Author's Note: Author's Note: Hello everyone and welcome back to "The Winter Child!" =D Sorry for the late update, I was quite busy this evening. X) But I'm here now (and sadly with not very much to say QwQ), so I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!


~ LXXVI ~

Losing You, Part Six

A race against time

A battle underground

One friend lost

Another one found

...

He woke when he felt the eerie aura of Pitch's darkness once again. Jack didn't remember falling asleep, but slumber was the only escape from the nightmare all around him.

The Boogeyman glided in with haunting grace, and Jack steeled his expression as he approached him. Ptch paused before him, his eyes bright with glee. "It's time for my plan to be put into action."

"And what does that have to do with me?" Jack asked.

Pitch lifted his fingers. "You are that plan."

And before Jack could process what he had said, Pitch's fingers darted to his forehead and pressed against it firmly. Jack jerked and twisted in his chair as he felt the familiar feeling of Fearlings sinking into his system. This time, it was even more painful now that he was fully awake. The snow sprite screamed as he tried to resist, but the darkness was too strong. Jack quickly succumbed to the Fearling's hold, and Pitch smiled, chuckling with diabolical pleasure.

"We'll see how those Guardians will fight with you leading the front line," Pitch purred. He traced his fingers through Jack's hair. "They won't stand a chance."

In the region of Darksualth, a tunnel had opened near the border. Soldiers who were positioned there were too focused on things getting out of imprisonment than those actually venturing in. So the Guardians had no trouble sneaking past the positioned soldiers on the other side of the board gates.

This was rather odd, considering the fact that they were a part of Tsar Lunar's protection group. They wouldn't b reprimanded for venturing into Darksualth, especially since they knew Pitch was there. But Jack had been taken, and there was no time to ask for permission. And besides, it was already too late to turn back.

Aster shook the dirt out of his fur and pulled out his boomerangs. "Been a while since I've done that."

"You say that so casually," Tooth quipped, beating her wings of the pebbles and stones that had gotten between them.

"What's important is that we're here," said North. He looked around, and his expression turned solemn. "I wonder what this place used to look like before Pitch took it over."

The Guardians looked around, taking in the scenery. Darksualth had a population of zero (if you excluded Pitch and his nightmare army). There were no villages, not every remains of one. Some said that Darksualth used to be a thriving land, but that was hard to believe with the condition that it was in now.

The ground was barren and grey. Trees grew like spikes from the ground, and they were completely bare of leaves. The weather there was cold, and the clouds above were dark. In Darksualth, a storm was also oncoming but never arrived.

The landscape was rough and rocky, which irked the Guardians a little as they began to follow North's compass. It was still pointing south, so Pitch's lair had to be in that direction. None of them knew what they would face, but the Guardians were determined to find Jack and bring him home.

Jack…As his thoughts rested on him, North suddenly remembered the argument they had had hours prior. He had planned to find the boy and apologize to him after talking with the Guardians, but now he was being held captive by Pitch, and North couldn't help but feel responsible for what happened to him. If he hadn't argued with Jack, he never would've run away and gotten captured. North sighed, and he clutched the compass in his hand.

"Ya still aren't blamin' yourself for what happened, are ya? 'Cause we don't time ta be guilty," said Aster, walking beside North.

"I know," said North. He looked at the compass in his palm. "It's just that…all this time I thought I was keeping him safe. When really, I was just holding him back."

Aster softened. "Ya weren't holdin' him back, ya just wanted ta protect him. All of us probably would've done the same."

"How do I even apologize to him?" asked North. "I don't think an 'I'm sorry' is good enough."

"'Don't overthink it, just speak from the heart,'" said Tooth. She smiled softly. "That's what my father used to say."

"A good piece of advice ta carry around. Thanks, shelia."

Tooth nodded kindly, and North decided to do just as she said. The Guardians soon found themselves on more level ground, and the treacherous mountain ranges that Darksualth was known for possessing soon came into view. North's compass was spinning like mad, and it no longer pointed in any particular direction. The Guardians looked around.

"I'm assuming that Pitch's magic is interfering with the spell," Sandy deducted, his dreamsand flashing over his head. "Jack must be close."

"How about we start there?" Aster said, pointing a furry finger at a cave drilled into the side of the mountain. "I have a feeling we might find somethin'."

"Plese don't tell me you're getting strange feelings too, Bunny," Tooth jested as they headed inside. The Pooka snorted.

"Naw, we'll leave the strange feeling's to North. This is just Pookan intuition."

"Pookan intuition," North repeated. He flashed a joking smile at Aster. "I think my belly is better."

"Believe what ya want," Aster said with a shrug. He looked around. "But I don't think I'm the only one who feels the eerie in this place."

Stalagtites and stalagites were long like fangs. There were no other entrances in or out of the cave, so the Guardians did their best to remember the path that led back outside.

The shadows began to move, and the Guardians drew their weapons, prepared to batle against the Fearlings. But quickly, Sandy splashed some dreamland on ghouls, making crash against the ground and disappate immediatly.

"Nice job, Sandy," Tooth whispered. The Sandman smiled, and then they continued on.

The tunnel they wandered down seemed to go on forever, and right when the Guardians were ready to pause and regroup, Tooth spotted an opening up ahead. A faint glow came from the room up ahead, and the Guardians raced for it. When they arrived, they found themselves standing in a large cavern.

And in the center of it were Jack and Pitch.

"Jack!" North cried, relieved to see him. For a moment, he forgot that the Boogeyman and his Nightmare army were standing in the room. The ex-Cossack took a step forward. "Moy mal'chik, I'm so sorry—"

A blast of ice was shot in their direction, and the Guardians quickly dodged. Jack pulled his hand down and glared at the four. His eyes were devoid of color and his skin was white as a sheet.

"He's been possesed again," Aster proclaimed, squeezing the boomerangs in his paws. "Let him go, ya shadowy bloke!"

Pitch smiled, and his army roared behind him. Jack stepped forward, ready for command.

"Come and get him," Pitch taunted.

Then he snapped his fingers, and all hell broke loose.

Fear.

Fear.

He could feel their fear.

He wanted it.

He craved it.

He had to have it.

Jack's movements were swift and quick as he attacked the Guardians of Chidhood. But in his mind, they were a feast of fear as she blasted them with ice. His fellow Fearlings around him screeched and hollered, raining down on the four as they tried to fight through the mass of black at swirled around them.

The Nightmares whined and stomped their hooves, running into the Guardians, but they expertly dodged. The fairy was fast with her swords and her wings, using both to slice through the oncoming enemies. The Pooka was kicked and slashed at the Fearlings and Nightmares, and the golden man snapped at them with his whips, turning them back into wretched dreamland.

The man in red fought through with his swords, and it was this man that Jack was targeting. His master had told him he was the worst of the bunch. And the fear—no, the guilt—rolling off of him was sweeter than honey.

Jack fought his way through the chaos and approached the Guardians. His expression remained fierce as he launched his attack on them. Shards of ice burst forth from the ground, and the Guardians had to roll out of the way to avoid getting hit. None of them advanced to fight him, which made it all the easier for Jack to attack them.

They played defense, and Jack didn't hesitate when it came to fighting the Guardians. They blocked and dodged his blows, but Jack was more powerful than them when he wasn't holding back his magic. And with the Fearlings and Nightmares circling around them, they were quickly outnumbered.

The Guardians stood in the middle of the herd, knowing that it wouldn't be long until they unleashed their final blow. Pitch cackled in the background. Jack lifted his hands, ready to impale each of the Guardians right then and there when North spoke.

"Jack, please listen to me, moy mal'chik!" he shouted. Jack froze. North sighed. "I'm so sorry for being overprotective. I should've let you go. I know…I know I can't always keep you with me, but I was just to afraid to let you go.

Jack's eyes flickered from grey to blue. The snow sprite squeezed his eyes and shook his head, trying to block out whatever was trying to invade.

"All this time, I thought I was protecting you. But really, I was holding you back." North stepped forward, but the Nightmares reared and herded him back. "You were right…I haven't let you make many of your own choices. Especially when it comes to your future. I just want you to know that whatever path you choose…I'll be there for you. And I'll be proud of you."

Jack's vision flashed, and the snow sprite let out a pained cry as the Fearlings shifted and stirred within him. He fought against the two's hold, and the handful of shadows burst out as Pitch's hold snapped on him.

"NO!" Pitch bellowed. Jack returned to normal, but he was gravely weak. The snow sprite's legs gave way, and he would've collapsed if Aster hadn't caught him.

Due to the mini battle, the cave was now unstable. Jack's ice shards had penetrated the walls and ceiling, and the whole cavern shuddered and shook as the cave tried to hold itself together. Aster pulled Jack with him to the Guardians, and they all tried to make their way out. But with Pitch as the maestro and the Fearlings and Nightmares as the orchestra, it was impossible to break through without being overwhelmed again.

"We need ta distract Pitch!" Aster shouted.

"How are we supposed to do that without Jack getting hurt?" asked Tooth, slicing a Fearling to her right.

North looked at Jack, who was unconscious over Aster's shoulder, and he turned back to Pitch. His blue eyes narrowed.

"You all get Jack out of here!" North ordered. The Guardians stared at him, shocked. "I will take care of Pitch."

"Are ya a bloody drongo?! This place is about ta collapse!" Aster yelled.

"We don't have time! You need to get Jack out of here," North said. He looked at the snow sprite once more and touched his head. "Take care of him."

There was no room for argument, and Pitch's army was rustling behind them. When an opening was clear, Aster, Tooth, and Sandy dashed out while North stayed behind. He drew his swords and was face to face with Pitch. The Boogeyman towered over him, amber eyes flashing.

"That was a mistake," Pitch growled.

"No," said North. He braced himself for the Boogeyman's attack, brandishing his swords. "The mistake was you thinking you could kidnap my son and get away with it."

Pitch growled, and he lunged. But before he could reach North, the ceiling gave way, and the cave collapsed.

When he came to, Sandy, Aster, and Tooth were hovering over him. Jack groaned, his body felt completely sore. When he tried to sit up, his vision blurred. Aster gently supported his back.

"Oi, don't strain yourself too much," he said. Jack's ears twitched, catching the glitter of hurt in his voice.

"Oh, Jack, Sweet Tooth, are you alright? How are you feeling?" asked Tooth. She fluttered over to the boy to examine him for any injuries. Sandy produced several images over his head, asking the same questions.

"I…I'm fine…" Jack said weakly. He looked around. "W-Where…Where's North?"

Tooth, Aster, and Sandy silenced, their faces crestfallen. That was all it took for Jack to understand.

"The cavern was collapsing, and we needed a distraction," Tooth said softly. Her eyes rimmed with tears. "North volunteered without argument."

At first, Jack didn't believe them. This was North they were talking about! He could get himself out of any situation. He'd be fine. He'd come back.

But the looks on the Guardian's faces. The empty silence hung in the air. Jack lolled his head to the side, and his breathing hitched.

The cave had completely crumbled. No one would be able to go in or out.

"N-No…no, no, no, no, no…" Jack jerked in Aster's arms, and the Pooka held him back. "L-Let me go! W-We have to save him!"

"Jack…" Tooth choked on her words.

"Let go of me!" Jack screamed. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he thrashed. "North! North, please!"

He drowned out the Guardians' cries and pleas for him to calm down. Their reassurance meant nothing to him. He only wanted North. He couldn't be gone, he couldn't be gone…They could still save him. He wasn't…he wasn't

He felt the light, gentle brush of dreamsand sprinkle on his forehead. Jack's moments slowed, and he went limp in Aster's arms, trying to resistance the dreamsand's hold, but the struggle was fruitless.

Silent tears rolled down Jack's face. His eyes fluttered shut, two words on his lips.

"No…North…D-Dad…"