Author's Note: SCHOOLS FINALLY OVER FOR ME, WOOOOOOOO! It was really sad saying goodbye to everyone, but thankfully, we started a Google Chat so we can all keep in touch (with my friends at least). XD I have so much I want to do this summer, and I'm hoping to achieve them all before school comes 'round again. =D

Anyway, welcome back to "The Winter Child" everyone! =D We're almost done with this arc, and the wrap-up one is coming soon! =D Man, this whirlwind of a fanfic is almost over, I can't believe it- QwQ

Anyway, I don't have anything else to say, so I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!


~ LXXXIII ~

To Capitol and Back, Part Six

He had taken control of the bear

Who was a strong as a thousand of Fearlings in his lair

Jack and the Guardians stood up to Pitch in a fight

Hoping to bring an end to the endless night

...

Jack didn't shy away from the feeling of terror at the sight of the usual, kind-hearted bear with such a malicious, frightening expression. The snow sprite had sensed some form of darkness in the room, though he didn't know where. He walked to where the feeling tugged him, and then he felt the entity right above him.

North and Katherine had their weapons drawn, as did Jack. The bear didn't make a move. Jack now understood why Sascha and everyone had locked themselves in the library…The bear must've gone completely mad and trapped everyone inside. While those suffering outside ran around in fear.

But the bear was one of Ombric's special friends. He was a guardian of the borders that surrounded the forests. How could he have turned on them so quickly?

The answer flicked into Jack's mind like a switch. Pitch possessed him. A Fearling had to be controlling it from the inside.

No one, not even North and Katherine, wanted to hurt the bear. He was a loyal friend to Ombric—to everyone in Satoff Claussen. But the ravenous look in his eyes and the dripping saliva plipping from his mouth was a far contrast to the lovable mammal that they all knew and loved.

Jack slowly stepped back and rejoined Katherine and North. "We need to get everyone out of here," he said.

"I'll go," said Katherine, carefully making her way to the library door. "Big Root can form an emergency exit from the library. I just hope Bunny's tunnels aren't too far."

"Hurry, Katherine. And be safe," North bid.

The young woman nodded, and she hurried to the library.

The bear still hadn't moved.

"Why isn't he attacking?" Jack murmured. "Fearlings don't hold back like this."

"He might be toying with us," North muttered. "We mustn't let him get to the library before Katherine gets everyone out."

Suddenly, the bear dropped to the ground. His teeth curled back, revealing a line of white, glinting teeth. Jack held out his staff and North gripped his swords. The bear advanced. Jack and North began to circle the room.

"We can't hurt him," Jack said. "He's only being controlled."

"Then we'll give him a blow hard enough to stun him," North replied. Then, with astonishing speed, he rushed forward and sliced the tips of the bear's claws. The bear recoiled in surprise, then growled, lunging for North.

Jack swooped in and slammed his staff against the ground. A thick layer of ice spread out to the area around the bear, causing him to slip and fall. Still, the large beast hobbled to its hind legs, letting out a roar that shook the tree to its core.

Jack remembered how he and the village children would spend wonderful hours playing with the bear in the forests. He was a gentle creature, and he never harmed the children or those who lived in Santoff Claussen. Though an animal, everyone in the village considered him a friend. He had defended the forest from those of ill intent and was one of those who fought against Pitch when he attacked their village all those years ago.

But this wasn't that bear.

Jack didn't want to admit it, but he was holding back. He by no means wanted to give a permanent injury to the poor creature. Jack could tell by the bear's labored breathing and the jerkiness of his movements that he was in pain. The Fearling possessing him was forcing him to attack. Jack knew that feeling all too well.

But the more he held back, the more room he was giving for the bear to injure him, North, or the villagers Katherine was evacuating. Jack conjured spikes of ice to pierce in front of the bear as it lumbered over to the library. Jack didn't know how much progress Katherine was making, but he hoped she was acting fast.

The bear jerked around, his crazed eyes landing on Jack's slender form. The snow sprite thought he had more time to move. The bear came pounding toward him. Jack leaped out of the way, and the giant creature crashed into the wall. Jack rolled into a nearby bookshelf, his head knocking against the wood. He groaned and pulled himself up. The room spun for a moment before returning to normal.

North was doing a much better job at defense than he was. The ex-Cossack did his best not to injure the bear, but that was beginning to grow harder and harder as the battle drew on. The bear was resilient and determined. It did not hesitate with its blows. North was more careful and calculate not to injure him, and the bear knew this.

Jack did what he could, making the bear slip and North parried with its blows. They dodged and rolled, the bear only advanced further. North was knocked by one of the bear's paws into a wall. Jack cried out when he didn't get back up.

The bear hovered over North's unmoving form. Jack's hands began to tremble.

Get up.

The bear's lips curled back into a snarl.

Get up.

He raised his claws to strike.

Get UP!

The bear let out a bloodcurdling roar as he brought down his claws, just as there was a bright flash of blue.

When North came to, his vision was blurred, and it took a while for his eyes to refocus. He looked around; Big Root was dark. Silent, as if nothing had happened.

The ex-Cossack sat up and lifted his swords. He scanned the area once more.

"Jack?" North called hoarsely.

A few feet away from him, he heard a snivel. North turned, and his heart dropped.

He found Jack kneeling over the body of the black bear. It was still and unmoving. Jack's form was trembling.

North walked up to him, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. "Jack…Jack, moy mal'chik, I'm so sorry…"

Jack shook his head. "No…No, don't be," he croaked. "This is my fault."

"No it's not—"

"Yes it is," Jack interrupted. The snow sprite bowed his head, gripping his staff. "I did it."

North looked over the bear. His eyes locked on the sight of the blue icicle protruding from the bear's heart.

Jack shivered again, and he squeezed his eyes shut.

"I killed him."

When from the tunnel emerged his mother and his sister, Jamie couldn't help but burst into tears once again. His mother, Sascha, wrapped her arms around him tightly, and little Sophie, who was still too young to fully comprehend what was happening, giggled in her brother's embrace. Jamie received a light scolding for running off so suddenly, but his mother was just glad that he was safe and sound.

Jamie was beyond glad that the Guardians had returned when Pitch had attacked. Ombric had sent an SOS message to the palace, knowing that they'd race back to help. Jamie didn't know how they arrived so quickly, but when ASter revealed his ability to make tunnels, all became clear to Jamie.

Everyone had made it out, and injuries were minimal. Those who were severely hurt were currently being tended to by well-educated medical experts in the village—Aster included. Tooth fluttered around, making sure that everyone was well accounted for. Sandy was giving dreamsand to the injured so they'd rest well. The entire village was below in Aster's Warren…except for Jack, North, and Ombric.

Ombric. Everyone knew what happened to him. Jamie had seen it happen right with his own two eyes. He was swallowed down with one gulp by the bear with no time to cast a spell to defend himself. Jamie pulled away from his family and scanned the spring landscape, which was a bit to pleasant for the moment. He found Katherine sitting under a large tree. Her eyes were fixated on the reuniting families. Jamie's heart went out to her.

Jamie walked over and took a seat next to the twenty-two-year-old. Katherine's eyes flicked over to him, and she ruffled his hair.

"I told you I'd bring them back, didn't I?" she said, trying to stay light.

"You're not one to break promises, Katherine," Jamie said. "Thank you, by the way."

Katherine nodded, and her gaze drifted back to the children and their parents. Her expression softened, and her eyes filled with sorrow.

"You know…I never knew my parents," she said quietly. "But Ombric was the closest thing I had to family, so I never worried. He was a centuries-old wizard after all. The thought never occurred to me that he could just—"

Katheirne's voice broke as silent tears rolled down her cheeks. Jamie leaned against her, and Katherine held him close.

"Pitch has really crossed the line," she said indignantly. Jamie had never heard her sound so upset. "When we come face to face again, I'll do to him what should've been done a long time ago."

"And what's that….?" Jamie asked hesitantly.

Katherine didn't respond. Silently, she pulled away from Jamie and walked over to where it was less crowded.

The flowers seemed to wilt as she passed by.

"It's been nearly an hour and Jack and North still haven't returned," said Tooth. She fluttered next to Aster as he sifted through a patch of herbs. "I'm starting to get worried."

"We'll go and look for them once everyone here is taken care of," said Aster. He picked the plants he needed and stood up, meeting Tooth's anxious expression. "And who knows? Maybe they'll come down 'ere before we go out to search."

Tooth's feathers twitched, and she nodded lightly, but her nerves still weren't quelled. Her fairies chirped their concerns, and Tooth gave each of them a light tap on the head. They had managed to evacuate the villagers underground, but there was still no sign of North and Jack. Katherine had told them everything that happened when she had been there—the bear had been possessed by one of Pitch's Fearlings, and Jack and North were holding him off while Katherine got everyone to safety.

Tooth knew that North and Jack could handle themselves, but she couldn't imagine what she'd do if they were out there, hurt, and they didn't know. She wanted nothing more than to go and look for them, but right now, the three Guardians were needed most here with the rest of the village.

The children were exhausted, and some adults were injured from trying to defend their families against the Fearlings. But Tooth was thankful that injuries were minor, and no one had been reported missing apart from Ombric, North, and Jack.

Tooth's eyes welled at the thought of their long-time friend being no longer with them. Ombric had made a sacrifice standing up to the bear, one that would not be in vain. It was now that the Guardians realized that Pitch needed to be stopped and fast before he carried out this act across the rest of the Lunslruna.

Tooth rubbed her eyes and she sighed, wishing that Pitch would just leave them and the rest of the Tsardom alone. She and Aster met up with Sadny, who had finished giving out the last of the dreamsand.

"Everyone's okay and settled," the Sandman informed, his dreamsand flashing over his head. "All we have to worry about now is North and Jack."

Aster handed the herbs he had found to a medic. "I'm assumin' they're probably still at Big Root."

"You don't think the bear has them trapped there, do you?" asked Tooth.

"I don't know, sheila," Aster said. "But I do know is that we have ta get to them before Pitch does."

"How are we supposed to leave here without the Nightmares noticing us?" asked Tooth. "We stick out like sore thumbs."

"I'm just surprised we managed to fight through them in such formal wear," Sandy said. Tooth and Aster looked at him. The Sandman smiled nervously.

"Just trying the Jack-appraoch."

"Oh, so his ridiculousness has a label now," Aster drawled. He sighed. "How about this—I can send some of my eggs up ta look around accompanied by Tooth's fairies…If they're willing of course. They'll be able to make their way through Pitch's mess and track Jack and North faster than we probably could."

Tooth's mini fairies were eager to track Jack down, and Aster's eggs were always at his disposal. Tooth's wings fluttered.

"I guess that settles it then," she said. The Sister of FLight turned to her fairies. "Just make sure to come back if it gets too dangerous."

"There's no need."

The three turned around. Katherine was standing there. She was still covered with ash and dirt, but the smile on her face was genuine since she had gotten there. The young woman pointed to the entrance.

And out from there emerged North and Jack.


Author's Note: Bang.

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and I'll see you all in the next one!

Until the next chapter!

~BeyondTheMoon1203