A short idea I had when listening to "who's a heretic now" by Florence + the Machine. I enjoyed it so I decided to make it into a story. I don't know if I'll expand it in the future or if it'll be a one shot, let me know if you want more.

Anyways hope you enjoy it!

Trigger warning: blood.

"You are a guardian!" Jack froze in place at the words. All around him celebrations commenced as orange banners the color of sunsets draped down from the ceiling each proudly showing the silver G that represented the other guardians. Confetti fluttered through the sky and a symphony of music sounded as elves rushed the scene with tubas and trumpets.

Behind the burly Russian man in front of him Jack saw the others gathered closely behind their leader. The Tooth fairy looked proudly at the winter spirit and several of her minions clustered around Jack's head as he looked around. Once more Sandy had fallen asleep, a cup of eggnog spilling its golden sludge from his drooping hand. Bunny looked annoyed slouched against the wall rolling his eyes with the occasional grunt of disapproval.

"No." The word was icy as it came from Jack's mouth, even surprising him. Slowly the word dawn on North.

"I…I do not underzand." the man muttered as he shifted the massive tome in his arms before handing it over to an awaiting yeti.

"No." Jack repeated himself as he wrapped his hands around his staff, seeking comfort in the coarse wood. "I don't want it." Bunny perked up at this and looked interested, well Tooth's feather's prickled in anticipation. Swallowing Jack hardened his gaze preparing his argument in his head. Dragging the thousands of reasons into one solid case.

"Vhy wouldn't you vant this?" North mussed in confusion.

Jack shook his head, of course North wouldn't understand. Among the Man in moon's spirits the guardians were like royalty, untouchable, able to have direct contact with Man in moon himself. The latter of which Jack had only recently found out.

Breathing deeply he ran a hand through his hair and pushed through the crowd headed towards the small lounge in the corner of the room. Slowly he sensed the crowd shift to face him and several elves were even bold enough to follow him.

"Why now?" Jack finally proposed as he leaned against the fireplace mantle. The guardians looked confused as Jack crossed his arms and arched a brow.

"Well?" Jack fought to suppress the feeling in his stomach, instead focusing on his facade of confidence. "What do you want, since when do you care about me, my role, my duty?"

Fluttering forward the Tooth fairy tried to place a hand on Jack's shoulder.

"I don't understand Jack-" Shrugging her off Jack instead waved his staff. In an instant a large gust of icy air blew through the workshop and the guardians were pushed through the crowd towards the winter spirit.

"I have tried…so many times." Jack's voice grew cold as did the temperature. "To just belong, be seen-three hundred years.."

Opening his mouth, what North said next hit Jack like a whip.

"Well then this must be best day in three hundred years!" North continued oblivious "After all, you are surrounded by friends now, companions. So many spirits vould vant to be you now!"

Suddenly Jack couldn't breathe properly, he could feel sweat roll down the nape of his neck.

"What." he gasped in a barely audible voice.

"Vell you are no longer alone, right?" North added. "Man in moon has a purpose for you." Now Jack could sense the unspoken word. Bunny muttered something and glanced up. Following the furry creatures' gaze Jack saw massive icicles as sharp as daggers hanging above them.

"Jack…what are you doin'" the rabbit accused, inching his hands to the bomerages strapped to his back.

"Bunny." Tooth warned. Jack instead just smiled and stepped forward.

"Please kangaroo…do it. I can bring this entire building within seconds." Jack warned the threat, shocking even him as he struggled to think. As if to prove his point a gust of wind so strong it shook the windows swept through leaving a trail of frost.

"Jack-whatever we did I'm sorry." North said softly.

"No, of course now you're sorry. Three hundred years is nothing to you…" Jack spat as he gripped his staff and paced back and forth. Snow slammed through the air, the wind's screams drowning him out.

"Please Jack." Tooth begged as she flittered to the ground. "We need you, we can't stop Pitch without you."

"You managed three hundred years, you'll manage another few dozen." Jack snapped. Suddenly Jack felt the wood in his hands get yanked away with a sharp pain. Looking down Jack saw a group of North's elves stumble away with his staff.

Lunging for it Jack winced as something hit him in the back of his legs crashing him into the ground. Groaning Jack looked up as he saw tooth's fairies retreat back to their master guiltily.

Shoving himself to his feet Jack panted ignoring the copper taste in his mouth as North held his staff.

"Give it back." Jack ordered extending his hand.

"Jack, you need to control yourself." North advised as he held the branch tenderly.

"I need nothing, give it now or I'll uphold my threat." The wind was screaming, barely obeying Jack's requests. A thin layer of snow had coated everything and the elves ran around in a panic. A large boomerang then flew through the air knocking Jack to the ground.

Coughing Jack barely got to his feet in time as North's elves ran at him. Jumping into the air Jack released all his control. The wind slammed the guardians into the wall and the elves went flying. The yeti's slipped on ice and icicles reached the floor as Jack tore his staff out of North's hands. To quickly a slender feathered hand grabbed the staff and forced Jack back.

"Enough..please." Tooth begged. Jack ignored her and took into the air only for Tooth to follow. The wood tore into Jack's hand but Jack refused to let go even as blood dripped into the wood. Finally a small group of fairies crowded Jack's eye's momentarily blinding him.

Something hard then hit Jack in the stomach and Jack gagged as all air was knocked from him and he fell to the floor. Sniffing Jack glanced at his bloodied hand and felt blood drip down his nose. His left palm was sliced open with a thin piece of his staff splintering the center.

Cursing under his breath Jack swallowed wincing as he tasted blood. Watching Jack saw North stand shivering in the air as frost crawled up his skin. Lunging for the staff Jack let out a loud gasp as shadows crawled up the walls, turning the frosty ice black.

Backing away from the edge of the shadows Jack watched as what seemed like black sand whipped through the air.

"What…did you do!" Bunny screamed at Jack as a loud velvety laugh echoed off the walls. Surprisingly the shadow's didn't touch Jack instead formed a circle of swirling sand around him. Peering through the sand Jack vaguely heard a horse whinny before the world went black and he slumped to the ground.

0o0o

Pain radiated through Jack's left hand awaking him. Groaning Jack forced himself to open his eyes. Groping around for his staff Jack bolted away, all fatigue leaving him as he remembered what happened to it.

"No…no no no." Jumping to his feet Jack gasped in pain as he cradled his hand to his chest.

"Well…well, so eager are we frost?" A voice echoed through the air. Glancing around Jack saw the silhouette of a man dancing on the walls.

"Who are you…"

"I believe you know."
"Pitch.." Jack breathed in a whisper. He had heard cautionary tales of the spirit. A former guardian attempt, much like himself he supposed.

"Now, I suppose you're wondering why I spared you a second glance."

"I suppose so.." Jack stammered as he watched the gray skinned man appear from the shadows.

"I did it because I believe now we have a common enemy." Taking a small step back Jack looked around. They were in the middle of a dark but familiar forest. Then out of the corner of his eye Jack saw it. His pond. They were in his forest.

"So…I doubt you did it out of kindness." Jack spat as he slid down against a tree letting out a breath as he studied his injured hand now surprisingly wood free.

"I did not." Pitch confirmed. "But, my offer is."

"Offer?" Jack echoed.

"Indeed. Now I don't know why and frankly I don't care enough to ask, but you seemed to need that stick." Once more Pitch disappeared into the shadows giving Jack the feeling of being prey circled by a beast.

"But, as seen now, you can't do it on your own. If I get you that staff you in turn will help me."

"Help you?" Jack perked up at the offer, but a small part of him felt uneasy.

"Yes, the guardians have ruled for far too long, allowing Man in Moon to forget about us the way a child does with their old broken toys." Jack nodded stiffly.

"Yes."

"Help me stop them…we will allow spirits like us to be free of man in moon."

"I don't believe I'll be much help without magic." Jack countered. With a small thud something then landed at his feet. Looking down Jack saw a small wooden circle at his feet. Picking it up Jack examined it. It was a small ring made of bark and held together with black woven sand.

"Go on, try it." Pitch encouraged. Hesitantly Jack slipped it on his finger. Gasping Jack felt the surge of his magic return to him, but it felt different. Stronger, dangerous like an icy storm.

Turning to the lake Jack focused his gaze on the thin sheet of ice reflecting in the moonlight. Unsure what to do Jack hesitantly curled his fingers together. With a creak the ice groaned and bent until it broke in two like a sinking ship and sunk beneath the water.

"I believe that should hold you over for the moment." Pitch coaxed as Jack withdrew his hand. "Now, do we have a deal? You get your staff and in return we shall destroy our guardians." Pitch said the last word like poison.

"I believe we do." Jack whispered as he stared at the broken ice. His clothes were stained with blood and his hand throbbed but Jack found himself smiling as he basked in the moonlight. "Thank you Pitch."