch's shoulder. "It is not that bad. You have freedom to go most anywhere you wish. Be glad we do not keep you in prison cell."

Pitch raised his head with a start at the mention of keeping him in a prison cell, "Yes, I am grateful that you do not. And I do appreciate that I'm allowed access to most places here at the Pole." As if in recognition Pitch's eyes widened, "The reindeer! Oh! I… I need to tend to them!" In everything that had happened, Pitch had forgotten he'd been heading over to care for them when Sandy had stopped him. He looked over at North a little ashamed for having forgotten them in his earlier despondency.

North nodded. "It is fine. Go tend to them."

Nodding Pitch crawled off the bed looking back up at North a hue of purple coloring his cheeks, "Uh… sorry about… well all of this," he weakly gestured in a haphazard circle to indicate the scene that they'd just shared. He was glad for the consolation and the bond they had that North knew when he needed something as simple as a hug, but it still left Pitch feeling shamed to have gotten so distraught in front of the other man to have made North feel that he had needed it.

"It is quite all right." said North, getting to his feet. "There is no shame. We all have to break down sometimes."

Pitch winced at the comparison shifting about uncomfortably, "Eh… uh, yes. I suppose so," he stepped to the side watching North rise, "I… I should go tend the reindeer," Pitch floundered feeling a bit awkward now as he moved to the door. He lingered for a moment looking back at North. When he caught the other man's eyes, Pitch gave him a soft smile, "Thanks."

North nodded, smiling. "If you want, we can go to warren later to color eggs."

Pitch did really like the warren, but after going back and forth there the past couple days, Pitch was feeling a bit home sick. Also, the recent experience with all the guardians and giving a nightmare to Bunnymund left him a little socially frazzled, "Maybe tomorrow. I think I just want to hang around here today… after everything earlier, I'm feeling kind of drained."

"Fine," North nodded in understanding. "Well, I will get some work done, then." He walked forward, opening the door.

Pitch walked out of the room through the opened door, and North followed closing the door behind them. They both walked back down the hallway and parted ways when the hallway met the hub. Pitch watched North trundle off feeling better about where they stood now. His thoughts went back to the events of giving Bunnymund a somewhat pleasant nightmare and North's words of finding a purpose. He'd liked thinking that he could use his nightmares in a positive manner, but they still felt difficult to control in such a way. If it was one thing he'd realized from this little experiment was that he had a lot less control over his powers than he'd thought he had. Sure, he could manipulate and conjure nightmares to his heart's desire, but it wasn't until he actually really tried to take the fear and reign it in to cutback the level of effect and intensity did Pitch realize how difficult it was to deny himself the full fill of what he normally greedily stuffed himself on. He could do it of course, it was just more challenging. He would have to actively always puppeteer the fearlings that extended from him to a far greater extent than that part of him really wanted, so he was also having to control his own desires far more. Which was much more difficult than directing the fearlings. It was going to be a difficult road to pave, but Pitch always did like a challenge.