Hello all, I know it has been forever since I have updated any of my stories and I do apologize for that, my life is a little crazy right now. Hopefully this chapter was worth the wait and I should have another one up in a month or so. I can no longer update as regularly, but I always will eventually. Please just be patient with me

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Rise of The Guardians

After a long moment of silence, following Chaya's outburst, the King pounded down his spectre, leaned forward and laughed.

The laugh carried throughout the room and was caught up by his guards of death. Pitch could not believe it.

The King pointed his finger down at Chaya, laughter still roaring in his voice.

"You are Chaya's daughter!"

Chaya took a deep breath. She could not believe she had just spoken to the king in such a way. Even now, she hardly remembered what she had actually said. All she knew was that she felt much better, as if a heavy weight had been lifted off her shoulder. All her emotion had been spent on anger and now the deathlike place did not seem as terrifying. She looked up at the King, her grandfather and smiled.

"I wouldn't want to be anyone else," This time she meant it.

The King slammed his spectre down several more times until he finally stopped laughing, smiled wide and spread his hands out to his granddaughter.

"You are welcome here, young Chaya, whenever you are in need, you will come to me,"

Chaya bowed her head. After everything she had just said to the King, respect for her grandfather flowed through her. Turning slightly, Chaya smiled back at her father, who was standing a few feet from her, a look pride covering his face.

He had changed.

Everything about him. When they had first met serval days ago, though it felt like years now, he had been full of greed, ready to conquer the world with her. But now, here he was, standing behind her, smiling with pride. She had seen sides of him that she never would have imagined for such a devilish figure, but he was her father and she would not trade him for anyone. Not now, not after everything he had done for her and everything she had done for him.

Pitch met her eyes, the golden orbs prompting.

"Your mother, Chaya," His voice was low, but Chaya caught the words. This was it, she would finally understand who her mother was and why it was her fate to be a guardian.

Chaya turned back to the King, who watched her, his head in his hand. The initial intimidation of the Shadow King had vanished and Chaya felt at ease with him now.

"Please, grandfather, can you tell me about my mother? I wish to know why I am the way I am. I know Pitch's my father, but I am told I look more like my mother,"

A misted look entered the King's eye and he leaned back in his throne, his chin in his hand.

"You do indeed. Everything about you is as your mother was. Ah, she was a spirited young women, not unlike yourself," The King's formality melted away as he looked back on the memories of his daughter. "Your eyes are just as your mother's were, as deep as topaz and holding all the secrets of this world. Your hair, black as darkness itself, was from Pitch and Chaya. Her hair was as long as the night itself. Your build as well, is much more your mother, you have every curve she possessed,"

Chaya found herself captivated by the description of her mother. The King smiled at her once again.

"If you wish to see your mother, you have only to look in the mirror,"

Chaya sniffed, a small tear forming in her eye. Everything about her mother was as she thought it was. But who was she? Wiping the moisture away, Chaya met her grandfather's eye.

"Was she as great as you, grandfather?"

A deep laugh echoed around them as the King chuckled, banging down his spectre once again.

"No, no my child. She was not the King, but she had her own power which she gained from her mother,"

Chaya leaned forward.

"What was it?"

The King stood suddenly. Chaya backed up as the true height of the Shadow King was revealed. He was enormous. Slowly, he descended from his throne, the dragon-dog slinking down every step to remain at his master's side until he finally reached Chaya, who shivered despite herself. Leaning down, the King looked deep into Chaya's eyes, the brightness of them almost burned Chaya's face.

"Your mother Chaya, had the gift of darkness,"

Chaya felt something buzz between her and her grandfather, some greater power that passed from the dark under lord to herself. A power that was as old as the earth itself. The weight of it weakened Chaya slightly and she bent before the King.

The Shadow King knelt further before his granddaughter, the words he spoke only to be heard by Chaya.

"The power of darkness is not only to be used for evil you see. Chaya, your mother possessed the power to take the darkness out of people and as her daughter, you also have this gift,"

Chaya looked up at her grandfather, her eyes wide with shock. This was the gift she was destined to share with the world? To take the darkness out of others? Could this really be true? If it was, did Manny know of this?

Suddenly, Chaya looked back at her father; he had taken a few steps back and was now standing straight as he waited. He seemed to understand that what was being spoken was not for his ears. He smiled softly at her and the sight calmed some of the internal confusion starting to swirl in her stomach. But questions about her mother were rising.

Looking back, the Shadow King saw the questions in Chaya's eyes and his bright eyes locked to hers.

"Ask on child,"

Chaya swallowed and she looked away, the light of his eyes burning her own.

"If my mother had this power to take the darkness out of people… why didn't she use it on Pitch?"

The Shadow King looked surprised as if he had not expected Chaya to question the relationship between her mother and Pitch Black. He glanced at the Nightmare King briefly before standing and looking down at Chaya, a serious expression crossing over his face.

"That I can not answer for you Chaya. Your mother is the only one who can give you the answer to this questions,"

Chaya bowed her head, a few tears falling from her cheeks. She looked up at her grandfather once more.

"But she is dead,"

The Shadow King raised an eyebrow.

"This is the land of the dead, your mother walks these halls with everyone else who passed from the land of the living. You can still see her,"

Chaya heard Pitch gasp behind her.

"You mean… she lives under your laws?" Pitch's voice was rough. The Shadow King raised his head to look at Pitch, his eyes growing darker for a moment and a great sadness crossed over his face.

"The Underworld was Chaya's home since the day she was born. She was not meant nor did I wish for her to live here permanently. Under my own laws, I cannot see her as she once was. Human diseases are deadly to those of her blood and not even my own power could save her after you took her Pitch. Why do you think I rejected your union?"

Pitch swallowed, bent suddenly with grief.

"I thought it was because of my past deeds,"

The Shadow King looked suddenly old, as if the strain of not being able to save his own daughter was causing him to age rapidly.

"Those were not favourable, but Chaya knew them before she confessed her love for you. I could not deny her the love of her life. I only wish you had taken better care of her, as you promised me you would,"

Pitch stumbled forward, the weight of his failed promises overcoming him.

Chaya stood frozen, turned to the side to watch her father, her mouth open; no words left her lips. Her father gripped his heart with his hand and bowed his head, grieving over again before the King.

"I never meant to lose her,"

The Shadow King nodded, his eyes dimming in sadness.

"Chaya has said as much,"

Chaya looked over to him; for the moment, she was not sure who he spoke of and she did not dare to ask. She was too afraid that her mother being here in this place, walking among the dead was too much to hope for. Turning her head to her father once again, her heart hurt for him. Pitch still loved her mother and the fact that she was still here and had been this whole time must have killed him. Slowly, Chaya walked over to her father, kneeling beside him as he shivered and quaked on the ground.

"Father?"

Pitch stopped shaking. A moment of silence passed before he raised his head to look at his daughter.

"Chaya, you must meet your mother. Your mother," His voice choked and he closed his eyes before continuing. "Would want to see you,"

Chaya's eyes were filing with tears again. Her heart was tearing seeing her father in such pain, but the hope of being able to see her mother for the first time was tantalizing. She looked back at the Shadow King, who stood as if waiting. Suddenly at a lose, Chaya wrapped her arms around Pitch and clung to him, hiding her head in his shoulder.

"Come with me, come with me to see her. You need this as much as I do, Father,"

Pitch shook his head, gasping out his words.

"I cannot, Chaya. The Underworld have laws that I must abide by. After someone dies, only one may see them in their death before they are shut off from everyone,"

Chaya shook her head.

"But she is immortal, isn't she?"

Pitch moved so as to sit down, pulling Chaya into his lap, cradling her head on his chest, some of his tears mingled with her own.

"Even the Shadow King's daughter must live under the laws of the underworld," Pitch's voice had softened and he seemed calmer now, as if he had accepted his fate. "All these years, I could have seen her, one last time… But, Chaya, now that you are with me again, you must see her. I built a live with her, but you have never met her. You have never seen her," Pitch held his daughter close to him, shaking once again.

Chaya held on to him, tears falling down her face. This wasn't fair! Her father deserved to see her mother just as she did. The Shadow King must be able to make an exception for his only daughter! Chaya pushed suddenly against her father, but he held her back firmly.

"No, Chaya. This is not a battle you can fight. The laws of the Underworld are set in stone. No one, not even the King, can change them. I do not expect you to understand, but you must believe me," Pitch took hold of Chaya's face and turned her chin so their eyes met. Tears fell from her own and Pitch yearned he could remove them forever. His own eyes were shining and he blinked the pain away. Chaya needs this more than he did.

"Go, see your mother. She will answer your questions,"

Chaya shook her head and Pitch gripped her chin, desperately trying not to let his daughter's pain tear him down. He held her gaze.

"You must!" His voice was a whisper. Chaya shook her head.

"I can't go without you," her voice was small and cracked, changing with her emotion. Pitch shook his head, looking deep into his daughters eye as he held her chin.

"I have had my time with Chaya. It is your turn now. I will see your mother again. When I die, I will come here. My spirit will find her, nothing will stop me. But for now, you must take this chance. You will not have it again until you too pass. And I do not want that for many years to come. You must do this. Do it for me, Chaya. Do it for me," Pitch leaned forward and kissed Chaya's head. His whole life had been turned upside down the moment she had come back to him. This plan to rule had become an after thought. He never knew this love for Chaya would take away his greatest desires so quickly. Everything he did was for her, she was all he had left of his Chaya. She was the reason he would be able to live without this chance of seeing his wife one last time before he died. His Chaya and his daughter, they meant the world to him. The world without his rule.

Chaya was searching his eyes, trying to sense if he really meant all he said. She could see he was being truthful, but the pain of the loss was all too real. She closed her eyes, squeezing them to hold in the tears. Pitch wrapped his arms around her and held tightly.

"Go, while you have this chance," With that, Pitch picked her and and stood in front of her, his hands gripping her shoulders. She was looking at the ground, so he took her chin once again.

"I will be here when you return. I promise,"

Chaya looked at him, fresh tears in her eyes.

"You won't leave me?"

Pitch shook his head.

"Not ever, my precious daughter. Not ever,"

Pitch embraced her one last time before turning her around and looking up at the Shadow King.

"Chaya will see her,"

The Shadow King stared at Pitch, his brilliant eyes shining once again.

"You have changed Pitch. The old you would have jumped at the chance to see her again, despite your daughter's wishes," The shock in his voice was written in his face.

Pitch bowed his head solemnly.

"Chaya deserves to see her mother more than I. I failed your daughter and now all I have to give her is her child. Chaya will want to see her more than me I think,"

The Shadow King did not respond and before anything else could be said, he beckoned Chaya forward with his staff.

Shivering softly, Chaya stepped away from Pitch, his hands falling limply by his sides after she had passed out of them. Tears still stained Chaya's face, but she felt ready and approached her grandfather with a seriousness that caused her to look older than she was.

She stopped a few feet from her grandfather and the king smiled at her.

"My daughter will be glad to see her only child,"

Chaya smiled back at him.

"I hope so,"

The King raised up his staff, his eyes never leaving Chaya.

"You will travel to the place your father buried Chaya many years ago, this is where she dwells. You will meet her above the earth, but no one will be able to see you until your time together is finished. When you wish to return here, you only have to ask, I will allow you to enter,"

The tip of his staff touched the top of Chaya's head and she felt a jolt pass through her. The soft blue light shone out of Chaya's eyes for a moment, signifying some of the Shadow King's power had passed to her. The staff was removed and Chaya took a deep breath. A tingling sensation left her feeling numb and she shook her head to see clearly once again. The Shadow King took a step back, a soft crossing over his face, smoothing all his seriousness.

"Give my regards to my daughter,"

Chaya nodded. She wondered briefly why he could not see his own daughter, but that was just another question she would ask her mother. A feeling of excitement filled her from head to toe. Since the moment she had found out she was adopted, she had wanted nothing more than to meet her real parents and now that she had Pitch by her side, she wished to meet her mother. From as long as she could remember, she had never had a mother, adopted or real, so the feelings of excitement were mixed with nervousness. She found herself shaking despite herself.

The Shadow King looked down at her.

"Are you ready?"

Chaya looked back once more at her father. He nodded, tears forming in his eyes. Taking a deep breath, Chaya nodded and turned back to her grandfather.

"I'm ready,"

The King nodded and raised his spectre once again.

"Until you return, young Chaya,"

He thrummed the sceptre to the ground and instantly, Chaya felt herself leave reality. Her body lifted from the ground and everything around her became fuzzy and disorientated. It was much like her dream, but she had no control. She turned enough just to see a glimpse of her father before she was propelled up like a rocket. Through rock, earth and time. She could not see anything but blackness as she sped though the walls of the earth. The images came back to her slowly as the speed she had been progressing at decreased. She saw she was above Pitch's lair and above the earth once again. It felt wonderful to be free outside. At an even pace, she flew through the sky, over trees, houses, roads and people; even by the moon and stars. She was close to the earth and yet far from it. The speed she was traveling at would be deadly if it had all been real; she had a feeling though that she had left her true form, as if she had been freed from it.

After a moment, she felt herself slow down once more and start to descend. The darkness greeting her lower on the earth made it hard to distinguish anything and Chaya squinted as shapes came into view. She could tell that there were trees around. Dark, tall ones that reached high in the sky. The ground was covered in snow and as she closed in, she felt the chill enter her body and shivered. Reality came back all at once and she fell to the ground with just a foot to spare. Shivering vigorously from the cold, Chaya sat up quickly, rubbing her shoulders. The darkness around her was deep and she wondered if her grandfather's magic had worked. It seemed as if she was totally alone.

Her eyes adjusted to the darkness slowly and by the time she saw what was before her, she was frozen through.

There was a tiny grave marker to her right. It had several strange looking marks on it, but nothing else; it looked to be crumbling apart, but it was a marker none the less.

This had to be it.

Suddenly, a warmth crawled through Chaya. A golden light grew around her and Chaya watched as it crawled up the trees closest to her and sparkle on the snow. Looking up, toward the source of the light, Chaya gasped.

The figure of a women stood before her, shrouded in light and shadow, the golden warmth flowed from her.

This was it, this was her mother.

A voice like liquid honey filled Chaya's heart and she felt tears prick her eyes.

"Hello Chaya,"

So yeah, I am finally bringing Chaya's mother in on this! I have to think about how I want her to be, but I have the plans for the next chapter or two; maybe even three. It's just a matter of writing them out now. So hopefully you enjoyed this one and please leave a review of what you're liking or not liking. Thanks!