Author's Note: So, my parents drove six hours (on the way there, and the way back) to Chicago to get my mom's new car. It's BMW, and it's very fancy on the inside. The seats are super comfortable, and it doesn't have that weird new car smell. =D She said many times already that she's giving me her old one (even before she purchased this new one, she was set on giving it to me), and she really wants me to start driving over the summer.
But me being the total wuss that I am, I'm already thinking of all the possible scenarios that could happen if I lost control of my own car. But that's just another fear I'm going to have to beat down (You hear that Pitch? Get out of my head!) XD
I also got the last volume in a manga series that I've been reading called "Love Me, Love Me Not." I actually cried in this volume, and the ending is so bittersweet. =3 But out of all the characters, my favorite is Haruto Agatsuma. ='D It's too bad he completely disappeared from the series once his role as "competition for Rio" was over. TwT
Anyway, hello everyone and welcome back to "The Winter Child!" =D Thank goodness, I actually had some stuff to put in this author's note. XD The last day of school is drawing near for me (as well as the inevitable event of Camp NaNoWrimo OuO), and I'm really looking forward to it. XD My family's planning on flying to Seattle to see (you guessed it) family. I'm really excited, but at the same time super scared because I've never been on a plan before. ='D But I think it'll be fine (at least I hope it will ='D)
Welp, down below is the next chapter for "The Winter Child!" I hope you guys enjoy it. =D
~ LXXXI ~
To the Capitol and Back, Part Four
It was him
It was really him
Tsar Lunar
Right there
In the flesh
...
Jack didn't want to imagine how ridiculous he looked with his mouth hanging open. In front of the Tsar. The actual. Tsar.
He had only heard about his majestic splendor and his kind demeanor, but Jack never thought he'd actually meet him in person. Though he was nervous for meeting the chronicled Man in the Moon for the first time, his nerves of sneaking into the gala as a regular guest had overridden much of those anxieties.
Jack didn't know what to expect when he'd meet Tsar Lunar. And he certainly didn't know what he would say. So, he spoke the first thing that came to mind. Something, that he wished, that he thought of before he spoke.
"You're a lot shorter than I imagined."
The Guardians stared at Jack, shocked, but Tsar Lunar laughed. The snow sprite felt heat rush to his cheeks; the blatant blue sticking out against his pale skin. If Tsar Lunar wasn't already aware of him being a snow sprite, then he certainly would've found out then.
Jack's eyes dropped to his feet as the Tsar's laughter died down. "I apologize for not meting your expectations, but what I lack in height, I make up with my civility."
It was at this moemnt that the Guardians bowed in front of the Tsar. Jack glanced at them, surprised, but quickly followed suit. Tsar Lunar walked up to each of them, shaking their hands and thanking them for coming. When he came to Jack, he kindly shook his hands, giving him the same warm smile that he gave to the other Guardians.
Jack was still lost in the moment, but he was aware of Tsar Lunar's gentle hands touching his. The snow sprite nearly lost it—Moon above, I'm shaking hands with the Tsar…I'm never washing them again.
After greetings and salutations were exchanged, Tsar Lunar gestured for everyone to sit down. The chairs were gold rimmed and cushioned with blue. They were a lot more comfortable than they appeared, and felt similar to the cushion that the carriage seats had. Jack squashed down hsi anxiousness and forced himlsef to fidget as little as possible as Tsar Lunar took the head seat and began.
"This battle with Pitch has been long and tricky. Whenever we pinpoint his location, he disappears before we can catch him," said Tsar Lunar. "From these past events, it's come to my realization that we need to act, and we need to take action immediately."
By past events, Jack was sure he was referencing his previous possession, and more recent kidnapping.
"We are all in danger, even if Pitch isn't present. His army hides in the shadows, the only place where we cannot reach. It is best that we figure out what he's planning, and do all we can to intercept him before more damage can be done."
"The only problem with that is we still have no idea where Pitch is," Aster said, frustration decorating the edges of his voice. "He hasn't made any moves since…our recent encounter with him."
Jack didn't know whether to feel irritated or pleased that everyone was sugarcoating his kidnapping so nonchalantly.
"Then whatever he's planning must be big," Tooth said solemnly. "The greatest plans are those that are created with time and care."
"Then we should use what we know to see if we can come up with anything that Pitch might do next." Here, the Tsar Lunar turned to Jack. The snow sprite unconsciously straightened out. "Jack, we're aware that, out of all of us, you've had the most contact with Pitch Black. Is there anything that remember from your recent encounter with him that might give a clue into what he may be plotting?"
Jack shifted slightly in his seat. Everyone's eyes were on him. The snow sprite cleared hs throat.
"W-Well…u-um…" Jack balled his fists in his lap. All of a sudden, everything that he wanted to say had vanished from his thoughts, just like that. The snow sprite chewed his lower lip and stared at the edge of the table, wrestling with his nerves to allow him to speak.
"Well…from our recent encounter…" Jack noticed everyone's expressions become bashful. Jack felt a gentle smirk crawl onto his face. There was nothing like a small jest to lighten the atmosphere, and height your confidence.
The snow sprite found the courage to continue. "Pitch mentioned something about a prophecy saying that snow sprite's destined to become a Guardian. The…the snow sprite's disappearance that occurred years ago…I'm assuming, he must've taken part in."
"Did he elaborate?" asked North.
"A-A little," said Jack, realizing that he never told any of the Guardians this when they rescued him. Jack scratched the back of his neck. "Um…he said that he…uh…eliminated all the snow sprites by…by…"
Jack couldn't form the words. The terribel nightmare of the young snow sprite being courrpted into a Fearling replayed in his mind. Her screams were an endless, haunting screech that Jack had trouble drowning out. Jack shook his head, trying to force out the images. This proved to be more difficult than he hoped.
"Jack…?" Tooth asked, concern laced in her voice. "You don't have to speak if you don't—"
"He corrupted them," Jack interrupted suddenly. He looked up, his blue eyes flashing with pain. "He corrupted them all. He hunted down every last snow sprite and turned them into Fearlings."
The room fell silent. Solemnity was thick in the air, and Jack trembled in his seat. If Pitch turned every snow sprite into a Fearling, that ment there was no hope of finding his parents.
It was a foolish hope, he knew. But it was one that he clung to ever since he discovered that he was adopted. Jack only wanted to see them, even if it was once. Even if they had forgotten him, he just wanted to see them. Meet them. Feel them. But they were no longer there. They were a part of Pitch's army.
They were gone. Just like the rest of the snow sprites that had come before.
Tooth was at his side in an instant, and the Sister of Flight gave Jack the biggest hug she could possibly manage. Jack's breathing hitched but he forced himself not to cry.
"I'm so, so sorry, Sweet Tooth…" She whispered softly. "I know how much you wanted to find them…"
Jack clung to her as if she were his lifeline. He may not know his biological mother, but Tooth was as much of a mother as he could possibly get.
He had been so wrapped up in Tooth's embrace, that Jack hadn't picked up the rest of the conversation. "...If that prophecy is true, then it's no wonder that Pitch went after 'im." Aster was saying.
Tsar Lunar nodded, his expression pensive. "It is indeed true," he said. "And it isn't a prophecy at all, but a genuine choosing. I wanted a Guardian from each of the lands of Lunslruna. A special type of person from each. I have been considering a snow sprite for a long time. And I was hoping that having one as a Guardian would finally change the world's viewpoint on them.
"When I discovered what Pitch was doing, it was already too late. I had possessed so many, and I had little belief that even one snow sprite could've ever surprised…Until North informed me of young Jack, who at the time was only two.
"Of course, I couldn't make a toddler a Guardian, and I didn't want to bring the horror of what really happened onto any of you. So I decided that until Jack came of age, I would eventually enlighten you all."
Jack slowly let go of Tooth. "So you knew what happened all this time…but you didn't tell us?"
He sounded accusatory, and he really shouldn't have had such a tone when addressing the Tsar, but the man was understanding, and he did appear guilty.
"I apologize," he said. "But I couldn't let it be known that a snow sprite was still alive in Lusnlruna. Pitch has Fearlings everywhere. One small slip and he could've incinerated your village."
Jack still wasn't so sure if keeping that information—information regarding his race and family—should've been kept privy at all. But he didn't argue. The were soldiers taking guard at the door.
One small slip, and I could be kicked out of here like an animal.
"So what does this mean?" asked Sandy, the image of a snowflake and question mark taking shape over his head. The Guardian symbol appeared next to the coupled two. "Is Jack to become a Guardian?"
"That is a choice that I cannot make," said Tsar Lunar. He turned to said snow sprite. "Only Jack can."
"You want me to become a Guardian?" Jack asked incredulously. He would've laughed if not he had been in such a formal atmosphere. "I'm sorry, but I think you've got the wrong person."
"Tsar Lunar never chooses wrong, mate" he suddenly remembered Aster saying. A long time ago, in one of his earliest childhood memories when they were stacking blocks together. North had said the same thing when Tsar Lunar wanted him to lead the Guardians. Jack chewed his lip.
Wow…we're a lot more similar than I thought.
Tsar Lunar nodded. "I won't force you, only encourage you to consider." He turned to the Guardians. "We know nothing of Pitch's whereabouts, but I have men stations in several corners of Lunslruna. It'll be impossible to pass any of them without being spotted."
As the Guardians fell back into the hunt for Pitch conversation, Jack settled in hsi chair, feeling as if he had never spoken at all. He knew the Guardians were probably as deeply affected by the snow sprite's fate as he was. But if they were, they didn't show it.
For formality's sake, he guessed.
Pitch had described the snow sprite's screams as a symphony. Jack squeezed his fists. How twisted could the man possibly be? Revenge would've been an easy path, but as he had learned from Ombric's classroom, was that revenge only ended in more suffering. Besides, he wasn't even a Guardian. He couldn't do anything to stop Pitch. In fact, it was far too dangerous for him to be even near him, for the Boogeyman could take advantage of him at any moment.
But if the two did meet again, Jack would not let that be so. All he wanted now was for Pitch's time to be over. If he couldn't be destroyed, then better stripped of his power and locked away for all eternity.
All they had to do was figure out where in Lusnlruna he was.
Where…where…
Where…
Where.
The wheels in Jack's head began to turn. Where in Lunslruna would Pitch attack next? He's hit every region, so they couldn't specify through land, but by something smaller. Like a town or village. He's hit several of those two, but the places could easily be filtered out if his attack pattern was taken into consideration.
Or not his attack pattern…but his history pattern.
Centuries ago, Pitch attacked the Golden Age because of how flourishing with light it was. He targeted the children because they were the most pure in heart. They had never known fear, so their fear was more alluring than those of adults.
Then over a decade ago, Pitch had attacked Santoff Claussen, which could very much be described as a miniature version of the Golden Age.
Pitch had attacked the village three times—twice directly and once indirectly through Jack.
Jack's eyes widened as he remembered Pitch's statement from his kidnapping.
"In fact, Santoff Claussen will be the first place I attack when I make my return…"
Jack shot out from his chair, sending it scrapping behind him. "Oh, Moon above, we've fallen right into his trap."
The Guardians and Tsar turned to him. Jack looked at them, face pale with horror.
"I forgot one detail from when I was kidnapped," Jack said, his breaths rising along with his panic. "The place he's going to attack next. It's—"
Suddenly, a Lunar soldier burst through the doors. Jack already knew what he was going to say.
"We've received an SOS from Santoff Claussen," he breathed. "Pitch's attacking the village at this very moment!"
The Guardians were shocked. Tsar Lunar was solemn. The temperature in the room dropped.
They had left the village completely undefended.
Pitch was really as crafty as they come.
Author's Note: Man, things are just getting better and better. ='D And as always, I regret nothing. UwU
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and I'll see you all in the next one!
Until the next chapter!
~BeyondTheMoon1203
